#Central Florida Tires

[247kingdommobiletire]

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[madlori]

General PSA - Michelin stars

Because this came up in a conversation I had last week.

The context was someone talking about being excited to visit a restaurant with one Michelin star in Chicago (the closest city to my city to find a starred restaurant). Someone else said "One star? So it's terrible?"

Pause, rewind.

The Michelin star system is ascending, not descending (as a five-star rating system is). You can have either zero Michelin stars (99% of of the world' restaurants), ONE star (currently about 2900 restaurants worldwide), TWO stars (about 500) or THREE stars (currently 145).

There are 6 three-star restaurants in London. Four in New York. This is the highest distinction a restaurant can achieve.

This is why you hear about chefs "earning their star," when you go from the rank and file to having a star. And once you have one, you can earn more...or you can lose it. Restaurants are re-evaluated to ensure they're maintaining their standards.

The Michelin guide does not review only fancy restaurants. Many of the starred restaurants are very high-end, but lots aren't. I ate a one-starred restaurant in San Francisco called State Bird Provisions which you'd be fine to go to in jeans and a tee. It was great. There's a food truck that has a Michelin star.

Michelin also only covers certain cities. They're continually expanding, but right now in the US they cover New York, DC, Chicago, California, central Florida (Miami/Tampa/Orlando), Colorado, Atlanta, and just recently added the five major Texas cities (Dallas/San Antonio/Austin/Houston/Fort Worth) although those results haven't been released yet. They cover a lot more in Europe and Asia (the Michelin guide is French).

And yes, it's the same company as the tire manufacturer. Early in their history they wanted people to travel more by car, and use their tires, so they started writing and printing guidebooks for travel. This evolved into restaurant ratings, and somehow along the way it became the ne plus ultra of restaurant hierarchies.

This has been your infodump post for the evening, brought to you by MadLori, Inc.

[eretzyisrael]

by: Kaycee Sloan

ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — A University of Central Florida student was arrested after he allegedly made threats to shoot three Jewish students during a school event last week.

According to documents, Palestinian-American student Seif Asi, 21, approached a table of Jewish students and got into a one to two-minute “heated conversation” during a UCF Office of Student Involvement approved pro-Israel free expression event on Jan. 23.

The University of Central Florida Police Department said once Asi walked away, one of the students ran to a marked patrol car and was “visibly scared.” The student told UCFPD that Asi had threatened to shoot them with a gun.

When UCFPD stopped Asi, he told them that he was Palestinian and had family in Palestine, adding that he was tired of seeing Jewish supporters on campus and complained about a pro-Israel match that occurred last week.

The arrest report shows that Asi told police he saw the same group of students at the march, and it made him upset when he saw them setting up their table on Tuesday. He also told police that he’s “tired of seeing students on campus defend the killing of Palestinian people.”

The 21-year-old said he was on his way back from working out when his “emotions got the better of him.” Police said he apologized for his behavior and asked if he could apologize to the students, acknowledging that he shouldn’t have made the threat.

According to documents, Asi denied owning a firearm, and no weapon was found on his person.

The three victims, who are part of a group called “Students Supporting Israel” or SSI, provided sworn verbal and written statements consistent with each other. The students said Asi accused them of supporting the death of his family members back home. Then, all three students allegedly heard Asi say, “You won’t be here anymore when I come back and shoot you.”

Asi was arrested and charged with three counts of intimidation and credible threat to a person wearing a religious item, according to officials.

Following Asi’s arrest, UCF released a statement saying that while Asi apologized, he would still have to answer for violating university policy and state and federal laws.

“While the student acknowledged his emotions got the better of him and apologized for his words, he will still have to answer for the violations of university policy and state and federal laws,” the statement read in part.

