Month: March 2020

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Shorthand is a Peculiar-Looking Script That Serves an Important Purpose

We take it for granted that technology has made things so much easier than they were for our ancestors.

Taking notes is almost obsolete nowadays because people can quickly type up, record, or use their phones to document meetings and events. So how did people do this before?

Shorthand script, which looks like strange squiggly marks to people who’ve never seen them, was the best way to do so.

Gregg shorthand was used to make it easier for reporters, writers, stenographers, and secretaries to quickly jot down anything they needed.

This system was one of the most employed and vital ways people kept up with long dictations during the Victorian Era.

John Robert Gregg invented the form of shorthand that was most common in the United States. Thomas Pitman invented a different type of shorthand, employed by English-speakers in Great Britain.

Both types of shorthand were created to help writers take down every word, without having to lose anything that was said. Since people speak much faster than they can write, shorthand script was a great way to ensure accuracy.

The idea of shorthand was to reduce the number of lines needed to represent a letter.

Because of its appearance, people who’ve never seen shorthand are likely to mistake it for another language!

Of course, learning shorthand may still be valuable in the event that there’s no wi-fi connection as you’re taking notes!

Many artists use this script to make beautiful artwork nowadays.

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“Seven Affirmations: Willingness is Key” Acrylic on canvas, 24×24. In Gregg Shorthand, the seven affirmations are: I take refuge in the potential of my own recovery; One day at a time; First things first; This too shall pass; Easy does it; Willingness is key; and the Serenity prayer. Although this work was for an individual in recovery, I believe anyone could benefit from these affirmations. #shorthand #shorthandart #shorthandwriting #greggshorthand #steno #stenography #stenographyart #taquigrafia #contemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthquotes #recovery #recoveryquotes #recoverysayings #serenityprayer #krinknyc #alcoholicsanonymous #narcoticsanonymous #alanon #soberliving #sobriety #mindfulnessquotes #addictionrecovery #addiction #opioidaddiction #krinkk60

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Had you ever seen shorthand of any kind before? Do you think it still has value today?

Tell us why or why not in the comments.

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Check Out This Stunning Temple in Thailand, Complete With a 17-Story Dragon Facade

With its beautiful beaches and cosmopolitan cities, Thailand is a great place to take a vacation. Travelers can also revel in the country’s beautiful architecture as well.

The country boasts a beautiful Buddhist temple called Wat Samphran, or Temple of the Rising Dragon. Located in Thailand’s Samphran district, the bright pink temple also features a 17-story dragon on its facade.

The temple is 80 meters high because that was how long Buddha lived. But don’t believe our description, see for yourself!

The top of the temple allows for this marvelous view of the area.

It’s possible to get a romantic, larger-than-life view.

Close-up details are also stunning.

There’s some seriously beautiful foliage surrounding the temple. Perfect for a quiet day’s outing.

Evening views are also delightful!

The dragon of Wat Samphran is an architectural feat!

This complex is also a part of the temple.

Wat Samphran’s dragon gives off some seriously fierce vibes!

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? En la Boca del Dragón ? . . Hace una semana estaba caminando por adentro de un dragón, y ahora a 16.872km listo para salir rumbo a la Patagonia. ¿Rutina? A mi dejame con esta vida impredecible que me sorprende a cada rato, y en la que nunca se que me espera a donde voy. Así es como me siento siento vivo, en el fuego, en la boca del dragón ?? . . #thailand #southeastasia #lonelyplanet #dragon #wanderlust #postaleslp #beautifuldestinations #travelphotography #travelgram #wanderlust #drone #dronephotography #thai #droneoftheday #dragontemple #2020 #dragonballz #viajesng #shenlong #thai #watsamphran #buddhism #ecotourism #sustainabletourism #buda #artofvisuals #natgeotravelerlatam

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This is more of what you can expect at the bottom of the temple as well.

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#watsamphran

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The temple is located just outside of Bangkok, and the trip seems well worth it.

 

This video also shows how you can visit the top of the temple if you’re able to visit.

The temple’s stairs are now deteriorating, but the structure remains beautiful.

Would you ever travel to Thailand to see the temple?

Let us know what you think of this amazing architectural masterpiece in the comments!

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People Discuss How and When to Apologize for a Mental Health Episode

There’s a lot of stigma around mental health issues, but this is slowly changing. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says that in 2018, approximately 19.1% of people in the United States experienced mental illness.

