Brass Tacks

silhouettevalentine:

I know it’s long but it’s very important! Please, read!

PLEASE SHARE THIS, very informative. 

Through a rapist’s eyes! A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1] The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun! , braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2] The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women whose clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around to cut clothing.

3] They also look for women using their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4] The number one place women are abducted from / attacked at is grocery store parking lots.

5] Number two is office parking lots/garages.

6] Number three is public restrooms.

7] The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second location where they don’t have to worry about getting caught.

8] If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9] These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.

10] Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.

POINTS THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER:

1] If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: can’t believe it is so cold out here, we’re in for a bad winter. Now that you’ve seen their faces and could identify them in a line- up, you lose appeal as a target.

2] If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell Stop or Stay back! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

3] If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yelling I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

4] If someone grabs you, you can’t beat them with strength but you can do it by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and
armpit or in the upper inner thigh - HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it really hurts.

5] After the initial hit, always go for the groin. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy’s parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you’ll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause him a lot of
trouble. Start causing trouble, and he’s out of there.

6] When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked
audibly.

7] Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don’t dismiss it, and go with your instincts. You may feel little silly at the time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

FINALLY, PLEASE REMEMBER THESE AS WELL….

I know you are smart enough to know these pointers but there will be some, where you will go “hmm I must remember that” After reading, forward it to someone you care about, never hurts to be careful in
this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do it.

2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans: if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you…. chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit
(doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE the DOORS, LEAVE.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be hiding at the passenger side, peek into your car, inside the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. (DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB).

b. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

c. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard /policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

I’d like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers,
wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.

Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it’s better safe than sorry.

All right. I viewed this show before its popularity sky-rocketed. I’m not sure exactly when it came out in conjuncture to when I watched it but, it was pretty soon after it was released on DVD. My best friend visits London frequently and she heard about the show there and, I will say it right now, I am a die-hard Sherlock fan. And I mean the original stories. I’ve read them all more times than I can count and I’ve seen every adaptation of the stories of Holmes and Watson that I can get my hands on. So, when my best friend found out about this show and ordered the DVD online for me for my birthday… I was a bit skeptical. I mean, Sherlock Holmes seems to be one of those things that are just done wrong… almost consistently. Not wrong stories so much as wrong actors and interpretations. But, I saw the star of this show, Benedict Cumberbatch, and had hope. Here was a man that very much looked just like Sherlock should—high, distinguished and sharp features, cleanly dressed, well kept, piercing eyes, not very attractive by most people’s view (though I’m aware that soooooo many people think that he’s soooooo hot now @.@. I can see the attraction, though) and he just had that look about him that I loved. So, I went in with mild skepticism and small hopes.

I should have raised my standards. By a lot. Because this show would have met them and then some. I was completely and utterly blown away by this show. I’ve seen interpretations of the classic stories and I’ve seen original stories and… well, most of them have missed the essence of what Holmes is. This show… does something absolutely remarkable. It takes the old stories, combines them together in unique ways that work fabulously, explores venues that the original stories -could- have taken (for instance, in “A Study in Scarlet” the man is righting “Rache” which is the german word for “revenge” and the theory that he was writing “Rachel” is laughed at by Holmes. In the pilot, “A Study in Pink”, the woman is writing “Rachel” and the german theory is laughed at by Holmes.), and it puts a modern twist on all of it that seamlessly works together. I was always sitting there thinking, “Holy crap, what story are they gonna throw in there next?! Waitaminute, was that from the “Sign of Four”?! Is that how they’re introducing Watson?! Oooooh, marry me, Holmes, you glorious man! You’re so hawt when you’re done right!” …. >.> Well, you get the gist.

Now, I’m not gonna go around pointing out everything I love about this show and the little nuances of it but, I will touch on one thing in particular that has garnered a -lot- of attention throughout the years: Holmes’ and Watson’s relationship. Starting with Holmes and Watson. I know a lot (and, when I say “a lot” I mean, like, 99% of the female and some of the male population @.@) of people want to see Holmes and Watson as an item and I’ve seen more gif’s and screenshots than I can count of them together with some romantic caption. Well… Sorry to burst the fandom bubble but, it’s not happening. Ever. For one, Watson -is- straight and, the biggest factor… Holmes refuses to do relationships. But, it is an issue that they face—everyone believing that they are in a relationship—and that is a sensitive subject that the show touches on beautifully. It wasn’t an issue so much in Victorian times but here, in the modern world, the idea of two strangers sharing a flat would obviously make some people suspicious. It’s an issue that wasn’t able to be explored fully because of either the time period it was set in or the audience it was catering to. Especially in the first episode of season two, it’s pulled at so much that it causes Watson to have an outburst. I’ll admit, I was worried that it might buckle to the fan base and have them become a couple in some way but, the show’s creators said that they would stay true to the original stories as much as they could while still having creative freedom and I think they’ve made it very obvious by now as to where their relationship stands and, really, it’s exactly where it should be.

