Artist Jennifer Thoreson Subverts Everyday Scenes into Surreal Photographs

In constructing her photos, Jennifer Thoreson creates abstract items and a curated space for her models to dwell. The result are the works which are at once intimate and surreal, her crafted amorphous accessories extensions of these figures’ humanity. In the series”Testament,” the artist reverses everyday scenes using something darker and revealing.

“I am drawn to moments where people are on an edge, barely laced together, befriending disaster, remembering something, or exposing something. Testament explores topics of both dependence and durability; it illustrates the heavy burdens we carry and the relentless yearning for discharge.”

 

H/T hifructose.com

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Two Vortex Rings Collide in Slo-Mo Video by Destin Sandlin

Destin Sandlin spent years trying to recreate a happening he witnessed 5 years ago — two vortex rings clashing with each other, creating a group of smaller rings consequently.

Working in cooperation with David Linderman, he finally captured a similar crash in high resolution, which is currently published in most of its slow movement glory on his YouTube channel SmarterEveryDay.

 

This incredible experimentation was decades in the making, as Destin and his team worked through failure after failure to recreate and catch a mesmerizing demonstration of vortices colliding in water.

While it resembles a relatively straightforward experiment with ink within an aquarium, there were so many variables to consider this project took four years from concept to end to catch. Destin’s aim was to recreate the vortex crash experimentation, last captured on a fuzzy videotape in 1992, in magnificent, clear high-definition.

And then there’s the equipment to capture the experiment in the high-tech vision Destin was aiming for.

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The NBN Connection Types Explained Simply

The NBN (National Broadband Network) is slowly taking over the entire country of Australia. By 2020, every Australian citizen will have to make the switch to the NBN, unless they want to live without the Internet. One of the reasons why everyone is so scared of the idea is because the whole NBN concept could get pretty confusing at times. And it’s quite understandable, with all the different plans, speed tiers and connection types.   

Speaking of connection types, this is the subject of our article. Keep reading in order to find out everything you need to know about the technologies made available for your NBN connection, everything being explained in a simple manner. All you need to remember is that you’re not going to be able to choose the connection type that is going to be used for your house, as it depends on the area where you live in.

FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)

This means that a fast fibre optic cable is going to be connected directly to your house. This might be the most capable connection type when it comes to providing faster Internet. Also, another benefit is that you are provided with multiple phone and Internet sockets that allow you to connect more than one phone or Internet lines. This connection type is definitely good enough for everyone, as long as you are not too bothered by a hole in the wall.

FTTN (Fibre to the Node)

In this case, a fibre optic cable will go through a node box and then to the old copper phone line that is already existing in your house. The good part is that there won’t be any holes in your wall and you won’t have to have workers inside that usually make a mess. On the other side, fast Internet is not guaranteed, and you might also have to change your modem.

FTTB (Fibre to the Building)

This type of connection is extremely similar to the FTTP one but designed for apartment blocks or maybe office buildings.

FTTC (Fibre to the Curb)

Being available only in Sydney and Melbourne, this type of connection works out by installing it in pits at the end of customers’ driveways.

HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial)

In this case, a fibre optic cable will go through a node box and then it continues to the coaxial cable that might already be there. Luckily, this connection can provide very fast Internet, especially if you choose one of the NBN plans that offer Australians higher download and upload speeds.

Fixed Wireless

This one is pretty straight-forward. A wireless antenna is going to be placed on your roof, that antenna is going to be connected to a nearby tower and then you have an Internet connection. If you live in the rural areas of Australia, this is most likely the type of connection that you are going to get. Unfortunately, this connection type does not offer high-speed Internet, and it also requires you to change your modem.

  

It’s true that it can get pretty confusing at times, and even overwhelm when you need to make all of the choices when the time comes for you to switch to the NBN. But a little research will help you understand the NBN concepts and make the best decision.

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The Case For Croc

The word “croc” is used for crocodile leather. Crocodile leather, regardless of finish, is one of the most expensive types of leather. There are reasons for that, including:

1. It’s Simply Superior

Compared to common-grade leathers such as cowhide, the croc is far more versatile, far tougher and more durable (crocs are predators), and a universal symbol of status. Please, learn to dismiss the fakes. Genuine crocodile leather wallets, bags or shoes are decidedly not for everyone.