Obviously it’s important to be sensitive about mental health issues in the country, but one Twitter user spoke out about the lack of apologies over mental health blowups that sometimes occur as a result of certain conditions.

The tweet went viral and several people spoke out for and against this opinion.

Some people were for this type of accountability.

Some people agreed but had some reservations.

A professional chimed in with their opinion.

One Twitter user explained why she apologizes when she can.

And someone else chimed in with why they choose to apologize, but they also preface with the fact that no one is owed anything.

One person tweeted about her experiences on both sides of this conundrum.

One Twitter user mentioned that some of these mental health breakdowns are also survival mechanisms that don’t warrant an apology.

Another Twitter user brought up a valid point: some abusers deal with mental health issues as well.

Another Twitter user mentions that it’s important to improve communication about mental health issues in general.

There were many other tweets, but this one tried to put things into context:

It’s clear that any and all discussions around mental health aren’t easy. As some people mentioned, some mental health blowups are simply coping mechanisms, and they’re difficult to predict. It’s hard to pin down etiquette when discussing issues that have different consequences for everyone involved, but at least this Twitter thread began a necessary dialog.

What’s your take on the topic? There are no easy answers, but all points of view are welcome in the comments section. Perhaps your opinion or experience may help a reader that’s been seeking answers.

Drop your thoughts and let’s get to talking!

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Canceling Your Uber Ride Can Be Bad News for Drivers

Ube has made our lives easier in innumerable ways. For patrons and for drivers alike, being able to connect one-on-one to someone when you need a ride, or to pick someone up when you could use some cash, has been a life-changing opportunity.

There are downsides like safety concerns, of course, but for the most part, people love it and it sure seems as if the practice is here to stay.

If you’re someone who uses Uber regularly, though, you might want to be aware how certain actions – like canceling your ride – can affect the driver half of the occasion. At first, the $5 fee you might be charged for canceling might not seem like enough to deter you (or maybe it does), but Uber’s existing policies aren’t so great for drivers who are canceled on last minute.

Uber drivers aren’t making that much to begin with, and it turns out only $3.75 of that cancellation fee actually goes to your driver. Worse, if you dispute the cancellation fee, you’ll receive an alert stating that the driver might lose out on money if you continue with the dispute – even if the reason you’re canceling has to do with an issue with the app, say, and not because you don’t need a ride or the driver was late.

At least one driver on Reddit shared that cancellation fees can be – and have been – withheld without any disclosed reason.

“I have had three instances now where I waited over five minutes before canceling, took screenshots to prove I waited the full time, canceled the ride, and then never received the fee.

This is completely different from the consumer’s side, where if a passenger simply says ‘My driver was under the influence of alcohol with no evidence, the passenger gets a refund, that driver can lose the pay from that ride, have their account immediately suspended for a minimum of three days, and possibly even permanently deactivated.”

First of all, I can’t believe there are sh*t people out there who are so intent on getting something for nothing that they would ruin another person’s livelihood to save a couple of bucks.

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Sometimes I don't know how to feel about Uber drivers being able to rate their passengers. I'm not providing you a service. Sometimes I just want to relax and listen to music when I'm in an Uber. I was told that some drivers like conversations and you can get down-voted as a passenger for not partaking in something as trivial as small talk. I'm paying the money so if I want to just relax, I don't want to do so with the repercussion of a getting "less stars". Although this is a trivial topic in my opinion, the presence of "less stars" as a passenger may not reflect well in the eyes of future Uber drivers. Of course that is not my concern because I just want to get from points A to B in one piece. I just find it a bit odd. ??‍♀️ P.S. I make memes to cope with occasional crippling depression. ?? Isn't that a kick in the pants? #Uber #Uberrider #smalltalk #meme #islandlivvie #00s #ride

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Second of all, I can definitely believe that a corporation like Uber would come down on the side of the consumer…or actually, on whatever side is going to benefit them the most financially.

So the next time you have an issue, think of your driver before you cancel or request that refund – though if it’s truly the driver’s fault, go ahead and protect your own assets, of course.

Just do your best to exercise common sense first.

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People Share What Technology They Think is Lagging

Technology seems to change daily. I swear the “next’ iPhone is out weeks after the last one released! Tech consumers are hungry for more, but have you ever wondered why some items never seem to advance? Like solar power? Sure there are some ways it’s available, but at a high cost!

u/worldtraveler100 proposed to AskReddit, “What technology are you shocked has not advanced yet?” and the comments are incredible and a little out there.

25. Why we only have an option for veneers?

That we can’t put enamel back on teeth.

24. Why is recycling still not offered in more areas?

Waste disposal.

We still bury most of it in the ground.

23. To all the girls out there

Bras.

You’d think that we wouldn’t still be wearing the metal death traps of our grandmothers suffering, but nope. You see ’the new bra’ every few years but it never catches on.

My back hurts.

22. The internet in general

In my country its the Internet

21. This is clever

Elevators.

Why can we not unpress a button that has been clicked?

20. She’s passionate about a printer upgrade. We relate.

Printers. Don’t even get me started on the ones at my lab.

Paper in the load tray are perfectly fine? Time for the printer to crumple a tiny edge and then scream “PAPER JAM” and halting everything else until you take that one piece of paper out. It’s all good though, that’ll buy you about 5 minutes before it repeats itself.

Someone forgot to load paper before starting the day and the printer happens to run out? Surprise, the printer has just locked down all tests on the machine and requires that paper be loaded AND THEN the machine itself needs to be rebooted and reloaded for an extra 20 minutes before proceeding.

This one printer is going to be the sole reason for me having an aneurism one of these days.

19. More love for the poptart

Frost the whole f**king pop tart already.

18. Please silence the microwave

Microwave doors.

There is no such thing as a quiet microwave door yet we can know what chemicals are in space thousands of light years away

17. A cure for allergies

Allergy control.

How are there no permanent cures for allergies yet? I’ll never know how awesome it must be to own a german shepherd, and so many people wont ever know how good peanut butter is

16. This is a “huge” but unnecessary idea

Around twenty years ago, I was promised a cloned woolly mammoth. Then, I read about a plan to reverse engineer elephants back into mammoths. Look, I don’t need to know the ins-and-outs, just make the damn mammoth!

15. I can hear a lot of men cheering

I’m still shocked that with all our medical research we haven’t found any cure or reliable treatment for baldness.

14. AMEN!

The entire DMV process.

13. Why are security camera still blurry?

CCTV footage still looking like it was recorded by a potato.

12. Too many passwords and security threats

Passwords.

Especially entering them with an onscreen alphabet selector like its a 1986 Nintendo game. There are so many better ways to secure things than this and all the hassles that go with forgetting them, resetting them etc.

11. “Meet George Jetson…”

I want my flying car I was promised.

10. To all the teenagers out there…

Curing acne

9. Nuclear fusion

Nuclear fusion.

Funding for the single thing that will eventually solve all the energy needs on the planet is practically non-existent, and they’re still making progress.

Why? Because the uneducated masses hear ‘nuclear’ and are unable to think of anything other than Chernobyl.

8. Better battery life

Batteries.

It’s probably one of the most important technologies today, yet batteries haven’t substantially changed since their invention.

And yes, I know, there are graphene batteries in development, but they’re far from being ready

7. Who hates folding clothes? *raises hand*

Laundry.

Sure, laundry machines can make clothes a lot cleaner than they used to. But a real breakthrough would be to have laundry completely automatic without the washer/dryer turnover and having your clothes folded for you.

6. Birth control equality for all

A better and safer birth control.

Also, male birth control.

5. Your rear end will thank you

Toilet paper – I’m shocked it has not advanced to the three sea shell system yet.

But really there hasn’t been any advancement besides adding plys or softness, I’m shocked we have discovered a better way.

Or take more advantage of the bidet.

4. Better airline communication

Technology to localize missing planes.

We can stream Netflix during a flight but when the plane crashes we can’t reach the black box unless we fish it out from the ocean

3. Does the epidural not count?

Giving birth.

Surely with all today’s science and research, why in the world do we still have to suffer through painful hours of giving birth to a baby when it could be done without suffering, quick and easy without sweat and tears.

2. Stop the ticket scalpers

Concert tickets.

Blows my mind that in 2020 there is no better way to get tickets into the hands of actual fans without the overwhelming majority going to resellers.

1. This should be totally be looked at…

Voting Systems

While some of these are odd, most of these are great thoughts on advancement.

What do you think? Should these items go to the top of the list?

Weigh in below!

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What Would You Do If You Had 20 Minutes to Live? 30 People Answer.

You’ve heard this problem before: “If you were stranded on an island and could bring one thing with you, what would it be?” It’s a question meant to spark your personality traits, behaviors and more.

Reddit user u/Colonal-Sanders took this question and surpassed it. They asked, “You have 20 minutes left to live. What do you do?” Yikes! What would you do? Here are the best answers from the community.

30. How considerate, you know, so they won’t be understaffed…

Call-in to work, I guess…

29. He’s thinking ahead!

Talk to my family and friends. Say thanks. Say that they shouldn’t grief too much.

And fucking erase the porn from my hard drive, of course.

28. Never die hungry

et my dog out, leave a message on Facebook, Call my Mom, leave a note, heat up some ramen noodles and watch the end of Return of the King

27. TRUTH!

Probably get diarrhea and sweat a bunch

26. Don’t forget about the doggo

hug my cat

25. A well thought out plan

Get in my car and drive to my local hospital. Take the remaining 5 mins to call my wife and tell her I love her. Then explain to her why I wasted 15 mins driving to the hospital when I’m dying.

I explain that I don’t want to taint the house we worked so hard to own. If I died in it and she had to find my body in it then it would ruin it for her and possibly impact re-sale value.

Also if I die at the hospital they can just take care of the body there and no kid or whatever has to find me in a park etc.

24. Messages beyond the grave

Record video messages for my children, husband and close family. I’d let my children know I’m proud of them and I love them and to always try and do their best in life and be kind and loving to others.

23. Never leave things unsaid

Call my closest friend and ex for one last conversation, she’s a great friend. I would rather not leave her wondering why I ghosted her.

22. Accept it and chill

Roll a blunt and write a leaving notice, I mean if I can’t live any longer I just chill and accept it

21. Putting the “fun” in funeral

Record a goodbye video for my friends and family.

I figure thats the best way to get to say everything I want to say to everyone instead of panic calling and potentially missing someone. I will also use the video to stipulate the terms of my funeral, which shall go like this:

There will be an epic scavenger hunt leading to the location of my funeral. The first to arrive get to call dibs on something from my estate, so find it fast for the best stuff, like my 158 sweater collection or my Nazi German shepherd puppet from the TV show Danger 5. Once everyone is there, the celebration kicks off because my funeral is going to be a party with lots of booze, good food, and live music.

20. The literal thinker

I’d wait 20 minutes

19. Remember the good things in life

I’d tell the most important people in my life truly what they mean to me. I’d think of my grandparents and look back fondly on my memories and then I’d hold my dog and just pet him until the end came.

18. No regrets

Speak my mind, for once in my life.

17. Comfort food and love

I would tell my crush how much I like him, eat hashbrowns, talk with my mother (in that order)

16. Meta

beat the universe: let me explain. if I am guaranteed to die in 20 minutes (not less) then I will be invincible for 20 minutes.

15. Agreed, wholeheartedly

Probably 20 minutes of existential crisis.

14. Do your chores

Finish cleaning up the apartment and not be on Reddit. Wife would bring me back from dead to kill me again.

13. Keep ’em guessing

Write a letter: “You find my hidden money in-” and die.

12. Making time for play

Make an epic race with my hot wheels collection

11. “Stairway to Heaven”, maybe?

I accept my fate and start playing heavy metal.

10. Yep

Drink

9. Let’s hope the update will be done in 20 minutes

Install all those windows updates I’ve been postponing.

8. Dying happy?

Get laid. Die mid orgasm.

7. Sharing the wealth

Max out all my cards, and give that money to family or charity

6. Thoughtful

Get up and leave the house. Don’t want one of my loved ones to find me.

Get on my bike and ride to the hospital (I live 15 minutes and traffic won’t be a concern). If they revive me, I’ve technically died, but I live on.

5. Attention everyone!

Stand in the middle of the room I’m in at work. Loudly claim that I’ve become a target for assassination by *insert government/corporation here* and that I could die at any second.

Keep their attention until I eventually drop down dead in front of them all.

4. Sleep before the big sleep

Have a nap.

3. Choices, choices

Have sex I guess. Actually I’d probably call my parents. But not both. Probably.

2. Do you, man. Do you.

Eat my left toe. I always wondered what that sucker tasted like.

1. Best answer!

Depends on circumstances. If it’s a zombie apocalypse I’m going down swinging.

It’s safe to say, most people would call their loved ones, while others will play, dance, or nap. There are no wrong answers when faced with this decision.

For me? I’m not sure what I could get done in 20 minutes!  I suppose I’d call my loved ones too…and nap.

How about you? Comment below!

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