@sleepyjey

@sleepyjey 26 April 2022

Is anyone else finding it impossible to post on noise,cash ? I hope it's just a temporary downtime for some update. I can still tip and read old posts. How is itfor you?

@sleepyjey 26 October 2021

Five Times My Heart Almost Stopped While Driving If you've ever been to India, you know that traffic is interesting. You could observe it for hours and still not figure out what the rules are! "We are always in a hurry, but are always late", is a statement often heard in India. A lot of drivers consider traffic rules as just broad recommendations that are optional and can be followed occasionally. Others consider road rules a deterrent to driving. I am never surprised when I find cops who don't know the rules too. Road signs and markings are, at times, just decorations in public spaces. Junctions traffic lights are just social gathering spots for multiple vehicles. I've been driving in India for over fifteen years and have been in the passenger seat/pillion for most of my life. There are hundreds of times I have seen my whole life flash in front of my eyes along with a roaring truck barreling towards me. My car has scratches and dings from minor incidents that we just brush away saying "Such things happen to everyone". I bought a dashcam to capture the beauty of long drives when I vacation, but it has caught more oopsie-daisies moments than beautiful moments. I have survived and hope to survive in the future too. these are five moments where my heart almost stopped while driving. Some are near-misses and some are annoyances. But these could have turned much worse. I would like to assure my sponsors that I am still alive and surviving!! Truck in the fast lane So what is wrong with a truck on the fast lane of a highway? For starters, this guy decided to drive in the fast lane..... in the opposite direction. Thankfully all of us managed to avoid a head-on collision. He flashed his headlight as he callously barreled down at us - apparently, that gives him the right of way. Truck drivers in India don't really care as in an accident they usually don't get injured. Some are bullies and the trucks themselves are in bad shape - lights not working, brakes not maintained well, no overhang protection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGx_8AdctU Truck enters highway almost causing a pile-up Another day (or rather, another night), another truck trying to cause havoc. There was a line of trucks on the side of the highway. One of them decided to start and enter the highway. So he does that without any mirror checks. He probably assumes=d that the highway was totally empty with no vehicles. All of us managed to avoid piling onto him as we were not going very fast and the lead vehicle stopped in time. This situation is scary because, even if you stop in time, there is a huge chance that the vehicle behind you is tailgating you and can't stop in time. Thankfully, none of this happened and we all went merrily on our way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chugWQ5vMOE An Overtaking Bus Buses in India have a starting point, a destination and bus stops. Between these, the driver uses only one part of the bus - the accelerator pedal. Their aim is to reach the destination ASAP and beat yesterday's timing. If there is a vehicle in front, it has to be overtaken. The driver of this colorful bus proved all these with a rash overtaking maneuver that put everyone's life at risk on both sides of the road. The road itself was in average shape with bumps, patches, and no sidewalk. We all survived, as usual. The bus passengers seemed to enjoy the extra windy and bumpy drive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AekqIynnBsw Pedestrian On The Highway Since Indian highways pass through many villages and towns, there is a constant flow of pedestrians in unexpected places on the highway. There are usually no designated, safe places for pedestrians to cross. A lot of pedestrians, unfortunately, do not pay attention and don't realize that a vehicle at 80-100KMPH has very little time to evade them. This pedestrian literally 'stumbled' onto the fast lane on the highway right onto my path. Thankfully, I could evade him and there were no vehicles in the adjacent lane. In my rearview mirror, I could see him happily continue jaywalking on the highway. I wonder if he reached his destination safely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUXLBybJHU Head-On Van I love this highway stretch as it is very scenic and beautiful. I've driven on it many times. Unfortunately, it has just two lanes - one for each side of traffic. Since the roads are good, vehicles drive at speeds that exceed 100 KMPH. And they try to overtake any vehicle that is slower than them. This van driver chose to overtake on a curve without looking for oncoming traffic and came head-on to me. I had minimal time and space to avoid a collision but managed to quickly move to the left onto the shoulder of the highway and then got back onto the road. The driver didn't care and probably thought he was an expert at overtaking! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWNdzIAC1E I'll stop before you freak out! Maybe I'll do articles like this once in a while. After the lockdown and pandemic, my driving has reduced and dashcam footage is now very little. But before you stop reading and leave with a bad taste in your mouth, here is a peaceful drive on the highway to make you (and me) feel better. This is timelapsed and at 8x speed, as I was driving towards the sunset on the highway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_IugFSlu6g Have a good day and stay safe!!

@sleepyjey 22 October 2021

Random Questions - My (Re)Turn Random questions seem to be a lame excuse to write an article, but I enjoy it. It does make interesting reading and also gives me the chance to think deeper on some aspects of life. My first edition was titled "Random Questions - My Turn" and this time around I've titled it *"Random Questions - My (Re)Turn".* You can see what I did there - smart idea, eh! https://read.cash/@sleepyjey/random-questions-my-turn-a6d4da27 These questions are taken from *"65 Random Questions to Ask - Start a Conversation With Anyone"* which a lot of members have used. I obviously won't attempt all of them but will choose some offbeat questions from the mix. Here we go! https://www.brightful.me/blog/random-questions-to-ask-start-a-conversation/ What’s The Strangest Thing In Your Refrigerator? Right now, it's a thermometer probe. That's because my fridge started malfunctioning and the technician is monitoring it after fixing it. So I have an empty freezer with this lonely wire that is a temperature probe and is attached to the small LCD display that shows the temperature. All my frozen stuff is at a friend's refrigerator. I'm hoping all is well and I can load my refrigerator soon. The other weird thing that often gets into my refrigerator is toys - that's what happens when you have a 4-year-old at home. What’s The Funniest Way You’ve Ever Broken The Law? This was NOT funny when it happened and it taught me a lesson. My friend and I decided to take a moped to church. The catch? We were school students and we did not have a license. Our young innocent faces caught a cop's attention and we were soon standing on the roadside, apologizing profusely. he asked for money. we showed him our empty pockets and our bibles. Promptly, the offertory money popped out. We gave it to him. We received an earful from him, but no receipt for the fine. We realized we had bribed him with offertory money! My friend's dad was angry and came back to catch the cop after giving us a piece of his mind. We didn't find him and had a terrible Sunday! What’s The Funniest Thing You’ve Seen On The News? A TV panelist falling off the chair is definitely funny enough to answer this question. This was a Pakistani News channel and the panelist falls down in the middle of a very passionate talk. And the News Anchor just takes it in her stride. https://youtu.be/S-MWYDZ1Duk I also cannot resist putting up a funny video of Arnab Goswami here. He doesn't even realize how funny he is as he passionately tries to debate and talk about a celebrity drug scandal. Start at the 1:25 minute mark. https://youtu.be/vYjXcKtQ9SU?t=86 If You Could Have Any Super Power, Which One Would You Choose? Invisibility. There are times I don't want to be seen and there are times I need to observe something without being visible! Nope - no further details and nope again - it's not kinky -just some times when I'd like more privacy than I can get!! Don't let movies like Hollow Man twist your concept of invisibility! You can do a lot that is useful and not weird!! And I would not like to keep my sponsors invisible! Have You Ever Kept A Secret For More Than A Decade? Yes, I have! I may even have some childhood secrets! I'm good at keeping a secret. I'm so good that I sometimes forget what secrets I hold! What secrets have I held inside me for more than a decade? Do you really think I'll put it out on a public website? He! He!! He!!! Secrets can kill, they say. I wonder how I'm still alive. Some secrets are not pleasant, some are just trivial and some are treasured memories! What’s The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned From A Celebrity? I'll send it with a more serious one. I've learned that being in the public glare for fame is not worth it - it destroys more than it creates. I've learned that money and fame ultimately lead to pain, addictions, and insecurity. I've learned never to look up to celebrities except for their acting, singing, or sports talents. Their personal lives and beliefs are not what I would like to learn from. So that's a little bit of me and yet nothing about me! Do comment and let me know if you are like me or are very different and psssst..... don't let out any secrets here!! *Foot Note: Lead image from Pexels.*

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@sleepyjey 20 October 2021

The Power Of Divisiveness "Unity in Diversity" was a mantra I learned in the 1990s. It beautifully describes the many languages, colors, religions, countries, beliefs, lifestyles that coexist in peace and bring about oneness of human beings in spite of the variety that was present. We ate together, traveled together, helped each other, and respected each other. Sometimes there was no 'you' and 'me' - just 'us'. This was not a learned behavior. It seemed to have been a natural inclination - maybe this stemmed from innate human tendency or was taught and shown at such a tender age that it became part of our life and behavior. It's 2021 now and I can see more divisions now than ever before. We are taught to take pride in our identity - not in our identity as humans, but in smaller and smaller divisions - based on language, color, country, religion, belief, or lifestyle. Within nations, we take pride in our state, district, or even caste. And we are taught to protect this identity with everything - even kill if needed! We learn to find and recognize what another person's identity is before we decide how close to that person we will allow ourselves to get. If you are 'my' people, I will help you. If you are 'their' people, why don't you approach 'your' people for help? Divisions have deepened and boundaries have appeared where there were none. Our childhood friends are now distant work colleagues. We choose our neighborhoods depending on who already lives there. We choose a church that has my people. We choose a school that will nurture this identity in our children. Subconsciously we have trained our minds to be aware of these divisions and make the necessary adjustments. We forward and amplify anything that glorifies our identity or puts another identity down. We don't fact-check or see what is truth. We cry foul if any one of us is hurt. But if another is hurt, we just shrug our shoulders and ask them to deal with it and move on. The incredible power of this divisiveness is scary. Whether it is for 2 minutes of fame on social media or for 2 inches of pride amongst our own, we will move heaven and earth to achieve it. But we will not lift a finger for another outside us. The gaps have widened and the cracks have deepened. We walk around with our hands in our pockets and earphones in our ears. we stare at screens rather than risking interaction with the unknown. We trust less and hate more. We love less and pride ourselves more. Even religious places of love, subtly teach us to ignore others. Intolerance and hurt have replaced tolerance and friendship. We would rather take this hatred to the grave than practice forgiveness. And great lands are run by leaders with this philosophy. They target the vote bank and convince them that their lives and identity are in danger from the minorities. They preach that only they can save their people. And elections have been won with hatred more than love. Everything that unites is just superficial - empty speeches, loud placards, and perplexed oppositions. We have forgotten to co-exist. We merely exist against others. If you are not like us, you are against us. Everyone is an enemy unless otherwise proven. Why have we become this way? Why has pride of identity replaced love for humankind? Why are those who love seen as exceptional human beings when we should all love that way? Why are history books being rewritten? Why are news channels biased? Why do we feel insecure when we go beyond these boundaries? Why are we threatened when we try to seal those cracks? Why are we expelled when we befriend others? Why do we gang up? I still have more questions than answers. Maybe one day I will find the answers - to make the world a better place for my children and future generations. I will stand and love, I will go against the tide. I will be brave. I will explore. I will forgive. I will reach out. Will you? Disclaimer: This article is just an outpouring of some of the negativity that I have seen in the world. It presents just one side. Fortunately, there are always people who are genuine and who love genuinely all around us. You can use this time to see if you are one such person! All images are from unsplash via read.cash

@sleepyjey 14 October 2021

Is "RUSTY" male? Is "RUSTY" human? I've noticed that in almost every article or post that mentions Rusty, the male pronouns are used -he, him, his, etc. Is rusty male? Is rusty even a human? Just curious as to who the real Rusty is and what Rustys identity is! Someone even called Rusty a bot!! That would hurt Rusty if Rusty was a real human!!

@sleepyjey 4 October 2021

Thank you for the sponsorship @foryoubtc09 - it's encouraging and motivating!

@sleepyjey 4 October 2021

The sign of fun(ny) times Funny signs (both intentional and unintentional) are everywhere. Whatever be the reason and wherever you see them, they usually bring a smile to your face. They make the world a happier place!! They are not new either. This collection of funny signs and notices are from 15 years ago. I had taken them on my old mobile camera -a Sony K510i that could shoot photographs at a resolution so low that no one today will believe! I've often wondered why these notices make it to final display in public spaces. There seem to be many reasons. 1. Most of them are written and printed by non-English speakers. They do make spelling and grammatical errors. Some errors happen due to translation difficulties in choosing the right words. 2. Some have a sense of humor and use this to their advantage 3. Some are just coincidental - it wasn't meant to be that way. Whatever the reason, it definitely gives us something to smile about. *Disclaimer: All these photos are shot by me during my four years in a place called Trichy. Yes, the internet will have funnier signs, but these are real ones that I have seen. I have to agree that some of these are not as funny or weird as some that are available on generic internet funny sites* Typos can be spary! Let's start with a simple typo. Technically this is a spelling error that went unnoticed. I saw this at a supermarket in the deodorant and perfume section. "Please do not spary", was the sign. Before you google or thesaurus the meaning of spary, relax and rearrange the letters of the last word - spray! You may not have even noticed the error. Apparently, the human mind can rearrange letters to form the correct word if the first and last letters are correct! The punny sign These shop owners certainly got it right with a sense of humor. Taglines are crucial to any business. This tagline is a pun in the true sense of the word. Their play on the word station(ery) is worth a round of applause. "All stationeries are stationed here"! I hope their business was not stationary. Unintentionally connected It's rather unfortunate that the two printed notices are placed right next to each other. One is a job vacancy notice and the other is a sales offer notice. Putting them right next to each other makes it look like you get a bonus salesgirl! "Wanted Sales Girls. Offer - Buy One Get One Free" That doesn't sound right or pleasant. Just don't think about it when you make a purchase. The offer does not apply to salesgirls! Intentionally disconnected Three lines are all it takes to mess your brain completely. This exciting notice starts somewhere and ends somewhere else. The poor grammar and noble thoughts just end up garbled. I guess the first 2 lines are an attempt to state that they offer the best price for the products and this is lower than the MRP (Market Retail Price). Now they throw in some philosophy at the end to try and make you a better person!! Where did that come from? *We beat the price!!!* *No one on MRP!!!* *(Keep our country clean)* They forgot the exclamation marks on the last line, but we'll forgive them for that lapse!!! Authoritative This car has a small logo at the top of the rear glass indicating the owner is a lawyer. The word below that is absolutely authoritative. *DICTATOR* I always thought that for a lawyer the Law was his word. This lawyer tipped it around – His WORD is now the LAW! I wonder what happens if he gets pulled over by a cop. Who will dictate the verdict? Lost in translation After 15 years, I still haven't figured this out. "Say In To Healths" makes no sense whatsoever. You will think that maybe it's a translation of the statement below that which is written perfectly in the local language. That statement (in tamil) says "Don't get addicted to drugs". Now you know why I can't figure out the English line. Maybe the painter was high when he painted this sign! And I don't mean the ladder that he used to get to paint the sign! Undiplomatic This is definitely a chicken shop that sells big juicy chicken that can be cooked. Mmmm.... yummy. The name choice for the shop leaves a bad taste in the mouth though. Is it humorous? Is it sexist? Is it undiplomatic? Is it honest? Is it literally correct? Is it tasteless? I don't think the customers cared much about the name - Fat Chicks definitely drew a crowd! On your mark.... The sign on this ATM made me nervous. It was honest but left me with questions. It made me more nervous. What if my reflexes were not good enough. *"PLEASE COLLECT CASH AS SOON AS IT IS DISPENSED. OTHERWISE SAME WILL DISAPPEAR INTO THE MACHINE."* My reflexes were fast enough, I succeeded and my money was mine! What a relief! And let me end it.... All these signs were from a place called Trichy 15 years ago. I haven't visited the place for more than 10 years now. The city was lovely and the people were friendly - I enjoyed the four years I spent there. And all these little signs and notices just added to the fun we had there! Which of the above is your favorite sign? Do you have a photograph of a funny sign or noticeboard from your city? Do share your thoughts in the comments section. And thanks to my sponsors for encouraging me to stay active on this website!

