#quality is great considering the video quality was awful!

[aisaariel]

how does jk feel about his solo 7?

ponyo deck ; tarot & intuition ; july 20, 2023

hello vitas! i felt called to do this reading, so i popped out my new ponyo theme deck and did this reading. ponyo is a feisty one and the deck is straightforward, so i'm excited to work with the deck now and in the future! let's get started~

— 10w (6c), 5p (3c), Aw (Kp), 7w (Ac) // 10c

context: so let's first talk about his previous project with charlie puth, left and right. his part of the song goes, "ever since the day you went away (someone tell me how), how much more do i gotta drink for the pain? (whatcha gon' do now?), you do things to me that i just can't forget (now all i think about), are the nights we were tangled up in your bed" with the prechorus and chorus following. and then in seven, he talks about f*cking someone right in the explicit version and loving someone right in the clean version. very obvious in the music video! he explained 7 talks about doing whatever you can to be with the love of your life. this happens to provide great context for the reading.

about the song: now to what the actual cards are telling us. seeing how we start off with the ten of wands clarified by the six of cups, we see how he has spent lots of time on this song and really considered what kind of message it would bring to people who listened to it. he chose to have an explicit version and a clean version. he chose to make the songs give off the messages and vibes that they did. i think this song is an amalgamation of his view of love, his tendencies as a lover in relationships, his past relationships, his dynamics with past lovers, and such! he drew upon lots of his past it seems.

his feelings: then, we see him talking more about his thoughts. it's like he's saying "i can be your companion through your darkest troubles, look you in the eyes, see through to the deepest depths of your soul. i want to help you feel better. i want to love you, hold you tight. i want to show you that anything is possible, show you the light in the darkness, lead you to the right path. i want to make tons of mistakes with you because i know you won't judge me and i won't judge you. i want to support you in your ventures in any way that i can, be your provider, your defender, and your greatest lover. then we see the seven of swords clarified by the ace of cups. "why is it that i give you all of me but you hurt me in the end? why do you not love me, give all of you back to me? i'll follow you wherever you go; you can't get rid of me. i know you love me back. i'll wait for you until you feel comfortable and ready. baby, just look back at me once. give me a chance, give me a sign, and i'll never leave your side." (listen to "all of me" john legend)

other(?) channeled stuff: that was a huge storm of words up there and i was not present half the time that i was writing it because jk seemed very eager to explain what his song meant. so essentially, we go travel all~~~~ the way back in time to the times when he was really struggling in love. the time frame feels around 2017 or 2018? so many betrayals, so much hurting. "why is it that no matter how much love i give to you, you keep hurting me? why do you make me feel special and then break me?" and "why do i keep falling back into love with you when i know that i'll just be hurt in the end?" i don't really want to look into the specifics, but it seems like he experienced a very unhealthy relationship - the energy of this person he was in a relationship with feels older than him. it seems like he gave his all and did his best, but in the end he felt hurt, used, unheard, and unloved. he did everything that he could in his position: listening, supporting, understanding, buying presents, quality time, etc. however, what he got in return may have been coldness, lots of complaints. he may have loved this person a lot more than how much this person loved him back. i don't really know why, but it feels like this person didn't even love him back at all. like i sense this person just grinning and chuckling at his innocence in a way, when really, they were there for his fame and his body and face (bragging rights). okay i need to stop here. no more SHUSH AISA, SHUSH!!!!!!

answering the actual question: so, to finally answer the actual question that this whole post was based on, it seems like this is kind of like a "period mark" to any of what happened in the past. i see him starting new. i see him just wanting pure happiness. a happy life, a happy home, a happy family with those he loves. the song really fully encompasses how he is as a lover. he's someone who gives his all to someone he loves. he's willing to give his all. he won't leave you alone. he'll follow you around, shower you with love, show you all of him and in turn, want to know all of you. when i watched the music video and read the lyrics, i was just extremely shocked for certain reasons that i cannot share, but the representation of his lyrics in the music video hits straight to home base pretty much! he worked very hard for this single in particular and i think it really contains lots of him in regards to love. he feels very proud of it and he's happy to share it with the world. he also seems to be moving on now from past things. he's looking to a newer person, a newer perspective. this is a transitional point for him and a lot of baggage was released on his part! there was also a lot of maturing as well, so he really really worked hard on himself. this is why a lot of readers may have sensed that his energy is feeling much fresher and lighter nowadays because that's pretty much exactly what he did!

i apologize but don't apologize for this long essay. i had so much fun having jk take over most of what was written on this post!

[lgenvs3000w23]

NATURE & SHIPWRECKS (unit #5 - freestyle)

Hello friends, 

We are back again this week with the most exciting prompt yet: no prompt! I am taking this opportunity to talk about my biggest childhood interest… SHIPWRECKS!

You might be wondering how this relates to nature at all but deep-sea shipwrecks are biodiversity hubs. I have always been interested in shipwrecks because I am both terrified and in awe of them. My main fascination is with how such an inorganic and visually man-made object is completely emersed by aquatic life and fits so well in an ecosystem it was never intended to be in. 

STOCKTREK IMAGES. (n.d.). A sunken ship lays on its side near Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-do-we-find-shipwrecks-and-who-owns-them. 

Shipwrecks are considered “islands of biodiversity” because they offer a structure for an incredibly wide variety of species to inhabit, which creates pockets of very high biodiversity, acting as artificial reefs (Hamdan et al., 2021). Imagine a sandy sea floor with not much going on besides some small rocks and vegetation, now put a huge stationary shipwreck there, and eventually, many species will call this new isolated habitat their new home. Many shipwrecks are dripping with so many species that you cannot even see bare metal anymore.

It is clear from photos that there are lots of different fish, vegetation, and corals that inhabit old shipwrecks, but we are missing a very important aspect of shipwreck ecosystems: the micro-organism colonies! In our defense, we can't see them but they make up a huge portion of biodiversity. Microorganisms establish and preserve shipwrecks as artificial reefs, allowing other species to thrive in/on shipwrecks. It is amazing how much power the tiny species hold and how influential they are to full ecosystems. (Hamdan et al., 2021)

Murat. (n.d.). Bream Fish around the shipwreck. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? Adobe Stock Images. Retrieved from https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/animal-stories/animals-that-find-a-home-in-sunken-ships/

I have never had the opportunity to visit a shipwreck other than kayaking over top of a boiler. I love watching videos of people diving to explore shipwrecks, although I can't imagine ever doing it myself. I am incredibly curious to hear if anyone has done this? I would absolutely love to hear your experiences! We (Ontario locals) live in the perfect place to go shipwreck diving because the Great Lakes have cold water and low salinity which are fanatics conditions for the preservation of shipwrecks. The Great Lakes are regarded as one of the best shipwreck diving spots in the world. (Harrington, 2019) 

I have always found shipwrecks interesting because of the duality that the vessel wasn't strong enough to complete its voyage but it is strong enough to be preserved underwater for (possibly) hundreds of years, sometimes in near-perfect condition. However, the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes are in trouble!! Invasive species of the Great Lakes like zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) are threatening our beautifully preserved nuggets of history. These filter feeders can cause damage through heavy weight and even corrosion of some metals, if enough pile up. Additionally, they release carbon dioxide which can severely alter water quality and the conditions that help preserve shipwrecks. It is insane that these huge structures that can last up to thousands of years can be threatened by something as small and seemingly passive as mussels. (Harrington, 2019)

Thanks for reading, hopefully you see shipwrecks from a slightly different perspective! Who knew shipwrecks were so intertwined with nature (I did because I am a nerd who loves shipwrecks)! 

References 

Hamdan, L. J., Hampel, J. J., Moseley, R. D., Mugge, R. L., Ray, A., Salerno, J. L., & Damour, M. (2021, April 22). Deep-sea shipwrecks represent island-like ecosystems for marine microbiomes. OUP Academic. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00978-y 

Harrington, M. (2019, November 20). Aquatic invasive species threaten shipwreck preservation in the Great Lakes: Wisconsin sea grant. Wisconsin Sea Grant | University of Wisconsin. https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/aquatic-invasive-species-threaten-shipwreck-preservation-in-the-great-lakes/

[stawbabyfloofs]

hi!!! I'm a Natsuki fictive from the Spices Collective and I was wondering if I could request CG!yuri???

headcanons, x reader, x my source... anything please?

