Jason Donnelly's Blog, page 2

So you want to build a DIY chest freezer ice bath?

The beautiful final product…

What’s up, crazy? That’s you, you’re crazy for wanting to do this. That being said, I’m also crazy. Nice to meet you. Let’s talk about getting in a freezer full of ice water, shall we?

Step 1: GET IN A FEW…no, really.

Look, if you ask a dozen cold bathers, they’re all going to tell you their “perfect” sized freezer. You NEED it to be 400 liters. You can’t live without it being 14 square feet… If you’re going to do this, go to stores that sell them. Get in. Make the joke about making sure a body fits in. Get arrested. See how you can talk yourself out of that one…

But seriously. Get in. Get comfy. Consider if you’re going to dunk your head. Consider if you want to move around or just do it and get it over with. The chest freezer I bought is too small. Does it work? Yes… am I comfortable in it? No.

Step 2: Procure

This is the easiest step. You can do this two ways, first, go to the store and buy it OR get one used on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist or whatever. Again, find the type you want, the size you want, and make it happen.

When you get it home, get some kind of padding underneath (I used kid’s foam padding) and remove the wheels. You don’t want it to have to work harder to stay up and when there’s water and your body in it, it’ll have to work harder.

Step 3: Sand it

Now the hard work comes. I bought a Ryobi sander to make it a little easier for myself. But start sanding all the walls. For the primer and pond shield to stick, it must be rough. Also, wear some kind of mask so you don’t inhale nasty stuff.

Step 4: JB WATER WELD  IT

Look, you are welcome to use some marine silicone or waterproof hoozy whatzit, but if you want it to work and you want it to last, just use JB Water Weld. Period. It is the hardest part of the whole thing, but it is worth it because it will actually work.

Get some blue nitrile gloves, a 100-pack should do it, and jam a good amount of JBWW in all the unsealed edges of your tub, including the top edge. Look at the pictures above, make sure you’ve really jammed it in there. Every time your JBWW gets sticky to your gloves and doesn’t seem to be working as well, put new gloves on. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Also, does your freezer have a drain hole? Fill that up too. Trust me. You want it to be leakproof from the start.

When they’re all filled up, let it sit for a few days.

Step 5: Prime it

Next up, spray-paint that beast! DO. NOT. USE. RUSTOLEUM. Apparently, it fails and the next step doesn’t stick to it. Read that again.

I did this next piece wrong on mine, so pay attention to the words and not the pictures.

Prime the entire tub inside the whole way over the top and to the lip on the outside of the tub. I only primed mine to the inside edge.

Step 6: Pond Shield  it

Next up, you need Pond Shield. Don’t skimp on this, as you’ll be putting your body in this stuff every day. It needs to be safe for organic… aka, safe for fish and humans. Don’t just seal it with some stuff you’ve found that might be waterproof. You’re doing this for your health, don’t un-health yourself because you wanted the cheap way out.

My only recommendations for painting it are, to use a brush, and mix it in smaller sections. Aka, do not mix the two cans in your Pond Shield box together and just go at it in one big paint. You are creating a chemical mix and if you do it all at once, you’ll end up with a massive hard lump of Pond Shield in your mixing bucket (trust me).

Also, go for speed… mix the first 1/3 and once it’s mixed properly, paint as quickly as you can. Then mix the second, and paint as quickly as you can. Finally, mix the third and paint as quickly as you can. The stuff sets quickly, so you want to make sure it’s on the tub and not setting in your mixing bucket.

Personally, I didn’t mix in alcohol to mine, but you do what you think is right. I only put one layer on mine and it’s working like a champ.

Step 7: Wait

It says you’re good to go in 48 hours, but be safe, wait a week, let it TRULY set.

Step 8: Fill it

Fill it about halfway with water and wait. Is it leaking? ANYWHERE?

No?

Okay, wait a little longer.

Step 9: Inkbird  time

Has it sat for a day or two with water and not leaked?

