7 Ways to Cope When You’re Living With Anxiety and Depression in the Time of COVID-19

Slickster

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May 12, 2020

7 Ways to Cope When You’re Living With Anxiety and Depression in the Time of COVID-19

Is COVID-19 making your anxiety and depression harder to manage? You’re not alone. Here are some ways to cope when you’re living with anxiety and depression.

Around 40 million people in the U.S. struggle with anxiety on a daily basis. Now, as COVID-19 continues to affect the entire world, many are having an even worse time managing their depression and anxiety.

If your anxiety is becoming even harder to deal with due to COVID-19, you’re not alone. However, there are things you can do to cope with it and put yourself in a better frame of mind.

Read on for our top 7 ways to cope when you’re living with anxiety and depression.

1. Prioritize Self Care

One of the most important things to remember when living with anxiety and depression is this: remember to take care of yourself. This includes getting a good night’s sleep, maintaining a diet of whole, unprocessed foods, and keeping up healthy hygiene practices. This is especially important when coping with the stress of COVID-19 and sheltering in place.

You should also make sure you’re getting a good amount of exercise: take a walk, go for a jog, lift some weights, or go for a bike ride to stay in shape while you’re in lockdown. If you’re not in the mood to go outside, look for exercise videos online and do your workouts at home. Exercising creates feel-good endorphins that can really boost your mood when you’re living with anxiety and depression.

In addition to taking care of your physical wellbeing, there are also things you can do to take care of your mental health as well. For example, try meditation for fear and anxiety to help ease your mind and put you in a more conscious and relaxed state. Maybe you can try speed running your favorite video game, drink some cannabis infused wine, or if all else fails, why not ramp up your sex life with the misses or – if you’re single – masturbate (Be sure you don’t get caught though… follow our “handy” guide, and you’ll always be in the clear)

2. Clean Your Home

When you’re living with anxiety and depression, your physical environment plays a more important role than you may realize. If you’re surrounded by dirt, unwashed dishes, and other clutter around the house, this can put a lot of unnecessary stress on you and lead to even more anxiety.

Make sure you’re setting aside time to clean your home and keep up with your chores. If you’re in need of a deep clean, breaking up the project into segments can help things feel a lot less overwhelming. Plus, cleaning will keep your mind occupied and give you a sense of accomplishment when you’re finished.

Here’s another tip for starting your day off right: always make your bed in the morning. It will give you a small sense of pride and encourage you to keep the rest of your house clean, too. Don’t believe us about making your bed… This Navy Seal Admiral will tell you why.

3. Take a Break from the Media

These days, every main stream media outlet is cluttered with nonstop COVID-19 updates. Fake news is rampant and new social media monitoring AI filters everything that gets shoveled down your throat. Its nearly impossible to decipher what is genuine and what is politically motivated pandering. With an upcoming presidential election on the line, stakes are high and each side is in it to win it. While it’s good to stay informed, consuming too much of mainstream news can riddle you with lots of undue anxiety about health and the general state of things (especially when you’re already living with anxiety and depression).

If you find yourself glued to the news constantly, it might be best to take a break from it and disconnect for a while. If anything of exceptional importance happens, you’ll be sure to hear about it regardless.

4. Find a New Project or Hobby

If you’re living with anxiety and depression, you know that things get worse if you let your mind fixate on it too much. That’s why it’s helpful to find something else to focus on, such as a new hobby or a project around the house.

All-Nighter, note taking — Just sit down and do the work folks.

Try taking on a new creative endeavor, such as writing, drawing, painting, or playing an instrument. This will help boost your mood and take your mind off of all the fear and uncertainty of COVID-19, at least for a little while. Plus, you might end up with a finished product that you really love.

If you’re not one for artsy projects, there are plenty of other project ideas to keep yourself occupied. For instance, you can work on home improvement projects or take on those repairs you’ve been putting off. In the end, it will leave you with a better sense of pride and accomplishment.

5. Try Natural Supplements

If you’re having issues with anxiety and depression, taking natural supplements can help improve your stress levels and overall wellbeing. Specifically, Vitamins B and D, as well as Omega-3s, have all been shown to aid in boosting your mood.

There are also helpful herbs to choose from, such as lavender, Valerian root, and St. John’s Wort, all of which have been linked to reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Another thing to consider taking is legal CBD supplements, such as oils, capsules, and tinctures. This is an extract from the cannabis plant that won’t get you high (unlike THC), but could potentially ease your symptoms if you’re living with anxiety and depression. In fact, many users have reported significant mood-boosting benefits that ease anxiety symptoms when using CBD.

6. Don’t Fixate on What You Can’t Control

In these uncertain times, it can certainly be frustrating watching everything happen while having little to do about it. However, it’s important to accept what you can’t control and shift your focus to things you can control.

For example, you can’t control the new COVID-19 cases that are coming up every day, but you can control what you about it, such as washing your hands, or protesting if you feel your civil liberties have been trampled on. It might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but you’re doing more than you think.

7. Seek Support When Living With Anxiety and Depression

Living with Anxiety and Depression isn’t something you should go through alone. While you may not be able to see your loved ones due to the concerns of COVID-19, don’t hesitate to reach out to them in other ways, such as phone calls, texting, or online messaging. Even if they can’t physically be there with you, you can still find comfort and support when you need it.

If you need further support, you should consider seeking out a therapist over the phone or online. Don’t forget that you’re not alone and you don’t have to go through this alone.

Coping With Anxiety and Depression During COVID-19

In these looney times, the most important thing to do is take care of yourself as best you can. If you’re living with anxiety and depression that’s getting worse due to COVID-19, know that you’re not alone. However, with the right routine and mindset, managing the day-to-day will be less of a struggle overall.

For more advice, check out our other blog entries.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Is Square Enix Expanding the Lore?

Jon Lee

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May 11, 2020

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Is Square Enix Expanding the Lore?

