8 Crazy Musical Instruments that Actually Exist

The quest to create sounds is nothing new to humanity. We have been ‘making noise,’ so to speak, for quite some time, haven’t we? Music and musical instruments evolved just as we did over hundreds of thousands of years. While the earliest musical instruments might have been quite rudimentary, we have managed to invent and refine some of the best sounding instruments through the years – including some legit crazy musical instruments!

But when you come across an instrument such as ‘the cheese drum,’ you can’t help but wonder; have we gone too far? Well, the following examples do suggest that we have indeed! At least in some cases, that is.

Here are 8 crazy musical instruments than actually exist. Some of them can be a bit too much to handle, so consider yourself warned! Here we go!

1. The Musical Saw

Sega Musicale Pietro Festa by Pietrofesta licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

That’s right. Some wise guy looked at a wood saw and apparently, the first thing that came to his mind was – music!

As the name suggests, it is literally a wood saw that is bent and used to create various sounds using a bow similar to a violin. Rubbing a bow against the flat end of the saw creates high-frequency vibrations that the artist can control by controlling the tension of the bent saw blade.

As you can imagine, it is not a particularly beautiful instrument to look at. It is a saw, people! But it is worth a ‘hear.’ The singing saw will remind you of a lady opera singer with a high-pitched voice. As a matter of fact, the singing saw has received a classification under the Hornbostel-Sachs system and is classified as an idiophone, so you know this thing is for real!

If you are interested in hearing what it sounds like, check out the following video. It’s actually quite captivating!

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm1vUU52JAE

2. The Glass Armonica

Glass Armonica by Tonamel licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Now, this one has some rich history associated with it, but more on that a bit later. Let me tell you what this thing is first. I am sure you must have seen someone making music using glass bowls filled with varying amounts of water. Well, the Glass Armonica operates on a similar principle but without the water.

The Glass Armonica (not to be confused with Glass Harmonica that also exists!) is a series of glass bowls or goblets that are arranged in increasing diameters along the length of a horizontal rod. The whole assembly spins on an axis and music is produced by applying friction on the surface of the rotating glass surface.

Now, about that rich history that I alluded to earlier. The mechanical version of the instrument was actually invented by none other than our founding father, Benjamin Franklin! Musical geniuses such as Mozart and Beethoven have reportedly used it to make music as well. Not bad for a bowl of glass, if you ask me!

If you are interested in listening to this crazy musical instrument, here is a video that will give you the chills. And while you are at it, see if the sound reminds you of a beloved wizard! If it does, let me know in the comments section below!

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdtLK9pAh5k

3. The Sharpsichord

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypi-sDKUQRo

The Sharpsichord is perhaps not an ideal instrument to keep in your living room! The giant instrument was invented by the notable musical genius Henry Dagg.

The Sharpsichord is an automatic pin-barrel harp. You create your music by placing ‘pins’ on the surface of a central perforated cylinder. There is a total of 11,520 holes in the cylinder, so, you can create any note imaginable. As the cylinder rotates, each pin plucks the appropriate string on the harp and voila! Music is born.

Of course, the instrument requires a large assembly, and the Sharpsichord is as big as a one-storied house, and it can play only 90 seconds of music before you have to change the pins manually. And did I say there is only one in the entire world and it cost over $125,000 to make? Talk about crazy with a capital ‘C’!

You can catch the inventor in action in the fantastic video above, that features Dagg himself with the Sharpsichord and one of the other instrument on this list – the singing saw!

4. The Hydraulophone

Ryan Janzen playing Hydraulophone by Steve licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

If you love water parks and playing with water, the Hydraulophone is just for you! It is a relatively modern invention that literally ‘makes music from water!’.

A Hydraulophone consists of a calibrated pipe with holes in it. Water is pumped through the holes, and the artist creates music by plugging the holes on the pipe with his/her fingers, that’s it! It sounds a lot like an organ but with water! It is an H2Organ. See what I did there because H2O is the chemical formula for water…you know what, never mind!

The instrument can be installed in water parks and similar establishments, and you can enjoy getting wet while making some music (no inappropriate thoughts please!) Some people have mastered the Hydraulophone, and they create some of the most stunning pieces of music.

But all said and done, a giant pipe with water coming out of holes that you plug to make music sounds a bit too much to me! What about you? Would you like to hear water make music in a concert?

