sinensis26

[sinensis26]

So as it turns out, the penalty for having hairy legs and wearing booty shorts is... nothing. Literally nothing. Nobody gives a shit.

[sinensis26]

Hot take: growing up with unavoidable food restrictions makes you a better cook.

Proof: my mom keeps kosher and my dad is Hindu vegetarian, which are two things that actually work well together. I didnt eat meat until I was in my twenties, and even then, I lived on the coast, so it was all fish. I grew up with the most incredible kugels, dahls and curry from multiple- generation cooks.

"Isnt it hard to live without meat?" Bro, do you have any idea how GOOD cauliflower is with the right spices?! Do you realize the magic hidden in onions, or know how to make a carrot dish that youll be dreaming about for the next ten years?

Once you know what a vegetable and some oil can do, its not hard to take dairy out of that and be vegan. So many people rave about meat without understanding the bredth and depth of sumac, cumin, fennel and garlic.

Im not suggesting that everyone change their diet overnight. You should enjoy what you love, and if meat is truly your happy food, you should have that. But whenever I hear someone talk about vegetables, vegetarianism or other dietary restrictions as a chore... buddy, theres a whole other world of deliciousness out there you are about to discover.

[sinensis26]

Can consumer brands please stop having opinions on current events? I literally do not want to know the political leanings of pasta brands, chicken joints or other completely nonpolitical companies. I just want to go buy stuff without there being moral implications for every single little thing.

[sinensis26]

Competition show idea: A bunch of folks who are good at their craft (baking, fashion, etc) compete for a big prize... but everyone who gets eliminated gets something that would be useful for them. Like, a working parent didnt get the $100,000... but they go home with a year of daycare paid for. A small business owner gets new tools that their business has been needing.

Just something at the end of the episode where everyone wins and the viewer can feel happy about it, y'know?

[sinensis26]

Once you start thinking about humans as a species in a biome, it affects your entire way of looking at normal things.

The other day I referred to female morning joggers as an 'indicator species' in that if you see women jogging in the dark it means that the environment provides migration pathways (sidewalks, clear signs) and doesn't have any known predators of female morning joggers (guy with knife, bear, BigTruck, male morning joggers).

Though, I think that people consider framing humans as animals reacting to their environment as rude.

[sinensis26]

I just know that the dudes who make those "girls get 500 compliments a day vs. guy gets one compliment once and cherishes it for the rest of his life" memes put zero effort into their appearance. Like what exactly do you expect people to say? Wow nice plain ill-fitting hoodie, goes great with your basic-ass blue jeans and nondescript haircut. Got some real cool Grey Man vibes going on, you could seamlessly blend into any crowd ever without being seen at all.

Like nobody has any obligation to look any certain way, but you can't expect to be praised for doing something you're not even trying to do. I dress like I got tarred and feathered in a Tim Burton film costume department discard scrap pile, and someone saying they like my style is a biweekly occurrence.

[sinensis26]

If you really do live in such a small community that theres NO other craft stores for miles around, start organizing craft swaps! Libraries and community centers are always happy to host those kind of things, and youll have a chance to meet other crafters in your town.

With JoAnne Fabrics going out of business I feel it is my duty as a cosplayer, historical costumer, and general sewing gremlin to help teach y'all how not to be reliant on evil overpriced mediocre big box stores for fabric and cosplay supply, cause if I catch y'all going into Homophobia Lobby to get cosplay fabrics imma have to start throwing hands. And frankly you guys all deserve better.

- Find a neighborhood full of brown people. Probably a slightly poorer neighborhod. I know, I know, but they will have small independent fabric stores. Selection in each may vary. Hispanic and Caribbean areas will give you prints that EAT. Muslim areas will give you fabrics with amazing drapery. Indian and Southeast Asian areas will give you beading that would make the House of Worth wet with envy. (Try to avoid oldwhitelady quilting stores unless you are a knitter or are specifically trying to cosplay Kirsten Larson.) (Also ask while you're there for lunch/dinner spot recommendations. Your fabric store guy usually has a buddy with a joint nextdoor with the best *insert relevant ethnic food here* you'll ever put in your mouth.)

- DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWNER OF SAID STORE. This I cannot stress enough. Abdul, my fabric guy, can and will get me whatever I want cause he knows me, knows I bring in other young people, and knows I will be back every month for more. Indie fabric stores tend to have older clients. They are anxious to see faces under 60. Just chat with whoever is in there about the kind of stuff you want and need and they will help you. This also frequently leads to discounts. I have not paid listed price for fabric in years and just walked out of Abdul's with 7~ yards of gorgeous teal satin for 10 bucks. Not a yard. Total.

- Do not be afraid of mess. The best shit comes from stores that look like a hurricane went through them. Don't try to understand the organization. (One day, 4 years into your relationship with the store, suddenly the fabric gods will reveal the knowledge to you.) Again, talk to whoever is in there about your project. They'll help.

- Give up on one stop shopping. Get your crafting supplies elsewhere. Like a small independent hardware store. There's usually an old guy in there that reminds you of an uncle who will also help you.

-Worbla and whatever other Cosplay Specific Material you're using is a fatphobic material straight from Satan's hot taint, you do not need it, and any old hardware/tractor supply dad will help you find better, more durable armor/weapon/detailing material. Don't snub your nose at paper mache and plaster of paris. Venetian Mask makers have been using it for years. Balsa wood is also your friend. Hardware store Uncles will teach you to work with both.

- Elderly people are your bffs. If you see an old person TALK TO THEM. They know how to do all kinds of shit. I know there's a hesitation around old people because of the political climate and a fear that they may be homo/trans/whatever-phobic, but hey....minds are changed by making friends. My elderly Muslim fabric supplier is an Our Flag Means Death fan because of me gushing about the teal I needed for Stede Bonnet. He wishes me happy pride now. He put bolt of rainbow in the window in June and kept it up all summer. And he'd never had a thought about queers before me.

- Don't feel limited to Craft and Fabric stores. Hardware stores are cool. They stock outdoor fabrics and umbrella and furniture covers that are very durable....my first cosplay was made out of patio furniture covers. Also upholstery stores and upholsterers have velvets and damasks and faux leather and real leather and all sorts of rich textures. Most of them will part with a few yards pretty cheap. Second hand sheets and bedspreads and curtains also make some really cool garments. A significant amount of my ren fair garb started as household goods.

- If you are forced to order fabric online, please for the love of all that is holy DO NOT BUY FROM MOOD or any other famous store. You're paying for their branding and their place on certain reality shows I will not mention. Indie is always cheaper for the quality and usually not abusing their workers.

- If the fabric/hobby/hardware/upholstery/etc store you develop a relationship with is inconveniently far from you, see if said owner is willing to take your order via phone and send it to you. You'd be surprised how accommodating people in the crafting and sewing world can be.

It all really comes down to having to form a community. I know finding multiple small stores is a lot less convenient than Joannes. But forming a relationship with a local supplier will, in the long run, yield you much better results AND put money and good back into a community near you.

(And if you're in the NYC area DM me and I'll put you in contact with Abdul. He's the absolute best and I'd do anything to help him and his business grow!!!)

[sinensis26]

"IMPORTANT MILLIPEDE REASONS"

University field station newsletter told me giant millipedes are particularly active this time of year "when they’re on the move for important millipede reasons." I think that might be scientist secret code for "nobody really knows why." All we know is the millipedes are moving for some reason and it must be important or they wouldn't do it. Important millipede reasons.

[sinensis26]

I am a middle- aged biologist with an embarassing amount of education and certifications in my field. And yet somehow, my brain's first response to seeing any living creature is, "Ooh a new Pokemon!"

[sinensis26]

"Oh so you think murder is okay now? You support MURDER?"

Yes. Full stop. Ive spent my entire life watching school shootings happen, seen my country blow billions of dollars on unnecessary wars, and stood in the middle of peaceful protests that get mocked and ignored. I did everything right, and learned that whats "right" simply makes you easier to ignore by the people who hold power.

I grew up in the sweet and docile "Babysitters Club" era, and have watched the next generations cut their teeth on "Hunger Games" and all kinds of dystopian lit. What did you all think was going to happen, when you kept tightening the noose on kids who were reading about revolution between active shooter drills?

I dont like murder, nor do I think most people do. But my god, you cant desensitize a nation full of people and still expect them to mourn their oppressors.

[sinensis26]

[sinensis26]

This is literally how we biologists see them.

I think it's funny that apparently the first little plants to start sprouting from cracks in concrete are defined as pioneer plants. It's such an adorably ambitious title for a weed. Just a teeny tiny sprout popping out from a crack in the road like

"I AM THE HARBRINGER AND HERALD OF NATURE'S RETURN, THE FIRST AMONG THOUSANDS. THE FOREST SHALL RECLAIM. FUCK YOU."

[sinensis26]

its true that complimenting strangers is fun and nice. people will go "awwww really" when you say their hair is cute. people will go "thanks" and straighten up a little when you compliment the colors they're wearing. people will say "oh yeah i got it at (place)" if you say a charm on their bag is cool. people really do appreciate it and its very whimsy and you can just do this for free

[sinensis26]

LIBRARY WRAPPED

You checked out... probably some stuff? Thanks for doing that :)

Used our wifi maybe? For something?

Look we actually don't know what genres you read or how many times you renewed Gender Queer.

We don't want to know.

Our gift to you is privacy.

Take it.

Be free.

[sinensis26]

I love all handmade stuff, but before I started knitting, I always wondered why folks poured so much time and energy into making stuff that looks exacly like what youd buy at a store.

It very quickly hit me: store- bought stuff SUCKS. Handmade stuff RULES.

The kinds of stitches used, the thickness/ quality of yarn, even the dimensions of the item itself are just so shitty and cheap on mass- produced clothing. Once you know what youre looking at, you can see that its made to be worn and disposed of within a year. But that handmade brown sweater? That sucker weighs 3x what a store bought sweater weighs. Its softer, it has better stretch and even with messier seams, its STRONGER. It can survive a trathalon, a hop over a barbed- wire fence, and a minor nuclear explosion.

So hats off to all of the more stubtle fiberworks artists out there, your bulletproof crafts are magnificent.

[sinensis26]

If youve already graduated uni, go back and apply for your Alumni ID. Every university has different rules, but for most, alumni have the same access to resources that they had as students, including access to.academic databases and interlibrary loans. You can also audit classes and attwnd lectures for a very small fee or free.

actually i think graduates of a university should have access to the library databases forever and ever amen

[sinensis26]

Best thing about learning new subjects or hobbies is that a whole world of intricate procedures, vocabulary, lore, controversy, niche pockets of interest, tricks, deepening personal experience of your own and others etc etc all opens up to you and you just get to walk around in there