2. It’s Relatively Scarce

Crocodiles are harvested when young. Even so, they are notoriously dangerous reptiles. It takes approximately three crocodiles to make a bag.

Skins are graded according to a complex system of super exact and demanding criteria; there should ideally be no holes, cuts or scars and the whole skin – except the armored back – should be available and entirely fleshed.

To ensure a high-grade skin, and thus a significantly higher profit for the brand that manufactures the end product, it must be skinned by true professionals.

3. It’s Somewhat Controversial

One thing that’s being discussed a lot – and often to no end – is whether the big fashion brands, or at least some of them, use skins that have been skinned alive or not.

Other than the laws against it – which don’t necessarily exist, or are easily broken, in developing countries – there is the issue of practicality and profit. Any professional would say that skinning an animal alive is not just unnecessarily dangerous to the people doing it, but very cost-ineffective. 

At the same time, videos and articles like the PETA one above – called fake news by some, sworn by others – do circulate.

Another controversial issue is that the croc industry may or may not be a threat to the ecosystem.

This depends again on the geographic origin of the skins, and essentially on whether they are farmed or hunted – the latter often illegally, in areas where a certain species has been or is close to being declared endangered, such as many parts of Africa.

Which Brings Us To The Topic Of Farming

Most quality croc in the West comes from farms, not from the wild – at least according to official statistics. 

In Australia most specifically, croc farming is essential to the economy. The quality standards there are uncompromising. The technological and professional refinement of Australians in the croc trade is unsurpassed.

Beyond the serious environmental concerns, the skin of wild crocodiles is much more likely to show signs of damage than that of farm-grown ones. So what the farmers do, as Mr John Lever states in the article linked one paragraph above, is take the eggs from the wild – which is in itself risky enough – and grow the crocodiles in a controlled environment up to the age of harvest. 

Mr. Lever, like probably all large-scale Australian farmers, prides himself on the internationally-acknowledged professionalism of his business. Koorana Crocodile Farm only sells to Italy.

Not only is it safe for the ecosystem in both the short and the long run, he assures the interviewers; it’s actually radically beneficial: “Instead of having 10,000 babies there competing for food in the same billabong, you’ve only got 1,000 — those 1,000 survive better.” 

The reportedly huge success of his crocodile skin business is far from being an exception: according to the same article, Australia alone owns 60% of the global saltwater crocodile skins market.

Australian skins are not just among the most readily available – they are, most probably, the best.

 

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5 off the Beaten Path Countries you Need to Visit in 2019

Artist John Byrd Merges Ceramics and Taxidermy to Create Animal Sculptures

John Byrd works with taxidermy, hand-built ceramics, cast plastic, and other substances to create works that remember cosmetic souvenirs and knick-knacks. The artist claims that”within a national space, I’m fascinated by the capacity of an encapsulated aesthetic to launch, withstand, and challenge characteristics of culture and class.”

“While often an official choice as far as a cultural reference, it will force me to admit my conflicted consumptive function,” the artist states. “To some extent, I am considering the ego attached to this process and sometimes find myself creating the ceramic“settings” in an effort to warrant the departure or at least return a degree of honor lost in the animal‘s passing. I do not attempt to become a moral compass on this particular topic. My work is merely a private study of my own hypocrisy for a participant in the notion of both honor and consumption.”

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Surviving the Struggles of Winter: How to Care for Your Mental Health

Winter is the time to cozy up in front of the fire and to snuggle in with your loved ones and perhaps a nice big mug of hot chocolate. It is also the time that we see the least amount of sun and get the most exercise. As such, winters happen to be the time of year that we are actually at our least healthiest. This can impact our energy levels or worse, our mental health. That is why treating yourself to a big fun in the sun trip in winter can help you overcome all of winter’s woes and put a smile back onto your face:

 

Increase Your Intake of Vitamins and Nutrients

Winter is the time of comfort foods, but that is no excuse to let your body suffer. Ensure you are getting enough vitamins straight from the source. A great way to do this is to skip the “fresh food” aisle and go straight for the frozen foods. In winter, the fresh food very often needs to travel great distances to get to your grocery store. The longer the food is in transit, the less nutritious it becomes. Frozen food, on the other hand, was frozen on site, meaning that in comparison it could be the healthier option. The more nutrients you include in your diet, the better your health and immune system will be throughout winter.

