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𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐃’𝐀𝐆𝐃𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄 🌞🏖️ 𝐁𝐀𝐈𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐒 – 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒 🔥🍑 If you’ve never experienced the legendary naturist village of Cap d’Agde on France’s Mediterranean coast, you’re missing one of the world’s most liberated adult playgrounds. This isn’t just another nude beach... – it’s a full-on lifestyle destination where clothing is optional (actually mandatory to leave behind) and open-minded couples live their fantasies under the sun. The crown jewel? The infamous Baie des Cochons (Bay of Pigs) – that wild, dune-backed section of the naturist beach where the vibe turns electric. Known for its anything-goes energy among consenting adults, it’s where exhibitionism, voyeurism, and spontaneous connections happen naturally in the golden sand and warm waves. Sun-kissed bodies, flirty glances, and that unmistakable thrill of freedom – it’s pure Mediterranean hedonism at its finest. 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐃’𝐀𝐆𝐃𝐄 ❤️‍🔥 - Miles of clothing-optional beach with soft sand and sparkling sea - Daytime foam parties, beach clubs, and sunset play vibes - World-class swinger clubs like Le Glamour for nights you’ll never forget - Restaurants, shops, and even grocery runs all done nude – total immersion - International crowd of sophisticated, fun-loving couples ready to connect Whether you’re dipping your toes into the lifestyle or seasoned pros, Cap d’Agde delivers that rare mix of relaxation, adventure, and electric chemistry. The French know how to do summer right, and here it’s taken to the next level. 𝐏𝐑𝐎 𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏 ✈️ Respect the vibe: consent, discretion, and good energy are everything. Photos are strictly off-limits on the beach to keep the magic private. Arrive with an open mind and sunscreen – lots of it. Peak season (June-September) is when the energy peaks, but shoulder months offer a more intimate feel. Dreaming of golden hour topless walks, T-string microkinis catching the breeze, or that perfect couple connection by the dunes? This is the place. 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐔𝐍? Head to my profile and click the link for the ultimate way to connect with like-minded couples worldwide. Discover real parties, events, and travel inspiration that turns fantasies into unforgettable memories. See you on the beach in Cap d’Agde soon? 😏 #CapDAgde #BaieDesCochons #NaturistLife #SwingersTravel #LifestyleCouples #MediterraneanMagic #AdultTravelshow more

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This little wall at Torrance Beach (right by my house) is the real-world cheat code THPS dreams are made of. Hit it at the perfect speed on the right setup and that smooth concrete wall gives you just enough pop and momentum to launch into the history books. Float a big spin or tre flip out at the end, land clean avoiding the sand, and suddenly you’ve got street cred for days. It’s that perfect mix of accessible danger and pure flow—low bust factor, high reward. No massive vert, no crowds of pros gatekeeping it, just you, the Pacific breeze, and the clout of sending it where most people just walk their dogs. One clean session here and you feel like you invented the internet stunt. South Bay locals know: this is the kind of spot that turns casual rolls into legendary clips. If you’re in the area, bring your board, time your run right, and thank me later when the algorithm eats it up. Pure California magic. 🛹🌊

This little wall at Torrance Beach (right by my house) is the real-world cheat code THPS dreams are made of. Hit it at the perfect speed on the right setup and that smooth concrete wall gives you just enough pop and momentum to launch into the history books. Float a big spin or tre flip out at the end, land clean avoiding the sand, and suddenly you’ve got street cred for days. It’s that perfect mix of accessible danger and pure flow—low bust factor, high reward. No massive vert, no crowds of pros gatekeeping it, just you, the Pacific breeze, and the clout of sending it where most people just walk their dogs. One clean session here and you feel like you invented the internet stunt. South Bay locals know: this is the kind of spot that turns casual rolls into legendary clips. If you’re in the area, bring your board, time your run right, and thank me later when the algorithm eats it up. Pure California magic. 🛹🌊

🚫👁️Drinks on Saturday🇺🇸

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Someone ran Claude Code on a beach where any device overheats and that spot suddenly turned out to be the best home for the most powerful AI in the world. This is the reMarkable Paper Pro. A paper tablet for notes with no browser and no social media and not a single app. He sat down right on the sand in the open sun and brought up Claude Code on Opus 4.6 over the Claude API on the paper screen and opened his project ~/repos/webs while the waves broke a few steps away. For years every device had the same trouble outside. In direct sun the screen glares and washes out and heats up and instead of your work you see your own reflection. But e-ink does not blast its own light into your face. It reflects the sunlight like the page of a book. And here is what came out of it. The very thing that kills any normal screen outside turned into fuel for this one. The brighter the sun the sharper the picture because it has nothing to glare with and nothing to wash out. And then comes the thing no laptop on a beach will give you. Your eyes do not get tired. You can watch Opus think on max effort for an hour and it reads like a book in the sun and not a backlight you squint into. The picture only comes alive. In bright light it does not fade but turns sharper and higher in contrast than it ever was in a room. The charge lasts for days. E-ink barely touches the battery so there is no outlet anywhere on the sand and the tablet does not care. It weighs as much as a notebook. The whole setup folds into a beach bag like a pad with a pen on top. Everything on the screen is for real. Claude Code v2.1.110 and Opus 4.6 on the Claude API and the project ~/repos/webs open right on the e-ink in the middle of the sand. In my opinion this is the most unexpected home for an AI this year. Not an office with the blinds drawn and not a monitor cranked to full brightness but a quiet sheet of paper on the sand that open sun only makes better and on it the most powerful Claude writes code right on the page like a pen.

Someone ran Claude Code on a beach where any device overheats and that spot suddenly turned out to be the best home for the most powerful AI in the world. This is the reMarkable Paper Pro. A paper tablet for notes with no browser and no social media and not a single app. He sat down right on the sand in the open sun and brought up Claude Code on Opus 4.6 over the Claude API on the paper screen and opened his project ~/repos/webs while the waves broke a few steps away. For years every device had the same trouble outside. In direct sun the screen glares and washes out and heats up and instead of your work you see your own reflection. But e-ink does not blast its own light into your face. It reflects the sunlight like the page of a book. And here is what came out of it. The very thing that kills any normal screen outside turned into fuel for this one. The brighter the sun the sharper the picture because it has nothing to glare with and nothing to wash out. And then comes the thing no laptop on a beach will give you. Your eyes do not get tired. You can watch Opus think on max effort for an hour and it reads like a book in the sun and not a backlight you squint into. The picture only comes alive. In bright light it does not fade but turns sharper and higher in contrast than it ever was in a room. The charge lasts for days. E-ink barely touches the battery so there is no outlet anywhere on the sand and the tablet does not care. It weighs as much as a notebook. The whole setup folds into a beach bag like a pad with a pen on top. Everything on the screen is for real. Claude Code v2.1.110 and Opus 4.6 on the Claude API and the project ~/repos/webs open right on the e-ink in the middle of the sand. In my opinion this is the most unexpected home for an AI this year. Not an office with the blinds drawn and not a monitor cranked to full brightness but a quiet sheet of paper on the sand that open sun only makes better and on it the most powerful Claude writes code right on the page like a pen.

Blaze

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Most “beautiful hotel” lists start to feel the same after a while. Same infinity pools and beach villas. The same famous names you’ve already seen a hundred times. But the hotels I remember are usually different. They’re the ones with a story behind them. A castle in Ireland where the rain and old stone feel like part of the stay. A desert resort in the Empty Quarter that looks like it rose out of the sand. A palace in Udaipur where you arrive by boat across the lake. A former military fortress in Mallorca turned into one of the most quietly beautiful hotels in the Mediterranean. And then there’s Giraffe Manor in Nairobi. It sounds made up until you see it. An old ivy-covered manor from the 1930s, set in green gardens, where giraffes wander up to the windows during breakfast. That could easily feel like a gimmick, but it doesn’t. Part of what makes it special is that the property is tied to conservation work for endangered Rothschild giraffes. So the magic of the place has some purpose behind it. That’s the kind of hotel I highlight in this series. Not just places with nice rooms. Places with a setting. Places with history. Places that make you stop and think, “How did I not know this existed?” I’m writing a five-part series for The Timeless Traveler on 50 of the most beautiful hotels in the world you’ve probably never heard of. Part 4 is out now. It includes hotels in Mexico, Kenya, Spain, Switzerland, India, Ireland, the UAE, England and Italy. If you love beautiful places, hidden gems, old-world hotels, strange settings, and travel ideas worth saving, I’d love to have you subscribe to the newsletter. That’s where I’m sharing the full series, along with more other places around the world you should know about.

Most “beautiful hotel” lists start to feel the same after a while. Same infinity pools and beach villas. The same famous names you’ve already seen a hundred times. But the hotels I remember are usually different. They’re the ones with a story behind them. A castle in Ireland where the rain and old stone feel like part of the stay. A desert resort in the Empty Quarter that looks like it rose out of the sand. A palace in Udaipur where you arrive by boat across the lake. A former military fortress in Mallorca turned into one of the most quietly beautiful hotels in the Mediterranean. And then there’s Giraffe Manor in Nairobi. It sounds made up until you see it. An old ivy-covered manor from the 1930s, set in green gardens, where giraffes wander up to the windows during breakfast. That could easily feel like a gimmick, but it doesn’t. Part of what makes it special is that the property is tied to conservation work for endangered Rothschild giraffes. So the magic of the place has some purpose behind it. That’s the kind of hotel I highlight in this series. Not just places with nice rooms. Places with a setting. Places with history. Places that make you stop and think, “How did I not know this existed?” I’m writing a five-part series for The Timeless Traveler on 50 of the most beautiful hotels in the world you’ve probably never heard of. Part 4 is out now. It includes hotels in Mexico, Kenya, Spain, Switzerland, India, Ireland, the UAE, England and Italy. If you love beautiful places, hidden gems, old-world hotels, strange settings, and travel ideas worth saving, I’d love to have you subscribe to the newsletter. That’s where I’m sharing the full series, along with more other places around the world you should know about.

