#Any tips for bettering my image description super appreciated

[havegaysex]

Screenshot of a text message from one of my partners delivered at 9:11 pm September 10th reading the following

"Happy 9/11 eve" followed by two heart emojis with a big heart and a small heart

#Any tips for bettering my image description super appreciated #9/11 #september 11 #ground zero #twin towers #Never forget #World trade center #2001 #2001 September 11 #september 11 2001 #history #alyssa #Polyamory #Dating #Texts #Image described

[rivermans-ramblings]

How Things Have Changed

Riverman's Journal Aug. 2/23

Well here we go, this is the first blog I have ever done. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this. With so much content in the world today, I truly appreciate your time. All this media these days be it online blogs, social media, streaming, video games or any new one I haven't heard of yet. It is a far cry from when I grew up in the 80's. I grew up in Bonny River NB Canada we had 2 tv channels, 3 if the weather was good. A dial tone phone, cassette players, (I know I have lost all the kids now, as they are asking themselves what the heck those things are.) well here's a hint kids, music. Our cameras that took awhile to get your photos back and you hoped they came out good. There was no Netflix or other streamers but it was a real joy getting to the movie rental store and finding a copy of the movie you wanted still available. A real disappointment if it was gone. However once in awhile you would find a gem you really liked if you decided to have a deep dive through the ones you never heard of before. The biggest difference back then, now prepare yourself kiddies, there was no WIFI!!! Now you are probably thinking what the heck did we do back then. Well, we went outside, ya I know pretty wild to consider that one isn't it? Outside, you only go there to go somewhere or if by accident these days. No we went outside on purpose, to ride our bikes, play street hockey or other sports, play with friends, hang out. Now a days we have everything at our finger tips. We have a phone, camera, photo album, calculator, mini computer, movie player (through streaming services), calendar, alarm clock, games, flash light, email, banking abilities, internet, and so much more. Its funny looking back at a show like Star Trek the original series how they had communicators, hand held devices you spoke to people with. I still think of them sometimes when I have the speaker on during a conversation on my phone. Still haven't got the transporters down yet, or at least that they are telling us about yet. The things we are capable of now though is still quite impressive, for awhile now they have thought controlled arms and legs. Perhaps not to the level in Sci-Fi movies but still quite amazing. We have artificial intelligence(AI), a hot topic of whether or not we should even be messing with such a thing. There is however no going back with it now though as it is available online to write anything you want. Though its data banks are only updated to late 2021. It can however create works of art, or any kind of image you desire based on text description. That still depends on the persons ability to use their own words to get it to create what they want. The seemingly only thing holding that aspect of it back, as some people will be better than others at that, for now. They have highly intelligent AIs out there they are gearing for conversation abilities with humans to the point some people may not even realize that it is not another person they are speaking with. Some of the best AIs can think so fast the whole population of the planet would take some where in the ball park of 200 days + to process what some AIs can in a matter of seconds. That is scary for the ones who don't truly understand the AI. Such as myself who still to this day whenever I hear the world AI or super computer, my first thought is Skynet. For whoever doesn't get that reference then shame on you, lol. There is a lot of good that can come from AI there is no doubt, be it for medical purposes or saving lives in a different matter. We just need to have some kind of contingency plan for any possible bad. We after all are just human and there is always room for human error, or in extreme cases human malice or intent. Now when our grandchildren are the ones running the planet just imagine all those features I listed before on our cell phones that will seem like a dinosaur of technology just like the VHS. Google it kids.

#opinion post #AI opinion #technology #old days

[gogtopia]

image descriptions: what they are and why they’re important

hi! i just wanted to make a post explaining image descriptions to people here because i noticed that there are only about 10 people on mcytblr that write them. this is a repost because i changed my url so the links broke on the old one but i am back again to educate people on why adding descriptions to any visual media that they post (and transcripts on audio/video posts, along the same vein) would make their blog more accessible and make tumblr a better site for others.

what is an image description? an image description is a detailed description of an image/gif/etc that explains in detail what is in the image. i have a few examples on my blog of art descriptions (x x), social media screenshot format descriptions (x), meme descriptions (x), gif descriptions (x), and edit descriptions (x). I don’t personally do video descriptions because I am not very good with picking up detail in a moving format but here is an example of a video with a transcript (though a description typically would describe visuals as well) (x, check out @mcyt-transcribed).

why are they important? descriptions allow people who are blind or have low vision to access posts that they might otherwise not be able to. screen readers can read out the descriptions to them so that they can appreciate the post. these descriptions can also be helpful for other groups, like neurodivergent people that may have difficulty reading facial expressions or people without reliable internet to load images. there are also other people that might not fall into these categories that need/appreciate image descriptions. image descriptions are better than alt text on a website like tumblr that has no character limit because not everyone who needs descriptions uses a screen reader and it also normalizes the descriptions!

who should write image descriptions? anybody who is able, especially when you’re the one that is posting an image! typically, artists can describe their work far better than anyone else can because they know the intent behind their work and the details that are important. it is super helpful for people to describe images that they don’t post as well because it makes the internet in general a more accessible place (and personally I really enjoy describing art even if it takes some time because it gives me a much greater appreciation for the piece!) the absolute bare minimum that you can do is check the notes of an image to see if it’s already been described and then reblog the version with the description

how do I write them? my personal advice and what i did when i was first starting to write them last summer is quite literally to read other people’s descriptions of other image and try to emulate what they’re doing. here is a great resource that gives some more detailed tips! there are a few rules that are important to follow though:

make sure to signify when an ID begins and ends

write the ID directly after each image in a post if possible especially if there are blocks of other text in between

don’t put IDs under read mores because that’s an extra step that people need to do to get accessible content

do not put IDs in small text because some low vision people do not use screen readers but cannot read that text size.

I really hope this resource helps people understand the importance of image descriptions and encourages some people to begin writing them. here is another great resource if you want to know more. also feel free to ask me any questions that you have!

#mcyt #dsmp #dream smp #accessibility

[salmonid-ink]

Let’s talk about Salmonid intelligence!

There seems to be a wide misconception that Salmonids aren’t intelligent, or at the very least, aren’t as smart as Octolings or Inklings. This idea couldn’t be farther from the truth! And because I’m the Resident Salmonid Fanatic™ it’s my job to talk about this. 

In hopes to make people consider and think of Salmonids in a better light, and NOT as pets, I’m going to do my best to pull evidence from in-game, as well as interviews, that imply or outright confirm that Salmonids are sapient, much like our beloved Octolings and Inklings. 

To start, I’d like to touch on their interactions with other creatures, namely their trade deal with the Octarians. It’s hard to argue for Salmonids not being intelligent when you consider the confirmed fact that they actively trade with other creatures to benefit the both of them.

They exchange their useful Power Eggs (and perhaps vegetables and fruits) to the Octarians for mechanical blueprints, weapons, and machine parts (and potentially tentacle cuts for food). We can wager this trade deal has been going on for a long time, as the Salmonids are fitted to the gills with machinery, and you can make the argument that the Octomaw was inspired by Maws!

While the Salmonids could easily take these blueprints and make the machines exactly as the Octarians planned them, these fish take it one step beyond and put their own twist on things! With their intellect, they’ve customized traditional weapons to suit them better, and the examples can be seen in just about every boss you encounter. 

Ink Storm + Brella -> Drizzler

Sting Ray -> Stinger

Ink Jet + Tenta Missiles -> Flyfish

Splash Wall -> Steel Eel

Baller/Splashdown   -> Steelhead

Shielded Octotrooper + Roller  -> Scrapper

Octocopter -> Chinook

Flooder -> Griller

Octo Seeker -> Mothership

Additionally, they are INSANELY resourceful, able to use any scrap of metal or machinery to make their contraptions, and make them decently reliable. Not to mention the fact that Scrappers are able to repair their cars! On the fly! All while under fire! That takes dedication AND smarts!!

Not to mention the fact that Smallfry, who could very well be babies (and I will argue that they are, as there is no benefit to stunting the growth of ANY creature), are able to pilot Flyfish. They were raised just right in the best environment, and now they’re super smart!

Also, Salmonids are crazy creative, with how they’ve incorporated their cookware into their weaponry. They take their aesthetic to the next level, man.

Next, lest talk about their homes!

It’s vastly clear that they have their own society. At the very least, we can take a glimpse of it with their houses. The Lost Outpost (known as the Colony at Sea in Japan) is a great example of this!

While these houses look like they were cobbled together with recycled parts, which falls in line with Salmonid resourcefulness, they are clearly stable living spaces that were built by he Salmonids themselves with ocean living and fishing in mind. 

Additionally, towards the back of the stage, we can see another house with a city on the horizon. While this is purely speculation, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to believe that this city is Salmonid-owned. The areas you go to are claimed to be restricted ocean zones, and given that you’re so far out that you need a house-sized radio dish just to communicate, it’s hard to believe that the city would be owned by anyone else. 

I think these city-based homes would be owned by Salmonids that work with machinery, such as repairmen and mechanics. This could also include artisans! Farmers would obviously live in more rural areas, where they can plant and grow their crops. 

We can also glean a similar idea from the Spawning Grounds (called the Salmonid Dam in many other languages): 

I will argue until the day I die that the dam found in the Spawning Grounds, as well as the adjacent city, belongs to the Salmonids, as evidence by its proximity to the stage, the green water pouring from the dam, and the very clear Salmonid mark on it.

Whether this city was built by them, or it’s one they took ahold of and built upon during one of their past migrations is yet to be determined, seeing my speculations are even true. Either way, it’s clear that the Salmonids are capable of building structures and homes with ease!

If we talk about their homes, even if this is much more on the speculative end, we’ve also GOT to talk about the factory we can see at Marooner’s Bay:

Again, given the proximity to Salmonid territory, as well as the various Salmonid-themed items around the stage, we can speculate that these factories are Salmonid owned, and perhaps where they work on many of their machines and devices.

Things such as Scrapper Cars, Steel Eels, Flyfish jets, Grillers, and Motherships could be constructed here, or this place could be used for processing water or chemicals! It’s a rather vague factory, so again, this is all theoretical. I haven’t a clue what they do here. 

Next let’s talk about their art. The existence of art alone should be enough of an indicator that they have minds to think and feel with! Especially when their designs are as intricate as these:

The most of these can be seen around the Lost Outpost and Spawning Grounds, but every single stage has a few of these markings floating around. I don’t currently have many in-stage caps on hand, but if you take the time to look around, you’ll find a few on the ground and walls!

While a lot of these are very clearly graffiti markings, the intricate designs may have some meaning. While we haven’t a clue what exactly they mean, or what they represent, I think they’re extremely fascinating, and give us a peek into what culture Salmonids have. 

They’re likely made with stencils, but all the same, they were designed carefully, and must hold SOME significance.

I have a theory that these designs are primarily to mark specific territories. Perhaps certain marks mean different schools and families! Or some of them could be warnings, such as to indicate Grizz activity (such as with the bear icon, which appears in a few stages). 

I believe in part, these are a form of expression, ESPECIALLY if they indicate schools. There are so many unique fish-shaped designs, it’d be cool to see how these correlate to individual groups!

They could also be a visual indicator for Inklings and Cephalopods that, yes, this is Salmonid territory, so you’d best stay away! Because while it’d be easy for a Salmonid to tell what area belongs to who by smell alone, Inklings certainly don’t have that luxury!

At any rate, I’d love to see what personal art looks like for Salmonids. What kind of crafts do they make? What sort of things do they love to paint? We don’t really know, and we can only speculate...

One thing we know for certain is that Salmonids appreciate music. It even seems as though they’re inspired by it, given the descriptions that the Salmon Run songs have.

I feel like this is worth stating, even if their existence is fairly common knowledge: ω-3. A band. That plays complex instruments. And does all their own mixing. 

Pretty freakin’ smart, I must say!

Additionally, each of the members have VASTLY different styles. The Cellist is stern and stubborn, and won’t accept anything but the best, be it in passion or in radical works. The timpanist is soulful, passionate, and is straight to the point. The DJ is reckless and disrespectful, yet puts forth his best effort.

All three of them are so unalike to one another in style and personality. They may not even get along that well, but at the end of the day, they value working together SO MUCH that they make amazing, unique, and great-sounding songs that stir and inspire their people. 

It’d be amazing to see what other types of music that Salmonids like, because this can’t be the only kind. However the style of  ω-3 certainly goes hand-in-hand with the chaotic, resourceful, and determined nature of the Salmonids. 

We should also touch up on the fact that Salmonids are stated to have tradition. Aside from their 70-year migration, they’re also stated to pass cookware from generation to generation in Sunken Scroll #19.

"Salmonids are known to keep their weapons in tip-top shape. The frying pans they wield have often been passed down from generation to generation. You can see the unwavering pride of these fierce warriors in their (somewhat crazed) eyes."

I like to think that they also pass things like recipes and other tools down to their offspring and kin. Family and schools on the whole appear to be very important to them, which ties directly into their drive to work together as a unit, rather than separately as a makeshift team.

For some conventional evidence, look at this one bit from the Merry Fishmas piece, posted by official Splatoon sources: 

I LOVE this image, and there are so many tiny details that you can make out in this. Such as these two:

THEY ARE PLAYING CARDS, and this ain’t no dogs playing poker bit, either! It looks like the other one is losing really bad... Or going into a food coma. One way or another, the other Salmonid is trying to check up on them, haha. Or maybe they’re trying to sneak a peek at the other’s cards? Who knows! That sly grin tells a story.

Also, there’s this Goldie, who is fishing:

These are all pretty human-like characteristics, which makes me think, all the more, that they’re on par with Inklings intelligence wise. I REALLY want to see more interactions like this someday, it fills my heart with delight and joy.

Phew.. Well, thank you so much for sticking with me through this whole thing. I hope this helps people get more perspective on Salmonids, and what little we know about their community and culture. 

#Salmonid #Salmon Run #Splatoon #Splatoon 2 #Other Headcanons #mod stinky

[quinintheclouds]

Hey, I just read your post on ADHD/EFDD and was just wondering if you have read any research articles on this and if you have, could you tell me which ones because it all sounds super interesting and I need to choose a topic for my psych lit review and I’m thinking about doing something to do with all the stigma around and misconceptions about different mental health disorders.. it’s totally okay if not tho, I know it’s a big ask, but thanks anyway

That sounds like such a great topic!!! I would be HONORED to help :D 

The first person I think of when discussing the term EFDD is Dr. Russell Barkley. He’s one of the leading ADHD experts, and has been a spearhead for studying executive dysfunction in people with ADHD for decades. Very much ahead of his time compared to the DSM. I’ve had his book “Taking Charge of Adult ADHD” recommended to me so many times, but have yet to read it.

