fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
The Sea Is More Than Water
By: Marla Bishop
Tags: Short Read, 50 Words, Short Story, The Bad Influence, Sea

As part of my end-of-year review, I made a list of all the things I love to do but didn’t get much if any of this year, and unsurprisingly beach visits were way up at the top of my list.

What is it about the sea that attracts us so? For me, it’s the combination of the sea, sun, sand, and sky. No matter how often I come before it; I always feel thrilled anew. And what I do there is also immaterial — a walk, to paddle, swim, or just to feast my eyes, the sea enthralls me.

There is one magical place I love above all else. It’s the Caribbean Sea at Reduit beach on the island of St Lucia. I still remember the first time I saw it aged fourteen, and how it took my breath away. Blue, azure, aquamarine, as far as my eye could see. Just, beautiful.

How does the sea make you feel? Do you have a favourite sea or ocean? What’s the strangest, happiest, or most noteworthy sea experience you’ve experienced or can dream up?

Let’s hear all about it, but in thrifty words only, please…

Fifty words on the sea — Go!
The Bad Influence
By: Reuben Salsa
Tags: Writing, Salsa, The Bad Influence, Satire, Humor

Voted the Best Kisser in the Kingdom by the readers of ‘Suck My Face Gorgeous’. A man who was once described as having a canoe in his pants and the charm of a vintage recycled sweatshirt. Here’s the brilliant and often divisive best of Reuben Salsa.

The Satirical
Why Are Some Sexual Fantasies Unmentionable?
By: Wistful Writer
Tags: The Bad Influence, Sex, Sexuality, Fantasy, Thoughts

RAPE FANTASY

I know, it's twisted. In real life, it's nothing but a heinous crime, a complete violation of a woman's being and I wouldn't dream of wanting to go through that or wishing it upon anyone.

My sexual brain though, the darkest deepest corner of it which harbors all my dark deep desires, likes it, wants it. But, for sure, only in a role-play-kind-of-a-situation.

Here's how it plays out in my head, someone whom I know and trust (obviously) plays a stranger, enters my house as an intruder. He grabs me and has his way with me, ripping my clothes, feasting on my pussy. I pretend to fight back but he is too strong for me. He forces me to orgasm using his oral skills and then fucks me hard and long till I actually start enjoying it physically.

Gross, I know. But it is what it is. I have laid myself bare here. Revealing my darkest thoughts.

Maybe its coz I have watched rape porn. It is one of my favorite things to masturbate to. Always hits the spot. I know it sounds disgusting and twisted. Am I ashamed though? Probably not.

Centuries ago, when my marriage still had sex in it, I had once mentioned role-playing to my husband. He looked at me in disbelief and said I should try and meditate to clear my brain of such perverse thoughts. Ugh…I don't want to rant about that here.
Being Reasonably Rich
By: Stephen Dalton
Tags: 50 Words, Short Story, The Bad Influence, Thrifty Words Challenge, Transitions

Thanks to the folks at TBI, Jonica Bradley, Reuben Salsa, & Marla Bishop for the weekly prompt and for giving us the liberty to express ourselves without censorship. Too many publications I have submitted to wanted me to change the image, or change the verbiage, or they’d use the bullshit claim, “This is nice, but it’s just not for us.”

Here are the submission guidelines for the Thrifty Words Challenge.

Here is one of my favorite writers, Melissa Bee’s submission. I think you’ll like it too.

About the Author Photo by Jean Springs from Pexels

Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Top Writer in Fiction, Short Story, VR, NFL, Design, & Creativity. Editor of Pop Off, Top Dalton’s Blog, 100WordStory, B.O.S.S., and SportsShorts100WordsOnly

You can see his portfolio here. Email thewriteresults@yahoo.com

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Reddit | Ko-fi
Transition Roundup
By: Jonica Bradley
Tags: 50 Words, Theme Challenge, The Bad Influence, Transitions, Roundup

Without further ado and in no particular order Thrifty Words Theme Challenge #15 responses.

Reuben Salsa transitions from life to death in Gently I Weep. (A transition I did not think of. Thanks, Reuben!)

Kim Smyth takes on the transition into adulthood in A Bridge to Nowhere.

Rob Janicke transitions from son to son of a bitch in From One to the Next.

GB Rogut drowns in indecision in Stuck.

Marla Bishop takes on an ancient tradition in Tiny Feet.

Chirag transitions through pain in Her First Breath.

A virus lays Fred Ermlich low in Transition.

Rob Eggers stands up for his inner child in Man-child.

Wistful writer sails alone, but never lonely in From Us to Me.

GrayMatter miscarries metamorphosis in Dying to Live.

Meaghan Ward unfurls her heart and roses in Roses are Dead, Oops, I Mean Red.

Jonica Bradley talks civil rights in Pro-Choice

Edward Riley welcomes our new overlords in Welcome to our New Overlords.

Giulietta Passarelli remembers puberty in Change.

Julie Ranson goes on a personal journey in Retirement: Is Readiness Only About the Money?

Melissa R. Mendelson faces an empty “yet” in Cut Along The Eggshell (what a great title!).

Melissa Bee experiences role reversal in Budding Flowers.

Damian Clarke whips up Pavlova in One of the Most Contentious Desserts in History.

Marilyn Flower waxes poetic in Transitions are a — .

