fromchaostocosmos

[fromchaostocosmos]

I'm Jewish, specifically Ashkenazi. Due a genetic bottleneck event in Ashkenazi Jewish history Ashkenazim have to be more concerned about certain genetic disorders.

Such as Tay-Sachs for example. It is standard practice for us to genetic testing to find out if we are carriers of anything so we do not marry other carriers my mistake.

In the religious community there is an organization that will come to the High School and do take blood sample for free. You are then assigned an number. When you are dating someone all need to is call with your number and their number and ask if the two are compatible and they will say yes or no.

That do not tell you if you are a carrier or if the other person because the idea is keep any stigma and gossip removed from the process.

This organization is widely used because of this and is again a non-profit.

There is a huge difference between a fetus that is detected to have down syndrome and one that has Tay-Sachs.

People with down syndrome live rich fulfilling full lives. They live into old age. To advocate aborting a fetus with Down Syndrome because it it has Down Syndrome is eugenics plain and simple.

Understanding and knowing how important it is that abortions be available for those who are expecting a fetus with Tay-Sachs and other such genetic disorder is a whole different story.

This about preventing a parents having to watch their child live a very short life, a short life filled only with pain and constant hospitalizations, and then have to bury that child very early in life and grieve that child for the rest of their lives.

That is something that is preventable.

If you can prevent pain you do so when possible.

And let us understand the vast differences between types of genetic disorders and the impacts they have.

(For clarification purposes Tay-Sachs is a genetic disease, but I do well history I was not super comfortable writing a sentence saying "Jews carry diseases" and since Tay-Sachs isn't they only one, but I also felt obligated to make sure I have correct info as well)

"If we stop abortions of unhealthy fetuses then infant mortality will increase" and if we treat child cancer patients then teen mortality will increase...

[fromchaostocosmos]

Back to back scam asks from the same account showed up in my inbox. I'm always curious and clicked on the GFM and once again it's got all the red flags. First of all, the ask did the whole "Dear Humanity" thing. We know that's a red flag.

Second, it then says to click the GFM link or use PayPal. In the GFM the organizer says they will use PayPal to send the money. Red flag number 2 as it has been well established that PayPal does not work in Gaza or the Palestinian Territories. Even Al Jazeera says it doesn't work. Then we get to the fun nugget of the ahistorical revisionism.

This is clearly a bad copy and paste. The space on the second line only happens when you copy and paste some text that is formatted oddly and don't delete the extraneous spacing. Also, this is the exact same text multiple other scams have used on their respective GFMs. I even talked about this on another post where I first encountered this particular narrative. And let's be clear. This didn't happen. The Israeli response didn't happen in any significant manner until the 9th. They were literally still fighting in Israel proper, counting the dead, going through the wreckage of the attacks, and identifying bodies. This only seeks to change the well established timeline of events. It changes it from "We were the aggressors on October 7th and cheered on the actions that occurred" to "We were actually the victims and that attack never occurred, in fact we were attacked". That's blatantly and factually wrong, and the fact that people are falling for it or not calling out the blatant lie because "something something Israel bad" is horrific. But let's continue through the story we're given. Apparently one of the children was injured some period of time ago. We don't know when. We're told it was when they went to the south. Well that was a long time ago in the context of this war, and the pictures we're given provide no context. So either these injuries happened a while ago and have since been treated or they happened recently and have since been treated (but I'm also told there are no hospital in Gaza???). Yes, continuing and more specialized treatment outside of Gaza is often necessary. But the ask literally has none of the previous hallmarks of "here's what it will take to get out and get treatment" that we've seen previously and what is now common knowledge.

And here's the kicker, If you take the images in this GFM and reverse search them they link to multiple other GFMs using different organizers around the globe, but all with the same story. All of them have a variety of copy and paste edits, and many of them have pictures of other people from other GFMs interspersed throughout. So yeah, this was a very clear and obvious scam and once again adds to the ever growing pile of why we don't trust these accounts that continuously pop up and ask for money while attempting to pull at heartstrings.

[fromchaostocosmos]

💙💙😭

[fromchaostocosmos]

In case you haven't heard of this artist, Alex Woz runs a small business selling his art that celebrates judaism and the jewish people. His stuff is definitely worth checking out, even just to see the prints and shirts he makes.

I think everyone can benefit from seeing his stuff. Just like last time, I am not being paid to promote this and was not told to, I just love supporting small jewish businesses and bought a few of his things for chanukah. You can check out his stuff here:

[fromchaostocosmos]

This music bring back childhood memories. Like this what plays at Jewish school parties, camp events, etc.

This is the sound of my childhood.

So I found this CD on the street today on my way to work, right? So I decided I’d bring it home and listen to it.

And it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.