Here’s some free stuff, though! 

[reblogs appreciated because Tumblr hates posts with links and I wanna make sure this anon sees it!]

I tried to include some short stuff and longer stuff, some articles, images, videos, and comic recs, so you can choose based on your current energy and focus level :) I’ve also bolded links and key points of each source if you like skimming. Let’s go!

...................................

Here’s an interesting article/study on EFDD! They found that “ADHD [is] associated with deficits in inhibition, managing one’s attention, self-directed speech and rule-following, self-motivation, and even self-awareness [...] ADHD therefore involves deficits in self-restraint, [...] selfsensing and imagery, self-control of emotion, and self-directed play for problem-solving.”

Thank you for motivating me to look up some articles, because I learned some new things, too! For instance, they assert that ADHD could also be called SRDD (Self-Regulation Deficit Disorder), but conclude the article by saying either SRDD or EFDD fits better than ADHD, and that the terms could be used interchangeably, because SR (self-regulation) and EF (executive function) are effectively talking about the same things. So his assertion is that even if the name ADHD never changes, it can still be scientifically classified as either of the other terms. I believe in recent years he’s preferred EFDD more and more.

[note that the above article/study is from 2011, back when we were on the DSM-IV, so a lot of research has been done since then]

...................................

If that article’s a bit wordy or you want something more visual and up-to-date, here’s a really detailed PowerPoint presentation used during the 2018 ADHD Symposium! It’s long but well-organized so you can just read the big headers or you can read all the bullet points explaining it. Keep in mind this was a lecture, so some of it probably made more sense in person. I’m glad I read this, because I realize the terminology I’ve used is slightly off: according to the Symposium, there aren’t “subtypes” of ADHD, but the different names (ADHD-PI, ADHD-PH, and ADHD-C) are really just used to show the prevalence of certain symptoms in that individual. So they’re all terms for ADHD, but “subtype” was poor word choice on my part. 

Oh! I just found a video of him giving a lecture in 2012 using many of the same PowerPoint slides! Here ya go! It’s a bit longer than the other videos I’ve linked below (13min), but it might make the slides easier to interpret :)

...................................

If you want a really short and basic overview, here’s a video explaining 5 main ways executive functions affect the brain and how they work differently in people with ADHD. [I put the video below as well if you wanna stay on tumblr] It’s from 2010, but it holds up. It only covers 5 big ones, so remember (if you can) that executive function affects EVERYTHING and the symptoms will affect everyone differently and at different levels. 

This is just the most basic overview and a good place to start:

...................................

Here’s one where he talks about our Time-Blindness! (below) I was going to pick a couple favorite quotes to give you an idea, but that’d wind up being a transcript of the whole video because HE GETS IT. This is from 2014, but I CANNOT recommend it enough!!! He mentions that ADHD doesn’t have a deficit of attention, but rather a deficit of intention. He describes us as having a near-sighted sense of time, and talks about deadlines, “laziness,” etc.

 ALSO he talks about how our brains DON’T CONNECT our knowledge to our performance (back of brain to front) like everyone else’s, so we have the same level of knowledge and intelligence, but can’t access and use it the way others can. This is why teaching skills and organization/memory/time-management tips isn’t helpful -- we can learn them, but our knowledge and action centers are separated, so actually doing them/sticking with them is just as hard as before. 

If you don’t watch the whole thing, at least skip to 3:29 cause that part’s really funny and relatable (ok the whole thing is relatable):

...................................

And of course, I highly recommend the YouTube channel How to ADHD! I have a couple friends who work on it, and they REALLY know their stuff! (They’re the ones who taught me during a game night that RSD isn’t a real term and it should be called “rejection-sensitivity” as part of the emotional dysregulation umbrella) 

I went looking and found this video (below) has the BEST explanation of it that I’ve seen in such a concise, entertaining way. I hadn’t seen this one before, but it even covers some of the things I mentioned in that post your ask is about! Especially the Internal Restlessness that I mentioned as the true “hyperactivity” we all share; even though some of us also express outward hyperactivity, both presentations come from the same restlessness in our brains.

^^^This has some great examples, visuals, animations, and different ways of explaining and thinking about our symptoms! If you want more about this, the description has a bunch of links to their sources! Jessica and everyone else who works on this channel is great at making the videos watchable for people with ADHD (even if we have to rewind sometimes)

Here's Jessica's official Twitter @HowtoADHD! (I was today years old when I found out that she follows me)

...................................

And if you want something REALLY short and simple, here’s a 2 minute animation comparing living with ADHD to trying to film a movie with a director who keeps falling asleep [below]

....................................

If you like comics:

My favorite ADHD comic artists are: ADHD Alien [@ADHD_Alien on Twitter and @adhd-alien on Tumblr]; Dani Donovan [@danidonovan on Twitter and @danidonovan on Tumblr -- we’re somehow twitter mutuals and she is such a sweetheart. She has some really good infographics, too!!]; ADHD Bri [@AdhdBri on Twitter and @adhdbri on Tumblr]; and dreamadept [@yume_dango on Twitter and @yume-dango on Tumblr]

They’re all well-researched, funny, genuine, intelligent, insightful, talented artists who depict ADHD in a very accurate and relatable way. Go check ‘em out and support them! :D

....................................

I’m gonna stop there for now, but PLEASE feel free to add on to this with other sources, questions, videos, thoughts, comic artists, etc.!!! Hope this helps someone out there!

#adhd #actuallyadhd #efdd #executive function deficit disorder #how to adhd #dr. russell barkley #I hope you see this in time for your essay!!! #tried to give you a variety of sources and places to start #quinpost #quinanswer #oof I'm sure I forgot some adhd comic artists I love but maybe I'll remember later lol #Anonymous

[endoftheworldpaul]

It's still technically Wednesday for me so looks like we got another close call update!

@dbhrarepairs Here's my submission for day 3, wrong blind date.

Both Convin and Elijah/Leo bc I shouldn't brainstorm when I'm tired.

If you would rather read on AO3, you can click here!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20611682 

Again, I apologize, but I'm having serious troubles with getting the read more break in here if anyone has tips I'm willing to listen Google isn't helping.

EDIT: I FIGURED IT OUT. Well, really, I just went on my laptop bc mobile, for all its benefits for my schedule, is super confusing when it wants to be.

Usually, Nines is rather reliable. Always prepared, always punctual, always one step ahead of everyone else. 

Just not this week. Finals week had, as always, was hellish for most students. Even Nines felt some of the end of the year panic. And by some, it was more along the lines of going into an over-studying craze. 

One problem that accompanies what his close friends have dubbed The Dark Ages is that he takes on too many extra projects in a failing attempt to distract himself. 

One such project is promising four very confused and stressed friends to set them up on blind dates. Four friends that, he decided, needed something new to distract from the stresses of life. 

Friend number one—Gavin Reed, a police officer closing in on his second year out of police academy—was the one who unintentionally gave Nines the idea to play matchmaker. 

On a cold Friday evening, their weekly "chill day," Gavin was complaining about his coworkers, as usual. 

"So, there's this new guy, a transfer from Dearborn, who is so fuckin' annoying. Dude spends his entire fucking break, I shit you not, to gush about his wife. Just got married. Who cares? Lotsa people get married, why should it be such a big deal? So I say to him, "Why don't you spend less time rambling on about the missus, and more time solving fucking crimes?" And the asshole has the gall to tell me that I'd change my mind if I could keep someone around for more than a week! What a dick right?" 

While Nines loved spending time with Gavin, he made conversations interesting and he was honest, he got into moods and would, for lack of a better word, be a huge bitch about things he didn't agree with. 

Nines shot a glance towards Gavin, taking in his position sprawled out on Nines' couch, one leg dangling off the edge, fiddling with his phone. "I suppose the only option would be to prove him wrong then. Show that you can 'keep someone around for more than a week' and rub it in his face, good ol' Gavin Reed style." He scowled, "But who would be this mystery date?"

Gavin looked up from his phone, shooting Nines a confused glance. "Well, I 'spose it could be one of those friends of yours. You've got like a million, it can't be that hard to find someone who'll like me. Even if I am kind of a dick!"

Nines hummed in confirmation, mentally creating a list of potential dates for Gavin. He had a lot of pros and cons lists to make. 

Friend number two—Connor Stern, a newer acquaintance of his—was the catalyst for the second half of what would eventually turn into Nines' biggest embarrassment. 

Connor had been more forthright with his date searching. On one of their shopping trips, devised when they found out they both lived at the same apartment complex as well as frequently shopped at the same local grocery store, he had suddenly enquired as to whether or not Nines could find someone he could go on a date with. 

"I suppose, since it's been so long that I've tried dating, that I should consider pursuing romantic relationships. Now that I am about to graduate from the academy, I have more time to do so. So you have anyone in mind whom you think I could form a serious connection with, whether it be more friendly or more romantic?" 

At first, Nines was a little surprised. But he quickly overcame that because a wave of excitement washed over him. Since he began planning a blind date for Gavin three days prior, Nines had closely analyzed the personalities of all of his companions. In doing so, he had gotten closer to narrowing down who Gavin's date would be. To find Connor a potential date, all he would have to do is make minor adjustments to his list of complementary personality traits and hobbies. 

He gave Connor a small smile in confirmation. "I think I can come up with a person or two."

After narrowing down his list of potentials for Connor, he had to ask friends if they would be available in the set few days Connor had confirmed he would be free. 

Option one, a close friend and classmate, North Dufay, stated that she had to take over for a friend who was on vacation at the taekwondo studio she worked at. 

Option two, local street artist Markus Manfred, was also unavailable. His father was accompanying him to an art gallery showing in Paris, where both artists would present new works. 

That left one person. The third friend roped into Nines' disaster of a plan, Elijah Kamski, genius and programmer, and massive introvert. It had been at least three years, half of the time Nines has known him, since he had even attempted to socialize with anyone outside of his immediate friend group. Jumping from one project to the next, he had a habit of ignoring any of Nines' attempts at getting him to redirect his attention elsewhere and relax. Nines hoped that, by introducing him to someone new who would match his wit and appreciate his devotion to his goals, it would encourage him to pursue other minor hobbies and allow him to de-stress. 

Connor, who was sarcastic and determined, seemed like a perfect match. 

Finding Gavin a date took a little more thinking than it did for Connor; he had a less approachable personality. Grumpy and irritable, many of Nines' friends would be unable to withstand sharp jabs and brutal honesty long enough to get to see his protectiveness and ambition. 

North might've been a good option, but she had prior engagements. Tina might've gotten along well with Gavin, but they had dated in high school and agreed that being friends was better for both of them. At first, Chloe seemed like she might be a good match, but she had recently come out as aromantic and asexual, so Nines ruled her out. 

The only option left was the chaotic ball of energy that was Leo Manfred, Markus' half brother. When he was younger, Leo had been in a bad situation, but finding supportive friends and a good therapist that encouraged him to redirect his anger to something more productive had helped him find a purpose in life, create goals. 

Now a full time student, well on his way to becoming a psychologist, he was likely to enjoy Gavin's sass and dorky jokes. 

People paired up, all Nines had to do was organize the details of the dates. For Connor and Elijah, he decided that a less crowded, but not isolated café just off of the main streets would be perfect. Or, was that where he had planned Gavin and Leo's date? No, he was mostly sure that he had made reservations for them at a local restaurant by Gavin and Tina's shared apartment. He didn't have time to worry about it at the moment; he had a final to study for. 

Connor had the feeling that something was going to go wrong. Nines hadn't told him his date's name to prevent him from looking him up on social media platforms and form any opinions on him before their actual date. He was just told that his date was about average height, with dark hair, often wore glasses, and had horrible posture. 

So of course, when someone matching that exact description walked through the door six and a half minutes after their scheduled meet up time, he hesitantly waved. 

The man, indeed wearing glasses, seemed slightly out of breath. He hadn't seemed to try to dress up, dressed in a faded gray, long sleeved sweater and wrinkled blue jeans. 

Flopping down into the chair across from Connor, his date sighed, stuck a hand out to shake, and blurted out "I'm so sorry I'm late! My roommate let my cat outside accidentally and I had to chase her down the street so that I could get her home and by the time I did, I had lime fifteen minutes max, and I still had to shower and stuff and then i realized that my dryer broke in the middle of this last load so most of my clothes are either soaked or horribly wrinkled and I couldn't find a shirt that made my eyes look really good and I forgot to put my contacts in and… yeah. I'm so fuckin' sorry, I wanted to try to impress you but I'm doing a kind of shit job at that huh?" 

Connor blinked a few times, trying to absorb the story his date, who still had yet to introduce himself, threw at him. He tried to smile reassuringly, and shook the still outstretched hand. "Well that seems like a horrible afternoon. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Connor. You're also a friend of Nines' then I suppose?" 

"Oh yeah! Yeah I am. Uh, I'm Gavin. It's nice to meet you." Gavin shifted in his seat. "Sorry again for being late. It really isn't normal for me, I swear." 

"Well it happens every one in a while. It's sweet that you care about your cat so much that you would go out of your way to looking for her like that. What's her name, if you don't mind me asking?"

Gavin gasped and frantically pulled his phone out, unlocking it. "Her name is Dana and she's a menace! Look, she's so fluffy!" He shoved his phone at Connor, who takes in the fluffy black mass, staring up at him through the photo. Her bright green eyes reflect a tiny image of Gavin, holding his phone to take the photo and squinting in concentration. Cute.

Connor smiles. "Well, that is the most gorgeous menace I've ever seen. She looks so soft." 

"Oh she is. If I don't brush her every day, she gets violent." Connor snorts. "Ha, yeah it's funnier when you're not on the receiving end of her tiny little dagger-teeth. I should probably stop gushing about my cat; you'll think I'm crazy soon! So, uh, how did Nines describe me? Because he described you as, and I quote, a kind of tall, dark haired twink with a nice smile." 

