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sincerelybluevase · 5 years ago

Note

Didn't think all questions from 'Asks' could be proposed, so there you go: all the questions (1 to 96) or as much as you can!

Well thank you, nonny! I shall put these under a cut.

(1) Do You Sleep With Your Closet Doors Open Or Closed? Closed, because you never know what might be in there!

(2) Do You Have Freckles? I wish I did, but alas! My sisters do have them so jealous much.

(3) Can You Whistle? I can, but I can’t carry a tune I’m afraid.

(4) Last Song You Listened To. Almost by Hozier.

(5) What Is Your Favourite Colour? It’s a tie between blue and red.

(6) Relationship Status. Taken, and happily so!

(7) What Is The Temperature Right Now? 16 degrees Celsius, so that’s about 61 F.

(8) Did You Wake Up Cranky? I woke up from a nightmare, so it wasn’t really the best sort of waking. That said, I’m not cranky per se, just a bit sleepy still.

(9) How Many Followers? 438

(10) Zodiac Sign. Aquarius

(11) What Is Your Eye Colour? Blue!

(12) Take A Vitamin Daily? Not daily; I take vitamin D tablets you have to take every few days. Before I used to take a different vitamin D tablet daily, though!

(13) Do You Sing In The Shower? No but I do talk to myself haha.

(14) What Books Are You Reading? The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien for a course at university, and Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel for fun.

(15) Grab The Book Nearest To You, Turn To Page 64, Give Me Line 14. I don’t think you have to worry about Bilbo.

(16) Favourite Anime? Hm, probably Howl’s Moving Castle.

(17) Last Person You Cried In Front Of? I’m trying to remember when I last cried. Either in front of my gf, or in front of my sisters.

(18) Do You Collect Anything? Books and crystal skulls!

(19) What Did You Have For Lunch? Nothing yet, because it is still morning.

(20) Do You Dance In The Car? Our car isn’t big enough for that haha.

(21) Favourite Animal? I think I would have to choose otters.

(22) Do You Watch The Olympics? I watch parts of it.

(23) What Time Do You Usually Go To Bed? Well, I usually go up at 9.30, but that doesn’t mean I’m actually aiming for sleep at that point, haha.

(24) Are You Wearing Makeup Right Now? I’m allergic to make up, so no.

(25) Do You Prefer To Swim In A Pool Or The Ocean? Neither, because I hate swimming.

(26) Favourite Tumblr Blog? How could I ever choose?

(27) Bottled Water Or Tap Water? I live in the Netherlands, which has the cleanest tap water in the world. Therefore, drinking bottled water is almost criminal.

(28) What Makes You Happy? Many things! My gf, my sisters, my dog, good books, writing, playing the piano, petrichor, warmth, hot tea...

(29) Post A Gif Of What You’re Currently Feeling Right Now.

(30) Do You Study Better With Or Without Music? It depends on what I am studying, truth be told. I do both, though I always use instrumental music.

(31) Dogs Or Cats? Both.

(32) If You Were A Crayon What Colour Would You Be? I don’t know. Probably a pastel blue, maybe orange?

(33) PlayStation Or Xbox. Sadly, I have had neither.

(34) Would You Swim In The Lake Or Ocean? Not if I can help it.

(35) Do You Believe In Magic? Define magic.

(36) What Colour Shirt Are You Wearing? I’m wearing a dress. It’s denim, therefore blue.

(37) Can You Curl Your Tongue? I can!

(38) Do You Save Money Or Spend It? I’d like to say both, but I mainly spend it.

(39) Is There Anything Pink Within 10 Feet Of You? Yes; my phone case.

(40) Do You Have Any Obsessions Right Now? I wouldn’t call it an obsession, but I have been listening to Lana Del Rey’s new album on repeat, and I’ve found myself craving gothic books.

(41) Have You Ever Caught A Butterfly? I haven’t.

(42) Are You Easily Influenced By Other People? No.

(43) Do You Have Strange Dreams? All the freaking time!

(44) Do You Like Going On Airplanes? No; the air is super dry, the seats are cramped and uncomfortable, the food too little and not very good. I do like I’m going somewhere, though.

(45) Name One Movie That Made You Cry. The only thing that comes to mind right now is Shrek the Fourth, which is somewhat embarrassing, but really I cry easily with films.

(46) Peanuts Or Sunflower Seeds? Sunflower seeds, though both are lovely when salted.

(47) If I Handed You A Concert Ticket Right Now, Who Would You Want The Performer To Be? Hozier.

(48) Are You A Picky Eater? I can’t eat gluten and I’m also lactose intolerant, so in that sense I am picky. If it boils down to what I actually like, I’m not.

(49) Are You A Heavy Sleeper? Not at all.

(50) Do You Fear Thunder / Lightning? Nope!

(51) Do You Like To Read / Write? Yes and yes!

(52) Do You Like Your Music Loud? No because I am perpetually afraid I will damage my ears and go deaf.

(53) Would You Rather Carve Pumpkins Or Wrap Presents? I have only ever carved a pumpkin once, so I am going to go with that because it is so new.

(54) Put Your Music On Shuffle, What Is The First Song That Came Up? Mrs de Winter bin ich! From the German musical adaption of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.

(55) What Season Are You In Right Now? (Weather) Transitioning from summer to autumn.

(56)What Are You Craving Right Now? Some free time so I can finish my first draft and finish the book I’m reading.

(57) Post A Screenshot Of Your Tumblr Feed. No.

(58) What Is Your Gender? Female.

(59) Coffee Or Tea? Tea.

(60) Do You Have Any Homework Right Now? If So, What Is It About? I’m doing an English literature master, so I have homework all the time! I have to write a little essay about the letters of Margaret Cavendish, read LOTR, and choose a topic for an essay for my course on British and Irish fantasy novels.

(61) What Is Your Sexuality? Lesbian.

(62) Do You Make Your Bed In The Morning? Yes.

(63) Favourite Pokemon? Bulbosaur.

(64) Favourite Social Media? Tumblr.

(65) What’s Your Opinion On Instagram Stories? They can be fun!

(66) Do You Get Homesick? As a rule, no, but it depends on where I am and most of all with whom.

(67) Are You A Virgin? What a personal question!

(68) What Shampoo And Conditioner Are You Using Right Now? I don’t use conditioner, but I am using a shampoo bar by Lush which I don’t remember the name of, but it is for blondes and has chamomille and smells like lemon.

(69) If You Were Far From Home And Needed To Sleep For The Night, Would You Choose To Rent A Crappy Motel Room For $60 Or Sleep In Your Car For Free? What an American question! It is not really something I will have to deal with, living in the Netherlands. Still, if it came to it I suppose my car is less dirty than a crappy motel room.

(70) Are Both Of Your Blood Parents Still In Your Life? Yes.

(71) Whats The Next Movie You Want To See In Theaters? Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

(72) Do You Miss Your Ex? I don’t have one.

(73) What Is Your Favourite Quote Right Now? I don’t really have one.

(74) What Eye Colour Do You Find Sexiest? That fully depends on the person those eyes belong to. As a general rule, brown eyes.

(75) Did You Like Swinging As A Child? Do You Still Get Excited When You See A Swing Set? I do, and yes!

(76) What Was The Last Thing You Ate? I’m eating a sandwich as we eat.

(77) What Games Do You Have On Your Phone? Microsoft’s solitaire collection.

(78) Would You Give A Homeless Person CPR If They Were Dying? Why Or Why Not? I can’t give CPR, but if i could, I would, because I damn well hope someone would give me CPR if I was in that situation.

(79) Been On The Computer For 5 Hours Straight? Yes.

(80) Stalked Someone On A Social Network? No.

(81) Do You Like Meeting New People? Again, depends on the context.

(82) Do You Wear Rings? If You Do, Take A Picture Of Them. I wear one on each thumb and one on my right middle finger. Can’t take a picture ATM

(83) Do You Sleep With Your Bedroom Door Open Or Closed? Closed.

(84) What Are Three Things You Did Today? Brushed my teeth, made breakfast, talked to my gf. It’s 7.45 in the morning, guys.

(85) What Do You Wear To Bed? Nothing.

(86) List All Of Your Different Beauty Products You Have Right Now. I have face moisturiser and that is it guys.

(87) Are You A Day Or Night Person? A day person.

(88) List All Of Your Video Games On Your Phone, Console Etc. Candy crush friends, and Microsoft solitaire collection.

(89) Tell Me About A Dream That You Had And When It Happened. Well this morning I had a nightmare where I had to perform an exorcism on a loved one, and it didn’t work. Come to think of it, I did try to bless them with ‘the father, the mother, and the holy ghost,’ so that may have had something to do with it not working.

(90) Favourite Soda Drink? Fanta or 7-up.

(91) What Sounds Are Your Favourite? My gf laughing, rain on leaves (I am not that much of a rain person though), birds.

(92) Do You Wear Jeans Or Sweats More? Sweats are more comfy, Jeans look better.

(93) How Do You Look Right Now? Tired.

(94) Name Something That Relaxes You. Music.

(95) What Tattoo Do You Want? I don’t want one. I am too fickle; I’d grow bored of it after a while.

(96) Favourite YouTuber? I don’t have one favourite since I use youtube for different things.

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mihanada · 7 years ago

Photo

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Donghua Episode 1 (Pt. 3)

Alright, let’s finish this! I skipped a little more than the other parts so I can finish this live blog in this century lol.

Hey. Why is this transition so smooth. From a “Heh” expression to a slightly troubled one as he turns to watch Madam Mo yell at the Lan kids.

they didn’t do anything wrong. xD but, at least it’s a realistic reaction on her part, and they bite their tongues. they really can’t say anything in their defense that wouldn’t offend her, nor would she be likely to listen even if she was a more reasonable person.

HA WHAT IS THAT EXPRESSION. WHAT IS IT.

much better

I love it every time he slips back into his lunatic act, it’s so obvious and over the top, but everyone believes this super erratic behavior is just normal somehow.

I managed to pause at just the right time haha.

Anyways, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the ghost hand. It’s interesting that they chose to keep it attached to the body here, most likely so it would look less weird than fighting a disembodied hand floating around. There’s the issue of how it moves around, and also doesn’t look as cool visually I guess as a zombie-corpse thing attacking. xD

The way it twists with total disregard for bones and regular anatomy was...great, i guess, if a little gross if those things bother you.

Then Wei Wuxian just awkwardly stands there totally unafraid of the corpse haha.

you’re really keeping your cover here

this is not a normal reaction.

this, however, is. xD

glad to know the donghua kept the gross-ness from the novel alive. albeit in a different way, but still.

how their magic/cultivation arts are displayed is quite interesting, a little flashier than the novel by virtue of the medium.

On this array, I think I spot the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations (the tiger, dragon, red bird, and tortoise).

Isn’t Sizhui so cool here? This little speech is more impressive when spoken out loud than in written words.

I love his little tossing off his outer clothes sequence later, too, but alas I cannot gif so I’ll leave that up to someone else.

I can’t really get a good image of it, but I think that after the firework is set off, it leaves behind sparks in the shape of the Gusu Lan Sect’s logo.

lol they left out one of Wei Wuxian’s teaching moments (him pointing out the absence of the left hand)

he’s lucky they’re so distracted because his acting is wildly inconsistent xD

ick the sound effects when they try to pin Madam Mo’s corpse down and when the ghost hand attacks is just. xD well done I guess.

also a reason I’m not screenshotting as much: who really wants to see drooling shriveled corpses?

haha I do admit, it sort of is “in character” for him to tease the corpse now that it’s been “subdued”.

Jingyi is not amused.

haha his flailing around running like a chicken though.

he moves like a sim.

I dunno if these bear any meaning at all or if they were chosen randomly out of old texts or whatever, but here are the incantations on the Lan Sect’s uniforms. I spot a 魔王 that I can recognize in that script...

魔 = devil, evil arts, etc.; 王 = king or ruler; do they equal something like ‘demon king'? idk if it’s the same in Chinese even if the individual characters are the same

I like the soundtrack during the part where they fight the corpse off together. very fun, has a nice rhythm.

@extrapenguin‘s reaction to this episode reminded me that these two technically end up running around in their underclothes xD this white robe counts as underwear.

ehh action sequences are difficult to screenshot but they’re very nicely animated so far.

There are a lot of subtle changes of expression. I’ll have to keep my eye on them (particularly Lan Wangji’s - it’s basically the only way you have of knowing what he’s thinking lol)

Okay, I’ve been waiting for this moment to talk about this eerie red glowing eyes thing. Apparently this is how they’ve chosen to render demonic cultivation, which fits if a bit cliche and overly dramatic (though those giant arrays are no less dramatic). Interesting, similarly to Jiang Cheng’s lightning based energy from Zidian, the red demonic cultivation energy sparks red.

At least it gives some indication of him using a skill or technique of some kind rather than just speaking to corpses and having them move. idk how that even works but whatever this is cultivation magic.

lol Sizhui’s “Can it be...?” that turns into “nah, can’t be him.”

I’m glad they kept the part where Madam Mo recognizes her son even as a corpse. In the donghua it makes it seem like she’s possessed and comes out of it briefly, while in the novel it seems to be some strong instinct that compels her to fight even harder to protect her son though they’re both corpses.

hi dear friend

there are a lot of changes in perspective in this donghua. but alas I know nothing about cinematography so.

it doesn’t make me dizzy and I can keep track of what’s going on, so they must be doing something right.

Gotta admit, Lan Wangji’s entrance is pretty impactful, huh? The strum of the guqin’s strings (though it might be 100% a guqin, I’ve heard Chinese media often interchanges it with the guzheng which is similar but has many more strings) really resonates in this scene of him stopping the hand on time.

Lan Wangji is very pretty. But that extremely blank look in his eyes is somewhat creepy. It lacks passion, focus, every emotion you could possibly have during this scene. He doesn’t look that bored either, just blank.

ironic, for someone whose title carries the word “light”

aww the Lan kids seeing that they are saved!

In terms of artistic analysis, the shot of Lan Wangji’s side profile (pictured at the top of this post) is interesting. the light is behind him, and he is facing away from it with that extremely flat expression.

and lastly, we end with the last of the guqin’s notes as the camera pans over Mo Village.

FINALLY DONE. god. the next live blog will not be this ridiculous, I promise!

Next Up: Episode 2 ← back • forward →

#grandmaster of demonic cultivation #founder of diabolism #mo dao zu shi #mdzs donghua #魔道祖师 #long post #image heavy post #donghua live blog

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blueraith · 6 years ago

Text

So, My Blog Is Super SFW In General

Mostly because of all the fluffy (with sides of angst for seasoning) family fic bullshit that I write. Aside from my curse filled ranting and maybe a few NSFW gifs I’ve reblogged over the years, I won’t be affected by this change.

That said, this is a move that I genuinely hate.

Just about every other social media site (with the exception of those that just don’t care about anything at all) has done better than Tumblr at keeping legitimately harmful material related to minors—e.g. CP—at a minimum. With use of various tools and active moderation.

Yet, for whatever reason, Tumblr has always been embarrassingly bad at this. So much so that they had to be publicly shamed by Apple into finally doing something about their issues.

Which brings us to today, to a move that is so boneheadedly drastic, that it’s mindboggling. Explicit material has always been here, it probably has been one of Tumblr’s biggest draws, let’s not kid ourselves. And not just for porn, but for people who create explicit art for a variety of reasons. I have to wonder if the minors that Tumblr is so quick to now cater to in such a drastic way are capable of sustaining the site. These users will not have the same expendable incomes, the same data mining value, or the same ability to create content of high production value. Simply because they are children.

I’m not saying that all adults enjoy explicit content, but how many of us do patron or create it? I’d imagine it is a significant number.

I am an Old(TM) here. I’ve been on the internet for some time now. Frankly, there is a built in bias I have towards moves like this in general. I’m not about to claim FREEZE PEACHES here or anything, make no mistake this is a private website and Tumblr has the right to do whatever it wishes.

I am, however, all about free expression as a value in general, so long as that expression is not actively harmful to others or seeks to incite such harm. Such “expression” is worthless is my opinion and will never have any intrinsic value at all. That said, I grew up in a time where the internet truly was the Wild West. And while it still is in many regards, never in those times would a major website like Tumblr (though any major website like this would never have had the size or ubiquity as Tumblr or Reddit or Facebook and its ilk, to be fair) have contemplated making such a drastic and draconian move against free expression like this.

Simply put, the internet was not for minors in this regard. It was for everyone willing to or able to monitor their own internet use. Children were not ever considered the first and foremost users on websites unless that website was designed for them in mind, ala Disney and other obviously child-aimed content. Tumblr was not designed for kids in its inception, but for artists primarily. And art is about free expression.

So, this change irritates me. I don’t like having my content forcibly combed through of material for the sake of other people. “For the children” is a concept that has always irritated the absolute fuck out of me because it puts the onus of protecting, raising, and nurturing children on the community at large rather than the people directly involved with any particular child. Sorry, ‘raised by the village’ is not something I agree with on a personal level, and I’m just not willing to even bother. In any largely individualistic society, it’s laziness on the parts of people screaming about these values, rather than morality.

So, if anyone has actually stuck around to this rant’s ending, if you have any suggestions to a Tumblr alternative, feel free to describe your experiences with them. I’m interested in hearing about them.

#Tumblr #Why are you being so boneheaded?

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attract-mode-collective · 6 years ago

Video

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Exactly 79 Photos & Videos Concerning The Game Boy (plus other handhelds)

So... hope you’ve all been following me on Twitter, which is more or less the unofficial new home for Attract Mode. Mostly cuz Tumblr’s days are, alas, numbers, plus I haven’t warmed up to Medium as much as I had hoped to. Though I’ve actually spent the past two months republishing every single post that contains mainline Game Culture Snapshots, so it has remained somewhat useful at least.

Now, for a while there, I had been compiling every single thing tweeted. But because I’m now so damn active on that end… plus I’m busier than ever with other projects… I’m way behind with those digest posts, and the very idea of playing catch up legit gives me anxiety. Yet I have been sharing lots of cool things, which all deserve to be in the blog proper… and because a lot of them are specific to the Game Boy, I figure, why not just focus on that?

Like the above, which is a technique for producing full color photographs via the Game Boy Camera, and yet another thing that I can’t believe hasn’t made the rounds!

Sticking with Game Boy photography, here have a pair of mods that will greatly enhance picture quality. The first involves mounting SLR lens onto a Game Boy Camera (via ekeler.com)...

And the second has one shoving a Game Boy Camera into a SLR itself (via @MaxKriegerVG)...

As someone who was into video games as a kid, and also interested in photography, the Game Boy Camera was the first camera I was able to call my own. Am pretty sure this was the case for others as well?

I also remember seeing this ad in Nickelodeon Magazine (which I would eventually writer for, not too long later) and being absolutely gob smacked (via nintendroid.org)…

Though as much I loved Nintendo brand of FUNtography, I would quickly discover… as did everyone else I also assume… that taking pictures is serious business (via @PolandNintendo)…

Not only did I have a Game Boy Color, but I also had the Game Boy Printer (I still own both, for the record). Unfortunately my snapshots from Link’s Awakening have long since faded, but as with many things, you can find copies online (via gameandgraphics.com)…

Speaking of the world of print, coming soon is a handy guide to Nintendo handy game machine (via miki800.com)…

That one magazine ad featuring Princess Peach catch your eye as well? Well here’s a much better look at it (via suppermariobroth)…

I love handheld gadgets of all kinds, yet some of the popular ones confuse me. Like Hudson’s Shooting Watch; it makes no sense to have a gadget that can detect button presses without a game attached. Guess I’m not alone (via instagram.com/kazzycom)…

A realization I made while sifting through Game Boy related content is how popular the color yellow is with many. Cuz Pokemon? Anyhow, the final post from a blog that specializes in gorgeous photographs of gorgeous hardware, which I just brought up again very recently (via hard-aware)…

How your parents used to trade Pokemans online (via melonjaywalk)…

And no, Game Boys weren't the only things that one could connect to keitais ya know. And yes, Game Boys aren’t the only portables I’ll be showcasing (via anthony10000000)…

I own quite a few VMUs and am always looking to expand my collection… but nothing yellow, sorry. Instead, I want the one covered with dolphins (via anthony10000000)…

So my new favorites artist is Eri Kitamura, and not just cuz she makes pretty looking Game Boys…

She also makes pretty looking girls playing Game Boys (well, this one is technically listening to music)…

Was originally going to post the first thing from Eri that caught my eye, which is a Game Boy with a girl on it, but instead here’s a Game Boy with a girl on it playing a Game Boy…

Time for two more videos from the same individual responsible with the process for producing color photographs at the very top. And it’s what everyone has been waiting… specifically the backlit Game Boy Color mod everyone has been waiting for.

The process is detailed in this two-part video, and here’s the first one (it’s about 50 minutes long cuz spoilers: this shit ain’t easy)…

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And here’s part two, which is ONLY 40-ish minutes long…

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The author of the videos actually has a store, so if the process seems a bit too daunting, you can purchase a pre-modded unit for $250. Actually, this one is $260, cuz of the dual shells. Quite the price tag, yet somehow totally worth it (via instagram.com/esotericmods)…

Now might be a good time to mention how… remember that GBA with the GameCube finish from eBay a few months back? Well, I decided to get the one that resembles a Super Famicom, something I’ve been lusting over for years.

Well, here’s what the aforementioned seller had in his listing…

And this is what I got instead…

Yeah, that green shoulder button is not the right shade. After some complaining, I got the seller to admit that the one in the picture was hand painted; he didn’t know where it get ones that it’s exact color as on a Super Fami controller.

He also had a no refund policy, yet I bitched & moaned enough to warrant an exchange, for another Cube-esque model, one sans the stick. Cuz it’s comparatively boring to look at, here’s a version with the stick…

Again, mine just has the standard d-pad. As for my replacement… the colors of the A & B buttons are not an exact match, once again. But it’s close enough (am mostly just sick of dealing with that guy, aka johnnys_merchandise, whom you should all avoid btw), plus I have started to scour AliExpress for replacements.

BTW, my failure to obtain a modded handheld that channels another form of hardware has me wondering if I should go for something completely different instead (via instagram.com/wakuwakuisland)…

Up in the mountains, flower bloom amongst Game Boys & Game Boy Colors, whereas deep in the forest, you’ll find mushrooms and Game Boy Advances (via pxchinko)…

Some say memories are fuzzy, though for others, they're leafy (via lyosphe)…

I’ve looked all over for tinycartridge's original post, but no luck, so you can all instead have my personal copy of the earthy wallpaper that was shared years ago (and which I still to this very day)...

The Game Boy Micro, DS, and DS Lite are like family, and like siblings, there can the occasional squabble (via benkyo-es)…

@frankcifaldi: When I met this guy in 2003 and he told me he was going to make an extensive fan site about the Supervision, a Taiwanese Game Boy knockoff, I was like "sure dude." 15 years later he actually launched the thing??

Meanwhile, the Game & Watch Perfect Catalogue just came out, with the full low down on all 59 models. BTW, had no idea there were 59 in total until @ionadisco mentioned it…

How Game & Watches were sold in America; I fondly recalls this ad in-between the pages of Amazing/Spectacular/Web of Spider-Man (via suppermariobroth)…

And how Game Boys were sold in Japan, one day one apparently, which would explain this salesperson’s rather perplexed demeanor (via flashbak.com)…

Silly as it sounds, and as silly as he looks, the US version of Firebrand is nonetheless a warm & welcoming face from my childhood (via nintendometro)...

Mario dropping a knowledge bomb (via suppermariobroth)…

Here’s Peach seemingly kicking Toad’s ass in Super Mario Bros Deluxe, which I’ve been meaning to tweet for a while now, but now seems like the right time & place for obvious reasons (via nintendometro)…

A cute comic about someone finally beating a game after ten years, or at least I believe that's the case (you know, language barrier and all; via @desune593)

Sailor Moon seems to enjoy handheld gaming more so than in the arcades (via uglygreenjacket)…

It saddens me that ravages of time is robbing me of my precious memories, including the names of 90s anime, hence why I had to ask on Twitter who exactly is this (answer was Tenchi Muyo; via shxtfased)...

It’s SethEverman, just playing some pokemon blue…

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Speaking of music, it again saddens me that I wasn’t about to make the trip to Japan to catch chiptunes at Square Sounds, and various associated venues. At least @bit_shifter_ took this great snapshot of Glomag at Cyberpunks Osaka…

Meanwhile, here in NYC, we actually still have record stores. And you can grab Josh’s latest release, his first in 12 years(!) at Rough Trade (via bit-shifter)…

Though back to Japan; attended Square Sounds would have also afforded me the chance to check out Tokyo Game Show, where I could have gotten that VMU shaped USB drive that was being sold at the Sega booth (via miki800)…

A few weeks before TGS, there was an earthquake in Japan, in northern island Hokkaido. Many were left without power, but one person was able to keep up with the news, thanks to an old DS peripheral that basically provides bunny ears (via kotaku.com)…

On a semi-related note, here’s someone watching old ECW VHS tapes on their Game Gear (via heavyelectricity)…

Sorry, but the only other thing I have that’s related to Sega’s Master System on the go is this gif from a pizza ranch salad dressing (yikes) commercial, which was cross-promoting Sonic Chaos (via sonicthehedgeblog)...

I have no idea why I'm so amused by this Getty Image of a Neo Geo Pocket that was confiscated at summer camp. Or perhaps no explanation is needed? (via hellomrkearns)…

Speaking of the Great Outdoors, here’s my buddy Steve enjoying some Mario Kart 8 in the middle of a forest (via instagram.com/vitaminsteve)…

And speaking of Mario Kart on the Switch, Bowser seems like a pretty cool dood to have a car trip (via suppermariobroth)…

The Switch is so beloved that people are doing fan art, not for any particular game but the simple the act of playing with it (via annazees)…

Granted, one of the best things about the Switch is all the different ways in which one can play (via kanekoshake)…

If you enjoy your Switch on the go and are looking for a way to store games… and are a diehard Breath of the Wild fan as well… plus if you have access to a 3D printer (via miki800.com)…

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It’s a tribute to Star Wars… games… all of them… featuring Princess Leia focused on her DMG (via deviantart.com/robduenas)...

BTW, do you still have your Game Boy? If not, here ya go (via anthony10000000)…

When the realization hits that your Game Boy Color library is incomplete (via @Bootleg_Stuff)…

Back to my buddy Steve, who visited the Primark at the Staten Island mall and took pics of the game related apparel that, sadly, were no longer in stock by the time I was able to swing by. With the one thing I really wanted being this shirt…

This pair of Super Mario Land X Air Jordans is only $1,350.00 (via miki800.com)…

I’m sure you’ve seen him already, but for the sake of completion, here’s that grandpa from who rigged this bike with 11 phones to become a Pokemon Go master (via bbc.com)…

Yet another sign of our times, literally (via fuckdragonballz)…

This image features a PSP and a MacBook, both of which are from the mid-2000s, yet feels very late 1990s/early 2000s. Why? Those USB cables (via jcgraphix)…

And last but not least, here’s Paris Hilton with her DS in 2005 (via @ParisHilton)…

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fmservers · 6 years ago

Text

The best and worst April Fools’ jokes from around the web

The tech world sure does love a good prank.

While some sat out on April Fools’, a number of big tech companies embraced the opportunity to waste time this way.

So without any further ado, here are the April Fools’ pranks from around the web:

The good

1) Google Tulip

youtube

Google Tulip, in my humble opinion, is Google’s best April Fools’ joke this year. It’s a product that lets you communicate with tulips (they’re making progress with cacti, which just want to be left alone, it would appear).

The premise itself is par for the course on April Fools’ day — the perfect mix of mildly plausible and “but why?” — but a few of the comedic touches on the video really make this prank shine.

If the bit at the :54 mark doesn’t tickle you, then I fully respect your opinion but we are very different people and I doubt we could ever be real friends.

2) Shutterstock stock IRL

youtube

This happens to be one of my favorite April Fools’ jokes from a tech company this year. Shutterstock is unveiling ‘plans’ to build the world’s largest physical library, called stock IRL, which would host “shelves upon shelves upon shelves” of stock photos, watermarked videos and music tracks.

Best line: “Because sometimes innovation means moving backwards.”

Sometimes, the idea itself can be an obvious prank as long as it’s executed well. It doesn’t hurt that Shutterstock does a pretty solid job marketing its actual product here, either.

3) Spotify Discocover Weekly

Spotify’s April fools prank is pretty good tho pic.twitter.com/yTSdvzJdtS

— Christopher Mims (@mims) April 1, 2019

This one is elegant and delightful. Spotify has transformed your Discover Weekly playlist to feature disco hits, or disco takes on non-disco hits. I’ve been listening to mine this morning and it’s solid. Oh, and the playlist is called Discocover Weekly.

Lovely.

4) Duolingo Push

youtube

The best way to learn a language is to practice every day. So Duolingo is introducing a more effective way to remind you with Duolingo Push.

“We’re taking push notifications out of your phone and into the real world! Duo the Owl will literally show up to remind you to practice. It’s the green-glove treatment you’ve always wanted.”

5) Google Maps Snake

If this is a prank, it’s an incredibly generous and sweet prank that never hurt anyone. Google has put the classic Snakes game into the Google Maps app, for both iOS and Android, as well as on a standalone site for folks who don’t have the app.

It’s fun and simple and makes me wonder why this nostalgic little Easter Egg can’t live in the Google Maps app forever and for always.

(I died for that ^^ screenshot. You’re welcome.)

6) ProductHunt IPO

ProductHunt joked that it’s going public simply as a result of peer pressure. It also highlighted some of the April Fools’ pranks coming through on its own platform, including a SideDoor into college admission and a monstrous USB hub.

7) Waymo Pet

youtube

It’s exactly what you think it is. Waymo Pet is an autonomous car service exclusively for pets. The real beauty in this April Fools’ joke is in the details — the idea of Waymo employees overthinking the interior of a car based on the type of pet that may be riding in it is relatively humorous.

Best line: “Research shows us that cats love laser pointers.”

The not so good

1) Adobe Capture

Adobe wonders what would happen if designers could spark a memory through the smell of a particular ad or logo. Heralding the arrival of this hellscape is Adobe Capture, which uses Adobe Scent-sei technology to give users the ability to capture scents in the real world (through the camera?) and preview scents via the phone’s charging port.

Don’t shoot the messenger. It gets both better and worse from here.

2) General Cat-A-List

General Catalyst has spruced up their landing page with loads of cat gifs, powered by Giphy. Yes, General Catalyst is an investor in Giphy.

“We took this process seriously. To best convey that we sit at the cutting edge of all things new, bright and shiny, we spitballed our way through design-thinking sessions and administered Rorschach tests across the firm. We concluded that our brand should land at the intersection of tech + fun. What could illustrate tech-enabled fun better than the cat gif?”

3) Google Files Screen Cleaner:

youtube

Google is adding a new Screen Cleaner feature to the Files app. To clean it from the inside out. According to the video, the features uses “a smudge detector API” to identify imperfections, along with” geometric dirt models” and a “haptic micromovement generator” to sh-sh-shake it off.

And because they already committed, the team at Google decided to double down and say that the Screen Cleaner also uses micro vibrations to create a non-stick shield around your phone. Cause why not?

4) NVIDIA GeForce RTX R.O.N.

youtube

The NVIDIA GeForce RON AI personal assistant, as the name might suggest, is a classic case of too many pranky ideas coming to fruition at once.

The Echo-like device (but also with a holographic display, for some reason) offers in-game coaching (insults), a rage converter (which translates your screamed profanities into words of encouragement for your inept teammates), and the Troll Destroyer (using internet-sourced facts to take down trolls on forums). Those are just a few of the features of the RON AI personal assistant, which feels a bit too bonkers to be funny.

“A” for effort, though.

5) 1Password

1Password just went for it today with the introduction of the 1Password Password Book, which is just a journal where you write down your passwords.

The landing page touts the book’s features, vacillating between pros and cons like “It’s Super Private” and “You can share your passwords.” Of course, analog password storage isn’t the worst way to store your passwords, especially if those passwords are strong in the first place and you’re keeping your Password Book in a safe place.

Alas, the Password Book is just a prank.

6) OnePlus Warp Car

The OnePlus #WarpCar is coming. Are you ready to say goodbye to gasoline? #NeverSettle

— OnePlus (@oneplus) April 1, 2019

For years, rumors swirled that Apple might be working on a car. For April Fools’, the smartphone newcomer OnePlus teased an upcoming electric vehicle called the OnePlus Warp.

Shrug.

7) Razr Ping

youtube

Gaming hardware company Razr took some inspiration from Apex Legends, the hottest new game on the market. Razr Ping hypothetically lets people ping real-world objects with their smartphone, similar to the non-verbal comms system in Apex Legends.

Low-key, though, that comms system may very well be the exemplar for other games and even non-gaming platforms. Just not in the way Razr imagines here, obviously.

8) Roblox Console

I’m not entirely sure what Roblox is doing here with the introduction of the first Roblox gaming console, offering “a new way to make your dreams a reality in stunning, 8K ultra-high definition graphics and at greater than 120 frames per second.”

“Deep underground in a secret laboratory, our engineers developed a groundbreaking processor that could distill imagination into a concentrated source of infinite energy,” reads the blog post. “That energy is what fuels the unbelievable technology in Robox.”

If it’s supposed to be funny, I don’t get it.

9) Roku PressPaws Remote

youtube

According to Roku, 72 percent of their users said they thought their dogs would enjoy TV more if they could control what’s on. Thus, the PressPaws Remote.

“This paws-specific remote could be a huge untapped market for us,” says Lloyd Klarke, director of product management for the Roku Pet Division. The remote has shortcut buttons shaped like paws, because the buttons are the only real barrier between a dog’s ability to master the TV remote.

10) SodastreamME

youtube

And then there’s such a thing as trying too hard. Sodastream presents the SodasteamME, which was built in partnership with astronaut Scott Kelly and allows folks to power their Sodastream with their own burps.

We may never know why.

11) Stack Overflow

StackOverflow also went for a simple prank, taking the entire website back to the early days o the internet, complete with Comic Sans typeface. It’s jarring. You can check it out here.

12) Tinder Height Verification Badge

Introducing the thing you never asked for, but definitely always wanted—Tinder Height Verification. Coming soon. Read more about it here: https://t.co/8MER0L1U6W pic.twitter.com/hZ507zSoic

— Tinder (@Tinder) March 29, 2019

It’s funny because it’s true? On March 29, Tinder teased a new Height Verification Badge (HVB), which would force users to verify their age by taking a photo of themselves standing next to any commercial building. Remember, this is three full days before April 1.

The blog post has at least one typo, and some questionable language. (Exhibit A: “Did it ever occur to you that honesty is what separates humans from sinister monsters? Of course not.”) There is also, however, some hint of truth. (Exhibit B: “Only 14.5% of the U.S. male population is actually 6’ and beyond. So, we’re expecting to see a huge decline in the 80% of males on Tinder who are claiming that they are well over 6 feet.”)

For a minute, we couldn’t decide if it was real or not. But Tinder has confirmed that this is an April Fools’ prank.

13) T-Mobile Phone BoothE

youtube

If you’re still here, we’re done. T-Mobile’s sacrificial lamb in this blood bath of a ‘holiday’ is the T-Mobile Phone BoothE, which is a soundproof phone booth.

Of note: T-Mobile CEO John Legere was an active participant in this prank, which raises concerns, but then again that’s sort of his style.

Via Jordan Crook https://techcrunch.com

#TechCrunch

0 notes

toomanysinks · 6 years ago

Text

The best and worst April Fools’ jokes from around the web

The tech world sure does love a good prank.

While some sat out on April Fools’, a number of big tech companies embraced the opportunity to waste time this way.

So without any further ado, here are the April Fools’ pranks from around the web:

The good

1) Google Tulip

youtube

If the bit at the :54 mark doesn’t tickle you, then I fully respect your opinion but we are very different people and I doubt we could ever be real friends.

2) Shutterstock stock IRL

youtube

Best line: “Because sometimes innovation means moving backwards.”

Sometimes, the idea itself can be an obvious prank as long as it’s executed well. It doesn’t hurt that Shutterstock does a pretty solid job marketing its actual product here, either.

3) Spotify Discocover Weekly

Spotify’s April fools prank is pretty good tho pic.twitter.com/yTSdvzJdtS

— Christopher Mims (@mims) April 1, 2019

Lovely.

4) Duolingo Push

youtube

The best way to learn a language is to practice every day. So Duolingo is introducing a more effective way to remind you with Duolingo Push.

5) Google Maps Snake

It’s fun and simple and makes me wonder why this nostalgic little Easter Egg can’t live in the Google Maps app forever and for always.

(I died for that ^^ screenshot. You’re welcome.)

6) ProductHunt IPO

7) Waymo Pet

youtube

Best line: “Research shows us that cats love laser pointers.”

The not so good

1) Adobe Capture

Don’t shoot the messenger. It gets both better and worse from here.

2) General Cat-A-List

General Catalyst has spruced up their landing page with loads of cat gifs, powered by Giphy. Yes, General Catalyst is an investor in Giphy.

3) Google Files Screen Cleaner:

youtube

And because they already committed, the team at Google decided to double down and say that the Screen Cleaner also uses micro vibrations to create a non-stick shield around your phone. Cause why not?

4) NVIDIA GeForce RTX R.O.N.

youtube

The NVIDIA GeForce RON AI personal assistant, as the name might suggest, is a classic case of too many pranky ideas coming to fruition at once.

“A” for effort, though.

5) 1Password

1Password just went for it today with the introduction of the 1Password Password Book, which is just a journal where you write down your passwords.

Alas, the Password Book is just a prank.

6) OnePlus Warp Car

The OnePlus #WarpCar is coming. Are you ready to say goodbye to gasoline? #NeverSettle

— OnePlus (@oneplus) April 1, 2019

For years, rumors swirled that Apple might be working on a car. For April Fools’, the smartphone newcomer OnePlus teased an upcoming electric vehicle called the OnePlus Warp.

Shrug.

7) Razr Ping

youtube

Low-key, though, that comms system may very well be the exemplar for other games and even non-gaming platforms. Just not in the way Razr imagines here, obviously.

8) Roblox Console

If it’s supposed to be funny, I don’t get it.

9) Roku PressPaws Remote

youtube

According to Roku, 72 percent of their users said they thought their dogs would enjoy TV more if they could control what’s on. Thus, the PressPaws Remote.

10) SodastreamME

youtube

We may never know why.

11) Stack Overflow

StackOverflow also went for a simple prank, taking the entire website back to the early days o the internet, complete with Comic Sans typeface. It’s jarring. You can check it out here.

12) Tinder Height Verification Badge

Introducing the thing you never asked for, but definitely always wanted—Tinder Height Verification. Coming soon. Read more about it here: https://t.co/8MER0L1U6W pic.twitter.com/hZ507zSoic

— Tinder (@Tinder) March 29, 2019

For a minute, we couldn’t decide if it was real or not. But Tinder has confirmed that this is an April Fools’ prank.

13) T-Mobile Phone BoothE

youtube

If you’re still here, we’re done. T-Mobile’s sacrificial lamb in this blood bath of a ‘holiday’ is the T-Mobile Phone BoothE, which is a soundproof phone booth.

Of note: T-Mobile CEO John Legere was an active participant in this prank, which raises concerns, but then again that’s sort of his style.

source https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/01/the-best-and-worst-april-fools-jokes-from-the-tech-world-2019/

0 notes

itsyourturnblog · 6 years ago

Link

Becuase, books… Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

12 months ago I summarised 30 insights from the 30 books I’d read in 2017 (here and here).

This year I have a better word than insights: noodles.

I also have 40 books under my belt, so strap yourselves in for a two-part post.

With a commitment to more fiction and variety (thanks mum) I present the first half of said list, accompanied by an ‘in a gif’ summary for those who enjoy a visual:

1. Deep Work — Cal Newport

Will change the way you think about structuring work days. Deep Work steps through the inefficient truths of most peoples relationship to work, what it means to do real, deep, uninterrupted work and why it matters.

Noodle: Put away your phone and go deep.

It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘shallow work’ of responding to emails and notifications and trick ourselves into thinking we’re being productive. The good stuff lies on the other side of uninterrupted blocks of deep work, ala A Beautiful Mind.

In a gif:

2. The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye — David Lagercrantz

Got a dose of fiction early in the year with the latest continuation of the Millenium trilogy. While no longer written by Stieg Larsson, I still found it to be an engaging and sometimes thrilling read.

Noodle: Lisbeth Salander is still a badass that makes me want to get really good at coding and hacking.

In a gif:

3. Tribe of Mentors — Tim Ferriss

The latest Tim Ferriss book where he asked the same 11 questions to over 100 of the world’s elite (in their respective fields). It’s repetitive, huge and best consumed in small chunks.

Noodle: It’s never been easier to learn from the best, even if you can’t speak to them directly. I wrote this separate post about this book earlier in the year.

In a gif:

4. Radical Self Acceptance — Tara Brach

An audiobook that goes deep into meditation and our relationship with ourselves.

Noodle: I mean, this quote says it best:

“Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns… each day we listen to inner voices that keep our life small.”

In a gif:

5. The War of Art — Steven Pressfield

A reread as I began to re-wrestle with how to best work creatively and dance with the constant voice of doubt, which Pressfield calls, ‘the resistance’.

Noodle: Creative work is a constant dance with fear.

“The more scared we are of the work… the more we have to do it.”

In a gif:

6. Footprints on the Moon — Seth Godin

No link because, well, this was a gift from Seth and isn’t available for sale publically.

Noodle: Changemakers understand these three things: a) creative people change the world,

b) you can’t change everyone, hence the importance of the question ‘who’s it for?’ and;

c) you must add intention to everything, therefore ask ‘what’s it for?’

In a gif:

7. How to Walk — Thic Nhat Hanh

A tiny book that focusses on walking mindfully.

Fun fact: Ironically I read this around the time I had hip surgery and was forced to teach myself to walk again.

Noodle: Most of the time we’re walking we are distracted in thought and forget to think about the act itself. What would it look like to bring attention to each step we take?

“Forgetfulness is the opposite of mindfulness.”

In a gif:

8. The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A children’s book that I’m sure I read as a kid but had almost no recollection of (much to the shock of my girlfriend).

She gave me a classic case of “I’m not angry, just disappointed” so I had no choice but to read it. Two hours later on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I turned back to the front and read it again.

Noodle: Another I was compelled to write an entire post about earlier in the year.

In a gif:

9. Four Hour Work Week — Tim Ferriss

A reread to remind myself how I might be more effective and efficient with my time.

Noodle: I was reminded of this gem and its relevance to Deep Work:

“Are you inventing work to avoid the important?” which I also translate to: “Where are you hiding?”

In a gif:

10. Little Book of Hygge — Meik Wiking

A book that single-handedly opened my eyes to the simple joy of having candles.

I still have no idea how to pronounce or explain the Danish phrase, Hygge. It’s best thought of as a feeling, according to this book. The kind of feeling that comes from sipping a hot coffee on a freezing winters day when you’re inside by the fire.

Noodle: The Danish know what’s up. Small things like nice lighting, warmth, candles and living minimally are some of the most important contributing factors to our happiness.

In a gif:

11. It Happens to Strong People Too — Kaci Kai

I’m lucky enough to call Kaci a friend and her short collection of poems is everything.

Take it from someone who previously didn’t “get” poetry all that well, no matter who you are there is at least one poem among this collection that will get you right between the eyes.

Noodle: The title says it all. Everyone has their thing. Their battle, their struggle, that voice in their head. The more we realise and share this, the more connected we all become.

In a gif:

12. Jonathan Livingston Seagull — Richard Bach

A friend’s answer to the question “do you know any more books like The Little Prince?”

Noodle: The main character (yes, it’s a seagull) realises that his tenacity and desire to learn make him “pretty well a one-in-a-million bird.”

I loved this as a reminder to always be curious and seek to learn more.

In a gif:

13. The Coaching Habit — Michael Bungay Stanier

A reread of a book I read last year about asking great questions.

Noodle: “What’s on your mind?” coupled with “And what else?” are questions we don’t ask each other enough.

In a gif:

14. The Prosperous Coach — Steve Chandler and Rich Livin

Terrible title but a super insightful book. It will help you think about coaching, relationships and business in a way you might not have before.

Noodle: There is no right way to run a business, be a leader or a coach… Only your way.

In a gif:

15. The Art of Possibility — Rosamund and Benjamin Zander

Another reread, this time because last year I said some parts were lost on me. Not this time, though. It’s firmly become one of my favourite books on creativity and if you haven’t already, just read this book.

Noodle: When learning, the way we respond to ‘mistakes’ or ‘failures’ is everything. The Zanders introduce this elegant idea for responding to our mistakes with the simple phrase: “how fascinating.”

In a gif:

16. Nine Stories — JD Salinger

Fiction? Check. Great author? Check. How could this series of short stories not be good? Sadly, I won’t lie, I was a little disappointed. Maybe it was me and my state of mind at the time, but I struggled to keep up, relate to or connect with any of the nine stories.

Noodle: Not all books are for everyone.

In a gif:

17. Designing Your Life — Bill Burnett

A very actionable and useful book based on a popular class of the same name at Stanford University.

Noodle: What would it look like to apply design thinking to your life? To get proactive, rather than reactive?

In a gif:

18. Reach Out — Molly Beck

An easy, actionable read on how to generously start conversations with those that inspire you. Generously being the operative word.

Noodle: It mean, it’s obvious, but if we took time to generously reach out to 1 new person every day for a year, we’d have up to 365 connections we wouldn’t have otherwise had.

In a gif:

19. Purple Cow — Seth Godin

I know, I know, yet another Seth book, and yet another reread. Alas, I planned to read intentionally this year and Purple Cow came just as I was reconsidering my website.

Noodle: Stand out and make your business, product or service something people remark at, just like a purple cow… Or in the case of the gif, a cow with luscious locks.

In a gif:

20. Story Driven — Bernadette Jiwa

A brilliant little book on how to use stories as a strategy for communicating your business.

Noodle: What if paused to consider the stories that got us to where we are? Could they help us better connect with current and future clients?

In a gif:

Next week I’ll tackle 21–40, in the meantime Happy Holidays you amazing humans.

Thanks for reading and being you. It means a lot to me.

Note: If you’re enjoying A bird’s eye view and all of its noodle-y goodness tell a friend they can subscribe here too.

Originally published at abev.blog.

20 noodles from 20 books was originally published in It's Your Turn on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Peter Shepherd via It's Your Turn - Medium #itsyourturn #altMBA #SethGodin #quotes #inspiration #stories #change #transformation #writers #writing #self #shipping #personaldevelopment #growth #education #marketing #entrepreneurship #leadership #personaldev #wellness #medium #blogging #quoteoftheday #inspirationoftheday

#ItsYourTurn #It's Your Turn #IYT #altMBA #Seth Godin #Inspiration #Stories #Change #Transformation #Blog #Medi

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sundaefundayla · 6 years ago

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Salt & Straw: Thanksgiving Feast

Happy Thanksgiving, blog readers! It’s been a while… I’M SORRY!! Not that I have to justify my life to a bunch of random people on the internet, but I’ve been REALLY busy, ok?!? Which if you know me irl (tbh, you probably do! You’re not just a bunch of random people on the internet… you’re mostly my friends <3 and I love you!) is kind of crazy- like, who knew it was even possible to do more things than I was already doing without actually going insane? Could a crazy person make this?!?

*insert gif here of Adam Scott holding up this ice cream blog*

ANYWAYS here are some ice cream related highlight to catch you up for the past few months:

- I went to Maine for the first time this summer (obviously NEVER in the Winter) and ate at two different ice cream places and one of them had a lobster statue

Sorry I didn’t blog the experience! I was too busy applying to medical school- you could say I was on a *lobster* roll (...I’ve already seen myself out)

- Speaking of medical school, I had an interview in SoCal (pre-all the fires) and Mel & I were reunited at the bougiest Salt & Straw aka Abbot Kinney

To all our LA readers, I literally only had 20 mins in LA before I had my interview and I had an interview in Florida the next morning, so I’m sorry we didn’t hang out! Next time!

- AND MOST IMPORTANTLY….

We won the Salt & Straw national ice cream day contest!! They said they loved our blog, and I maybe cried. But the best part? They’ve been shipping me all the new seasonal scoops for the past three months. (Like, in an airplane, packed in dry ice, so it doesn’t melt… how cool is that? I literally feel like a celebrity! Or Amazon! Having access to this amount of power should be illegal!)

**Full Disclosure: Despite having received all these flavors for free, all opinions are my own, and I’m not being paid to say anything. (Damn, I’ve always wanted to do that.)**

Which brings us to today’s, seasonally appropriate, blog post. The Salt & Straw Thanksgiving flavors.

But real quick- I just wanted to express how freaking GRATEFUL I am to all of you, to Salt & Straw, and to ice cream in general. Seriously, I’m getting overwhelmed with emotions just thinking about how lucky I am to just, like, be alive, at 7:20 am on this beautiful Thursday morning. That makes it sound like I’ve had a near death experience or something in the last couple months (I didn’t, I’m totally fine, I’m just hella dramatic), but seriously, I just love you all so much. You make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, or, in the case of ice cream, all cold-but-also-warm-and-fuzzy inside. And I’m going to stop now (feelings eww) at the risk of writing Katy Perry’s next hit single. (Cuz who am I, Sara Bareilles?)

FINALLY, the content you’ve actually been waiting for: the review. Who cares about the Nina, or the Santa Maria… it’s all about the Pint-a(s) of ice cream I’ve been sent.

Let’s start with my first glutinous gobble, roasted peach & sage cornbread stuffing. There’s a spice peach jam woven throughout, and it’s so good. Like, I would buy jars of this jam and just eat it with my fingers cuz that’s how good it is. However, the overwhelming flavor present isn’t the threads of peach or the hints of cornbread cookies- it’s the sage. And in all my sage wisdom and years of ice cream expertise, it was a little too much. Now, if you’re like me, you probably know what sage looks like and even the smell of it, but it’s kind of hard to remember what sage tastes like. So let me just tell you, it tastes like stuffing. Which makes sense, given that this is a Thanksgiving flavor, but I prefer my ice cream to stuff me, not to stuff-ing my ice cream. And also, I’m just not the biggest stuffing fan in general. But if you, like the rest of the Northeast, disproportionately likes stuffing, boy, is this the flavor for you. I didn’t even know it was possible to get ice cream to taste this much like stuffing (but sweeter!) so props to the creative geniuses in the kitchen for that.

Let’s talk favorites: sweet potato casserole with maple pecans. First of all, I love sweet potatoes. It’s been a journey (I continuously force-fed myself them for my last two years of college until I acquired the taste), and now I can’t imagine life without them. And maple pecans? Maple pecan is my favorite flavor of ice cream, bar only salted caramel, which is significantly less common. Obviously, I was destined to love this. That said, it wasn’t life-changing as expected (admittedly a high bar), but it was still pretty good. It’s like comfort food and ice cream all rolled up into one. Also surprisingly cinnamon-y. It’s very sweet (potato-y) though, so the cinnamon and the pecans are a nice balance. Plus nuts in ice cream changes the whole texture in a wonderful way. Would recommend.

Next up: roasted cranberry sauce sorbet. Full disclosure, I do not like cranberry sauce. To be honest, I dislike most Thanksgiving food (turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie), so I thought that this would be an instance where I would just pil-grim and bear it. But… I liked it? It was surprisingly tangy and refreshing. Maybe cranberries only suck when they’re heated. But this was full of flavor and zest and cool and light. Granted it was a sorbet, but here for the vegan-ness of it. Also, it was gorgeous. It’s a deep ruby red that makes me want to paint my nails and wear a bunch of rings, so I can scoop it into a waffle cone and take a better picture of it. But alas, ain’t nobody got time for that.

Just ignore the freezer burn!

Okay, the next flavor is the opposite of vegan, and also, not even vegetarian, so I couldn’t even sample it: salted caramel thanksgiving turkey. But I’m gonna talk about it anyways! As long-time blog readers will know, Salt & Straw’s classic Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons is my very favorite flave in the world. I love salted caramel, and Salt & Straw does it perfectly. It’s just so good, and click here to hear me talk about it more. ANYWAYS, when I saw that there was a salted caramel flavor this month, I was psyched. But it’s full of turkey brittle, whatever that is. So I can’t even try it. But I guess you can’t do Thanksgiving flavors without a turkey one, so I’ll let it go this one time.

Which brings us to our last limited edition: Spiced Goat Cheese & Pumpkin Pie. Now, I generally don’t like goat cheese or pumpkin pie, so this flavor just wasn’t doing it for me. It tastes like cold pumpkin pie without any of the crust, which is the best part. I only sampled a little bit, but maybe that’s why I couldn’t even taste the goat cheese- it was supposed to be a spiced cheesecake base. BUT anyways, despite my disappointment with this supposedly goat cheese flavor, Salt & Straw is still the G.O.A.T.

Salt & Straw remains the Michael B. Jordan of ice cream. I am forever grateful to them (and also Emma at customer support!) for sending me the goods and letting me live out my wildest ice cream dreams.

Now go spend some quality time with your family and then go watch Creed 2 and text me your favorite pics of Michael B. Jordan, so I can make them my phone background. (I can’t believe I missed it when they were filming in Philly ugh.) LOVE YOU ALL! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

#saltandstraw #la #icecream #yum #foodblog #thanksgiving #happy thanksgiving #happythanksgiving #grateful

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