I had something really small but really really awful just happen and I really need my Yuyu but she's not close to front at all so making this request, no matter how long it'll take for you to make it or even if you decline it, would help me lots

i dunno my age range but it's not younger than 3 and not older than 10, I want bottles with Yuyu and sippy cups if she's not giving me a drink, I like pacis a ton and often play LoL and Halo Infinite with one in

that's all I know go nuts from there

OFC!! Thank you for asking and I hope this helps! Caregiver Yuri x Regressor (Gender Neu)

Summary: Yuri notices something is up and comforts you with a bottle feeding. It was pretty late, inching near nighttime to be more specific. You were on the floor playing a video game, and you weren't quite sure how long you've been playing, but you were sure of one thing- your paci wasn't in your mouth anymore. Maybe it fell out while focusing pretty hard? You thought, seeing it inches away from you. "Darling, are you still playing that game? Oh, Halo Infinite, right?" Yuri opens the door with a faint smile. Maybe you felt lonely, or you just had a rough day, but whatever it was, you knew you wanted your Yuyu and her attention. It didn't take a genius to figure that out, considering how long you looked in her direction and you forgetting to answer her. "Awww, sweetie," Yuri coos softly, "Are you feeling alright?" Yuri asks, her purple eyes meeting yours. That was all it took for you to open up to her. Yuri's pretty shy and reserved, but she's a really great listener. Between your rants, she was giving many nods and back rubs, assuring you that it was going to be okay and she'd always be there for you, reminding you that's what caregivers are for. After letting some feelings out, you had a new want. "Can I have a bottle? But from Yuyu!" You asked, wanting some comfort. "Mhm, would angel milk be alright, love?" She asked, making sure you were comfortable with it. And with a nod, Yuri asked you to find a cozy spot on the couch for the two of you, which you happily obliged. You ran to the couch and grabbed a blanket, excitedly clutching it while watching Yuri heat up the bottle for you. She turned around and gave a quick smile before taking the bottle out of the microwave and testing a drop to make sure it was the perfect temperature. You always thought Yuyu knew you so well and cared about getting the small things perfect, like mastering the perfect angel milk recipe! After a quick nod, she was headed your way and sat on the couch next to you. Wasting no time, you crawled into her lap. It took shuffling on her part for you both to get comfy, but then you were snuggled against her soft, beige turtleneck as she pulled the blanket over the two of you. "Open up for Yuyu, honey." Yuri cooed, her soft eyes looking down at you as she held the bottle near you. You opened your mouth and you soon had the taste of milk there. A smile spread to your face and it even got to Yuri too. Suckling on the bottle was a calming, rhythmic experience, and it reminded you of why you loved it so much. Bottles with Yuri meant quality time as she held you tightly, so it gave you a feeling that you were safe and there was nothing she'd let hurt you. It meant extra attention as she'd hum some songs, and sometimes recite one of her more appropriate poems to you. It felt nice to know she had her eye on you the whole time too, quickly wiping away any stray droplets of milk. That was rare though, you were a big kid, you thought. It just happens sometimes when you're so relaxed and a little dribbles out. Yuyu didn't seem to mind though, she was always happy to clean you up. "Slow down, Bug, you might get a tummy ache if you keep up," Yuri said calmly, using her mommy voice, "We don't want that, now do we?" Focusing on suckling a little slower, you thought about how you got the nickname Bug. Whenever you're not playing your games, there were times were you'd barge in on Yuri reading, and you'd sit next to her as she read. It became so common that whenever you joined her, she'd read out loud so you could follow her, even if the book was boring. (You just wanted to be near her) Though recently, she got you some more age-appropriate books that you read while sitting next to her. After a while, she called you her little book Bug because you'd always be there while she was reading, no matter what. The thought let out a little giggle that convinced Yuri to play with your hair. After a couple minutes, it was clear your bottle was now empty, yet you still felt a little upset when she pulled it away.

She paused for a minute, seeming to be thinking of something. "How about I go clean off your paci and we'll play your favorite game together, since I know you love to play with one in. How's that my little love?" Yuri spoke, softly. "Yeah! That sounds awesome!"

Eee! I was very excited to write this :D (I only saw this request tonight, so I immediately got to work on it)

[thevondoom62]

Brings Arts Cloud. This figure sucks.

I mean, it looks great! Like, it looks even better than the prototype! So, what's the problem? Well the problem is that the hips feature some of the worst engineering I've ever seen on an action figure. Like, it's stunning. They did nothing there right. Every time I went to pose the figure, the legs would just fall off. Twist the thigh? It falls off. Move the leg forward? You bet that's falling off. Pick the figure up from a pose? It falls off! And if it doesn't, it's only sheer friction between the floating crotch piece and leg keeping it on.

The drop down hips are awful. They go all the way down, which means trying to reinsert the legs becomes a fight in and of itself since they sink into the pelvis, which may I remind you is a loose floating piece for some reason. At this point, Square Enix should stop making toys and stick with making those overproduced bombs they consider video games.

I'm normally a pretty lenient guy when it comes to toys, everybody who reads this blog knows this. I'm willing to overlook some major flaws if I like a figure or even just the character. Especially new ones, I'm very prone to recency bias. At worst, my feelings usually remain middling. I like to enjoy this hobby, y'know?

Now, I "fixed" this problem. Tightened the legs' ball sockets with super glue. Now, I hate doing this with any figure but doing it with one so expensive is essentially playing Russian Roulette, but five of the chambers are loaded. Even if this fixes the problem, I shouldn't have to do that for a figure this expensive! Even if it was a great toy, it'd cost too much! This toy costs double what a copy of Final Fantasy VII Remake costs after shipping and tax! I've paid more, shamefully, but those are aftermarket prices!

Look, don't buy this. Even after the "fix" the legs still fall out sometimes. It's absolutely not worth it. I already knew Bring Arts quality could be iffy first hand after the KH Cloud, but god I love this character. I love the game. It's the only JRPG I've ever played to completion. I wanted this to be decent so much. Not even great. Not even good. Just decent. The worst part is that it could have been great if they just put more thought into the legs. This isn't even getting into the "digital certificate of authenticity" (bullshit code for NFT) they included. Honestly, I think I got what I deserve for preordering even after I knew they were doing that.

I don't know why I wrote all this and why you even read it, because it's all summed up in the beginning for you. This figure sucks.

[animebw]

Short Reflection: Fall 2022 Anime

Was Fall 2022 the single most stacked season of anime ever? It’s certainly a contender, at least. Not only were there once again far too many good shows to keep up with, not only were a lot of those shows really fucking good, but there was such a wide variety that no matter your tastes- shonen, slice of life, mecha, political drama, whatever the fuck Akiba Maid War counts as- you were basically guaranteed at least one phenomenal show to stay hooked on. And if you’re someone like me who appreciates pretty much every genre as long as it’s done well? Then my god, I hope you skipped lunch, because this feast never fucking ended. I’ve already given my thoughts on Yama no Susume’s underwhelming fourth season (6.5/10), Mob Psycho 100′s safe but deeply satisfying finale (8/10), and the bonkers roller coaster of Chainsaw Man (8.5/10), and there’s still way too many anime left to talk about. So without any further ado, let’s dive right in to the disappointments, the hidden gems, and the runaway smash hits that closed out this fantastic year for anime.

My Hero Academia Season 6: Unfinished/10

There’s not much I have to say about this one yet, as I’m planning to give it a full review when it’s all over. But I at least wanted to say this: I fucking told y’all My Hero Academia was going to reclaim its crown. I told y’all this show was eventually gonna earn its place back as one of the greatest long-running shonen of all time. But nooooo, you were all busy pretending that a few lackluster fight scenes meant this show was the worst garbage ever and handing out accolades to gorgeously animated pieces of stale cardboard like Demon Slayer for plastering pretty wallpaper all over the vapid nonsense at their core. Well, how does it feel now, huh? How does it feel to remember what an actual great shonen action series looks like? This is the best that MHA has been since season 3, and while it’s gonna fall to the next cours to determine where season 6 ends up on the pantheon, it’s so fucking good to see this show operating at full capacity again.

To Your Eternity Season 2: Unfinished/10

Genuine question: what the absolute fuck happened to To Your Eternity? I still remember when that incredible first episode dropped back in 2021 and everyone was ready to crown it the new patron saint of cry-inducing philosophical fantasy. How did we get from that to this? To increasingly hacky production values that rarely rise above passable and never once manage to capture the awe and wonder this story is so clearly shooting tor? To writing so tonally inconsistent it decides to introduce a cast of wacky over-the-top camera-muggers in this serious and serene fantasy yarn? Didn’t this show used to be good? Didn’t it used to be a genuinely compelling exploration of human nature and immortality and moving on from loss? When did it fall apart so badly that it barely even resembles the show it used to be? And that’s not even getting into some of the most abysmal queerbaiting I’ve seen in a very long time. There were definitely worse anime this year, but nothing else left me feeling so utterly betrayed. I can only pray the slight upswing of quality it’s experiencing in its current arc continues, because otherwise this is going to end up the most crushing disappointment of anime in 2022.

Reincarnated as a Sword: 3/10

Let us all stop for a moment and consider the absolute state of the isekai genre. Here we have yet another story of some personality-deficient schlub transported to another world that runs on JRPG logic, where he instantly becomes the most OP person (or, well, sword) around and never has to struggle for anything. The characters and setting are all as painfully generic as every other entry in the genre. The plot wastes so much time rattling off video game stats to justify its boring OP worldbuilding that it forgets to write any sort of interesting or nuanced personalities for the people in its world. The production values are passably okay without ever showing a single shred of personality beyond the most by-the-basics staples of this watered-down Dragon Quest backwash. There is nothing worth recommending here, nothing you can get from this show that you can’t get in a million better ways elsewhere. And yet, Reincarnated as a Sword has one thing going for it: it doesn’t try and justify slavery. In fact, its real protagonist is an enslaved catgirl who breaks free from her chains and seeks to prove her worth, with the titular sword serving as her paternal guardian. And that alone puts this dull, uninspired, pointless slab of processed anime loaf above a decent chunk of its contemporaries in the isekai genre. Because that is how fucking far the bar has been lowered at this point. God help us all.

My Master Has No Tail: 4/10

The frustrating thing about My Master Has No Tail is that there’s not really anything wrong with it. It’s a cute little historical anime about a tanuki girl learning rakugo from a fox spirit in a time of huge technological upheaval for Japan, a time when all the old spirits are at risk of losing their place in the world and must find some way to adapt to the new era alongside humanity. That premise should result in something really interesting, or at least unique enough for a mellow slice-of-life hobby show with a supernatural twist. And yet despite the lack of things to complain about, I just could not get on this show’s wavelength. It just doesn’t push far enough in any direction to be memorable; the animation is competent but also as basic as it gets, the characters are inoffensive but simple, the comedy is decent but rarely rises above a chuckle. Every single aspect of this show is just a little too underwhelming to really make an impact, and with nothing but average everywhere you look, the whole thing ends up kinda boring. I do like the themes it’s playing with, how art is used as a vessel for spirits and humans to keep their connections strong in an increasingly secular, industrialized world, but it’s not enough to bring this show up anywhere above harmlessly mediocre. What a shame.

