#imagine if they put that energy power and empathy into supporting women and our actual issues instead of being unhinged over a fake man 247

[eamesandbellamyaremyheaven]

Somewhere, Now and Then Ch1 || Arthur x Sansa (Kalots/GoT Outlander AU)

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword x Game of Thrones  Outlander AU (there’s no such thing as canon)

Warnings: None for now, later smut and violence. 

Summary: England, 1945. After serving in the war as a nurse, Sansa Bolton (former Stark) seizes the opportunity of going on vacation with her husband Ramsay to rekindle their relationship. But what happens when Sansa finds herself travelling back in time, to the 6th century, where she meets the King Arthur and his Knights?

A.N.//- Needless to say, this is loosely based on the Outlander premise. The story is told through Guy Ritchie’s interpretation of the Arthurian legend, and for that locations and traditions - and the time itself - had to be adapted to work accordingly. Any questions you have, feel free to ask!

A.N.//- This chapter will centered in Sansa and her life in the present time, so our King and his Knights will not be making an appearance yet. Fear not, I’ll be updating the next chapter sometime today!

Chapter One - The Stranger

England, 1945

How Sansa got bamboozled into vacationing through England, she would never know. One day, she was visiting her aunt Lysa and her husband Petyr after being three years apart, the next, she was walking through grass and mud, her eyes overlooking the ruins of stone, the last remainder of what must have been a majestic castle centuries ago.

Petyr Baelish had always bragged himself of being descendant of noble heritage, a direct progeny of one of King Arthur’s Knights, an information the Baelishes passed from one generation to the next without any concrete proof. As the Second Great War devastated the world , he used the time provided by his lack of involvement to study his ancestry.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Petyr asked, his gaze following the same path as hers “These ruins were most likely the house of King Arthur and his Knights, including my ancestor Sir William”

Sansa turned to him, arching an eyebrow as her curiosity peaked “Most likely?”

Petyr’s lips curled into a smirk, clearly proud for capturing the young woman's attention “Yes, well, there are no factual evidence of the man himself, only tales.”

“Folk tales of magical swords, and stones, and wizards, my dearest” Ramsay’s voice echoed from behind her, in its natural arrogant tone “I highly doubt of the veracity of any of it”

Petyr had arranged the union between Sansa and Ramsay at the early years of the war, but as both enlisted the army, as a nurse and MI6 officer respectively, their marriage consisted in a few months together followed by years of correspondence. They had little in common, she had medicine and botany, he had secrets and a general disdain for life. But they were still married, and Lysa insisted that the young couple would benefit from a countryside vacation, even if it’s one to accompany Petyr and Lysa through their historical quest. After all, it was due to Ramsay’s stationing in London that they had discovered long lost records that placed Petyr’s ancestor in that castle during the 6th century.

“You don’t believe in the Arthurian legend?” Sansa asked, as she entwined her arm in her husband’s, following Petyr and Lysa inside the ruins

Ramsay scoffed “A man that pulled a magic sword from a stone and was crowned King? How can anyone actually believe that happened?”

“Now that you put it that way, it does seem far fetched” Sansa agreed, with a frown

“He was just a man, Sansa. All those extraordinary stories were made just to impress dreamers like you and your uncle” 

Ramsay had spoken bluntly, as they walked past an archway, his words clearly meant as an offense. Sansa jolted her arm free from his, a little too harshly than she had wanted.

“Do you think of me as just some easily-impressed girl?”

Ramsay looked around the stone walls, making sure they were alone before speaking

“That was not what I meant, but even you have to admit... Coming all this way to England just to search for a man that lived 1500 years ago, just because your uncle might be his descendant? That’s insane.”

Sansa took a few steps back, creating physical distance between them. She shook her head, her anger and disappointment flushing through her cheeks, her vision blurred by stubborn tears that came through, unwelcomed.

“I didn’t came to England for Petyr. I came here to save our marriage”

He tried to reach out to her, but she refused to let him touch her. He was never the loving, caring kind of husband, but Sansa was coming to realize that not only Ramsay was not the romantic partner she had hoped for, he was also cold and bitter and had not an ounce of empathy in his entire body, not even towards the woman he had promised to love for the rest of his life.

Had he ever loved her, at all?

※※※※※

Sansa and Ramsay had barely spoken for the rest of the day, after their previous argument. She was hurt, he felt insulted. Even at that moment, as the four of them were dinning with Mr. Manderly, their host and a fellow local historian, they briefly partake in the conversation, but never address each other.