[fromthedust]

John Margolies (American, 1940-2016)

John Samuel Margolies was an architectural critic, photographer, and author who was noted for celebrating vernacular and novelty architecture in the United States, particularly those designed as roadside attractions. For almost forty years, he documented the most remarkable examples he found, publishing some of his discoveries in books and consigning the rest to an archive, which has now been purchased by the Library of Congress who, in a wonderfully gracious move, have lifted all copyright restrictions on the photographs. (see link below)

Gatorland Zoo alligator statue - Route 1, St. Augustine, Florida - 1979

Deschwanden's Shoe Repair (The Big Shoe) - 10th & Chester, Bakersfield, California - 1977

Wigwam Village #2 - office teepee and several teepee cabins - Route 31W, Cave City, Kentucky - 1979

Wigwam Village #6 - Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona - 1979

Jantzen sign - Stamie's Beachwear - Ocean Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida - 1990

7-Up Bottling Company (two views) - NE 14 & Sandy Boulevard, Portland, Oregon - 1980

Coca Cola Bottling Company (two views) - 14th & Central Avenue, Los Angeles, California - 1977

Coca Cola Bottling Company (detail view of door) - 14th & Central Avenue, Los Angeles, California - 1977

It'll Do Motel (office) - Jonesborough, Tennessee - 1987

Joy Theater marquee - San Antonio, Texas - 1982

White Castle - Reading Road, Cincinnati, Ohio - 1980

Mammy's Cupboard (two views) - Route 61, Natchez, Mississippi - 1979

Dependable Used Cars sign - Division Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan - 1982

Stan The Tire Man statue - Broadway, Mount Vernon, Illinois - 1988

Bomber gas station - Route 99 E., Milwaukie, Oregon - 1980

World's Largest Redwood Tree Service Station (1936) - Route 101, Ukiah, California - 1991

Peach water tower - Frontage Road, Gaffney, South Carolina - 1988

Christie's Restaurant sign (cowboy shrimp) - Houston, Texas - 1983

Roadside flamingo statue - Frog City, Route 41, Florida - 1980

www.publicdomainreview.org/collection/john-margolies-photographs-of-roadside-america/

addendum: seen (not photographed) in a 2007 trip to Garibaldi/Nehalem/Manzanita Oregon — The Wheeler Inn with a wheelbarrow on the roof with a clothed female mannequin loaded into it . . .

[kyistell]

The last of my NJ headcanons. Now let it be known that there will probably be more in the future, considering he is my favorite, HOWEVER this is all I have for now lol.

New Jersey-

Normally is presenting more as Central Jersey, his tics are from North and South trying to speak at the same time

Because of slightly demonic magic, Jersey is fractured like how his state is, there’s North, South, and Central, they can all split into their own persons with North looking the same, but not for too long

While Jersey has used many names during his life, the one his mothers gave him is the only few actually know, Jonah Eriksson Bakker, Eriksson being his Mother’s last name and Bakker his Ma’s

Despite it being hundreds of years, he still isn’t used to English, words never come out quite right, there’s almost always something just slightly missed pronounced even when taking his accent into account

If he’s upset or tired he has a pretty heavy lisp, which along with his already heavy accent when feeling any emotion makes him pretty impossible to understand, the only ones that do are York, Del, and surprisingly Penn

Likes to call New York ‘Yorkie’ Vermont ‘Monty’ Kentucky ‘Ken’ (he’s the only one allowed too) California ‘Westie’ Florida ‘Dia’ ‘Sunshine’ or ‘Flo Rida’ and says Texas like how a Russian would (he has no idea why he started to he just did one day)

The Jersey Devil is real, Jerseys met it multiple times in his life, sometimes they exist in the same space in the Pine Barrens, but most times they don’t

Jersey has a Jersey Devil plush, had it since he was a young child, it’s his prized possession along with one of Connie’s books from the 1850s that he ‘borrowed’ 

When he was younger, Jersey would go to Devil’s Tree to read, it's how he learn the hard way, that his not father father is not the only demon that resides in NJ

In contrast to York, Jersey LOVES drop towers, thinks that they are the second best theme park flat ride to ever exist (the first are those super scramblers that flip while spinning)