The Timeless Traveler 🇺🇸

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Alex Karp, Palantir: “At a certain level of accomplishment, you’re in an artistic space where it’s very hard to explain why you have your insights.” "There’s one country in the world where you get rewarded for that.. in America, if you deliver, you can be you.” “This is a maximal freedom culture… & that self-expression—because it’s not playbook—creates an environment that is exceedingly hard to compete with & will piss off all the right people.” . . . "I think in the end, to do something important—whether it’s me, or @elianoayounes, or look at all these people here—these are among the best and most talented people in the world. At a certain level of accomplishment, you’re in an artistic space where it’s very hard to explain why you have your insights, and it goes way beyond experiences that have of course also influenced them. But I just have artistic impulses, and they shape my life, and I’ve allowed myself—or I’ve been forced to allow myself—the freedom to live that way. And there’s one country in the world where you get rewarded for that, because in America, if you deliver, you can be you. You’re your own boss, right? You decide who you want to talk to, you decide who you don’t want to talk to. You have ideas of things you’d like to advance on. And I think one of the biggest variables in my life is simply that I live in a culture where if you deliver—in this case economically—and by the way, at 18, for most investors, we were failing for at least 15 years. Many would say 18 years. Honestly, some would say until two years ago. And still, this is a culture where the financials are going to show up. That’s only possible in this culture. I guess maybe because I lived abroad so long, it’s easier for me to accept and rely on that. I think sometimes people who’ve lived here their whole life don’t always exactly understand that this is a maximal freedom culture. It’s the only culture like this in the world, and it allows you to self-express. And if you self-express, that self-expression—because it’s not playbook—creates an environment that is exceedingly hard to compete with and will piss off all the right people."

Alex Karp, Palantir: “At a certain level of accomplishment, you’re in an artistic space where it’s very hard to explain why you have your insights.” "There’s one country in the world where you get rewarded for that.. in America, if you deliver, you can be you.” “This is a maximal freedom culture… & that self-expression—because it’s not playbook—creates an environment that is exceedingly hard to compete with & will piss off all the right people.” . . . "I think in the end, to do something important—whether it’s me, or @elianoayounes, or look at all these people here—these are among the best and most talented people in the world. At a certain level of accomplishment, you’re in an artistic space where it’s very hard to explain why you have your insights, and it goes way beyond experiences that have of course also influenced them. But I just have artistic impulses, and they shape my life, and I’ve allowed myself—or I’ve been forced to allow myself—the freedom to live that way. And there’s one country in the world where you get rewarded for that, because in America, if you deliver, you can be you. You’re your own boss, right? You decide who you want to talk to, you decide who you don’t want to talk to. You have ideas of things you’d like to advance on. And I think one of the biggest variables in my life is simply that I live in a culture where if you deliver—in this case economically—and by the way, at 18, for most investors, we were failing for at least 15 years. Many would say 18 years. Honestly, some would say until two years ago. And still, this is a culture where the financials are going to show up. That’s only possible in this culture. I guess maybe because I lived abroad so long, it’s easier for me to accept and rely on that. I think sometimes people who’ve lived here their whole life don’t always exactly understand that this is a maximal freedom culture. It’s the only culture like this in the world, and it allows you to self-express. And if you self-express, that self-expression—because it’s not playbook—creates an environment that is exceedingly hard to compete with and will piss off all the right people."

Molly O’Shea

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You asked for Puerto Vallarta... so here it is. ❤️🇲🇽 You already know what happened to the YouTube channel, but one thing it didn't take away was these trips. Instead of one long travel guide, I'm breaking Puerto Vallarta, and all the Season 3 videos, into short episodes here on Instagram. That way we can dive deeper into every topic and, by the end of this series, you'll know exactly how to plan your own trip. The full video will be available on my Patreon. And trust me... Puerto Vallarta deserves it. Let's be honest... nobody flies all the way to Puerto Vallarta just for the beach. 😂 You come for the energy, the beach clubs, the parties, and the men. You come for walking through the Romantic Zone and feeling like the entire neighbourhood is filled with gay men. You come for meeting people who are keen to grab a drink, dance until sunrise, or take the conversation somewhere a little more private. Puerto Vallarta has a way of turning complete strangers into unforgettable memories, and that's why people keep coming back. I also have to give a huge shoutout to Tryst Puerto Vallarta for making this trip even more unforgettable. Almost everyone staying there was gay, mostly men, and that completely changes your holiday. Not even to mention how beautiful the hotel and its location were. It had one of the most amazing sunsets I've ever seen in my life, right from my room or from the rooftop pool. To every single member of the Tryst team, thank you for making me feel so welcome. I don't recommend it 100%. I recommend it 100000%. ❤️ This Puerto Vallarta series is powered by Sniffies, the best gay app for gay travellers and cruisers like us. Click on the link below and grab one week of Sniffies Pro for free so you can start exploring Puerto Vallarta before you even land. 📍If Puerto Vallarta is on your bucket list, save this reel because this is just the beginning. Tomorrow I'm showing you how to get to Puerto Vallarta and, more importantly, where to stay. #PuertoVallarta #GayPuertoVallarta #GayTravel #GayTraveller

You asked for Puerto Vallarta... so here it is. ❤️🇲🇽 You already know what happened to the YouTube channel, but one thing it didn't take away was these trips. Instead of one long travel guide, I'm breaking Puerto Vallarta, and all the Season 3 videos, into short episodes here on Instagram. That way we can dive deeper into every topic and, by the end of this series, you'll know exactly how to plan your own trip. The full video will be available on my Patreon. And trust me... Puerto Vallarta deserves it. Let's be honest... nobody flies all the way to Puerto Vallarta just for the beach. 😂 You come for the energy, the beach clubs, the parties, and the men. You come for walking through the Romantic Zone and feeling like the entire neighbourhood is filled with gay men. You come for meeting people who are keen to grab a drink, dance until sunrise, or take the conversation somewhere a little more private. Puerto Vallarta has a way of turning complete strangers into unforgettable memories, and that's why people keep coming back. I also have to give a huge shoutout to Tryst Puerto Vallarta for making this trip even more unforgettable. Almost everyone staying there was gay, mostly men, and that completely changes your holiday. Not even to mention how beautiful the hotel and its location were. It had one of the most amazing sunsets I've ever seen in my life, right from my room or from the rooftop pool. To every single member of the Tryst team, thank you for making me feel so welcome. I don't recommend it 100%. I recommend it 100000%. ❤️ This Puerto Vallarta series is powered by Sniffies, the best gay app for gay travellers and cruisers like us. Click on the link below and grab one week of Sniffies Pro for free so you can start exploring Puerto Vallarta before you even land. 📍If Puerto Vallarta is on your bucket list, save this reel because this is just the beginning. Tomorrow I'm showing you how to get to Puerto Vallarta and, more importantly, where to stay. #PuertoVallarta #GayPuertoVallarta #GayTravel #GayTraveller

Your Gay Guyde

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Paul Verhoeven on whether the events that take place in "Total Recall" (1990) are real or just a dream: "It is both. To be honest, that’s what I want. I made the movie in a way that it would be true on both levels, and I spent a lot of time to get that. If you want a scientific explanation, you know, of course, in quantum mechanics there is a very interesting principle, the principle of uncertainty, Heisenberg’s principle. If you have a big object and if you try to measure the place of the object and the velocity of the object at the same time, the more precisely you measure velocity the less precise place gets. So that’s the principle. That means, of course, that there are different realities possible at the same moment. What I wanted to do in 'Total Recall' is to do a movie where both levels are true. I mean for me, of course, the film anyhow has to do with two realities, one being the reality of going as a secret agent to Mars and discovering that there is a problem, and solving the problem, which is starting the nuclear reactor and helping the guerrillas and destroying Cohaagen. The second level of the movie, of course, is that from the moment that he goes into the Rekall chair ‘til the end it’s a dream, and I tried to make that second level work throughout the whole movie. So there’s the dream level which starts when he gets into the chair and the thing is in his neck, and that would go throughout the whole movie, so in the next scene where they say, Oh, there’s a problem, there’s a big glitch here, that would be already the dream, of course. That’s where the dream starts. And the next scene where they are fighting and stuff would be part of his dream, convincing him that it is real, because there is a glitch but that would be part of the program. It would be built into the program to make him accept the fact that it’s real, but it’s a dream. If you look at the movie, if you haven’t seen it, or for the second time, you’ll see that the whole program that’s set up at the beginning when he goes to the Rekall office and he talks to this guy who sells him the program on Mars, you’ll see that he gets everything that he wants: he gets the trip to Mars, he gets the girl, the exotic girl, he ki!!s the bad guys, and he saves the entire planet. That’s what he does. And that’s basically the dream. Even halfway through the movie, you may remember, this other guy comes in, Dr. Edgemar, and tells him that he’s in a dream, that he’s still in the Rekall chair, and then Arnold says, “If I’m there, I can ki!! you.” And he puts a gun to his head and the guy says, “Sure, no problem for me, big problem for you, because you will be psychotic from now on because the walls of reality will fall apart. One moment you will be the savior of the rebel cause, the next moment you’ll be Cohaagen’s bosom buddy, but in the end—you will even have these strange fantasies about alien civilizations—but at the end you will be lobotomized.” And then if you see the movie, you realize that all these things happen. I mean he is lobotomized at the end. That’s why at the last shot, when they are so happy and kissing each other, it slowly fades to white, which for me meant, “OK, there he goes. That’s the end-that’s the dream—they lobotomized him.” And all the other things happened, he finds the alien civilization, he rescues the planet, he finds the good girl, he k!!ls the bad guys, but it’s a dream. Now, of course you can see it as a reality, too. So at the end of the movie, getting to white means either it’s a happy ending or he loses his brains . . . which is probably also a happy ending, I don’t know. That was basically what l wanted—that at the end there would be two possibilities, and they would be both true—for me they are both true—it’s not either one or the other. It’s not that either it’s a dream or it is a reality. It is a dream and it is a reality. And I think they’re both there." (Paul Verhoeven's interview with Chris Shea & Wade Jennings, 1992) P.S: On this day, 36 years ago, "Total Recall" (1990) premiered in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Paul Verhoeven on whether the events that take place in "Total Recall" (1990) are real or just a dream: "It is both. To be honest, that’s what I want. I made the movie in a way that it would be true on both levels, and I spent a lot of time to get that. If you want a scientific explanation, you know, of course, in quantum mechanics there is a very interesting principle, the principle of uncertainty, Heisenberg’s principle. If you have a big object and if you try to measure the place of the object and the velocity of the object at the same time, the more precisely you measure velocity the less precise place gets. So that’s the principle. That means, of course, that there are different realities possible at the same moment. What I wanted to do in 'Total Recall' is to do a movie where both levels are true. I mean for me, of course, the film anyhow has to do with two realities, one being the reality of going as a secret agent to Mars and discovering that there is a problem, and solving the problem, which is starting the nuclear reactor and helping the guerrillas and destroying Cohaagen. The second level of the movie, of course, is that from the moment that he goes into the Rekall chair ‘til the end it’s a dream, and I tried to make that second level work throughout the whole movie. So there’s the dream level which starts when he gets into the chair and the thing is in his neck, and that would go throughout the whole movie, so in the next scene where they say, Oh, there’s a problem, there’s a big glitch here, that would be already the dream, of course. That’s where the dream starts. And the next scene where they are fighting and stuff would be part of his dream, convincing him that it is real, because there is a glitch but that would be part of the program. It would be built into the program to make him accept the fact that it’s real, but it’s a dream. If you look at the movie, if you haven’t seen it, or for the second time, you’ll see that the whole program that’s set up at the beginning when he goes to the Rekall office and he talks to this guy who sells him the program on Mars, you’ll see that he gets everything that he wants: he gets the trip to Mars, he gets the girl, the exotic girl, he ki!!s the bad guys, and he saves the entire planet. That’s what he does. And that’s basically the dream. Even halfway through the movie, you may remember, this other guy comes in, Dr. Edgemar, and tells him that he’s in a dream, that he’s still in the Rekall chair, and then Arnold says, “If I’m there, I can ki!! you.” And he puts a gun to his head and the guy says, “Sure, no problem for me, big problem for you, because you will be psychotic from now on because the walls of reality will fall apart. One moment you will be the savior of the rebel cause, the next moment you’ll be Cohaagen’s bosom buddy, but in the end—you will even have these strange fantasies about alien civilizations—but at the end you will be lobotomized.” And then if you see the movie, you realize that all these things happen. I mean he is lobotomized at the end. That’s why at the last shot, when they are so happy and kissing each other, it slowly fades to white, which for me meant, “OK, there he goes. That’s the end-that’s the dream—they lobotomized him.” And all the other things happened, he finds the alien civilization, he rescues the planet, he finds the good girl, he k!!ls the bad guys, but it’s a dream. Now, of course you can see it as a reality, too. So at the end of the movie, getting to white means either it’s a happy ending or he loses his brains . . . which is probably also a happy ending, I don’t know. That was basically what l wanted—that at the end there would be two possibilities, and they would be both true—for me they are both true—it’s not either one or the other. It’s not that either it’s a dream or it is a reality. It is a dream and it is a reality. And I think they’re both there." (Paul Verhoeven's interview with Chris Shea & Wade Jennings, 1992) P.S: On this day, 36 years ago, "Total Recall" (1990) premiered in Los Angeles, California, USA.