Caroline de Braganza rails against corruption in Democracy Only Favors the Rich and well-connected.

@StephenDalton moves to a poor country to be rich in Being Reasonably Rich.
Trump Let the Genie Out of the Bottle
By: Amy Culberg
Tags: The Bad Influence, Trump, Humor, Satire, Self

I’m a genie in a bottle, baby

Gotta rub me the right way, honey

I’m a genie in a bottle, baby

Come come, come on and let me out

I’m a genie in a bottle, baby

Gotta rub me the right way, honey

(If you wanna be with me)

I’m a genie in a bottle, baby

Come come, come on and let me out (Christina Aguilera)

You’re probably wondering what happened to all these Republicans and their affliction of following Trump.

Obviously, some of them are terribly racist. Some love how he makes their wallets look in the Trump-o-clock-light. Some enjoy screwing over poor people. Some want the Dexamethasone, remdesivir, and Regeneron when they get sick. Some are related to him. But some have a different tale altogether and I’m going to share it with you

Anyone who’s been paying attention can see that Trump found a Genie in a bottle. Nobody gets that many chances.

When Trump met his Genie, he said “I wish people would follow me no matter what I do!”

Poof.

He tried to find that Genie again when he met the people who were blindly following him. He tracked her down and said, “Not those people.”

She answered, “Only one wish, asshole.”

By this time, Trump was really powerful and he had eyes all over Vegas. He had something really bad on the Genie that happened one magical night at the Venetian. He had something that made the Genie shake in her quirky leather boots, so she gave him a caveat. Apparently what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas.

“You can choose some of your followers,” she said.

“Republican Senators,” he said.

“Fine,” said the Genie and then, she went into witness protection. Screw being a Genie. People’s wishes sucked.

So out Trump went, back into the world, followed by Republican Senators, who had lost their free will, all because of a shady genie. They blindly followed a man who was going to give them COVID and screw up their legacies in history books.

“Why are you following him?” Their partners asked when they returned home after failing at another COVID relief bill.

“He is a macho underdog,” they answered, robotically.

Their partners looked at them, realizing this was some Manchurian Candidate level shit. And contagious to boot. Everything in 2020 was contagious, apparently. Suddenly, their partners thought Trump was a macho underdog too.

You’re probably wondering how I found out about Trump’s Genie. How connected I must be, to have all these first-person accounts from the President of the United States and a magical creature.

Well, to start, the news isn’t what it once was. Feelings trump the actual news now. And, I feel this happened, so it must be true. And that’s what the Trump administration taught me. Well, that, and I’m the Genie, well-hidden, and blogging until better humans come along and make better wishes.
Yeah, there’s no way I could afford to live in the US the way I do in the Philippines.
By: Stephen Dalton
Tags: Short Story, The Bad Influence, 50 Word Stories

Yeah, there’s no way I could afford to live in the US the way I do in the Philippines.
Democracy Only Favors the Rich and Well-Connected
By: Caroline De Braganza
Tags: History, 50 Words, Politics, The Bad Influence, Life Lessons

Poor service delivery, more people in poverty, potholed roads and crumbling infrastructure. The rate of GBV five times the world average. Corruption endemic in every sphere of government, even during this pandemic in the procurement of life-saving PPE’s and other medical equipment.

Enough said for this prompt.

If you think Trump and his party are crazy, wait till l reveal more on Monday of the current state of politics in South Africa.

Current affairs in my country this week demanded this response to Jonica Bradley’s prompt.

Thank you for being here.
Beyond the Pandemic
By: Marla Bishop
Tags: Idea Stream, Change, BlackLivesMatter, The Bad Influence, Writing Prompts

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you probably recognise the stories as the last moments of Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor.

Female citizens of the USA murdered by that country’s police force.

Were those men not in uniform, they would definitely have been charged with murder. As it stands, Sandra Bland’s killer/s are yet to be identified although the arresting officer has been fired from the police force.

Only one of the three police officers responsible for Breonna Taylor’s killing was indicted, and he has been dismissed. The other two remain in the police force.

The wanton murder of people of African-American heritage must end.

So far the petition calling for justice for George Floyd has surpassed 19 million which makes it the largest petition in the history of the organisation change.org

If you haven’t already you can add your name here:

You can also join the Black Lives Matter or The Breath Act Org.

Racism and discrimination take many forms. Here in Britain, the Halo Collective Hair Code launched this week, calling on every school and workplace in the UK to defend the rights of Black students and staff to wear their natural hair as they wish, which the organisation also hopes will be written into equality law.

We all have a personal responsibility to fight racism as we see fit. As writers, we are free to show that the pen is mightier than the sword. Let’s do this.
Transitions are a —
By: Marilyn Flower
Tags: 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Life Lessons, Transitions, Self

Transitions are a bitch.

Leaving the comfort of the womb,

heading towards the tomb,

with a short detour for life…

I love, I hurt, I grow.

Always in that order.

Love the beginning.

Love the end.

It’s that middle

that’s the hitch.

No doubt about it.

Transitions are a bitch.
One of the Most Contentious Desserts in History
By: Damian Clarke
Tags: 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Pavlova, Food, Meringue

Why contentious? Get an Australian and a New Zealander in a room and ask them — both will claim the Pavlova was invented in their country.

