#as much as is possible as one person living under the conditions of our current reality

[ghostzzy]

i'm so glad i don't feel the urge to have to political post on the blog anymore.

[lizbethborden]

Its so true, Dworkin and Mackinnon predicted everything about this current era. Porn has become sex now; teenage girls being bullied into anal and getting choked by boys and coerced into sending nudes at an age typically understood as one of “exploration”—now porn defines sex and sexuality; and Gail Dines and many others have talked about the deeply deadening effect of porn on empathy and the ability to recognize women as people. Porn crept ever further into the mainstream and it has totally saturated our culture, from the ‘arts’—not just streaming/TV or Lars Von Trier films, but I’m thinking of stuff as small as frames of comic books traced from porn, art distributed online traced from porn—to the personal intimate lives of human beings, women being choked, spat on, beaten—then again, even back in the 80s, men were using porn to abuse women, and the most widely available stuff was still not as vile as the porn you can find with a 2sec Google search from any phone or computer today. Deepfake porn turns all women existing in public into potential victims of violent and degrading misogynist fetishism and sexuality. OF and its ilk makes it possible for any woman to monetize herself in the form of porn and in a time of increasing economic instability, inflation, high food and gas prices, the upcoming potential loss of health insurance for millions, I’m sure it’s more appealing than ever. Porn terminology is everywhere, “MILF,” “ebony,” etc. And all of this is done under the guise of sexual liberation and free speech, and to argue against it is seen as puritanical, condescending at best, hateful, antifeminist, “SWERF”/“TERF”-y at worst. It is a demonstrated fact of the research done into porn that it shuts off vital abilities to connect with women as human beings, to empathize with women and to reject violence against us; that porn usage conditions the user into seeking out ever more intense, bizarre, violent content to use in order to achieve the same pleasure and orgasm that “vanilla” content used to do for them. What must it be doing to all of us, collectively, to have porn on every level of our culture now? What is it doing to the position of women in our society, already half citizens at best, earning significantly less than men, with our bodily autonomy stripped away in many states, being denied life-saving procedures and medications—not just mifepristone etc but even things like lupus medication and anti-inflammatories that may potentially affect us and our bodies if we chose at some point to maybe get pregnant—even being arrested for drinking or taking drugs while decidedly not pregnant because it could affect a potential fetus at some point? Are we not degraded objects already? What does it mean for us to be reduced to “cumsocks” and pornographic objects on top of all this? How deeply destructive is this society, how much further will it go to enforce the category of woman as hole, woman as receptacle, woman as vessel, woman as meat?

[aesethewitch]

Loopholes

Thinking about general versus specific spells and loopholes in magic today…

I find that general spells are often less effective than spells that are really specific. Or, at least, a general spell’s effects are more difficult to measure than a spell with specific instructions and expectations.

Leaving spells general also leaves room for loopholes. Now, depending on the paradigm you’re operating from, loopholes may not be an issue. But they can cause unexpected and sometimes unwanted side effects, or cause the primary desired outcome to manifest in a way that isn’t ideal.

For another example, consider if you cast a spell for someone to take a romantic interest in you with no specifications on the type of person you’re looking for. That coworker you don’t particularly like but who already thinks you’re neat is likelier to form romantic feelings for you than, say, the unattainable hot guy whose name you don’t know and with whom your only conversation is “Would you like that small, medium, or large?”

This, in my paradigm, is because those connections either already exist or they’re stronger. You know that coworker better, they know you better, and you have more ties than the hot barista you see once every three weeks.

If you want the barista’s attention and not the coworker’s, it’s important to specify that — to close the loophole.

I always think about connections working against me, too, when I’m doing magic. If a person who hates me is the primary interviewer at a company I’m interested in, I have to account for their rancid opinion if I want to get that job. I have to do extra work to either get around, rewrite, or disconnect the existing connection in order to increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

My partner and I are currently looking at buying a house (yay!). Our area is pretty expensive, and very affordable homes tend to be… well, to put it kindly… shitholes.

Those conditions (those connections) are strongly ingrained into the environment. I can’t single-handedly change the economy, though I wish I could. And I can’t force a house to spontaneously appear between two existing houses, even though that neighborhood is absolutely perfect and I desperately want to live there. There isn’t room, and that isn’t physically possible.

Well, alright, I suppose I could do a spell to convince both owners to chop up their parcels into smaller pieces for sale, do another spell to make the parcels affordable, and then another spell for someone to build an affordable house on the land. But that’d be a teeny little house and yard! It might work better in a location with bigger parcels and more space between houses, but this is a cute little rural-type suburb, not the country roads further out of town. As it is in this location we’re looking at, to make it viable for our wants and needs would be physically impossible; we’d be compromising too much one way or another, and it wouldn’t be worthwhile!

But I can do spells for houses with specific qualities to come onto the market, and I can include my particular price range! I can do magic to encourage the bank to give us a better deal on our pre-approval! I can do a spell to urge sellers to drop their prices or accept an offer that’s under their asking price but within our budget!

It’s a matter of identifying what I want and what might stand in the way. It’s also about considering the things I’m leaving unsaid, or that could be taken in multiple ways. Like, if I say I want a basement, and we find a house that’s perfect, fitting all our desired qualities!

…except that basement floods several times a year, and that’s why it’s unfinished, so it’s wasted space that requires expensive yearly upkeep or a massive, pricey overhaul to prevent for the future. That would be a hell of a loophole to discover. Closing as many loopholes as possible can help a spell produce a result that’s exactly (or close to exactly) what I expect it to be with as few unpleasant side effects as possible.

Another method I’ve seen, which I think comes from @windvexer, is the “if/then” method of creating conditions within a spell. I find it’s really useful for closing loopholes, since it keeps a spell from deviating from your instructions or fizzling out when it can’t fulfill its purpose as written.

The method looks like this in practice:

“This spell is a money spell. Its purpose is to bring $500 in tarot commissions to me by the end of April.

“If April is not possible, then by the end of June.

“If $500 is not possible, then no less than $300.

“If not by tarot commissions, then this money will come to me via tips and subscriptions.

“If not by tips and subscriptions, then this money will come to me via other types of contract work.

“If any final condition (end of June, no less than $300, contract work) is not possible, I will receive a sign in the form of three cardinals sitting on the hood of my car, and the spell will end.”

Thus, the loopholes I’m worried about are closed, and I have a condition set to end the spell and send me a sign if it isn’t possible. It’s a simple but very effective method that I’ve found really useful for getting super specific in my spellwork!

Anyways, point is, loopholes matter because connections matter and therefore the space between those connections matter. If one of my spells fails or produces an unexpected result, loopholes are the first things I look for. What happened, and could I have prevented it? How so? Then note it down, and do the next spell.

[genderkoolaid]

Do you genuinely believe we can somehow change the hearts and minds of billionaires and politicians in power in for example the USA in a way that will actually result in a radical change in and improvement of conditions for folks currently oppressed under capitalism in the USA and hopefully globally? If so, how?

This is coming from someone who really would like to believe pure nonviolence is possible but who does not see much of an actual way forward for that. That said I do not see those billionaires and politicians as "nonhuman", I don't think that's productive and I think dehumanizing anyone who is factually a human person as a practice is dangerous so I am in agreement with you there. Thanks for your time if you choose to share your thoughts.

What I like about Against the Logic of the Guillotine is that it isn't for pure nonviolence. It breaks down the false binary that our options are "let the streets run red with blood until our every thirst for revenge is slaked" or "punching nazis makes you as bad as them 🥺"

& i think that binary is tempting because it absolves us of a responsibility to think deeply about things. if all revolutionary violence is good and justified, then you don't have to think too hard about the violence, you just see it & condone it. If all violence is bad and morally evil, then you still don't have to think too hard to condemn it. Our options are like, moral baby food.

But if we reject that binary, then there is no easy answer. Its not as easy as "yes leftist violence is always justified" or "any violence ever is always unjustified." You have to ask yourself, what am I doing? Why? What does this accomplish? Who is affected by this? What do they have to say? It makes us look at the actual nature of our violence and pick it apart and see where we have fucked up and where we might fuck up again. Its a lot more messy and also requires that we form relationships with others & genuinely listen to what they have to say. Its much much harder than Violence Good or Violence Bad but its also much more capable of adapting to the needs of people in the complicated situations where we find ourselves.

My opinion is that we will not reach anti-capitalism and anti-imperialism without violence. But more than anything, its because the systems in power will not let us. I think the foundation of the Revolution (in a more abstract sense of the word) must be community. We should focus our efforts most on building local networks of mutual support. If people suddenly find themself in a community that has free public food gardens & a community fridge, where people are already practicing transformative justice, etc. etc. then it will become materially obvious that we don't need to rely on the current system to survive. It will become clear that the current system is more of a hindrance to what we could do if we were not being controlled. And then people will be more likely to support any revolutionary violence that becomes necessary, because they will see their neighbors and know that when the dust settles, they know how to care for each other through shitty situations. Violence should really be the topping on a cake of community & indispensability politics.

Also this line from AtLotG really changed my perspective on "punishing the rich":

The worst punishment anyone could inflict on those who govern and police us today would be to compel them to live in a society in which everything they’ve done is regarded as embarrassing—for them to have to sit in assemblies in which no one listens to them, to go on living among us without any special privileges in full awareness of the harm they have done. If we fantasize about anything, let us fantasize about making our movements so strong that we will hardly have to kill anyone to overthrow the state and abolish capitalism. This is more becoming of our dignity as partisans of liberation.

"If we fantasize about anything, let us fantasize about making our movements so strong that we will hardly have to kill anyone to overthrow the state and abolish capitalism" really sums it up for me.

[website-enjoyer]

Hey I read your post about stuff like UBI still relying on imperialist resource extraction, do you have any resources specifically related to what a healthcare system that isn't imperialist might look like? I've been trying to find some kind of resource about this for two days and haven't come up with anything.

At a certain point it started to feel like maybe there isn't a solution and due to the current Empirical Collapse Era, everyone living in the core is just Fucked and we're about to be sent back to the stone age once infrastructure collapses and we won't have any food, medicine, electricity, etc. And there's nothing we can do to meaningfully stop it.

So I really hope you can at least point me in the right direction cuz I'm really scared about everything happening lately

hi anon, sorry my little screed against social democracy was your wake-up call re: the blood soaking everything in society. it’s understandable to feel distress. yes, things might keep getting worse before they get better. that being said, let’s unpack this worry that there’s nothing we can do to prevent a total collapse of organized society.

there would be a dark comfort in this being the case, right? we wouldn’t have any responsibility to each other, to humanity, to our environment. no need to take action, to organize, to have a political project. nothing left to do but choose how to individually distract yourself as the world ends. doomsday prepping, apocalypse prophecies, noble savage tropes, brunch and cartoons as an act of resistance, getting high, etcetera. convenient, no? i’m not trying to ascribe this viewpoint to you, just pointing out where it leads in practice. it’s self-fulfilling. think for a minute about how people being oppressed by imperialism around the world right now might feel about this outlook amongst people in the core.

so what are the other options? for one, consider that capitalism could survive. food, medicine, electricity, and infrastructure could all continue to exist but in a society with much harsher conditions for the working class, deprived of imperialism’s bribery. this isn’t a question of infrastructure decay, it’s about the system of private property, wage labour, and commodity exchange. never underestimate capitalism’s ability to sustain itself. it’s crucial that in recognizing this possibility we find solidarity with the global working classes, rather than resorting to racist politics in reaction to “falling to their level”. this is what my original post was about. personally, the possibility of capitalist civilization continuing, being reformed, scares me more than any potential break from it.

global working class solidarity brings me to the second option: socialist revolution. when a society is organized around meeting working people’s needs rather than maximizing profits, things are possible that seem unfathomable to those who have only ever known capitalism. countries like cuba and north korea, despite constant imperialist violence in the form of sanctions, isolation, and military threats—and despite the many other contradictions arising from trying to survive in a global capitalist system—maintain universal healthcare systems which result in vastly better health outcomes compared to other countries at similar economic scales. socialized ownership of the means of production is a different game entirely than reformist forms of redistribution like UBI that leave society’s productive forces under the ownership of capitalists.

this requires a revolution. if we recognize revolution as a possibility, as our historical responsibility, what does that lead to in practice? organizing. this is how people under siege by the most powerful countries in the world have been able to build some of the most advanced healthcare systems ever to exist. this is how at the height of the cold war, the ussr was still able to play a primary role in eradicating smallpox globally. i leave you with a few very short reads: che guevara’s on revolutionary medicine, n.a. semashko’s the work of the public health authorities in soviet russia, and wu chieh-ping’s medicine and health: for workers, peasants, and soldiers.

[drdemonprince]

CW: suicide, commitment, psychosis

My sibling is someone who unequivocally says being committed saved their life and was not inherently traumatic outside of the extremely traumatic mental health crisis that led to it. (However, our local psych ER/psych inpatient is probably one of the better ones and does not use any kind of restraints or force medication. They seem to have an okay track record explaining what the pills are and asking if the person can try them, which I get can still be coercive in some cases, but worked well with my sibling. Also, I was visiting them as much as I could every day, which they found really helpful, and I could keep my eye out for any issues.)

My sibling (~30) had a severe psychotic episode that doesn't quite fit any current DSM diagnosis. They went 0 to 100 from no suicidal ideation to actively attempting suicide in front of me due to delusions about being hunted by supernatural entities who would torture them. They finally could not sleep for days, and therefore I could not go to sleep because they'd try to kill themself. They were not dangerous to me intentionally, but one or both of us could have been hurt by me trying to take a weapon from them. They could not think at all outside of panic and delusions and had no short term memory, so they describe themself as having been incapable of understanding their condition. They weren't able to engage with any social interventions, because how would you have the time or bandwidth if you were living in terror of demons about to torture you and couldn't remember conversations from an hour ago?

They went to the hospital voluntarily after being stopped from attempting, but then they were committed because of aforementioned memory issues when they shortly informed the doctors they had to leave and kill themself. In a moment of lucidity, they were glad to be there, but they just couldn't stay lucid from moment to moment. Trying to get outpatient help in the weeks all this was escalating had been fruitless, with a lot of dismissive assholes, but these particular inpatient docs actually cared and asked how they were doing and figured out a dose of antipsychotics that made it all just... stop like a switch had been flipped.

Once they weren't operating under the terrifying delusions, they 100% did not want to die and were so relieved I stopped them and got help from others when it was becoming too dangerous to us both for me to intervene alone. I get that this kind of crisis is really different from living with chronic suicidal ideation or depression, which is something I personally deal with on a low level, but it was a genuine, terrifying situation where someone's expressed wishes were the opposite of what they wanted when they could understand their situation more fully.

I am allowed to share this, but if this is somehow not on anon, please delete it. Stigma about psychosis is REAL.

Yo this is super helpful, thank you for sharing. One of the trickier aspects of upholding disabled people's autonomy and taking a harm reductionist approach to suicide and self-harm is the fact that people in a state of psychosis may temporarily want something they would otherwise never want.

Though with some experience working through it with a caring and informed support network, it is possible to stand in for the person's stated desires and help them get through the period of lacking lucidity -- and of course psychosis can become a lot less destabilizing with time. i know someone who relies on a close friend to help ground them when they're having delusions and hallucinations -- a quick phone call is now enough to convince them they don't need to kill themselves, but that's after years of getting used to having psychotic states.

glad you and your sibling found solutions and made it through this okay.

[trans-ralsei]

i got clocked sometime back.

no there's nothing to worry about, i'm safe. but it was the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me in a while. maybe i sounded off. maybe it wasn't wise to venture out without an umbrella and with a white shirt with the november rains. maybe i really shouldn't have trusted how the map looked in this neighbourhood of cul-de-sacs, and maybe i shouldn't have looked really drenched when i first came in.

it was odd, though. the conversation started out with this person talking about her work. she'd been a lifestyle correspondent for the city paper, you see, the same place i worked for eight months before being unceremoniously tossed out for having adhd. she asks about my personal writing. we are among poets and intellectuals; everyone talks about literature, about publishing, about writing in Kenya or India or the US or the home city. they're well-travelled too, talking about living in Nairobi or Delhi or New York.

so i find it difficult. i write fanfiction, I say, but I'm not even actively writing fanfiction. we talk briefly about the fandoms i'm in; she'd been surprisingly knowledgeable about the Anime of the Month. i ask why the city paper didn't have an anime column, but I suppose now that it's because anime's considered a cultural import. she talks about someone who did write about anime for the city paper, but who unfortunately left.

the room's kinda warm despite the air-conditioning, and the rain still patters outside. i talk about the real reason why i've been invited into this party of writers: i'm a journalist. i've written commentary, op-eds. i've reported on current affairs and written news analyses. i had a blog where i wrote political stuff, I ran it when I was 18. it's on tumblr, even.

i ask about her time writing for the lifestyle section of the city paper, about her time as a foreign correspondent. and i talk about a time where i felt like i was writing for an audience: telling folk what they wanted to hear, when they wanted to hear it. talking to kindly men about my experience, and how they treated me as a rational voice of The Youth Of The Day.

and she springs it on me. "your previous bylines... were they under your deadname?"

I didn't say anything about myself being trans or being a boy, and the only outwardly queer thing that I was wearing was the rainbow watch strap that I had on. I reel back, and blink.

This wasn't said out of malice, I think, and several responses run through my head. (the funniest, and the one I regret not using, being: what's a deadname?)

I try asking 'how did you know?' but I got a non-committal: "I've got trans friends! I've got trans colleagues even."

I think about myself, and how prominent I'd been. I wasn't on stage at Pride, but I might as well have been: the one thing the city paper did when they fired me was to set me free to be a spokesperson of sorts, to speak at panels, to write the guide to reporting on trans folk in the city, to contribute to the industry stylebook on gender-sensitive issues.

And yet I thought of that as a lack of discipline. I do have a trans friend in the city paper. We know that the climate here has never been friendly to voices that weren't conservative. We know that sticking our heads out lends ourselves to situations exactly like this one. That it was possible for my reputation to precede me.

I talk to the trans friend (more senior, or senpai) at the city paper and tell her about this experience. She says cis people probably see it, they probably read me as trans. But they don't say it out loud. She suggests that the correspondent could be familiar with my public profile. She says it doesn't take much to google me.

And she's right. I think one of the key reasons why I've been so vague about myself here is that some of my mutuals want to be stealth, and they don't want to be known. But I've been a representative of sorts. Not a full-fledged famous trans person in the home city — that honour will always go to my ex-boss, who will always overshadow me — but I've been a spokesperson for the city-wide trans movement and an organiser.

"You're a somewhat visible figure," my trans friend says.

But I don't wish to be. I wish very much to be in the shadows, but if we're all there then do people even see us? I've had a comment on the city-wide trans movement's Instagram asking if we were all even real or if we were just some Westerners peddling some woke shit, and I really wanted to say: I'm a real person. We can fucking settle tomorrow. Pioneer Mall. 4pm. Bitch. But for the sake of appearances...

Maybe it's my personality. Maybe it's just how I am. Maybe I'm the girl who shows up. I've always been the girl who shows up.

Maybe I don't fucking know how to talk to cis people anymore. Maybe I just can't lie. Maybe I'm proud of being seen. Maybe I think it would make a difference. Maybe it's made a difference.

But yeah, I wish I felt safe. I wish I felt safe being trans.

[husbandograveyard]

🕱 Lovebites Masterlist 🕱 this is a VAMPIRE AU event 🕱 ☽☽Character: Gundham Tanaka (DGRP II) x Gn Reader ☾☾ ✩ Requested by: @silenceofthecookies ✩ [fluff]✩ Warnings: hurt animal, but you rescue, nothing gruesome ✩

You liked being a vampire. You didn’t always use to like it. But after a couple of decades, when it didn’t all feel new and scary, you got used to it. There were many benefits, and ever since you met your current partner, you were not alone, more stable, and integrated into life as much as two vampires could possibly be. 

You liked being a vampire, because it came with so many benefits. The enhanced power, speed, senses. You liked feeling strong and powerful without having to exert much effort. You liked being able to observe your surroundings so much better than you ever could in your mortal life. And generally, you liked the immortality. 

But with said immortality, came also the major downside of being a vampire. Because your lifespan was now a never ending one, but those of your surroundings weren’t. Time seemed to slow down, what seemed like ages in your mortal life was over in the blink of an eye now that you had eternity ahead of you. 

The worst of it came in your familiars. Gundham was partial to hamsters, the worst possible option according to you, because even under the best of conditions, they only lived a couple of years. You barely had time to properly get attached to them before you had to say goodbye, breaking your heart every single time. 

Your boyfriend had way more pragmatic approach to it, quoting the cycle of life and death, and assuring you that the hamster had still lived a happy life with you two as its owners, better than it probably would have gotten without the two of you. 

And yet. You longed for another familiar. One that would stick around a little longer. And maybe one your boyfriend wouldn’t be carrying on his person most of the time, allowing you more time to bond with it. You couldn’t blame him for his actions, he was the hamster-whisperer if there ever was one, but the companionship of a familiar was not his right alone to have. 

So when you found the tiniest kitten in a puddle on the street, you couldn’t help but immediately feel connected to it. You had checked, but no mother or other kittens to be found. It was writhing and meowing loudly, and it was shivering from the cold. It immediately calmed down when you gently wrapped it in your coat, holding it close until you were home. 

You got to work immediately, calling a vet you knew for instructions and assistance, and went out of your way to acquire as many of the supplies as you could. The little creature was barely moving, and you were getting worried about its wellbeing. It was then you felt a presence behind you, and you turned around, startled by your partner, standing over you, trying to figure out just what you were cradling, when all of your hamsters, excuse me, dark devas of destruction were all snuggly tucked away in his scarf, their absolute favorite spot. 

You held up the kitten to him and explained your situation, unable to read his expression as he looked at you intently, taking in every word you said.

“Why are we standing around wasting time then? Let’s conserve our energy and channel it into this helpless being!” 

You blinked a couple of times, his sudden outbursts and loud voice still managing to startle you at times, even after being together for literal centuries. His strange way of speaking had evolved over the years, but had been stuck in some time periods, making him a little bit of a weirdo to anyone who’d speak to him nowadays. You thought it was endearing, especially since you knew he always meant well. 

Just like now. With his help and the guidance from your vet at the phone, you managed to get the little thing in the best state possible in no time. Now it was but a matter of patience, and hoping that your actions had been enough. 

Gundham was uncharacteristically quiet, leading you to the couch so you could sit down and take a minute. Two of his hamsters rested in his scarf, but San-D and Cham-P left to sit with you, snuggling up to your neck, providing you with some comfort. 

“I have neglected your wants for a familiar” 

You looked up at Gundham in confusion. 

“We have familiars though.” You smiled gently, gesturing at the two little creatures nestled on your shoulders. 

“Yes, but I am aware most of them are from my choices and introduced to the darkness by none other than me. It is not that I don’t trust you with tasks of such importance, it is just-” 

You held up your hand, quietly interrupting his apology and smiled. “Is this your way of saying we can keep the cat?” “Of course.”  

[rebootgrimm]

I’m going to re-share this GoFundMe. I don’t know if they’re on Tumblr or not.

The copy-pasted story from the GoFundMe site is under the cut if you want to read, but as of July 1st they need money for:

Clothes

Temporary shelter (like a tent)

Food

Water

Hygiene products

Children’s supplies

Passport fees

Border crossing fees

Temporary accommodations

Possible flights out of Egypt

As like with every GoFundMe I share, if you can or can’t donate please reblog.

tags because it’s been hours and no one has seen this

@inktimerose @schnozzlebozzle @averagetmntfan @analog-cottage-gore @baileythebean

@thesilliestofallqueers @vv4loe @therearenonutsforsomeendermen @lilacquintet @candycoffinss

@ask-sora-aguilar

Hello!

This is Mohammed's family, currently residing in northern Gaza. We have initiated this fundraising campaign to help us leave Gaza for a safer place. Gaza has become uninhabitable. Let me briefly explain our situation.

Mohammed's family consists of:

Father: Mohammed (34 years old)

Mother: Sahar (30 years old)

Daughter: Tala (4 years old)

We are living in unimaginably harsh conditions. After losing our jobs in graphic design and digital marketing, we lost everything... our home, our jobs, our security, even the devices we used to work with, due to the devastating war in Gaza. We are now living in dreadful conditions, without a stable shelter or a source of income.

Our live turned into a nightmare due to the relentless war. Our warm home was not spared from the bombings; it was completely destroyed, and now we live in a small room.

We have endured numerous hardships. We have been displaced more than 5 times within northern Gaza, never reaching Rafah, always besieged under continuous bombardment, witnessing death day after day, miraculously escaping it.

On December 30th, we were trapped for 12 hours in a building belonging to our relatives, under constant airstrikes from planes and tanks. The upper floors were targeted and completely destroyed, but by the grace of God, we miraculously escaped under heavy gunfire and shelling. Mohammad was injured in his desperate attempt to escape danger, and now he suffers from a foot injury, exacerbated by the lack of medical care and malnutrition due to the famine we are facing.

We were forced to grind grains and feed on animal feed to survive. We haven't received aid for months, facing worsening conditions every day.

We separately need your support to leave Gaza and live in peace away from extermination and escape from the difficult living conditions, where bombings occur everywhere and every moment, electricity is scarce, and there is no decent food available. We have endured so much destruction in Gaza.

Please, help us leave Gaza and move to Egypt. The travel cost to cross the Egyptian border is $8,500 per person, and your contributions will be allocated to ensure their safe passage and evacuation from Gaza, in addition to covering the basic costs associated with them.

HOW WILL WE USE THE MONEY ?!

Your donations will give our family motivation to work hard for a new beginning. We decided to start this fundraising to help us to start a new and safe life So please we need your support thank you.

Your Donations cover:

Basic necessities

(water, food, hygiene products, children supplies)

Passport fees

Border crossing fees

Temporary accommodations and flights out of Egypt should we be able to secure them safe passage

In short, you can help us by:

Contributing: Every donation, regardless of its size, makes a difference in our lives.

Promoting: Help amplify our cause by sharing this fundraising campaign with your network of friends and family on social media platforms.

Let's join forces together to give us a new chance at life. We urgently need our support and solidarity.

Thank you for every contribution you make and for standing by their side in these difficult circumstances.

We will always be grateful for your generosity.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Chapter 9: Conclusion

If we take now the teachings which can be borrowed from the analysis of modern society, in connection with the body of evidence relative to the importance of mutual aid in the evolution of the animal world and of mankind, we may sum up our inquiry as follows.

In the animal world we have seen that the vast majority of species live in societies, and that they find in association the best arms for the struggle for life: understood, of course, in its wide Darwinian sense — not as a struggle for the sheer means of existence, but as a struggle against all natural conditions unfavourable to the species. The animal species, in which individual struggle has been reduced to its narrowest limits, and the practice of mutual aid has attained the greatest development, are invariably the most numerous, the most prosperous, and the most open to further progress. The mutual protection which is obtained in this case, the possibility of attaining old age and of accumulating experience, the higher intellectual development, and the further growth of sociable habits, secure the maintenance of the species, its extension, and its further progressive evolution. The unsociable species, on the contrary, are doomed to decay.

Going next over to man, we found him living in clans and tribes at the very dawn of the stone age; we saw a wide series of social institutions developed already in the lower savage stage, in the clan and the tribe; and we found that the earliest tribal customs and habits gave to mankind the embryo of all the institutions which made later on the leading aspects of further progress. Out of the savage tribe grew up the barbarian village community; and a new, still wider, circle of social customs, habits, and institutions, numbers of which are still alive among ourselves, was developed under the principles of common possession of a given territory and common defence of it, under the jurisdiction of the village folkmote, and in the federation of villages belonging, or supposed to belong, to one stem. And when new requirements induced men to make a new start, they made it in the city, which represented a double network of territorial units (village communities), connected with guilds these latter arising out ofthe common prosecution of a given art or craft, or for mutual support and defence.

And finally, in the last two chapters facts were produced to show that although the growth of the State on the pattern of Imperial Rome had put a violent end to all medieval institutions for mutual support, this new aspect of civilization could not last. The State, based upon loose aggregations of individuals and undertaking to be their only bond of union, did not answer its purpose. The mutual-aid tendency finally broke down its iron rules; it reappeared and reasserted itself in an infinity of associations which now tend to embrace all aspects of life and to take possession of all that is required by man for life and for reproducing the waste occasioned by life.

It will probably be remarked that mutual aid, even though it may represent one of the factors of evolution, covers nevertheless one aspect only of human relations; that by the side of this current, powerful though it may be, there is, and always has been, the other current — the self-assertion of the individual, not only in its efforts to attain personal or caste superiority, economical, political, and spiritual, but also in its much more important although less evident function of breaking through the bonds, always prone to become crystallized, which the tribe, the village community, the city, and the State impose upon the individual. In other words, there is the self-assertion of the individual taken as a progressive element.

It is evident that no review of evolution can be complete, unless these two dominant currents are analyzed. However, the self-assertion of the individual or of groups of individuals, their struggles for superiority, and the conflicts which resulted therefrom, have already been analyzed, described, and glorified from time immemorial. In fact, up to the present time, this current alone has received attention from the epical poet, the annalist, the historian, and the sociologist. History, such as it has hitherto been written, is almost entirely a description of the ways and means by which theocracy, military power, autocracy, and, later on, the richer classes’ rule have been promoted, established, and maintained. The struggles between these forces make, in fact, the substance of history. We may thus take the knowledge of the individual factor in human history as granted — even though there is full room for a new study of the subject on the lines just alluded to; while, on the other side, the mutual-aid factor has been hitherto totally lost sight of; it was simply denied, or even scoffed at, by the writers of the present and past generation. It was therefore necessary to show, first of all, the immense part which this factor plays in the evolution of both the animal world and human societies. Only after this has been fully recognized will it be possible to proceed to a comparison between the two factors.

To make even a rough estimate of their relative importance by any method more or less statistical, is evidently impossible. One single war — we all know — may be productive of more evil, immediate and subsequent, than hundreds of years of the unchecked action of the mutual-aid principle may be productive of good. But when we see that in the animal world, progressive development and mutual aid go hand in hand, while the inner struggle within the species is concomitant with retrogressive development; when we notice that with man, even success in struggle and war is proportionate to the development of mutual aid in each of the two conflicting nations, cities, parties, or tribes, and that in the process of evolution war itself (so far as it can go this way) has been made subservient to the ends of progress in mutual aid within the nation, the city or the clan — we already obtain a perception of the dominating influence of the mutual-aid factor as an element of progress. But we see also that the practice of mutual aid and its successive developments have created the very conditions of society life in which man was enabled to develop his arts, knowledge, and intelligence; and that the periods when institutions based on the mutual-aid tendency took their greatest development were also the periods of the greatest progress in arts, industry, and science. In fact, the study of the inner life of the medieval city and of the ancient Greek cities reveals the fact that the combination of mutual aid, as it was practised within the guild and the Greek clan, with a large initiative which was left to the individual and the group by means of the federative principle, gave to mankind the two greatest periods of its history — the ancient Greek city and the medieval city periods; while the ruin of the above institutions during the State periods of history, which followed, corresponded in both cases to a rapid decay.

As to the sudden industrial progress which has been achieved during our own century, and which is usually ascribed to the triumph of individualism and competition, it certainly has a much deeper origin than that. Once the great discoveries of the fifteenth century were made, especially that of the pressure of the atmosphere, supported by a series of advances in natural philosophy — and they were made under the medieval city organization, — once these discoveries were made, the invention of the steam-motor, and all the revolution which the conquest of a new power implied, had necessarily to follow. If the medieval cities had lived to bring their discoveries to that point, the ethical consequences of the revolution effected by steam might have been different; but the same revolution in technics and science would have inevitably taken place. It remains, indeed, an open question whether the general decay of industries which followed the ruin of the free cities, and was especially noticeable in the first part of the eighteenth century, did not considerably retard the appearance of the steam-engine as well as the consequent revolution in arts. When we consider the astounding rapidity of industrial progress from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries — in weaving, working of metals, architecture and navigation, and ponder over the scientific discoveries which that industrial progress led to at the end of the fifteenth century — we must ask ourselves whether mankind was not delayed in its taking full advantage of these conquests when a general depression of arts and industries took place in Europe after the decay of medieval civilization. Surely it was not the disappearance of the artist-artisan, nor the ruin of large cities and the extinction of intercourse between them, which could favour the industrial revolution; and we know indeed that James Watt spent twenty or more years of his life in order to render his invention serviceable, because he could not find in the last century what he would have readily found in medieval Florence or Brügge, that is, the artisans capable of realizing his devices in metal, and of giving them the artistic finish and precision which the steam-engine requires.

To attribute, therefore, the industrial progress of our century to the war of each against all which it has proclaimed, is to reason like the man who, knowing not the causes of rain, attributes it to the victim he has immolated before his clay idol. For industrial progress, as for each other conquest over nature, mutual aid and close intercourse certainly are, as they have been, much more advantageous than mutual struggle.

However, it is especially in the domain of ethics that the dominating importance of the mutual-aid principle appears in full. That mutual aid is the real foundation of our ethical conceptions seems evident enough. But whatever the opinions as to the first origin of the mutual-aid feeling or instinct may be whether a biological or a supernatural cause is ascribed to it — we must trace its existence as far back as to the lowest stages of the animal world; and from these stages we can follow its uninterrupted evolution, in opposition to a number of contrary agencies, through all degrees of human development, up to the present times. Even the new religions which were born from time to time — always at epochs when the mutual-aid principle was falling into decay in the theocracies and despotic States of the East, or at the decline of the Roman Empire — even the new religions have only reaffirmed that same principle. They found their first supporters among the humble, in the lowest, downtrodden layers of society, where the mutual-aid principle is the necessary foundation of everyday life; and the new forms of union which were introduced in the earliest Buddhist and Christian communities, in the Moravian brotherhoods and so on, took the character of a return to the best aspects of mutual aid in early tribal life.

Each time, however, that an attempt to return to this old principle was made, its fundamental idea itself was widened. From the clan it was extended to the stem, to the federation of stems, to the nation, and finally — in ideal, at least — to the whole of mankind. It was also refined at the same time. In primitive Buddhism, in primitive Christianity, in the writings of some of the Mussulman teachers, in the early movements of the Reform, and especially in the ethical and philosophical movements of the last century and of our own times, the total abandonment of the idea of revenge, or of “due reward” — of good for good and evil for evil — is affirmed more and more vigorously. The higher conception of “no revenge for wrongs,” and of freely giving more than one expects to receive from his neighbours, is proclaimed as being the real principle of morality — a principle superior to mere equivalence, equity, or justice, and more conducive to happiness. And man is appealed to to be guided in his acts, not merely by love, which is always personal, or at the best tribal, but by the perception of his oneness with each human being. In the practice of mutual aid, which we can retrace to the earliest beginnings of evolution, we thus find the positive and undoubted origin of our ethical conceptions; and we can affirm that in the ethical progress of man, mutual support not mutual struggle — has had the leading part. In its wide extension, even at the present time, we also see the best guarantee of a still loftier evolution of our race.

[try-and-try-and-try-again]

17.07.24 - Young Darwin Scholarship Day 3

Today there was a heavy focus on marine life. The majority of the day was spent at Plymouth with the Ocean Conservation Trust.

1-2. Possibly my highlight of the visit to the National Marine Aquarium was meeting Rodger the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris). I’ve written about the Common Octopus so much at school and university but this was my first time seeing one in the flesh and it was a special moment for me.

3-4. The other two most in-focus photos I took at the aquarium. A beautiful little jellyfish and a clown fish. I don’t know the specific species of either. I wish I’d thought to take photos of the signs - I did for other creatures so I don’t know why I didn’t for these two. Maybe it was because I was a bit overwhelmed in the aquarium and may not have been thinking clearly. It’s a brilliant independent aquarium that prioritises the welfare of the animals, conservation and research, it was exciting to see so many amazing creatures and I thoroughly recommend visiting it, but lots of spaces were crowded and noisy and had strange lighting which I personally found hard to deal with.

5. After a tour of the aquarium and a talk on conservation work, plankton and dichotomous keys we went on a boat trip round Plymouth Sound. We did some plankton trawling and looked at the findings under a microscope. There were a few zooplankton but also sadly, microplastics. Plankton levels are increasing around the UK, particularly phytoplankton, due to climate change which is drawing more whales to our coast lines to feed than before, hence why whale sightings are going up. Plankton is a significant indicator of environmental conditions and has an important role in food chains so recording their presence is important. The definition of plankton is anything that cannot swim freely against the current and can cover organisms of various sizes. Zooplankton are divided into Holoplankton which remain as plankton for their entire lives, and Meroplankton which live as plankton only at certain stages of their life cycle.

6-8. On the boat trip we also pulled up three Edible Crabs (Cancer pagurus) using smoky bacon as bait (apparently it specifically has to be smoky bacon). There was one male (picture 7) and two females (one of which is in picture 8). Their sexes are determined by the shape of the undersides of their exoskeletons. The prominence of the female’s features suggest she may be carrying eggs. We were hoping to see Cetaceans and Seals from the boat but alas no. Nature is unpredictable.

9. Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dolcamara) spotted on the way to the beach and bridge to look for otters again.

10. No otters were spotted but there was a parade of 22 Canada Geese! I also saw my first ever (live) Kingfisher!!!

Today was hard going again, I can’t lie. I came close to sitting things out but I really wanted to try and keep up. I am sick of the constant battle between pain, fatigue and sensory overload and the desire to see, learn and experience things. Thankfully the people I am with have been so accommodating and helpful and it was a good day over all. Another highlight was hearing lots of nice folk music on the way back from Plymouth that I am glad to have been made aware of (one of the scholars is Scottish and a cèilidh musician and had a playlist).

[twilightmalachite]

2×2 - Grown-Up Situation 8

Author: Akira

Characters: Yuuta, Hinata, Shinobu, Nagisa

Translator: Mika Enstars

"You’re not a very physically strong person, Shinobu-kun, so don’t push yourself too hard, okay?"

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Winter

Location: Downtown

Hinata: —Oh, looks like our producers have arrived on set too!

Yuuta: Good morniii~ng, Anzu-san! Good luck today!

Shinobu: I’d be grateful for your help this time around, or rather, this time too, de gozaru…♪

Hinata: For the record, while the producer changes every time for 2×2, both YamadaP and AnzuP will be on site.

Nagisa: …Hm. It is an effective way to observe your opponent’s work up close, and perhaps also a means to monitor them to ensure there’s no cheating.

…That’s fair.

Yuuta: That’s true, but… Both producers have a lot of other work to do, so it must be quite a burden to show up on site for every 2×2.

Shinobu: Yeah… Anzu-dono had a bit of a cough last time we recorded, so I’m rather worried about her health, de gozaru.

Hinata: Doesn’t she always push herself too hard?

Huh? Actually, Anzu-san doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so she took a sick day off to be cautious…?

W-Will things be okay?

Hinata: Ah, I’m not worried about Anzu-san, but about the program… It’s mostly her own fault she’s not feeling well.