DepressedBergman

66,465 просмотров • 4 месяцев назад

The Best Cliff Jumping Spot in Michigan If you can't jump into Lake Superior from Blackrocks in Marquette, you probably couldn't last a winter in the U.P. By Jack Ducote Hemlock Hobo Marquette — In the Upper Peninsula, summer moves fast. While the rest of the state deals with bad weather, winter in the U.P. is a different beast. That means Yoopers try to make the most of the limited summer they have. They excel at cramming as much activity as possible into three beautiful months before the cold comes calling again. And they are tough! When you live in a place where there can be blizzards in May and snow piles 6 feet high, you either toughen up or leave. Both factors come together 5 minutes north of Marquette at Presque Isle Park. It’s a little outcrop of rocks and forest that juts into Lake Superior. You know you’re close when you pass the super tankers loading up with iron ore. It’s a gorgeous place to picnic or go for a run, but the real attraction is the Blackrocks, exposed slabs of rock surrounded by deep, clear water. In a state that is relatively flat, it’s one of the best cliff jumping spots you can find. If you’ve been cliff jumping before, the Blackrocks aren't much of a challenge. At its highest point, it’s maybe 20 feet from the top to the water. It’s an easy jump that is easily conquerable by the ordinary Joe. It only gets difficult when you hit the water and realize it’s 45 degrees. Lake Superior is cold year-round, but in early June, when I jumped, the water was freezing because the ice only melted two months ago. Hitting the water felt like taking an ice bath. The swim to shore is way longer than it looks from the cliff and can be pretty dangerous if you aren’t prepared. One local told me he liked to snorkel and rock hound in the water around the cliffs, and he was decked out in a full wetsuit to keep the cold at bay. He often has to pull tourists out of the water who jump in and can’t handle the cold. Blackrocks is more than just a tourist spot. For locals, it’s something more. Every town has a must-see place and for Marquette, that’s Blackrocks. It’s a perfect distillation of the Marquette experience. You’re surrounded by a lake so vast it feels like an ocean. In the summer, the cliffs are prettier than anywhere in the U.P. And yet the cold water lurks below, just like how the winter is on everyone’s mind, even during the brightest and hottest summer days. If you can’t jump from here, then you aren’t going to make it in Marquette. Jumping proves you’re tough enough to handle the cold, that you have the fortitude necessary to handle all the extremes the Upper Peninsula can throw at you. But it also proves that you know how to let loose and enjoy the moment. Marquette is a weird city, and I mean that as a complement. It’s full of crystal stores, secondhand clothing shops, and fusion restaurants. There are normal people living normal lives to be sure, but most people don’t move there just to work a 9-5. There are better places to live in Michigan for that. Marquette’s remote, it’s cold, it’s relatively small. The people who move to Marquette are different. They want that remoteness. They want that space to be themselves. They know how to have fun when it’s time to have fun. Jumping off the cliff is the ultimate shit test. If you won’t even jump, then you aren’t going to fit in. So, if you go to Marquette, head to Blackrocks, just to prove you have it in you.

The Best Cliff Jumping Spot in Michigan If you can't jump into Lake Superior from Blackrocks in Marquette, you probably couldn't last a winter in the U.P. By Jack Ducote Hemlock Hobo Marquette — In the Upper Peninsula, summer moves fast. While the rest of the state deals with bad weather, winter in the U.P. is a different beast. That means Yoopers try to make the most of the limited summer they have. They excel at cramming as much activity as possible into three beautiful months before the cold comes calling again. And they are tough! When you live in a place where there can be blizzards in May and snow piles 6 feet high, you either toughen up or leave. Both factors come together 5 minutes north of Marquette at Presque Isle Park. It’s a little outcrop of rocks and forest that juts into Lake Superior. You know you’re close when you pass the super tankers loading up with iron ore. It’s a gorgeous place to picnic or go for a run, but the real attraction is the Blackrocks, exposed slabs of rock surrounded by deep, clear water. In a state that is relatively flat, it’s one of the best cliff jumping spots you can find. If you’ve been cliff jumping before, the Blackrocks aren't much of a challenge. At its highest point, it’s maybe 20 feet from the top to the water. It’s an easy jump that is easily conquerable by the ordinary Joe. It only gets difficult when you hit the water and realize it’s 45 degrees. Lake Superior is cold year-round, but in early June, when I jumped, the water was freezing because the ice only melted two months ago. Hitting the water felt like taking an ice bath. The swim to shore is way longer than it looks from the cliff and can be pretty dangerous if you aren’t prepared. One local told me he liked to snorkel and rock hound in the water around the cliffs, and he was decked out in a full wetsuit to keep the cold at bay. He often has to pull tourists out of the water who jump in and can’t handle the cold. Blackrocks is more than just a tourist spot. For locals, it’s something more. Every town has a must-see place and for Marquette, that’s Blackrocks. It’s a perfect distillation of the Marquette experience. You’re surrounded by a lake so vast it feels like an ocean. In the summer, the cliffs are prettier than anywhere in the U.P. And yet the cold water lurks below, just like how the winter is on everyone’s mind, even during the brightest and hottest summer days. If you can’t jump from here, then you aren’t going to make it in Marquette. Jumping proves you’re tough enough to handle the cold, that you have the fortitude necessary to handle all the extremes the Upper Peninsula can throw at you. But it also proves that you know how to let loose and enjoy the moment. Marquette is a weird city, and I mean that as a complement. It’s full of crystal stores, secondhand clothing shops, and fusion restaurants. There are normal people living normal lives to be sure, but most people don’t move there just to work a 9-5. There are better places to live in Michigan for that. Marquette’s remote, it’s cold, it’s relatively small. The people who move to Marquette are different. They want that remoteness. They want that space to be themselves. They know how to have fun when it’s time to have fun. Jumping off the cliff is the ultimate shit test. If you won’t even jump, then you aren’t going to fit in. So, if you go to Marquette, head to Blackrocks, just to prove you have it in you.

Michigan Enjoyer

13,124 просмотров • 3 месяцев назад

I’ve made a short film. Look at the things around you: doors, bins, staircases, furniture, railings, doorhandles, windows. Do you like how they look, or not? Modern design has become boring, but it doesn’t have to be this way. The word “beautiful” is overused. We don’t need “beautiful” lamps, bus stops, and water fountains – we just need lamps, bus stops, and water fountains that are interesting, that actually mean something. Or, at the very least, not boring. Because the aesthetics of architecture and urban design aren’t just a bonus; they totally change how we think, feel, and behave. Boring environments make us more stressed and less productive; they erode our sense of community; they make us sadder, less trusting, and lonelier. A boring world is one where we spend even more time online and where our addictions are even harder to battle. The Problem There is global, widespread dissatisfaction with how the world looks. In this film, and the series it will lead to, we want to investigate that feeling and give it a voice. The point isn’t that we should return to the past or get rid of modernism. It’s about learning from the past in order to improve the present, and about giving the public what they very clearly want, which isn’t the eradication of modernism but the co-existence of modernism AND traditionalism. Just look where tourists go, where they take their photos, and that tells you everything you need to know about what most people find interesting or beautiful. And look at where people go on holiday. It’s always to cities filled with old architecture and design, with churches and mosques and palaces, with charming little alleyways and stone staircases and wrought-iron railings. Of the world’s fifty most visited buildings, only four were made in the 20th century, and they’re all museums or memorials. There’s a reason why posts about this go viral online all the time. Regardless of why the change happened, it is clearly the case that we no longer make things how we used to. People are rightly confused by the fact that old lamp posts (to take the example we focus on in the film) are usually so pretty, while modern ones are usually so boring. Some people say this is just an example of survivorship bias… and they’re mostly correct. But that’s the whole point! Saying old buildings are usually prettier than modern buildings is not to say that architecture used to be better, or that the past was better. It is simply to say that certain kinds of buildings, because they have been preserved, are good examples of what people like most. In which case... shouldn't we try to design at least some buildings in a way that we know people like? A Unifying Cause Everybody, from all sides of the political spectrum and all backgrounds, stands to benefit from a world that is designed more thoughtfully and imaginatively. The world could be such a colourful, meaningful, and thrilling place! So this isn’t about left versus right or conservatism versus progressivism; it’s about making our world a more interesting and meaningful place to live in. This should be a unifying cause, because everybody loses out when our homes and cities are badly designed. I want this film to unite people who think they’re on opposite sides, and to create a consensus that we need to change our approach to how we design our buildings and the objects – benches, bus stops, bins, lamp posts, aircon units – that fill our cities. The Importance of Details We are incredibly rich and have a sprawling choice of shows to stream, phones to buy, or shoes to wear… but everything feels more and more generic all the time. If you want to understand a society, don’t listen to what it says about itself – look at what it creates. You can learn everything about the Victorians – the good and the bad – just by looking at their lamp posts. And what do the ordinary details of the modern world say about us? That we are technologically advanced, very efficient… and care more about making money, about making things as quickly and cheaply as possible, than making our world an enjoyable place to actually live in. It’s important to learn about why and how things have changed, but that’s for another time. The first step is establishing that the public aren’t happy with modern architecture and design, and that something needs to be done. But what we need isn’t a total revival of so-called ‘traditionalism’; the truth is that traditionalism and modernism can (and should) co-exist. The trouble right now is that we only have one, and that people are tired of it. The Power of Noticing But this film (and the series it will, all being well, lead to) is about more than the specific argument it presents. Above all it’s about a way of seeing the world around us, a way of noticing and thinking. “How you do anything is how you do everything.” That is probably true, and it also applies to whole societies, not just individuals; a single doorbell implies everything else about the whole socio-economic and political system that gave rise to its creation. And, beyond being merely “useful”, the ability to notice details makes the world a richer place to live in, and life a richer thing to lead. This is what the film is about, more than anything: the power and joy of noticing. A Bigger Project This short film is just the beginning. We want to make a full series about the history of art and architecture, both for their own sake and also to see what we can learn about life in the twenty-first century and how to improve it. To keep updated you can join our email list over at our website, linked in the reply below. Final Words You can watch the film here on X, or over on YouTube, also linked in the reply below. So… this is where the dream begins, the dream of a new series and the dream of a more charming, more interesting, more meaningful modern world. Spread the word.