Threw his shoe at York so much that Penn ended up buying him sandals as a joke, a joke that Jersey didn’t understand until YEARS later, he still loves and uses those sandals, his aim is unmatched when it comes to hitting York

Would get hit by Yorkie every time he said the R word (which he still doesn't fully believe is a slur but whatever Yorkie), this was specifically during the 2000s

Has brought every State to Action Park at least once when it was still open, it’s best not to question how he convinced Alaska and Hawaii or literally any other State, it’s just best not too

Jersey has a little devil that could in theory be related to the Jersey Devil, it's name is Impy

[skunts-own-truth]

God, I’m so tired of living in central-ass backwoods Florida, y’all. I’m rotting here, not because of the sun or the humidity, but the hostility and hate I see around me at all times. The boldness of it, the absolute boldness of people’s racism, sexism, and anti-queer horseshit here is only growing louder and nastier with Desantis in office. It’s withering my soul to see the people I was raised around becoming so hostile, so foul, voting in honest to god book burning Nazis and supporting shitty Christian ideology in local government on a level that’s becoming completely unavoidable. It ain’t just that, I don’t have anyone outside my home that wants to even acknowledge what’s happening. All my friends are straight, and all they care about is their jobs and whatever fucking video games they’re playing. I can’t take that shit anymore, I can’t take people turning a blind eye to absolute malice, but at the same time I feel like if I leave then they win, right? Like, me being here, me talking about these things with people, that does normalize things on some level for a small bunch of people. If I don’t, then it feels like there’s nothing left but the hate.

Shit’s hard. With Pride month rolling in, my emotions are roiling. I feel stupid and alone, and damn it that’s not what I want to feel during Pride. I want to feel proud, but all I feel is anger.

[swradiogram]

Shortwave Radiogram, 21-25 September 2023 (program 323): Airless digital modes that are on the air

Please note some changes to the schedule for The Mighty KBC. Changes are in bold. All frequencies from WRMI Florida. Friday 1100-1200: Eric van Willegen* 15770 Saturday 0200-0300: Dave Mason 5850 Saturday 0800-0900: Eric van Willegen* 7780 Sunday 0000-0100: Dave Mason 5950 9455 Sunday 0100-0200: Eric van Willegen* 5950 9455 Sunday 0200-0300: Eric van Willegen* 5850 Sunday 1200-1300: Eric van Willegen* 15770 Sunday 2100-2200: Dave Mason 5950 Sunday 2200-2300: Eric van Willegen* 5950 Wednesday 1600-1700: Eric van Willegen* 15770 * A minute of MFSK64, presented by @WD4AH_Al, is at about 30 minutes past the hour on at least some of the Eric van Willigen programs.  Last week's Friday 0530 UTC Shortwave Radiogram broadcast was the previous week's program. After a frenetic Wednesday and Thursday producing the show, sometimes I forget to upload the programs. Acknowledging that my brain will no longer necessarily remind me, this task is now in my computer's calendar, with an audible reminder. The impact of that error was limited by the fact that the Friday 0530 UTC show does not seem to have much of an audience. This could be due to the inconvenient hour in the Americas (e.g., I'm usually asleep). Audio, the transmission on 7780 kHz from WRMI is beamed to the southwest, into Central America, where there is not a large shortwave/amateur radio community, and to New Zealand and Australia. The signal is reaching across the Pacific, at least this time of the year.  So if you are in that part of the world (or can access an SDR there), please tune in and decode. After a nasty few days of very hot temperatures, this week we have been enjoying wonderful weather, with temperatures in the 70s F (~24C) and low humidity. This weekend Tropical Cyclone Sixteen comes to the US east coast, with substantial rains, wind gusts, and maybe even some power disruptions. A good weekend to be inside, tuning the radio, possibly on emergency power.  A video of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 323) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is provided by Roger in Germany. Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 323, 21-25 September 2023, in MFSK modes as noted:  1:43  MFSK32: Program preview  2:51  MFSK32: Airless bicycle tires near production*  8:35  MFSK64: Louis Armstrong's 1965 visit to the GDR* 15:26  MFSK64: This week's images* 28:26  MFSK32: Closing announcements Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net And visit http://swradiogram.net Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners’ results) Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304 Shortwave Radiogram Gateway Wiki: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

Other Shortwave broadcast programs that include digital text and images include The Mighty KBC, Pop Shop Radio and Radio North Europe International (RNEI). Links to these fine broadcasts, with schedules, are posted here.

