Monday, 2 March 2015

One Last Tweet Before You Die

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Hello Procrastinators!

 This is a Happy Monday post and although it's not going to make you smile, it could help you to realise what you post online is more important than you think, and that life is too short to waste. And facing the reality of life is just as important as blocking it out and forcing yourself to be happy. As the following tweets will help us all realise is we never know when this one life we have is going to end and we best make the most of it while we can. Okay, so preaching over, let's begin...

 We're at a strange place with technology at the moment. We live our lives through it, and then when we die, it precedes us as something physical and accessible by anyone we've ever been in contact with. Our tweets and Facebook posts and blogs can outlive us, and our past selves can be judged from them.

 Leonard Nimoy sadly passed away on February 27th 2015 and the world was in mourning. People who possibly hadn't even seen Star Trek were flung into public displays of deep sadness - but obviously not for the retweets or the likes. Most poignantly was Nimoy's last tweet before he died. He sent it just five days before he passed away and it's actually profound.


Reading about his last tweet made me question whether any other celebrities had such philosophical final tweets, their last word to the internet world. It led me to a site called The Tweet Hereafter, a list of all celebrities who have died, their last tweets, the time and dates of their deaths and how they died. It's morbidly interesting.

 Some people were tragically taken before their time and their tweets about upcoming events or things they were excited for, so everyday that it was clear they were taken off-guard.

 

Harry Potter night tonight again with Sarah. There's nothing like it………. The movies are ok. ∞
Tweeted:March 12, 2014, 8:27 p.m. UTC
Died:March 12, 2014, 10 p.m. UTC
Heart attack







 

oh. IT'S A SHARK TORNADO. ∞
Tweeted:July 12, 2013, 1:25 p.m. PST
Died:July 13, 2013 PST
Overdose






 

I just moved up to the rank of Noteworthy on the Who's Who of Southern Africa! whoswho.co.za/mandy-rossouw-… ∞
Tweeted:March 12, 2013, 3:25 p.m. SAST
Died:March 12, 2013, 4 p.m. SAST
Unknown







Some, however, are so relevant that it's almost prophetical. 

 

It's about to be a very eventful night to say the least ∞
Tweeted:Nov. 12, 2014, 1:33 p.m. EST
Died:Nov. 14, 2014 EST





 

It won't last.... It'll never last.... ∞
Tweeted:Oct. 23, 2014, 8:17 a.m. PST
Died:Oct. 23, 2014, 12:45 p.m. PST
Gunshot  |






 

I get by with a little help from my friends! Live to Love! Love to Live! Love You Live! Hope to see… http://t.co/NWBjbG0LJ7 ∞
Tweeted:July 7, 2014, 2:29 p.m. UTC
Died:July 8, 2014, noon UTC
Heart attack







Some even use Twitter to make public their suicides, or their suicide notes.

 

Adios folks. Suicide note is here: https://t.co/zmoBtwk034 Good luck y'all ∞
Tweeted:Oct. 1, 2014, 1:59 p.m. PST
Died:Oct. 1, 2014, 2 p.m. PST
Suicide 







 

I'm sorry. ∞
Tweeted:Jan. 5, 2013, 2:34 p.m. PST
Died:Jan. 5, 2013, 2:35 p.m. PST
Suicide 






 

The end. ∞
Tweeted:Dec. 23, 2012, 8:59 p.m. PST
Died:Dec. 23, 2012, 8:59 p.m. PST
Suicide






Some of the tweets relate to their deaths in such a way that it's freaky, like this one:

 

Order your RiflemanTV t-shirts! gaohunts.com/proddetail.asp…#riflemantv http://t.co/TwFrHQOFXI ∞
Tweeted:March 7, 2013, 2:18 p.m. CST
Died:March 8, 2013, 10:30 p.m. CST
Gunshot 








 

What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #ValentinesDay ∞
Tweeted:Feb. 13, 2013, 1:37 p.m. SAST
Died:Feb. 14, 2013 SAST
Gunshot







And some serve to remind us that your tweets, texts or Facebook posts could be the last thing you ever get to say, your very final and public words to the world, and could be what you are remembered by.

 

Alex Rodriguez should follow my example of retiring graciously and disappearing into a distant land rather than continue to be a mockery. ∞
Tweeted:Oct. 17, 2012, 5:15 p.m. LMT
Died:Nov. 1, 2012 LMT
Homicide










So think before you post online - none of us know how long we've got so make every day count!

 Jess x







Your New Favourite Album

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Hello Procrastinators!

 I've been trawling through newly released music and albums to find you the best new album of the week - your new favourite album! The best of the best. It's not a title that comes lightly. 

 Smoke and Mirrors - Imagine Dragons

 Imagine Dragons, surprisingly, only have two albums. It feels like they've been releasing songs for years and haven't stopped to take a breath. Most bands take ages to create their second album but Imagine Dragons are different from the rest. They've bounced straight back after just a few short months' hiatus and their material is brilliant. It's experimental, it has ups and downs of quiet and loud, it has amazing vocals, melodic guitars and catchy beats. 