“So, what did you think of the castle, Mr. Baelish?” Mr. Manderly asked, although his eyes came down to his plate, focusing on the stake instead

“It’s quite a sight. I wonder what it must’ve look like in its prime”

The man nodded “Majestic, I can only imagine. Do you truly believe it to be the seat of King Arthur’s throne?”

“The records clearly state that Sir William lived there. Since he was a Knight of the Round Table, one can only assume that it was, indeed, the court of King Arthur.”

“It’s such a shame we can’t find actual proof to support any of those claims” Ramsay spoke, then taking a sip of his wine, his eyes focusing on Sansa’s, obviously trying to get any kind of reaction from her

“Maybe it’s for the best” Sansa retorted, her voice vicious “The truth could destroy the myth. I’d rather hear tales of incredible heroes than accurate stories of flawed man.”

The table felt into a discomfort silence. Ramsay watched her, his icy blue eyes piercing her like daggers, to which Sansa replied in kind. After a few moments of awkwardness, Mr. Manderly cleared his throat, and tried to change the mood of the table.

“Mrs Bolton, your uncle told me you’d taken quite the interest in botany”

Sansa looked from her husband towards her host, softening her features “Yes, for medicinal purposes”

“Then tomorrow you should visit the Stonehenge. There’s plenty of variety, you’ll find something useful, I’m sure of it.”

“I read that it used to be the ground for pagan rituals, because people believed that the stones had a very powerful, ancient magic energy” Petyr boasted, never missing the opportunity to show off his knowledge

Mr. Manderly paused, seemingly considering what to say next “Actually, the rituals still continue to this day. Tomorrow, at dawn, the local women will be celebrating the Samhain, but I advise you not to be lurking around during the act, they do not take kindly the presence of strangers.”

※※※※※

Although Sansa had read about pagan traditions, she never found the matter interesting enough to pursue. But now, being able to see one of their rituals being performed in front of her, that had peaked her interest. That, and knowing she definitely shouldn’t be there.

And that was the reason why she was up an hour before sunrise, had borrowed her uncle’s car, and had wondered deep in the forest into the clearing only in her dress, shoes and wool mantle. She had been afraid of waking Ramsay, so she’d put on the first items she managed to found in the dark. At that moment, she was starting to regret that decision.

That was until she heard voices approaching.

Sansa hid behind a rock, watching the group of women walk towards the stones. They were all dressed in white, and each one of them held a torch in one hand.

Then, they started to dance. Well, it was not actually dancing, more like swaying around, spinning and swinging their arms and torso, as if they were being guided by the wind. Their dresses flowed in unison, the light fabric coming up and down in waves. The torches emitted an yellowish glow, tracing momentarily the air with each of the girls movements. They sang harmoniously, in an ancient dialect, creating rhythm and energy to their bodies to follow.

Sansa stood watching, in awe. Her skin had turned into goosebumps, and although there was a voice inside telling her to leave, she dare not to move. The voice, more like a soft whisper at the ear, disappeared as soon as the women stopped.

They dispersed quickly and quietly, a sense of peace was all they left behind.

Sansa waited a little while longer, making sure none of them had been aware of her presence. She finally rose to her feet, and walked towards the stones, her eyes set on the taller one, that stood right at the centre.

The wind was stronger now, rushing through her with all of its fury, merciless against her skin and hair.

Her steps were firm, unknowingly determined, as if she was being commanded by an unseen entity.

Sansa stopped in front of the rock, her heart drumming wildly, and she felt the urge to touch it. She held her hand up, five fingers spread wide, and finally she allowed the trembling palm to come in contact with the cold stone.

One moment she felt it all, the next there was only dark.

Taglist is OPEN!

[tremendouspeachduck]

Psychopaths walk among us. Here's how to resist their evilness.

How do the Dems try to manipulate?

The psychopath patient believes military is nothing more than a strong-arm to subjugate other countries or peoples.  They don’t get that we defend what we’re proud of.

Our country cheered yet another stellar jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And unlike the sluggish expansion of the Obama years, the lion’s share of this labor market strength benefits middle-income and previously ignored workers. For example, non-managerial wages accelerated at a 12-month rate of 2.7 percent, the highest in a decade. The jobless rate for non-college graduates fell to the lowest level since 2001. Even for those who did not complete high school, good news abounds, as the jobless rate for that working-class, underdog population has now been below 6 percent for the each of the past five months… .

