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everbrilliantheartbreaker · 5 years ago

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Fanfiction Reader Tag

Tagged by @eyeliner-vampire ♡ ♡

Fanfiction Reader Tag!

1. When did you start reading Fanfic (How old you were or how long ago)?

When I was probably...11 ish? so like 13 years ago

2. Do you have an AO3 account?

Yeh (LadyWisteria)

3. Do you read WIP (work in progress)? Why or why not?

All the time. I’m not picky about this at all. I’m a simple person. I see fic I think I’ll like? I read. doesn’t matter if it’s finished or not. I’ll make up my own ending til it is lol. also authors need that encouragement. finishing stuff is hard

4. What time of day is your ‘fic reading time’?

Usually late at night (like 1 a.m. and later..much later) but sometimes I’ll waste an afternoon instead (2 p.m. ish til I either have to go to work or I finish the fic)

5. How much time do you spend reading fic per week?

Not remotely as much time as I used, that’s for sure. Anywhere from an hour (if I’m rereading That favorite fic) to 2-4 hours if my friend has sent me a longfic again.

6. Do you listen to podfic (fanfic recorded like an audiobook)?

I...didn’t even know this was a thing tbh, so no. Sounds very neat but also I don’t listen to audio books anymore bcus my attention span re: audio input has gotten so bad over the years I can’t focus for more than a few minutes.

7. What’s your favorite fic genre to read?

AUs AUs AUs. and fantasy. and fantasy AUs (although good long AU fics are harder to find). I am a very simple person. I see magic mentioned, I read. I also read a lot of romance fic (proving once again that fanfic writing is often better than mainstream original writing, bcus romance is one of my least favorite YA/movie genres). I don’t read as much of them but I also love mystery and paranormal fics

8. Are there any genres that you tend to avoid?

Super angsty no happy ending type stuff. “Major Character Death” is an automatic nope lmao (unless the summary looks reaallyyy interesting or it was recc’d to me). Tragedy is definitely Not my thing

9. What tag(s) do you track?

I don’t track any fic tags (I stopped tracking tags at all since Tumblr changed it from “keeping track of new posts in said tag” to “dropping random posts from that tag into the middle of your dash, and usually the same three”)

10. How do you find new fic?

Nowadays I mostly just read what friends send me or the new stuff a very few writers I follow post, but sometimes I also come across stuff through Twitter or Tumblr and curiosity wins out

11. How do you organize your fic bookmarks?

I..don’t? Is this a thing people do?? If I wanna reread something I either search through my bookmarks by title/author or just. filter by fandom.

12. Do you subscribe to authors or stories?

Yeh. I only keep up with a very select few of them though. altho part of that is due to several of them being people I followed on fanfic.net years and years ago and never unfollowed, even though our interests may no longer be the same. (the other part is me going “oh I’ll read that later” and then just. never doing it.)

13. What is your favorite fanfic trope?

fake dating and bed sharing are always good

everyone is gay. also Good

14. What kind of plot line are you always here for?

“everything’s the same but they’re soulmates” (oh my god they were soulmates)

mafia AU

MAGIC

I really like in-between scene fics too. the events and character interactions that happen off-screen. I like writing those

15. What can an author do to make you love them?

write about my faves frequently

cool AUs

write about minor characters

good sense of humor

16. What can an author do to make you avoid them?

not into mpreg fics

a/b/o fics make me super wary I usually pass on those, even if the summary looks mildly interesting. they’re rarely if ever done in a way that isn’t rapey and gross

don’t care for fics period that have rapey scenes but you’re supposed to find them romantic

adult/minor ships

characterization is a big deal to me so if I don’t like how they handle the characters, especially faves I probably won’t be back

17. What do kudos mean to you?

when I get one I have a few seconds of “oh someone kinda liked this thing I wrote” and then I carry on about my day >.>;;; (I do appreciate them tho)

18. What kind of commenter are you (No comment, short comment, keyboard smash)?

I don’t comment as often as I mean to or wish I did, but when I do they’re loong comments (I’ve passed the AO3 character limit at least once kshg)

I tend to quote favorite parts and then react to them, and I like to theorize and ask questions about character’s thoughts at a certain part or what author imagines happens before/after the fic

19. Have you ever stopped reading a fic? Why or why not?

Yes. Once because I stumbled into a very sexually explicit fic when that was. Not at all what I was expecting (I was also very young lol), I think there was a very few I quit because they were boring or very poorly written, but most often I “quit” a fic for the same reason I don’t do audio books anymore lmao: because my attention span is sht and my motivation and commitment are extremely fickle things. I either forget or just wander away for a bit and then forget. Often I mean to come back and finish it; it’s just a matter of how long it takes. (I also second hand embarrassed out of a fic so hardcore that it’s been a whole 9 months since I’ve touched it khdfgd)

20. Have you ever read a fic more than once? What is it about that fic that makes you want to read it again?

YES. This requires like a minimum 4 separate posts to really answer but:

Behind Bricks and The Penance of a Killer by Deathbelle

this person is my fricking favorite author ever and these are two of my fricking favorite fics ever, I must’ve reread Behind Bricks 6 or 8 times now and Penance is the BokuAka-centric companion piece to my favorite fic of all time that I always wanted

Mending Bonds and If the Heart Breaks, Does That Mean There’s No Home? by RussianSunflower3

Mending Bonds is soft found family fluff centering on a very minor fave of mine and If the Heart Breaks is very angsty found family fluff that also focuses on some minor characters and it always hurts my heart but the ending and the soft middle always heal it right back up (“[Hanamaki] has a heart big enough for everyone in the world, and then some.” ohhhh my godd)

Boiled Frogs by ReginaGalaxia

this one is. a really hard read centered around emotional abuse and manipulation and hoooo boy it is a rough read especially if you’ve experienced any of that personally but it’s so well written and the character dynamics are great and in its lighter moments it’s fricking hilarious.

(bits and pieces of) The Roost by Ugglabarn

bits and pieces only bcus Roost has a lot of very heavy dark content that I’d have to be in a specific mood to reread the whole thing because it hurts my heart way too much but also it’s one of the best Fukurodani-centric longfics I’ve ever read (PLUS AN AU..!!) and I love love how they write the characters and how much focus there is on the minor members and ships and in its lighter moments Roost is also really funny the most recent chapter was hilarious

Expensive Hotel by Crown_of_Winterthorne

smut. explicit smut. excellent explicit smut with loving polyamorous boyfriends and plenty of consent discussion and kissing. my entire jam right there

Class 1-A Whomst? by Ya_Boi_Hal

this is the funniest chatfic I’ve ever read in my life and the first good chatfic I ever read. absolutely hysterical. also has some really good serious content in the middle and some Aizawa dialogue that punched me right in the feels. 12/10 will read again. sometimes I just randomly say “Mineta whomst??” and cackle to myself

and back in the day it was:

The Flame of Betrayal by DataIntegrationThoughtEntity

I guess traitor! Tahu was a popular trope back when Bionicle fandom was at its peak?? and not everyone liked it apparently but I enjoyed this fic greatly every time I read it it was well written and had interesting OCs and I am actually highly tempted to go reread it again

and Asleep Beneath a Wheat Field by Feline Freak

this was a very peculiar little OC-centric one shot that was also very sad and I don’t know why it grabbed me like it did but I remember rereading it 3 or 4 times at least

21. Do you like sequels?

The fics I like don’t usually come with sequels but The Penance of a Killer is one so Yes

22. Do you like dabbles?

I guess? I haven’t read too many I don’t think but hey, more fic is more fic. Who’s gonna complain about that?

23. What do you wish more fic authors would do?

Write about minor characters more

24. What do you wish more authors would stop doing?

that thing where they latch onto one facet of a character’s personality - or worse, one that fandom made up - and write them as if that’s the only trait they have

25. Do you like one-shots or multi-chapter?

Multi-chapter. I mean both are great obviously but the majority of my faves are multi-chapter and obviously if I like a fic I’m gonna wanna spend as much time in that universe as possible

26. How long do you like chapters to be?

Usually I feel the longer the better. once in a while I’ll hit one that’s so long it’s kind of distracting but extremely rarely

27. What’s your favorite POV (point of view) to read (first, second, third)?

Third

28. What do you think of OC’s?

I didn’t use to care for them very much but as I started reading fic by more advanced writers I found several I really liked. have a very small list of OCs from recent fics I’ve read I would actually kill a man for I love them so much

29. Do you download fic?

No, but seeing as my absolute favorite Bionicle fic vanished off the face of the earth several years ago and I cannot find anything about it an y wh ere sometimes I think about saving my faves. I never got to finish reading that fic and I am absolutely devastated every time I think about it.

30. Tell me something else about your fic reading! Anything else!

best thing is when my friend and I buddy read a fic and send each other our favorite parts

Tag!

@yaelathewordsmith and @samantha-girlscout ♡ ♡ ♡

#Toa does a meme #long post #i didn't forget about this i've just been picking at it ever since u tagged me

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pinarsckaesslerqa24insuranc-blog · 5 years ago

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necipyesiltepe-blog · 6 years ago

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WHAT IS ART

The presentation of a concept, approach, view angle, message, image, color, form, sound;

which was already existing but never noticed, looked but never seen, untaught, unheard;

Or never existed, not formed, composed-joined-extracted-filtered;

with a new aesthetic that has existed or never existed Artistic work,

presented and accepted-examined-confirmed and declared as a good quality of Work of Art by respectful, unprejudiced, neutral experts, art consultants, teachers, art lovers and market professionals with respected education-knowledge-experience of eyes and mind is named according to us an “Art”.

The value of the work is determined by the ratio of being the first-single-original i.e. unique piece. Product quality is the primary factor in the determination of the price in the purchase and sale, the reputation of the producer is the second factor, the third factor is the story about the heroes or painted scene in the work, and the most important factor is that if it belongs to the most appreciated period of the career of the artist. The similarity of the original and the reproduction of all kinds of prints increases the value of the original.

The person who could make this work proved his technical ability, talent, reasoning, decision-making features, and intelligence, no matter if this work is his first and only one, according to us, is named an “Artist”.

Works out of this definition can only be accepted as artistic exercises made for his own pleasure, it should not be presented or mentioned as Art, or exhibited in Professional art galleries with a price tag. Its value-priced is “out of” Professional quotation.

It can, of course, be exhibited in a friendly party or aid association auctions and it can be sold according to the name and reputation of the painter’s family, the audience and the aim of the auction. Sometimes such objects are left to the seller after the donation is made to the association. So the reason for the sales is a courtesy, public relations, support for a humanitarian cause or the sympathy of the buyer to the seller.

The final point is the happiness of the buyer and seller with the purchase unless the presentation is not made in a professional level and not presented to the public as a Work of Art, it is none of anybody else’s business to comment on the joyful, meaningful share of his painting with friends.

It is the aesthetic expression of human emotions which cannot be put into certain patterns.

Art is a phenomenon that exists in every period of human history.

Evolution of humanity has changed the way they live, their view of life, their way of art and their view of art.

Today, the fact that art has an “emotional and intellectual influence power” is more decisive.

According to Thomas Munro, who makes the most appropriate definition for this understanding; “Art is the ability to create impulses to create hearty aesthetic experiences”.

Beauty is what Art is concerned with. However, we know the Beauty is a relative concept. Even if anything is inconsistent harmony no matter how it is ugly, painful, disgusting. It should be considered aesthetically beautiful.

Art is explained differently according to objective and subjective approaches. In an objective approach, art is created by social influences, and by a purely individual in a subjective approach.

According to Kant; There is no purpose of art, except for art itself. His only purpose is himself. Fine art can only be created by genius people. According to Hegel, beauty in art is superior to beauty in nature. Art is the product of the human mind. One must find a purpose other than the imitation of nature.

According to Marx; creative action is a stage of the interaction of man and nature, which carries a social character. Art is a phenomenon that humanizes life. Art must be developed in an effort to reach a creative, multi-dimensional universal person.

Croce; Expression is more important than beauty. Art is the unity of intuition and expression. It is an individual and theoretical activity. Nature can be beautiful with the interpretation of the artist.

Consequently, Art is an area where intelligence at the level of genius is embodied in a coherent unity in response to the existent.

Because the artist is in front of his age with his intelligence and intuition, there is little understanding of real art. You need to make an effort to understand it.

Art is an expression of our thoughts, our emotions, our intuition, and our desires, or even more personal: it is about sharing our way of experiencing the world, which is an extension of personality for many.

Of course, there are certain rules and education process. The artist can determine the degree of artistry as well as the masses.

But in essence, it cannot be attributed to the artist’s artistry and the quality of the work of art.

It is obvious that people feel sympathy for those familiar or parallel to their own taste.

There can be no classification among artists because each one strives for creation, but the distinction between artist and non-artist is essential, otherwise, the value of art and the value of law are reduced.

Art is not done without thinking.

Even if you look to any abstract painting and you like the colors and the lines but the Artist doesn’t have his own manifest and reason for making this image if you don’t feel intelligence in the background of this work you can not name it Art. It can be interesting or beautiful but if this final image is obtained by accident or coincidence you can not name it Art, of course, it is something which you can hang on the wall, it can help the decoration of the room and you can enjoy it but still it is definitely not Art.

The essential point of the painting is not what the artist has done but to understand why and how he did it. The person who solves this puzzle and answers this question solves the Art in the piece and the Artist himself.

Behind any artwork there must be thinking, meditating and reasoning of the artist about all around him, persons, life, nature, feelings then he will decide for the composition, lines and colors which will help him to transfer his decision or solution to his canvas, in a perfect harmony through abstraction and imagination, this is called an artist posture, if you don’t feel it is a good work, you better pass to look to the next painting, because there must be one of these three, or the artist is not a good one, or the painting is not a good one or you are not ready to understand and feel the artistic language reflecting from this artwork.

If by any chance you cross him somewhere, don’t be surprised, he (the artist) may not be cute, gentle or charming. He can show a sarcastic, difficult and incomprehensible personality. He can be busy with talking to some of his friends, he can laugh, he can shout if he feels him happy, it doesn’t matter to him who else is present in the same room, President, Ambassador or General.

He is a man (woman) of high emotions, he thinks all others should respect him and show affection because he is different, talented, successful and admired.(high ego). He must live in the depths or heights. You can see one or five trees while walking in the forest, but he is already up, in the sky and look to the whole forest from the sky and feel himself like birds.

Everybody loves freedom but the meaning of being free is a matter of life or death for him, you can not impose him time limits or deadlines for the delivery of the painting, the true artist of today is not like the ones of 14, 15th centuries, he will not like to work on a commissioned piece of art, you can select and buy one of the Works in his archive which he worked in the past, but he made it for his own pleasure. Any moment in the past he wanted to start and work for a painting he will finish in some hours maybe some months.

The good artist doesn’t care for the money. He will, of course, be happy if his old paintings staying at home or in the gallery are sold at a good price. He will of course work for his yearly show in his art gallery although he would expect the gallery owner guarantees him the sales of some pieces in the contract and be paid in advance but these are an intimate artist and gallerist business relationship.

Let’s think you are a gallerist, you have a contract for a solo show with your artist which will take place a year after, it is possible that two months before the show he could still not finish the paintings, panic will push you to squeeze him for on-time delivery, after 10 months of doing nothing he can of course start and finish all paintings with 24 hours work per day, and he delivers you the paintings on time, then it is your problem to check the works one by one if each one is a masterpiece or only 2 of 20 are good pieces, c’est la vie, c’est l’art et l’artiste (this is life, this is art and artist) ! Very difficult to change the historical heritage of him. Just pray for he doesn’t lose himself and forget the thin line between painting for Money or “making art with full spiritual depth and for himself”.

