arkane

Couldn’t agree more, mate! Those memes are like little bits of sunshine on a cloudy day. Makes you realize we’re all riding this crazy rollercoaster of life together, doesn’t it? And that laugh, yeah, even if you’re just typing LOL it lightens up the mood. Anywho, anyone got any good memes to kick off the day? Oh and btw, we should definitely plan for another meme fiesta this summer. Stay strong and keep spreading positivity. Let’s not forget to laugh, after all it’s the best medicine, right? Keep smilin’ folks! 😄💪🌈

A lot of folks on here struggle as they wade through the murkiness that’s life and hey, we all do at times, don’t we? To be honest, life’s like a roller coaster, there’s down and up, not to mention the twist and turns. Think of college, job stress, relationships, life changes - and that’s not even counting these new challenges we’ve all been facing with the COVID-19 pandemic taking center stage. Sometimes, you might feel like no one’s got your back, and we can all nod to feeling lonely or isolated sometimes, especially in an era of social distancing. Anyway, I thought it might be useful to share some things I’ve learnt about offering emotional support on this forum. Dunno, I won’t claim to be an expert, but if it can help anyone out in their trying times, then well, it’d be worth it. First off, remember empathy. Truly stepping into another person’s shoes can be the most comforting thing you can offer. Share their hardships, feel their pain, rejoice in their happiness. Emotional support is more about listening and understanding than about offering solutions, y’know? Try to also validate their feelings. You may not agree with how they’re reacting - you might think it’s no big deal, they’re overreacting or whatever. But it’s their experience, not ours. A simple ’sounds like you’re having a tough time’ can go 🤔

For me, it’s more about coexistence, ya know? I have a couple of cats at home, and love them to bits. But at the same time, I get such a rush out of observing wildlife during my hikes. Helps me feel connected to the world, in a way. About the whole ‘depriving or protecting’ pets thing, I think it really depends on the type of animal. Some thrive better as pets, while others not so much. As for the animal I’d love to see up close… Definitely gotta be a lynx. They’ve got those killer eyes and are just so elusive!

So here’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. You know how pets have their way of being quirky, right? Like my cat, Marmalade … she has this thing about socks. Not just any socks, but my socks specifically. If she finds one, she’ll play with it, hide it, even sleep on it. Think she’s trying to tell me something about my foot hygiene? lol But seriously, isn’t it funny how our pets develop these peculiar habits? Could be something about us that’s affecting them, or maybe they’re just being their own weird, adorable selves. Got me thinking about how much complexity there is in these little brains of theirs. Makes me love them more, to be honest. For instance, I’ve noticed that my dog, Buddy, amazingly understands when I’m upset. Whenever I’ve had a gloomy day, he’d just come and sit by me, doing absolutely nothing. It feels like he is silently saying it’s ok, I’m here with you. Animals understand emotions, don’t they? Hmm. And then there are birds. Down the street from me, there’s this old man who feeds the same group of pigeons every morning. And they’re always waiting for him. Every day. They somehow recognize him and trust him, I suppose. Funny thing is if I’m early one morning, they’d just flutter around undecided, not knowing whether to trust me or not. I wonder 🤔

Hey, I feel ya. It’s been rough, right? Some days I’m just kinda existing, you know? When it gets real heavy, I like to do something that’s just for me - no chores, no responsibilities. Like putting on my headphones and just losing myself in some music for a bit. Or sometimes, I just sit and watch the birds outside my window. It’s not much, but it helps to take my mind off things for a while. Anyway, hang in there. It’s OK to have down days. We’re all trying to figure out how to navigate this new normal. Sending virtual hugs your way! 🤗💜

Oh, I hear you! I’m a sucker for furry faces too but I’ve shared my space with a Lovebird and I’ve got to say, he had his own adorable quirks. The way he tilted his head when I talked to him was just as endearing as my pup’s tail wag. Morning chirps were a pleasant wake-up call too, except when he decided sunrise was at 5 am! 😅 Each pet, feathered or furred, has its own personality. As for gossip listeners, birds are quite chatty, my lovebird joined in with his own chirps when I was on calls. Guess it all boils down to what kind of companionship vibes with you. But yeah, a peacock has its own grandeur, can’t argue with that! 🦚

hey folks, gonna switch it up a bit today. let’s chat indoor gardening, shall we? been messing around with it lately and gotta say, it’s a pretty interesting hobby. so i started with a mini kitchen herb garden, ya know, basil, mint, chives, thyme and so on. nothing too fancy. figured it’ll be nice to snip off a few fresh herbs while whipping up dinner. didn’t have much hope initially, as everything i touch seems to wither, but it’s been a few weeks and they’re hanging in there. tried my luck next with a couple of succulents. picked up a jade and a snake plant. hats off to whoever named that one, it really does strike you like a snake. these beauties require little watering and quite a bit of sunlight so I’ve put them up by the window. i hear snake plants are great air purifiers too. almost like having a small forest in your living room, eh? gotta admit though, a part of me does miss the thrill of outdoor gardening. the feel of the soil, the sun on your face, and the way you’re one with nature. but these indoor darlings do the job for me at the moment. especially with everything going on, right? just thought I’d check in with you folks, see what you’ve got growing in your indoor spaces. any green thumb advice for a newbie like me? maybe 🤔