Connor chuckled. "It seems like the stress is really getting to him if he could only describe me as a twink with a nice smile. He was a lot more bland when describing you. He said you're average height, with glasses and dark hair and a horrible posture. Which, I mean, at least he's been pretty accurate with his descriptions, even if they do seem rushed." 

Humming in agreement, Gavin asked, "Hey, what do you do? You got a job or you studying or what?" 

"Oh I'm currently in the police academy. I wanna be a lieutenant someday." 

Gavin wiggled in his seat. "Oh shit, I'm a cop too! I escaped the academy two years ago." 

"Really? Oh that's amazing! Maybe we'll get to work together on cases. It would be nice to have made a friend or something when I graduate from the academy. So what do you do now? What's it like, being a serious police officer like that?"

They continued chatting for the next two hours, occasionally buying each other snacks and drinks. Connor was hesitant to end the date, suggesting they walk to the park or go watch a movie. 

They spent most of the afternoon together, before Gavin offered to walk Connor home. Standing on the sidewalk by the front doors, Gavin slowly took hold of Connor's hands and stood on his toes to kiss Connor's nose. 

"I had a lot of fun, I'd love to see you again" Gavin murmured. 

A blush crept up Connor's cheeks. "Well it's a good thing I'm free next Saturday, because I do too." 

"Oh, well that's good." Gavin sighed. "I'm gonna hafta leave soon, or else Dana'll throw a fit. I'll see you Saturday okay? Is seven good? I got a half brother who can hook me up with some fancy reservations if you'd like."

Connor squeezed Gavin's hand before hesitantly letting go. "Sounds like a date. I can't wait. Goodbye Gavin." 

"G'bye."

Elijah was hesitant to go on Nines' blind date. In a hurry, he only said that his date was a smart kid, a couple years younger than Elijah himself, with dark brown, curly hair. 

He didn't want the guy to think too highly of him or else he might want to schedule another date, and Elijah didn't have time for that. So, he decided to show up "accidentally" almost half an hour late. Pushing the café door open, his gaze immediately landed on a grumpy looking guy, maybe twenty-ish, who was slumped over his phone in a booth in the far back. 

Shambling over to the grumpy kid, he asked "Are you Nines' friend? I'm here for the blind date."

Grumpy guy glanced up at him, grumbling a "Yeah that's me. You a little late there dude."

Slouching into the other side of the booth, Elijah quoted the excuse he planned out. "I'm sorry. My car wouldn't start, so I had to get a ride from a friend. Maybe I can buy you like a coffee or a sandwich to make up for it?"

"Well, you don't have to bribe me. If you're offering though, maybe a blueberry muffin and a caramel macchiato. And also a name?" 

Elijah raised his eyebrows. This kid was more blunt than he was expecting. It was… nice. "Hmm I suppose that it makes sense to give you my name. Elijah." He paused. "Kamski." Some people knew who he was. It wasn't that surprising for a programmer as young as he is to catch the attention of mainstream media if they're successful, which he was. 

"Leo. Manfred." Manfred, Manfred. Why did that name sound so familiar? "Are you gonna get my stuff or were you lying about that part?" 

If he had wanted to make a better impression, he might've actually laughed at that. Instead, all he did was not and stand up, heading toward the counter. As he was walking, he glanced around the café, observing a small family, a couple teenagers working on homework, and Gavin? On a date. Hmm. That's something to tease him about later. 

Returning to the table, he expected Leo to still be on his phone, but instead he was casually observing him. Might as well pass the time by talking. That usually pushes people away pretty fast. "You have a job? Studying?" 

Munching on his muffin, Leo hummed. "Mhm. Psychology." Maybe this kid is smart. "Don't worry though, I promise I only psychoanalyze on the second date." Oh. He's actually funny. Maybe this won't be as bad as he thought. 

Elijah allowed himself to smile a little at that. "Well, well, well, looks like I have something to look forward to." Elijah what are you doing? Did you just insinuate that you would like to go on a second date with this guy? 

Leo chuckles and sets his muffin back down on its plate. "Well you still gotta impress me first. Bribery doesn't work with everyone. If this were the second date, though, I'd have a hell of a lot to say about the lying and avoidance of revealing personal details. But, like I said, that'll have to wait 'til the second date." 

Definitely smart. More smart-ass though. That was more appealing than Elijah was expecting it to be. 

He sighed. "Well, since you caught me, I suppose I'll have to share something for the class. I'm a programmer. I'm currently working on developing AI tools that will recognise voices to activate or shut down household items, like a stove that shuts off to protect young children from lighting their homes on fire."

"That sounds pretty cool actually. Gotta babyproof the fancy smart-technology. I was expecting you to be something lame, like a very antisocial plumber or a dentist or something, but you're not that boring I guess." 

This time Elijah couldn't stop himself from laughing. Maybe, just maybe, he'll let himself enjoy this date. "'Not that boring I guess' is a compliment of the highest caliber, coming from someone as attractive as you." Why not go full flirt, if he wants this to go well. 

"Keep talking like that and I'll be swooning into your arms in no time. Seriously though, be careful, I'm starting to like you. That would be horrible, wouldn't it?" Leo raised an eyebrow.

Elijah smiled a little. "I guess it wouldn't be that bad. I think I'm starting to like you too." He snuck a piece of Leo's muffin, then hummed in delight. "That is a phenomenal muffin. You've just been hoarding it all for yourself over there? You are a cruel and unjust monster. Gimme more."

Snickering, Leo smacked Elijah's arm away from the plate. "Only nice dates who ask nicely get to share muffins." 

Elijah sighed. "Well I suppose if it's for a muffin of this quality, it will be worth it. I would like some muffin." 

Leo didn't budge. 

"...Please?" 

At this,  Leo broke off a large chunk of the muffin and handed it to Elijah. "Well, since you asked so politely, I guess I'm required to give you some now. It's good date behavior. Gotta be good if I want ya to stick around I 'spose." He smirked. Then he glanced at his watch, a rather shiny silver. "Oh shit, I gotta go. I'm house-sitting for my half-brother and I gotta feed his birds."

Elijah hesitated in saying goodbye, even as Leo rushed to clean up. Suddenly standing, he blurted out, "Maybe we can schedule that second date?" 

Leo paused, looking up at him. For a few seconds, Elijah thought he was going to decline the offer, but then he straightened his spine, smiled softly, and said, "Meet me at that Italian restaurant off of Main, next Tuesday? 6:30?" 

"It's a date. I'll see you then. I'll accompany you to your car." The both of them walked side by side, just close enough that every once in a while, their knuckles would brush up against each other. Parting with a wave, Elijah started planning what he would do to show his thanks to Nines for forcing him to do this dumb blind date thing, because it seemed that it wasn't as dumb as he originally thought.

When Nines ran into Connor in the hallway, he had to see how the date went. "So, what did you think of Elijah?"

Connor froze, turned to look at Nines, brow furrowed, and asked, "Who the fuck is Elijah?" Uh oh. 

#dbh #dbh rarepair day 3 #dbh rarepair week #dbh connor #connor rk800 #gavin reed #Convin #elijah kamski #leo manfred #leo x elijah #leo manfred x elijah kamski #eli n gav are half brothers #everybody's human

[williamlwolf89]

How the Medium Partner Program Can Make You Rich (Slowly)

Some writers are earning thousands in passive income every month with the Medium Partner Program.

Why not you too?

Whether you’re looking to write full-time, or you just want an extra writing gig on the side, this post will teach you everything you need to get started with the Medium Partner Program.

Let’s get started with a quick overview…

What is Medium?

Launched in 2012 by Ev Williams, co-founder of Twitter and Blogger, Medium is an ad-free blogging and publishing platform — open and free to anyone (provided you follow the rules).

If Twitter is fast food eaten in your car, then Medium is a slow meal enjoyed at a table full of scientists, business leaders, poets, and social commentators.

Do you need to be some high-falutin expert to publish on Medium?

Not at all.

But you will need to bring your “A” game.

How Medium Works

Non-members are limited to reading 3 free stories each month. The rest fall behind a paywall.

To read more Medium stories, the subscription fee is $5 per month or $50 per year, giving you unlimited access and a few other perks.

Readers engage with articles by:

Highlighting passages

Clapping (similar to likes)

Commenting

Writing On Medium

Medium’s clean interface is a writer’s dream.

Its simple design minimizes distractions and keeps you focused on writing.

And it’s super easy to insert and format images.

Medium allows you to browse an extensive library of free Unsplash images right there on the page (attribution is automatically placed in a caption below).

Want to add a great quote?

You have two options: block or pull-quotes.

Or you can embed a podcast, YouTube clip, or tweet.

And when your post is all shiny and ready for the world?

Add a meta-description

Include 5 topic tags

Let Medium know you want to get paid for your work

Hit publish!

How Do You Make Money with Medium?

You make money writing on Medium through Medium’s Partner Program.

It’s free to join, and the process is straightforward (details below).

Then it’s time to write (a lot).

That’s because you make money based on how much time paying Medium members spend reading your articles each month.

You won’t make any direct income from non-members unless they become paying members within 30 days of reading your work.

According to Medium’s blog, “If last month a member spent 10% of their monthly reading time on your story, you will receive 10% of their share.”

Earnings are deposited via Stripe into your bank account around the 8th of each month, and you can see daily updates in your dashboard.

How Much Does Medium Pay Per Clap?

Medium moved away from factoring claps into writer’s payouts in October of 2019.

Instead, they decided that reading time is a better measure of reader engagement and appreciation.

However, claps are stats that do factor into how well your story ranks, which gives your article more opportunities to be read (and for you to get paid).

How Much Can You Earn From Medium?

In 2019, Medium paid more than $6 million to over 30,000 writers.

Wow!

According to their September 2019 update, a top writer earned $30,638.81 that month.

And in November 2019, a single story earned $7,384.22.

That’s a lot of dough, right?

But now for the buzzkill…

The vast majority of Medium writers make less than $100 per month. In fact, only 7% to 9% of writers earn more than that.

Ouch.

That’s because your results will depend on factors like skill, commitment, existing assets (email list, social media following), timing, and, yes, luck.

But don’t despair — making money on Medium is doable for real people like you and me:

After months of hard work, freelance writer Zita Fontaine started earning over $1,000 monthly in November of 2019.

Megan Holstein made over $10K last year — breaking the $1K mark in December 2019.

Shaunta Grimes, author of Viral Nation, reported earning over $1,000 per week.

Brian Rowe, editor of The Partnered Pen, hit the $1K monthly mark last year.

If they did it, so can you.

How Do You Join the Medium Partner Program?

It’s simple.

I’ll walk you through all the steps to sign up for:

A Medium account (super easy)

The Medium Partner Program (a little more involved)

Although you do need a Medium account, you’re not required to have a Medium membership (with the monthly/annual membership fee) to sign up (although it’s nice to give back to other writers on the platform, if you can swing it).

Set Up Your Medium Account

Creating your free Medium account only takes a few minutes:

Go to Medium’s homepage (medium.com) and click “Get started.”

Log in using Facebook, Google, or another email address.

Go to your inbox and click the link to confirm your email.

Complete your account setup by entering your name (pen names are allowed), and click “Create account.”

That’s all there is to it!

Now you can sign up for the partner program…

Join The Medium Partner Program

Joining Medium’s Partner Program requires a few more steps (and more information), but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Here’s what you do:

Click on the profile image icon in the upper right corner of your screen, and click “Medium Partner Program” in the drop-down menu.

You’ll be taken to a page promoting the partner program. Click “Join the Medium Partner Program” when you’re ready.

You’ll then be asked to agree to the terms of service. Give them a quick read and then check the box.

Next you’ll be asked to select either the Stripe Express or Stripe Standard account.

Note: If your country isn’t served by Stripe, you won’t be able to get paid through the partner program.

If you don’t have a Stripe account, you can sign up for an Express account through Medium.

Be ready to provide them with details like:

Legal name

Business address

Business phone number

Type of business: Individual, sole proprietor, or single-membership LLC

Business website

Routing number

Bank account number

Also, you should know that if you set up a Stripe Express account through Medium, you won’t be able to connect that Stripe account to any other services. If you plan on using Stripe for other facets of your business, it probably makes sense to set up a Standard account instead.

If you already have a Stripe account, select “Stripe Standard account,” and then click “Set up payments on Stripe.”

You’ll be taken to the page shown below. Click “Sign in” in the upper right corner.

Two buttons will appear. Click on “Connect my Stripe account.”

Then sign into your account.

Congratulations! You’re on a roll. Why not take care of some tax documentation while you’re at it?

You don’t have to enter your tax info now, but you need to fill it out to get paid.

Fill Out Tax Forms (So You Can Get Paid)

Want to get this tax stuff out of the way?

Great.

Keep in mind, your tax forms may differ from those shown here:

If you’re not already on the Taxpayer information page, go here to enter your info.

Choose the appropriate tax form and click “Complete Form.” This page will help you decide which to choose.

Note: Most US Citizens will use a W9 (confirm with your accountant). The W-8BEN and W-8BEN-E forms are for non-resident aliens.

This is the W9 form:

And that’s it!

Remember, you forfeit earnings if you don’t submit tax info within 180 days after the Sunday of your first week earning.

Get. It. Done.

12 Tips for Earning Real Passive Income with the Medium Partner Program

You’re well on your way to earning your first buck on Medium.

But, if you want to make real cash, you must learn how to make the partner program work for you.

Let’s look at some strategies other writers are leveraging to succeed:

1. Write your best content

Success on Medium requires your best work.

Content should be informative, original, engaging, well thought out, and free of typos and grammatical errors.

It should be aesthetically pleasing, with great images and good formatting.

Never plagiarize, and always give credit and links where appropriate. And make sure you deliver on the promise of your headline.

2. Craft great headlines

Do yourself a favor and write at least a dozen headlines for every post.

Good headlines get clicks. And clicks lead to reads (and pay).

Great headlines should:

Generate curiosity (don’t go “full clickbait,” Medium doesn’t like it)

Elicit emotion

Leverage number psychology

Contain power words

Demonstrate a clear benefit to the reader

Feature a keyword (especially if you’re trying to rank in search engines)

3. Produce consistently and prolifically

According to an analysis conducted by The Startup, writers who earned the most were consistent publishers.

Why?

Because, as your audience grows and your content is increasingly found, read, and shared, your earnings compound over time.

Some of the most successful earners post multiple times per week, and have been doing so for months or years.