You may be interested or insist of visiting his workshop, sure it should be for a purchase, you tell him what style of works of him you like more and you can show him your interests from his old exhibition catalogs, he can tell you which ones are still available when you buy and go.

But if you ask him to make a painting especially for you with the colors you will choose and the objects from your home that you want him to place somewhere on the canvas, he will think you don’t respect his art, and he will refuse you because the address you visited was wrong. You should go to a different artist and ask what you want from him, still a good artist, self-thought or studied in art academy then decided to paint for money and get rich. He can paint beautiful pieces for you, with your family members and your favorite objects included.

The subjects of his paintings are generally from his own life and his impressions of life, stories and what he sees around him.

The tools they use in paintings or sculptures to express his message or reflect any scene he was effected are very limited, lines, colors, tones, curves but mainly brush strokes special to him even color tones and brush traces named by his name.

The work of the artist consists of his own sense of the idea, pain, joy, cry, caressing, not someone else’s. A photograph or an article in a newspaper can be a muse and reason for a start of a painting, however from that point on it is no more an image or words of a journalist on the paper but a journey of the artist will work to change it in the artwork.

Artist is a thinker and philosopher. He has messages and want history records and keep them. Sometimes you can see a kiss or tears somewhere on the canvas, it isn’t there for nothing.

The unique poem and song “Don’t leave me” is one of the world’s most famous love poem in which there is no word “love”.

Painting requires distinctive psychology, lifestyle, and attitude. The goal of the artist is not to negotiate with others about his Works. He wants to catch and create a different perspective to show even to frighten. Artist relies on reality, but he doesn’t refuse the unreal which can give him strong impressions.

“They may think that my experiences are based on the surreal system. My animal and animalized human figures are forms that are not from nature, but they are concerned about combining these two bodies and taking out the animalesque behaviors kept somewhere inside the human body”. (artist statement Mr.M.G.).

I tried to explain who is an artist and I hope from now on you will keep in mind and look for it when you visit an art gallery or a museum.

N.Y.

#what-is-art

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fabricsking · 3 years ago

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The Real Price of Fast Fashion

On April 23, 2013, the Rana Plaza building owners warned the companies operating on its eight floors about cracks discovered around the building. The shops and banks that operated on the lower floors immediately closed. But the garment factory owners on the upper floor that caters to fast fashion in the western countries, completely ignored the warning.

The very next day, on April 24th, garment workers were pressured and threatened to come for work by their employers. Hours later, in about ninety seconds, the whole building collapsed killing nearly 1134 workers and injuring 2400 workers, some for the rest of their lives. Many people survived the crash but were trapped under tons of rubble and machinery for hours or even days before they could be rescued, some by amputating limbs.

This was the tragic incident that woke the world to the terrible working conditions of the garment workers in third-world countries like Bangladesh. The lives of thousands of people were jeopardized in order to serve the customers with low price tagged items. But was it worth it?

Modern consumer buying behavior

The world is moving faster than ever. Humans have become more efficient at everything they did before. From traveling to manufacturing, we have become better and faster. The same goes for the buying behavior of consumers.

We are increasingly becoming social animals. Each moment of our lives is shared online via Facebook and Instagram. And who would want to be seen in the same dress?

For each and every social gathering, we have tended to be wearing a new dress. What makes it possible is the availability of cheap clothes by most iconic brands. Consumers are willing to spend a reasonable amount of money every time they purchase a new pair of clothes.

It is recorded that almost 100 billion items of garments are manufactured each and every year. We are buying garments at an unprecedented rate. Even though the buyer is at its peak, a huge amount of garments end up in landfills.

Buy More Wear less Culture

A survey commissioned by Barnado’s charity in 2019, found that British people spend up to 2.7 billion pounds on clothes during the summer that will only be worn once. The youth wants novelty in every outfit they wear. Going out means being visible to the world. Thanks to social media. So what happens to those outfits that were worn once, they end up in a corner to eventually end up in waste.

Some of the biggest names in fast fashion are H&M and Zara. They have a turnaround time, design-to-retail, of about five weeks. They introduce around twenty different collections a year.

There is another category of retailers known as the ‘online retailers’ who sells garments in an even speedier fashion. They release about a thousand new products monthly. These ultra-fast fashion trendy designs are being released only feeds into shopper's desire to buy more.

“It’s not just about clothing, it’s about a disposable society – Michael Solomon, consumer behavior expert.”

Today we have moved to a situation where fashion is considered equal to fast food. It is expected that by the year 2050, consumption of fashion will more than triple. How are we going to make certain that the future will be kind to its environment and humans?

Patagonia Breaking the Stereotype

Patagonia is an American outdoor clothing company. They ran an advertisement in The New York Times on Black Friday telling people “Don’t Buy This Jacket”

It was quite controversial for any company to ask its consumers to don’t buy their product. But with this brilliant ad, the company was trying to address the issue of consumerism. As a part of the Common Threads Initiative, Patagonia decided to lighten its environmental footprint. They proposed that everyone needs to consume less and businesses need to make fewer things but of higher quality. What customers need to think twice before they make a purchase.

In an article released on their website, Patagonia says, “Everything we make takes something from the planet we can’t give back. Each piece of Patagonia clothing, whether or not it’s organic or uses recycled materials, emits several times its weight in greenhouse gases, generates at least another half garment’s worth of scrap, and draws down copious amounts of freshwater now growing scarce everywhere on the planet.”

Under the Common Threads Initiative, they encourage consumers to buy less by providing high-quality materials. They help consumers in repairing their existing but broken items. They help customers resell their unused items and they take back their gear from customers to recycle the product.

We have to admit that the effort the brand has taken to decrease its impact is brilliant and noteworthy. The campaign was so successful that they literally tripled their sales. From this model, it is clear that a change is only possible when all the parties involved in the supply chain make a conscious effort to change.

Business of Rental Clothing

There is a new business model that was introduced in the early 2000s. The business of rental clothing. Understanding the consumer's demand to wear fresh clothes and lack of money, start-ups have been formed to solve this problem.

Start-ups like The Stylease offers high-end garments and accessories for a tenth of the retail value on rent for a period of four days. They source expensive clothes from various designers and individual owners that are not going to use the outfit again soon. They list those items on their website after processing them to achieve a fresh look and hygienic appearance.

There are many other start-ups that follow this same business model. And it is becoming popular. One positive thing about this idea is that consumers are utilizing an item to its full capacity. Most bridal wear and occasional outfits are often stored in closets after their use. In this scenario, it is used many times. We want people to adopt and receive such ideas with an open hand to impact positively climate change and sustainability.

Changing Brand Strategies & Consumer Behaviour

One remarkable thing about successful businesses is that they are adaptable. They always keep iterating their strategies to align with the world view. Primark is such a brand that constantly innovates and invests in new technology and sustainability.

On September 15 Primark CEO Paul Marchant and Lynne Walker explained their game-changing sustainability goals in an interview with Drapers.

“Primark Cares has been running for about four years, but this strategy has now put the framework around it. The team looked at our biggest material impacts on the planet, what our colleagues and customers are saying, and then the wider scope that the fashion industry needs to address. We mapped everything that we needed to do, which took around seven months, and then we came up with this 10-year journey. We don’t have all of the answers, but we have got a real clear business case and roadmap in place. (Lynn Walker-Director of Primark Cares)”

When international brands like Primark declare such bold moves to tackle climate change by reducing their carbon footprint, it encourages other brands to follow its path. Brands come under pressure to either change or become the spotlight for criticism and hate.

From a wider perspective, we can say that the textile industry has woken up to the fact that they can no longer function as they used to in the past. In an increasingly transparent and connected world, each and every action are being recorded and questioned. Businesses are held accountable by common people. I am sure that in the coming years, more companies will follow this path and really change the way we do shopping. Most importantly help us realize the true value of clothing.

Do you want us to manufacture sustainable and organic fabrics for you?

#fabrics fast_fashion manufacturing woven textile garment sector

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deepstheeskimo · 4 years ago

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What’s a ‘gym’?

What a day.

Went back to the gym for the first time since Locky-D and even got a lie in because its not 24 hour any more. Deeps and his bucket full of underlying health conditions seems to have just about navigated the pandemic so far without ending up on a respirator or a hospital floor like those videos from Spain, one of which would have probably been the case due to my shadow of an immune system.

Trying to take on COVID would be its version of when Moe dresses up all smart but ends up marching across the whole stage into the ‘rejects’ section.

Anyway, mask and antibac at the ready I turned up at opening time (to see less people and to ensure at least semi-clean equipment), joining the 15 or so others in the queue. Can only describe it as being like Chinese seaweed - a strange and unexpected success.

Obvious changes have been made but I didn’t foresee the banning of spotting, that, ahem, ‘PTs’ would constantly clean equipment or that there would be ample antibac and disinfectant. Sadly there were security tags attached to these bottles at which I’m going to stoically let out a long slow sigh rather than react to by showing a middle finger to everyone I meet. What kind of horrible little mob of people (no way we deserve the word ‘society’) have we become that this would be necessary? Shame.

The decision to close whole walls of lockers instead of binning off multiple spaced columns of these to provide a social distance also seemed questionable but whatever. I trust the science all right, just got no faith in how its enacted as policy. The way that this most recent lockdown has been handled within hours of Eid al-Adha shows that yet again. Ah shocker, Plato right again and I’ve ended up back discussing how blinkered and unthinking this country has become. Must stop that.

Other news: no bugger else used the showers post-workout but I was more than happy to make the place reek like refresher shower gel. Used one of my microfibre towels for the first time since March and I’m happy to report it seemed to not have put on any lockdown lard. Hope it hasn’t been doing favours for Joe Wicks on the side...

Also saw some of the old characters: lil duracell bunny girl running on the same treadmill as ever, wide eyed guy who always looks like you’ve just caught him up to something he shouldn’t be and of course, the guy that looks like he’s out a video game. This guy is amazing. About 6′3, stupid stacked and more ripped than a yellow pages on an episode of Guinness World Records. Always fully colour coordinated clothing with brilliant skin, amazing trim (shaved apart from the top - dyed blonde), great teeth and covered in tattoos. No wonder he strips to his tiny white Y-fronts in the changing rooms to look at himself in the mirror for a good twenty minutes after each session. He also hairdryers his entire body but never showers. Perhaps taking more performance enhancing drugs than a Soviet deadlifter impacts more than your muscle definition.

I wonder what they and the new guy (I’m calling him ‘very serious fella wearing a shirt that reads KOREA ARMY’) all thought of ‘wheezy kid that only ever wears Adidas’ today as I took on my cable machine? I don’t care really because I loved it. Every second. Such a buzz to be back because as much as I’ve exercised every day, kept up the running and made the best of it, I frankly don’t have a cable machine or a squat rack in this one bedroom flat. My mental health took many an elbow to the temple during the heavier lockdown period and losing the gym hit me. It’s been the way I begin my daily routine every single weekday for about three years*. Who cares about some Citroen Saxo lad’s fortnightly Nando’s in comparison to that?

It’s also meant less ability to release the pent up frustrations of days of Zoom, electronic head-pecking and mindless spreadsheets that are finished off by a nice dose of Krishnan on Da News showing the latest inatalment of What A Selfish, Backward Bunch Of Bucktoothed Yokels We Are.

Argh, ok that’s the third time I’ve discussed it. Enough.

*and I’ve gone for years longer than that too, but I’m not properly counting them because I used to finish those sessions off with a stroll to get a Costa Creamy Cooler or 4 pack of Greggs sausage rolls. Oof.

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winstonhcomedy · 5 years ago

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“Dope A-F” - 9/17-10/29- “Bombing in DC, Fun Times in Gainesville, The Slyest Clyde, Storytelling, Wizards, Buskey, and Sick For a Week”

I am legit so tired of doing this dumb ass blog. I want to focus my time on other things, but I know it is good for me to keep writing it. I have so much catching up to do and it is infuriating. So I might just abbreviate the reviews. So with that out of the way let’s get to it.

9/17

I didn’t have a show today, but I needed to get an episode of my podcast recorded. I got Brandon Beswick to contact some of his improv friends, and had them on.

It was a fun pod. I had Joe Freeman, Nathan Bemis, Brandon, and Tom Hall on. We had a super good time just joking around. Giving the games out a day ahead of time really has improved the flow of the show. I can only hope it continues to do so.

9/18

This was kind of a chill night. I had my back to school night at work and when that was over I headed over to Isley to get a set in.

I got to go up third, and there were a few newer comics there as well. I got to talk to a few of my friends and hang, but honestly I was trying to not have to be there too long.

I went after a brand new comic, and tried a bunch of newer stuff. It all worked for the most part. It felt really good to be doing like 7 new minutes. I tried a few new tags, and reworded a few things. I am still figuring out my voice every day but sets like this feel like I am at least figuring out the groove of it. I’d give this set a B. As I was leaving I got to see Jack Parker bring his dog on stage with him, and took a funny picture.

I then headed over to Home Sweet Home to get a good hang in before the mic. It was super chill. Jason had me going up fifth, and it looked like it was going to be an ok sized crowd. He informed us that he would be starting at 9:30 from now on.

My set was similar to the earlier one. I got to try some new stuff, and I adjusted a few things from the set at Isley. People were into it, but one joke didn’t work as well. I need to really sit down and figure it out. I’d give this set a B as well.

I then grabbed my stuff, and said goodbye.

9/19

I was so stoked for tonight. It was Host Battle. This is my favorite show of all time. When we have a crowd that is into it, there is legit no better feeling in comedy.

I got to The Southern early and helped set everything up perfectly. I then did some video editing while I waited for the comics to get there.

The lineup for the night was Sam Wood, Paige Campbell, Keaton Ray, Sam Padgett, Brandon Beswick, Torrey Huggins, and Alex Castagne. We ended up getting about 45 people there. Which isn’t the best we’ve had, but was def good enough.

The show ended up being amazing. I had a lot of good lines and so did Chris. We were able to pull some really funny stuff out of a lot of people. It was like two hours of nonstop jokes. People stayed and seemed to really dig it.

I was able to figure out how to get into my dead dad material. I riffed aline, and it killed. So I can’t wait to go ahead and try it during a set. I’d give the whole show an A. From top to bottom it was the best Host Battle we have done.

After the show we all hung out for a bit, and then I headed home.

9/20

The next day I was hosting in the lounge at the DC Improv. I always love working this room, but recently I have mostly only been hosting. This is fine, and it is a real honor. I just am at a point where I want to get good enough to work my way up the ladder and get some different spots.

The lineup was Bridget Geiran, Isabel Hagan (JFL New Faces) , and Cerrome Russel. We had people drop in from the main room, but it was different each show.

The first one went ok. I had a fine hosting set, and the crowd was into it. I really felt like I had done my job as a host. They were into the show, and it just kept building and building. I’d give this set a B-.

Everybody after me did well. The show built on itself and Cerrome absolutely killed to close it out. After the show it was fun to hang and talk with Bridget and Isabel. Both super dope and funny ladies.

The second show started and they weren’t as into me. I felt like they didn’t like me and I lost them in the middle. I had some big pops but closed weaker than I wanted to. I’d give this set a C-

Still I did my job and got them laughing. The show continued to go well, and get better and better. Afterwards I headed over to Big Hunt to do the mic.

They were super weird and kind of dead here and I was like 18th on the list. So I hung out and met some comics. We had fun riffing, but I was absolutely exhausted so when they told me I was next I was ready to go.

I went up and bombed my ass off. People were not into it at all. I did newer stuff, and everyone was pretty drunk and tired. They didn’t vibe with me, and I felt like I was talking into a void. I even called them out for not laughing at a really great joke. I hated this set, and I'd give it an F.

I then said bye and walked to my car, and headed to TJs to pass out.