Arknights Prelude to Dawn: 4.5/10

I find myself fairly conflicted about the first season of Arknights. On the one hand, it’s a relief to get a gacha game adaptation with some actual gravitas behind it, and the story of a post-infection dystopian world struggling between compassion and justice has some genuinely complex things to say about the morality of living through hellish situations. And its cinematic production ambitions ensure it’s rarely boring to look at. On the other hand, though, I get the sense that whoever was behind the script didn’t take into account the differences between what works narratively in a video game and what works in a TV show. Divorced from their role as an audience surrogate/POV who needs to be explained everything so the player can understand how to play, the mostly silent Doctor comes off as a nothing character who could be cut from the show without changing anything. Ditto the under-explained, underutilized tactical cell phone that probably only existed in the first place to justify how the game’s combat looked and functioned, and the dialogue that’s mostly a series of plot points taking us from one Important Setpiece to the next. I want to like what Arknights is doing, but it’s not until the shockingly great final two episodes that it starts to feel like a proper show and not just a lavishly animated cutscene compilation. Hopefully the second season continues that upward trajectory, and maybe then we’ll be able to call this a truly excellent gacha anime.

Do It Yourself: 5/10

Between this show and Healer Girl from earlier this year, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I really need more than vibes to keep me interested in a show. Don’t get me wrong, vibes are good! But there’s a whole subsection of cute-girls shows that are basically nothing but vibes, and absent anything else to sink my teeth into, I find myself feeling very little connection to them. You’d think Do It Yourself might have a little more going on, what with its near-future setting, stabs at commentary on the importance of not letting automation fully run everything, and extremely gay undertones. But no, it’s mostly just cute girls doing DIY carpentry for twelve episodes. It’s a show for you to turn your brain off to and just, well, like I said, vibe to the expressive FLCL-esque art style and richly detailed guide to DIY carpentry with a bunch of intermittenly interesting characters. And while I can appreciate those vibes well enough, there’s so little intrigue to anything that I can’t really bring myself to care about it all that much. I dunno, maybe they shouldn’t have kept the one character who actually generates interesting narrative friction at arm’s length for nearly the entire show. And maybe they should’ve let Serafu and Pudding kiss. Actually, no maybes there, they definitely should’ve done that.

Play It Cool, Guys (1st Half): 5.5/10

Here’s a pleasant little surprise I don’t think anyone saw coming. Sure, this slice-of-life about a bunch of clumsy dudes navigating their own awkwardness isn’t gonna set the world on fire, but it’s become one of the more unusually absorbing short anime I’ve encountered in a while. I think what draws me to Play It Cool, Guys is that it’s just very unpretentious; it promises a chill twelve minutes every week of low-key sweet-natured comedy, and that’s exactly what you get. The punchlines aren’t amazing, but they pretty much always hit. The characters aren’t very complex or interesting, but they all carry themselves well enough that you enjoy seeing them on screen. It’s even got a certain kind of confidence to just be so low-key and not try to overextend itself with cheap gimmicks or recycled plot beats to grab your attention, because it trusts that its word and characters are charming enough to earn your investment on their own. And you know what? That confidence is not misplaced. It might not be my favorite thing in the world, but I have a sneaking suspicion it’s just going to keep growing on me as it moves into its second cours. Check back at the end of winter, and I might just end up giving it a much more enthusiastic recommendation.

Urusei Yatsura (1st Half): 6/10

Is there still a point to Urusei Yatsura today? Yes, Rumiko Takahashi’s groundbreaking rom-com about an alien girl falling in love with a philandering douchenozzle invented the anime rom-com as we know it, not to mention possibly starting waifu culture itself with Lum. But fifty years later, with all its component parts iterated upon by basically every romance-adjacent anime that followed it, does the original property have anything left to offer on its own merits? Or is it a relic of a bygone time, no longer useful as anything but a historical artifact for tropes and archetypes that have all been used better by the works it ended up inspiring? Halfway through this modern reboot, I’m still not sure what the answer to that question is going to be. What I can say for sure is that this show makes me laugh more often than it doesn’t, and while not all of it has aged gracefully, it’s oddly refreshing to see just how much more egalitarian the anime rom-com used to be. This is no incel wank fantasy where a loser guy gets all the hot girls by doing basically nothing; this is a show where everyone’s just a little bit nuts, and you’re not so much rooting for anyone to get together as you are just enjoying the chaos that results when all these different flavors of asshole butt heads. That’s far more my speed than any of the wish fulfillment harem slop that learned all the wrong lessons from Urusei Yatsura’s success. Whether or not it’ll end up anything more than a series of mostly amusing episodic sketches remains to be seen, but for now, I’m content to just watch the madness unfold. Plus, it’s got Hiroshi Kamiya and Mamoru Miyano sniping at each other like every episode, you can’t not love that.

Pop Team Epic Season 2: 6/10

Sometimes, you just need a little chaos in your life. That sentence probably sums up the appeal of Pop Team Epic better than anything else I could ever write. Sometimes, you just want to let loose on a stream of consciousness through utterly batshit comedy skits that switch tone and animation style on a dime, packed with references to countless things you’re only vaguely aware of, never quite sure if all this insanity has any kind of point or if the pointlessness is itself the point. Pop Team Epic is just fucking weird, y’all. But it’s the kind of weird that clearly comes from a group of talented people having a blast throwing anything and everything at the wall just because they can, not caring about whether any of it sticks or not because the messy, nonsensical act of creating the damn thing in the first place is reason enough for it to exist. What other show will give you a dating sim spoof, yaoi lesbians, legitimately great mecha action, a final fantasy parody, gratuitous violence, a live action flipbook segment, and a full-on tokusatsu show starring Aoi Shota as a time-traveling sentai hero, all in the space of 12 episodes? If that kind of memetic insanity is your jam, then you need to get this show in your eyeballs yesterday. Pop Team Epic makes no goddamn sense, and god bless it for that.

Spy x Family Part 2: 7/10

Does a show need a plot? Is it enough for it to simply wander through a bunch of random side quests and coast on charm alone? That certainly seems to be what Spy x Family is banking on; after a relatively plot-solid first part where most episodes had at least a little in the way of new developments, part 2 seems content mostly to put the Forger family members in a variety of amusing scenarios and leave all the big picture stuff in the background until the final episode. And it’s a testament to just how damn charming these characters are- and how slick the production continues to be- that it mostly gets away with it. it’s fun watching Loid, Yor, and Anya bumble about as they slowly figure out what it means to live a “normal” life. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t impatient for the plot to pick back up. I dunno, after so many episodes of just faffing about, I felt myself getting kind of burnt out on the sitcom hijinks. And it doesn’t help that the biggest new character introduced is basically just a genderswapped Yuri, a.k.a. the worst character in the series. Spy x Family works best when it’s balancing its fluffy and kickass sides, and part 2 just leaned a little too far into fluff for my tastes. I still had a lot of fun, but I’m more than ready for the Ostania-Westalis conflict to be important again.

Blue Lock (1st Half): 7/10

The premise of Blue Lock is one of those immediately head-slapping moments of “Wow, why has no one tried this before?” brilliance: what if you took a shonen sports anime and made it an edgy death game? Sports anime are already full of larger-than-life personalities and conflicts, so taking that over-the-top competitive camp and applying it to a situation where the characters have to destroy each other to get ahead in a winner-takes-all battle royale is such a no-brainer, I’m shocked it’s taken this long for someone to come up with it. Sure, you don’t actually die if you lose Blue Lock, but losing the ability to play competitive soccer ever again might as well be death for a shonen sports boy, so it still counts. Point is, this premise is certifiably genius. Which makes it slightly disappointing that so far, the show isn’t taking as much advantage of it as it could. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some of the skullduggery and backstabbing you’d expect from your typical death game, but for the most part, Blue Lock just plays like a traditional soccer anime. A very good soccer anime, to be sure, but I find myself wishing it was willing to get nastier and edgier and really take advantage of its premise. Hell, it’s not even the best straightforward soccer anime this year; Ao Ashi has it beat in everything but animation. So count me a fan, but also count me hopeful that it leans more into what makes it unique going forward.

Raven of the Inner Palace: 7.5/10

In a fantasy-tinged version of Medieval China, there lives an imperial courtesan known as the Raven Consort. But unlike the other courtesans, her duties do not involve, well, nighttime visits. No, her mission is to put to rest the wandering spirits of the dead, the shades of those who died with regrets or unfinished business that still tie them to the world of the living. As long as anyone can remember, she’s lived alone, existing for nothing but her mission with no bonds to the world around her. But when a new emperor deposes the corrupt regime, he makes it his mission to set right everything his forebearers set wrong... including freeing the Raven Consort from her isolation. Thus begins one of the most absorbing anime I’ve watched all year, a story of the sins of the past as they claw at the fabric of the present, the struggle to untangle eons of societal oppression, and what it truly means to make amends for mistakes that left scars too big to ever heal. Raven of the Inner Palace is a bit of a slow burn, but when it takes off, it fucking takes off. And I know most of you barely even heard about it because it was overshadowed by all the louder, flashier shows this season, so consider this your wake-up call. Don’t sleep on this one, it’s really damn good.

