Daily Archives: August 23, 2022

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera make their Virtual Reality debut in the United States – AL DIA News

Posted: August 23, 2022 at 1:05 am

With all due respect to the Van Gogh Immersive Experience playing out in various cities throughout the country, it's time for Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to shine.

"Mexican Geniuses" - A Frida & Diego Immersive Experience is an original exhibition created by Fever and Brain Hunter to portray the life and work of two legendary Mexican artists.

The exhibit is a personalized experience that places the minds of Kahlo and Rivera at your fingertips. You are taken into their world, their dreams and how they grew as people and artists. In the exhibition, you will see many replicas of Kahlos and Rivera's works of art through the years.

You first enter the exhibit through a replica of Riveras and Kahlo's Blue House in Coyoacan, Mexico and are able to explore Rivera's studio. The huge digital fresco depicted on the screen shows everyone the large scale of his artwork in comparison to Kahlos. Rivera had a collection of "Judas Sculptures. The tradition of "Burning the Judas" on Holy Saturday was introduced during Mexico's colonial period.

Walking into Kahlo's space you will see that all of her art is to scale. One work, "The Wounded Table is a masterpiece that went missing in 1955 and is still unrecovered to this day. Her infamous piece, "The Two Fridas" was acclaimed much attention during the exhibit. Her space places you in an emotional rollercoaster where you ride with her to the apex of her artistic vision while being reminded of the plunge ahead with the leather corset and wheelchair nearby. She used both items towards the last decade of her life as her health worsened.

In the kitchen, you can experience the interactive tables, photographs of the couple and paintings of Kahlo that give the room its warmth and love. You will also see the menu for their wedding and Kahlo's recipe for Mole Poblano that was actually from Rivera's second wife, Lupe Marin.

Once out of the kitchen, you walk into the immersive gallery. The immersive gallery is made of 20 projectors and more than 300 images that combined the original artworks of both artists and photographs that were from more than 100 collections. Hearing the rendition of Kahlo's voice, fused with her artwork struck an emotional chord of pride with some of the visitors.

Children are encouraged to come and partake in the exhibition. There is a section called mural room where there is a life-size replica of the fresco, "Dream of a Sunday afternoon in Alameda Central Park." Anyone can grab a marker color of their choice and channel their inner Frida or Diego on the canvas. The characters in the fresco are based on real people or icons from Mexican culture, such as Catrina from the Dia de Los Muertos.

When you think you have seen it all, let's now visit Kahlo and Rivera in the afterlife. Wait. The Afterlife?

When you step into the VR room, you can embark on a journey into the afterlife. This narrative experience was created by 3D modeling artists and VR experts to celebrate the reuniting of the two artists to celebrate Dia de los Muertos and relive their past life.

The Frida and Diego Immersive Experience truly takes you on an emotional, spiritual and cultural journey into the lives of these world-renowned artists. Make time to come down to the DMV and check out the exhibition. The exhibition hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will end its run in December.

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This Week in the Metaverse: Tencent ditches NFTs, FTC prepares to challenge Meta’s ‘virtual reality empire’ – The Drum

Posted: at 1:05 am

Things are moving fast in the metaverse, and in the wider world of Web3 as a whole. Depending on who you ask, this futuristic, blockchain-based space is either the next big thing for marketing and for almost everything else or an overhyped fad. Heres what you need to know from this past week:

The Chinese tech giant Tencent has stopped selling NFTs in response to regulation concerns from the Chinese government, according to Reuters. Current NFT holders will still be allowed to keep and display their tokens, or they can put in a request for a refund.

The term NFT itself has become slightly taboo and rarely used throughout the broader Chinese corporate world, due at least in part to its direct ties with cryptocurrency, which is illegal in China.

A new technological age is dawning. / Adobe Stock

Last month, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it would seek to prevent Meta and its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg from acquiring the company Within, maker of the popular VR fitness app Supernatural. The FTC claimed on its website that Meta, already a key player at each level of the virtual reality sector, is planning to expand [its] virtual reality empire with this attempt to illegally acquire a dedicated fitness app that proves the value of virtual reality to users. The FTCs Bureau of Competition deputy director John Newman said that Meta is trying to buy its way to the top in its planned acquisition of Within.

On Monday, Forbes reported that the legal battle between Meta and the FTC has been scheduled for this December. Meta has reportedly agreed to delay the finalization of iots acquisition deal until January 1, 2023, or until the district judge presiding over the case makes a ruling whichever happens first.

Get the best of The Drum by choosing from a series of great email briefings, whether thats daily news, weekly recaps or deep dives into media or creativity.

Federal Reserve issues guidelines for crypto banks hoping to access national banking system

The Federal Reserve the United States central banking system released new guidelines earlier this week that suggest that American banks may soon be able to deal both in crypto and in traditional currency. The 49-page Guidelines for Evaluating Account and Services Requests states that institutions with novel charters, such as cryptocurrency custody banks, and their trade associations may soon be granted access to master accounts, which enable access to the Federal Reserve.

In June, the crypto bank Custodia sued the Federal Reserve for failing to process Custodias master account application for 19 months. Kraken is another crypto bank that's applied for a master account with the Fed. The publication of the new guidelines appear to be aimed, in part, at streamlining the process of approving applications for master accounts to crypto banks like Custodia and Kraken. The new guidelines also emphasize that any American bank looking to become involved with crypto will need to receive approval from the Fed beforehand.

Mark Zuckerberg just cant seem to strike the right chord with the rest of the Web3 community. It seems like nearly every time the Meta chief executive tries to advertise something new about his companys vision for the metaverse, it ends up backfiring. Even his decision to change the companys name to Meta back in October of last year made many Web3 professionals cringe.

Earlier this week, he posted what appears to be a selfie of his Horizon Worlds avatar standing in front of a virtual Eiffel Tower and La Sagrada Familia to advertise the launch of the platform in France and Spain. Twitter, predictably, has not been kind. People made fun of Zucks avatars blank expression and Horizon Worlds as a whole, which still includes legless avatars. Paul Tassi had this to say in Forbes: This is just embarrassing, and yet Zuckerberg seems entirely immune to the embarrassment, or really just does not understand how bad this looks, both literally, the graphics are garbage and its bizarre no one has legs after five years of this, but also for him and his company and his grand vision of the metaverse, which he seems to understand less than all of his competition. This is not going to go well for him or Meta if he continues down this path.

Invisalign has made its metaverse debut with a new campaign in Roblox. Launched on August 12, the brands virtual, gamified experience was built into Livetopia, a hugely popular game on Roblox that has been visited more than 2.3bn times, according to its website. The so-called Invisalign Hub inside Livetopia features a virtual dentist office and branded games. Visitors can also, of course, check out some virtual recreations of Invisalign aligners. The brand has partnered with TikTok star Lana Rae to promote its new Roblox campaign, following another partnership with Charli Damelio currently the second-most popular creator on TikTok back in 2020.

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This Week in the Metaverse: Tencent ditches NFTs, FTC prepares to challenge Meta's 'virtual reality empire' - The Drum

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New ideas for Cleveland lakefront land bridge proposed by Green Ribbon Coalition, Big Creek Connects – cleveland.com

Posted: at 1:04 am

CLEVELAND, Ohio Two small nonprofits that have influenced debates over the future of the citys lakefront are back in front of civic and elected leaders with new ideas about how to reconfigure the Ohio 2 Shoreway around Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River.

The Green Ribbon Coalition and Big Creek Connects on Friday released a proposal with more than a dozen new ideas about how to reconfigure the Shoreway and extend a land bridge from the downtown Mall across the Shoreway and lakefront rail lines to North Coast Harbor.

The document is intended to broaden a $5 million, city-led feasibility study exploring at least seven variations on a proposal made in May 2021 by Haslam Sports Group, owners of the NFL Browns, to extend the downtown Mall north to the lakefront.

The Mall is the three-block-long, 15-acre centerpiece of Clevelands downtown government and civic center, planned in 1903 by a team led by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham.

Bob Gardin is the longtime civic activist who leads Big Creek Connects, which focuses on planning within the watershed of a major Cuyahoga River tributary, and other regional issues.

Gardin said in an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that the study released Friday grew out of his concern that the citys lakefront feasibility analysis, the cost of which is split 50-50 with the Ohio Department of Transportation, isnt imaginative enough.

Among other things, the new proposals include:

- Incorporating a year-round, covered walkway between the Mall and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of any new land bridge' from the Mall to the lakefront.

- Preserving the uninterrupted east-west traffic flow across the lakefront and the Cuyahoga River via the Shoreway.

- A long-term vision for the 83-year-old Main Avenue Bridge that includes building a new high-level bridge over the river and turning the existing span into a bike and pedestrian greenway.

- New routes for trucks carrying crushed stone and salt from Whiskey Island to regional highways without blowing dust toward the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authoritys Lakeview Terrace apartments opposite Whiskey Island on the south side of the Cuyahogas old river channel.

A rendering depicts how the high-level Main Avenue Bridge could be turned into a bike- and pedestrian connection linking downtown and Cleveland's West Side. The proposal, made by Big Creek Connects and the Green Ribbon Coalition, assumes that the 83-year-old bridge will need to be replaced in the future with a new span.Courtesy Green Ribbon Coalition, Big Creek Connects

Speaking of the city-led lakefront feasibility study, Gardin said, were concerned that theyre not broadening the scope to consider these other aspects of it, like the high level [Main Avenue] Bridge and its eventual replacement, and looking at other alternatives beyond the immediate downtown area. Nows the time to do that.

The new proposals are described in color-coded drawings that indicate new or reconfigured sections of highway along the lakefront in diagrams drawn by Gardin, who said they were based on sources including Cuyahoga Countys GIS or Geographic Information System website.

He said the drawings have not been vetted by a professional engineer to make sure they comply with accepted conventions on highway design. The study does not include cost estimates.

Gardin said he shared a draft of the new proposals with officials from the administration of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cuyahoga County, the Ohio Department of Transportations District 12 office, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Northeast Ohios chamber of commerce.

Michael Dever, chair of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission and director of the countys Department of Public Works, declined Thursday to comment in detail about the Green Ribbon/Big Creek document.

But he applauded the two groups for weighing in and said it was important for local governments to gather public views about the Haslam proposal, which has been embraced by the city as a foundation for further exploration through the feasibility study.

Any input at this time is really critical, Dever said. Youve got to get buy-in from the public. I dont see any issue with them [Green Ribbon and Big Creek Connects] trying to float ideas and bring something forward. This is the time if were really open-minded about this. We really want to hear from everybody.

Images from the Browns' downtown Cleveland lakefront plan.Nelson Byrd Woltz, Osborn Engineering, CallisonRTKL, AoDK Architecture

The city hasnt yet held a public forum on the Mall extension idea, which appears to pit regional traffic mobility against the citys desire for a stronger connection to the downtown lakefront.

Marie Zickefoose, the citys press secretary, said Thursday that city officials will review the Green Ribbon/Big Creek proposals and follow up with any questions.

And she said: We are in the process of planning for a robust public engagement process to ensure that we receive input from a broad and diverse group of stakeholders.

Last November, the city and ODOT launched the 18-month study of the feasibility of the Mall extension originally proposed by Jimmy and Dee Haslam, co-owners of the Browns.

The study, led by the Cleveland firm Osborn Engineering, is intended to answer questions including whether extending the Mall would require removing the long bridge ramp that connects the eastern portion of the Shoreway to the Main Avenue Bridge ramp.