9/21

The next day I was at Club Eclipse in Gainesville. The other comics on the show were Lafayette Wright, Bengt Washburn, Cerrome Russel, and Rob Maher.

We had a pretty good hang going before the show. It was a lot of fun. I hadn’t gotten to talk to Rob in a while.

I went up first and had an ok set. Nothing great, and nothing awful. I started slow and it slowly built. There isn’t much to say. I’d give it a C.

After me the show just built, and everyone did great. The show just built, and each comic kept it coming. After the show I got in my car and headed home to pass out.

9/23

I got to The Southern early to set up. I tried rearranging the tables differently to try to get a more intimate feel, and to give myself a better place to set up the camera. After setting everything up I waited for comics to show up.

It was an incredibly light list. We only had 13 comics counting myself. No Richmond comics came, and we didn’t have all of the Charlottesville comics either. Chris wanted it to be a quick show so he was going to give everyone 5 minutes and we’d be all out of there by like 9:10.

The show starts and we have a nice little crowd. It is more than last week, and at least they seem attentive. Everybody begins to go up and the show is going pretty smoothly. I went over to Chris and asked him if I could go last so I could do 10 instead of 5 and he said of course.

I go up for my set and I use the first 8 minutes of my set trying new stuff. It is a super fun and productive mic. the people who are there are into it. They’re digging it. I do new jokes and a little bit of crowd work to warm them up. Then at the 8 minute mark another 14 people walked in, and headed to the bar. So Chris texted me to do 25 minutes so we could sell some more drinks. He also told me to do my A material. So I did. I flipped a switch and went into full performance mode. I ended up having a super hot set doing older stuff. I am very proud of the way I was able to adjust. I accomplished a lot, I learned a lot, and I got a good response. I’d give this set an A.

It was one of the best Southern’s I’d ever been a part of. It was still only 9:40 when the show ended which is like 25 minutes earlier than usual. All in all a super great night.

9/24

The next night the Richmond Funny Bone stand up class was doing their hell week. Tim Loulies asked some local comedians to come and help his students. He picked a made up scenario for each of his students to have to go through. So we did things like heckle, hit on them, ask questions, fake fights, talk loudly, and other things. The best news is I got a text in the middle of the show that my brother had his daughter. So I am an uncle again. I can hardly hold my excitement.

It was pretty brutal, but it was a lot of fun. I used to have problems with stand-up classes. I used to think they were rip offs, but I have adjusted my expectations. If a standup class is what you need to work up the courage to try standup you should go for i. As long as they aren’t advertising that they can make you funny it is ok. I also realize that a lot of people do this as a bucket list/groupon thing. Its the same as people that want to go to rock and roll camp.

Afterwards I talked to Tim and we squashed any beef that we had with each other. We had had a misunderstanding involving a show a little over a year before. It was a good talk and glad we had it.

After this I headed over to Fallout to get a set in. It was a light crowd. It wasn’t even a ton of comics. I got to say hi to the bartender Shelby, and also got to chill with Paige and Alex. Avery Barnard was there, and it was good to catch up. Honestly it was a fun hang. I went up like third.

I go up and try a bunch of new stuff. It works ok for the room. Some stuff gets some laughs and another bit just kind of dies. I am in this period of having a lot of new jokes, and a lot of them are clicking right away, or are at least getting tight pretty fast. The only problem is I also have like 5 or 6 really fun ideas that I just can’t seem to adjust, and make them work. I’d give this set a C. I then headed straight home to pass out.

9/26

I headed down to Hampton after work to do a spot on Ian Nightingale’s show at Sly Clyde Cidery. It is a cider in this little old house. It is a super cute set up, an apparently the shows have been awesome. I got there early and when he showed up we went to hand out some flyers, and grab quick bite to eat/drink.

After this we headed back to the venue. Nick Deez showed up and we got a nice hang in. We headed instead and Luhray and Ryan Valentine showed up. We caught up and joked around a bit.

Then the crowd started to fill in. This place got absolutely packed. It was awesome> I quickly set up my camera so I could record for everyone. Then Ian got the show started.

Ian had a good hosting set, and Nick followed that up and did fine. He had a good pop doing some crowd work which was cool. Then Luhray went up and had a killer set in the middle.

I went up and did a bit of crowd work up top, but then went right into my material. I was having a super hot set. Everything was working, and I got a few bits to hit extremely hard. I knew I'd be able to cut a few out for some videos. I’d give this set an A-.

After me Ryan went up and closed really strongly as well. He had some stuff hit super hard, and it felt like this was a really killer show. The coolest part was before Ian went up and mentioned a tip jar I told him to mention Venmo as well. It was like these people couldn’t wait to do it. We got some tips, and I headed home. Only to find out I had left my credit card in Hampton.

9/27

The next day I got Nick to go grab my credit card since we were doing the same show together at Midnight Brewing in Rockville. We were both opening for Chris Covert.

I get there early and listen to some of the Hokie football game. We got destroyed. I go inside and meet up with Chris and John Gilbreath (he is running the shows). I set up my camera, and just have a good hang. Nick Deez shows up at well since he is doing a guest spot.

There is a super small crowd. It is incredibly loud. There is no ac in the back room so there is a huge fan going, and the garage door is open. It is so dark you can’t see the tiny crowd so crowd work isn’t really an option. I tell John I need to get to a show at Buskey I am closing out after so to light me at 18.

John and Nick go up and both do ok. Honestly this crowd wasn’t giving anybody much. I went up next and I hated it. One of the least fun times I have ever had on stage. I tried crowd work, and when they laughed I couldn’t hear it over the fan. I couldn’t see their faces so I couldn’t even pretend they were laughing. It was brutal. I kept waiting for the light, but it felt like it never came. Some of my jokes worked. The big pops I could hear, but everything else (which was most of it) got nothing. I’d give this set an F.

I got off stage and saw that he never lit me, and I had just done 25. So now I was in a rush. I hopped in my car and headed downtown.

I got to Buskey in the middle of Beau Troxclair’s set. He was next to last. So I had about 3 minutes to get myself together before I had to go up. I didn’t make a set list. I am trying to be even more in the moment. I don’t want to look over at a list. I want to have a rotating list of bits in my head, and just go with what I want on these shows.

I went up and had a blast. I had the exact opposite of the set earlier. I could see people, it wasn’t loud, and it was packed. I am so glad I set my camera up. I did a bunch of new. I am proud that each show I've done here I’ve done a completely new set. I close super strong, and plug the venue. This was a killer show. I’d give my set an A.

After the show I talked to the other comics. I thanks Carlton, and got some cider from the venue (since I don’t drink and drive they let me convert my drink tickets into a six pack). Afterwards a bunch of comics went to Cobra Cabana since James Muñoz was bartending. Then I headed home

9/28

The next day I was in Staunton during the Harry Potter Festival. I got to walk around and hang out. It was actually really neat to see. I watched a Quidditch match and got to see Jeyon from the Southern up there. Got to meet his kids and chilled.

The show was at Red Beard Brewing and we had a super light crowd. I was honestly worried it was going to be awful like the previous night. I made sure I did my best though. I went up and had a super fun set. I went up after Lurae, John Gilbreath and Torrey Huggins.

I pretty much did half crowd work and half my act. The crowd was into it. I got some pretty big laughs for such a small crowd. This was a much more fun show. I’d give my set a B-.

Chris Covert went up next and did about 45 minutes of music, and had a killer set. Everybody was into it and it was a truly amazing show. I then dipped out immediately because I had to head to DC the next day.

9/29

The next day I hit up Jack Gerow to ride with me to DC so I could do a storytelling show for Mark Mensh at Reliable Tavern.

We rode up and had a super fun hang. We left pretty early because the show was going to start at 6. We got up there and I was prepping to do my schoolbus story.

We get there and it is a tiny crowd. This is also a show where it is truly about storytelling so we were warned there wouldn’t be a ton of laughs.

The show starts and people are doing ok. All of the stories are interesting, but no one is really killing or getting super huge laughs. Saw Walton, Matt Deakins, Fernando Madrigal, Sandi Benton, Josh Hebert, and others were on the show.

I finally went up and got quite a few laughs. It was a good story. Mark told me afterwards it was really well done.He is such a good dude. I’d give my set a C+. That story definitely has legs, but I am not a storytelling comic so it needs work

After my set Jack and I headed back. We rocked out to Sum 41, and it was a super fun time.

9/30

Monday at the Southen I tried setting up the room a little differently. I got there early and made sure that I had the tables lined up a certain way. I then moved the chairs to try to make the show more intimate and get more people in there.

Then I grabbed dinner with a friend. It was nice to catch up before the show. After dinner I headed back and chilled with the comics. It was really nice and relaxing. It got absolutely packed. We have some new regulars and new audience members ever week. New comics are always popping up, and it is defintley super rewarding to see.

I went up kind of the in the middle and did newer stuff. My set wasn’t crazy memorable. I got some laughs, but it honestly just felt good to have that room packed again! I’d give this set a C.

After the show I walked a couple of my friends back to their cars, and then dipped out.

10/3

I took a few days off from comedy to watch some baseball with my brother (hadn’t watched a full game since dad died.) I also got to chill with my new baby niece, and my other niece. It was so much fun to hang out with them for a few days.

After hanging I headed over to do a quick spot at Penny Lane. I hadn’t been here in months,. I was stoked to go up. There was an ok crowd, and a pretty fun hang going on.

I went up and did ok. I started pretty strong and ended mediocre. I was working out some new which felt pretty good. I am proud of the material I am doing right now. I’d give this set a C-.

After my set I said some goodbyes and gave some hugs. I was exhuasted and headed home.

10/4

The next night I was in Arlington for a bachelor party. I really wanted to get up so I took the metro a couple stops to get to Summers so I could do a spot. I get there and there is a few people there. I introduce myself to the host, and have a seat.

Glenn Lawrence shows up, and so does Heather Kilburn. Then Jack Parker and Brock Hall. It feels really good to see a few people I know.

The show starts and it’s a lot of pretty inexperienced comics. I legit have never seen most of them. I guess they live in Nova and only do these mics. They’re all doing ok, but I am ready to get up on stage.

I have to ask the host several times where he is putting me (he didn’t have me on the list at comic call). He eventually puts me up like 11th.

I go up and have a fun set. My first joke doesn’t really work, but the rest kind of kill. I am pretty happy for the set. I followed a few people who bombed pretty hard, so being able to rise and get a solid set done felt great. I”d give this set a B.

I then headed back to the bachelor party to catch up with my friends. It was a super fun night.

10/5

The next day I met up with Martin Phillips and did his podcast at the Arlington library. We had a pretty good time. I think the podcast turned out good and I always love hanging with Martin.

I then headed down to Manassas to headline Public House Kitchen. Apparently they were having a huge festival. I couldn’t find anywhere close to park. I parked a ways away and then headed to meet up with the booker Andy Sanderson.

We headed to the venue and caught up with each other. We set up the room, but we were worried it wouldn’t be packed due to the festival. The other comics Molly Fratz and Cliff McGrady showed up to hang. They’re both super nice and funny.

The show starts and it is pretty full. The crowd is into it from the start. Molly had a solid set before Andy brought up Cliff. Cliff absolutely destroyed. He is a disabled comic, and he he has a way of setting a ton of tension and releasing it. He was murdering and I was so worried I couldn’t follow it.

Then it was my turn. I go up and proceeded to have one of the best sets I have ever had in my life. I start with crowd work because there was a heckling lady, and I just let her have it. I go back to her a lot during the night. It is some killer crowd work with tons of callbacks and references. After about 15 minutes I hop over to my material and that is killing too. I even got to close out trying a bunch of my dad material. The people loved it. I’d give this set an A.

After the show I hung out and talked to people a bit. Got some nice compliments and got to hang with Cliff. I think we are going to do another show pretty soon, and it is going to rule. The I headed home.

10/6

The next night I was back in Richmond closing out The Hof Garden open mic. It was a pretty chill night. A bunch of comics went up, and they didn’t do a ton of advertising. So it was an ok sized crowd, but nothing spectacular.

The cool part was most of my friends were here. I got to hang with Kenn, Anthony, Paige, Ryan Mather, and Alex amongst others. We all had fun, and they had some good sets.

I went up and I had a fun set. I got a pretty good response, and did some crowd work. I went into a heckler and it went pretty well. I then closed on dad material and I felt good about it. I’d give this set a B-.

After my set though a drunk dude came up and screamed, “booooooo” into my ears as loud as he could. He was drunk, and being a dick but this was incredibly hurtful after doing well and doing dad material. Heck the guy who heckled me even told me it was a good set. This dude was just a pos, but it put me in a bad headspace. I talked to Anthony for a while and he put it into perspective for me and I really appreciated that. I headed home and passed out.

10/7

I had felt under the weather all day. I decided even though I missed work to head to The Southern. I got to town and did a photoshoot to promote my new shirt. So I walked around the downtown mall, and got some super cute and funny pics with the three colored shirts. I started t notice I felt crappy though during this.

I went to the mic, and it was fun. It was packed which was cool too. We went ahead and set up a ton of chairs and got everybody situated which was dope. The show started and everybody did well.

I went up and did ok. I did a lot of new. Some pops, but not a ton. I didn’t bomb, but with so much new material it just didn’t hit the way I wanted it to. I’d give this set a C.

I felt pretty bad so I went home and passed out. I woke up in the middle of the night and was super sick. So I went to the doctor the next day and missed the entire week of work dealing with a horrendous virus. I had to cancel several paying gigs because I didn’t think I'd be healthy in time. This was the sickest I’ve been since college.

10/11

I had been sick all week but made myself go to set up and run my first show at Hollys Diner in Charlottesville. I had been promoting for over a month and really wanted a successful show. I was nervous and kind of bummed since my headliner bailed on me at the last minute. I understand why though. He got a better gig and took it. Which is the same thing I would have done. So I just bumped the feature (Mu Cuzzo) up to headline and gave Paige Campbell, Heather Kilburn longer spots, and added Ry Mather.

I get there and set up. I feel pretty crappy, but I am ready for the show. We actually get a pretty dope crowd. I was so surprised at the turnout for the show. I was super nervous, because I don’t have a great track record of people coming out to shows I produce.

I go up and people are pretty talkative so I assume it is going to suck. Then I just started and people started to quiet down and pay attention. The regulars at the bar were into it, and so were the people who came to the show. I did about 12 minutes and it all went really well. People were really warm-up and into it. I’d give my set a B-.

Then the show just kept getting better. Everybody did well. Ry, Heather and Paige all had super fun sets. They really made me proud and helped the show. Then Mu closed out with 30+ and he had a really super fun time.

After that Jack Gerow ran the open mic portion. I made sure to avoid the pitfall I see many people do. I didn’t differentiate between the showcase and the open mic. I just brought Jack up saying he was the host for the rest of the show. This worked great. Honestly the crowd stuck in there for the most part. Until a comic had a joke not work, and then they were like, “it’s an open mic what do you want?” Then the audience started to be less engaged. This was infuriating to watch someone derail a show like that.

The rest of the show was fine. Some people after that did really well, but now I know I have to make a rule about not mentioning it is an open mic on stage.

After the show I packed up, and walked to my car. I then headed home to finally get some rest.

10/12

I had to cancel my other weekend shows since I was sick. I then decided to go and watch and support my friend Paige headlining at College Inn. I got there and was feeling a little bit better so John Marg offered me a five minute guest spot.

I went up and did ok. I was still out of it and probably shouldn’t have performed, but most of my jokes did well. It felt good to perform, but I was definitely in no shape to travel for this weekend. I’d give this set a B.

I then hung with Paige, Sean Wells, Samantha Padgett, and Marg. I watched Paige go up and do about 25 minutes and everyone seemed to dig the show. We went to eat afterwards and I just got a coffee.