I’ve made a short film. Look at the things around you: doors, bins, staircases, furniture, railings, doorhandles, windows. Do you like how they look, or not? Modern design has become boring, but it doesn’t have to be this way. The word “beautiful” is overused. We don’t need “beautiful” lamps, bus stops, and water fountains – we just need lamps, bus stops, and water fountains that are interesting, that actually mean something. Or, at the very least, not boring. Because the aesthetics of architecture and urban design aren’t just a bonus; they totally change how we think, feel, and behave. Boring environments make us more stressed and less productive; they erode our sense of community; they make us sadder, less trusting, and lonelier. A boring world is one where we spend even more time online and where our addictions are even harder to battle. The Problem There is global, widespread dissatisfaction with how the world looks. In this film, and the series it will lead to, we want to investigate that feeling and give it a voice. The point isn’t that we should return to the past or get rid of modernism. It’s about learning from the past in order to improve the present, and about giving the public what they very clearly want, which isn’t the eradication of modernism but the co-existence of modernism AND traditionalism. Just look where tourists go, where they take their photos, and that tells you everything you need to know about what most people find interesting or beautiful. And look at where people go on holiday. It’s always to cities filled with old architecture and design, with churches and mosques and palaces, with charming little alleyways and stone staircases and wrought-iron railings. Of the world’s fifty most visited buildings, only four were made in the 20th century, and they’re all museums or memorials. There’s a reason why posts about this go viral online all the time. Regardless of why the change happened, it is clearly the case that we no longer make things how we used to. People are rightly confused by the fact that old lamp posts (to take the example we focus on in the film) are usually so pretty, while modern ones are usually so boring. Some people say this is just an example of survivorship bias… and they’re mostly correct. But that’s the whole point! Saying old buildings are usually prettier than modern buildings is not to say that architecture used to be better, or that the past was better. It is simply to say that certain kinds of buildings, because they have been preserved, are good examples of what people like most. In which case... shouldn't we try to design at least some buildings in a way that we know people like? A Unifying Cause Everybody, from all sides of the political spectrum and all backgrounds, stands to benefit from a world that is designed more thoughtfully and imaginatively. The world could be such a colourful, meaningful, and thrilling place! So this isn’t about left versus right or conservatism versus progressivism; it’s about making our world a more interesting and meaningful place to live in. This should be a unifying cause, because everybody loses out when our homes and cities are badly designed. I want this film to unite people who think they’re on opposite sides, and to create a consensus that we need to change our approach to how we design our buildings and the objects – benches, bus stops, bins, lamp posts, aircon units – that fill our cities. The Importance of Details We are incredibly rich and have a sprawling choice of shows to stream, phones to buy, or shoes to wear… but everything feels more and more generic all the time. If you want to understand a society, don’t listen to what it says about itself – look at what it creates. You can learn everything about the Victorians – the good and the bad – just by looking at their lamp posts. And what do the ordinary details of the modern world say about us? That we are technologically advanced, very efficient… and care more about making money, about making things as quickly and cheaply as possible, than making our world an enjoyable place to actually live in. It’s important to learn about why and how things have changed, but that’s for another time. The first step is establishing that the public aren’t happy with modern architecture and design, and that something needs to be done. But what we need isn’t a total revival of so-called ‘traditionalism’; the truth is that traditionalism and modernism can (and should) co-exist. The trouble right now is that we only have one, and that people are tired of it. The Power of Noticing But this film (and the series it will, all being well, lead to) is about more than the specific argument it presents. Above all it’s about a way of seeing the world around us, a way of noticing and thinking. “How you do anything is how you do everything.” That is probably true, and it also applies to whole societies, not just individuals; a single doorbell implies everything else about the whole socio-economic and political system that gave rise to its creation. And, beyond being merely “useful”, the ability to notice details makes the world a richer place to live in, and life a richer thing to lead. This is what the film is about, more than anything: the power and joy of noticing. A Bigger Project This short film is just the beginning. We want to make a full series about the history of art and architecture, both for their own sake and also to see what we can learn about life in the twenty-first century and how to improve it. To keep updated you can join our email list over at our website, linked in the reply below. Final Words You can watch the film here on X, or over on YouTube, also linked in the reply below. So… this is where the dream begins, the dream of a new series and the dream of a more charming, more interesting, more meaningful modern world. Spread the word.

The Cultural Tutor

2,751,956 просмотров • 1 год назад

The Outer Banks, North Carolina, feel gloriously endless. Drive south long enough and the land gets strangely thin. Atlantic Ocean on one side. Pamlico Sound on the other. In places, there isn’t much between them besides dunes, marsh grass and Highway 12 running toward the horizon. More than 100 miles of barrier islands stretch along this part of North Carolina, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects roughly 70 miles of coastline. The islands themselves are always changing. Wind moves sand. Waves reshape beaches. Storms wash over dunes and sometimes cut new inlets through them. People living here have spent centuries adjusting to a coastline that refuses to stay put. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a good example. The black-and-white tower has stood since 1870. By the late 20th century, erosion had brought the Atlantic dangerously close, so in 1999 engineers moved the nearly 200-foot lighthouse about 2,900 feet inland. The move took 23 days. The waters around Cape Hatteras have caused trouble for ships for centuries too. Known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, this stretch of coast is filled with shoals, strong currents and rough weather. More than 1,000 vessels are estimated to have been lost near Cape Hatteras alone. Lighthouses went up along the coast, followed by Life-Saving Service stations where crews watched for ships in trouble and headed into the surf when they spotted one. A different kind of history happened farther north. In 1900, Wilbur and Orville Wright arrived looking for a place to experiment with flight. The steady wind, open sand and isolation around Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills made the area a good fit. On December 17, 1903, their first powered flight lasted 12 seconds. Three more followed that day. The open ground around Wright Brothers National Memorial is worth paying attention to. The wind and empty space were a big part of why the brothers chose this place. Farther south is Jockey’s Ridge, the tallest natural sand dune system on the East Coast. Highway 12 continues through Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Buxton, with long stretches where the houses disappear and the dunes take over again. Eventually you reach Hatteras, where the road stops at the water. From there, the ferry carries you to Ocracoke. Ocracoke is also where Blackbeard was killed in 1718 after a fight with Royal Navy forces near the island. Today it’s much quieter. There’s a small village, miles of beach and no highway bringing you straight onto the island. You have to cross water to get there. That slower pace is part of the Outer Banks. You pass through a village, the houses thin out, and before long you’re driving with dunes on either side and barely anything ahead. The coastline has wrecked ships, moved beaches and forced people to relocate a lighthouse. The same steady winds also helped the Wright brothers get an airplane off the ground. Cape Hatteras became the country’s first national seashore in 1953, helping preserve a huge stretch of these islands from continuous development. You notice that from the road. The Wright Brothers site, Jockey’s Ridge, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Ocracoke are all worth stopping for, but I’d leave just as much time for the drive between them. That’s the part I’d remember most: long stretches of Highway 12 with dunes on both sides and hardly anything ahead. I write about places like this in my newsletter....the history and little details that give you another reason to go. If that sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe.

The Outer Banks, North Carolina, feel gloriously endless. Drive south long enough and the land gets strangely thin. Atlantic Ocean on one side. Pamlico Sound on the other. In places, there isn’t much between them besides dunes, marsh grass and Highway 12 running toward the horizon. More than 100 miles of barrier islands stretch along this part of North Carolina, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects roughly 70 miles of coastline. The islands themselves are always changing. Wind moves sand. Waves reshape beaches. Storms wash over dunes and sometimes cut new inlets through them. People living here have spent centuries adjusting to a coastline that refuses to stay put. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a good example. The black-and-white tower has stood since 1870. By the late 20th century, erosion had brought the Atlantic dangerously close, so in 1999 engineers moved the nearly 200-foot lighthouse about 2,900 feet inland. The move took 23 days. The waters around Cape Hatteras have caused trouble for ships for centuries too. Known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, this stretch of coast is filled with shoals, strong currents and rough weather. More than 1,000 vessels are estimated to have been lost near Cape Hatteras alone. Lighthouses went up along the coast, followed by Life-Saving Service stations where crews watched for ships in trouble and headed into the surf when they spotted one. A different kind of history happened farther north. In 1900, Wilbur and Orville Wright arrived looking for a place to experiment with flight. The steady wind, open sand and isolation around Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills made the area a good fit. On December 17, 1903, their first powered flight lasted 12 seconds. Three more followed that day. The open ground around Wright Brothers National Memorial is worth paying attention to. The wind and empty space were a big part of why the brothers chose this place. Farther south is Jockey’s Ridge, the tallest natural sand dune system on the East Coast. Highway 12 continues through Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Buxton, with long stretches where the houses disappear and the dunes take over again. Eventually you reach Hatteras, where the road stops at the water. From there, the ferry carries you to Ocracoke. Ocracoke is also where Blackbeard was killed in 1718 after a fight with Royal Navy forces near the island. Today it’s much quieter. There’s a small village, miles of beach and no highway bringing you straight onto the island. You have to cross water to get there. That slower pace is part of the Outer Banks. You pass through a village, the houses thin out, and before long you’re driving with dunes on either side and barely anything ahead. The coastline has wrecked ships, moved beaches and forced people to relocate a lighthouse. The same steady winds also helped the Wright brothers get an airplane off the ground. Cape Hatteras became the country’s first national seashore in 1953, helping preserve a huge stretch of these islands from continuous development. You notice that from the road. The Wright Brothers site, Jockey’s Ridge, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Ocracoke are all worth stopping for, but I’d leave just as much time for the drive between them. That’s the part I’d remember most: long stretches of Highway 12 with dunes on both sides and hardly anything ahead. I write about places like this in my newsletter....the history and little details that give you another reason to go. If that sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe.

