Ryan Whitaker
Bio
Stories (19/0)
10 Signs You're an Alcoholic
The sun shined the wrong way through your disheveled blinds, waking you from your stupor as you sweat your way through your sheets. Somewhere your alarm clock is going off; you're late for work, and your stomach is churning bile over and over at the bottom of your throat. You're counting the number of times your headache can pound inside your head until you're ready to get out of bed, and you taste blood running from your cracked lips as you pull yourself off your pillow. Swinging your legs off the bed, you try to stabilize yourself on your end table, knocking over beer bottles and soaking your carpet in alcohol. Now the race is on to get to the bathroom before you wretch all over your bedroom, tripping over clothes and empties from the night before. Admittedly, I've done this. It might even be safe to say the majority of people have done this. If you do this every morning though, it may be one of the signs you're an alcoholic.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Proof
How to Break in Soccer Cleats and Make Them More Comfortable
From a former athlete's perspective, I relate to the struggle of breaking in new shoes. Wrestling, track, and lacrosse, as you would probably expect, all have significantly different ranges of shoe-wear, and it is prudent to recognize that—even among football, soccer, and lacrosse—the cleats are specified to their sport. Going shoe shopping in the summer and winter of every year, I walked up and down the aisles of Sport's Authority looking at the range of athletic shoes I would need for the year, and I would always find that lacrosse cleats were directly next to the soccer cleats. Every so often, I would pick one of the soccer cleats up instead, trying them on and walking around the store—shopping in its most organic form. I found that, well into practice sessions preceding the season, I would eventually hit a comfortable stride, but I would always wind up wearing them out by the end of the year. Had I known these tips to break in soccer cleats, I would have saved myself a number of ice baths and been on the field like a flash of lightning well before game time.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Cleats
10 Best Google Home Commands That You Probably Didn't Know
If you've used been alive since 1998, had an inkling of a curiosity about any topic imaginable, or simply ever used the internet, you've probably heard of a little thing called Google. Well, Google has come a long way from solely being the hub of all information available in the world. With the release of the new technology coming to households in 2018, this company is going toe-to-toe with brands like Apple and Microsoft for the title of "King of the Operating Systems." I know, personally, that I have been caught in public whispering obscenities to Siri as she fumbles over my commands, or even had Alexa place an unwanted extra order of cheesy bread from Domino's (not because I didn't want it, because I didn't need it); and have oftentimes wondered, "Would Google know better?" It turns out, Google always knows better; and with these Google Home commands, you'll understand why the bar has been set by this company in terms of home assistance and processes.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in 01
The 10 Best Gins of 2018
Gin is a liquor that is oftentimes under appreciated, misunderstood, and downright disrespected among social drinkers from all walks of life. Perhaps the most cultured of all the spirits, this drink has an expansive history dating back to the 17th century, and even earlier on some accounts. Originally utilized as a medication, it was augmented with juniper berries to not only increase its health benefits, but also its palatability. Ever since, innovators and mixologists alike have flocked to the possibilities that gin offers purveyors of taste. Indeed, the best gins today are almost all derivatives of a "cultured" growth, regardless of its sketchy history with the sailors, wretches, and prostitutes of the English docks. This growth has yielded itself to the evolution of versatility, making premium gins a staple in eloquently prepared classic cocktails, as well as simple after-dinner drinks. With such a range of possibilities, its hard to snuff gin as a top contender among other liquors; and if you're already well-versed in the language of gin, you know you want to be making sure your drinking the best gin you possibly can be whenever you are drinking.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Proof
Do's and Don'ts for Walking Your Dog
For those of you who are proud owners of canine companions, you already have an in-depth understanding of the massive responsibility that having a dog is. Yes, of course, they are our cuddly partners-in-crime, our lovable protectors, and the collective man's best friend, but that doesn't mean that our pets don't have certain needs. The potty-training, sock-destroying, constantly-under-your-feet stage of dog ownership is something that few people miss after their pups have matured, but the most important training activity that any dog can undergo is the W-A-L-K. Walking your dog can make or break your relationship with the species. A quick search on YouTube will prove to non-believers that dog walking can be a perilous activity, albeit hilarious to those of us who can watch, knowing we don't make certain mistakes. That, however, bears the question, "Am I walking my dog wrong?" With this guide for do's and don'ts for walking your dog, you will surely be able to answer that question, and may even pick up a tip or two to improve your dog walking abilities tremendously.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Petlife
- Top Story - August 2018
10 Lifehacks Every Gym Rat Should KnowTop Story - August 2018
Despite the fact that I was a four-sport athlete in my high school years and worked a labor-intensive job directly out of undergrad, I firmly believe that going to the gym can still be a daunting experience. At the time of writing this, I am the heaviest and most out of shape I have ever been. It's not like I don't know my way around a weight room—I'm still strong enough to walk on my hands or carry all my grocery bags in on one trip—but I still feel an aversion to actually going to the gym. Maybe there's not enough hours in the day, maybe I'm lazy, or maybe it's all the people. More than anything else, I despise a packed gym; all the meatheads storming up and down the walkways with their chests puffed out, hassling me every time I take a break between sets, saying, "Hey, bro, you still on this?" We get it. You lift, bro. Witnessing all these gym antics, I've oftentimes wondered, "Are there any lifehacks every gym rat should know?" Well, if there wasn't before, this list will serve as one now.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Lifehack
The 10 Best Magic: The Gathering Packs Currently Being Sold
Magic: The Gathering, as many who play the game already know, is one of the longest founded trading card games in the history of portable games, even older than the 20 years of Pokémon. Although less popular than Pokémon, Magic has had considerable success, selling over two billion cards in its first five years and just recently boasting well over 20 billion cards printed during an eight-year height of popularity between 2008-2016. It seems that, more and more, social gamers are coming together to build on a classic, whether it be at home around the kitchen table or by way of tournament series' throughout the country, battling each other for bragging rights, cash prizes, or even small-scale scholarships. There is something to be admired about Magic: The Gathering for role-playing game enthusiasts and collectibles alike, and if you have been hearing a lot about Magic and are thinking about stepping into this world of expansive, strategic battles, here is a comprehensive list of the best Magic: The Gathering packs currently being sold on the market today.
By Ryan Whitaker6 years ago in Gamers