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@sleepyjey 2 October 2021

The Cycle Of Life - A Photograph Series I had a very truncated vacation with my In-Laws at their hill station home - it was supposed to be for a week, but we barely spent 48 hours there and had to return home for an emergency. It was about 10 hours of driving each way! One of the things I loved about the cool hill station is the variety of flowers that I saw everywhere. This series of photographs is from the same plant and is taken at the same time. It shows different flowers in various stages of their existence in the same plant. The unique purple color and this observation of the different phases got me thinking about life in general. Our life is like a flower - we are born, we exist, we have a purpose, sometimes we achieve it and then we fade away and other flowers continue on with this repetitive cycle. I have attached the photos at the end of this article and you can appreciate this cycle. Such is life. We start off as an innocuous-looking bud that is green and innocent but filled with potential. There is a touch of color that leaks out as it starts to bloom. The motivation for this is usually the sun that falls on the bud and prods it to bloom out. The color then changes and becomes prettier as the petals open out. The flower at this stage seems independent and confident. It has a purpose and draws more attention. The design on its petals becomes more intricate and there are more shades that show. As it reveals its inner self, its true beauty seems to be the purpose for which it was created. Is there more? As it blooms out more, bees buzz onto it. A little peek into its inside and it is obvious that there is more to the intricate beauty than the colorful petals. The center of the flower has more to it! It has pollen, androids, stamens, and lots of things that my son tried to teach me about. It's almost like a parallel world in a flower's life - there's fertilization, self-preservation, and pollination that happens as the flower fully blooms and stretches. As it enjoys life to the fullest, more is happening to it than the eye can appreciate. The flower probably knows that its days are numbered and its glory days are just short-lived. It must do what is necessary to keep this cycle going. It ensures that from deep within, more life can be produced and more beauty can be propagated. As programmed cell death starts, it loses its brilliance. It fades and darkens. It droops. It can no longer hold itself steady proudly. Its fragrance changes and it is ignored. It shrivels and dies. Without much ado, the plant simply lets the flower go and it falls gently to the ground where it is stepped on and forgotten. It adds a touch of nourishment to the soil as it decays away - adding one last touch to the cycle of life. What has it achieved in the 2 days it lived? Joy - through its beauty and life through its inner being. It died quickly and was forgotten, but probably enjoyed the days it lived. Our lives will fade away. Everything we do will fade away. Let us use this temporary life to add beauty and warmth to those around us. We will be forgotten, but let us add to this cycle of life - not take away from it. ENJOY THESE PHOTOS! *All photos were shot on my Samsung M31S phone and are unedited. Apologies for a couple of them being slightly out-of-focus.* I'll end this photo series with a special thank you to my sponsors for inspiring me to write again on read after the 'vacation' This article was written as part of the Writing Prompt by @JonicaBradley titled "Nature" - more details here: https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-8-nature-5d41fac6

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@sleepyjey 2 October 2021

I was away for a week with a disastrous vacation (more on that later!) and am back at my computer from today. Will probably chill out and recover from my flu over the weekend and try to write from next week. Apologies for not commenting, replying or posting for a while!

@sleepyjey 23 September 2021

Musically Viral? The internet is the land of the great unknown and the land of the great unexplainable. Things happen that shouldn't and things get popular, well, that should NOT! These five songs went viral for all the reasons unknown - some would not have seen the light of day had it not been for the inexplicable power of the internet. Some of these singers would not have seen the light of day if they had tried to sing this in real life. So let's try to figure out why these songs went viral - not just with thousands of hits, but with millions..... even billions. Try to explain their virality (is there even a word like that?) Or just hold your peace. These are in no particular order.  **Friday - Rebecca Black** You knew this was coming, didn't you? A teenager trying to make a song out of days of the week with a special liking for Friday? The song was one of the most-watched and most disliked videos in 2011 (beat Justin Beiber!). The effective use of auto-tune to add depth to the lyrics, "Yesterday was Thursday, Today is Friday, Friday, Tomorrow is Saturday, And Sunday comes after wards" made the internet go crazy and the meme world erupted. What else could you do after eating cereal, but wonder whether to sit in the front or the back seat? But it was not the end of the world for Rebecca Black. She was not going to be bogged down by all the disfame online and went on to sign labels, become a youtube star and do a few recordings. Look who's laughing now!! And let's face the truth - after ten years, this song sounds catchy doesn't it... https://youtu.be/kfVsfOSbJY0 **One Pound Fish - Shahid Nazir** Shahid Nazir was just selling fish in a busy part of Britain and would belt out some catchy lines to try and grab sellers. He ended up grabbing the internet.  https://youtu.be/G_miGclPFGs That's what the internet did to this fish seller. His original 'gig' in the market got noticed and one thing led to another. He was soon dancing with a group of glamorous girls while belting out the benefits of the one pound fish. I don't think the fish looked this glamorous even in Finding Nemo. He was on several news channels, X factor, and then quietly faded away. Do any of you know where his fish shop is now? The original casual video is still popular sans all those glamorous women. You can decide which you like better! https://youtu.be/ETSl8gWsFZ0 **Gangnam Style - Psy** You will play this on repeat and blurt out your own lyrics and jump and dance and then try to figure out why you like this song. You never knew the singer before this, or after this, or even what the heck he was singing about. You'll copy those dance move at crazy times, like in the middle of the street, and will be joined by 10 random people doing the same moves. Don't lose your peace over the lyrics or those meaningless moves. Just concentrate on getting that beat out of your head. It's better for you! At one point this was the most popular video ever and easily crossed a billion views. Don't tell me you didn't contribute to 100 of these views at least??!! https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0 **Boom Boom Boom - CathyMay15** Nobody knew or knows who she is and how old she was and why she did it. But she sang along while playing the song, recorded on a webcam and the rest is history. While it initially was ridiculed for being out of sync etc, this became epic and 10 years later in 2021, it is the epitome of having fun and being yourself on the internet. Her casual accent, no autotune, the way she rubs her shoulder, nose while singing along - just oozes self-confidence and teaches you to learn to enjoy being yourself. There were dozens, maybe hundreds, of remixes, mash-ups, memes, reverse videos, and what-not of this video. Cathy knew how to turn this thing on its head and make it motivational. Or am I wrong? See her short video explaining herself and you'll realize her attitude! https://youtu.be/82VtBxeJH3I **Coffin Dance**  Did this tune actually have an original song? Is It copyrighted? Were the coffin dancers real?  If you do find these answers leave a comment, please. The answers don't change the reality though - that this tune and those coffin dancers were a meme-makers dream and literally millions of video memes have flooded YouTube and every video hosting site on the internet. If that music is copyrighted, it's the perfect recipe for making a billionaire. This is supposed to be the original remake of the tune with the Ghana Coffin Dancers. The song is originally by Vicetone & Tony Igy and is called Astronomia. Which is your favorite meme video featuring the coffin dancers? https://youtu.be/j9V78UbdzWI Do you have any music video that you can't stop seeing, but can't figure out why you love it (or hate it) so much? Share it with me!!

@sleepyjey 23 September 2021

Moon Rock It was full moon again last night. I finally took out my old DSLR after I struggled for a while to capture the moon on my mobile phone camera. I managed a half-decent shot with some zooming and cropping. This is the end result. I stared at it for quite a while and the thoughts that ran through my mind are now spilling onto Read.Cash. Brace yourself! The moon is a somewhat roundish piece of irregular rock floating around the earth. It's not a ball of fire or a pot of gold. It's been doing the same things repetitively for millions of years - reflecting the light from the sun and revolving around the earth. It occasionally gets human visitors with some awesome-looking big machines that poke and prod into it. It's very forgiving and entertains them with a little less gravity and some roller-coaster rides. It has no living being on it. Look closely at the picture. There's just black, white, and different shades of grey - all the boring colors of the universe. There is no bright blue, deep red, yellow flashes, or pink streaks. There is no symmetry or perfection. It is a little bumpy and there are oddly shaped craters. All this is what causes the brilliance that we see in the sky as it reflects the sun. With all this 'ordinary'ness in its existence, the moon has still become an integral part of billions of lives. It has inspired nursery rhymes, kindled and rekindled love, has become synonymous with romance, is every self-proclaimed and acclaimed photographer's favorite model, has become a staple in horror movies, and has supernatural value to some religions, The phases it shows us through its faces has given birth to philosophies and sciences. It has scared people with its eclipses and interested many with its influence on tides. Billions of dollars and decades of research and engineering have been dedicated to exploring it, with an aim to plunder it for what it is worth. Think about all of that. I remember how my fiance (now my wife) and I were hundreds of kilometers apart at one time, but would draw comfort in knowing that we were looking at the same moon. Every time my daughter sees a brilliant moon, she breaks out into a nursery rhyme (Nila Nila Odi Vaa - a Tamil rhyme). A rocket launch to the moon will have my son glued to live TV. A lunar or solar eclipse becomes a family skywatching event. And when there is a full moon, there are stories we hear that we don't want to. On a clear night, it tempts us to whip out our mobile phones from our pocket and our cameras from dusty shelves with a hope to capture its beauty. And yes, it is still just a near-shapeless lump of rock! All it does is consistently go round and round and carefully reflect the sunlight. That's something we can be inspired by. You may feel shapeless physically, dull inside, and purposeless. But if the moon can do what it can by just being what it is, you can achieve so much by just being you. Have a great day! Epilogue: The attempt to shoot the moon was made using a 10-year-old Nikon D7000 camera with a 10-year-old Tamron 18-270mm lens on a 12-year-old tripod. I was in a hurry and only took a few shots - this one is still a bit blurry. The raw shot fully zoomed in with my lens, before I cropped it and edited it a little (on google photos on mobile) is below. It all started when I noticed the full moon out of the bedroom window at 9 PM and decided to try and capture it with my mobile phone. Could not capture the moon, but got a decent shot of the moonlight highlighting the hill over which it shone.

@sleepyjey 20 September 2021

Random Questions - My Turn "The reason I don't have Writers Block is that I am not a writer". This is a quote inspired by @Stea's musings in her article "Hear Me Out" which I couldn't resist using as a starting point for my article. https://read.cash/@Stea/hear-me-out-e07f119a So I have been having trouble getting off the blocks on read.cash. I have managed to write some decent articles, but struggled to churn them out at a regular pace. With a busy weekend at work, I decided to break free from the shackles by answering random questions just to hone my skills and probably stimulate my brain cells enough to write something new. This particular article is inspired by @bmjc98 who wrote this article. https://read.cash/@bmjc98/just-random-questions-you-might-want-to-know-bbeaee83 The questions are from the link here. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/21-questions-game I am picking 5 random questions to answer at this point. Maybe this will stimulate me to write part 2 sometime this year or decade! But before I launch into answering random questions, a big thank you to my sponsors! **1. What's your favorite season of the year?** There are three seasons we have - hot, hotter, and hottest. Hottest is about 40-45 degrees celsius - obviously, this is not my favorite. I do prefer December and January mainly because it is cool and there is the occasional sprinkle of rainfall that makes things very pleasant. The early mornings dip to below 20 degrees celsius and there are mist-covered hills visible from my balcony - and that's as goos as it gets in my hometown. **2. What's a bad habit you** ***had*** **that you've been able to overcome?** *Swearing and bad language.* I have completely stopped using it in public and with friends for many years now. This is quite different from my school days when I used to be the good guy at home and throw in multiple 4-letter words in school. The decision to change it was inspired by good friends who made me realize it was unnecessary. I almost relapsed in college but managed to control it. Maybe my Sunday school teachers and church also indirectly helped by teaching me principles to help overcome things like this. The bad part is that those words have never left my lips, but they are still stored in my brain - I find that I do curse inwardly in some situations. I hope I figure out a way to stop that too. **3. What's your biggest regret?** *My musical limitations.* I often regret that I did not develop my talent in music. In fact, I wrote about this in my article "Musically Regretful". I'll just quite one of the last lines from that article here - you can read the whole article to get a true feel of why I regret this. https://read.cash/@sleepyjey/musically-regretful-08661a16 "I do have regrets musically, but they only make me try harder. I feel disappointed that I haven't done as much as could have, but that has just inspired me to give my kids the best chances at music and let them go where they want to musically." **4. What's the wildest thing you've ever done?** *Bungy Jumping!!* I did it in New Zealand in 2014. We were vacationing there and I simply was obsessed that I had to do it. It was on my bucket list because I knew friends who did it and I could not be the one who was in NZ and chickened out! I chose the Kawarau Bridge - the world's oldest bungy jumping area. I didn't feel nervous till I actually started getting strapped. My 3-year-old son was upset that he couldn't join us (duh!). My wife was praying fervently. I had to remove my glasses and everything was blurry - which was a good thing. I was wearing a bright red T-shirt. I watched people before me jump with ease, struggle and scream and even bail out. As I stood at the very edge, the clear blue water 43 meters below looked scary. I hesitated for a second and jumped. I screamed with a combination of exhilaration and fear and was soon bouncing up and down. I made the mistake of keeping my body stiff, which took away some of the exciting feelings I could have enjoyed. Soon I was on a boat and was walking up a million rickety steps with wobbling knees. I got a video, several photos, and a cheap tee for the achievement! It was wild and worth every dollar spent! **5. What's your favorite thing about yourself?** *My humor.* I've always been the college joker, the guy who throws punchlines into any conversation and comes up with genuine one-liners and puns that can amuse people. I throw in humor at home, at work, and even at Church. I try not to cross limits and always keep it clean. Sometimes people roll their eyes, but usually, they laugh. In another life, I should have been a stand-up comedian. I recently called up a stand-up comedian to book him in for a show and his charges for 1 hour were more than my entire monthly pay! Darn! I missed that chance. When I ask my three-year-old daughter what she feels about her parents, she says, "Ma is pretty. Pa is funny". She is right on both counts! So that's a little but about me and some, hopefully, interesting content for you to read here. Do answer these questions and write your own article. Have a great day!

@sleepyjey 17 September 2021

Thanks to @LucyStephanie for the sponsorship! Like I've said - this is such an encouragement to newbies like me on this platform.

@sleepyjey 16 September 2021

The Color Of Money I ended up with currency notes in almost all denominations in my wallet today. It was coincidental and I was super-thrilled about it. I was amused by the different colors that sprang out of my wallet and remembered how demonetization had led to the weirdest sequence of events in my country, and politicians felt it was a good time to change how the currency notes looked. So this is how it appeared as I laid the notes down on my desk. Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, and Rs. 500. The Rs. 1000 note had been demonetized and criminalized (it is illegal to possess one) and the Rs. 2000 notes are being phased out. As I looked at the notes, I mentally thought of the "Color Of Money". These harmless-looking, rectangular pieces of printed paper wielded a strange kind of power. As it changed hands, there was more than transactions and bills. These were the colors that came to my mind. Is money green? That's the color of greed and envy. Does it tempt one to get more of it? Does it make you envy another if they have more of it? Are the things that money can buy used to flaunt and tempt? Is money red? Has it caused more bloodshed than guns? Heck... guns themselves are the result of money hunger, aren't they? Wars have been fought over oil - oil that will get you money. People have been stabbed and shot in dark alleys for the pieces of paper in their wallets and pockets. Is money blue? The color of the vast seas and skies often denotes freedom, expansiveness, intuition, imagination, sensitivity, and inspiration. But are those things that money can get? In today's world, money can get you freedom, can't it? Blue signifies a depressed soul. Maybe that is the true color of money. It flatters temporarily only to deceive. They say the richest people pop the most pills to make it through the day. Does money make you blue? Is money black? Black Money! Hah!! That got me. Does it make you delve into the world of sin, lawlessness, and deceit? Does it blacken the soul? Does lusting after money darken your life? Maybe money squeezes out the colors from your life and makes it black. Does money close your eyes to the joys of the world around you and surround you with this blackness? Is money yellow? Crappy and stinking and just fit to be flushed down the toilet. Or does it make s#$t out of everything it touches with its golden Midas touch? Does it make you yearn for filth? Is money purple? Who doesn't like a purple patch! But it is still a flamboyant patch that is an exaggeration of words. Is that all money is in our lives? Is money brown? One with the earth, dust, and soil. We all end up buried in the soil - and does money make the journey six feet under any better? Do we take our money to our grave? Will it help in our afterlife, if there is one? No - we leave all our money behind. As our breath stops, money has nothing to do with us anymore! And I am still wondering - is the physical color of all the currency notes in my country meant to depict all these? Is that what the Reserve Bank, Prime Minister and Bank Leaders thought of when they designed the notes. Or was it just a random choice of colors to make the notes more noticeable? What is the color of money in your country? What do you think is the true color of money?

@sleepyjey 16 September 2021

The read.cash community is amazing. Thanks to @stea for sponsoring me. It's very encouraging for newbies like me! Will try to write well and keep at it regularly.

@sleepyjey 15 September 2021

"Chattan" - The Versions That 'Rock'ed me '***Chattan***' in Hindi means "*Rock*". The song "CHATTAN" was released by *Bridge Music* just when the pandemic started and through the last year, has been a source of strength to millions of people. It has several versions that have spawned through the months. I am mentioning the best versions of the songs. ****Original version - still the overall best!**** ***(Chattan - Acoustic | Bridge Music ft. Prakruthi Angelina & Sam Alex Pasula)*** The original version was acoustic and had 2 vocalists - *Prakruthi Angelina & Sam Alex Pasula*. Prakruthi carries the song through, mainly with her lilting vocals. Her enunciation of the words adds depth to the lyrics. I love how Sam slowly eases in at the bridge and then brings the song to a strong finish - musically brilliant! The song did not have a music video to add to the beauty and was just wonderful as a pure musical experience. https://youtu.be/RNUcjA5KaOY ****Best regional language version**** ***(Enthan Kanmalai | Tamil Cover of Chattan | Sammy Thangiah | Prakruthi Angelina | Derick Samuel)*** Prakruthi and team translated the song to Tamil - a South Indian language. Preserving the acoustic feel of the original and throwing in a flute, the song captures the authentic feel of the song, especially since Prakruthi sings the lead vocals. The quaint studio setting of the video adds an intimate feeling to the song and lifts the meaningful lyrics. Sung in the language I understand and translated so well, it strikes close to my heart!  **Due to video uploader settings, I can't embed the video and will link you to it - https://youtu.be/5e_-692pUm0** I'll embed a version showing a highway drive as this is a song I listen to a lot while I am driving: https://youtu.be/OftcfDGtqp0 ****Best children's version**** ***(Chattan by The K4C Legends l K4C International Conservatory Of Music)*** This is a full studio version recorded by students at the K4C Music School. It's amazing to see the kids render such a beautiful and powerful version of the song - they are obviously very serious about learning music. I'm sure some of them will grow up to be terrific musicians and may even make a career out of music. They have 2 versions - one in Hindi and another in Tamil. Here are both versions https://youtu.be/ZyLZmneRreg https://youtu.be/VCn-TT9fEkg ****Best virtual version**** ***(Chattan Bridge Music Cover- KDB Michael | Elic Massey | Sonal Timothy | Rohit Silas | Tanya Nazrene)*** The pandemic and lockdowns resulted in a burst of virtual choirs on youtube and it was inevitable that Chattan spawned virtual choir numbers too. This was one of the early versions and I enjoyed it thoroughly. There are more vocalists and quite a few instruments (the guitar is my favorite) in this mix. https://youtu.be/Xbg43tvWQRU ****Best English version**** ***(Chattan - English Version 'My Rock' - Vihan Damaris)*** It's common to see English versions Indianised by bands. Vihan does an amazing job westernizing the music and translating the lyrics to English. She still manages to capture the beauty of the lyrics from the original language and makes the music beautiful too. Her vocals and backing vocals add the perfect touch to "Englishifying" an Indian Song. PS: Prakruthi and Vihan are good friends and they have a home acoustic version of the song on her channel - check the song out too at the end! https://youtu.be/wr4MtLQnTsk ****Chattan (Official) | Bridge Music ft. Prakruthi Angelina, Samarth Shukla & Zayvan**** Paradoxically the "official" version was launched several months later in December 2020. It had a studio-shot video and a much bigger ensemble of instruments and vocal power. This is however *not* my favorite version. Although it had powerful vocals and an array of extra instruments including a flute and tabla, I still prefer Prakruthis original acoustic version (with Sam) and the Tamil version (with Sammy and Derrick) much more - they both capture the personal, warm meaning of the song better. This version starts off with a bang - a drum beat and roll. It is sung on a higher scale. I prefer the original, more intimate, and acoustic version on a lower note which adds character to the lyrics. The musical build-up of the official version, with the rap going on to the bridge just doesn't satisfy my contemplation of what this song means to me. This is certainly good, but seems to be more of an attempt to bridge across to the pop music culture. I still listen to it and find it still carried the original meaning quite well. https://youtu.be/nPV9Fvo59L0 ****Special Mentions:**** ***- Kephas (Chattan) Malayalam cover | FT. Walk the Waves | Nazarene Cartel*** Malayalam is a beautiful language and this video captures the lush green outdoors of God's Own Country - Kerala. It has a few choreographed moves that the singers do well. https://youtu.be/AsyHMyrqn3E ***- Chattan (Live) - Prakruthi Angelina, Vihan Damaris (Hindi and Tamil)*** I've mentioned this in the blog. This is a fusion of the Hindi and Tamil versions sung by Vihan and Prakruthi. I like the live 'home' mood it creates. Vihan says Prakruthi is a great friend and it's obvious that they sing together off-screen just for fun - their vocals match well and complement each other. https://youtu.be/EmNVXqeGOdw Which is your favorite version? Add it in the comments and I'll see if the list can accommodate more too! Have a blessed time. I'll leave you with Vihan's English lyrics of the song so you can understand it!

@sleepyjey 15 September 2021

Yippeeee! I got my first ever sponsor and I am super-thrilled about it. @emily2u helped me join read.cash a couple of weeks ago and now she is my first sponsor. Thank you for the support. More than the financial sponsorship, it seriously encourages members like me to participate consistently andwrite better content.

@sleepyjey 14 September 2021

Yearning For The Sun *I watched my frail table rose plant show immense resilience as it bloomed out a few bright flowers after months of hibernation. I took some photographs and that inspired my first attempt at poetry. Here we go!* I perched on the edge of the balcony The sun, wind, and rain wrapping me Peeking out beyond, so frail and fragile Waiting for the time to show my smile I struggled hard in the depleted soil To bloom out a flower I daily toiled My nourishment so bleak and very meager But to please the sun I was eager As the blazing summer eased away I knew this would be my glorious day I sucked all I got and spread out my best Soon a bud was born during my nocturnal rest Would it die or live I wasn't so sure Would it have the strength to truly endure The sun's bright light and the warmth I yearned To bloom out a flower and not be burned The breath of life coursed through my stems And poured out colors to the buds weak hems At the break of dawn, the magic begun As she opened shyly to the glowing sun The sun seemed to look and burst forth with love And joyously she lifted her gaze above Blinded at first, then amazed with awe Filled with grace and beauty so raw Hope was high on that balcony wall And joy was bright on the edge so tall Love spread wide in the breeze that morn As for a day, her glory shone *Note: All photos were shot on my Samsung M31S and edited on PhotosEditor.* Written as part of @JonicaBradley Writing Prompt #8: Nature https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley (Read more here: https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-8-nature-9d9eb47f)

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@sleepyjey 13 September 2021

Musically Regretful Have you ever looked back at your life and wished you could have used your past to improve one skill or talent? That's what I am doing right now! At the outset, people may interpret me as 'somewhat musically talented'. I lead worship at church occasionally. I have 2 guitars, a ukulele, a cajon, a keyboard, and a few shakers at home. I have made a few virtual choir videos with friends during the pandemic lockdowns. I can be seen behind the mixer at church once in a while. Now that must mean that I am a musician, right? NO WAY!! I have some vocal power and small range of singing - my ability to keep a tune is very average. I know most regular chords on a guitar and can strum the usual way, even know a few tricks. I can keep a beat on the cajon and play songs on the ukulele on 2 scales. That's enough to keep my kids entertained and to join the singing at church. So why do I have regrets? I haven't explored my full potential. I haven't given it anywhere near my best. I have lost the ability to learn new things. I have limits that I can't seem to get rid of. Let me explain the journey. I learned my first **notes and chords on a piano** when I was in 3rd grade. Awesome start, eh! To learn more, I had to travel half an hour to my aunt's house. I did it quite a few times, but never sustained the efforts. In a year or two, I had made very little progress and as school got busy, I slipped away completely. *Missed opportunity 1.* This was in the 1980s and 1990s. My sister and brother took **vocal classes**, but I deemed myself unworthy and was too lazy to join them. *Missed opportunity 2.* By this time there were **several music books** at home and there were notes and music sheets. I learned the basics of reading music but didn't develop that into reading music. *Missed opportunity 3.* I was given **a guitar** somewhere in high school. I over-tightened the strings and left the guitar in the storeroom where the wood cracked and the fretboard bent. When the person who gave it saw it after a few months and was furious! End of story. *Missed opportunity 4.* **I entered college** and this is where I had the biggest chances! We had music competitions and choirs and events. I decided to play drums as no one else in my class played the drums. I taught myself drums by asking around - there was no internet or youtube to look for tutorials! The drumset was usually locked up in the auditorium and I would play them only during practice for some events or programs. I also learned more chords on the guitar and taught myself a few songs. I played when a few of us were gathered together. It is at this time I realized my limitations. In my 20s with no formal music training and musically average, my ear for music, beats and timings was poor. I was not a reliable 'leader' for any song and just followed others. I had to learn the chords for a song before I could play it and a drum roll made me nervous as my timing could easily be off. But in spite of these limitations, I enjoyed the best phase of my music life. My regret? I had a million chances to tune and finetune my skills and I didn't use them. I could play a few things and that was it. *Missed opportunity 5.* **I fell in love and married**. I wrote her 3 songs during our courtship and sang one of them live at our wedding with a borrowed guitar. The world thought that the next great musician was born. But love is paradoxical and after we got married, the talent faded away magically. *Missed opportunity 6.* **My parents bought us a guitar** on our 2nd wedding anniversary. Life was busy and youtube was still unheard of. I learned some songs and played them when we had church meetings. We went abroad for a few years and suddenly the guitar wasn't with us. I went to a church that was vibrant with music and we even met as friends to sing. My talents were now stagnant and I could still only play or sing in a standard way. I had chances to get better, and unfortunately did everything but music. *Missed opportunity 7.* We came back to India and **I gave it my best**. I led worship at church and sang at every chance I got. As my son started growing, I didn't want him to face the same regrets. We soon had a keyboard at home and he was attending classes. I tried to relearn the piano, but failed. I continued to expand my guitar playing repertoire, but age had caught up. I needed vocal and musical help every time I decided to lead at church - I sometimes struggled to hit the right note to start off a song! But I pushed myself. I bought a cajon and at the first opportunity, offered to play it at a music show with a packed auditorium. No one knew what a cajon was and I showed them. I had a few opportunities to play the drums again and could finally prove to my wife and children that I did play the drums in college! I roped in my son to play cajon and he was an enthusiastic learner. When there was no one available for the mixer, I forced myself to learn what all those buttons and sliders did and could help out occasionally. When the pandemic hit, I relearned music to stay with the times. I recorded songs for church a few times - our church is a very simple and forgiving church and they do not expect perfect music. I was intrigued by virtual choirs and music and learned how to use Final Cut Pro and Davinci Resolve to try and create a few projects. In between a very busy time at work in the healthcare center and the covid madness all around, this was a constant source of strength, entertainment, and refreshment to my heart, mind, and soul. So that's where I stand. I miss being musically talented. When I mix, I still can't figure out how to make the sound better. I can't seem to sync the vocals and instruments and backing vocals together perfectly at all. I speed up or slow down as I play the guitar or cajon. But what I've realized is that the world is full of people who enjoy it when you give it the best shot. I've wasted many years, many opportunities and have ended up with a lot of limitations that I cannot get rid of. But, that doesn't worry me anymore. I do have regrets musically, but they only make me try harder. I feel disappointed that I haven't done as much as could have, but that has just inspired me to give my kids the best chances at music and let them go where they want to musically. Do you have any regrets from your early life about talents or skills that you miss having now? Do leave a comment here! *Lead images and article images from Unsplash through Read.Cash*

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@sleepyjey 10 September 2021

I was looking at topics to write on and noticed that there are writing prompts and writing challenges on read.cash. The instructions seem simple - write on a common topic and be part of the collection of articles that finally come out from different writers. Is there anything else I need to be aware of or are there any interesting prompts/challenges that you could point me to so that I can use the weekend to write something? Thanks in advance for being patient!

@sleepyjey 8 September 2021

Switch It Off! Saving electricity is one of the ways to save the environment. The connection is not direct, but works at various levels - I'll save writing about that for some other day. There are obvious ways to save electricity, like using energy-efficient appliances and lights, avoiding unnecessary usage, and ensuring that your gadgets are well maintained to reduce power consumption and work more efficiently. On a larger scale, the use of renewable sources like wind, water, and sunlight should become more popular. But I'll leave all that aside and make a few suggestions that may seem trivial, but will add up to have a small impact. They will seem trivial - so trivial that you will probably not even consider doing it. But brush aside your desire to ignore this and do it. Reducing a few microwatts or watts of current for a few minutes will add up if thousands of people like you and me do it together. So here we go. **Turn it off** Look around you. There will be at least one light / fan / gadget / device / appliance that need not be switched on as it is not being used. As I write this, I've turned off the electronic mosquito repellent that I use overnight - it's 8 AM and it has no role. There is a lone light in the kitchen that is not needed as the sun has risen. That's the scale at which we will all work together - take a couple of minutes to do this right now. There, we've saved a few watts of electrical consumption together. Don't fret over the fact that each of these steps seems very trivial - it all adds up (I will keep repeating this!!) **Turn it down** It's a cool day and the fan is running at full speed. Do I really need it? I've turned it down to half speed and there is no noticeable change in my comfort level or the temperature. I've turned down the brightness on my laptop a notch. Catch the drift? You can even play around with the temperature settings in your refrigerator and water heater to save even more. Does your air-conditioner need to be that cold - or do you even need it on? **Flick the switch** Have you ever wondered why your microwave or television is left on at the main switch even when it is not being used? The trickle of current keeps the clock on it running - or just keeps a LED light indicating the unit is not on. Do you really need that? Turning appliances off at the plug point is useful to save a few watts of electricity for prolonged periods of time. You barely use your microwave, except in spurts during the day - never when you're sleeping. Your television is turned off at least 12 hours at a stretch. Does that dim led red light play any role at all? And why is your charger still on when the phone is charged - can you feel the little heat it is generating which is a waste of electricity? This is not only energy saving, but also prolongs the life of your appliance while protecting it from unexpected surges or fluctuations in electricity. The aim of this article is not to elaborately write down all the ways to save electricity. That would be a laborious read. The aim is to use the time spent in reading this article (5 minutes at the max) to do a couple of small things and save a few watts of electricity. Over hours, this saves you money and electricity. If thousands of users do this, it will amount to a drop and we know what many drops ultimately become - an ocean of electricity saved - won't the environment love it? Do post a comment about what you did after reading this article. Let the little drops start and add up! *Note: Lead image from Unsplash via Read.Cash. Other images from Pixabay.*

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@sleepyjey 6 September 2021

The Art Of Commenting Article and writing websites have many aims and objectives. A writer or a reader too has goals and targets. One of the common aims that writers, website admins, and readers have, among others, is to encourage interactivity through the website and improve the quality of the website and its content. On websites like read.cash and noise.cash, the *tipping system* seems to be an overwhelming way of interaction - more so in noise where it costs nothing to heart-tip a post. However, it must be noted that these websites try to mimic real-world interaction on an online platform. While tipping a performer is often done in the real world, most real-world conversations are *deeper and more engaging* than just a tip. So here are my thoughts on using the comments feature that is there in most of the article and post writing websites **How do you comment on an article?** On most websites, you are led to the comments section after you have read the article and then scroll further down. You need to be logged in as a user and, beyond this, some will make you solve a captcha to prove it's a human being that is leaving a comment. **Why should you leave a comment?** 1. It shows that you have read the article and understood it and have actually gone one step further - you are *genuinely interested* in the content 2. It shows your *desire to engage* in a conversation with the writer 3. It helps to *encourage the writer*, as often real words are more meaningful than a click on an upvote or a tip. However be careful (as I will mention later) - nonspecific comments like "good article" can be labeled as spam 4. You can *clarify any doubts* or ask questions you have 5. You can *add details or information* that will improve the content by itself and help authors increase their knowledge base. **What should you do before you write a comment?** *Read the article well* - don't just skip-read it. Try to get a feel about what the author is trying to tell you. Enjoy the article! *Decide what you want to say and why you want to say it.* Don't write a comment just for the sake of writing one. Your upvote or tip is still good enough to show your appreciation when you enjoy something but don't want to add a comment. **Does the interaction end with a comment?** Usually, no! Authors are quickly able to see the users who are genuinely interested in their articles. They discover who have the same interests as them. By engaging with commenters, the overall quality of their article increases, and readers spend a little more time reading interesting comments and the discussions that happen around comments too. Often, the writer and readers will visit your profile page and read a few of your articles - the overall interaction increases in the community in a positive way. So the value of an original, good-quality comment results in a ripple that improves the website and makes the reader-writer-admin team happier. That is a win-win-win situation. **Closing Thoughts** *When you have nothing to say, don't say it* - just random sentences stating"Good one", "So nice" etc show a desire to just throw your username all over the site. Also longer rambling lines like "I like what you have written. I think the same. You should write more" achieve nothing much. *When you have something to say*, put as much thought into it as you would put into writing your article. You can get straight to the point and state what you would like to so that your comment is precise and clear. *If you disagree with something*, please be polite and know that different people can have different viewpoints. Do not instigate or troll a writer. Never attempt to hijack an article with your comments. And as is the rule in any website - *do not spam*! Do not link to anything that you wrote, even if you're tempted to - it will be seen as spam. Do not request for subscribers or upvotes. Avoid writing lines like "I too wrote something similar - read it at...." or "I have upvoted your article and subscribed to you. Please do the same to me." Good writers may even block you if you do this. Admins will see that you write such comments frequently and will ban you! *Finally, don't force yourself to comment* on an article. Some members do this just to get noticed or simply because the author has commented on one of their articles -they feel that they need to return the favor. *Good writers and commenters don't write out of favor or compulsion - they write because they have something to say and have a passionate way of expressing themselves!* How do you like these little tips? Do you comment often on articles? Do leave your thoughts (and comments!) here and let us build each other up! *Lead Image From Unsplash website through Read.Cash*

@sleepyjey 3 September 2021

My Five Favorite Christian Music Mash-Ups / Medleys To the untrained ear, a mash-up and a medley are often used interchangeably and this article will also do that. It takes a special talent to line up 2 or more songs and mix them up to make a music project that is musically and aesthetically engrossing. The Christian Music genre has a lot of songs that people love to mash up together. While a Christian mash-up/medley is partly a musical project, many also aim to create a song that has deeper and more engaging meaning with a common thread or theme through the different songs. I do love listening to some of these mashups. During our worship sessions at church we sometimes do something similar, but what we do is more like a medley - stringing 2-3 songs together and going back and forth to create an atmosphere of worship that engages the congregation more. Here are 5 Christian Mashups that I found impressive both musically and lyrically. I find it difficult to grade them as 1 to 5 - so these are just my overall favorites. I don't have a clear winner on my list! **1. What A Beautiful Name / Agnus Dei (Live) - Travis Cottrell feat. Lily Cottrell** This song showcases the musical concept of tension and release "What A Beautiful Name" is a gentle song that builds up a little with the second chorus and then releases to a soft interlude before building up with the bridge and releasing to the chorus. What this mashup up achieves effectively is an explosive entry of "Agnus Dei" just after the 4-minute mark. Just when you think "Beautiful Name" has built up and will close, there is a brief musical respite for a beat before "Agnus Dei" bursts in to take over! The build-up continues onto a flowing, inspiring instrumental after 5 min and then crescendoes to a false finish at 5:30. The next 1 minute is a meditative rendition of the chorus of "Beautiful Day" https://youtu.be/diQPE7lYNsQ **2. Elevation Worship Mashup | Red Sea Music** This collection of Indian Christian Artists manage to mix together 7 songs by the worship band Elevation Worship -Grateful, Do It Again, Forever I Run, Echo, Call Upon the Lord, Overcome & Resurrecting. That's quite an impressive list, isn't it! Set up in a casual home room the mash-up is as clean as that room! There is a brilliantly common feel that runs through these songs and the transitions are flawless. You also get a feel of the vocalists and the instrumentalists as the video highlights their faces, the way they jive together, and shows their expressions quite well. My favorite bit (non-musically) is the camera showing the guitarist Joshua start of his guitaring between 15 and 22 seconds of the song - that casual stance while he is playing and the smirky smile after the camera focuses on him is a fun moment that I can't get out of my brain for some reason! https://youtu.be/cHa0bKE_o2E **3. Evolution of Worship Music - A Cappella Medley by David Wesley** David Wesley made virtual bands cooler 10 years before the pandemic lockdowns forced people to sing virtually together! And to top it all he is a one-man vocal band, This 'worship music' medley showcases his vocal and technical talent very well. But what is so different about this medley is the way it lines up music over centuries! Starting with c560 and going all the way to 2017 - that's about 1500 years of music crammed into 8 minutes of acapella music! The bulk of the songs are from the last 50 years though. David effortlessly goes from one song to another, easily changing tempo, rhythm, scales, and mood. The list of 21 songs he has done on this mash-up is on the youtube link. If you do have a chance, check him out on YouTube - He is an ED nurse who was in the frontline during covid. I wonder how he manages to do so much musically. His latest projects are massive virtual choirs of hundreds of singers from all over the world. https://youtu.be/2SaBhN2idbM **4. Hymns Medley | Caleb + Kelsey Mashup** Amazing Grace / Great Is Thy Faithfulness / Be Thou My Vision / Holy Holy Holy / I Need Thee Every Hour / It Is Well / How Great Thou Art This husband-and-wife duo have an extensive list of songs have done do and they specialize in medleys and mashups too. Their repertoire of songs stretch from worship to Christmas to hymns. Amazingly, they pack in so many hymns into 4 minutes of video!! They preserve the traditional feel of these hymns, but do add a few twists to get them to mash up well. Their vocals match up and complement each other really well and it's also cute to see them steal a loving look at each other as they sing. Don't miss those special moments too as they mesmerize you with the voices https://youtu.be/8vWobAmXH0U **5. Way Maker | Niraivana Aaviyanavare | RIJK | Virtual Mashup Cover** I have to finish my list with a mash-up that also features a local language (Tamil) mashed up with English This song was released in the early part of the pandemic when singers in India were just getting familiar with recording multiple parts virtually. This was a massive effort and really merges the different languages well both lyrically and musically. My only gripe is the drum-pad which sounds very computerized! I love the transition to the instrumental interlude which leads to the change of song and language. They also do a brilliant job in getting back to Waymaker and finishing with it. The "Whoo" at the end gives you a feel of how excited the team was I guess! https://youtu.be/5iIHO1rl6rM So that's just a sneak peek into the world of Christian Music Mashups and Medleys. There are probably a million such projects out there and I'm sure you have your favorites too. Do take a moment to mention what you like and if possible throw in a link. If you are a music artist or producer, let us know what you like about mashups and link us to your projects! Have a great "Ber" months ahead! *Lead Image: From Pixabay*

@sleepyjey 1 September 2021

"She" - A Short Story With A Twist I could sense her even before I could see or hear her. She had slipped quietly into my bedroom. Damn! I must have left the door open. I knew she wanted me and she usually had her way. That's how she was. I lay still, hoping she'd know I was sleeping and prayed that the blanket would dissuade her from slipping into bed with me. She was naked - I knew. That made it harder for me to escape. My mind and heart tried to resist her advances to my body. As she drifted closer, I thought I could hear her breathe. It felt calming, yet exciting. That's how it usually was . I was aware of my own breathing which was quicker. My heart pumped a little faster as I knew I would feel her soft caress in a moment. Adrenaline was not the only hormone surging in me. My hands trembled a little and the hair on my forearms stood up. Blood surged through my body and my heart started pounding. My soul was screaming no, but my body craved and something inside me snapped! I threw my arms towards her with a soft grunt. And there... I held her naked in my arms. My eyes explored her long, beautifully shaped, slender legs. The soft curves of her body was more intricate than I imagined. My eyes then stayed fixed on her face - or what was left of it. It was smashed and bloodied with the head crushed - that's where my palm had smashed her and did her in. Now I'm no entomologist, but I'm quite sure she was a female anopheles mosquito - the kind that spreads malaria and such deadly diseases. I heaved a sigh of relief - I had managed to save myself. My heart slowed down and my breathing normalized. The sweat disappeared. The slight hiss of the drizzle outside was calming and I dozed away. *"She" ceased to exist.* *Note: Apologies if the sensual tones in the beginning and the macabre end made you feel weird. The photograph is that of an actual mosquito that I killed a few days ago while I was in my bedroom. And that set my neurons firing to create this story. Do leave your feedback and tips about short story writing. I'm a beginner and want to learn more about writing!* *(Lead Image from Pixabay)*

@sleepyjey 31 August 2021

Great Resources For Copyright-Free Images For Your Articles Why do you need images in articles? Images can be placed in multiple spots in an article: ****Header:**** This acts as an introduction or preview into the article. For example an article about sports could have a sporty header right at the top to get readers into the sports mood. ****In-article:**** These images can help reiterate a point you are making. Also a little 'visual' break between long paragraphs of text helps the reader refocus and continue reading the article ****Finale:**** An appropriate image at the end of the article gives the reader time to think over the article Thumbnail: This is used in search results, profile page with article lists, etc Depending on the site / platform used and the layout, images can be placed as a background, as little thumbnails inside the article and in more spots. Own Images vs Sourced Images If your article needs your own images, that is the best option. If you are blogging about a vacation, writing a recipe or writing instructions, it is best you use your own images as it adds authenticity to your article. However, if your article is just thoughts and philosophies or an opinion, sometimes you can't get your own images. It is also difficult when you want something a little abstract or of high quality that you can't create or shoot yourself. This is where you will start hunting for images to use. Most people simply run a google search and choose an image they find appropriate. Is this a good way to find and choose an image? Copyright-Free and Royalty-Free Images This is a screenshot of the disclaimer at the bottom of any image you see on google images As you can see, the image may be subject to copyright. This means that if you use this image for your article, the original photographer or artist or creator can take action against you. More importantly, it is not ethical to use an image that is not yours without explicit permission, even if you put a source to your image in your article. Stock Images? There are plenty of sites like ShutterStock, Alamy that have an extensive library of images that you can use for your article. You can preview (and even download) their images with a watermark, but to use them you need to pay for it. And trust me, they are not cheap. So what happens if you use one of their images with the watermark all over it? These big companies will file a case against you if they find out. They are not kind and don't really warn you. It's not worth the risk Are there websites that give you great, royalty free images for free? YES! There are quite a few, but I find these three websites are the best. You can get every type of image (and video) on these websites and they are all searchable and neatly categorised. They also give you the option of adding a source if you would like to give the site credit. Here is my list of three such websites. **Pixabay** is my favorite and probably has the most images https://pixabay.com/ **Pexels** is quite similar and seems to aggregate images from other sites too. It has some extra info on the image and the ability to donate to the creator. https://www.pexels.com/ **Unsplash** is used by read.cash as an option under inserting a picture https://unsplash.com/ All three sites have a lot of similarity and I usually just choose one at random. You can join as a member (for free) to keep track of your favorite images and also avoid solving a CAPTCHA to download images. These sites also usually give you a range of image resolutions that you can choose to download your images in. I am attaching screenshots of some of the features I have written up to complete my article. What is your favourite picture source website that is legal to use? Or which of the above is your go-to website for images. Do leave your thoughts in the comments section. If you have more resources, please let me know!

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@sleepyjey 31 August 2021

Dear read.cashers, Thanks to @emily2u for inviting me to this website and I hope to browse around, get a good feel of how this works (I'm active on noise and publish0x) and then will throw in my writing skills a bit. I understand this is more of a long article writing site unlike noise,cash which is shorter posts, so maybe I'll write a couple of times a week! Have a good week SleepyJey