The ramp begins rising north of the Mall, which means that traffic passing under the proposed new structure overhead might not have clearance.

Critics have said that disconnecting the Shoreway from the ramp would mean funneling east-west lakefront traffic through downtown streets, causing traffic chaos.

Gardin said his analysis shows that no such change would be necessary if the land bridge' extending north from the Mall over the Shoreway jogged to the east instead of extending straight north.

The Green Ribbon Coalition originally proposed such an idea in 2017, but it didnt generate any response from then-mayor Frank Jackson.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson publicly endorsed the idea of creating a "land bridge" between downtown and the lakefront, connecting Mall C to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The idea was first proposed by the nonprofit Green Ribbon Coalition.Green Ribbon Coalition

In 2019, after the city rejected a proposal for an iconic pedestrian bridge from the Mall to the lakefront, Jackson embraced the term land bridge' in reference to the Haslam proposal in 2020.

Earlier this year, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, insisted that the citys feasibility analysis should include ideas based on the Green Ribbon Coalitions 2017 proposal.

The Green Ribbon Coalition is also participating in the urban design and land use working group convened by the Greater Cleveland Partnership as part of a larger civic effort to support the citys feasibility study, and future efforts to better connect the city and the lakefront.

Questions raised by the new Green Ribbon/Big Creek analysis include whether the high-level Main Avenue Bridge should be replaced. The document states that the span, one of the longest in Ohio, has a life expectancy estimated to be between 10 and 30 years.

On Thursday, Brent Kovacs, the public information officer for ODOTs District 12 office, serving Cleveland and its environs, said the bridge is in good condition and that the agency has no timetable' for replacing it.

All primary structural elements are sound, he said.

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Skywatch for the week of August 22, 2022 – WQCS

Posted: at 1:03 am

Skywatch Monday 8-22-2022.mp3

Mon Aug 22, 2022 RAY BRADBURY AND MARS

The science fiction and fantasy writer Ray Bradbury was born on August 22nd, 1920. He began his career by writing short stories for pulp magazines such as Weird Tales, Planet Stories and Galaxy Science Fiction. He also wrote, Fahrenheit 451, R is for Rocket, and The Golden Apples of the Sun. His book, The Martian Chronicles, came out in 1950; it was a series of related short stories about the colonization of the planet Mars, something which is very much in the news these days. Bradbury envisioned terraforming Mars, also being discussed lately. While building pressure domes and living underground on Mars is perhaps achievable, trying to restore a viable Martian atmosphere is still well beyond our current technology, and at the moment, Mars itself is only visible after midnight. Well, like Bradbury, we can dream!

Skywatch Tuesday 8-23-2022.mp3

Tue Aug 23, 2022 VOYAGER 2 REACHES NEPTUNE

On August 23, 1989, the Voyager 2 spacecraft sailed past the planet Neptune on its journey toward the stars. It is the only probe that has every taken close-up pictures of the eighth planet, and the images it sent back were amazing. It found an earth-sized hurricane the Great Dark Spot - blowing in Neptune's southern hemisphere. And there were great cirrus clouds zipping through its atmosphere at fifteen hundred miles an hour! Voyager saw three major rings orbiting Neptune, which were thicker in some spots than in others. It found several more satellites, all of them dark and irregularly shaped. It also sent back images of super-cold methane ice volcanoes erupting on the surface of its largest moon Triton. Then Voyager 2 sailed on, headed out into deep space; its expected to pass the star Sirius in another 300 thousand years.

Skywatch Wednesday 8-24-2022.mp3

Wed Aug 24, 2022 THE PLUTO VOTE

On August 24 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of the planet club. At the time the IAU had about 10,000 astronomers as members, but on the last day of their conference in Prague only 424 of them voted. And you had to be in the room to vote no mail-in ballots. Does this sound like scientists arent any different from your average politician? Yes it does. And thats because scientists are people too, and therefore can be just as mean, stubborn and stupid as anybody else on the planet. Members of the American Astronomical Society werent happy about the vote. Neither was Alan Stern, the principal scientist who oversaw the successful New Horizons mission to Pluto that took place in 2015, revealing an incredible world with nitrogen ice plains and great water ice mountains.

Skywatch Thursday 8-25-2022.mp3

Thu Aug 25, 2022 ORION AFTER MIDNIGHT

Orion the Hunter has been absent from our evening skies for a couple of months now. If you want to find him tonight, youll have to go out long after midnight. He rises out of the east around 3 am, and climbs up into the southeastern sky as dawn approaches. If youd rather see Orion during the evening hours, then youll have to wait until October, and even then it wont be just after sunset, but in the late evening. As the year and the seasons progress, the earths revolution carries us around the sun: stars behind the sun cannot be seen until the earth takes us a little farther along the orbital path, which changes the suns position against the background of stars. This summers evening skies feature such constellations as Scorpius and Sagittarius as well as Lyra the Harp, Aquila the Eagle and Cygnus the Swan.

Skywatch Friday 8-26-2022.mp3

Fri Aug 26, 2022 KRAKATOA

On August 27, 1883, the volcano called Krakatoa exploded, creating the loudest sound ever heard in recorded history. Australians, nearly 3,000 miles away, heard it. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives, either from the heat of the blast or from falling debris, or from the resulting tsunamis. Shock waves traveled around the world, and volcanic ash blanketed thousands of miles of our planet. For the next year, the earths average temperature dropped by over a couple of degrees Fahrenheit because of all the ash thrown into the upper atmosphere. It also brought months of colorful sunsets across the planet. Later, the shattered remnants of Krakatoa grew a new mountain, named Anak Krakatau, the child of Krakatoa. In December 2018, it also erupted, and more tsunamis caused more death and devastation throughout Indonesia.

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Skywatch for the week of August 22, 2022 - WQCS

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Law alum’s career heads into orbit with unexpected passion for space law – University of Calgary

Posted: at 1:03 am

Do the laws of the land apply to space?

Thats a question without a definitive answer as human presence beyond the confines of Planet Earth is expected to grow in the years to come. How do we create laws that are applicable in orbit or beyond?

A graduate from the University of Calgarys Faculty of Law is channeling his career toward the growing field of space law in the hopes of helping find answers to these questions.

Initially interested in the fields of international security and cybersecurity law, Gregory Radisic, JD22, had the opportunity to intern with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Surprisingly, this opportunity introduced him to the up-and-coming field of space law.

I went to law school with the idea that I was going to really try the buffet of law, so to speak, a little bit of everything, and see what kind of meal I want for life, says Radisic.

Following his internship with UNODC, Radisic successfully completed an internship with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), followed by an ongoing legal fellowship with the American National Space Society (NSS) and another internship with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Working for a space agency is probably one of the most exciting things that you can do as a young law student, he says. It has invigorated my time in law school and given me a lot of energy and excitement.

Space law may sound like something out of Star Trek, but it is based on down-to-Earth concepts. For Radisic, space law has been an interwoven experience of policy-making, law and diplomacy. The field is growing rapidly, and only time will tell what the world of space law will look like in the future as space is increasingly used not only for research and testing, but also for potential manufacturing, military applications and even in the long-term colonization. Several countries have their sights set on returning humans to the moon before the end of this decade, with human presence on Mars also a possibility in the foreseeable future.

It is a very fast-paced area of law, and, especially in this past year with international incidents occurring in low earth orbit and the outer space environment, it's brought up a lot of really interesting legal questions which is very interesting to not only read about, but to physically engage with.

Potential legal questions abound that may fall to people like Radisic to answer in the future: for example, if someone in space commits a crime, under whose jurisdiction does the crime fall? What happens if someone commits an act of industrial espionage in orbit? What are the diplomatic implications if two countries sharing a spacecraft halfway on a voyage to Mars go to war?

Some of these questions sound like science fiction today, but Radisic is helping to set the groundwork for addressing them.

I got to really understand, on a very granular level, what is going on in the space industry in different countries; countries like France and the U.K. with long-established space agencies and a massive space industry, but then [also] smaller ones, like Romania and Poland, that are making equally important impacts to the future of space, he says.

As to what comes next for Radisic, his goal is to focus his work domestically and have an impact on the aerospace and aviation industries in Canada.

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Children? More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults dont want them – Marin Independent Journal

Posted: at 1:02 am

Fears about declining fertility rates have come from sources as diverse as Pope Francis and Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson could force women to give birth against their wishes, while a recent British editorial even proposed a tax on people without children.

Media outlets regularly point out that more Americans are having fewer children or forgoing parenthood altogether.

But how many Americans want to have kids and cant? Or are still planning to be parents down the road? How many are consciously making the choice to never have kids?

While official statistics in the United States and elsewhere track fertility, they dont provide insight into the people who have not had children. There are many different types of nonparents: Childfree people do not want children; childless people want children but cant have them; not-yet parents plan to have children in the future; undecided people arent sure they will have children; and ambivalent people arent sure they would have wanted children.

In a 2022 study of 1,500 adults in Michigan, we found that 21.64% of adults do not want to have children and therefore are choosing to be childfree. While our survey wasnt nationally representative, the 2021 Census showed that Michigan is demographically similar to the United States in terms of age, race, education and income. If the pattern we have observed in Michigan reflects national trends, it would mean 50 million to 60 million American adults are childfree.

Identifying childfree people

To identify childfree people, we asked each participant a series of up to three questions:

Do you have, or have you ever had, any biological, step-, or adopted children?

Do you plan to have any biological or adopted children in the future?

Do you wish you had or could have biological or adopted children?

Respondents could answer yes, no, or I dont know to each question. We classified as childfree those who answered no to all three.

Our estimate of the number of childfree people is much higher than past national studies, which placed the percentage between 2% and 9%. This likely happened because our measurement focuses on a persons desire to have children, not their ability. This is important because a person can be childfree whether they are biologically capable of having children or not.

Our estimate is also slightly lower than an initial estimate 27% from a 2021 study that we wrote about a year ago. The original study did not allow respondents to answer I dont know to these questions and therefore could not separate the undecided or ambivalent from the childfree. We were surprised that after refining our measurement to distinguish these unique groups, we still observed so many childfree adults.

Roughly half the adults in our study were parents, but childfree adults were the largest nonparent group.

Theyre deciding early in life

People, especially women, who say they dont want children are often told theyll change their mind. But we found thats likely not the case.

In our study, people reported making the decision to be childfree early in life, most often in their teens and 20s. Moreover, it isnt just young people who are claiming they dont want children. Many women who decided in their teens to be childfree are much older now, and are still childfree.

Philip Pacheco/AFP/Getty Images

Our findings depart from research conducted in the 1970s, which found that childfree adults tended to arrive at their decision later in life after postponing parenthood for many years. Earlier decisions may reflect changing norms toward parenthood and an increasing recognition and acceptance of a childfree lifestyle.

Underpopulation isnt the problem

Despite Musks insistence that there is an underpopulation crisis, the global population will continue to grow.

This growth will likely have a negative impact on climate change and some researchers contend that one of the best ways to reduce carbon emissions is to have fewer children.

Meanwhile, the Dobbs decision has chilling implications for the millions of Americans who are childfree: A significant swath of them are now at risk of being forced to have children despite not wanting them.

Issues affecting childfree Americans go beyond reproductive freedom. For example, workplace policies on work-life balance often favor parents. Because so many people are childfree, we believe the needs of this group warrant more attention from policymakers.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts, under a Creative Commons license.

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Children? More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults dont want them - Marin Independent Journal

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People Who Decided Not To Have Kids Share How Their Lives Turned Out (30 Posts) – Bored Panda

Posted: at 1:02 am

Let's face it, increasingly more people decide to turn down the prospect of parenthood. As a Pew Research Center study has found, around 44% of Americans who are not already parents say theyre unlikely to have children ever. But even though they consciously choose to forego having kids and feel comfortable with the decision, childfree people often face pressure from those in their social circle who believe they will definitely change their minds.

"You still have time" is up there with some of the most frustrating remarks people who chose a different life path have to hear. Thankfully, theres a great way to fight stigma in society see the positivity in their child-free freedom and be proud of their choice. This is something that hundreds of people expressed across various threads on Reddit, and their stories are nothing but honest.

We at Bored Panda have wrapped up a collection of responses where people open up about how this decision affected their lifestyles. Some explain their overwhelming joy and happiness, while others reveal slight doubts and regrets. So sit back, relax, and enjoy reading through their experiences. Be sure to upvote your favorite answers and if you want to weigh in on the topic, wed love to hear your thoughts right below in the comments!

Psst! If youre interested in even more childfree content, take a look at our earlier piece where people reveal what made them decide to never have kids.

Ive recently started dating again, and the amount of men my age (35) with kids is disheartening. I started talking to one guy, and he mentioned having kids, so I told him we werent compatible. He told me I was being negative, asking how I knew we werent compatible, etc. Well, cause you have kids and I dont, I dont want any. I had another guy tell me he had a 22-month-old. He has not mentioned anywhere in his profile about having kids, and then when I tell him its a no for me, he resorts to insults. Im honestly happy with my life and where I am, and I refuse to settle for anyone who wouldnt add to my life. Im complete. If I die alone with my cats, thats better than settling for a miserable life

Donthurlemogurlx Report

When my current manager found out I dont want kids his response was well youre young and still have time to change your mind. When I told him my husband and I want to retire early he said but why would you retire early if you dont have kids? What would you even do..?

SMH these people are so brainwashed. Theres more to life than going to a job everyday then taking care of kids for the other part.

Chipotleislyfee , RAIS Report

I am 47 and life is great. Was married once (very young) and engaged once, but never had kids. Started my own business a decade ago and that's gone great. It's currently providing me income while I work on a start-up with a partner. I travel a lot (when there's not a pandemic), have tons of hobbies, and have built up a wonderful chosen family for company and support.

I have no regrets and no complaints. I get plenty of sleep and take good care of myself. I volunteer and give back to the community however and whenever I can. I wouldn't have it any other way.

GracieLikesTea , Daria Pimkina Report

My son decided to get a vasectomy last year. I told him: "Won't you regret it later?"He replied: "I can always adopt, just like you adopted me."

Report

Cringe answer but i dont wanna bring someone into this world and force them to deal with problems just cause I wanted pride of having a child

Possible_Tap8558 Report

1. My body already is pretty screwed up, I don't need it MORE screwed up

2. A lot of folks seem to hate their children. Like, A LOT of people seem to hate their children. Or at least mildly resent them. I don't want to do that.

3. I am an 'all in' type of person. A 'anything worth doing is worth over doing' type of person. I'd probably be a great parent because of this--all in for my kids. But it also means I'd be a terrible ME. I'd lose being an individual in the process, and that's not good for me OR any mythical children.

4. I really, really, really like quiet.

Lyeta1_1 , Lucas Calloch Report

Love my life. Wouldnt trade it with anyone. Im 70 with no children, never married, and no regrets. Several long term relationships (11 yr. & 17 year ... still friends). Loved my never relinquishing my personal freedom. Several things informed my decision:

Watching the relationships of parents and children, where children became a**holes. 2. Watching marriages that were okay go bad or boring 3. Watching people lose themselves in stressful marriages. 4. My inability to take shit and pretend that its not happening. 5. Not enjoying the feeling of having to negotiate everything from social events to meal choices. 6. Unwillingness to relinquish personal freedom

Kwelikinz , Axville Report

I overheard my sister-in-law telling my brother-in-law that we should write everything in our will to them because We need it; they dont have kids (on both sides). What do they need it for? Theyre trying to get my father-in-law to facilitate the conversation. If they think youre entitled to my money, dont be shy. Tell me to my face! The joke is on her because my side of the money is locked up in a prenup. Our will, as it stands now, a nice sum is set aside for education, down payment, etc., for my nieces. Most of it is being distributed to charities. Planned Parenthood is on the list! The audacity and entitlement make my head spin! Just because I dont have kids doesnt mean it automatically goes to them.

jabmwr Report

I had an experience that annoyed me apartment hunting last year. The lady showing my boyfriend and I the apartment kept prying why we would need a second bedroom, and saying things like if its just the two of us why isnt a 1 bedroom enough. Even after explaining we both worked from home, she kept trying to push the smaller units. I guess the building has less 2 bedrooms so they like to keep them open for people with kids?

As crazy as it sounds, people without kids also like space.

South-Housing-748 Report

I was getting to know a (female) doctor my partner used to work with. She asked about my dream job and I responded that I dont dream of labor; my dream is to be financially secure enough that I can retire ASAP.

Retired? Do you mean at home with babies?

Um no. Retired meaning I have enough savings to not have to work anymore while living comfortably.

PM_ME_PDIDDY , RepentAnd SeekChristJesus Report

Coming up in a year since my husband and I bought our first house! 4 beds, 2.5 baths. I absolutely love it. We consider ourselves very lucky and grateful. Since then, when the topic comes up in casual conversation, I get the same response from breeders. It doesnt help were the only child-free couple on the street. Oh, so much space, making room for kids? Thats a lot of space for just the two of you. What about families with children that needed that home? Im sorry, I wanted space for separate offices and a space for visitors. Oh, the reactions I get when I say I turned the den into a cat room. A whole room just for your cats!? Must be nice to live that way Yes. Yes, it is. It would also be nice to share accomplishments without judgment.

