Notices by atomicpoet (atomicpoet@atomicpoet.org), page 3

I’m not happy about the iPhone SE 4.

The screen size has been increased from 4.7” to 6.1”.

Why don’t companies want to make small smartphones anymore?

https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/12/iphone-se-4-new-features/

My wife told me I need new jeans because my old jeans are too big on me.

Didn’t believe her because I’ve gained weight, not lost weight.

So she asked me to go to Old Navy and try on jeans, and she’s right.

My waist has shrunk by two sizes since last year.

When I was 215lbs, I could barely fit in size 38 jeans. Now I’m 225lbs and fit in size 36 jeans.

Eventually, Gen Z is going to learn the same lesson about sincerity that Gen X and Millennials did.

Which is that irony and apathy don’t mean you’re “above it all”. They just make you inauthentic and numb.

If you want to grow as a person, you must care about things. Therefore, embrace that you’re cringe.

ROCK FANS: “Meg White sucks. The White Stripes would be so much better if Jack White just got rid of her.”

ALSO ROCK FANS: “This Jack White solo album is okay, I guess. But something’s missing and I can’t figure it out…”

I’m shook! 😬

Just saw a guy almost kill himself by launching himself off a ledge onto the concrete pavement below. He had second thoughts at the last moment as he climbed down.

I walked over to see if he is okay. Lot’s of messy stuff going on with his girlfriend.

I told him no girl is worth killing yourself.

He told me he won’t attempt anything rash again.

Tempted to call the police for his own safety but I don’t want to make things worse.

I had dollar store kimchi instant noodles and I’m regretting it.

It’s as bad as the time I had dollar store escargot.

I have noticed a big increase in WordPress blogs connecting to the Fediverse so that’s cool too.

Who was the first pop star ever?

I say it was Claribel.

Now I know what many of you are thinking: “What about Mozart, Schubert, or Beethoven?”

Yes, all those composers were popular but they do not exist in the tradition of pop music – which is distinct from sacred and classical music.

When I talk about pop music, I’m speaking about that tradition of music that stems from the Chitlin’ Circuit, Vaudeville, and Tin Pan Alley.

Specifically, I’m speaking about composers like Lennon/McCartney, George Gershwin, and Scott Joplin.

But before all of them was a woman from England known as Charlotte Alington Barnard who went by the Tennyson-inspired pseudonym “Claribel”.

Now what specifically qualifies her – of all people – to be the first pop star ever? She was the first composer ever to receive royalties from her music.

Back in the 1860s, Claribel was huge. She wrote over 100 songs, mostly ballads, and people were buying them hand over fist. Performance halls throughout the English-speaking world sang her songs.

To put it bluntly, she was the Taylor Swift of the 19th century. And sadly, she died at the age of 39 from typhoid fever. Yet in her short life, she changed music forever.

This, right here, is one of her many hits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXiHAqfPt7M

This isn’t officially supported but #Akkoma works great on @Flipboard.

And I know this because I’m using it right now with atomicpoet.org. Big thanks to @mike for (unintentionally?) making the best Akkoma client on iOS!

Take a look!

Men are threatened by a beautiful woman because they perceive she has power over them.

And there’s nothing more distressing to men than the threat of a woman with power.

Today’s movie is Black Box starring Mamoudou Athie and Phylicia Rashad.

This is a sci-fi horror film made by Blumhouse, and they have a great track record with horror films. Here’s the description:

After losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is.

After seeing the trailer, I have high hopes for Black Box. This looks like it could be similar to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – but scary!

Wish me luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj6JIzrIzxk

RFK Jr. shouldn’t be news anyway.

He ran in order to siphon off Democrat votes. But he’s dropping out because, in reality, he’ll likely siphon off Republican votes if he stays in the race.

As much as I like Star Wars, I prefer Battle Beyond the Stars.

Which, by the way, is free on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/Rn85-MHpP8Q

Star Wars was clearly influenced by Metropolis.

Actually, every sci-fi film was influenced by Metropolis.

My daughter is about to see Star Wars: A New Hope for the first time.

And on the best medium possible: with a VHS on a CRT TV.

CDs are making a comeback—and that doesn’t surprise me whatsoever.

If you want to build a music collection, CDs are probably the best format to start with.

They sound excellent if mixed properly. The artwork is generally good. But most importantly, both disc and players are super cheap.

I’m a big fan of vinyl and tape. They have their place. But if I were starting my music collection from scratch, I’d start with CDs.

https://www.headphonesty.com/2024/08/cds-suddenly-back-demand-thanks-surprising-audience/

In the late 90s-early 00s, there was a lot of interesting and original space opera:

• Babylon 5
• Stargate SG-1
• Farscape
• Andromeda
• Firefly

As time goes on, it’s been getting harder and harder to find space opera that isn’t Star Wars or Star Trek, and I find myself mining B movies to scratch that itch.

I’m not complaining. People can do a lot when they’re not beholden to the likes of Disney or Paramount.

I should also mention what it’s taken for me to see this change. Here’s my typical workout schedule:

• Sunday: heavy weights, running, power walking, cycling
• Monday: running, power walking, cycling
• Tuesday: running, power walking, cycling
• Wednesday: body weight exercises, free weights, light weights, running, power walking, cycling
• Thursday: rest
• Friday: badminton, running, power walking, cycling
• Saturday: running, power walking, cycling

I didn’t start by doing all these things at once. Each month, I incrementally increase my workout load.

A year and a half ago, I started going to the gym. Prior to that, I was suffering from obesity, high blood pressure, sciatica, and sleep apnea.

Here’s the effect the gym has had on me:

1. When I walk, my heart rate is below 100 BPM
2. With strenuous activity It takes longer for my heart rate to increase to 124 BPM
3. My appetite has drastically increased but I haven’t gained weight
4. My legs, arms, and chest have all expanded
5. I now prefer wearing tank tops because my arms feel uncomfortable with sleeves
6. While I still have belly fat, it’s drastically lessened
7. I’m no longer tired at night
8. I can no longer sit still for long periods of time, and constantly feel the urge to take walks
9. Kneeling down or squatting used to hurt my knees but this has gone away
10. Back pain has gone away

Then there are the social effects. People now strike up conversations with me unprompted. I am treated with more respect. Women seem more comfortable around me.

By no means is this easy. Physical fitness demands maintaining good habits and discipline. In many ways, this has become my life.

When I started, I got discouraged because I didn’t see immediate results. However, I couldn’t deny that I felt better. And slowly, over time, my body has transformed itself.

If you’re wondering if a lifestyle change is worth it, it totally is.

When I tell people what I do with my workout, they wonder how my body is even able to handle it.

And the answer is: conditioning.

After awhile, my body just got used to it. It’s at the point now where lifting 100lbs doesn’t even cause my heart rate to hit 124 lbs. Jogging for five minutes barely moves the needle.

However, rest days can be brutal because I desire to move. But I have to rest in order for my body to recuperate.