The Timeless Traveler 🇺🇸

45,020 просмотров • 1 месяц назад

I feel like I’m in a daze , a kaleidoscope of past and present, I stare at the people celebrating, drive through neighborhoods that were off-limits, areas that I covered through the work of extraordinary activists and am now seeing for myself, listening to people speaking openly rather than in hushed whispers. It smashes into the past images and experiences I have of Syria, of barrel bombs and jets and the scramble to save people and burial shrouds, of bags of bones and emancipated bodies, of children shivering in the cold too traumatized to cry. It’s like shrapnel to the brain - ripping open the memories of the pain, suffering, and bravery I witnessed covering Syria for 13 years. That feeling of total journalistic incompetence, failure for surely, I would tell myself if we were doing the stories justice something would change. By 2013 I was in a dark mental vortex, I remember feeling like I was holding onto the edge of a mental abyss finger nails ripping about to fall. It was in that darkness that I realized I had to do something more. It was from that darkness that the idea for my charity INARA emerged. I never imagined that I would be able to start INARA’s work in areas that the regime controlled. I truly believed I would never set foot in parts of Syria again in my lifetime. How does one explain the enormity of what has happened here? It’s like being caught in spinning cycles of soul exploding joy and bone crushing pain at the same time. For so many it’s still impossible to comprehend that the Assad family and its cronies that ruled this nation in the most brutal and oppressive of ways is gone. You overhear it in conversations, a son who tells his elderly mother in a restaurant “no you can be happy, you can live your life, they are gone.” It’s not just that the regime is gone, but that it came at a time when many who lived in Syria describe themselves as not really being alive, their days spent moving through a fog of survival between where to get enough to eat, the lack of electricity and other basic services, the inability to hope or even see a bright future for themselves. The fall of the regime came at a time when the world was delivering those who fought and died for freedom another bitter blow, as if abandoning them to the violence and brutality of Assad and the Russians wasn’t enough, countries were willing to bring Assad back into the fold and “normalization” crushed any notion of “accountability” completely disregarding the more than 500,000+ dead, the more than 150,000 disappeared, the millions internally displaced and living in tents, the millions more made refugees. It's not that the path forward is going to be easy, there is so much that needs to be rebuilt from physical construction to rebuilding the fabric of Syria itself. The medical and mental health needs are enormous. There are no guarantees that Syria’s new rulers will put this country on the path of freedom and democracy that those who took to the streets in 2011 demanded. But what there is, is a willingness to give them a chance, an awareness and pragmatism learned over the years, a determination to keep fighting for their rights, and perhaps most of all, there is hope, even if it’s just a sliver.

I feel like I’m in a daze , a kaleidoscope of past and present, I stare at the people celebrating, drive through neighborhoods that were off-limits, areas that I covered through the work of extraordinary activists and am now seeing for myself, listening to people speaking openly rather than in hushed whispers. It smashes into the past images and experiences I have of Syria, of barrel bombs and jets and the scramble to save people and burial shrouds, of bags of bones and emancipated bodies, of children shivering in the cold too traumatized to cry. It’s like shrapnel to the brain - ripping open the memories of the pain, suffering, and bravery I witnessed covering Syria for 13 years. That feeling of total journalistic incompetence, failure for surely, I would tell myself if we were doing the stories justice something would change. By 2013 I was in a dark mental vortex, I remember feeling like I was holding onto the edge of a mental abyss finger nails ripping about to fall. It was in that darkness that I realized I had to do something more. It was from that darkness that the idea for my charity INARA emerged. I never imagined that I would be able to start INARA’s work in areas that the regime controlled. I truly believed I would never set foot in parts of Syria again in my lifetime. How does one explain the enormity of what has happened here? It’s like being caught in spinning cycles of soul exploding joy and bone crushing pain at the same time. For so many it’s still impossible to comprehend that the Assad family and its cronies that ruled this nation in the most brutal and oppressive of ways is gone. You overhear it in conversations, a son who tells his elderly mother in a restaurant “no you can be happy, you can live your life, they are gone.” It’s not just that the regime is gone, but that it came at a time when many who lived in Syria describe themselves as not really being alive, their days spent moving through a fog of survival between where to get enough to eat, the lack of electricity and other basic services, the inability to hope or even see a bright future for themselves. The fall of the regime came at a time when the world was delivering those who fought and died for freedom another bitter blow, as if abandoning them to the violence and brutality of Assad and the Russians wasn’t enough, countries were willing to bring Assad back into the fold and “normalization” crushed any notion of “accountability” completely disregarding the more than 500,000+ dead, the more than 150,000 disappeared, the millions internally displaced and living in tents, the millions more made refugees. It's not that the path forward is going to be easy, there is so much that needs to be rebuilt from physical construction to rebuilding the fabric of Syria itself. The medical and mental health needs are enormous. There are no guarantees that Syria’s new rulers will put this country on the path of freedom and democracy that those who took to the streets in 2011 demanded. But what there is, is a willingness to give them a chance, an awareness and pragmatism learned over the years, a determination to keep fighting for their rights, and perhaps most of all, there is hope, even if it’s just a sliver.

Arwa Damon

48,901 просмотров • 1 год назад

Alligator Alert: Wild Lake Day with the Inshore Boys!” (or “Florida Boys vs. Gator Lake: Pure Childhood Chaos 😎”) In the heart of Florida, where the sun beats down on glassy lakes and adventure calls louder than any gator’s growl, the Inshore Boys set out for another unforgettable day on the water. These Florida boys—full of energy, curiosity, and that unbreakable brotherly bond—launch their boat into the warm shallows, ready for whatever the wild throws at them. “Alligator! Alligator! Look at that!” one of the boys shouts, eyes wide with a mix of thrill and caution as a dark shape glides through the water. The boat turns quickly, hearts racing, but these aren’t just any kids—they’re the Inshore Boys, raised on fishing rods, creek swims, and “boys will be boys” energy. They spot the gator, respect the wild, and keep the good times rolling. Soon the engine quiets, and it’s time for the real fun. Splashes echo across the lake as the boys dive in, swimming, climbing, and exploring like modern-day explorers. Wet Crocs squeak through the underbrush, laughter bounces off the trees, and for a moment, they’re living every kid’s dream: freedom, nature, and a touch of danger. One brother channels his inner Scuba Steve, paddling fearlessly while the others cheer him on. No screens, no rules—just sun-soaked skin, muddy feet, and memories forged in the Florida heat. From the boat to the bank and back again, this day on the lake captures the raw joy of growing up wild. It’s peak childhood: a little risky, a whole lot epic, and 100% unforgettable. These boys remind us all—let ’em explore, let ’em get dirty, and watch them thrive. Stay tuned for more gator-dodging, boat-flipping adventures! 🤙

Alligator Alert: Wild Lake Day with the Inshore Boys!” (or “Florida Boys vs. Gator Lake: Pure Childhood Chaos 😎”) In the heart of Florida, where the sun beats down on glassy lakes and adventure calls louder than any gator’s growl, the Inshore Boys set out for another unforgettable day on the water. These Florida boys—full of energy, curiosity, and that unbreakable brotherly bond—launch their boat into the warm shallows, ready for whatever the wild throws at them. “Alligator! Alligator! Look at that!” one of the boys shouts, eyes wide with a mix of thrill and caution as a dark shape glides through the water. The boat turns quickly, hearts racing, but these aren’t just any kids—they’re the Inshore Boys, raised on fishing rods, creek swims, and “boys will be boys” energy. They spot the gator, respect the wild, and keep the good times rolling. Soon the engine quiets, and it’s time for the real fun. Splashes echo across the lake as the boys dive in, swimming, climbing, and exploring like modern-day explorers. Wet Crocs squeak through the underbrush, laughter bounces off the trees, and for a moment, they’re living every kid’s dream: freedom, nature, and a touch of danger. One brother channels his inner Scuba Steve, paddling fearlessly while the others cheer him on. No screens, no rules—just sun-soaked skin, muddy feet, and memories forged in the Florida heat. From the boat to the bank and back again, this day on the lake captures the raw joy of growing up wild. It’s peak childhood: a little risky, a whole lot epic, and 100% unforgettable. These boys remind us all—let ’em explore, let ’em get dirty, and watch them thrive. Stay tuned for more gator-dodging, boat-flipping adventures! 🤙

