#so many streamers have left bc the pressure was so much

[chapinii]

Bagi made some excellent points about the nature of lore and character expectations on the qsmp today, and I have some thoughts:

You can tell that straight-to-streaming shows have rotted ppls brains when it comes to media literacy, people don't give themselves time to think about what's going on in regards to lore and just jump to immediately wanting to know all of the answers. The characters don't work like that! People don't work like that, there are so many factors on the qsmp that require a lot of thorough investigating whenever something happens, and it's especially valuable to remember that canonically, a lot of the members have been here a lot less than others, they don't know everything about every character, every event that has shaped dynamics on the server. Metagaming is the most annoying thing for a chat to do; you may think you're helping speed things along, but it just ruins so much, particularly in roleplay where genuine reactions are SO key to shaping where a story goes.

Theories are so fun to have whilst we wait for an arc to play out, because there's so much fun in not knowing, and finding things out along with the character you choose to watch, even if you know certain aspects from other qsmp streamers. However, a character, or worse, the person playing them shouldn't be berated for simply not knowing everything. It is a privilege that our qsmp cc's are so dedicated to doing lore for us, it's not something they're obligated to do at all, and some people take it far too much for granted.

(it's also a given to not expect lore all the time!! the dynamics of the cc's on the server have become so strong bc of the meetups, etc, you are not entitled to receive lore all the time, just let your cc's be silly sometimes!)

[jefferythejelly]

🍃tag nine people to get to know better🌽

thank you for the tag(s) @wolfboypunzo @negativepeanuthoarder @pronounrespector :D

🌊three ships: koolish, dnn, and q!foolhalo are the three taking up the most brain space rn i think

⚓️first ever ship: this one is hard bc a) my memory is shit and b) the Very First ships i can think of are less like. i was actively shipping it and more i saw one moment in a cartoon between 2 characters as a kid and thought "oh that could be cute" so idk if they really count yknow. also i feel cringe saying any of them. so i'm gonna go the safe route and say my first rpf ship which was phan lmao

👀currently watching: i assume this one is supposed to be about tv series but i don't really watch many anymore (streamer hyperfixation and various youtube ccs is enough to sustain me) so uh. idk i've been watching rtgame's dave the diver playthrough recently thats been fun

🎬last movie: barbie movie :]

📖currently reading: once again not much of a reader either there is only so much space in the brain. unless fanfiction counts. actually yknow what sure i started reading a dnap multichapter fic a couple days ago where sapnap has a secret kid it's pretty cute so far (have only read chapter 1 tho)

🥦currently consuming: nothing. unless water counts i guess idk thats more just. there is a bottle of water on my desk. here i'll take a sip. ok actually its an empty gatorade bottle i refilled so its more like. water with the vaguest hint of gatorade flavor. its kinda mid tho

🥞currently craving: not much idk its 1 am im not really hungry rn

tags (no pressure to do it tho!): also i got to this way late sorry if i tag anyone who's already been tagged im trying to check who's already done it but also we all know tumblrs search feature is bad lmao @tinakibed @sapybara @knffuckraw @vadergf @canpandaspvp @lemon-mint813 @liondream @dreamerlynx @sliverstrands (and if anyone else wants to do it go ahead, i'm staying within the 9 person limit from the top but i also don't want anyone to feel left out :] )

[pancakem3atz]

Things I wish I knew before streaming

You will get taken advantage of - I went in blind after seeing someone else stream for the first time. I had no clue, no support, didn't know how to work twitter properly. -I was used for money, support, and to get to my community and then was dragged in lots of discords lol fun times

Find the right people FIRST - I wish I found the right support BEFORE I started. 98% of the ones that got me to affiliate on twitch got me there in 11 days and aren't with me now. Most of them left right after I hit it. - Once I got it so fast SO MANY PEOPLE WERE MAD AF and said I didn't deserve it and left

GROW THAT THICK SKIN!! -People are going to talk shit. They're going to be jealous. They are going to use you. DO NOT FALL FOR THAT SHIT!! -Can't cry every day over the bullshit, but in the beginning, it was really hard bc I was NOT prepped for what it meant to be a female streamer.