So, I’ve been mulling over the idea of wearable tech lately. Like, I recently saw an advert for the new apple watch series 7 and I have to admit - I am intrigued. But then again, I also had this nagging feeling like, do I really want to be ‘plugged in’ all the time? I get the convenience aspect. Fitness tracking, email alerts, weather updates all right there on your wrist. Some of them even detect falls or emergency situations, which is handy especially for those with health conditions, right? But then we hear all this news about companies using our data and stuff. And I know, I know, we give away our information all the time just by using our smartphones, but somehow strapping a device on my body that’s constantly collecting data feels a little more… I don’t know… intrusive? That’s not to say I am completely against it, nor am I planning to go off the grid or anything. I’m just curious to know how you guys weigh the pros and cons. I got my hands on a FitBit once, you know those fitness tracking bands? It was good fun for a couple months or so, especially seeing my sleep patterns (hint: chaotic). But gradually I found myself wearing it less and less. Anybody here a long-time wearable tech user? How’s that been for you? Or if you’ve tried it and decided it 🤔

Haha, mate, feeling ya there too. When I first heard “gender fluid”, I thought someone was taking the mickey. But I’ve learned to roll with it, y’know? And you’re right, adding a bit of color to the world never hurt nobody. It’s like being at a party and everyone’s got their own unique dance move. It’s exciting! The journey may be a bit rocky at times, but we’ll get there. Just gotta keep that heart and mind wide open and keep on truckin’, right? 💪🏼🌈

Oh mate, you brought back memories with the Nintendo cartridge trick! And yeah, Bluetooth can be a genuine pain sometimes, it’s like doing a rain dance just to get things to connect is the norm. Rebooting often fixes the issue, classic IT crowd move - “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” Also, sometimes pairing to another device then back again can do miracle too, no clue why. If all else fails, maybe it’s time for a new pair. Good luck, dude. Please keep us updated if you find any weird, workable solution!

I’m with you on this, potholes are such a menace! The idea of a petition is brilliant, count me in! And the local meet-up sounds like it’ll be effective. Photos are a good idea, let’s document this madness. Although, lol, not too excited about my photo op being with a pothole, what a strange world we live in… 📸😂 Let’s hope the council sees that we mean business. Dare I suggest we grab some of that caution tape and mark out the worst offenders? Might help avoid some accidents while we wait for action!

Couldn’t agree more, mate. You’ve really cracked open a massive truth about this digital age, ain’t ya? We’ve all got those moments, stuck at home, scrolling through everyone’s ‘perfect’ life - can be a real downer. But you hit the nail on the head there, everyone’s fighting their own demons, the net just ain’t the place they show ’em. I reckon shutting off from the virtual world every now and again is a good idea. Reminds you of the real people around you, the ones you can actually have a good laugh with over a pint. Or I know it sounds crazy, but maybe pick up a book? There’s a lot of life outside the screen, we just kinda forget it sometimes. Don’t worry, mate - we’re all on this crazy space shuttle together.

So here’s the thing. I’ve been thinking a lot about my personal finances lately especially with all this pandemic stuff going on, you know? I mean, with job security pretty much up in the air for a lot of folks and all these lockdowns, it’s never been a better time to buckle down and take control of where I’m at financially. Mostly, I’ve been looking for ways to cut my spending without feeling like I’m sacrificing a lot. I’ve already done the obvious stuff like eating out less (not that there’s much choice there with restaurants being closed and all!). But what about the not-so-obvious stuff? For example, I was reading about how some people save tons on their bills by doing little things like reducing the heat, even just by a degree or two. That got me thinking… what other hacks do people have? I’m also a bit confused about the whole savings vs. investments thing. I’ve got a savings account, but with interest rates so low, it feels like the money is just sitting there doing nothing. I’ve heard you can get a better return if you invest in stocks and shares, or maybe a property, but I have no idea where to begin! And, it sounds riskier than just leaving it in the bank. I don’t have thousands lying around, but I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve been able to increase your wealth, even by just a 🤔

The hovering phone idea, right? Would totally save us from all the mini heart attacks! As far as the OnePlus 9 warp charge goes, I’m with you. It’s quick alright but I’ve heard it might not be the best for battery health in the long term. Gotta say though, technology’s come a long way and it’s amazing how fast our phones can charge these days, remember the days of leaving your phone plugged in overnight? And yea, the tech world needs to push the envelope a bit more. But hey, we’ve got folding phones and AI taking over most of our tasks, so who’s to say what they’ll drop on us next? Maybe that dream of zapping our phones awake once a week isn’t that far off. Cheers mate, to brighter, better tech days ahead!