NancyH

88,040 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад

I’ve never been the super patriotic type, but this World Cup has done something weird to me... Watching the U.S. play on home soil while stadiums packed with people from every background and every country got to experience America firsthand did something to me. The roar of the crowds, the sheer size of everything, the food, the chaos, and the pride all hit different when you see the world reacting to it. It felt like people were finally getting a real taste of what this country is like, and for once, they seemed to like what they saw. That hit me in a way I wasn’t ready for! I felt genuinely proud to be an American, and not in some cheesy flag-waving way, but in a “damn, this place is kind of ridiculous and I love it” kind of way. It got me thinking about all the over-the-top, larger-than-life things we have here that most of the world just doesn’t. So here’s my list of American things that blow other countries’ minds: 🇺🇸Texas BBQ. Not whatever sad little grilled meats other countries call barbecue. I’m talking about actual Texas brisket that’s been smoking for 12 hours and somehow tastes like it was blessed by angels. The rest of the world has no idea what they’re missing. 🇺🇸Real cowboys. Not the movie kind. Actual working cowboys who still exist, rope cattle, and look at you like you’re soft if you complain about the heat. We still have a whole profession that belongs in a Western, and we somehow treat it like it’s normal. 🇺🇸Everything is just bigger. Our trucks are bigger. Our portions are bigger. Our personalities are bigger. Even our problems are bigger. We don’t do subtle in this country, baby!! 🇺🇸You can drive for 10 hours and still be in the same country but in a completely different world. One day you’re in the desert, the next you’re in the mountains, and the day after that you’re at the beach. Most countries can’t even offer that in a week. 🇺🇸State fairs. Where deep-frying butter is considered a normal food option and nobody questions your life choices. We turned “let’s see how much we can fry” into a competitive sport. 🇺🇸National Parks that feel like another planet. Places so massive they have their own weather, their own ecosystems, and could probably be their own countries. We just call them “parks” like it’s no big deal. Grizzlies? We got 'em! Manatees? We got those too! Gators? You betcha! 🇺🇸And then there’s the small detail that we have the most powerful military in the world, and most of us treat it like it’s just another thing on the list of American normal. We’ll lose our minds arguing about whether the Cowboys are good this year or if gas is too expensive, all while casually having the ability to project force anywhere on the planet before most countries can even finish their morning coffee. It’s the kind of thing you don’t really appreciate until you realize how many nations would consider that level of military dominance their entire national personality. This World Cup made me realize I’ve been taking a lot of this for granted. We’ve got our issues, sure. But we also have Texas brisket, real cowboys, and the ability to drive across multiple climates without ever showing a passport. That’s pretty cool when you think about it! I'm an American, and I'm damn proud and grateful to be one!

I’ve never been the super patriotic type, but this World Cup has done something weird to me... Watching the U.S. play on home soil while stadiums packed with people from every background and every country got to experience America firsthand did something to me. The roar of the crowds, the sheer size of everything, the food, the chaos, and the pride all hit different when you see the world reacting to it. It felt like people were finally getting a real taste of what this country is like, and for once, they seemed to like what they saw. That hit me in a way I wasn’t ready for! I felt genuinely proud to be an American, and not in some cheesy flag-waving way, but in a “damn, this place is kind of ridiculous and I love it” kind of way. It got me thinking about all the over-the-top, larger-than-life things we have here that most of the world just doesn’t. So here’s my list of American things that blow other countries’ minds: 🇺🇸Texas BBQ. Not whatever sad little grilled meats other countries call barbecue. I’m talking about actual Texas brisket that’s been smoking for 12 hours and somehow tastes like it was blessed by angels. The rest of the world has no idea what they’re missing. 🇺🇸Real cowboys. Not the movie kind. Actual working cowboys who still exist, rope cattle, and look at you like you’re soft if you complain about the heat. We still have a whole profession that belongs in a Western, and we somehow treat it like it’s normal. 🇺🇸Everything is just bigger. Our trucks are bigger. Our portions are bigger. Our personalities are bigger. Even our problems are bigger. We don’t do subtle in this country, baby!! 🇺🇸You can drive for 10 hours and still be in the same country but in a completely different world. One day you’re in the desert, the next you’re in the mountains, and the day after that you’re at the beach. Most countries can’t even offer that in a week. 🇺🇸State fairs. Where deep-frying butter is considered a normal food option and nobody questions your life choices. We turned “let’s see how much we can fry” into a competitive sport. 🇺🇸National Parks that feel like another planet. Places so massive they have their own weather, their own ecosystems, and could probably be their own countries. We just call them “parks” like it’s no big deal. Grizzlies? We got 'em! Manatees? We got those too! Gators? You betcha! 🇺🇸And then there’s the small detail that we have the most powerful military in the world, and most of us treat it like it’s just another thing on the list of American normal. We’ll lose our minds arguing about whether the Cowboys are good this year or if gas is too expensive, all while casually having the ability to project force anywhere on the planet before most countries can even finish their morning coffee. It’s the kind of thing you don’t really appreciate until you realize how many nations would consider that level of military dominance their entire national personality. This World Cup made me realize I’ve been taking a lot of this for granted. We’ve got our issues, sure. But we also have Texas brisket, real cowboys, and the ability to drive across multiple climates without ever showing a passport. That’s pretty cool when you think about it! I'm an American, and I'm damn proud and grateful to be one!

Lj Priest (Trader Jill)

70,241 просмотров • 3 месяцев назад

Roger Federer broke the internet with one statistic that will change how you see every setback in your life. 1,526 singles matches. Won almost 80% of them. 20 Grand Slams. 103 titles. Now answer honestly: What percentage of total points do you think he won across his entire career? 70%? 65%? 60%? Try … 54%. He lost literally almost EVERY SECOND POINT he ever played for 24 years. And still became one of the greatest of all time. Watch him explain it himself (2:07 of pure life-changing wisdom): “In tennis, perfection is impossible… When you lose every second point on average, you teach yourself to say: ‘Okay, I double-faulted — it’s only one point.’ ‘Okay I got passed at the net — it’s only one point.’ Even a screaming overhead smash that ends up on SportsCenter Top 10… still just one point. So when you’re playing your point, it has to be the most important thing in the world. The moment it’s over — it’s behind you. That mindset frees you to attack the next point, and the next, and the next with absolute intensity and clarity.” Then he looked at the crowd and said the line that hit a billion people in the soul: “The real sign of a champion is not that they win every point. It’s that they lose again and again and again… and have learned how to deal with it. Negative energy is wasted energy. Cry it out if you have to. Then force a smile. Move on. Be relentless. Adapt. Grow. Work harder — and work smarter.” Save this post. The next time you lose a deal, bomb a presentation, get ghosted, miss a deadline, or just have “one of those days” — come back here and read it again. You’re not falling behind. You’re just in the 46%. And the 46% is exactly where every single legend has spent most of their career. Keep playing the next point. (full 2:07 clip — sound on)

Roger Federer broke the internet with one statistic that will change how you see every setback in your life. 1,526 singles matches. Won almost 80% of them. 20 Grand Slams. 103 titles. Now answer honestly: What percentage of total points do you think he won across his entire career? 70%? 65%? 60%? Try … 54%. He lost literally almost EVERY SECOND POINT he ever played for 24 years. And still became one of the greatest of all time. Watch him explain it himself (2:07 of pure life-changing wisdom): “In tennis, perfection is impossible… When you lose every second point on average, you teach yourself to say: ‘Okay, I double-faulted — it’s only one point.’ ‘Okay I got passed at the net — it’s only one point.’ Even a screaming overhead smash that ends up on SportsCenter Top 10… still just one point. So when you’re playing your point, it has to be the most important thing in the world. The moment it’s over — it’s behind you. That mindset frees you to attack the next point, and the next, and the next with absolute intensity and clarity.” Then he looked at the crowd and said the line that hit a billion people in the soul: “The real sign of a champion is not that they win every point. It’s that they lose again and again and again… and have learned how to deal with it. Negative energy is wasted energy. Cry it out if you have to. Then force a smile. Move on. Be relentless. Adapt. Grow. Work harder — and work smarter.” Save this post. The next time you lose a deal, bomb a presentation, get ghosted, miss a deadline, or just have “one of those days” — come back here and read it again. You’re not falling behind. You’re just in the 46%. And the 46% is exactly where every single legend has spent most of their career. Keep playing the next point. (full 2:07 clip — sound on)

Camus

4,903,962 просмотров • 10 месяцев назад

60 years ago, Ronald Reagan gave Americans a warning that has stood the test of time. This is from Reagan's "Time for Choosing" speech: "If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth. And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except to sovereign people, is still the newest and most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves." "You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course." ... "Well, I for one resent it when a representative of the people refers to you and me--the free man and woman of this country--as 'the masses.' This is a term we haven't applied to ourselves in America. But beyond that, 'the full power of centralized government'--this was the very thing the Founding Fathers sought to minimize. They knew that governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy." ... "They say we are always 'against' things, never 'for' anything. Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so." ... "Mr. Democrat himself, Al Smith, the great American, came before the American people and charged that the leadership of his party was taking the part of Jefferson, Jackson, and Cleveland down the road under the banners of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin." ... "Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation of government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment." ... "You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin--just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well, it's a simple answer after all." "You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, 'There is a price we will not pay.' There is a point beyond which they must not advance." ... "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." Doesn't it feel like Reagan is speaking to us TODAY?

60 years ago, Ronald Reagan gave Americans a warning that has stood the test of time. This is from Reagan's "Time for Choosing" speech: "If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth. And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except to sovereign people, is still the newest and most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves." "You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course." ... "Well, I for one resent it when a representative of the people refers to you and me--the free man and woman of this country--as 'the masses.' This is a term we haven't applied to ourselves in America. But beyond that, 'the full power of centralized government'--this was the very thing the Founding Fathers sought to minimize. They knew that governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy." ... "They say we are always 'against' things, never 'for' anything. Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so." ... "Mr. Democrat himself, Al Smith, the great American, came before the American people and charged that the leadership of his party was taking the part of Jefferson, Jackson, and Cleveland down the road under the banners of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin." ... "Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation of government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment." ... "You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin--just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well, it's a simple answer after all." "You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, 'There is a price we will not pay.' There is a point beyond which they must not advance." ... "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." Doesn't it feel like Reagan is speaking to us TODAY?