CONGRATULATIONS!

Turn’er on and get started. Connect your Inkbird to the power and your chest freezer to the Inkbird and input your settings. Here’s the video I used when I set mine up.

I picked 3 degrees with 2 degrees on either side because I want it cold, but I don’t want it to freeze. I feel like that gives more opportunities for it to break or chip or have the pond shield crack off. I want to use it for years. But again, you do you.

Also, the Inkbird I’m linking to seems to be an upgraded version with a waterproof sensor, if you get the older version, make sure to put some JBWW around it, because it is NOT waterproof.

Step 10: Enjoy years of all-year ice baths!

Let me see yours! As this was my first time, I’m sure I didn’t do it perfectly, I would have done a few things differently, but it’ll give you a pretty good idea of what you need to do to make it happen.

Find me on www.coldfeat.com and let’s connect!

Stay cold…

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Is this a weight loss post or a book announcement? Both?

So there I was, trading in my New York license for a Danish license when the camera snapped and my picture shot up on a digital display. 📸 I didn’t recognize the guy in the photo (you can actually see the picture on www.coldfeat.com). Something in my brain started screaming. I stepped back and noticed a lot of unhappiness, not only physically, but emotionally, and I made the choice to do something about it.

This is the “success post” or at least the “I’m on my way post.” Today, I’m 50 pounds lighter than I was a year ago. FIFTY… Five. Zero. 😮

If you look in the mirror and something doesn’t feel right, listen to yourself. No matter what age you are, you can get back on track.

I now see that I woke up in physical pain, I woke up sad, and I woke up doing anything I could to create space from this new reality (usually something with caramel tbh). I woke up giving excuses as to why I felt the way I felt (you’re getting older, you’re in a country where you don’t know anyone, and my favorite, “that’s just the way it is.”

I lied to myself a lot.

Today, I have a very different daily routine. We don’t have to get into it today, but it will be in my new book 📚 (coming out on August 20th). I won’t pretend that it’s easy, but it is a routine, and most days I enjoy it. I feel happier and lighter (again, both physically and emotionally) than I have in a very long time. I also feel sharper mentally and more present than I’ve felt in years.

This isn’t a post to show off. 💪 Okay, it’s not ALL to show off… some of it is to tell you that you can feel better too. But to get there, you have to get through a lot of days that suck. Some days you’ll want to quit. Others you’ll go to Espresso House and want to order your old “salted caramel islatte med havre mælk og et ekstra skud,” but you won’t, because how you feel right now is worth not ordering a sweet drink. You’ll go row for 20 minutes before work to feel like this. Hell, you may even throw yourself in a chest freezer at 3 degrees Celsius every morning if it makes you feel like this… and I do. 🛀

I feel really lucky that I made the changes when I did. There’s still a lot of work to do, but I know I can do it. I hope this post is the one you read to jumpstart your own change. Who knows, maybe in a few months, you can post something like this on LinkedIn that no one reads to the end… 😂

Reach out if you have questions or follow along on your social channel of choice, here: www.coldfeat.com ❄ 👣

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Build a Better Ice Bath — Pro Version

Let’s start this off with the price, because nothing angers me more than having to read through an entire article only to realize I can’t afford it. My complete setup, including filter/pump was around 800KR (about $115 USD).

No question about it, I got a deal on the tank, but if you’re like me, so can you.

What You NeedIntermediate Bulk Container (IBC)Fine-toothed SawScrewdriverPipe Insulation (Polyethylene Foam)Waterproof glue/caulkPool filter systemAnd hardware to connect it to your filter to your tubThat’s it…IBC

The tank itself is a 1000 liter IBC (as stated above). They’re lightweight bioprocess shipping containers that I assume are used mostly for water. They have a pallet underneath to easily move with a fork-lift and a metal cage that makes it feel extremely secure. But, when it doesn’t have water in it two relatively strong people can move it or one insanely strong person… or multiple smaller but also… you get it…

Fine-toothed Saw

I’m not going to go in-depth on this one… get something that will cut the thick plastic on the IBC.