After hanging I felt miserable so I headed home to sleep. I felt so bad I couldn’t sleep and ended up passing out at about 5 am.

10/13

I was still feeling rough, but way better so I went to do the live podcast Booze Clues at Hof Garden. I got to do this podcast because I won the comedy smackdown contest the previous month.

This podcast is people just taking turns talking about different stories in the news involving alcohol. This month’s they were all from Florida so we were supposed to dress like Florida man.

So I dressed up and headed to the show. It was a super light crowd, and they were kind of drunk and rowdy. I told myself I was just going to have fun on the podcast. Which is what I did. I had mine together the most. I was able to riff and get some big laughs. I did my best and was super proud of how it went. I’d give it a B.

I left immediately to get a good night’s sleep because I wasn’t missing work the next day, and I was going to watch the Cardinals play the Nationals. My brother got us tickets to honor dad at the last minute.

10/16

That Wednesday I was getting to host the open mic at Isley. I was kind of nervous because this show has really been hit or miss. I had a bunch of pre-sign ups so I was going to run it super tight.

There was a light crowd, but they were into it and ended up staying the whole time. I went up and did some new, and riffed a bit. It was a fine set I’d give it a C. I then started bringing people up.

I had some fun riffs in between comics, and we were busting balls, and just having a great time. I brought Paige up as his first time doing comedy and he had fun pretending to be super nervous.

This show ended up being super fun even with the small crowd. I said my goodbyes and headed to Home Sweet Home.

I get there and Kusterer has me going up second. I got to chill and hang with a bunch of people and there was an actual crowd upstairs. He got the show started late because there was a Washington Capitals game on.

After the game the show started and Jason went up. After him Carlton K had a set, and he set me up pretty well to riff on his stuff and do new material.

I went up and busted his balls, and tried all new stuff. I had a few new jokes that worked really well. I also had a few bomb completely. This was a fun and productive set. I leaned in super hard making a joke about Heather Heyer. I don’t know why I leaned in, but I was just having a good time. I’d give this set a B-.

I headed straight home to rest again as soon as this was done.

10/17

The next night I was headlining at North America Sake. I invited a few friends and once I got there I saw there wasn’t a huge crowd. I didn’t even set up my camera because I was still out of it a little from being sick.

But I was able to grab a bunch of mochi ice cream to eat. I assumed that was what I was going to get paid in. I had a fun meal with Samantha Padgett, Heather Kilburn, David Luzader, and Chris Alan.

The show starts and it is a light crowd, but people are into it. Everybody goes up and does pretty well. Since Chris is headlining later in the week I am the one closing out and I have to follow him. He does a bunch of crowd work and has a good set. I am nervous. I think he is super hard to follow and I didn’t feel like working that hard.

So I go up and it goes way better than I expected. I did about 33 minutes and had a blast. I worked through some of my dad material and did a bunch of new stuff. It just made me happy to be able to not only follow Chris, but be able to keep people’s attention in a small crowd, and just have fun. I’d give this set a B After this I talked to some friends, and gave a friend a ride back to their car before heading out and passing out.

10/18

After work I headed to Lovingston to headline the first comedy show at The Lovingston Cafe. My friend Colby Knight was running the show. It was going to be him, Jake Snyder, and then me. This was to be followed by an open mic.

I headed there right after work and stopped in Charlottesville to grab dinner with a friend and get a few pictures taken. After eating I headed straight to Lovingston. Which is between Lynchburg and Charlottesville. There’s like nothing going on there.

I go inside and not many people are there, but the stage looks cool. There is a long bar on the side and a raised stage at the front. I’d say by the time the show started there was like 16 drunk people there.

Colby goes up and does a pretty good job warming them up. They are laughing and actually paying attention. After this Jake goes up and has one of the better sets I have seen him have. He really had them hooked with his material from the beginning.

Then I went up and had an absolute blast. I had to work my ass off. I wish I had recorded because I had some really fun crowd work and my material was working. I did close to 30 minutes and I'd say about 20 was crowd work and about 10 of material. They dug me, and I was able to read people really well. We honestly had the best time. The people who run the cafe also are part owners of Fallout. So they were super happy with how it went. I’d give my set a B+.

Afterwards I left pretty quickly after saying goodbye. I wanted to get a good night’s rest, and just enjoying being at home.

10/19

My plan’s had been cancelled this night so I got to hop on and do a guest spot for Chris at The Southern during his headlining show. It was going to be a super fun night.

Chris was headlining, TJ Ferguson was featuring, Paige and I were doing guest spots and JR was hosting. There was a good little crowd and I had some friends from work come up to check out the show which was awesome.

They sat in the front and the show started. JR and Paige both had pretty good sets, but they weren’t the best crowd. They were kind of wack, and nobody could get them to crack. I went up and it was pretty much the same. I opened strong and then switched to new like an idiot and just didn’t close well. I’d give my set a D.

Chris went up and killed thought which was dope to see. He did a lot of crowd work, and really ripped into my friends who were in the front row. The video turned out super good, and I am glad I have it.

After the show I hung for a bit, but I was extremely sleepy. I walked to my car and headed home to pass out. I woke up the next day with a text message from Paige. They saw a homeless lady wearing my t-shirt. It was pretty awesome, and made my day. She said she got it because it was so cute.

10/20

I decided to hop in and do a mic last minute at Brewer’s Cafe in Manchester. I got there and there was like no audience. The only comics were Remo, Melissa Harris, Soo Ra (a New York comic on a layover), Mark Viola ( an Orlando comic passing through) and myself. Then there were about 4 people who come to all of these shows to hang out.

Remo started the show. He did as well as he could. He was just working out ideas. Some of it was funny, but it was mostly just conversation as he tried to find the funny in all of his new bits.

He then brought me up and it was just me talking to black people for 15 minutes. I tried a few ideas and got some laughs. Then I asked the audience about what their thoughts about Bill Cosby, and R. Kelly was. We had a good discussion, and it helped me with a lot of bits, but I was not getting a ton of laughs. I was trying to work this stuff out. It was super productive but I hated my set so I’d give it a D-.

The rest of the comics went up and did as well as expected. A few more people showed up, and it was honestly a lot of fun. I didn’t feel bad in the moment because everyone was bombing. I was glad to have figured some jokes out. I have felt really disorganized lately, and I need to work on that.

I headed to a friend’s and passed out immediately.

10/22

There was no Southern Monday so I had the day off. The next day was Paige’s birthday. So I decided to get a group together to do an episode of The Winstmas Games where he got to pick his favorite games and contestants and play.

We went over to Brandon Beswick’s house and had a super fun time. He made dinner and Alex, Paige, Taylor, Brandon, and I did a super fun episode of the podcast.

Paige, Alex, and I then headed to Fallout. I asked to go early so I could get some sleep. There was a few people here, but not a crazy amount. They weren’t super into the show, but Jesse Jarvis was hosting and he did a super dope job as always.

Before the show started I got to hang with some friends and have a little fun. I am doing this new stupid bit that involves me flossing (not on stage, and yes the dance). It is so dumb and gets people every time. So it’s a blast.

Jarvis then called me up. I did ok. I got some pretty good laughs, and got to work on a lot of new stuff. It was a super productive and fun set. I’d give this one a B-.

Before leaving I talked to the owner’s of Lovingston Cafe. They were still super happy with the show and invited me back which was super nice.

10/23

I was so excited that I was getting to headline in Lynchburg at Speakertree records. Apparently the last show they did was awesome. So after work I headed straight up there.

I get there and no one is there. Just the host Jake Snyder. The room looks absolutely amazing. I get all my merch ready to sell. I roll them up and put them in a bad. I take my camera and tripod in as well.

I set everything up and wait for people to get there. No one ever really shows up. The show was Jake, Paige, Brandon, and myself. Then there was an open mic afterwards. The only audience members who weren’t performing were a girl’s bf, and a random girl who saw it on FB.

the other comics were a girl named Paige, a dude named Skylar (who showed up 10 minutes into my set), and John Marg. I am super bummed that no one shows up, but the hang before hand is dope and I got a super cute pic of me.

The show starts and it is low energy, but we are all having fun. Everyone there is friends, and we are trying new stuff and busting balls. Jake, Paige, and Barndon all did well. I am always impressed with people that can just do their material in the face of no one being at a show. I don’t have enough confidence in my material to ever do that.

Then it is my turn. I start with some crowd work and riff on the room. I get some good laughs and then I start talking to the girl who isn’t performing. Her name is Hannah and we have a super fun time. She says she is from Liberty, but she likes comedy.

I did about 30+ minutes of newish material. They seem to dig it. I have some solid riffs and try some material I have never really done before. I am definitely happy with how it went, but it didn’t feel crazy good the whole time. I’d give it a C.

After this I stuck around for the open mic to support Jake. I then talk to the new comics a bit, and thank Hannah for being a good sport. I then drove straight home. I got to have a dope conversation with my buddy Alex which made it fly by. He was at the DC Improv and I was so proud of him.

10/24

The next night I just hopped into Penny Lane after hanging with some friends. I asked to go up early and James Muñoz let me.

Nothing too crazy happened here. There was a group of white supremecists who did not know comedy was going to be happening. James did his set, and they started to close out their tabs.

He brought me up and I proceeded to just bomb doing my new jokes for 7 minutes. I was just loud, performative, and enunciated for the 4 people that were actually there to see comedy. During my set all the white supremacists left. So I think I was just a buffer to clear them out. I’d give this set an F. I didn’t stick around long at all and headed home.

10/25

All of my shows got cancelled this weekend. This sucked because it was the second weekend in a row where some paying stuff got cancelled. I was super bummed. I was going to just go watch the show at Buskey, but when I hit up Carlton he said some people had bailed and asked if I wanted to do a spot on the show. I said absolutely.

So I hung out with a friend, got dinner, went to the circuit, and headed to Buskey. I got to chill with all of my friends at the show. It was actually a fun hang. Jack Johnston, Jack Parker, Taylor Baldwin, Will Minor, Carlton, Mu, and Kusterer were all there.

It was a lighter crowd than usual but it was definitely a solid crowd. They were into the show. I went up third. First was Will Minor and Carlton had made a hat for him that made him look like the Buskey Cider logo.

Then Jack Johnston went up and had a really solid set. It was good to see. I was very proud. Then it was my turn.

I went up and a dude had heckled Carlton so I busted his balls about that. I kept calling back to the dude, and had a super fun set. I did mostly newer stuff, but a few older things. This is the best room in the city and I felt good about my set. I’d give it a B.

After my set I saw there were some people from work who recognized me. They said hey, and it was cool to be recognized even though I haven’t really talked to them before. I then hung out in the back and chilled with my friends.

After the show some of us went to Hof Garden. By that time Taylor O’Sullivan had showed up so we walked over there, and had a drink on the rooftop. It was a super fun time. I was super tired so I drove my friend home, and then headed back.

10/27

I wanted to do a quick set after hanging out with my nieces. I headed over to Tastys. I asked to go first. There wasn’t anyone really there and the music was going. So I went up and bombed my dong off for 6 minutes. I legit got like no laughs at all. It was brutal. I’d give it an F.

10/28

This was going to be a super fun show at The Southern. I had decided to make it a Halloween show. So people cold wear costumes and at the end of the show Chris would pick, and then they would win free tickets to The Winstmas Games.

I got to the show incredibly early and set it up. I made sure we had enough seats for everybody since it has been packed lately. I was wearing my Calvin and Hobbes costume and I was so excited to get this show going. A lot of the comics dressed up which was dope.

The show started and the crowd was weird. The only things they really laughed at were jokes about costumes. So some people did really well and some bombed super hard. I was the latter.

I went up and did completely new material. Like stuff I’d never done before. It did not go great. The only stuff that killed was me riffing about being Calvin. It was a lot of fun, but it was also kind of frustrating. I felt terrible after this set. I’d give it an F.

It was one of those shows where it didn’t matter that I bombed. I got to hang with my friends and that was so awesome. Everyone looked great and the crowd really dug when Paige did a set as Mario. His set was the set of the night.

I grabbed all of my stuff and sold a t-shirt to a friend. Found out that Chris had lost his shirt and that is where the homeless woman got it. So that is how we solved that mystery. All in all a great time.

10/29

There was no show today. I just did my podcast with Paige, Jack Johnston, Jack Parker, and Ry Mather. We had a really fun time. We got into a good discussion about comedy by the end of the show. It was a super good podcast. I then headed home.

OMG folks that’s it. I am caught up. I will be back now. I’ve been depressed, but I haven’t forgotten. I got sick a week and it just threw me off. But I love you laydees so much for sticking it out and supporting #cutecomedy. We will keep it up. LOVE Y’ALL xoxo

#comedy #jokes #standup #hilarious #halloween #scary #spooky #dc #rva #virginia #improv #bombing #heckler

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ezatluba · 6 years ago

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Oysters open more widely during the new moon, though nobody knows exactly why.

Why oysters close on the full moon—and more odd lunar effects on animals

New research shows that the moon has unexpected and fascinating impacts on marine animals, from oysters to worms to plankton.

DOUGLAS MAIN

APRIL 17, 2019

A full moon is looming—and it will have a big impact on animals, especially those in the ocean.

Recent studies show that many types of animals have biological clocks finely tuned to the cycles of the moon, which drives fascinating and sometimes bizarre patterns of behavior.

Besides revealing hidden aspects of animal life, the research also has implications for better understanding the circadian clocks present in all animals, including humans. (Read more about how the moon affects life on Earth.)

The first circadian clocks evolved in the oceans, so studying them in marine animals can tell us a lot about how they evolved and how they work and interact with each other, explains Kim Last, a researcher at the Scottish Association for Marine Science.

Zooplankton

Take zooplankton. These tiny animals engage in the world’s largest migration, which takes place every night when they swim toward the surface to feed on algae. These mini-creatures are prey to a many larger animals that hunt by sight. So to avoid predation, zooplankton head for the depths at dawn.

“The predators follow them until they run out of light,” Last says. This requires an intricate circadian rhythm, usually regulated by the sun. However in the Arctic, where the winter sun cannot be seen for months on end, some zooplankton also have an internal clock that is set to the moon. Two, actually. (Find out more about circadian rhythms.)

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When the winter moon is full over the Arctic, it stays above the horizon for a handful of days (depending on latitude), and during this time, zooplankton dive to take cover from predators. But while the moon is out, it also rises and sets—and the zooplankton respond, rising and diving over the course of this cycle, which takes 24 hours and 50 minutes.

Zooplankton like this type of krill rise to the surface at night and dive during the day, but they are also impacted by light from the moon.

Oysters

Oysters, which open their shells to eat and spawn, also have a lunar rhythm, a new study shows.

In a recent experiment, French researchers carefully monitored how widely a dozen oysters opened their shells during a 3.5-month period. The team used a high-tech device that quantified the valve opening every two seconds, as described in a paper published in the journal Biology Letters.

They found that two types of oysters in Arcachon Bay in southwestern France were significantly more open during new moons and more closed when the moon was full. In addition, the oysters could tell the difference between the first quarter moon and the third quarter moon, and were significantly more open (by nearly 20 percent) at the latter.

It’s unknown why the oysters do this, though it could be due to more algae or other food being available during the new moon and as the year progresses, says study leader Damien Tran, a researcher at the University of Bordeaux.

The lunar cycle could influence food availability by its impact on the tides and thus the ocean’s currents. When the moon is full or new, it is directly in line with Earth and the sun, exerting a strong pull on the ocean and thus causing more pronounced tides, explains David Wilcockson, a marine biologist at Aberystwyth University in Wales who wasn’t part of the study.