Final Fantasy 7 Could be Getting a Cosmic Makeover

Written by Jonathan Lee. May 9th, 2020. 9:00 AM. Tweet to: @Writerscube

When Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake released earlier this April, it was a dream come true for pretty much every Final Fantasy 7 fan out there since the 90’s. Some might have had some trepidation with their opinions about the fact of it being remade, but the general sentiment across all feeds was hyped and positive. Then the game came out and what tension there was gave way to relief as player sentiment was that Square Enix had outdone themselves with the Midgar Arc.

Final Fantasy 7: An Old Classic Remade Fresh

For those that thought this was going to be just a step-by-step reenactment of the Midgar section of FF7, most were pleasantly surprised to see that Square Enix had put in the hours to fill out a previously-four-to-five-hour affair with a 40-50 hour experience. But with so much attention to detail and adding so much of that detail, new questions have arisen. Naturally, a lot of what characters said in the original game either differ or have been added to significantly. Along with that additional dialogue also comes some new faces and new… character paths.

My friends, this is where things get into spoiler territory and theory territory. You have been warned.

Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud and Sephiroth Dynamic

In the original game, we watched Cloud and company deal with Sephiroth in various forms. We watched Cloud in the past cast the original Sephiroth into a Mako reactor where he presumably got absorbed into the lifestream. We watched him return as an extension of Jenova within other host bodies. Then finally, we fight his true self in a giant crater where we finish him once and for all. (Or did we? Advent Children likes to bring up the question of whether his presence will ever truly be gone.)

In FF7 Remake, things take a whole different course. Rather than Sephiroth appearing only occasionally, and half of the time in memories, Cloud encounters his nemesis much more frequently, though still through his Jenova-infected proxies. This gives us more time to see how Cloud is wrestling with his memories and possible trauma from after fighting Sephiroth years ago. But this also provides us a deeper glimpse into the extent of Sephiroth’s reach and influence. But does Sephiroth’s power and influence go beyond what the original game initially established? Square Enix might be up to something.

Sephiroth Ascended

The game likes to remind players that Sephiroth is never too far away, haunting Cloud in his mind and as a physical presence at times. But at times, we’re given a glimpse of how Sephiroth has seen the future, grasped Destiny for himself. This is made clear by how the enigmatic Whispers of Destiny (they look like ghosts) seem to bend to his will. There’s even a moment where Sephiroth reveals the calamity of Meteor to the team while he tells Cloud that he has “seven seconds till the end” to make an important decision, alluding to either the final showdown, possibly his attempt to save Aerith, or something else entirely.

What is the point to all this? I believe it’s to tell that Sephiroth has been granted more than just visions of megalomaniacal grandeur like in the original version. In this version, Sephiroth has somehow achieved a kind of omniscience or a future sight of sorts. This significant change can create some shockwaves throughout the rest of the story. How will the Nibelheim revisitation encounter go between Sephiroth and Cloud? We will likely see this in the next installment.

Which brings us to Aerith…

The Aerith Variable

Aerith is an all-important and pivotal figure for the game and Cloud’s character development. We see how their relationship grows over the course of the game until her untimely end. But throughout the original game, we never see Aerith’s near-omniscience that she exhibits in the Remake. Several times, we see Aerith either communing with the Lifestream through her flowers, or communicating some sort of message through Marlene and Red XIII. During those two character interactions, both characters were losing their minds with panic or anger, but after Aerith touches them and communicates something into their minds, you immediately see them both exhibit calm and, well, revelatory understanding. That never happens in the original game. What does it mean?

Aerith is clearly meant to have an even greater role in the Remake edition. While she already plays a key role as the last Ancient with the Holy Materia, Square Enix is keen to give her even more. This isn’t a bad thing at all. She’s the descendant of a race that once had a powerful, symbiotic relationship with the planet. Why shouldn’t she have awesome powers? But this brings up more questions. After all, she does some pretty interesting things, from looking like she recognizes Cloud when they first meet to telling Cloud not to fall in love with her, even though they’d only known each other for a couple days by that conversation. Does Aerith now see the future?

Final Thoughts on Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Final Fantasy 7 Remake was an absolute blast! It pushes all the right nostalgia buttons while giving lots of new questions for players to chew on. If there is some sort of alternate dimension, parallel timeline, or crazy multidimensional butterfly effect going on in this Remake, I’m all for it. We’ve all seen something similar in Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XIII-2 (and Lightning Returns, sorta), and Final Fantasy Type-0. Why wouldn’t the Higher Powers in the world of Final Fantasy 7 have some sort of cosmic game of replaying history until a desired result is reached?

Are You a Big Fantasy Gaming Fan? Check These Out!

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Adrienn

GIRL OF THE WEEK

Slickster

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May 10, 2020

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Girl of the Week - Adrienn

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Check out her social media links

New documentary “The Last Dance,” explores Jordan and Bulls final championship season.

William Padden

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May 2, 2020

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The Last Dance!

Have you ever been curious about one of sports greatest dynasties? Well, “The Last Dance,” a new ten-part documentary might just be a must watch. I mean after all, think about teams that have formed dynasties. The NFL had Brady and the Patriots, for a time baseball had the Yankees and of course, basketball has seen more than their fair share. You could look at Magic and Bird’s Celtics teams of the 80’s. The “Bad Boy” Pistons with Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. Shaq and Kobe’s Lakers, even Tim Duncan and David Robinson’s Spurs. All different teams in different eras, each loved and remembered in their own way.

However, there is one particular dynasty that everyone seems to love above all others. Of course, the team I’m referring to is the 90’s Chicago Bulls lead by the incomparable, Michael Jordan. Yes, you remember the Bulls don’t you? Perhaps, the greatest team of all time and a team that won six championships in a span of eight years. Well, thanks to “The Last Dance” we get a behind-the-scenes look at the Bulls 1997-98 season and their quest for a sixth title.

The first two episodes of “The Last Dance,” aired two weeks ago. Both episodes covered a lot of territory. From Michael Jordan’s to the greatest player of all-time, Scottie Pippen’s off-court issues and turmoil between management, coach Phil Jackson and the players themselves. If those episodes are an indication of what’s to come, I’d say we truly haven’t seen anything yet.

What broke up the Bulls dynasty?

