ATWM

Yes, it's been super slow for me, I think for a few days to be honest. I thought it was an issue with my internet. Interestingly, another forum I'm on that uses the same software (but is way more active with more users) is also notably slower.

Anything can work on YouTube - it’s just as much about the person and the approach as the subject matter itself. The world is full of people doing the same thing but a more charismatic denim dude, or whatever, can still get traction. The question is, to what end? If you want to monetize it, it will make you a slave of online strategy. A lot of the lives of the people who do this stuff honestly make anonymous middle management jobs look like a nice way to go.

As an aside from your other points, this is the answer. I deleted my account about 3k followers a good while ago (photo, not denim). As a photographer I work slowly on more long form and often conceptual projects - I work a way that is anathema to the sort of constant posting IG would want. I never was one for showing anything but my actual work and IG wants you to put your whole (best, curated, bullshit) life on blast. Back in 2012/2013 I actually was decent enough at social media, had a pretty good Tumblr presence, had a fairly active early IG account and derived a good bit of work, visibility and even publications and opportunities to show work in gallery from them. But I posted a lot, a lot I wouldn’t want to now, and my inner critic was far less developed. It was also a different time before everything had been so pushed towards monetization (of course all the founders knew that was coming, they just needed the participants first). A lot of my colleagues in industry thought I was nuts for deleting IG but man, my life is so much better without it, and my personal connections that I have derived work from haven’t cared a bit. Long term, it’s not a great marketing strategy but a lot of years of very specific living and planning have allowed me to do that. I know this isn’t about denim here, but this forum is good because you get dialogue, information, opinions, ancillary discussions (like this). All I ever saw on denim IG (and I never looked hard, so I’m sure I missed stuff) was purely based around consumption and posing. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not above that. But it’s not what really holds my interest the most. Anyways, yes, if you’re not spending active time on their platforms and engaging, they are punishing you. And also, excuse me, but fuck meta. My primarily “online” engagement these days consists of forums - this one and a photography one, group text threads with friends, voice calls, and I write an occasional letter from my website that I have a few hundred people with me on - which occasionally leads to some really nice and personal email exchanges. Way less volume than social media but feels more right, for whatever it’s worth.

I just never sweat the cuffs too much, so I probably will never get them hemmed. Not motivated enough to do the whole mail order and pay thing, which is what I'd need to do here. I did have Bears hem them but not much, somehow made a mistake with my request, because the length did shrink up as expected. Denim I guess feels something like FullCount's 15.5 denim but just not quite as dense. The arcs, I don't really find them loud, the red feels relatively subdued and I feel they'll wear down pretty easily, but YMMV. Barely more noticeable than traditional arcs in real wearing, at least to me.

Tender / Two Moon / WMJ Son’s first day at a new school, just did drop off. I see even more grey in my beard. I feel old. Ha.

this might be a dumb question or something you've already considered, but are your files the right format? JPG? If you're shooting with an iPhone sometimes you can make .heic (the live captures) that get cranky with different applications, but that can be turned off easily.

Apologies for the double photo post, but figured I would follow up here. I’m not really one for reviews, especially on a brand new pair - but since there aren’t any other impressions here I’ll note a few. First - this was the first time I did two washes before wearing. First one was a steaming, and agitated (eh, @Double 0 Soul) soak for about an hour, then chucked them in the warm wash and pulled them before the spin cycle. They dried up nice and crispy but still had some room in the waist, which was fine - I did buy what I thought would be a size up, and that seemed pretty true. But, I wanted to see if I could maybe get anything else out so I did a hot aggressive wash (pulled before spin again), and the waist did tighten up a bit more. They’re still an oversized pair on me, belt needed, but again that’s what I went for. I’ve mostly avoided marbling - the rough plan for these is not to let them hit water again for a good long while, esp as they will only be worn sporadically. Conclusion on sizing and fit is that they’re just about in line with the sugar canes and Freewheelers of the world. Compared to the WMJ I’m used to right now this denim is more substantial - which makes sense as it’s listed as closer to 15 oz washed. I actually kinda like the arcs, though I’m not sure I would if they were stitched. The pockets give the impression of being slightly on the narrower side, esp the coin pocket. Back pockets too, but still hold a wallet fine. I forget what I hemmed them to - I think 33” pre soak, but it should have been more. Ah well. There’s a sort of black enamel coating on the laurel wreath fly buttons which is a bit unique, curious to see how that ages over time. Chainstitch runoff at the waist is a nice touch - no other crazy run offs or dangly strings, everything else is pretty proper and clean more like Freewheelers I’d say. Maybe I’ll get some time for more detail photos later but in general, I approve!

UES linen / Silverstone Groundalls

I can’t speak to the particulars, but whatever the additional draw is I can say we haven’t really noticed it on our electric bill. That might not be helpful as I’m not sure what sort of rationing you’d have to do. There was already a 220 line next to the gas line that was installed before we bought our house, that was lucky. We did notice our bill change a little when switched to EV and a plug in hybrid (our mileage is generally fairly low, most miles total are electric) - maybe 12-13k a year for spread across two cars.

Yea I totally understand not switching due to cost. I’m speaking more about all the waxing poetic about it that I’ve seen here in the US - advertising and lobbying really and then people buying into it. There has been a lot of money spent trying to make people think gas is the best, and to actively invest in it - and it’s been done largely by utilities who just want to sell gas - the fossil fuel industry. @julian-wolf You're right though. We had to ditch our wok (which was also our only pan that lacked the magnetic properties needed). I do miss that a bit, but only when I’m reminded of it! There is a bit of an adjustment.

We all have our weird tradeoffs. I had a sinus injury when I was young, so I’m not sure I can taste/smell as well as the average person, but the romance over gas is something I truly cannot comprehend. Induction is faster, more precise, cleaner (air and surface). My brother who is an intrepid cook who does understand the difference in more subtle ways changed about two years ago, motivated at least in part by having a young child with asthma - and wonders why he was hesitant. For our part, we’re just slowly trying to electrify our home over time as we can afford, and this was just one step in that.

Heresy perhaps but what my jeans are doing is honestly cooking with magnets for the last few years. We replaced our gas range with an induction and I’ve not missed it for a second. No room here for waxing nostalgic about much! Our outside grill is gas, but gets little use!

no key ring for me. would have liked that! maybe I'll ask for one with my black pair...

I’m a firm believer in agitation’s role in the shrinking process.

Oh of course - I do that. They didn’t just stay there the whole time like this. They were just in here like while I did shit around the house - come back, agitate, fold them differently (small tub) and then they go in the wash afterwards.