Akiba Maid War: 8.5/10

Honestly, I don’t even want to say anything about this one. I just want to tell you all that you need to fucking watch Akiba Maid War and let you experience its many surprises as deliriously blind as I did. So if that alone is enough to convince you to go watch it, then stop what you’re doing and go watch it before you’re spoiled on anything. But if you need a little extra convincing, then consider the following: what if I told you that this seemingly innocuous maid cafe show is not, in fact, a quaint little otaku-centric slice of life, but a full-on pastiche of yakuza movies that takes all the genre’s bloodshed and mayhem and filters it through maid-colored glasses? A show where maids gun each other down and jockey for power and get in vicious turf battles and yet never once break maid keyfabe? Where the simple joke of “yakuza movie but they’re maids” is played so straight and pushed so far to its absolute limit that it somehow wraps back around to being both a completely ludicrous parody of itself and a completely genuine, 100% heart-on-its-sleeve love letter to both seemingly incompatible sides of its double identity? And walks that seemingly impossible tonal tightrope near flawlessly before bringing it all home in a final episode so pitch-perfect it forced me to pump my score up half a point just from how hard it stuck the goddamn landing? Are you convinced yet? Did I mention there’s a thirty-six year old murder maid who totally kicks fucking ass and doesn’t let anyone shame her for being a middle-aged woman working a cutesy job? What more do you want from me? JUST GO FUCKING WATCH THIS SHOW ALREADY I SWEAR TO GOD

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury: 8.5/10

I had no idea what to expect going into my first ever Gundam anime. Sure, I was excited to finally get a taste of what this storied franchise had to offer, and the excellent prologue and promise of an interesting female protagonist were certainly reasons to be hopeful, but as someone who’s rarely clicked with mecha as a genre, I wasn’t sure how this first foray into the definitive mecha anime would turn out. What I never expected- what I don’t think anyone could’ve expected- was that The Witch From Mercury wasn’t content to just be the first even female-led Gundam. No, this show decided to be REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA. IN SPACE. WITH MECHA BATTLES. And I don’t think I need to say a goddamn thing more to convince you to watch this show. It’s goddamn Gundam Utena! It’s the queerest, most socially conscious anime of all time re-imagined with a futuristic metal exoskeleton, only with Utena’s symbolism-drenched ruminations on gender and patriarchy replaced with a no-less-compelling grounded portrayal of the evils of space capitalism and the political consequences of corrupt systems. Well, presumably; this first cours has mostly focused on the ground-level school romance antics as it builds up all that big picture stuff in the background. But I say again: GUNDAM. FUCKING. UTENA. I couldn’t have picked a better introduction to the world of Gundam if I tried. And as long as the second cours doesn’t shit the bed, this is going to go down in history as one of the greatest things to over come out of the mecha genre.

Bocchi the Rock: 9.5/10

And yet. Despite all the big shonens and bold anime originals, despite Chainsaw Man and My Hero Academia and Gundam Utena, when all was said and done, one series rose above them all. One series that looked at all those big names with a smirk and sailed past them as naturally as breathing. Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in between, Bocchi the Rock is a goddamn motherfucking masterpiece. It takes the band-girls coming-of-age majesty, the painfully relatable social anxiety of Watamote, and the sheer animation flexing of Nichijou, and blends them all together into a gut-busting, tear-jerking, jaw-dropping tour de force that raises the bar on what slice-of-life anime is capable of just as thoroughly as K-On did thirteen years ago. Hitori Gotou is a socially paralyzed weirdo who’s never had a real friend because her anxiety’s too overwhelming to make friends, but she knows how to play some mean guitar. So when a chance encounter leads to her joining a band, she resolves to stick with it and try to finally break out of her shell, one hilarious misstep at a time. It’s a wonderful story of overcoming what holds you back and finding a community that accepts you for who you are, brought to life with some of the most astonishingly Extra(tm) animation that regularly left me choking on my own laughter. And the music uniformly kicks ass, and the incredible supporting cast provides a wide array of perspectives of introversion and extroversion, and Ryou is such an asshole and I love her, and fucking hell, I love this show! Other anime may be deeper or more complex or have more to say, but almost nothing else is so consistently charming. Every second of this show is delightful. Every moment is lovable. It’s a new gold standard for animated comedy, for cute girls, for coming-of-age, and for music anime in general. Bocchi the Rock fucking rules, and every single one of you needs to give it a watch. Something tells me this is gonna be one of those shows we’re still going to be gushing over for many, many years to come.

[legion1227]

Panic! At The Disco: Viva Las Vengeance Review

For years, I considered Panic! At The Disco as my favorite band. They are no longer my favorite band.

Like probably many, my first exposure to the band stemmed from the radio play of one of the band's biggest hits, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies." I recall hearing it a lot as a child on the radio and in my household. Over the years, I discovered other songs that I loved even more from them than "I Write Sins." Between 2005 and 2013, Panic! dropped five albums with numerous bangers. Many fans consider this era as Panic's peak. "When The Day Met The Night," "Nine in the Afternoon," "But It's Better If You Do," "Sarah Smiles," "Miss Jackson," and "Collar Full," are beautiful ballads with either high octane energy or elegant croons of Brendon Urie and other skillful band members. Those are just a handful of examples of Panic! members Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, and Spencer Smith, to name a few, at their best.

The quality of Panic! At Disco's music was questionable after 2013, as every member of the band not named Brendon Urie left the group. 2016 saw the release of their sixth studio album, "Death of a Bachelor." DOAB is arguably the last great album Panic! dropped. "LA Devotee" is their best song dedicated to Los Angeles. (As opposed to the vocally peculiar Dying In LA.) And the song that shares the same name as the album, "Death of a Bachelor," is an excellent ode to the style of music seen back in the days of Frank Sinatra.

Then, Panic! followed up with their seventh album, "Pray for the Wicked." I loved that project upon release, but over the years, my feelings waned. There are some songs I still enjoy, but no song compares to their older releases. Panic! used to be more punk in its youth, but since "Death of a Bachelor," they've leaned more into a pop sound with some bops and more flops.

Then four, long years passed. Panic! made a triumphant return! On August 19, 2022, Panic! dropped "Viva Las Vengenace," their final album.

And this is it. /This/ was the album to make me ashamed to call myself a Panic! fan.

First of all, calling the band Panic! at the Disco hasn't been truly proper for a long time. The band's founding members were long gone except for our lead singer, Brendon Urie. As everyone left Brendon, they took their unique sound from long ago with them. This just leaves us with either generic popish instrumentals or forgettable nonsense. Again, the newer sound worked for some songs, but not every. No song truly encapsulates the vibe, energy, or what made Panic! during 2005-2013 so special. There have been some exceptions since DOAB, but most do not reach the same heights.

This album is just Brendon Urie! at the Disco. And it sucks.

The first single, "Viva Las Vengeance," when dropped, I felt mixed feelings until the end. Nothing stands out particularly about the track until the end. Brendon didn't regularly hit high notes in his songs back in the old days. But ever since DOAB, he's done it more often. Brendon gives himself big moments in songs at the end where he flexes how he can reach the highest of highs with his voice. It was impressive in "Pray For The Wicked," and it was in this single song. He attempts multiple high notes across the multiple songs on the album of "Viva Las Vengenace," and it does not work.

He comes off more like a banshee screaming. And if you've seen videos on Tik Tok, Twitter, or wherever, where he's performing the songs at the concert, you can hear how he sounds even worse live. He's ruined his voice to sound decent at hitting those high notes, and he's coming off like a nagging, dying cat. He tries hitting high notes in songs where it's unnecessary and just annoying. "Sad Clown," the tenth track on "Viva Las Vengenace" has an awful chorus due to how strenuous and needlessly extra he comes off as he belches lyrics.

This twelve-track project is a mess after the first song. It starts with the title track of the same name, "Viva Las Vengeance," which I maintain the belief that it is the best song on the album. It is downhill from there quickly. "Middle of a Breakup" is dull and uninteresting. "Don't Let the Light Go Out" has terrible lyrics. (You're the only one who knows how to operate my heavy machinery?) "Star Spangled Banger" and "God Killed Rock and Roll" are absolutely the worst songs on the whole album and the worst songs by Brendon Urie. Every other song isn't even worth mentioning. They all sorta mush together.

It's a bunch of pop nonsense. Bland instrumentals, uninspired lyrics, and vocal horseshit. I remember being so upset after my first listen because I waited four years for something great, and this is what fans receive instead. It just soured Panic! at the disco on me as a whole. If I'm in the right mood, I'll listen to their songs during their peak. But the will to listen to Brendon Urie's voice at all has died significantly after this project. Just like their band.

Brendon Urie released a statement days ago, stating that Panic! at the Disco was officially done. This news would've made me sadder a few years ago. Now, all I can say is I can't wait for Fall Out Boy to drop their album in March. Their single "Love From The Other Side" washes any song from "Viva Las Vengenace."

Oh, and Paramore is my new favorite band. Stream their new album "This is Why" in February.

(I gave their album a 2/5 a while back, but as I'm writing this, I'm contemplating dropping this to a 1.5. Shit's ass.)

[annieedisonslostpen]

Here are some shows I recommend to everyone!!! I just want the chance to gush about my favorite shows and if this convinces you to watch any of them, then I will consider my life’s mission complete and I will die peacefully 💕 (these are in no particular order btw)

1. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

- I love this show. I love it so much. The first show to ever make me laugh OUT LOUD in my empty home while watching, like a full on belly-laugh even with no one else around. I got my roommate/bestie/partner to like this show, and now our dorm room is covered in iasip stuff. It’s half satire and half pure comedy, with some really dynamic and funny characters and a super simple premise (5 people own a bar. They get up to shenanigans around Philly. They are also the most terrible people on the planet and have no regard for others.) I know a lot of people hate the first season (probably for good reason, the political satire didn’t click very well from the get-go and its… difficult… to sit through some scenes) but I still enjoy it purely for how funny the characters are despite being awful people. Notable episodes are The Nightman Cometh (4x13), The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis (4x2), A Very Sunny Christmas (6x13), and The Gang Dances Their Asses Off (3x15).

2. Barry

- this is the most recent show that I finished all the way through, and I have to say, it’s really that good. Bill Hader is a really amazing actor — I had only seen him on SNL before this, and I had no idea he could display such a perfectly horrifying range of emotions. It starts a little slow; the first couple of episodes are good, not outstanding, but then it really picks up and creates a super strange, almost surreal atmosphere of tension/emotion/drama. Basically, the premise is that a professional hit man realizes his true passion is acting, but can’t seem to shake his past and move forward with his plan of redemption. A super great show. Honestly I can’t pick a single episode or two that are my favorite, but Ronny/Lily from season 2 was nominated for an Emmy I think, so check that one out :) this show is also very very violent so just giving you a warning now lol

3. Arrested Development

- this show is so good??? what???? honestly I never watched the last two seasons (I tried — I failed), but the third season ends the show perfectly, you don’t have to watch after that if it’s not holding your attention like it didn’t hold mine. I don’t even know how to describe how well this show (especially the first season, which is the best first season of almost any show I’ve seen) interconnects all these crazy jokes, plot lines, and characters so effortlessly. It’s fucking insane. I think (?) Drew Gooden made a video about how AD was ahead of its time, go check that out if you’re interested in hearing more about the humor style bc it’s really hard to explain. The premise is that a super rich family ends up losing their money when the patriarch is sent to jail for fraud (??) and hijinks ensue. Best episodes are Bringing Up Buster (1x3), Pier Pressure (1x10), and Let ‘Em Eat Cake (1x22).

4. What We Do In The Shadows

- vampires who live in Staten Island with their human familiar, what could be better than that?? I am not going to sit here and say that this show is amazing or perfectly written — it’s not, but something about the passion that the actors put into their roles, how they absolutely fully commit to the goofiness, is super endearing and hooked me from the beginning. It’s campy and fun with a dark sense of humor, and really sells its concept well. Vampires!!! Blood!!! Homosexuals???? The Casino (3x4) is a standout episode to me, but most of the episodes are about the same quality in my mind.

5. Succession

- yeah this show deserves all the fucking awards. It’s so good. I almost never choose to watch dramas, but I was promised gay people, and while that kind of didn’t shape out, the rest of the story is just amazing. I’m sure you guys have heard people rave about this show, and you should listen to them, because they are fucking right!!!! On the outside, it looks like a bland, colorless business drama, but once you dive into it (the first half of season one is kind of a slog), there is so much pain, love, redemption, loss, and beauty hidden under the layers of the show (and this reflects the characters too — stale from the outside, but much deeper and intriguing on the inside). The writing is spectacular. The jokes are actually funny?? The camera work and acting is incredible (seriously, props to Jeremy Strong for making me have overwhelming levels of empathy for his shitty, horrible character. Also, all the other actors and actresses are amazing, I can’t think of a single one who put in less than 110% into their role). Just go watch it. All the episodes are good, but the beginning episode of season 3 is such a strangely compelling and relatable character journey for Kendall, I felt way too many emotions in one sitting.

6. Stranger Things (Season 1)

- I am currently at the end of season 2, and while I still really enjoy it, I don’t think there has ever been a more cohesive and enjoyable first season of a show than Stranger Things. Like.. when people were hyped about this… it was deserved. I only recently got around to it, but yeah, it’s just as awesome as people say it is. The horror elements are really well done (I normally hate gore and horror and scary stuff, but I found myself not even shying away or being grossed out, it just fits so perfectly into the story that it wasn’t off putting to me at all), and the characters are so dynamic and realistic and interesting that I felt myself so incredibly compelled to watch the next episodes just to see what the characters did next!! I’m trying to think of characters that I disliked from the first season, and I genuinely can not think of any (Steve is a little flat, but he’s not super important this season so I forgive him). The plot is so unsettling and creepy, I was sitting on the edge of my seat watching most of the season. The soundtrack slaps, the direction is awesome, the set pieces are fun to look at and make perfect places for action to occur. All the storylines coming together at the end occurs so smoothly that I was actually shocked they managed to pull it off, and none of the things the characters did made me irrationally frustrated like in most horror media (except when a few characters of the main group split up for an episode — that was kind of stupid and didn’t need to happen). I like the time period they decided to set it in I guess, I felt nostalgic for the 80s even though I was born in 2003 lmao. Just go watch the first season, you won’t regret it.

Okay I might make a part 2 later because I’m tired of typing, but hopefully you guys will give these shows a chance!!! 💕💕💕

[leicamoments]

February Frustrations

It’s Monday morning and I am sitting in front of the computer looking at the sets of images taken from the various shoots I’ve been at over the weekend.

Lots of work to do to get them from their RAW state, and into images that represent the events and people.

I’ve also got some outstanding invoices to generate through the bookings system, and a few other general admin tasks to complete for the week and/or month ahead. All the sorts of things that most freelance people have to do to pay the bills.

But to be honest, there is also a tiredness present; a mid-February fatigue that is seriously pushing back at my usually high motivation to get out to as many different sporting events as I usually do.

Looking back to when I started (now seemingly a long time ago), I was out seven days a week and travelling stupid distances to cover things that I may not have been paid to cover; something that I stopped doing about eight or so years ago.

I’m very much more selective now, mixing paid-for work with voluntary shoots for grassroots clubs that may struggle to get good imagery week-in, week-out. I’m not going to lie, there are games that I attend and take photos at, that are solely as a result of my children taking part, hopefully creating some memories for them – but hopefully the clubs that they play for will benefit too.

But I am tired and, I guess, frustrated at the way real-life is impinging on the running of my business. I’m unsure the balance between work and home-life is right at this moment; and I know that this is impacting on the running of my company.

The reach on my social media accounts is rubbish – algorithms working against the distribution of my photos because of…well…that’s a whole different story and one that every creative battles against. Certainly, that is a whole different post on its own.

I know that only one or two people will read this blog (Hi – thanks for reading this far, it is really appreciated), so why do I sit down and write it? The simple answer is that I want to write and it’s cathartic.

I’ve got some ongoing decisions to make about what we do as a company and as an individual, and where we are headed. Again, these are things that most businesses do, some more formally than others; but I’ve got to work out what is taking up my time and how to get the best return of investment on the equipment that we have.

Like in 2023, there will be some big changes coming this year, but this time not with a view to expanding the business, but to streamline it; focus on specific things, increase quality on the final output for our paying clients, and evolve within the sector…to lead not follow.

I see so many new photographers and videographers coming into the sector; a lot offering their services for free and lowering expectations of clients as to what they have to pay. I also see some really great quality work…as well as an awful lot of terrible content being created by people who believe they are genuinely at the top table (the one thing that they are good at is marketing themselves).

Who am I to judge? Well, to be honest, I am just another photographer with his own subjective opinions – not someone who is a member of the ‘in-crowd’ or one of the cool kids. I am not someone who produces a polished YouTube video on a weekly basis that provides a running commentary – but with little substance behind it. Nor am I an influencer or a go-to person, that people seek an opinion of.

I am simply a freelancer with young kids, that takes images in a niche that is rarely considered as anything other than meatball photography; my work-life balance is wrong at this moment in time in 2024…and I am frustrated at it all.

You know what…the only person that can change that is me.

[theharpermovieblog]

#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2024 MOVIE LIST

www.tumblr.com/theharpermovieblog

I re-watched John Carpenter's Vampires (1998)

The two lead actors in this movie are pretty awful people in real life. I just thought I should bring that up somewhere in this review.

John Carpenter. Master of the horror film. Now considered one of the "Great" filmmakers for his contributions to the genre, to soundtracks and to film in general. Carpenter is more appreciated and influential now than in his own time, but he's always had a solid fan base. He started in the 1970's with great films like "Assault On Precinct 13" and "Halloween". Carried on into the 1980's with his best work like, "Escape From New York" "The Thing" "They Live" "Big Trouble In Little China" "Starman" and more. The man is a legend.

In the 1990's and early 2000's Carpenter's work became less impressive. It felt less enthusiastic, and almost as if the seasoned director had given up a bit. Movies like "Escape From LA" and "In The Mouth Of Madness" had something of his old talent, but fell flat in a lot of areas. Others like "Village Of The Damned" and "Ghosts Of Mars" are almost unwatchable. And of course, the less said about "Memoirs Of An Invisible Man" the better.

"Vampires" is another 90's film from Carpenter. Some say it's proof that the decade was better for the director than he gets credit for. Some say it's not worth your time and is proof to the contrary.

This movie does have something of the old 1980's Carpenter, but not enough. I'd throw it in with "Escape From LA" and "In The Mouth Of Madness", as a film that's heavily flawed. It has an unfinished feel, a less than top-quality vibe.

Problem #1.

The character of Jack Crow (James Woods) should be a classic Carpenter leading man. Carpenter likes to almost parody the macho badass, and Crow is a true parody of machismo. But, Crow and his entire Crew come off as sleazy assholes more than badass vampire killers. Despite trying to make them regular Working-Joe types, they come off as unlikeable misogynistic goons.

Problem #2

Carpenter's direction and shots fall short in a lot of areas. His wides no longer feel big in scope and his daytime shots are sub-par. "Vampires" often looks cheap and lazy, which isn't in step with Carpenter's older work. This often feels like a straight to video film without enough of the director's personality.