They use ways to convince.  "Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic that can be described in different variations of three words: 'That didn't happen,' 'You imagined it,' and 'Are you crazy?'" Therapist explains. "Gaslighting is perhaps one of the most insidious manipulative tactics out there because it works to distort and erode your sense of reality; it eats away at your ability to trust yourself and inevitably disables you from feeling justified in calling out abuse and mistreatment."

How can you fight back? "Ground yourself in your own reality--sometimes writing things down as they happened, telling a friend, or reiterating your experience to a support network can help to counteract the gaslighting effect,"

The psychopath patient believes military costs too much money.  How can they put a price on reforms?

With Pres. Trump all the minorities are gaining.   These reforms represent a particularly powerful tailwind for Hispanics, statistically by far the most entrepreneurial demographic in America. Speaking of Hispanics, the labor market news for them has been stellar. In U.S. history, there are only eight months where Hispanics report a jobless rate below 5 percent, and an incredible seven of those eight months have been in the last year alone under Trump’s growth agenda. The news is similarly strong for blacks, where the gap between black and white unemployment shrank to the smallest disparity on record. If President Trump is a racist, as his media critics constantly (and unfairly) allege, then he is remarkably bad at it!

They use ways to convince.  You know when toxic people claim all the nastiness that surrounds them is not their fault, but yours? That's called projection. We all do it a little, but the narcissist and psychopath do it a lot. "Projection is a defense mechanism used to displace responsibility of one's negative behavior and traits by attributing them to someone else," notes the therapist.

The solution? "Don't 'project' your own sense of compassion or empathy onto a toxic person and don't own any of the toxic person's projections either," The therapist recommends. "Projecting our own conscience and value system onto others has the potential consequence of being met with further exploitation."

The psychopath patient has conspiracy beliefs.  Example.  It can be said that a co-worker sometimes fails to consider the long-term ramifications of certain financial decisions. The office psychopath claims you called him "a loose cannon." You noted the deal could possibly go south if X, Y, and Z conditions occur. Your narcissistic colleague tells the boss you said the deal is "a disaster."

What's going on? It's not just that your nemesis didn't understand what you said. It's that he or she had no interest in understanding.

"The malignant narcissist isn’t always an intellectual mastermind--many of them are intellectually lazy. Rather than taking the time to carefully consider a different perspective, they generalize anything and everything you say, making blanket statements that don't acknowledge the nuances in your argument or take into account the multiple perspectives you've paid homage to," The therapist says, summing up this behavior.

To counter it, "hold onto your truth and resist generalizing statements by realizing that they are in fact forms of black and white illogical thinking."

The psychopath and Dems want to take it all away with tax hikes.  But Pres. Trump keeps delivering in spite of not one media good report.

The psychopath patient doesn't like the military since it acts as an arm of the U.S. government in other countries where the immediate benefit to the U.S. is not always evident.  They believe the military needs to stay at home and let the other countries deal with their own problems.

"The abusive narcissist and sociopath employ a logical fallacy known as 'moving the goalposts' in order to ensure that they have every reason to be perpetually dissatisfied with you. This is when, even after you've provided all the evidence in the world to validate your argument or taken an action to meet their request, they set up another expectation of you or demand more proof," says the therapist.

Don't play that game. "Validate and approve of yourself. Know that you are enough and you don't have to be made to feel constantly deficient or unworthy in some way," The therapist advises.

The DEMS want all nations to stand down - to let the UN run the world - this can never happen, right?

Healing Horses

The psychopath patient sees the armed forces as destroying the environment with pollution, chemicals and products of the nuclear age.

Switching conversational topics sounds innocent enough, but in the hands of a master manipulator, a change of subject becomes a means to avoid accountability. "The narcissist doesn't want you to be on the topic of holding them accountable for anything, so they will reroute discussions to benefit them," the therapist notes.

This sort of thing can go on forever if you let it, making it impossible to actually engage on the relevant issue. Try "the "broken record method" to fight back: "Continue stating the facts without giving in to their distractions. Redirect their redirection by saying, 'That's not what I am talking about. Let's stay focused on the real issue.' If they're not interested, disengage and spend your energy on something more constructive."

The psychopath patient sees the armed forces as those types that have joined the military, but have become disenchanted for some reason or another.  They may not have gotten the position or training they wanted, didn't like the structured environment or got into trouble.  These are the men and women who lived it for awhile, but couldn't adapt, so they become fanatically anti military.

There are other ways a psychopath can manipulate:

Smear - "When toxic types can't control the way you see yourself, they start to control how others see you; they play the martyr while you're labeled the toxic one. A smear campaign is a preemptive strike to sabotage your reputation and slander your name," the therapist explains.

Sometimes true evil geniuses will even divide and conquer, pitting two people or groups against each other. Don't let them succeed. "Document any form of harassment," the therapist advises, and make sure not to rise to the bait and let the person's horribleness provoke you into behaving in just the sort of negative ways they've falsely attributed to you.

Devalue - Beware when a colleague seems to love you while aggressively denigrating the last person who held your position. "Narcissistic abusers do this all the time--they devalue their exes to their new partners, and eventually the new partner starts to receive the same sort of mistreatment as the narcissist's ex-partner," the therapist says. But this dynamic can happen in the professional realm as well as the personal one.

Simple awareness of the phenomenon is the first step to countering it. "Be wary of the fact that how a person treats or speaks about someone else could potentially translate into the way they will treat you in the future," the therapist cautions.

mean jokes- The problem isn't your sense of humor, it's the hidden intention of that cutting joke. "The covert narcissist enjoys making malicious remarks at your expense. These are usually dressed up as 'just jokes' so that they can get away with saying appalling things while still maintaining an innocent, cool demeanor. Yet any time you are outraged at an insensitive, harsh remark, you are accused of having no sense of humor," the therapist says.

Don't let the office abuser gaslight you into thinking it was all innocent fun--it wasn't.

Triangulation - One of the smartest ways truly toxic people distract you from their nastiness is by focusing your attention on the supposed threat of another person. This is called triangulation. "The narcissist loves to 'report back' falsehoods about what others say about you," the therapist warns. To resist the tactic, realize that the third party in the drama is being manipulated as well--he or she is another victim, not your enemy.

You can also try "reverse triangulation," or "gaining support from a third party that is not under the narcissist's influence."

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[sarahburness]

Overcoming Intergenerational Trauma: We Can Break the Cycle of Abuse

“Our ancestors knew that healing comes in cycles and circles. One generation carries the pain so that the next can live and heal. One cannot live without the other, each is the other’s hope, meaning and strength.” ~Gemma B. Benton

I thought I had no value, my opinion meaningless. My sense of self was decimated. Finally, I got angry and attacked.

“You can’t imagine the pain you’ve put me through!” I yelled. “You don’t even know who I am. You can’t see it. You’re refusing to take responsibility for the way you raised me! Not thinking is not an excuse! You don’t even care to try to understand what you’ve done to me!”

This was me to my retirement-age parents about a year ago. Those yelling sessions happened several times. They called the police on me once.

None of it did an ounce of good. They can’t see it.

The more I have experienced with depression, anxiety, and recovery, the more I am convinced that the events and circumstances of my past—and my parents’ past—have shaped me much more than my brain chemistry.

I’m pretty confident that the problems I’ve suffered from are derived from generations of unhealthy behavior. I believe the effects of intergenerational trauma shape us much more than we might realize.

I’m not a researcher, so I only have my own experiences to base this on; it very well could be different for someone else. But from what I’ve seen from my grandparents through my kids, this succession of trauma is difficult to break. It takes different forms, but it always rears its ugly head. In my grandparents, it was alcoholism; in my parents, physical abuse; me, emotional abuse.

I don’t consider any of us to be bad people, but we have each passed horrible things on to our children.

My mom’s dad was an alcoholic and very strict. Her mom didn’t actively do anything wrong, but she turned a blind eye to what her husband was doing. Mom won’t talk directly about it, but reading between the lines, I believe her brother abused her as well.

My dad’s dad was killed in a car accident when my dad was five. That left my dad as the man of the house, with no father figure. His mom never remarried and worked full time to support the family, meaning my dad was mostly on his own.

So then, this is how it all added up for me: Because of the abuse she suffered, my mom became a narcissist with no empathy. My dad became an absentee father who always blindly agreed with my mom. I was raised so that every good thing I did reflected well on my mother, and every mistake I made was my own fault.

It took me forty-four years to unravel all this. I’m still trying to figure out who I really am. I know I crave attention and approval from women. I’m insecure and selfish. At times, sometimes for long stretches, I distance myself from my wife and kids. But I’m working on it.

I’m also working on forgiving my parents. It’s not easy, but I know it’s necessary for me to keep progressing. They’re just flawed people, like me, after all. I’m mainly having trouble with my mom, a selfish, self-centered, and ignorant woman.

If I forgive my parents, it will be for my own peace of mind. I will know then that I did everything in my power to make peace with them. That doesn’t mean, though, I want to keep them or my extended family in my life.

Some people aren’t going to change, and we each have the right to decide whether we want that kind of person around us. I feel that most of my family is dysfunctional. It’s a really tough decision.

My mom’s favorite excuses for her behavior, which she refuses to acknowledge, are “That’s the way I was raised” and “I never thought about it.” Must’ve been glorious to live a life and raise a child without responsibility.

I know I need to do better. I need to take responsibility for creating change and break free from the intergenerational beliefs and behaviors I see as unhealthy. My family sees this as a rebuke.

To find my hope, meaning, and strength, I may have to leave my entire family behind. That’s a heavy decision, but it’s one I will probably need to make.

It will mean that I’ve learned the lessons of my parents and used them to bring power and strength to myself and my children. I can only hope that happiness and peace come along for the ride. That would be the greatest gift I could give to my kids.

I can’t sit around waiting for the negativity and condescension to go away, or for them to make an effort to understand my problems. In order for me to get better and start living my own life, I need to be the one making the rules. I need to be positive and I need to take care of myself.

In being raised as children and in raising our own children, we receive many messages. Some are helpful, some are hurtful. We need to be aware of those messages as adults, discarding the harmful ones and emphasizing the healthy ones. We need to be honest with ourselves and others, and willing to admit when we’re wrong. We need to constantly question everything.

Some of the messages I received growing up were “You’re not as good as you should be,” “Conformity is good, being different is bad,” and “You don’t matter enough,” sprinkled in with healthy doses of guilt.

My wife and I have tried to instill the opposite in our kids. Everyone matters. Your opinions and feelings are valid and important. Be yourself and follow your dreams.

None of this is easy. It takes awareness, courage, and the determination to live a better life.

Some will have bigger hills to climb. Some will look around and find the support they need has been around them all along. Others will be alone and will have to dig deep inside themselves to find the strength to live better.

No matter our situation, we all deserve the happiness that comes with living our best lives. And the secret isn’t money or success; it’s filling our lives with love. This requires us to heal any childhood wounds that prevent us from giving and receiving love.

Your present may be built on your past, but it doesn’t have to be controlled by it. In order to break the chains of intergenerational trauma, you will most certainly face some serious challenges. Here are some recommendations from my experiences that may help you.

Have courage.

If you look at your past with clear eyes, you’re likely to see a fair bit of unpleasantness. Pain, abuse, manipulation, deceit could all be there. And they could be coming from people you love.

Facing all of that will take courage and energy. It’s difficult and emotionally exhausting to look at your life objectively. You have to keep reminding yourself to see what’s really there rather than what you’ve always thought or what you want to see.

Going against the tide of several generations of family is a daunting prospect. You might alienate or offend people you love, but you are worthy of living your life your way.

Things don’t have to be the way they’ve always been. You don’t need to suffer just because your family chose to suffer in the past. But, understand this is difficult work.

Have confidence that doing this healthy work for yourself is worthwhile. Stay focused on self-care and keep your eyes on the bigger picture.

Have a support group.

A support group can be built of any mixture of people. Friends, relatives, co-workers, or even strangers. It can be formal or informal. The best support groups possess various experiences, perspectives, and personalities.

What you are doing is huge, and it’s going to be a significant help to have at least one or two people you can lean on while you do this. If you have more, great. But don’t try to do this alone; find yourself a support system before you start.

My support group is patched together from people who have read my articles and responded to them, people I know from online interest groups, and a few people from real life, too.

My group has layers, an inner circle I hear from often, a group that checks in every couple of weeks, and a group that is just more encouraging when they hear what I’m up to.

I’ve had the gift of actually growing my support group while I’m going through this. I’ve opened up to some people and found that we’ve been through similar circumstances. This can give you new ideas and solutions to your problems.

And don’t forget, a doctor, clergy member, or a therapist can be part of this group for you. You can also consider trying organized local support groups if that appeals to you.

The more love and support you can gather around yourself, the more strength and conviction you will find you have. This love and support feeds off itself. The more you give, the more you get back.

Have motivation.

Remember why you’re doing this. You’re setting out to build a better life for you and your children. The thought of overcoming this pain can be a liberating and positive force.

Being aware of what put us where we are today will not only give us the motivation but also the direction we need to create positive change for ourselves and our children.

Not all the changes we make will be successful, but if we keep going and correct our mistakes, we can still help ourselves and our kids learn healthier behaviors. We can stop perpetuating a lineage of abuse, domination, neglect, hurt, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

There’s no finish line in overcoming intergenerational trauma. Keep being aware. Keep moving forward, and be the force that is constantly pushing toward healthy change in your family.

About Jason Large

Jason Large has been experiencing depression and anxiety for twenty-six years. He has recently made a link between his own troubles and his family's history. He writes with the hope of helping others in similar circumstances. If you’d like, you can reach Jason on Facebook.

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[legendarypersonadetective-blog1]

My 25 Best Travel Tips After Six Years Journeying The World

It’s today been Some years since I sold every thing and still left the United States to travel the world. These are the best travel ideas I’ve discovered along the way. It all commenced when I got a one-way trip from Ohio to Honduras City, jumping nervously into the unfamiliar and making much of my old lifestyle behind even though embarking on an epic travel adventure round the world. It’s been an outrageous ride, as well as I’ve learned a lot since i have first quit. To commemorate my “travelversary”, I’ve made a decision to share a collection of my best and quite a few useful travel ideas to help inspire you to make travel a top priority in your life. Feel free to share your own best travel tips at the end! 1. Patience Is vital Don’t sweat your stuff you can’t manage. Life is much too short being angry & frustrated all the time. Did you miss your bus? No worries, there will be another one. ATMs away from money? Excellent! Take an unplanned excursion over to the subsequent town as well as explore. Often freakouts happen irrespective. Just take an in-depth breath along with remind yourself it may be even worse. 2. Wake Up Early Increase at sun rising to have the greatest attractions almost all to your self while avoiding crowds. It’s another magical here we are at photos on account of soft diffused light, and in most cases easier to connect to locals. Sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning too. Trustworthy hardworking folks wake up early on; touts, fraudsters, and thieves sleep in. 3. Laugh At Yourself You will definitely appear like a fool often when traveling in order to new locations. Rather than acquire embarrassed, giggle at yourself. Don’t be afraid for you to screw up, and don’t take lifestyle so critically. Once a total bus brimming with Guatemalans laughed together with glee after i forced each of our driver to avoid so I could urgently urinate on the side of the trail. Returning to public transit and joking with them gave me new pals for the rest of your journey. 4. Stash Extra Cash Financial resources are king across the world. To cover your own ass for unexpected expenses, make sure to put some in some different locations. I recommend at the very least a couple hundred money worth. In case you lose your bank account, your greeting card stops working, or ATMs uses up money, you’ll be happy you did. Some of my favorite hide spots consist of socks, under shoe inserts, any toiletry bag, throughout the frame of an backpack, even sewn behind a patch on the bag. 5. Meet Residents Make it a point to prevent other travelers from time to time and start conversations together with local people. Standard English is spoken extensively all over the world, consequently it’s easier to talk than it might seem, especially when you combine hand gestures and body language. Learn from people that live in the country you’re visiting. People enrich the travels greater than sights accomplish. 6. Bunch A Scarf I happen to work with a shemagh, but sarongs also work great. This simple piece of 100 % cotton cloth is one of my best travel accessories with many different practical applications. It’s great for protection from the sun, a makeshift towel, transporting stuff all around, an eye face mask, and much more. 7. Observe Daily Life If you actually want to get a sense of the pulse of the place, I recommend spending a few hours sitting in a park or perhaps on a hectic street nook by yourself only watching life happen in front of you. Decelerate your educate of imagined and pay attention to the details near you. The aromas, the colors, human interactions, and also sounds. It’s a type of meditation : and you’ll see stuff you never ever noticed before. 8. Back again Everything Upward When my laptop computer was stolen in Panama, getting most of our important paperwork and pictures backed up rescued my bum. Keep each digital and also physical copies of your passport, visas, driver’s license, birth record, health insurance credit card, serial numbers, and important numbers ready to go in the event of an emergency. Back-up your files & photos with an external hard drive along with online along with software just like Backblaze. 