Kyle Becker

104,422 просмотров • 2 лет назад

Let’s talk about Massachusetts — or as I like to call it, the People's Republic of Taxachusetts — where facts go to die and logic gets replaced with virtue signaling. So let’s break this down. The state is run by people who, apparently, think energy policy should be based on emotion and fairy tales rather than, you know, physics. Maura Healey yes, the same Maura Healey who stopped not one, but two major pipelines also shut down the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. Why? Because nuclear, despite being one of the safest, cleanest, and most efficient energy sources on Earth, doesn’t fit the progressive narrative. That plant, by the way, was subsidizing electricity across the grid at 17 cents per kilowatt hour. Translation: it was keeping prices stable. But no —they shut it down so they could force everything into solar. Solar. A technology that is entirely dependent on whether or not the sun is out and your panels aren’t covered in snow —which, spoiler alert, happens in Massachusetts. And why? Because these people worship at the altar of green energy, regardless of what that means for cost, efficiency, or reliability. It’s like trading in your car for a bicycle in a snowstorm and calling it "progress." What you’re seeing is old-world Bolshevik-style central planning with a smile. It’s all about consolidating power, expanding government control, and destroying any semblance of economic freedom all while gaslighting the public into thinking it’s “for the environment.” And the kicker? The only people this works for are the ones already in power. The elected elites, the bureaucrats — they’ll be fine. You, the average working resident? You get higher bills, unreliable power, and a government that thinks you’re too dumb to notice. But hey —as long as we’re saving the planet, right? Welcome to progressive paradise. #donniepalmer4massachusetts #MA7 #palmerplanninggroup

Let’s talk about Massachusetts — or as I like to call it, the People's Republic of Taxachusetts — where facts go to die and logic gets replaced with virtue signaling. So let’s break this down. The state is run by people who, apparently, think energy policy should be based on emotion and fairy tales rather than, you know, physics. Maura Healey yes, the same Maura Healey who stopped not one, but two major pipelines also shut down the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. Why? Because nuclear, despite being one of the safest, cleanest, and most efficient energy sources on Earth, doesn’t fit the progressive narrative. That plant, by the way, was subsidizing electricity across the grid at 17 cents per kilowatt hour. Translation: it was keeping prices stable. But no —they shut it down so they could force everything into solar. Solar. A technology that is entirely dependent on whether or not the sun is out and your panels aren’t covered in snow —which, spoiler alert, happens in Massachusetts. And why? Because these people worship at the altar of green energy, regardless of what that means for cost, efficiency, or reliability. It’s like trading in your car for a bicycle in a snowstorm and calling it "progress." What you’re seeing is old-world Bolshevik-style central planning with a smile. It’s all about consolidating power, expanding government control, and destroying any semblance of economic freedom all while gaslighting the public into thinking it’s “for the environment.” And the kicker? The only people this works for are the ones already in power. The elected elites, the bureaucrats — they’ll be fine. You, the average working resident? You get higher bills, unreliable power, and a government that thinks you’re too dumb to notice. But hey —as long as we’re saving the planet, right? Welcome to progressive paradise. #donniepalmer4massachusetts #MA7 #palmerplanninggroup

Donnie Palmer 4 Congress

17,240 просмотров • 1 год назад

Étretat, France has a chalk needle rising out of the sea that Maurice Leblanc turned into one of Arsène Lupin’s best-known mysteries. Étretat sits on Normandy’s Alabaster Coast, where white chalk cliffs drop into the English Channel. The sea has carved huge arches through the rock, while isolated pieces of cliff have been left standing offshore. The most famous is the Aiguille, or Needle, beside the Porte d’Aval arch. The village wasn’t always this well known. In the 1800s, artists and writers started coming here. Eugène Isabey painted it. Alphonse Karr wrote about it. Later came Courbet, Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet. Monet returned again and again, painting the cliffs in different weather and light. The Porte d’Aval, La Manneporte and the Aiguille all appear in his work. You can still stand on the beach and look at the same formations he painted more than a century ago. The part I like most is the Maurice Leblanc connection. He spent time in Étretat, owned a house there, and in 1909 published L’Aiguille creuse — The Hollow Needle. In the story, the Aiguille isn’t just a rock offshore. It hides a secret tied to the kings of France and Arsène Lupin. The rock is real. The secret is not. But once you know the story, you look at it differently. Leblanc’s old house is now Le Clos Lupin, a museum devoted to him and his most famous character. You can walk the cliffs, look out at the Needle, then visit the house of the man who decided there had to be something hiding inside it. That’s what makes Étretat more interesting than just a pretty stretch of coast. Monet saw light. Leblanc saw mystery. Other writers and artists saw something else entirely. If I were visiting, I’d start on the pebble beach for the classic view of the Porte d’Aval and the Aiguille. Then I’d head up to the cliffs and look back over the town and coastline from above. I’d also try to avoid the busiest part of summer. Étretat gets crowded, and the cliffs are fragile, so staying on marked paths matters. Look at the Aiguille and you’re seeing more than a piece of chalk left standing by erosion. It’s a Monet subject, an Arsène Lupin mystery and one of the most recognizable parts of the Normandy coast. That’s the kind of place I write about in my newsletter. Not just where to go, but the story that makes a place more interesting once you’re there. Subscribe if that’s your kind of travel.

Étretat, France has a chalk needle rising out of the sea that Maurice Leblanc turned into one of Arsène Lupin’s best-known mysteries. Étretat sits on Normandy’s Alabaster Coast, where white chalk cliffs drop into the English Channel. The sea has carved huge arches through the rock, while isolated pieces of cliff have been left standing offshore. The most famous is the Aiguille, or Needle, beside the Porte d’Aval arch. The village wasn’t always this well known. In the 1800s, artists and writers started coming here. Eugène Isabey painted it. Alphonse Karr wrote about it. Later came Courbet, Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet. Monet returned again and again, painting the cliffs in different weather and light. The Porte d’Aval, La Manneporte and the Aiguille all appear in his work. You can still stand on the beach and look at the same formations he painted more than a century ago. The part I like most is the Maurice Leblanc connection. He spent time in Étretat, owned a house there, and in 1909 published L’Aiguille creuse — The Hollow Needle. In the story, the Aiguille isn’t just a rock offshore. It hides a secret tied to the kings of France and Arsène Lupin. The rock is real. The secret is not. But once you know the story, you look at it differently. Leblanc’s old house is now Le Clos Lupin, a museum devoted to him and his most famous character. You can walk the cliffs, look out at the Needle, then visit the house of the man who decided there had to be something hiding inside it. That’s what makes Étretat more interesting than just a pretty stretch of coast. Monet saw light. Leblanc saw mystery. Other writers and artists saw something else entirely. If I were visiting, I’d start on the pebble beach for the classic view of the Porte d’Aval and the Aiguille. Then I’d head up to the cliffs and look back over the town and coastline from above. I’d also try to avoid the busiest part of summer. Étretat gets crowded, and the cliffs are fragile, so staying on marked paths matters. Look at the Aiguille and you’re seeing more than a piece of chalk left standing by erosion. It’s a Monet subject, an Arsène Lupin mystery and one of the most recognizable parts of the Normandy coast. That’s the kind of place I write about in my newsletter. Not just where to go, but the story that makes a place more interesting once you’re there. Subscribe if that’s your kind of travel.

The Timeless Traveler 🇺🇸

18,864 просмотров • 1 месяц назад

There was a period during Covid, where long distance travel had become so difficult that I decided to open my horizons up to the Caribbean. They had more relaxed restrictions, shorter plane rides, and a great year-round escape for people living in the United States, with consistent weather. Having gotten used to Greek beaches, I visited the best islands and beaches the Caribbean had to offer. I chased this nostalgia with an open mind, and even a bit of a bias in favor of the Caribbean. Your whole life you heard things like, this beach is “the Caribbean of Greece” or the “Caribbean of the Mediterranean”. Surely this means Caribbean is the top of the mountain, right? After years of chasing this high, I’ve simply submitted to what I think I knew all along. Second place is a distant second. If you’ve seen enough of Greece, there simply isn’t anything that comes remotely close. Not in the color of the water, not in the overall dramatic scenery, not in the ambiance, not in variety of beaches, and textures to choose from- fine sand, dark sand, light sand, pebbles, rocks, cliffs, arid topography, lush pine green topography, exotic tropical topography. Milky Ionian blue, Clear Cycladic Blue, Bright Cretan Blue, Warm Dodecanese Blue, Deep Saronic Blue, Turquoise Sporadic Blue. There’s no short cuts— It’s simply the most valuable 10 hour flight you’ll ever take. 🇬🇷

There was a period during Covid, where long distance travel had become so difficult that I decided to open my horizons up to the Caribbean. They had more relaxed restrictions, shorter plane rides, and a great year-round escape for people living in the United States, with consistent weather. Having gotten used to Greek beaches, I visited the best islands and beaches the Caribbean had to offer. I chased this nostalgia with an open mind, and even a bit of a bias in favor of the Caribbean. Your whole life you heard things like, this beach is “the Caribbean of Greece” or the “Caribbean of the Mediterranean”. Surely this means Caribbean is the top of the mountain, right? After years of chasing this high, I’ve simply submitted to what I think I knew all along. Second place is a distant second. If you’ve seen enough of Greece, there simply isn’t anything that comes remotely close. Not in the color of the water, not in the overall dramatic scenery, not in the ambiance, not in variety of beaches, and textures to choose from- fine sand, dark sand, light sand, pebbles, rocks, cliffs, arid topography, lush pine green topography, exotic tropical topography. Milky Ionian blue, Clear Cycladic Blue, Bright Cretan Blue, Warm Dodecanese Blue, Deep Saronic Blue, Turquoise Sporadic Blue. There’s no short cuts— It’s simply the most valuable 10 hour flight you’ll ever take. 🇬🇷

ThePatrioticDog

25,904 просмотров • 11 дней назад

I hadn't listened to it since he delivered it in 2020, but I pulled MacArthur's sermon up again today that people are pointing to as evidence of a tremendous and destructive problem in his theology. What I had forgotten was that this was a sermon reflecting on the clarity the Lord had provided through the many battles and trials the church was enduring in that time–COVID, government oppression, weekly fines, ongoing legal battles, the theological fallout of wokeness and the social justice movement, pastors failing left and right, and the election of Joe Biden and the prospect of persecution likely to come from his administration's hostility toward the truth. MacArthur's comments on how we should not expect to win according to an earthly understanding still make perfect sense now as they did then, and they were a reminder of how committed he was to remaining steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for the glory of God regardless of the trials we face down here. He understood that our hope was in Christ, not in our earthly circumstances: "John 15, just read a couple of verses here. Our Lord talks to the disciples, chapter 15, verse 19. Verse 19 – well, verse 18, let’s start there. “If the world hates you, you know that it has,” what? We don’t win here, you get this? They killed Him, they killed the apostles, and in every generation they kill the people who proclaim the truth. “You know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world,” – verse 19 – “the world would love its own; but because you’re not of the world,” – so if you want the world to love you, you’ve got to convince them that you’re not against them. But we are against them, not out of animosity, but out of love. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you’re not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” Chapter 16, verse 33, all the way at the end of that chapter our Lord says the end of the verse, “In the world you’ll have trouble. Take courage,” – what? – “I’ve overcome the world.” We don’t win the battle here, you can’t, can’t fight. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” John 18. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would” – what? – “fight.” We’re not fighting this world, we get it. “Blessed are those who are persecuted.” No, we don’t win here. In fact, it gets worse, doesn’t it? Evil men get worse and worse. I mean, read the prophetic declarations of our Lord in the sermon on His second coming. Read the book of Revelation. It’s not going to get better, it’s going to get continually worse. And every generation of Christians is going to suffer for two reasons: because the world hates it, and because suffering perfects our faith and gives validity to our testimony. So we’re not going to win. You think we lost an election? No. No. We don’t win anything in this world. We’re not trying to gain this. Is there anything in this world we’re trying to gain? “For to me to live again is” – what? – “Christ.” And then I look at evangelicalism and I see this clarity that’s coming in the culture. I love the fact there’s going to be the true church and the people who hate the truth. There’s going to be the truth and lies. There’s going to be church and anti-church. There’s Christ and Antichrist. I love that clarity. These are the best of times. Incredibly wonderful to have that kind of clarity, where there’s no reason to be a compromiser, because the price is too high. Persecution always does that, right? Nobody goes to the gulag for something they’re faking. And then I just look at it from an evangelical side and I watch the sifting of evangelical leadership, people who used to be preachers that people wanted to listen to, nobody cares what they say. Used to be bloggers people wanted to read, and nobody cares what they write. They wrote books that you read; they can’t get off the shelf. So much compromise, horrible compromise; much of it because of the social justice issue. That is a disaster maybe more than any single disaster, but collectively with everything else, has done irreparable damage. Said it would, and it has, and it’s not nearly done. But the whole evangelical, seemingly elite, rolled over and bought into social justice, critical race theory, intersectionality, racial identity. And now we’re going to have the fruit of it. I’ll give you an illustration. America’s always functioned with equal justice. Get that? Equal justice. I mean, the modifier is clear, right? Equal. Equal for everybody. Everybody’s equal under the law, that’s equal justice. No, it’s gone. Now we have social justice. What social justice means is unequal justice. It means that it’s justice to basically determine by whether you’re a part of the oppressed group or the oppressors. What you’re seeing in America when the new President says, “In the future all the money from the government is going to go to homosexuals, LGBTQ, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera,” that is social justice. That’s not equal justice. When you hear the new Attorney General say, “In the future all charities are going to have to give their money to disenfranchised, oppressed minorities like homosexuals,” you’re realizing that you have just seen the death of equal justice. How could a Christian jump on that bandwagon? Something’s pretty clear. God does not hold somebody else responsible for what’s wrong with you, He holds you responsible. Social justice blames someone else for your defects and sin. How could Christians get anywhere near that? I did a whole series on Ezekiel 18, trying to make that clear. So we’re stepping into an era of injustice. We’re stepping into an era where there’s no need to cover sin. There’s no real need to be a hypocrite. Everything is in the open. Stepping into an era where hatred of the truth is going to go to a level we haven’t seen it. We’re stepping into an era where compromising leaders in the evangelical movement have basically nullified themselves, neutralized themselves, taking themselves off the battlefield out of the fight. That’s sad, but I still love the clarity. Do we have a hard future? Sure. We don’t win here, we just die. I mean, do you understand that? The Christian life is about two crucifixions. The Christian life is about two crucifixions. It’s about the crucifixion of Christ and it’s about the crucifixion of the believer. Do you understand that? You signed up, you signed up for death." And his closing comment: "The kingdom is here, the King is alive, and He’s ruling in His church." If that's loser theology, I'll take it.

I hadn't listened to it since he delivered it in 2020, but I pulled MacArthur's sermon up again today that people are pointing to as evidence of a tremendous and destructive problem in his theology. What I had forgotten was that this was a sermon reflecting on the clarity the Lord had provided through the many battles and trials the church was enduring in that time–COVID, government oppression, weekly fines, ongoing legal battles, the theological fallout of wokeness and the social justice movement, pastors failing left and right, and the election of Joe Biden and the prospect of persecution likely to come from his administration's hostility toward the truth. MacArthur's comments on how we should not expect to win according to an earthly understanding still make perfect sense now as they did then, and they were a reminder of how committed he was to remaining steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for the glory of God regardless of the trials we face down here. He understood that our hope was in Christ, not in our earthly circumstances: "John 15, just read a couple of verses here. Our Lord talks to the disciples, chapter 15, verse 19. Verse 19 – well, verse 18, let’s start there. “If the world hates you, you know that it has,” what? We don’t win here, you get this? They killed Him, they killed the apostles, and in every generation they kill the people who proclaim the truth. “You know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world,” – verse 19 – “the world would love its own; but because you’re not of the world,” – so if you want the world to love you, you’ve got to convince them that you’re not against them. But we are against them, not out of animosity, but out of love. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you’re not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” Chapter 16, verse 33, all the way at the end of that chapter our Lord says the end of the verse, “In the world you’ll have trouble. Take courage,” – what? – “I’ve overcome the world.” We don’t win the battle here, you can’t, can’t fight. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” John 18. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would” – what? – “fight.” We’re not fighting this world, we get it. “Blessed are those who are persecuted.” No, we don’t win here. In fact, it gets worse, doesn’t it? Evil men get worse and worse. I mean, read the prophetic declarations of our Lord in the sermon on His second coming. Read the book of Revelation. It’s not going to get better, it’s going to get continually worse. And every generation of Christians is going to suffer for two reasons: because the world hates it, and because suffering perfects our faith and gives validity to our testimony. So we’re not going to win. You think we lost an election? No. No. We don’t win anything in this world. We’re not trying to gain this. Is there anything in this world we’re trying to gain? “For to me to live again is” – what? – “Christ.” And then I look at evangelicalism and I see this clarity that’s coming in the culture. I love the fact there’s going to be the true church and the people who hate the truth. There’s going to be the truth and lies. There’s going to be church and anti-church. There’s Christ and Antichrist. I love that clarity. These are the best of times. Incredibly wonderful to have that kind of clarity, where there’s no reason to be a compromiser, because the price is too high. Persecution always does that, right? Nobody goes to the gulag for something they’re faking. And then I just look at it from an evangelical side and I watch the sifting of evangelical leadership, people who used to be preachers that people wanted to listen to, nobody cares what they say. Used to be bloggers people wanted to read, and nobody cares what they write. They wrote books that you read; they can’t get off the shelf. So much compromise, horrible compromise; much of it because of the social justice issue. That is a disaster maybe more than any single disaster, but collectively with everything else, has done irreparable damage. Said it would, and it has, and it’s not nearly done. But the whole evangelical, seemingly elite, rolled over and bought into social justice, critical race theory, intersectionality, racial identity. And now we’re going to have the fruit of it. I’ll give you an illustration. America’s always functioned with equal justice. Get that? Equal justice. I mean, the modifier is clear, right? Equal. Equal for everybody. Everybody’s equal under the law, that’s equal justice. No, it’s gone. Now we have social justice. What social justice means is unequal justice. It means that it’s justice to basically determine by whether you’re a part of the oppressed group or the oppressors. What you’re seeing in America when the new President says, “In the future all the money from the government is going to go to homosexuals, LGBTQ, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera,” that is social justice. That’s not equal justice. When you hear the new Attorney General say, “In the future all charities are going to have to give their money to disenfranchised, oppressed minorities like homosexuals,” you’re realizing that you have just seen the death of equal justice. How could a Christian jump on that bandwagon? Something’s pretty clear. God does not hold somebody else responsible for what’s wrong with you, He holds you responsible. Social justice blames someone else for your defects and sin. How could Christians get anywhere near that? I did a whole series on Ezekiel 18, trying to make that clear. So we’re stepping into an era of injustice. We’re stepping into an era where there’s no need to cover sin. There’s no real need to be a hypocrite. Everything is in the open. Stepping into an era where hatred of the truth is going to go to a level we haven’t seen it. We’re stepping into an era where compromising leaders in the evangelical movement have basically nullified themselves, neutralized themselves, taking themselves off the battlefield out of the fight. That’s sad, but I still love the clarity. Do we have a hard future? Sure. We don’t win here, we just die. I mean, do you understand that? The Christian life is about two crucifixions. The Christian life is about two crucifixions. It’s about the crucifixion of Christ and it’s about the crucifixion of the believer. Do you understand that? You signed up, you signed up for death." And his closing comment: "The kingdom is here, the King is alive, and He’s ruling in His church." If that's loser theology, I'll take it.

Melissa the Hopeful🏠Homemaker

35,779 просмотров • 2 месяцев назад

doyoung talked about the choreo spoiler on his live 🐰 while preparing for the comeback, we’ve been filming a lot of different stuff and working really hard on performances too. we’re trying to film a lot of cool things that we can show you guys soon. 🐰 was it yesterday? I think yesterday? the album name New Wav got revealed, and you got a little glimpse of our preparation process, right? in the middle of that, you could briefly see some of the choreography too. it went like *dances* up to there. 🐰 that choreo in the middle is actually from the beginning parts. it’s the kind of choreography vibe I personally really like. I really like it. im curious how people will react once it’s released. 🐰 this choreo especially is… how do I put it… it’s not the type where you just explode all your energy while dancing. you have to hold everything in tightly while bringing out the swag, rhythm, and groove 🐰 bc you’re dancing while constantly controlling and pressing into the movements, it’s honestly even harder. you have to keep the movements grounded while still releasing power, and everything has to be really detailed. 🐰 thats genuinely harder. after dancing it feels like I just did thirty minutes of cardio . I end up completely out of breath. its not just dancing like crazy with full force. it’s more about killing it with this controlled vibe while holding the energy in, so it’s tough but also really fun. im excited to see how it’ll look once it’s out in the world.

doyoung talked about the choreo spoiler on his live 🐰 while preparing for the comeback, we’ve been filming a lot of different stuff and working really hard on performances too. we’re trying to film a lot of cool things that we can show you guys soon. 🐰 was it yesterday? I think yesterday? the album name New Wav got revealed, and you got a little glimpse of our preparation process, right? in the middle of that, you could briefly see some of the choreography too. it went like dances up to there. 🐰 that choreo in the middle is actually from the beginning parts. it’s the kind of choreography vibe I personally really like. I really like it. im curious how people will react once it’s released. 🐰 this choreo especially is… how do I put it… it’s not the type where you just explode all your energy while dancing. you have to hold everything in tightly while bringing out the swag, rhythm, and groove 🐰 bc you’re dancing while constantly controlling and pressing into the movements, it’s honestly even harder. you have to keep the movements grounded while still releasing power, and everything has to be really detailed. 🐰 thats genuinely harder. after dancing it feels like I just did thirty minutes of cardio . I end up completely out of breath. its not just dancing like crazy with full force. it’s more about killing it with this controlled vibe while holding the energy in, so it’s tough but also really fun. im excited to see how it’ll look once it’s out in the world.

shan

18,100 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад