Ra's Roundup #33
Welcome to the 33rd edition of Ra’s Roundup. This month begins with an audio editors note which is transcribed below. The background music was produced by me.
TRANSCRIPT
What’s good everyone it’s another edition of Ra’s roundup. While this is the 33rd edition it’s the first of its kind with the addition of an audio editor’s note. These audio notes will be transcribed as well as partially scripted.
I am trying to be better about world building offline, I believe I have online affairs down pretty well but, I am definitely trying to participate in more life and living after nearly a year of limited travel, never hitting the beach and sacrificing the things I enjoy for the things I desire for the future.
This month I took a look at my loyalties and my habits that form around them. Like how I buy Nike’s as my beaters and reserve my other footwear for out-of-uniform days and rare evenings out. More recently, I am about to hit 1 year of consistently working out 4-5 days a week. This is part of my world building; which as a creator I like to view as sculpture, using my own form and exercise as the medium.
It’s been other things too, like my presence online, I’m so committed to it because I love to be here the most. But like Ye said, “believe in your flyness conquer your shyness.” So I’ve been paying particular attention to my response to my own shyness and opening up when it feels more comfortable.
Let’s get into this month’s Ra’s roundup
Fitness
Fitness has become a regular part of my morning routine, 5-6 days out of the week I’m in my parents home gym. I also work AM shifts so in order to complete my workouts they usually have to begin somewhere around 4-5am. I recently realized how much having this set schedule to train is a privilege after reading this article by personal trainer Dion Olivier . I found this article outlined some of the things that pull our focus when trying to stick to a consistent workout routine.
My fitness goals have been motivated by borderline high A1C. My doctor recommended that I lose 20lbs and change my diet. While I have a long way to go on my diet, I’m slightly more than 20 lbs down. Fitness is a long term journey for me and the goal right now is better internal wellness, not washboard abs.
The Gram Slam
you all have been clicking on links from the gram so I am rounding up the content I’ve seen and saved on IG! I admittedly don’t save a lot on IG because, to me, content isn’t really inventive but nevertheless…
A recipe for pistachio butter!
A beautiful sculpture made with natural materials
Recho Omondi, of the podcast The Cutting Room Floor talking about how her audience funds her show on Patreon. I recently went on a slight threads rant about monetization off platforms. A lot of it depends not on the size of your audience but on the pitch and the negotiation skills you enlist in talks with potential sponsors (usually businesses/brands). On patreon however, the audience is the direct consumer. Omondi has mastered this concept, taking her time to push out content, we see her take breaks and come back to a still thriving audience.
You can set up a subscription based website or pay-per-view websites like lots of physical trainers and podcasters do. There are a lot of options when it comes to monetization of media, art, classes and services. Like, sticking a flyer to a street post is still a way to organically reach people.
Love a good dance gram. This one was created for the Julliard School summer dance intensive.
Textile printing by hand
A dance tutorial for air walking.
Anycia is one of my favorite rappers right now, I also follow her on IG and she’s just so naturally comical. [another one of my loyalties; women in rap] This one shows the glaring cultural differences between Americans and the English.
Bedroom DJ
My bedroom is soon to become even more of a studio and less of a bedroom. I am investing in DJ equipment, so that I can bring more programming to all of my platforms. This is part of a 3 year business plan that I wrote in January. I am a few months ahead of my intended plan, and hope to complete my set up by January 2025.
I have been DJ-ing off and on since I was 12. this will be my first time with a complete setup of my own where I can dedicate more time to learning the craft, equipment and developing a personal approach.
Here’s a few DJ set ups that inspired me.
Here’s my current bedroom studio set up
Screen Capture’s
Pedro Almovodar
Part of what I love about movies by Pedro Almodovar is the way you get attached to the characters. A huge factor for me is what the character wears. “Volver!” (2006) starring Penelope Cruz struck me when I first watched it when it came out (I was 17). I learned from this video that the hair was inspired by updo’s worn by Sophia Loren and the clothing while meant to be very ordinary was actually super considered, Dolce & Gabbana.
If you haven’t watched this movie I recommend it. I’m definitely going to watch it again soon.
Y-3 Spring 2007
Looking back at Y-3’s Spring 2007 collection. It’s so crazy to see how there was barely any diversity in either ethnicity or body type, but that aside I thought these tops styled like this were cute. I like the idea of skintight paper-thin knits in the spring.
Uniform
Olive Green and Brown are becoming the core colors of my uniform. A side-effect of losing weight, your clothes no longer fit. I have yet to find new clothes to till the void and have been wearing the same rotation of newest pieces mixed with old mended pieces. This camouflage coded color way feels safe but more thoughtful than wearing all black. It also reminds me of catholic school days wearing khaki pants and white polos everyday, except now it’s green and grey hoodies and brown sweatpants.
I’ve also been scouring the sale sections of luxury websites for deals on Nikes that are my go to for days on my feet at work. They make the perfect beaters.
*Beaters: Shoes you buy knowing full well you're gonna wear them a lot, till they fall apart aka “beat up”
AI
1.Turns out AI has serious consequences both for the climate and apparently, images of fake mushrooms have detrimental consequences as well. READ HERE
I did use AI this month to create some backgrounds for my content on instagram. Do I feel conflicted? Yes, because when do we honestly have the privilege of feeling guiltless about our effect on the world.
Oh, here let me share some of the backgrounds made with midjourney ai
Soled Out
Beams x Crocs
Onitsuka Duck Tiger
Hender Scheme
Image Bank
US Navy crewman, spotting the red bandana made this image for me.
Sound Bank
That’s all I’ve got for you this month! Have a great October I’ll be back next month with another roundup!
Big Love