That’s probably not the correct question to ask. A better question might be: Who was responsible for breaking up the Bulls dynasty? Enter one Jerry Krause who became the Bulls GM in 1985. Plenty of turmoil that surfaced within the team during that final season seems to stem from this man. How did it start? Well, that’s a little harder to pinpoint. In my opinion, I think the tension truly began when Krause gave a rather shall we say interesting, quote during an interview. Krause was quoted as saying: “Coaches and players alone don’t win championships, organizations do.”

Yes, that may sound like nothing, but to some Michael Jordan in particular, it was an insult that rubbed many the wrong way. It wasn’t just this quote from Krause. Jerry thought he wasn’t getting a lot of the credit for the Bulls’ success. In addition, he wanted to blow up the Bulls after their fifth title and bring in a coach named Tim Floyd, to replace then coach Phil Jackson. Not exactly the best idea if you ask me. Replacing the coach? Rebuilding the entire roster when Chicago was winning? It makes absolutely zero sense!

At the end of the day however, it comes down to the fact Krause couldn’t get out of his own way and was bitter about not getting enough credit. He was bitter that Jordan and Pippen both of whom openly mocked him, were getting heaps of praise while he wasn’t. Unfortunately, it’s a sad occurrence in sports. It does happen. Also, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf deserves some share of the blame too.

Scottie Pippen’s issues

Without a doubt, Scottie Pippen is one of the greatest players in NBA history. Originally drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 1987, the Bulls pulled off a trade that would send Pippen to Chicago. As the old saying goes the rest was history. Scottie was a perennial defender who could guard multiple positions. He could score, rebound and carry the team when Jordan was on the bench. He was also vastly underpaid and in some ways even under appreciated. During the 1997-98 season Pippen wound up missing 35 games due to a foot injury he had suffered the previous season. Rather than have surgery over the summer he instead elected to wait until the start of the 97 season, because he was trying to get management to give him a better contract.

Pippen ranked 122nd in salary in 1997-98 and was the sixth highest paid player on the Bulls roster. The contract he had signed in way back in 1991, a seven-year deal worth just $18 million, was about to expire and Pippen wanted to renegotiate his deal. Of course, the Bulls didn’t do that sort of thing. Paying a player more money when they clearly deserve it? Preposterous! Did Pippen deserve more money? Absolutely! Did he get his money? At the time, he didn’t and it’s a shame, because if he played in today’s NBA landscape he’d get a max contract. No question.

Dennis Rodman and the Pistons

Episode III of “The Last Dance,” focused heavily on Dennis Rodman, while Episode IV, focused on the Detroit Pistons. Jordan and the Bulls met the Pistons four times in the playoffs from 1988-1991, with Detroit eliminating Chicago for three straight years. Jordan’s Bulls got over the hump in 91, sweeping Detroit 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals en-route to their first NBA title. Dennis Rodman was of course, on those Piston squads that eliminated Jordan in those prior years. Who would’ve thought they’d eventually become teammates? They did and Rodman added his brand of wild antics and rebounding to the squad. Seriously, how Dennis approached rebounding is astounding!

Episodes XVI and VI will focus on the 1992 Dream Team. Yeah, that team that won a Gold Medal at the Olympics. Buckle up, because I’m sure that’s going to be something.

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How to Stay Sane During The Quarantine

TOP TEN

Clayton Edwards

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April 29, 2020

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How To Stay Sane During the Quarantine

Most of the world is several weeks deep into some level of quarantine. We’ve just experienced our first major holiday under the social distancing guidelines. Frankly guys, things just keep getting weirder. As someone who leaves his hidden mountain compound as little as possible I thought that I would be fine during something like this. I was wrong, though. If I’m feeling the cabin fever I’m sure a lot of you guys are too. We’re in this together so I’ll share some of my favorite things to do to stay sane during the quarantine.

Stop Reading the News

Seriously, guys. If you’re constantly monitoring the news, you’re going to lose your mind. The twenty-four hour news cycle is maddening without a global pandemic to add to it. Keep an eye out for important updates in your area, stay as informed as you need to be on the big picture, and leave it at that. You already know what’s happening; you don’t need an endless cycle of talking heads to drive the point home for you. Staying informed but not obsessing about every scrap of information is one way to stay sane during the quarantine.

Here’s a bonus suggestion: stay away from Facebook. That site is full of stupidity, fear mongering, and disinformation. You should be avoiding this digital cesspool at all costs.

Establish a Routine

The first thing to go during social distancing is your routine. Everything pretty much grinds to a halt and days seem to cease to have meaning. This really helps the cabin fever set in and that leads to boredom and making shitty decisions like starting a TikTok or something equally as bad.

A good way to keep those days separated is to establish a routine. Start by figuring out your daily schedule. Plot out your meal times, time to get up and do something productive, and some down time. Work in whatever you can to fight off the temptation to settle into a rut. Then expand and plot out your week. For instance trash goes out on Wednesday, laundry on Friday, and Mondays are for cleaning guns and preparing for the eventual fall of society. It’s going to take a little extra discipline but it will help keep your mind sharp.

Learn to Cook

I am surprised by the number of grown ass adults who are completely lost when it comes to making a meal. Now is a good time to learn your way around the kitchen. If you’re already an alright cook, spend some time upping your game.

There’s several reasons to strengthen your culinary skills right now. Delivery and takeout get expensive fast, especially if you’re not just ordering for yourself. Also, because of the overwhelming amount of people panic-buying everything, the grocery selection is unpredictable. Most importantly, eating the same things over and over is going to make this whole thing feel more like Groundhog Day than it already does.

You can look up recipes for the items you’re able to find or just go in there and improvise. The better you eat, the better you’re going to feel; variety of any kind will go a long way in keeping you sane during the quarantine.

Work Out

I think it’s a safe bet that over half of us own some kind of exercise equipment. Most of which has gained a healthy layer of dust since about mid-January. I’m not judging here, just speaking from experience. If you’ve got a bunch of extra time on your hands now, you might as well use some of it to pick up on that New Year’s resolution you forgot about before St. Paddy’s Day. Again, speaking from experience.