Food writer, TV personality, and all-round food celebrity Matt Preston wrote,

Sure, Australian chef Bert Sachse, from Perth’s Esplanade Hotel, might have made this baked meringue dessert famous in 1935 as a homage to ballerina Anna Pavlova (who, some six years earlier, had stayed at the hotel on her second Australian tour in 1929). The trouble, however, is that the same meringue homages to the Russian prima ballerina had already appeared in New Zealand in 1929. Furthermore, when Pavlova first toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926, recipes for topping a fat pat of soft-hearted but crunchy-crusted meringue with billowing whipped cream and fresh fruit first appeared in a New Zealand recipe book — even if they weren’t named after her. Sachse himself admitted that his dish was actually based on a meringue recipe of New Zealand origin — not that any other Australian ever wants to admit that.

The truth, and I say this as an Australian, is that Pavlova wasn’t really an Australian or New Zealand recipe. Meringue Cakes were a big food craze all around the world in the early part of the 20th century and many of them were delicious. The pavlova is a particularly fluffy and sweet version. Other recipes included different substances in the meringue base to create a denser, more cake-like texture.

My wife did a meringue cake last Christmas with rose water, halva, and pistachio nuts folded through the meringue mix, and topped it with edible rose petals and pomegranate molasses. It was rich and wonderful.

Last week I made a flourless chocolate cake that used a meringue base with chocolate ganache folded through it — yet another variation on the meringue cake.

As for the Pavlova — maybe Anna Pavlova enjoyed it so much in New Zealand that she requested one when she got to Perth.
I Don’t Give A Damn About My Bad Reputation
By: Hogan Torah
Tags: The Bad Influence, Social Media, Humor, Satire, Self

Hello. I’m Hogan Torah’s story. I’m not like all these other stories on Medium. I’m different. I’m telling you right from the start, this story will not change your life or make you a better human. Where this differs from the other stories is I will be entertaining while saying nothing.

These other stories around here have titles that claim you are doing IT wrong.

Through careful crafted titles these stories dangle the carrot cake of knowledge in front you. It’s right there, you’re always a paragraph away from enlightenment. You keep reading waiting for that carrot cake. Yet after two thousand words they somehow said nothing.

The cake is a lie.

I don’t lie. I write fiction.

Confused? Good you should be. What I just said made no sense.

Or did it?

It’s all part of my carefully crafted plan for this story. If I told you why right now it defeats the purpose which will be reveled at the end. This is all part of IT.

That was a lie. I’m winging this. The only thing I planned was the title. And now here we are. Or are we?

We are.

Okay then.

That was a lie too, I do have plan. Watch this.
The Bad Influence
By: Giulietta Passarelli
Tags: Change, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Looking Back, Transitions

50 Word Microfiction

Change

Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

“What could be more of a transition than going from pre-menopausal to menopausal?” said Rita.

“How about going from pre-puberty to puberty?” said Mary.

“You’re right. Hard to forget feeling those same insecure teenager feelings. Was an awful throwback like standing on shaky ground.”

“And we survived both!” chuckled Mary.
No Escape
Tags: Short Story, The Bad Influence, Fiction, Covid 19, 50 Word Stories

50 WORDS MICRO-FICTION

No Escape

Photo by fotografierende on Unsplash

Karen’s feverish body radiated heat like the burning charcoal in the tannour. Her barking coughs threatened to rip out her throat into pieces. She inhaled in short, quick gasps, desperate to revive her collapsed air sacs.

Too late.

She welcomed the deadly virus, not wearing her mask.

Now. No escape.
Kneel I, arse lifted high
By: Julia Hawkins
Tags: The Bad Influence

Just finished talking with a friend😎.

The level of arousal, the thoughts that threaded their way from my mind to my nethers, were far to rich, not to be shared.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I.

;)

Cormoran Lee Aaron Quist

Boys, dirty granny loves you both heaps.

Alan Tegel why do I think you might like this?

Chris Hedges darling, I met someone this week just starting on your journey, she is beautiful and fragile, she made me think of you. I hope you like my smutt, I know you will. Yip yip.
If I Had A Warning Label
By: Reuben Salsa
Tags: Salsa, The Bad Influence, Humor, Ideas, Self

SELF

If I Had A Warning Label

Photo by Diego Catto on Unsplash

Here’s a quick exercise. Imagine you came with a warning label. What would yours say?

Here’s ten to get you started:

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Is this a warning from you or have you been unfairly labeled? Patch this one onto a bored partner as your partnership slowly dissolves into a sexless, non-communicative relationship. Simmer as the years turn into contempt and slow anguish at having to face this person for the umpteenth time.

He Was Serious When He Said, ‘Please Don’t’

Like many warning labels, they often leave one person hospitalized for not heeding the warning. This one clearly screams you shouldn’t poke, or there’ll be consequences.

Warning: Low Tolerance for Idiots

This is one warning I could enjoy. Carte-blanch to do what you like if the other party is acting the fool. Idiots will be vanquished either physically or verbally. Or the label may well suggest a total shutdown on the wearer's part. No longer will they have to endure your stupidity as their system malfunctions, overheating to a dangerous degree.

I Edit You in My Head Even Though I Try Not To

One for the writers. A possible hospital pass for the partner who doesn’t listen. Or a person who chooses to hear only what they want to hear.

