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dpargyle · 7 years

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Winter of My Discontents

Alright, moving on –

So this is the first day of shit weather this year where I live. It’s weird – growing up in New York I remember the seasons – but here we only have two – winter and construction. It goes from 80 to 40 (F) in about a week – so yesterday was 75 and sunny and I could read outside and actually talk to people and today it’s 59 and rainy and cloudy and I just wanna set everything on fire.

I fucking hate it.

Kids – I fucking hate winter. It glooms over you – and everything goes from bright and outside to monochrome and “fuck you.” My wheelchair can’t go over the snow and it snows here from like the beginning of November to the middle of April and all of those months here I loathe. Summer’s ok here but you’re still surrounded by religious lunatics.

Nobody plows their fucking sidewalk in winter so I have to literally risk my life by driving my wheelchair in the middle of roads with cars in order to cross my own godsdamn street just to get food and now this year

my Dad wants me to come into the office three times a week.

(So – to explain my work situation – OK – so technically I’m unemployed – and that’s cuz of the stupid fucking government who says like “oh you’re making above this much money as a person in a wheelchair? Well in that case Medicaid isn’t gonna pay for your attendants to help you get up in the morning and go to bed at night (I’d need to make, like, 25k or so a year to afford that basically)” and also if you save literally one dollar more than $2,000 at one time on all your bank accounts combined we’ll also cut your Medicaid funding for the attendants and very expensive medical equipment (my chair costs 36k every 5 years) as well!” so I’m very much hamstrung by bureaucratic bullshit) –

so in order to get around all this nonsense – I (with the help of my family) am officially unemployed but I live in an apartment that’s technically rented by my Dad’s company – and in return I write and edit (and have been for like 6 years now) an e-magazine about the 3D Printing Industry (I don’t put my name on it though because again, government…) – which is kinda interesting and has allowed me to do both that and focus on my creative work as well – and I also do some freelance writing and one time an artistic thing for the company as well – (that money gets funneled to a bank account the government doesn’t know about) but mostly I’m glad I’ve had these jobs but they’re not…I don’t get excited about them. I know other people might, but – I’m not one of them hahaha. I really want to work creatively, but you know…)

In any case, while my Dad does run the main company as CEO he didn’t hire me – it wasn’t his idea – the owner of the company (who has lots of $$$) – after a year of me searching for jobs after college (very unsuccessfully) called me up one day and was like “you’re doing this for us now” and I needed to move out of my folks’ house ASAP so I was like “OK” –

But now my Dad wants me to come in to the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – and I totally understand his reasoning (he’s trying to help me out) – he thinks that if I’m in the office other people there will involve me more in freelance-type work and I’ll be able to earn more $ - and this is probably true – and he also wants me to “get out of your warren” – cuz he knows my brother was basically the only person I interacted with socially in this entire city on any regular basis and now that he’s gone, well….

So my Dad seems to think being social with the other workers or something will be good for me? I mean maybe he’s right but I know everyone in there and they’re all super old and while they’re very nice I don’t have much in common with them and even if I did it’s still super awkward cuz I’m the boss’s son and it’s just awkward – I mean this is part of the reason why my brother left anyway – he worked there for three years but after those three years he was ready to not work at his Dad’s company anymore – and plus he and his wife fuckin hated Utah anyway and I don’t blame them at all I mostly hate it too haahahaha (cries)…

Though if I’m being honest anywhere I’d live I’d probably find all the flaws in real quick…

But maybe somewhere like California where actual things happen and I don’t have to fucking war against winter every year…

Cuz like I’ve tried the work many days a week with a commute in this city – and in summer it’s ok – there’s a very good tram-line system and I’m close to a station (for this purpose) – but in winter…

So for the first year I lived in Salt Lake I was working the magazine job and I was also working at the local Apple Store as well and that winter I literally nearly died commuting cuz I was super tired all the time (my fatigue tolerance level is super low) and dealing with customers and then doing the magazine job and then I was trying to write a book in my free time (it was the first one I wrote and it was complete shit but I’m proud of it cuz it was the first thing I’d ever finished) but I was basically operating at only 15% power and then one night I was on the train platform and there was ice and I slipped off it and half my wheelchair and I fell into the gap between the platform and the train and if that train operator hadn’t seen me he would’ve pulled out of the station and I woulda been warm meat paste…

(I nearly die at least six times a year…)

And that was the night I decided I’d quit that Apple job cuz no job is worth that hellish commute.

Even in subtler ways, though the winter is a killer for me here – there are days when the weather or the pressure changes and my right shoulder (the arm I drive my power wheelchair with) is in so much agony I can hardly move at all – and this lasts 2 or 3 days sometimes 4 –

and then they have these frikken godsforsaken mines here and we’re in this bowl-shaped valley so they mine all this dust into the air and so there’s this inversion here in winter and you can literally visibly see the dust in the air and your throat burns for like four months straight and it’s like the fuckin dust bowl or something god I hate unregulated red states…

And to top it all off, when I travel a lot in the cold my feet rub against my shoes which happened when I commuted to the apple store and by the end of that year I had sores on my heels that took 6 months to heal and in that time one of my best friends from high school died and I couldn’t travel to his funeral because I couldn’t even get out of my door and….I hated myself for that – I’d let him down (again.)

To be honest with you – when I first got offered that job at Apple I was so proud and happy and excited – I’d been looking for a job for a year after college and I looked everywhere – all over the world – in every industry I could think of – and there was just nothing. Nobody even offered me an interview before they did – and I have self-esteem issues anyway so I started thinking – like – is it cuz I’m in a wheelchair? Is that why nobody wants me? (I really have issues dealing with any kind of rejection because of this…)

But then Apple came along and said “Yes!” And I was like OMG this is amazing – I’m doing retail but it’s gonna be in an interesting (kind of) industry and I’m gonna work with young peeps like me and I’m gonna do creative stuff in my free time and slowly work my way up the ladder and I’m still young I got tons of time to do everything and be everywhere I wanna be going…and then the month before I had the job orientation with Apple my old high school friend had the sudden accident which would lead to his passing a few months later – and….nothing mattered like it had anymore…

He was hovering between life and death all the way in New York and I was in Utah doing…what? Selling expensive crap to rich Mormons? Nothing made sense anymore. For six years before that point I’d been an insufferable evangelical Christian zealot – and although for two years my faith had been wavering due to me beginning to question its draconian teachings – at that point I still had it – but then this happened and very quickly what little faith I’d been holding onto died with my friend.

I’m glad I’ve grown in my empathy and inclusiveness since then – but on the other hand, I feel I’ve lost something…

And then a month after my friend’s accident I had to present myself to Apple and be an enthusiastic team player filled with evangelism for the products and I just…I couldn’t do it…I remember that week so vividly too cuz that was the week George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney and they announced they were doing MORE STAR WARS and I was like holy fuck that’s what I wanna do – maybe not necessarily Star Wars (though !!!) – but telling stories and weaving myths – and making a thing that MATTERED to people – that moved them and shook them and changed them and nourished them and gave them some godsdamned fucking hope in this unjust world…

But I was stuck here in Utah…

So I started writing that book and I pushed myself so incredibly hard cuz literally by that point it was the only thing that mattered to me and made sense – feeling like I’d been put on this Earth to make art and I wasn’t gonna waste anymore time because maybe I didn’t have anymore time, you know?

And like I couldn’t connect with my coworkers – they were my age but many of them were Mormons with whole families they were supporting and most of the rest (save for my good friend @soundscomplicated) – I just…it was hard to connect to. In college I’d been surrounded by interesting people who challenged my brain and soul parts (at least sometimes – though academia drove me nuts) …but now….now I was stuck in the wasteland with no way out…

I finished the book and it was crap but at least I’d done something. Then I made that personal safety decision to quit Apple and for the last four years I’ve been working from home…

And this past year or so I finally began to put it all together again maybe – my drawing skills were improving – I was writing another book that scared the crap outta me (but that was a good thing) – about a group of nerds who lost someone close to them and whose worlds were turned upside down as a result – where the protagonist was a kid in a wheelchair like me and for the first time I felt like I was writing something IMPORTANT that MATTERED that might move people – letting out all my pain and hope and regret and love -

But then I sent it out to potential agents and waited and waited and waited for months and months and literally none of them even sent me a solid rejection. It was all just nothingness into the void. I understand they get so many submissions though so I tried not to take it personally –

And I decided this story and these words that I’d finished were important enough for me to publish on Amazon – so I did – and it was one of the proudest moments of my life (this was back in April or so) but then – nobody bought it. And it’s not like I expected to make out like gangbusters – I don’t know anything about marketing or being social media savvy (I mean just witness the godsdamned length of this friggen post hahaha) – but I thought at least everyone in my extended family would buy it – but nope. It sold like 11 copies. Let’s just say I will love those 11 people forever but I just…

Like I’d killed myself over this fucking book. I went down into the deepest parts of my soul and ripped them out for all the world to see – I didn’t do anything but this book. I did my paying work for the company but hanging out with people other than my brother sometimes? I didn’t have time. I didn’t have the energy.

In the flesh connections are so hard and when you’re working on something you truly believe in – well – you feel compelled to WORK WORK WORK and where was I gonna meet people here anyway?

This story mattered more than my own happiness.

And now that it hasn’t done well? What was it all for? Really? It’s not that I’m not totally effing proud of what came out – I am – probably more than any other art I’ve ever made – but…I dunno I guess I just have delusions of grandeur for myself…sometimes I feel like if I’m not Shakespeare – if I can’t support myself with my art – I’m a failure.

I’ve failed. My life has been a waste!

And then I sit back and I try to remind myself that’s an incredibly toxic and terrible way of thinking but at this point I literally can’t help it…

I don’t know what to work on next creatively. And now I’m having to spend more time away from my creative stuff and I don’t want to – I really don’t give a shit about the meager extra money I’m gonna get by going into the office – I want those hours I’m gonna waste there back! I don’t want to spend more hours not doing what I was born on this earth to do.