Shinobu: We didn’t say anything…

Yuuta: When you put it like that, it sounds like you instead actually don’t care about her at all, Aniki. ♪

Hinata: Uu, but that’s not what I meant. The producer in charge of the fifth episode of 2×2 is Anzu-san, isn’t she?

What do we do? If she can’t come on-site, how will she give us directions?

Nagisa: …It appears she will be giving direction through HoldHands for the time being.

…YamadaP has come on-site, although he is not in charge this time, so I do not think he can be too intrusive.

Shinobu: If YamadaP ended up producing AnzuP’s episode, it wouldn’t make any sense, de gozaru.

That would make the match, or the producer showdown, nonviable.

Hinata: It’s not something she should do to the point of destroying her body. I feel it’s fine to end this with Anzu-san’s loss now that she’s called in sick.

Managing the health of your idols and yourself is part of the job.

By falling ill, Anzu-san’s already considered inferior to YamadaP as a producer.

Yuuta: We’ve never had to miss work due to falling ill! We are healthy children! ☆

Hinata: But it’s caused for some mental unwellness because of that…

Yuuta: Moving on. This 12 episode program is already in the middle of it’s run with the fifth episode, and it seems to be getting a lot of viewership ratings thanks to the two producers competing.

It might not be feasible to cancel it at this point. At least, to the company or agency, in other words ES.

Hinata: Grown-up stuff is tough.

Nagisa: …I agree. Anzu-san’s name will be credited as this episode’s producer, and it appears that the match will continue whilst keeping her health condition under wraps.

…We should probably try to avoid mentioning it as much as possible.

Shinobu: During filming, at least, de gozaru. Hmm, I am worried about Anzu-dono though…

Yuuta: We just have to do our job. I’m sure doing that much would let Anzu-san at least rest easy.

Hinata: That’s right. …So, what kind of thing are we doing for our “experience” this time?

Nagisa: …I believe we’ve all received instruction from Anzu-san through HoldHands.

…What we’re doing for our “experience” this time is, umm, “experiencing life on the streets”?

Shinobu: Whoa, sounds like another harsh one!

Hinata: You’re not a very physically strong person, Shinobu-kun, so don’t push yourself too hard, okay?

Yuuta: That’s my line, Aniki.

Hinata: The current Yuuta-kun isn’t considerate enough, so I’m saying it for you!

Shinobu: I-I don’t want the siblings to quarrel, de gozaru~? Let’s get along, get along…♪

Nagisa: …Fufu, it is somehow unnerving for various reasons.

…In short, it appears we will be living on the streets for about a week, five days to be exact.

Yuuta: So like a homele… I have a feeling I shouldn’t use that word. Umm, so like an unemployed person with no fixed address?

Nagisa: …That’s right. Like we’ve been thrown out onto the street in only our clothes and have to survive for five days.

Yuuta: So we’ll be surviving in the concrete jungle!

Hinata: Whaaat, this will be easy, then!

Shinobu: Wha, wha? I’m here thinking this will be the hardest so far, de gozaru!?

Even harder than the third episode where we lived in extreme poverty, living on only 500 yen a day!

We at least had an apartment to live in with furniture and a bed, de gozaru!

We won’t even have that this time, de gozaru! It’s like a hard-mode was given to living in extreme poverty due to popular demand?

Nagisa: …Is the producer in charge this time around, Anzu-san, a demon?

Yuuta: She can be brutal at times, but I think she’s rather gentle with this.

Hinata: Yup. We can use the experience of how to save money during the program’s third episode of living in extreme poverty, though not Ran-senpai.

Yuuta: Yup. We have experience.

Shinobu: Oh, right. Yuuta-kun and Hinata-kun—

Yuuta: Yeah. When we were kids, we ran away from home and lived on the streets for some time. We earned money through things like street performances.

That experience can be put to good use. If anything, isn’t that why Anzu-san chose this to be our experience this time?

Hinata: Yup. This won’t be a first for us, so she hoped it’d be no sweat for us—No she trusted us that it would be.

Anzu-san, who knows us very well, has prepared something that I believe is a perfect fit for us.

Though I do feel bad for Shinobu-kun who will have to tag along.

Shinobu: … …

[ ☆ ]

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[broken-hearted-butterfly]

I suppose I'm mortified, in a sense; being so seen puts me in an unwillingly vulnerable position. It also makes me feel as though I haven't done enough of a job to seem as "on top" of everything as everyone else. We've all got our shares of issues, but I also remind myself that most people don't cope with the scale or depth of my personal issues.

What I'd perceived in myself as edgy banter was perceived as a potential cry for help, at the very least as something meant to be brought to attention. I didn't see the scope of my behaviors and, while I had the dim notion of it beginning to get worse, the scale of it wasn't clear until it was actually brought up with me.

I'm reading aggression where there simply isn't any; I fear that if my service relations don't improve, my job may be at risk. It was repeatedly stressed that I wasn't in any trouble, that there was merely concern for me, but that alone left me feeling like I'd made a huge mistake. Masking isn't the right choice, as much as it would be a solution for the immediate issue; it would burn me out very badly.

The customer service persona itself makes me feel like an ass, I can't talk to a grown adult as one would a child; pitching my voice up plays hell with my dysphoria. It's so clearly fake, the enthusiasm fake, the smile fake, and yet people eat it up. I've been overly aggressive on register, playing up the saccharine to an almost frighteningly comedic degree and the actual venom underneath has never been commented on - it's in high favor with everyone I've used it on.

The communication feels like natural autism issues, magnified. Expected to read minds and interpret queries based on singular words or phrases I've never heard in my life, I feel like an anthropologist trying to navigate this job and the clients in it. I don't know if I want technician work, it's a constant flow of customer service and I already know I'm not a good fit for it. No one expresses a need for help, just a mere expectation to be catered to. Incapable, one singular item, needing a person to perform the role of a machine and treated as a machine would be.

After 5 1/2 months, I'm still living paycheck to paycheck. I just learned the days I'd taken off for a medical procedure could have been put in as sick days, meaning I wouldn't be $200 short on my current check. No one had told me. I didn't know, and no one had told me. I have another doctor visit approaching, and still have to schedule with another. I know what I likely need to help my body, I'm just not in a position to fully have access yet.

I could tell it wasn't getting any better when I realized how much I was beginning to detest coming home to roommates. One becomes aggressive when their methodology is questioned or if they're asked to attend to chores, while the other suffers under the weight of her own success - how will she be able to prepare for her 6 month internship when she has to attend a wedding and a cruise in the same month? Everyone is so loud, I just want to be left alone, and that was one of the early signs that something was wrong.

I have been offered three consecutive paid days off. I am considering the offer. I would like to be given at least a week each 3 months, just for my own sake. For my mental health, for my physical health, for my overall wellbeing.

I don't want others to see this and assume that it's the new normal and become unwilling to engage with me because they're expecting friction. They will want to avoid me.

I suppose the fact that it's become visible upsets me in part because I was taught to keep my head down and my mouth shut. I was nearly baker acted in high school once the curtains began to lift on my abuse situation, and it made the abuse escalate. Doctors seeing some conditions and commenting on how they could be due to stress, my father replying sternly that he had no idea what could possibly stress me so badly. I don't feel like I fully know how to cope with my stress - the gentle self care methodology doesn't feel fully in line with the emotions I feel. I didn't even notice my stress, telling myself to try again try again without actually seeing ways to effectively reduce my stress. Being singed out for not being able to manage it is embarrassing, even when it comes with a message of other people being willing to help. I feel as though I don't want the help, I don't want the pity. I want the pity, I want others to see the stress I'm under. I don't want to be pitied, I can manage my own self. Sometimes I wonder about that. I want the recognition until I actually receive it and then it becomes upsetting.