By writing more, you will:

Build skills

Increase your chances of writing a winner

Gain clarity about what works

Quality always trumps quantity, so don’t publish half-baked material just so you can stick to a schedule.

4. Please Medium’s curators

If you meet Medium’s curation standards, there’s a chance the Medium editors will promote your content across their platform (including their email list), giving your story tons of exposure.

Medium recently suggested these articles in my inbox:

Articles deemed exceptional are featured on Medium’s front page (cha-ching!).

Even if you don’t get curated (often you won’t), your post will still be eligible for earning through the partner program. You just won’t get nearly as much traffic.

5. Optimize for search engines

Medium has millions of readers.

That doesn’t guarantee your post will get the attention it deserves. And having your posts rank well in search engines will drive tons of views (and more income).

This strategy requires keyword research and a basic understanding of SEO principles.

Make sure your post includes:

A great headline that includes the keyword

Alt-tags for images

Proper header tags: H1, H2, H3

Custom URL

Customized meta description

6. Engage the community

Medium is a place for people to gather around ideas.

From the beginning, you should build relationships by leaving thoughtful comments on other writer’s stories.

Follow writers you like.

Mention and link to them in your articles when appropriate.

And if someone takes the time to leave a legitimate comment on your post, make sure you reply.

7. Leverage your connections

Give your Medium articles a boost by sharing them with your email list, in Facebook groups, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, and on other social media platforms.

But remember, the connection goes both ways.

Connect your social accounts to Medium to gain new followers. Link out to your blog in your Medium bio.

And don’t forget to link to your Medium posts from other articles you write, either on Medium or other places (like your blog).

8. Publish with publications

Medium’s top publications are followed by hundreds of thousands of readers.

Writing for them can dramatically increase your reach.

And there are thousands of publications on a wide range of topics that you can submit your work to.

To submit your work, go to their Medium page and click on “Write For Us” or “Contribute.”

9. Go long, but no fluff

According to Medium’s Data Lab, the optimal length post takes 7 minutes to read (that’s approximately 1,600 words).

But remember, quality always trumps length.

The more time readers spend on your posts, the more you get paid. But, just making content longer isn’t enough. If you can’t hold readers’ interest past the first paragraph, it doesn’t matter how long your post is.

10. Profit from popularity

Where attention goes, money flows.

Study successful Medium writers and their stories. What’s working?

Write about popular subjects, like:

Tech

Entrepreneurship

News

Culture

Productivity

Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Business

Design

Love

And many more

Popular topics have large pools of readers. And that means more exposure for your work.

The bigger the pond, the more fish you can catch.

11. Add layers of interest

Yes, write about popular topics.

But don’t be a clone.

Draw upon what you know — areas of expertise or things you have some deep interest in or connection to.

What unique perspective can you bring?

Dare to be different:

Provide some historical context

Take them on a journey through your senses

Write about real people in real life situations

Be vulnerable and humanize a topic

Add color with personality

Elicit emotion

Go big on research and data

Take a contrarian stance

Give them a glimpse into a hidden world

12. Lead your reader

Tell readers what to do next by giving them actionable advice.

Providing them with some amazing insight or new perspective is great, but what do they do with it?

How can they go out and put it into practice today?

Have the courage to not only share ideas, but also lead with them.

The Medium Partner Program Pays

Can you make serious coin on Medium?

You know it.

It won’t happen overnight (for most of us, anyway).

But that’s okay!

Every piece of content you write is an asset — an investment that will compound your earnings over time. That means your articles will keep working for you, even while you’re out there hustling for other paid writing gigs!

And that’s really the key here.

Plan on writing a lot over a significant period of time. Plan on learning and pivoting. And always plan on failing along your path to success.

Why not start that first article today?

Happy writing!

The post How the Medium Partner Program Can Make You Rich (Slowly) appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/medium-partner-program/

[thereviewsarein]

15 Things Music Lovers Can do While Quarantined to Celebrate Music, Have Fun, and Support Artists

For ten years in a row from 2010 to 2019, I wrote a post called the March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide and shared tips for folks who didn’t care about college basketball but had a partner that was all the way into the madness. I was set to do the same thing this year. However, in 2020 there is no March Madness but there is a quarantine.

So, we’re shifting gears and making due by taking some of the ideas from the old series and adding in some new ideas and giving everything a new shine and creating a list of 15 ideas that you can jump into while you’re at home and not going to concerts or meet and greets or any of the other great things that we are all sadly missing.

I want to point out that we aren’t taking COVID-19 lightly by putting this post together or by keeping it lighthearted. We hope that each and every one of you reading this remains healthy and safe and is ready to rock when things get back to normal.

And we hope you keep listening to and loving music non-stop until then too!

If you’re ready, we’re ready. Let’s go!

The Music Lovers Quarantine Survival Guide

1) Listen to your favourite albums front-to-back.

We love playlists and variety and being able to bounce from artist to artist at a moment’s notice – BUT there’s still something super fantastic about putting a great album on and listening to it from front to back.

We suggest picking one or two albums per day/night and letting them play all the way through from start to finish. And if you really love it – hit play again.

If you’re having trouble choosing an album, here are four that I highly recommend. Enjoy!

2) Create playlists with friends.

You can do this a couple of ways… the important thing is there’s really no wrong way to do it.

You can start a collaborative playlist on Spotify and invite people to add songs and rearrange the order and what have you.

You can put up a post on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter asking people to recommend songs for you to add to a playlist – and then build a playlist with all of those recommended songs.

You can even get in a private group chat with friends and turn it into some sort of game where you all pitch songs to each other and make jokes and discover new songs and enjoy each other and the music.

3) Discover podcasts by musicians / about music.

There’s a podcast about everything, and usually more than one. And guess what, music is no different!

Check out these five recommendations and give ‘em a listen while you do chores or eat dinner or go for a walk or whatever else you’ve got going on. (All recommendations available on Spotify)

🎙️ Music Exists with Chuck Klosterman and Chris Ryan 🎙️ The Show (Hosts Amy Aust and Scotty Kipfer) 🎙️ Walking The Floor with Chris Shiflett 🎙️ Geeks And Beats (Hosts Alan Cross and Michael Hainsworth) 🎙️ Questlove Supreme

And stay tuned, maybe we’ll have a podcast someday!

4) Watch concerts and festival sets.

YouTube is filled with festival sets and Netflix has concert specials and really there is no shortage of awesome footage and content featuring live music and great crowds. Is it the same as being at a show live and in person? Of course not, but it ain’t bad.

5) Binge live music performance videos.

If you don’t have time for a full concert experience, go for the YouTube model of one song at a time!

If you’ve already got favourites, like when Nick Nurse joined Arkells in Toronto for Signed, Sealed, Delivered (as an example), revisit them and play ‘em loud. If you are looking for new videos, just type the artist’s name and live into the YouTube search bar and see what you get!

6) Watch live stream performances from bands on Facebook and YouTube.

Some artists who can’t be on the road at this time have started setting up live performances via live stream so that fans can still hear them play and they can show everyone their talent and energy. It’s a very cool idea that allows for live music to exist in a time when it feels like it’s been taken away for a little while.

Check out your favourite artists to see if they’ve got anything planned, and when you do see an artist you love getting ready to go live, share the stream so that other people can tune in too.

7) Order albums and merch online, directly from artist websites.

Here’s another way that you can support artists while they aren’t able to play shows and collect cheques – buy some gear.

Hit the online shops of artists you love (especially emerging and indie artists) and see what they’ve got for sale. Need some new CDs for the car? Get ‘em. Love that t-shirt design? Order now. Ooh, would that vinyl look great in your collection and sound great on your record player? Better not pass it up!

These sales are going to help a lot of bands stay afloat, pay the rent, and be prepared to hit the road when we’re able to get back to some sort of normal. We know every purchase will be appreciated.

8) Take selfies in your favourite musician merch and include the link to where you got it in your post.

Here’s a follow-up for that last one. When your order arrives (or if you’ve already got some cool merch that you love) snap a photo and tag the artist and link to their online store so that other fans see what they should be buying.

Every little bit helps get eyes on the product and the music and the artists.

9) Share stream and YouTube channel links from your favourite artists with your friends to help everyone discover new music.

This one is easy, and we highly recommend it. Whether you’ve got cash to buy some t-shirts or you don’t. Whether you pay for Spotify or Apple or Amazon Music or you don’t. None of that matters here, all you have to do is go to your favourite artist’s website and copy the link to their YouTube or Spotify channel and then put that in a Facebook post or a Tweet and tell other people it’s awesome and that they should listen.

Heck, you can pick a new artist and do it every day. Challenge your friends too. No duplication, get as many recommendations out into the world as possible!

10) Read a music book.

Reading doesn’t always come to mind when we’re talking about music, but when you need a quiet moment or you’re getting ready to go to bed, etc. a good book is still hard to beat.

Check out these music-related biographies and autobiographies and a book about Big Shiny Tunes that we highly recommend.

🎶 Reba: My Story (by Reba McEntire and Tom Carter) 🎶 It’s A Long Story: My Life (by Willie Nelson) 🎶 Waylon: Tales of my Outlaw Dad (by Terry Jennings) 🎶 Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner’s Daughter (by Loretta Lynn) 🎶 Me (by Elton John) 🎶 Life (by Keith Richards) 🎶 I, Bificus (by Bif Naked) 🎶 David Bowie: A Life (by Dylan Jones) 🎶 Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives with Memory Loss (by Jann Arden) 🎶 Shine: How a MuchMusic Compilation Came to Define Canadian Alternative Music and Sell a Zillion Copies (by Mark Teo)

11) Have a lip sync battle.

If you live with a roommate or a partner or you’ve got great neighbours (and nobody is sick), get some snacks and drinks out and have a Lip Sync Battle.

You need like 4 things to pull this off.

1. YouTube or Spotify ready to play the songs. 2. Open and clear space for performances. 3. Some time for participants to choose songs and prepare themselves. 4. Two or more willing players.

Have fun!

12) Watch some music documentaries.

There are some amazing music docs out in the world and available on streaming services if you want to watch them (and you should).

Here are 10 suggestions that you can watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in Canada. (as of March 15, 2020)

🎵 Woodstock, Three Days That Defined A Generation * 🎵 Gaga: Five Foot Two * 🎵 Miss Americana * 🎵 27 Gone Too Soon * 🎵 Homecoming, A Film By Beyonce* 🎵 A Fat Wreck ^ 🎵 Sound City ^ 🎵 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down A Dream ^ 🎵 Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip ^ 🎵 Jonas Brothers, Chasing Happiness ^

* = Netflix ^ = Amazon Prime Video

13) Have a solo dance party.

Pour a glass of wine or mix a drink or grab a beer and turn up some awesome 80s jams or put on Dance Mix ‘93 or whatever makes you move – and dance like no one’s watching. Because they aren’t. Because we’re all in quarantine.

14) Discover new music.

Check out the new release playlists on your favourite streaming services, look for recommendations from friends and social media, just keep your eyes and ears open for new songs and artists that you just might fall in love with.

15) Take care of yourself and the people around you.

Be smart. Be safe. Stay healthy. Don’t take risks that you don’t need to take. We’re in a difficult time with a lot of uncertainty and fear and anxiety and questions – and that is a crappy recipe, but it’s what we’ve got. And while it can be tempting to pretend that we’re immune or invincible or get all YOLO in a situation like this, we hope you do your best to just follow the recommendations of the people who know what’s going on (as well as anyone does) and stay safe and keep vulnerable people safe at the same time.

Thank you.

The Music Lovers Quarantine Survival Guide 15 Things Music Lovers Can do While Quarantined to Celebrate Music, Have Fun, and Support Artists…

#books #Dance Party #documentary #Playlist

[datingadviceguru-blog]

10 Sexy Texts That Will Make Him Fall In Love

Guys are often seen as stoic, silent creatures who “don’t want to talk about it.” If my coaching client calls tell me anything, it’s that a lot of women struggle with getting their guy to open up about his feelings.

Like I’ve said in my past blog posts, men are often taught at an early age that losing their cool (i.e. showing emotions) is a sign of weakness.

It might seem like we’re the unreadable Sphinx, but the truth is that we do have a soft and gooey center – if you know how to get to it.

(I just realized that sounds a bit gross…)

But the hidden, private part of him is reserved for that special woman in our life.

If you can crack the secret code to make him open up, he’ll know you’re “The One“.

Text messaging is one of the ways you can tell a guy that you’re the right girl for him – but indirectly.

Men are known for communicating in a straight-to-the-point, let’s-not-beat-around-the-bush kind of way.

But not when it comes to dating and romance…

He won’t say it (or even be consciously aware of it), but your guy is always be up for a nice, steamy session of text flirting. He lives for the thrill of the chase.

And beating around the bush is, in fact, a GOOD thing for both of you.

Considering the way a guy’s brain is wired, sending him a well-crafted text message is just like throwing a match into a gunpowder.

Yes, your man is a powder keg of love (and lust!) that’s just waiting for a chance to explode. Here are 10 of the best text messages to light his fuse:

#1: “My mind’s been running wild with naughty, naughty thoughts all day…and it’s all your fault”

Just like you, men want to be WANTED.

Most women want men to acknowledge their beauty and personality, but your typical guy is after a more sensual kind of longing.

Desire begets desire.

Your man needs to know that he’s running through your mind harder than a triathlete gunning for the gold medal.

When he’s aware that you’re ALSO thinking of him in an R-rated kind of way, you’ll create a feedback loop that’s directly wired into a primal part of his brain.

Naturally, he’ll push you to elaborate on what you just told him – the next step is to supply him with one detail at a time.

EXAMPLE: “I was thinking of the weight of your body pressing against me.”

After you’ve texted back and forth for a while, wrap things up by saying “I’d love to keep this going, but I have to get back to work (or any other reason of your choice).”

You want to end it – and leave him wanting more.

Then, finish it off with:

“Besides, I’d rather continue this conversation face to face… I’ll let you count the minutes until then :)”

How detailed you want to get is up to you. But if your conversations at this point aren’t getting sexy yet, I suggest keeping the tone suggestive rather than using actual explicit words…for now.

#2: “I’m feeling like FedEx right now…because I’m interested in a certain package of yours ;)”

Did you just indirectly reference a part of his anatomy?

Yeah you did – and he’ll love you for it.

Let me be totally blunt with you – a red-blooded man loves it when his woman “wants his biz“.