 

Try to Stay Active (Even Though It’s Too Cold Outside)

In general, people are most active during the warmer months. The weather is nice, the sun is shining, and it makes sense to go for a walk around a market or to go on a nice bike ride. In winter, however, the cold, miserable weather often has people stuck indoors. Even places that used to have snow regularly are experiencing milder and milder winters as the years go on. This means fewer opportunities to enjoy winter sports and more wet, cold weather we want to hide away from. Rather than let the cold make you into a couch potato, find fun exercise classes you can do indoors. You’ll have fun, get your exercise in, and even make friends.

 

Book a Winter Holiday

Overcast skies can seriously impact both your physical health and your mental health. When your winters are full of dark days, this can really take a toll on you. That’s why you need to treat yourself with a trip abroad to a sunny, warm destination. There are so many budget-friendly holidays for winter sun out there, and by booking one during the dead-part of winter (i.e., January), you can enjoy a boost of Vitamin D and enjoy a much-needed break at the same time.

 

Make Plans in Advance with Your Friends and Family

Going outside when its cold and miserable is a challenge, and this can mean that far too many people become distanced from their close friends and family. Instead of letting the cold get the better of you, make plans in advance. If the event is ticketed, then you give everyone (including yourself) another incentive to go. This way you can stay social and enjoy the company of friends and family throughout winter.

 

Winter can be just as magical and exciting as summer, but only if you plan right and safeguard your health. Stay healthy, stay active, and stay social. Do this, and you can beat those winter blues away in no time.

 

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An Irish Illustrator Creates Horror Stories That Will Send a Shiver Down Your Spine

Brian Coldrick is an Irish illustrator along with the artist behind a series of spooky comic series called “Behind You: One-Shot Horror Stories.” Bear in mind that the artist does not require many panels to scare you — he only needs one.

The artist started the series back in April 2015 as an attempt to combat laziness. “I needed to do some continuing webcomic for a while, but I was concerned I’d eliminate interest after starting a story I believed if every episode was a snippet of a different narrative I could start each time afresh. It also had the fantastic negative effect of leaving much of the narrative to be determined by the reader. It is most likely the main reason people enjoy the series,” informed Brian in a meeting with Bored Panda. He states that the inspiration for his comic books came from reading different “Creepy Pastas,” supernatural encounters on sites like Reddit and terror comic artists such as Junji Ito and Emily Carroll.

 

Brian says he draws the characters by hand and uses Photoshop for the backgrounds, texture, and animation. When asked about his creative process, the artist claims that he usually begins with the picture initially and seldom begins with the phrase. “Rather than a coherent story, the initial step is usually one element. In the first days of the series it could have been a desire to draw out a specific type of creepy creature, but later on, it’s been the setting. A kitchen at night illuminated using a refrigerator light, or an escalator on the Underground. Occasionally it can be something darker such as the solitude, doubts or anxieties that arise once nobody else is around,” states Brian.

Check out the artist‘s creepy examples in the gallery under — we’re sure they’ll send a shiver down your spine.

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What Your Facial Hair Says About You

Just like our wardrobe and accessories, our hair and facial hair are equally important forms of self-expression. Even though that might come off as a bit superficial, first impressions do last the longest. No matter if you are a guy who follows the latest trends or not at all, you must have noticed that having well-groomed facial hair has become quite the thing.

When making a choice about what to do with your facial hair, you are exhibiting certain aspects of your personality to some extent. That is why this article will help you learn more about different looks and choose the style that suits you the most.

 

But Before, Match Your Beard to Your Overall Style

Like you wouldn’t wear flip-flops with an elegant suit (or would you?) you need to consider your beard as part of your overall style. It needs to be an integral part of how you present yourself and communicate with your attire and accessories. And don’t be intimidated by the word “accessories”, men are definitely accessorizing these days. Chic laptop cases, flashy sunglasses and smartwatches are almost basic these days.

The next phase of men-accessorizing goes to jewelry and novelty items like fedora hats, hip flasks and even dressy pocket squares. All three items, by the way, are classic accessories that have been around for a century or two and keep floating in and out of fashion, very much like facial hair. The hip flask especially seems to make a strong comeback, with tons of cool and stylish types of flasks everywhere you look. Like the fedora and the pocket squares the flask hints to more elegant days when the term ‘gentleman’ had a real meaning.

Now back to facial hair. To demonstrate the elevated status it has reached in recent years – there are actual beard experts, such as Allan Peterkin, a physician and a university professor, who is the author of “One Thousand Beards, A Cultural History of Facial Hair” and “The Bearded Gentleman: A Style Guide to Shaving Face”.

According to this beard scholar, facial hair has become a man’s way to make personal statements, just like women do with their makeup or hairstyles. While, in the past, beards and facial hair in general were dictated by society and authorities such as politicians or kings, now, “post-modern facial hair is generally playful, rebellious and sexy” and it depends solely on your own choice.

 

What Does Your Facial Hair Communicate About You?

1. Clean-shaven look says you’re preppy

As Peterkin says: “Before, men used to be wed to a look, it was a life-long expression and not a fad. I think young men are going back and forth between having some sort of facial hair and now going clean-shaven. I think men are freer to do that than before”.

Some people even think that if your face is perfectly shaped, it would be a shame to cover it up with a beard. On the other hand, if you are one of those people who simply cannot grow facial hair at all, or are unable to turn it into something attractive, worry not, because Peterkin predicts that we will be going back to that classy and clean “Mad Men” look in the near future.

2. Full beard means you’re a wise and experienced man

Peterkin says: “I think the association for a lot of people is that it’s scholarly beard, or academics often have those beards”. Full beards have often been associated with historical or even religious figures (such as Jesus or Moses), so this doesn’t come as a surprise.

However, nowadays we can see younger and older guys opting for this style as well and it has become as mainstream as can be, proper for any job type and occasion. If you are opting for this look, be sure that you are using proper beard oils and products to avoid the messiness.

3. The goatee means you’re stuck in the 90’s

The goatee started being a huge hit in the 1990’s, but is nevertheless still popular, especially among westerners and country guys. Although it was a statement back then, in the present days, it became more of an overly done expression – as someone once said “If your dad and your dentist still have goatees, it’s time to change your look”.

4. Sideburns suggest you’re a hipster

Although sideburns are commonly associated with the king himself – Elvis Presley, college campuses are now filled with young guys in hipster clothes rocking this look. However, we must agree that it can be quite playful!

5. The ‘stache means you’re cocky

Although moustache had some bad rap in the past and even sexual connotation in the 70’s (the so called “porn moustache”), younger guys who wear it nowadays are usually seen as confident and trendy.

6. Soul patch says you’re unconventional

According to Peterkin: “During both World Wars, men, particularly in America, were clean-shaven. Then every decade after, there was a little pocket of facial hair. In the ‘50s, beatniks had soul patches, and then hippies adopted the look in the ‘60s.”

7. Stubble suggests you’re fashionable

The majority of famous hunks are now rocking this look also known as the scruff. Although it seems to be out-of-the-bed effortless, the scruff needs to be maintained nevertheless. If growing a beard is too extreme for you, the best idea is to try out this look, as it suits practically every face.

 

Are You Taking Proper Care of Your Facial Hair?

If you are a fan of the clean-shaven look, you don’t need to do a lot – a simple hydrating cream will do! However, if you have a beard, you need to make sure you are putting some effort into it. Many men fear that using products on their face or hair will over-complicate their lives, so they decide not to bother.

But if you want your beard to truly pop out and reflect your manliness – you need to have a certain grooming regimen. And worry not, it is pretty effortless; all you need is some good beard shampoo and oil. The HiLee top beard shampoo will keep your beard clean and nice-smelling while the oil will moisturize your facial hair, no matter the length of it, and it will hydrate your skin underneath it.

Why is that important, you might ask yourself. Well, you can’t have nice looking facial hair without healthy skin. Beard oil will help to reduce any itching or dryness, leaving your beard well-groomed and shiny, instead of having a messy pile of hairs on your face.

 

In conclusion, we will leave the stereotype-inspired jokes aside and encourage you to experiment with different styles as much as you want, before finding the perfect option. In times where there are endless possibilities when it comes to styling your facial hair, you cannot really know what a particular look means unless you ask the person wearing it.

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Artist Simon Brown Transforms Household tools Into Miniature Felted Sculptures

Simon Brown sources emptied household tools like brushes and thimbles to transform them into mini scenes because of his felted wildlife. A short, stiff brush becomes a tree branch to get a perching owl, along with a thick hairbrush using swirling bristles forms a meadow for two rabbits. Brown, who’s based in Northumbria, United Kingdom, uses needle felting to create his realistic forest monsters. You can view more of his finished and in-progress work on Instagram.

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