#high range testing skepticism

[in-sightjournal]

Ask A Genius 1044: On 'Smartest Man in the World' and 'Longevity' Claims

Rick Rosner, American Comedy Writer, www.rickrosner.org Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Independent Journalist, www.in-sightpublishing.com Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Someone else mentioned in passing: If you’re the ‘smartest man in the world,’ you should be able to solve certain things, like their theory. They read the Life Extension Foundation magazine interview, so figured time is ticking! As you, and…

[in-sightpublishing]

Annie Jacobsen, an Author

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/07/20 (Updated June 24, 2024) *High range testing (HRT) should be taken with honest skepticism grounded in the limited development of the field at present, even in spite of honest and sincere efforts.* According to some semi-reputable sources listed here, Rick G.…

[simplygojo]

The Devil He Made Me - Ch. 1

author's note ⸺ Hello lovely people! Here is the introductory chapter to a new series I have had in mind for a while, I hope you enjoy! I am hoping to upload chapters weekly, as it will be a relativly long series, so if you'd like to join along for the emotional rollercoaster this will take me though, please feel free! Also, I am ALWAYS open to requests, so don't be shyyyyy!! luv u all, thank you to all who support my work :) pairing ⸺ Satoru Gojo x reader chapter summary ⸺ After a mission to investigate a special grade curse, Gojo and the first-years discover y/n, who has no memory of the past week. Despite a series of tests, her innocence is confirmed. Gojo becomes unusually protective of her, sparking curiosity among the students and other sorcerers. As y/n begins to adjust to life at Jujutsu High, Gojo finds himself increasingly drawn to her, unable to ignore his growing attachment. word count ⸺ 3.8k content warnings ⸺ none (for this chapter, wink wink), maybe slight mental overstimulation?

Series Masterlist | Next Chapter

The forest was cloaked in an oppressive silence, where every sound seemed swallowed by the ominous presence of cursed energy, the type that even the lowest-level sources could feel in their bones. Footsteps crunched over twigs and leaves, disturbing the stillness as Gojo Satoru led his first-year students deeper into the thick of the cursed energy's source. 

His casual demeanor, hands tucked into his pockets and a laid-back smile playing on his lips, contrasted with the seriousness of the situation. It was as if they were out for a casual stroll instead of on a mission to investigate a reported special-grade curse.

Itadori Yuji, Fushiguro Megumi, and Kugisaki Nobara followed closely behind, their expressions ranging from excitement to apprehension. 

The blend of eagerness and wariness that accompanied every encounter with curses was palpable. Yuji’s bright, curious eyes darted around, already anticipating the unexpected. Nobara, less enthused, let her irritation show in the way she muttered complaints under her breath. Megumi, the most composed, kept his focus sharp, his brow furrowed in anticipation.

“So, we’re just here to observe, right?” Nobara asked, her voice laced with frustration. She wasn’t one for waiting around, especially when the promise of action loomed. “If it’s a special-grade curse, I doubt we’re doing much besides standing around.”

Gojo chuckled lightly, the sound teasing. “Observing is just as important as fighting, Nobara. It's all about learning how curses work.”

Yuji shot Gojo a curious look. “But it’s dangerous, right? You’re the strongest sorcerer, so we’ll be fine?”

Gojo was amused by Yuji’s innocent confidence. “Special-grade curses can be unpredictable, Yuji. It’s not just about strength; it’s about knowing what to do when things don’t go as planned.” He grinned wider and put his hands behind his head, adding a sense of cockiness as he walked, “But yes, Yuji, I am the strongest.”

Megumi sighed and rolled his eyes at his sensei's snarky comment, his skepticism apparent. “I still don’t see how standing around helps us learn anything.”

“Trust me, Megumi,” Gojo replied, his tone cryptic. “You’ll see soon enough.”

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the heavy cursed energy they had been tracking began to grow stronger. A sort of power Gojo had only felt a few times before in his life, evoking a feeling of both excitement, and fear, the latter which he hadn’t felt in a while.

“We are close to the special grade…stay alert students! You don’t want to miss a master in action!” Gojo said in his usual excited tone. 

Beginning to dramatically stretch to prepare for the battle, Gojo was about to give the three first-years instructions to just observe the battle and take out any low-grade curses they encountered. However, before he could open his mouth, the strong cursed energy began to vanish.

It was subtle at first, like the fading scent of something foul in the air, but soon, it became clear that what should have been an overpowering force now felt faint, practically gone.

Yuji frowned, his senses alert. “It’s weaker. Shouldn’t it be getting stronger as we get closer?”

Nobara’s irritation grew. “I swear if we came all this way for nothing—”

Before she could finish, Gojo came to a sudden stop, his blindfolded gaze fixed on a small clearing ahead. The students followed his line of sight, and that’s when they saw you. Gojo’s eyes, even beneath that blindfold, were locked onto you.

—

You sat in the clearing, your body frozen with fear and cold. The forest around you was dark, the shadows stretching and twisting unnaturally. You had no memory of how you ended up here; the only thought that was present in your mind was that you were scared and disoriented. 

Your hands trembled as you wrapped your arms around yourself, trying to make sense of the situation. You were a relatively calm and happy person, but as of late things had been changing, although, your memory seemed to be fading more rapidly the more you thought about it.

Footsteps approached, and your body tensed, instinctively curling tighter. The voice that spoke was startlingly bright, almost cheerful, not fitting the heavy atmosphere of the forest at all.

“Well, what do we have here?”

The man who spoke was tall, his white hair glowing faintly in the dim light. His face was obscured by a black blindfold, but there was an intensity in his demeanour that you couldn’t ignore. He crouched in front of you, his tone oddly reassuring despite the circumstances. 

“Are you alright?” he asked gently.

You opened your mouth to speak, but your voice caught in your throat. Fear and confusion overwhelmed you, making it hard to form words. You managed a slight shake of your head, your body trembling under the weight of everything you couldn’t remember.

Gojo studied you, his expression unreadable behind the blindfold, but there was a certain softness in his tone. “Interesting,” he murmured to himself, his words more for his own contemplation than anyone else’s.

Behind him, the first-years approached cautiously. Megumi’s gaze was sharp, scrutinizing you closely. Yuji and Nobara exchanged uncertain glances, their confusion and concern growing with each passing second.

Gojo straightened, his playful demeanour replaced by a more serious edge. “What is your name?” he said leaning in closer to your face. 

You finally managed to get words out, not much above a whisper, as this white haired man was only inches from your face, “I-I’m y/n, y/n y/l/n.” 

He nodded once and stood up swiftly, causing you to flinch. “Well hello y/n!” He said flashing a wide grin at you. “I am Satoru Gojo! A legendary sorcerer, if I might add.” He said proudly, provoking a loud sigh from Nobara. 

He hinged at the hips and switched his tone back to a more serious one. “What are you doing here in this forest, doesn’t seem like a nice place to camp for a young girl like you” He asked you, and boy did you wish you had an answer. 

“I don’t know…” You loosened the tight grip you had around your legs. “I, I really don’t remember anything at all, not from the past few weeks at least.” 

Gojo looked at you intensely straightening his spine as he stood up straight, ‘Her eyes, they’re so…’ he quickly interrupted his thoughts and glanced at the the dark haird boy. “Megumi, can you sense any cursed energy from her?”

Megumi closed his eyes, concentrating on the surrounding area. His frown deepened. “Nothing of significance. Whatever cursed energy we felt here a few minutes ago, it’s gone now.”

Gojo turned back to you, crouching once more. His hand extended toward you, a kind but firm gesture. “Let’s get you somewhere safe. We can figure this out.”

You hesitated for a moment, your fear warring with the overwhelming relief that someone was offering help. Slowly, you reached out and took his hand. 

The touch was warm and steady, a small comfort in the midst of your disorientation.

As Gojo helped you to your feet, your mind raced. Who were these people? How had you ended up in this situation? 

And why couldn’t you remember anything from the last few days? The only thing you were sure of was that you had always been able to see curses—creatures others couldn’t perceive, lurking just beyond the edges of reality. But this? This was something entirely different.

You swallowed hard, gathering the courage to speak. “I don’t… I don’t remember how I got here,” you admitted, your voice still barely above a whisper. “I’ve always been able to see curses, but this… I don’t understand what’s happening.”

Gojo tilted his head, his expression unreadable beneath the blindfold. “No memory, huh?” He sounded curious but not judgmental. “Well, we’ll figure that out.”

—

Back at Jujutsu High, the atmosphere was tense. You were seated in a room, surrounded by people you barely knew, all of them sorcerers far more skilled than you could ever hope to be. The tests began almost immediately. 

Every inch of your story was picked apart, your memory—or lack thereof—under scrutiny. They questioned you about the forest, about the curses, about anything that could provide a clue.

One by one, the sorcerers took turns assessing you. They used techniques, spells, and devices you couldn’t begin to comprehend, all in an attempt to uncover something—anything—that could explain your presence in that cursed clearing.

It was gruelling, mentally and emotionally exhausting. You answered the same questions over and over again, your frustration and mental fatigue climbing with each repetition. The truth was simple: you had no memory of what had happened. 

And yet, the interrogations persisted, leaving you feeling more confused and overwhelmed by the second.

Gojo watched silently from the sidelines, his usual playful demeanour replaced by something quieter, more contemplative. His eyes—hidden behind the blindfold—never left you. The longer the tests dragged on, the more something about the entire situation seemed off to him.

Beside him, Principal Yaga and another special grade sorcerer, and Utahime Iori, continued their assessment. Utahime frowned as she used her ability to sense the flow of your cursed energy—or lack thereof.

“She doesn’t seem to be lying,” Utahime said softly, more to herself than anyone else. “But there’s something odd about this. It’s like there’s a barrier, something we can’t quite break through.”

Yaga crossed his arms, his expression stern. “We need to cover all possibilities. She could still be hiding something.”

As the tests continued, you felt yourself growing more drained. The sorcerers probed deeper into your mind, looking for gaps, inconsistencies—anything to suggest you weren’t telling the truth. But no matter how hard they pushed, your story remained the same. You didn’t know. You didn’t remember.

The pressure mounted until, finally, Gojo stepped forward, his voice cutting through the room with an authority you had yet to hear from him. “That’s enough.”

The suddenness of his command startled everyone, even Yaga, who raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Gojo, we need to make sure—”

“She’s not lying,” Gojo interrupted, his voice firm. “There’s minimal cursed energy coming from her, and she clearly has no memory of what happened. We’re not going to find any answers by grilling her like this.”

Utahime glanced at Gojo, her expression curious. “You’re sure about this?”

Gojo turned toward her, his grin returning, though it lacked its usual mischief. “I’m the strongest sorcerer, aren’t I? Just trust me.”

Yaga still seemed skeptical, but after a long pause, he sighed and relented. “Fine. We’ll stop for now. But we still need to figure out what she was doing in that forest. Especially since a veil was drawn…”

Gojo gave a small nod of satisfaction, then turned his attention back to you. His expression softened. “You’ve been through enough today. Let’s get you some rest.”

As the other sorcerers began to disperse, the first-years remained behind, exchanging confused glances. Yuji was the first to speak, his voice low but curious. “It’s not like Gojo-sensei to be this… invested, right?”

Nobara crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Yeah, it’s weird. He’s acting different.”

Megumi, ever perceptive, watched Gojo closely. “He’s unpredictable, but this is definitely unusual.”

Gojo, sensing the shift in the room, flashed his signature grin, waving off their concerns with a casual hand. “Don’t get any weird ideas, kids. I’m just looking out for someone who got caught up in a bad situation. That’s all.”

But even as he dismissed their concerns, Gojo couldn’t shake the thoughts swirling in his mind. There was something about you that unsettled him—something beyond the circumstances of your discovery in the forest. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it gnawed at him, refusing to be ignored.

He wanted to be closer to you. To understand why, of all the strange and dangerous things he’d encountered, you had managed to occupy so much space in his thoughts. 

—

The next morning, you awoke in a small room within the Jujutsu High compound. The soft light of dawn filtered through the windows, casting the space in a gentle glow. Despite the calm atmosphere, your mind was anything but settled.

You had been told to stay here until they figured out what had happened to you. 

While the thought of staying at Jujutsu High was daunting, you couldn’t deny the strange sense of safety you felt, knowing that Gojo was nearby. In addition to this, there was nothing waiting for you back in Tokyo, you’ve always been alone, and as a 24 year old girl, it was not the most exiting life to live. 

A knock on the door interrupted your thoughts. It opened before you had a chance to respond, and Gojo stepped inside, his usual playful expression firmly in place.

“Morning,” he said cheerfully, leaning casually against the doorframe. “How are you feeling?”

You hesitated before answering, still unsure of how to navigate this strange new world you’d been thrust into. “Confused,” you admitted softly. “But… better, I guess.”

Gojo nodded, stepping further into the room. “Good to hear. We’ve decided to keep you around for a while.”

Your eyes widened in surprise. “Keep me around?”

“Yep,” Gojo confirmed with a grin. “You barely have any cursed energy, and you clearly don’t know how you ended up in that forest. But until we can figure out what happened, it’s safer for you to stay here, where we can keep an eye on things.”

You swallowed hard, the weight of the situation settling in your chest. “So… what happens now?”

Gojo’s grin softened slightly, and for the briefest moment, his playful facade cracked, revealing something more genuine beneath. “For now? You’ll help out around the school. Get to know the students, maybe even learn a bit about how we handle curses.”

He paused, his tone becoming more serious. “And I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

The sincerity in his voice caught you off guard, and it seemed to catch Gojo off guard too. You had only known him for a short time, but something about the way he spoke to you made you believe him. 

There was a depth to his words that you hadn’t expected, a promise that went beyond the typical duties of a sorcerer.

And as Gojo left the room, you couldn’t help but wonder why he seemed so determined to protect you.

—

As the days passed, the curiosity surrounding Gojo’s sudden attentiveness only grew. The first-years, in particular, found it strange how their usually carefree and unpredictable teacher seemed to go out of his way to check on you.

Yuji, ever the optimist, chalked it up to Gojo’s natural inclination to help people in need. “He’s just looking out for her. You know how he is.”

Nobara, however, wasn’t convinced. “It’s more than that. He’s never this focused on one person. It’s weird.”

Even Megumi, though more reserved in his judgments, couldn’t deny the oddness of Gojo’s behaviour. “There’s something going on. He’s not acting like himself.”

Gojo, of course, dismissed all their concerns with a wave of his hand and his usual grin. “You’re all overthinking it. I’m just making sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble.”

But no matter how many times he deflected their questions, the truth was something Gojo couldn’t even admit to himself. The more time he spent around you, the more he found his thoughts drifting back to that clearing in the forest—the way you had looked so lost, so vulnerable, but still so strong.

He couldn’t explain it, but there was something about you that pulled at him, something that made him want to be closer.

And for the first time in a long while, Gojo Satoru—the strongest sorcerer in the world—felt something…almost like uncertainty.

Days turned into weeks, and you slowly adjusted to life at Jujutsu High. The students, though initially unsure about your presence, began to warm up to you. 

Yuji, with his endless optimism and genuine kindness, was the first to make you feel welcome, even though he was almost a decade younger than you. He’d often drop by to chat, always trying to lighten the mood with stories of his own awkward experiences as a novice in the world of jujutsu sorcery.

Nobara, though more distant at first, soon took to you as well. She admired your strength or at least the fact that you were handling your situation without falling apart completely. "I respect that," she said one day with a shrug. "Not everyone could be thrown into this and not lose their mind."

Megumi was the hardest to read. His sharp, critical gaze often lingered on you, as though he was still assessing whether or not you were truly a threat. But over time, his cold demeanour thawed, and though he didn’t openly show it, there were moments where you could tell he had begun to trust you—or at least tolerate your presence.

However, it was Gojo who remained the most enigmatic. He would check in on you often, always with his playful grin and teasing remarks. 

But there was something beneath the surface, something you couldn’t quite place. His visits were frequent, his concern palpable, but he never pushed. 

Whenever you asked him why he was so invested in helping you, he would just shrug it off, offering a casual, "I’m the strongest, remember? It’s my job to make sure nothing happens to you."

But even you could see that there was more to it. His presence was constant, and no matter how much he tried to play it off, there was a tension between you—something unspoken but undeniable. 

The first-years noticed it too, though none of them dared to say anything directly to him. Yuji, ever the optimist, thought it was just Gojo being protective, but Nobara and Megumi weren’t as easily convinced.

One evening, as you sat in the common room, absentmindedly flipping through a book Yuji had recommended, Gojo appeared, leaning against the doorway with his usual smirk.

"Reading? I’m impressed," he teased, strolling into the room without invitation. "What’s the book?"

You glanced up, meeting his blindfolded gaze. "Just something Yuji thought I’d like. It’s… fine."

Gojo chuckled, dropping down onto the couch beside you, far too close for what most would consider appropriate. His casual attitude about personal space had long since become something you were used to, though it still made your heart race a little faster each time.

"I was just checking on you," he said lightly. "Make sure you're not too bored here."

You raised an eyebrow. "Bored? After all the tests and constant probing into my memory? Yeah, I’d say I could use a bit more excitement."

His smile softened, just a touch. "Those tests were tough on you, huh?"

You shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "They were necessary, I guess. I don’t blame them for wanting answers. I want answers, too."

Silence stretched between you for a moment, the air thick with unspoken tension. Then, to your surprise, Gojo spoke again, his tone more serious than you’d ever heard it before.

"You’re handling all of this pretty well," he said quietly. "Most people wouldn’t be as calm about it."

You turned to face him fully, searching for the meaning behind his words. "I’m not sure if I’d call it calm. I’m just trying to… survive, I guess."

Gojo tilted his head, his smile still in place but his voice softer. "You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, you know."

Something about his words made your chest tighten and your eyes lifted above the page of your book, stunned. A warmth began to spread through you that you didn’t quite understand. Why was he being so kind? So attentive?

Before you could respond, the door to the common room creaked open, and Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi appeared, clearly having overheard at least part of the conversation. Yuji’s bright smile lit up the room, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Are we interrupting something?" Nobara asked, her tone playful but her gaze sharp as she looked between you and Gojo.

Gojo leaned back, waving his hand dismissively. "Nope, just checking in on our guest. You know, making sure she’s not too lonely."

Yuji chuckled, but Nobara wasn’t fooled. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she leaned closer to Megumi, whispering something that made him roll his eyes.

Megumi, always the most perceptive, shot Gojo a questioning look. "You’re being unusually… protective."

Gojo’s grin widened, but his tone remained light. "What can I say? I decided I’d try and be a nice guy this year, a New Years resolution thing, ya know?."

But Megumi wasn’t satisfied with that answer. "It’s not like you to take such a personal interest in someone who isn’t a sorcerer."

There it was—the suspicion that had been bubbling under the surface for weeks. Those words hurt a bit. 

You knew you weren’t of much importance compared to everyone here, but it was harsh to hear out loud. The first-years weren’t blind. They had seen how Gojo had gone out of his way to ensure you were safe, how his visits to check on you had become more frequent, more personal.

Gojo, for once, seemed caught off guard by the directness of the question. He shrugged, his grin never faltering. "What can I say? I like keeping things interesting."

But as the first-years exchanged glances, it was clear that none of them believed his nonchalance. There was more to it—there had to be. But none of them pressed the issue further.

After they left, the room grew quiet once more, and you could feel the weight of Gojo’s attention on you. For the first time, it felt like he wasn’t hiding behind his usual playful demeanour. There was something deeper in his gaze, something that made your heart race in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

"You should get some rest," he said finally, his voice low. "I’ll see you tomorrow."

As he stood to leave, you found yourself wanting to say something—anything to break the tension. But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, you watched as he left the room, the door clicking softly behind him.

And as the silence settled around you, one thought echoed in your mind: why did it feel like you were missing something important? 

—

Later that night, as Gojo lay in his quarters, staring up at the ceiling, he couldn’t shake the image of your face from his mind. The confusion, the vulnerability, the strength you didn’t even realize you had—it all stirred something in him that he couldn’t quite explain.

For someone as powerful as Gojo, emotions had always been a distant second to his duties as a sorcerer. But with you, it was different. There was something about you that made him want to protect you, to keep you close.

But more than that, he wanted to understand you. To know what it was that drew him to you in the first place.

And as he closed his eyes, one thought lingered in his mind: he wasn’t sure what it was about you, but he was certain of one thing.

He couldn’t stay away from you.

Author's Note II: I hope you enjoyed this first chapter!! Please feel free to send me any feedback or comments you have! Many more chapters to come soon, and this series will eventually become...18+ so read at your own discretion :)

Cheers!

[iwriteiguessandiloveit]

I'll Sleep when i'm Dead

Toon!Beetlejuice x reader

i'll sleep when i'm Dead

Chamomile tea by your bedside. Noise machine you brought up from the basement. A small night light casting shadows around the room. All used in some form or another, and still your eyes were glued open; Thinking of both everything and nothing at the same time. The tick-tock of the clock rang out in your otherwise silent room. Speaking of the clock, what time was it anyway? You turned your head to read the digital clock on your dresser- and made eye contact with two large, grey rimmed eyes. 

You screamed- ‘AUGH!’

After the adrenaline rush had subsided, you knew who the strange eyes belonged to. Beetlejuice, your boyfriend. Who also happens to be a ghost.

He rolled through the air, shaking with fits of laughter. ‘Oh, you should've seen your face! Priceless!’ You rolled your eyes and shunted the covers over to the edge of the bed and stepped over to your dresser. Goosebumps prickled along your arms in the chilly air. ‘BJ! What are you doing here? It’s kinda creepy, spying on me like that.’ 

The mirror’s border creaked as he rested his full weight on it. ‘Aw, c’mon! Can’t I just wanna see my favorite breather?’ 

‘That still doesn't make it any less creepy.’ You murmured. Well, creepy or not, you could take advantage of the situation. Anything’s better than being alone with your thoughts at 3 Am. ‘But since we’re both up…’ With a triple recitation of his moniker; As he was shoved by an invisible force out of the mirror and into reality; He crash landed upside down on the floor. Stars circled around his head and his eyes whirled in their sockets. ‘Y-ya really gotta warn me before ya do that…’ You helped him up, but your giggles were interrupted with a large yawn.

 Beej raised an eyebrow. ‘You look tired, babes. Why aren't-cha in bed?’ Upon remembering your predicament, your shoulders sagged. A heavy sigh escaped your mouth. ‘Can’t. Not for lack of trying, I just have so much on my mind right now, like I have a science test tomorrow and notes for history and I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier because I have to pick up my prescription before they send it back and i’ve been trying to go to bed for 3 and a half hours now-’ You were interrupted by Beetlejuice, who shoved a grimy finger to your lips. ‘Ahp-bup-bup, no need to freak out. I’m gonna help you!’ Your eyebrows quirked skeptically, but before, you could express your doubt in that idea he exclaimed-

‘I got an idea! Lemme serenade you to sleep!’ He thrust his hand in his pants pocket and pulled out a full size accordion, complete with handles and a black and white paint job. He started playing a few painfully off-key base notes. ‘Any requests?’ Remembering the last time he tried to play something for you and all the apology notes you had to write to the neighbors, you pushed the accordion down a few inches. 

‘No-thanks, sweet of you but I don’t think it’ll help.’ 

‘You never want to hear my songs.’ He grumbled. But his face lightened up after a moment and exclaimed, ‘I know what’ll help-’ 

With a snap of his fingers, your world exploded into neon stripes. Your room spun away to be replaced by a 80s-esque dance studio, the backdrop a mix of zigzags and bright colors, fuzzing your vision up. In the middle of the room, BJ was dressed in neon green arm and leg warmers with neon purple bodysuit; And hands on his hips in a sassy gesture.

Well this is a sight you’d take to the neitherworld. 

‘Alright babes! Put your hands up and stretch up high! Let's tire those muscles out!’ His feet moved rapidly, spinning like a ballerina and stomping to an invisible beat. Bewildered, you tried to recreate whatever in the world he’s doing but you kept tripping, eventually landing flat on your ass. ‘Beej, take me HOME!’ You cried. He turned to you, huffing and puffing with the effort of his improv-ed dancing. ‘Aw, just when I was having fun…’ He lamented. But as you requested, he snapped again and your room reappeared before you. You steadied yourself on the headboard of the bed. You tugged off and flung the neon pink headband you only just realized you had on when your gaze shifted to Beetlejuice.

He looked a little hurt. Eyes darting away from you, fiddling with his tie. You hadn't meant to hurt his feelings, you were just so tired that you didn't have the sense of humor for his shenanigans in you. He was genuinely trying to help, after all. 

‘BJ…’ You started. ‘Yeah?’ He perked up.

You plopped on the edge of your bed, sagging as the fatigue returned at your lack of motion. ‘I’m sorry I was so harsh. I just… Honestly, the best thing you can do right now is just cuddle me. Silently. Please?’ 

He nodded vigorously, and suddenly his mouth was a zipper and fastened itself closed  with a ‘swiipp’. ‘’Mhmph-hmm!’ He mumbled; His voice, obviously, obstructed by the zipper. 

No matter the state you were in, this goofy ghost always managed to make you laugh.

‘Heh, c’mere.’ You stretched your arms out toward him and he readily dove into your embrace.

The soft chill of his arms was a welcome feeling. You pulled up the covers to both your shoulders, while his hand came up to stroke your hair. Like the clingy specter he is, he wrapped his arms and legs around your waist and clutched you like a parasite. It restricted your breathing a bit, but one look at his adorable face snuggling into your neck had you melting. You didn't have the heart to make him move. 

(1 hour later)

BJ

You're so beautiful. Well, you’re always beautiful, but especially now. It’s been TORTURE just sittin’ here not talking or anything! But I guess if you can sleep it's worth it… now just let me-oops, didn't mean to bump your nose there, Sorry, Y/N. Pleaseee stay asleep-there we go. *smack* free access for forehead kisses. Love ya, babes. Nighty-night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO

can you tell I had fun with this one?

RS has the privilege of calling the 80s dance studio setting her own idea~

Credit where it's due: L and RS, who beta read and gave me suggestions (and a lot of laughs)

@accidentalnh2cl, this is for you! I hope you like it!

And off we go! I'll get started on the next one tomorrow.

luv y'all!

-Rea ❤

[feyreshumanheart]

I thought I'd highlight some of the ways Feyre's established as extremely powerful.

I know sjm's powerscaling isn't that clear because she likes to describe many characters with as some variation of especially super powerful or flowery meaningless stuff like shook the mountain with his/her power and every new magical object is also never been wielded before and Feyre spends a lot of the series either without magic or unable to use her magic, but there's several really indicative scenes.

Her power is described with words like "considerable" and a "behemoth", which is the same way sjm describes Amren's power unleashing when she takes out the entirety of Hybern's army:

Feyre also has super strength, the kind that lets her literally bend lead doors beneath her shoulder. It's established that she's "unusually" physically strong for a High Fae, in a way that shows she's manifesting High Lord powers even before she becomes High Lady-

And this makes it "easy" for her to knock Tamlin down and cause Rhys to stagger without meaning to:

When she goes to the Court of Nightmares the first time as High Lady, a few fae decided to test her power:

Feyre easily plays with them and holds their power with her own, a display literally causes people to faint, tremble, and flee:

She effortlessly breaks through the oldest High Lord's shield and is capable of killing him, which causes other High Lords to remark on her power. It's even said that Beron's flame tried to counter the attack but she was able to push it past. And even before, she had shielded against his attack to Azriel:

She glamours the entire Night Court army of thousands, which another High Lord was skeptical of, to basically create an entire army that functioned like their own for Hybern to see.

Her daemati skills are so strong that she can infiltrate a High Lord's mind without him knowing with work that is established as usually take years to master, protect unshielded minds from attacks of strong daemati, and has a range likened to Rhys's-

Her mental attacks (even while poisoned) can cause 1000 year old daemati (and Hybern commanders and royalty) to flinch:

She can even block Rhys out and Rhys says says that only fae who are "very, very strong" can keep him out:

She forces obedience in death gods and whatever Bryaxis is with her power, can contain the Bone Carver in a fae body she made, and glamour them both without any of Prythian or Hybern's armies realizing:

She walks around Velaris with a damper on her power to blend in:

With her High Lord-specific powers, she can conjure walls of flame, drown and freeze over dozens of Hybern solders at once, and cleave master spellmaker King of Hybern's wards to the point that he's shocked and where he's extra enforcing them.