[fromchaostocosmos]

disclaimer: I am east asian. if anyone who is not white sees anything wrong with my phrasing, inaccuracies, or insensitivity, or something I missed, please feel free to add on. I'm just one person with one perspective; none of what I say should be taken as The Singular way to draw an Asian character. if you havent done so already, please take the effort to expand your view of Asian culture outside this one tutorial.

if a white person reblogs this and adds something stupid I'm going to bite and kick you like a wild animal

[fromchaostocosmos]

[fromchaostocosmos]

I think a lot of Americans have a hard time grasping the idea of Jewish indigeneity because they dont know where their own ancestors came from. Maybe they'll have vague ideas like German, Italian, or Irish, but what they know has very little bearing on their day-to-day lives. They don't dress any different, they don't speak the language their great grandparents spoke, they don't hold regular ceremonies and rituals that harken back to the old days.

The idea of an ethnic group maintaining a constant identity over thousands of years is patently absurd to them. "You're telling me you're still mourning something the ancient Romans did? That's ridiculous! Clearly you've fallen for modern Israeli propaganda, otherwise you're deliberately arguing in bad faith in order to justify land theft and genocide!"

It's very frustrating, because when I say these things I do not say them in bad faith. My friend once said "it's a very American thing not to understand large timescales", and I think she was right on the money. The process of American assimilation has cut peoples ties to their ancestors to such a degree that they can no longer comprehend a continuous identity spanning millennia.

So I'm going to say this in the clearest language I can:

There is a genuine, historically provable, continuous connection from ancient Israelites to modern Jews. By the laws and customs of those ancient Israelites I am one of them. Let me reiterate. I am an Israelite, a hebrew, like from the Bible, and the fact that my identity has been so mythologized and talked about as if it's a thing of the past will never change that.

[fromchaostocosmos]

so, many of you have probably seen news about one of the first recorded severe case of HPAI (avian flu) in humans.

a lot of you who follow me are birders or inatters or adjacent. hence, a lot of you guys have birdfeeders.

from a rehab worker of almost 3 years: Disinfect your goddamn feeders. not only for HPAI but other diseases, such as avian pox, and for the safety of the birds

and of course, heres how!

now here at rehab we use rescue to disinfect, which is a big ol fancy thing that looks like this

for all our stuff. it's about 1-2tbsp rescue per 32oz water. however, most of you guys cant get a hold of it. so, heres some other things suggested by friends & coworkers that will work just as well

-diluted hydrogen peroxide

-bleach (diluted)

etc. in addition, it's best to use the hottest water you can handle in order to kill off more viruses (our industrial washer does up to 200°F, but whatever you can works just as well.)

the most important thing here is to USE GLOVES!!! PLEASE. pair of gloves to wash it and preferably when youre rinsing it use a DIFFERENT pair of gloves so it doesnt get dirty again.

lastly, if youre seeing visibly uninjured dead birds in your yard, lethargic birds at your feeder, red discolouration or growths on exposed skin, blood on your feeder, or anything else you might deem unusual, take down your feeder. the birds will get food elsewhere i promise, just leave it down for two weeks at least and sterilize it using any of the steps above.

also. please dont hand feed birds. yes even ducks. please please ignore what you see on instagram, it only creates more work for rehabbers. this includes trying to camouflage yourself and feed the birds from your hand when they dont know youre a person. it only hurts you and the birds, and yes this includes hummingbirds. do not try and feed birds off of yourself directly. please. thank you

be safe, clean your feeders, and happy birding!

in addition, below is an approximate of the procedure we use at my work to prevent outbreaks in our residents/patients.

changing aprons between birds, esp for personable birds (assimilated to people, like to fly onto you), switch gloves between birds, between touching hoses, etc. spray or dip + scrape shoes into rescue/accel solution before entering enclosures & or buildings.

[fromchaostocosmos]

General guide to birds in Israel pt 2- cooler birds

This will be a long post. Link to part 1

White spectated bulbul/bul-bul me-mush-kaf

Usually referred to as just bulbul, this bisexual king is the roundest and my most favourite bird. IMPORTANT! BULBUL MEANS DICK! DO NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR LOVE FOR BULBULIM IN PUBLIC!

These birds are slightly larger then the house sparrow and are easily distinguished by their yellow butt. Their calls are reminiscent of frogs. They mate for life and are all bisexual and they cuddle each other. They are a menace to farmers because they are fond of fruit and tend to nibble just a little at a time. You can find them in all parts of Israel as long as there are nice trees nearby.

Eurasian blackbird/shakh-rur

These timid birds like to hide in bushes and trees. Their calls are beautiful and I love them. They are smaller then a pigeon. The males are black and the females are brown. They feed on seeds, fruits and bugs, and use their beaks to search the ground for worms. You can find them in Jerusalem and the north, they like cool weather and don’t fuck with sand.

Great tit/yar-ge-zi ma-tzui

Life isn’t easy for these tiny psychopaths, which might be the reason they developed such a temper. Their Hebrew name translates to “angry one”, and for a reason. They are very aggressive towards other birds. They also feed on the brains of bats. You can distinguish between males and females by the thickness of the black stripe on their belly- males have a thicker one than females. They are most common to the north of Jerusalem, but you can find them in some parts of the desert.

Palestine sunbird/tzu-fit bo-he-ket

No, that’s not a hummingbird, it’s the sunbird! Despite their remarkable likeness they aren’t even a little related. Sunbirds feed on nectar and are pollinators! The males have black feathers that shine in the sunlight (which is how they got their name) and the females are a muddy grey, but they’re just as lovely. You can find them in all parts of Israel, especially near lush flowery areas!

White wagtail/nakh-li-e-li la-van

First migrant bird everyone!!! (Some blackbirds migrate here but some nest during summer so shhhh) This lovely round bird starts it’s visits around October and leaves when it gets hellishly warm again. Due to global warming the wagtails visits are shortening, so appreciate them while you can. Like their name suggests, the wagtails wag their tails. A lot. You can find them near water sources during the cold-ish months of the year!

Eurasian jay- or-va-ni shkhor ki-pa

Eurasian jays can be found in other parts of the world, but I’m pretty sure the one we have in Israel is a different sub-species because the ones in Europe lack the beautiful black top that they’re named after.

The jay is a type of corvid, and in addition to being extremely social and intelligent, these birds can mimic other animals. Due to urbanisation, the jays learned to mimic car alarms, the ringing of phones and the cries of human babies. Jays are extremely fond of acorns, and burry them in the ground in preparation for harsher months. A single jay can remember between 4000 to 5000 hiding spots!

Syrian woodpecker/ na-kar su-ri

This picture is of a male woodpecker. The females have a completely black head. Woodpeckers can locate bugs that have burrowed inside trees and use their beak and long tongues to eat them, thereby helping the trees get rid of pests! Woodpeckers also love acorns, and compete with jays over them. To prevent concussions, the woodpecker’s tongue wraps around their brain, keeping it in place while they peck. You can find them in non-desert areas of Israel!

Lesser whitethroat/siv-khi to-kha-nim

Another migrant birds! These floofballs come here twice a year, once in spring and once in autum, although some whitethroats nest in the north all year long. During their migration you can find them everywhere in Israel, even in very urban areas! They get their Hebrew name, which roughly translates to miller’s shrubbery-liker, because their white chests look how a miller’s apron would look after a long hard day!

Super winged lapwing/sik-sak

The siksaks are water birds with ridiculously long legs that they use to stab their prey. They kind of look like they are wearing a tux! Their original Hebrew name was “sharoni mezuyan”, which translates to “one that lives in the Sharon and is armed with a weapon” but also “fucking sharoni”. You can find them anywhere in Israel as long as there is a near enough water source.

White breasted kingfisher/shal-dag la-van kha-ze

One of my favorite birds. The kingfisher is a magnificent bird of prey with brilliant blue feathers that always make my day. They are most common in the north and west of Israel, but they nest in smaller numbers in the south. They kingfisher’s diet consists of not only fish, but of crabs, frogs, slugs, bugs, and even the occasional rodent. Their varied diet helps them thrive even in drier areas.

[fromchaostocosmos]

okay but like I want to eat it. it is giving me candy and I want to eat it.

  Pomegranate made of gold, rubies and emeralds

[fromchaostocosmos]

[fromchaostocosmos]

The "No True Scotsman" fallacy should be renamed to the "No True Christian" fallacy based on how often I see Christians (both progressive Christians and conservative/evangelical Christians) use it to claim other Christians shouldn't count because they're doing Christianity wrong.

[fromchaostocosmos]

Kyiv today

[fromchaostocosmos]

emperor kuzco was clearly gay

[fromchaostocosmos]

(all of these happened in December 2024 alone)

an incomplete list of hate crimes in the past fourteen (14) days against jews not in Israel, in no particular order

A shul was defaced with swastikas (Minneapolis, US)

A shul was firebombed (Montreal, Canada)

An ATM dispensed antisemitic banknotes, complete with 'Fuck Jews' (Sydney, Australia)

Swastikas at public high schools (Virginia, US)

Antisemitic stickers at the Boston University Campus ("spreading" from Harvard)

More antisemitic grafitti (Indiana, US)

(or maybe 12) 5 antisemitic attacks in Zurich (Zurich, Switzerland)

(or 13) Swastika grafitti in Pittsburgh, where I live (Pittsburgh, US)

(or 14) A car burned and grafitti sprayed in another antisemitic attack in Australia (Australia)

(or 15) That Melbourne arson attack (Melbourne, Australia)

(or 16) Jordan Acker's home was vandalized (Michigan)

(or 17) The San Francisco Hillel was vandalized with antisemitic grafitti (San Francisco, US)

(or 18) An Israeli in California was wounded after someone DROVE A FREAKING CAR INTO THEM (California, US)

(or 19) Someone intentionally cut off the peyot of a Jewish boy in New Jersey, akin to ripping the hijab off a Muslim woman, only it takes a while for her to get another hijab (New Jersey, US)

Mind you, as far as I know, this was a relatively typical two weeks. Goodness knows there were many more that went unreported. And many of these were basically unreported in the non-Jewish news, because no one really pays attention unless it's something big, like arson. Imagine if some tailor destroyed the hijab of a Muslim girl after saying not to, as her mother begged for him to stop. National news, right? But if it's a Jew - no one cares.

But tell me more about how antisemitism isn't a big problem and I shouldn't worry again.

[fromchaostocosmos]

the statements "clothes don't have gender" and "clothes can and do invoke gender dysphoria and euphoria for many people" can and should coexist.