The thought of a girl craving his manhood is all it takes to get him firing on all cylinders.

A man derives a BIG part of his masculinity from this part of himself, so he’ll feel extremely gratified knowing that you want him in this very specific way.

Yet another flirty text – #3: “Nothing sounds better than hearing you say my name when you _________. I’ll just let you fill in the blank :)”

Never underestimate the power of a horny man’s imagination. We’re first and foremost visual creatures, so give our mind’s eye something to work with.

We’re tantalized by what we can’t (or want to) see. Give your guy’s mind an excuse to work overtime, and he’ll create the perfect image to burn into his brain.

By letting him “fill in the blank”, you’re basically giving him a free pass to picture the two of you in the dirtiest situation he can imagine.

Trust me, he’ll want to fill in those blanks in more ways than one… if you know what I mean.

Try this text – #4: “Wanted: sexy, handsome guy to supply love-starved girl with a steady shower of kisses. Generous perks and benefits await qualified candidates.”

Send this separately: “Only one spot open…let me know if you’re interested.”

Pro tip: Your text messages don’t always have to read like a page out of “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

You don’t have to sound like an erotica author all the time, and he’ll appreciate you mixing it up with a little levity. Also known as FUN.

As much as he appreciates the raunchy stuff, shifting gears every now and then keeps you from being too “intense”. A dash of humor will break up the monotony, give him a nice chuckle and STILL keep the sexy vibe going.

(Oh, and feel free to customize this “sexy ad” text with your own “job description”.)

A good girlfriend knows how to tickle his funny bone…along with the other parts of his body.

Super texting – #5: “I was just thinking about the sounds we make when we’re alone together. It’s like a song stuck in my head and I can’t think of anything else.”

Guys aren’t just turned on by visuals. Supplying his brain with the right soundtrack is just as powerful and will complement his dirty daydreams.

Use audio and engage his senses…

#6: “I need to hear you say my name…especially when it’s out LOUD and you’re out of breath.”

As with the last text, planting strategic “audio clips” will have a HUGE effect on him – sometimes even more than the pictures in his head.

Give your guy the best snippets from the last time you got physical with him, and he’ll be craving you so much that it hurts.

#7: “Licking a lollipop right now, and I can’t stop thinking of you for some reason. I can’t put my finger on it…maybe you should come over and help me figure out why.”

And we’re back to visuals! I’ll admit some guys can be dense, but 99.9999% of men will immediately understand this text.

Trust me, this is one metaphor that WON’T fly over his head.

#8: “Just thinking about the way your tongue feels against my skin…great, now I need to freshen up down south… Care to help?”

Yeah, this one’s self-explanatory, so make sure you’re ready for what happens next when you fire off this little gem.

#9: “It’s freezing here and I’ve buried myself under a bunch of blankets. Not wearing anything was probably a wrong move.”

Not all sexy texts have to be graphic. In some cases, less is more and implying nakedness is a good way to pull this off.

Remember, sexual desire is like gravity…sometimes all you need is a little push and the rest takes care of itself.

Keep it to hints as much as you can. Guys like dirty when you’re WITH him, but they prefer imagination when you’re not.

#10: “I’m playing film critic today and found a movie online…but it’s a porn flick. Wanna watch it with me? Your input would be highly appreciated.”

“Playful” is the operative word when it comes to texting a man. Inviting him to watch porn is a guy’s secret wish, so you get extra points by being creative about it.

Of course, choose something that you genuinely DO want to watch.

Most of the time, turning him on boils down to a matter of pointing his mind in the direction you want. Give him the right material, and he’ll run with it.

You probably know by now that it doesn’t take much to get him started.

While sending him the right text messages is a step in the right direction, it’s only ONE PART of that special combination that will unlock his heart.

And by “combination”, I mean cultivating certain behaviors, attitudes and habits that speak to your man in a way no other woman can.

If you want to be THAT girl in your guy’s life, I’ve found a way to simplify the process and take you to the quickest path to his heart.

For instance, did you know that you need to know how to match his connection style?

I’ve prepared a short video that will explain what his connection style is – and why it’s critical you know this about him.

This is the missing piece in the love puzzle that a lot of women miss – and this often spells the difference between staying together and splitting up.

https://www.datingadviceguru.com/10-sexy-texts-that-will-make-him-fall-in-love/

#Dating Advice Guru

[vivellefashion]

  Moreover, this coverup serves a dual function as also a sundress

Indeed, I Loved it so much, that I got two different colors/print

Swim coverup here | here | and  here | here | here | here

Recap and review of Los Cabos summer getaway trip

Welcome to my space!

First of all, if you follow my blog and social media posts, you are well aware of the fact that I have a recent high school graduate. So,this past week I took my daughter, the graduate, on her senior trip. We went to Cabo! It was both our first time visiting Cabo. Along with that, I am providing a Recap and review of Los Cabos summer getaway trip.

Pre-travel

We booked our travel through Costco travel and stayed at the Grand Fiesta Americana in Los Cabos. I must stay, the process was super easy, with so many options. The one thing I was not happy about was the fact that there no options for a non-stop flights in the trip we chose. This is not a sponsored post, so you get an honest review! 

Nevertheless, I decided to use the Costco travel service, because I figured they would have contracts with reputable resorts and services, especially since it was our first time in Cabo. Generally, I can’t say I regret that decision.

Need to know…

Because we had no preplanned itinerary so we wear an easy target for the timeshare marketers at the airport. Which is one thing I did not know about…so beware. On the other hand, it’s not a bad thing if you’re interested in purchasing a time share, or just want the freebies that are offered, if you listen to their presentation. We got two bottle of tequila, a certificate for horseback riding, an explore Cabo tour, and a ride in the glass bottom boat…all almost a $700 deal….WIN!

We made it to Cabo with a stop at SFO

Moving on. we were picked up at the airport by a pre arranged transportation service, part of the all inclusive service through Costco travels, and we arrived at the hotel around 4pm. The view from our room was unbelievable…we had an oceanfront view. Also, we had a daily $50 room credit we could apply to a number of features like spa, drinks, room upgrade, and cabana rental, but not at the Fine Argentinian restaurant.

Notably…the view from our room

  Being that we were tired, we spent the evening indoors, after having some taco at the La Taqueria restaurant in the resort grounds, and retired for the day. The room was spacious, and modest, with sitting area on the balcony.

First, to start off, we had a delicious taco dinner here on our first night

Day 2

The next day was all about the beach! We spent all day at the beach after sleeping in. My daughter loved feeding the fish, played in the water a bit and then had lunch at the restaurant by the lake. We opted not to lay on the beach, even though we had a room credit to cover part of the cost for a cabana rental. We opted to use the credit instead, for our spa day, where we got a 90min outdoor massage, spent time in the sauna and hot room, then retired for the day.

Significantly, I used the solid wrap to break the floral pattern. That’s actually my scarf I have also previously used as a head wrap…versatility rules!

Similar swimsuit here | here | here |

Day 3

On day three, we spent part of the day listening to a marketing presentation at Pueblo Bonito resort for timeshare, or as he called it…”fractional ownership” of a vacation slot. We returned to the hotel to get ready for the horseback ridding excursion. The ranch owners were very nice. Although we had a free ticked from the timeshare presentation, it only covered rides through the desert, so we had to pay $5 for change to ride to the beach, playa Medano, and take pis, before riding through the desert.

P.S. Take plenty of $1, $5 bills and Pesos to use for tips!

Horseback riding…that’s my daughter there

oh my butt…

Although it was our first time on horse back, my daughter was amazingly confident, while I was terrified at first, but got better. I have to say though, I wish the saddle was more padded, cos I felt like I was sitting on a bed of rocks, and was even more pronounced when the she tried to gallop along. I quickly learned to slow her down…ijs. Also, my horse, Pinta, seemed to be super hungry, or just loved to eat. She stopped at every brush to take a bite.

Crossing the standing water by the beach

The guide took our pics

He also let me borrow his cowboy hat 🤠

My daughter too 😃

phew…

One more thing, I was thankful we didn’t end up in the filthy water we had to cross, since of of the horses decide to just sit down in the middle of the trail, and sent her rider falling. No injury, thank God! I’m pretty sure they get tired of the trip routine. The horse owners also had a ranch chihuahua dog that followed us the entire trip, wadding through the water like it was nothin…Ha!

Heading towards the desert. Some videos on IGTV

Day 4

Day #4 was our Explore Cabo tour day. The transportation service picked us up, first thing in the morning at he hotel lobby. We started at the Marina, rode to the Arco in the glass bottom boat, and back. Then we visited a glass making factory, tequila Making simulation Factory where we learned about the history of tequila making, and had tequila tasting. Then, on to the market place, the town square and church, then some lunch at ….. I have to say, the guide was super knowledgeable about the town, and history.

The upside down shaped map of California, part of the distinction rock formations in El Arco.

Peep the Pacific Ocean through the gap. Where the Pacific Ocean meets the sea of Cortez

Gorgeous view

Using the Iconic arch of Cabo San Lucas as backdrop

Mission de San Jose

one last dip…

Furthermore, we ended up at the beach again, that evening. I posted an IGTV post you can check out here. Consequently, we had a fun time frolicking in the waves…as much as I am scared of large bodies of water, I still had a good time.

Using as a sundress worked equally well. Here I style it with @katespadeny ankle wrap sandals I found on clearance @tjmaxx

Here’s another coverup from @tjmaxx

Sorry for poor quality. It was taken by a passerby. Still appreciate the effort, or we wouldn’t have any pic

Meanwhile, we dined at the Artgentinial restaurant on our last night. I had the steak, which was super tasty, while my daughter played it safe with chicken…Ha!

Certainly, I am not a fan of rare steak, so they had to fire it up a bit more for me…still juicy tho. However, the mashed potatoes was something else!

Finally, I do hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post. Leave me any comments or questions below. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you next week…Ciao!!

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Recap and review of Los Cabos summer getaway trip Swim coverup here | here | and  here | here | here | here

#Cabo san Lucas #Costco travels #coverup #El Arco #Fiesta Americana #Los Cabo #Swimsuit

[vernieman]

I have two favourite smartwatches right now—the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and the Apple Watch Series 3. And now Samsung has another entry, one that’s more sports-focused, and also suited for smaller hands—the Samsung Gear Sport.

In a nutshell, the Gear Sport is everything you loved about the Gear S3 Frontier. From the signature rotating bezel interface and great design, to the super slick Tizen OS.

What’s clearly different is it’s now lighter, smaller in diameter, loses built-in LTE and is now swim-friendly with water-resistance to up to 50 metres.

I had the fitness watch for a week, and while it hasn’t changed how I feel about the Gear S3 Frontier, I’ve come to appreciate the added features on the Gear Sport.

[nextpage title=”Design & Build, Hardware, Software”]

Design and build

From the get go you’ll notice that the Gear Sport is smaller, and more squarish compared to its more luxurious sibling. In fact, Samsung has managed to shave 13g off, thanks to the lack of an LTE modem. It tips the scales at 50g (without strap).

This makes it more comfortable to wear comparatively, although I’ve never found weight a problem on the Gear S3 Frontier.

The Gear Sport casing as mentioned is smaller, with a subtle two-tone finish. You have a choice of Blue or Black, and thought blue was more appealing and unique, coupled with a vibrant blue silicone strap.

The silicone band feels robust but also comes off a little cheapish, perhaps because I’m used to the Frontier’s more premium build.

In the box, by the way, you’ll find two strap sizes: large and small. Based on a standard 20mm watch strap, you can easily switch them out with third party straps.

Like on the Gear S3 Frontier, there’s a rotating bezel on top of the circular display. The ridged bezel makes it easy to spin to navigate the menu system and delivers reassuringly tactile feedback and distinct audible clicks.

Same cannot be said of the Gear S2 that had a smooth rotating bezel. It was sometimes a hit-and-miss affair navigating the menu.

Speaking of which, the display is a 1.2-inch 360×360 Super AMOLED Always-On Display (AOD) protected by Gorilla Glass 3. As expected from Samsung, the display is top notch in terms of brightness, contrast and vibrancy.

There are two tactile buttons on the right size of the watch, one to access the Home/Power and the other essentially a Back button.

You may not see it but there’s a mic in between the hardware buttons which can be used to invoke the S Voice assistant.

Underneath the case you’ll find an optical heart rate monitor (HRM), similar to its sibling. No surprises or any change here.

What’s really be uprated is the water-resistance, now 5ATM (up to 50 metres). Compared to the S3 Frontier which offers only IP68, the Gear Sport is more suited for aquatic activities like swimming, although high-pressure activities like diving isn’t advised.

Hardware

Under the hood, nothing much has changed. The Gear Sport is powered by a familiar dual-core 1GHz processor with 768MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Samsung hasn’t reinvented the wheel or attempted to push the envelope in any way. Certainly no fancy co-processor or AI chip, or anything of that sort. For now.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.2 LE and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS/Glonass, NFC with multiple sensors including accelerometer, gyro sensor, barometer, heart rate monitor and ambient light.

Also, once paired with a compatible phone, you’ll be able to make purchases with a tap using Samsung Pay.

Unlike the Gear S3 Frontier, there is no LTE connectivity built-in but to be frank, it isn’t a big deal.

Samsung also hasn’t upped battery capacity in any way, rated at 300mAh.

Software

The Gear Sport runs the latest Tizen OS 3.0 which, in my opinion, slick, fast and intuitive.

Samsung’s very own Tizen has grown from strength to strength, and has matured nicely over the past two years. If I can be honest, I find Tizen more visually appealing and more intuitive to use compared to Android Wear. And bloody hell, no flat tire.

Arguably, there’s less choice in terms of app selection as compared to watchOS or Android Wear, but it has gotten better. And yes, it has moved beyond offering just third party watch faces. *snigger*.

Speaking of which, there’s now support for offline Spotify, so even if you’re running on Standalone mode (untethered to smartphone), you can bring your favourite music with you on-the-go. It also supports voice search, so you can explore songs to stream or play offline.

I’m not huge on apps on a smartwatch, and have a minimal amount of third party apps on my Frontier. Having said that, essentials like Uber, Spotify, Flipboard, and Camera Gear (just to name a few), are there. Surprisingly, there’s also connected car apps like BMW Connected. Let’s not forget the dedicated Speedo app for all your aquatic endeavours. And by the way, there are over 10,000 apps for Tizen currently.