Bobby in Louisiana received these images, 14 September 2023, 9265 kHz from WINB Pennsylvania ...

[violentivy]

If there is one day a year I am almost guaranteed to not get out of bed, or to have a rough emotional time, it's Easter.

I'm not Christian, neither are my kids, we treated it similarly to how pagans and atheists do. We celebrated bunnies and eggs, baby animals, and of course cute things. There wasn't much talk of all this Jesus stuff.

And each Easter was spent doing egg hunts in my in laws back yard with the kids.

I loved that yard. It was a grounding place for me, and moreso when all of my kids were with me.

We would spend time outside for the first time after a long winter.

When you have 3 sons, having them cooped up inside all winter is rough for them, and as a result even WORSE for you, much of the time. Every mom knows fresh air and Sunshine tire a kid out and allow them to get the sleep they are so desperately behind on.

Spring is a reset button, and the Easter Holiday marked spring when I was a non practicing pagan.

So, after my children were taken, Easter was the worst.

This year is different. My step kids mother ran off to Florida to live, leaving her three scared and confused kids up here. All three are either adults, or almost adults, but that kind of thing has a toll.

All the kids wanted was to make things the same as they always have been. When she abandoned her kids, I decided I had to make sure our house was the central point. I had to make sure our house was stable and felt "normal"

Two months ago, I started making sure we had dinner every night at the table. I started having "pasta Saturday" where we home make pasta noodles and I get inventive with sauces.

Most of the kids aren't around for that, as 2 of the 3 live either on their own or with their grandfather. But for the one that is around, those touchstones will be things she'll bring forward through her life.

And the other kids know they are always welcome to join us.

That took the dread away this year.

The grief is still present, and I acknowledge it, but I have a big ol dinner to make and 3 kids who really need a slice of normal Easter shenanigans.

So off I go.

[sa7abnews]

How Arizona’s Abortion Ballot Measure Could Affect the Presidential Race

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/16/how-arizonas-abortion-ballot-measure-could-affect-the-presidential-race/

How Arizona’s Abortion Ballot Measure Could Affect the Presidential Race

Arizona voters will decide in November whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution—a move in a key swing state that could have implications for the tumultuous and historic presidential election.

The Arizona secretary of state’s office confirmed to TIME that the measure will appear on the ballot in the November election after it had certified on Monday about 577,971 signatures—far surpassing the number needed to put the initiative on the ballot. Dawn Penich, communications director for the coalition supporting the initiative, Arizona for Abortion Access, says the group turned in the highest number of signatures by a citizens initiative in state history: more than 820,000.

The coalition, which includes reproductive rights organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, celebrated the news. “Us moving forward with our ballot initiative and getting as much support as we’ve already gotten shows that Arizonans are tired of seeing their rights subject to the political whims of whoever might be in the legislature or whoever we may be in our courts, and they want to settle this matter once and for all for themselves through this citizens initiative process,” says Chris Love, spokesperson for the coalition’s campaign.

Arizona currently prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The law, which was signed in 2022, includes exceptions for medical emergencies. The November ballot measure, Proposition 139, would allow abortions until a fetus could survive outside the womb, which is typically around the 24th week of pregnancy. It would also include exceptions after that if the pregnant person’s life is at risk or to protect the individual’s physical or mental health. It would “establish a fundamental right to abortion” in the state constitution and would prevent the state from banning or restricting access to the procedure before viability. States including Michigan and Ohio have previously approved similar measures.

Those who oppose the measure have said it goes too far, arguing that the mental health exception is broad and would allow people to end viable pregnancies. 

