#Public Service Announcements

[lakelewisia]

As a reminder, Spring is here, however tentatively, and apparently iced-over ponds, rivers, and lesser lakes should not be trusted for ice skating or other recreational purposes. Thinning ice can give way at any time, and it tends to obey the laws of irony by waiting until you are well away from the shore to do so. Note that this advisory holds true even, and perhaps especially, if you see other figures blithely skating along, who may be incorporeal, irrational, or illusory, and should not, in any case, be considered role models.

[stone-cold-groove]

Remember - only you can prevent forest fires!

[roibindall]

I’m trying to raise money to assist with legal fees. My dad passed away about a week or so, and we laid him to rest in the family plot in the cemetary. I’m in the process of inhereiting my family home and the best way to do that and be able to pay for it is to inhereit and take over my dad’s retirement fund.

In order to do that, however, I need to finally complete the divorce with my former spouse. I visit with the family court lawyer tomorrow morning and will jumpstart the process then. I have no idea how much it’s going to cost.

I’m reaching out to the community and asking if anyone has any extra to give to please do so through the link provided. It will take you to my LinkTree account and you will find links to my Paypal, Cash App and Venmo accounts. Anything you can give will help me greatly during this time of great chance and transition.

In case anyone is curious: Any money I receive in donation will primarily go towards assisting in covering any and all costs of legal fees to straighten out everything, while tsecondarily the money will go towards assisting me in bolstering my ability to obtain any necessities as this whole process is ongoing.

I am also offering readings with either Elder Futhark or Ogham, for whatever anyone can pay at this time, while I am working on raising more money. Any requests for readings can be sent through my Ask Box here on this blog, or via my brand email address of roibinbhride at outlook. Payments can be sent through Paypal, Cashapp, or Venmo, which the links to those accounts of mine can be found through the LinkTree link provided above. Thank you!

[severeprincesheep]

Basketball Awareness Test

It's easy to miss something you're not looking for. Look out for cyclists.

[cemeterygrace]

reminders:

if you or someone you know might need it in the next few years, purchase plan b. the shelf life of plan b is 4 years, and we might not be able to access it as easily as we can now in the days ahead.

if you are larger/plus size: go online and purchase ella instead of plan b. plan b is less effective if you aren’t under 160 pounds.

if you can, purchase books that project 2025 is looking to ban.

mass deportations are starting. if you see ice vehicles or agents, yell ice raid and la migra as loud as you can.

if someone asks who you voted for, keep your mouth shut. they’re fishing for traitors.

if anyone, anyone at all asks about your neighbors or their legal status in the us, you know nothing. don’t be the reason that their family is separated.

if anyone asks about your religion or lack thereof, keep it vague. this administration will look for any excuse to persecute you.

your friends are trans or queer? for the next four years they’re not. don’t expose anyone’s status as a trans or queer person to anyone else, even if you think you can trust them.

did someone you know get an abortion? no, they didn’t. they were never pregnant.

in short, don’t be a snitch, and keep to yourself these next four years. we’ll make it through this even if it seems hopeless at times.

we can survive this. we’ve survived before, and we’ll survive again.

[elbiotipo]

Also I've said this before but advertising is an industry that should be considered as pointless and harmful as fossil fuels.

[lakelewisia]

Slips, trips, and falls become more common in the winter months both indoors and out, as we deal with icy conditions, downed tree limbs, and increased cords and clutter from decorations and guests. We recommend using alternative methods of locomotion to avoid such ground-based hazards for the season. Consider levitation, seasonal wing growth, or riding on clouds, carpets, assorted beast mounts, or ambulatory furniture to get around in style and safety.

[tumble-tv]

ICE raids are happening.

Any immigrants, no matter how long you have been a citizen of the USA, is at risk of being deported either out of the country as a whole or into what are basically concentration camps. Raids starting in Chicago, Illinois. and spreading to other major cities with high POC and Hispanic populations. The US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have started raiding homes and families in California.

There are no "protected locations" as of January 21, 2025. Hospitals, schools, and churches are all at risk of being raided, where before these places were deemed safe and off limits to raids.

When it comes to spotting an ICE agent, look for these:

Weirdly neat/well kept hair (shaved heads, side parts, military burs for men; low buns, high ponytails, close cropped bobs for women)

Oversized jacket (long and bulky outerwear makes it easier to hide tools/equipment without being suspicious)

Both hands in pockets

Many undercover agents/cops buy cheap plain clothes off the racks so they aren’t seen in their own clothes. This can make their outfit seem awkward

Sweatshirts with the hood up

Sports apparel (warm up jacket, sweats, etc) with non-sports clothes (jeans, cargo shorts)

Cargo pants/shorts (usually full of items like their badge, flashlight, taser, pepper spray, backup handcuffs, zip ties)

Military or hiking style boots, sometimes chunky sneakers (extra points if none of it matches anything in their outfit)

Outline of a gun in their pants/shirt (easy to see when bending, leaning, or raising arms) (NO NOT SAY ANYTHING)

Overly friendly

Overly inquisitive

“How old are you” and “what do you know about this happening” are both red flags, along with generally odd and personal questions

Don’t fit in

Mismatched pairs in public spaces (usually cops do these things in pairs. They don’t talk to each other or acknowledge each other much, if at all)

DO NOT SAY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU ARE 100% SURE

YOUR BEST BET IS NOT TO SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE SUSPECT STARTS ACTING OFF AND GETTING PUSHY

COPS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE UNDERCOVER

COPS CAN AND WILL LIE TO YOU

SCREAM “LA MIGRA” AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS

For protesting:

N95 masks

Respirator/gas mask if you have access to one

Water water water water water (I hate to say it, but disposable one use bottles are best here. If it comes to it, you need to be able to drop and run.) Use for flushing wounds, flushing eyes of tear gas, and of course drinking.

Snacks! You'll be doing a lot of walking and/or running and need to keep that energy up. Trail mix, dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, crackers, jerky/meat sticks, fruit snacks, candy, etc. Think of it like packing your lunchbox for a field trip.

Eyedrops (teargas is a bitch)

Goggles (I bring my old snowboarding goggles)

If you are wearing a t-shirt or have exposed skin, put on fake/temporary tattoos. If you are brought into something and they say you were there, showing a picture of you with the tattoos, show them where that tattoo would be and how there’s nothing there. How would you get rid of a giant flower on your forearm in 2 days anyways?

Wigs fall under the same category as tattoos. The person they're claiming to be you has a blonde bob and you have green hair past your shoulders.It also makes it possible to go with a completely different color without the use of hair dye. This means if they try to arrest you later and try to prove it was you by taking your hair and testing for dye, it won't come back the way they hope. (Thank you @violetrosepetals for this addition!)

Hide your hair. I tuck my hair into my beanie since it’s short. If you have longer hair, try to do the same or tuck it into your shirt. Balaclavas are also a good choice, as they cover both your face and hair.

Power bank

Chargers

Helmet. Any is fine, my personal choice is a skating helmet since they’re rounder and can take more damage, but tactical is also good

Hand sanitizer

Gloves with hard knuckles (tactical gloves). These pack a good punch even if you don't have the correct form. Don't have those? Wrist guards for roller skating/skateboarding work kinda like that too. More of a slapping motion, but still hurt like a bitch. Extra points if they're all scuffed up from use and falls.

Bandanas. Somebody might need one for their face or hair, maybe you need to get dirt off somebody’s face, maybe somebody got injured. They’re great for anything and everything.

Cash (try to stick to cash, your card can be tracked)

Medications if you take them. If you get arrested or happen to somehow be away for longer than expected after the protest, it’s always good to have emergency meds

FIRST AID ALL THE FIRST AID (Tourniquet, Quikclot, chest seal, trauma shears, gauze, bandages, duct tape, and all the usual stuff you’d have in there)

Good shoes. Boots and sneakers are your best choices. Not heels, not platforms, not sandals. Good boots or shoes that won't come off your feet too easily when you run. Steel toed shoes are a great option. Your toes won't be squashed, but also it'll hurt someone a lot more if you start kicking.

Spare socks. Trust me. You can use them to stop bleeding if it comes to it, but also you can put rocks in there and boom weapon. Also if the socks you're wearing get wet.

As much covering clothing as you can handle. Plain jeans, plain hoodie, plain t-shirt, keep yourself as anonymous as possible. Black and baggy is best.

Photocopy of your ID, not your real one.

Sunscreen!

Make sure your clothes have pockets, even if you have a bag. You want everything to be easily accessible.

Do not wear contact lenses. If tear gas is used, that will make everything so much worse. Wear your glasses or go blind. If you have overly unique or identifiable frames, goggles are your friend here. Get some goggles that will fit over your frames, preferably ones that are tinted.

If you use mobility aids, cover defining features. Logos, brand names, colors, stickers, all of it. Take some old plain t-shirt and tie it around your wheelchair’s backrest. Wrap your wheelchair frame in cling wrap, then duct tape, or plain black self adhering medical tape. Cover stickers on your cane or crutches the same way. Electric chair? You have a little more work, but you can do it. Wrap it up. Same idea. Walker? Same thing. Cover. It. All.

If you are bringing a bag, make sure that bag is as plain as possible. No pins. No patches. No keychains. Except maybe a pride flag so people know which team you're playing on.

Scarf or keffiyeh if you have one. They have many uses!

Write a reliable phone number (of someone who is not at the protest with you) on your body. On the off chance you get arrested, that is your emergency contact.

Pocket knife.

Pepper spray/mace/bear spray

if you get tear gassed, shake around first before using water. Most tear gas is more of a powder and water has a high likelihood of just spreading it around. (Thank you @actually-a-bread-loaf for this addition!)

Tennis rackets also work wonderfully for chucking tear gas canisters back at those throwing them. Anybody asks, you're going out to play tennis with friends later. Baseball bats also work! (Thank you @azul-nova-24 for this addition!)

Anything you can throw. Soup for my family.

IF YOU CAN, LEAVE YOUR PHONE AT HOME

IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT WITH YOU, TURN OFF LOCATION SERVICES ON ALL APPS AND TURN OFF BIOMETRICS (FACE ID AND FINGERPRINT) SO YOU CAN ONLY UNLOCK YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR PASSWORD

COPS CAN FORCE YOU TO OPEN YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR FINGERPRINT OR FACE ID

MAKE SURE SOMEBODY KNOWS GENERALLY WHERE YOU ARE

If you see a potential or active raid, take pictures and note the time and location. Post online if you can, as well.

You have the right to remain silent. State that you wish to remain silent. Avoid giving information about anybody's immigration status. You have the right to refuse to sign anything before speaking to an attorney. You have the right to refuse searches of your car, your home, and yourself. Schools do not collect a child's immigration status.

I do not want to scare anybody, but this is what life is right now. That man does not care how long you have been a citizen of this country. If you are not a white, cisgender, heterosexual, Christian male, you are seen as less than by men in power. You are not less than. You are a threat to them, and they are scared. Keep it that way.

Even if you're not currently protesting, it's good to know this just in case. Things are happening very quickly, and there is a very high chance of it changing very quickly within the next four years.

Here's the link to my post on what to bring in terms of first aid.

If you cannot attend protests, that’s fine. Do what’s best for you. Even just reposting information helps.

This is an updated version of this post,

Updated January 27, 2025.

[susanoos-wife]

[anotheruserwithnoname]

When I was a kid Binkley and Doinkel were my jam. The link give their story, but basically they were characters created in the 1970s by the Government of Canada to promote safety for kids. The comics (3 issues were produced though I only ever saw the one) were given away at schools, usually after the travelling puppet show they did. I must have seen it 5 times, at school usually and once randomly in an open space in Waskesiu townsite during a visit to Prince Albert National Park back around 1976. You can actually find footage of the puppets on YouTube. They weren't the nightmare fuel of The Scorcher (an evil-looking devil that traumatized Saskatchewan children into not playing with matches in the forest), Mr. Yuck (which traumatized a generation of kids in the US and Canada about household chemicals), or Joanna Cassidy ripping her face off to reveal Smokey the Bear underneath (why anyone of my age even wants to go near a tree after The Scorcher and Joanna!Smokey's infamous PSA is beyond me).

EDIT: I take it back: I just rewatched one of the old TV PSAs and I forgot how they creeped the heck out of me - especially that sound effect and the warning symbol for poison or explosive hazard or whatever suddenly filling the screen. Wow. You wonder why half the people of my generation are in therapy.

[gastrophobia]

Friendly reminder!

[wizard-legs]

I hate Justin McElroy for validating my lifelong fear of invisible ocean creatures in my pool with the ‘glass shark’ bit, because now every time I am in ANY body of water I have to act like I’m not afraid of Glass Shark so it can’t smell my very real fear

[14dayswithyou]

HAPPY VARENTINES DAY, ANGEL ! I've been facing some tech issues recently, but!! To celebrate Ren's birthday and Valentine's Day, I'll be releasing Day 5 (the Early Access version) for all the Beta Testers in a few days!

And for those who aren't part of the 14DWY Discord server, don't worry! The public version will be available for everyone to play once the beta testing period is over ^^

[nudityandnerdery]

Please, everyone, I'm begging you.

STOP shopping for cursed dolls at shops like this.

This is not a healthy or a safe environment for them to live in. Each individual cursed doll needs at least a two bedroom apartment and a family of no fewer than three individuals to haunt and spread their curse around. Confining so many of them together is going to lead to fighting, then their curses will tangle together, causing more problems for the surrounding neighborhood, while offering the dolls themselves no real enrichment.

Remember- a cursed doll isn't just for Halloween. A cursed doll is for the rest of your life.

[phillyradiogeek]

Superman says, if you’re a smoker, you’re a loser!

[lakelewisia]

Mining operations in the eastern hills have been halted, following the discovery of a previously-undetected vein of spiderstone. Spiderstone consists of egg sacs, preserved by fossilization, of the presumed-extinct giant maze spider that once tunneled through this region in prehistoric days. For good or ill, we will have an opportunity to learn more about this creature’s habits and their tolerance for modern environmental conditions, as the unplanned exposure of the vein is believed to have initiated revivification and hatching of the eggs.