If you are curious, take a look at this unusual instrument in action, here is a video that is surprisingly soothing. I am not responsible if you feel the urge to go to a water park after watching this though!

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

5. The Zeusaphone

Zeusaphones in Action by Dracoswinsauer licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

That’s correct; this instrument is named after the Greek god Zeus! Hands down, this is one of the most visually stunning and pure awesome musical instruments that you will ever come across.

At its heart, the Zeusaphone is a synthesizer that is attached to a Tesla Coil. If you don’t already know what a Tesla Coil is, let me elaborate a bit. A Tesla Coil is an electrical coil that is used to display stunning sparks of electricity when a current is passed through it. Remember the famous picture of Nikolai Tesla?

So, when a musician plays a tune on the Zeusaphone, the current is passed through the accompanying Tesla Coil, and it generates a stunning visual of sparks flying around. It is truly a sight to behold.

If you are interested in checking out this instrument in action, here is a video for you that will have you electrified!

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3fJKI-TF9c

6. The Hornucopian Dronepipe

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib8o6r6uvM0

If you are into dystopian Sci-Fi, the Hornucopian Dronepipe may appeal to you. It is a fully 3-D printed musical instrument that can double as an art installation.

Basically, it is a quite weirdly shaped pipe that you blow into to create a musical note. The sound of this instrument strongly resembles the more common Didgeridoo.

As far as the look of the instrument goes, it sure looks like an alien boa constrictor! The instrument was designed by the MONAD Studio and let’s say; it is more of an acquired taste.

Check out the video above if you are interested in a soulful demonstration!

7. The Pyrophone

White Night Melbourne 2017 by Gavin Anderson licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

So, we saw water making music, right? But what about fire? Well, as it turns out, fire too, can make some music. The Pyrophone, literally translated to ‘fire sound’, is a musical instrument that uses gasoline powered fire to create music.

Invented in the late 1800s, the Pyrophone operates on the principle that if fuel is burnt in a hollow glass tube, it can create a note depending on the diameter of the tube and the amount of fuel used. The instrument looks similar to an organ, but the notes are produced by combustion rather than air pressure.

As you can imagine, it is quite a spectacle when the Pyrophone is performed as the glass pipes are placed so that they are visible to the audience.

Here is a video of the Pyrophone in all its glory!

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuCJxqyATT0

8. The Cheese Drums

Cheese Wheels by PublicDomainPictures licensed under CC0 Public Domain

 

Yup, that’s right. The Cheese Drums are made from, you guessed it, cheese wheels! Created by the amazingly talented jazz drummer Han Bennink, the Cheese Drums are a drum set with all the percussion parts of the drum kit replaced by wheels of cheese.

Bennink is also known as the drummer who makes music from everything so how could cheese be left out, right? The sound of the drum kit is not like anything you might imagine. He uses cheese wheels of different sizes to make sounds of different pitches.

Now, would the Cheese Drums replace the regular drums? Not really. But they do have a unique ‘flavor’ to them. Maybe it comes from the cheese, who knows?!

If you want to catch the ‘cheese-man’ in action, check out the video below of Han Bennink himself – beating his cheese at an alarming rate!

youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9BrZ-zUpQ

So, there you have it. Those are some crazy musical instruments that actually exist. If you loved the post, don’t enjoy it alone, share it with your friends! If you know a crazy musical instrument that deserves to be on the list, please share it in the comments below!

This article was first published on Viral Posts.

7 Disturbingly Weird and Unusual Sports Around the World

Throughout the ages, many sports have been created that form a staple in modern day society. Football (both American and Soccer), Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Cricket – the list goes on. Then there are the not so well known, more unusual sports around the world that I feel need a special mention here!

From Ferret legging to Ostrich racing, here is my top 7 unusual sports around the world that deserve a special mention for thinking outside the box – for better or for worse 🙂

Black Footed Ferrets by skeeze licensed under CC0 Public Domain

1. Ferret-legging – England. Heading up the list of unusual sports around the world is Ferret legging. Not weird at all. I mean what sounds more plausible and enjoyable than placing two 18″ ferrets down one’s pants, then keeping them in there as long as you possibly can?