Does Not Play Well With Others

Stand back. Leave immediately. This is a highly dangerous and toxic environment. This person will eat you alive and suck your soul dry.

Do Not Feed After Midnight

Classic Gremlins warning label. The wearer will turn grouchy and a little cannibalistic if you dare to feed them after the witching hour. Worth experimenting to see what level of cray-cray will be unleashed.

Add Caffeine Before Attempting Morning Communications

Here lies a jumbled mess of incoherent babble and sloth-like maneuvers. This person cannot operate without a high dose of super-charged coffee. Squabbling, spitting, irritability are all side-effects of the caffeine light addict.

Expect Inconsistency

Or acting in a high emotional state rather than a rational state. The inconsistent rarely make headway into life as they dawdle on opportunities. Worse, their decision making is questionable as they pick and choose at random without sticking to any hard and fast rules.

Gets Attached by the Slightest Interaction With You

A bad date that has gone horribly wrong. The fatal attachment that lingers long after the honeymoon. A morning-after regret that stays long into the holiday season. Needy and clingy. Don’t make eye contact, or you’ll be submerged into the dingy hell-scape of a lover intertwined with the ill-matched mess of a partner.

Beware. Woke the Dead.

A phenomenal warning that conjures all sorts of images. Does this person have the power to be feared? Do the dead wake up and go on a killing spree? What happened when they woke the dead? Are they to be feared? Do you really want to know the answer?
From Us to Me
By: Wistful Writer
Tags: 50 Words, Short, This Happened To Me, The Bad Influence, Life Lessons

50 WORDS

From Us to Me

Photo by Ilyuza Mingazova on Unsplash

We sailed, companions. Suddenly, along the way you changed course, drifting away. I was drowning, dying, calling, but finally swam ashore.

Now, I sail alone. No longer seeking. Just sailing, feeling free.

This painful transition from US to ME.

Am alone but never lonely, I have my words for company.
Roses are Dead, Oops, I Mean Red
By: Meaghan Ward
Tags: Poetry, Relationships, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Love

50 Words

Roses are Dead, Oops, I Mean Red

Photo by Biel Morro on Unsplash

When roses die

they first start to rot

along the edges.

Red goes Black

as petals spread open

like my legs,

like my heart

when I’m

hopeful and scared.

Those petals don’t know

how beautiful they are

when they’re breaking

and falling to the ground.

They never know how loved.
Man-child
By: Rob Eggers
Tags: Flash Fiction, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Transitions, Manchild

It seems so irresponsible to leave a child in charge. To watch them try and in distress, fail to navigate a complicated adult life. Yet that is what I do time and time again. It’s borderline inner child cruelty.

At 44 I’m still learning, still transitioning from child to adult.
Dying To Live
Tags: Self-awareness, Change, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Life

50 Words

Dying To Live

Photo from the author

The transitions I have experienced this year have systematically dismembered every piece of my inner being.

I forgot that metamorphosis includes accepting the death of my former self.

I feel I am trying to exit my cocoon halfway through the process.

Flying with withered wings is short-lived and lacks purpose.
Welcome to our New Overlords
By: Edward Riley
Tags: 50 Words, Weird News, The Bad Influence, Transitions, Aliens

50 Words

Welcome to our New Overlords

Photo by Miriam Espacio on Unsplash

I’ve never been a conspiracy theorist but aliens are the one thing that has seemed at least a bit plausible to me. Not the butt probe stories but life out there.

But with the DoD videos in April and now the former Israeli Space Security Chief’s statements… Welcome Alien Overlords!
A Drop Of Blood
Tags: Short Story, The Bad Influence, Fiction, Humor, 50 Word Stories

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Her First Breath
Tags: Short Story, Family, The Bad Influence, Fiction, 50 Word Stories

50 WORDS

Her First Breath

Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash

When my water broke, the bone-crushing pain skyrocketed.

Every cell in my body writhed and whined.

Seconds stretched into eternity.

“Push,” the midwife’s voice when echoed in the air, with a bloodcurdling scream, I ripped open my flesh, and freed my angel.

Her first breath marked my transition into motherhood.
Dear Human Race
By: Melissa R. Mendelson
Tags: Melissarmendelson, Dystopian Fiction, Poetry, The Bad Influence, Humanity

Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

We could become something so much more,

something worthy of First Contact.

Our ancestors might have been something more,

but their cities fell,

washed away under ocean.

Only remains are left,

and we can’t decipher them.

And we are broken from the past.

We are broken now.

I would love to dream of possible worlds,

where we evolve and exist in harmony,

but all I see is darkness,

which is why I write Dystopian.

If you like Dystopian Stories, here’s a few of mine:

This poem was inspired by COSMOS Season 3.
Tiny Feet
By: Marla Bishop
Tags: The Bad Influence, Shoes, 50 Word Stories, Transitions, Feet

Foot binding was the ancient Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding the feet of young girls in order to change the shape and size of their feet; during the time it was practiced, bound feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of beauty. Feet altered by foot-binding were known as lotus feet, and the shoes made for these feet were known as lotus shoes. (Wikipedia)
Freedom Has a Cost
By: Jm Miana
Tags: Politics, Society, The Bad Influence, Freedom, Self

Freedom Has a Cost

Photo by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash

Everyone wants to feel free, and freedom is a powerful word. When we hear it we feel great and ready for anything, we feel powerful.

But are we ready to do what it takes to achieve freedom?

I’ll explain myself: To be free takes a lot of responsibility from the individual. Yes, to be free you must be ready to accept the consequences for your own actions.

You cannot say “I want to be free to slap someone else in the face” and not be ready to take a slap back. That’s not how it works. Instead, it’s more like “I know I can slap this idiot, but then I must accept that he will be able to slap me back, so maybe I won’t do it.”

Of course, being free is also staying vigilant of what your representatives do, having a well-developed common sense and questioning everything they do, and remembering what they did in the past.

Being free involves being aware of what big corporations are doing before rushing to the store to buy their latest product. Especially if you don’t need that product. All of us have been guilty of this at some point of our lives.

Being free involves shutting off the TV and going to read a good book, and then realize that even books can lie to you, just to discover that you must also question books.

Being free involves a lot of work to be honest, so it’s not wrong to fail from time to time. But it must be something to fight for day after day.

In (More) Short

Think by yourself and you’ll do good. Question everything and everyone.
A Bridge to Nowhere
By: Kim Smyth
Tags: 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Life Lessons, Thrifty Words Challenge, Transitions

This society is doing a poor job educating its youth, parents are failing at bringing up responsible, respectable children (I include myself here) by enabling and coddling. I believe children like young James here are victims of falling through the cracks, as well as being denied the ability to grow up because they have a label on them like ADD or ODD. How can they make the transition into adulthood without being taught what to do and how to handle it? Should they be medicated? Thrown to the wolves? Forced into the military? Sent to rehab?

I have three sons and two of them struggle to this day because they were in this group. We tried everything, including medication and therapy. One even went to a place in Utah for kids on the verge of self-destruction and drug addiction. Now in their thirties, we are still waiting for them to “grow up”.

We need to do a better job with our kids or the world is doomed to end up like the movie Idiocracy. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks for reading!
80s Comedies F***ed Up Your Concept of Love, and It’s Hurting Your Relationships
By: Jm Miana
Tags: Relationships, The Bad Influence, Humor, Self, Psychology

80s Comedies F***ed Up Your Concept of Love, and It’s Hurting Your Relationships

Illustration by the author

“Don’t love to be loved in return. Love for the sake of loving.”

― Connor Chalfant

Love Moves Our World

It makes us feel good; it gives a sense to our existence and makes life bearable.

It sparks something inside our brains that makes us feel instantly happy, like drugs, but it’s cheaper, so it’s more like sniffing glue.

And it’s also the most recurring theme in books, movies, series, poems, and music to the extent that it makes millions in benefits every year. If you want to earn money, you just have to write about unreal love and somebody will buy it.

But it’s also the least understood concept worldwide.

When we were growing up, we were used to 80s romantic comedy plots, where there was lots of drama, an unrealistic relationship, and a happy ending.

We identified ourselves with the protagonists because we wanted to live the same situations they lived. It seemed natural and not toxic at all — while, in fact, it was more toxic than Chernobyl.

We thought life should be an 80s romantic comedy.

The major problem with romantic comedies is that they are pure fiction, you can take them as seriously as a porn movie because they set unrealistic goals for everybody:
Gently I Weep
By: Reuben Salsa
Tags: Salsa, 50 Words, Death, The Bad Influence, Thrifty Words Challenge

50 WORDS

Gently I Weep

Photo by Aliyah Jamous on Unsplash

Jackie was crying. I could see my daughter hold her hand tightly. My little boy was sobbing hard. His small frame crumbled over mine on the hospital bed. Machines blinkered a fluorescent zero illuminating the tearful faces.

As I gazed down, I knew death was to be my final transition.
Dear Enthusiastic Bum Gun User
Tags: The Bad Influence, Satire, Humor, Ideas, Creativity

My questions are the following:

How have you managed to spray the mirror that is for your face?

Where is your bum hole actually situated?

Are you an upside-down person?

I know they exist, I have seen documentaries.

Is your mouth in fact your anus?

This could go some way to explain the mess on the face mirror.

I watch you take your toothbrush in there; do you have tiny teeth in your botty hole?

Now I feel conflicted.

Having an anus as a mouth, and a mouth as a botty hole must be a complex and somewhat debilitating situation which could indeed cause some difficult bum gun aiming.

Perhaps you need a sponsor, someone to assist with the botty teeth cleaning procedure? I am not volunteering.

What a minty fresh botty you must have.

But the mouth anus, surely I would have noticed this affliction?

Surely?
Sinuous these fingers
By: Julia Hawkins
Tags: The Bad Influence

This is my fourth night working in the Pilbara in northern Western Australia.

It was 44 degrees C or there abouts today, however as night has come the temperature is down to about 32 degrees C and a cool breeze is wrapping her soft arms around me.

I am pleasantly languid, unlike the first 3 nights when I was knackered and in pain.

My body has got used to the 12 hour workdays and my mind has found some time to relax and chill.

Ravyne Hawke
Trump, Covid-19, Coronavirus, Donald Trump
By: Fred Ermlich
Tags: Covid-19, The Bad Influence, Trump, Coronavirus, Donald Trump

Trump, Covid-19, Coronavirus, Donald Trump

The influence of “modern” media on your attention. Ask yourself, why are you reading this article? To continue to be a loser? Fred Ermlich Follow Dec 6, 2020 · 2 min read

Ten years from today neither Trump nor coronavirus will be important. Trump will be dead from his Covid-19 disease (ironic, eh?), and the pandemic will have died out because that’s what they do — die out. This whole ratfuck of extreme media attention has been boring for almost a year now. Why do people still ‘click’ on the same old same old?

This is all a media and power game, and you’re playing it. And you’re a LOSER. Because you have no clue, and no historical context. A coronavirus pandemic? Boring — we’ve had them before, and recently. A narcissistic autocrat? Maybe new to the United States, but not new at all in the rest of the world.

You’ve had a hysterical reaction to covid and are still fascinated by Trump. All of which was designed. You’ve bought it, and that’s why you’re a LOSER.

Are you aware that you’re reading this article and it’s only about *2 things* and there are 27,078 other articles out there on the same 2 subjects? Posted in the past 5 weeks?

LOSER.
Human or Animal: Viruses Don’t Care
By: Melissa R. Mendelson
Tags: Melissarmendelson, Poetry, Tragedy, The Bad Influence, Virus

@Melissa R. Mendelson

They are victims of a Chinese virus too.

One that makes their eyes bleed.

One that makes their heart explode.

I can hear that sound now,

even if the window is closed.

That heartbreaking sound,

and I know that sound well.

A fawn lost its mother to the virus.

Now, it’s alone.
I Think 2020 Is Secretly Rasputin
By: Melissa R. Mendelson
Tags: Melissarmendelson, Poetry, The Bad Influence, Trump, Covid 19

Photo by Malcolm Lightbody on Unsplash

2020 is a real bitch.

We’re infected with the COVID itch.

We scratch, it blisters and peels.

Robbing us of how we really feel.

So much shouting and protest.

The streets violent and unrest.

We’re marching in a blinding storm.

We’ve fallen under so much harm.

I lost count of the body drop.

The virus refuses to stop.

In the faint distance, hope slowly glistens,

but will we finally learn to listen?

And what about the one I will not name?

Has he finally fallen on his sword of shame?

I am so tired of this fucking year because it’s a real bitch.

If something needs to be buried, 2020 needs to go into a ditch.
Fever Roundup
By: Marla Bishop
Tags: Passion, Flash Fiction, The Bad Influence, Thrifty Words Challenge, 50 Word Stories

In order of receipt, here then are the fifty-word submissions for this week:

Edward Riley is so hot, he’s burning up

Julie Ranson remembers prairie fever

Fred Ermlich is living off memories too

Is GrayMatter caught ‘in an endless loop of fever dreams?’

Jonica Bradley gets her goats

Rob Janicke is creating sparks and sizzle

Giulietta Passarelli feels her temperature rising

A strange, cold fever envelopes GB Rogut

Melissa R. Mendelson on fighting a raging infection

Caroline de Braganza has red eyes, thanks to grass.

Marla Bishop on the feverish call of freedom

Marilyn Flower speaks out on our planet’s temperature

Rob Eggers’ story leaves someone wanting…

Meaghan Ward is very good at writing whoopee
Desire
By: Rob Eggers
Tags: Flash Fiction, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Desire, Fever

50 WORDS

Desire

Photo by Timur M on Unsplash

“Have you ever wanted it so much you can taste it?” She said, leaning closer, drink in hand.

“Sure,” he answered examining his glass. “Maybe too much.”

The bar was almost empty. Heavy eye contact is made. A smile shared.

“Are we talking about different things here?”

Laughter, “Maybe.”
Burning For You
By: Meaghan Ward
Tags: Relationships, The Bad Influence, Fiction, Love, Poetry On Medium

Thanks to Marla Bishop at The Bad Influence for this great writing prompt today 🙂

Want to support my writing? Follow me here and on Twitter!
Hang Tight! Change is Coming!
By: Reuben Salsa
Tags: Writing, Salsa, Submission, The Bad Influence, Humor

Hang Tight! Change is Coming!

One thing is constant in this world and that’s change. Here at the TBI suite of Doom and Unicorns, we’ve unanimously agreed to no longer sacrifice virgins on Fridays and to introduce a posting schedule. Starting Monday, TBI will only post four stories a day with two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Every day. Writers will now receive a note telling them when their post is due to run. This is a trial period and we welcome all feedback as long as they come with gifts to the legendary Reuben Salsa. Thank you for your continual support. Love the TBI Team.
My online love was vapourware
By: Damian Clarke
Tags: Betrayal, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Online Love, Fake

50 WORD MICROFICTION

My online love was vapourware

Hanging on for dear life, knowing it’s just hot air holding me up (Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)

Forget everything you have heard and read,

he said.

Eve is not who you think she is.

Vera had written Eve’s words and given her voice. Everything “Eve” was actually Vera. Eve was a lie.

Everything I knew about, my online relationship was vapour.

Returning from here would be difficult.
Burning Up
By: Edward Riley
Tags: Passion, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Heat, Fever

50 WORDS

Burning Up

Image by Hans on Pixabay

You are dripping with sweat, rivulets leaving trails on your skin. The sheets are damp. Your skin is flushed from your cheeks to your chest. Hot to the touch, heat radiates from you. I can feel it. You press your lips into mine. I have the cure for your fever.
Wakeup Call
By: Giulietta Passarelli
Tags: Wakeup Call, Being Bad, Relationship, The Bad Influence, Poem

Poem — being bad

Photo by Call Me Fred on Unsplash

I woke up one day alive and well

except my heart lay on the shelf

I can’t be breathing!

I must be dreaming!

Life was testing me today to

see if I could figure a way

to resolve the distance between

myself and the snook

I married a slob and a selfish mook

he slept all day and didn’t give a snort

about anything I loved or liked to sport

once I hit him on the head with my shoe

it didn’t make a change, so I remained blue

I asked him to please leave the house

I was tired of him being such a louse

he began to pack to my surprise

without a word, performance, or reprise

he took all he could and left me not much

I tried to stop him from getting such and such

he shouted he couldn’t care less when he passed

and when he drew close, I creamed his insincere ass

He flew out the door leaving lots behind

it was finally over, and it felt good to be unkind

I watched and waved with my finger to my nose

not like Santa, more like edited prose
And Sometimes…….
By: Anthony Cloe Huie
Tags: Addictive Love, The Bad Influence, Loneliness, Mental Health, Addiction

And sometimes in the chaos

and

confusion of life’s many disappointments

there is a silence

most powerful

we need only to stop and listen to its calling.

And yes we know

there are no medications

no quick solutions

no magical substance

no rescuing superhero substitutions

that will replace the cold reality

of time’s avenging Angels

here to liberate us from our demons.

But we have become our demons

and

no longer can be separated from ourselves.

@Anthony2020mdh30Vibes
I’m Your Fever
By: Rob Janicke
Tags: 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Microfiction, Lust, Fever

50 WORDS

I’m Your Fever

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

Fill up on every ounce you’ve quietly stolen,

Each look slung my way returned to you without second thought.

Vicious eye fucks offered less sizzle than the smallest sparks I’ve created,

Every attempt at sensuality fell into the quicksand your lips had found.

Retribution is the bullet barrelling towards you.
Freedom Calling
By: Marla Bishop
Tags: Flash Fiction, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Freedom, Fever

50 WORDS

Freedom Calling

Photo by Boba Jovanovic on Unsplash

“Why can’t I go?” She screams, cheeks aflame with passion. “You’re spoiling my fun!”

“You’ve had enough fun; now it’s time for homework and chores.”

So she runs, down the road, away from conformity and rules towards freedom!

So what if it’s risky and dangerous?

At least she feels alive.
Cooking
By: Gb Rogut
Tags: Flash Fiction, Short Story, The Bad Influence, Microfiction, Fiction

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Fever Shakes
By: Jonica Bradley
Tags: Veterinary Medicine, The Bad Influence, Goats, Thrifty Words Challenge, 50 Word Stories

This is a true story. Daphne (pictured above) was having seizure after seizure. I couldn’t get her temp and didn't know what was wrong. According to Merks Veterinary Manual, it could’ve been one of 3 things. I called a local(ish) vet and asked for their advice. They didn’t have answers I didn’t already have. The doctor I spoke with said she would give both antibiotics and steroids. Each of which was recommended for one or more of the diseases likely affecting my girl.

The problem was her pregnancy. Steroids can cause abortion in goats. The babies she was carrying would pay for the cost of buying her. Then again, she couldn’t have babies if she died. If she lived she could get pregnant next season.

I went out for three days, twice each day, and gave her two shots. One steroid and one antibiotic. She got better! Of course, she didn’t want me anywhere near her for the next year!

The best part? She kept her pregnancy and gave birth to two kids. One of which is pictured here.
I Got the Fever, Do You?
By: Giulietta Passarelli
Tags: Passion, Writing, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Fever

50 WORDS

I Got the Fever, Do You?

Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

My temperature rises when I write. That heat is passion. I once read writers see things differently than others like when they look at objects, they see something else that no one else does. A floor tile might present a face, or you might see characters shaped in the sky.
The Ultimate Christmas Wish List
By: Reuben Salsa
Tags: Salsa, Christmas, The Bad Influence, Trump, Covid 19

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

The Ultimate Christmas Wish List

Image screenshot from FunkyChristmasJumpers on Instagram

What do you dream of for this Christmas? What would be on your ultimate Christmas wish list? Have no fear, I’ve ripped off Twitter and compiled this ultimate list of 71 wishes for Christmas.

I admit, I thought a Christmas list from Twitter would be less altruistic, but I admire any man’s commitment to tacos!
We’ve Been Bitten
By: Melissa R. Mendelson
Tags: Melissarmendelson, The Bad Influence, Microfiction, Ignorance, Fifty Word Story

50 Words

We’ve Been Bitten

Photo by Jacob Morrison on Unsplash

We have been bitten. We got the bug bite bad. Our heads are spinning. We Can Do Whatever We Want To Do. Everyone else be damned. Fuck the Consequences. The Fever rages on, and so do we, scratching that enlarged bug bite until it blisters and bleeds. The infection continues.
Wearing Down My Nostrils, One Tissue at a Time
By: Caroline De Braganza
Tags: Poetry, 50 Words, The Bad Influence, Microfiction, Health

Backstory

I suffered from extreme hay fever in my early twenties.

An allergy test revealed I was allergic to pollen, animal hair and dust. The dogs and the dust I could handle, but I dreaded summer when the pollen pitched. It was like having a permanent head cold. Only the damn anti-histamines gave me relief — but they made me sleepy.

My first summer back in London in 1972 was a nightmare — the pollen count was high.

I couldn’t function at my temp secretarial assignments if I was dripping snot onto my shorthand notebook and sneezing over the typewriter keys at risk of splashing the paper rolled on the platen waiting for me to strike the words.

Unwilling to gain a reputation as the sniveling secretary, I took the pills.

The intensity of my hay fever has faded over the years, and I can usually manage without medication.

But I’m still allergic to politicians.
Human portrait drawing powered by AI (U^2-Net)
Tags: AI, Art, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Object Detection

Using the recently released U²-Net trained model, it is possible to create human portrait drawing from human photo!

In this article, I will explain how to use U²-Net on Google Colaboratory. If you don’t have any knowledge of machine learning, don’t worry. I have prepared a notebook for you to experience wonderful experience of AI. To use it, you just need to follow a few steps!

2. Open notebook (File > Open notebook)

Select “GitHub” tab

Input first editbox(Enter a GitHub URL or…) to “adakoda”

Select “Repository” to “adakoda/U-2-Net”

Select notebook to “notebook/U_2_Net_demo.ipynb” and select (click line) it

3. Run all (Runtime > Run all)

Select “RUN ANYWAY”

The complete code for the notebook can be found in the following repository.

Enjoy!
YOLO演進 — 4 — Scaled-YOLOv4
Tags: Yolov4, Scaled Yolov4, Yolo, Object Detection, Deep Learning

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
ขอแนะนำให้รู้จักกับไอ้ต้าว turicreate
By: Monpriya Tammavong
Tags: Object Detection, Turi Create

AI* at Wisesight CPE29 E71 KU75 ..want to be a programmer..
Giving my Computer Eyes
By: Bagavan Marakathalingasivam
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Enjoy Writing, Tech, Yolo, Object Detection

You Only 𝖫̶𝗂̶𝗏̶𝖾̶ Look Once

As I mentioned, YOLO can operate up to 155 frames per second in real-time and is really accurate! YOLO only needs to look once, which means that it can almost immediately detect and locate objects.

By using a single CNN, YOLO can simultaneously predict multiple different bounding boxes and classes for those boxes.

Bounding Boxes???

When YOLO is running, it creates an S x S grid to locate different objects. Then it creates bounding boxes around objects within each grid. These boxes surround potential objects within an image so that YOLO can further predict them.

Intersection over Union

Now that we know more about that, let’s talk about how YOLO calculates these bounding boxes. For starters, the machine uses something called IoU (Intersection over Union)

The IoU is what the machine uses to determine whether the predicting bounding box matches with the actual bounding box around the object. The is extremely important because even if YOLO detects the object correctly, it might not ever be surrounding the whole object.

So how does YOLO do this? The IoU is calculated by dividing the overlapped area with the area of the union. This calculation gives you the IoU score between 0 and 1, and this tells you how well the bounding box is.

Samples of IoU scores

Hold up, hold up! The area of the what now?

The area of overlap is the area where the predicted bounding box overlaps the actual bounding box. The area of the union is the total area of both bounding boxes.

Intersection over Union formula

Always be Confident like YOLO

Here is another example of YOLO in action!

How YOLO knows what is more important.

Okay! So YOLO divides the image into an S x S grid. Then is creates bounding boxes… Wait! Why are there tons of bounding boxes!

This is because, in the beginning, YOLO detects every tiny detail in the image and creates bounding boxes around them. When YOLO creates bounding boxes, it also decides which objects are more important. You can see in the image that it’s detecting parts of the image that don’t even have objects in them.

You might notice that some objects have a thicker outline than the others. This is the confidence that YOLO has.

When YOLO decides which objects are more important, it creates a confidence score, whichever scores are higher than an x amount, then it will further predict that object.
YOLO คืออะไร ?? ในงาน object detection
By: Grassroot Engineer
Tags: Object Detection, Yolo

Electronics engineer who is interested in CODING and believe in EFFORT. — formerly http://grassrootengineer.medium.com
Makineler Görüyor 1 — Nesne Tespit Modelleri
By: Onur Akköse
Tags: Object Detection, Nesne Tespiti, Cnn, Deep Learning

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
มหากาพย์ YOLO object detection ตอนที่ 3 มาเทรนโมเดลกัน
By: Kittisak Phormraksa
Tags: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Yolov5, Yolo, Object Detection

YOLO V5 is Here! Custom Object Detection Tutorial with YOLO V5

YOLO “You Only Look Once” is one of the most popular and most favorite algorithms for AI engineers. It always has been…
Makineler Görüyor 2 — Yolov4 ile Kendi Nesne Tespit Modelinizi Oluşturun
By: Onur Akköse
Tags: Object Detection, Cnn, Yolo, Yolov4

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
論文閱讀 CVPR 2016 - You Only Look Once ( YOLO ) : Unified, Real-Time Object Detection
By: Ken Huang
Tags: AI, Computer Vision, Yolo, Object Detection, Deep Learning

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Imagerie & traitement de texte : les applications du Deep Learning
By: Antoine Krajnc
Tags: Object Detection, Python, Data Science, Deep Learning

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore