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queennicoleinboots · 4 years ago

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Taco Mac with Count Macrula and Count Macula, Jr., part 6

Colonel Mac, FreeLee the Banana Girl, and I were back at Publix to pick up ingredients for vegan Taco Mac. Michael the Great Arc Angel of course flew around and followed us. It is important to note that Colonel Mac wore a white MAGA mask: Make America Godly Again.

Colonel Mac was rattling off ingredients from his long list: corn tortillas, black beans, pinto beans, great white beans, brown rice, white rice, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapenos, onions, cilantro, Annie's vegan macaroni and cheese, Daiya cheddar cheeze shreds, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, green bell pepper, limes, ground pepper, green tomatillos, red tomatillos, tobasco, and whole golden kernel corn.

"Are we getting more margarine?" FreeLee the Banana Girl asked.

"Oh yes, I forgot," Colonel Mac said.

"But we are not getting Blue Bonnet," I clarified.

"No, but are we getting Smart Balance with olive oil?" Colonel Mac asked.

"No," FreeLee the Banana Girl said.

"Really? That's the kind I usually get for Mr. Williamson and his wife," I said.

FreeLee the Banana Girl then stared at me as we were picking up all necessary items from produce: spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapenos, onions, cilantro, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, green bell pepper, limes, green tomatillos, and red tomatillos. She said, "You need to repent."

"Everyone's been saying that lately," I said. "And it is a process."

FreeLee the Banana Girl sighed. "Let's go to the margarine aisle. All of life's questions will be answered there," she said.

So we travelled clear on the other side of the store to the margarine aisle.

She pulled out the Smart Balance Margarine with olive oil from the refrigerator and read the ingredients. "Vegetable Oil Blend (Canola, Palm, Extra Virgin Olive, And Flaxseed Oils), Water, Less Than 2 Percent Of: Salt, Pea Protein, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sunflower Lecithin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene (Color), Vitamin D, Monoglycerides Of Vegetable Fatty Acids (Emulsifier), And Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, TBHQ and Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Freshness)."

"TBHQ? What's that?" I asked.

"Precisely," FreeLee the Banana Girl said.

Colonel Mac looked up what TBHQ was on his smartphone. "Tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ, tertiary butylhydroquinone) is a synthetic aromatic organic compound which is a type of phenol. It is a derivative of hydroquinone, substituted with a tert-butyl group," he read.

"So basically it's an oil we have no business eating it in the first place," I said.

"Exactly!" FreeLee the Banana Girl said.

Michael the Great Arc Angel said, "Wow. What the fuck? Thank Goodness I don't get that. But I must check my butter at home to ensure that there is no TBHQ in it. I shall return." He then flew out of the store.

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Crickets with Angel wings chirped as they flew through Publix. When we walked by the free sample booth, a FreeLee the Banana Girl video popped up on the screen: https://youtu.be/ZRuytGHlpNc

Too long didn't watch: It is about what she eats on a high-carb fruitarian diet.

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Michael the Great Arc Angel then screamed as he flew to the margarine aisle.

Everyone in the store looked at Michael the Great Arc Angel and gave him their undivided attention.

"Fucking hell! I had Smart Balance! So what if it is on sale?! It is poisoning humankind! I must burn it! XARA! Open the glass door with the Smart Balance margarine in it!" Michael the Great Arc Angel shouted.

I opened the glass door with the Smart Balance margarine in it.

Michael the Great Arc Angel shot blue death rays out of his eyes and burned all products related to Smart Balance margarine and screamed.

FreeLee the Banana Girl screamed. Everyone in the store screamed.

"But remember. Save the Earth Balance margarine. It's legit," FreeLee the Banana Girl said in a normal voice. She then grabbed the Earth Balance Soy Free margarine and put it in the cart.

The Grinch then hobbled over and screamed. "Smart Balance is a balance of over-price and chemical deathhhhhh," he said. Then he hobbled away.

Michael the Great Arc Angel then announced, "If we were not making vegan Taco Mac with Count Colonel Mac-"

FreeLee the Banana Girl, Colonel Mac, The Grinch, Paul the Goat, Smeagull, the cast of PeeWee Herman, and everyone in the store screamed. "Taco Mac with Colonel Mac" was still the phrase of the last four months. Wait?! He said "Count Colonel Mac." When did Colonel Mac become a Count?

Michael the Great Arc Angel then continued, "Then I would prefer butter or a buttery spread."

"Agreed!" Colonel Mac, other non-vegans, and I said with authority. "Wait? I'm a Count now?'

"Not that I use much butter, but I know better than to use margarine on my own account. It is evil," Michael the Great Arc Angel shouted. "And yes. I dub thee Count. It's Halloween. Colonel is not sufficient for your caliber."

Paul the Goat bleated loudly.

"In that case, am I granted vampiric powers?" Count Colonel Mac asked as he rode around Publix with Michael the Great Arc Angel.

"Absolutely!" Michael the Great Arc Angel said with a salesangel smile as he pointed his two index fingers at Count Colonel Mac dramatically. "And a cape to boot!"

"Oh boy! Grant me vampiric powers!" Count Colonel Mac spoke with excitement.

"As you wish," Michael the Great Arc Angel said with a huge smile before he chanted in a dark angelic language.

All shoppers were watching with awe.

Michael the Great Arc Angel continued to chant as Publix was getting darker.

Count Colonel Mac was smiling widely, and his teeth were getting sharper. He growled with excitement.

Michael the Great Arc Angel continued to chant before he sang and danced to Voltaire's song of "Brains.": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpLRJyWe814 He was definitely a character of the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy when that show was popular.

OH SHIT!

Michael the Great Arc Angel stopped everything after he sang the last note of "Brains" for just a liiiittle too long.

Count Colonel Mac turned into a gray vampire cub who wore a cape. He was just sitting in his chair.

Everyone gasped.

Michael the Great Arc Angel looked over and gasped in horror. "OH SHIT!!!! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry. I held that note for just a liiiiiittle too long. Oh God I gotta reverse this!" he spoke quickly and frantically.

Count Colonel Mac looked down at his paws before his glasses fell off and grinned widely. "COOL!!!" he said in a high-pitched Southern accent.

"You're okay with this?" Michael the Great Arc Angel said with his eyebrow raised

"YEAH!" Count Colonel Mac said as he jumped out of his chair. "I can walk! I can walk! I'm not in pain!" he started to skip. "And I'm wearing a cape, motherfuckers!" He skipped around the store and growled cheerfully. His black cape swished behind him.

"Awwwww!!!!" everyone in the store said.

"Count Colonel Mac is so cute," I said.

He turned around, skipped over to me, and looked up to me. "I am not a Colonel. I have no affiliation with the military. I only accepted the name because you needed a Colonel to replace Colonel America. So I took the honor. Also, KFC is an insult to chicken," he spoke with a cute cub growl.

"YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!" Michael the Great Arc Angel shouted. "Keep going."

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," Count Mac(?) said. "Also, Popeyes is a much better option for fastfood fried chicken."

"LOVE THAT CHICKEN FROM POPEYES!" Aunt Jemima sang. She's still relevant?

"Yes, I do. Anyway, like I said, I am not affiliated with the military, nor do I ever want to be. I'm a gray cub first and foremost. We are the most passive species of bear, next to the white bear. But... I was cursed with gray fur, becuz you know, I am a vampirebear... vam...bear. Vambear! Vampire creatures can't be blessed. Anyway anyway anyway anyway anyway anyway anyway, I am now..." the gray vambear cub said before he took a deep breath. Then in a booming voice, he said, "Count MACULA!!!!!" He then laughed an evil laugh.

Everyone, including the cast of PeeWee Herman, screamed.

"I dig it!" Michael the Great Arc Angel shouted.

"So the story should now be called "Taco Mac with Count Macula, part 6?" I asked.

The cast of PeeWee Herman, FreeLee the Banana Girl, the Grinch, Seagull, and Paul the Goat screamed.

"Is that a yes?" I asked.

"Yes," Count Macula said. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes."

"No!" Michael the Great Arc Angel protested.

Count Macula blinked. "But... I've been the title character for the past five stories. Why would this one be different?" he asked.

"I AM THE ONE WHO GRANTED YOU THE POWERS!!!" Michael the Great Arc Angel shouted. The foundation of Publix shook.

"I don't mean to be rude, but Taco Mac with Michael The Great Arc Angel is kind of a long-winded title," Count Macula said.

"I AGREE!!!" Michael the Great Arc Angel said. "But who says I am keeping this title?"

"No one," Count Macula said.

"Exactly! I am Count MACRULA!" the angel said before thunder, lightning, and darkness came upon him. He transformed into a dark angel. His wings were as black as night. He now wore a black tie with fire on it, a black dress shirt, black slacks, black shoes, and a long black cape. His skin was as white as snow, and he had a fiery red beard. "Happy Halloween, Mother Fuckers!"

"Happy Halloween, Count Macrula," Count Macula said.

"Thank you. Also, I dub thee Count Macula, Jr.," Count Macrula said with a booming voice.

"OKAY! OKAY! OKAY! OKAY! OKAY! OKAY! OKAY!" Count Macula, Jr. shouted. "I am only seven after all."

"I have spoken!" Count Macrula said.

"There should be a story called 'Count Macrula Has Spoken,'" Count Macula, Jr. pointed out.

"Absolutely! But this is NOT that story," Count Macrula said.

"No. But Bruce the Ace of Brake-fixing has a story with a title of him speaking. If he can have it, you should have one, too," Count Macrula, Jr. said.

"You are goddamn right!" Count Macrula said.

"THAT'S GREAT! WHAT ARE WE CALLING THIS STORY!?" FreeLee the Banana Girl yelled.

"Taco Mac with Count Macrula and Count Macula, Jr.," I decided.

"Part 6!" Count Macrula and Count Macula, Jr. shouted.

"Part 6," I confirmed.

"Can we get on with the shopping then?!" FreeLee the Banana Girl asked.

"Yes," Count Macrula said.

FreeLee the Banana Girl, Count Macula, Jr., Count Macrula, and I continued to shop. We picked up Annie's vegan macaroni and cheese, canned pinto beans, canned black beans, canned great white canned beans, corn tortillas, bags of brown rice, bags of white rice, and Daiya cheddar cheeze shreds.

FreeLee the Banana Girl then looked around the canned vegetable aisle to look for the canned whole golden kernel corn.

FreeLee the Banana Girl looked frantically for the golden whole kernel corn while I was absent-mindedly putting the other groceries in the cart.

“WHERE THE FUCK IS MY CORN?” FreeLee the Banana Girl screamed loudly to the point where the whole store could hear. Count Macula, Jr. dropped the list because he was shocked at the random loud volume of FreeLee the Banana Girl's voice. “Count Macula, Jr., find the fucking corn now. What the hell? Where the hell’s my corn, Count Macula, Jr.?”

“I don’t know! I'm trying. Stop yelling at me!” Count Macula, Jr. said as he was crying and slumping his shoulders.

I was slightly shocked when a Jewish Karen joined in with her voice. “Yeah, where the fuck is ze corn? You’d think canned corn would be easy to find in a fuckin’ grocery store,” she yelled.

A store associate rushed to the scene in a panic. “What kind of corn are you looking for, ma’am?” she asked.

Another woman sales associate chimed in, “We’d love to help.”

“Golden kernel,” FreeLee the Banana Girl said.

Everyone in the store was looking for the corn she mentioned. Even Count Macula, Jr. and I were in on looking for it. I wanted FreeLee the Banana Girl and the Karens to shut the fuck up. I lifted Count Macula, Jr. in my arms as we looked for the corn.

“No, no, not here, dammit,” the Jewish Karen said. “Son ov a bitch!”

“Not here,” Count Macula, Jr. said.

“Is this it, ma’am?” one of the customers asked her.

Count Macula, Jr. randomly farted. It smelled like too much tacos.

“No! I said ‘Golden kernel,’ you stupid mother fucker!” FreeLee the Banana Girl yelled. “I already told you. ‘Golden kernel’ ‘Golden kernel’ Goddammit!”

“Sorry, ma’am, Jesus Christ, please help us find this ‘Golden kernel’ corn,” he said.

“Jesus Christ wasn’t born yet,” the Jewish Karen interrupted. “SHIT WHERE THE FUCK IS FREELEE’S CORN?”

“All of a sudden my corn is gone. It has been on this particular aisle for ages. Why is it gone? Where the fuck is the CORN?” FreeLee the Banana Girl ranted.

Count Macrula carried several cans of whole golden kernel corn as he flew to the carts we were pushing. Angels and Lord vampires literally sang as he flew. It had no added salt, so the angels and Lord vampires sang even louder.

He saved Publix.

"Really Publix saved Publix. It had this corn in stock. And I found it. They didn't move it 40 feet down like the Publix on 11 did two years ago," Count Macrula pointed out. He flapped his wings quickly for effect.

"But you still found the corn and saved Publix," I said.

He stared at me. I stared at him. We blinked. There was a moment in which I was honored by his darkness.

"Thank God Publix can stay alive. Now can we pleeeasssse get out of here!? I would like to get over this Taco Mac with me series and move on," Count Macula, Jr. said. "And if I have to listen to ingredients ONE TIME, I am going to scream."

Count Macrula, FreeLee the Banana Girl, the cast of PeeWee Herman, the Grinch, Smeagull, Garfield, and everyone in the store screamed.

"At least no one is reading ingredients. Ugh!" Count Macula, Jr. said as he ran like the cub he was to the check-out.

"In non-GMO, organic, gluten-free corn tortillas, they have WATER, STONEGROUND ORGANIC YELLOW CORN MASA FLOUR, ORGANIC GUAR GUM, and LIME," I said as I read the ingredients just to troll Count Macula, Jr.

Count Macula, Jr. screamed so loud that everyone else started screaming. "THAT'S ABUSE!!!!!" he shouted.

Paul the Goat even walked back in the store and bleated.

Then we went to check-out because Count Macula, Jr. just couldn't take anymore.

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lennythereviewer · 5 years ago

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A word from your local GrubHub/DoorDash/PostMates driver

I’m a Grubhub driver here, here’s a few things that will make both you the customer happier and me the driver happier 1. DO NOT ORDER DRINKS

Listen, if there is one thing we Grubhub/Postmates/DoorDash drivers hate the most its getting drink orders.It’s one more thing to juggle and this one is decidedly more fragile than the meal; they can spill (In a recent experience I had to deliver four sodas from KFC in the middle of a rainstorm, and the drink holder disintegrated) Trying balance 5 drink orders in a car with only two cupholders is not making any of our lives easier. Now if it’s like, a smoothie place where the whole POINT is the drinks; I get that. But if you can avoid it, please for the love of god don’t order drinks. Just drink something at home. Without drinks to balance we can get the food to you quicker.

2. Want your food faster? Tip us on the app

Don’t get me wrong; we LOVE cash tips! The thing is though that GH base pay is kinda shit. When you tip us on the app it adds to the total GH pay and that’s the total we see when the offer comes through on our end Example: You wanna order in some Taco Bell. You’re planning to pay us say a six dollar tip in cash. That’s awesome! But when we get the offer on our end it looks like “Make 4 dollars to deliver this persons tacos”; and a lot of GH drivers ignore very low paying offers; we’re paying for gas, we need to at least break even. Even though we drivers work for a big company we’re basically independent contractors and we can choose to not take an offer that comes out way... our companies love to punish us for being picky, but we have the right to refuse

Now, play this same scenario again but this time you tip us on the app, and to us that looks like “Make 10 dollars to deliver this persons tacos” Now THATS more like it! Your offer will be picked up extremely fast and therefore you get your food quicker! Side note: If you ARE going to tip us in cash, please specify this and let us know ahead of time in the notes section, like, where you would put instructions for the driver coming up to your place

3. Double Check the address of the place you’re ordering from

I work in an area that’s spread across four towns (Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, and New Smyrna Beach specifically) and I can’t tell you how many times someone will order something unassuming like KFC but they’ll accidentally order it from a restaurant TWO TOWNS OVER when there’s already one in their town Sure, I may get paid more for the distance; but there’s kind of a point where you have to ask if it’s worth it or not. It’s more wear and tear on my car and it’s more time for you the customer has to wait to receive your food Make sure the place you’re ordering from is the correct address to save you money and time, and save us trouble

4. KEEP YOUR PHONE HANDY AND BE AVAILABLE

Sometimes we the driver need to reach you (Gate we can’t get past, apartment building we can’t find, 30-50 feral hogs have surrounded our car...) and if we can’t get ahold of you that’s more problems for both of us. If you don’t answer the door and you’re unreachable after multiple attempts, we’re stuck holding the bag. We gotta call up our driver support system, and if THEY can’t get ahold of you themselves, then they tell us “Screw it, keep the food, go to your next delivery”

NEITHER of us wants that: You don’t get your food, and we’re stuck with extra shit in our car while we have to go deliver more food. The idea of free food is killer for sure, but it’s one more thing we have to deal with/dispose of, and calling up the driver support system is a hassle in and of itself, ask ANY driver. Like, sure, I may have gotten free food from someone elses neglect; but what am I going to do with a family-sized KFC meal that there’s no way I can possibly eat on my own, and there’s no one homeless around to give it too? I can’t just throw out perfectly good food and you see what I mean? Be available and have your phone nearby! Your dinner may depend on it

Keep all of this in mind when ordering your meal and things will be much smoother for you, I promise

#Grubhub #postmates #post mates #doordash #door dash #Grub Hub #Delivery #Food #Taco Bell #KFC #feral hogs

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kokichi-and-co-imagine-blog · 5 years ago

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A random AF question! What fast food places do the DR2 cast frequent? (Or in Sonia's case, what was her first Fast food place?)

Oh boy. I haven’t written in awhile for the blog, so I should probably start back in light. I’ve got you covered, anon!

Like most places, there aren’t too many around since you know. Regional stuff is a thing.

Akane Owari and Nekomaru Nidai are looking for lots of calories for whatever activities they’re going to be up to. Since they’re not picky and Akane is always down for a meal wherever, McDonald’s calls them. They normally sit at a booth, and every McDonalds employee there has been trained to recognize that the moment they walk in, they’re gonna have to ready themselves for the biggest order of their day. Rumor has it their was an employee who brought his hamsters in all the time who always got their order absolutely perfect... but hey, rumors are rumors.

When Mahiru Koizumi hears Hiyoko Saionji admit she’s never had any sort of fast food, she decides to surprise her with a trip to Chik Fil A. While it isn’t the worst of fast food, it’s still a good experience. Watching Hiyoko’s face light up when she tries the milkshakes makes her internally tell herself that they should do this far more often. Chik Fil A becomes a regular place for them, and occasionally Mikan Tsumiki tags along, warning them not to eat more than they’re hungry for.

After all the events of the game, I feel like Hajime Hinata would take time out of his day to go to Wendy’s with Chiaki Nanami and Nagito Komaeda. He explains all the memes that come from their twitter page, and Chiaki listens intently. Nagito always seems to get more chicken tenders in his meal than he paid for, and Hajime is a little envious of him.

The real reason Gundham Tanaka picked up a job was due to the fact that Sonia Nevermind had never had any fast food. It doesn’t even exist in her country, and who is he to deny a princess something so simple? They end up going to Taco Bell, and Sonia asks if this is authentic Mexican food. Gundham chuckles about the idea of Taco Bell being authentic, but tells her she can order anything off the menu. What he doesn’t expect is for her to order half the menu. He still pays no problem, thankful that the place is incredibly cheap. The entire time she eats, Gundham digs into his one burrito, occasionally picking out a bit of tomato and romaine lettuce for his Devas.

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu often takes Peko Pekoyama out for food, but decides that the occasional Five Guys burger couldn’t hurt the two of them. Peko always insists eating a burger with a knife and fork, which always gets a couple weird looks. The first time she has the fries though? Fuyuhiko pays them handsomely to let her have them from that point on whenever. They even cater events the Kuzuryuu’s hold. Natsumi is also known to tag along and steal some of Fuyu’s fries.

Byakuya Togami, Ibuki Mioda, and Kazuichi Souda normally don’t care where they eat as long as they have the company. However, they find themselves eating at KFC most often. It never ceases to amaze Kazuichi how much Byakuya can eat in one go while Ibuki cheers him on through a megaphone. It’s a chaotic group, but they can’t deny that they like it that way.

Teruteru Hanamura refuses to eat fast food. As the Ultimate Cook, it just doesn’t feel right to do that. However, if he *has* to eat something that he hasn’t made or isn’t from the diner, he normally goes to family owned pizza places. The familiarity of the environment always makes him feel a little more at ease, and hey, that cute pizza boy is fun to flirt with.

Hope you like it!~Mod Kokichi

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kylie-gets-fit · 6 years ago

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New Zealand

Five years ago, I had the chance of a lifetime that opened up a door to many more chances of a lifetime - interning at Disney. One of those chances was meeting my friend, Nola, a Tongan girl from New Zealand. We connected so well while in the states and I promised her one day I would go visit her in her country to experience her culture - well I keep my promises and it took your girl 5 years but I visited her! There were things I will never get to experience again, and sights I’d never get to see again. Let me tell you, it was a once in a lifetime experience - even if I get to go back.

I flew from Los Angeles to New Zealand on Fiji Airways, with a layover in Fiji. Apparently this is moreso of a budget airline for people in Oceania, but I was impressed. My first flight wasn’t the best as I was in a center seat and had an old man not only with his elbow in my seat, but also his foot under the seat in front of mine where my feet should be! After that rough 11 hour journey though, I had window seats for all remaining flights and the flights were so much better! There was music and movies available on the plane (I didn’t know this okay?) and the Fijian people were so nice.Even in the Fiji airport they all greeted me with “Bula!” which is their way of greeting people, much like the Hawaiian “Aloha”. While in that airport I met quite a few people from New Zealand and they were so nice and very helpful. My second flight was to New Zealand where I went through customs for the first time in my life. I don’t know why I was so nervous but it was pretty much a breeze. Just declare anything you have and go through the process.

I’ll discuss the food there since it was the first thing I noticed after leaving the airport - I felt like I hadn’t left America. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Carl’s Jr., and soon to be Taco Bell everywhere! My struggle was finding gluten free meals - fries were a huge part of my diet! Nola’s family threw a barbecue and I was thinking since they are islanders there would be a roasted pig and lots of tropical fruit....burgers, wings, sausages, potato salad, and rolls! Their ice cream is so delicious though! I tried kiwi ice cream and it’s way better than it sounds. Their strawberry ice cream also has real strawberries.

One thing I didn’t mind there was how accessible the beach was. We went to three different beaches while I was there and each one was magical in it’s own way. The first beach we visited was Piha Beach and that was my favorite. Let me tell you, I will never see a place more magical. Our drive to the beach was long, and while everyone else was saying, “are we there yet?” I didn’t mind because the drive was gorgeous! There were so many trees and so much green and I don’t see that at home ever!

Once we got there, we parked the most beautiful, green forest and had a walk ahead. I couldn’t believe my eyes at how gorgeous this place was, and I hadn’t even seen half of it yet! Once we got to walking, not only did we get to enjoy the green view, but also a stream that I assumed led to the ocean. I wanted to get a photo in the water with the green in the background so I asked Nola to take a photo. The sand was black and the water was warm! Once we got to the beach, I knew I needed to take in every moment and every little bit that my eyes could see. The green grass and trees behind me, the black sand below me, the heavenly sky above me, and the powerful ocean in front of me. I will never see something that magical ever again and I will never forget!

There were many differences in New Zealand I picked up on that I wish we utilized here in the states. Without getting into politics, guns are outlawed there. I can tell you I always think about the chance of being caught up in a mass shooting in the States. While it is possible for someone to buy a gun black market there, I did not once feel worried while there. People don’t make big scenes there when they don’t get their way. And the most eye opening thing of all was how they take care of one another. We were in a drive thru and there was a man on the side begging for money. Her family began scrambling for coins and together we probably gave him about $5-8. We also went to a restaurant that had a cooler in the front with food in it. When we first walked in I assumed the food was for sale, but as we walked out I saw a sign that read “Free Food for People in Need, One Box Per Person Please”. I wish we had more of that here.

And of course, the reason I went there - to meet Nola’s family and learn about her culture, both Tongan and New Zealand. There were a couple things that I didn’t particularly agree with - like how women are required to keep their legs covered above the knee, but for the most part I saw the beauty in their culture.

They are very emotional people, and I wish that is something the American culture had. What first woke me up to this was visiting the cemetery (yep, we did that). Her family had recently lost her grandmother and unexpectedly, her cousin was violently killed. Instead of staying quiet, these people express what they are feeling - a lot. They talked about it so much, it would normally make me feel uncomfortable. But I realized something. They aren’t having meltdowns, they aren’t crying behind closed doors; wow, this is what it looks like to grieve death in a healthy way. We went to the cemetery after church on Sunday to visit them. How do they visit their deceased loved ones? They keep lawn chairs at their graves, pop down on a seat, and talk to them. About life, about everything. They even introduced me to them. You may think this is strange, but I found it beautiful. They weren’t the only people doing this either. There were people all around of all cultures in New Zealand doing this.

The Tongans are very formal in everything they do. They all get dressed up for church. I was lent a “kiekie”, somewhat like a woven grass skirt, to wear over my dresses for the week.For New Year’s I thought they had found a “kofu” or dress that happened to fit me, but it turned out that Nola’s aunt thought it would fit and said I could have it if it fit! We brought in 2019 in church. Church was spoken in Tongan, so I am not sure what they were saying. Once we left church, we went to Nola’s grandfather’s house where her whole family met to honor him. Everyone crammed into his small living room. At least it looked small with about 30 of us in there! Her grandfather, weak and brittle, started the discussion, getting very emotional. Then they all were speaking in Tongan taking turns to talk. Some were crying, some were laughing. I had no idea what was going on but just enjoying the fact that I got to witness this. The Nola’s sister Tina turned to me and said “would you like to say something?”. I was caught completely off guard. I can’t speak Tongan and had no clue what they were discussing. They all told me I could say anything I wanted regarding the new year. I improved some statement about how I was grateful for them allowing me to attend their family events and being able to bring in the new year learning about their culture. Then her grandfather spoke up. I could tell he was putting in all of his energy to look my way and speak, and he spoke English to me. He told me that he was glad to meet me and hopes to see me again. I fought tears. I had just met this man 10 minutes ago and I’m a no-one in this room of a family, yet he took the time to make me feel not only welcomed, but special.

Not only did I get to experience the Tongan culture, but I gained a family. Not only did I meet the relatives Nola lived with, but I met her extended family as well, as they are all very close. I met cousins on both sides of her family and bonded greatly! They are all funny and had great senses of humor. I asked what the term for white girl was and they told me it was “palagni” and that became my nickname. One night we were playing a game Nola’s sister Lote knew of called Psych, which is basically like Cards Against Humanity except you all get to create and vote for the answers and the subject is one of the players. Naturally they all were roasting each other and it was hilarious. But then they began roasting me. I didn’t even realize they knew me well enough to have anything on me! I said “Wow you guys don’t hold back!” and Tina said, “Yep, welcome to the family!” and we all laughed. At that moment I really did feel accepted and that I was a part of the family. Families aren’t always cordial, sometimes they insult each other, and I got to be included in that as well.

The goodbyes were also very formal. The night before I left, the entire family came into the living room for a family prayer. Her father said his prayer in Tongan and Nola explained that he said he was thankful that I was able to come and they could meet me and prayed for a safe trip back home. Everyone said something about my visit. He also said he was sorry if their home wasn’t nice but it was all they had. Let me tell you what they presented me with. They had a 3 bedroom home and Nola’s sisters were also there for summer break. That means there were 6 of them. THEY GAVE ME MY OWN ROOM. These people were so humble yet so grateful for what they had.Thank goodness I had written out a Thank You card and gotten them a basket of chocolates or I probably would have looked silly with how formal they made this. I really felt loved in this moment. They gave me a Tongan mat as a parting gift and I will treasure it forever. Tina said when people ask me about it I can say it’s from my Tongan side. It was a joke, but she somewhat mean it as well. I came to see Nola and learn about her culture, and I gained a family. Her parents wanted to take a family photo and luckily the instagrammer in the room brought her tripod! The next morning when I was leaving, her mother said her goodbyes and began crying. I met her a week ago. It was incredible how much I bonded with this family. SO MUCH LOVE.

#travel #newzealand #travelblog #lifestyle

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easyfoodnetwork · 4 years ago

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Fast-Food Buffets Are a Thing of the Past. Some Doubt They Ever Even Existed.

A McDonald’s breakfast buffet. An all-you-can-eat Taco Bell. This isn’t the stuff dreams are made of, but a real yet short-lived phenomenon.

When we think of buffets, we tend to think of their 1980s and early ’90s heyday, when commercial jingles for Sizzler might have been confused with our national anthem. We think of Homer Simpson getting dragged out of the Frying Dutchman, “a beast more stomach than man.” I think of my parents going on buffet benders resembling something out of Hunter S. Thompson’s life, determined to get their money’s worth with two picky kids.

What we don’t typically think about, however, is the fast-food buffet, a blip so small on America’s food radar that it’s hard to prove it even existed. But it did. People swear that all-you-can-eat buffets could be found at Taco Bell, KFC, and even under the golden arches of McDonald’s.

That it could have existed isn’t surprising. The fast-food buffet was inevitable, the culmination of an arms race in maximizing caloric intake. It was the physical manifestation of the American id: endless biscuits, popcorn chicken, vats of nacho cheese and sketchy pudding — so much sketchy pudding. Why, then, have so many of us failed to remember it? How did it become a footnote, relegated to the backwoods of myths and legends? There are whispers of McDonald’s locations that have breakfast buffets. Was there, in fact, a Taco Bell buffet, or is it a figment of our collective imaginations? Yes, someone tells me — an all-you-can-eat Taco Bell existed in her dorm cafeteria. Another person suggests maybe we were just remembering the nachos section of the Wendy’s Superbar.

The fast-food buffet was inevitable, the culmination of an arms race in maximizing caloric intake.

The fast-food buffet lives in a strange sort of ether. You can’t get to it through the traditional path of remembering. Was there actually a Pizza Hut buffet in your hometown? Search your subconscious, sifting past the red cups that make the soda taste better, past the spiffy new CD jukebox, which has Garth Brooks’s Ropin’ the Wind and Paul McCartney’s All the Best under the neon lamps. Search deeper, and you might find your father going up for a third plate and something remaining of the “dessert pizzas” lodged in your subconscious. This is where the fast-food buffet exists.

The history of the buffet in America is a story of ingenuity and evolution. Sure, it originated in Europe, where it was a classy affair with artfully arranged salted fish, eggs, breads, and butter. The Swedish dazzled us with their smorgasbords at the 1939 World Fair. We can then trace the evolution of the buffet through Las Vegas, where the one-dollar Buckaroo Buffet kept gamblers in the casino. In the 1960s and 1970s, Chinese immigrant families found loopholes in racist immigration laws by establishing restaurants. They brought Chinese cooking catered to American tastes in endless plates of beef chow fun and egg rolls. By the 1980s, buffets ruled the landscape like family dynasties, with sister chains the Ponderosa and the Bonanza spreading the gospel of sneeze guards and steaks, sundae stations and salad bars along the interstates. From Shoney’s to Sizzler, from sea to shining sea, the buffet was a feast fit for kings, or a family of four.

And of course, fast-food restaurants wanted in on the action. As fast-food historian and author of Drive-Thru Dreams Adam Chandler put it, “every fast food place flirted with buffets at some point or another. McDonald’s absolutely did, as did most of the pizza chains with dine-in service. KFC still has a few stray buffets, as well as an illicit one called Claudia Sanders Dinner House, which was opened by Colonel Sanders’ wife after he was forbidden from opening a competing fried chicken business after selling the company. Wendy’s Super Bar was short-lived, but the salad bar lived on for decades.”

How something can be both gross and glorious is a particular duality of fast food, like the duality of man or something, only with nacho cheese and pasta sauce.

In a 1988 commercial for the Superbar, Dave Thomas says, “I’m an old-fashioned guy. I like it when families eat together.” A Wendy’s executive described the new business model as “taking us out of the fast-food business.” Everyone agrees the Wendy’s Supernar was glorious. And gross, everyone also agrees. How something can be both gross and glorious is a particular duality of fast food, like the duality of man or something, only with nacho cheese and pasta sauce.

“I kind of want to live in a ’90s Wendy’s,” Amy Barnes, a Tennessee-based writer, tells me in between preparing for virtual learning with her teenagers. The Superbar sat in the lobby, with stations lined up like train carts. First, there was the Garden Spot, which “no one cared about,” a traditional salad bar with a tub of chocolate pudding at its helm, “which always had streams of salad dressing and shredded cheese floating on top.” Next up was the Pasta Pasta section, with “noodles, alfredo and tomato sauce…[as well as] garlic bread made from the repurposed hamburger buns with butter and garlic smeared on them.” Obviously, the crown jewel of the Superbar was the Mexican Fiesta, with its “vats of ground beef, nacho cheese, sour cream.” The Fiesta shared custody of additional toppings with the salad bar. It was $2.99 for the dining experience.

Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. The McDonald’s Breakfast Buffet.

The marriage of Wendy’s and the Superbar lasted about a decade before it was phased out in all locations by 1998. Like a jilted ex-lover, the official Wendy’s Story on the website makes zero mention of Superbar, despite the countless blogs, YouTube videos, and podcasts devoted to remembering it. At least they kept the salad bar together until the mid-2000s for the sake of the children.

Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. The McDonald’s Breakfast Buffet. Googling the existence of such a thing only returns results of people questioning the existence of this McMuffin Mecca on subforums and Reddit. Somebody knows somebody who passed one once on the highway. A stray Yelp review of the Kiss My Grits food truck in Seattle offers a lead: “I have to say, I recall the first time I ever saw grits, they were at a McDonald’s breakfast buffet in Alexandria, Virginia, and they looked as unappetizing as could be.” However, the lead is dead on arrival. Further googling of the McDonald’s buffet with terrible grits in Alexandria turns up nothing.

I ask friends on Facebook. I ask Twitter. I get a lone response. Eden Robins messages me “It was in Decatur, IL,” as though she’s describing the site where aliens abducted her. “I’m a little relieved that I didn’t imagine the breakfast buffet since no one ever knows what the fuck I’m talking about when I bring it up.”

“We had traveled down there for a high school drama competition,” she goes on to say. “And one morning before the competition, we ate at a McDonald’s breakfast buffet. I had never seen anything like it before or since.”

I ask what was in the buffet, although I know the details alone will not sustain me. I want video to pore over so I can pause at specific frames, like a fast-food version of the Patterson–Gimlin Bigfoot footage. Robins says they served “scrambled eggs and pancakes and those hash brown tiles. I was a vegetarian at the time so no sausage or bacon, but those were there, too.”

McDonald’s isn’t the only chain with a buffet whose existence is hazy. Yum Brands, the overlord of fast-food holy trinity Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Pizza Hut, is said to have had buffets at all three restaurants. I confirm nothing, however, when I reach out to the corporate authorities. On the KFC side, a spokesperson offers to look into “some historical information,” but doesn’t get back to me. My contact at Taco Bell tells me, “I’ll look into it. Certainly, nothing in existence today. I’ve never heard of it. Looks like there are a couple threads on Reddit.”

Reddit, of course, speculates a possible Mandela Effect — the phenomenon of a group of unrelated people remembering a different event than what actually occurred — in the existence of Taco Bell buffets. But I have a firmer lead in Payel Patel, a doctor who studied at Johns Hopkins, who tells me there was a Taco Bell Express in her dorm that was included in an all-you-can-eat meal plan option, though it only lasted one fleeting year. “You could order anything, like 15 nachos and 11 bean burritos,” she says, “and they would make it and give it to you, and you walked off without paying a cent.” A Johns Hopkins student newsletter published in 2001 corroborates the existence of the utopian all-you-can-eat Taco Bell, saying, “you can also gorge yourself on some good old Taco Bell tacos and burritos. Don’t forget, it’s all-you-can-eat. Just don’t eat too much; you don’t want to overload the John.”

There are some concrete examples of fast-food buffets that still exist today. When a Krystal Buffet opened in Alabama in 2019, it was met with “excitement and disbelief,” according to the press release. Former New Orleans resident Wilson Koewing told me of a Popeye’s buffet that locals “speak of as if it is a myth.” When I dig deeper, I come across a local paper, NOLA Weekend, which covers “New Orleans Food, things to do, culture, and lifestyle.” It touts the Popeye’s buffet like a carnival barker, as though it is simply too incredible to believe: “The Only Popeye’s Buffet in the World! It’s right next door in Lafayette! Yes, that’s right: a Popeyes buffet. HERE.”

Somehow, the KFC buffet is the most enduring of the fast-food buffets still in existence. And yet everyone I speak with feels compelled to walk me through the paths and roads leading to such an oasis, as if, again, it were the stuff of legends. There are landmarks and there are mirages, and the mirages need maps most of all.

To get to the KFC buffet in Key Largo, Tiffany Aleman must first take us through “a small island town with one traffic light and one major highway that runs through it. There are the seafood buffets and bait shops, which give way to newfangled Starbucks.”

The buffet adds the feel of a hospital cafeteria, the people dining look close to death or knowingly waiting to die.

New Jerseyan D.F. Jester leads us past the local seafood place “that looks like the midnight buffet on a cruise ship has been transported 50 miles inland and plunked inside the dining area of a 1980s Ramada outside of Newark.”

Descriptions of the food are about what I would expect of a KFC buffet. Laura Camerer remembers the food in her college town in Morehead, Kentucky, as “all fried solid as rocks sitting under heat lamps, kind of gray and gristly.” Jester adds, “for all intents and purposes, this is a KFC. It looks like one, but sadder, more clinical. The buffet adds the feel of a hospital cafeteria, the people dining look close to death or knowingly waiting to die.”

Then Jessie Lovett Allen messages me. “There is [a] KFC in my hometown, and it is magical without a hint of sketch.” I must know more. First, she takes me down the winding path: “the closest larger city is Kearney, which is 100 miles away and only has 35K people, and Kearney is where you’ll find the closest Target, Panera, or Taco Bell. But to the North, South, or West, you have to drive hundreds of miles before you find a larger city. I tell you all of this because the extreme isolation is what gives our restaurants, even fast-food ones, an outsized psychological importance to daily life.”

The KFC Jessie mentions is in North Platte, Nebraska, and has nearly five stars on Yelp, an accomplishment worthy of a monument for any fast-food restaurant. On the non-corporate Facebook page for KFC North Platte, one of the hundreds of followers of the page comments, “BEST KFC IN THE COUNTRY.”

Allen describes the place as though she is recounting a corner of heaven. “They have fried apple pies that seem to come through a wormhole from a 1987 McDonalds. Pudding: Hot. Good. Layered cold pudding desserts. This one rotates. It might be chocolate, banana, cookies and cream. It has a graham cracker base, pudding, and whipped topping. Standard Cold Salad bar: Lettuce, salad veggies, macaroni salads, JELL-O salads. Other meats: chicken fried steak patties. Fried chicken gizzards. White Gravy, Chicken Noodle Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, Cornbread, Corn on the Cob, Chicken Pot Pie Casserole. AND most all the standard stuff on the normal KFC menu, which is nice because you can pick out a variety of chicken types or just have a few tablespoons of a side dish.”

In the end, the all-you-can-eat dream didn’t last, if it ever even existed.

Then she adds that the buffet “is also available TO GO, but there are rules. You get a large Styrofoam clamshell, a small Styrofoam clamshell, and a cup. You have to be able to close the Styrofoam. You are instructed that only beverages can go in cups, and when I asked about this, an employee tells me that customers have tried to shove chicken into the drink cups in the past.”

In the end, the all-you-can-eat dream didn’t last, if it ever even existed. The chains folded. The senior citizens keeping Ponderosa in business have died. My own parents reversed course after their buffet bender, trading in sundae stations for cans of SlimFast. Fast-food buffets retreated into an ethereal space. McDonald’s grew up with adult sandwiches like the Arch Deluxe. Wendy’s went on a wild rebound with the Baconator. Pizza Hut ripped out its jukeboxes, changed its logo, went off to the fast-food wars, and ain’t been the same since. Taco Bell is undergoing some kind of midlife crisis, hemorrhaging its entire menu of potatoes, among other beloved items. At least the KFC in North Platte has done good, though the novel coronavirus could change things.

In the age of COVID-19, the fast-food buffet feels like more of a dream than ever. How positively whimsical it would be to stand shoulder to shoulder, hovering over sneeze guards, sharing soup ladles to scoop an odd assortment of pudding, three grapes, a heap of rotini pasta, and a drumstick onto a plate. Maybe we can reach this place again. But to find it, we must follow the landmarks, searching our memory as the map.

MM Carrigan is a Baltimore-area writer and weirdo who enjoys staring directly into the sun. Their work has appeared in Lit Hub, The Rumpus, and PopMatters. They are the editor of Taco Bell Quarterly. Tweets @thesurfingpizza.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/33e4Z8k https://ift.tt/30jEUmf

A McDonald’s breakfast buffet. An all-you-can-eat Taco Bell. This isn’t the stuff dreams are made of, but a real yet short-lived phenomenon.

The fast-food buffet was inevitable, the culmination of an arms race in maximizing caloric intake.

How something can be both gross and glorious is a particular duality of fast food, like the duality of man or something, only with nacho cheese and pasta sauce.

Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. The McDonald’s Breakfast Buffet.

The buffet adds the feel of a hospital cafeteria, the people dining look close to death or knowingly waiting to die.

In the end, the all-you-can-eat dream didn’t last, if it ever even existed.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/33e4Z8k via Blogger https://ift.tt/36lO2KT

#Blogger #cooking #Eater #food #recipes

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setsumeikudasai · 7 years ago

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Basic Guide for Tourists

My blog has a lot of tutorials that are aimed at foreigners coming to Japan either for a trip or for a more long-term stay. In this guide I’m going to compile all of my tutorials for easy access for tourists.

**This guide is focusing only on Tokyo, if you will be in any other part of Japan things will differ!

Airports There are two major airports in Tokyo, Haneda and Narita.

Haneda

Pros: Close to the Tokyo area (30min away), Kpop stars fly in here, small, a lot of bus options

Cons: Inconvenient flight times if you are flying from America, expensive to fly into if you’re flying from America, not many food options

Narita

Pros: Many food options, cheaper to fly into, a lot of flights/airlines fly into here, can fly to other parts of Japan easily, many trains to choose from, Narita Express

Cons: Big, crowded, far from the Tokyo Area (1 hour - 1 hour 30min away!), fewer bus options

Tutorials: Meeting me

Using Transportation In Japan, trains are the main form of transportation. You can use a ticket OR a train pass. A train pass is a lot more convenient so I recommend that.

A train pass is called an IC card. This stands for Integrated Chip and it is a plastic card that has a chip inside that works electronically with the train gates. You simply charge up money onto the card and touch it to the train gates. When you get off the train, you touch your card to the train gates and you are charged a certain amount based on the distance you travelled. If you do not have enough money on your card, it will beep and the light on the gate will turn red, meaning you need to put more money on the card.

There are two types of cards in Tokyo, a Suica and a Passmo. If you are a tourist, you can buy either one it doesn’t matter

Tutorials: Basic train guide, How to buy a train pass, Charging your train pass, Notice about ticket machines, Riding the train with a ticket, Guide to the Yamanote Line (tour guide by me!)

Suica/Passmo Like my explanation above, a Suica or Passmo card can be charged at a machine at the train station. This is the only place you can charge them! Here is a list of places you can use your card outside of the train station:

All convenience stores

Vending machines in that station/around the station (if they have a touch pad on them)

Uniqlo

Matsuya and some other chain ramen places

Most major malls/stores (Sunshine City in Ikebukuro accepts IC card payments)

Money As you probably know, Japan uses Yen. You can exchange money at the airport or at an exchange machine (some hotels have them!). Most major stores in Japan accept credit cards (even foreign cards!). Unfortunately, a lot of restaurants including ramen places, only take cash so make sure you have some cash! Don’t worry about carrying lots of cash, Japan is very safe.

**You can only charge your train pass/suica with cash!

Tutorials: Using cash in Japan, using a credit or debit card in Japan, exchanging foreign currency via machine,

Convenience stores They are convenient and they’re everywhere. People have their different preferences, but ultimately they all sell the same type of thingsl. Hot food, sandwiches, bento, toiletries, ice cream, yea.

Note: If you want any of the hot food in the cases at the register, you will need to ask for it specifically. For example if you want “Pizza Steamed bun (Piza man)” you will need to tell the cashier at the register “Piza man onegaishimasu”. In most cases you can just point to whatever you want and the cashier will know.

Tutorials: Convenience store basics

Restaurants There are a lot of restaurants in Japan. Most menus have pictures, so don’t worry if you can’t read the Japanese. You can just point to what you want! Also no tipping in Japan.

American Fast Food

Tastes different in Japan! Super cheap and actually pretty yummy! You buy your food at the counter and bring it to your seat (no waiter/waitresses).

Taco Bell (Shibuya), McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, Freshness Burger, Mos Burger, Carl’s Jr.

Japanese Fast Food

Pretty yummy, really salty, and super cheap! A lot of tourists choose this option instead of an American fast food place. Watch out though, because some Japanese fast food restaurants are really small and have poor seating options. You typically buy food at a ticket vending machine and then wait for a server to come to your table and give you your food.

Matsuya, Yoshinoya, Sukiya, Nakau, Chikara Meshi

Cafe/Casual dining

Typically only sells desserts and drinks. These are good places to just sit and do homework or just enjoy the atmosphere.

Starbucks, Doutor, Excelsior Cafe, Pearl Lady, Bagel & Bagel

Theme Cafes/dining

More expensive than a normal cafe because they typically have a theme. Seating varies from place to place, but usually they have a few seats. The biggest con is on weekends and holidays these types of places are really crowded.

Moomin Stand (bubble tea!), Milky Way Cafe (Ikebukuro), Kamen Rider Cafe (a restaurant too!)

Family Restaurant

A good sit-down restaurant with low prices. The food quality is usually decent and often they serve Japanese and American food so if you have people in your group that have different tastes, a family restaurant is a good option! These restaurants run on a buzzer system where you hit a button to call your server and order food. The check is usually played on your table and you go up to the counter when you’re finished to pay.

Gusto, Saizeriya, Royal Host, Ku’aina Burger, Italian Tomato, Big Boy

BBQ

A special type of restaurant where you cook at your table. Unfortunately you need to cook all the food yourself, but the servers can help you if you need it. These types of restaurants often do things all-you-can-eat style so you pay a flat rate.

Gyu-Kaku, Guts Soul

Formal dining

Really expensive, but the service is great! These types of restaurants usually require a reservation in advanced.

Swallowtail Butler Cafe

Tutorials: Guide to restaurants, Ordering via vending machine ticket

Enjoying Fandom If you are visiting Japan and reading this guide, you are most likely interesting in enjoying some fandom stuff here! There are many ways to enjoy fan culture in Japan, but keep in mind most of the fandom stuff is not in English nor is there much English support.

Tutorials: Supporting your faves in Japan (Kpop), Ticketing in Japan, Buying tickets to events via Ticketcamp, Buying/Trading tickets via Twitter, Going to the movies

#l.

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lovemesomesurveys · 7 years ago

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Why did you close the door the last time you closed one? I last closed my bedroom door. We have to keep the bedrooms and the bathroom doors closed to keep our pup out. Stripes or polka dots? Polka dots. Do you care if people touch you when they’re talking to you? I don’t mind like a tap on the shoulder or arm. What is your gender? Female. Do you think that people think its obvious? Yes.

How long did your first date last? The duration of a movie and dinner. Is your favorite color within 10 feet of you? One of them is, yes. Highlight of your day? I had pizza for lunch. ha. Would you rather be on a boat or a plane? Plane. Can you tell when girls (or guys) have eyeliner on? Yeah? That’s an obvious thing. Can you cook? Nope. How high is your ceiling? I don’t know. Whats the worst job you can think of? Surgeon. I’m much to squeamish for that. I can’t handle the sight of blood or other bodily fluids. I can’t imagine cutting into a body or doing anything with organs. I just couldn’t do it, but I am so thankful that there are people who can! Do you swear a lot? No. Does the last person you texted have an O in their name? Yes. Her first name does, but also so does “mom.” ha. Is everything working in your house? Yeah. Would you rather have a pool or a trampoline? Pool. Does pop give you energy? No. TV show you love with a passion? I have a lot of favorites. Do you think you learned anything from the worst night of your life? Not sure what I would consider the “worst night of my life.”

Perfect age to get married? I don’t think there is a “perfect” age.

Is it safe to say you own over 20 pairs of shoes? No. Name a career path that women are known for taking. Nursing. Favorite type of cookie? Sugar and shortbread. A quality you look for in choosing a significant other? Sense of humor. What would I find if I looked in your pocket? No pockets. I don’t use them anyway. What was your first word? No idea. A musical instrument you wouldnt mind learning how to play? I would just like to get back into piano and really take it seriously and put in the practice. Last time you went to 7-eleven? It’s been awhile. I actually live really close to one, too. I missed free Slurpee day today, too. A fast food restaurant that you hate with a passion? I don’t like KFC at all. I’m not big on Wendy’s, but I can eat it. Does everyone in your family have a job? No. As far as my immediate family goes, I’m the only one who doesn’t. Going anywhere this weekend? No. Is your room ever clean? It’s always clean. I sometimes have unfolded clothes on my bed, but that’s it. What does it mean when youre being quiet? It can be anything or nothing. I’m just a quiet person. Last person you had a face to face conversation with? My dad. Wheres your phone? To the right of me. Do you know the difference between your and youre? You’re*, yes. How late did you stay up last night? I dozed off around 330ish, woke up again at like 5:45, fell asleep again around 6, and slept until almost 1. Anyone youre ready to kill? Um, NO. Do you need to get a tan? I could use a little tan, sure. What do you want? Good health. Favorite TV show as a kid? Barney when I was really little.

Whats a show that you absolutely refuse to watch? 2 Broke Girls and The Big Bang Theory. How many times have you been in love? Twice. Go camping or go to a party? Neither. Do you remember how old you were when you started swearing? The most I would say as a teenager was like “hella.” Haha. Yeah, real rebel over here. I didn’t really start to cuss until after high school, and it was only around friends. Now I don’t really cuss at all. I just never was a big cusser. How many years older than you would you date someone? Not sure, honestly. Not too much older. What was the last thing you pinky swore on? With my doctor that I would do something I’m supposed to be doing. Would you consider yourself a nice person? I think so. Are there a lot of mirrors in your house? No. Has there ever been a serial killer in your house? Uh, no.

Do you know anyone who looks like Adam Sandler? No. True or false: Glee is annoying. I didn’t watch it. Last thing you cooked? I warmed up something in the microwave. That’s about the extent of “cooking” for me. lol. Do you use slang often? I don’t know if I’d say often. Maybe I don’t notice. Wear glasses? Yes.

About how old was the last person that hit on you? I don’t recall the last time I was hit on. What color are your headphones? Pink and white. Would you make a good teacher? Why? No. Dont you hate those commercials that try too hard? So all commercials? Is the fan on? Yes, of course. Any special reason why youre taking this survey? Nope. There’s aren’t any special reasons why I take a survey lol. I just do them. What does the last text message you sent say? “Pizza.”

Your friend needs you to run to the store to get a pregnancy test. Do you? Sure. Do you log out on facebook when you leave the site? No. That would be annoying to have to sign in every time. It’s my laptop, so I don’t have any reason to log out of anything. What color are your underwear? Black. How short are your nails? Short. Basically not there. Do you like the opposite sex to be dominant or you the one in control? I like them to be dominant. Favorite holiday? Christmas. If I asked you to point to Ohio on a map of the US do you think you could? Yes. Youre locked in a room with spiders. Do you have an issue? UM YEAH I HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THAT. Do you wear your most expensive item of clothing often? No. Do you eat a lot of food? Not like I used to.

Have your parents ever tried to control your relationship? No. Have you ever had to give someone directions before? Yeah, well more like attempted. I’m the worst person to give directions. Don’t ask me. Speaking of which, are you good at understanding driving directions? I don’t drive. How many people do you text daily? I don’t text daily, and if I do text it’s either with one of my parents or my brother. Do you play any instruments? Which instruments do you play? No. Is there anyone who you call by their last name? No. What did you do on your last birthday? Dinner, cake, and presents with my family on my actual birthday and then we went out to eat at my favorite restaurant the next night with my older brother and his boyfriend. Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you commit the most? Envy. Has anyone ever told you that you’re incapable of whispering? No. What is your least favorite subject in school? Math. Have you ever been involved in a custody battle before? No. Do you know a couple who constantly sucks on each other’s face? No. When was the last time you watched a YouTube video? Yesterday. Have you ever babysat a newborn baby before? No. When was the last time you held someone’s hand? I held my dog’s hand earlier. ha. How many meals have you eaten today, so far? One. I’m about to eat dinner, though. Do you think it’s stupid for people to call others “hot?” No... Do you personally think Wikipedia is a reliable source? I check it for some things, mostly regarding celebrities. Have you ever shopped at Wet Seal before? Did you like it? I have. It was okay. Do you care about spending money if it’s someone else’s money? Yes. What is your favorite Disney movie of all time? Alice in Wonderland. When you were a child, did you ever want to become a wizard/witch? No. Would you rather have hardwood floors or carpet? Hardwood floors except for the bedrooms, in which I would want carpet. Who was the last person you yelled at? Why? My brother. As a kid, did you ever go to camp? It was a thing where I live for the 6th grade class to go to science camp, so I did that. I also went to a Girl Scout camp thing. Have you ever made out in a movie theater before? No. Are you currently trying to learn to play any instrument? No. When was the last time you went somewhere you thought was haunted? Never. Who was the last person to compliment you? *shrug* How old were you when you got to go on your first date? Twenty-two. Would you call your parents over-protective or under-protective? Over protective. Did your parents ever let you play in the pits of those multicolored balls? Yeah. Have any of your siblings ever had a crush on your significant other? No. Are you the jealous type? I can be. When was the last time you felt like you were high on life? Never. Do you know someone who cares about themselves more than their child? No. Do you still watch cartoons on television? I sometimes watch Rugrats, Doug, and Hey Arnold. What do you usually order at Taco Bell, if you go there? Bean burrito, no onions, extra sauce. Is there anyone currently annoying you? Nope. Do you have freckles? Yes. How many dogs do you have, if any at all? One. Have you ever witnessed someone being beaten up? No. Do you think biting is weird or sexy? It can be both, depending on the situation. Would you rather be called hot or beautiful? Beautiful. Have you ever had a pet turtle before? No. Do you still sleep with your parents when you’re scared sometimes? lol it’d be a little weird if I, a twenty-seven year old, did that. Have you ever met someone with two different color eyes? No. Have you ever felt like someone was following you? Yes. What color shirt are you wearing at the moment? Black. Do you enjoy going school shopping? That was the only thing I looked forward to when I was in school. haha. Do you think Pug dogs are adorable or just plain ugly? That reminds me of that creepy Mountain Dew commercial with the pug and it has like baby doll legs instead of its real legs and it goes around saying, “Puppy monkey baby.” It’s so weird! Have you ever met someone who completely resembled their pet? No. I’ve seen pictures of people who resemble a dog, though. What was the worst substance you’ve spilled on yourself before? Hot coffee and hot food. Have you ever made out with more than one person in one night? No. Do you think there is a soulmate out there for everyone? I’m not sure. I don’t think there is for me.

Do you like short or long surveys the best? Long. Have you ever bought fake money and tried to make it pass for real? No. Are your siblings nice the majority of the time? Yes. Do you freak out when a thunderstorm comes along? I do, but I also love them? How often do you shower? Every other day. Have you ever had to sell something for a school fundraiser? Yeah. How many sodas do you usually drink in one day? One. Have you ever met someone who was completely weird all-around? lol :X Do you ever watch any soap operas? No. They’re just so cheesy and over the top. Also, in my opinion, the acting isn’t good at all. Have you ever met someone who was mean to everyone? Yes. Do you usually have a low tolerance for pain or high tolerance? Low. Would you rather eat or sleep? Sleep. Are you one of those die hard Twilight or Harry Potter fans? I was at one point.

Do your parents ever force you to talk to your grandparents? No. They wouldn’t have to, I was close with my maternal grandparents when they were alive and I’m close with my paternal grandma, so. I like to talk to them on my own. Do you think long surveys are boring or entertaining? They can be either, it depends on my mood. <<< Same. Sometimes I just get annoyed. Have you ever learned that someone had lied to you all along? Yeppp. Have you ever wanted to be a lawyer? No. Have you ever had to bail someone out of jail before? No. Is there anyone in your immediate family who was adopted? No. Do you know anyone who doesn’t have any common sense? I’ve known people who seemed to lack in that department. When was the last time you bought something? Today. Do you think you look anything like your parents? A little. What are your plans for this weekend? Nothing. What color is your significant other’s hair? I’m single. Have you ever applied for a job at Walmart before? No. Would you ever become a foster parent? I don’t know if I’ll ever become a parent at all. Are you ashamed of anyone in your family? No. The only person I’m ashamed of is me. Would rather talk to someone on a landline or a cell phone? I don’t like talking on the phone regardless. Has anyone ever given you a psychiatric assessment? Yes. What is your favorite amusement park? Disneyland. Did you ever have braces? Yes, but not for my teeth. What is cuter: kisses on the forehead of the cheek? Forehead. Do you believe in evolution or creation? Creation. Would you rather take a bath or a shower? Why or why not? Shower. Does it bother you when people touch your personal items? Depends what it is. When was the last time you did something sexual? Never. Do you collect anything? What? Giraffe stuff. Are you better at hand-drawing things or painting? I’m horrible at drawing. I don’t have any creative or artistic talent. Have either of your parents ever called you a failure before? No. They would never. I call myself one, though. Have you ever suspected someone of cheating on you? No. When you get married, will you convert your last name? That’s a “if” not a “when”, but I like my last name so I think I’d hyphenate. Are your parents divorced, married or separated? Married. Has someone ever left a relationship with you for someone else? No. What’s the most painful thing you’ve ever experienced? Losing my grandparents and my dog, Brandie. When was the last time you went shoe shopping? It’s been a long time. My last new pair of shoes was a Christmas present. Are you a part of any clubs at your school, if you still go to school? No longer in school. Do you know someone who wears a wig? No. What is your best friend’s last name? Mom. ha. When was the last time you cried? For what reason? A couple days ago. Just life and frustration. What is your favorite shop to go to at the mall? I like to check out a few different ones. What time do you usually go to bed on the weekends? I go to bed around 4/430 everyday. Weekends and weekdays don’t make any difference to me. Have you ever considered suicide? Yes. Have you ever been raped before? No. Would you ever consider becoming a marine biologist? No. Did you carry a lunchbox as a child? Yes. What is your favorite ‘sweet’ to eat? Donuts or cupcakes. Are you someone who usually eats when you’re bored? Yeah. Have you ever eaten your way through a breakup? No. Who was the last person you texted? My mom. Do you usually buy popcorn when you eat at the movie theater? Yeah. Did you sleep alone or with someone last night? Alone. I always do. What kind of dressing do you eat on your salad, if any? Ranch. Are you someone who constantly likes to wear hats? No. Have you ever seen a Lifetime movie that relates to your life? Yes. What is your Myspace URL? Oh Myspace. Are you someone who likes to wear dresses more than pants? No. Have you ever dated someone who was way overprotective of you? No. What was the last thing you touched besides your keyboard? My phone. When was the last time you witnessed a fist fight? *shrug* Do you know anyone who lives in the state of California? Me and most of my family.

Are you waiting for a text right now? Nope. Is it your summer vacation right now? I’m not in school, but it’s summertime, yes. Do you like traveling? I do. What color are the walls of the room you’re in right now? White. Do you still make mix cds? No. Are you eating or drinking anything right now? Coke.

Do you go to church regularly? No. :/ Who’s your best friend? My mom. Are you determined? No. I used to be.

Are you always looking for/in a relationship, or do you like being single? Neither. Ever had your heart broken? Yes. Even broken someone else’s heart? Yes. :/ Are you confident? No. When’s the last time you smiled? Today. Are you tan? No.

Any big plans for today/tonight? No. What’s the background on your computer? Alexander Skarsgård with his arms around a Husky and a German Shepherd. It’s very cute. Do you have days where you just want to listen to sad songs? Yes. Don’t you hate when your plans fall through? I used to, but now I kinda hope for it. Ever maxed out a credit card? No. How old are you? Twenty-seven. Who’s the last person you kissed? Joseph. Are you hoping they will also be the next person you kiss? No. Do you ever actually go on dates? Nope.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

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chellexo · 8 years ago

Text

I am in high school I am in college/university I’ve worked a job I’ve hated I’ve never had a job I am shorter than 5’5 I wear glasses

I have a tattoo I have more than one tattoo I don’t have tattoos but I want some I’m vegetarian I’m self-conscious about my body I’m sarcastic when annoyed I’m shy I’ve been called over-emotional I have a strange sense of humor I’m atheist I have red hair I have blonde hair I dye my hair regularly I wear a piece of jewelry at all times I am an only child I have more than three siblings I have a niece I have a nephew I’ve failed a class I couldn’t choose a favorite song I can play an instrument I can speak two or more languages I’ve hugged someone in the last 24 hours I’ve kissed someone in the last 24 hours I have a best friend I’ve known my best friend for more than 10 years I have met a friend from the internet I’ve kissed someone of the same sex I’m in/have been in a long distance relationship I’ve had a one night stand I’ve had sex in the past month I’ve been dumped more than I’ve dumped someone I’ve cheated on someone I’ve met someone famous I’ve been out of my home country I’ve broken a bone I’ve spent more than six hours straight online I’ve done volunteer work I’ve won a prize at school I have friends who are married I have friends who have children of their own I have been in a wedding party I’ve ridden in a limousine I am a morning person I am a night owl I like anime I like Disney movies I like comedies more than action films I like action films more than comedies I always order dessert I hate fast food I can’t cook I enjoy puns I enjoy being alone I read for pleasure I don’t play video games I believe in ghosts I believe in aliens (kind of) I enjoy conspiracy theories I’ve been somewhere considered ‘haunted’ I’ve stayed up all night for no reason I’ve had a Skype call with more than four people I can’t keep secrets I’m good with children I’ve cheated on a test I’ve watched an entire season of something in one day I am wearing something green right now I am wearing something yellow right now I am wearing something purple right now I’ve never tried alcohol I’ve had alcohol while underage I’ve played a drinking game I’m scared of snakes I’m scared of heights I’m scared of spiders I’m scared of clowns I collect stamps I collect comic books I keep old bus/train tickets I have more than three keyrings on my keys I don’t know the words to my national anthem I’ve been to a professional sports game I’ve had my hair cut in the past month I’ve cosplayed I can’t swallow pills I miss someone right now

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WOULD YOU RATHER…

Have the ability to fly OR Have the ability to be invisible

Work at your dream job for $50,000/year for the rest of your life OR Get paid $200,000/year to sit at a desk in a plain white room with no window and surf the internet on a 56k-modem connection

Live without music or live without T.V.? (This was the HARDEST choice, omg)

Be trapped in an elevator with wet dogs or with three fat men with bad breath?

Lose your legs or lose your arms?

Have a beautiful house and an ugly car or an ugly house and a beautiful car?

Be able to hear any conversation or take back what you said?

End hunger or hatred?

Know it all or have it all?

Have a mansion in the middle of nowhere or an apartment with 10 friends?

Be rich with an unhappy job or make less money with a job you like?

Be able to read everyone’s mind all the time or always know their future?

Would you rather get a dream vacation for two weeks or spend a week with anyone in the world?

Would you rather fly or read minds?

Would you rather have more time or money?

Would you have piercings or tattoos?

Would you rather have a rewind button in your life or a pause button in your life?

Would you rather have to sit all day or stand all day?

get Fridays off or get Mondays off?

have your flight delayed by 8 hours or lose your luggage?

be in your pajamas all day or in a suit all day?

be invisible or have super speed?

have an extra hour every day or have $40 given to you free and clear every day?

able to lie without being caught or always be able to tell when someone is lying?

eat only KFC for a month or eat only Taco Bell for a year?

in a fire save a.. Sibling or Stranger?

Be able to hear any conversation or Take back anything you say?

—

Your name begins with a letter A through J. You don’t mind needles, and getting shots. Your favorite color is blue, purple, or green. You’re athiest. Your natural hair color is blonde. You’ve considered joining the military. Your best friend is taller then you. You wear makeup daily. You hate music. You watched Dragon Tales when you were growing up. You have Satellite television. You own at least 3 items from Forever21. You’ve broken a bone. Yuh h@+3 w3n ppl uze inc0rr3c+ gr@mm@. ^ that was difficult for you to decipher You live on the West Coast. You’ve attended a wedding. You have antisocial moments. At one point today, you wanted to punch somebody in the face. It’s after 3pm where you are. You hate Mondays. You have a Facebook. You play/played more then one sport. You’re afraid of heights. You don’t like Obama. You’ve been in the newspaper. You wanted to be a princess when you were little. You donate to charity whenever you can. You have a Bzoink account. You have no regrets. You use plastic bags at the grocery store. You love shopping. You can taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke. You have/had a teacher that you wanted to curbstomp. You have a friend that tries to shove their religion down your throat. You’ve gone camping. You cut your own hair. Your the palest out of your group of friends. You hate being lazy. You eat too much. You love fast food. You’ve been to the beach. You know somebody who’s died within the past 5 months. You’ve had an MRI. You still watch the Disney Channel. You’re guilty of enjoying the show Jersey Shore. You’ve been to Disneyland or Six Flags. You’ve never been in an airplane. There are no candles in your bedroom. You knew somebody involved in 9/11. You have ADD. You enjoy reading. Your favorite holiday is Halloween. You are well known in your community. You are listening to music while taking this.

—

GRYFFINDOR: [x] You’ve never done illegal drugs. [ ] You have a lot of friends [ ] You get along with everyone [x] You haven’t made fun of someone for at least two months [ ] You love soccer [x] You love baseball [x] You’re into writing and art [x] Favourite music genre is pop rock [x] You believe in “innocent until proven guilty” theory [ ] Abortion is wrong [x] The war against Iraq is unneeded [ ] One of your favourite colours is red or gold [x] Good grades at school [ ] One of the worst things you can do is lie [x] You plan on going/ are going to college/university TOTAL: 9/15

HUFFLEPUFF: [ ] You’re content with mostly everything in your life right now. [x] You laugh a lot [x] You like to follow trends. [x] Politics suck. [x] You love to swim [ ] Water polo is awesome [x] Pink is one of your favourite colours [x] Black is morbid & depressing but you still like it though [x] Michael Jackson is talented as a musical artist. [x] You’re an optimist. [ ] You’re completely straight-edge. [x] You’re very emotional [ ] Rap, R&B, & hip-hop is your favourite music genre [ ] You don’t believe in going steady at a young age [x] You love animals TOTAL: 10/15

RAVENCLAW: [x] You’re depressed to a certain extent. [x] You love to read. [x] You appreciate theatre & arts. [ ] Sports suck. [x] You’re shy. [x] Hate is completely unneeded. [ ] Loyalty is the MOST important thing in a relationship [ ] Indie is your favourite genre of music. [x] Every once in awhile you have little anger outbursts. [x] Lying is sometimes okay [x] Blue is one of your favourite colours. [ ] Serious is better than funny. [ ] Academics come first [x] Libraries and bookstores are wonderful [ ] You don’t procrastinate TOTAL: 9/15

SLYTHERIN: [ ] There’s at least one person you hate. [x] Basketball is a good sport. [ ] Football is amazing. [ ] Black is a cool colour. [ ] You’ve lied about something serious. [x] You’re a very deep person. [ ] You have thought about suicide. [x] Very loyal. [ ] You like metal. [ ] They make school seem more important than it is. [x] You’re scared to grow up. [ ] You’ve done drugs in the past month. [ ] Anger is one of your primary feelings. [ ] You have trust issues. [ ] Guilty until proven innocent TOTAL: 4/15

—

Harry Potter. [ ] Your hair is dark and can be messy. [x] You wear glasses. [x] You have a weird looking scar. [] You are brave. [x] You have green eyes. [] You like playing a particular sport. Total = [3]

Ron Weasley. [] You have red hair. [x] You are very loyal to your friends. [] You are deathly afraid of spiders. [x] You are sarcastic. [x] You don’t have a lot of money. [x] You have older siblings. Total = [4]

Hermione Granger. [] You are bossy. [x] You are intelligent. [x] Your hair is wavy or curly. [x] You have a cat. [] You usually know how to handle tricky situations. [] You get made fun of a lot. Total = [3]

Rubeus Hagrid. [] You are tall. [x] You are very friendly and soft hearted. [x] You love animals. [x] You are very helpful. [x] You give in easily. [x] You are very loyal. Total = [5]

Luna Lovegood. [x] You are weird and proud of it. [x] You don’t have loads of friends. [] You have blonde hair. [x] You are open minded. [x] You are quite spiritual. [] You believe in things most people wouldn’t. Total = [4]

Draco Malfoy. [x] You are manipulative. [] You can be very mean when you want to be. [] You are a snob. [x] You can get jealous. [] You have blonde hair. [] You enjoy pranks. Total = [2]

Neville Longbottom. [] You are close to your grandparents. [x] You are plump. [x] You are easily frightened. [x] You get nervous easily. [] You like frogs and toads. [x] You are geeky. Total = [3]

—

DAUNTLESS [ ] You know how to operate a gun.  [x] You wear black.   [ ] You want to get/have tattoos or piercings.  [x] You are strong.  [ ] You play capture the flag.  [] You live freely.  [ ] You act quickly. Total: 2/7

ABNEGATION [x] You like helping people.  [x] You have a high role in your job/school.  [] You wear gray a lot.  [x] You believe in God or some other form of God.  [x] You don’t look in a mirror often.  [] You don’t like attention.  [x] You don’t wear a lot of jewelry. Total: 5/7

CANDOR [x] You tell the truth often.  [ ] You believe telling the truth is important.  [ ] You are very organized.   [ ] You enjoy debating over things.  [ ] You wear black and white a lot.  [ ] You like to know what people think of you.  [ ] You rarely lie. Total: 1/7

ERUDITE [x] You consider yourself smart.  [x] You love to learn [x] Blue is a color you wear a lot.  [x] You have glasses.   [x] You like it when you have total control.  [x] You read a lot.  [x] You are good with technology. Total: 7/7

AMITY [x] You are a peaceful person.  [x] You always have a smile on your face.  [ ] You wear yellow and red together.  [ ] You eat weird bread.  [x] You dance.  [ ] You garden or work on a farm.  [ ] You don’t take sides in a fight. Total: 3/7

—

Check off all that you have experienced. Place a question mark if you are unsure.

[x] Fears of abandonment. [ ] Sexual violation. [x] Verbal abuse. [ ] Physical Abuse. [ ] Sexual abuse. [x] Bullying. [x] Self-hate. [ ] Self-Harm: Cutting. [ ] Self- Harm: Burning. [ ] Self-Harm: Hitting. [ ] Suicidal thoughts. [ ] Attempted suicide. [ ] One biological parent was absent from the majority of your life. [ ] You lived in a split household. [ ] You were adopted. [ ] You had a serious childhood illness. [ ] You have undergone mental trauma. [x] Your family fought. [ ] Your grew up in an impoverished area. [ ] Your family was in poverty when you were a child. [ ] You have/had/are recovering from an eating disorders. [ ] You’ve tried starving yourself. [ ] You are/were an alcoholic. [ ] You have/had a sexual addiction. [ ] You have/had a self-harm addiction. [x] You have/had a different addiction. [x] You have had no friends at one point in your life. [x] You’ve been lonely. [ ] You feel alone in the world. [x] You have social anxiety. [ ] You’ve experienced dissociation. [ ] You have a diagnosed dissociative disorder. [ ] You may have an undiagnosed disociative disorder. [ ] You’ve tried drugs. [ ] You’ve never drank. [ ] You’ll never drink. [x] You drink occasionally. [x] You drink socially. [ ] You drink seriously. [ ] You smoke. [ ] You chew tobacco. [ ] You have a diagnosed personality disorder. [ ] You may have an undiagnosed personality disorder. [x] You have phobias. [x] You may have undiagnosed phobias. [x] You have/had depression. [ ] You feel you have anger problems. [ ] You have seen a therapist/counselor. [ ] You have a hard time trusting others. [x] You’ve been in a minor car accident. [ ] You’ve been in a serious car accident. [x] You are Christian. [ ] You are Muslim. [ ] You are Jewish. [ ] You are Wiccan. [ ] You are another religion. [ ] You are agnostic. [ ] You are atheist.

—

WHICH ALCOHOL ARE YOU?

Beer [x] You are generally a chill person. [] You often pass out at parties. [x] You have many different types of friends. [x] People generally like you, and never have problems with you. [] Beer pong or flip cup are the best drinking games to you. [x] You rather be steady when getting drunk, compared to getting drunk quickly. [] You have done a keg-stand before. [] You would say you are a sloppy drinker. [x] Your hangovers are mild. [] You get pumped to drink. TOTAL = 5

Whiskey [] You like sharp tough drinks. [] You never use a chaser, and you don’t do mixed drinks. [x] You have multiple shot glasses. [] You enjoy a bitter taste. [] You often talk shit about others when you’re drunk. [x] You like a comforting drink. [] You often isolate yourself from others when you’re drunk. [] You often are a miserable drunk to be around. [] You are more of a tomboy. [x] You are low-maintenance. TOTAL = 3

Vodka [x] You always have mixed drinks. [] ^ Or you drink straight from the bottle. [] You would say you are the crazy drunk. [] You have taken your clothes off while being drunk. [] You have hooked up with multiple people in one night. [] You have thrown up multiple times. [] If drinking doesn’t make you feel crazy it isn’t fun. [] You don’t even like the taste of alcohol. [] People either love you or hate you. [] You often get involved in your friends’ drama. TOTAL = 1

Wine [x] You don’t drink often. [x] You are typically a lightweight. [] You hate everything about beer. [] You get horrible hangovers. [] You would say you are sophisticated. [] ^ Or you have very nice taste in things. [] You often think you are better than other people. [x] You can be really judgemental. [] You are one of those people who never stop talking. [] People act fake towards you often. TOTAL = 3

Tequila [] You’ll literally drink anything as long as it gets the job done. [] You are fearless. [] You are obnoxious. [] Scary movies are your favourite. [x] Your attitude can be somewhat moody. [] People never know what to expect from you. [] You often prefer drugs over alcohol. [] You would say you are a slut. [] Girls get jealous over you easily. [] You just always seem to have some drama surrounding you. TOTAL = 1

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[x] I have read a book. [x] I have been on some sort of team. [] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping. [] I have been to Canada. [x] I have watched cartoons for hours. [x] I have tripped UP the stairs. [x] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs. [x] I have been snowboarding/skiing. [x] I have played ping pong. [x] I swam in the ocean. [] I have been on a whale watch. [x] I have seen fireworks. [x] I have seen a shooting star. [] I have seen a meteor shower. [] I have almost drowned. [x] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear. [x] I have listened to one cd over & over & over again. [x] I have had stitches. [] I have had frostbite. [] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there [x] I have stayed up til 2 doing homework/projects. [x] I currently have a job [x] I have been ice skating. [x] have been rollerblading [x] I have fallen flat on my face. [x] I have tripped over my own two feet. [] I have been in a fist fight. [x] I have played video games for more than 3 hours straight. [x] I have watched The Power Rangers [x] I do/have attended Church regularly. [x] I have played truth or dare. [x] I’ve called someone stupid. And meant it. [x] I’ve been in a verbal argument. [x] I’ve cried in school. [] I’ve played basketball on a team. [] I’ve played softball on a team. [x] I’ve played baseball on a team. [] I’ve played football on a team. [x] I’ve played soccer on a team. [] I’ve done cheerleading. [] I’ve swam on a team. [] I’ve been on a track or cross country team. [x] I’ve been swimming more than 20 times in my life. [] I’ve thrown up going on a ride at an amusement park. [x] I’ve climbed a rock wall. [] I’ve lost more than $20. [x] I’ve called myself an idiot. [x] I’ve called someone else an idiot. [x] I’ve cried myself to sleep. [x] I’ve had (or have) pets. [] I’ve owned a Spice Girls cd. [] I’ve owned a Britney Spears cd. [] I’ve owned an N*Sync cd. [] I’ve owned a Backstreet Boys cd. [] I’ve mooned someone. [x] I’ve swore at someone. [x] I’ve been in the newspaper. [x] I’ve been on TV. [] I’ve been to Hawaii. [x] I’ve eaten sushi. [] I’ve been on the other side of a waterfall [] I’ve watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies. [x] I’ve watched all the Harry Potter movies. [] I’ve watched all of the Rocky movies. [x] I’ve watched the 3 Stooges at least once [] I’ve watched “Newlyweds” Nick & Jessica. [x] I’ve watched Looney Tunes. [] I’ve been stuffed into a locker. [] I’ve been called a geek. [x] I’ve studied hard for a test and got a bad grade. [x] I’ve not studied at all for a test and aced it. [] I’ve hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs. [] I’ve hugged my dad within the past 24 hours. [x] I’ve met a celebrity/music artist. [x] I’ve written poetry. [] I’ve been arrested. [x] I’ve been attracted to someone much older than me. [] I’ve been tickled till I’ve peed. [x] I’ve tickled someone else until they cried. [x] I’ve had/have siblings. [x] I’ve been to a rock concert. [x] I’ve listened to classical music and enjoyed it. [x] I’ve been in a play. [] I’ve been picked last in gym class. [] I’ve been picked first in gym class. [x] I’ve been picked in that middle-range in gym class. [x] I’ve cried in front of my friends. [x]I’ve read a book longer than 1,000 pages. [] I’ve played Halo 2. [x] I’ve freaked out over a sports game. [] I’ve been to Alaska. [] I’ve been to China. [] I’ve been to Japan. [] I’ve had a fight with someone over AIM/ MSN/ Yahoo Messenger [x] I’ve had a fight with someone face to face [x] I’ve had serious conversations on any IM. [x] I’ve forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me. [x] I’ve been forgiven. [x] I’ve screamed at a scary movie [x] I’ve cried at a chick flick [x] I’ve watched action movies. [x] I’ve screamed at the top of my lungs. [] I’ve been to a rap concert. [] I’ve been to a hip hop concert. [x] I’ve lived in more than 2 houses. [x] I’ve been to other states. [x] I’ve been homesick. [x] I’ve thrown up [] I’ve puked on someone. [x] I’ve been horseback riding. [x] I’ve filled out more than 10 myspace surveys. [x] I’ve spoken my mind in public. [x] I’ve proved someone wrong. [x] I’ve been proven wrong by someone. [] I’ve broken a leg/foot. [] Broken an arm, wrist, hand, finger, or knuckle [x] I’ve fallen off a swing. [x] I’ve swung on a swing for more than 30 minutes straight. [x] I’ve watched Winnie the Pooh movies. [] I’ve forgotten my backpack when I’ve gone to school. [x] I’ve lost my backpack. [] I’ve come close to dying. [x] Someone close to me has died. [x] I’ve known someone who has died. [x] I’ve wanted to be an actor/actress at some point. [] I’ve done modeling or done a beauty pageant [x] I’ve taken something/someone for granted. [x] I’ve realized how good my life is. [x] I’ve counted my blessings. [x] I’ve made fun of a classmate. [x] I’ve been asked out by someone and I said no. [] I’ve asked someone on a date and been turned down. [x] I’ve slapped someone in the face. [x] I’ve been skateboarding. [x] I’ve been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend. [x] I’ve lied to someone to their face. [x] I’ve taken a day off from school just so I don’t go insane. [] I’ve fainted [] I’ve had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not. [] I’ve pushed someone into a pool. [] I’ve been pushed into a pool

—

Summer [x] You love your freedom [] You’d rather be hot than cold [x] You love swimming [] You tan easily [] You love grilling/barbecuing [x] You like fireworks [] You were born in the summer [] Your favorite holiday is the 4th of July [x] You like the beach [] You live in the South [] You hate wearing trousers/pants [x] You love lemonade or iced tea [] You own more than one bathing suit [x] You like water parks [] You own a convertible

Total: 6

Fall [] You’re constantly changing your looks [x] You love sweaters [] Halloween or Thanksgiving is your favorite holiday [] You like to eat squash [] Your favorite sport is football [] You love haunted houses [x] You prefer to call it ‘autumn’ [] You love pumpkin flavored things [] Your favorite color is orange [] You like apple cider [x] You like to see the leaves change color [x] You like voting [] You love going back to school [] You live in the Midwest [x] You were born in the fall

Total: 5

Winter [x] You’d rather be cold than hot [x] You own at least three scarves [x] Christmas is your favorite holiday [x] You love snow [x] You like to use your fireplace [x] You like hot chocolate [x] You love to snuggle [] You go big on New Year’s Eve [x] You know how to ski [x] You live in the North [x] You love ice skating [] You love to wear fur or leather [] You were born in the winter [x] You have built a snowman before [x] You loved Frozen

Total: 12

Spring [x] You love plants [ ] You have a green thumb [ ] Easter is your favourite holiday [x] You like pastel colours [x] You love a cool breeze [x] You like the sound of rain [] You were born in the spring [x] You love starting things fresh [x] You like to eat salads [x] You love picnics [x] You love to write poetry [x] You have been to prom [] You’re not scared of bugs [x] You like going to festivals [x] You like to pick flowers

Total: 11

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i am… [x] i am a university student. [] i am a cuddler. [x] i am an okay dancer. [x] i am a huge fan of lists. [x] i am a morning person. [x] i am a perfectionist. [ ] i am a republican. [ ] i am allergic to something deadly. [] i am an only child. [x] i am catholic. [x] i am content as of this moment. [ ] i am currently in my pajamas. [ ] i am currently pregnant. [x] i am currently single. [ ] i am embarrassed to be seen with my mother or father. [ ] i am currently suffering from a breaking heart. [ ] i am okay at styling other people’s hair. [ ] i am left handed. [ ] i am married. [x] i am obsessed with my tumblr. [ ] i am online 24/7, even as an away message. [x] i am procrastinating by filling out this list. [x] i am resentful that i have to grow up. [x] i am very shy around the opposite sex. [ ] i am, or was, pigeon-toed. [ ] i bite my nails. [x] i can be paranoid at times. [] i carry a weapon with me everywhere i go. [ ] i collect picture frames. [] i currently have a crush on someone. [x] i consider myself to be a ‘nerd’. [x] i currently regret something that i have done/am doing. [x] i curse frequently. [ ] i don’t hate anyone. [x] i enjoy country music. [x] i enjoy jazz music. [x] i enjoy smoothies. [ ] i enjoy talking on the phone. [x] i have a car. [x] i have a mobile phone. [ ] i have a hard time paying attention at school. [x] i have a hidden talent. [x] i have a hobby. [x] i have a lot to learn. [x] i have a pet. [x] i have a secret that i am ashamed to reveal. [] i have a tendency to fall for the “wrong” guy. [ ] i have all my (real) grandparents, none of them have died. [x] i have at least one brother and/or sister. [x] i have avoided work to play with my tumblr. [x] i have been in a real relationship. [ ] i have been in a threesome. [] i have been rejected by someone. [ ] i have been the “psycho ex” in a past relationship. [x] i have been to another country. [ ] i have been to an anime convention. [x] i have been to europe. [ ] i have been to las vegas. [x] i have been told that i am very smart. [x] i have been told that i have an unusual sense of humor. [ ] i have broken a bone. [x] i have caller i.d. on my phone. [ ] i have changed a diaper. [x] i have changed a lot over the past year. [ ] i have cheated on a significant other. [x] i have counted down the days until the summer. [ ] i have dated my best friend’s ex. [x] i have done something illegal. [ ] i have friends who have never seen my natural hair color. [ ] i have gone scuba diving/snorkelling. [x] i have had major/minor surgery. [ ] i have had my hair cut within the last week. [ ] i have had sex with someone i was not in a relationship with. [ ] i have had the cops called on me. [ ] i have snogged someone i knew i shouldn’t. [] i have snogged someone of the same sex. [ ] i have made a move on a friend’s significant other in the past. [x] i have mood swings. [x] i have no idea what i want to do for the rest of my life. [ ] i have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months. [x] i have rejected someone before. [] i have seen the lord of the rings trilogy. [] i have seen the television show the o.c. [x] i have swam in the ocean. [ ] i have tried a drug that is illegal. [x] i have tried sushi. [x] i have watched sex and the city. [x] i have watched the television show spongebob squarepants. [] i know how to shoot a gun. [x] i like being the center of attention. [ ] i like eating ramen noodles. [x] i like my handwriting. [x] i like shakespeare. [ ] i like the taste of blood, [x] i like to cook. [x] i like to sing. [ ] i like to vacuum. [x] i love learning foreign languages. [x] i love michael jackson. [x] i love my friends [ ] i love olives. [x] i love rain. [x] i love sleeping. [x] i love to play computer games. [] i love to shop. [x] i miss someone right now. [] i own 100 cds or more. [ ] i own a home. [] i own and use a library card. [x] i play a musical instrument. [ ] i practice a religion that is not considered mainstream. [x] i read books for pleasure. [x] i shave my legs. [ ] i sleep a lot during the day. [ ] i strongly dislike math. [x] i think britney spears is pretty. [x] i think long strings of html code look cool. [ ] i think that pizza hut makes the best pizza. [ ] i think the world would be a better place if people just smiled more often. [] i was born in a country other than the usa. [ ] i watch more tv this year than last year. [] i watch soap operas on a regular basis. [ ] i wear contact lenses. [ ] i will try anything once. [x] i work at a job that i enjoy. [ ] i would classify myself as ghetto. [x] i would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free. [ ] i like orange kool aid. [x] i can name all 7 of the dwarfs from ‘snow white and the seven dwarfs’. [ ] i like being at school. [x] i always love wearing sweaters. [ ] i love water polo. [x] i am currently wearing socks. [ ] i am being nostalgic right now. [ ] i hate summer. [x] i am tired. [x] i love to paint/draw/sketch/sculpt

i have…. [x] been drunk. [ ] smoked pot. [ ] done ecstasy. [ ] done coke. [ ] done crack. [ ] done heroin. [ ] done opium. [ ] done pcp. [ ] done lsd. [ ] done ccc’s. [ ] done prescription narcotics for recreational purposes. [ ] huffed air-duster. [ ] been to a rave. [x] been to a real party. [x] kissed someone. [x] ridden in a taxi. [ ] jumped a ramp with a bike. [ ] been dumped. [ ] been used. [] shoplifted. [ ] ran from the cops. [ ] been in a room of your school that you could get suspended for being in [ ] been fired. [ ] been kicked out of a movie theater. [x] snuck into a movie. [] been in a fist fight. [ ] got hit by a car. [] fired a real gun. [x] snuck out of your parent’s house. [ ] been arrested. [ ] gone in a mosh pit. [x] stolen something from your school. [ ] celebrated new years in times square. [ ] gone on a blind date. [x] lied to a friend. [x] had a crush on a teacher. [ ] celebrated mardi-gras in new orleans. [x] been to europe. [x] skipped school. [ ] thrown up from drinking. [x] played ‘clue’ [x] had a sleepover party. [x] gone ice skating. [ ] cheated on a bf/gf. [ ] been cheated on. [ ] had your tonsils out. [ ] been exposed to laughing gas. [x] had a car. [x] driven a car. [ ] totaled a car.

do you… [x] feel loved. [x] feel lonely. [x] feel happy. [x] hate yourself. [x] have a dog. [x] have your own room. [x] sing along with your music. [ ] dance around the house in your underwear. [ ] listen to hawaiian music. [ ] listen to underground hip hop. [x] listen to rap. [x] listen to classic rock. [x] listen to new rock. [x] listen to country. [ ] listen to reggae. [] listen to techno. [ ] listen to hardcore punk. [x] listen to pop. [] listen to r&b. [ ] listen to jazz. [ ] listen to crooners. [x] listen to bands that can’t be put into a category. [x] have hobbies. [ ] skateboard. [ ] do aggressive inline. [ ] snowboard. [x] ski. [ ] surf. [ ] skim board. [x] have more than 1 best friend. [x] get good grades. [x] play an instrument. [ ] have slippers [ ] wear boxers [x] wear black eyeliner. [x] like the color blue. [x] like the color pink. [x] like the color red [x] like the color green [x] like the color black [x] like the color purple [x] like neon colors [x] like to read. [x] like to write. [x] have long hair. [ ] have short hair. [x] have a laptop. [ ] have a pager.

are you… [x ] bored. [x] happy. [ ] bilingual. [ ] hawaiian. [ ] blonde [x] a brunette [ ] a redhead [ ] a darkhead [ ] samoan. [ ] filipino. [ ] korean. [ ] british. [x] white. [ ] italian [ ] black. [ ] inuit [ ] mexican. [ ] asian. [x] a christian [ ] a muslim [ ] a jew [ ] a hindu [ ] a scientologist [] an atheist [ ] satanist [ ] short. [ ] tall [x] just right [x] realistic [ ] an emo kid [ ] sick [ ] mad [x] lazy. [ ] talking to someone. [ ] iming someone. [x] scared to die. [ ] buzzed [ ] high [ ] caffeinated [x] sleepy. [ ] annoyed. [x] hungry. [x] thirsty. [ ] on the phone. [] in your room. [ ] drinking something. [ ] eating something. [x] ticklish. [] listening to music [x] a virgin.

—

Random Things I Love: [x] Hot cocoa. [ ] Toy cameras. [ x] Scrapbooking. [x] Having loads of free time. [ x] Waking up early. [ ] Rice Chex. [x] Uno. [ ] Bunny slippers. [x] Having something to look forward to. [x] Stickers.

Words/Terms I Use Daily: [x ] “Wow.” [ ] “That’s so gay.” [x ] “I know, right?” [ ] “Fuck it.” [x ] “I don’t even know.” [ ] “What even?” [ ] “I’m shitting bricks.” [x ] “I can’t even.” [ ] “Kill yourself.” [x ] “Seriously?”

Things I Do Daily: [ ] Exercise. [ x] Tumblr. [x ] Talk with my family members. [ ] Take surveys. [x ] Charge my iPod and/or cell phone. [ ] Play with my pets. [ ] Eat dinner with my family. [ x] Wash my face. [ ] Take photographs. [ ] Write and/or draw.

Places I’ve Been: [x] New York City. [x ] Pennsylvania. [x ] New Jersey. [x ] Maryland. [x ] Washington, DC. [ x] Florida. [x ] California. [ ] Arizona. [ ] Hawaii. [ ] Canada.

Things In My House: [ ] A Mac computer. [ ] A set of encyclopedias. [x] A flat screen TV. [x ] A PS3. [ x] A piano. [ ] A Christmas tree. [x] A toaster. [x] An electric mixer. [ ] A mini trampoline. [ ] An exercise machine.

Things I Dislike: [x] Burning my tongue on hot food. [x] Not being able to find what you’re looking for. [ ] Getting the chills. [ ] Gloves. [x] Unpleasant surprises. [x] Being really hungry. [ x] Litter boxes. [x] Annoying advertisements. [x] Having an itch in my throat. [ ] Socks.

—

Romance []You’ve had the same significant other all through high school till now. []You’ve fallen in love with your best friend (and him / her has fallen as well). []Danielle Steel novels are your favorite. []You’ve had a secret admirer before. []Your favorite kiss is the jumping on someone and kissing them deeply. [x]You love flowers. [x]You like pop and country. []You dream about the perfect wedding. [x]Red or pink are one of your favorite colours (the colour of the heart). []You’ve had a guy friend / boyfriend paint your toenails before for you. [x]You base who you’ll date on how they compare to romance movies / novels. []Someone you never thought would fall for you has fallen for you before.. Total: 4

Comedy []You’re well known as being a ditz. [x]You are or were the class clown. [x]You don’t go a day without laughing. [x]You’ve embarrassed yourself in front of a large group of people. []You’re not a very serious person. [x]You crack jokes all the time. []People say you’re really hyper. []Dane Cook is a silly bitch! []You like to pull pranks on people. [x]You always find the funny part of things. [x]Your life isn’t perfectly planned out. []Your the “spur” of the moment type person. Total: 6

Drama []You’ve spread a rumor about a friend / someone else. []Someone has spread a rumor about you. [x]You’re very emotional. [x]There’s lots of twists in your life. []You’re pessimistic. []You LOVE to get revenge. []You always need to get to the bottom of things. []If someone said something about you, you’d confront them about it. []You like to / or have friends in big groups. []You can’t keep secrets. []People tell you not to be too serious all the time. []You’ve cheated on your significant other before. Total: 2

Tragedy [x]You have some form of disorder / illness. []You’ve lost more than 4 people in your family / friends to death. []You’ve been suicidal before. [x]You cry a lot. []You’re always listening to sad music. []You feel like everyone is always against you. [x]The unexpected makes you nervous. []You like to bully / pick on other people. []Someone getting hurt amuses you (in movies). [x]You screw up a lot, or at least feel like you do. []People always seem to let you down. Total: 4

Horror []You have very vivid / scary dreams. []Scaring people is fun. []You’ve witnessed a murder / someone dying. []You always feel like someone is watching you. []You LOVE being scared. []Horror movies are your favourite. []You’d like to be a ghost watcher / finder. []Vampires are so cool! []Loud screaming music is your thing. []You’re a very timid person. []When the phone rings, you always expect the worst. Total: 0

Classic [x]You have good morals. [x]You’re still a virgin. []You believe in marriage before sex. []You like black and white better than color. []You like dressing up really fancy. [x]You think guys should still hold doors open for you. []Men should approach women. [x]Marriage is something that should be taken very seriously, and for the long haul, no matter what happens. []You wear very little makeup (less than the average girl). []Your music taste is very 60’s / 70’s and 80’s. Total: 4

Action []You’re always on the move. []You always start fist fights. [x]You’ve wished to be some sort of super hero before. []You like watching / taping fights. []Wrestling is one of your favorite things to watch. []You’ve always got a comeback to something someone has said. []You think you’re tough. []The unexpected excites you. []You’re very daring. []You’ve been bungee jumping / or would go bungee jumping. []You’ve survived something tragic. Total: 1

Porn []You’re always thinking about sex. []You’re very kinky. [x]Sex is okay without loving someone. []Sex is fun, anytime of the day. []You’ve done more than 5 sexual positions. []It’s all about foreplay! []Screw kissing, let’s just get to it! []You’ve been tied up. []You’ve had more than one partner at the same time during intercourse. []You have songs that you put on to get “in the mood”. []You’ve had one of your biggest sexual fantasies fulfilled. Total: 1

Musical / Theatrical []You express yourself through some form of dancing. [x]You’re always breaking out into song. [x]People can tell what mood you’re in by the type of music you’re listening to. []People tell you that you’re pretty random most of the time. []You’re always smiling. []You’re very dramatic. []You like to dress up. []You hope to become an actor / actress. []You love to dance! []You’re good at doing impersonations. [x]You overexaggerate a lot. Total: 3

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WHICH GREEK GODDESS ARE YOU?

Aphrodite -> Goddess of Love and Beauty [] People would say you are beautiful but you have no brains. [] You are very fierce and unpredictable. [] You have cheated on someone. [] You have been with many people. [] Sometimes you act really clumsy. [x] You can be strong and powerful if you put your mind to it. [] You receive a lot of attention from the opposite sex. [] ^ You get called a whore/slut etc, but really you aren’t. TOTAL = 1

Artemis -> Goddess of the Hunt [] You would consider yourself to be strong (physically). [] You have gone hunting before. [x] You like the moon better than the sun. [x] You don’t think you will ever get married. [] You would say you are more of a tomboy. [] You are a daddy’s girl. [x] You are a virgin. [] You do not take criticism well. TOTAL = 3

Athena -> Goddess of War/Wisdom/Weaving [x] You like playing musical instruments. [] You want to become a teacher. [] You like to be the leader of things. [x] Equal rights for women is something you’d fight for. [x] Many people look to you for advice. [x] You don’t like it when situations are unfair. [] You would consider fighting for your country. [x] You get jealous easily. TOTAL = 5

Hera –> Queen of the Gods [] You get jealous a lot especially of your bf/gf. [x] You can be really mean if you want to be. [x] You can be vain and self-centered. [x] You enjoy attention. [x] You fight for what you believe in. [] You are not a coward, nor afraid of many things. [] You demand respect from everyone. [] You enjoy getting revenge. TOTAL = 4

Hestia -> Goddess of Hearth and Home [x] You are very caring and compassionate. [x] You find it easy to forgive others. [x] You have many siblings. [] You want to have a big family when you are older. [x] You would say you are nice to everyone. [x] People easily take advantage of you. [] You are fine with being the responsible one. [] You’d rather be serious than silly. TOTAL = 5

Gaia -> Goddess of Earth [] Your favourite thing is nature. [x] You want to help protect the environment. [] You use clean sources of energy. [x] You have helped clean up the environment before. [x] You get upset thinking about the damage done to the Earth. [] You have been part of some earth group. [] You would take part in a protest. [] You are a vegetarian. TOTAL = 3

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You’re kind of a loner You are a Leo You are a Taurus You actually like the way you look usually You’re afraid to put your head underwater You almost drowned once You have an older brother Your brother is somewhat famous You have a cat You have a dog You have a hamster You’re extremely shy You have social anxiety You hate all sports You don’t have a best friend these days You drink soda at least once a day You’ve been in a relationship for 4+ years You’ve kissed eight people in your lifetime You’ve had six boyfriends/girlfriends in your lifetime You watch a lot of shows on Netflix You only read fiction/fantasy books You’re addicted to the Sims You have at least two Sims expansions You also love music games like Rocksmith, Rock Band, and Singstar You actually enjoy playing games like WoW, LoL, and Final Fantasy Online You don’t live with your parents You love Rami Malek You’ve never asked anyone out Everyone you’ve dated has been older than you You can touch your nose with your tongue You can kick the back of your head Your favorite foods are Italian and Greek food You also love Indian food lately You’ve been to other countries You’ve been on another continent You have a very busy schedule all the time You rarely get to hangout with people You’re in a band You’ve hungout with bands before You love concerts You love alternative rock You also love electronic/dubstep You’ve been driving for at least a year You have your own car Your house is always messy You watch anime every now and then Your favorite TV show is Vampire Diaries You also love American Horror Story and The Walking Dead You’re in college You’re not a teenager anymore You are good at drawing You procrastinate a lot You’re afraid of throwing up You’ve never did anything self-destructive Your biggest fear is death You’re not a picky eater at all You love food You love sleep You’re not really into partying You hate alcohol You rarely drink alcohol You drink alcohol all the time You dye your hair an unnatural color You have green eyes You wear makeup daily You absolutely love having new clothes You wear glasses occasionally You never wear contacts You had braces when you were younger You have been/are in a relationship with a Capricorn You have been/are in a relationship with a Pisces Your grades aren’t as good as you’d like them to be You are a music major You used to love myspace You now love facebook, and go on it everyday You also love Instagram and use that everyday You have a Tumblr You hate Twitter and find it pointless You’ve had all your wisdom teeth pulled Your parent has cancer You know someone who has cancer Your other parent is bipolar Your parents are still together, but fight a lot You’ve moved across the country You live in the USA You live near the west coast You live near the east coast You live in the midwest You have a job You love your job You hate your job You’re a cashier/barista You work in retail You’re a waiter/waitress You’d like to find a new/better job You’re afraid to kiss your significant other in front of your parents You’re afraid to tell others that you have a significant other for reasons You love Halloween and dressing up You take quite a few selfies You have no piercings or tattoos You really want tattoos You want to get married in the next five years Your want to have kids in the next ten years You have no intention of wanting kids but wouldn’t mind company Your consider your significant other’s family to be your family Your significant other can sometimes get on your nerves but you still like/love them anyway Your significant other is someone who understands you Your significant other is a smoker You have a very slight accent You’re very pale You’re of Russian descent You are Jewish You’re a really good singer You play piano You play flute You can’t dance You’ve never slow danced Your high school prom sucked You’re really good at spelling You’re pretty bad at math You hate chemistry You’re pretty good with languages You can speak 3+ languages, but just one fluently You are pro-choice You want gay marriage legalized You’re straight You want marijuana legalized in all states You wish alcohol was illegal You wish you had bigger boobs You’re very petite You’re average You’re overweight You rather not disclose what you are You are 5’5” You like vintage You live with your significant other You live in an apartment Your significant other makes much more money than you You believe in God You pray daily Your first kiss was terrible You smoke weed sometimes You’ve smoked hookah before You’ve never smoked a cigarette and don’t plan to You’ve never done any real drugs and don’t plan to You love romantic comedies You love musicals You’ve been in musicals You only have two living grandparents You also have a step-grandparent You have six first cousins You can never seem to find matching socks You love chocolate You try to be optimistic You get depressed sometimes You’re really self-conscious You’ve dated people before that you haven’t even liked You’ve had 2+ serious relationships You’ve had sex with two people in your lifetime Your hair won’t seem to grow anymore You straighten your hair too much Your nails are always shorter than you’d like You’ve been to both Disneyland and Disneyworld You’ve been to Universal Studios You’ve been to the Harry Potter World You never get super drunk You love wearing studs You love wearing lace You love wearing animal prints Your favorite colors are aqua, purple, and black You’re not a virgin

#survey #march 21 2017 #personal #me

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iamtryingtobelieve · 8 years ago

Text

My Ask Answers For @dmdoll

@dmdoll Here you go :)

1: What is your name and does it mean anything? Robbie (Short for Robert, German, means Bright and Fame)

2: How long have you known your best friend? About 12/13 years

3: What position do you normally sleep in? Just on my side really but I toss and turn a lot.

4: Were you a part of any “clique” in high school? I was in a emo/nerdy clique kind of, I wasn't full on emo with fashion or makeup but I hung around with a lot of emo kids.

5: Who was your favorite teacher in high school and why? It's hard to say as I've never had a teacher I've hated truly. If I had to narrow it down, I would have to say my English teacher from 2010-2014, she was my favourite teacher of all and I was gutted when she left to teach in Africa and left us with a pretty bad substitute teacher for the rest of the year. Other teachers I liked were my Drama teacher from 2010-2014, my ICT teacher for 2013-2014, my ICT/Media teacher from 2014-onwards at Sixth Form (UK High School) and my Graphic Design/IT teacher from 2012-2014.

6: Do you wish to travel a lot? I would like to travel to some more cities. I've been to London and Paris in the last year so I would love to travel more.

7: Did you participate in any sports while in school? I took part in Bocca/Bowls which basically who can roll the ball closest to the white ball, I did Javelin in my sports days and I did a lot of Just Dance in my PE lessons (we basically had gameplay on YouTube and copied the moves)

8: Show a sample of your handwriting: Sorry I had to do it in paint but... here it is

9: Have you ever given blood? I'm an organ donor but I haven't gave blood as of yet but I am still looking into it.

10: Do you like the way that you grew up? I think my parents did a good job raising me, I haven't snapped yet so they must have did something right.

11: Do you like your siblings? Why or why not? Although they tend to get on my nerves a bit, I can't fault them as they were close to me as I grew up.

12: How did you meet your best friend and why did you become friends? Kicked a ball over the fence and hit me on the head. We just liked things in common and I took an older brother role to him too.

13: Name one movie that made you cry. I've never actually cried at a film before to be honest with you. I've gotten close to a game before with BEYOND: Two Souls which nearly wrecked me the first time I played it for some reason but I've never outright cried at anything.

14: Do you prefer to read poetry, write poetry, or neither? I'd prefer to read poetry to be honest, I'm no writer by all means.

15: Things about someone that you find attractive? Eyes, personallity, hair, smile, cliche, cliche, cliche Nah but seriously I like to strike a connection in some way whether it is liking the same things or just becoming really close.

16: What song are you currently listening to? The last song I listened to was Turn The Page by Metallica.

17: Have you ever broken a bone? If so, how? Never broken a bone but I split my head open twice by being pushed off a swing and not catching a heavy toy I threw in the air in time.

18: A random memory from you childhood: Me and my old friend wrote a script to a really shit zombie film once and planned out a trilogy of films but obviously that never occurred.

19: Where did you grow up?: Workington, Cumbria, England

20: What was the last thing you watched on tv? The Chris Ramsey Show, a UK comedian, pretty enjoyable.

21: Do you think you’d make a good parent? I haven't really given it much thought as I've never been in a situaton to do so but I wouldn't mind to be honest. I have a 3 nieces and a nephew so it's not like children are strangers to the household.

22: Would you like to meet any of your Tumblr friends in person? Absolutely. I would love to meet a lot of my mutuals in person.

22: What was the last dream you remember having? I honestly can't remember but one of the ones I can was there was a massive fight between rival schools at one point.

23: When is your birthday? 2nd October 1998

24: How many pillows do you sleep with? 6 Pillows

25: Do you wear glasses? If so, how long have you been wearing glasses? Ever since I was 3. I have Ptsosis meaning one of my eyelids doesn't open properly (similar to the actor Forrest Whittaker) so glasses are a must

26: What color is your hair? Brown

27: Name 5 facts about your appearance: I have braces One of my eyelids doesn't open properly I have body acne but have never had a lot of facial acne I am not too tall but not too small I have blue eyes

28: What is your favorite soda? Cherry Cola

29: What is a strange talent that you have? I can handfart to songs

30: How’s the weather right now? Freezing but bland.

31: Why did one of your friendships end? He left to go to his hometown and we had a communication breakdown (and he was a little bit of a dick at times but I don't hold anything against him)

32: Who do you miss right now? I miss a lot of my secondary school (Middle School-Early High School) pals who've moved on to different schools and stuff.

33: Why did your last relationship end? Never been in a romantic relationship before.

34: Are you still figuring out who you are? I'm happy with myself personality wise but I still think theres time to work some things out in the future.

35: Have you ever been admitted to a hospital? Why? I've split my head open a few times and I've had surgery on my eyelid but I've never been in an ambulance or anything.

36: What is your favorite restaurant? I am not too sure to be honest as I am not a restauranty guy, fast food wise I would have to say KFC although I would love to try Taco Bell one day.

37: What is word that you always seem to spell wrong? Definitely is a word that I tend to spell wrong

38: Would ever adopt kids? I wouldn't say no.

39: What is your favorite kind of pizza? Not the biggest Pizza fan to be honest but I would have to say either Meat Feast, Cheese and Ham or Pepperoni

40: What was your first thought when you woke up this morning? I honestly can't remember but I think it would have to involved turning my laptop on to check my Social Media feed.

41: When was the last time you got really really happy and why? Yesterday when I found out that I would have to save up only 2 months to buy a box set out in November.

42: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten? Ostritch, Aligator and Kangaroo. These were at a market stall in my town.

43: How do you start a conversation? I tend not to unless I am truly comfortable but when I do, it's usually by asking a question of some sort.

44: What’s a band you’ve been obsessed with lately? No Doubt, The Cure and Rise Against.

45: Do you come from a family “of money?” We've never been poor but never been rich either if you get what I mean, a healthy balance between the two.

46: Do you have a bucket list? I haven't thought all the way through yet but I know one of my all time goals is to direct a project.

47: What is your favorite series of books? I've only read one whole series the way through and that was Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman and I really enjoyed the series.

48: When was the last time you laughed so hard your stomach hurt? Filthy Frank's Goofy Trial.

49: Where do you go when you’re sad? I don't tend to do anything really, just surf the internet in my room and try to take my mind off it really.

50: 5 random facts about yourself: I am 18 years old. I live 15 minutes of way from Britain's worst shooting spree in recent years I am into true crime and morbid/disturbing things just because I am curious not that I idolise anyone. I've been on Tumblr for about 4 years now. I am studying Media, ICT and Psychology

#Me #Personal #Asks #Rob Rambles

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idkjustastesgood · 8 years ago

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Burger 21 and the rise of hipster fast food

(You can read more about the Burger 21 brand here)

If you’re from the US, or at least the part of the US where I live (the upstate, East Coast part), then you’ve probably seen them around. They’re often called “[Something] Burger.” They’re either modern or painstakingly retro inside, though that retro aesthetic usually won’t extend to technology like automatic menu screens or mounted flat-screen TVs. They may have a liquor license and full bar. Sometimes they use terms like “crafted” to describe food, even if it’s the same general type of food (albeit from ostensibly better ingredients) that you can also get for a dollar at McDonalds.

I think I’ll call them “Hipster Fast Food.” Actually, someone probably already has.

I just realized I might sound dismissive, and that’s partly my fault for choosing a word like “hipster,” and all the connotations that come with it. In this case, though, I don’t begrudge hipster fast food its hipster-ness. After all, this is capitalism – you survive by pandering, one way or another, and it’s ingenious to acknowledge Americans’ love of fast food, then temper it with a general suggestion of sustainability, mindfulness, and wholesomeness – all the guilt-free charm we wish the big dogs like McDonalds, Burger King, and even pre-revamp Wendy’s had. The idea is that we can eat better and do better by our communities and planet without giving up the food we love, and while that idea is probably fallacious in the extreme, it’s also tantalizing as hell.

Besides, for all my snobbery, I like fast food. Unironically. Even though, despite accounts like this, I don’t eat much of it. I like fast food. True, I’ve never cared for McDonalds, except their fish filets and fries (and even their fries have lost some luster, since they got allegedly revamped to be more “natural” and less sodium-filled), but I still remember my first Whopper with fondness. That was probably the first time I tried mayonnaise on a burger, and I’ve never regretted that decision. My favorite fast food chain is and probably will always be White Castle, a traditional part of any visit to my maternal grandparents in Chicago (unfortunately, my hometown has no White Castle franchises). Those sliders, with their peculiarly onion-y steamed lack of crisp (this is not a bad thing to me; depending on the food, I don’t necessarily care for crispiness as a texture), were heaven to me as a kid, and though it’s been awhile since I’ve had one, I think I’d probably still like them.

One thing you might have noticed from this list is that this is exclusively burger restaurants; no Taco Bell or KFC.

This is because I also like burgers. A lot. With cheese, specifically, as well as other optional add-ons.

I’ve learned to love other fast food, of course. McDonalds’ fish filets, as previously stated, as well as other forms of heavily-breaded fish that I can cover in enough ketchup and tartar sauce to make them bearable. Fried chicken, especially chicken tenders – again, the more breaded, the better (I am neither a chicken- nor a fish fan). And I do actually love Chipotle (after the South Park episode about Michael Jackson and Billy Mays’ deaths, my family started calling it “Chipotle-way” and never really stopped), although I think Chipotle itself probably falls into the hipster fast food category.

A good rule of thumb when deciding what is and isn’t hipster fast food is: is this restaurant encouraging me to think about what I’m putting into my body? Are they hyping the freshness and sourcing of the ingredients, or letting me watch them make the food? Are they trying for “authenticity”? If the answer is “yes,” then you’re probably dealing with hipster fast food.

And that’s not a bad thing. All the paragraphs leading up to this one are my roundabout way of saying that since I love burgers – beef and dairy together in general (I’m a terrible Jew), but especially burgers – I’m perfectly happy with the hipster fast food trend. Thanks to this trend, I can always find a burger around (although I realize as I write this that, since this is America, finding a burger will never really be a problem). Some people question why I’m always ordering the same meals from different places, but honestly, this is an example of why: because every place does it differently, and it’s interesting to compare and contrast. And with the hipster fast food trend, if you can afford the price of a jumped-up burger and fries, you can get a lot of comparing done.

My favorite hipster fast food has to be Five Guys. I’ve been told Five Guys is the East Coast version of In-N-Out Burger (I can’t say for sure since we never did go to one on our family vacation to California). What I know is the one in our town goes for a retro look, with red and white tiles, except for the optional machine that lets you mix your own shakes, and the random bags of unshelled peanuts that line the outside wall. These peanuts are free for customers to sample as they wait for their orders; little paper shells are provided to hold them. The burger patties are a bit thin, but allegedly unfrozen, and they taste good; tender, flavorful, and rarely burnt. Besides, to compensate for the patties’ thinness, Five Guys burgers come as doubles; you must specifically request a single patty to your burger, making it a “small” instead of a “regular.” The fries are thickly cut and well-seasoned, even if it’s with nothing more adventurous than salt and pepper. Five Guys deservedly has a great reputation as a burger place and (relatively) local chain, with food critic reviews framed and hung on the walls of our local franchise. It’s the standard, at this moment, to which I compare my hipster fast food experiences.

When I went to Burger 21 tonight, I was thinking of Five Guys automatically, and I was also thinking of my other recent hipster fast food experience at Smashburger. The latter was almost perfectly mediocre, with just the hint of interesting menu and reasonably well-cooked food that makes you think “maybe I should go back one more time and give it another try.” The patties were wide and tender, but thin, and my burger was soggy, the condiments it came with overwhelming it. The fries were fine, but thinly-sliced; apparently, a troublesome trend. It wasn’t the sort of experience that drives you off, it just makes very little impression either way.

Burger 21 was a similar experience. In fairness, I had just left my shift at 8:30 pm, and was also slightly grumpy because by deciding that we would eat our burgers at the restaurant, my mother and ride was Deviating from the Plan, so I may not have been at my most receptive. After a brief disagreement over whether we should enter at the main double doors, or the single door farther down the wall that opened up toward the bathrooms, we entered Burger 21 and immediately became confused about whether we should order at the counter that had the bar behind it (that was the one), or the counter lined with stools labeled “take-out pickup” (that was not it). A helpful employee corrected us, and we got in line, trying to figure out if the menus he had given us and the brief mention of “bringing the food out to [you]” meant we should order at the counter or wait for someone to come to us. Eventually, we ordered, then I changed my drink order, and then finally things were nailed down and I began to relax.

I was pleased to find the handwashing station, located outside the bathrooms, meaning I could wash the “office” off my hands without having to touch a potentially urine-covered door handle, or grapple with the perpetual “which restroom do I use (the dysphoria one or the one full of cis people who may beat me up)” question of anyone being trans in public. (Being assigned-female transmasculine, I should say. If I were transfeminine and assigned male, both restrooms would be full of cis people potentially ready to beat me up). If their plan really is to pander to The Millennials ™, I would advise Burger 21 to invest in gender neutral restrooms, or at least a third, family- and wheelchair-sized gender neutral one-staller. It shouldn’t be too hard to add some plumbing to a large closet so the rest of us can pee in safety.

Another thing about Burger 21 that I liked was the condiment bar. Where other places had a sidebar of ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and sometimes relish, Burger 21 has a long bar of various sauces, located next to its utensils and drinks. I remember a Cajun sauce, and one based on Korean barbecue, as well as my personal favorite, chipotle mayonnaise. I only tried the chipotle mayonnaise on my burger and fries (we got the Half-and-Half fry order, which included both white and sweet potato fries, and I think it went slightly better with the sweet potato), but for me, one reason to go back to Burger 21 is pure curiosity whether the other more unusual condiments are any good. It may be a gimmick, but it’s the kind of gimmick that works on me. For the record, though, the chipotle mayonnaise was a little bland. However, at least this was preferable to other throat-scalding attempts I’ve witnessed to make “spicy food” for white people, where the “spice” came from too much pepper in the dish and nothing else.

If I were a trained chef or professional food critic, I could talk about the burger and fries themselves for pages, but I am not and so I can’t. However, I’m not sure I need to. The interesting twist to the burger was that it was a real beef patty that seemed hand-formed, like good bar food or maybe a burger from Applebee’s or some other higher class of sit-down restaurant chain. It was thick and juicy and didn’t seem to have been stamped out of a sheet of beef, the texture that the thinner Five Guys and White Castle patties do sometimes have. I ordered my burger medium, and although it was more charred and crispy than I prefer on the outside, I was pleased to see just a hint of pink on the inside. That said, the taste of the meat, and the burger overall, was just a little bland, not flavorful enough to make me forget the charred texture. I did think the Burger 21 touch of putting the tomatoes under the patty, rather than on top of it, was a smart idea, since burgers that have been lifted, bitten, or cut in half tend to lose their tomato slices easily, especially when the patty is thicker. On the topic of the burger’s fixings, though, I did think it needed pickles (the restaurant included lettuce and tomato, and sometimes onion depending on the order, but no automatic inclusion of pickles as far as we could tell, and we didn’t think to grab relish from the condiment bar).

The fries were very, very thin, much less than an inch across, and less than an inch thick. They reminded me in shape of the shredded lettuce on my burger, because they had a shredded look to them; they seemed too short and thin to be sliced by a human hand. This was a trend I also noticed at Smashburger, and my mother and I debated whether this was an attempt to make less potato look like more, or to make people believe they were eating less French fry per bite than they actually were. My mother also said the sweet potato fries looked thinner and less filled than the white potato fries, but I wasn’t so sure about this. In any case, the tiny fries made for messy and inconvenient dipping into condiments, so I hope this particular fast food trend dies soon.

Smashburger and Burger 21 are both poster children of the hipster fast food craze. The same modern look, the same half-ordering, half-being-waited-on system of food acquisition, and even the same thin-cut fries. Burger joints like this are as common as Chinese takeout restaurants and pizzerias in our neck of the woods, and they survive either through quality, or through uniqueness, if not both – whatever can inspire enough name recognition that customers 1. remember their brand, and 2. want more of it. Burger 21 was a pleasant experience, but if it wants to become the next Five Guys or In-N-Out, it probably needs to punch up its flavors, build its “sustainability” reputation, and maybe clean up its restaurant layout. Hipster fast food is a dime a dozen right now, and while I’m just fine with that, I don’t have a vested interest in seeing any of these places succeed. If I stayed that disinterested after becoming a customer, that may be a bad sign.

#burger 21 #burgers #foodie #food review #fast food #review #just tastes good #idkjustastesgood #original #writing

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familyvisionis2020 · 5 years ago

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Day 5 - Huntsville

Jeremy’s up the earliest and sends a text to us that he’s getting breakfast with Noah at a place called the Grit. Rather than opt to join I just post up on the porch with Trey and indulge in a long long blog post.The weather is cooler and grayer, joggers and dog-walkers and kids on bikes roll down the streets, slow syrupy sunday morning, humidity and gristle, butter pats wouldn’t melt if you left them out on your plate but they wouldn’t be too taut to sink your teeth into. I feel a fundamental sense of repair from typing, reviving a column of spirit I’d quietly suffocated, knock loose a clot of rust in my clockwork and the machinery is humming along again. Now that I have the link to the blog to share to people I feel like I’m gingerly handing the missing puzzle piece to my patrons and well-wishers and companions, indulging a curiosity and rounding something out to myself that might prove the regard and sensitivity my quietness can bely, might be a kindness or a service to people who find me austere or impenetrable or bristly. I was staring at a picture of a cactus and identifying with it the other day, tall, two arms, tiny head, spiky, full of water, not so bad if you’re careful with them, just like me.

Later tonight I will watch Tired Frontier play the last set of their tiny tour with us and what will end up being our last show of the tour as well. Watching the face of the guys I see things so so different then when I saw them for the first time, when they were complete strangers, tourmates but sight unseen. What I saw in their faces the first time I saw them play: Royal is tall and broad-shouldered and country and active and maybe a little sloppy and expanive and reminds me a ton of my friend Mike, so I have love for him off the bat, also his weird tuning and rococo pedal board setup and heedless mustache and you know, wife, set off little clockworks of insecurity in me and my mind props up baseless criticisms of him sourced solely from my ignorance of him. After three shows we are not friends but I know him much better, have seen him from more angles, have a better sense of him, he loves doing bits and laughs high and loud and chills endlessly, in this way he matches the tone and cadence of Kabir magnificently. Paul is beautiful and has a face like a svelter Jim Carrey and kneads the keyboard effortlessly, digital dough, his fingers are narrow and elegant and move only enough to play the next keys, the same sort of parsimony of motion I used to see from chefs with expert knife skills. I envy his bouny raven thick-sable hair. Trey looks plainly joyful when he plays drums. He extends his crash cymbal hardware to the maximum length so his crash is preposterously high up. I can’t discern a reason other than it’s kind of fun or different. He’s enthusiastic about my writing, I get to share him some other work I’ve done, he says he loves it, I swell with gratitude and we exchange emails.

The morning in Athens goes more or less like the morning before: me and Kabir and John and Paul all go get breakfast at Donderos’ again, drink tea and coffee, pack up our stuff. We take some group photos with both bands outside on the porch with the orbs and they’re cute and silly. Kabir flipped a coin to decide whether me or John drives the next stretch, it’s me, I’m a little apprehensive because I haven’t driven a 15-passenger van in awhile, but once I’m in it’s like riding a bike, I have muscle memory of driving big vehicles from U-Haul trips and, before that, the box truck I drove to transport food donations to the pantry of the Servant Center in Greensboro. I’m a good driver, I check my mirrors, I put on a halloween mix I made in 2015 and I am feeling myself, focused, caffienated, surrounded by friends, there’s some clouds in the sky and drizzles but it’s not bad and we’re making good time. The boys just listen along with me to the DJ mix for awhile then start up a new crossword puzzle and we all 4 do it collaboratively, one person describing the clue, letters, cross-clues, and we brainstorm for answers, between the four of us we’re really good at this, and we’re all laughing and in great spirits as we methodically complete the puzzle. We stop in Marietta Georgia at one point to use the bathroom, we stop at a KFC with a 20-foot mechanized/animatronic chicken head whose eyes roll back in its head and whose giant beak opens and closes in regular time like a campy pendulum. I buy a postcard and a souveneir cup from here because I think my Mom has family from Marietta Georgia but when we’re back in the car I can’t remember if it’s Marietta Georgia or Marietta Ohio, but I figure it will be well-received either way. We get back on the road and now we’re off the highway and onto some more remote state routes and we pass into Alabama and the rain lets up but its still overcast so the light is gentle and diffuse, the hills are rolling, we pass a colony of tiny homes, weird, livestock, bulls with giant horns that when I see them I just say ‘aurochs’ absent mindedly, livestock and cotton fields and when we see police someone will just say ‘ops’ and the whole drive everyone is just in a good mood, making jokes, kind and breezy. I marvel at how these boys do not seem to carry the same sort of darkness I feel I do, or maybe they just don’t wear it on their sleeves, or maybe none of them are neurodivergent or addicted or traumatized, or maybe they are but hide it well, or have coped and healed…something I’m used to is being around people who require a space to talk about extremely serious and heavy and heartbraking things. Maybe it’s a vestige of a lifestyle I’ve left behind. In all the time I’ve spent with Kabir and Jeremy and John and David (our NC bassist who plays home shows when Jeremy is in NY), I’ve never seen anyone come close to losing their temper, yelling, crying, crumbling, whatever. I marvel at the putative stability of my friends. I like having stable friends, I like having a stable life, it’s not how my life has always been. There is a level of tranquility and calm that washes over me while I’m driving through rural Alabama with my stable friends in a well-maintained van in my healthy body wrapped around a heart that is not broken and a mind that feels as clear and capable as it has ever been. Grace is unearned, I’m told.

We make it to Huntsville on time, the venue is called the Salty Nut, kind of a spacious and tidy bar with a kind bartender my height but with a double thick country accent and the show booker is slight and soft spoken and exceedingly kind, he receives us and then points us in the direction of a nearby restaurant called Banditos Burritos. The restaurant is festooned with vaguely southwestern or hispanic decorations and also random camp like a dirty 1990s Bart Simpson doll, a ruined acoustic guitar, a King Khan poster, a garden gnome on an old-fashioned scale with the sliding thing, a skateboard without trucks painted with a sleeping cactus person wearing a sombrero, etc. The people there are so so nice and when we say we are playing the Salty Nut tonight the guy behind the counter explains that menu items with steak and all beers will cost, but otherwise we can order whatever we want for free. We get burritos, nachos, beans, rice, salsa, hot sauce, ice water in a paper cup. We feast, scarf down, all hungrier than we realized, it’s essentially a non-franchise Taco Bell by my appraisal, which is absolutely perfect as far as I’m concerned, the beans and rice feel good and substantial. Tired Frontier shows up a little after us, gets the same stuff basically, we eat and laugh and finish and go back to the venue and wait around for awhile, I join Jeremy and Royal outside skateboarding and act crazy and try to film them doing tricks but my phone dies and and eventually they stop and we go inside and set up and play. The show goes fine, TF sounds as good as they have so far. They’re playing to a crowd of the other two bands and maybe 8 people in the bar sitting at a table eating food they brought over for Banditos Burritos. The show is fine, unremarkable. When we play, I do the usual routine of trying to play my hardest and with my whole body, and end up dropping sticks more than once and missing some snare hits and not being able to keep up on the driving floor tom parts, mostly because I’m not warmed up and maybe not focusing enough, I’m letting myself get a little carried away trying to play hard and fast rather than keep things tight, I worry this may miff the other guys but after the show there is no indication that anyone even noticed it or cared. There was a cool part where I dropped a stick but instead of it falling to the floor it bounced around on top of the snare and tom and I managed to snatch it out of mid air and keep playing and Jeremy noticed that and that made me feel cool. We played hard and to my ear we got good claps between songs, we are pretty live and high energy and I think even if people don’t like our sound they appreciate the energy, but also some of the songs are earworms and catchy and people like that too, I’ve heard. We finish, the other drummer from the other band, Golden Flakes, says great set man, we perch at the merch table but sell nothng. We listen to Golden Flakes play for close to an hour, very jam band vibe, many many guitar solos, kind of sloppy, sort of high energy rock and roll I guess, I by this time am tired and pretty disinterested, get on my phone for most of it. Toward the end of their sets someone who I assume is a townie is drunk and heckling them between songs in a way that they are clearly fine with and they know the guy and to me for some reason he looks the way I imagine the way the protagonist John from Shit Town the podcast would look. We are in Alabama after all. He sounds like John (not from our band, from the podcast). He’s annoying and I’m being judgy in my head about him when I should maybe feel sorry or indifferent, idk. It feels sad to me, I don’t feel like writing more about it. It’s awkward enough, the heckling and banter from Golden Flakes, that by the end of the set we all kind of joke-rush out of there, quietly agreeing that what’s happening is awkward and unpleasant and we should go. We get put up in Thomas’s apartment, and on on the ride home the guys talk about how Huntsville’s claim to fame is being the place where the Nazi engineers taken during Operation Paperclip were taken after WW2, whose skills were put to use developing rockets, and that all manner of testing has taken place in and around the nearby military base, the Redstone Arsenal. Kabir tells a story about how a nuclear warhead was dropped on NC and by freak chance did not detonate. It would have wiped out the population of the entire Southeast. I didn’t believe it but you can read about it here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Goldsboro_B-52_crash?wprov=sfti1

At the apartment I make a b-line for the couch, get my sleeping stuff out, eat an apple and a banana and a bunch of peanut butter out the jar and go to sleep. At the end of every day I feel so much more irritable and grumpy than I do at other times. I still really treasure a quiet space all to myself to sleep in and so this troubles that. But I just listen to a youtube video on European history, learn nothing, and have no dreams I remember.

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gws302-001-blog · 5 years ago

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Labor

In our society when we get to a certain age we begin working. We may have different little jobs at the beginning and then some people ultimately choose a career and that's their work. Either way, pretty much no matter what, you have to work for your whole life just to live. This is a pretty pessimistic way to put it, but I think thats why labor is so important to talk about. I think this why the term labor really stuck out to me in these units, because it is one of the most important factors of our life here on earth. We can't live without working since we must pay for everything we have.

However, labor has a little bit of a different meaning than work. Labor is work, especially hard physical work. Many people work, but not everyone does labor work. Before unit 4 and 5 my idea of labor was mainly construction working. After these units I know its much more than that. Labor can include nail salon workers, temp workers, factory workers, etc. The one I thought least about before was nail salon workers. Not only is what they go through physical labor but emotional labor as well. After reading the NY time article titled, “Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers” it made me not want to go get my nails done anymore which I love doing. My mom has always raised me to be kind to these workers because not everyone is. I had no idea that on top of rude people they had to take into account the physical aspect of their labor. In the article it talks about how people are worried of how clean nail salons are and their own safety but what about the workers safety? Working in nail salons can lead to miscarriages, lung problems, and many other risk that are associated from dealing with the harsh chemicals they breathe in all day every day. Another form of labor I had considered hard labor before but didn't know as many of the details was factory labor, specifically animal agriculture. In the article, titled “Sold for Parts” by Michael Grabell for ProPublica, he discusses a specific factory knows as case farms. Case farms sells chicken to common fast food places such as Popeyes, KFC, and taco bell. People seem to not ask the question of where is their food coming from when really it is an important one to ask. Case farms treats their workers terrible. They don't care about safety regulations, pay, hours, or if they are being fair to their workers. Employees from Case farms have lost limbs, suffered from chronic pain, and also have to deal with an emotional burden at work as well. Working long hours on machines doing the same thing over and over can cause serious pain. These employees are treated like they are disposable and if a problem arises Case farms doesn't step up to help them. A big reason why Case farms treats their employees so poorly is that a-lot of the workers are immigrants. If they want to unionize or file a complaint Case farms will hold their illegal immigrant status over their head knowing they could fire them, report them, or force them to remain. Causing these people to live a precarious life, where nothing is certain.

Specifically at Case farms, workers have told stories of their employers not letting them go to the bathroom, managers teaching them ways that aren't safe, getting injured because of work and being threatened to deal with it. This is because the employers are holding this power over them. There was a particular instance where a man lost his leg because of a safety issue and Case farms didn't pay for it or help him in any way, even though it was their fault. Case farms has had more complaints and problems than most factories like them and was deemed not okay for workers by the government. So, while Case farms may be an extreme example this is how it is for many immigrant workers all over the U.S. Whether its being a temp-worker for amazon, picking crops, and working in clothing factories. They are forced into this precarious position. In a way, they are forced to do this type of labor because they know these factories will take them, and it's because no one wants to do the work that they are doing. Yet they must work because they still have to make money to survive and provide for themselves and their families. There needs to be major changes in how America protects immigrants workers who have to do dangerous labor to make a living.

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easyfoodnetwork · 4 years ago

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A McDonald’s breakfast buffet. An all-you-can-eat Taco Bell. This isn’t the stuff dreams are made of, but a real yet short-lived phenomenon. When we think of buffets, we tend to think of their 1980s and early ’90s heyday, when commercial jingles for Sizzler might have been confused with our national anthem. We think of Homer Simpson getting dragged out of the Frying Dutchman, “a beast more stomach than man.” I think of my parents going on buffet benders resembling something out of Hunter S. Thompson’s life, determined to get their money’s worth with two picky kids. What we don’t typically think about, however, is the fast-food buffet, a blip so small on America’s food radar that it’s hard to prove it even existed. But it did. People swear that all-you-can-eat buffets could be found at Taco Bell, KFC, and even under the golden arches of McDonald’s. That it could have existed isn’t surprising. The fast-food buffet was inevitable, the culmination of an arms race in maximizing caloric intake. It was the physical manifestation of the American id: endless biscuits, popcorn chicken, vats of nacho cheese and sketchy pudding — so much sketchy pudding. Why, then, have so many of us failed to remember it? How did it become a footnote, relegated to the backwoods of myths and legends? There are whispers of McDonald’s locations that have breakfast buffets. Was there, in fact, a Taco Bell buffet, or is it a figment of our collective imaginations? Yes, someone tells me — an all-you-can-eat Taco Bell existed in her dorm cafeteria. Another person suggests maybe we were just remembering the nachos section of the Wendy’s Superbar. The fast-food buffet was inevitable, the culmination of an arms race in maximizing caloric intake. The fast-food buffet lives in a strange sort of ether. You can’t get to it through the traditional path of remembering. Was there actually a Pizza Hut buffet in your hometown? Search your subconscious, sifting past the red cups that make the soda taste better, past the spiffy new CD jukebox, which has Garth Brooks’s Ropin’ the Wind and Paul McCartney’s All the Best under the neon lamps. Search deeper, and you might find your father going up for a third plate and something remaining of the “dessert pizzas” lodged in your subconscious. This is where the fast-food buffet exists. The history of the buffet in America is a story of ingenuity and evolution. Sure, it originated in Europe, where it was a classy affair with artfully arranged salted fish, eggs, breads, and butter. The Swedish dazzled us with their smorgasbords at the 1939 World Fair. We can then trace the evolution of the buffet through Las Vegas, where the one-dollar Buckaroo Buffet kept gamblers in the casino. In the 1960s and 1970s, Chinese immigrant families found loopholes in racist immigration laws by establishing restaurants. They brought Chinese cooking catered to American tastes in endless plates of beef chow fun and egg rolls. By the 1980s, buffets ruled the landscape like family dynasties, with sister chains the Ponderosa and the Bonanza spreading the gospel of sneeze guards and steaks, sundae stations and salad bars along the interstates. From Shoney’s to Sizzler, from sea to shining sea, the buffet was a feast fit for kings, or a family of four. And of course, fast-food restaurants wanted in on the action. As fast-food historian and author of Drive-Thru Dreams Adam Chandler put it, “every fast food place flirted with buffets at some point or another. McDonald’s absolutely did, as did most of the pizza chains with dine-in service. KFC still has a few stray buffets, as well as an illicit one called Claudia Sanders Dinner House, which was opened by Colonel Sanders’ wife after he was forbidden from opening a competing fried chicken business after selling the company. Wendy’s Super Bar was short-lived, but the salad bar lived on for decades.” How something can be both gross and glorious is a particular duality of fast food, like the duality of man or something, only with nacho cheese and pasta sauce. In a 1988 commercial for the Superbar, Dave Thomas says, “I’m an old-fashioned guy. I like it when families eat together.” A Wendy’s executive described the new business model as “taking us out of the fast-food business.” Everyone agrees the Wendy’s Supernar was glorious. And gross, everyone also agrees. How something can be both gross and glorious is a particular duality of fast food, like the duality of man or something, only with nacho cheese and pasta sauce. “I kind of want to live in a ’90s Wendy’s,” Amy Barnes, a Tennessee-based writer, tells me in between preparing for virtual learning with her teenagers. The Superbar sat in the lobby, with stations lined up like train carts. First, there was the Garden Spot, which “no one cared about,” a traditional salad bar with a tub of chocolate pudding at its helm, “which always had streams of salad dressing and shredded cheese floating on top.” Next up was the Pasta Pasta section, with “noodles, alfredo and tomato sauce…[as well as] garlic bread made from the repurposed hamburger buns with butter and garlic smeared on them.” Obviously, the crown jewel of the Superbar was the Mexican Fiesta, with its “vats of ground beef, nacho cheese, sour cream.” The Fiesta shared custody of additional toppings with the salad bar. It was $2.99 for the dining experience. Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. The McDonald’s Breakfast Buffet. The marriage of Wendy’s and the Superbar lasted about a decade before it was phased out in all locations by 1998. Like a jilted ex-lover, the official Wendy’s Story on the website makes zero mention of Superbar, despite the countless blogs, YouTube videos, and podcasts devoted to remembering it. At least they kept the salad bar together until the mid-2000s for the sake of the children. Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. The McDonald’s Breakfast Buffet. Googling the existence of such a thing only returns results of people questioning the existence of this McMuffin Mecca on subforums and Reddit. Somebody knows somebody who passed one once on the highway. A stray Yelp review of the Kiss My Grits food truck in Seattle offers a lead: “I have to say, I recall the first time I ever saw grits, they were at a McDonald’s breakfast buffet in Alexandria, Virginia, and they looked as unappetizing as could be.” However, the lead is dead on arrival. Further googling of the McDonald’s buffet with terrible grits in Alexandria turns up nothing. I ask friends on Facebook. I ask Twitter. I get a lone response. Eden Robins messages me “It was in Decatur, IL,” as though she’s describing the site where aliens abducted her. “I’m a little relieved that I didn’t imagine the breakfast buffet since no one ever knows what the fuck I’m talking about when I bring it up.” “We had traveled down there for a high school drama competition,” she goes on to say. “And one morning before the competition, we ate at a McDonald’s breakfast buffet. I had never seen anything like it before or since.” I ask what was in the buffet, although I know the details alone will not sustain me. I want video to pore over so I can pause at specific frames, like a fast-food version of the Patterson–Gimlin Bigfoot footage. Robins says they served “scrambled eggs and pancakes and those hash brown tiles. I was a vegetarian at the time so no sausage or bacon, but those were there, too.” McDonald’s isn’t the only chain with a buffet whose existence is hazy. Yum Brands, the overlord of fast-food holy trinity Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Pizza Hut, is said to have had buffets at all three restaurants. I confirm nothing, however, when I reach out to the corporate authorities. On the KFC side, a spokesperson offers to look into “some historical information,” but doesn’t get back to me. My contact at Taco Bell tells me, “I’ll look into it. Certainly, nothing in existence today. I’ve never heard of it. Looks like there are a couple threads on Reddit.” Reddit, of course, speculates a possible Mandela Effect — the phenomenon of a group of unrelated people remembering a different event than what actually occurred — in the existence of Taco Bell buffets. But I have a firmer lead in Payel Patel, a doctor who studied at Johns Hopkins, who tells me there was a Taco Bell Express in her dorm that was included in an all-you-can-eat meal plan option, though it only lasted one fleeting year. “You could order anything, like 15 nachos and 11 bean burritos,” she says, “and they would make it and give it to you, and you walked off without paying a cent.” A Johns Hopkins student newsletter published in 2001 corroborates the existence of the utopian all-you-can-eat Taco Bell, saying, “you can also gorge yourself on some good old Taco Bell tacos and burritos. Don’t forget, it’s all-you-can-eat. Just don’t eat too much; you don’t want to overload the John.” There are some concrete examples of fast-food buffets that still exist today. When a Krystal Buffet opened in Alabama in 2019, it was met with “excitement and disbelief,” according to the press release. Former New Orleans resident Wilson Koewing told me of a Popeye’s buffet that locals “speak of as if it is a myth.” When I dig deeper, I come across a local paper, NOLA Weekend, which covers “New Orleans Food, things to do, culture, and lifestyle.” It touts the Popeye’s buffet like a carnival barker, as though it is simply too incredible to believe: “The Only Popeye’s Buffet in the World! It’s right next door in Lafayette! Yes, that’s right: a Popeyes buffet. HERE.” Somehow, the KFC buffet is the most enduring of the fast-food buffets still in existence. And yet everyone I speak with feels compelled to walk me through the paths and roads leading to such an oasis, as if, again, it were the stuff of legends. There are landmarks and there are mirages, and the mirages need maps most of all. To get to the KFC buffet in Key Largo, Tiffany Aleman must first take us through “a small island town with one traffic light and one major highway that runs through it. There are the seafood buffets and bait shops, which give way to newfangled Starbucks.” The buffet adds the feel of a hospital cafeteria, the people dining look close to death or knowingly waiting to die. New Jerseyan D.F. Jester leads us past the local seafood place ��that looks like the midnight buffet on a cruise ship has been transported 50 miles inland and plunked inside the dining area of a 1980s Ramada outside of Newark.” Descriptions of the food are about what I would expect of a KFC buffet. Laura Camerer remembers the food in her college town in Morehead, Kentucky, as “all fried solid as rocks sitting under heat lamps, kind of gray and gristly.” Jester adds, “for all intents and purposes, this is a KFC. It looks like one, but sadder, more clinical. The buffet adds the feel of a hospital cafeteria, the people dining look close to death or knowingly waiting to die.” Then Jessie Lovett Allen messages me. “There is [a] KFC in my hometown, and it is magical without a hint of sketch.” I must know more. First, she takes me down the winding path: “the closest larger city is Kearney, which is 100 miles away and only has 35K people, and Kearney is where you’ll find the closest Target, Panera, or Taco Bell. But to the North, South, or West, you have to drive hundreds of miles before you find a larger city. I tell you all of this because the extreme isolation is what gives our restaurants, even fast-food ones, an outsized psychological importance to daily life.” The KFC Jessie mentions is in North Platte, Nebraska, and has nearly five stars on Yelp, an accomplishment worthy of a monument for any fast-food restaurant. On the non-corporate Facebook page for KFC North Platte, one of the hundreds of followers of the page comments, “BEST KFC IN THE COUNTRY.” Allen describes the place as though she is recounting a corner of heaven. “They have fried apple pies that seem to come through a wormhole from a 1987 McDonalds. Pudding: Hot. Good. Layered cold pudding desserts. This one rotates. It might be chocolate, banana, cookies and cream. It has a graham cracker base, pudding, and whipped topping. Standard Cold Salad bar: Lettuce, salad veggies, macaroni salads, JELL-O salads. Other meats: chicken fried steak patties. Fried chicken gizzards. White Gravy, Chicken Noodle Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, Cornbread, Corn on the Cob, Chicken Pot Pie Casserole. AND most all the standard stuff on the normal KFC menu, which is nice because you can pick out a variety of chicken types or just have a few tablespoons of a side dish.” In the end, the all-you-can-eat dream didn’t last, if it ever even existed. Then she adds that the buffet “is also available TO GO, but there are rules. You get a large Styrofoam clamshell, a small Styrofoam clamshell, and a cup. You have to be able to close the Styrofoam. You are instructed that only beverages can go in cups, and when I asked about this, an employee tells me that customers have tried to shove chicken into the drink cups in the past.” In the end, the all-you-can-eat dream didn’t last, if it ever even existed. The chains folded. The senior citizens keeping Ponderosa in business have died. My own parents reversed course after their buffet bender, trading in sundae stations for cans of SlimFast. Fast-food buffets retreated into an ethereal space. McDonald’s grew up with adult sandwiches like the Arch Deluxe. Wendy’s went on a wild rebound with the Baconator. Pizza Hut ripped out its jukeboxes, changed its logo, went off to the fast-food wars, and ain’t been the same since. Taco Bell is undergoing some kind of midlife crisis, hemorrhaging its entire menu of potatoes, among other beloved items. At least the KFC in North Platte has done good, though the novel coronavirus could change things. In the age of COVID-19, the fast-food buffet feels like more of a dream than ever. How positively whimsical it would be to stand shoulder to shoulder, hovering over sneeze guards, sharing soup ladles to scoop an odd assortment of pudding, three grapes, a heap of rotini pasta, and a drumstick onto a plate. Maybe we can reach this place again. But to find it, we must follow the landmarks, searching our memory as the map. MM Carrigan is a Baltimore-area writer and weirdo who enjoys staring directly into the sun. Their work has appeared in Lit Hub, The Rumpus, and PopMatters. They are the editor of Taco Bell Quarterly. Tweets @thesurfingpizza. from Eater - All https://ift.tt/33e4Z8k

http://easyfoodnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/09/fast-food-buffets-are-thing-of-past.html

#EasyFoodNetwork #ComfortFoodRecipes #EasyRecipes #GoodFood #BestComfortFoodRecipes #TastyFoodv

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ethicsustinvest · 6 years ago

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PODCAST: Climate Change Investing, S&P ESG Product, Disruptive Wind Power Tech.

GMO, the investment firm, has ideas for climate proofing investment portfolios. Municipal bonds might have considerable climate risks. S&P’s ESG product raises conflict of interest issues as in financial crises of 2008-9. YUM! Brands takes an environmental leadership role in the food industry and radical new wind power technology could disrupt the wind energy industry.

Transcript & Links April 26, 2019

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! Presented by Investing for the Soul, April 26, 2019.

Now again, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them!

Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and sometimes bonus material at my podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts

News

So, here are some key items of news for the period April 12 to 26, 2019.

The first item is titled, 3 Ways to Make Your Portfolio More Climate-Aware, by Jon Hale at Morningstar.

I really respect Jon. He’s doing an incredible job at Morningstar in orienting that famous investment research firm towards ESG. In his latest post he highlights the work of GMO—no that’s not genetically modified organisms—but a top-notch investment house. For decades I've heard—and you too I'm sure—that if you narrow your investment universe you will get lower returns. Well, consider this from Jon’s post, quote,

"Grantham and his colleagues at GMO looked at what happens when you remove a single sector from an S&P 500-based portfolio. They created S&P 500 portfolios ex energy, ex healthcare, and ex the other eight sectors in the index, going back to 1989, 1957, and 1925.

They found that the range of returns for the ex portfolios was only 50-60 basis points annualized, distributed above and below the S&P 500's return. In the case of the ex energy portfolio, it underperformed the S&P 500 by just 5 basis points annualized from 1925 to 2017, underperformed by 7 basis points annualized from 1957 to 2017, and outperformed by 3 basis points annualized from 1989 to 2017.

Grantham's conclusion: 'You can divest from oil--or about anything else--without much consequence for performance.'" Close quote.

So, according to GMO, divest from fossil fuels and not worry about lower returns! Nonetheless, I would be happier if this research was written-up and published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal and critiqued. Incidentally, Grantham says that the fossil fuel sector is way overpriced considering its risks.

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Now, do you invest in, or are considering investing in, municipal or local authority bonds? Have you thought about climate change risk concerning municipal bond investments? Well, you should! Bernice Napach writing in ThinkAdvisor under the title, How to Reduce Investment Risk From Climate Change and Other ESG Woes, writes, and I quote her, that, "If no counter action is taken, such as reducing fossil fuel use, close to 60% of U.S. metro areas will lose 1% of more of gross domestic product, which will not be offset by comparable growth in other metro areas." Close quote.

Think about all the risks—and costs—municipalities might face regarding fires, flooding events, excessive winds, etc. So, before investing in municipal bonds, be satisfied concerning their climate change risks and plans. By the way, this article has a great map of the US showing those areas likely to be affected by Category 4 and 5 hurricanes between 2060 and 2080. It’s quite alarming.

Also, be sure to understand municipalities long-term pension and other liability risks. Many analysts believe these alone could sink many American cities in the decades ahead. Hence, even with the tax advantages in some jurisdictions, tread carefully in municipal bond waters!

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If you want a good understanding as to the state of ESG data and information for investors, read the post, What investors actually want from sustainability data, by Ariel C. Pinchot and Giulia Christianson on Greenbiz.com. Needless to say, it’s still a work in progress. If you’ve ever tried to analyze ESG info across companies—even in the same industry—it’s usually impossible as they often use different metrics. Furthermore, unless the data is independently audited and verified, it can’t be relied upon. The article describes in detail how these issues might be soon overcome.

Incidentally, you should subscribe to Greenbiz.com. It’s a great source of information for ethical and sustainable investors.

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Many ethical and sustainable investors shy away from the fast food industry because of the poor health and negative environmental issues they help create. Well, here’s some good news in a post, titled, Yum! Brands shows leadership among fast food peers, takes encouraging first step to mitigate its climate change impacts.

Quoting the post, “The parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut committed to pursue a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, franchises and supply chain (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions), and to explore purchasing renewable energy.”

Sometimes it pays well to invest in companies that are just beginning to make strides on ESG issues. Studies show that such companies often offer better alpha, that is, upside stock price potential, than established ESG winners.

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One new interesting ESG barometer on the horizon is a new ratings’ service by S&P called S&P Evaluation. S&P will rate—at the request of the companies themselves—the ESG credentials pertaining to the company’s ability to operate successfully in the future. You can read about in the post, Official ESG Evaluations from S&P Coming to Insurance Sector in Near Future, by Don Jergler, Insurance Journal. Quoting the post,

"'The ratings giant on April 11 announced the roll out of its ESG Evaluation, describing it as 'a new benchmark that provides a cross-sector, relative analysis of an entity's capacity to operate successfully in the future.'" Close quote.

Well, S&P's new ESG Evaluation product sounds great. However, I see some big snags with it. First, companies request to be rated—unlike the rating groups such as Sustainalytics and MSCI, etc., who rate companies regardless of what the companies themselves might want. Secondly, though not mentioned, S&P’s standard credit ratings require companies themselves to pay to be rated. Is this yet another conflict of interest like the one that got these credit rating agencies in hot water back in 2008/9? Can you trust such ratings then? Thirdly, will the details of the ratings be public or just a rating’s number? That’s important as its the details that many ethical and sustainable investors will want to see.

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Now we have another survey of financial professionals showing that it’s the ‘g’ for ‘governance’ in ESG that’s really important to them. However, for many of you listening to this podcast, I’m sure that you might think the environment and or social criteria are at least equally important. I think this just illustrates the state of ESG currently. There’s still much dispute about the quantity, quality, and standardization of the E and S information for it to be in the forefront for many investment professionals.

The survey was reported on Nasdaq by Kurt Schact with the title, ESG in Investment Management: New Age or Just Noise? The depth of the survey is extraordinary as 1,100 financial professionals and 23 workshops in 17 investment centers around the world took part, says the article.

The survey was conducted by the CFA Institute and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). This confirms other surveys that have tried to determine the relative importance of each of the three variables that make-up ESG.

What this might mean for you is that when doing your own ESG research on companies—and looking for maximum gains—you might want to weigh governance more highly than environmental and social factors. At least for now.

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Incidentally, if you’re invested in wind turbine companies, beware, as there’s a possible new disruptive competitor with a radically new kind of wind turbine that could be twice as efficient as present ones. This new development in wind turbine efficiency—if Vestas and others are unable to replicate it due to patents, etc.—could mean dramatic shifts in the industry ahead! See the post, Wind Power For Half The Price? Clarkson Professor Says Yes.

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So, there we have it for this podcast!

Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look for this edition.

And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else investment related.

A big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family.

Come again! Bye for now!

Check out this episode!

#business #finance #ethical investing #sustainable investing #ESG #SRI #green bonds #socially responsible investing

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