[phenomenology-of-tmblr]

hey, you there! about the corpses...

by pearl

about a year ago, something terrible happened. the gates of hell opened up in a fiery flourish and the demons crawled out to collect their dues staring at me on my screen was a picture of a wretched beast, the wretched beast, thought to have been slain and buried deep in my adolescence…and yet, here it was, and as i gazed deep into its soulless eyes, i could hear whispering comforting words into my ear.

and just like that, i was dragged back by the scruff of my neck into an old fandom by a stranger i’d just met in my cramped afternoon class; this person knows who they are, and they’ve got to take responsibility! >;0

when i got home that night i vivisected my closet, gouged out its insides, and from its dusty depths i pulled out a notebook, and flipped to the end where all my old login credentials were hidden—wattpad, quotev, ao3, pinterest, and of course, our dearly detested, tumblr dot com.

logging back in, i began clicking on links, jumping from fanfic to fanart, from reblogs to blogs and more reblogs. the first instance of something being “off,” were posts from deactivated accounts attached to reblogs from a live account (in the terms that it has not been wiped from the internet), and the longer i spent clicking, the further back in time i went, and these digital phantoms increased in abundance. 

for every link i successfully opened, i was met with one-billion error pages.

painful, is it not? there used to be something here! i find the existence of the error screen to be a bittersweet paradox (yeesh, such big words from your’s truly). the code remembers that something was once here, but it cannot remember exactly what.

the phrase, “everything on the internet is permanent” is boogus.

we’ve been tricked into thinking that all things are eternal, when, in fact, they are not. everything we’ve ever known and loved, both online and offline, exists because someone cared enough to preserve it, to create the ideal circumstances so that it can continue to exist in its current state.

old books and manuscripts are kept under specific temperatures in specific conditions so they decompose as slowly as possible. buildings and paintings undergo repairs every once in a while. websites sometimes go under maintenance, and apps receive the occasional update, so that its users may scurry about and (shit)post their hearts out.

but everything is prone to disappearing without warning.

[ librarians and archivists have implored us for years to be wary of the impermanence of digital media; when a website, especially one that invites mass participation, goes offline or executes a huge dump of its data and resources, it’s as if a smallish library of alexandria has been burned to the ground. ]

'404 page not found' - kate wagner (2019)

these alexandria burnings that wagner talks about don't just happen once in a while when large websites suddenly keel over; they happen everyday, on a much tinier scale. when an account and its contents are purged and wiped clean, leaving only proof of its existence: a sterile error page.

“forever” will only be forever if people care enough, to screenshot, to download and save, to repost somewhere else. and i acknowledge that re-posting is a slippery slope, especially regarding creative works, but here, i am focusing on the bargain bin rejects of the internet. the “shitty” posts devoured by the vastness of the internet; things that people saw, but did not care enough to consider saving.

[ unlike the burning of such a library, when a website folds, the ensuing commentary from tech blogs asks only why the company folded, or why a startup wasn’t profitable. ignored is the scope and species of the lost material, or what it might have meant to the scant few who are left to salvage the digital wreck. ]

'404 page not found' - kate wagner (2019)

kate wagner’s essay reminisces on the old internet, and compares it to the current capitalist hellscape we navigate, which values profit above above all else, and weaponizes the nostalgia associated with "those days" to curry further user engagement. this internet, is an ouroboros that eats and shits itself back out; death of the author pumped full of steroids until bursting and mixed with bath salts.

the sudden disappearance of hatsune miku of a popular creator with a sizable audience will spark conversations of amongst their community, and they will get together to share/repost material they've archived, but no one will bat an eye when a creator who averages one or two likes with every post suddenly disappears.

my (any maybe your) first instinct is to check the wayback machine (i am hypnotizing you!!!!! hypnotizing you into wanting to snapshot everything you come across on the internet, oughhhh!!!!!), when these things go missing, but--oh no! someone didn’t snapshot it/the whole damn site is excluded from being indexed! 

ah, that’s too bad. it’s gone forever. :(

forever is a lie. even the universe will reset itself when the time comes, so please—please pleaseeeeeeeeeeee download that image, that thing you just read, that video you just watched, music, download, screenshot, screen-record, download, DOWNLOAD ALL OF IT! make sure it lasts for as long as possible!

[wismarine]

The Benefits of a Boat Anchor

A boat anchor is much more than just a weight which is used in mooring; it is an important safety and operating equipment in any vessel. When afloat in an ocean, a calm fresh water lake or in crowded harbours, the anchor is an invaluable tool for stability, safety, and satisfaction. To keep your boat safe and stable in a variety of water conditions, you must secure it with a strong boat mooring chain. In this article however, the multiple face of the boat anchor shall be reviewed so that you will be ready to embrace every mariner to own a quality boat anchor.

Assures Stability and Safety: The principle purpose of a boat anchor is to hold the boat in a particular place. CBIC is especially important during stormy conditions including gusts or flows of water; under these conditions the anchor provides support. By stabilizing the boat when anchored, it suppresses any swinging, entanglements or touching the bottom & causing harm to people or sinking it.

Permits relaxation and rest: An anchor is like a pause which lets you make something permanent out of your stay in a certain place without a fear of floating away. If you are fishing, boating, swimming or if you simply want to sit back and enjoy the magnificent view, the anchor lets you park your boat in exactly the place that you want it to be.

Allows for Emergency Stops: What works well in one situation may turn out horribly wrong the next due to mechanical breakdowns or the weather. An anchor gives the capability to make an emergency stop, so the boat will not be pulled by the current or into the shore towards rocks. It is important to have such a quick response tool in very tender and sensitive moments in our lives.

Encourages Outdoor Recreation and Fishing: One of the things that are very crucial for the anglers is an anchor. It provides buoyancy to maintain stability in the fishing grounds reducing noise and movement which is likely chase away the fishes. In the same way, for the persons using water scooters or for the persons wishing to have a peaceful environment for picnic an anchor comes as a useful aid.

Protection of the Environment: Boat anchoring in a manner that can be controlled prevents disruption of fragile and important ecosystems. This helps in minimizing an operation by maintaining the vessel in one position, while avoiding running it over the habitat such as the coral reefs, seagrass beds among others.

Adaptability to Different Types of Watercrafts: It is also very crucial for smaller boats and even kayak and paddle boards to have an anchor. A portable light anchor is a god-sent for any solo adventurer out there, as this will give you stability to explore without needing to paddle constantly.

Assists in Navigation: They also help in navigation and planning undertakings Areas of Potential Application of DEMs Anchors in navigation and planning. Often if you are trying to plot a course or else observe the surrounding environment an anchor is helpful to give time to review charts and navigation tools without constant attention on the wheel and rudder.

Expands Mooring Choices: Anchors are particularly helpful for short term fixture where one cannot find a dock or where there is no legal place to tie the boat. They make it possible for you to pull off and roam around in some areas that are not very crowded or to drop anchor in areas that are not busy.

An Affordable Safety Instrument: Compared with other safety devices an anchor is cheap though it has so much potentiality. The two primary attributes which contribute to this include durability, and the fact that the investment is long-term, which guarantees safety as well as operationalism.

Long-lasting and resilient: The high-quality anchors are designed to last long and are very resistant to some of the adversities that befalls marine environments. Chambers, DOMs, PE pipe, PVC, HDPE, steel, and other metals that the ancillary equipment is made of, such as galvanized steel or steel stainless is long lasting, corrosion and wear resistant and durable enough to remain useful for as long a time as possible.

Variety to Meet Various Needs: Since there are quite many anchors, you can always pick one whose features will suit you best. Fluke anchors are suitable for conditions where the bottom is sandy or muddy, whereas Plow anchors shall be suitable for conditions where the bottom is covered in grass or rocks. The kind of anchor used serves your needs best depending on the usual boating conditions.

Convenient and portable: Modern anchors are easy to use and/or handle. They are mobile, either collapsible or of reasonable weight ideal for storage and use especially when on small crafted boats. Directions on how to anchor are clear and easy to follow thereby implying that even the layman can.

Increases the Value of Resale: The essential feature of your boat that, if properly maintained, may improve the chances of a good sale is a good anchor. While optimism is useful in other areas of life, it will not necessarily come in handy when a would-be buyer has a list of safety equipment such as anchors in mind when choosing a boat.

Encourages Group Activities: Station keeping in the selected location enables social occasions on or around the boat. Regardless of whether it is a family outing or a shindig, or friends’ party, or a joint fishing expedition, the anchor makes it feasible for people to engage in group activities – at a secure, firmly fixed point.

A boat anchor is far greater than just a piece of equipment; it is an essential tool to your boating pleasure and safety. Other than serving to maintain a vessel at sea in bad weather there are many advantages of having a superior anchor. To ensure dependable anchoring and keep your boat from floating in high winds or currents, it is essential to select the best chain for boat anchor. No matter what type of boater you are, a serious sailor, a weekend fisherman, or a hobby boater, having the right anchor can mean the difference between a more enjoyable and a safer experience on the water.

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Why Regular Health Check-Ups are Essential: Insights from Mediversal Hospital 

In this fast-paced routine life, people often neglect their health by indulging too much in their work schedules and responsibilities. Nevertheless, periodic or routine check-ups are one of the most important procedures necessary to keep one’s health in check and treat possible pathologic conditions at the earliest. Taking preventive measures is becoming important as it is more intelligent to prevent diseases than to treat them after the onset. Mediversal Hospital, one of the best hospital in Patna, where leading preventive healthcare services is one of our specialties and the services, we offer range from complete check-up services to ensure that people take better care of themselves. 

What is a Regular Health Check-up?  

It is a routine examination by a health care expert to determine the status of health of a person. These check-ups usually involve assessments such as physical examination, patient’s history and the actual tests that may be decided relevant by the patient’s age, sex or health status. It needs to track the current state of the health, identify early signs of the diseases as well as prevent their occurrence. 

The tests that may be carried during the general health check-up are blood pressure check, blood tests, cholesterol level, BMI measurement, disease detection tests like diabetes, heart, or cancer. Such check-ups afford health care givers a chance to educate patients on proper health maintenance and how to live with any illness within them. These tests must be conducted at top hospital in Patna under qualified professionals. Such hospitals with good staff conduct accurate tests with complete precautions. 

The Importance of Regular Health Check-Ups 

Getting health check-ups regularly is important because one is still able to go for treatment when one has symptoms of the disease. Some chronic illnesses that people can have include diabetes, hypertension, and cancer and they are usually diagnosed when they are in their later stages. Blood tests, physical examination, imaging, etc., are some of the regular tests carried out to detect some precursors to possible health related problems. 

Early identification of the health issues helps because it means early intervention exists thus reducing the number of serious illnesses or fatalities and chances of having complications. Further, in check-ups, a physician is able to evaluate the general state of health of that person and also to give tips on how a healthy lifestyle can be attained. With this, the patients can prevent diseases from worsening at the advanced stage, thereby improving their quality of life. 

Benefits of Regular Health Check-Ups 

1. Early Detection of Health Problems: The greatest advantage of getting regular health check-ups is the early detection of disease. This helps in decreasing the chances of detecting the health condition at an advanced stage. Since the diseases have been identified, treatment can be commenced long before the diseases worsen. It also results in superior quality healthcare delivery, enhanced health status, improved treatment prospects, fewer cases of complications, and ultimately patients are less likely to require complicated treatment options. 

2. Prevention of Chronic Diseases: Preventive annual health check-ups reduce chances of many recurrent diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure among others. This way, doctors can detect signs of developing a disease or that it is getting worse, and thereby adjusting one’s diet or taking medicine to prevent it or delay it from getting worse. 

3. Personalized Healthcare: Everyone has his or her own health needs; it is because of these annual examinations that various plans of health care are discussed. Physicians are able to provide information, therapies, and protective measures in relation to age, medical history, family history, and lifestyles of a patient. Such a treatment makes sure that each patient gets the right directions in terms of healthcare needed in his or her case. 

4. Mental Health Monitoring: It is important to note that routine check-up entails a mental health assessment when a person goes for a check-up with a healthcare provider. For example: physical fitness as well as body health are fundamental aspects of human beings and getting checked to see whether one is experiencing any kind of anxiety, depression or is stressed. There is an indication that receipt of treatment at an early stage yields better results of mental health. 

5. Encouragement of Healthier Lifestyles: Various professionals from the field of medicine may also prescribe lifestyle changes every time a patient goes for a general medical check-up with suggestions concerning what one should eat, exercise, sleep, and reduce stress levels. In these terms patients are thus empowered to embrace better manners or activities that may help them have a healthier life and thus minimize susceptibilities to the diseases. 

What to Expect During a Regular Health Check-Up at Mediversal Hospital 

In Mediversal Hospital, ranked among the best hospitals in Patna, important professional health check-ups are expected to be as thorough and complete as possible. A standard check-up normally entails some series of tests including blood test, physical examination, and other tests including X-ray or ultrasound. The patients can also anticipate the management of vital tests such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and BMI among others. 

Aimed at offering the best services, general/surgical ward, operation theatre, intensive care units, this hospital is well endowed with facilities and modern equipment. Inaccurate diagnosis may cause further complications, hence the use of sophisticated equipment which gives the patient full health update. 

The medical staff at Mediversal Hospital are very professional and knowledgeable in their line of duty, always comforting going through your check-up. Right from the moment the patient sets his or her feet into the clinic, he or she feels secure and is treated professionally. 

Why Choose Mediversal Hospital for Regular Health Check-Ups? 

1. Qualified Medical Experts: Our team at Mediversal Hospital have well-trained personnel comprising doctors, nurses and technicians. It embraces numerous medical specialties that guarantee the patients the best diagnoses and treatment. 

2. Comprehensive Services: The preventive checkpoints of Mediversal Hospital cover simple check-ups to the most complicated methods, which include imaging and consultative services. This hospital is holistic in managing the health of the patient and does all-round assessments of the patient. 

3. State-of-the-Art Facilities: It is therefore well endowed with modern medical equipment and facilities friendly to the patient. From diagnostic equipment to comfort rooms for patients, Mediversal Hospital tries to provide the most accurate patient service while also addressing patient comfort. 

4. Patient-Centric Care: At Mediversal Hospital, it is our policy that the patient always comes first. Health care teams are committed to caring for the patients with regard to their health status, age, culture, and word view. This enables everyone to get what they need as they deserve during their visit to the hospital. 

Comprehensive Healthcare Packages at Mediversal Hospital 

At Mediversal Hospital, our priority is to provide preventative health care options at affordable prices for all groups of people. To support every individual and family, we provide online booking for their regular health check-ups with different packages. These packages include general diagnostic tests, general check-ups, several specialized check-ups aimed at identifying certain health problems, and health screenings that are set to identify diseases at certain stages.  

Some of the packages we provide on our website are as follows:  

Health check-up packages: Mediversal makes available competitive basic health check-up packages that can fit all age groups. This section consists of a wide range of packages for all groups of people which includes Master health check-ups, General health check-ups, Women health check-ups, Child health check-ups etc.  

Health check-up by speciality: Mediversal offers package services for check-ups essential to specific medical requirements. These kinds of packages are created by professional doctors for giving focused tests and examinations which include packages for Express heart check-up, Prostate profiling, Diabetes check-up, Executive health check-up etc.  

Taking health concerns into consideration, Mediversal has options on the menu that let the clients avail quality services with optimal rates. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, it is important that people should undergo a check-up with their doctors on a regular basis to avoid these health risks. Screening for diseases, early prevention of chronic diseases, customized care or treatment among the many advantages of routine health check-ups. Check-up services in Mediversal Hospital are available through modern equipment, competent medical personnel and with a focus towards the patient. 

If you wish to take charge of your own health, don’t wait for the symptoms to develop and visit Mediversal Hospital for your annual health check-up. Take care of yourself and relax knowing your health isn’t something you have to worry about. 

For a health check-up booking, please contact us at Mediversal Hospital. For more information, visit our website at https://gwsmediversal.in/ for online services or click here to contact us. 

Other services available are doctor doctor video consultation , lab tests booking and medicine purchase.