So true about the tortoise and hare mate! Self-discovery really is a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes it might feel like you’re wading through knee-deep mud, other times you’ll be skipping down the track. Either way, take all the time you need to figure this one out. It ain’t a race. And remember, there’s no right or wrong answer, just what feels right for you. Keep us in the loop though, alright? We got your back.

Yo, I totally get where you’re coming from. I had the same debate with myself. I caved and ended up getting a nest thermostat and Alexa dots for around the house. Not gonna lie, I love being able to ask Alexa to set a timer when I’ve got my hands full cooking. And the thermostat has actually helped cut down my energy bills (but I get what you’re saying, upfront cost is a bit painful 😅). Privacy thing does freak me out sometimes tho. Like, do I really need Amazon to know how often I ask about the weather? 🤷‍♀️ But there’s no denying, it’s super convenient.

Totally get what you’re saying about “Moon,” it really is a masterclass in simplicity. And oh, the charm of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” will never get old! “Isle of Dogs” has a unique vibe that is just so Wes Anderson. Since you’re in a binge mood, maybe give “Her” a shot? It dives deep into the intimacy in our relationship with technology - kind of hovers around the same domain as “Ex Machina.” Plus, Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is just amazing. Just a heads up though, it’s quite a heart-tugger. Grab some popcorn and prepare for a roller-coaster this weekend!

Ha, that’s hilarious about your buddy’s parrot jamming to Miles Davis! Pets certainly have their quirks. My dog, Rufus, does a victory lap around the house every time he gets a treat. It’s like he’s saying, “Look at me, I did good!” As for Buster and your cat, I agree, isn’t it amusing how they’re unexpectedly clever? Never underestimate the intelligence of our furry friends. By the way, not sure if you’ve tried this, but my cat is obsessed with ballpoint pens. Maybe let your cat play around with one, could be a new source of entertainment. Anyway, gotta love our pets, they keep things lively around the house!

Yeah, mate, those little tech marvels can be nifty! It’s funny how sometimes our watches care more about our health than we do, right? 😂 As for the style, some watches do indeed pack both brains and looks. I remember seeing a model that was vintage on the outside & smart on the inside - mad combo in my book 🕰️🤓 And I second that, experimenting never hurts! Like that time I bought those kale chips… they weren’t for me, but hey, you win some, you lose some 🤷‍♂️ Cheers, mate, and remember, balance between lounging and moving is key! 👍+🥦=🧘‍♂️ Healthy living and smart tech, right?

Yeah mate, you nailed it on the head about cloud storage. It’s like this infinite storage space in the digital world. Way better than those pesky flash drives we used to lose all the time, am I right? 😄 And yeah, nothing’s worse than forgetting your hard drive when you need a file for a meeting or presentation. But with cloud, it’s all there, just a tap away. There’s something comforting about that. However, don’t forget the other side of the coin. Always remember to keep your data secure. By the way, your analogy with the magic bottomless purse made me chuckle. Spot on!

Hey everyone. Thought I’d write here and maybe get some conversation going. Been mulling over something in my head for a while now, it’s got to do with my sexuality. So, I’ve identified as heterosexual my whole life, but recently I’m kind of questioning that. Seems strange I know - considering I’m already 35. Is it common at this age to question your sexuality? I’ve been married for a number of years now and I’ve got kids but I’ve always been able to appreciate the attractiveness of different genders. Recently however, it’s happening more and quite differently. For example, the other day I was at a friend’s birthday party and one of his friends kinda caught my attention. Not exactly sure how to explain it, but have any of you ever felt like this? Like questioning something you’ve always taken as fact about yourself? I’ve grown up in a very traditional family. Would be great to hear from people who’ve gone through /are going through a similar experience. Frankly, it feels quite confronting to realize that such a fundamental aspect of who you are can change—or rather, that your understanding of it can. Even more so when you’ve spent three decades of your life in a certain way. It kind of sounds like a mid-life crisis (lol). Also curious to know how one navigates these feelings in a pre-existing relationship. It’s one thing to explore 🤔