That probably sounds super privileged of me and I’m lucky to be where I am and blah blah blah but I just……and when the winter really comes and there’s snow on the ground I literally will not be able to go to the office (or even leave my apartment easily for that matter) and my Dad understands that – but I just…

Maybe I just don’t want to do that stuff anymore? I’m probably coming across as a super lazy and ungrateful person – and I am, but…

I just don’t have many friends here anyway and spending energy on commuting is just not gonna help that at all and I see no way out and I’m literally crying as I type this and I want OUT OUT OUT so bad but I don’t know what that means or what that looks like and I am cold and scared and lonely and tired and

For the past month it’s been warm and sunny and I’ve had Blondie to distract me from all this pain and mounting mediocrity and it’s been nice cuz I haven’t really had a crush in the flesh since college – like literally the last girl I allowed myself to fall for is now married with two kids hahaha and that night I got my head stuck in the fridge and I didn’t say this in the original post but

I was literally kind of sobbing because my brother was leaving (he’s gone now) and I don’t have many good friends (especially here) and my book I cared so much about fucking crashed and burned and I put my fucking soul into that thing and it wasn’t good enough I’M NEVER GOOD ENOUGH and then my chair crapped out and I was about to die and I cried for like an hour (I haven’t cried like that in like seven years – since before my friend died) but then I stopped crying cuz Leia’s Theme came on my shuffle and it gave me some hope so instead of crying I was yelling and then somebody busted open my front door

And she was literally an angel and just sweet and all my everything just washed away and everything was OK but now – it’s just – that distraction is fading away and I am facing my reality and…

As with every winter here, I am growing restless…

#tales from the wasteland

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vithyahairandmakeup · 7 years

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My Experience at TAP

I did a talk for TAP (Tamil Association of Professionals) yesterday and thought the questions they asked me where interesting and probably applicable for anyone else trying to be an entrepreneur. So I decided to write the Interview questions down, and answer them for you guys! Enjoy :-)

THE CAREER JOURNEY

 Where and how did your career in the fashion industry begin?

One random day in October 2008, when I had just graduated, quit my marketing job and sat in front of my laptop bored, I received a message whether I was interested in doing hair and make up for a fashion show. I was quite confused as you can imagine, as I had never previously done anything of that sort (unless on my sister or friends), and wondered whether it was my calling. I still believe it is. God reached out to me that day (as corny as that sounds). I borrowed some money from my mum, bought a few drugstore products and got 8 girls ready, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

 What were your motivations to start a career in this industry?

I was quite depressed then, and I was hoping for any distraction. I was miserable, insecure and felt worthless all the time. So this career choice or change more like, came at a right time. Seeing girls be happy was such a rewarding feeling, and being praised for something made me feel important and proud. The right sort of environment to be in when feeling quite down about yourself.

 What prompted you to pursue a career in fashion as a psychology graduate?

I think a degree in general teaches you many things, and some of the things I learned during my degree was organisation, structure, research, and also being able to work out the pros and cons of my decisions. Once having sat down and worked out a 10 year plan I decided that I do have a shot at making this work, and took the initiative to do so.

 What were the biggest challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

o Particularly resistance from your family

My parents were not supportive at all to begin with. My mum and dad are not very educated people and after having immigrated to Europe and working 7 days a week to provide a better life for my sister and I, it was very important to them that we had a degree and earned a decent living. There was also a lot of pride involved and the comparison of their sibling’s children. So waking up one day and telling them that I wanted to throw my expensive education away and start a career in ‘appurathu powder on munchis’ as they would say, did not go down well at all. I convinced them to let me study a diploma in hair and make up only because I promised them, that I will get a job in my field if the beauty industry didn’t work out for me. Today I pay their bills, and pay for their holidays. So they definitely do not regret their decision.

o Building a new client base from scratch

Social media platforms were not widely used then, so printing flyers and doing a lot of jobs for free in the hope of word of mouth was the only way you were able to advertise your work. I think my local Sri Lankan restaurant had a fair share of my flyers, haha.

o Did you find the wider Tamil community supportive?

Most tamil make up artists back then were slightly older ladies who had qualified in India or Sri Lanka and pursued this as a career for various reasons. So being a 25 year old girl trying to earn that respect in this field was a huge challenge. Our Tamil Aunties can be very critical and quite scary at times. I have had quite the number of them reducing me down to tears. So no, they were not supportive at all back then.

 What are the main lessons you learnt from pursuing a career in this industry and from building a business from scratch?

To be honest I learned a lot about myself as a person, and I learned how to be patient and tolerant. Persistence is key in any business. And I believe that you have to possess certain characteristics to be able to run your own business and maintain that level of professionalism and endurance.

 What advice would you give someone wanting to start on a similar journey?

Success is more important than fame. Work as hard as you can and be as humble as you can, and the rest will follow naturally.

SOCIAL MEDIA

 How did you start using social media to build your brand and how has this impacted your business?

I had joined Facebook in 2008 and tried to be as consistent as I can. But it took nearly 3 years to even get a 1000 likes. It was very frustrating, but I never gave up. For nearly 6 years people didn’t really know who I was. But the second I joined Instagram, I became popular and people started booking me not only for my skills but because they were able to put a face on it; I myself became a brand name. Snapchat and YouTube portrayed my personality to some extent, and that helped people want to book me purely because they wanted an experience, not just a service.

 What advice would you give young entrepreneurs (in various industries) who might want to use social media to assist their brand growth?

Social media and marketing is very important, and I would join all the platforms that are readily available to us. But be smart about it. Probably best to research into all these first and figure out demographics, age group, gender and all of it before you start posting. You need to understand your audience. You would not try and sell Kylie Lip Kits to a 70 year old man, would you? No matter how hard you try and market that product, he will just not be interested. So why waste all that time and energy?

 How do you generate ideas for new concepts to share on social media platforms (such as YouTube)?

As mentioned above, it is about understanding your audience. I have 60-70% of my followers from India and Malaysia. The third country of followers are from USA, and then it is UK. Which did surprise me. But the people who follow you on social media, and the people who will book your services can be completely different. Of course most of my business is based in London, and 98% of my clients are also from here. But out of that 98% of clients, probably less than half follow me on social media. They book me based on word of mouth and my experience, rather from what I post on social media. And out of the 98% of them, most do not wear sarees on a regular basis, nor are very cultural. My social media followers however really enjoy my saree posts and saree looks on YouTube. One video for example has reached nearly 3 million views in under 10 months. So I definitely post according to what my audience would like to see.

 What are some of the negative aspects of social media you’ve faced, and how have these affected you?

The more you become a public figure as such, the more people feel they have the right to criticise you. And then you have the cyberbullies, who feel the thrill behind a screen. I tend to ignore them and block them. And thankfully most social media apps have a setting where you can block unwanted words. That helps a lot with filtering out mean comments.

 How have you overcome these aspects and what advice would you give someone experiencing similar issues?

You need to have a thick skin in this industry. You need to be able to tolerate criticism, and you have to be able to deal with negativity. This can happen in any place of work, but how we deal with these situations makes us differentiate between an employer and an employee. Which one would you like to be?

PERSONAL AREAS

You have spoken previously about cyber bullying and depression;

 Have you personally had any experience with either?

Yes I suffered depression for nearly 14 years and was on very strong anti depressants for nearly 3 years. I also had numerous therapy sessions. The bullying I experienced more in school, and sadly still experience it in everyday life amongst family.

 How did this affect your daily life and did it affect your business in anyway?

My career actually helped me come out of depression. It motivated me to work hard and make something of myself. And the bullying encouraged me to work harder too. It is a nice feeling when you can prove people wrong, or show them how much you have thrived besides their negative comments.

 What prompted you to go public about your personal challenges? How did you find the confidence and strength to openly discuss some of these subjects?

I personally know a few people who suffer from depression. Some who are aware of this illness but not sure how to overcome it, and some who refuse to accept that they are suffering from it. So I decided one day to just open up about my experiences and how I overcame them, to help them and also anyone else who might need this advice. People used to look at my posts and think my life was always easy or things were handed to me on a platter. I wanted people to understand how hard I worked to get to where I am today, but also to encourage people that perseverance will reward you, and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how hard things get.

 How did your parents and family respond to you speaking publicly on these subjects?

They are still very ignorant about it. And I don’t blame them. They come from a generation where depression wasn’t discussed openly. So I cannot expect them to understand an illness they never had the luxury to understand.

 What has been the general response from the Tamil community?

I was very surprised to receive a tonne of emails in regards to people having faced similar issues to mine, or worse. It was nice to read and I felt very humbled that people felt comfortable to share their pain. I also felt triumphant that I ‘forced’ our community to address these.

 What advice would you give to others in similar situations?

Seeking professional help! Everyone’s level of depression varies. Just because I suffered from depression does not mean I can suggest the same type of therapy or medication to someone else who claims they are depressed. It is such a complex illness that needs to be approached by someone who knows what they are talking about. NHS provides so much research and free counselling on these. You can also google private psychotherapists. Don’t keep putting it off. You have nothing to lose. Go see a doctor and find a way to make yourself feel better. Feeling content is such an amazing feeling. Life is just too short to dwell in our own pity.

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thoughtsontechnology · 7 years

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How to shop for a computer

Almost a year ago I published this guide on a website called personalcomputershopper.com. Long story short the project didn’t really catch on and I took it down just a few months later. But I still feel that the content is valuable and am preserving it here.

Last updated: February, 2017

Introduction

Amidst a crowded landscape of desktop, tablet, laptop, and hybrid options, it can be overwhelming to figure what kind of computer best suits your needs. This guide is a resource to help explain personal computing options, break down specifications, and explain in plain language how it all translates to everyday use. Finding the right computer for you is about striking a balance between what you need, what you want, and what you can afford.

Initial considerations

Before you start pricing out computers, stop and ask what you need the computer to be able to do. If you're planning to replace a computer could that computer be upgraded instead?

Do I really need to replace my computer? Can I upgrade what I already have?

Before we begin, it's worth the time to stop and ask this question. (If you're not replacing an existing computer then skip this.)

Are you replacing your computer because the old one died, because it's too old to run the latest software, or because you're just frustrated with how slow it's gotten? If the answer is the latter, and it's not more than a few years old, then consider whether a tuneup and/or upgrade is a better choice than replacement. Here are a few things you can try:

Tune up your computer. I recommend a free program called CCleaner. Once you've installed it take the following actions:

Analyze and sweep out the junk

Go through the list of installed programs and remove anything which isn't needed. If you're unsure about whether something is needed, check online at Should I Remove It?

Go through the list of startup files and disable services which aren't necessary. Be careful here not to disable anything critical like your wireless card or touchpad driver. Look for easy targets instead, like Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher or iTunes Helper. Once they're disabled on startup it might take a couple extra seconds to open these items when you launch them, but that's time you save every time the computer boots up.

Install more memory. RAM is typically the easiest hardware to upgrade in a computer. Go to Crucial.com and use their Advisor tool or System Scanner to analyze your system. They'll let you know what type of memory your computer takes, the maximum amount that can be installed, and the number of open memory banks you have available.

The latter point is important when considering an upgrade - it's much more cost effective to fill an open memory slot than replace an existing chip.

It's also important to note the type of memory installed. DDR3 was the standard for the past several years, and DDR4 is the new standard in computers using Intel's latest CPUs (since around late-2015). Memory prices are low right now, expect to pay approximately $4 to $5 per gigabyte of DDR3 or $5 to $6 per gigabyte of DDR4 RAM. On the other hand DDR2 RAM was phased out several years ago, it has lower capacities, and now costs about considerably more per gigabyte than DDR3 or DDR4. If your computer takes DDR2 RAM then it's a far less cost effective upgrade, and that computer is probably at an age where it's due for replacement anyway.

Upgrade your hard drive to a solid state drive. From a performance standpoint an SSD is the most effective upgrade you can install in your computer. SSDs have lower capacities than traditional hard drives but perform 5-10x faster. That speed translates into dramatic increases in boot time, how quickly applications load, file access and search time. Up until recently an SSD upgrade came at a fairly high cost, but prices have now dropped to the point where most 250 GB SSDs now sell for between $60 and $130. To clone your existing hard drive you'll also need an external hard drive enclosure or USB to SATA cable, either of which cost around $10-$15. Upgrading to an SSD is a little more involved than installing RAM, but very do-able for desktops and most laptops. It's basically just a matter of cloning your disk and then swapping out the part.

In most laptops at least one memory bay and the hard drive are easily accessible by removing a panel on the bottom of the unit, but it's not always the case. I recommend searching online for a copy of the service manual before buying parts to upgrade. And remember, when undertaking any computer upgrade always disconnect the power cord, remove the battery, and touch something metal to discharge any static electricity before touching any internal components.

Do I need a desktop, laptop, or tablet?

Yes.

OK, really, that answer is a little contrite but it's a start. Here's a quick breakdown:

Desktop computers generally offer the most bang for your buck and the most customization options. They can be well suited for resource-intensive applications. They're just not portable.

Laptops offer a complete computer in a portable package. They can be attached to a full size keyboard and monitor at your workstation just like a desktop, and are generally well suited for everyday productivity. Laptops are somewhat more expensive than desktop computers for the same amount of computing power, while being not as customizable, upgradable, or easy to repair as desktop computers.

Tablet computers are generally cheaper and less powerful than either desktops or laptops. They are also the smallest and most portable option. A tablet computer has a touchscreen but no built-in keyboard. In general they are best suited towards web surfing, media consumption, and gaming. Tablets are less well suited for everyday productivity.

For a deeper look at the differences among categories I highly recommend checking out the Computer Buying Guide on GCFLearnFree.org.

There are some variations on the market which blur the lines between categories, such as convertible laptops and all-in-one desktops.

Convertible laptops (sometimes called 2-in-1 laptops) combine the features of a laptop and a tablet. They can be used either like a traditional laptop or as a touchscreen device without the keyboard. The transformation is accomplished by the screen hinging around 360 degrees, pivoting to lay flat against the keyboard, or detaching altogether. Convertible laptops are feature-rich but come at a cost. While they're priced similarly to laptops they typically offer less bang for the buck, and are generally bulkier than a true tablet.

All-in-one desktop computers have their components built in to the display. As a result they're more compact and very well suited for environments where space is at a premium, such as a kiosk, on a kitchen counter, or at the register of a retail establishment. The compromise is that they often use components designed for laptops and thus have the same disadvantages compared to desktops in terms of price, customization options, upgradability, and difficulty to repair.

What operating system should I choose?

Microsoft Windows

Windows is by far the most widely used operating system installed on personal desktop and laptop computers, with a market share around 85 to 90%. Consider it a default option suitable for most uses.

Apple OS X

OS X is the operating system that powers Apple Mac computers, and has roughly 10% market share. People who prefer OS X often cite its refined user experience and simplicity. Macs are particularly popular among artists, musicians, designers, and software developers.

Apple operating systems are closed platforms which are limited to running only on devices manufactured by Apple. OS X only runs on Macs, iOS only runs on iPads and iPhones. And OS X integrates tightly with iOS, so if you use an iPhone and/or iPad there are several ways in which Macs provide seamless transitions between using those devices and using your computer.

Apple devices have a reputation for premium quality and cutting edge design, and their customer service via in-store support is among the best in the industry. Their quality and style comes at a cost though. Macs typically cost at least 50% more than other computers with comparable specifications.

There is a common notion that Macs are more secure than Windows computers. This is true, though not because OS X is inherently more secure. Most malware targets Windows' bigger market. Macs are less frequently targeted but not impervious to malware and threats do exist. Mac owners are well advised to not take security for granted.

It's worth noting that Macs are capable of running Windows in addition to OS X, either via dual booting or third-party virtualization software which enables running both operating systems at the same time. Getting the best of both worlds in this way requires adding the cost of a Windows license on top of the already higher cost of a Mac though.

Generally I advise that you go for a Mac if you strongly prefer the operating system, if the integration with other Apple devices is important to you, if you work in an industry where applications specific to your job are only available for Mac, and if you're comfortable with paying Apple's price premium. If none of those things describe your situation, then you're probably better off getting more bang for your buck with a Windows PC.

Google Chrome

Chrome OS by Google is a minimalist operating system built around the Chrome web browser. Chromebooks (laptops) and Chromeboxes (desktops) offer essentially just that web browser plus access to a few system settings. All applications run inside of Chrome. Some of those applications run offline, but most are dependent on internet connectivity to function.

The main advantages are cost - most Chrome OS computers sell for under $250; and security - since Chrome OS doesn't actually install programs locally they're nearly impervious to malware. The main disadvantage is the inability to install programs locally. If you need your computer to run Microsoft Office or any other local software (not web browser based) then Chrome OS is not the right choice.

For more information about whether a Chromebook is right for you, see this guide on GCFLearnFree.org.

Chromebooks and Chromeboxes have become popular options for education and computer lab scenarios. They're great for situations where all you need is a lightweight computer to access the internet. We have a Chromebook that's an ideal everyday kitchen counter laptop at home and occasional travel computer.

Google has been moving towards converging Chrome OS and Android for a couple of years, and it was recently revealed that all Chromebooks launching in 2017 will be compatible with Android apps. While it's yet to be seen how well this is going to work, the implication is that the Chromebooks of the future will also work as de-facto Android tablets.

Tablet and mobile operating systems - iOS, Android, Fire OS, Windows

If you're shopping for a tablet computer the operating system choices are a little different.

iOS is Apple's tablet and mobile operating system, running on iPads and iPhones. As with OS X it is a closed system which is limited to only these devices manufactured by Apple, devices which largely defined the modern tablet and smartphone markets when they were released. iOS integrates tightly with OS X and is also renowned for it's elegance and simplicity. The Apple made devices it runs on are premium hardware and are priced accordingly in the market.

Android is an open source tablet and mobile operating system backed by Google, which runs on devices manufactured by dozens of manufacturers. It is the primary competitor to iOS on tablet and mobile devices, long since surpassing it in market share to become the most widely used operating system on the planet. Android is a much more customizable operating system than iOS, with greater flexibility for users to control the look-and-feel and for applications to access more of the hardware settings and share data with other applications. The Android user experience has come a long way in recent years catching up to iOS, but because many manufacturers overlay custom "skins" and features the end result varies. Fragmentation is a serious issue in the Android ecosystem, and security implications in particular are a cause for concern. From a hardware standpoint, Android devices run the gamut from premium hardware on par with Apple devices down to extremely inexpensive hardware. In general Android devices provide better bang for the buck, and current pricing trends (especially in the smartphone market) are that mid range to high end hardware is rapidly getting cheaper.

Fire OS is a heavily customized version of Android made by Amazon and used on Amazon's Kindle Fire line of tablets. Fire OS does not incorporate Google services, including the Google Play store from which most Android applications are published. As a result, only Android applications listed in the Amazon Appstore can be installed on a Fire device. Fire OS is far less customizable than other Android devices and is largely geared around delivering content from Amazon. Because the hardware is subsidized by Amazon, Fire devices provide better value for the money than most other devices on the market. Other advantages are durability and strong customer support.

Microsoft Windows has been trying and struggling for years to gain a foothold in the tablet and mobile OS marketplaces. According to one report, 2015 was the year that Microsoft "finally got tablets right," estimating that their market share had just surged to 10% and projecting growth to 18% by 2018. Windows tablets can run the same software that runs on Windows desktop and laptop PCs, are are increasingly displacing laptops and desktops at the lower end of the personal computer market. Hardware options run the gamut from less expensive hardware that's priced on par with mid range Android and low end iOS tablets, up to very high end options with the same internal components as higher end PCs that are priced accordingly.

The brain analogy

After you've decided on a type of computer and operating system, then you need to find a computer in that class which can do what you need it to do. I'm a fan of analogies, so here's one which explains core computer components like areas of a brain:

cpu = information processing (Parietal lobe)

graphics = visual processing (Occipital lobe)

ram = short term memory (Frontal lobe)

storage = long term memory (Temporal lobe)

The key when looking at computer specifications is to understand which tasks each of these areas impact and how they translate to your computing needs.