Ferret-legging has unknown origins, but made a comeback in the 1970’s, predominantly in Yorkshire, England. There aren’t many rules to it. The “competitor” needs to be sober and not on drugs. Oh, and he is not allowed to wear underwear beneath his pants. As for the Ferret, he/she cannot be sedated, and is required to have a full set of teeth that haven’t been manipulated in any way. Consider the fact that Ferrets have “claws like hypodermic needles and teeth like number 16 carpet tacks” [as described by Reg Mellor, former champion], and you can see how this can be, well, uncomfortable.

As for the records. The first record we have documented is 40 seconds in 1972. To me that’s more than long enough to have a couple of ferrets nibbling my bits. The current record is held by Frank Bartlett in 2010 – that managed to house these little critters for a staggering 5 hours and 30 minutes!

Extreme Ironing by nick@ licensed under CC BY 2.0

2.  Extreme Ironing – England. Another nail biting sport brought to you from the shores of England! Dare I mention I am originally from England? 😳 Extreme Ironing, or EI, originated from Leicester, England. Legend has it, Phil Shaw in 1997, started this exciting sport after a long hard days work at a knitwear factory. He had chores to do that night, including a laundry basket or 2 of ironing, but much preferred the idea of rock climbing – so he combined the two and EI was born!

The sport quickly recruited a huge following, spreading into international waters. In fact, the first Extreme Ironing World Championship was held in mid-September 2002, in Valley, Bavaria (Germany). Competitors came from countries including England, Germany, Austria, Australia and Croatia. The events were broken down into 5 categories:

• Urban – Competitors ironed in, on top of, or around a broken down car.
• Water – Participants would hop in a canoe, on a surfboard, or even a rubber ring and set sail on a fast moving river. And of course, iron at the same time!
• Forest – Climb the biggest tree you could find, and you guessed it, iron at the top.
• Rocky – Contestants were presented the challenge of climbing a custom made rock wall, while ironing a t-shirt of course.
• Freestyle – The most extreme section of all. Pretty much anything goes and limited only by imagination, and perhaps safety standards.

Some of the more memorable EI moments include simultaneous underwater ironing, ironing on a motorway (freeway) and ironing while competing in a half marathon! Definitely one of the top unusual sports around the world!

Muggle Quidditch game in Vancouver by Anton Bielousov licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

3.  Quidditch – Vermont, USA. Queue Harry Potter music and magical broomsticks! No but really, Quidditch is a real sport, there’s even a world championship. For those not familiar with either Harry Potter or Quidditch – let me paint a picture. 2 teams, 7 players per team, each riding a broomstick. And when I say “riding”, I mean holding it under their private area as broomsticks don’t really magically fly.

Hooked already? Well there are 4 positions you can aspire to command in:

• Chasers – pass the “Quaffle” (a slightly deflated volleyball) to other chasers who try to score points by throwing said Quaffle into one of 3 hoops on the opposing team’s side. 3 Chasers Per team
• Beaters – try to hit Chasers with Bludgers. A Bludger is another type of ball in play – a slightly deflated dodge-ball. If a Beater hits a Chaser carrying the Quaffle, the Chaser must relinquish the Quaffle, remove their broomstick from their undercarriage, and touch their own hoops before rejoining play. 2 Beaters per team.
• Keepers – like a soccer goal keeper. Keepers’ job is to keep the Quaffle from entering any of the 3 rings. He (or she) is immune to Bludgers. 1 Keeper per team.
• Seekers – the heroes of the game! Sometimes. They come into play typically 18 minutes after the game has started (lazy!) and try to catch another type of ball, known as the “snitch”, that’s attached to a snitch runner’s back by means of a long yellow sock. If the snitch is caught – the game is won.

To be fair, the concept behind the broomstick is that it acts as a handicap, and makes the sport a little more challenging. But it still looks rather silly 🙂

Chess Boxing by WCBO licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

4.  Chess Boxing – Netherlands. A true match of brains and brawn! Match your wits and strategy against your opponent in a tactical game of Chess, and if that doesn’t work, well… just beat the crap out of him in the next round!

Chess boxing originated in 2003 and was invented by Lepe Rubingh. The idea actually stemmed from a graphic novel called Froid Équateur that featured the then fictitious sport. 21 years later, Lepe breathed life into the sport and it became real.