Don’t have any equipment? No worries! There are thousands of at-home workouts you can find online. If you really want to get some lifting done but don’t have any weigths, a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. You can get a pretty decent upper body workout with a bucket of water and a little ingenuity.

Sure, coming out of all this shit looking and feeling better is a big plus. There are more reasons to hit that home gym, though. For one, there are studies that show that exercise helps boost your immune system. You’re also going to feel better physically and mentally. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing pushups in the den or lifting in the garage, sweating out some of this cabin fever will be a nice change of pace.

Reconnect

As adults it’s easy to lose touch with friends or family. The world is usually moving at lightning speed and some things and people tend to fall by the wayside. For most of us, the world has slowed to a crawl. Now is a good time to reconnect with some old friends or family you haven’t talked to in a while. Positive human interaction, even from a distance, will help keep you sane during the quarantine.

Notice I said positive interaction. I’m not saying hit up your ex or your bitchy cousin who called the cops on you for hunting mushrooms in her pasture. Don’t do that, the goal here is not to lose your mind during all this.

While you’re at it, focus on some real, meaningful human connection. Sure, sending texts throughout the day is nice, but it just isn’t the same. Make a phone call or two; you’d be surprised how nice it is to just sit and have a distraction-free conversation with another human being. Hearing someone else’s voice and being able to share a moment in real time with them is good for your brain.

While you’re at it, sit down and write some letters. If you’re younger or have never been held captive by a tyrannical government regime, there’s a good chance you’ve never engaged in actual correspondence. It is hard to overstate the feeling of sending and receiving hand-written letters and cards.

Expand Your Horizons

Have you binge watched all your favorite shows and burned through your favorite films already? Have you been driving your family crazy with the same ten stoner rock albums on repeat? Well, it might be time to broaden your horizons. The possibilities are pretty much limitless.

I suggest starting with some of the stuff your friends have suggested to you. Chances are, people have suggested that you check out about a million movies, albums, and podcasts. Dig into it! Worst case scenario, you waste a couple hours. At least it won’t be the same old shit over and over.

Personally, I’ve been mixing a little indie rock into my usual musical rotation. I’ve also been going back and checking out old Universal horror films and some foreign stuff that I had overlooked. As much as I enjoy horror flicks and doom metal, I need a little bit of a change to stay sane during the quarantine.

Sobriety is Overrated

There’s a reason liquor stores and dispensaries are considered essential retail right now. I’m not saying that you should just crawl into a bottle or try to keep up with Willie Nelson or anything. All I’m saying is that sometimes it’s nice to have a little help relaxing at the end of the day or the middle of the day. Just whenever you decide to partake is fine.

I highly recommend day drinking at least once a week. Eat a decent meal, have your morning coffee, and pour yourself a good strong drink. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel when you’re drunk by 3 pm on a week day.

While we’re on the topic, pot has the potential to make just about anything better. Whether you’re smoking before a workout or scheduling a daily smoke session, a little herbal pick me up is a great accompaniment to just about anything on this list.

Whether you’re trying to deaden the existential dread of the pandemic or make your day more interesting, doing away with your sobriety isn’t a terrible idea.

Fuck Like the Survival of the Population Depends on It

Sex is good, good for you, and if you know what you’re doing it’s the best possible way to kill an hour or two. If you’re quarantined with your significant other or some other consenting adult, I recommend getting down as often as possible. I know it sounds good in theory. I also know that stress is the great boner killer. Stress releases chemicals in the brain that dampen the libido so you’re both going to have to work around that.

Sure, you might have to put in some extra effort but both of you need the release, guaranteed. Do whatever you’ve gotta do to set the mood. Take your time with it. Hell, we’ve all got time to spare. Once you’ve got the mood set, lay it down like you’ve got something to prove. Rinse and repeat as often as possible. All the feel good chemicals that sex releases in your brain are going to go a long way to keep you sane during quarantine.

If you’re by yourself, don’t let that stop you. Find some porn, order some hardware from the internet and enjoy yourself. Take some time to do some stamina building exercises. Dating is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel when all this is over but you don’t want to be shooting too quick. Besides, you get those same happy-making immune system boosting chemicals no regardless of how you get there.

Finish Those Projects

We’ve all got something that got shelved because we didn’t have time to finish it. Maybe you’ve got some half finished sketches or paintings. What better time than now to sit down and finish those off? Maybe you’ve been putting off some home improvements. You’ve got time to finish them now. Maybe you need to replace the hinges on your hidden bunker door because the current ones squeak to goddamned much no matter how many times you oil them. Now is the time.

This isn’t just about keeping your hands and your mind busy to kill time. That’s definitely an added bonus, don’t get me wrong. The big thing here is the feeling of accomplishment you get from finally finishing a project that you have had on the back burner for weeks or more. You can get shit done and feel good about yourself. I don’t see a downside here.

Enjoy the Little Things

What would this list be without at least one post apocalyptic movie reference? Not as good, that’s what. Seriously though, you have to take time to appreciate the little things in life. Stop thinking that you’re stuck in your house; you’re spending time in your sanctuary. You’ve been given some time to do things that needed to be done or to just chill for awhile. Whatever you’re doing is probably fine.

It seems like bad news is everywhere you look right now. I’m not saying that you should minimize or forget about what’s going on in the world. I’m saying that you should take time to be grateful for the little wins you get. Whether it’s not being out of toilet paper or finally beating that game you’ve been working on for awhile now. Just try to find the positive.

Give “Wheel of Fortune” a Spin Today

Album reviews

Clayton Edwards

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April 28, 2020

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Give “Wheel of Fortune” a Spin Today

Salt Lake City rockers oh?no!ok. are giving the world a taste of their sound ahead of their upcoming debut album. Our introduction to their unique brand of slacker rock comes in the form of the track “Wheel of Fortune”.

If you’re like me, I’m sure you’re wondering just what the hell slacker rock is. Well, if “Wheel of Fortune” is any indication its kind of like if 80s pop, skate punk, and indie alt rock dropped acid together and formed some kind of supergroup. It’s fun, hooky, and a little weird. The chunky riffs and abstract lyrics combined with fuzzy synths and a catchy rhythm section make oh?no!ok.’s sound something that you could either put on in the background and groove to or really spend time dissecting the lyrics. That alone gives “Wheel of Fortune” some serious repeated listening potential.

The Content

The band’s lyrics are a commentary on humanity’s vices, insecurities, and cynicism. The issues discussed range from pride, entitlement, and substance abuse to more modern issues like video game addiction and managing your online image. “Wheel of Fortune” seems to be taking a look at the vicious cycle of gambling addiction and the balance of the gambler’s hope against realistic odds.

They may not be breaking new ground by looking at the way lady luck gets her claws in you but they go about it in a fresh way. From beginning to end, the song is a real toe-tapper. It’s catchy, has a great hook, and after the first listen it was almost impossible to not sing along with the chorus.

But Wait! There’s More!

If you take my advice and find yourself itching for more of their sound, you can check out their website. You’ll find a few live performance videos to tide you over until they get around to releasing their full length album. At the very least, you should give the track “Buckshot Bob” a spin. It’s a solid track and the video really gives you a feel for the band’s live energy. There are a few more on the site, but this one is my favorite.

If you want to check out their YouTube page you can find a lyric video for “Wheel of Fortune” and a video for an older track called “Saw Her First”

Listening to these three tracks back to back really highlights the range of oh!no?ok.’s sound. It also makes me incredibly curious about what their full length release is going to sound like.

All in All…

All in all would I recommend checking out “Wheel of Fortune”? Absolutely! On the surface, it’s a fun and catchy track with a great hook; if you look deeper it’s a song (and a band) with something to say. You can check the song out on Spotify, Soundcloud, or you can just click the play button above.

Abbie Booker

GIRL OF THE WEEK

Slickster

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April 26, 2020

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The Slickster Girl of the Week features one undiscovered model each week. This week, Abbie Booker, from NSW, Australia is the lucky girl. This platinum blonde, with golden sun drenched skin, couldn’t wait to be front and center on Slickster Magazine. Her friend, Mel, had previously been a girl of the week, and we noticed the smoking hot blonde in the photos next to Mel, the obvious thing to do was invite Booker to have her day in the sun too.

Girl of the Week - Abbie Booker

Abbie Booker is proof that blondes do have more fun. Booker is a fun-loving, beach blonde from down under. Growing up on the golden coast, she takes to the sun, sand and surf like a fish to water. Long blonde hair and legs that equal, Booker is really just a down to earth girl. “I don’t get why guys don’t ask me out,” she says. It seems that her silly attitude and gorgeous looks are a potent combo when it comes to attracting a mate. The kind of guys who talk to her are duchebags, and she wishes a nice guy would ask her out sometime.

Check out her social media links

Girl of the Week - Asal Bargh

Asal Bargh is legacy model who has recently begun posting her photos from 2013 and 2014 online. These throwback photos pay tribute to her halcyon days as smoking hot bikini and lingerie model. Often donning no more than some dental floss, high heels, red lipstick and smile, Asal Bargh lit up photoshoots. The camera got so hot, the lens started melting. She enjoyed provocative poses and scenes, and pushed he envelope of riské.

Check out her social media links

Get Outside

It’s not a crime to go outside…. yet. So, as long as you’re following your local protocols, GTFO. Tune the bike. Sharpen the axe. Lace up the running shoes. Abandon the comforts of indoor gyms. Mirrored walls, high speed wifi, televisions, and even more distractions only reduce the effectiveness of time spent working out.

Trail running

Getting off the beaten path can be an invigorting exercise. It opens your your eyes, lungs and mind all at once. You may get lost once or twice, but as long as you’re not running in the Yukon, you should be able to self rescue. Mud won’t kill you either, so get dirty and go run among the trees like modern-day commando.

Chopping wood

Nothing is more manly than sharpening up the old axe in the shed and go head-to-head with that dead tree in the backyard. Let’s be honest, some of you reading this article are struggling with “dead wood” anyway, am I right? Dick jokes aside, go out and do some logging.

Just in case you think chopping wood is only for dudes, here’s one bad ass chick who knows how to handle some wood of her own.

Uphill skiing

The Top 10 Mac Security Preferences and Privacy Settings

Slickster

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April 14, 2020

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The Top 10 Mac Security Preferences and Privacy Settings

These top 10 Mac security preferences and settings are something that all owners should do as soon as they buy or get OSX reinstalled.

How do you keep your personal data safe from hackers in the online space?

We depend on the internet for everything from online shopping, managing online banking, sending confidential files, and more. How can you be sure this data stays in the right hands?

If you are a Mac user, there are quite a few steps you can take for extra security. Read on to learn the top Mac security preferences that you can use on your computer to protect your privacy.

1. Use a Password for Everything

The first of our Mac tips for keeping your computer secure is to always set a password for your user account. Not only for your sign-in but also for permission for any updates or installations on your Mac.

Create a strong password by using a long combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid commonly known words, such as your middle name or street address.

Try not to reuse passwords and set up a different password for all of your accounts, such as your email, social media, or work accounts.

2. Set Up a VPN

Consider using an encrypted browser to visit important sites, such as your online banking, as an extra precaution for security.

A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to visit websites anonymously. You can also bypass website blocks, share files, and control your computer remotely.

Although malware and hacking is less common on Macs than PCs, the peace of mind and additional security provided by VPNs make it a top tip.

3. Turn on FileVault

FileVault is a useful setting on your Mac that you might not be aware of. It is an easy way to secure your Mac– when FileVault is switched on, your files are unable to be opened by anyone else if your computer is locked or turned off.

To switch it on, go to your System Preferences, Security & Privacy, and then toggle FileVault to on. It’s one of the easiest ways to encrypt your data.

4. Find My Mac

For the physical security of your Mac, one of the best lines of defense is the Find My Mac application. Similar to Find My iPhone, which you may have used before, this lets you see a dot on a map, showing you exactly where your Mac is.

You can quickly turn on this feature in your System Preferences. Go to your Apple ID, and then scroll down to enable Find My Mac.

Computers are an expensive investment, so try out Find My Mac as an easy way to keep track of yours at all times.

5. Utilize the Automatic Logout Feature

If you need to step away from your computer in a hurry, you might not always take the time to lock your computer. By doing so, your files are at risk as anyone could access your Mac.

Prevent this by setting up Mac’s Automatic Logout feature. You can set this to require your password again after a set period of time.

6. Delete Browser History

You should clear out your browser history, or cache, often. You should also delete cookies.

This is because your browser is keeping a record of all the sites you visit, the files you download, and the personal detail you’re entering into these sites. This is used by advertisers to send you targeted ads, based on the websites you’ve visited, but more importantly, it could leave your personal details, such as your credit card you make online payments with, open to hacking.

Here is how to clear search history on Mac.

7. Take Note of Location Services

Location Services is a feature on your Mac that automatically tells websites and third-party apps your location. While this can be useful for some, you may wish to turn this off.

Location Services lets websites such as Facebook and Twitter know where you are, and also geotags photos you take and send. Turning off Location Services is done through your System Preferences, and can be a good way to keep your location anonymous when using the internet.

Note, if Location Services is completely switched off, you won’t be able to use the Find My Mac option mentioned above.

8. Enable Two-Step Authentication

Two-step authentication adds an extra level of security when you’re making changes to your Mac, such as downloading new apps or changing passwords.

If it’s not already in use, turn it on for extra protection, especially if your computer is being used by more than one person.

With two-step authentication, Apple will send a code to one of your other trusted devices, such as your phone or iPad. For the requested change to be made, you’ll need to enter the code to approve.

As the person making the change would need to have access to both of you deceives, it’s a top way to avoid unwanted changes to your Mac.

9. Keep Software Updated

Although it’s easy to ignore the update notices on your Mac, make sure you always take the time to keep your operating system and any software up to date.

If you are using older versions of your OS, there may be lapses in security or the older versions may no longer be supported by Apple, which could put your computer at risk.

The same goes for software, as using older versions may leave you more exposed to malware.

10. Use a Secure Email Platform

An encrypted email account, such as Proton Mail, gives you additional protection when sending and receiving emails. Often, email accounts will be able to automatically review the contents of your email, tracking trends, and selling this data to marketing companies.

Encrypted email accounts provide additional security for your Mac by keeping your communications secure, as they should be.

Protect Your Data Today With These Mac Security Preferences

Although Apple products are loved by their fans for their security, always use additional features to protect your files, personal data, and financial information. If you start using some of the above mac security preferences on your computer, you’ll have peace of mind and extra safeguards in place.

Did you find this article useful? If so, please browse more of our content across our site.

Sofia Barragan

GIRL OF THE WEEK

Slickster

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April 12, 2020

0

Columbian born, Sofia Barragan, is the Slickster Girl of the Week. Raised in Orlando, this South Florida Latina is a total smokeshow. With ample warm weather, sun, and sand nearby, Barragan is used to wearing skimpy bikinis. And why not, she has the all of the natural beauty to don no more than a smile and a few strands of string. Lucky for all the guys, Barragan publishes all of her exotic travels and exploits on her social media. She is delighted to share her memories with the world.

Girl of the Week - Sofia Barragan

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Check out her social media links

Girl of the Week - Kelly Levi

Kelly Levi loves going to the beach. When she was younger, she was shy about wearing a bikini because of her full figure. That has changed, now that she knows guys pay her a lot attention. She even catches a lot of women checking out her curves too.

If you want to get ready to hit the beach, you might want to brush up on your man-skills.

Check out her social media links

How to get a girlfriend

Sex

Slickster

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April 5, 2020

0

How to get a girlfriend

Getting a girlfriend is a right of passage for most guys. It carries a social stigma that pales in comparison to other achievements. Having a pretty girl holding your hand gives men confidence and earns respect among other males. This is exactly why it’s important to know how to get a girlfriend.

Getting a girlfriend can be a double-edge sword. As many divorced guys will tell you, they we’re never as happy as the day they broke up with their girlfriend. Sustaining relationships takes hard work and honesty, but this is a whole different subject. Knowing when to break up with a girlfriend who becomes manipulative, mean, or controlling is equally as important as knowing how to get a girlfriend first.

Herein are some tips, tricks and tactics for the uninitiated in getting a girl. By no means is this a complete list, but some guidelines. Check out our other articles on dating and Men’s health on Slickster Magazine for more information on “getting the girl”.

Be yourself

Being honest with who you are is a major component to getting a girlfriend. You can try to be someone you’re not, and you’ll fail miserably.

Pretend that you enjoy a certain type of food, music, or activities that you despise and you will fool no one. For example, taking a girl on a date to art museum (a place you haven’t been in ten years) isn’t a good idea. You hate modern art, remember? Why would you give your potential girlfriend a false impression of who you think she wants to be with?

Here’s another example.

There was an excellent firefighter who really liked a pretty girl. She was a cheerleader for a professional sports team and turned heads everywhere she went. Now, bear in mind this dude was fearless. He would run towards danger everyday on the job without blinking an eye. When there was a emergency, he was the first firefighter geared up and ready to go. But when it came to talking to the hot girl, he would always second guess himself about what he thought would impress her.

Finally, he asked her out on a date and he arranged for a romantic dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant. Remember, this guy ate delivered pizza four nights a week, and never dressed up to go anywhere. At the beginning of the dinner things were going well, but he couldn’t keep his mind off what she was thinking. She was losing interest quickly. Right as the main course was served, his cell phone buzzed with an emergency page. Without thinking twice, the firefighter got up, apologized to his date, threw some money on the table to cover the dinner and immediately went to his fire station. He was glad to have escaped the award first date. She was left sitting at the table all alone and looking quite embarrassed.

What do you think happened next?

She texted him a few hours later, wanting to know how soon they could meet up again. She was completely infatuated with him. They went on to date for quite awhile.

The morale of the story is this: When the firefighter was trying to be someone he was not, she wasn’t interested at all. When ran out the door to answer the call to serve during the main course, she saw his true self. The cheerleader liked what she saw, and the firefighter didn’t feel the pressure to be anyone except who he knew he was; A bad ass firefighter.

Be yourself.

Avoid the FREIND ZONE

The “friend zone” is when a girl is nice to you, but isn’t romantically aroused by you. In order to get a girlfriend you have to recognize if this is happening and know when to walk away. This can be easier said than done. There may be a girl that you’ve set your sights on for a while, and when she shoots you down it can be hard. Guys hate rejection, right?

There are plenty red flags that a girl has “friend zoned” you. She may say things like, “I like you as friend”, or invite others to join you when you go out. Whatever her way of letting you know that “you’ll never get me naked”, figure it out and deal with it.

Remember, your goal is to get a girlfriend. There is a lot of truth to the saying “nice guys finish last”. If you get friend zoned, take a bitter pill and move on. She isn’t interested in you and you shouldn’t continue to pay her any attention. By being prepared to walk away from the girl that you had set your sights on might just have unintended results too. Sometimes, by ignoring a girl she’ll be attracted to you. Weird huh?

Wealth and health builds confidence

To get a girlfriend you’ll need confidence. Nothing builds confidence like a few bucks in the bank and some old fashioned sweat in the gym. Okay… maybe a blowjob, but that’s after you get the girl!

We’re not saying that you need a million dollars or be able to benchpress 300 pounds. Having a job, saving 5% of your paycheck, and working towards some major purchases (car, house, vacation) is enough. A potential girlfriend wants to know if you are going to be laying around smoking weed on the couch all day or earning an honest living. A little money goes a long way, if you play your cards right.

The same logic applies to fitness. You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, but adding some moderate physical activity into your daily routine wouldn’t kill you. Lifting weights, doing 20 minutes of cardio, or joining a sports team is plenty to build confidence. As your health improves you may even surprise yourself with what you are capable of.

Get in shape finically and physically, and you will walk taller and project the confidence that will attract women.

Act like a man

You want to get a girlfriend? Then you need to be a man.

That doesn’t mean you go out and pick a fight with a bouncer three times your size and get flattened. But it could mean that you stand up for yourself. A girl will be much more inclined to be your girlfriend if she knows that she’ll be safe and protected while your around. This is a powerful subconscious indicator that you are good mate for her, and placing you in the “friend zone” would be a mistake on her part.

Here’s an example all men can relate too.

There’s a bully that singles you out at during the period between classes. (If this never happened to you, then YOU are the bully) He looks for you and makes a direct line towards your locker to embarrass you. You’d like to knock him out, but he’s huge and his toadies are backing up him up. The next time he comes to pick on you, you tell him to knock it off. You’re sick of his stupid act. The bully is so shocked that you resisted, he doesn’t know what to do. Already, you’ve stood up for yourself.

This routine repeats itself all through life. Maybe, your supervisor at work thinks she can push you around. Maybe, a duchebag tries to steal your parking space. Whatever the situation, stand up for yourself and be a man. Any potential girlfriend will know that she feel safe and protected when you’re around.

Stay Positive

Getting a girlfriend is easy, if you allow yourself to think it is. If you place mental roadblocks in your way, then you’ve already made your task harder than it is. Stay positive and reinforce your strengths with positive self talk.

Following the guidelines presented in this blog, take inventory of what you need to do to get a girlfriend. If you need to confront the bully at work, save some money, or hit the gym… do it! You’ll be well on your way to getting a girlfriend in no time. Enjoy the journey and keep a mentally upbeat attitude. If you don’t get rejected, you’re not trying hard enough. Don’t be scared to fail and get out there. Being positive about getting a girlfriend is making the choice to be successful and will sustain you until you reach your goal.

Rainmaker from the High Desert

Album reviews

Clayton Edwards

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April 4, 2020

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Rainmaker from the High Desert

AM Clouds is an indie rock outfit born in the scenic beauty of Bend, Oregon. With their hometown in mind, they call their eclectic blend of classic and alternative sounds “high desert rock”. Their latest release, Rainmaker showcases the range, both in sound and emotion, that AM Clouds can cover.

Now, I’m not an indie rock scholar or anything so when I read “high desert rock” I immediately thought of bands like Queens of the Stone Age or Clutch. Ya know, bands that do songs that would make for a good soundtrack to being high in the desert. That was pretty far from what I got from Rainmaker. While I do love me some good old fashioned stoner rock, this high desert stuff was a pleasant surprise.

It’s All About the Vibe

This definitely wouldn’t be the soundtrack to any journeys to time-forgotten saloons on the edge of the desert. The bulk of this album would be a great soundtrack for long scenic springtime drives, though. Even in the tunes that go to a more solemn place lyrically, the general vibe remains the same. What vibe is that, you might ask? It’s a jangly upbeat yet mellow vibe. The tracks on Rainmaker would feel equally at home in a vinyl collection of a 70s rumpus room or on your local rock station today.

AM Clouds draw from a wide array of influences including Tom Petty, Meat Puppets, and Uncle Tupelo. At its core, their sound is straightforward American rock n roll from a simpler time. Mixed into that is the introspective and thought provoking lyrical styling of modern indie rock. Injected into that great marriage of sound is the spirit of psychedelic jam bands which keeps everything fresh and less predictable.

Standout Tracks

I spent an afternoon on my deck, social distancing, sterilizing my innards with whiskey, and listening to Rainmaker in the southern sunshine. It was a beautiful spring day and this album was the perfect accompaniment. While I could really dig the whole album, there were some tracks that stood out to me.

Rainmaker

The title track of this album Is a really good look at the tone of the album as a whole. It’s a pretty straightforward rock song then about halfway through it’s almost ten minute length it transforms into a bright psychedelic jam that climaxes and finds a calm, soothing, and airy groove. That calm holds until, almost without warning, everything becomes a discordant, sharp-edged, psychedelic experience. The song’s lyrics focus on a woman who is mesmerizing and volatile and the latter half of the song is kind of like a road map of a relationship with a woman like that. Love this track from beginning to end.

Weird to Be

This driving rock tune is a celebration anthem. It’s upbeat in both sound and lyrical content. I assume it’s talking about the freedom that one discovers after the end of a relationship where you feel trapped and tied down. The great thing about this tune is that is fairly open to interpretation. I think this track will feel really relevant in a month or two when we’re all able to get out and move freely again. It will indeed feel weird to be free. Bookmark this song and add it to your post-apocalyptic party playlist.

Milk and Honey Blues

This groove-heavy track is probably my favorite on the entire album. It reminds me a lot of American Beauty era Grateful Dead meeting modern rock n roll. Harmonizing vocals and tambourines give way to palm-muted guitar riffs and a stripped down rhythm section. This is the kind of tune that you sounds best with a cold drink in your hand and a good woman under your arm.

All In All

All in all, would I recommend Rainmaker? I definitely would. Let’s face it folks, we’re living in weird times and music soothes the savage beast. We could all use some mellow tunes to take our minds off of life right now. Rainmaker is the kind of album that will deliver all the mellow vibes you could ask for. You can stream the album on Spotify, Soundcloud, or you can buy a copy of it here.

UK Gambling watchdog set to ban online credit card bets

NEWS

Slickster

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April 3, 2020

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UK Gambling watchdog set to ban online credit card bets

“Our goal is to make gambling safer,” Neil McArthur

The UK Gambling Commission is in charge with overseeing the online gaming industry, but it doesn’t play games when it comes to regulating this business. Widely regarded one of the most reliable and strict regulatory bodies in the world, it is always on the watch for potential problems. The security and well-being of British players is their top priority and the UK GC doesn’t hesitate to take unpopular measures. Most of their decisions are accepted by casinos and bookmakers, but a recent proposal to ban online credit card bets has sent shockwaves throughout the entire gambling industry.

Why are credit cards being targeted?

The UK GC has credit cards in its crosshairs because of the perceived risks of gambling addiction. It is known that when people gamble over the Internet, they are more likely to spend money that they can’t really afford to lose. Taking cash out of the pocket to buy a sports betting ticket or to play a slot in a land-based casino is far more difficult than pressing a few buttons on the keyboard to make a deposit. Prepaid and debit cards have certain limitations, but players can deposit significantly more from a credit card.

What is particularly worrisome, at least as far as the UK Gambling Commission is concerned is the fact that one can gamble money one doesn’t own. The plushcasino.com mobile site has welcomed this decision and encourages tighter safety controls to protect players. By definition credit cards enable people to tap into the immense resources of the banking system to fund the expenses they can’t afford immediately. When it comes to sports betting and playing casino games there is always the risk of people chasing losses. This creates the danger of losing huge amounts over a short period of time, money that has to be paid back.

The UK GC cites the most recent studies

The Commission doesn’t take hasty decisions and always debates the important matters with the gaming communities and the casinos. However, the recent studies have revealed that players are in danger of misusing credit cards to fund their gambling expenses. Regular punters can stay out of harm’s way by imposing certain limits and exercising proper bankroll management. Problem gamblers on the other hand are those that are the most vulnerable to addiction and lose the money they can’t afford.

Not surprisingly, many casinos and gambling operators were not happy with this proposed ban of online credit cards for betting. They argued that many people use these financial instruments routinely, because they are convenient and readily available. In their absence, some might be tempted to turn to dangerous banking options, including some issued by shady financial institutions. If this happens, the measure would backfire badly and instead of being protected, players will be exposed to unnecessary risks.

The UK Gambling Commission is also discussing the matter with the consumers and there are many who support this measure. Some suggest that credit cards have no place whatsoever in online gambling, while others simply recommend further limitations. By imposing certain limits on deposits, they hope that players will be protected from reckless spending without having to ban online credit card bets altogether.

Is COVID-19 making your anxiety and depression harder to manage? You’re not alone. Here are some ways to cope when you’re living with anxiety and depression.

1. Prioritize Self Care

2. Clean Your Home

3. Take a Break from the Media

4. Find a New Project or Hobby

5. Try Natural Supplements

6. Don’t Fixate on What You Can’t Control

7. Seek Support When Living With Anxiety and Depression

Coping With Anxiety and Depression During COVID-19

Final Fantasy 7 Could be Getting a Cosmic Makeover

Final Fantasy 7: An Old Classic Remade Fresh

Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud and Sephiroth Dynamic

Sephiroth Ascended

The Aerith Variable

More Questions Than Answers

Final Thoughts on Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Are You a Big Fantasy Gaming Fan? Check These Out!

Girl of the Week - Adrienn

Check out her social media links

The Last Dance!

What broke up the Bulls dynasty?

Scottie Pippen’s issues

Dennis Rodman and the Pistons

How To Stay Sane During the Quarantine

Stop Reading the News

Establish a Routine

Learn to Cook

Work Out

Reconnect

Expand Your Horizons

Sobriety is Overrated

Fuck Like the Survival of the Population Depends on It

Finish Those Projects

Enjoy the Little Things

Give “Wheel of Fortune” a Spin Today

The Content

But Wait! There’s More!

All in All…

Girl of the Week - Abbie Booker

Check out her social media links

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Girl of the Week - Asal Bargh

Check out her social media links

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Basic Training

The Terminator

Get Outside

These top 10 Mac security preferences and settings are something that all owners should do as soon as they buy or get OSX reinstalled.

1. Use a Password for Everything

2. Set Up a VPN

3. Turn on FileVault

4. Find My Mac

5. Utilize the Automatic Logout Feature

6. Delete Browser History

7. Take Note of Location Services

8. Enable Two-Step Authentication

9. Keep Software Updated

10. Use a Secure Email Platform

Protect Your Data Today With These Mac Security Preferences

More Articles that you’ll enjoy

Girl of the Week - Sofia Barragan

Check out her social media links

More posts you will enjoy

Girl of the Week - Kelly Levi

Check out her social media links

How to get a girlfriend

Be yourself

Avoid the FREIND ZONE

Wealth and health builds confidence

Act like a man

Stay Positive

More articles you’ll enjoy

Rainmaker from the High Desert

It’s All About the Vibe

Standout Tracks

Rainmaker

Weird to Be

Milk and Honey Blues

All In All

UK Gambling watchdog set to ban online credit card bets