Screwdriver

On top of the IBC is a metal bar that holds it in place, you’ll need to remove one of them. I’ll explain soon enough…

Pipe Insulation

This one is up to you but on my first tub I cut both of my hands when I was sliding in, so on this one, I wasn’t giving myself an option.

Pool Filter System

I picked my system because it was cheap and shipped to me here in Denmark… it also circulated 2000+ liters an hour, which felt perfect for my 1000 liter tub.

Hardware

I’ll show you how I did mine, but when you get yours you’ll have to figure out how you want to do it, and honestly, if you’re not in Denmark and can go to Home Depot or the like, I’m sure they’ll make it easy.

5 Steps and You’re Done

Step 1:

Grab your screwdriver and remove the bar closest to the back of the IBC.

Step 2:

Grab your saw and cut along the dotted line above making sure to keep in mind two important things:

1. When you cut out the left side, toward the front, make sure to cut around the plastic loop that is attached to the metal bar.

2. Make sure that you have enough room around the edge to glue the pipe insulation.

Step 3:

Cut the pipe insulation and glue it directly to the cut pieces of the IBC.

Step 4:

Connect your filter system to drain from the bottom of the tub and refill up top. My system came with tubes, but for the bottom connection to the tub, I had to buy another tube and a few converters to bring it all together.

At the top I attached my tube to the metal with zip-ties.

You can see it, here.

Step 5:

Fill it with ice cold water and enjoy. I use a step ladder to get in and a plastic basket inside to step and sit on, but you do you.

To see it in action, feel free to hit up any of the links below:

TikTok

Instagram

YouTube

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The Art of AI Writing — Book Release

Photo by Phillip Glickman on Unsplash

I am excited to announce the release of a groundbreaking new book by writing coach and AI expert Sham Acumen.

“The Art of AI Writing” is a must-read for writers of all levels looking to improve their efficiency and accuracy, and to generate new ideas and perspectives on the craft.

In this comprehensive guide, Sham shares his unique methodology for using AI to assist with the writing process, and provides tips and strategies for choosing and using the right AI tools and resources. He also offers writing prompts and exercises to help writers practice using AI in their writing, and encourages writers to experiment with different tools and techniques.

Whether you’re just starting out on your writing journey or you’re an experienced writer, this book has something to offer. With its clear and concise explanations, and its wealth of practical tips and advice, “The Art of AI Writing” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to take their writing to the next level.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn from one of the leading experts in the field. Order your copy of “The Art of AI Writing” today!

It should be noted that Sham is not a real person and the book he wrote was actually written in a few hours using ChatGPT. It also wrote most of the text above and is getting closer and closer to being indistinguishable from a human writing.

Find the book on Amazon, now.

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A New NFT Racing Game Will Feature 10,000 Playable Characters All Designed by AI

For everyone out there trying to find the next big thing in NFTs, you may be surprised to find it in a game that has absolutely nothing to do with them.

Kartsy Monke is a free-to-play game, currently being tested by holders of an Artsy Monke NFT. The addictive kart racing game will bring awareness to the NFT project by allowing users to pick any of the 10,000 NFTs as their avatar, and the owners of those high-scoring NFT characters will be rewarded just for owning them.

Artsy Monke #9999

Imagine owning Artsy Monke #9999, someone enters that number as their racer because they just want to play the game. That week there’s a competition for 1 ETH (currently $1,328.55) and after the race (that they weren’t even involved in) the owner of #9999 opens their crypto wallet to find 1 ETH, because their NFT was used as someone’s game avatar.

There are rumbling that the final release will include 20 levels, each dedicated to one of the AI themes used in the AI creating them. These themes include Adventure, Beast, Bird, Castle, Circus, City, Cloud, Cyborg, Dragon, Engine, Forest, Knight, Octopus, Palace, Sea, Sky, Snek (snake), Space, Tree, and Viking!

