apollo-enthusiast

[apollo-enthusiast]

Happiness Will Come To You.

[apollo-enthusiast]

Idea: a chewable stim toy that looks exactly like a cigarette

[apollo-enthusiast]

[apollo-enthusiast]

I turn 30 next month so here’s what I learned in my 20s:

—don’t work for startups, they’re always one ‘innovative idea’ away adding ‘sell your kidneys on the black market’ to your job description.

—keeping a collection of basic OTC medicine on you will save your life one day. I recommend Advil, Imodium, and TUMS.

—those little single-use glasses cleaning wipes are 1000% worth the money

—overly self-depreciating jokes just make people uncomfortable, wean yourself off of them

—you can buy dehydrated mini marshmallows in bulk online and they’re a godsend for hot cocoa

—people don’t care if you have fidget toys on your desk they just want to play with them

—try to go to bed BEFORE the existential ennui kicks in

[apollo-enthusiast]

i'll be honest with you guys. i don't like calling myself a zionist. i've never called myself that before october 7th. why? because i never realised that the existence of my country could be called into question by anyone other than the most fringe extremists.

[apollo-enthusiast]

keep in mind that i'm using the words "(in)valid" and "(un)sound" here in their formal logic senses: a valid argument is one where the conclusion follows from the premises. a sound argument both is valid AND has evidence to support the truth of its premises. even if an argument is logically valid, it's not sound if you can't support the truth of the premises; and even if you have evidence for the premises, an invalid argument won't be sound either.

the reason it's so important to stay away from conspiratorial language is twofold:

one, it's literally just not even useful because it's fundamentally bad logic,

and two, if you don't fill in a specific value for the actor, someone else is very likely to fill one in for you, and that's one of the easiest ways to radicalize someone. if you're already primed to look for a target for your blame, all that a malicious actor has to do is aim you at their favorite target.

and to be crystal clear: being radicalized is BAD. antisemitism—because let's be honest, it always ends up turning into antisemitism sooner or later—is BAD. we do not want these things. they are the tools of very dangerous people whom we do not want to be like or be around. therefore we must avoid giving those tools and the people who use them a foothold in our discourse. conspiratorial language can very easily become such a foothold; therefore, we ought to steer clear of it.

[apollo-enthusiast]

I recently got an on-campus job. During the interview process, I requested that I not be scheduled on Friday nights or Saturdays as I am a Jewish student.

My boss immeadiately brightened and rushed to explain - "Of course ! Of course! We want to accomodate you! We have another worker who takes off for Ramadan. Do you need to take off for Ramadan?"

I shook my head, incredibly confused. "Uh. That's. Not my jurisdiction. I'm good." Boss nodded but was sure to add "Let me know if that ever changes. We can help you with Ramadan."

[apollo-enthusiast]

even having one true friend or person that loves you can change your life

[apollo-enthusiast]

Can we talk about how a seriously concerning number of people are drawn to social justice not out of the goodness of their hearts but because there are prevalent circles within the social justice community that actively reward and encourage behavior that is nearly indiscernible from bullying and harassment with reassurance that it's the 'right and just' kind?

[apollo-enthusiast]

Dale! Dale! The phone won't stop ringing. And this morning, two reporters came right up to my front door, yelling questions. I didn't know what to say.

THE NEWSREADER 3.06 ⌁ The Fall

[apollo-enthusiast]

[apollo-enthusiast]

“the algorithm only shows us _____” so stop looking at the algorithm. you don't need it. go to a thrift store and flip through some magazines from the 1980s. go read a random book that’s no longer in print on the internet archive. go to a museum and walk around until you see an artwork you don’t recognize. go get a cookbook from the library and make a recipe you've never tried. go listen to the radio. go talk to people in real life. you are not confined to your online content feed. you never have been!!!!!!!

[apollo-enthusiast]

[apollo-enthusiast]

grief is so crazy like what if i forget what her laugh sounds like. does she know i loved her. i miss her so much. i catch myself doing things she used to do. i wish i could call her. i miss her so much. i do a crossword puzzle. i cry while washing the dishes. does she know i loved her? my heart feels like a hummingbird. i miss her so much. what if i forget what her laugh sounds like. what if i forget.

[apollo-enthusiast]

"The fascists hate you too" "they'll come for you next" bitch they are coming for me first. I'm fucking Jewish

[apollo-enthusiast]

goodnight to people who are unable to run goodnight to people who used to be known for 'running/skipping' everywhere until it became far too painful and dangerous goodnight to people who have a walking gait that shows deformity and 'disturbs others' goodnight to people who have limbs that 'move wrong' goodnight to people who walk with a limp goodnight to people who stumble and fall goodnight to people who use a mobility aid goodnight to people who use elevators goodnight to people who use shower-chairs goodnight to people who use ramps

[apollo-enthusiast]

An early Halloween cartoon for Guardian Books