Problem #3

The beginning is kind of cool and creepy with the vampires jumping out like rats from within the crevices of an old abandoned house. I liked the initial version of these classic monsters. But, from that point forward, we never really see a "nest" again, and the main big bad "Master Vampire" comes off as more of a cringey goth douchebag, than a threatening monster. I'd have loved if they found a huge nest and had to infiltrate it. Would have gave them something to do rather than just be annoying for half the movie.

Problem #4

A very basic problem. The writing isn't solid. The framework is there, but it's not 100%. Yes, this is based on a novel, but we judge movies here based on there own merit, not on their source material, and the writing here, even if it's following the novel, does not hold up.

As I said, there is some good here. Carpenter doesn't skimp on the blood and gore. I like the idea of Bloodsuckers living in "nests" scattered around the desert. I like the idea of a team of Vampire hunters and, overall, I like the framework that is set up in the film. But with lackluster execution and no characters I can get on board with, this is a less than stellar addition to Carpenter's body of work.

[swapsocials]

What Are the Top Features of Successful Fitness Instagram Accounts?

Think about scrolling through your Instagram feed. You see fun photos of friends, mouthwatering recipes from food Instagram accounts, and some awe-inspiring content from luxury Instagram accounts, but most importantly, you see fitness enthusiasts showing off their routines on fitness Instagram accounts.

Ever wondered what makes some fitness accounts stand out? Come on, let’s figure out this thing together.

Sneak Peek into Instagram Fitness Accounts

Let’s consider successful Instagram accounts like those available at Swapsocials.com, a great marketplace if you’re considering dipping your toe in the Instagram fitness pool.

1. Authenticity and Consistency

They aren’t necessarily the ones with six-pack abs. Instead, they’re often the most transparent ones, with posts about triumphant wins but also the sweat-soaked struggles. They keep it real, and they keep it regular.

2. Engaging Content

Successful fitness pages aren’t just about workout videos. They mix it up with nutritional advice, mental health topics, transformation testimonials, and much more. They offer a full package, making the follower feel valued and invested.

3. Inspiring Fitness Journey

Check any successful fitness account. You’ll find a story, a fitness journey that the followers can relate to and draw inspiration from. Your journey could be the spark that ignites others, remember that!

4. Interactive Community

Notice the comments on any popular fitness page. You’ll see discussions, words of encouragement, and questions answered sincerely. Being responsive, respecting feedback, and encouraging interaction are key factors to building a genuine, engaged community.

Now, looking at food Instagram accounts and luxury Instagram accounts, we can see similar patterns of success. So, let’s move on to some quick tips you can implement today for your fitness account journey.

Quick Starts to Success

1. Maintain a Clear Focus: Your feed should reflect your niche, in this case, fitness. Be consistent with the type of content you post to attract the right audience.

2. Use High-Quality Photos and Videos: Nobody likes to squint! Make sure your posts are sharp, well-lit, and visually appealing. Invest in a good camera if possible.

3. Engage with Your Followers: Dedicate time to reply to comments, engage with your followers’ content, and always uphold a respectful interaction.

4. Collaborate and Cross-Promote: Consider partnerships with other fitness Instagram accounts or even food and luxury accounts. Collaborations can introduce you to new followers and can create exciting content!

5. Use the Right Hashtags: Do some research on the most popular and relevant fitness hashtags. They are your best shot at reaching more people.

Wrapping Up!

So, friend, it’s time to set foot on this exciting path. Whether you’re starting from scratch or revamping an existing account, armed with these tips, you’re already one step closer to success.

And hey, if you ever need a solid headstart, remember there are high-performing Fitness Instagram Accounts available at Swapsocials.com.

Let’s make the most out of social media, sculpting the most stunning and powerful versions of ourselves and our stories. Let’s hit that ‘post’ button, shall we? Visit swapsocials.com now!

[upasnaagarwal-blog]

Corporate Photography Services: Present the Best Image of Your Business

Corporate branding photography plays an increasingly vital role in today's competitive business landscape. A company's visual identity conveys professionalism, character, and values at a glance. 

Investing in high-quality corporate photography services can pay dividends when it comes to attracting top talent, investors, and clients. This article explores how businesses can leverage professional photography to promote their brand.

Corporate Photography Packages

Most corporate photographers offer a range of packages depending on the client's needs. Typical options include:

Portrait sessions - For headshots of executives, employees, and board members. Often booked in bulk.

Office/location photography - Captures images of workspaces, architecture, products, and the overall vibe.

Event photography - Covers conferences, galas, product launches, and other special events.

Brand imagery - Photo shoots targeted to convey the company's brand values and personality.

Advertising/marketing - Images for brochures, websites, billboards, social media ads, etc.

Editorial - Tells the story of the company through environmental portraits and documentary-style shots.

Videography - From corporate videos to animated explainers and more. Many photographers offer video services.

When selecting a package, companies should consider their budget, brand goals, and intended uses for the photos/videos. Full-service corporate photographers can create complete visual assets for all needs.

Corporate Branding Photography

Strategic branding photography is designed to communicate a business's identity and values visually. It goes deeper than just nice portraits of employees. 

Some branding techniques corporate photographers use include:

Environmental portraits - Captures personalities against backdrops that reinforce branding (e.g. tech companies photographed in modern minimalist spaces).

Styled shoots - Using props, color schemes, and posing to convey the brand aesthetic.

Candid images - More natural than posed shots to showcase company culture.

Evocative lifestyle photography - Connects emotions and narratives to the brand image.

Conceptual imagery - Unique stylized visuals that communicate branding in an abstract yet recognizable way.

Hero shots - Highly produced images featuring products, architecture, technology, etc. These impress and awe.

Consistent editing - Applying a signature look in terms of color grade, tone, etc.

Great corporate branding aligns visuals with positioning. It informs what the public associates with the company. Professional photographers can collaborate on creative direction to achieve this.

Casual Corporate Headshots

Casual headshots offer an approachable, humanizing look compared to formal poses. Relaxed expressions, real smiles, and natural stances present employees as genuine people.

Photographers may take casual headshots:

Outdoors using natural light

In comfortable office environments

With subjects standing instead of seated

Featuring candid moments mixed with some posed shots

With expressive gestures and body language

Minimal makeup and hair styling for authenticity

These raw, stripped-down shots work for internal directories, bios, intranets, and social media. The relaxed vibe fits laidback, creative company cultures.

Corporate photography pros understand how to direct subjects for casual yet flattering relaxed headshots.

[pelicandrones]

How Drone Services Transform Video Production

Filmmaking and video production have always been a blend of art and technology. Over the years, the technology part has made leaps and bounds, allowing art to express itself in new and imaginative ways. In this mix, drones have emerged as an influential factor. From aerial shots to dynamic chase scenes, drones provide new dimensions in storytelling.

These flying cameras have made video production in Mobile, AL, and similar places more affordable, versatile, and safe, democratizing the field for amateur filmmakers, small businesses, and independent creators alike. As we delve into this article, we'll explore in detail how drone services are revolutionizing various aspects of video production—making it easier, quicker, and less risky to capture stunning videos.

Doing More with Less Money

High-quality video production usually comes with a hefty price tag. The traditional methods often required renting helicopters for those awe-inspiring aerial shots or employing rigs and cranes for unique angles. However, drones are significantly lowering these costs. You no longer need a team of people to operate heavy equipment or pay for expensive rentals. A drone, controlled by a skilled pilot, can achieve similar results at a fraction of the cost, making video production in Pensacola and other places more accessible to those on a tight budget.

Enhancing Collaboration and Workflow

One of the often-overlooked benefits of using drones is how they can improve teamwork and workflow on the set. In traditional setups, communicating your vision for a particular shot to a crew member can sometimes be challenging. With drones, the real-time footage can be viewed by the entire team as it's being captured. This instant feedback loop allows for quick adjustments and fosters better collaboration among directors, cinematographers, and other crew members.

The Sky's the Limit for Creativity

Capturing the perfect shot often means going to great lengths—sometimes literally. With drones, the sky is the limit. These airborne cameras can fly through tight spaces, soar over towering landscapes, and skim across the water, capturing breathtaking visuals that were once tough or impossible to film. Drones enable filmmakers to push the boundaries of their creativity, introducing fresh perspectives that can make their storytelling more engaging and impactful.

The Need for Speed

Time is an invaluable resource in video production in Pensacola and many other places. Every minute spent on setting up shots, adjusting angles, or waiting for the perfect lighting conditions adds up. Drones can be quickly deployed and easily maneuvered to capture a variety of shots in a short time. This speed and agility streamline the production process, making it possible to get more done within tight schedules.

Focusing on Safety Without Compromise

Traditionally, getting that perfect aerial or action-packed shot might involve a degree of risk. Whether it's filming from a high-rise building or capturing fast-paced action, drones eliminate the need for human camera operators to be in potentially hazardous situations. This focus on safety doesn't compromise the quality of shots, making sure that the daring shots are without risks.

Rules and Regulations

While drones offer numerous advantages, it's crucial to be aware of the limitations and legal constraints that come with them. Noise pollution, interference with wildlife, and privacy concerns are a few issues that need to be considered. Knowing the rules and regulations for drone usage in your filming location is essential for a smooth production process.

Environmental Benefits

In an age where sustainability is becoming more critical, drones offer an eco-friendly alternative to some traditional filming methods. For example, using a helicopter to capture aerial shots consumes a significant amount of fuel, contributing to carbon emissions. Drones, being much smaller and lighter, have a lower environmental impact. They are battery-operated, and their batteries can be recharged and reused, making them a more sustainable choice for video production in Mobile, AL, and places alike.

