#The Impact of Online Donations Platform

[iconnectxsolutions]

Empowering Nonprofits: The Impact of Online Donations Platform

Online donation platforms are a great way for nonprofits to increase their fundraising efforts. These platforms make it easier for donors to give money quickly and securely, allowing nonprofits to focus on their mission instead of worrying about collecting donations. With an online donation platform, nonprofits can accept payments from anywhere in the world, track donor data, and even set up automated giving programs. By leveraging the power of digital technology, these platforms help nonprofits maximize their fundraising potential and ensure that more of every donation goes towards helping those in need. With an online donation platform, nonprofits can easily manage their donations, track donor information, and create reports on their fundraising efforts. This helps them make more informed decisions about how to allocate their resources and ensure that they are reaching the right people with the right message.

How Online Donations Platforms are Transforming the Way Nonprofits Raise Funds:

Online donation platforms are revolutionizing the way nonprofits raise funds. They provide a convenient and secure way to collect donations from anywhere in the world, enabling nonprofits to reach a larger audience and increase their fundraising efforts. These platforms also allow donors to track their donations and see where their money is going, making them feel more connected to the cause. With online donation platforms, nonprofits can easily manage their campaigns, track progress, and measure the impact of their efforts in real time. This makes it easier for them to make strategic decisions about how best to allocate resources for maximum impact.

The Benefits of Using an Online Donations Platform for Nonprofits & Charities:

Nonprofits and charities rely on donations to fund their programs and operations. An online donations platform can make it easier for these organizations to collect donations from supporters around the world. With an online donation platform, nonprofits and charities can quickly set up donation pages that are optimized for mobile devices, accept payments from multiple payment methods, provide tax receipts to donors, and track donor data. By using an online donation platform, nonprofits, and charities can increase their fundraising efficiency and reach more potential donors.

Choosing the right donation software for your fundraising needs can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which one is best suited for you and your organization. As a charity, Looking for the best and Free online fundraising solutions provider? Try iConnectX today!

Relevant Fundraising Solutions

Free online auction site

Free event ticketing software for Nonprofits

[hsmagazine254]

Making a Difference Worldwide: Donate Online to Change Lives

The Power of Online Giving In today’s digital age, making a positive impact on the world is just a few clicks away. Online websites and apps have revolutionized the way we donate to causes we care about, from helping those in need to supporting wildlife conservation. This CSR article explores a world of possibilities where you can make a difference with the simple act of donating online. A World…

[myshunosun]

Some updates

Hey! Popping by to share some updates.

Future projects and life stuff

I recently started in a new role at my IRL job (I'm both excited and terrified), so I'm in this weird period of adapting to quite a lot of life changes. I have several custom content projects currently in progress, so I will continue posting my stuff on a monthly basis. At least for now.

It feels weird to explain my online presence (or lack thereof), but this is a big life change that will most likely impact how engaged I am with the community in the future.

CurseForge

Here's some background information about Overwolf running a fundraising campaign for the IDF. Overwolf own CurseForge, and this is exactly the reason why I'm no longer uploading stuff on that platform.

My content that has (so far) remained on CurseForge has been accruing points that can be withdrawn as cash, so I decided to start donating these funds to foundations that help support the people of Palestine. Here's the receipt for my donation for The PCRF from today:

Right now my goal is to do this whenever I have accrued a significant amount of points from the content that has already been shared. If you know of other foundations or ways to help folks get eSims - let me know!

[primofate]

About boycotting Genshin Impact: Natlan skin colour issue and McDonalds.

(Read if you care about these issues and care about what I'm doing.)

If you are only here for a TLDR and want to know if I'm still writing Genshin fanfiction here's the short story: (I appreciate all the encouraging messages and all the love, but I may need to find another platform if things aren't working out here. If that day comes I will surely post over here and let you know where I've gone, but for now, though it is quite unpleasant, I do like and am used to the tumblr format. )

Long post starts here:

Decided to finally say something about this, because I feel like I've read up adequately about things.

First off, to the anon who claimed that I didn't care (who revealed their real identity in my inbox and apologized) I appreciate your bravery and also appreciate the apology. But I'm not going to lie to you, I don't really care for your presence around here, specially after what happened.

About the Natlan issue and the lack of tan/brown/dark skinned colour characters,

I understand why people are upset. I had a conversation with someone about this on tumblr, on how me, myself, I get upset when there is a lack of FEMALE main characters in games (I am mostly talking about the Persona Franchise, the main characters are always MALE, time and time again I always wait for a FEMALE MC, but am always disappointed that it hasn't happened EXCEPT of course, for P3 Portable and P2EP. Finally you had the option to play as Female, but that was it. I mean, it's 2024. WHY is there a lack of FEMALE MC in Persona? Anyhow, that is a different topic altogether.) so I can see how it could be disappointing for POC to see less or even NO characters that are POC.

That part, I totally understand.

All of your actions, boycotting, not rolling, not playing the game, being free to play, I UNDERSTAND all of that.

Now, recently there has been a big issue with Genshin Impact collaborating with McDonalds, because the chain supports Israel (but McDonalds is a franchise... and different owners have different ways of using their ownership of the chain/profit they make off it, so idk how that equals to all McDonalds support Israel. Educate me on this if I'm wrong.) People are saying that they are uninstalling the game because of it.

Again, I UNDERSTAND why you would do that.

I think what I need to address is what I am going to do.

And I'm not gunna lie to you, I don't think I'm going to stop playing the game (and I don't spend much money in game in the first place).

Does it mean that I support the bad situations they've put themselves in or the bad choices they've made? No, but of course there will be people who will say I play the game = I support their thoughts. Can it not just be simply I play the game = I enjoy the game/story?

I am being transparent and I think that's better than some of the people online who keep saying they won't play anymore but you KNOW some of them still do. Like, come on. Don't lie.

If that makes me a bad person according to you judgers out there, then so be it. Who really are you to claim I'm a bad person just because I play a game? Do you know what kinds of things I do in real life? What groups I help out and what organizations I donate to? What really do you know about what I do in real life? Maybe think about that before pointing your finger at someone online, and maybe think about what YOU are doing in real life too, instead of just being keyboard fighters, have you done anything to enhance the lives of other people?

Am I still going to write Genshin fanfiction?

Honestly if I stop doing it, it's because the interaction here on tumblr has been so toxic. LESS people commenting and interacting, I don't really mind much because I enjoy writing in general, I don't do it for you, I do it for me.

I am STILL writing, but at a slower pace because of my real life plus everything that's surrounding the game and the toxicity at the moment. I am even considering not posting on tumblr and just releasing stories like Ruthless Prince, stories that would be available through physical copy or ebooks that you have to pay for (that way I don't get nasty interactions and messages and those who really want to read my stuff can just pay and enjoy it) but as you all know, I'm not money hungry, I still post a lot of free stuff over here, but again, I'm not going to lie, there isn't much reason for me to post on tumblr anymore, specially with all the controversies and attacking going on.

I appreciate all the encouraging messages and all the love, but I may need to find another platform if things aren't working out here. If that day comes I will surely post over here and let you know where I've gone, but for now, though it is quite unpleasant, I do like and am used to the tumblr format.

The End.

[gaypornvideoswebsite]

got so pissed about shitlib activists and grifters i made a whole comic about it. it has been tough seeing how large online platforms continue to be misused by grifters and grift-aspirers. the “uncensored” tour by shaun king and khaled beydoun has angered me a lot these past few days, especially because many people still view khaled as a reliable source of “news”. these people are antithetical to the greater cause, and this is an important thing to critique, especially since both of these people have deeply troubled history within activism (look up khaled beydoun new zealand massacre if you really want to lose your lunch). instead of platforming and supporting these people, get your news directly from the news sources that they rip and put on black squares, listen to palestinians on the ground, and look for direct mutual aid like @gazamutualaid and @palestineasdiqa on instagram. these two are just one example of the celebrity activist’s grift.

—

[Image ID:

Image 1: Cartoon of a person burning a sign that reads “all proceeds go to and other grifter slogans”.

Image 2: Cartoon of a marquee that reads “Now playing, grifter” followed by a definition that reads “con artist, swindler, a person or group taking advantage of politics for their own financial interest and benefit”.

Image 3: A question speech bubble that reads “Are proceeds the same as profits?”. A response speech bubble reads “Yes! Both mean net revenue.”

Image 4: Cartoon of a large bag of money on a conveyer belt. It is being pushed towards a black box that has the words travel, hotels, food, venue fees, and more written on the side. On the other side of the black box is a smaller bag of money labeled “proceeds”. Text below reads “tours like Shaun and Khaled’s weaken potential financial impact of donations, all while disguising grifting as political activism.”

Image 5: Large cartoon lettering that reads “net zero is still grifting by those who sit upon wealth.”

Image 6: Text that reads “celebrities and people with large funded platforms are not willing to redistribute their wealth, only yours.”

End ID]

[actuallyobsessive]

This blog is more or less inactive. I don't know if I plan to use it anymore. Regardless, it has 4x the follower count of my main blog, and I'd be missing a great opportunity if I didn't use that platform to share something important.

Palestine is facing a genocide. Around 25,000 people have been killed since October and Israel shows no signs of stopping.

No matter what your political or religious beliefs may be, what's happening in Palestine is unacceptable. If you are a fellow human, you should not be okay with this.

Below are some charities and organizations that are helping people in Palestine. Even if you can't donate, I encourage you to share these sites with people who can. And if you're a religious person, please keep Palestine in your prayers.

Palestinian Children's Relief Fund - Provides aid to children affected by the war in Palestine.

Ceasefire NOW - Write a letter to congress and demand a ceasefire.

Anera - Provides food, blankets, hygiene products, and other necessities to Palestinians.

US Campaign for Palestinian Rights - Find activist groups for Palestinian liberation in your area.

Please don't stop talking about Palestine, and be sure to educate those around you about what is going on. There is a lot of propaganda on the internet and in the news, and as a result, many people simply don't know the scale of what is happening to Palestinians. Always be critical of what you read online, including this post.

Palestine will be free. Please don't give up on them.

[eretzyisrael]

 Opinion

By MICHAEL KAYE   Published: FEBRUARY 28, 2024 03:04 THE WRITER speaks at a marketing conference in New York City wearing a #EndJewHatred T-shirt.(photo credit: COURTESY MICHAEL KAYE)

It’s been almost five months since October 7, a day that completely changed the lives of more than 15 million Jews around the world. But the aftermath of the attack is still present, months later. In many ways, it feels as though this nightmare just happened, while at other moments, it’s hard to remember what life was like before that day of terror.

I am not fluent in Hebrew. I do not wear a kippah. I have almost 30 tattoos. I am not your stereotypical Jew, but I have become a proud Jewish activist. But October 7 changed me, as it did many others. Who I was before is someone I can never be again. I cannot be complicit or silent. I donate to the Anti-Defamation League; I speak at conferences wearing an #EndJewHatred T-shirt; I never leave home without Jewish-themed jewelry; and I use my social media platforms to discuss the rising antisemitism on college campuses across the United States and around the world.

As someone who was educated at a Jewish school and learned about the Holocaust, I am no stranger to antisemitism or the dangerous impact it can have. My earliest memories include being taught by my parents to be proud but quiet about my Judaism, having swastikas carved on my school playground, being immediately evacuated on September 11, and always leaving my Star of David at home when traveling. 

During my childhood and teenage years, I heard from and met many Holocaust survivors, including Elie Wiesel. I listened to their stories about how the world remained silent.

Today, it feels like the beginning of a second Holocaust. That is why I cannot remain silent.

A scary time to be Jewish

For this Jewish New Yorker, it’s a scary time to be Jewish. The American Jewish Committee’s State of Antisemitism in America report found that 93% of American Jews surveyed think antisemitism is a problem in the United States and 86% believe antisemitism in the country has increased over the past five years. 

In November, I attended the March for Israel in Washington. Around me were Jewish people from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Diego, and Queens. A man from Brooklyn put tefillin (phylacteries) on me; it was the first time I had worn tefillin in almost 20 years. I even got to meet Julia Haart and Miriam Haart from Netflix’s My Unorthodox Life, who grew up in a religious community not too far from me. While there, I realized this gathering had the most Jews I’ve been around since I was in Israel in 2006. It was the safest I had felt in years. But there were also allies, including Congressman Ritchie Torres and CNN contributor Van Jones. That day reminded me of why I am proud to be Jewish and why I cannot be silent about my Judaism any longer.

Since October 7, I have lost hundreds of followers on social media. I have received anti-Israel and anti-Jewish messages, even threats. But I am not alone. The AJC found that six in 10 people have come across antisemitic content online, and 78% of American Jews feel less safe as Jews in the United States since that horrific day.

To many of us, the current climate feels different. We’re feeling angry, confused, and isolated. In my lifetime, I have watched the nation unite after domestic and foreign terrorist attacks, social justice actions, and wars. Rarely, outside of politics, have I seen us this divided: the Jewish community against everyone else. Overnight, people who had never spoken about any Middle Eastern wars became experts on the conflict. Disinformation spread like wildfire across social media, and much of it felt aimed at damaging or discrediting Jews and Zionists. Almost immediately after October 7, it was not only taboo to express sympathy for the Israelis who were captured or murdered; it was discouraged and forbidden, often met with attacks, both physical and verbal.

BUT THROUGH these painful months, there have also been glimmers of light.

During this period of mourning, I have watched people of all backgrounds come together – to educate, to grieve, to hope, and to pray. A Christian connection on social media thanked me for sharing educational resources. Jewish friends from elementary school and high school reached out. A Muslim friend held my hand as I cried, and another has been checking on me periodically for months. These are the moments I have chosen to cling to.

Our future is not where one side loses and another wins. It’s where we all unite.

The writer is an award-winning communications strategist, data storyteller, purpose-driven marketer, and educator based in New York City. He often speaks about antisemitism, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice issues.

[mariacallous]

Far-right extremists have spent the past week harassing and threatening migrants on the United States border with Mexico while making money by livestreaming it on YouTube and Rumble.

“Anybody in there,” said Dennis Yarbery, one of the YouTubers, as he approached a migrant camp at night in Jacumba Hot Springs, California, near the border last week. Yarbery was livestreaming to thousands of people. “Come out, come out wherever you are.”

Yarbery is one of three men who split off from the Take Our Border Back convoy in Texas and, according to their livestreams, spent days driving along the border in Arizona and California to harass migrants and volunteers with nonprofit groups.

“We’re illegal hunters,” Yarbery told a store clerk while livestreaming at a Subway sandwich counter in Jacumba Hot Springs. “I’ve hunted a lot in my life, but I’ve never actually hunted people, and that’s what we’re doing now.”

Yarbery, who is known online as both MasterGrifter and Big D and says he joined the People’s Convoy, a group that protested Covid lockdown measures and disrupted traffic, in 2022, was joined by Josh Fulfer, known as OreoExpress, and Joe Felix, known as Taco Joe, who runs 1st Responders Media, an outlet focused on livestreaming far-right events.

Throughout the hours-long broadcasts from the border in Arizona and California, these livestreamers regularly asked for donations from their supporters, which they claimed was being used to continue their work “covering” the crisis.

Even while in the middle of harassing the migrants, the livestreamers could still be heard thanking those who were sending them money via YouTube’s Super Chat function or through other platforms like Venmo and the Christian-aligned crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. In one situation, while Fulfer was shouting at migrants in Arizona telling them to go home, he stopped briefly to call out a supporter who had sent him $50 on Venmo.

These livestreamers come after weeks of inflamed rhetoric from both the far-right community and Republican lawmakers about immigration at the Texas border with Mexico. This year, the situation has erupted: After Texas governor Greg Abbott refused to heed the Biden administration’s calls to remove razor wire along the border, a dozen GOP governors publicly declared support for Abbott, and the Take Our Border Back convoy traveled from Virginia to Texas. Though the convoy petered out, the violent anti-immigrant rhetoric, which experts have warned would have long-term impacts, has only heightened.

“The post-convoy terror campaign against immigrants at the border follows an all-too-familiar pattern we’ve tracked for the past couple of decades,” Devin Burghart, the executive director at the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, tells WIRED. “Public bragging about ‘hunting people’ is a descent into a dangerous new low for armed vigilantes. Left unchecked, armed far-right vigilantes will spill more blood.”

After the livestreamers left Texas, they went to Sasabe in Arizona and a migrant camp run by No More Deaths, a humanitarian organization that provides support for migrants crossing the border.

During an hours-long livestream at night, Yarbery, Fulfer, and Felix all shouted at the migrants and accused them of human trafficking. Yarbery even tried to sell cigarettes to the migrants for $20 each. At one point, Fulfer threatened violence against a migrant who was shining a torch at their cameras.

The trio also verbally attacked a volunteer who worked with the organization, following her around as she phoned for help from US Border Patrol, according to livestreams of the incident viewed by WIRED before they were taken offline.

Yarbery, Felix, and Fulfer didn’t respond to WIRED’s requests for comment about their actions at the border.

Laurie Cantillo, a board member from Humane Borders, says the organization, which maintains water stations along migrant routes near the border, is aware of the allegations of harassment. “We have noticed an increase in vandalism of our permitted water stations along the border,” Cantillo tells WIRED. “Our 55-gallon barrels have been shot, stabbed, drained, and stolen. It’s a sad state of affairs when someone sabotages water that can save a human life.”

US Border Patrol and No More Deaths did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the incident. One former volunteer with No More Deaths, who did not want to be identified due to safety concerns, told WIRED that they were not surprised no one replied, as the organization “may not want to draw extra attention to this event.”

After departing Arizona, the trio of livestreamers headed to California, where they continued to try and track down migrant camps. On several days their searches were fruitless, though they continued to broadcast and solicit donations through YouTube.

After Fulfer and Felix departed, Yarbery continued to “hunt,” as he called it, and during one broadcast over the weekend, he livestreamed with his partner and their baby while driving toward the border in Jacumba Hot Springs.

While there, Yarbery met with locals to discuss the migrant situation, and in one conversation a man could be heard on the livestream saying, “I say we shoot ’em all,” before Yarbery told him to be quiet as he was broadcasting live on YouTube.

YouTube told WIRED that it terminated Fulfer and Felix’s accounts after WIRED asked about the livestreamers, but it did not take action on Yarbery’s account. All of Yarbery’s videos, YouTube said, were set to private by the account holder. Yarbery has also created a backup channel, and told his followers in a YouTube chat where they could continue to follow him on the platform.

For years, extremism experts have been tracking how violent rhetoric around the border and migrants has led directly to violence, dating back to the 2000s when fear-mongering attacks on immigrants led to the mobilization of far-right paramilitary groups, one of which brutally murdered Raul Flores and his 9-year-old daughter Brisenia.

“Sadly, this cycle of violence has become so common that it tends to go unnoticed outside of the communities targeted by far-right vigilantes,” Burghart said. “This time around, the Black Mirror-like difference is that tech advances now allow [people like Yarbery, Fulfer, and Felix] to stream and monetize their cruelty to a far-right fanbase that craves more.”

[accio-victuuri]

wang yibo - Beijing Xingquan Law Firm weibo

On March 28, 2024, the verdict was pronounced in court in the case of singer and actor Mr. Wang Yibo suing Zhu *wen for a reputation dispute.

On July 11, 2022, the defendant Zhu *wen publicly posted a message against Wang Yibo in his personal WeChat circle of friends through the WeChat account "Zhu Rui Gabriel Jiu Men Wu Pictures" (WeChat ID: Gabriel****) he registered and used. Mr.’s insulting and defamatory remarks. After trial, the court held that: No organization or individual may infringe the reputation rights of others by insulting, slandering, etc. WeChat Moments is also a public communication platform. WeChat users are not allowed to post content in Moments that infringes on the rights of others. Defendant Zhu *wen's behavior of putting the derogatory name and "Wang Yibo" in a circle of friends in which he was connected was not a legitimate comment to supervise and criticize public figures. In this case, screenshots of Zhu*wen’s Moments were forwarded in large numbers on multiple online platforms in the form of Weibo topics, Weibo comments, related article content, etc. The volume of views and spread was high, which had a huge negative impact on Wang Yibo. The defendant should Bear corresponding legal responsibility for your behavior. Therefore, the court ordered: Defendant Zhu *wen immediately deletes the relevant content on Moments, publishes an apology statement simultaneously in the "People's Court Daily" and the top position of WeChat Moments within 7 days after the judgment becomes legally effective, and compensates plaintiff Wang Yibo for mental damage. The total amount of solatium and reasonable rights protection expenses is 70,000 yuan.

When Mr. Wang Yibo entrusted this law firm to initiate the rights protection case, he made it clear that if the case is successful, all the compensation received will be donated to public welfare. Our law firm will pay close attention to the effectiveness of the judgment in this case and the defendant's performance, and will promote the donation as soon as possible on behalf of Mr. Wang Yibo.

[intersectionalpraxis]

i want to do everything i can to support palestine, but im unable to give money (im a minor and my parents refuse to get me a credit/debit card). i do my daily clicks on arab.org and spread information, but is there anything else i can do? sorry, i know its not your job to educate me, im just struggling to find anything i dont need a card to do

Hi! Thank you for reaching out! This is a post I stumbled upon a while ago below and I still reference here for those who haven't seen it. I'm not sure how young you are, but I just wanted to state this before you read this list of ways we can support -that no one is going to fault you for not being able to do everything. There are many things we can do that can cause a positive impact -especially boycotting, joining local actions if they are accessible to us, boosting reliable gofundme and donation links here, and staying informed/educated -they are all equally important as well.

There are also a lot of people who are still very apathetic and frustratingly so -do not care, so please know that everything you're doing -especially by not turning away from what is happening in Palestine and being silent on what is going on, and instead are looking for ways to make change -matters a lot.

I'm always here for questions, so I don't mind sharing resources and educational sources. I am also by no means perfect or an expert on everything -which is why I will reference platforms/pages of folks when I am talking about various interconnecting issues, systemically so, because that is their lived experience, not mine, and I do no speak on behalf of them.

On that note, (for people who are interested in learning more about Palestine), please do not ask any Palestinian person to 'explain' the systemic oppression they face. There are lots of resources online, and I have shared many -palipunk has a master list on their page for folks interested in starting to learn; Let's Talk Palestine on Instagram has mountains of educational posts, and there's also a quick beginner's course (which is free) on The Palestine Academy's website. Of course this is not extensive, but it is a start.

Thank you again, and wishing you all the best. And as always, free Palestine.

[nerdygaymormon]

You know... I don't know why, but part of me feels a draw to look into Mormonism. This blog is one reason, but another reason is because of how happy Mormons seem to be... I'm not sure if they'd really want me around though because I'm non-binary, supportive of LGBTQ+ rights and don't really want any kids because of how trauma made me need to focus on myself so much. I just don't have the energy to raise anyone... Then there's the small "problem" of me being kind of witchy too in my own subtle way.

Still... when I look at Mormons, I feel a little jealous of the kind of community y'all seem to have. It's like you're all part of a really big family. That's something I've craved since childhood... having a stable and non-abusive family to call my own... maybe that's what I'm trying to look for when I say I want to look into Mormonism... but again, who would want someone like me, considering that I'm transitioning and don't want to get rid of this part of myself?

I don't know... but still, I want to learn more for one reason or another, despite everything. Do you have any advice or resources I could look into? Thank you.

~Applejack-Yarn

Mormons do have a reputation for being happy, and we are good at building a sense of community.

I think the sense of happiness comes from a couple things. There's a strong push to be engaged in doing service and donating to causes. The focus on family seems to have a positive impact on the mental health of children. Mormon theology offers a sense of purpose and a meaning to life. The Mormon code of health (no coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco) contributes to a healthier lifestyle. There's also an emphasis on education.

Mormons have a strong sense of community. I love that to you it feels like we're part of a really big family. We're encouraged to go each Sunday, and often have an activity or meeting during the week. That's more than I see my neighbors! One way we're encouraged to attend weekly is we're given assignments (we refer to them as "callings'), such as teaching a class or leading the music, which means we're always interacting with each other and that builds relationships.

In many ways it is nice, but if you don't fit in then it's not always so great. Being queer is one way a person doesn't fit as the church hasn't yet incorporated queer people into its theology, such as its views of what heaven is like or what is our purpose in life. It's hard to be in a space and hear rejecting messages and feel like I'm broken or not wanted or can't be good enough.

One of the great things about the rise of social media is Mormons who don't fit the mold found each other and can see we're not alone. I think even in online spaces like Tumblr, we we work to build a sense of community, and that feels comforting.

By all means, feel free to follow us and to engage with us. I suggest following the hashtag #queerstake. Btw, a local Mormon congregation is called a ward and a collection of several wards is called a stake, thus queerstake.

As for resources, I've been thinking and I'm not sure what to recommend. I think interacting with queer Mormons is likely the best, and you can find many of us at queerstake (queerstake also is used on other social media platforms)

[littlealienproducts]

Second Hand Books from World of Books 

World of Books is a leading global seller of used books online to millions of customers; directly, through third party platforms and wholesale partners. The business supports charities and are pioneers in the re-use and recycling of unwanted books.

Together, we've helped:

Save approximately 80 million books and counting from waste in 2018

Donate 250,000 books to literary schemes to #sharetheloveofreading

Lower carbon emissions and make our impact on the world a positive one

[investmentassistant]

Productive ways to spend your new year's break

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the much-anticipated New Year's break. While it's tempting to spend these days lounging on the couch, binge-watching TV shows, and indulging in festive treats, there are plenty of ways to make your New Year's holidays both enjoyable and productive. Here are some tips on how to spend your New Year's break with purpose:

Set goals for the new year

Use this time to reflect on the past year and set achievable goals for the upcoming one. Whether they are related to personal development, career aspirations, or health and fitness, establishing clear objectives can give you a sense of direction and motivation for the year ahead.

Learn something new

Take advantage of the break to acquire a new skill or enhance existing ones. Online courses and tutorials are readily available on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy. Whether it's a new language, coding, or cooking, investing time in learning something new can be both rewarding and intellectually stimulating.

Volunteer and give back

Spread the holiday spirit by giving back to your community. Look for local volunteer opportunities, whether it's helping at a food bank, participating in a charity event, or assisting at a local shelter. Volunteering not only benefits others but also brings a sense of fulfillment and purpose to your own life.

Exercise and stay active

Maintain your well-being by incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. Whether it's a home workout, a jog in the park, or joining a fitness class, staying active during the holidays can help combat the indulgences of festive meals and desserts.

Connect with loved ones

The holiday season is an excellent time to strengthen bonds with family and friends. Plan virtual gatherings or small get-togethers, share stories, and create lasting memories. Building and nurturing relationships contribute significantly to overall well-being.

Organize and declutter

Use the downtime to declutter and organize your living space. Whether it's your closet, kitchen, or workspace, a tidy environment can positively impact your mental well-being. Donate items you no longer need, and start the new year with a clean slate.

Read and expand your mind

Pick up a book you've been meaning to read or explore new genres and authors. Reading is not only a great form of entertainment but also an excellent way to expand your knowledge and perspective.

Plan for relaxation

While productivity is essential, don't forget to allocate time for relaxation. Whether it's a spa day at home, a nature walk, or simply enjoying a good movie, taking moments to unwind is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The New Year's break is a valuable opportunity to recharge, reflect, and set the tone for the year ahead. By combining productivity with enjoyment, you can make the most of your holiday season, fostering personal growth and creating lasting memories. So, this year, consider blending festive cheer with purposeful activities to make your New Year's break truly fulfilling.

[creepycute-puppy-gf]

Hi there!! I'm Gabby, I'm a disabled nb trans girl with chronic pain that takes care of her parents and it's my birth month (jan 18th) and if you'd like to get me anything to help or directly impact my life (I have a lil what this does in every descrip, you can help me work toward my goal of streaming or help replace my ragging clothes or make me fat by making me eat protein powder or burn me up with ghost pepper sauce) you can do so via my Throne wishlist!

You can even donate chunks toward the more expensive items and Throne retains both our privacies so no deadnames or addresses between us. I would appreciate it immensely and would fill my heart with love, but I do ask you donate to other queers directly first esp. those presently facing housing crisis right about now.

[tayduagyllencevans]

Jake Gyllenhaal has been liking these posts since last year, and I only found out yesterday, but it's good to know that my favorite actor is not a Zionist, and I'm glad to know that he is on the right side of history again and to be reaffirmed once more than he is a good person. Of course, this is not about him or a fandom war or about which celebrity is better, but it is important and has an impact on donations and humanitarian aid when people with a platform either big or small for their work as a public figure do the right thing. When so many famous people have shown their true colors since last year (This didn't start on October 7th, it's been happening since 1948) and made the genocide about them, I'm glad my main man is no a dumb evil fuck. I also want to say that Jake has always supported this organization in other causes, and it is obvious that a rich man like him is not only going to like a post just for the sake of it. I believe that someone like him who has always been so altruistic has also donated his money to the Palestinian cause and helped in any way he can. The fact that he is not advertising it on social media does not mean that he has not done it, because imagine the other celebrities who do not have an online presence and yet are also helping without the public knowing.

I really do hope that more people join this cause, because it is never too late to speak out and denounce this genocide.

*The links from these tweets on ways to help:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12IpNLyypC6d3Da1o5CC6ZNkHFvGCqlLe86JmfCYoKWY/mobilebasic

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtMLLOzuc6GpkFySyVtKQOY2j-Vvg0UsChMCFst_WLA/htmlview#gid=1653697245

[mariacallous]

TikTokkers are using a little-known livestreaming feature to cash in on the huge interest in the Israel-Hamas war despite having no links to the crisis. TikTok, meanwhile, is taking up to 50 percent of the earnings.

In the days after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, TikTok creators have been engaging in “live matches” on the platform where one creator plays the role of Israelis and the other that of Palestinians, while encouraging—and often shouting at—their followers to continue to donate expensive gifts. The side with the most gifts after five minutes wins the battle.

Some of these gifts cost hundreds of dollars each, and several livestreams WIRED observed in recent days have continued for multiple hours without a break. One battle had seen the creator representing Palestinians winning 72 matches in a row.

The creators can cash out their winnings for real currency, but only after TikTok itself has taken a major cut of the earnings.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, social media platforms have been accused of allowing disinformation to fester while platforms including TikTok have been accused of silencing certain viewpoints. Now TikTok appears to be profiting off their users’ fascination with Israel and Palestinians, and allowing creators who may not be from Israel or the Palestinian territories to earn money off the conflict.

WIRED found dozens of examples of creators seeking to cash in on people’s interest in the crisis, but one pair of creators appears to be cashing in more than most.

On multiple days over the course of the past week, a Turkish streamer who claims to represent Palestinians battled a Greek-Georgian streamer who claims to represent Israelis. In case there was any doubt about who each was supposedly representing, each had the flag of their respective adopted sides onscreen during the battles.

In all of the battles WIRED observed, none of the participants appeared to have any link to the entities they claimed to be representing, and none of them suggested they were planning on donating any of the money earned to the people directly impacted by the current crisis.

Battles between influencers online have been a feature of streaming services since at least 2016, particularly in China, though on most other platforms, the participants have to complete tasks or show off a skill in order to win a battle. On TikTok, it’s mostly just screaming.

Live matches, also known as player knockout or PK battles, have been a feature on TikTok since at least 2021, though TikTok does not mention the feature on its own webpage describing how livestreaming works. Despite the feature being available for more than two years, it is not very well known, and to the uninitiated, the TikTok battles may make little sense, with viewer counters, stickers, and never-ending comments crowding the screen while the two creators shout and scream in a bid to get their followers to donate more gifts.

Rather than making any coherent argument about the rights of Israelis or Palestinians during this crisis, the streamers instead shout out their side’s name or scream comments such as: “Like, like, like,” and “Follow me.”

The streams WIRED observed were watched live by thousands of TikTok users. Today, just before this article was published, a push notification showed the streamers were going live once again.

The two streamers did not respond to WIRED’s messages about their battles.

The rise of TikTok live matches related to the Israel-Hamas war was first highlighted by Abbie Richards, a research fellow at the Accelerationism Research Consortium who specializes in tracking misinformation on TikTok. Richards said it was “gross to grift off atrocities.”

“So this is real people, sending real money to TikTokkers to gesture support for the concept of Israel or Palestine,” Richards said in a video posted on Instagram this week. “But do you know who’s really making money off of these? TikTok, because they take roughly half of the money creators make on live. This helps literally no one except these grifters and TikTok. It’s fucking disgusting.”

TikTok did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.

A lot of TikTok creators use the app’s livestream feature to generate income, with some streamers broadcasting their entire lives on the platform. The “live match” feature is little known on the hugely popular video-sharing app that allows two people to “battle” against each other for five minutes at a time. The winner is the person who gains the most likes and gifts from their followers.

The strange phenomenon means that the TikTokkers participating need to encourage their followers to donate as many gifts as possible in order for them to “win.”

Virtual gifts are purchased with TikTok’s in-app currency, known as coins. The cost of coins vary depending on how many you are buying, but you can buy 70 coins for less than a dollar.

The gifts range from stickers of roses and the TikTok logo, which cost just a couple of coins, up to animations that take over the full screen that cost up to 45,000 coins. Purchasing enough coins to buy the most expensive gifts on TikTok can cost over $500.

After a user donates the gift to a creator during a battle, those gifts are then converted into Diamonds, which creators can then cash out for real currency.

However, the full value of the gift is not transferred to the creator, with TikTok taking a significant slice of each gift donated. TikTok says that it “shares with creators 50 percent of its net revenue from virtual items, after deducting the required payments to app stores, payment processors, and any other adjustment required under our terms and policies.”

But even small purchases can quickly accumulate. In January, people spent $6 billion in-app on TikTok, according to a report released by Data.ai, a mobile market trends firm

It can be a lucrative business, with some TikTokkers claiming they are making up to $30,000 a month from live matches. Meanwhile, those who are sending the gifts are also reporting that they can easily become addicted, leading to financial and emotional problems.