oncetherenowhere

[oncetherenowhere]

If you're feeling anxious or depressed about the climate and want to do something to help right now, from your bed, for free...

Start helping with citizen science projects

What's a citizen science project? Basically, it's crowdsourced science. In this case, crowdsourced climate science, that you can help with!

You don't need qualifications or any training besides the slideshow at the start of a project. There are a lot of things that humans can do way better than machines can, even with only minimal training, that are vital to science - especially digitizing records and building searchable databases

Like labeling trees in aerial photos so that scientists have better datasets to use for restoration.

Or counting cells in fossilized plants to track the impacts of climate change.

Or digitizing old atmospheric data to help scientists track the warming effects of El Niño.

Or counting penguins to help scientists better protect them.

Those are all on one of the most prominent citizen science platforms, called Zooniverse, but there are a ton of others, too.

Oh, and btw, you don't have to worry about messing up, because several people see each image. Studies show that if you pool the opinions of however many regular people (different by field), it matches the accuracy rate of a trained scientist in the field.

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I spent a lot of time doing this when I was really badly injured and housebound, and it was so good for me to be able to HELP and DO SOMETHING, even when I was in too much pain to leave my bed. So if you are chronically ill/disabled/for whatever reason can't participate or volunteer for things in person, I highly highly recommend.

Next time you wish you could do something - anything - to help

Remember that actually, you can. And help with some science.

[oncetherenowhere]

by god the chemicals

[oncetherenowhere]

how can i get into someone's nightmares i have a message to send

[oncetherenowhere]

2010. A Japanese woman sits down to take photos of her shiba inu dog for her blog. Suddenly, a man leaps out of a time portal. "Sorry, I can't let you do this. I cannot tell you why." She asks: "Is it forbidden knowledge from the future?" He sighs: "No, it's just too fucking stupid to explain."

[oncetherenowhere]

Got tickets for MCR Boston. I'm legitimately emotional. I've been wanting to see them since middle school. This is the first time I've ever been able to buy tickets for a huge concert, too. I've been to Boston Calling, but got in for free since it was part of my job.

I don't know. I'm rambling. Its nice to have something to look forward to. I can't believe I was able to get tickets. This feels unreal. I legit keep checking them to make sure they're actually there.

[oncetherenowhere]

pliny the elder sailing towards pompeii: oobh i got pliny of time

[oncetherenowhere]

"Babe," he said. "You've got to come out of it."

And he was right. I'd been sitting alone, after work, reading the news- the sun had long gone down, leaving me in a dark room. I closed my laptop.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I know."

"I'm saying it because I need to come out of it, too."

His voice wavered when he spoke, the way it always does when he's on the verge of tears. It used to be a rarity, to see him cry, but there's been much of it in the past year. So, we held each other. I took a shower. We did the dishes. We were quiet, but the truth hung heavy in the air around us, an unspeakable dread that had been marinating in our home for a week. Maybe longer. Definitely longer.

Years ago, he showed me a quote, something about not borrowing grief from the future. Here I am, already counting my losses. All the people we know, and all the people we don't, hurting in a million ways. I think of all the pain that everyone's felt throughout the course of human history, and I try to laugh at my dramatics, but I can't make a sound.

I focus. I fold the laundry. I make a second pot of coffee. I try to plan for the good. I try to plan for the bad.

[oncetherenowhere]

if you're a white person taking pleasure in the idea that Trump voters of colour are experiencing racist violence from white trumpers because "they got what's coming to them" I don't think you're anti-racist at all, I think you were just waiting for an acceptable target, and you're also fucking weird.

Bad Person Deserves Punishment For Their Sins give me a fucking break and get yourself out of the fucking catholic church. you're all prison abolitionists until you see someone you don't like.

[oncetherenowhere]

[oncetherenowhere]

Last night, I took an edible and ended up watching a video about Club Penguin that showed up on my feed. From it, I found out that there are a couple completely free versions of it online available to play. I was like damn...let me make an account for old times sake.

I ended up having the best time. It felt like being a kid again. I goofed off and played pretend, did the minigames, and ended up joining a group of other grown ass adults. We called ourselves the Midnight Five and just went full silly with it. I'm still laughing thinking about it. I haven't had good, harmless fun like that in ages.

[oncetherenowhere]

rb to give the previous person a fucking break because life aint life-ing the way its supposed to life and it fucking sucks.

[oncetherenowhere]

Please, I need people to do something in the coming days- be kind to kids.

We’ll be operating under a political regime that throws “FUCK YOUR FEELINGS” and “NO SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES” as slogans and mocks Sesame Street, that’s going to enshrine macho toughness and spite as ideals. Kids are ground zero for social indoctrination, and these people will be doing everything in their power to get in at ground zero and indoctrinate and radicalize.

Please be kind to kids. Go out of your way to show children what kindness and compassion looks like. Talk to children about what kindness and compassion looks like. I don’t care if you want them or don’t want them. Yes, being around kids can be a challenge sometimes, but they are humans. Children are humans at the beginning stages of life experience. Every type of human has a different life experience from you—disabled people, people from other countries, elderly people, people of different races. I know a lot of folks who will show kindness and compassion to adults who are operating out of different life experiences, but not children. Now more than ever we need to try to unpack that a little fucking bit.

Please, if you’re at a loss and looking for a somewhere to start fighting back, consider starting with this—finding ways to remind children what kindness and compassion to others looks like, and how to choose it.

[oncetherenowhere]

Everyone’s correct in saying that now more than ever we need to be building our communities, but it can be difficult to know what that actually *means*, especially in our isolating society. So here’s some straightforward practical advice I’ve learned over the few years I’ve been organizing in my own life.

You do not have to reinvent the wheel.

There are people who have been fighting this fight for decades. You are not starting from scratch. You do not have to do it all by yourself. All you have to do is find your allies and engage.

On the ground resistance movements/aid organizations that have legs under them may not have much of a social media presence. You may have to do some legwork find your place.

Check the local papers if you have one for your area. Sign up for your city government newsletter. Go to the library and ask what events are being hosted. Check Churches! Schools! Small businesses! Ask your local old ladies!!!! They have time on their hands and know what’s going on in their communities.

It’s ok if you don’t know anything. Listen to the people around you, ask questions, be respectful and curious. Just show up!! As you do this, you will learn more about the place you’re in and the people that live there. Those people will guide you, and there’s a non-zero chance that you’ll find a mentor willing to take you under their wing.

The logistics make the movement.

Demonstrations are important and powerful, but they are NOT the be all end all. Not even close.

There are people who’s job it is to take notes, people who host meetings, and people who pick up snacks. Some folks are especially good at getting the word out through tabling and canvasing, others are better at making the pamphlets that get handed out. You could be in charge of carrying heavy boxes of donated food, or you might be better suited preparing a hot meal sitting at the table. Are you able to watch young children? Drive carpool?

All of these tasks and more are essential to maintaining a healthy community group. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment to figure out where you can do the most good.

Your stories are your power

One of the most effective tools in your arsenal are your testimonies. When shared with friends they remind us we are not alone in our struggles. When shared with adversaries, they are undeniable proof of our humanity. You can quote facts and statistics all day, but a personal experience will always punch above it’s weight.

Think over your life and explore questions of what your personal stake in the game is. What about your life makes you want to fight. Really dig in deep. This can be uncomfortable. I recommend doing this among friends and being gentle with yourself. You don’t have to have any particularly special reason. This isn’t supposed to be performative. You aren’t trying to get a good grade in leftism, your goal is to identify your self interest. For example, I first got involved with the tenet union because I wanted to go to college in the city but knew I couldn’t afford to live there. I first got involved with planned parenthood because I was scared when Roe v Wade overturned. These are selfish reasons, they have to be for this to work.

With that information, you are prepared to sit with other people and ask them the same thing. If you are open and willing to listen to people’s stories, a casual conversation can lead to strong bonds of friendship. And when you’re friends with someone, you fight for them. This is the core of relational organizing.

There is joy here

Organizing can be difficult. Many things are in life. But from personal experience I can tell you that not only is this work worth it, but it can be *fun*. You can sing and dance and play music and scream and laugh and you’ll do it all together. Hold onto your hope, find your joy where you can, and take the plunge. You’ll be better for it, I promise.

[oncetherenowhere]

a reminder that there are trans, people of color, women, children, elderlies, disabled people, queer people, immigrants, people who did not vote for Trump in those red states that you wish natural disasters upon.

a reminder that there are innocent people and animals living in those red states that you wish natural disasters upon.

[oncetherenowhere]

Queer people in America, I love you.

Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in America, I love you.

Women and pregnant people in America, I love you.

Trans men and women and non-binary folks in America, I love you.

Immunocompromised, disabled, and neurodivergent people in America, I love you.

Palestinians and Jewish People, I love you.

All those who voted blue in a red state, I love you.

Everyone who put their lives out on the line in the face of danger, everyone who fears their rights will be taken away, everyone who lies awake wondering if they should even live in a world like this….I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU.

[oncetherenowhere]

My heart is breaking. My heart has been breaking for years. I will not let this break me. I have been trying to get involved with my local community recently, it's why I've been offline more often. I want to do more. I feel as though there's so little I can do, but if everyone did the bare minimum, it would still be something. I will not let this rage and despair consume me. Please let this be fuel to find the strength to do what is right.

[oncetherenowhere]

The situation has become unbearable, and I suffer from severe depression and suicidal thoughts. 😭😭

I desperately need your help and support. Please consider helping us in any way you can, whether by donating, by sharing my campaign with your friends, by writing a post about my campaign, or by sharing the last five posts from my page. 🥺💔💔

Thank you for your time and understanding. Any support, no matter how small, will make a big difference in our lives. 🍉🍉🍉

https://gofund.me/0a0ac124

My heart is with you. I am so sorry.