The Final Words

Drones are redefining the landscape of video production, making it more affordable, versatile, and creative than ever before. As we look to the future, it's evident that staying updated with the latest tech trends pays off. If you are looking for great video production services, then companies like Pelican Drones are already riding this wave, making storytelling not just more accessible but also more extraordinary for everyone involved. They have a proven track record of greatness with their services, so you can trust them with your work. For further information, visit our website :- Pelicandrones.com.

[atomic-thomas]

(Fake ASMR Commission) A Chat With The Pizza Delivery Girl

------------------------------------------------------------

*doorbell sound followed by door opening*

"Heeeyyy! Here's your pizza. That'll be $20 dollars."

...

"Thanks. Nice place by the way."

...

"Ah-... Hmmm... Well then... I haven't been asked that by a customer before. You really don't mind if I just... Come in? Stay & chat for a bit? That's pretty unconventional. I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to do that."

...

"You know what? Sure. Why not? We're about to close for the night anyway. I doubt they'll need me right now."

*door closing*

"So... What kinda pizza did you get? I'm just handed the box & instructed to deliver it. The only time I actually get to look at pizza is when I'm in the kitchen or eating some myself."

*box opening sound*

"Oooh, Supreme. That looks good. Too bad it's not mine. I'd love to have a slice."

...

"Wait, really? I can? But... You're the customer. You bought it. Am I even allowed to do this? I've seen those CCTV videos where a pizza delivery person gets fired because they were caught eating toppings."

...

"I suppose this is different. You are offering after all. Okay, well... Thanks a ton. Don't mind if I do."

*eat da pizza, Fake. yum =P*

"Mmm. *munch* I love the pizzas we make. *munch* I'm sure you can see why we're the best in town."

...

"Yeah, they're a bit pricey, but... You get what you pay for. Quality. And when it comes to toppings... Quantity."

...

"Why did I want this job. Well, it's simple really. It's my pride & joy to deliver this legendary food to anyone in need. Everyone loves pizza. It's basically THE food of all time. I can't think of a single person who doesn't like pizza."

...

"The lactose intolerant. You know, it's funny you say that. Recently, we got the strangest order ever. So bizarre & unique that it's never happened before in the restaurant's history. At least as far as we know."

"Someone ordered... A pizza without cheese."

...

"Yep. Not even kidding. It was just sauce & toppings. When we got the order, everyone was so confused. This customer must really not like cheese."

"Then there's people who like the inverse. Extra cheese. I get the appeal, but I just can't vibe with it personally. That's... A lot of cheese. It's greasy &... It doesn't taste that great when you re-heat it later. Not a fan."

...

"You've tried making your own pizza. From scratch? Please don't tell it was from scratch."

...

"Oh, good. I've tasted what homemade pizza is like. And you really have to know what you're doing to produce good results."

...

"So... My mother is a great cook. She really genuinely is. But if there's just one weakness she has... It's pizza. I hate to say it, but she never made good pizzas. In fact, if I'm being completely honest... They were awful. The worst pizza I've ever had in my life."

"She made the crust using bread dough which basically doomed the pizza to have a terrible texture. Then she used pasta sauce which... I suppose isn't that bad, but... The biggest offender was the choice of cheese. Cheddar. Not mozzarella."

...

"It was just as bad as it sounds. The end result was a tough, chewy pizza that was 90% crust. It had flour on the bottom so it was really powdery & got all over your hands. And it had such little flavor. It wasn't even the flavor you'd expect from a pizza. It was just... A disaster."

...

"I think even she noticed how bad it was. The leftovers stayed in the fridge until they went bad & had to be thrown out. No one wanted it."

...

"The secret to a great pizza is understanding the ingredients. You must consider what will produce the best results. Can you appreciate & individualize each topping? Is the crust good enough to eat? Does the cheese have a good consistency? Does the sauce have just the right amount of sweetness to blend in harmoniously with the rest of the pie? Can it be re-heated later & maintain it's quality? You can tell I'm very passionate about this."

...

"To me, the perfect pizza is one that I'll keep coming back to time & time again. It's a careful balancing act. Take the crust & make it buttery, but not too much. Thin, but not paper. Thick, but not cardboard. A nice crunch, but not too hard. The sauce should be sweet enough to bite your tongue, but not so sweet that it's all you taste. And don't drown it in sauce either. Like with cheese, less is better. All the ingredients need their fair share of space. And speaking of cheese, make it crispy. I don't want a gooey mess, but instead something that tastes like it melted with purpose. Like molten iron being forged into a valuable tool to aid you on your adventure to culinary conquest!"

...

"Whew... Sorry. Haha~ I really lost myself there. Once I start talking about pizza, it's hard for me to stop."

...

"It was cute. Aww, thanks. That makes me feel less embarrassed."

...

"You know... I've seen some pretty bizarre pizzas. With so much customization, you can really do anything. I've seen a Chicago style hot dog pizza before, crazy as that sounds."

...

"It's pretty much what you'd expect. A pizza with condiments for the sauce as well as hots dogs & even pickles for the toppings."

...

"It was super weird. And it smelled really funky. I didn't try it myself, but hey. More power to those who did."

"Now... Something I did try once was a maple-glazed chicken pizza. The sauce itself was also maple syrup. I wasn't sure how cheese & maple syrup would taste together, but it was actually pretty good. Gave me a headache though. Too much salt & sugar all at once. Needed to drink a lot of water after that."

...

"Oooh, stuffed crust. A classic. You can eat the pizza down to the crust then dip it marinara for a zesty cheesy breadstick."

...

"What exactly do you mean by 'Pizzas that aren't actually pizzas'?"

...

"Ohhh, so like... A cookie pizza. Hehe~ Yeah, we serve those to. They're so yummy! You gotta get em' when they're fresh & hot out the oven. It's a great way to indulge in dessert."

"Speaking of freshness... Frozen pizzas. They definitely have the potential to be good. I've had some genuinely great frozen pizzas before, but... Nothing beats a fresh pizza. You gotta eat it right when it's done. It's the true pizza experience."

...

"Hmmm... Deep dish, huh? I know why it's a thing, but it's just too messy for me to enjoy. Plus you have to know what deep dish actually means. It's not deep crust. It's deep sauce & toppings. Some people get that wrong & it's really awkward when it happens."

...

"Yeah, we've talked a lot about this Italian cuisine, haven't we? Well... I say Italian, but pizza was actually invented by the Greeks. Not sure what happened there."

"Well, I should probably get going now. It's getting late. Thanks for inviting me & sharing the pie. I really wasn't expecting such generosity."

...

"You're just one of those people, huh? You've definitely got a good head on your shoulders. I'm sure we'll being seeing each other again when I deliver you another pizza."

------------------------------------------------------------

THE END

By the way, here's my own stinger for once. How did I not write the word 'Pepperoni' a single time in a script about pizza? I didn't joke about pineapple on pizza either. That's so baffling.

And here, Fake. This should make a nice background for the thumbnail. Just like how you used a Lemon pattern background for the Lemon Religion audio. 🍕

[holeasha]

Let’s talk platforms. And by that I mean each social media and what I think of them. (Nobody asked)

Even though I’ve known and had Tumblr for a while now I think I truly slept on it cuz you can literally share anything and everything on here and so easily too. YOU CAN EVEN AUTOMATICALLY TURN VIDEOS INTO GIFS !!! that’s so cool. Tumblr ftw! I might even leave spacehey and come here to blog instead idk

Posting pictures on Instagram nowadays is useless and tiring bc the quality goes down the fucking hill and making a carousel of pics and videos is even worse of a fucking nightmare like I’m truly and genuinely tired of this platform. EW. Also I’ve been on this app for 10 years at this point it’s just getting tiring to look at.

Twitter is going down like them stayc girls too. As much as I’ve always loved twitter, I’ve had it since I was 12 and it’s just sadly going to die. It got worse the last 4 years. Back then it was the shit. I remember introducing all my friends to it at school.

YouTube is still the shit imo and it’s never gonna die because it’s on its own lane! The only negative thing I could say about it is I wish they’d get rid of these idiotic reels. nobody wants to see that shit. If u want braindead 10 seconds content just go on Toktok bitch!!!

Toktok…. I’m not talking about that bitch….. Worms….. in your brain…. if u still got that stupid ass app. Hate it to my core.

Snapchat. I left this app in 2017 and I didn’t know PEOPLE STILL USED THAT SHIT???? like in 2023 a lot of people still use it!! I had no idea until I met my friends last year and they told me they still use it on a daily basis. And tbh I get it. It’s easy. Convenient. Especially because snapchat is a great app when it comes to securing your information and operates on its own, and is not selling your infos to third party apps (is what I’ve heard…) Zuckerberg take notes!!!!

Facebook: ...

Do we consider Pinterest a social? idk. I like it nonetheless. BUT I preferred WHI when it came to the variety of pictures you could choose from. Pinterest only gives u the most popular ones n shit idk but it’s not the worse tho and I like how it works with the boards n stuff so I use it often.

Don’t get me started on WhatsApp.... dear GOD this app is AWFUL and takes SO MUCH SPACE FOR NO FUCKING REASON like it stores everything on your phone every video every fucking tiny bit of content takes space girl BYE Messenger is so much better >>>>>

I think that’s p much all I had to say.. thanks for reading and bfore I go........

Special mention to Vine💚 I miss it so much. Was such a great app especially for editors!! So sad they sold it to stupid twitter now it’s gone they couldn’t even afford to archive the damn data of the website so like soooo many profiles are gone too including mine. :(

OK Bye!!!!!💋💋💋

[mantisfriendd]

(have a graphic here that says welcome)

hey.