This first AAA game is spearheaded by Nintendo registered developer Grims, and blockchain developer Dan Hovey. Their belief? Success will come from taking one of the world’s most loved racers, Mario Kart, and integrating some of the most promising aspects of Web3.

“The players will never need to connect to a single crypto wallet. They’ll select the character they already own on the menu screen and play. The game will do the rest. The owner address of that character NFT will receive any and all rewards. So even if you have people choose to race an Artsy Monke NFT they don’t own, it doesn’t matter. They still get to enjoy the game, and the real owner gets the valuable prizes the player accumulated. It’s a win-win, and nobody has to connect to anything.” Said Grims.

“We believe that the only NFT projects that will survive this bear market are ones with utility.” Said Dan Hovey, lead blockchain developer and co-founder.

The Artsy Monke art collection hit the headlines this summer for transforming NFT’s biggest stars, The Bored Ape Yacht Club, into machine-learned works of fine art. The team is currently boasting a trading volume on OpenSea approaching 300 Eth in secondary sales alone. The project was one of the first in the world to successfully create and sell out an art collection using state-of-the-art AI technology on Google servers. What many initially believed to be a fan art project of their Ape predecessors has quickly built its own unique trademarked art brand, spawning parent company Monke Business LLC (DE, US) in the process.

The game is currently being developed for Steam (including Steam Deck), Nintendo Switch, and on iOS and Android.

Stay tuned to the team’s Discord Channel to see it for yourself. They’re currently raising money for The Skatepark Project, formerly Tony Hawk Foundation.

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ChatGPT: The Writing Tool You Can’t Afford to Ignore

The world of writing is constantly evolving, and with the rise of new technologies, the way we write and create is changing as well. One of the most exciting developments in writing technology is ChatGPT, an AI-powered writing assistant that is revolutionizing the way we approach the writing process.

The evolution of writing technology can be traced back to the invention of the printing press, which made it possible to mass-produce written materials and ushered in the era of the printed word. In the digital age, writing technology has continued to evolve, with the advent of computers and word processing software making it easier and faster to write, edit, and publish written works.

ChatGPT represents the next step in the evolution of writing technology. This AI-powered writing assistant uses advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to help writers generate ideas, develop characters, and structure their stories. With ChatGPT, writers can quickly and easily create high-quality written works without the need for extensive planning and outlining.

The potential of ChatGPT as a writing tool is enormous. By assisting writers in the early stages of the writing process, ChatGPT can help writers save time and improve their productivity. It can also help writers generate new ideas and develop their characters and plots in ways that would be difficult to do on their own.

The impact of ChatGPT on the writing industry is also significant. As more writers begin to use this tool, it is likely to change the way we approach the writing process and the way we think about the role of technology in writing. It opens up new opportunities for writers, as ChatGPT can help writers create high-quality written works more quickly and efficiently than ever before.

The Benefits of Using ChatGPT in Your Writing Process

One of the key benefits of using ChatGPT in your writing process is its time-saving and productivity-enhancing features. ChatGPT uses advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to assist writers in the early stages of the writing process, generating ideas, developing characters, and structuring stories. This means that writers can quickly and easily create high-quality written works without the need for extensive planning and outlining.

Another benefit of using ChatGPT is the way it can improve the quality of your writing. By providing writers with valuable assistance in the early stages of the writing process, ChatGPT can help writers generate new ideas and develop their characters and plots in ways that would be difficult to do on their own. This can result in more engaging and well-developed stories, with richly-realized characters and complex, interesting plots.

In addition to these time-saving and productivity-enhancing features, ChatGPT can also help writers improve their writing skills. By providing writers with suggestions and guidance as they work, ChatGPT can help writers learn and grow as writers, developing their skills and improving their writing abilities over time.