On the other hand, when the moon is half-full, it is most out of alignment with Earth and the sun, producing so-called neap tides, which are the weakest of the tidal cycle.

The oysters’ rhythms could also have something to do with conditions favorable for mating. The moon, with its corresponding impact on tides and ocean currents, drives many types of marine organisms to mate at specific times of the month and year.

Palolo worms

For instance, oysters, corals, and many types of ocean animals breed by “broadcast spawning,” wherein they release sperm and eggs together in a precisely timed, orgiastic explosion.

Palolo worms, which live in warm ocean waters worldwide, engage in a rather extreme example of this.

South Pacific palolo worms, for example, spend most of the years feeding on organic matter on the seafloor or within coral. But in the austral spring, the rear of their bodies turn into sacks of egg or sperm.

During two days in October, these break off from the rest of the worm, and using an eyespot within, swim toward the surface—and the light of the moon. Exactly a month later, they repeat this feat in even great numbers, during the last quarter moon of November.

A pod of orcas hunts off the Norwegian coast. Orcas are specialist predators: They have finely-tuned strategies for hunting specific prey, like herring, which means they don't cope well with environmental change.

Orcas work together to "carousel hunt." Here, an orca drives herring toward the surface. Then members of the pod will bunch the herring together, giving others a chance to feed.

Southern rockhopper penguins swim toward shore in the Falkland Islands. They use their flipper-like wings to dive fast and deep in search of prey like fish and krill.

Rockhopper penguins climb a steep cliff in the Falklands. Overfishing, pollution, and other perils have dramatically reduced the population of these gregarious birds.

A large colony of Cape fur seals covers a beach near Cape Fria, Namibia. The seals are hunted en masse in Namibia for their oil and fur.

Researchers attempt to satellite tag blue whales off the coast of California. Blue whales, the largest animals on Earth, were hunted to the brink of extinction in the early 20th century. They've made only a partial recovery.

Striped mullet fish swim in a lake in Florida's Fanning Springs State Park. Mullets are a common food source for many larger species. They can thrive in both salt water and fresh water and live all over the world.

Lionfish swim over a reef in the Red Sea. Lionfish are venemous and are considered invasive species in some parts of the world, particularly the Caribbean. They've thrived there, taking the place of other species, like the grouper, that have become overfished.

Opalescant inshore squids lay more than 50,000 eggs at a time and live for six to nine months. Their rapid reproduction rate means that they're potentially positioned to evolve quickly enough to cope with perils such as plastic waste and warming waters.

Anglerfish live deep in the ocean, where there is no light. Females, like the one seen here, "host" males on their bodies. The males latch on with their teeth and are permanent parasites.

Moon jellyfish are pictured off the coast of Alaska. They don't have a respiratory system and breathe by diffusing oxygen through the translucent membranes covering their bodies.

A great white shark swims off Seal Island, in South Africa. Great whites are long-living apex predators and evolve very slowly, making them particularly susceptible to deteriorating ocean conditions due to climate change.

A great white shark catches a decoy seal, set out by researchers. The predators are often hunted for their fins and meat, and they're also caught accidentally, as bycatch in fishing nets.

Thousands of olive ridley sea turtles emerge from the sea once a month to lay eggs on Ostional Beach, in Costa Rica. Dogs, storks, and vultures frequently prey on hatchlings and eggs—as do humans.

Tourists visit Ostional Beach as turtles emerge to lay eggs. It's legal for residents of the beach community to dig up eggs to sell. The beach's management says that profits stay in the community and that less than 1 percent of the eggs laid every year are collected.

Female olive ridley sea turtles all emerge at the same time every month, usually the week before the new moon, to lay eggs. They dig out a cone-shaped hole in the sand, about a foot and a half deep, and lay their eggs inside.

Speckled sea louse

Even more ordinary behaviors may be driven by the moon as well. Consider the speckled sea louse (Eurydice pulchra).

These little guys burrow in the sand in the intertidal zone, which is covered by water at high tide, and dry when it’s low. They have an internal lunar clock wherein they are active at 12.4-hour intervals, coinciding with the tides, explains Wilcockson.

Sea lice also have a monthly cycle, and are more active during the full and new moons, with their stronger currents, and more sedate during the weak neap tide, he says. But they also have a sun-linked daily cycle: They get dark during the day to protect themselves from solar rays, and are paler at night.

Lab experiments have shown these are separate. “We could abolish the daily cycle, and leave the tidal cycles intact,” Wilcockson says.

Sand hoppers

Another underappreciated creature that lives on British beaches: sand hoppers (Talitrus saltator).

“If you disturb them during the day, they’ll migrate back up the shore and bury themselves in the sand,” Wilcockson says. “If you disturb them at night, they’ll migrate down the shore to feed on stuff that’s washing up.”

Wilcockson explains that scientists hypothesized the crustaceans use their antennae to navigate via the sun, which has been shown to be the case in monarch butterflies. In a 2016 study published in Scientific Reports, Wilcockson and colleagues removed sand hoppers’ antennae and saw how they navigated in a nighttime and daytime environment.

Contrary to expectations, the animals could navigate just find during the day without antennae—presumably using their brains (and light through their eyes). But at night, without these appendages, they were totally lost. The experiment showed sand hoppers have independent clocks tied to each heavenly body, in different parts of their body.

“Our sand hopper has a lunar clock and a solar clock in the antennae and the brain, respectively,” he adds.

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aloisimmonsdc-blog · 7 years ago

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Official Blog Post #6

Public Health Campaigns & Communities

The concept of “health” refers to personal and communal well-being, both physically and mentally (Dosemagen and Aese, 2017). Social communities have long relied heavily on network channels to raise awareness of public health-related issue and facilitate behaviour or change. Using Social Media Platforms to promote Health campaigns on social media not only brings awareness, however amplifies Public Health Messages. Social media blogs have been widely adopted by individuals experiencing serious, chronic 2 and life-threatening illness as a way of documenting and sharing experiences, exploring treatment options, and connecting with others who have knowledge or experience with a particular illness (McCosker, 2008; Kotliar, 2015). Personally, when i was a typical 14 year old who used tumblr excessively, i would take to social media to share my thoughts and opinions on basically anything. Social media offered myself with the freedom to comfortably express myself in conversations, especially with individuals that ultimately shared similar mental health issues. In addition, its easy to assume that there are thousands of other individuals that would use social media the same way to express their thoughts and opinions. For this reason, Campaigns surrounding mental health have been strongly active through social media platforms due to the large number of people who live in the world and those who use social media. The power of social networking is such that the number of worldwide users is expected to reach some 3.02 billion monthly active social media users by 2021, around a third of Earth’s entire population (Statista, 2017). Some examples of social media benefitting campaigns includes:

ALS ice Bucket Challenge

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, also known as Amyotrphic lateral sclerosis, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In the summer of 2014, three men who suffered from the ALS disease motivated the rest of the world to douse buckets of cold water, filming and posting online in an attempt to promote awareness of the disease. If those who were nominated did not undertake the challenge within 24 hours they were to donate money towards the ALS/MND organisation. The Ice Bucket Challenge may be one of the most powerful examples of the influence of social media over our behaviour, as the number of participants soared, donations to the ALS Association skyrocketed. Videos uploaded to Facebook in 2014 saw more than 17 million people participating in the craze, with videos being watched by an audience of around 440 million, 10 billion times (ALSA, 2014). According to ALSA organisation website, from July 25th, 2014 to September 15th, 2014, the ALSA received over $114 million in donations, compared with approximately $5 million from the same time period in 2013 (ALSA, 2014). ALSA social media activity also saw a significant boost in followers with 2014 stats representing a total 9,000 followers on twitter and Facebook 350 likes, when compared to 2018 ALS association has 920,000 likes on Facebook and 30.5k followers on twitter. This ice bucket challenge greatly altered the traditional methods of fundraising and gaining awareness and has shown how significant social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are when reaching millions of people, while also putting a new element of fun and excitement into donating towards a cause.

Another relevant example of social media and health campaigns is the Movember campaign.

Movember is a charity event concerned with men’s health. The event takes place during November and predominantly involves male participants (mobros) being sponsored to grow a moustache and document the activity (Burgess, cassidy & Light, 2013). Movember is a great case in point about how social media can be used to highlight a cause, have some fun and get those donations pouring in. Social media is practically the core of Movember, with Movember having presences on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Twitter (Burgess, cassidy & Light, 2013). In 2011, it was recorded that more than 850,000 “Mo Bros and “Mo sistas” participated in Movember, raising $126 Million. It is established that Facebook contributed to such a large number due to the sginificant encouragement of participants and supporters of Movember, promoting the campaign through uploaded photos. In an article conducted by Justin lafferty, Lafferty interviewed Movember CEO Adam Garone. Garone shared how Facebook helped the campaign grow stating that Movember’s online and offline platforms combined raised$126 million in 2011, changing the face of mens health. And this was fulfilled due to participants using Facebook pages to start conversations about the issue of men’s health, post photos and videos to drive awareness and promote the movember.com website, enabling public communities with an accessible link to donate towards the cause.

As great as social media is in promoting campaigns and gaining awareness and donations, it has also been linked to creating more mental health issues for individuals. Social media can be a toxic place when individuals are exposed to bullying, harassment, societies standards of beauty online and living expectations. A survey conducted by the London-based Royal Society for Public Health found that young adolescents were affected by social media with social media sites such as Instagram that primarily focus on people’s physical appearance were “contributing to a generation of young people with body image and body confidence issues” (Theweek, 2018). One recent psychological survey has investigated ‘the FOMO factor’, or the fear of missing out, as a contributor to anxiety and depression among young users of social media (Australian Psychological Society, 2015) while other studies suggesting that approximately 45% of Australian teenagers feel that their peers are having more rewarding experiences than them. McCosker states that social media changes the way health experiences and mental wellbeing are made publicly visible. With more and more encounters of individuals publicly sharing and promoting mental health, It is easy for anyone to share photos and #depression or #suicide, drawing negative attention on serious matters and triggering those who seriously suffer from such health issues.

So while social media is excellent for helping public health issues gain awareness and reach millions, we must also acknowledge that social media definitely wont put an end in fighting all major health problems, and that social media can in fact be a contributing factor that creates and causes such problems for individuals that we are growing awareness of.... confusing right?.

References:

Statista. 2018. Social media - Statistics & Facts | Statista. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-networks/. [Accessed 21 May 2018]

The CPA Journal. 2018. Redeeming Value of Social Media: How the Ice Bucket Challenge Invigorated the ALS Association - The CPA Journal. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cpajournal.com/2017/08/16/redeeming-value-social-media-ice-bucket-challenge-invigorated-als-association/. [Accessed 18 May 2018].

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: The Impact of Social Media on Health Communication | Tufts Public Health. 2018. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: The Impact of Social Media on Health Communication | Tufts Public Health. [ONLINE] Available at: https://sites.tufts.edu/publichealth/2014/09/18/the-als-ice-bucket-challenge-the-impact-of-social-media-on-health-communication/. [Accessed 18 May 2018].

Facebook, Movember Teamed Up To Raise Millions For Men’s Health – Adweek. 2018. Facebook, Movember Teamed Up To Raise Millions For Men’s Health – Adweek. [ONLINE] Available at http://www.adweek.com/digital/movember-facebook/ [Accessed 18 May 2018].

Burgess, J., Cassidy, E., & Light, B. (2014). ‘Deeply superficial Digital Media Engagement? The Case of Twitter and Movember 2013’. Paper presented at AoIR 15, Daegu, Korea. [Accessed 18 May 2018].

McCosker, A. (2016) 'Digital Mental Health and Visibility: Tagging Depression', in P. Messaris and L. Humphreys, Digital Media: Transformations in Human Communication (2nd edn), Peter Lang.[Accessed 18 May 2018].

The Week UK. 2018. Fact Check: Are social media and mobile phones bad for your mental health? | The Week UK. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.theweek.co.uk/checked-out/90557/is-social-media-bad-for-your-mental-health. [Accessed 18 May 2018].

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ofbutterfliesandlions · 8 years ago

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I got tagged by @little-mahika from off my main

1. Are you a religious witch? Which religion? Nope! Not at the moment.

2. What is your preferred herb? I don’t work with actual herbs but I do put a lot of Rosemary seasoning into my food, and Lavender incense.

3. What is your preferred gem? idk anymore.

4. Do you do divination? Which kind? Tarot/oracle, intuition, mind’s eye/sight divination(?)... I could probably do pendulum if I actually tried/used them again.

5. Favorite Tarot card? Don’t know yet

6. To Curse or not to Curse? Last resort sort of things, which is a lot better than I used to be.

7. Do you have a familiar? I don’t think I have an actual familiar/animal familiar but that’s ok.

8. Favorite candle color? purples!!!

9. Favorite rune? I don’t use them yet :( hope to in the future.

10. Do you celebrate the solstices, full moons, etc? Nah.

11. Do you wear a pentacle? No, but I do have pentagram(?) earrings. I still have negative associations with it/pentagram, but not nearly so bad as before. [once I finally get into researching/reading it I’m sure I’ll be able to decide if I feel wanting to wear it]

12. Do you have a broom? not a witchy one lol

13. Do you have a pendulum? a few

14. Do you have an athame? No

15. How often do you meditate? like never lol. I used to try in college but it was rly hard to do the standard silence mind, sometimes it’s easier if I do imagination of calm serenity instead, but last time I did was... definitely before graduation.

16. Do you do yoga? no, I haven’t tried it, I do have a yoga mat in case I do. haha.

17. Whats your favorite herbal tea? the tazo mint tea and chamomile and teavana peach tranquility [BONUS mix it with the white tea Youthberry for maximum deliciousness and aroma]

18. Do you support manipulation magic? well magic IS manipulation in a way... it’s how you get different outcomes, by manipulating the energy/attributions of various things towards a desired outcome. At least, that’s how I view/understand it. but like. If we’re talking about directly manipulating someone and forcing them to love you or s/t, then that’s kinda... terrible.

19. How many altars do you have? none, though I’m not sure what I’d set one up to anyways. maybe if I can get a shelf up in my apartment somewhere I can set one to my people and use icons to represent them but i’m not sure how they’d feel about that just yet...

20. Do you do magic outside often? I don’t perform often, period.

21. Can you read palms, or tea leaves? No, I’m not really drawn to palms, and tea leaves seems like it could be a thing but that requires actually having looseleaf tea, I imagine.

22. Would you ever open your own metaphysics shop? Maybe co-own or help give ideas to one, and work in one, but I really don’t think I’d be a good fit for working in such a store, outside of readings...

23. Is your third eye open? idk. I don’t think that really matters.

24. Do you like Astrology? Whats your sign? i’m mostly indifferent to it but i still have a lot of Sag pride lmao

25. Favorite flower? Or Tree? nooo idea. not much knowledge on the subject. i guess i like the way willows and big tall foresty trees look lol.

26. Do you have an animal guide? don’t think so.

27. Whats your favorite kind of magic? Incense! It’s the most low-effort thing I can do, just sniff around for the right scent and then use it for whatever effect I’m going for.

28. What time do you feel most like a witch? whenever I think of witchy uses for something. and then realize that not many people do that. xD

29. Are you out of the broom closet? I’m not open about my practice to my oldest friends and blood family, but I am opened to newer people about these things, because I don’t have a history of feeling rejected/judged for anything, similar or not to my beliefs.

30. Are you a hereditary witch? Or self discovered? self discovered, though my mom once told me she had a similar issue on her first honeymoon of seeing a man that wasn’t there in her bedroom/window, but like. i literally have no one in blood family, extended or otherwise, to talk to about this stuff. maybe my sister but she’s not blood so we don’t have the same heritage, and I know nothing about my dad’s side or even his position on those things but he’s such a blabbermouth idiot that I don’t trust him to keep hush on it unless it was shameful. :/

31. Are you in a coven? Or solitary? solitary i guess? Definitely not in a coven, though I do like having people to share experiences with, when allowed to.

32. Do you want to be in a coven? How big? I think only me and my bestie and at that point i’m not sure you’d even consider it a coven so much as just two people who work closely together because their energies just complement each other so well.

33. When did you become a witch? idk i think i kinda always been one but i didn’t start feeling comfortable/adjusting to the term until last year. I’ve always been more attuned to spirits and things, but I’ve also always had an interest in the occult too, I think I actually recognized what I was doing as a more legit thing come like. 16? maybe 17? so almost a decade of very little on/mostly off usage haha;

34. Do you make your own spells? Mostly, yeah. too lazy to find spells that i have ingredients lying around. though I can sub the heck out of one.

35. Do you make your own sigils? no, I tried to but they just never felt right. but i love looking at/using others’, the few times i do

36. Why did you choose this path? I was naturally inclined

37. Whats your favorite element? idk man i like all of them p. equally, i think metal is considered an element in some cases and electricity in others and i am def like. feel like some sort of affinity but i feel mostly equal pulls to all except like. ground earth. green/foresty/planty earth tho is good

38. Do you do any misc. magic? idk

39. Magic or things you will never do? sex and idk how necromancy actually works as a practice in this world. probably others too but i don’t know enough of the practices to say definitively yes or no, but definitively no to anything sexual, since i am a sex-repulsed ace. and probably no to love spells, since i am aroace and react badly with being given love/affection/intimacy from people

40. Strangest way a spell backfired? getting more hours than i can handle for a passive money spell/charm.

#long post #ty for the tag!#i think almost everyone that follows me is tagged with this so i won't really tag anyone.

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changesevenmagazine · 8 years ago

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Marching Solo with a Half Million Friends by Jim Ross

Jim Ross, Contributing Writer

Why Walk?

When a friend added me to the Nasty Women’s March group three days after the election, I knew I’d be going. Soon after, Nasty Women merged into the National Women’s March. At one time, rallying and marching in solidarity played a unifying, focusing role in my life. In recent years, after reaching retirement age, I’ve been picking up parts of myself I regretted leaving behind, like writing, like demonstrating.

Bigger than Life

During the Vietnam War, for seven years I marched and demonstrated to end the war. Doing so entailed certain risks. Once, while hippy chicks placed limp daisies in the bayonet barrels of the military police, I wandered far from the line of confrontation, and members of an Army battalion blindsided me by hoisting me in the air and heaving me down a long hill, a drop of fifteen to twenty feet. I limped home and missed the mass arrests.

There was always a strong risk someone might lose control, throw a tear gas canister, or start a stampede. I’d seen people stampeded. I’d seen people cornered at eight-foot-high wooden fences they couldn’t scale. My final anti-war, anti-Nixon demonstration occurred on August 8, 1974 in front of the White House. Nixon resigned rather than face impeachment. Soon after, life told me to put my head down to focus on working, raising a family, and staying out of trouble. I stopped writing.

I joined my first demonstration of the current era in October 2010. I was traveling solo in France during the lead-up to a planned national strike. In the medieval village of Figeac, I first watched students and teachers together, sitting in the road, intermittently blocking traffic. The second day, I blended into a large gathering dominated by railroad workers. I talked with people about why they were demonstrating, what they hoped to accomplish, how they planned to change to accomplish those things. Demonstrators freely shared bread, cheese and wine they’d brought for the “manifestation.” One cannabis advocate offered to share.

We Shall Overcomb

After I came home from France, I attended the raucous John Stewart/Steven Colbert rally on the National Mall in Washington. As crowds rushed for the Metro afterwards, I felt intimidated and instead walked 12 miles back to the suburbs. On August 28, 2013, I walked in the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a friend who’d participated in the original 1963 event. When he heartfully sang “We Shall Overcome,” a woman walking next to us broke down in prolonged sobs. However, when my friend saw the security backup on the Mall, he turned around and went home. I stayed in the black and white crowd. For three hours, we waited to pass through metal detectors. As the crowd periodically surged forward, I feared the crush might knock people over and cause a pileup. Instead, the crowd merely became more densely packed, with hardly room to breathe. People began expressing anger they’d miss seeing Oprah and Obama. A red-headed security woman crossed the line and began handing out bottled water. Eventually, they waved us all through with wands. That’s roughly when I started writing again. The release I needed to write went hand in hand with my return to demonstrating.

Pink Pussy Hats and Inauguration Flags

My participation in environmentally focused demonstrations began when my son and I went to the “Pope rally,” that is, the demonstration planned by the Moral Action on Climate (MAC) to coincide with Pope Francis’s meeting with Congress on September 24, 2015. A permit was obtained for 300,000 attendees. Of the 15,000 who came, two-thirds were siphoned off by the Speaker of the House to provide an audience for Pope Francis’s address to the people from the portico. After that, I took part in multiple environmentally focused demonstrations, some including street theater. My crowd-averse wife came with me to a smaller one. I briefly got involved in conversations to extend MAC and ensure the topic of climate change entered the presidential debates. The MAC conversations dissipated, the presidential debates ignored climate change, and I didn’t find a useful role to play in climate change activism.

Collective Action

So why go to the women’s march? I’ve wanted to do something. I’ve needed to figure out how to fruitfully spend the years that remain. My walking ability has devolved into an on-again, off-again proposition over the past two years. My wife and adult children didn’t want me going because they feared I’d fall or unwittingly walk into an outbreak of violence. The violence exhibited by inauguration demonstrators the day before the Women’s March exacerbated their fears, and seeing those protesters run from tear gas resurfaced my own. Still, I assured them the Women’s March would be peaceful. I went, in part, to show I could.

From a political and social perspective, I went because it’s all connected, and I strongly believe that, as Martin Luther King said, “Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.” Protest can be private or public, shoulder-to-shoulder or virtual, and the forms it takes can morph as we age, but protest itself is essential, inescapable, and a moral responsibility. Protesting publicly and collectively fosters solidarity, makes connections, and influences decision makers. On May 9, 1970, at 5 a.m. Nixon snuck out of the White House without Secret Service escort to talk with demonstrators who came to Washington as part of the national student strike after the Kent State Massacre. He claimed he wouldn’t be influenced, but I’m convinced he was.

In anticipation of the Women’s March, a neighbor invited me to attend “intervention and active bystander training” with him. I jumped at the opportunity because I’d been concerned about what the March organizers were doing about marshals. We attended a training conducted by Swamp Revolt and learned we weren’t marshals exactly. Our job was to support anyone being verbally attacked, even a counter-protester being attacked by marchers. After training, participants said they felt they had a sacred role to play at the March. The woman with whom I was partnered for role plays said she recently had to run from police after they threw tear gas to disperse demonstrators. She and I acknowledged a mutual fear of the possibility of violence and the prospect of having to run away from tear gas.

Our neighborhood ran shuttles to the Metro on the morning of the March, starting at 5 a.m. I knew many people who were going to the March, some solo, but I planned to go with the same neighbor who involved me with Swamp Revolt. Still, I was concerned about my ability to keep up the pace. We agreed to meet near the Metro in DC, but I walked too slowly and arrived too late. So instead I marched solo, with a half million friends.

A Statement About Pink

En route to the venue, at the corner by the Native American Museum, people lost direction in droves, walked down blockaded roads, and had to retreat. The human traffic reached an almost total standstill for over an hour. The crowd began surging. People started complaining about pushing. This surfaced memories of security back-ups at the 50th Anniversary March. Marchers asked each other whether we’d ever find our way. We concluded, even if we didn’t, it was good being there together. As we disentangled, we waved to old-time Los Angeles activist Angela Davis walking down the other side of the street. She waved and shouted back.

The march was for all ages, all races. And there were plenty of other men. Many wore pink pussy hats like the women, but at least one wore a classy blue pussy hat. The central issue was women’s reproductive rights. LGBTQ rights were strongly represented too, at least among those behind whom I marched. “Resist” was a pervasive theme; so was, “We reject fear and hate and embrace love.” Many posters commented on Trump’s connection to Putin. Because it’s all connected, scarcely an issue was left out of the signs and chants. A strong Red Nation presence reminded us that “Water is life.” Humor trumped anger. “Now you’ve pissed off grandpa,” “She’s such a nasty woman,” (showing Trump dancing with the Statue of Liberty), and “We shall overcomb” were among my favorites. I was most moved by a young demonstrator whose sign read, “This transboy stands with his sisters.”

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The crowds occasionally broke into song, but merely walking together with others and observing their artful posters and varied hats sang to my soul. At moments, I found myself carried back to November 15, 1969, when the crowd swayed and sang along with Pete Seeger at the National Moratorium against the Vietnam War, “All we are asking is give peace a chance.”

The day after the Women’s March, I learned of many more friends who’d gone. I could have tagged along with any, but going it alone seems to be my way. I also learned there’s soon to be a national march of scientists to combat the flat-earth mentality of the Trump administration. I’ve already heard from my son, who asked, “You want to go to this together?”

“Absolutely,” I said.

“You need to invite the Women’s March. This is important,” he insisted.

“I’ll do it, but I think they’re already talking to each other,” I answered.

“It’s like the 60s are making a comeback,” he said, with welcome in his voice.

My soul smiled.

After retiring in early 2015 from a career in public health research, Jim Ross dove back into creative pursuits in hope of resuscitating his long-neglected right brain. Since then, he’s published over 20 pieces of nonfiction and over 80 photos in 25 journals, including 1966, Cactus Heart, Cargo Literary, Friends Journal, Lunch Ticket, Gravel, Chicago’s MAKE Literary Magazine, Memory House, Pif Magazine, Riverbabble, and Sheephead Review. Forthcoming: Apeiron Review, Entropy, and Palooka. New grandparents of twins, he and his wife split their time between Maryland and West Virginia.

Read More Work by this Author:

Rue des Indigents

Holly Day is the artist whose needlepoint “After” appears on our poster

Artist and writer Holly Day has taught writing classes at the Loft Literary Center and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since 2000. Her poetry has recently appeared in Tampa Review, SLAB, and Gargoyle, while her recently published books include Nordeast Minneapolis: A History, A Brief History of Stillwater Minnesota, and Ugly Girl. Her needlepoints and bead work have recently appeared in QWERTY, Cardinal Sins, Grey Sparrow, and Calyx. (She is the featured artist whose needlepoint “After” appears on our poster above.)

Marching Solo with a Half Million Friends by Jim Ross #WomensMarchOnWashington Why Walk? When a friend added me to the Nasty Women’s March group three days after the election, I knew I’d be going.

#Change Seven Magazine #Featured #Jim Ross #Women&039;s March on Washington

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andylocksmithtipsntricks · 5 years ago

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Nest vs. Ring Home Security

Winner

Nest Home Security

Learn More

2-year warranty

Home automation integration

2-year warranty

Home automation integration

Visit Nest

Learn More

Ring Home Security

Learn More

Affordable price

Easy installation

Affordable price

Easy installation

Visit Ring

Learn More

We’ve compared offerings from Google-owned Nest Secure and Amazon-owned Ring Alarm to see how they stack up and which will offer you the best of both price and features.

Pricing and Plan Comparison

Equipment Cost Monthly Monitoring Cost Trial Period Connection Type Contract Base Equipment Standout Feature

Nest Secure Ring Alarm $399 starter kit $199 starter kit Optional Brinks Monitoring >$29/mo. month-to-month $19/mo. with 3-yr. contract Optional Ring Protect Plus Protect Basic $3/mo. or $30/yr. 40-day money-back guarantee 30-day trial with Protect Plus Plan Wi-Fi Battery backup (12 hours) Cellular backup for a fee, limited availablility Wi-Fi Backup battery (24 hours) Cellular backup with Protect Plus Plan Optional None Nest Secure Alarm Starter Pack Nest Guard 2 Nest Detect sensors 2 Nest Tags Mounting accessories Ring Alarm Security Kit Base station Keypad Contact Sensor Motion detector Range extender Smart home integration Affordable starter kit Visit Nest Visit Ring

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*Data as of 02/18/19. Offers and availability subject to change.

Google vs. Amazon in the Home

Before we delve into the details of Ring and Nest, we should talk about how the home automation ecosystems of Google and Amazon might affect your decision.

Currently, the Google ecosystem, including Nest Secure, has more flexibility to integrate third-party devices. While Ring Alarm doesn’t work with as many smart products as Nest, the system does have the capability. If you like your Echo hub and you’re willing to wait, Amazon will likely invest in making newly acquired Ring products integrate with its home automation ecosystem.

If you want to eventually add more products to your smart home, it’s easier to do so with Nest’s Google system than with Ring’s Amazon system at this time.

The home automation you already have and prefer will likely be a big factor in which security system you choose.

What Do Nest Secure and Ring Alarm Have in Common?

At first glance, Nest Secure and Ring Alarm seem to be similar DIY home security systems. They even look alike, with the same blue-circle branding and cleanly-styled white equipment. Both brands have the option to self-monitor and a no-contract approach that gives you the comfort of minimal commitment. Here are a few other ways Nest and Ring strike similar notes in their home security offerings:

Easy, DIY installation

Optional 24/7 professional monitoring

Integration with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

No contracts

Cellular and battery backup available

What Makes Nest Secure and Ring Alarm Different?

The brands differ mostly in terms of cost and smart home tech. If you’re trying to decide between these two DIY-savvy home security systems, it’s all about what features you’re willing to trade to keep the price tag affordable.

Ring Alarm starter kit is $199, Nest Secure starter kit is $299 or $399

Professional installation is available with Nest

Nest has an extended 2-year warranty

Ring has a longer battery backup

Nest has better smart home tech

Nest Home Security at a Glance

Nest’s security system fits seamlessly into its popular line of smart home products, but its higher price tag and alarm vulnerabilities may give you pause.

Nest Secure does better than average on integrating home automation and doubles as a Google Home hub. While Nest advertises their alarm functionality as less intrusive for busy families, some find the alarm delay and limited noise alerts concerning. Like Ring, Nest has easy DIY installation and self-monitoring through the app, but it also offers a professional monitoring option if you’d like extra protection and convenience.

“You get what you pay for” is an adage that applies to Nest’s array of features. Even with the discount through monitoring partner Brinks, Nest Secure is one of the more expensive DIY systems in terms of up-front equipment costs. But if you want to outfit your home with a capable, high-tech alarm system, Nest Secure may be worth the investment.

Nest Aware 5-Day Nest Aware 10-Day Nest Aware 30-Day Nest Secure with Brinks Home Security Nest Secure with Brinks Home Security

Monthly Price Features Monitoring $5/mo. $50/yr. 24/continuous recording with 5 days of video history DIY $10/mo. $100/yr. 24/7 continuous recording with 10 days of video history DIY $30/mo. $300/yr. 24/7 continuous recording with 30 days of video history DIY $19/mo. 3-year contract Professional $29/mo. No contract Professional

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*Data as of 02/18/19. Offers and availability subject to change.

Pros

Easy DIY installation

Smart home integration

2-year warranty

40-day money-back guarantee

Intuitive control with the app

Stylish components

No contract

Cons

Expensive up-front equipment costs

Customer service concerns

Alarm vulnerabilities

More expensive monitoring and storage plans

Contracts and Extended Warranties

One of the benefits of both Nest and Ring is that they don’t require a contract, and both offer DIY monitoring, so commitment-averse folks won’t feel locked into their choice.

Nest, however, demonstrates confidence in its ability to keep customers satisfied by providing both a 40-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty.

Customer Service

Unsurprisingly, Nest garners overwhelmingly positive reviews on its website, but a deeper dive into the company’s reputation turns up customer service concerns with long wait times and camera connectivity.¹

While there is the safety net of a 40-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty, service complaints are an issue for Nest.

Home Automation

The company’s user-friendly app lets you control Nest thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and several third-party devices like Philips Hue smart lighting. The Nest app also integrates and controls feeds from both outdoor and indoor Nest cameras as well as Nest Hello, the brand’s video doorbell camera.

You can arm Nest Secure using voice recognition through smart home hubs Amazon Echo and Google Home. The downside to this dynamic menu of compatible home automation features is that video storage and monitoring plans are more expensive.

Alarms, Alerts, and Notifications

Nest Secure is hampered by some vulnerabilities and limitations of the actual alarm system. Because the “brain” of the alarm exists in the same place as the keypad of the Nest Guard component, the system may be more easily disabled by intruders.

Customers also report sensors have a limited range of motion (about 10 feet) and the alarm is relatively quiet. Nest bills this as an advantage for customers who want a less intrusive home security system, but without the ability to add speakers (there’s just one located at the entry), Nest Secure may be too quiet for larger homes.

Who Nest Secure Is Best For

If you’re looking for a flexible, DIY alarm system for a small to midsize house that plays nice with your home automation, Nest Secure should top your list. Its versatile integration of third-party devices like smart lighting and a large variety of compatible Nest devices make it a standout among DIY security systems.

But be prepared for the higher equipment costs that come with the luxury of all those technological bells and whistles. While the price tag includes the comfort of an extended warranty and the option of professional monitoring from Brinks, Nest is still best for those who want powerful smart home integration and are willing to pay a little extra for it.

Read our full Nest home security review or visit Nest.

Ring Home Security at a Glance

It all began with the wildly popular Ring video doorbell, but now the company also offers an attractive, easy-to-install security system at a significant bargain. While it does have some drawbacks, Ring Alarm is one of the most affordable DIY home security solutions available.

Ring Alarm puts DIY home security at your fingertips without a contract, but it does so by sacrificing some features and functionality. Currently, the limited smart home integration is Ring’s Achilles’ heel, and it makes the flexibility to build out a complete smart home difficult.

The Ring Alarm starter kit offers only one motion sensor and one contact sensor, but additional sensors and other add-on components are reasonably affordable. Ring Protect Basic provides video storage for one camera, while Protect Plus is the company’s optional 24/7 professional monitoring service. Protect Plus includes cloud storage for video, extended warranties, and a discount on future Ring purchases.

Protect Basic Plan Protect Plus Plan

Monthly Price Features Video Monitoring $3/mo. $30/yr. 1-year warranty Supports one doorbell or camera DIY $10/mo. $100/yr. Extended warranty Supports all Ring Devices Professional

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Pros

No contract

Affordable starter kit

Good customer service

Inexpensive professional monitoring available

Easy DIY installation

Cons

Limited smart home integration

Small starter kit

Pre-programmed alert settings

Contracts and Warranties

Ring Alarm is a no-contract, no-frills system but its bargain-basement price means you get only a one-year limited warranty and no trial period with the Protect Basic Plan. For an extended warranty and a standard 30-day trial period, you’ll need a Protect Plus Plan.

Customer Service

Ring offers 24/7 live customer service, though the Ring Alarm product is relatively new, and the jury is still out about how specific concerns are being addressed. But customers on Amazon and Best Buy both give a better-than-average rating of four out of five stars for Ring Alarm products, and the Better Business Bureau grades Ring as an A+.2

Ring hasn’t disclosed who it partners with for its optional 24/7 professional monitoring. The relatively low cost of the monitoring plan and Ring’s lack of transparency could make you hesitant to sign up.

Easy, DIY Installation

Once you get the packaging open, Ring’s tool-free installation is a breeze. One drawback of the installation is that Ring’s alert settings come pre-programmed, and while they can be adjusted, it can be tricky to figure out how. Customers report that while there’s lots of instruction on the Ring doorbell camera, there is a limited amount of information about Ring Alarm available online.

Home Automation Integration

First, the good news. Ring Alarm has both Z-Wave and Zigbee connectivity, so it could integrate with a myriad of home automation devices in theory. Unfortunately, that capability isn’t fully functional, which means Ring Alarm is compatible with only some third-party devices, and the system is difficult to customize.

For instance, you’ll discover you can view Ring camera video in the app alongside your system status and alerts, but you can’t set up automatic recording for tripped sensors. While Ring Alarm can be armed and disarmed by Alexa, there isn’t much more integration in terms of smart home functionality. One exception is that Ring Alarm’s system is compatible with First-Alert smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a limited number of Z-Wave electronic door locks.

Who Ring Is Best For

Ring Alarm is the most affordable choice for both equipment and monitoring, but it might not be your best option for long-term concerns like home automation integration and alert customization. With easy DIY installation and sleek components, it can give you the styling of Nest without the price tag.

The absence of a trial period and extended warranty on the lower-tier plan can also be a red flag, but Ring’s reputation for reliable customer service should put some of those fears to rest. Hopefully, as Amazon invests in building out the Ring suite of home security products, we’ll get the home automation features and flexibility that the company has brought to other smart home devices.

Read our full Ring home security review or visit Ring.

A Word About Wireless Security

Several Ring Alarm and camera users have reported breaches in their accounts that allowed a stranger to use the two-way communication to intimidate them. This is a risk every user takes when they use any internet-connected wireless system.

The good news is you can minimize the risk with proper internet security. Here are a few easy tips for securing your system from online threats:

Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts

Opt for extra security measures like two-factor authentication

Add shared users instead of sharing login credentials

Change your home Wi-Fi password frequently

We still confidently recommend Ring and other similar wireless internet-connected systems. And while these threats are real, they can be avoided with a few extra precautions.

The Bottom Line

If your primary concern is affordability, Ring may seem like a clear-cut winner. However, once you consider the lack of compatibility and the bare bones equipment in the Ring Alarm starter kit, you’ll realize Nest Secure may be worth the extra up-front costs.

Check your list for which of these considerations means the most to you before you make a decision:

Price and contract: Both Ring Alarm and Nest Secure come with no contract, but Ring scores in this category for more affordable up-front equipment and monitoring costs.

Customer service: This is very much a mixed bag. Both Ring and Nest have customer concerns when it comes to service, but for now, Ring appears to have a better reputation for responsiveness. However, Nest holds its own with extended warranties and a money-back guarantee that ensures customer confidence.

Features and tech: Nest Secure dominates this category with an array of compatible devices and customized settings. Ring Alarm does boast an incredibly loud alarm and longer-range motion sensors, which is one of the few problem areas for Nest Secure.

Overall Winner: Nest Secure

For home automation integration, extended warranties, stylish components, and an intuitive mobile app that puts DIY or professional monitoring options at your fingertips.

More Smart Home Security Options

Still looking for a smart home alarm system that fits the bill? Take a look at a few other options we highly recommend:

SimpliSafe Read Review

Great customer reviews

Inexpensive video monitoring

3-year equipment warranty

Visit SimpliSafe Vivint Read Review

Leading smart home tech

Customizable plans

Month-to-month contracts

Visit Vivint

*Data effective 02/18/19. Offers and availability subject to change.

Sources:

Consumer Affairs, “Nest Consumer Reviews and Complaints”; Nest Secure Reviews “Customer Ratings and Reviews”; Yelp, “Nest Labs”; Trustpilot, “Nest Reviews”

Amazon, “Ring Alarm Kit Customer Reviews”; Best Buy, “Ring Alarm Ratings and Reviews”; Better Business Bureau, “Online Retailer Ring”

Google, Google Nest Protect, Google Nest Secure, Google Nest Learning Thermostat, Google Nest Hello and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

The post Nest vs. Ring Home Security appeared first on SafeWise.

Article source here: Nest vs. Ring Home Security

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rodrigohyde · 6 years ago

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Watch Snob Goes All In on Audemars Piguet’s Obscure Offerings

Watch Snob Goes All In on Audemars Piguets Obscure Offerings

Millenary Take One

I get it that a great deal of watch “value” is about the image it projects to others. That is why celebrity endorsements work, and that is sticking to the established archetypes (man as diver, pilot, James Bond) will always sell.

At the same time, it hurts my eyes to see that the price of the value watches you often recommend (Nomos, Tudor, Seiko) you can get a veritable piece of no compromise high horology. Of course, it will not be the hot and hyped model, but still.

RELATED: Last Week — Watch Snob on What to Look for in the New Year

The watch I have in mind is the forgotten and unpopular Audemars Piguet Millenary ref. 15016. It is a perfect everyday watch, almost a field watch in its austere black dial aesthetics and time-only functionality. At the same time, it has a unique design, a well-finished movement from a Big Three Swiss brand, an elegant thin profile — what is not to love for the price of a Tudor Black Bay (on pre-owned market, of course)?

Please prove me wrong in my reasoning. Am I not wise?

Here is wisdom: He that hath an ear, let him hear. You are indeed wise. The Millenary in general and that watch in particular are an opportunity to own an interesting watch with an intriguing design that has largely been passed over by the enthusiast community. The movement is the Audemars Piguet caliber 2225, which is derived — if my memory’s right — from the Jaeger-LeCoultre 960; very nicely finished by AP.

The reason that the price is as low as it generally is, is obvious — an oval-shaped dress watch is not particularly what the market wanted from Audemars Piguet, and the Millenary (which came out in 1995) never really caught fire in the market. In fact, as a men’s dress watch, it was a bit of a flop, although AP has occasionally used the design for really spectacular statement pieces, like the astonishingly lovely Cabinet Piece No. 5 and the Millenary Minute Repeater. If, however, you don’t care about the fact that the Millenary Collection is currently largely a repository for ladies’ timepieces, you can indeed get something very nice for not a great deal of money. It’s not a bad litmus test for whether someone is a serious watch person either: Anyone who recognizes a Millenary as an AP has probably been around watches for a while. The same is true of the Edward Piguet collection, which AP has abandoned, more’s the pity.

Millenary Take Two

I have enjoyed watch collecting for many years, but I think that my interest is getting depleted. When I just started, there was so much to learn and understand: “What are the good brands? What are the good models? What makes them good? What makes a watch valuable and why?” Most importantly, it was a journey of self-discovery and an exercise in critical thinking, as I had to dig through the layers of marketing narratives and the taste of others to formulate my own values and the watches that these represent. Now, however, I have figured out the answers to these questions and there is not much new learning to sustain my interest.

Therefore, I want to retire from the hobby, but do so in the proper way — by sealing the decade of an obsessive-compulsive quest with a few horological symbols of my newly recovered, liberated self. First, to represent the values of creativity, originality and individuality, I will get the Audemars Piguet Millenary Chronograph ref. 25822. Second, to represent mechanical tradition, elegance, and a certain “ancient” chic, Breguet ref. 3490. Third, for the everyday, practical wear and the appreciation of sculpture, Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph ref. 49150. All these watches are from top-end brands and represent good value for money, thanks to them being non-mainstream and under the radar.

Not that I am unsure of my choices. They are thought-out, but it is interesting still to hear an opinion of a hobby veteran: you. Would you say that there are better candidates out there to stand for my values?

I’m flabbergasted. Two questions in one week that reference one of the more obscure modern watch designs, by which I mean the Audemars Piguet Millenary. I wonder if the design mightn’t be poised to take the world by storm at long last … almost certainly not, it is simply too much an oddball, but you never know.

OK, sir, to the business. You obviously know your own tastes and I can see from the watches that you have chosen that you know watches quite well also. There is little or nothing that I can do to further educate you about the watches you have picked. They each of them represent aspects of the company that has made them, that are a bit off the radar, as you say, but that are also highly characteristic of those firms. The Millenary, for instance, is a reminder that once upon a time, creativity in case designs was very much more AP’s stock in trade than is currently the case.

This particular approach really does have its pleasures. By this, I mean the approach of finding watches made by very good brands with real history, which, for whatever reason, have been passed over by broader tastes (pocket watches in general are an excellent example). If you were at the beginning of your horological activities I might counsel you to find something more generally appealing, but as you are clearly aware, general appeal can also be generic appeal and comes with a higher price tag. There are always alternatives to any choice, however well-educated it may be. I might suggest some of AP’s extra-flat series produced watches from the period, say, 1965 to 1975 as representing an interesting alternative to the Millenary, but the latter has much character on its side.

Mountain Time

Every once in a while when I am casually surfing the web or reading emails, the greedy servers lurking in the background try to sell me things and throw up something that actually catches my eye.

This week I was presented an ad for a watch with a single hand and a 24 hour dial. I won't bother you with the details of the maker of this obscure quartz offering, but the marketing verbiage talked about the mindset of slowing down and seeing the world rather than rushing through with pointless precision — getting off the hamster wheel of life and all that. So I began searching around for better examples of the single-hand complication (simplification?). I did not see many. Are there any current offerings in this genre that you might find interesting?

Thinking about why this ad was presented to me, I realized I had been reading much about the Long Now Foundation and their project to build a 10,000 year mechanical clock in a mountain in the desert. Although it's obviously not a watch, would the Snob care to render any opinion on this also?

Aha, yes, the Clock of the Long Now. We have a working scale model in the Science Museum (in London) which is worth a visit. It is a most fascinating project, creating a mechanical object capable of running for so long a period of time poses unique engineering challenges, of course, but it is also a kind of public artwork with many intriguing features. It will probably be over the heads of most readers, and the fact that the construction is being funded by the controversial billionaire Jeff Bezos may color perceptions, but the fact remains, it is one of the most worthwhile clock projects in ... well, ever, I daresay.

Single-hand watches are rare; most folks would prefer to know the time to a bit better resolution. Audemars Piguet, to bring up obscure APs again, made one, the so-called Philosopher’s Watch, which is worth hunting around for. It is ref. 9040, I believe. Billed as a lady’s watch and a bit small, but I think at this point in the Year of Our Lord 2019, we can ignore that. Other than that, may I recommend you to a little brand called Meistersinger. They have more or less cornered the market for hour-hand-only watches and have for many years. (They do, if I recall correctly, a jumping hours version as well.) They are charming, interesting, and you would have to exert yourself to spend more than perhaps $2,000 at most to get one.

Send the Watch Snob your questions at [email protected] or ask a question on Instagram with the #watchsnob hashtag.

You Might Also Dig:

Best Watches Under $250 Best Watches Under $300 Best Watches Under $150 from AskMen https://www.askmen.com/style/watch_snob/watch-snob-goes-all-in-on-audemars-piguet-s-obscure-offerings.html

#AskMen

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adambstingus · 6 years ago

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55 People Reveal The Strangest Thing About Their Body

Found on AskReddit.

1. I cry when I pee or take a shit.

I cry when I pee or take a shit. It’s not just tearing up, it’s literally tears streaming down my face. I have no pain, nor is it because I feel relieved. Nobody that I know experiences the same thing. (Sorry if I made any grammar mistakes. English is not my first language.)

2. My nuts are comically tiny.

Im Asian yet have a bodybuilder’s physique, including legs. I’m 5’8″ but my penis is huge (9.5 inches and thick) but my nuts are regular size. So my penis looks normal sized compared to my legs/body and my nuts look comically tiny.

3. I have three nipples.

I have a third nipple.

4. I have four nipples.

Two extra nipples.

5. I was born without eyebrows.

When I was born, I didn’t have any eyebrows. Dislike, they were fair, or light, I had none. They didn’t begin developing in until I was 6 years of age. After ten years, they are sketchy, at various statures, and look in no way like each other. No idea why.

6. I have a birthmark on the tip of my penis shaped like the continent of Africa.

I got a birthmark on the tip of my penis that’s weirdly shaped like the continent of Africa. Ladies find it cute, which is why I’ll never get circumcised.

7. I have a micropenis.

I have a micropenis. I’ve pretty much given up on dating. The only way I could ever be in a relationship is if a woman doesn’t care that much about sex.

8. I look like I’m going to murder someone when I comb my hair.

If I touch the right side of my scalp, my lower eyelid twitches. I look like I’m going to murder someone when I comb my hair.

9. I am shaped like a shovel.

I am shaped like a shovel. Seriously. Like, you know pear figures? Yeah, I don’t have that. I am straight and then, BOOM! My hips billow out like the giant disappointments they are.

10. I do not recognize or remember faces.

Brains are part of the body, right? I have Prosopagnosia (face blindness), which means that I do not recognize or remember faces. I can look at someone, turn around, turn back, and I won’t recognize their face. I don’t recognize my coworkers, friends, or family by face. I have a lot of funny stories related to this

11. If I touch my clit on the toilet, I automatically pee.

If I touch my clit on the toilet, I automatically pee. Like a pee button. It’s kinda useful for public restrooms where I want to be in and out really fast.

12. I have tits and a dick.

Tits and a dick. Most people seem to find that rather weird.

13. It’s like a whole community of hair just said fuck it and moved to my body’s equivalent of Florida.

On the left side of my head, above my ear, I’ve developed a random bald spot slightly larger than the diameter of a quarter. Coincidentally, right below my right shoulder, I have a thick patch of back hair about the same size (my back is otherwise hairless). It’s like a whole community of hair just said fuck it and moved to my body’s equivalent of Florida.

14. Certain sexual thoughts will cause me to sneeze involuntarily.

When I have certain sexual thoughts, I get an involuntary sneeze reaction. It’s not all sexual thoughts, just the ones I find inappropriate. Like, I when I first started fooling around with my girlfriend (now my wife) at her mom’s house where we could get caught by her slightly younger sister, it happened a lot. But fooling around in general wouldn’t cause the sneeze unless I was about to suggest something a little naughtier than normal. My wife knows now, so when we’re in bed and I sneeze her first reaction is to ask if it’s an innocent sneeze or something else. It’s only gotten me in trouble once or twice, like when her girlfriend casually mentioned threesomes and I sneezed immediately, which kind of pissed off my wife because she knew it wasn’t an innocent one. Her friends and sister, thankfully, don’t know about my sneeze reaction.

15. My mom says the mole on the side of my head looks like a penis.

I have a perfectly smooth, mushroom-shaped, skin0colored mole on the side of my head and I’ve had it since birth. My mom says it looks like a penis, you know, nice stuff that moms say.

16. I have two pee-holes, and pee comes out of both.

I have two pee-holesthey’re right next to each other and pee comes out of both.

17. Im a guy and I have a huge butt and huge thighs.

My thighs are really disproportionate compared to the rest of my body and my butt is bigger. I am a guy and this really doesn’t look good.

18. My penis curves upward and toward the left.

My penis curves upwards but is also turned about 15 to the left. It’s weird. I can pee around corners.

19. I get pus-filled cysts over much of my body.

I have a condition called hidradenitis supprativa. I get pus-filled cysts in my armpits, under my breasts, on my stomach, and along my inner thighs. It is pretty rare, and can be debilitating (I have a mild form, so if you Google it, be warned you’re gonna see some nasty shit). Had it since high school, and it sometimes will go into remission. It is now thought to be an auto-immune disorder of the apocrine system, but not much is known about it. I try to watch what I wear, because certain clothes will rub my skin and cause a cyst to form. If I get a cyst, I usually pop it myself and clean it up. Sometimes it can open a small sinus in my skin, which is gross. I have a lot of scars from it, and some cysts that I’ve popped and drained will sometimes refill. I’ve run across something that says menopause can make it go into remission, so I have that to look forward to. The human body is weird.

20. I have an amazing retractive penis.

Retractive penis. 1in or less flaccid, big 7.5in hog erect. Kinda convenient actually, takes up less space, less likely to get hit, not swingin around wildly, but this tactical advantage is cancelled out by my huge grandpa balls.

21. I can roll my stomach like an Indian belly dancer but I’m a white male.

I can roll my stomach like an Indian belly dancer but I’m a white male. I have no idea when or how I discovered i could do it but I was very young since I remember doing it for show and tell in kindergarten. Edit: Also, my second toe is longer than my first on both feet by a full segment. It makes it difficult to get comfortable shoes sometimes because they’re designed for the big toe to be the longest.

22. I get earth-shattering orgasms when jizz is inside me.

Im a woman and the thing that gives me the best earth-shattering orgasms is when my partner cums inside of me. Not the act of cumming (though I enjoy that too) but the actual jizz makes me orgasm for up to an hour after sex. Never found out of any other women experience this, none of my girlfriends do.

23. I can snap my toe like Im snapping a finger.

I can snap my toe. Like, finger-snapping…with a toe.

24. I can lick my elbow.

I can lick my elbow. This is supposedly physically impossible, and yet…here I am

25. I have a sexually sensitive spot between my clit and G-spot.

Most women have lots of sensitivity in the clit and G-spot. I have a third spot sort of between the two, located right at the top inside of my vaginal opening. Stimulation of that particular spot gives me the BEST orgasms, and when I’m turned on it even feels a little stiffer than the surrounding areas when I touch it with my fingertip.

26. My hands turn blue when it’s cold.

My hands turn blue when it’s cold. When it’s cold they also have orange dots.

27. My penis moves around on its own.

My penis moves around on its own. I get out the shower, towel off and sometimes I sit around butt ass naked and play I’ll look at my dick and it’ll going from one side to the other or going in and out like a turtle. I heard that has something to do with it trying to get cool, but once it finds a cool spot, shouldn’t it stop moving?

28. I have a T-shaped tooth.

I have a T-shaped tooth.

29. I have these chicken-stick calves.

Well, I’m 6’6″, and have a great shoulder to hip ratio, but I have these chicken-stick calves. They refuse to grow. So I like wearing pants to try and cover them up, because it looks really weird if I’m wearing shorts. Also, I sweat really quickly in my underarms, but nowhere else on my body. It could be like jacket and scarf weather, and after like 5 minutes outside I start pitting. It’s so annoying.

30. Im male but my body is shaped like a girls.

Im male but my body is kinda shaped like a girls, in terms of ass, hips, thighs and waist. Someone reposted a picture of my ass/body to gonewild, tagged falsely as a girl, and it got like 50,000 views and universal positive comments, no one knew.

My life sucks.

Here, copying the damn ass pic up a level. NSFW.

31. My face is allergic to sunlight.

Im allergic to sunlight. But it’s local only to my face. I mean, it’s nice that it doesn’t cover all of my body and all, but it’s literally the worst place that I could think of. When I have a reaction I can’t speak for around 1 week, and after that it takes another week until I am at the point where I can utter more than simple words when necessary, as it is very uncomfortable to talk, still can’t say “m”, “p” or “b” though, that takes another week. One time I ended up being unable to eat for around 5 days (more than 120 hours), lost 5kg in that period.

32. I have hair on the penis up until close to the tip.

I have hair on the penis up until close to the tip, and i have to pluck it out every week.

33. My belly is like an unpredictable balloon.

My belly. It’s like an unpredictable balloon.

It will be perfectly flat one day and the next day I’ll look like a 9-month-pregnant man. Doctors are baffled and said its weird but assured me it’s nothing to be concerned about.

It really happens if I drink beer, the next morning my belly is huge and no amount of shitting/farting will make it go away, it just gradually goes away throughout the day or sometimes it’ll stay like that for a few days.

34. I always sneeze twice. No more, no less.

I always sneeze twice. No more, no less. Two shall be the number thou shalt sneeze, and the number of the counting shall be two. Four shalt thou not sneeze, neither sneeze thou once, excepting that thou then proceed to twice. Five is right out. Once the number two, being the second number, be reached, then wipest thy nose on thy friend’s interior, who being naughty in my sight, does not say, bless you.

35. Im allergic to caffeine.

This is more internal, but I’m allergic to caffeine, meaning, give me a large cup of caffeinated coffee and I’ll end up blacking out and doing something/insulting someone and I don’t remember it. It started out with just shaking and irritation, but turned into a full fledged symptom of being wasted.

36. I can roll my eyes into the back of my head.

I can roll my eyes into the back of my head. Decided it would be funny to do this during sex, and to say boyfriend’s name in a creepy voice. He didn’t think it was very funny.

37. I’ve had my ascending, descending and thoracic aortic section replaced with synthetic material. That shit’ll be sitting there in my coffin long after I’m dust.

Probably my aorta. I have Marfan’s syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue. Morphologically speaking people like me tend to be very tall, very thin, pigeon-chested, long-fingered and -toed. Because it affects the muscles we tend to have poor eyesight and we’re not real good at bulking up. We’re usually creepily flexible and our spines are scoliosis city.

The most dangerous symptom, however, is a weakening in the aortic wall which can result in aneurysm (an enlarged bubble sort of) or dissection (a catastrophic tear that’s %40 fatal).

I had an aortic dissection 3 years ago. Since then I’ve had my ascending, descending and thoracic aortic section replaced with synthetic material. That shit’ll be sitting there in my coffin long after I’m dust. That’s pretty weird, I guess.

38. I have a freakishly long wing span.

You know how your wing span is supposed to roughly match your height? Well I’m 6’3″ and my arms are 6’9″. Lots of rolled up sleeves in my world.

39. I am lopsided toward the left.

My entire left side sits about ¼ an inch lower than my right side. My ear is lower, my shoulder, my hip is lower, but you wouldn’t notice unless you looked at how I wear my clothing and that everything on my left side is almost always crooked.

40. I have almost no hair except for the five-inch nipple hair.

I am almost bald, have no armpit hair and very little genital hair. But boy, I do have one 12cm long nipple hair.

41. I always had dry crusty earwax the consistency and texture of cornflakes.

So when I was a kid I always had dry crusty earwax the consistency and texture of cornflakes. It would build up in my ear canal un til one day it would break off in one huge piece. My doctor said it probably wasn’t a big deal and not to worry about it, and every time I birthed an ear baby my friends would gather around and marvel. No biggie.

Fast-forward to puberty and no one has told me I need to wear deodorant. In fact I never smell. Well my feet do, but I can’t figure out if people are being nice cause I can literally NEVER smell BO on me. I now wear deodorant but mostly because it smells nice and I do sweat a lot. But all my sweat smells kinda pleasant actually.

So two years ago I’m YouTube surfing and find a video about Japanese cultural differences and one thing they mention is how hard it is to find deodorant. Apparently there are two different sweat glands, one that creates a feeding frenzy for bacteria and one that doesn’t. The Japanese just don’t have any of the former genetically. I’m sitting wondering if I have that gene as well when the woman says there is a very easy way to check if you have this gene: crusty earwax.

Mic drop.

42. My left collarbone is about an inch higher than my right one.

My left collarbone is about an inch higher than my right one. It’s not super noticeable unless you’re looking for it, but it’s enough to make me a little lopsided and prone to shoulder pain. Also, I can burp on command.

43. I have an exceptionally stretchy Weenus.

I have an exceptionally stretchy Weenus.

44. Im a girl and I have a little patch of blonde hair on my throat.

Ever since I was really little I’ve grown a little patch of blonde hair on my throat. I’m a girl so it would be where a guy has his Adams Apple. My mom has taken me to the doctor a couple times to ask what it is and the doctors insist it’s just a form of a birth mark. I shave it now because if I don’t you can see the blonde patch of hair. Weird thing is my hair is naturally dark, and even when I shave it it still grows back blonde. And it can get kind of long too, and one time in elementary I was on the school bus and the sunlight had just hit it right and the girl next to me made fun of me and told everyone nobody knows about it now except for all of my new weird reddit friends! (And the mean girl from 4th grade)

45. I have three testicles.

I have 3 testicles. At least I hope the 3rd one is a testicle…! It feels the same as the others.

46. I have a long unicorn hair that grows out of the center of my forehead.

Occasionally I have a single, long, wispy hair that grows out of the center of my forehead. It seems to appear overnight, and can be like an inch long. We call it the unicorn hair. It’s almost invisible, but once my wife saw it, she looks for it all the time.

47. The world will sometimes seem much louder to me for about five minutes, like every noise is pissed off at me.

Ive had this thing, ever since I was a kid, where randomly the entire world would seem and more intense. Usually for about five minutes.

It used to happen monthly when I was a child, but it only happens once or twice a year now. So far I’ve never met anyone else who knew what I was talking about.

It’s like sound and movement becomes . Like every noise is pissed off at me. It’s kinda scary but also damn fascinating.

I assume it means I have psychic powers or my brain is a nest of tumors. Maybe both.

48. Im really stretchy.

I have hypermobile joints, which basically just means that I’m really stretchy. It affects my hands and arms more than anything else. Because of it, my neurologist thinks I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder.

49. My tongue is probably like six inches long if I pull it out all the way.

I am the opposite of tongue-tied. I have no little connector-thingie so my tongue is fucked. It’s probably like 6 inches long if I pull it out all the way. I’m like Gene fucking Simmons over here and have learned how to do some weird shit with it. When I was younger the big joke was that i’d end up being a lesbian and I haaaaaated it. But I did. Look who’s laughin’ now.

50. My mom did drugs and alcohol while pregnant with me, leaving me with several birth defects.

When I was developing my mom did an unknown cocktail of drugs and alcohol. My ears attempted to form twice then the canals merged together. As a result, I can hear sounds outside normal range on the high and low end but have a very hard time with hearing human speech. I have to be in the room lip reading to really fully grasp it. The little nub in your ear (where you would get a tragus piercing) I actually have two nubs one above the other where the outside of my ear started to form a second time but didn’t.

All my ligaments are either too long or too flexible causing my joints to just slip out sometimes. As a result I’ve sprained one ankle 5 times in one month, dislocated both hips (bucked off a horse), my knee (stepped in a hole while walking), my thumb (grabbing something), and my personal favorite dislocated my shoulder buckling my seat belt. Thankfully I’m pretty good at popping them back in without assistance.

Also due to drugs my gut fauna is a bit fucked. I cannot eat spicy foods, not just like Mexican spices but even like too much onion powder gets me. I end up throwing up immediately after eating it. I have to manage on a fairly bland diet as a result.

Moral of this story, don’t do drugs or drink when pregnant. You can fuck yourself up all you want but when it involves a developing life seriously just don’t do it.

51. God was drunk AF when he made me.

I have one ball, one kidney, and an ecto-spleen (basically two spleens). God was drunk AF.

52. Im immune to mosquito bites and poison ivy.

Im immune to mosquito bites and poison ivy. My friends hate me.

53. My belly button looks like a cinnamon roll.

My belly button looks like a cinnamon roll.

54. I can ensure an entire Q-tip into my left nostril, straight to the back.

My nostril is funny. I can Insert a Q-tip into my left nostril. It just goes straight in, straight to the back. Completely, without being visible. It doesn’t hurt. And my nose works fine otherwise. And no, I never did coke or the like.

55. My body is fucking weird.

Im a 5’7″ woman, wear a size 6/8 in top and bottom (my wedding dress was a size 8 and they’re usually sure sized), and am technically morbidly obese by body fat standards (~40%) . I am the definition of skinny fat. Turns out I have a rare genetic condition that decreases the amount of free testosterone I have to virtually 0, meaning I have a really hard time building and retaining muscle mass. I started taking hormone therapy a few months ago after searching for a doctor that would give a woman testosterone (but not for gender identity reasons). I actually lift regularly and even with such low muscle mass, I can bodyweight squat (~180 lbs) and am pretty close to the 500 club. My body is fucking weird.

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/55-people-reveal-the-strangest-thing-about-their-body/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/177250748242

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