I'm Mantis Friend

I consider this an 18+ blog not because I frequently post 18+ content but because I am an adult, and may occasionally delve into adult subjects, so please be aware of that. (also I might swear, so there's that too)

(full resolution cat pic at the bottom)

Number one Mr. Cupcake fan

I'm mainly an artist and musician but I also do a lot of other things, including shitpost, if you just wanna see my art, I've tagged it all as "#my art" if you wanna see my music I've tagged it as "#my music" ... if you only wanna see the nonsense I've tagged all of it as "#shitpost" any thing I reblog is now tagged "#re🅱️log" so you can mute that tag if you only wanna see my wholly original unhinged rambling and art. "🅰️sks" is the tag for asks.

Reblogs, replies, and follows are NOT a endorsement. Simply put I cannot do a full background check on every person I interact with on this site, obviously if I catch someone I'm following doing something awful I'll unfollow them then, but there is simply no time efficient way for me to do that with every person I ever interact with ever.

(more info below the cut)

https://href.li/?https://mantis-friend.neocities.org/

some more info about me for the nosy:

he/him

I'm a big fan of:

Five Nights at Freddy's , Ace Attorney , Undertale/Deltarune , JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, The Persona Series and Doki Doki Literature Club!

I consider myself a collector, I mostly collect Retro games and pins, but also anything that catches my eye, I have almost the entirety of Star Trek on VHS, I've not watched a full episode yet.

UPCOMING (?) PROJECTS:

Webcomic:

I have been working on this webcomic for quite awhile now, which is unfortunate because I started it with the intention of it not becoming one of my huge projects that never come out.

That being said this will be the first wholly original project I will make.

The comic is inspired by Shonen manga, specifically Jojo's, if that sounds like something you might enjoy, stay posted! I don't have a venue for the comic at the moment but I think I may host it here on Tumblr!

Role Playing Game:

Dont expect this one any time soon, I want to make sure I am at least somewhat competent in Game Maker Studio before I work on this idea I've had for years.

As this project is so on the back burners because of the skill needed for me to actually start work on it, I can't say with certainty what the game will be like when I finally start development, right now it is a scattered series of artworks, documents, and soundtracks, but this is what im building towards.

I will say that this game as I Invision it currently, is inspired by the Persona series, with elements of Ace Attorney's investigation and Cross Examination sequences. The only other thing I will say about this game is that I intend to have a mechanic to replace the "level up to get stronger" mechanic that most traditional RPGs have.

Finished Projects:

VIDEO A DAY PROJECT:

Back in 2021 I decided I wanted to upload a video to my YouTube Channel every day that year, and that I did.

Mostly songs you'll notice that the quality of the videos takes a serious nose dive during most of the year, they aren't all great but there are some good things in there.

I have a playlist of all the videos here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUv6pXjkdl6Bgq5Nim0AJuYzxNImg-Ga_

I do not recommend you watch them all, please don't, but it might be fun to scroll through the playlist and click on ones that catch your eye.

if you don't wanna do that then you at least watch the first video Black on White https://youtu.be/iI9HQg9lyjA and the Last https://youtu.be/qjdoybrOduQ which is a remix of the song using the experience I gained through the year. and who knows maybe there is some secret hidden in the end screen if that last video ;)

you can find me in other places here:

My website is janky but (hopefully) the best place to link you to anything you might desire (if your desire is more stuff by me)

YouTube is where I post my music and other video things: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKDmQwajLVwu_FKKlPqebUA

I sometimes post to Instagram but the way it works kind of annoys me so you might not find all my art there, but you will find some game boy photos!

I have a Gamejolt account but I kinda forget about it

on discord I am "mantisfriend" DMs are open, for now, feel free to DM me!

I have a Twitter but I find myself using it less and less as the CEO makes a fool of himself and guts the platform

I have a Reddit account but I am not really using it anymore as the CEO makes a fool of himself and guts the platform

I got a Newgrounds account have no idea how this site works!

If you want to Email me feel free to email mantisfriendsuggestions@gmail.com

and of course feel free to message me here as well, I'm probably most active here now that reddit has become worthless.

PROJECTS I'M APART OF:

currently I am a composer for the FNAF fan game Fazbear Rebrand

(sometimes this link breaks for no reason, but if you search Fazbear Rebrand on gamejolt it should come up)

Thats the only one for the time being, but I'll make sure to keep this post relatively up to date

Thanks for reading!

[orewasurflessons]

Get Online with Live Beach Surf Cams and Catch All the Action

Live beach cameras allow surfing enthusiasts to experience real-time video feeds from top surfing spots worldwide, providing exciting visual experiences and unique insights into the sport. The Orewa Beach Surf Cam is one such camera that offers a glimpse of some of the world's best surfing locations.

As we discover some of the best surfing spots in the world via the orewa beach surf cam, you'll want to jump in with us.

Free Your Surfing Spirit: Thrill to Live Beach Surf Cams

Would you like to feel the excitement of surfing without having to get wet? Both adventurers and casual ocean enthusiasts can enjoy a rare treat by checking out live beach surf cams. To see surfers tackling dangerous breaks in real-time from the convenience of your own home, high-quality live video feeds have been installed at some of the world's top surfing venues.

Watching surf cams on the beach is a great way to get a dose of adrenaline, but it's also a great way to appreciate the awesome power and beauty of Mother Nature. Witnessing the might of the sea as it slams into a rocky shoreline or a pristine beach may be a calming and even meditative experience. Further, it is awe-inspiring to see expert surfers master big waves with poise and poise.

One more perk of beach surf cams is that they let you scope out new areas to hit the waves. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting your feet wet, checking out different breaks on beach surf cams may help you plan your next excursion and get psyched for what's to come.

So, if you want to find your inner surfer and enjoy everything this exciting sport has to offer, get a cup of coffee (or, even better, a pia colada!) The journey begins the moment you log in to the Orewa Beach Surf Cam or any other streaming service.

Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds: Beach Surf Cams and Online Surfing

The advent of beach surf cams has given a whole new meaning to "surfing the web." Views from these live cams are available in real time, allowing surfers the chance to see how the waves look at some of the world's top breaks before deciding whether or not to make the trip.

You may check out surf cams from beaches all around the world, no matter where you happen to be, with the simple click of a mouse. Whether you're trying to decide where to go surfing next or just want to watch some impressive scenes, these cameras won't be able to be ignored.

Using beach surf cameras can be a great resource for determining the best break for your level of expertise. Beginners can discover more manageable conditions at certain times of the day, while experts can seek out harder difficulties, simply by keeping an eye on how big and quickly the waves are breaking at various points during the day.

Additionally, these cameras allow us to enjoy the splendor of nature even when we are unable to be there in person. Incredible as it may seem, technology has allowed us not just to learn about the world but also to peek into its depths.

What's the point of holding off? Surf the web live with Beach Surf Cams and feel the rush of the waves without leaving your house.

Enjoy the Thrill and Beauty of Surfing Anywhere in the World with Live Beach Surf Cams

Many individuals consider surfing to be more than a hobby—it's a way of life. The excitement of riding waves is combined with the raw power of nature for a really unforgettable experience. A lot of people can't just hop on a plane and go wherever there are ideal waves, though. Here's where surf cams on the beach come in handy.

Cameras installed on beaches all over the world capture live footage of surf conditions for surfers. There is a cam for every surfer out there, whether you're seeking for big wave thrills or peaceful and gorgeous areas to rest by the water.

Discover some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes without leaving your couch thanks to Orewa beach surf cam and other similar services. Experience the beauty of palm trees swaying in the wind and the sound of crashing waves on golden dunes. As you take in the stunning scenery recorded by these cameras, you will feel a renewed sense of wanderlust.

But beach surf cameras are useful for more than just taking in the scenery; they may also aid in the preparation of your next surfing vacation. The current weather conditions can be tracked and the best surfing spots identified by watching live footage from sites all over the world.

Exploring beach surf cams is a must-do whether you're a seasoned surfer or just looking to take in some stunning vistas of the shore.

Discovering the World's Finest Surfing Spots

Do you feel prepared to pack your luggage and head out on a surfing trip? A surfer can find some of the best waves in the world in countless places, from the azure waters of Hawaii to the white sand beaches of Australia.

The New Zealand beach of Orewa is a must-see. Locals and visitors alike flock to this area for its reliable beach breaks and breathtaking scenery. Even better, you can check the waves at Orewa Beach from the comfort of your hotel room thanks to the Surf Cam.

Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii, is another popular choice among surfers. Expert surfers from all over the globe flock to this place due to the massive barrels and challenging reef break it offers. Don't worry if you're a beginner, though; there are lots of other places throughout Waikiki Beach with waves that are just right for you to get your feet wet.

Going to Bali or Costa Rica is a good idea if you want to swim in warm water and see tropical plants and animals. In Bali, surfers of all experience levels can choose from a wide range of breaks, while Costa Rican surfers can ride consistent waves all year long.

It's important to be aware of and adhere to the rules and customs of the place you're surfing at all times. I hope you have a blast surfing.

Finding Calm Amidst the Waves: Mindfulness and Surfing

You can get so much more out of surfing than just a buzz from riding the waves. Because it calls for concentration, staying in the now, and forming a bond with the natural world, it can also serve as a sort of mindfulness practice. Surfing is a one-of-a-kind sport that offers both physical and emotional benefits due to its ability to let its participants shut out distractions and totally immerse themselves in the experience.

You can keep tabs on your favorite breaks and find new places to surf all around the world with the help of beach surf cameras, no matter how long or short your surfing career has been. You may find peace of mind on the ocean at any number of surfing hotspots, including the Orewa Beach Surf Cam.

Pick up your surfboard and paddle out to your surfboard hire Orewa, or check out the action on the beach cameras. Surfing is an exciting sport, and you can discover peace of mind while doing it.