Overall, the benefits of using ChatGPT in your writing process are numerous. By assisting writers in the early stages of the writing process, ChatGPT can help writers save time, improve their productivity, and generate new ideas and stories. It can also help writers improve the quality of their writing, develop their characters and plots, and improve their writing skills. For writers looking to take their writing to the next level, ChatGPT is an invaluable tool.

Overcoming Resistance to Using ChatGPT

As a writer, it’s natural to feel a certain resistance to using new tools and technologies in your work. This is especially true when it comes to using a tool like ChatGPT, which has the potential to fundamentally change the way you write.

One common concern among writers who are considering using ChatGPT is that it will somehow “take over” their writing and create content that lacks authenticity and personal voice. However, this is a misconception. ChatGPT is simply a tool that can help you generate ideas and organize your thoughts more efficiently, but it’s up to you to decide which ideas to use and how to incorporate them into your writing.

Another common concern is that using ChatGPT will make you lazy and less creative. Again, this is not the case. ChatGPT is a tool that can help you generate ideas and organize your thoughts, but it’s still up to you to do the hard work of writing. In fact, using ChatGPT can actually help you become more creative and efficient as a writer, by giving you more time to focus on the creative aspects of your work.

So, how can you overcome your resistance to using ChatGPT and integrate it into your writing practice? Here are a few strategies to consider:

Start small: If you’re feeling hesitant about using ChatGPT, start by using it for just a few minutes at a time, or for specific tasks such as brainstorming or organizing your thoughts. This will help you get comfortable with the tool and see how it can benefit your writing.Experiment and have fun: Don’t be afraid to experiment with ChatGPT and see what it can do. Play around with different inputs and see what kind of ideas it generates. This will help you get a sense of its capabilities and how you can use it in your writing.Don’t rely on it too heavily: While ChatGPT can be a valuable tool, it’s important not to rely on it too heavily. Remember that it’s just one tool among many, and it’s up to you to do the hard work of writing. Use it to help you generate ideas and organize your thoughts, but don’t rely on it to do all the work for you.

Overcoming resistance to using ChatGPT can be difficult, but important. Start small, experiment, and don’t rely too heavily on it.

ChatGPT and the Changing Landscape of Writing

One of the major ways in which ChatGPT is changing the writing industry is by automating the process of generating content. With ChatGPT, writers no longer need to spend hours brainstorming ideas or struggling to come up with the right words to express their thoughts. Instead, they can simply provide a prompt to ChatGPT and it will generate a complete piece of writing, ready for editing and polishing.

This has the potential to significantly speed up the writing process, allowing writers to produce more content in less time. It also opens up new possibilities for collaboration, as multiple writers can work together to generate and edit a single piece of writing using ChatGPT.

Another way in which ChatGPT is changing the writing industry is by enabling writers to create more complex and nuanced content. Traditional language models have struggled to generate writing that is coherent and easy to read, but ChatGPT has been able to overcome this challenge. This means that writers can use ChatGPT to create writing that is more sophisticated and engaging, opening up new possibilities for storytelling and creative expression.

However, ChatGPT is not without its drawbacks. One concern is that it may make some writing jobs redundant, as the process of generating content can be automated. This could lead to job losses in the writing industry, particularly for those who are not able to adapt to the new technology.

In addition, there are also concerns about the ethical implications of using ChatGPT. Because it is able to generate human-like text, there is a risk that it could be used to create fake news or other forms of misinformation. This could have serious consequences, as it would be difficult for readers to tell the difference between real and fake content.

Despite these challenges, the future of writing with ChatGPT looks bright. As technology continues to improve, it will likely become an indispensable tool for writers looking to stay ahead of the curve. With its ability to automate the writing process and generate complex, engaging content, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the writing industry and open up new opportunities for writers.

One of the key advantages of using ChatGPT is that it can help you generate ideas and generate text quickly. This can be especially useful when you’re stuck and need a fresh perspective, or when you’re trying to meet a tight deadline. To use ChatGPT, simply type in a few sentences or a prompt, and it will generate text based on what you’ve written.