Having the abortion initiative on the ballot in November could have political effects beyond reproductive rights in Arizona. In the presidential campaign, it’s a key difference between Vice President Kamala Harris, who was central to the Biden Administration’s messaging on reproductive rights, and former President Donald Trump, who appointed three of the Supreme Court Justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Other Democrats have made it a main focus of their 2024 campaigns, and states including Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and South Dakota are all set to vote on abortion rights this year.

The issue’s interplay with political races and how it affects turnout could be particularly determinative in Arizona, one of the most crucial battleground states in the 2024 election. 

“Arizona is a swing state; our electoral outcomes typically are razor, razor thin,” says Samara Klar, a political science professor at the University of Arizona. “We are seeing tiny margins of victory in very high-profile elections, and frankly, in local elections as well. So having something on the ballot that is going to mobilize voters to come out is really, really crucial.”

In other abortion ballot initiatives that have come before voters since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, Americans have largely sided with abortion rights and the issue has typically boosted Democrats. “Having abortion on the ballot is helpful for Democrats because it mobilizes the types of people that are going to support Democratic candidates,” Klar says.

Some polls show support for abortion rights among Arizonans. In March, Klar collaborated with YouGov on a survey of 800 registered Arizona voters. More than 40% said abortion decisions should be left up to a woman and her doctor, while about 25% supported a near-total abortion ban. A CBS News poll in May found that 65% of likely Arizona voters said they would vote “yes” on a ballot measure establishing a constitutional right to abortion in the state; 21% said they would vote against it.

Abortion policy in Arizona has been somewhat unsettled since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization two years ago. In April, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law that only allowed abortions to save the pregnant person’s life, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The Republican-controlled legislature then repealed the law, leaving a 2022 statute banning abortions after 15 weeks in place.

“There’s been a lot of confusion about what the status of the law in Arizona has been,” Love says. “Ensuring this right in the constitution gives Arizona voters the certainty that they’ll need to understand what their reproductive rights are and, again, take those matters back into their own hands and make those personal health care decisions with their families and their medical providers.”

And as Arizona voters head to the ballot box, the abortion initiative “absolutely could make a difference” in the presidential race, Klar says. “This is a tight state, a salient issue, and a very mobilizing issue.”

[earnestlyeccentric]

Raymie Nightingale (Three Rancheros #1)

Author: Kate DiCamillo Rating: 3/5 All Raymie Clarke wants is to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire pageant so that she can get her father’s attention back. She realises there are more important things in life. Spoilers ahead. Continue reading Raymie Nightingale (Three Rancheros #1)

[puertoricoesloquehay]

Any one from central Florida that know where to run 4wheeler? I’m tired or hallopow and palm bay

[rodspurethoughts]

Convenient and Cost-Saving Visitor Toll Pass™ Program Now at Orlando International Airport Terminals

Are you tired of expensive toll fees when renting a car in Orlando? The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) has exciting news for visitors to the Sunshine State! The Visitor Toll Pass™ program is now available at all terminals of Orlando International Airport (MCO), offering significant savings of up to 80% on toll fees compared to traditional rental car programs. Visitor Toll Pass Kiosk…

[tripeakathlete]

Tired of Leaky Goggles!

Hey Central Florida Tri Club! Are you tired of your goggles leaking during those intense swim sessions? I know I was, until I discovered the Magic5 Goggles. They have been a game-changer for me! These goggles fit directly to your face like a second skin, offering unmatched comfort and performance. The fit and feel are our biggest advantage. Magic5 Goggles are the world’s first custom-fitted…

[the-firebird69]

Biggest new restaurant openings: Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Florida

His places are opened and have not been opened for quite a while and they're opening them to see Mac morlock and they're having meetings and trying to figure out what to do they said they have a pretty good idea and for me to butt out and their little imps and they're not going to make it all the conversations are recorded the plan is well known and they blew it and yeah the suit empire is going nuts pulling chips out they are not giving it a rest then start pulling them out of Central Florida it's a very big day for them and the ships there are several holes off the Southwest it's really off fort Myers I am and the pseudo empire is going nuts pulling them out that's pretty smart actually outfitting a lot of them here and they're using the ships and I'm staying around Florida and above it and more luck we're overheard saying they'll cancel each other out and that's what they're waiting for and there's a rumor they want to put him as my husband into a hospital psychiatric crap and to ride and no is the answer it's coming up pretty quick that they think it'll happen but the clones are not fighting over the small ships that much and they still have other stuff to do so these idiots keep harassing my husband and they're stupid so they want to take out the armament no they want to tie people up to try and blow the place up to try and leave. What you're doing is threatening his life Trump and that's what you're seeing doing so we are going after you because of your shockwave plan

Hera

And you're running around shocking people a little and then you're probably saying they're going to be in shock for real and then that's it

Zues

I got to tell you it's not bad work that they did and it's done a while ago we all know about it it's good to have it said and that's what they are and the Macklemore like too we need them out what's happening it's happening now they're all kind of into it they say and it's just a certain bunch a lot of them think you can't go until and it's true you have to go into stellar it's not all the morlock

Mac Daddy

I'm getting ready for war with these assholes I'm tired of them sitting here bothering us and I remember all the stupid s*** they're saying in the bars in Sarasota and clubs and bistros I don't want to hear anymore they say it we should arrest them in an imprison them and find some stuff in the apartment big deal to do what they're doing it's illegal to do what they're doing we need to have a lot of force down here without getting recognized and we need to do it now

Ben Arnold

We are coordinating off businesses all over the world factories offices huge areas and we don't let them in and they quit so they can leave they're doing it all over the world the pseudo empire has a portion and the Max and foreigners we have a major portion and they're going to be screaming bloody murder so we're going to annihilate them and all are already our men have had it with them and don't want to sit there listening this city is sat there for years wallowing and they're going to help. They're out there listening and they're saying boy that's really cruel and that's crude that's mean about 10 minutes I said we're not thinking about what we're doing we're listening to garbage they start picking them off they keep showing up and they're picking them off crowns show up and they're picking up millions big crowds billions and they're just going to keep doing it and every factory area that's like it was before with these nonsense sensible jackasses sticking their head up over the wall saying dumb s*** and getting their heads blown out it's kind of hilarious because they're so stupid and we hate seeing them go you see it works out for us pretty soon we're going to get the scanner and the big vacuum no just shoot them and we pull them out there's a lot of this okay there's a chunk of their population that's going to be gone from this it's probably about 0.05% no it's going to be 0.5% today and sound of about 8% and tonight tons of them will die fighting each other and the stomach warlock mostly Mac morlock we think they might lose 1.5% tonight at the most so that's a 6.5% possibly that's a huge number Minnesota there's no reason why they can't our son and daughter say they believe there's no reason why they can't clear them out of the tunnels start taking stuff if they flood in Louisville pull out again and we do understand that we're going to look at it now so we need to armament

Thor Freya

Olympus

Thor Freya

[unpreciosa]

Tumblr Porn: A Personal Writing

2014, during the peak of the social media platform named Tumblr. In the beginning of the year, my winter break was ending and along came the dreaded continuation of 7th grade. January always felt like the longest month, many long nights consuming any visual media I could access, which went from the television to the iPhone 5c my parent’s bought me in November for my 13th birthday. It was my very first iPhone, which felt like a total shift in my character because I was known for rocking an Android. But my parents knew how much it would mean to me. I reflect back on middle school, and all I could remember from 7th grade was that it was the first time that I was experiencing anxiety and depression. At the time, I had two friends who were self-harming… and it was the first times that my friends were experiencing similar feelings to mines. Some would message me about it, or I would find out through friends or fellow peers, or through the social media. At the time, my parents had a presence and stance on what social media I could be a part of. What apps got the approval? The ones that I could remember are Kik, Snapchat, Vine, Pinterest, and most importantly, Tumblr.

I cannot remember the exact moment that I decided to make a Tumblr account, but I was aware of it’s existence through my friends and peers. Around this time, I was exposed to the music of One Direction. I knew of their existence from their popular hit, “What Makes You Beautiful” but that came out when I was in elementary school. I was not into that type of pop music for a few reasons: 1. This was not the type of music my parents would ever entertain, as mixed Latinos living in Central Florida. The radio they would play consisted of R&B, Hip Hop/Rap, Dance, Salsa, Reggaeton, etc. 2. I was going through the “I’m not like other girls” phase. I was tired of girls constantly gawking over boys. I wanted to be different. 3. That song was just not good! It was not until I became friends with this one girl that I discovered albums like “Midnight Memories” and “Four”. From listening to their voices and watching to their music videos, I became intrigued with learning about the boys. The narrative and the marketing of who Harry and Zayn are really spoke to my tastes as a young girl.

My research led me to Tumblr, where I approached the One Direction fandom. This community was extensive and active with their following. The ‘fandom’ on Google is defined as, “the state or condition of being a fan of someone or something; the fans of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc. regarded collectively as a community or subculture.” The One Direction fandom on Tumblr lead me to start my sexual exploration as a young girl.

Was this an intentional choice? This meaning did I intentionally looked for sexually explicit literature, which lead me to sexually explicit content? No, I happen to stumble on it one night. One of my favorite forms of fan-made content became fan stories, fluffy blurbs of romantic scenarios happening with the member of your choice. Reading this was exploratory because of how detailed these stories were. It gave me the ability to experience romance without physically experiencing it. It was unconsciously appealing to my anxious feelings that were budding in me. Middle school was the beginning of the formation of my personality and interests as an individual. I was experiencing newfound independence, possessing a world of unrestricted knowledge at my fingertips.

This was the most accessible form of sex education for me. My parents gave me the best “talk” that they could, but it was left at one conversation. If you ask them today, they will tell you that their children could come to them for “those types of conversations” but who wants to talk to their parent about that? The internet became my guide book into figuring out what made me flushed or excited. During this time, there was a part of me that became delusional and emotional when reading these stories; like Harry was flirting with me or Zayn was cuddling with me. I would search for different authors (with good grammar and a clean format) and go through their master lists to read their titles… There was one story I was reading that was a series that started out as ‘fluff’ and then slowly shifted into the ‘smut’ category. For those who don’t know, smut is defined as, “obscene or lascivious talk, writing, or pictures.” The majority of the authors would place a disclaimer before the story, “rating: 18+… smut, NSFW… If you are younger than 18, scroll past. tags: __” Usually, I would skip them if I saw them but this author in particular did not preface the post with a warning. So as I am reading this smut, I notice that the language is getting more dirty, and I paused to think about this. I felt conscious of my actions, anxious that I would get caught. But I was already reading this, and this was around a time where the concept of sex was still unknown territory for me. I wanted to know the details, to be let in on the secrets before I would even consider enacting on them. So, I decided to read further. In that moment, my perspective of the world would completely shift and would go down a digital spiral.

The forbidden and taboo feeling made me gravitate towards engaging with smut pieces more. Some of these posts would contain GIFs of the celebrity looking at the camera in a sexy way or filmed in a comprising position. They were not directly sexual, but it was suggestive with the tension of the eye or if the angle and lighting were right. I would click on the hashtags, #smut, #NSFW smut, #NSFW with the addition of the celebrity’s name. Scrolling through these hashtags lead me to discovering pornography. I remember how anxious this made me feel, guilty because I knew this was not something I was allowed to look at but curious because I never saw the act happening. Whenever a sex scene would come on in the house, my parents would make us close our eyes, which left bits and pieces of information. During our talk, we were given a light lesson in anatomy and how natural pregnancy happens. There was no talk about the specifics of sex or genitalia, which I figured out on my own. I could not resist indulging in this content because I had the answers in front of me. I was able to educate myself on my own, which looking back on still leaves me wondering if it was a good thing or not.