Despite the faebane being established as still holding the majority of her power, Feyre has enough power contain Eris and his brothers in a net of flame he was working to counteract while also sending power into blows with Lucien to cause a cave in:

She also exploded an entire clearing in flame causing everything to be incinerated and extinguish the flames thoroughly, a display that makes Rhys's eyes widen and swear, as part of her training-

Feyre can also winnow, something described as an ability "only the most powerful" or those "remarkable in magic" can do. It's established that the stronger you are, the farther you can winnow and that bringing others with you is a drain. But it's also dependent on not just strength but training:

Despite not having trained for winnowing that long (so she hasn't reached her potential), Feyre has shown to be able to winnow other people and across Prythian courts.

In acowar, when she retrieves the Ouroboros and Bone Carver, she winnows alone to the Court of Nightmares from the camp in Summer Court (across Winter, the Middle, Dawn, and Day Courts), seemingly in one leap, and then to the Prison (across the Night Court since the Court of Nightmares is the towards the south east border with Day and the island is off the northwest coast of the Night Court), and then back to Summer; in acosf, Cassian mentions Feyre as an option to winnow Nesta and him across the Night Court (from the House of Wind to Windhaven):

Amren says things like Feyre alone doubles your strength" o Rhys, the Suriel says that Feyre is a match to Rhys being "the most powerful High Lord to ever walk the earth" and is unlike anything, the King of Hybern is shocked at how Feyre can break his spells and calls her remarkable and so much more.

But I wanted a quick hit on some of the ways the books establish how unusually powerful Feyre is.

[morbidology]

Skinwalker Ranch, a remote property in northeastern Utah, has become one of the most infamous and mysterious sites of alleged paranormal activity in the United States. Spanning approximately 512 acres, the ranch has been the focus of countless stories involving UFO sightings, strange creatures, poltergeist-like phenomena, and unexplained cattle mutilations. For decades, it has attracted the attention of scientists, researchers, and enthusiasts of the unexplained, earning its place as a central figure in the lore of the paranormal.

The ranch's name is derived from the Navajo legend of the skinwalker, a malevolent witch capable of transforming into, possessing, or disguising themselves as an animal. According to Navajo folklore, skinwalkers are dangerous beings that use their shape-shifting abilities to cause harm and spread fear. The Ute tribe, who reside in the region, have long spoken of the land where the ranch is located as being cursed and avoid it whenever possible. The Utes believe that the Navajo sent skinwalkers to curse the Utes after a conflict between the two tribes, and that these entities continue to inhabit the area to this day.

The ranch first gained widespread attention in the 1990s when Terry and Gwen Sherman purchased the property in 1994. The Shermans quickly began experiencing strange and terrifying events. They reported seeing large, wolf-like creatures that were unaffected by bullets, mysterious lights in the sky, and crop circles appearing overnight. Perhaps most disturbingly, they encountered instances of cattle mutilations, with several of their livestock found dead and mutilated in ways that defied explanation—often with precise, surgical cuts and no blood at the scene.

The Shermans also described poltergeist-like activities within their home, such as objects moving on their own, strange voices, and even the sudden appearance of unfamiliar and disorienting odors. Despite their initial skepticism, the sheer volume and intensity of these experiences led the family to believe that something supernatural was at play. After only 18 months, the Shermans sold the ranch.

In 1996, Robert Bigelow, a billionaire businessman with a keen interest in the paranormal, purchased Skinwalker Ranch. Bigelow founded the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS), a research organization dedicated to investigating paranormal phenomena. Bigelow's team of scientists, including physicists, biologists, and other experts, spent years studying the ranch in an attempt to uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences.

Despite employing sophisticated equipment and extensive surveillance, the NIDS team was often frustrated in their efforts to capture definitive evidence. The phenomena were elusive, frequently occurring just out of view or in ways that defied scientific analysis. Nevertheless, the team documented numerous instances of high strangeness, including bizarre animal sightings, unusual electromagnetic readings, and unexplained lights and aerial phenomena. The ranch seemed to be a hotspot for what many called a "paranormal stew," with a wide range of inexplicable events occurring simultaneously.

Over the years, numerous theories have been proposed to explain the mysteries of Skinwalker Ranch. Some suggest that the area is a portal or vortex to another dimension, where entities and phenomena from other realities bleed into our own. Others believe that the ranch may be a site of advanced extraterrestrial activity, with UFOs and alien beings using the area for unknown purposes. There are also those who think that the ranch's strangeness could be the result of secret government experiments or technologies being tested in the remote location.

Skeptics, however, argue that the stories of Skinwalker Ranch are exaggerated or fabricated, fueled by a mix of folklore, psychological phenomena, and the power of suggestion. They point to the lack of concrete evidence and the often anecdotal nature of the reports as reasons to question the legitimacy of the claims.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

By Adam Piore

A new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham suggests racial disparities and the difficulty in diagnosing the condition may be leading to a massive undercount.

Almost one in four Americans may be suffering from long COVID, a rate more than three times higher than the most common number cited by federal officials, a team led by Boston area researchers suggests in a new scientific paper.

The peer-reviewed study, led by scientists and clinicians from Mass General Brigham, drew immediate skepticism from some long COVID researchers, who suggested their numbers were “unrealistically high.” But the study authors noted that the condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose and official counts also likely exclude populations who were hit hardest by the pandemic but face barriers in accessing healthcare.

“Long COVID is destined to be underrepresented, and patients are overlooked because it sits exactly under the health system’s blind spot,” said Hossein Estiri, head of AI Research at the Center for AI and Biomedical Informatics at Mass General Brigham and the paper’s senior author.

Though the pandemic hit hardest in communities of color where residents had high rates of preexisting conditions and many held service industry jobs that placed them at high risk of contracting the virus, the vast majority of those diagnosed with long COVID are white, non-Hispanic females who live in affluent communities and have greater access to healthcare, he said.

Moreover, many of the patients who receive a long COVID diagnosis concluded on their own that they have the condition and then persuaded their doctors to look into it, he said. As a result, the available statistics we have both underestimate the true number of patients suffering from the condition and skew it to a specific demographic.

“Not all people even know that their condition might be caused or exacerbated by COVID,” Estiri said. “So those who go and get a diagnosis represent a small proportion of the population.”

Diagnosis is complicated by the fact that long COVID can cause hundreds of different symptoms, many of which are difficult to describe or are easily dismissed, such as sleep problems, headaches or generalized pain, Estiri said. According to its formal definition, long COVID occurs after a COVID-19 infection, lasts for at least three months, affects one or more organ systems, and includes a broad range of symptoms such as crushing fatigue, pain, and a racing heart rate.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that in 2022 roughly 6.9 percent of Americans had long COVID. But the algorithm developed by Estiri’s team estimated that 22.8 percent of those who’d tested positive for COVID-19 met the diagnostic criteria for long COVID in the 12 months that followed, even though the vast majority had not received an official diagnosis.

To calculate their number, Estiri’s team built a custom artificial intelligence tool to analyze data from the electronic health records of more than 295,000 patients served at four hospitals and 20 community health centers in Massachusetts. The AI program pulled out 85,000 people who had been diagnosed with COVID through June 2022, and then applied a pattern recognition algorithm to identify those that matched the criteria for long COVID in the 12 months that followed.

Some researchers questioned the paper’s conclusions. Dr. Eric Topol, author of the 2019 book “Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again,” said the medical field is still divided over precisely what constitutes long COVID, and that complicates efforts to program an accurate AI algorithm.

“Since we have difficulties with defining long Covid, using AI on electronic health records may not be a way to make the diagnosis accurately,” said Topol, who is executive vice president of Scripps Research in San Diego. “I’m uncertain about this report.”

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, and an expert on long COVID, called the 22.8 percent figure unrealistically high and said the paper “grossly inflates” its prevalence.

“Their approach does not account for the fact that things happen without COVID (not everything that happens after COVID is attributable to COVID)— resulting in significant over-inflation of prevalence estimate,” he wrote via email.

Estiri said the research team took several measures to validate its AI algorithm, retroactively applying it to the charts of 800 people who had received a confirmed long COVID diagnosis from their doctor to see if it could predict the condition. The algorithm accurately diagnosed them more than three quarters of the time.

The algorithm scanned the records for patients who had a COVID diagnosis prior to July 2022, then looked for a constellation of symptoms that could not be explained by other conditions and lasted longer than two months. To refine the program, they conferred with clinicians and assigned different weights to different symptoms and conditions based on how often they are associated with long COVID, which made them more likely to be identified as potential sufferers.

Now that the initial paper has been published, the team is building a new algorithm that can be trained to detect the presence of long COVID in the medical records of patients without a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis so the condition can be confirmed by clinicians and they can get the care they need, Estiri said.

But the most exciting part of the new research, Estiri said, is its potential to facilitate follow-up research and help refine and individualize treatment plans. In the months ahead, Estiri and his co-principal investigator Shawn Murphy, chief research information officer at Mass General Brigham, plan to ask a wide variety of questions by querying the medical records in their sample. Does vaccination make a patient more or less likely to develop the condition? How about treatment with Paxlovid? Do the symptoms patients develop differ based on those factors? What are the genomic characteristics of patients who are suffering from cardiovascular symptoms as opposed to those whose symptoms are associated with lung function or those who crash after exercising? Can they identify biomarkers in the bloodstream that could be used for diagnosis?

They have already prepared studies on vaccine efficacy, the effect of age as a risk factor, and whether the risk of long COVID increases with the fourth and fifth infection, Estiri said. “We were waiting for this paper to come out,” he said. “So now we can actually go ahead with the follow-up studies. With this cohort we can do things that no other study has been able to do, and I’m hoping it can really help people.”

Study link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666634024004070

[unfriendlywriter]

Chapter 1: The Star’s Arrival

Fandom: My Hero Academia x The Boys Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki x OC Main plot: In a world where heroes are idolized, the truth is far darker. Powerful corporations manipulate the hero industry, and the greatest heroes are not born but made. Seiya Matsui, Project Orion’s ultimate creation, was sent to U.A. High School’s Class 2-A under the guise of training—but in reality, she’s a test for Orion’s next generation of engineered heroes. When top pro heroes begin to vanish without explanation, Seiya uncovers a chilling truth, they aren’t missing—they’re being replaced. Author's note: i couldn't wait to write this NEXT CHAPTER

U.A. High School had seen plenty of transfer students, but none quite like Seiya Matsui.

She stood at the front of Class 2-A, her posture straight but not rigid, her golden eyes scanning the room. Long white hair cascaded down her back, catching the sunlight from the windows. Even though she tried to appear composed, the way she gripped the hem of her uniform betrayed her nerves. This wasn’t just a normal school transfer—not for her, not for Project Orion. She swallowed hard before speaking.

"I’m Seiya Matsui. I was transferred here for specialized training."

Her voice was even, but not as steady as she wanted it to be. A few students exchanged glances. A transfer student this late in the year? That was strange enough, but Seiya could feel their scrutiny—their curiosity, their skepticism.

"Training for what?" Kirishima asked, leaning forward with interest.

Seiya hesitated. She had an answer prepared, but the weight of the words felt heavier now. "To become a pro hero, like the rest of you."

A scoff broke the moment. "Tch. Great. Another extra."

The voice was unmistakable—gravelly, full of irritation. Seiya turned toward the source: Bakugou Katsuki. He was slouched in his chair, arms crossed, looking at her like she was a waste of his time.

Something about his glare made her stomach twist.

"I'm not an extra," she found herself saying before she could stop. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I’m here to do my best. That’s all."

The class quieted at the slight edge in her voice. Bakugou’s red eyes narrowed, studying her like a puzzle he couldn’t immediately solve. Then, his lips curled into a smirk—challenging, daring.

"Then prove it. After class."

Seiya’s throat went dry. She wasn’t stupid. She had seen Bakugou fight. His raw strength, his explosions, his sheer force of will—she wasn’t sure if she could win. But backing down? That wasn’t an option either.

She nodded. "Fine."

The moment the last bell rang, it was inevitable.

"Let’s go, newbie," Bakugou barked, cracking his knuckles as he stormed toward Training Ground Beta.

Seiya followed, ignoring the eyes of their classmates trailing after them. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Was she really ready for this? She wasn’t sure. But if she hesitated now, she’d never be able to face them again.

Aizawa arrived just in time to oversee the match, arms crossed and expression already exhausted. "First to land a decisive blow wins. No lethal force. Don’t make me regret allowing this."

Seiya took a deep breath, rolling her shoulders. Her hero costume shimmered under the training ground lights—metallic silver with white stars scattered across it. She felt stiff, too aware of how new it still felt on her skin.

Across from her, Bakugou grinned. "Hope you can keep up."

Seiya barely had time to react before he lunged.

An explosion erupted in his palm, launching him toward her at a terrifying speed. Seiya barely dodged in time, skidding backward as the heat from his blast brushed against her side. Her pulse spiked. He was fast. Faster than she expected.

Think, think, think—

She steadied herself, forcing down her nerves. Raising her hands, she focused, and suddenly, light crackled at her fingertips—a shimmering, star-like energy forming between her palms.

Bakugou didn’t hesitate. He pivoted mid-air, another explosion propelling him straight toward her. Seiya barely managed to block with an energy pulse, but the force sent her staggering.

The crowd of students watching let out a collective gasp.

"She’s strong," Kaminari whispered. "But..."

"She’s hesitating," Todoroki finished, watching her closely.

Seiya’s mind raced. Bakugou wasn’t just strong—he was relentless. There was no opening, no moment to breathe. Her body tensed, instincts screaming at her to fight back, but something held her back. The memory of all the training sessions, the strict control drilled into her—Project Orion had spent years perfecting her power. But in an actual fight, against someone like him—

"The hell’s wrong with you?!" Bakugou growled, charging again. "Fight me!"

His palm nearly connected with her shoulder before she finally reacted. Seiya released a burst of energy, the golden light colliding with his explosion. The impact sent them both skidding back. Dust and smoke filled the air.

When it cleared, Seiya was panting, hands trembling slightly at her sides. Bakugou was crouched low, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Not bad," he admitted. "For a coward."

Seiya’s breath caught. Her grip tightened. "I’m not—"

"Then stop holdin’ back!" Bakugou snapped. "You think you can be the best like that? Tch. You’ll never beat me, you’re too scared to hit back."

Her chest tightened. He was right.

But it wasn’t that simple.

She exhaled sharply, pushing down the weight pressing against her ribs. "Let’s go again."

Aizawa stepped forward. "Enough. It’s a draw."

Seiya blinked, startled. "What? But—"

"A fight isn’t just about power," Aizawa said, eyes heavy with something unreadable. "You both have more to learn. And I don’t feel like watching you idiots blow each other up on school grounds."

Bakugou clicked his tongue but didn’t argue. He glanced at Seiya again, eyes sharp with something she couldn’t quite place. "Tch. You better get your act together, newbie. Next time, I’m not holdin’ back."

Seiya let out a shaky breath. "Next time, neither will I."

Their eyes met, and for the first time, she didn’t just see a rival—she saw a storm waiting to be challenged.

The tension between them was undeniable. And this was just the beginning.

As the students filed out, Midoriya stayed behind for a moment, his green eyes analyzing Seiya with quiet curiosity. "Matsui… you hesitated, didn’t you?"

Seiya flinched slightly but didn’t deny it.

Midoriya offered a small smile. "You’re strong, but power alone won’t make you a hero. You have to trust yourself, too."

Seiya exhaled, watching him walk away. Trust herself? Easier said than done.

She looked up at the sky, her golden eyes reflecting the light. This was only the beginning of her fight. And she had a long way to go.

[bigfootbeat]

Bigfoot and the Science of Tracking

The mythical Bigfoot is said to live in North American forests, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot is a big, hairy, ape-like creature that has captivated the attention of many people and spurred a field of study devoted to tracing and establishing its existence. Traditional tracking techniques, contemporary technology, and a healthy dose of skepticism and discussion among scientists are all used in the science of Bigfoot tracking. Conventional tracking techniques are essential to the Bigfoot hunt. Physical evidence, such as footprints, hair samples, and scat, is frequently sought after by enthusiasts and scholars. The most often claimed piece of evidence is a cast of enormous, human-like footprints that were discovered in isolated locations. To determine the legitimacy of these impressions, factors such as stride length, depth, and skin ridges are examined. Unfortunately, there has been continuous dispute due to the absence of reliable and regular tracks. The field is frequently complicated by hoaxes and incorrect identifications of animal tracks, making it challenging to discern between real and fake data.

When it comes to Bigfoot studies, audio cues are just as important as physical proof. Researchers claim to have heard loud vocalizations that they identify as Bigfoot, such as screams, howls, and hammering sounds on wood. Using top-notch audio equipment, these noises are captured, and any patterns that diverge from those of recognized fauna are examined. Although audio analysis can be quite interesting, the wide range of noises made by different animals and surrounding elements can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Bigfoot tracking research now has new instruments thanks to modern technology. Drones, infrared imaging, and trail cameras are frequently utilized to keep an eye on isolated locations where sightings have been reported. Specifically, trail cameras are positioned in key spots to take pictures or recordings of wildlife, including possible Bigfoot encounters. High-resolution camera drones are capable of covering enormous areas and capturing aerial pictures of dense woods. Large animals may be present in the shadows when heat signatures are detected, which is made possible by infrared imaging. Even with these advances, it is still difficult to find conclusive photographic or video evidence of Bigfoot, which frequently leads to grainy or inconsistent recordings. Another potential option in the hunt for Bigfoot is DNA analysis. Samples of hair and scat taken from alleged Bigfoot sightings are sent to labs for genetic analysis. To find any abnormalities, scientists compare the DNA from these samples to that of known animals. The scientific community is dubious of studies that claim to have discovered unidentified primate DNA, frequently attributing findings to contamination or testing errors. Replication of findings and thorough, peer-reviewed study are required to support any claims of new species discovery. Because there is so little hard proof and so many hoaxes, the scientific community is skeptical of Bigfoot. Numerous experts contend that the existence of a Bigfoot-sized monster would necessitate a viable breeding population; nevertheless, no physical remains, skeletal remains, or conclusive evidence have been discovered. Furthermore, the great majority of the evidence is derived from eyewitness accounts and anecdotal tales, both of which are known to be untrustworthy. Cognitive biases can cause individuals to mistake natural events for sightings of Bigfoot, such as pareidolia, which is the tendency to discern patterns or recognizable shapes in seemingly random inputs.

Despite these difficulties, there is still a devoted following for the Bigfoot hunt. Motivated by the prospect of making a remarkable discovery, enthusiasts, amateur researchers, and cryptozoologists never give up. Bigfoot's appeal stems from the excitement and mystery of venturing into the uncharted territory, in addition to the prospect of discovering a new species. Many people place equal value on the adventure and the community that surrounds the search as they do on the eventual outcome of establishing Bigfoot's existence. To sum up, the science of Bigfoot tracking integrates cutting-edge technology, conventional tracking techniques, and a methodical approach to evidence interpretation. The pursuit of conclusive evidence persists in captivating the interest of a fervent community of scholars and enthusiasts, despite obstacles and skepticism. The search for Bigfoot underscores humanity's ongoing interest with the natural world's secrets, regardless of whether the creature is ever shown to exist.

[septembersghost]

"(and take a guess at who destroyed the professional affinity they built with him" is this the colonel? jfc I keep hating that man

who else? leiber and stoller initially didn't know who elvis was and had some preconceived judgment in place (which happened to him a lot), but then once they actually met with him, they were impressed and developed a rapport. elvis wanted them to be in the studio when he recorded. they had suggestions and encouragement for him, about songs, about his career, and parker didn't like that, was threatened by the idea of them getting in the middle, or worse, giving him ideas (this would repeat throughout his life, it's not dissimilar to what happened with steve binder). the colonel eventually destroyed the relationship they built by sending leiber and stoller a blank page and calling it a contract as an intentional slight. they told him exactly what they thought of that, and never worked with elvis again.

longer details from here

"Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were like the rap artists of the early '50s, pushing buttons, inviting scorn and testing the limits, as rock roared into being from its roots as blues and rhythm and blues. They were writing music for black artists, when one of their songs, Hound Dog, was heard by a young Elvis Presley. His adaptation turned it into a No. 1 hit and helped aim Leiber and Stoller toward the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

They wrote 20 songs for Elvis until the brash young songwriters had a falling out with Colonel Tom Parker, the Svengali they now remember as a 'bully' and a 'foul, greedy' man who helped destroy Elvis. But the estrangement didn't change their respect for Elvis.

'We feel that Elvis Presley was the high water mark of the 20th Century. He's legend. No, he's myth. He's in that celestial place for mythological figures. At the time, we just thought he was a white kid trying to make it as a singer', says Leiber, the man who supplied the words as lyricist of one of the worlds' best-known songwriting duos.

Leiber and Stoller originally met in 1950, sharing a love of the blues and boogie woogie. They were writing for black artists, their earliest songs recorded by Jimmy Witherspoon, Little Esther, Amos Milburn, Charles Brown, Little Willie Littlefield and, among others, Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton.

It was for Big Mama Thornton that they wrote Hound Dog in 1952. Her version came out in 1953 and was adapted by several groups. Stoller had gone to Europe with royalties from some of those early songs and was on his way home aboard the Andrea Doria when it sank in 1956.

Rescued by a lifeboat, Stoller arrived in New York with Leiber yelling from the dock: 'We've got a smash hit'. 'I said, 'You mean Big Mama Thornton's record?' He said, 'No, some white kid named Elvis Presley'. Elvis had heard Hound Dog in a Vegas Lounge by a group called Freddie Bell and the Bellboys', says Stoller.

Elvis' recording of Hound Dog was released in July of 1956 and bounded up the charts, selling millions of copies. Released the same year as Heartbreak Hotel, it put Elvis on TV and turned him into a phenomenon.

After Elvis' great success with his version of Hound Dog, Paramount Studios and music publishers Hill and Range selected additional Leiber and Stoller songs for Elvis' 1957 film Loving You. It was on April 30, 1957 while working on the movie Jailhouse Rock that Elvis first met Leiber and Stoller. They were skeptical of meeting the newcomer, thinking he was a country bumpkin. However, they were very impressed when upon meeting and talking to Elvis that he was very knowledgeable of R&B music and could discuss its nuances in great detail. They went on to work closely with Elvis on the Jailhouse Rock soundtrack with Stoller appearing in the film playing the piano for Elvis' character. After an incident of pitching songs and movie ideas directly to Elvis and not going through the usual chain of command with Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, they had a falling out with Parker and essentially ended their collaboration with Elvis. Fast-forward to 1960, they did write a couple of songs that were in the running for inclusion in Elvis' first post-army movie, G.I. Blues, but, ultimately they were not used. Although the direct collaboration ended, Elvis did choose several additional Leiber and Stoller tunes to record over the years.

'We were completely unconscious of what it might imply. We were just doing numbers', says Leiber. Stoller says those numbers were unfamiliar to white audiences because he and Leiber had written 'almost exclusively for black performers, so we wrote in a black idiom. People started thinking it was entirely new, but the base we started from was the blues and boogie woogie'.

Stoller says they didn't specifically tailor songs to that early Elvis persona but began by supplying songs they had already written, like Love Me, a ballad they had already recorded. 'Then we were asked to write for a movie, Loving You, with Elvis and Lizabeth Scott'. The next project, Jailhouse Rock, included four songs Leiber and Stoller wrote while held captive in a New York hotel.

They had been living in Los Angeles, and Stoller says they rented a New York hotel suite with a piano in the living area. 'We were given a script for the movie and kind of tossed it in the corner. We were having a ball in New York, going to jazz clubs, cabaret, going to the theater and hanging out. Finally, Jean Aberbach who ran Elvis Presley Music knocked on the door and said, 'Well boys, where are my songs?' I think Jerry said, 'Oh, Jean, you're going to get them'. Jean then pushed a big overstuffed chair in front of the door and said, 'I'm not leaving until I get my songs'.

They wrote four songs in five hours, including Jailhouse Rock, the movie's title song and Treat Me Nice, both major hits.

After that, Elvis 'wanted us in the studio with him whenever we recorded', says Stoller. It was part of Elvis' 'perfectionist' tendencies in the early stages of his career, says Jerry Schilling, a member of Elvis' Memphis Mafia. Leiber says Elvis 'was like an Olympic champion. He could do 40 to 50 takes. I never saw him happier than when he was on a microphone, performing'.

Both songwriters say that studio time was their primary contact with Elvis, who was kept at arm's length from them by Colonel Parker. Stoller says Elvis once asked, 'Mike, could you write me a real pretty ballad?' Over the weekend, they wrote the song Don't for him and handed it to him only to be berated by Parker.

'He was upset that I handed a song directly to Elvis. They didn't want anybody to have direct access to Elvis. It was like Elvis was kept kind of in a glass box and away from contact except for the Memphis Mafia. They were like paid companions'.

Like almost everyone else, they also had little contact with Parker himself. 'The longest I ever spent with him was a dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel around 1956, after Hound Dog', says Stoller.

The breaking point for them came when Leiber was recovering from a bout with pneumonia about two years later, and Parker ordered them to California to write songs for a new movie project. Leiber explained that he had just been released from the hospital and was unable to travel. 'Parker said, 'You'd better get your ass out here'. He then sent a packet with a contract for them to sign. Leiber says he pulled the contract from the packet and found only a dark line across the middle of a blank page for his signature.

'I called and said, 'I think you made a mistake. There's no contract in here'. He said, 'Don't worry about that, boy. Just sign your name, and I'll fill it in later'."

"Jerry Leiber: I called and asked to speak to (Colonel) Tom. He got on the phone and said (Leiber imitates Parker) 'How you doin' boy?' I said, 'I'm OK. I had a real close call there. I had walking pneumonia and I just got out of the hospital.' He said he wanted me to pack right away and catch a plane. I told him I wasn't in any shape to catch a plane because I'd just gotten out of the hospital. He said, 'If they let you out, that means you're all right'. I told him I needed a day or two to get myself together, but he said the schedule was very tight and he needed me to come out right away.

Then he said, 'Did you see the contract yet?' I said, contract?' He said, 'I'm sure it's there by now. It's a contract covering the forthcoming movie and soundtrack album. You better take a look, sign it and send it back. So I hung up, took the contract out of one of the manila envelopes, and saw nothing but a blank page. Nothing was written on it except two lines at the bottom where Mike and I were supposed to sign our names.

I thought they had made a ridiculous blunder. I called Parker's secretary and said, 'There's been a mistake', she said, 'Let me get Tom.' Colonel Parker got on the phone and I told him, 'There's a piece of paper here with two places for signatures, but the contract is missing'. He said, 'There's no mistake - just sign it'. Then he said, 'Don't worry. We'll fill it in later'.

I got off the phone with Parker and immediately called Mike. I told him, 'Breaking up with the Presley outfit is like throwing away a license to print money. After all this work, I really hate to do it, but I am really offended' (When I was on the phone with Parker, I almost told him that I wasn't one of his 'okie dokies'). I told Mike I didn't want to work with this jerk anymore.

I asked Mike, 'How do you feel about this?' Now Mike is a very measured and modest with very good manners. He paused for a moment, and then he said, Jer ....tell him to f**k himself!'

So I called Colonel Parker back and said, 'Tom, I thought about what you told me'. He said, 'Good! What time are you gonna get here?' I said, 'Tom, I spoke to Mike about the contract, and he told me to tell you to go f**k yourself'.

I hung up, and I never spoke to him again."

"Like many others, [Leiber] wondered about Parker's hold on Elvis. 'I think he (Elvis) had a very weak father and didn't get a sense of what a father was like. Parker came along, and his attitude was, 'Do this, do that, and I'll take care of everything'. Parker became his surrogate family'."

"Leiber: Of course, the Colonel wasn't really a colonel. He was Thomas A. Parker, whose former job as a carnival barker defined his personality. He had a definite shtick ('Pick a number from one to ten'). He told dozens of canned jokes. I can't remember any of them except that they weren't funny. But it didn't matter that we didn't laugh, because the Colonel wasn't really conscious of us. Of course, he knew we were the songwriters of 'Hound Dog' and the new songs for Jailhouse Rock. He knew more hit songs for Elvis meant more money for him. Beyond that, though, he was more interested in putting on his own show than getting to know us.

He had his long cigar and his confected Southern accent. He was a nonstop talker whose ego was always on parade. He told us in great detail all he had done for Elvis - and all he intended to do.

'Elvis' he said, 'is going to be bigger than the president, bigger than the pope'.

Naturally we agreed.

Stoller: The Colonel had the kind of energy that sucked all the air out of the room, even the dining room at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I had little interest in the man. Elvis was the guy we were eager to meet.

The session was due to start later that week.

Leiber: My heterosexual credits have long been established, so I can comfortably say that the first thing that hit me when I walked into the recording studio and found myself standing next to Elvis Presley was his physical beauty. Far more than his pictures, his actual presence was riveting.

He had a shy smile and quiet manner that were disarming."

"Stoller: It's important to remember that on the day we met Elvis, he was twenty-two and we were twenty-four. We were contemporaries. Remember, too, that Jerry and I shared the uppity view that he and I were among the few white guys who knew about the blues.

In the first five minutes of conversation with Elvis, we learned we were dead wrong.

Elvis knew the blues. He was a Ray Charles fanatic and even knew that Ray had sung our song 'The Snow Is Falling'. In fact, he knew virtually all of our songs. There wasn't any R&B he didn't know. He could quote from Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup, B.B. King, and Big Bill Broonzy.

Leiber: When it came to the blues, Elvis knew his stuff. He may not have been conversant about politics or world history, but his blues knowledge was almost encyclopedic. Mike and I were blown away. In fact, the conversation got so enthusiastic that Mike and Elvis sat down at the piano and started playing four-handed blues. He definitely felt our passion for the real roots material and shared that passion with all his heart.

Just like that, we fell in love with the guy."

"'Whenever I record' he said, 'I want you guys in the studio. You're the guys who make the magic'."

"When Elvis returned (after a studio break), his head was down and his demeanor totally changed.

'I'm really sorry, Mike', he said, 'but you're gonna have to leave. The Colonel came in and he doesn't want anyone here but me and the guys'. 'Okay' I said, not wanting to make any more trouble. And with that, I left. The next day at the shoot I mentioned the incident to one of Elvis' Memphis buddies. 'Don't take it personally, Mike,' he said, 'It's just that the Colonel doesn't want Elvis to develop a friendship with anyone but us'."

[mariacallous]

The US government should create a new body to regulate artificial intelligence—and restrict work on language models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 to companies granted licenses to do so. That’s the recommendation of a bipartisan duo of senators, Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Josh Hawley, who launched a legislative framework yesterday to serve as a blueprint for future laws and influence other bills before Congress.

Under the proposal, developing face recognition and other “high risk” applications of AI would also require a government license. To obtain one, companies would have to test AI models for potential harm before deployment, disclose instances when things go wrong after launch, and allow audits of AI models by an independent third party.

The framework also proposes that companies should publicly disclose details of the training data used to create an AI model and that people harmed by AI get a right to bring the company that created it to court.

The senators’ suggestions could be influential in the days and weeks ahead as debates intensify in Washington over how to regulate AI. Early next week, Blumenthal and Hawley will oversee a Senate subcommittee hearing about how to meaningfully hold businesses and governments accountable when they deploy AI systems that cause people harm or violate their rights. Microsoft president Brad Smith and the chief scientist of chipmaker Nvidia, William Dally, are due to testify.

A day later, senator Chuck Schumer will host the first in a series of meetings to discuss how to regulate AI, a challenge Schumer has referred to as “one of the most difficult things we’ve ever undertaken.” Tech executives with an interest in AI, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and the CEOs of Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia, make up about half the almost-two-dozen-strong guest list. Other attendees represent those likely to be subjected to AI algorithms and include trade union presidents from the Writers Guild and union federation AFL-CIO, and researchers who work on preventing AI from trampling human rights, including UC Berkeley’s Deb Raji and Humane Intelligence CEO and Twitter’s former ethical AI lead Rumman Chowdhury.

Anna Lenhart, who previously led an AI ethics initiative at IBM and is now a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, says the senators’ legislative framework is a welcome sight after years of AI experts appearing in Congress to explain how and why AI should be regulated.

“It's really refreshing to see them take this on and not wait for a series of insight forums or a commission that's going to spend two years and talk to a bunch of experts to essentially create this same list,” Lenhart says.

But she’s unsure how any new AI oversight body could host the broad range of technical and legal knowledge required to oversee technology used in many areas from self-driving cars to health care to housing. “That’s where I get a bit stuck on the licensing regime idea,” Lenhart says.

The idea of using licenses to restrict who can develop powerful AI systems has gained traction in both industry and Congress. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggested licensing for AI developers during testimony before the Senate in May—a regulatory solution that might arguably help his company maintain its leading position. A bill proposed last month by senators Lindsay Graham and Elizabeth Warren would also require tech companies to secure a government AI license but only covers digital platforms above a certain size.

Lenhart is not the only AI or policy expert skeptical of the government licensing for AI development. In May the idea drew criticism from both libertarian-leaning political campaign group Americans for Prosperity, which fears it would stifle innovation, and from the digital rights nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, which warns of industry capture by companies with money or influential connections. Perhaps in response, the framework unveiled yesterday recommends strong conflict of interest rules for staff at the AI oversight body.

Blumenthal and Hawley’s new framework for future AI regulation leaves some questions unanswered. It's not yet clear if oversight of AI would come from a newly-created federal agency or a group inside an existing federal agency. Nor have the senators specified what criteria would be used to determine if a certain use case is defined as high risk and requires a license to develop.

Michael Khoo, climate disinformation program director at environmental nonprofit Friends of the Earth says the new proposal looks like a good first step but that more details are necessary to properly evaluate its ideas. His organization is part of a coalition of environmental and tech accountability organizations that via a letter to Schumer, and a mobile billboard due to drive circles around Congress next week, are calling on lawmakers to prevent energy-intensive AI projects from making climate change worse.

Khoo agrees with the legislative framework’s call for documentation and public disclosure of adverse impacts, but says lawmakers shouldn’t let industry define what’s deemed harmful. He also wants members of Congress to demand businesses disclose how much energy it takes to train and deploy AI systems and consider the risk of accelerating the spread of misinformation when weighing the impact of AI models.

The legislative framework shows Congress considering a stricter approach to AI regulation than taken so far by the federal government, which has launched a voluntary risk-management framework and nonbinding AI bill of rights. The White House struck a voluntary agreement in July with eight major AI companies, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, but also promised that firmer rules are coming. At a briefing on the AI company compact, White House special adviser for AI Ben Buchanan said keeping society safe from AI harms will require legislation.

[byanyan]

Big Five Personality Test

I:ㅤIndividuals who score high on this dimension tend to be outgoing, sociable, and talkative. They enjoy being around others and seek out social situations. They are often described as having a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and assertiveness. They may also be more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors, such as partying, drinking, or other forms of excitement-seeking.

II:ㅤIndividuals who score low on emotional stability tend to be more prone to negative emotions, such as anxiety, depression, and anger. They may be more reactive to stress and may find it difficult to cope with challenging situations. They may also exhibit a range of maladaptive behaviors, such as substance abuse or self-harm.

III:ㅤIndividuals who score low on agreeableness tend to be more competitive and skeptical. They may be less motivated to maintain social harmony and may be more likely to express their opinions forcefully, even if they may conflict with others.

IV:ㅤIndividuals who score low on conscientiousness tend to be more impulsive and disorganized. They may have difficulty setting and achieving goals, and may be more likely to engage in behaviors that are not in their best interest.

V:ㅤIndividuals who score high on openness to experience are characterized as being imaginative, curious, and open to new ideas and experiences. They tend to be intellectually curious and enjoy exploring new concepts and ideas. They may also exhibit a preference for creativity and aesthetics.

tagged by:ㅤ@gnarledbite ♡!!

[crystalwellness]

Discover the Healing Power of Crystals at Crystal Wellness Shop Australia

Introduction: In recent years, the concept of holistic well-being has gained significant popularity, with people seeking alternative methods to achieve a balance between their mind, body, and spirit. One such method that has stood the test of time is crystal healing. Crystal Wellness Shop Australia has emerged as a leading destination for individuals seeking high-quality crystals and gemstones to enhance their well-being. Let's dive into the world of Crystal Wellness and explore the wonders it has to offer. A Haven for Crystal Enthusiasts: Located in the heart of Australia, Crystal Wellness Shop offers an extensive collection of crystals, gemstones, and crystal-infused products. As soon as you step foot into the shop, you are greeted by the serene ambiance that fosters a sense of tranquility and inner peace. The carefully curated displays showcase a dazzling array of crystals, each with its unique properties and healing energies. Wide Range of Crystals: Crystal Wellness Shop Australia boasts an impressive inventory of crystals, catering to both beginners and seasoned crystal enthusiasts. From popular varieties like amethyst, rose quartz, and clear quartz to rare and exotic stones such as moldavite and larimar, the shop ensures that there's something for everyone. The knowledgeable staff is always on hand to guide you in choosing the perfect crystal based on your specific needs and intentions. Crystal-Infused Products: In addition to individual crystals, Crystal Wellness Shop offers a range of crystal-infused products designed to enhance your well-being. These include crystal elixirs, bath salts, essential oil blends, jewelry, and home decor items. The shop recognizes the power of combining crystals with other holistic practices, amplifying their healing properties and creating a holistic experience for its customers. Expert Guidance and Workshops: Crystal Wellness Shop Australia is not just a store; it is a hub for learning and personal growth. The passionate team of experts conducts regular workshops, seminars, and crystal healing sessions to educate and empower individuals on the art of crystal healing. Whether you're a beginner looking to delve into the world of crystals or an experienced practitioner seeking to expand your knowledge, these workshops provide invaluable insights and practical tools for harnessing the power of crystals. Online Shopping Convenience: Crystal Wellness Shop understands that not everyone can visit the physical store. Therefore, they have a user-friendly website that allows customers to explore their extensive range of products and make purchases from the comfort of their own homes. The online store provides detailed descriptions and images of each crystal, ensuring that you can make an informed decision even when shopping remotely. Embracing Crystal Wellness: Crystal Wellness Shop Australia has become a beacon of light for individuals seeking balance, harmony, and healing in their lives. With its commitment to sourcing ethically and responsibly, the shop ensures that the crystals they offer are of the highest quality and vibrational frequency. Whether you're looking to alleviate stress, enhance intuition, or attract abundance, Crystal Wellness Shop has the perfect crystal to support your intentions. Conclusion: Crystal Wellness Shop Australia is a sanctuary for crystal enthusiasts, providing a diverse selection of crystals and crystal-infused products. It goes beyond just selling crystals; it fosters a sense of community, education, and self-discovery. By embracing the healing power of crystals, individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward holistic well-being. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, a visit to Crystal Wellness Shop might just open your eyes to the wonders of crystal healing and the positive impact it can have on your life.

[jaffacake6]

[ID: A series of 4 statistics comics. Each comic is split into two panels and focuses on a different way of quantifying distributions. Each character is a simple stickman.

Comic 1: Panel 1 is titled "Mean" and shows one character asking "What would my starting salary be?" whilst a sleazy other stickman says "I'll put it this way: Our average starting salary is $80,000!"

Panel 2 shows a range of salaries, with "you" and "your coworkers" all at $30,000, and "CEO's son" at $430,000 creating an average of $80,000 as an angry stickman looks on.

Comic 2: Panel 1 is titled "Median" and shows a skeptical character asking "So why should I invest with you?" to which they are told "Well, not to brag, but my fund has a median gain of 8% per year!"

Panel 2 shows a bar chart where there are 7 bars of close to +10% gain, and 6 bars of much more loss.

Comic 3: Panel 1 is titled "Mode" and shows a character asking a child "How are you doing on your tests?" to which they respond "My modal category is 70-80%!"

Panel 2: The child is now thinking "Please don't ask about the mean..." and the distribution of their score categories by number of tests is shown, with two in the 70-80% range whilst they have 1 test in each lower bracket and 0 in each higher.

Comic 4: Panel 1 is titled "Range" and a sleazy stickman says "Our students come from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds..."

Panel 2 shows a graph of "Number of students" against "Income", with almost all students having very high income and only a small number of them in the low-income brackets.

Comic 5: Panel 1 is titled "Correlation coefficient" and has a smiling stickman holding a blue can, saying "Try our new energy drink - it's highly correlated with performance!"

Panel 2 shows a scatter chart of "Athletic performance" against "Amount of drink consumed". Almost all datapoints are clustered in the bottom left corner, with three in the top-right labelled "Professional athletes we paid to guzzle the stuff".

End ID]

The thing with statistics - via

[cs-solution]

CBD Gummies Australia: A Tasty Way to Wellness from 5 Perspectives

CBD gummies in Australia are gaining attention as a fun, flavorful, and potentially therapeutic alternative to traditional wellness supplements. As the legal landscape evolves and consumer demand grows, more Australians are turning to cannabidiol (CBD) in gummy form for stress relief, sleep support, and general well-being. Below, we explore five different perspectives on the rise of CBD gummies Australia.

The Health Enthusiast's Perspective: Natural Relief Without the High

Health-conscious Australians are increasingly embracing CBD gummies as a natural option to manage daily stress, inflammation, and sleep issues. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is non-psychoactive—meaning it doesn’t cause a “high.” Gummies make it easy to get a consistent dose of CBD, and many users report benefits such as reduced anxiety and improved sleep cycles. With flavors ranging from fruity to herbal, these edibles also make supplementation more enjoyable than oils or tinctures.

The Medical Patient's Perspective: Accessible and Convenient Treatment

For those using medicinal cannabis under a doctor’s supervision, CBD gummies offer a convenient, discreet method of administration. Medical cannabis is legal in Australia with a prescription, and while most prescribed formats are oils or capsules, some patients prefer gummies due to ease of dosing and better taste. Patients suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, or neurological conditions like epilepsy may benefit from CBD under proper medical guidance, and gummies make compliance easier.

The Regulatory Perspective: A Strict but Changing Market

Australia’s regulatory environment for CBD is complex. As of now, CBD is a Schedule 4 (prescription-only) or Schedule 3 (pharmacist-only) medicine. While low-dose CBD was down-scheduled in 2020 to Schedule 3, no over-the-counter products have been approved yet. This means all legal CBD gummies in Australia must be prescribed by an authorized doctor and filled through approved medical channels. Consumers should be wary of online shops selling unregulated CBD edibles without lab testing or TGA approval.

The Lifestyle Influencer's Perspective: Wellness with a Trendy Twist

From yoga instructors to wellness bloggers, many influencers are spotlighting CBD gummies as part of a balanced self-care routine. These gummies align with trends around mindfulness, natural remedies, and body recovery. In social media posts, they’re often paired with healthy smoothies, workouts, or stress-reducing rituals. Though influencers may not always highlight legal nuances, they’ve helped normalize CBD use and increase curiosity among younger Australians.

The Skeptic’s Perspective: Overhyped or Undervalued?

Not everyone is sold on CBD gummies. Critics argue that marketing often outpaces the science, and some worry about exaggerated claims without sufficient clinical research. Others point out that not all gummies are created equal—some may contain minimal active CBD or include additives. The lack of TGA-approved OTC CBD gummies adds to consumer confusion. For skeptics, the key lies in demanding transparent lab testing, clear labeling, and professional medical advice.

Conclusion

CBD gummies Australia are at the intersection of wellness trends, scientific interest, and evolving regulations. While access is currently restricted to prescription use, the market is poised for expansion once products gain TGA approval. Whether you’re a health-conscious individual, a medical patient, or a curious consumer, CBD gummies offer a promising—if still regulated—route to supporting everyday wellness. As public awareness grows, it’s essential to stay informed, choose reputable sources, and consult healthcare professionals for guidance.

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Best Undershirt for Athletic Guys: Skims Stretch T-ShirtBowen FernieBowen FernieAccordionItemContainerButtonProsUltra silky feelMoisture-wicking and breathableSupremely stretchyConsAll-syntheticSells out quicklyThanks to a heaping helping (84%!) of modal and a generous slice of elastane (16%), the Skims Stretch T-shirt was one of the silkiest and most comfortable options we tested out. That ultralight fabric resulted in a feathery drape that felt incredible on the skin. Out of all the brands we tested, Skims had the widest size range by a good margin, which we really liked.As a self-proclaimed “husky boy”, GQ contributor Evan Malachosky was always a little skeptical of Skims, but the brand's tees won him over. “Skims’s proprietary fabrics are silky on the skin and are neither too thin (and therefore exposing), nor too thick (and therefore too hot),” he noted. “They’re sleek, polished, comfortable, and plenty appropriate,” Malachosky says, “even if they're a closer relative of the Fear of God family, than, say, capital-M Menswear brand Merz b. Schwanen.”Fair warning: This tee is so popular that is does come in and out of stock often. That said, Skims does make a performance-focused tee that could be a potential replacement, though we have yet to try it for ourselves. We have, however, tried and enjoyed the brand’s lightweight T-shirts.More Undershirts We LoveKirkland SignatureCrew Neck T-Shirts (6-Pack)Kirkland Signature is somewhat of a fashion industry secret, but we're here to tell you out in the open that they're an amazing deal, with or without the Costco membership discount. They're made of long-staple Egyptian cotton, which has a soft-slightly-brushed hand. They're tube knit meaning you don't have to worry about any uncomfortable side seams. And they're long enough to tuck into your pants for a clean look. HanesPerformance Moisture-Wicking Crewneck Undershirt Tees (5-Pack)Made from rayon and polyester, Hanes’ moisture-wicking undershirts are fast-drying, feel cool to the touch, and are silky smooth. They may not be the highest-quality pieces out there, but for just $5 a pop, they do a hell of a lot more than we expect any undershirt to do. Mack Weldon18-Hour Rib TankThough Mack Weldon’s 18-Hour Rib Tank doesn’t come with the microbe-smashing odor technology as their Silver crew neck undershirt, it does have an even silkier fabric and plenty of stretch so you won’t feel like you’re being stuffed into a sausage casing. WytheTubular Cotton Ribbed Tank TopThe first thing I noticed when I met Wythe's founder was not his jeans or amazing western shirt. It was actually his ribbed tank. The cut was perfect and the fabric itself looked obviously more premium. To my surprise, it was Wythe's very own tank, made from high-quality cotton using tubular knit construction, meaning no uncomfortable side seams.