Ryan Whitaker
Bio
Stories (19/0)
Is Virtual Reality the Future of Social Networking?
If you are young enough to remember a time before Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you know how social media has evolved over the years. This begs the question though, “What’s next for social networking?” Everyone online is asking and sharing their opinions regarding the question “is virtual reality the future of social networking,” and it seems that the conclusion is: Yes, it is.
By Ryan Whitaker4 years ago in 01
10 Keys to Successfully Manage Personal Finances
No matter what we do, it seems like there is never enough money to reach our desired goals, despite the fact that time is always on your side. For many of us, making ends meet every month and paying the bills can be a struggle. Fortunately, there are some simple keys to successfully manage personal finances that you can use to take control of your future. Turn your anxieties into a success story.
By Ryan Whitaker4 years ago in Trader
The 10 Oldest Drinking Traditions in the World
No one knows exactly when for sure, but seemingly since the dawn of time, people have found ways to get the party started. Drinking was more than just a means to numb the ever-present pain that is directly related to human existence, it was a way to share that pain with other people in a way that pulled a veil over the harsh realities of life at the time. Practices like this evolved over the course of centuries, becoming staples in societal practices to help celebrate, mourn, show reverence, and distinguish classes of people from others. These traditions, as many a sociologist might call them, have permeated the tale of humankind in many exciting ways, allowing people of today's day and age the ability to share with our ancestors something as pure and unadulterated as getting turnt. Unfortunately though, many an inebriated young person has raised their glass to cheer, but few have wondered why or how to do so properly. Thankfully for seasoned professionals like me (sorry, Mom), I have gotten drunk plenty of times and contemplated many a thing, including where and when this tradition came to be. Through my research, I have uncovered the oldest drinking traditions in the world, and intend to share with you what ancestral knowledge can be found at the bottom of the bottle (in no particular order whatsoever).
By Ryan Whitaker5 years ago in Proof
Top 25 Kosher Red Wines
For the past several years, my family and I have invited my Jewish college roommate over for Easter. My mother looks at this as an opportunity to share the wealth, so to speak, while my friend and I use it as an opportunity to rip on him for how poorly he follows his own doctrines. My entire family has found it to be an endearing practice, and a good way to keep in touch since he's moved to the other side of the state after joining the Air Force.
By Ryan Whitaker5 years ago in Proof
I Tried the Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker and It Changed the Way I Drink Coffee
Did somebody say caffeine?! God knows it's the first thing I want to hear in the morning. I don't care if it's Colombian, Peruvian, Kenyan, Indonesian, Australian, or from anywhere else on the Coffee Belt, there's no denying the magical properties of this king among produce. I've often thought of just having the coffee beans shipped directly to my house so I can spend the entire day chewing on them.
By Ryan Whitaker5 years ago in Feast
12 Best Gadgets for Cleaning Your Home
I'll be the first to admit it, I'm kind of OCD about a clean room. There are plenty of you who know exactly what I'm saying when I tell you that I find something so satisfying about everything being clean—I can't even stand to see coffee stains at the counter at work. Sure, every once in awhile I'll leave my pajamas splayed out on my easy chair, but more often than not, dirty clothes are in the hamper, dresser doors are closed, and even the tiniest strand of fabric is in the bin. Hell, you'd think I never sit at my desk just because everything is exactly where it should be at all times, absolutely no exceptions.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in 01
10 Reasons to Visit England
Assuming you weren't born yesterday, you probably know that England is a pretty important player on a global level. Turning through the pages of history, you can note that this prestigious country has had a significant influence across the globe, seeming to (and definitely trying to) colonize every bit of land it came into contact with. Promoting economic growth in Asia, initiating the deconstruction of Africa, and giving birth to the United States, the expansive history of England has touched the lives of modern day people in ways that they couldn't even begin to realize, all over the world. In reference to England as a country, people are typically on one side or the other when it comes to their true feelings about the nation: They either love it vehemently, or hate it with a passion. This piqued perception of one of the longest founded nation-states, according to recorded history, will always be on the forefront of people's minds when they are reading about or researching the place. Despite its historical accomplishments and misgivings though, it is a place that can easily be appreciated, especially for travelers. If you're having trouble coming up with reasons to visit England outside of it's poignant place in world affairs, this list will be sure to give you something you, too, can marvel at.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Wander
10 Classic Pieces of Literature That Everyone Forgot
Even with some classic literature taking a tech turn, the sheer amount of classic literature wasted on youth across the United States is disheartening, to say the least. I know for a fact that, while I was in high school, the list of books required by students to be read passed through my hands largely unopened, not to mention the books that should be read in schools but are often unassigned. I cannot say that then, had I known the cultural importance of these works of literature, my decision to let these great works pass by would be any different; but, now that I have grown past that stage of my life, I kick myself for the lack of reverence I had for the classic pieces of literature that I had the opportunity to devour. Because of the mentality I, like many of my peers, embodied, school systems are suffering at the hands of students' exposure to "stories" like 50 Shades of Grey or anything written by James Patterson. Looking back, I wonder what more of the world I could explore and appreciate had I simply cracked the cover of any of these forgotten classics.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Education
10 Reasons Why Cannabis Isn't like Other Drugs
Nixon's "War on Drugs" and America's D.A.R.E. program are largely considered failures in people over the age of 18. I'll admit that when I was in grade school, hearing about drugs like crystal meth and heroin scared the living hell out of me; and as an adult, I have a more in-depth understanding as to why staying away from these substances is absolutely in my best interest. Sitting in a dark room as my classmates read off their group presentations on different illicit drugs though, I remember listening to the facts rattled off about marijuana and thinking, "What's the big deal?" Maybe I was an observant and rebellious youth (I was not), or maybe the thought of a "gateway drug" creating a "greater risk" to try other substances didn't really connect with me, but either way I steered clear of narcotics while in most of my formative years. Now, as an adult, I have been exposed to marijuana on a handful of occasions, and still find myself wondering, "What's the big deal?" Guess what? Marijuana is not a gateway drug, and you and I both know cannabis isn't like other drugs, too. I'm not just talking about what kind of high it gets you (although I will touch on that); just take a look at this list to see why with a stipulation here and there, cannabis isn't like other drugs.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Potent
10 Things No One Tells You About Being a Bartender
Here's the scene: It's Friday night, you've been putting in extra hours at the office, you're friend is in town for this night only, and you're going to tie one on! After the pregaming, the Uber, and the obnoxiously long line, you finally get into the bar, pushing through the horde of people to get to the bathroom. Once the deed is done and you've located your long time friend, you venture to find you're truest best friend at the establishment: the bartender. Amidst the blaring music and the line, you eventually push your way forward and stand at the bar top until one of the staff makes direct eye contact with you. You ask for a round of shots, and watch as she pours an extra for herself, initiating a cheers between you and your friend. Money litters the bar for her coworker down the way, and all you can ask her after handing her your cash is, "How good is it to be you?" She scoffs and laughs off the comment, turning to the register before handing you your change, serving her next unruly guest, and thinking of all the things no one tells you about being a bartender.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Proof
10 Ways War Has Changed Through History
Whether we are considering the present tension in the Middle East, World War I, or the conquest of Alexander the Great, people should understand that war is as much a part of humankind as is needing food and water to survive. Despite your opinions, if Caveman A had beat Caveman B over the head with a rock instead of Caveman B hitting Caveman A with a rock, our entire genealogy could be so wildly different than it is today—you or I might not even be here. These territorial, race, religious, or ideological disputes have paved the way many countries have formed alliances, broke alliances, built their economy, or changed in several different ways. Because humankind has developed in so many drastic ways, the ways war has changed through the years has evolved with it. The differences are staggering too; no longer are we running down our enemy for miles upon miles and stopping the fight at dusk just to pick it up again tomorrow. Read on to find out some of the ways this catastrophic human invention has developed over the span of our existence.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Serve
- Top Story - September 2018
10 Reasons Why Your Photoshoots Don't Look GoodTop Story - September 2018
Have there been days that you've seamlessly snapped one good selfie after another, after another, after another, and thought, "Damn! I should be a model!" Surely a good lot of you have been curious about the world of modeling. How could you not be, too? Getting paid to be really, really, really ridiculously good looking and going to lavish parties or exotic places just for the views sounds like a life I'd try out if I had eight-pack abs. For the common folk though, myself included, there's a lot of intricacies to being a successful model that we don't understand. I can barely look natural for the annual Christmas card, and these people are doing it for a living? There would be plenty of reasons why my photoshoots don't look good, and I'm sure if you scheduled one with a professional photographer or your hobbyist friend, you'd find that it's not as easy as it looks. Not everyone knows how to do a photo shoot from start to finish, but with these tips, at least you'll have a fighting chance.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Photography