Unsolicited_CatPics Report

Glorious!

Vacations are a breeze, particularly if you go to another country. If I find a place, I can just up and move without worrying about if the school is any good, or how big the house is.

Gonstackk , Eddy Billard Report

Retiring to me means never working for anyone but myself.

Thanks to the stars aligning with my childfreedom, the real estate boom, and a deep seated drive to be both lazy and selfish I'm about to live my dream - moving across the country, renting out an ADU for passive income, and freelancing when I feel like it.

Of course, there are no guarantees this will last forever, but at 35 it's the closest thing to retirement I've ever experienced. So excited.

atypicala , Sven Mieke Report

I'm 48 never wanted kids, no regrets. The majority of the parents I know are stressed AF! My best friend has 4 adult kids and they all cause her grief. She is on her way to a mental breakdown.

The happiest married couples that I know, besides me and my spouse, is a retired couple no kids. They go on dates several times a week, travel and just love each other so much.

Having kids isn't a guarantee that they will take care of you when you get old. My mother works in a nursing home. Most of them are abandoned by their kids and only visit on Mother's Day for Facebook photos.

sagicorn2791 , Lona Report

I am 38, my wife is 42. Our marriage is fantastic and our jobs are stressful, but lucrative. We worry and stress about normal things just like others, but just not about kids, obviously.

Like any major life decision, there are pangs of regret -seeing my friends enjoy ballgames and major milestones with their children that I know it won't experience with my own, but I know I am also sidestepping the negatives as well.

In the end, my wife and I chose each other and are endlessly happy. Could a child have improved that bliss? Possibly - but we collectively were not 100% all-in and didn't want to risk our happiness together to find out.

Intersectaquirer , Allen Taylor Report

Im a 46 year old auntie to a wonderful little boy and Im fine with that.

My husband and I didnt each hit 6 figures until about 4 years ago, so were not really swimming in money yet (we live in NYC). I love sleeping in. I love finishing dinner and then playing video games. I love going for long walks. I love peace and quiet. I love all my disposable income. My brother and his wife ask all the time when were going to visit so they can just toss my nephew at us for a week so they can go on vacation and you know, that just makes me extra happy I didnt go that route.

cuntpunt2000 , Joo Ferro Report

I've never had any desire to be a mother. I don't want to give up my freedom and spare time. I can't afford it. I don't want to grow a human inside my body. I have [bad] mental health problems that I would probably pass on to them.

sporkchop24 , Brooke Cagle Report

30 F, besides every other answer already provided here I am legitimately terrified of the idea of pregnancy and giving birth. Even if I felt the burning desire to mother a child, (which I do not) I could never get past the fact I would have to grow it, and have it.

IndependentWinner992 , Vanessa Report

Me 46M and wife 46F.

In a word, amazing.

We both work in Finance and our household gross income is about $200k with about $48k/yr in expenses (and half of that is discretionary...bare bones expenses are about $24k/yr)

Debt free except for the house, which will be completely paid off by this time next year.

Pretty much buy whatever we want, when we want it.

Go where ever we want, when we want to.

Our jobs are ultra-stable and we have both been with the company for 10 years and get 1.5 months of paid leave, plus 10 paid holidays per year (almost unheard of in non-union jobs in the US).

We live next door to my wife's parents and they are awesome people that treat me like the son they never had.

About the only thing we really need to fix, is we both put on too much weight during covid and need to get that shit under control this summer...so...salad & hiking summer it is.

Luckily, we live in the paradise of our choosing, Alaska, and there is truly epic hiking up here.

[deleted] , Timo Stern Report

Boyfriend and I are both 45 and life is pretty cool. We met when we were 39 and on our second date I had to ask the dreaded kid question. Thank god his response was a vehement no. Its crazy to think people dont ask that question right away and have terrible break ups over it. I figured I didnt want to waste a minute with him if he wanted kids!

bionica1 , dusan jovic Report

Love it.

Can't even imagine having children. I'm not built for it.

Great with other people's kids (in short bursts) but ultimately very glad to be able to walk away from that cacophony of neediness.

I sleep as much as I want (as well as game/work/etc) eat whatever I want go where I want (or more importantly don't go where I don't want).

One of the few decisions that made very young (before I was a teenager for sure) that I've not wavered on and has paid off dividends.

VyrPlan , Marivi Pazos Report

I was told at an old job that Id be such a great mom because I was so patient and kind to coworkers, especially the new ones who had A LOT of questions. The difference is I can get away from my coworkers, but kids are a different story! My mom said I would be a fantastic mom IF I wanted to be one, because ultimately, I wouldnt be if my heart wasnt in it. My mom gets it, and I appreciate her so much for it.

Brain_Stew12 , Desola Lanre-Ologun Report

I love children. I love holding them, I love playing with them and I love talking with them. Very neat group of people. Totally recommend them to anyone who thinks having a child is right for them.

What I do not like is being responsible over another human being 24/7. I also don't like the thought of having to leave work to pick up a sick child from school or nursery school. I don't like potty training, I don't want to be unable to travel without a massive amount of planning, I don't want to fight with a 13 year old over... anything really, 13 year olds do not listen to reason. I don't want to get up at 7 AM on a Sunday to take my child to their football training, I don't want to spend all my money on somebody else's damn shoes that they will have grown out of the week after anyways.

Basically, a child is not compatible with the lifestyle I want.

Fuzzykittenboots Report

I never wanted to have children.My relatives and acquaintances would tell me: "When you grow up you will change your mind. Children are a blessing in life," or stuff like that. I always replied that I didn't see myself as a mother. 15 years have gone by and nothing has changed.

Report

I decided when I was 18 and I agree with it. People will tell me: "Who is going to take care of you when you are old?" followed by this little gem: "You have to start your own family," as if my boyfriend and my dogs don't count.

Report

Fantastic. I couldnt ask for a better life. I wouldnt trade my current status for the greatest child in the world and I like kids. Me 44 and hubby 38, almost mortgage free. Stress from jobs are there but I feel like its nothing compared to my friends with kids.

commentaror , Brooke Cagle Report

Utterly delightful. We can do what we want, when we want. Zero debt except the mortgage. 10/10 would do again.

Astara104 Report

Almost 40, no kids, never married. I work about 50ish hours a week. Life is good. Money just sits in the bank since I don't have to spend it on children, I have a bunch of free time that I use however I want because I can't ask a significant other how they want to spend time together or have to cater my schedule around sports practice, or academia. I use my vacation days to extend some weekends, travel somewhere nice, stay in a bed and breakfast and enjoy the nightlife the place has to offer.

nocoolname42 , Emil Kalibradov Report

My biggest factors in not wanting kids are SLEEP and SPONTANEITY! When telling my coworker this, shes like its not as hard as youd think it is then, a couple weeks later, she comes in talking about the baby is sick and cant sleep or the baby was up at 6am today (we work nights) and she has to plan [things] way in advance, and she cant handle her car issues because she has no money because of the baby.

Luckily! My sister, my mom, and my close friends who have kids are very honest with me about what their lives are like, and they dont blame me for not wanting kids! The only people who seem to REALLY want my husband and I to start pumping em out are my coworkers, which is extra weird because like they would never even see my hypothetical baby ??

BetEqual2993 , Brooke Cagle Report

45 F, I love it. Also never been married, or never lived with someone (except roommates). I love the freedom to do as I please, spent my money the way I want.

stubbornasfuckNL Report

When people who have children start talking about them, they suddenly look at you and say: And when are you going to have children? And when you answer that you dont want to have children, they tell you that thats selfish, and they ask who will take care of you later. They also say you need to have children to have your own family, or that you say that because you are too young.

Mimi Thian Report

Note: this post originally had 47 images. Its been shortened to the top 31 images based on user votes.

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People Who Decided Not To Have Kids Share How Their Lives Turned Out (30 Posts) - Bored Panda

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Pros and Cons: Why You May (or May Not) Want To Rent Out Your Space – GOBankingRates

Posted: at 1:02 am

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Maybe youre planning a big move just when the local real estate swings from a sellers to a buyers market. Maybe you have a spare bedroom or guest house you never use. Or maybe you have a grand vision for flipping that garage into the coziest Airbnb.

Whatever the case, if youre considering renting out your current home or property you own, youll want to be ready for everything that entails.

Look: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time JobMore: 7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals

If you do rent out your house, you need to treat it like any other business, Jay Zigmont, PhD, CFP and founder of Childfree Wealth said. You need to track income and expenses and pay taxes on the net income.

Check this list of pros and cons to make sure being a landlord is a worthy investment.

Here are a handful of the financial pros of being a landlord.

Renting out your current home or property can provide a steady passive income, especially if the rent you charge your tenants is higher than your monthly mortgage payment. In 2022, the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries Property Index found a 24.1% increase in returns on investment in multifamily apartment properties. An investment like this could help you pay off your home, or leave you with a little left over for improvements on the property over time.

Keep in mind, you will have to pay taxes on that income at the end of the fiscal year.

When you are renting out your property, you will want to work with a CPA or EA to prepare your taxes, Dr. Zigmont said. How you file will change based upon the use of the property and how long you have it rented out.

Take Our Poll: Do You Think You Will Be Able To Retire at Age 65?

Dr. Zigmont said you may also benefit from the appreciation in the price of the property over time. If you hold off on selling your property and maintain it as a rental, your home value may increase year after year, depending on location or improvements made to yours and other homes in the surrounding area.

As the homeowner, your increased equity could mean listing the home for a higher price when its time to sell, having the ability to increase the rent or even taking out a better loan on a new property further down the line. Keep track of your home value with an online estimator or a professional appraiser.

You could also be eligible for certain tax breaks when renting out your home. As a landlord, you can deduct expenses for certain materials or repairs. You can even deduct ordinary and necessary expenses for the management of your property. Talk to your tax professional about the deductions you could be eligible for, and keep a thorough record of these expenses throughout the year.

Despite the positives, there are certainly some drawbacks to renting out your property. Here are some of them.

While you would be making money on the rent, you are still responsible for a number of expenses as a landlord. For example, if a pipe bursts from age and wear, that money wont be coming out of your tenants pocket. Owning your own home on top of renting this property could spread your finances thinner in times of emergencies like these.

There are certain expenses that can pile up before youre even able to put the property up for rent. Dr. Zigmont said your state or town may have requirements that you have to meet before renting out your home. If you are accepting renters with rent assistance, you may also need to have certain inspections done on the property.

You also need to have a plan for how you will handle if the property is not rented (or the renter is not paying) for an extended period of time, Dr. Zigmont said. Having cash on hand to cover low rent months and any expenses is a good idea.

As a property owner, you already know the unexpected can happen. If you wont be physically living on the property, it can make things even more unpredictable.

Being a remote landlord can be a disaster, Dr. Zigmont said. My wife and I tried this, and the result was that the renters (and their dog) destroyed the hardwood floors in the two years it was rented. It cost almost as much to repair as we made in rent.

If youre renting the property out while you live there, like an Airbnb or back house, Dr. Zigmont says you should consider the return on hassle.

Your homeowners association or zoning laws on your property may prohibit rentals. Even if you are allowed to rent it out, you must first check with your HOA to see if there are limits on the number of people you can rent to or the number of days you can rent it out each year. You may also need to update your homeowners insurance to cover rentals. Make sure you check in with these institutions before taking any steps toward renting.

At the end of the day, its important to understand that your property is an investment, which comes with highs and lows. While many people have great success with Airbnb and similar services, Dr. Zigmont said you can always consider other tools to get exposure to real estate investing.

Do not use the justification that the rent covers the mortgage payment, as that does not take into account maintenance and other costs, Dr. Zigmont said.

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Buyers and Sellers Have Retreated From The Housing Market For Now, Advisors Say – Financial Advisor Magazine

Posted: at 1:02 am

Home builder confidence fell for the eighth straight month in August, as financial advisors say market conditions have forced many of their clients to the sidelines.

Advisors described a market of extremes, with some clients stubbornly refusing to reduce prices on their home, and other clients who have given up on trying to sell or buy at all.

The market is a little weird right now and its just not checked into reality, said Jay Zigmont, founder of Childfree Wealth in Water Valley, Miss.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell six points in August to 49, marking the first time since May 2020 that the index fell below the key break-even measure of 50, the trade group reported on Monday. The index , which is based on a monthly survey of home builders and measures the pulse of the single-family housing market, stood at 75 a year ago and was at 83 in January.

Builder confidence fell in all regions, led by the West, which declined 11 points to 51. The Northeast dropped nine points to 56, the South dropped seven points to 63, and the Midwest dropped three points to 49.

Tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve and persistently elevated construction costs have brought on a housing recession, NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz said in a statement. He added that the volume of single-family starts will post its first decrease since 2011, but there is room for optimism that the demand-side of the market in the coming months will stabilized as signs grow that the rate of inflation is near peaking.

Financial advisors said the declining housing market have forced clients to pause plans to buy or sell their home.

The recent hike in interest rates and the talk of a housing recession has, without a doubt, lessened our clients desires to buy or build a new home, said Bryce Koch of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management in Omaha, Neb. He added that some of his homeowner clients have decided to stay put and invest in their home to make it more enjoyable. This allows our clients to maintain their very affordable mortgage payment, with a rate of 3% or even lower, but still add something new to their house that they may have been longing for."

Mortgage rates, which had begun to decline in 2019, hit new lows in 2020 and 2021 in response to the Covid crisis. By December 2021, the monthly average rate for a 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage was 2.68%, according to Freddie Mac. The rates continued in the 2% to 3% range throughout 2021. But in January, rates edged upward to 3.45%. The average rate reached 5.41% in July, according to Freddie Mac.

David Born of Private Financial Management LLC in the San Francisco Bay Area said higher housing costs not only have forced buyers on the sidelines, but have also affected sellers, who just have not accepted the reality of whats happening in the market, he said. Sellers want the price that they could get in January and the buyers just cant afford it."

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It’s Time To End Stressful Partings, Home Pet Euthanasia Is Here – PRUnderground

Posted: at 1:02 am

61% of Australian households, according to the RSPCA, have a pet. And there is nothing more stressful for a pet owner than the day it comes to say goodbye to their animal and to have it put down.

Traditionally, this means taking the animal to a vet and having it put to sleep at the vets surgery. This can be distressing for the owner and the animal in question.

As Dr. Audrey Harvey, the Veterinary Director of Rainbow Bridge In Home Pet Euthanasia, says, Most pets hate going to the vets surgery at any time. And that means that end of life services maybe highly stressful for the animal and the owner. But there is another way to go about this.

Announcing Home Pet Euthanasia

Many people are unaware that they dont have to go through the process of taking their animal to a veterinary clinic, instead, they could have their veterinarians come to them.

At Rainbow Bridge, they launched their home pet euthanasia service two years ago and that means that your pet can move on from this life in more familiar circumstances.

You choose the location that your pet will be most comfortable in, you can bring the people that will want to be there for your pet, and the procedure can be carried out at your pace (and your pets pace) in a way that is comforting to all.

Audrey says, Its very important to most pet owners to minimise the distress of their pet as well as that of their family when their pet passes. Our service is passionate about giving your pet a gentle way to pass, surrounded by their family in a place where they feel truly at home.

We cant eliminate, entirely, that this is a set of unpleasant circumstances, but we can minimize the discomfort and distress caused by external factors. My team of Bronwen, Mel, Rachel, Kirsten and myself are all ready to provide your pet with a gentle, kind passage from this life.

Planned End Of Life Care

One thing wed encourage in loving families is to talk about end-of-life care for your pet as a family unit before the end comes. If you can hold a constructive dialog about your pet when they are very old or have been diagnosed as terminally ill, you can start to think about their final experience.

Audrey continues, This vital conversation ensures that you can plan the passing of the beloved animal and ensure that you are providing a gentle experience for them and for the people that they leave behind. Mourning a pet as the Animal Health Foundation says is as stressful as losing a relative.

And many people simply dont know that home euthanasia is a possibility, in fact, Rainbow Bridge has helped pets pass in a variety of locations where they would be most comfortable. This includes on the couch in a living room, by a warm, cosy fireplace and in places near the home like a beach or by a dam.

This also provides a safe space for mourning together as a family after the pet passes, and this can help provide emotional support to vulnerable individuals.

Service Constraints

It is worth noting that not every veterinary clinic provides this service, however, because of restraints on human resources. This is why Rainbow Bridge has developed this as a unique service offering because while you may not have any choice about losing a pet, the way that they go matters.

Dr Audrey has completed further training through the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy.

She says that the greatest gift of love that we can give to our pets is not to allow them to suffer. Their final days should not be the worst of days.

Home euthanasia is becoming an increasingly popular choice to celebrate a pets life and to allow those left behind to better manager their pain.

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