CPU

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the core component that basically determines how smart your computer is. Brainpower and cost are directly related here so it pays to choose wisely. When thinking about how much computing power you need, consider the following:

A low end CPU is all you need to surf the internet, answer email, and store some photos

A mid range CPU does a better job with multitasking, word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, light photo editing or casual gaming.

A high end CPU is necessary if you're planning to use the computer for processing intensive tasks such as database queries, complex spreadsheet calculations, video editing, heavy photo editing, or graphically intense gaming.

When shopping for a CPU you'll find that they're primarily measured in clock speed and cores.

Clock speed determines how fast the CPU can think, and the faster it can think the more quickly it can complete demanding tasks.

Number of cores determines how many tasks the CPU can process at once. Some software, especially more sophisticated and demanding programs, can utilize multiple processing cores simultaneously to spread their workload out and make the most of higher-end CPUs.

The finer points: Other CPU characteristics include cache size, type and amount of memory supported, and integrated graphics capabilities.

The cache is a small amount of memory built directly on the processor die. It helps a CPU think more quickly by reducing the average time needed to access frequently used data.

Type and amount of memory supported determine what kind of and how much RAM (i.e. short term memory) can be installed in the computer.

Integrated graphics capabilities determine how many monitors can be connected, their maximum display resolution, and how well the computer can handle tasks like playing videos games or rendering media.

In mainstream computers the CPU costs between $40 and $450, making it potentially the most expensive part in your computer. The CPU is also anywhere from extremely difficult to impossible to upgrade later. In general it helps to understand how powerful a processor you need right now, but if your budget can support going a step higher in this area that's a wise investment for the long run. Several years down the line a little more powerful processor might help stave off obsolescence a bit longer.

Graphics processor (GPU)

The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) determines how good your computer is at rendering images. For most users the integrated graphics capabilities built in to modern CPUs are more than sufficient. An Intel spokesman was quoted in January 2016 as saying that they "have improved graphics 30 times what they were five years ago" and noting that the integrated graphics inside Intel's 6th generation Core processors can handle three 4K monitors simultaneously. This illustrates the point that for several years mainstream processors have been more than capable of driving multiple displays and playing high definition video. The only reason you might need a discrete graphics card is you have specific applications which require extra graphics processing power, such as video editing, moderate-to-heavy Photoshop use, building a gaming rig, or wanting to hook up a virtual reality headset. Some much higher-end applications such as CAD rendering, medical imaging, and machine learning also make use of GPU acceleration.

On the laptop side of the PC market, there are limited GPU options available - ranging primarily from entry level to mid-range graphics cards, and largely marketed as gaming computers. On the desktop side of the PC market there are myriad options and the sky is the limit for how much graphical oomph (and cost!) you can build in.

Random access memory (RAM)

When shopping for a computer it's important to get a machine with enough memory to handle the tasks you're going to use it for. Having more memory than you need doesn't provide any performance benefit, but having less than you need can severely slow things down. RAM size is equivalent to your computer's short term memory capacity. If it fills up entirely then the computer resorts to page file swaps transferring information to and from disk storage (long term memory) at far slower speeds.

To gauge how much memory you need, think about the applications you run and how much multi-tasking you do. Keep in mind that web browsers can utilize a lot of memory, and the more tabs and windows you keep open the more they use. If you're the type that keeps dozens of browser tabs open so you can go back to them later, you might need a little extra RAM in your computer for that to not slow you down. An easy way to check how much RAM you're using right now is to click Ctrl-Shift-Esc (on a Windows computer) to open the task manager. Check your memory utilization in the performance tab. And if it's at or near 100%, try closing some browser tabs and then check again.

Generally, in 2017 I recommend getting a computer with at least 8 GB of RAM and 16 GB preferred. If your computing needs are light then 4 GB might work, but be wary. Even if the computer you buy has enough memory to run smoothly right now, will it still be enough two or three years down the line? As time goes on software gets increasingly demanding and utilizes more and more memory.

The good news is that in most cases adding more RAM is the easiest thing to upgrade later on down the line. On many laptops there's a panel on the underside which you can open to expose one or both of the memory module ports. Taking out one screw and adding (or replacing) the chip in that slot is pretty much all there is to it. Be aware that this isn't the case on all laptops though - some models are not user-serviceable (i.e. not easily opened up), some have the RAM slots deep inside the machine, and some even have the RAM soldered to the mainboard which makes them impossible to upgrade. If you plan to upgrade the RAM later, verify that's possible before purchasing.

Disk storage

Disk storage is a computer's long term or non-volatile memory. (As opposed to RAM which is called volatile memory because its contents clear out every time the power goes off.) Disk storage retains what's written to it. It's where your operating system and applications are installed, and where your data resides.

Hard disk drives (HDDs) long ago attained capacities far greater than most people need for everyday use. Whether you have a 500 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB hard drive, disk space for normal computer operations will never be a problem. (Media file storage - such as music, videos, or high resolution photos - may be a different story.) So rather than capacity I prefer to focus on performance. While some hard drives are a little faster than others (5,400 RPM models versus 7,200 RPM models), the truly radical jump in performance comes with an upgrade to a solid state drive (SSD).

SSDs utilize a different architecture than HDDs. Rather than a magnetic platter spinning on a ball bearing, an SSD is comprised of NAND flash cells. SSDs have no moving parts, hence the "solid state" moniker. For this reason they also use less energy, generate less noise and heat, and are less susceptible to damage from a physical shock than HDDs. And SSD performance - data read and write speeds - is 5-to-10 times faster than an HDD. Which means the computer boots that much faster, every program loads that much faster, file system searches and opening files happen that much faster, etc., etc.

In this day and age I discourage buying any computer without an SSD, or if you do find a great deal on a machine which only has an HDD then plan to upgrade it to an SSD right away (and turn that HDD into an external hard drive by putting it in an enclosure). It's true that SSDs are still many times more expensive per gigabyte than HDDs, but considering that HDDs are far bigger than you probably need the cost difference between an oversized HDD and a right-sized SSD isn't very much. Go for the smaller, higher-performing solution and either use a high-capacity external hard drive or install a second high-capacity HDD in your desktop for those media files.

I do however recommend not going too small on the SSD. I've seen Windows computers with 128GB SSDs fill up to capacity after a few years of update files piling up, Outlook data stores growing, and remnants left by other software sticking around. It's possible but painful to use disk cleanup utilities to fight a full disk. 256GB SSDs are a marginal step up in price and worth it to save the headache later.

There's also a middle ground called a Solid State Hybrid Drive (or SSHD) which pairs a traditional hard drive with a small (usually 8GB) flash memory cache to accelerate it. SSHDs offer the capacity of an HDD with better performance, at a slightly higher cost. They're nowhere near as high performing as a pure SSD though. If you absolutely need lots of disk storage inside your laptop (not on an external drive), then an SSHD is a viable option to enhance performance over a traditional HDD while maintaining high capacity.

A new cutting edge of SSD technology has begun to appear in higher end laptops and the newest desktop computer mainboards. New M.2 SSDs utilizing a PCI express 3.0 (x4) interface now offer speeds 3-to-7 times faster than top-of-the-line conventional SSDs. The primary reason is because those conventional SSDs use the same SATA form factor and interface as traditional HDDs. The SATA 3 specification maxes out at a 550MB/second transfer rate. Most HDDs only deliver about 60-100MB/second speed, but SATA SSDs have been hitting the limit of the spec on both read and write speeds for quite some time. Current top-of-the-line PCIe SSDs are clocking 3.5GB/second read and 2GB/second write speeds, beginning to approach the 4GB/second maximum of the specification.

The rest of the computer

Since we've covered the core components with the brain analogy, the remainder of this guide will cover the rest of the computer; such as how to shop for a display, how to choose peripherals (keyboards, mice, webcams, etc.), and what the differences are among USB types. While these things aren't as big or expensive a part of the decision as the core computer parts, they ultimately play a big part in your computing experience and should be considered as a part of your overall budgeting and purchasing decision.

What to look for in a monitor or laptop display

Screen size and resolution are the main things to look for in a computer display, though not the only things.

Size is pretty self-explanatory, it's measured diagonally in inches. Most computer monitors and laptop displays now utilize a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. Resolution is quantified by the number of pixels (or dots) on the screen. Higher resolution displays can render a sharper picture, but more to the point they also just simply display more information. More room for information on the screen gives you more room to work, which helps increase productivity.

When shopping, know that higher resolution and/or bigger isn't always better. High resolution displays that are physically smaller will be information dense but text may appear quite small on the screen. If your eyesight isn't well suited to this level of information density then you may be better off with a larger size / lower resolution screen. Or you can compensate by turning text scaling up to make things more readable. It's also worth noting that older versions of Windows (prior to Windows 10) did not do a great job of scaling up to very high resolution screens. This is an area in which Windows 10 has greatly improved and Mac OS X has long performed better.

Laptop display considerations

It's still common to find laptop displays with only 1366 x 768 resolution on the lower end of the market. In mid range and higher laptops 1920 x 1080 is standard. On the high end, there are many with QHD (2560 x 1440), 3200 x 1800, or 4K (3840 x 2160) resolutions available as well. The Microsoft Surface Book offers a 13.5" display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 3000 x 2000 resolution.

If you're shopping for a MacBook, the current generation MacBook Air offers only 1440 x 900 resolution. All other MacBook models have Retina Displays - the 12" MacBook at 2304 x 1440, the 13" MacBook Pro at 2560 x 1600, and the 15" MacBook Pro at 2880 x 1800. The term Retina Display was invented by Apple to denote a screen with very high pixel density.

There are two main types of laptop displays - glossy and matte. Glossy displays are shinier and colors appear brighter on them. However they reflect more light and are more prone to glare and reflections when used in direct sunlight. Matte screens (sometimes labeled anti-glare) have fewer of these problems though generally aren't as attractive as glossy screens. Windows laptops come in both varieties while MacBooks now are only available with glossy screens.

Another thing to look for in a laptop display is whether it has a touchscreen. This is pretty self-explanatory. For my part I've become accustomed to touch enabled laptops and like the option of interfacing with the computer that way, sometimes my finger is just closer to the screen than it is to the trackpad. Touchscreen displays are always glossy and the option adds some cost. They're now commonly found on mid-range and higher Windows laptops, and also available on a few Chromebook models. MacBooks do not yet offer touchscreens.

No matter what type, size, or resolution your laptop has - remember that you can also hook it up to a computer monitor when working at your desk. with the built in laptop display sitting alongside it as a second screen. Just be sure to compare the display output ports available on the laptop to the inputs on the monitor when planning this setup.

Peripherals - webcams, keyboards, mice

This guide wouldn't be complete without covering the important yet often overlooked peripherals which round out your computing experience.

When it comes to the keyboard and mouse on your desk, many people are content with the cheap keyboard and mouse packaged with a consumer desktop. Or with using the keyboard and trackpad built in to the laptop. There's nothing wrong with these, they get the job done, but there are other options which can provide greater comfort and enhance productivity for power users.

When considering laptops the quality of the built in keyboard and trackpad generally follows the overall expense of the computer; cheaper laptops have poorer input devices, more expensive laptops have better ones. I recommend reading reviews for mentions of how a specific model you're considering performs. Lenovo has a reputation for making some of the best laptop keyboards on their higher end business models but not on their lower end consumer models. Business class laptops from Dell and HP also generally have very good keyboards. And Apple MacBooks have a reputation for good keyboards and best-in-class trackpads. Many mid to high end laptops now also offer backlit keyboards, which is a very nice feature to have. The keyboard on your laptop is not at all upgradable so it's wise to consider this carefully when shopping.

A wireless keyboard and mouse set is a common desktop upgrade. They can be a good option to reduce cord clutter and provide better range of motion, are available at a wide range of price points, and some of the higher end options add additional features and comfort.

For a high end ergonomic option, Microsoft's new Surface Ergonomic Keyboard is garnering some rave reviews.

A mechanical keyboard is another option to consider. This PC World article does a good job of explaining the benefits of a mechanical keyboard. It boils down to durability and a superior typing experience. Mechanical keyboards are expensive though, usually selling for $75 to $200 or more.

"Gaming" keyboards and mice offer nifty lighting features and the ability to program automated keystroke combinations at the push of a button. I put gaming in quotation marks because while the equipment is marketed towards gamers, the functionality can also enhance other productivity.

There's not a lot to say about webcams which are built in to laptop computers. For the most part they're basic quality without much variation in the market. USB webcams for your desktop setup vary widely in quality and features. As with keyboards and mice I'm partial to Logitech products for their quality and reasonable prices. Logitech webcams range from the basic C270 which usually sells for $20 to $30 up to the business focused C930 which offers full high definition video and motion tracking and usually sells for around $100.

Buying guide - where to shop for a computer

The approach I recommend for buying a computer is to first get a general idea of what you need, then decide what your budget is, then try to find the best deal on something that fits. If you're in the market for a desktop PC and have the capacity to build it yourself, that's going to garner the best result in terms of flexibility and price-to-performance ratio, while likely being more reliable than anything you can buy off-the-shelf. In the absence of that here are some suggestions for finding the best deal possible:

Pounce on a sale or coupon

The trend these days is towards flash sales and coupons with extremely limited time periods or quantity caps. The bad news is that a deal you see today could very well be gone tomorrow. The good news is that there's always another deal right around the corner. Doing your homework up front to figure out what you need and are willing to spend can position you to pounce on a great deal once you see it. Here are some places to find those hot deals:

PC Mag best deals

Dealhacker

The Wirecutter Deals

Tech Bargains

eDeal Info

Slickdeals

Apple Insider Deals

Be aware that that while these sites list many of the best deals out there, not everything they list is a bargain. It's wise to always double-check the price against other sources before pulling the trigger.

Retail stores (online or brick-and-mortar)

The Microsoft Store (both online and physical locations) has emerged in recent years as a top tier place to purchase a computer. Their specialty is the "Microsoft Signature Edition" line of PCs which come free of any the pre-installed bloatware that many manufacturers load up their products with. Microsoft Stores also offer a very good customer service experience, and training and troubleshooting assistance on the products they sell. Their pricing is generally decent, and they get competitive with regular coupon offerings. I don't recommend buying cables or peripherals here, because while the quality of what they offer is generally great their prices on these items are not competitive.

The Apple Store is a good place to buy the latest and greatest Mac, and if you shop their online store you can customize the specifications. The advantage of buying directly through Apple is their selection, customer service and support. Apple typically does not compete on price. If you're hunting for a better deal on a new Mac, a couple of good places to shop are B & H or Adorama. Both often run discounts on new Macs, though be mindful to check whether you're buying the latest model and weigh that against the discount.

Amazon is my go to place for cables, monitors, keyboards, mice, and miscellaneous peripherals. They usually win on price and selection when shopping for these items. Understand though that although Amazon has many great deals available, not everything on there is a good deal. In fact there's a strange regular phenomenon on Amazon where sellers in their marketplace list antiquated technology for sale at absurd prices. Buyer beware. Also, while Amazon is generally great for computer parts and secondary items, it's a very hit-or-miss place to purchase an actual computer. PCs are not their specialty, the specs listed can be spotty, and pricing is all over the place. Again, some good deals are available but be cautious and always compare them to other sellers before purchasing. You can also compare Amazon against itself before buying, through a price tracking website called CamelCamelCamel.

Newegg is another go to place for monitors, peripherals, and computer parts. It also can be a very good place to shop for a computer, as their search function typically does a very good job of filtering specifications and their descriptions do a good job of listing what's under the hood. Newegg is generally competitive with their day-to-day pricing and very competitive with their coupon codes and sale pricing, which you can find (or sign up to get via email) here.

Micro Center is the only remaining brick-and-mortar computer parts retail chain in the U.S. It is a great place to buy components, monitors, and various accessories. It's a decent place to buy computers themselves and they offer the benefit of having a competent service department. Be aware though that Micro Center's floor sales staff is not always highly knowledgeable, and they work on a commission or incentive structure. Sometimes I get the impression that they try to steer customers towards certain products which are in their interest to sell more of. My observation is that Micro Center's prices can generally be hit or miss. Some of their in-store only computer component deals (such as Intel processors) are by far the best pricing available anywhere. Advertised prices are generally very competitive. But their pricing on some other items can be on the high side. Overall I recommend shopping there when building a computer, and can accept that a little higher price on some components is both the cost of convenience and offset by lower prices on other components.

I don't typically recommend buying a computer at a retail chain which doesn't specialize in this area, but Costco is an exception. My observation is that their prices are moderate, not the best but also not outrageous. Where they shine however is that every computer they sell comes with Costco Concierge Services, which extends the warranty to a 2nd year and provides free technical support by phone. Taking advantage of this does require being a Costco member, but it's a solid option for non-technical computer shoppers in particular.

Refurbished, used, and closeouts

Shopping for a pre-owned computer can be a high-risk high-reward proposition. I have some experience buying refurbished equipment. I've never had any issue with a refurbished computer monitor, but have seen a fair number of issues with refurbished PCs. I've also seen some fantastic deals on them, typically priced on the low end of the market for high end computers that are a few years old. If you do choose to shop for a refurb, make sure you check the warranty period up front and test the machine thoroughly after receiving it. And only ever buy from reputable sources.

Closeout models are a lower-risk proposition but don't always have as much of an upside. The latest model computers go on sale too, just maybe not as often or as sharply as the older models. So shop around and weigh the price against both the age of the computer and how much comparable computers of the latest generation are going for.

A few reputable places to shop for refurbished, used, and closeout computers are:

Buydig

Woot

Overstock

Dell Outlet

eBay -- Sometimes major retailers use eBay to clear out quantities of older or refurbished equipment, often at great prices. Aside that be careful to only buy from reputable sellers here.

The market for refurbished Macs is a little different. Due to initial cost and quality their resale life stretches on longer. And as a result there are several shops out there who make a business of buying, refurbishing, and selling used Macs. If you go this route make sure that the seller is reputable, check their warranty policy, and look to see if they're upgrading the memory and hard drive. A few reputable places to shop for a used Mac are:

Affordamac

Mac of All Trades

Powermax

Where not to shop for a computer

Best Buy. Their prices on bigger ticket items like computers and monitors might not be bad, but their markup on cables and small accessories is hideous, and their Geek Squad Goon Squad service department has a lengthy and well documented history of customer nightmare stories. Including mine. Shop there if you want to, but steer clear of their extended warranties and do not trust their service department.

Craigslist or any public classified ad. Most people selling goods through classified ads or sites like Craigslist are legitimate sellers, but they often don't understand how quickly computers depreciate and thus tend to overestimate the value of their used computer. So there are a lot of not-very-good deals advertised out there. And sometimes there are deals listed which just seem too good to be true, and sometimes those are - the computer might be stolen or you might be walking in to a dangerous situation. If you do choose to shop for a used computer from a stranger, compare the price that the seller is asking against an advanced eBay search for Sold listings of the same or a comparable machine. Ask them questions about where they got the computer and ask them to provide proof of ownership - if they balk or try to brush your questions off, walk away immediately. And if you do buy from them, meet at a Craigslist Safe Zone or well-lit public location.

Retail stores that don't specialize in computers generally aren't a great place to buy a computer. Their employees typically aren't very knowledgeable, prices tend to be moderately high, and cable and small accessory prices tend to be extremely high. Some of the stores which fit this profile are Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Kmart, and Radio Shack. Big box office supply stores such as Staples and Office Depot are a small step up. In a pinch I would prefer them to the alternatives, but not as a first option.

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howellrichard · 4 years

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12 Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands to Add to Your Makeup Bag

Hiya Gorgeous!