Awright now. B/ This is getting long… @.@ But, I am passionate so… it’ll do that. But, in a nutshell, this show is fantastic. It’s masterfully done and just a joy to watch and figure out. It’ll constantly leave you on the edge of your seat as you ponder away right with Sherlock. You can be a complete newcomer to the series or you could be like me and have read the stories since you were 6 and this show would still be a fabulous one to watch. The only problems I would think that some might have with this show is it’s pace. It knows how to slow down and let the atmosphere set in but, if you’re like me and you have a hard time hearing sometimes, Sherlock’s fast-paced speech can be very difficult to follow. Just the addition of subtitles can help with that, though. Another problem might be the fact that you seriously have to think while watching this show—every single scene and shot is important in some way or another and, this is an hour and half long show—it can be difficult to have that length of an attention span so consistently. I had no problems with it but, then again, I’m used to watching things like this. Older audiences might get lost with the logic and some of the technology talk but it shouldn’t hinder the enjoyment of the show much at all. Just keep in mind that you should be aware while watching this show and that, if you can devote your full attention to the show, it’s going to be a suuuuuper memorable ride.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s a single show I could recommend more than this one. The acting is stupendous, the cinematography is brilliant, the stories are are masterfully written, and the show itself is just an experience. Every element about this show just adds something unique and different to each other and it all works wonderfully. It’s deeeefiiiniiiiitely worth checking out. Like, right now. Go find it on YouTube. Or on Netflix—the first season is there. Just… go. *waves hands* Go find it. You won’t regret it—promise.

So, on a scale of 1-10, I give BBC’s Sherlock:

(Not many will get this rating~. ; D)

((Also, I know there’s a way to put pictures in text posts… but I can’t figure it out. @.@ If anyone knows, can you please, please tell me~? <3 I’d appreciate it loads!))

**Next Review: North**

So, I’m just some skinny, nerdy Texan with too much time on her hands, signing out~.

—Rachel

“Meaning

Engage with the basic facts or realities.

Origin

The figurative expression ‘getting down to brass tacks’ isn’t particularly old as phrases go. Its first appearance in print that I can find, from the USA in January 1863, was in the Texas newspaper The Tri-Weekly Telegraph:

“When you come down to ‘brass tacks’ - if we may be allowed the expression - everybody is governed by selfishness.”

All of the other known early citations either originate in, or refer to, Texas. It is reasonable to assume that the phrase was coined there, in or about the 1860s.”

— Quoted from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/get-down-to-brass-tacks.html

This is why I call my blog “Brass Tacks”. For one, I am a Texan, so that feels rather fitting~. Second of all, though, many movies and shows nowadays are very much blown up by the effects or visuals or actors that they boast. But, when you strip away and you look at the plot and characters, how does the story hold up as a whole? Is it still as remarkable as it was when you first saw it in theaters on the IMAX with those nifty 3D glasses? Or does it suddenly seem as generic and over-written as the Twilight stories? That’s what I’m here to find out. When I watch a movie or a television show, I strip it down to the basics and then I build up from there. Do the visual aids help the story? or does it hide the many mistakes that it has? Are the actors portraying the roles correctly? or are they just cardboard cutouts of every other role that they’ve done? Also, if the story has some origins to it—like, if it came from a book, I like to see how the two compare and what their differences are. A story is only as good as the spine it was built on, after all.

There will be movies on here that I hate and movies that I love to death. I’m not saying that you’ll agree with it all but, by George, I sure do hope that you’re entertained and informed while reading them. That’s really what I’m here for. So, with all that said, sit back, relax, and I hope you enjoy my first review when it goes up.

**First review: BBC’s Sherlock**

I’m just a skinny, nerdy girl from Texas, signing out~.

—Rachel