 Amazing to listen to while you're studying or predrinking.

 Highlights are: Shots, I Bet My Life, Warriors

 9/10

 Jess x

Top 5 Uplifting Films

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Hello Procrastinators! Here's a list of the most uplifting films which make you laugh, happy and generally make you feel better about the world. Warning: contains spoilers!
Forrest Gump


While the film features many tear-jerking moments, the life of Forrest Gump will captivate and inspire you. Only he can be a heroic war veteran, superstar football player and millionaire without even realising it. And that's the beauty of the film: simplicity. Forrest is a simple character wanting to lead a simple life, but he unwittingly ends up being a celebrity. This is the ultimate feel good film and it also makes you believe that you can do anything.

Elf


This one's a real cheese fest, but it's brilliant. A Christmas film, but it can be enjoyed anytime as Will Ferrell brilliantly plays a lost elf searching for his father. He ends up saving Christmas and finally fitting in with his real family. Disgustingly cliche, but it offers an easy watch, cheap laughs and, ultimately, a soppy moral message: family's the most important thing. N'aww.

Big


Another Tom Hanks classic (he is pretty amazing). Here he's a prepubescent boy who wants to be big, so he makes a wish at a Zoltar machine which culminates in him getting big, falling in love, getting a dream job but eventually sacrificing it all to become small again. It's heart-warming stuff that shows not all wishes should come true.

Cool Runnings 


Literally the film of my childhood. This not only turns you into a bobsled enthusiast, but also part Jamaican. Cue awful Jamaican accent. Even though they finish last, the fact that they got there is wonderful, even more so when you realise it's based on a true story. This is an all round happy film which you just have to watch.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off


If you ever find life getting on top of you, ask yourself: what would Ferris Bueller do? It's be pretty useless advice but you'd have plenty of fun. This film features Ferris, probably the coolest person ever, and his efforts to have fun whilst skipping school. It's a timeless coming of age classic that you must watch.


Connor x




6 Cheap Ways to Treat Yourself

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Hello Procrastinators! Feeling the post-Christmas/pre-summer blues and strapped for cash? Here's a list of the best ways to treat yourself on a limited budget. Enjoy!

 Netflix binge. Got a day to kill but don't wanna spend a penny? Well then Netflix is your sanctuary. With series' like Breaking Bad, Dexter and American Horror Story and films like the Godfather, Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump, there's plenty there to fill your time!

 Eat disgusting amounts of junk food. A perfect accompaniment to a Netflix binge. There's nothing better than eating a whole tub of ice cream to yourself guilt free. 

 Nap. Had a long, hard day? Still got a bazillion things to do? Have a nap. It sounds counter-productive but it will refresh you and allow you to lose yourself in the wondrous world of sleep.

 Online shop. Not the cheapest exercise, granted, but go on Amazon/Ebay on buy the one you've wanted for ages. Set yourself a limit of £10 and see how far you can make it go.

 YouTube. You can watch literally anything in the world, but you'll definitely end up watching hours of cat videos. But hey, who doesn't love seeing cats play the piano?

 Have a bath whilst reading a book. The best combination ever. It will relax you and give you some time to yourself.
Connor x   

Was Catfish (Series 5 Episode 1) Worth It?

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Hello Procrastinators!

 It's the best time of the year - the Easter time of the year when we get the official notice that the new series of Catfish is starting again. Series 5 looks to be an amazing one, full of somehow even more intense story lines and crazy endings. 

Episode one begins with an apology that Max won't be joining Nev for most of this series, masked by Zac Efron smiling at the camera to distract from the bad news. Because Catfish is all about the hosts and Max and Nev are the perfect combo. One without the other just isn't the same. Last series Max missed out on a few episodes so they got in some celebrity to cover for him and it was okay but the celebrities are only given one episode to try and impress us and just as they're getting into the swing of things and we're starting to like them, the episode ends and someone else is shoved in.

This time around we had Charlamagne who I guess is big in America but his fame wasn't so hard-hitting for us Brit viewers. Definitely no Max. His strange comments about men inherently wanting to bang women were strange but as the episode went on he got more likeable. He was quite funny in parts but he just didn't fit in quite right. His sincere exclamations about how "real" the show was seemed, conversely, really fake. But the girl who they help, Miracle, is actually nice and you hope for the best even though you know it's Catfish so it's probably not going to be. I'm not going to tell you anything other than that, you can watch it and find out for yourself.

In parts we were literally on the edge of our seats, gasping and cursing the adverts for ruining a big moment. Somehow after four series Nev still seems, even if it's acting, to be genuinely excited and intrigued about people and who they've fallen for. It would be easy for him to be cynical, pessimistic and to be bored of the show but he's still as anxious and into the show as we are. 

 I can't wait for the rest of the series, the only way it can go from episode one is up! Hurry up back, Max!

 Jess x

2 Easy Ways to Write a Screenplay/Script

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Hello Procrastinators!

 We've all had dreams of being famous at something. So maybe your thing is that you want to be a screenplay writer? Here are some great sites to help you fulfil your dreams. 


Basic:

For general advice about how to start going about writing a script from the very beginning this site is really helpful. It details how to to order your ideas and even how to get ideas for your next script. 


For a how-to list that covers all of the basics then you should start here. It's got lists and pictures to help you understand the really pedantic technicalities of writing a script. The only problem is it's very long winded and with barely any examples of what a script should look like in full and the more complicated components.

You can find a good example of a script with all the bits and pieces labelled here. 

Fancy:

 Celtx is free online software that doesn't require a download and it saved me when I had a screenplay assignment due in but I had no clue where to even start. It configures everything for you, has the right settings and font and spacing and margins. I would definitely recommend this for when you know the basics to actually start writing your screenplay.

There's other paid software you can get but I'm a student. I like my freebies. Until I'm recommended a better one I'll probably stick with this. It's not too complicated and it gets the job done. 

 If you know any better software or websites just comment below! 
Jess x

Easy Ways To Celebrate St. David's Day

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Hello Procrastinators!

 A little known fact about me (Jess) is that I'm half Welsh. Hardly exotic. However yesterday was St. David's Day - but who parties on a Sunday?! Plan a get together for this weekend and give yourself something to look forward to. We all need a great weekend to have in our sights during the boring working/studying week. 

 Buy Some Daffodils
Daffodils at the minute are so cheap. One pound will buy you a whole bunch of daffodils because they're in season. And they're so yellow and Spring-y and happy! Decorate as many rooms as you like, but if you don't have any vases jugs or pots or cafetieres will do. This could be the cheapest, easiest way for a student to have something living in their house. If you accidentally kill them, well, it's only the price of a Pot Noodle.
Watch Game of Thrones

 As we all know, Wales has a flag with a dragon on. Something else we know is Game of Thrones features some bad-ass dragons. With series five looming over us, beginning in April, refresh your memory of the last four series. See how much Arya has grown up, and which characters still remain from series one. Thehe best way to pay your respects to St. David's Day without even leaving your bed. 

Make Leek and Potato Soup

 So cheap and easy, it can be frozen and it'll feed you for ages. Amazing for a student budget.

 What you need: butter, one large leek, 4 medium potatoes (peel and diced), 900mls veg or chicken stock.

 Directions: Melt the butter. Cover and cook the leek over a low heat for five minutes. Add the potatoes and cook for another ten minutes or until soft. Pour in the stock and bring it to the boil, then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Mash the soup with a potato masher or use a blender if you're posh. 

 Enjoy! Don't forget to send your mam a picture and show her how capable you are, making home-made food. You adult, you. Include lamb somehow for an extra-Welsh feel.

Red and White Theme
For your party if you have one you could theme your guests' outfits to be red and white and see what kind of things people come up with. Or you could have red and white decorations. And music from bands with red or white in their name or song titles. 

 The possibilities are endless.




Drink Beer

Beer is Wales' national drink. So get some tankards out and get a selection of some new beers you've never tried before. Play some drinking games, like ring of fire (Dragon related, obvs). Here are the rules:

Ring of Fire: Have a jug/pan in the centre in the table (or a glass if you're wimps like the above photo). Get a pack of cards and surround the jug/pan with them, evenly spreading the cards in a circle. Everyone takes turns picking a card. Each card has a different meaning and if you break the circle of cards so there's a gap you have to down your drink. 

Ace - Waterfall. The person who picked the card starts downing their drink and everyone has to drink too. When the original card-picker stops drinking so does everyone else. Each person can choose not to stop but to drink for as long as they want and anyone after them in the chain must drink for as long as they do.
Two - You. Pick someone to have a drink.
Three - Me. You drink.
Four - Never Have I Ever - have a round of never have I ever. Eg. Never have I ever smoked, and anyone who has smoked must drink. 
Five - Thumbs. At any point during the game (until some one else gets a 5) put your thumb on the table and the last person to realise and follow suit must drink.
Six - Chicks. All women in the room must drink.
Seven - Heaven. The person picking the card must put their hand in the air and the last person to follow suite must drink.
Eight - Mate. Pick someone to be your mate and whenever you have to drink, they have to drink too.
Nine - Rhyme. Pick a word and everyone must think of a rhyme. No repeats. First person to fail has to drink. 
Ten - Men. All males in the room must drink.
Jack - Snake eyes. If anyone makes eye contact with this person for the rest of the game they must drink.
Queen - Question Master. If you ask a question and anyone answers they must drink.
King - Everyone pours a bit of their drink into the pot.

 Whoever pulls the fourth king has to drink all of the drink in the pot at the end.

 Hope this helps you to have a happy St. David's Day!

 Jess x