Do the labels on your go-to makeup products make you do a double-take? What ARE all of those impossible-to-pronounce ingredients, anyway… and are they safe?

If you’re a makeup lover like me, you might wonder if you’ll ever find healthier alternatives that work just as well as your go-to brands. Because when it comes to makeup, terms like eco-friendly and vegan haven’t always gone hand-in-hand with professional quality. But don’t put your brushes away just yet—beautiful cruelty-free makeup DOES exist, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about today!

As a kid, watching my mom do her makeup was one of my favorite activities.

I’d join her in the bathroom every morning—perched on the toilet, transfixed by each and every brushstroke. She was the glamorous teacher and I was the eager student.

My fascination only grew when I got one of those 70s Barbie styling heads, remember those? She came with her very own makeup palette: bright red, baby blue and pea green (gorg!!). I practiced on her all the time—poor Barbie had her fair share of makeup mishaps. Luckily, she was a very patient customer.

It wasn’t long until I started begging my parents for my first lip gloss, which was a big N-O until I was 13. But you probably know by now how I feel about that no word… So I’d sneak my Barbie palette onto the school bus and do my bold makeup when she wasn’t looking. And let’s just say it was bold enough to garner more than my fair share of sideways stares!

As I evolved over the years, so did my taste in makeup.

My career as a professional actress and dancer motivated me to refine my skills, and I learned a thing or two from the incredibly talented makeup artists I worked with along the way! Today, I feel most like myself with a more natural, toned-down look. And when I’m working from home, running my business and leading my unicorn team from my laptop, I prefer to let my skin breathe and just be me—totally makeup free.

But don’t get me wrong, I still love makeup! It can be a wonderful creative outlet and way to express ourselves. I’ve just learned that I don’t NEED it to feel beautiful or confident, and neither do you!

I’m also a lot more conscious about the cosmetics I do and don’t use.

Since going vegan and better educating myself about my carbon footprint, I pay much closer attention to what goes my makeup, as well as how it’s tested and its impact on the environment. To be honest, sometimes I’m still taken aback by the nasty junk hidden in our personal care products. Not to mention the brands that continue to use animal testing… what?!

I have good news, though—cosmetics don’t have to come at the cost of your conscience! The cruelty-free makeup brands I’m about to share are changing the face of the beauty industry by making kinder products without sacrificing quality.

12 Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands to Add to Your Makeup Bag

1. Thrive Causemetics

Every single product from this fabulous brand is vegan and cruelty-free. But that’s not all, Thrive Causemetics also gives back with every purchase. That’s right—every single product sold results in a donation to support domestic abuse survivors, women fighting cancer, women seeking a path out of homelessness or women veterans. You can learn more about Thrive’s mission here.

In my makeup bag: The Brilliant Eye Brightener and Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara make my peepers shine!

2. Milk Makeup

What can I say? I’m a sucker for cruelty-free with a side of cute branding! But Milk Makeup’s products aren’t just beautiful on the outside—they’re also vegan and cruelty-free. They even have a list of ingredients they promise never to use up on their website!

In my makeup bag: The Kush Fiber Brow Gel is super easy to apply and gives my brows a polished yet natural look. And the Flex Concealer provides comfy (not cakey!) coverage all day long.

3. Mineral Fusion

You might have spotted this EWG Verified brand at Whole Foods or your local health food store, which means you don’t have to make a separate trip to restock on your faves! All of Mineral Fusion’s products are cruelty-free and made in the US, and you can check out a list of vegan options on the FAQ page on their site.

In my makeup bag: I love Mineral Fusion’s vegan nail polish in the shade Tiara— it always makes me feel like a queen!

4. Beautycounter

This cruelty-free makeup brand is raising awareness about something we don’t hear much about—issues with the mica industry. Mica is used in a lot of cosmetics, but it’s often not responsibly sourced (learn more in the informative video here). I love seeing brands use their platforms to educate consumers! Check out Beautycounter’s vegan makeup options here.

In my makeup bag: This Velvet Eyeshadow Palette is full of gorgeous statement shades with fantastic color payoff. And the Sheer Lipstick in the shade Petal is one of my all-time faves!

5. Cover FX

I dig Cover FX for a lot of reasons, but the diverse shade range they offer for foundations is at the top of my list! Many makeup brands exclude folks, especially people of color, by having really limited shade ranges. I support brands like CoverFX because they’re committed to inclusion. Their products don’t come cheap, but it’s worth the investment if you can swing it!

In my makeup bag: The Natural Finish Foundation and pretty much everything else for that matter—did I mention they’re 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free?

6. EcoTools

EcoTools proves that sometimes it IS a good idea to put all your vegan eggs in one basket! They’ve got one mission—making vegan makeup brushes that look, feel and work even better than the alternatives made with animal hair. They also use recycled and renewable materials like bamboo. Even their packaging is made of tree-free paper. EcoTools brushes are also affordable, what more could we ask for?!

In my makeup bag: The Ultimate Shade Duo for my eyes and the 360 Ultimate Blend set for my face!

7. Juice Beauty

This brand lives up to its name by using botanical juice concentrates instead of water as the base for their makeup and skincare. That means their products don’t just look great—they’re also packed with antioxidants and other vitamins, as well as good-for-you phytonutrients and hydroxy acids. Turns out juice is more than just a delicious drink!

In my makeup bag: The Phyto-Pigments Last Looks Cream Blush in the shade Flush is a gloriously smooth pop of color for my cheeks!

And more cruelty-free brands for your makeup bag!

I don’t have them all on hand at once (like I said, my makeup routine is pretty minimalist these days!), but here are some more notable cruelty-free brands that deserve shoutouts!

8. e.l.f Cosmetics makes some of the most affordable vegan and cruelty-free makeup out there. I like their 16-Hour Camo Concealer and the Charcoal Hydrogel Under Eye Masks for a soothing treat!

9. W3ll People’s Hypnotist Eye Pencil is a longtime love of mine (if you’ve been following me for a while, you might remember that it was also featured in my What’s in my Makeup Bag post back in 2017!). It creates the perfect cat eye for date night… meow!

10. Axiology makes cruelty-free, vegan lipstick in knockout shades. I haven’t yet, but I can’t wait to try one of their Sheer Balms!

11. Urban Decay is always expanding their vegan options—their Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluids are incredible!

12. Anastasia Beverly Hills has some great vegan highlighters—I’m a big fan of the Sun Dipped Glow Kit.

Conscious Cosmetics 101

I hope you saw something (or a couple of somethings) that you’re excited to try! You might also be wondering how to find and evaluate your own cruelty-free faves. And lucky for you, that’s what this section is all about! These must-have tips will help you navigate the makeup aisle with ease.

Cruelty-free vs. vegan

Many folks assume that if something is labeled as vegan, it must also be cruelty-free (and vice versa). But these terms each have specific implications and are often used independently. Cruelty-free cosmetics have not been tested on animals, whereas vegan cosmetics don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients. I know it can be confusing, but just being aware of the difference will empower you to make buying decisions that align with your values!

Animal testing

We covered what cruelty-free means, but I want to be crystal clear: animal testing is a hard no in my book, end of story. Many cruelty-free makeup brands are doing just fine testing their products on humans, so as far as I’m concerned, there’s no excuse to keep hurting innocent animals. Some countries still require animal testing before products can be sold, but I prefer to stick with brands that prioritize kindness over profit.

Greenwashing

It’s cool to be eco-friendly these days, right? Many brands really do care about the environment, but some just see green… as in money. Trends like these open up opportunities for brands to capitalize without actually changing their practices.

Watch out for products that use generic terms like “natural” or packaging that gives the appearance of sustainability without any legit certifications or proof to back up their claims. Same goes for brands that claim to be organic—the FDA doesn’t regulate that term for personal care products like it does for food, so you might need to do a little digging. Knowledge is power, toots!

Certifications

We know that labels can be misleading, so what’s the best way to find products you can really trust? Certifications, baby! There are many options out there, such as EWG Verified, NSF Certified, Certified Vegan and Leaping Bunny Certified. You’ll come across a variety of logos and stamps of approval in your cruelty-free makeup search, so I encourage you to do your research and seek out the certifications that resonate with you most.

Please keep in mind that certifications can be cost-prohibitive, especially for new or smaller brands. If you don’t see the certification you’re looking for, consider asking the brand for more info about their practices. Any company worth its salt will be happy to fill you in. And you never know, maybe your feedback will motivate them to pursue a certification!

Supply chains

This is an issue that trips up many cruelty-free makeup connoisseurs, so it might come up for you as you learn more. Vetting brands can get really complicated when you take into account where they get their raw materials, because suppliers aren’t always required to adhere to the same standards as the brand itself.

But trying to trace every last ingredient in your cosmetics back to the source can be incredibly frustrating, so I don’t recommend it! The best thing you can do is stick with brands that offer plenty of info about their products. Trust me, companies that go the extra mile to ensure consistent standards across their supply chain want you to know about it. And you don’t have to rule out the rest—tell brands you love that you want more transparency. Your voice is powerful!

Trusted resources

You might be wondering how to keep track of all these details, not to mention how much research you’ll have to do next time you need new mascara! But don’t fret, dear one. This isn’t about knowing every DO and DON’T off the top of your head. Instead, the key is finding a trusted resource to help with some of the heavy lifting.

For me, that’s the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Database. It contains hazard ratings for nearly 70,000 products and 9,000 ingredients on the market… Can you say wow? All you have to do is enter a new brand you’re considering or an ingredient you’ve never heard of in the search bar and ta da—the info you need to make conscious choices, at your fingertips!

Enjoy your cosmetics without compromise!

I shared a lot of info today, so give yourself time to process and learn more about the causes you care about most. And as you explore the world of cruelty-free makeup, please remember that your worth is not defined by your appearance. You are kind, smart, sensitive, loving and everything in between—that’s what matters. Have fun with your makeup but more importantly, have fun with your life!

Your turn: What’s your favorite cruelty-free makeup or personal care product? Or if you don’t have one yet, which brand from my list will you try?

Peace & conscious cosmetics,

The post 12 Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands to Add to Your Makeup Bag appeared first on KrisCarr.com.

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asaltyarcadecollectionthing-blog · 6 years

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Oil Painting Reviews & Tips

You're able to check the piece to find out what color that you want to stop at. If you're still unsure whether you've got a painting or a print, look carefully to see whether you can identify modest dots on the surface. Kids, Work and Canvas Art of this painting medium is it gets dried up extremely fast. The top reason behind using acrylic, it's very cost effective too. This painting is going to teach you to paint more complex forms than the preceding exercise and it'll teach you to find a color's value. In general, it supplies the chance of earning paintings with very fine details, brilliant colours, and amazing depth. The Upside to Oil Painting To this day it's still the ideal selling paint as it works. Ultimately, great luck and I hope you get to relish skimboarding as much like I do! Today, it is possible to find paint lessons throughout the internet that is going to teach you just how to paint, at your schedule and in the comfort of your own house. The Importance of Oil Painting If you've always wished to earn something in a specific style of art, now's a very good time to pick up your tools and start. Some folks, actually, do this with a wallpaper paste, but this is very likely to take quite some opportunity to dry. If you find one which you would really like to use on a specific room in your house but it's too small for it, find a means to frame it so that it provides that impact which you were aiming for. If you're a lover of Indian art and would like to observe the best kind of paintings then there's no doubt that cave paintings of Bhim Betka comes on the top. Getting to be The Never Before Told Story on Oil Painting You Need to Read of the pet in context might help your portrait. It is a really wonderful issue to be touched'' by a part of art in a gallery. Every creative or imagined idea that has been designed into a product was revealed by means of an artist or a craftsman. It's rather an idea of performing art. If you're a professional artist, you should be professional in how you conduct your company. Dakota Pastels has a lot of good portable pastels boxes, and therefore do some independent manufacturers. It's tough to remember to try it, thoughas you can see. It can't be adopted so easily unless you're taught. Horizontal strokes is one particular technique that has been explained to function as color sketching which functions as a guideline for freelance landscaping. If you wish to use a specific colour, make certain to purchase your paints from a single manufacturer so that you get a consistent colour. Oil paint isn't hard to use when you learn the fundamentals. These sorts of paints are great in regards to blending with the paint that's surrounding it. No matter the container you decide on, clean it rather well before switching from one sort of clay to another, or find a dedicated water dish for various kinds of clay to prevent cross-contamination. When you blend it on canvas, you'll be creating unique strokes that aren't possible with any different type of paint. Utilizing Rust-Oleum Rust-Reformer is truly a very simple job. In India there are many types of art and cultures. The local art gallery would be the very best solution. It was not a huge problem, but a fantastic plein air easel is a little more sturdy anyway. When it's furniture, you are fortunate. Make certain you do not put an excessive amount of paint on the canvas or else it will take days to dry and might also crack off the canvas if it's too thick. The level of removal varies from partial to finish. A full industry now supports the notion that Fine Art contains valuable wellness and wellbeing properties. For instance, some classes might revolve around teaching students how to paint still life paintings, while some might concentrate on landscapes. Throughout the planet, a great number of men and women visit these galleries each day, giving artists more exposure and making it feasible for artists to be reached by prospective buyers on a global level. There are many businesses, which provide free and paid courses to learn oil painting practices etc. There are a couple ways of building a living including the subsequent. What Does Wall Decal Mean? comprises factory which you'll be able to visit, and a shop where you can get Limoges Porcelain. So to begin with you will need to determine which colours you would like to use. Acrylic painting has grown an extremely common painting media in 21st century. Most would use a pencil or a ballpoint pen and begin to sketch a whole lot of grapes, a bouquet of flowers, or only the easy apple tree from the garden. Thanjavur drawings for sale in Chennai are the ideal location to get the paintings in various varieties. You could also opt to give-away loose miniature paintings to permit the particular person who receives it come up with his own manner of framing your little present of art.

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musicmapglobal · 6 years

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India's Jwala collective are spreading the fire (Insight: New Delhi / Mumbai)

Currently consisting of eight members, Jwala’s combination of work ethic, youthful talent and mastery of a range of styles is making the collective an essential addition to India’s DIY music scene. With most members currently still in their teenage years, much of the press around them has focused on the surprise that their generation are able to form a motivated and multifaceted artistic movement. As they discuss below, they’d rather be critiqued on their output than their youth.

Jwala are impressive enough without commenting on their ages anyway. In typical internet culture fashion, it’s the attitude rather than the aesthetic that is considered paramount. Genre wise, their scene encompasses producers wanting to recreate the big room EDM of major names like Deadmau5 and Skrillex, while others tap into traditional Indian timbres, which both sit alongside various forms of pop, lo-fi and experimentation. What they all share is eagerness to be involved, both with each other and the world around them.

We reached out to the collective to get all the insider info on their history, hometowns, activity, and plans for the future.

Describe where you live in ten words or less.

Brij Dalvi (Three Oscillators / zzz)): In the suburbs, in town, we’re scattered everywhere.

Ayush Jajoria (Ayush.): I live in New Delhi, India and it’s nothing compared to what you expect it to be, still decent. Could be worse.

Palash Kothari (Sparkle & Fade): All of us live in different areas of two major cities of India, Delhi and Mumbai. Although I think it’s the internet where we all grew up so geography never really mattered too much.

Who are you, and what first got you interested in music production?

Brij Dalvi: Well I used to listen to a lot of Skrillex and Savant and a host of other artists back when I was in junior college. It was the sounds that they made that made me want to explore music production further because I wanted to emulate these guys.

Ayush Jajoria: I am an independent indie musician/music producer with the interest varying in lots of different genres but for the most part indie Music is my thing. What first got me interested in music production or rather electronic music in general was Deadmau5 and Armin van Buuren I think. Back in the day I was really fascinated by the sound they created as it was something totally new to me so I was so so soo amazed by it that I wanted to see how it’d been created. One time during my summer holidays I gave it a go and here I am.

Palash Kothari: I’m currently studying journalism and have been making music as Sparkle & Fade for almost two years now but I’ve messed around with other aliases before. Music production for me started off when I was in junior high school as a means to be able to write and record without really going through the trouble of putting a band together. I got into electronic music a couple of months after. I didn’t even realise how it transitioned from being a hobby to something that I’d do most of my teenage life.

Jwala consists of around seven artists, could you give us an overview of the players involved?

Brij Dalvi: We’re actually eight members now; we just included a new member from Delhi some time ago. To give you an overview:

Palash Kothari goes by the stage name Sparkle & Fade and he’s the one who planted the seed to forming a collective, and we all joined. Palash makes chilled out, introspective tunes, sometimes loaded with Indian instruments. Karan Kanchan uses his own name on stage and is influenced by Japan and its vibrant culture, and it’s reflected in a ton of his tracks that loosely fall under the “Trap” category, but have distinct identities of their own, thanks to Karan’s sound designing skills.

Apurv Agarwal goes by the name Cowboy and Sailor Man, and during the times that he doesn’t make songs for his solo project he produces for several Indian bands and is a member of several more, as a guitarist or a synthesist. Ayush Jajoria goes by the stage name Ayush. His tunes fall under the Garage and ambient categories, and he has some aliases in development that aim to cover genres pertaining to dance and harder styles of electronic music.

Nikunj Patel aka Moebius does a lot of visual work apart from his music. He makes a lot of trip-hop and offbeat electronica, usually influenced by a ton of movies, and is a major contributor to most of our artworks. Veer Kowli (aka Chrms) mostly makes future bass and trap, while occasionally indulging in ambient soundscapes. Veer also dabbles in graphics and film making from time to time, all self-taught.

Dolorblind is Rohan Sinha, an industrial design student who makes a lot of dark, eerie ambient music. He’s the newest member of Jwala and only one out of the two people from Delhi (the other being Ayush.) The rest of us are from Mumbai.

I have two main projects: Three Oscillators (with my friend Avit Rane) and zzz. Under Three Oscillators we make a lot of post-dubstep and glitch-hop, while as zzz I make a ton of lo-fi.

Your collective output consists of a lot of future beats and chilled hip-hop vibes, who are the artists that inspire you?

Palash Kothari: I’m sure we have a long list of influences but for the most part we’re very inspired by each other. It was what made us leave the ‘online’ space and work together to build something which stretches to real offline interaction.

In terms of sound, I’d say Four Tet has been the biggest inspiration. I also had the privilege of meeting him when he played at Magnetic Fields Festival in Rajasthan last December. Yeah, Four Tet, Porter Robinson, Madeon, Anoushka Shankar, Shivkumar Sharma, MIDIval Punditz, Bon Iver, AR Rahman, Talvin Singh etc.

Ayush Jajoria: Mainly we all inspire each other to do better work but my personal picks are Owesey, Enzalla, joji, Direct etc.

What’s the ‘motto’ of the Jwala collective (if there is one)?

Brij Dalvi: Spread the fire (Jwala means fire in Hindi).

Talk to us about your local scenes, what venues and parties are you playing?

Brij Dalvi: As a collective, we’ve played thrice ’till now. It has been a privilege to play at some of the best venues in Mumbai, like Raasta and antiSOCIAL. As individuals, we play often at some usual places not limited to the aforementioned spots.

Palash Kothari: A lot of gigs which happen here are DIY or semi-DIY, where neither the artist or the promoter makes money. There’s a lot of stuff happening in different pockets of the country and a lot of people are doing what they do just for the love of music without expecting anything in return. I see a lot of people curb creativity for a fatter booking fee but where there’s no money (like a lot of the space here) everybody does what they feel like without giving much of a fuck.

Personally I’ve played everything from the “typical” party where people come in, drink their hearts out and music is just there in the background to extremely ‘experimental’ ones where I have complete creative freedom and am not expected to sell any booze.

What are the most important artists from your scene, both from Jwala and elsewhere, who we should be listening to?

Palash Kothari: These are some of the biggest names in the scene, in no particular order…

A lot of the articles around you mention your ages, usually the writers are surprised you’re that young. Does this focus on your age annoy you or is this something you think about as well?

Brij Dalvi: It’s definitely a little annoying. We’d rather be judged on the content we put out rather than the fact that we’re below 25 or something. The surprise element doesn’t exist anymore, because there are several young kids doing some amazing stuff out there, and it’s not only limited to music. Age shouldn’t be a bragging right in music. However old you are, if you’re a hard worker and you make good music, you deserve the spotlight in equal measure.

Ayush Jajoria: It’s good to know the context before reading but at times it does get a bit annoying, seeing our age be the focus point of all this. While I don’t mind it much, I still would like them to focus more on our music and what we are doing rather than on the personal aspect of it.

Palash Kothari: I think most of it is because ’15 year old xyz’ would get more clicks than ‘producer xyz’ in an article. Some of it is also genuine surprise because there’s some sort of new wave of young producers flooding in the [independent] ‘scene’ previously dominated by an older age group.

What is the DIY/internet community like in India, are there other collectives or artists who inspired you to start Jwala? I see the REProduce name pop up in relation to you quite a lot…

Brij Dalvi: It’s still nascent but it’s growing. Our city has a collective named Dasta and a label named Nrtya. They’re both doing some amazing work when it comes to propagating music production and the so-called DIY culture, and we’re doing something along the same lines.

As far as REProduce goes, it is headed by Rana Ghose, and he organises Listening Rooms around India. The concept is: people come for the gig and absorb the music on their own terms. These Listening Rooms are the reason we could express our music freely, and it was one such Listening Room during the end of April that we were all on the same lineup. Most of us met each other for the first time there. We got together on Facebook a couple of months later and that’s how Jwala happened.

Ayush Jajoria: The idea behind Jwala was to combine our friendship and love for the similar taste in music into a collective a group thing. Usually the live acts around us inspire us to do more and do it better, and with the help and support from REProduce artists, and Rana Ghose, we get to do that, which is really nice and we can’t thank him enough for it.

Palash Kothari: Bollywood and Commercial ‘EDM’ is huge in India because there’s that kind of an audience. For some reason ‘alternative’ genres haven’t been able to get that coverage barring a few circles in urban cities but that’s changing slowly. Even if I live in a small city, because of the internet I’m exposed to certain genres of music which nobody around me even knows exist, there’s not a lot I can do to further explore my interests except move to a bigger city and that is a financial hustle.

Also, India in general has a very small English-speaking urban population and that too is concentrated in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. There’s also prohibition in a few states and add that to the level of corruption involved at both the lower rungs and the upper rungs of the government…

It’s difficult to get police permission to organise gigs unless you have the connection or the money to bribe and even if you do somehow put something together, the few who show up won’t be able to support your model. You’re limited to a handful of venues in the city who also don’t want to take risks booking acts ‘too experimental’. This is where REProduce comes in.

What are your goals for 2018?

Brij Dalvi: Apart from increasing our reach tremendously, we want to be a more accessible source for electronic music in India, and we want to further facilitate the producer community here in various ways. Because it needs to grow, both in terms of artistic output and fanbase. Small steps at a time!

Interview by Nicholas Burman

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carolinaare · 6 years

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If you’ve spoken to me at least a few times, you probably know I enjoy fucking myself in the head with the pros and cons of social media. You know, soul- and time-sucking, fake identities and addiction vs. space to share your thoughts or to show off your pole moves you’re so proud about, that kinda crap. I mean, I’m doing a PhD on the dark side of Twitter – my obsession is pretty clear. So it might come as a shock to some people that I actually disconnect from time to time. Care to know why? Here’s why I think that even bloggers and part-time social media addicts like me can benefit from what I call “switch-off days”.

Why I Disconnect

ICYMI, I have anxiety and depression. I’m not making this up btw, I have been diagnosed with it by my GP – I’m just that lucky! Anyway, one of the warning signs that I’m really stressed or that I’m going through a rough patch is that I begin opening Facebook, my three email inboxes, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and – if things are particularly bad – Snapchat waiting for an answer, a sign from God, a unicorn, a doughnut, or something that will come and rescue me and give me all the solutions for whatever ailment my mind thinks it has at that moment. It becomes a loop, something I can’t abstain from and that prevents me from focusing on whatever it is that I need to do.

Now that I’m essentially self-employed, working part-time at the uni and dedicating my whole time to a PhD however, this just can’t happen. My mind needs to be sharp and focused because there’s no boss I need to impress by getting shit done and staying off social media. I am that boss, and if I fuck it up, bye bye PhD.

https://giphy.com/embed/12Y5YaNziEoiNq

via GIPHY

Enter one of my favourite things: switch-off days. What are they, you ask? Simply days in which I abstain from the use of the social networks and communications technologies that cause me to go on a checking loop. I can’t switch off completely because to get shit done, or even just to watch Netflix or listen to Spotify, I do need the Internet. Hence, my switch-off days mean I don’t open Facebook, my three email inboxes, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Snapchat at all, and that I even put my phone on airplane mode so I can still take pictures if I see a cute dog, have some great food, do an amazing pole move or see a fun graffiti somewhere around East London, without spamming anyone with what I see or waiting to see if I get likes (don’t we all).

While training on a switch-off day at the London Dance Academy recently, a pole friend told me disconnecting “sounds extremely hard for someone who has a blog!” and yes, you probably don’t associate blogging with switching off. However, switching off allows me to get shit done for my blog and for everything else and keeps me way more inspired than my stupid checking loop.

As bloggers, we have to be “on” most of the time liking, commenting, sharing, Instagramming and emailing, but switching off a day a week is not that tragic: realistically, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t Instagram your breakfast, or if you wait a day to do so.

Reasons Why Switching Off Matters

Even though I have removed notifications from most apps from my iPhone, checking them still takes considerable time away from what I need to be focusing on.

Dr. Yvonne Thomas, an LA-based therapist interviewed by Mashable, noticed that when her clients take digital detoxes they are “more balanced and calmer, […] more rested, more aware, more present, more productive and less overwhelmed and stressed out. They also feel more connected to their work, their love relationships, their family, their friends and themselves.”

Digital detoxes have also been linked with better sleep quality (the light from your phone/laptop disturbs your sight and makes falling asleep harder) and better eating habits. That’s partly because a study by the Rochester Institute of Technology found students are more likely to eat while on their phones than to sit down at dinner table, which turns eating into a multi-tasking activity and prevents you from doing so consciously and feeling satisfied.

When I Started Switching Off

My first switch-off experience was travel-related and happened in 2012, when I visited my friend Oda in her homeland of Norway. We ended up hiking up a mountain for five hours, reaching a cabin in the middle of nowhere, facing a beautiful lake. It was just us, no electricity, no signal, no running water, no Snowman-like serial killers (thank fuck).

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Our Norwegian cabin in the middle of the mountains

I thought swimming in a Norwegian lake was a great idea. It wasn’t.

Me in my highly fashionable cold-ass Norwegian summer attire

At the time I wasn’t as hooked on social media as I am now, but I definitely enjoyed not checking my phone for two days. And why would I even check it, when I knew there was no signal anyway?

Coming back to London after my Couchsurfing trip in the USA, working in PR as bouts of anxiety, PTSD and depression started hitting me, I began taking shelter in switch-off days again. Living by myself, this was quite easy and I made sure that all my social events happened on days I wasn’t switching off, so if I had to text a friend that I was going to be early, or late, or that I was lost and needed to check Google Maps, I could do it.

I unfortunately had to stop switching off in Australia, because I already felt far enough from my loved ones without switching off completely, let alone if I ended up putting my phone on Airplane Mode. Luckily, during holidays in the Whitsundays, in Singapore and Hong Kong I was on reduced social media used and I ended up switching off completely while in Bali.

Now that I’m back however, there’s no excuse not to switch off again.

What I Do On My Switch Off Days

If I don’t have any deadlines, my switch-off days are an occasion to discover new parts of London or to simply walk around in the areas I love the most.

Among my favourite switch-off day activities there’s:

Walking around London with my iPod listening to, among others, Dire Straits when the sound goes down – don’t ask me why it’s Dire Straits specifically, but there’s something magic about the Sultans of Swing solo busting through your headphones as you speed-walk through the deserted City of London at night;

Going to galleries. Specifically, I often end up at the Wellcome Collection in Euston because it’s the perfect mix of a classy hangout and a venue to geek out;

Taking my notebook to a new café and writing more chapters of my new detective novel. And yes, I know my previous one hasn’t even been published yet, but I feel inspired when I switch off so why the fuck not;

Discovering new cafés to study and write in. During one of my latest switch-off days I ended up writing the 6,000 extra words I needed to add to my working document/expanded PhD proposal in between two East London cafés I had never tried before. The first one was The Close-Up Film Centre in Sclater Street, a lovely DVD library with extra chess, cute couches, amazing almond cappuccinos, independent film screenings and a neighbourhood feel. The second one was Quaker Street Coffee in – you guessed it – Quaker Street, a café which gave out free coffee as a promotion, a creative supporting local artists that is about to launch an album;

Picture by Quaker Street Coffee

Speaking to random people in said cafés and finding out their stories (if they speak to me first, I try not to creep on them because this is London and you technically shouldn’t speak to strangers or you’ll annoy them to death);

Cooking new healthy recipes;

Doing pole, ofc.

How I Feel After A Switch-Off Day

After a switch-off day, I feel happy, energised, and I get to focus on my favourite things without interruptions, without being bombarded by what the world thinks I should be doing, eating, watching, reading.

I feel ready to start the working week, my anxiety and weird checking loops have now been sent back where they came from for at least a while and I become one of those weird people that smile at you on the street but that are really just smiling at themselves.

So if you run into me on one of those days, I’m not crazy. I’m just detoxing. You should give it a try.

Picture I took on a switch-off day

Pictures: Carolina Are

Why I Disconnect If you've spoken to me at least a few times, you probably know I enjoy fucking myself in the head with the pros and cons of social media.

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