A huge plus for me is that the Gear Sport offers compatibility with both iOS and Android, something the Apple Watch Series 3 lacks. User experience across both platforms is generally consistent, and I found no major issues using it on a non-Samsung smartphone.

What’s pretty powerful is Samsung’s S Health, which offers all-day activity tracking, steps, sleep, workout, and if you want, count your calories too. Accessing S Health from a smartphone will give you some rich data, displayed in a dashboard-type layout.

The cool thing about the Gear Sport is that it will nudge you to get active if you’ve been on your butt for too long, and will also send you notifications if you’ve hit your goals.

[nextpage title=”Performance, Pros, Cons + Verdict”]

Performance

First thing’s first. Battery life. In general, the Gear Sport will return around three days of battery life with AOD turned off. You’ll be able to stretch it slightly further when it’s used untethered.

With everything full on—AOD, GPS, notifications, expect to charge every other day. It isn’t bad, just not fantastic.

As I usually have it tethered but with AOD turned off, I end up charging it every other day, just to be on the safe side.

What I do like is power saving mode which extends battery life when the watch is running low on juice. It’s not super crippling, as it still gives out audible notifications to keep you updated and also continues to track your steps.

Charging is convenient, thanks to the familiar charging dock, probably the best-looking dock amongst the competition. The dock connects to any smartphone power brick via micro-USB cable. On the down side, the watch + charging dock isn’t Qi charging compatible, so if you ever misplace the dock, you’re going to be left with… a dead watch on your hand.

I’m a fan of Tizen as a wearable OS as it’s slick and intuitive, compared to Android Wear. The recent OTA update refines the UI further, adding quick settings, new beautiful watch faces and enhancements.

I also prefer the typography and visual language in Tizen, which is more optimised for the small screen.

Coupled with the rotating bezel, I think Tizen makes an incredible wearable OS and it has potential to go further.

A big plus for me is the ability to play Spotify offline. This isn’t found on any other platform, including Android Wear.

The step counter and HRM are two things I use the most on a daily basis and I like that the watch nudges me to get active when I’m stationary for too long.

The HRM could be better though, sometimes failing to detect and take measurements.

In terms of fitness tracking as a whole, the Gear Sport offers a plethora of trackable workouts including the usual suspects, running, cycling, swimming, or even doing crunches.

What I like is that there’s automatic workout tracking which comes into effect after you start your activity. For instance, if you get on a bike and start cycling, the watch will recognise this and start tracking your stats without any user interaction.

For the sake of the review, I’ve worn the watch to sleep to track my sleep patterns. I’m generally sceptical about the accuracy of sleep trackers, even on my Fitbit or Mi Band, but it at least gives you an estimate of how much shuteye you’re getting. It worked alright for me, so no particular complaints.

One niggling thing that has plagued not only the Gear Sport, but its sibling the Gear S3 and predecessor Gear S2 is the wrist-on gesture. Since I use the watch with AOD turned off, the wrist-on gesture helps to wake up the watch with the turn of the wrist. However, I found the feature a little hit-and-miss, not even close to the responsiveness of the Apple Watch.

If it bothers you, I’d suggest you use it with AOD turned on. Nonetheless, Samsung needs to improve on this.

Pros

Great design and build

That awesome bezel

Lighter and thinner than Gear S3 Frontier

Swim-proof

Offline Spotify

Decent battery life

Tizen OS is fantastic

Fabulous display

iOS and Android compatibility

Cons

Strap feels slightly cheapish

While improving, Tizen still lacks apps

HRM sometimes doesn’t work well

Battery life can be better

Wrist-on gesture is hit-and-miss

No Qi charging support

In the Box

Gear Sport unit

Micro-USB cable

Charging Dock

Manual

Carry bag

Extra strap (large or small)

Pricing and availability

The Samsung Gear Sport is available now for MYR1,299 at Samsung Experience Stores, authorised retailers and you can also buy it from Lazada.

Verdict

When we talk about smartwatches, only several options come to mind: Samsung Gear S3 Frontier, Apple Watch, or perhaps even the Huawei Watch. However, there’s a new kid in town, and he’s a sporty one who loves water.

The Gear Sport offers plenty of refinement and is a neat little package. It bridges the gap between a smartwatch and fitness tracker, and it does a pretty decent job of it. If you’re looking for a watch that is swim-proof, this is a viable alternative to the Apple Watch Series 3 or 2.

Samsung Gear Sport review: Fit for the active I have two favourite smartwatches right now—the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and the Apple Watch Series 3…

#fitness tracker #gear s3 frontier #gear sport #Samsung #samsung gear sport #smartwatch #Spotify #tizen #Tizen OS #wearable

[2traveldads-blog]

There are so many great towns on California’s Central Coast. We moved on from the Santa Maria Valley to the San Luis Obispo area (SLO) before hitting up Cambria and loved it (I know, we love every city we visit).  We’re pretty excited to share this awesome place, as it’s home to some great culture, nature and fun!  And they call it SLO CAL, so you know there’s an aspect to the city that’s all about keeping a mellow vibe.

Before this visit, we’d only really known San Luis Obispo as a college town, home to CalPoly SLO.  It’s more than that though and actually doesn’t even have the feel of a college town.  Check out our ideas for spending a few days (or more) in SLO CAL and you’ll be ready to hit the road and chill like we did.

Locale of San Luis Obispo

Smack dab between San Francisco and Los Angeles, SLO CAL is directly on Highway 101 making it impossible to miss if you’re doing a road trip.  A lot of people wanting to visit California are seeking out the wine towns up in Napa and Sonoma, but there is awesome wine country in the SLO area, such as Paso Robles or the Santa Maria Valley.  SLO CAL puts you in the perfect spot for both!

And if you are touring colleges and trying to make life decisions, San Luis Obispo (SBP) is an easy flight from nearly any west coast airport… which is also nice if you have parents that will want to visit you or fly you home on a regular basis.  Can you tell that we’re already thinking about these things even though our kids are so young?

Outdoor adventures around SLO CAL

No road trip is complete for us if we’re not seeing out activities in the fresh air.  We’ve tried to keep that a constant theme for traveling with kids, so thank goodness SLO CAL is all about the perfect blend of culture and recreation.

Kayaking on Morro Bay

You know how much we love to get out on the water for kayaking, right?  Well, Morro Bay State Park was the perfect spot for it.  We worked with the Kayak Shack within the Morro Bay State Park marina to head out into the bay in search of sea otters.  We didn’t get to spot any of them (bummer, total fav) but we did see a sea lion, osprey and a whole pelican nesting ground.  The kids loved the crazy pelican activity to start the day.

Tip:  apparently the sea otters hang out in the cove area around the large marina of the town of Morro Bay. Other kayakers told us that they’ve had amazing luck spotting the once endangered cuddly critters.

For the second part of our kayaking, we moved from the center of Morro Bay onto the dunes area, also part of the State Park.  If you’ve never experienced them, sand dunes are really cool and so much fun!  We paddled across the Morro Bay State Marine Reserve and ran our kayaks ashore at the base of the dunes. After crossing the sand flat (totally felt like walking on marshmallows) we started scaling the sand dunes.

The kids had loads of fun running up and down the dunes and crashing into the soft, hot sand.  A perfect morning activity.  We love kayaking adventures and the added thrill of exploring the dunes made starting our day in SLO CAL even better!

Tip:  set some ground rules with kids before letting them loose on sand dunes. The sand is exhausting to hike across and it can be hot, so be wise about the amount of time on the dunes. Also, remember that sand gets into eyes really easily, especially when it’s dry and windy, so depending on weather conditions, this could be a problem.

Hiking Cerro San Luis Obispo

When we were looking at our itinerary for SLO CAL we were glad to see that we had a chance for some hiking… while still within the city. Driving over to Cerro San Luis Obispo we were directed by somebody in the neighborhood as to where to park and how to get to the sights along the trail.  

We were hiking to the lemon grove via the Lemon Grove Loop, which was pretty cool and totally random.  We got some beautiful views of San Luis Obispo and the kids were totally into checking out the modest but interesting lemon grove on the hillside.  While this might not sound like the most interesting sight, when you’re hiking with kids it’s a great surprise for the day.

Tip:  don’t forget to bring water. There are no water stations at the start or along the trail, so be prepared.

Beach time at Montaña de Oro State Park

We love California State Parks.  We had a great time as Oso Flaco down in the Santa Maria Valley, so to add another one just up the coast took no convincing.  Montaña de Oro State Park is located down the hill from the city of San Luis Obispo, past the town of Los Osos.  To get to the beach, you’ve got to wind through the high hills and eucalyptus groves until you’re down at sea level. It’s a beautiful drive and worth just doing that.

Once you’re through the winding spots, Spooner’s Cove is a really cool beach to hang at and explore.  The sand is chunky and full of interesting shells, there are smooth rock strips of the beach, a smaller cove, some sea caves, tide pools… Shall I go on?  This one stop will eat up an afternoon or a whole day if you want.  There are also hiking trails going up from Spooner’s Cove to get you up to some of the incredible coastal views within Montaña de Oro State Park.

Tip: bring a beach blanket if you want to spend any time just relaxing. The makeup of the beach (sand/shells/rocks) isn’t the most comfortable for laying out, so be prepared if you want to spend time relaxing… as is the SLO CAL way.

Fun in Downtown San Luis Obispo

SLO is such a cool town.  Really.  Besides the fact that it’s very walkable and interesting just as you wander the streets, it’s also got a cool urban-jungle type path that winds along the creek flowing through the town.  Add to that an alleyway covered in gum (gross) and lot’s of great food and sights and you’ll love it too!

Visiting Mission San Luis Obispo

We’ve visited several missions with the kids and they’re always both interested and not. As adults we really enjoyed the sight of it all and the history, but for younger kids it’s not a top pick.

It is a very well maintained, active mission and it offered both educational opportunities as well as just a nice, quiet place to sit and observe.  What we dads enjoyed the most about Mission San Luis Obispo were the ancient grapes vines in the courtyard (not for picking though) and the beautiful paintings on the walls inside the chapel.  The flowers lining the nave were really pretty and very unusual.

Tip:  if you can arrive at the right time, there are docent-led tours of Mission San Luis Obispo. We were able to join the end of one and it was fascinating.

San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum

We really needed this stop.  The boys love their children’s museums and also are truly appreciative when we can spend time in a new one.  The San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum had some super cool exhibits that kept the kids occupied for a loooong time.  I had to break them away so we could grab lunch… and then we had to return directly following lunch.  

The coolest thing for the kids though was the topographic map sand:  pliable sand that you could build with that had a sensor and lighting above it, responding to the shapes of the sand to make topographic maps. My adult mind was blown away. The staff was also very nice and we felt extra welcome.

Tip: even though a children’s museum seems like a place you can let your kids wander and you can just zone into your phone or something, don’t do it. Pay attention to what your kids are captivated by and get involved with their playing.  You might have just as much fun.

Dining around SLO CAL

A wonderful thing we noticed about San Luis Obispo almost immediately was the amount of outdoor and open air seating.  We were fortunate enough to get to try several spots that let us enjoy the sunshine and cool breezes of SLO.

Our first SLO CAL meal was at the Flour House. What a cool restaurant!  We love Neapolitan style pizza… and Italian apps.  Flour House used some delicious combinations of traditional Italian ingredients paired with California flare. Fennel sausage and broccoli or bacon and mushrooms, the pizzas were perfect.  And there were scallops and carpaccio too… Also, the beverages were delicious.  Using interesting liqueurs like nocino and orgeat, the concoctions were a nice change from wine. Don’t get me wrong, we were totally excited to try more of the Central Coast’s wines, but a craft cocktail is always appreciated.

Other spots we found delicious food with the SLO CAL vibe were Mint + Craft and Big Sky. Both were all about tasty California fusion food.  We enjoyed the gambit, from California style bahn mi to paella and ahi tacos.  Never a dull meal.  

Also, SLO Provisions was an awesome spot with kids. A deli-counter style lunch spot re-imagined to be something more (and with delicious salads), SLO Provisions was reminded us of the type of restaurant we would love to open some day.  Clean, good food with local ingredients and an uplifting atmosphere, it was the perfect final meal for us while in SLO CAL.

Tip: when you’re in a cool town like San Luis Obispo, take advantage of the local restaurants that you won’t find anywhere else. Local dining typically supports local farmers and you’ll get the best impression of the local cuisine, and in the case of SLO, fresh California fusion.

Oh!!  And we almost forgot!!  Can you visit or drive through San Luis Obispo without visiting the Madonna Inn?  We had breakfast one day at the Copper Cafe at the Madonna Inn and loved the kitchy craziness of the property.  The kids’ favorite feature was, of course, the waterfall bathroom downstairs from the steakhouse.  Who doesn’t want to pee into a waterfall?  Our food wasn’t mind-blowingly great, but the atmosphere was fun and ideal with kids.

Where to stay in SLO CAL: the Apple Farm Inn

We arrived at our hotel, the Apple Farm Inn, a bit early, but that just meant that we got to relax and spend some time at the pool.  Down-time is so important when you’re traveling with kids, so we were glad to enjoy the gardens and the pool area at the Apple Farm.  

Being completely farm themed, the Apple Farm Inn was so different from any other hotels we’ve stayed at in the past. Everything was country chic, including our rooster covered bedspreads.  The best part though was for sure the layout of our room.  We had a type of suite that was very long with a large bathroom, a sleeping area, and then a sitting area with a fireplace.  When you travel as much as we do, you really come to appreciate spacious rooms, especially when there’s some separation and you can stay up later than the kids.

Overall, the Apple Farm Inn was a very nice, quiet place for our family and we enjoyed our time there.  It’s not flashy like some of the places we’ve stayed in Puerto Rico or downtown Seattle, but the people were wonderful and we felt quite at home.

We’ll no doubt be back to SLO CAL in the future.  We didn’t get to check out all of the surrounding towns, such as Los Osos or Morro Bay (the town itself), Avila or Pismo Beach… We’ll have to return in the summer to get the rest of the experience.  The chill vibe of SLO CAL was great amidst a busy schedule with kids and we’d recommend it as a stopover or main destination for any family heading out on a California Coast road trip.

Want to pin this for planning your next California road trip?  Go for it!

San Luis Obispo, California: SLO CAL at its best There are so many great towns on California’s Central Coast. We moved on from the Santa Maria Valley…

#California State Parks #children&039;s museum #food travel #hiking #kayaking #Montana de Oro #San Luis Obispo

[jamiesuniblog-blog]

Student Journal (Assignment 2)

End of Week 1

For my first week at Amnplify, I straightaway got into the action and had a live review. The first one was Gordi at the Thousand Pound Bend in Melbourne. This venue was like entering an episode of Pretty Little Liars. It was a dark, mystic shed with a few lights that created a dark, mysterious atmosphere. Gordi took to the stage with a small crowd of around 200 and the mood was electric. The hollow shed absolutely complemented her vocals and it was such a special gig to be a part of. I felt like I wasn’t even working because I knew exactly how I was going to write my review for the show. It was so effortless as I felt so much passion in my task of writing the review.

I also had a single review this week for Demi Lovato’s new single Sorry Not Sorry. Being a massive fan I just had to cover her comeback and once again I absolutely smashed my review as I felt like I could write with such confidence and ease.

I think the hardest part about this week was watching the tutorial video on how to edit and post our reviews for the website before they went live. It took a few hours to wrap my head around the editing aspect of it but once I got the hang of it all, everything was pretty straightforward.

End of Week 2

This week I had an interview with artist TESHA on her new EP release. I had to send a set of fifteen questions to her team and they would eventually email me back with TESHA’s answers. The response was surprisingly super quick. The responses to my questions stunned me as they were so in depth and descriptive which is not what I expected. It was such a cool experience having that communication with an artist and getting a deeper insight into the meaning of their music. Writing up the review was pretty simple as it was pretty much my questions and her answers.

This week I also had a single review for Selena Gomez’s new track Fetish featuring Gucci Mane. It was fun to write up this review as the music video had come out at the same time so I was able to show more understanding and express a stronger opinion for the review.

What I learnt this week was not to be so afraid of trying something different. I was quite nervous about doing the interview with TESHA because I wasn’t sure if my questions were going to be good or interesting enough as I wasn’t really sure what was the ‘appropriate’ thing to ask. However, everything ran so smoothly and the experience was amazing.

End of Week 3

This week I got to go and do another live review. I went and saw Brightness at the Yah Yah’s in Melbourne. This experience was completely different compared to the Gordi experience in week 1. This venue was at the top of a bar and the crowd was a bit lifeless and dull bringing in around 50 people. The music was really hard to hear, as the speakers weren’t really that clear and it was quite easy to become distracted. When I went to go write this review I had to speak with my boss and emphasise the fact that I felt like I couldn’t really write anything positive about it, as I didn’t find the gig enjoyable. I learnt a really valuable lesson from him that sometimes you just have to push through and do with what you’ve got. My boss helped me tremendously in structuring this particular review.

I also had a single review for Louis Tomlinson for his first solo track Back To You featuring Bebe Rexha. As I absolutely fell in love with this song, I was able to write another passionate review that I felt was really bold in expressing my opinion.

All in all, a interesting and valuable week as I learnt not every review I write is going to be easy but it’s worth the risk to step out of my comfort zone and experience something that is not within my normality.

End of Week 4

This week I was reviewing Little Mix’s concert at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. Reviewing a venue that is quite large compared to the small gigs that I have attended so far, it was such a different experience when it came to writing the review. There were so many more aspects to write about such as the staging, the merchandise, the fandom, the mosh pit, the screens, the outfits, the lighting and so on.

Click here for Little Mix review

Later in the week I also reviewed Julia Michaels’ EP release Nervous System. It was such an incredible ride writing about an album this time, as I was able to write about the journey it took me on and the story between each track on the EP.

The hardest thing about this week was the length of my reviews and the extra amount of time it took due to the concert being long, as well as the EP review being my first non-single review. I also had a performance review with my boss and we went over a few editing tips that he thought I could benefit from. He gave me some really good constructive criticism that I felt was really going to help make my reviews more solid and professional.

End of Week 5

This week was such an entertaining week. Charli XCX dropped a music video for her single Boys and I was over the moon that I had the opportunity to write about it as it featured so many male celebrities within the video. It was so pleasing to review and I felt like with the performance review the week before, I was really getting into the swing of making my reviews look and sound a whole lot better.

Later in the week I also had another single review for Zara Larrson’s single Only You. It was quite a different experience writing about a song that is more of a ballad as the way you express yourself involves a more vulnerable tone that my previous reviews. I was learning a lot about my feelings and emotions towards the music I was hearing which I believe was making me a much stronger journalist.

Then towards the end of the week Camila Cabello dropped her double feature singles OMG and Havana and I just had to review them. It was once again a whole difference experience writing about two singles in the one review, as I had to connect the meaning of the songs and really understand what I was conveying in my writing.

I think what I learnt the most this week was that it’s okay to show a little more vulnerability in my work and not rely so much on all the upbeat kind of work as that’s what my main focus was on weekly. I had such a versatile range of artists and reviews to write that I loved having a sense of diversity to work with.

End of Week 6

This week was the first week I was going to write a whole album review. I listened to Kesha’s comeback album Rainbow the day it dropped and had fourteen songs to write about. Thinking it was going to be an enormous challenge, structuring the review was probably the most difficult part where as writing the actual review flowed so effortlessly. I learnt that writing a review for an album was similar to telling a story, you explain and respond to the different chapters, however they all link together and give you one big picture at the end.

Click here for Kesha review

This week I also had a single review for Justin Bieber’s track Friends with Bloodpop. It was such a drastic change from writing the Kesha review as the sound was completely different and it gave me a good opportunity to once again show some diversity in the work I was doing.

This week I learnt to trust my instincts. When it came to writing the album review I was a little bit scared to be completely honest. However, it really is a piece of art that you’re writing about and there isn’t really a right or wrong answer. I also learnt some new editing tips as album reviews include my images and quotes throughout the final reviews.

End of Week 7

This week I wrote another album review for Australian artist Citizen Kay. As his style of music is the complete opposite of what I usually listen to, I found a new appreciation for his type of genre as I really listened to the words and was able to write a review that was really in depth and meaningful.

I also had a single review for CNCO and Little Mix’s collaboration Reggaeton Lento (Remix). This was such an awesome review to write about, as half the song is sang in Spanish so I had to really rely on the instrumental and the beat of the track to empahsise the way I felt or thought about the song.

This week I was also introduced to a new task which was doing news for the website. Basically in entails picking any media release or promotional content that is sent to our company and editing it for our own website and posting it. The process of this was quite similar to writing a review as the editing aspect was exactly the same. However, instead of writing your own review for a post, you use promotional information for the artist to create the post, which is a lot less time consuming.

I had a lot of fun this week learning about new tasks for the company and performing them. Although I absolutely love writing reviews, it was a nice change to try something different and expose myself to a little bit more of the organisations processes. My boss was extremely helpful in making sure I was comfortable and had enough knowledge to perform the new tasks.

End of Week 8

This week I had Fifth Harmony’s new album Fifth Harmony to review. I straight away learnt that there’s a difference between writing a review for an artist you love compared to an artist who may just seem like another work tasks. You feel like you owe your opinion and honest thoughts to the artist you love, where as if you don’t follow their career or music, you don’t feel the passion in your work explode as heavily. Although I put one hundred percent into every review I do, I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say the feeling is different between each review.

This week I also did a review for Taylor Swift’s comeback single Look What You Made Me Do. This was an extremely fun review to write about as the music video had received so much media attention. It gave me a really good opportunity to write about my side of the track and what I believe the messages are. I also continued with a few media releases for the news section of the website.

Click here for Taylor Swift review

This week I felt really comfortable in achieving my weekly goals. I had another performance review with my boss and he just went over a few editing tips once again for the news section side of my tasks, where as he believed my reviews were edited to perfection. He was also expressing the fact that he was extremely happy with the way that I was writing and creating my work. I was really getting the hang of things and felt like I was fitting really nicely into the company.

End of Week 9

This week I had a live review for Ariana Grande at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. This concert was so exceptional that I couldn’t wait to write about my experience. Each performance Ariana had showed one hundred percent effort and dedication and you couldn’t help but sing and dance along to every track. My review was probably the best review I believe I had written for the company. It was so natural to write and I feel like I really understood the concept of writing professionally now.

I also had a single review for ZAYN’s single Dusk Till Dawn featuring Sia. Once again, this was probably the best single review I had written for the company. I was so passionate and lost in writing this review as I really resonated with the song.

I was really learning to express all my emotions and pour it into my journalism, as I was so proud of the work I was achieving and the new skills I was learning along the way. Along with writing more for the news section this week, I really started to feel like a working man as if this was my life after university.

End of Week 10

For my last week, I finished off with a few single reviews. I did a review for Lorde’s remix to Homemade Dynamite featuring Post Malone, SZA and Khalid. It was such an interesting review to write because I had to incorporate the different perspectives within the track as there were four different artists singing on it.

I also wrote a review for Post Malone’s new single Rockstar featuring 21 Savage. As he was featured in the Lorde track I reviewed earlier in the week, it was kind of weird writing about the same artist but in a different light as his performance in each track was completely different. I had to learn to make sure that I wasn’t changing my tone on who I believed Post Malone was as an artist as I didn’t want to show two different opinions in the two reviews which could come across as non-researched and unprofessional.

Wrapping up my last week, I continued with my work for the news section along the days. It was nice and chill to finish off my last week with a workload that wasn’t as intense as previous weeks. I felt like the most important thing I learnt after working for Amnplify for ten weeks was that I was getting really comfortable with whatever was thrown my way. My writing skills had improved drastically, my editing and software skills had improved drastically, and more importantly, my media skills journalism was at a completely different level now.

[lesterwilliams1]

67% off #How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills – $10

Learn WordPress by making a blog, resume/portfolio, and business website from scratch. No coding or experience required.

All Levels,  –   Video: 9 hours,  123 lectures 

Average rating 4.7/5 (4.7)

Course requirements:

No prior experience required. All you need is internet access!

Course description:

What if you could learn to make a blog, portfolio, or business website over the weekend? Without prior experience and without writing code.

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To see the actual websites we’re going to build in the course, check out the first video in sections 5, 6, and 7.

Some of the main things you’ll learn in the course

how to use WordPress (dashboard, toolbar, themes, plugins, Jetpack, pages, posts, users, comments, menus, widgets) how to choose the right domain name how to register a domain name how to set up web hosting how to install WordPress why use subdomains and how to set one up how to set up Google Analytics how to use Chrome Developer Tools how to add an email capture form how to add eCommerce capabilities and sell products on your site where to get free, commercial-use images where to get free, commercial-use web icons how to make a logo on-page SEO off-page SEO how to make sure your website looks good on any screen, tablet, or smartphone the best free tools for web developers and designers tons of topics explained and defined

This course is very comprehensive and packed with content so that you can learn everything you need to know to create a website. And remember, if this course doesn’t provide the value you expected, you can get a full refund within 30 days.

Full details Learn to create a business site with testimonials, clear calls to action, and eCommerce capabilities to sell products online Learn to create a blog with images, video, email capture forms, and beautiful share buttons Learn to create an online resume/portfolio with visual representation of skills, lightbox for displaying portfolio images, and a simple contact form for others to get in touch Choose the right domain name for your site Get your web hosting set up Learn how to make a logo Learn to optimize your website for search engines Learn to add and manage content on your website Learn how to use some of the best tools for web developers Learn how to sell products on your website Become proficient in WordPress to create websites for yourself or others Learn to create responsive, mobile friendly websites

Full details Anyone who wants to create a website for their business (to sell products, showcase services, or display contact info) Anyone who wants to create a resume/portfolio website (to display skills, experience, and resume, or showcase past projects and portfolio items) Anyone who wants to create a blog (to accompany a business site, capture emails, or as a personal blog) Anyone who wants to learn how to develop websites in general Anyone who wants to learn how to use WordPress to develop websites

Full details

Reviews:

“This course is very in depth and Hoku teaches you how wield the power of WordPress like a pro. The resources he shows you are super useful and valuable. I particularly appreciate the lectures he spends on SEO, which is a concept that often is left out of web development/design courses. I do know how to code, so the parts where he actually does go into the code files are not alien to me, but he explains things in such a clear way that I think anyone would easily understand it. All in all, a great course!” (Angie Siu)

“He goes through soooo much, plenty of detail and even a child could do this course” (Charlie Dee)

“great job” (Muyumba Messages)

    About Instructor:

Hoku Ho

I design and develop mobile apps and websites. I got started by designing wireframes and mockups in Adobe Illustrator for an iPhone app company I co-founded in college. That company grew to over 600,000 app installs worldwide. I then learned about HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, Javascript, and WordPress while building the site Well Gifted, which reached 10,000 new, unique visitors in its first month. I was especially impressed with WordPress because of the ease of use and speed of development. I have since started teaching others how to make beautiful websites from scratch using WordPress. Here is what some of my students are saying: “This course was extremely helpful for me. I went from having no experience whatsoever to having my own website in 2 days. It’s invaluable for anyone who’s thinking of setting up a WordPress website and doesn’t have any prior knowledge. The production is great – engaging and informative. I love the way that each bite-sized video automatically loads the next one. Each video is just a few minutes long – so it’s not overwhelming. And you even get to know how far along you are in the course as you advance through the lessons. Asking questions is easy through the discussions option – I’ve asked several ‘silly’ questions and had them answered quickly and helpfully. You rock Hoku – thank you” -David Miller “Very good course on the subject. And what’s even better is the support from Hoku. When presenting your ‘problem’, he answers prompt the solution. This is how all courses should be. Chapeau” -Herman Bos “If you’ve ever wanted to know how to put up a professional looking website in record time without hiring anyone, this is the course. I’m experienced in setting up WordPress sites, but this course has introduced me to information and techniques that I did not know. Wonderful!” -Scott Ames “I enjoyed this course and learned a lot from it. Hoku was great, answered questions quickly and was very responsive. I recommend this course for anyone wanting to get started with WordPress.” -Susan Pittman “The course is very easy to follow, and Hoku is extremely helpful and active. I never find myself growing impatient while going through the lectures as I do with some other courses because Hoku gets right to the point while still making sure not to move too fast which is great for beginners. I definitely recommend this course.” -Justin Del Toro “I’ve really enjoyed taking this course, it’s very comprehensive and covers a range of different websites that can be created in WordPress. The tutor is clear and easy to follow with the steps to take easily followed and the video and audio quality of the course is great.” -Wayne Waite “Your courses are like one-stop solution to struggling unemployed people to make cool self-intro websites with awesome plugins within minutes. I love your tuts and hope to do more. Cheers.” -Ramki M “Before I took this course I knew nothing about building a website or WordPress. This course exceeded my expectations. Hoku explained things very clearly, and he spoke slowly so I could take notes. He’s very good at explaining the technical parts and his thought process. I highly recommend this course!” -Dar Firmade

Instructor Other Courses:

How to Make an Online Store w/ WordPress – eCommerce Website How to Make a Video Blog Website From Scratch w/ WordPress How to Make a Single Page Website for Freelancers & Agencies …………………………………………………………… Hoku Ho coupons Development course coupon Udemy Development course coupon Web Development course coupon Udemy Web Development course coupon How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills course coupon How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills coupon coupons

The post 67% off #How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills – $10 appeared first on Udemy Cupón.

from Udemy Cupón http://www.xpresslearn.com/udemy/coupon/67-off-how-to-make-a-website-without-coding-wordpress-web-skills-10/

from https://xpresslearn.wordpress.com/2017/02/19/67-off-how-to-make-a-website-without-coding-wordpress-web-skills-10/

[xpresslearn]

67% off #How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills – $10

Learn WordPress by making a blog, resume/portfolio, and business website from scratch. No coding or experience required.

All Levels,  –   Video: 9 hours,  123 lectures 

Average rating 4.7/5 (4.7)

Course requirements:

No prior experience required. All you need is internet access!

Course description:

What if you could learn to make a blog, portfolio, or business website over the weekend? Without prior experience and without writing code.

Now you can.

Learn by making 3 different websites

You’ll learn how to get your website live on the internet (registering a domain name, hosting, etc.), how to use WordPress [dot] org, and other web tips like making a logo and SEO basics.

Then we’ll actually build 3 different websites together, step by step, from start to finish. We’ll make a blog, a business site, and an online resume/portfolio. Each website is completely responsive, so it will look good on any screen, tablet, or smartphone.

To see the actual websites we’re going to build in the course, check out the first video in sections 5, 6, and 7.

Some of the main things you’ll learn in the course

how to use WordPress (dashboard, toolbar, themes, plugins, Jetpack, pages, posts, users, comments, menus, widgets) how to choose the right domain name how to register a domain name how to set up web hosting how to install WordPress why use subdomains and how to set one up how to set up Google Analytics how to use Chrome Developer Tools how to add an email capture form how to add eCommerce capabilities and sell products on your site where to get free, commercial-use images where to get free, commercial-use web icons how to make a logo on-page SEO off-page SEO how to make sure your website looks good on any screen, tablet, or smartphone the best free tools for web developers and designers tons of topics explained and defined

This course is very comprehensive and packed with content so that you can learn everything you need to know to create a website. And remember, if this course doesn’t provide the value you expected, you can get a full refund within 30 days.

Full details Learn to create a business site with testimonials, clear calls to action, and eCommerce capabilities to sell products online Learn to create a blog with images, video, email capture forms, and beautiful share buttons Learn to create an online resume/portfolio with visual representation of skills, lightbox for displaying portfolio images, and a simple contact form for others to get in touch Choose the right domain name for your site Get your web hosting set up Learn how to make a logo Learn to optimize your website for search engines Learn to add and manage content on your website Learn how to use some of the best tools for web developers Learn how to sell products on your website Become proficient in WordPress to create websites for yourself or others Learn to create responsive, mobile friendly websites

Full details Anyone who wants to create a website for their business (to sell products, showcase services, or display contact info) Anyone who wants to create a resume/portfolio website (to display skills, experience, and resume, or showcase past projects and portfolio items) Anyone who wants to create a blog (to accompany a business site, capture emails, or as a personal blog) Anyone who wants to learn how to develop websites in general Anyone who wants to learn how to use WordPress to develop websites

Full details

Reviews:

“This course is very in depth and Hoku teaches you how wield the power of WordPress like a pro. The resources he shows you are super useful and valuable. I particularly appreciate the lectures he spends on SEO, which is a concept that often is left out of web development/design courses. I do know how to code, so the parts where he actually does go into the code files are not alien to me, but he explains things in such a clear way that I think anyone would easily understand it. All in all, a great course!” (Angie Siu)

“He goes through soooo much, plenty of detail and even a child could do this course” (Charlie Dee)

“great job” (Muyumba Messages)

    About Instructor:

Hoku Ho

I design and develop mobile apps and websites. I got started by designing wireframes and mockups in Adobe Illustrator for an iPhone app company I co-founded in college. That company grew to over 600,000 app installs worldwide. I then learned about HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, Javascript, and WordPress while building the site Well Gifted, which reached 10,000 new, unique visitors in its first month. I was especially impressed with WordPress because of the ease of use and speed of development. I have since started teaching others how to make beautiful websites from scratch using WordPress. Here is what some of my students are saying: “This course was extremely helpful for me. I went from having no experience whatsoever to having my own website in 2 days. It’s invaluable for anyone who’s thinking of setting up a WordPress website and doesn’t have any prior knowledge. The production is great – engaging and informative. I love the way that each bite-sized video automatically loads the next one. Each video is just a few minutes long – so it’s not overwhelming. And you even get to know how far along you are in the course as you advance through the lessons. Asking questions is easy through the discussions option – I’ve asked several ‘silly’ questions and had them answered quickly and helpfully. You rock Hoku – thank you” -David Miller “Very good course on the subject. And what’s even better is the support from Hoku. When presenting your ‘problem’, he answers prompt the solution. This is how all courses should be. Chapeau” -Herman Bos “If you’ve ever wanted to know how to put up a professional looking website in record time without hiring anyone, this is the course. I’m experienced in setting up WordPress sites, but this course has introduced me to information and techniques that I did not know. Wonderful!” -Scott Ames “I enjoyed this course and learned a lot from it. Hoku was great, answered questions quickly and was very responsive. I recommend this course for anyone wanting to get started with WordPress.” -Susan Pittman “The course is very easy to follow, and Hoku is extremely helpful and active. I never find myself growing impatient while going through the lectures as I do with some other courses because Hoku gets right to the point while still making sure not to move too fast which is great for beginners. I definitely recommend this course.” -Justin Del Toro “I’ve really enjoyed taking this course, it’s very comprehensive and covers a range of different websites that can be created in WordPress. The tutor is clear and easy to follow with the steps to take easily followed and the video and audio quality of the course is great.” -Wayne Waite “Your courses are like one-stop solution to struggling unemployed people to make cool self-intro websites with awesome plugins within minutes. I love your tuts and hope to do more. Cheers.” -Ramki M “Before I took this course I knew nothing about building a website or WordPress. This course exceeded my expectations. Hoku explained things very clearly, and he spoke slowly so I could take notes. He’s very good at explaining the technical parts and his thought process. I highly recommend this course!” -Dar Firmade

Instructor Other Courses:

How to Make an Online Store w/ WordPress – eCommerce Website How to Make a Video Blog Website From Scratch w/ WordPress How to Make a Single Page Website for Freelancers & Agencies …………………………………………………………… Hoku Ho coupons Development course coupon Udemy Development course coupon Web Development course coupon Udemy Web Development course coupon How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills course coupon How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills coupon coupons

The post 67% off #How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills – $10 appeared first on Udemy Cupón.

from http://www.xpresslearn.com/udemy/coupon/67-off-how-to-make-a-website-without-coding-wordpress-web-skills-10/

[lewiskdavid90]

67% off #How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills – $10

Learn WordPress by making a blog, resume/portfolio, and business website from scratch. No coding or experience required.

All Levels,  – 9 hours,  123 lectures 

Average rating 4.4/5 (4.4 (92 ratings) Instead of using a simple lifetime average, Udemy calculates a course’s star rating by considering a number of different factors such as the number of ratings, the age of ratings, and the likelihood of fraudulent ratings.)

Course requirements:

No prior experience required. All you need is internet access!

Course description:

What if you could learn to make a blog, portfolio, or business website over the weekend? Without prior experience and without writing code.

Now you can.

Learn by making 3 different websites

You’ll learn how to get your website live on the internet (registering a domain name, hosting, etc.), how to use WordPress [dot] org, and other web tips like making a logo and SEO basics.

Then we’ll actually build 3 different websites together, step by step, from start to finish. We’ll make a blog, a business site, and an online resume/portfolio. Each website is completely responsive, so it will look good on any screen, tablet, or smartphone.

To see the actual websites we’re going to build in the course, check out the first video in sections 5, 6, and 7.

Some of the main things you’ll learn in the course

how to use WordPress (dashboard, toolbar, themes, plugins, Jetpack, pages, posts, users, comments, menus, widgets) how to choose the right domain name how to register a domain name how to set up web hosting how to install WordPress why use subdomains and how to set one up how to set up Google Analytics how to use Chrome Developer Tools how to add an email capture form how to add eCommerce capabilities and sell products on your site where to get free, commercial-use images where to get free, commercial-use web icons how to make a logo on-page SEO off-page SEO how to make sure your website looks good on any screen, tablet, or smartphone the best free tools for web developers and designers tons of topics explained and defined

This course is very comprehensive and packed with content so that you can learn everything you need to know to create a website. And remember, if this course doesn’t provide the value you expected, you can get a full refund within 30 days.

Full details Learn to create a business site with testimonials, clear calls to action, and eCommerce capabilities to sell products online Learn to create a blog with images, video, email capture forms, and beautiful share buttons Learn to create an online resume/portfolio with visual representation of skills, lightbox for displaying portfolio images, and a simple contact form for others to get in touch Choose the right domain name for your site Get your web hosting set up Learn how to make a logo Learn to optimize your website for search engines Learn to add and manage content on your website Learn how to use some of the best tools for web developers Learn how to sell products on your website Become proficient in WordPress to create websites for yourself or others Learn to create responsive, mobile friendly websites

Full details Anyone who wants to create a website for their business (to sell products, showcase services, or display contact info) Anyone who wants to create a resume/portfolio website (to display skills, experience, and resume, or showcase past projects and portfolio items) Anyone who wants to create a blog (to accompany a business site, capture emails, or as a personal blog) Anyone who wants to learn how to develop websites in general Anyone who wants to learn how to use WordPress to develop websites

Full details

Reviews:

“This course is really first class. One or two of the yoast plugins are now out of date and a couple of the lectures need updating but it is very well done and makes setting up a really good website a no brainer” (Peter Nethercot)

“This course is very in depth and Hoku teaches you how wield the power of WordPress like a pro. The resources he shows you are super useful and valuable. I particularly appreciate the lectures he spends on SEO, which is a concept that often is left out of web development/design courses. I do know how to code, so the parts where he actually does go into the code files are not alien to me, but he explains things in such a clear way that I think anyone would easily understand it. All in all, a great course!” (Angie Siu)

“comprehensive, and so simple it takes you from zero to hero Thanks So much for your effort” (Wael Mostafa)

  About Instructor:

Hoku Ho

I design and develop mobile apps and websites. I got started by designing wireframes and mockups in Adobe Illustrator for an iPhone app company I co-founded in college. That company grew to over 600,000 app installs worldwide. I then learned about HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, Javascript, and WordPress while building the site Well Gifted, which reached 10,000 new, unique visitors in its first month. I was especially impressed with WordPress because of the ease of use and speed of development. I have since started teaching others how to make beautiful websites from scratch using WordPress. Here is what some of my students are saying: “This course was extremely helpful for me. I went from having no experience whatsoever to having my own website in 2 days. It’s invaluable for anyone who’s thinking of setting up a WordPress website and doesn’t have any prior knowledge. The production is great – engaging and informative. I love the way that each bite-sized video automatically loads the next one. Each video is just a few minutes long – so it’s not overwhelming. And you even get to know how far along you are in the course as you advance through the lessons. Asking questions is easy through the discussions option – I’ve asked several ‘silly’ questions and had them answered quickly and helpfully. You rock Hoku – thank you” -David Miller “Very good course on the subject. And what’s even better is the support from Hoku. When presenting your ‘problem’, he answers prompt the solution. This is how all courses should be. Chapeau” -Herman Bos “If you’ve ever wanted to know how to put up a professional looking website in record time without hiring anyone, this is the course. I’m experienced in setting up WordPress sites, but this course has introduced me to information and techniques that I did not know. Wonderful!” -Scott Ames “I enjoyed this course and learned a lot from it. Hoku was great, answered questions quickly and was very responsive. I recommend this course for anyone wanting to get started with WordPress.” -Susan Pittman “The course is very easy to follow, and Hoku is extremely helpful and active. I never find myself growing impatient while going through the lectures as I do with some other courses because Hoku gets right to the point while still making sure not to move too fast which is great for beginners. I definitely recommend this course.” -Justin Del Toro “I’ve really enjoyed taking this course, it’s very comprehensive and covers a range of different websites that can be created in WordPress. The tutor is clear and easy to follow with the steps to take easily followed and the video and audio quality of the course is great.” -Wayne Waite “Your courses are like one-stop solution to struggling unemployed people to make cool self-intro websites with awesome plugins within minutes. I love your tuts and hope to do more. Cheers.” -Ramki M “Before I took this course I knew nothing about building a website or WordPress. This course exceeded my expectations. Hoku explained things very clearly, and he spoke slowly so I could take notes. He’s very good at explaining the technical parts and his thought process. I highly recommend this course!” -Dar Firmade

Instructor Other Courses:

How to Make an Online Store w/ WordPress – eCommerce Website Hoku Ho, Web Developer, Designer (506) Free How to Make a Video Blog Website From Scratch w/ WordPress How to Make a Single Page Website for Freelancers & Agencies …………………………………………………………… Hoku Ho coupons Development course coupon Udemy Development course coupon Web Development course coupon Udemy Web Development course coupon How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills course coupon How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills coupon coupons

The post 67% off #How to Make a Website Without Coding- WordPress & Web Skills – $10 appeared first on Udemy Cupón/ Udemy Coupon/.

from Udemy Cupón/ Udemy Coupon/ http://coursetag.com/udemy/coupon/67-off-how-to-make-a-website-without-coding-wordpress-web-skills-10/ from Course Tag https://coursetagcom.tumblr.com/post/156987791908