Here are some tips and techniques for maximizing your writing potential with ChatGPT:

Use ChatGPT to generate ideas. If you’re stuck on what to write about, ChatGPT can help you generate ideas based on keywords or prompts you provide. This can help jumpstart your creativity and get the writing process going.Let ChatGPT help you with structure. Once you have an idea in mind, ChatGPT can assist with structuring your piece by providing outlines and suggestions for organization. This can help you stay on track and ensure your writing is clear and cohesive.Use ChatGPT to improve your grammar and spelling. ChatGPT uses advanced AI technology to check for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. This can help you improve the overall quality of your writing and avoid common mistakes.Let ChatGPT help you with dialogue. Writing effective dialogue can be challenging, but ChatGPT can provide suggestions for how characters should speak and interact. This can help you bring your characters to life and create more engaging and believable dialogue.Use ChatGPT to expand on your ideas. ChatGPT can provide additional information and insights on topics you’re writing about, helping you to expand and deepen your ideas. This can help you add more depth and detail to your writing, making it more engaging and informative.

That being said, ChatGPT is a valuable tool for writers looking to improve their skills and reach their full potential. By using it to generate ideas, improve structure and grammar, enhance dialogue, and expand on your ideas, you can take your writing to the next level.

Conclusion: Embracing ChatGPT as a Writer

As a writer, you always want to improve your skills and reach your full potential. One way to do this is by using ChatGPT, a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) writing assistant. ChatGPT can help you generate ideas, assist with structure, improve your grammar and spelling, enhance your dialogue, and expand on your ideas.

No matter what you’re working on, ChatGPT can provide valuable assistance and insights. So why not give it a try and see what ChatGPT can do for you? Don’t be afraid to embrace new technology and tools in your writing practice — they can make all the difference in your success as a writer.

*Everything above, including the title was written by ChatGPT.

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Less is More: Lessons on Minimalism from Amy Hempel and Chuck Palahniuk

Minimalistic writing is a literary style that focuses on using simple, direct language to convey a story or message. This approach to…

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The pandemic made me an entrepreneur

This whole pandemic thing has been going on for 172 days… read that again. One hundred and seventy-two days. A lot of relationships don’t…

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Brainwavz Hengja Headphone Hanger Review

If you remember my review from a few months ago about the Brainwavz Hooka and Truss, it was glowing. But the Hengja takes it to another level, for a lot of reasons.

No doubt about it, the previous headphone holders were awesome. But, they do have one fault for those of us who move a lot or change their minds on where they wanna jam out, they’re permanent options. They stick to a surface and that’s where they will stay. The Hengja is all metal and it’s got an adjustable clamp that you can put it legit, anywhere.

Brainwavz Hengja Headphone Hanger

Not only up and down, but also side to side. So you can attach it right to the desk or say on the side of a bookshelf or table leg. Move it every day, move it every month, but never worry about choosing forever.

Since it’s all metal, it’s also durable as all hell. So, you can buy it once and never have to worry about needing another. It’s the perfect size for any weight headphone, but mine’s currently attached with my SoundMAGIC HP100’s at work. In the future, I’ll probably be grabbing another for home.

At the end of the day, there’s not a better headphone hanger on the market. Pick yours up here, and tell them Jason sent you!

Features:Headphone accessoryHorizontal use on desks, tables and shelvesVertical use on shelving unitsSpecifications:Weight : 112gClamp Depth : 40 mmPlate Depth : 50 mmPlate Width : 45 mmMax Clamp Size : ~40 mmMin Clamp Size : ~14 mmMaterial: All-MetalIncluded AccessoriesScrewdriver / Allen Key Multi Tool

10 struggles (and 1 positive) of going to shows with anxiety

Going to shows with anxiety is rough. Even reading the title of this article stresses me out… You too?

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