Chess Boxing consists of 11 rounds, of which 6 are Chess and 5 are Boxing. The rounds alternate between Chess and Boxing and are timed typically at 3 minutes each. You can win by either knocking your opponent out, by checkmate, or by points decision if the full 11 rounds are exhausted.

Definitely the coolest, unusual sport around the world on this list!

Never Too Old For Pooh-Sticks by Glyn Baker licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

5. Poohsticks, England. It’s not what you’re thinking, I promise! Much like Chess Boxing, Poohsticks’ origins also came from a novel, of sorts. A Winnie the Pooh book entitled The House at Pooh Corner. The annual Poohsticks world championship is held on the River Thames each year, and has been going strong since 1984!

The enthralling sport of Poohsticks involves competitors dropping their stick off of the upstream side of a bride, then frantically running to the other side. Whoever’s stick shows up first, wins!! What an adrenaline rush! Quidditch is starting to look pretty legit now!

The one cool thing to mention about Poohsticks, is that it was invented by Lynn David, whose intent was to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Throughout its existence, the sport has helped raise over 30,000 pounds (about $39,000) for the RNLI. Go Poohsticks!

Zorbing by Kim licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

6.  Zorbing – Auckland, New Zealand. OK, this one is actually pretty cool so I had to include it. Picture rolling down a steep hill within a giant orb made of see-through plastic, and you have Zorbing! Zorbing can also take place on water. Given the buoyancy of such orbs, it’s possible to “water Walk” while inside one.

The idea of Zorbing was capitalized upon by Dwane van der Sluis and Andrew Akers. They formed their own company, ZORB Limited, and successfully set out to commercialize their new sport worldwide via a sort of franchising system. Zorbing is now popular in countries such as Australia, The U.S., England, Sweden, Japan and even the North Pole!

Zorbing has some pretty awesome records:

• Longest single roll distance – 1,870 ft
• Longest time spent inside a Zorb – 3:49:06, Oxygen?!?!
• Highest recorded speed – 32 mph
• Quickest 100 meter dash – 26.59 seconds

Zorbing is not without its risks. There have been reports of people passing out due to lack of air, broken bones, and even a couple of deaths. Try at your own peril!

Ostrich Race Start by MyAngelG licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

7.  Ostrich Racing – Florida, U.S. Let’s face it, horse racing is kinda lame. The natural progression? Sit atop an Ostrich instead! Ostrich racing is fairly common in the U.S and Africa, and quite popular. Every March, Arizona hosts the Chandler Ostrich festival, which typically attracts around 100,000 people and has been going for almost 30 years.

Ostriches are deceptively fast. They can run up to 45 mph and handle 16 ft in a single stride. A horse would typically gallop at around 25-30 mph as a reference point. However, it is a lot harder to stay atop an Ostrich than it is a horse – have you ever seen one run? For a start, they only have 2 legs!

Safety equipment is mandatory for jockeys – whose focus is as much to stay physically connected with the Ostrich as it is to win the race. Specialized saddles and reins are forged to aid the Jockey’s chance of survival. But enough words! Let’s see it in action:

Hope you have enjoyed this list of 7 unusual sports around the world!! Please feel free to mention some more in the comments below.

This article was first published on Viralposts.net: http://www.viralposts.net/7-unusual-sports-around-the-world/

12 Things You Should Definitely Know About Sperm

Sperms!!! We’re off to the races

On your marks, get set, GO!

First one to the egg

Wins the chance to grow…

…A new baby girl, or perhaps a baby boy

Come on you Sperms! Deploy, deploy, DEPLOY!!

That was a poem about Sperms I just made up. Yup, literally off the top of my head. Oh, how my talents are wasted here :p

There are plenty of rumors about sperm that you’ve likely heard. But, if you’re like most people, you don’t put a great deal of thought into those tiny little swimmers or the information that you’ve stumbled across. Today is the day to change that and learn the real-deal about Sperm! To give you a head start in your efforts to be an informed and responsible individual, here are 12 things that you probably didn’t know about sperm:

1 Nowhere to Run!! Typically, sperm remain in the body for 48-hours after intercourse, however, they can stay in the body for up to five-days. The closer to ovulation, the longer the sperm will stay in the body. Be warned!!!

2 Seasons Affect Sperm. Temperature does affect sperm, and it is during the colder months of the year that they are most active. Heat exposure lessens the sperm count and causes increased difficulty conceiving.

3 Masturbation Doesn’t Lower Sperm Count. It might make you go blind, but fear not, there is no truth to the myth that masturbation lowers Sperm count! However, it is possible for volume to lower if a man is ejaculating frequently. Save up for 48 hours for that special date 🙂

4 A Sweet Treat. Yum! Semen contains small amounts of fructose, causing a naturally sweet taste. Some people state that eating fruit like pineapple causes the taste to sweeten more, but there is no evidence to support this fact.

5 A Sperm Allergy. Women, for decades now, have stood solid by claims of a sperm allergy. While it is possible for a woman to have an allergy to the sperm, it is extremely rare. In fact, you’re more likely to have a bacterial infection than an allergy to sperm. Ladies! Quit making excuses!! 😛

6 The Long Journey. On average, it takes about two and one-half months to 3 months to prepare a batch of sperm for ejaculation. The formation of the sperm starts in the testicles and travels to the epididymis, onto the vas deferens and finally sets out on the long stroll home.

7 Healthy Sperm. A man’s health affects the health of his sperm, too. Men under 40 years of age tend to have healthier sperm than men over the age of 40. In addition, men who avoid hazards such as smoking, high-fat diets, etc. have higher sperms counts.

8 Abnormal Sperm. Did you know that about 90% of all sperm created in a man’s reproductive system are deformed? From two heads to two tails and other deformities, what appears to be a deformity is actually quite normal in the sperm-world. No discrimination – you go Sperms!

9 The Right Amount. How much sperm does a man ejaculate each time he orgasms? The answer is about one 3.7 ml on average (the equivalent to about 3/4 of a teaspoon). This is the perfect amount to get those little swimmers to the goal line! Source: Men’s Health

10 One Testicle Creation. Although a man has two testicles (and values them both, trust me), he needs only one testicle to produce sperm. The one testicle alone can produce enough sperm to create a baby!

11 Sperm-Making 101. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll need during their reproductive years. Men, however, produce new sperm continually. In fact, men produce millions of new sperm every day.

12 Climaxing is Important for Healthy Sperm. A man must climax regularly to keep his sperm healthy. Oxidative stress causes a reduction in the amount of semen produced as well as the sperm turn-over rate. This can lead to damaged semen cells.

This article was first published on Viralposts.net: http://www.viralposts.net/12-things-you-should-know-about-sperm/

Top 10 Strategies to Help With Procrastination

So… it’s taken me 3 weeks to finish up this post. Any guesses why so long? 😉 Ah… my old friend procrastination! It is important to recognize that if you partake in such a favored pastime, you are not alone, procrastination is pretty normal. For some more than others. Thankfully there are a bunches of definitive strategies you can embrace to overcome it. We all need a little help with procrastination from time to time, so here are ten awesome strategies to help with procrastination and beat it once and for all!

The Eleventh Hour Disaster by Alexas_Fotos licensed under CC0 Public Domain

1  Give it five (or maybe ten) minutes. With this strategy, the purpose is to spend just five or ten minutes doing the task that you’ve been avoiding. The logic is that you can endure five minutes of anything. And c’mon, 5 minutes from your day does not impact much else.

Set yourself up for success by making a list of difficult things you’ve done or situations you’ve gotten through in five or ten minutes. I’m sure you’ve done things you haven’t really wanted to do before now, right? Start every sentence with, “If I could do laundry for 5 minutes, I can vacuum for 5 minutes”. Duplicate these to your own circumstances as often as required.

If you’ve been avoiding cleaning off your desk, spend five minutes on the task. That’s it. When the five minutes is up, you’re free and clear to stop working on the endeavor. Of course, more than often, as soon as you get into doing something you will continue. You’re likely going to finish cleaning off that desk. Ha-ha, tricked ya 🙂

3D-Man by 3dman_eu licensed under CC0 Public Domain

2  Reward yourself. This strategy does not work for everybody or every undertaking. But it’s largely successful for many and it is certainly does help with procrastination for many instances. The concept is simple, examine the job or project you are avoiding and make a motivating reward.

For instance, if you are procrastinating on writing a business plan you may reward yourself with a new business cards, or maybe a half day off. Are you delaying starting that exercise program you’ve been telling your friends about? Reward yourself with a brand new Nike fitness shirt after two weeks of exercising frequently.

Keep the rewards in line with the task, and don’t make them too rewarding. For example – I worked one day so I’m taking the rest of the month off. Use sound judgement!

Isolated Thinking by DigitalDesigner licensed under CC0 Public Domain

3 Figure out why you need help with procrastination. Why do you need help with procrastination? There’s often an underlying reason. Sure, maybe you just don’t like doing the task. But maybe there’s another, deeper, rationale for your procrastination. For example, a writer may procrastinate about the previous chapter of the book because they’re frightened of feedback, rejection from editors, or the revision process.

Dig deep and attempt to figure out why you need help with procrastination. Then, you’re going to be able to face the project head on.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT QUOTES by Jiposhy.com licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

4 Work on Discipline. The truth is you can benefit from a bit more self-discipline. You most likely don’t push yourself as far as you may. You don’t stick to the task, and you give up too easily – perhaps not all of the time, but likely more than you would admit to. Thus, start working on your self-discipline.

By way of instance, you might run for one minute longer or eat one more serving of vegetables. Wake up 15 minutes earlier to make one more phone call every day. It’s going overlap into every area of your life and you’re going to have the ability to accomplish that job you have been dreading and avoiding.

Goals by Nick Youngson licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

5 Establish Realistic Goals. Setting yourself realistic goals can really help with procrastination. Among the biggest reasons that people avoid projects, targets, or tasks is because they expect too much from themselves. They’re unrealistic. A common instance is that the weight loss goal. “I’m going to lose 15 pounds this past month,” sounds good on paper. It’s specific and it is time bound. But is it realistic? Not really. Sure, it is possible to lose that in a month but it would require tremendous discipline, a great plan, and no mistakes.

Something that might be more realistic is “I’m going to drop a pound a week by cutting 300 calories from my diet per day and walking for 20 minutes per day .” This makes the strategy feel more viable and you’re less likely to procrastinate. Then when you accomplish that goal, it gives you the motivation to keep going. When setting goals for yourself, be sure to feel ~80-90% confident you can attain the goals you set.

Rocky Balboa by Alatele fr licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

6 Imagine the task complete. Imagine how you are going to feel when the task is complete. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big project or a little one, this strategy works. When you can imagine the outcome, it is simpler to get started on the work. And once you start something, it’s typically easier to continue with it.

For example, if you’re gunning for that promotion in work, but need to pass a certification to give you a real chance – just thing how awesome it would be to get that promotion – and more money to enjoy life with.

Frog Drinking Wine by Alexas_Fotos licensed under CC0 Public Domain

7 Make it interesting. Consider what you could do to make the task fun. Could it be enjoyable to perform it at a coffee shop? Or maybe you’re able to enlist a friend to keep you company or help you out. Even the most boring tasks can be more enjoyable with the ideal strategy.

I have a personal example on this one, although I’m not sure if I should be mentioning it. I have 2 Huskies. They shed. A lot. Vacuuming, not surprisingly, is not one of my favorite past-times. But you know what makes vacuuming bearable? Wine 😛

Think Positive by geralt licensed under CC0 Public Domain

8 Positive mindset development. Wipe away all negative thoughts and language around the task you are procrastinating on. For example, if you get yourself thinking, “I hate cleaning my desk .” Change the thoughts to something more positive, such as “I feel way more creative and productive when I have a tidy desk.” Then, you can concentrate on what is possible concerning the job or project and dispose of the more negative associations.

Split Apart Tangerine by pixel2013 licensed under CC0 Public Domain

9 Break up projects. Like slicing up a tangerine – split big projects you have been procrastinating on into smaller bite sized jobs. Frequently we avoid doing some things because we understand they’re going to take forever. You control this. As an example, instead of painting the entire house, you might paint 1 room each month until the job is finished. You get to determine how the project is managed and completed.

If you’re procrastinating on a work project, you may not have the ability to decide how it’s managed, but you can still split it up into smaller parts that feel more manageable.

Group of Bisons by skeeze licensed under CC0 Public Domain

10 Group related projects. Occasionally a job you’re putting off doing is related to other tasks – probably other tasks you’re also putting off doing! For instance, cleaning your desk and filing your documents that are scattered all over your desk are two tasks that can be taken care of at the same time. The alternative being, to pile all the papers up in no logical order and thrown them in a draw. And 2 weeks later you cannot find your W2. When you group similar jobs and projects, it helps you to be more productive.

In addition, it helps you capitalize on a productive mindset and allow for a sense of greater accomplishment when you’re finished. One project runs into the next and you are done with that dreaded project(s) before you know it!

Go to top

Look at the tasks and projects you have been procrastinating on in both your personal and professional life. One of these ten tactics is guaranteed to help with procrastination and help you push through plateaus to get the job finished. Procrastination does not have to slow you down.

This article was first published on Viralposts.net: http://www.viralposts.net/help-with-procrastination-top-10-strategies/

12 Hysterical Short Comedy Vids that Will Have you in Stitches!

This post is a little different. Not much to read but a whole lot of fun to be had from the videos! Here we go!

1Top dumbest game show answers. Now – before you judge, try and understand it’s probably extremely nerve racking standing in front of a worldwide audience! Then judge away, as some of these answers are so incredibly unbelievable!

2Conference Call in Real Life. This is probably my favorite on the list. It depicts everyone’s favorite work item – the dreaded conference call. We’ve all no doubt experienced some (or all) of the things included here. The last 10 seconds remind me of my attendance on certain calls 🙂

3The Translator. A guy has a crush on a French girl. The only problem is he doesn’t speak French. Another girl has a huge crush on said guy. Oh and she speaks French. He asks her to translate his words to his future beau – but strangely enough, a few words get “lost in translation”.

4How to get a job. This is the first of 2 sketches featuring one of my favorite Doctors – Dr. Steve Brule! (played by John C. Reilly). Dr. Steve is obviously playing the part, but I am not sure if the interviewer realizes he’s acting. If she does, she is a phenomenal actor! One of my faves from this list!

5“NFL 2017” — A Bad Lip Reading of the NFL. This is the most hysterical lip syncing compilation I have ever seen. Even if you have absolutely no interest in the NFL, this will still make you chuckle.

6The Website Is Down – Sales Guy vs. Web Dude. This is an oldie but an absolute classic. It deals with a tech support guy helping a user. There is some subtle, and then not so subtle humor in this one! One of my favorite comedy sketches of all time.

7Sol Rosenberg gets a call from ADT. Funniest (reverse) crank call I have ever heard! Sol gets a call from ADT with some enticing offers. The improv skill of this guy is absolutely phenomenal!

8The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger. One of the funniest things you’ll see on YouTube. An oldie but a goldie with over 80,000,000 views! The vidoe takes a quick look at the daily life of a Honey Badger. The narration is completely hilarious!

9Denver Official Guilty Dog Video. Denver the dog gets caught out after getting into some kitty treats. His facial expression is priceless! As a bonus, there’s a second Denver video below!

10That’s What She Said: Part 1 – The Office US. I just couldn’t let this list play out with out some classic that’s what she said jokes. Delivered from the master himself, Michael Scott!

11Fertility Clinic | Check It Out! With Dr. Steve Brule | Adult Swim. The second visit on this list from Dr. Steve Brule. I must forewarn, the easily offend should probably skip this one! Dr. Brule does what it takes to find out if he could possibly have a baby.

12Ultimate Thug Life Compilation #100 BEST OF ALL TIME. Over 20 minutes packed with 1oo thug life short clips! Featuring a wide selection of people (and animals) acting out with hysterical results!

Know of anymore funny vids that should make this list? Let me know in the comments below!

This article was first published on Viralposts.net: http://www.viralposts.net/12-hysterical-short-comedy-vids-that-will-have-you-in-stitches/

8 Must-See Blockbusters for 2017 and 2018

Movies are a favorite pastime of mine, so I wanted to put together a post of some of the most exciting movies I am looking forward to in 2017/2018. There are SO many movies I could mention, but so little time! Here are eight guaranteed hits worth clearing your schedule for. (Note: Dates are speculative and might change)

1. “Ocean’s Eight” – June 8, 2018
The virgins who got upset over the “Ghostbusters” reboot aren’t going to be happy: Warner Bros. is releasing an all-female “Ocean’s Eleven” spinoff. It follows on from the stylish “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen” and is called “Ocean’s Eight”. Why “Ocean’s Eight”? Couldn’t they afford fourteen women? Women in Hollywood are so overpaid! J/K :P. The cast is pretty great, though. Sandra Bullock plays Debbie Ocean, the sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean from the originals, and she’s joined by Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett and Rihanna. Not much is known, except that there’s a heist during the Met Gala, and at some point they take the subway while looking fabulous. As you do.

2. “Blade Runner 2049” – October 6, 2017
If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of millions of “Blade Runner” fans quietly muttering, “Please don’t fuck this up.” “Prometheus”, a prequel to Ridley Scott’s “Alien” franchise, was a disappointment, and his original “Blade Runner” is an even tougher act to follow. Its grungy aesthetic has influenced just about every science fiction film since, and the plot about the nature of artificial intelligence keeps getting more relevant. It’s directed by Denis Villeneuve, whose stylish, cerebral “Arrival” should give fans hope. This sequel is set 30 years later and stars Ryan Gosling as a blade runner searching for the original’s Rick Deckard. And who better to play an old Harrison Ford than Harrison Ford, who seems to be specializing in old Harrison Ford roles these days?

3. “Mary Poppins Returns” – December 25, 2018
“Mary Poppins” is one of the most beloved movies of all time, so it’s a miracle that Hollywood hadn’t already desecrated it with a remake or sequel. Still, the Julie Andrews version was based on a series of books by P.L. Travers, who is known to have hated it, so perhaps there’s room for improvement. Anne Hathaway was clearly born for the role, but it’s Emily Blunt who’s picking up the umbrella, with Dick Van Dyke returning to play a banker. He’s had fifty years to work on his English accent, so fingers crossed on that.

4. “Baywatch” – May 26, 2017
The popular 80s TV show this movie is based on is mainly remembered for slow motion shots of buxom babes running in red swimsuits. From the trailers, it looks like the movie wants to have its tits and eat them too: there are lots of tits on show, but also self-aware references to looking at tits, which makes it all right then. Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, who play the lead lifeguards, have both been doing solid comedy work recently, and the trailers deliver some real laughs, so this should be an entertaining summer movie. Alexandra Daddario, Priyanka Chopra and Kelly Rohrbach, who has some big bras to fill in Pamela Anderson’s former role, provide the tits and maybe some character development too.

5. “Dunkirk” – July 21, 2017
In June of 1940, the Nazis advanced across northern France, trapping the British army in the port of Dunkirk. Under heavy fire, a ragtag fleet that included ferries, pleasure cruisers and fishing boats evacuated the army across the English Channel. Over 68,000 British were killed, but over 332,000 were rescued. It’s a harrowing but ultimately uplifting story of heroism, and Christopher Nolan, best known for “The Dark Knight” trilogy, certainly has the directorial weight to do it justice.

6. “Ready Player One” – March 30, 2018
Stephen Spielberg directs this adaptation of Ernest Cline’s bestselling book about a virtual reality game. Yes, it’s a film of a book about a game, so readers can complain that it gets the book wrong, gamers can complain that it gets gaming wrong, and everyone can feel smug. The book was a thoroughly enjoyable page turner, even if you weren’t normally into science fiction, and Spielberg should have no problem capturing its escapist fun. After his great work with near-future tech in “The Minority Report”, it will be interesting to see what he does with the game world; hopefully, he keeps in some of the book’s nerdy details.

7. “The Circle” – April 28, 2017
Another book adaptation! How many books can there possibly be?! Dave Eggers wrote the screenplay based on his own novel about a big company that wants to control all your data and make privacy a thing of the past. It’s barely fiction. Tom Hanks plays a nice Steve Jobs who, if the trailer is anything to go by, turns out to be a not-so-nice Steve Jobs. That’s right, it seems Tom Hanks is the bad guy! The world really is turning to crap. Emma Watson is the heroine who gets her dream job at The Circle but soon regrets it.

8. “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” – May 12, 2017
At this point, director Guy Richie just seems to be trolling the British. First, there was his “Sherlock Holmes”, which turned their classic cerebral detective into a brash action hero. Now, from the looks of the trailer, he’s giving one of their most beloved legends the Guy Richie treatment. There’s some “Game of Thrones” in there and a couple of shots stolen from “The Lord of the Rings”. It will be ridiculous but probably a lot of fun.

This article was first published on viralposts.net: http://www.viralposts.net/8-must-see-blockbusters-for-2017-and-2018/