You won't have it all, at first -You won't have a complete set up from the jump. It's never REALLY complete -Don't fall victim to the hypes - meaning don't drop the money you don't have into this shit. It's not worth it to cripple yourself over this. Get what you can and allow yourself the room to grow knowing you're not any less of a streamer bc you don't have pretty lighting

Know your limits/take your breaks -Streaming is exhausting. So is social media. TAKE THOSE FUCKING BREAKS -I learned quickly what streamer burn out is like and wouldn't wish it on anyone. -The right community will still be there when you come back from how ever long your streaming/social media break is. The ones who leave shouldn't have been there anyways. Taking an extended break will prove who belongs. -If you hit the button and quickly realize you shouldn't have, that's ok. You can stop when you need to. Don't even have to address chat. Sometimes we don't realize we didn't really have it in us to stream until we try and go "oh shit, I don't think this was a good idea." You're not the only one it happens to

Find your support system -you have to have people to talk to that understand the game. Things are going to happen and you are going to need someone or some people to help you through the streamer drama moments. No one understands better than another streamer who has had something similar happen. DON'T VENT TO JUST ANYONE!! If they feel like a snake, they are.

CHOOSE THOSE MODS CAREFULLY!!! -Again, not everyone has your best interest at heart. People are going to find any way to sabotage. -Your mods have some serious access to your streams. Make sure you trust these people. They can change your stream info/block and ban people/and can tarnish your good name. -I have had mods who came in just to block and ban people they didn't like then block me. IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A SNAKE, THEY ARE!!!!

Don't ever be scared to ask for help, on any level, from anyone you trust. Including me. -You're going to need help in every aspect. Tech support, mental health issues, everything. -Streaming has brought me some the most amazing people, but also some of the biggest pieces of shit. Don't let the bad ones keep the good ones away -Please don't be scared. I will always try to help. If I don't have the answer, I will find someone who does.

Don't follow all the fads -I mean, come on, common sense lol not everything "cool" is for everyone and just bc everyone else is doing it hahahaha doesn't mean it's for you

HAVE FUN, MOTHERFUCKER!! -WE ARE ENTERTAINERS!!! have a good time with it and make sure you are enjoying what you are streaming. -Don't give into the gaming pressures of this. Play what you want; stream the things you want (that are within TOS;) just do the things that make YOU happy. Your stream will be much more successful and less stressful.

BONUS!! If you have a significant other, better make sure they know what comes with streaming, esp if they don't stream or game like you do. If they are also a streamer lol trust is a huge thing and don't let the internet come between yall. If it does, prob wasn't meant to work out haha

[naturecpw]

Why Birds Survived, and Dinosaurs Went Extinct, After an Asteroid Hit Earth

Paleontologists think that beaks may have given birds an advantage over other creatures

A great spotted woodpecker eats a hazelnut. Bird beaks may have allowed the animals to eat seeds and nuts after an asteroid hit the earth, wiping out many forms of life. By Riley Black smithsonianmag.com September 15, 2020 Birds are the only dinosaurs left. That might seem strange. A pigeon or a penguin doesn’t look much like a Tyrannosaurus. But the connection is still there, all the way down to the bone. About 150 million years ago, in the Jurassic, the first birds evolved from small, feathery, raptor-like dinosaurs, becoming another branch on the dinosaur family tree. For more than 80 million years, birds of all sorts flourished, from loon-like swimmers with teeth to beaked birds that carried streamer-like feathers as they flew.

With hindsight, birds can be categorized as avian dinosaurs and all the other sorts—from Stegosaurus to Brontosaurus—are non-avian dinosaurs. The entire reason paleontologists make that split is because of a catastrophe that struck 66 million years ago. An asteroid more than 6 miles across struck what’s now the Yucatan Peninsula, triggering the fifth mass extinction in the world’s history. Some of the debris thrown into the atmosphere returned to Earth, the friction turning the air into an oven and sparking forest fires as it landed all over the world. Then the intensity of the heat pulse gave way to a prolonged impact winter, the sky blotted out by soot and ash as temperatures fell. All told, more than 75 percent of species known from the end of the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago, didn’t make it to the following Paleogene period. The geologic break between the two is called the K-Pg boundary, and beaked birds were the only dinosaurs to survive the disaster.

“There has been a lot of discussion about what enabled modern-type birds to survive the K-Pg extinction while other birds groups, non-avian dinosaurs, and even pterosaurs perished,” says Royal BC Museum paleontologist Derek Larson. The end of the Cretaceous boasted an entire array of birds and bird-like reptiles. But of these groups, it was only the beaked birds that survived. The happenstances of evolution had given birds a lucky break, the key events set in motion long before the asteroid struck.

All living birds have toothless beaks, but this wasn’t always so. The very first bird, the 150 million-year-old Archaeopteryx, initially confounded 19th century naturalists because it had teeth. For tens of millions of years after Archaeopteryx, toothed birds continued to thrive and evolve alongside their dinosaurian relatives. And some of these toothed birds eventually lost their teeth, plucking up their meals with toothless beaks instead.

The question is what evolutionary pressures pushed birds to lose teeth when teeth seem so useful. Given that most birds fly, adaptation to the air seemed like a possibility. “Older hypotheses focused on the idea of weight reduction for flight,” says University of Texas at Austin paleontologist Grace Musser, but the discovery that some toothed birds were strong fliers has led researchers back to the drawing board.

Rather than flight, food might have given birds an evolutionary nudge towards toothless beaks as ancient avians thrived among other dinosaurs. Paleontologists have noticed that some dinosaur groups, including birds, evolved beaks and lost teeth as they became more herbivorous. While the earliest birds had teeth to nab insects and other small morsels, some bird lineages started to specialize on fruit, seeds, and other plant foods. Instead of teeth to catch, the birds evolved beaks to pluck and pick.

Among the birds that began to lose teeth in favor of beaks, the way beaks form during development may have helped the evolutionary shift. “Changes to the skull and face as the beak became more complex may have moved developing tissues around, changing how they interact in the embryo, and resulted in the loss of tooth formation,” says King’s College London anatomist Abigail Tucker.

“All the things that make birds, birds, were already in place well before the mass extinction,” says University College London anatomist Ryan Felice.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-birds-survived-and-dinosaurs-went-extinct-after-asteroid-hit-earth-180975801/

[wayneooverton]

What if the Dive Boat Leaves You Behind?

It’s every diver’s worst nightmare. You surface from the dive and don’t know where you are, and worse — the dive boat is nowhere in sight. Although this situation is quite rare, it’s not unheard of. How can you avoid this situation? And if the dive boat leaves you behind, what should you do?

Dive charters and liveaboard vessels usually have a series of checks in place to make sure they don’t miss anyone. Professional dive vessels also have procedures in place for dropping off and picking up divers. Dive-trip leaders set up dive rosters and take roll calls. They will inform the captain that the vessel can leave the site only when they have confirmed all divers back onboard.

However, sometimes (usually due to diver error) you may surface without the boat in sight. That may be due to poor navigation or adverse conditions such as strong currents. Alternatively, you may have to unexpectedly abort the dive due to a problem such as malfunctioning equipment, equalization issues or buoyancy problems.

The best way to avoid a situation where the dive boat leaves you behind is for it not to happen in the first place. Here are a few tips to ensure your rendezvous with the boat.

Plan the dive; dive the plan

It’s an old adage, but worth repeating. The best way to avoid being left behind is to plan the dive and dive the plan. Make sure that you and your dive buddies attend the dive briefing. Whether you have a guide or not, it’s your responsibility as a qualified diver to find out the key aspects of the dive and adhere to them. During the briefing, the instructor will share valuable information with you. Pay attention. Note any pertinent details on your dive slate and ask questions if you’re unsure.

* Pay attention to compass bearings and directions. Is the reef or wreck to the north, south, east or west? Which direction takes you back to your exit point?

* Note depths at various parts of the dive site. The topography of the site will give you navigational clues and help you find your way around.

* Note any significant landmarks described in the briefing. Pinnacles, outcrops, drop-offs, walls and rock formations all help you navigate to the correct exit point or find your way back to the boat. If you’re diving on an iron or steel wreck your compass will be ineffective, so note down the wreck layout, significant features and the location of the shot line.

* Be aware of any areas the local guide or instructor advises may have strong currents that could push you away from the dive site. If the guide tells you not to go around the corner of the reef wall, don’t. It’s probably because the conditions become more challenging or there are hazards there.

* Heed the expected run time for the dive. If the captain and crew instruct you to surface after a maximum of 60 minutes, do so.

* Some captains use a specific signal for pickup from their vessel, e.g. raising the SMB in a certain position. Find out what it is so you can signal your crew if the area is busy with several dive boats.

* Finally — and most importantly — note how and where you will be entering and exiting the water. Is the crew expecting you to navigate back to a boat moored on a line? Or is it a drift dive, where the main vessel will move to a specific area to pick up divers? Be sure you know before leaving the briefing.

Take the right gear

Make sure you take the right equipment for the dive. No matter how well a dive is planned, separations may occur. Bringing the correct equipment can make the difference between a very bad day and an interesting story for your friends. DSMBs, SMBs, horns, whistles, lifelines, mirrors, rescue streamers, strobes and lights can all help turn a potentially dangerous situation into a minor inconvenience. But what to take?

DSMB/SMB

Delayed Surface Marker Buoys or Surface Marker Buoys (DSMBs/SMBs), also called ‘safety sausages,’ should be standard gear for every diver on every dive. Particularly, do not dive without them where there may be tides, currents or danger of separation from the group. Entry-level open-water courses from both PADI and SSI now include SMB use within their training syllabus. Easy to carry in your BC pocket, SMBs simply unravel. Inflate them via your regulator or orally to create a brightly colored tube that helps your vessel spot you upon pickup.

Not all SMBs are the same. Some are small and designed for easy storage and use in tropical conditions. Extremely large SMBs are better for conditions where you may be disappearing in and out of view in surge.Some SMBs feature strobes for even more visibility. If you are at the surface in fading light, point your torch inside the SMB to light it up.DSMBs, combined with a reel, are an even better safety device. You can deploy these from depth with the correct training. This allows you to signal your position to boat traffic before you complete your ascent and safety stop. Again, not all DSMBs and reels are created equally. Check with your local dive center for equipment recommendations and training on how to deploy them safely.

Mirrors

You can use signal mirrors on the surface to reflect light and catch the eye of passing boat or air traffic in an emergency. You can purchase a dedicated signal mirror. But if you’re on a tight budget, put an old CD in your BC pocket and use it as a makeshift alternative.

Lights

To avoid separation on night dives or in challenging visibility, clip a strobe to your equipment. This small, flashing light will also help your boat find you at the surface if you become separated as the sun is setting. Torches, also, are not just for night dives. Many divers also carry a torch in daylight; not just for shining into crevices, but also for signaling the boat if the light is beginning to disappear.

Noise

None of the visual devices listed above will be useful if the captain and dive crew are looking in the other direction. Most modern BCs come with a whistle. If yours didn’t, attach one. The sound of a whistle carries through the air much more effectively than human vocal cords. Attach it to your equipment somewhere where you can easily reach it.Squawkers or air horns can also boost your volume in an emergency. Usually fitted to your BC’s low-pressure inflator hose, you can sometimes use these above and below the surface. Certainly loud and effective, their drawback is that they function using the gas from your tank – so if you’re empty, you’re out of luck.

Modern technology

For those with the money and inclination, high-technology solutions such as the Nautilus Lifeline can offer a bit of a security blanket. While not inexpensive, this GPS tracker plots your exact position within 4 feet (1.5 m) in a 30-mile (50 km) radius. Simply press the distress button in an emergency and the dive boat will be able to find you. The Nautilus is becoming more prevalent in areas with strong currents and challenging seas, such as the Galapagos, where the units are often included as part of the liveaboard diving package.

Stay buoyant and protect your airway

If the worst happens and the boat may not find you for a while or the sea conditions become tougher, don’t be afraid to ditch your weight belt or weight system to stay comfortable at the surface. Protect your vision and airway if the conditions are tough. Keep your mask on at the surface in challenging seas. It’s difficult to signal a vessel if you can’t see. A snorkel that you’ve stowed in your BC or wetsuit pocket can protect your airway as you face waves to signal for assistance.

None of these solutions are 100-percent failsafe. But having a few options at your disposal — with your dive buddies doing likewise — certainly increases your chances of being spotted if your dive boat leaves you behind.

The post What if the Dive Boat Leaves You Behind? appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2sQG326

[mrbobgove]

What if the Dive Boat Leaves You Behind?

It’s every diver’s worst nightmare. You surface from the dive and don’t know where you are, and worse — the dive boat is nowhere in sight. Although this situation is quite rare, it’s not unheard of. How can you avoid this situation? And if the dive boat leaves you behind, what should you do?

Dive charters and liveaboard vessels usually have a series of checks in place to make sure they don’t miss anyone. Professional dive vessels also have procedures in place for dropping off and picking up divers. Dive-trip leaders set up dive rosters and take roll calls. They will inform the captain that the vessel can leave the site only when they have confirmed all divers back onboard.

However, sometimes (usually due to diver error) you may surface without the boat in sight. That may be due to poor navigation or adverse conditions such as strong currents. Alternatively, you may have to unexpectedly abort the dive due to a problem such as malfunctioning equipment, equalization issues or buoyancy problems.

The best way to avoid a situation where the dive boat leaves you behind is for it not to happen in the first place. Here are a few tips to ensure your rendezvous with the boat.

Plan the dive; dive the plan

It’s an old adage, but worth repeating. The best way to avoid being left behind is to plan the dive and dive the plan. Make sure that you and your dive buddies attend the dive briefing. Whether you have a guide or not, it’s your responsibility as a qualified diver to find out the key aspects of the dive and adhere to them. During the briefing, the instructor will share valuable information with you. Pay attention. Note any pertinent details on your dive slate and ask questions if you’re unsure.

* Pay attention to compass bearings and directions. Is the reef or wreck to the north, south, east or west? Which direction takes you back to your exit point?

* Note depths at various parts of the dive site. The topography of the site will give you navigational clues and help you find your way around.

* Note any significant landmarks described in the briefing. Pinnacles, outcrops, drop-offs, walls and rock formations all help you navigate to the correct exit point or find your way back to the boat. If you’re diving on an iron or steel wreck your compass will be ineffective, so note down the wreck layout, significant features and the location of the shot line.

* Be aware of any areas the local guide or instructor advises may have strong currents that could push you away from the dive site. If the guide tells you not to go around the corner of the reef wall, don’t. It’s probably because the conditions become more challenging or there are hazards there.

* Heed the expected run time for the dive. If the captain and crew instruct you to surface after a maximum of 60 minutes, do so.

* Some captains use a specific signal for pickup from their vessel, e.g. raising the SMB in a certain position. Find out what it is so you can signal your crew if the area is busy with several dive boats.

* Finally — and most importantly — note how and where you will be entering and exiting the water. Is the crew expecting you to navigate back to a boat moored on a line? Or is it a drift dive, where the main vessel will move to a specific area to pick up divers? Be sure you know before leaving the briefing.

Take the right gear

Make sure you take the right equipment for the dive. No matter how well a dive is planned, separations may occur. Bringing the correct equipment can make the difference between a very bad day and an interesting story for your friends. DSMBs, SMBs, horns, whistles, lifelines, mirrors, rescue streamers, strobes and lights can all help turn a potentially dangerous situation into a minor inconvenience. But what to take?

DSMB/SMB

Delayed Surface Marker Buoys or Surface Marker Buoys (DSMBs/SMBs), also called ‘safety sausages,’ should be standard gear for every diver on every dive. Particularly, do not dive without them where there may be tides, currents or danger of separation from the group. Entry-level open-water courses from both PADI and SSI now include SMB use within their training syllabus. Easy to carry in your BC pocket, SMBs simply unravel. Inflate them via your regulator or orally to create a brightly colored tube that helps your vessel spot you upon pickup.

Not all SMBs are the same. Some are small and designed for easy storage and use in tropical conditions. Extremely large SMBs are better for conditions where you may be disappearing in and out of view in surge.Some SMBs feature strobes for even more visibility. If you are at the surface in fading light, point your torch inside the SMB to light it up.DSMBs, combined with a reel, are an even better safety device. You can deploy these from depth with the correct training. This allows you to signal your position to boat traffic before you complete your ascent and safety stop. Again, not all DSMBs and reels are created equally. Check with your local dive center for equipment recommendations and training on how to deploy them safely.

Mirrors

You can use signal mirrors on the surface to reflect light and catch the eye of passing boat or air traffic in an emergency. You can purchase a dedicated signal mirror. But if you’re on a tight budget, put an old CD in your BC pocket and use it as a makeshift alternative.

Lights

To avoid separation on night dives or in challenging visibility, clip a strobe to your equipment. This small, flashing light will also help your boat find you at the surface if you become separated as the sun is setting. Torches, also, are not just for night dives. Many divers also carry a torch in daylight; not just for shining into crevices, but also for signaling the boat if the light is beginning to disappear.

Noise

None of the visual devices listed above will be useful if the captain and dive crew are looking in the other direction. Most modern BCs come with a whistle. If yours didn’t, attach one. The sound of a whistle carries through the air much more effectively than human vocal cords. Attach it to your equipment somewhere where you can easily reach it.Squawkers or air horns can also boost your volume in an emergency. Usually fitted to your BC’s low-pressure inflator hose, you can sometimes use these above and below the surface. Certainly loud and effective, their drawback is that they function using the gas from your tank – so if you’re empty, you’re out of luck.

Modern technology

For those with the money and inclination, high-technology solutions such as the Nautilus Lifeline can offer a bit of a security blanket. While not inexpensive, this GPS tracker plots your exact position within 4 feet (1.5 m) in a 30-mile (50 km) radius. Simply press the distress button in an emergency and the dive boat will be able to find you. The Nautilus is becoming more prevalent in areas with strong currents and challenging seas, such as the Galapagos, where the units are often included as part of the liveaboard diving package.

Stay buoyant and protect your airway

If the worst happens and the boat may not find you for a while or the sea conditions become tougher, don’t be afraid to ditch your weight belt or weight system to stay comfortable at the surface. Protect your vision and airway if the conditions are tough. Keep your mask on at the surface in challenging seas. It’s difficult to signal a vessel if you can’t see. A snorkel that you’ve stowed in your BC or wetsuit pocket can protect your airway as you face waves to signal for assistance.

None of these solutions are 100-percent failsafe. But having a few options at your disposal — with your dive buddies doing likewise — certainly increases your chances of being spotted if your dive boat leaves you behind.

The post What if the Dive Boat Leaves You Behind? appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2sQG326