9. Get Lots Of Images You may just see these places & fulfill these people once in your lifetime. Remember them eternally with plenty of pictures. Don’t worry about looking like a “tourist”. Are you currently traveling to search cool? No-one cares. Best place to travel in May will be the ultimate memento. They don’t expense anything, they’re very easy to share with others, and they don’t undertake space inside your luggage. Bare in mind once you have your current shot to leave out from powering the lens and enjoy the watch. 10. There’s Constantly A Way There's nothing impossible. If you are having trouble planning somewhere or even doing a thing, don’t give up. You simply haven’t found the top solution or even met the right person but. Don’t listen to people that say it can’t be achieved. Perseverance settles. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve discovered what I would like isn’t possible, just to prove the idea wrong afterwards when I don’t tune in to the advice and check out anyway. 11. Smile & Say Hello Experiencing difficulty interacting with locals? Do individuals seem malicious? Maybe it’s your system language. One of my best travel guidelines is to eye contact is key and laugh as you walk by. Should they smile back, say hi there in the local terminology too. This can be a fast strategy to make fresh friends. An individual can’t expect everybody to just walk around which has a big ridiculous grin on their own face. That’s your job. Usually it merely requires for you to begin contact and also they’ll open up. 12. Splurge A Bit I’m a huge supporter of spending budget travel, as it lets you travel longer and also experience many fascinating world all of us live in as opposed to waste the hard-earned money on items you don’t need. In reality you can travel a multitude of locations for $50 per day with no difficulties. That said, residing on a tight gets old after a while. It’s wonderful (and balanced) to go over your financial budget occasionally. E-book a few days at a nice motel, eat out at a fancy cafe, or spend a wild night time on the town. 13. Keep An objective balance Don’t judge the actual lifestyles involving others in case different from your personal. Listen to thoughts you don’t accept. It’s arrogant to imagine your landscapes are right and other people are generally wrong. Exercise empathy and hang yourself in someone else’s shoes. Embrace various possibilities, chances, people, ideas and hobbies. Ask questions. You don’t have to acknowledge, but you could possibly be surprised precisely what you’ll learn. 14. Try Couchsurfing Couchsurfing.internet is a significant online community involving travelers which share his or her spare suites or sofas with strangers for free. If you truly want to get a country and also it’s people, staying with a local may be the way to go. There are many couchsurfers around the world willing to host as well as provide tips. Expensive hotels aren't the sole option, you can find all kinds of low cost travel accommodation options available. 15. Provide Occasionally Make an effort to you are not selected some of your time and energy for advantageous projects when traveling. Not only is it a very rewarding knowledge, but you’ll typically learn more about the country and its people while also producing new buddies. There’s a great website called Grassroots Volunteering where you can seek out highly recommended you are not selected opportunities throughout the world. 16. Pack Ear Plugs This should actually be #1 on the list. I love my ear plugs! Muffle the sounds of crying babies, inebriated Australians, shouting dogs, honking horns, compact sex, gas main salesmen, and more. A traveler’s best friend. These are the best earplugs pertaining to comfort & effectiveness. 17. Don’t Be Afraid The world isn't nearly as hazardous as the advertising makes it over to be. Look out for risky situations however don’t let that function as focus of your respective whole vacation. Use common sense and you’ll become ok. Many people are friendly, honest, generous, as well as willing to help you out. This goes for women too. I realize I’m not a lady, but I’ve achieved plenty of seasoned female vacationers who consent. 18. Wander away On Purpose If you wish to see the elements of town exactly where real people live & perform, you need to move visit these people. The best way to try this is on foot - without knowing exactly where you’re proceeding. Write down the brand of your motel so you can get a taxi back again if needed, next just pick a direction and commence walking. Don’t fret too much about stumbling directly into dangerous neighborhoods either, while locals will generally warn a person before you get that will far. 19. Eat Local Food Consider you already know precisely what Mexican foodstuff tastes like? You’re probably drastically wrong. Taste a bit of everything once you travel, especially if you don’t determine what it is. Inquire local people pertaining to recommendations. Try to eat street food from suppliers with massive lines out and about front. I’ve already been very sick and tired only twice in my moves. Don’t be scared from the food. 20. Say Yes Usually Be intuition and say yes when someone aimlessly invites you to meet their family, try a fresh activity, or explore a place you didn’t understand existed. It’s these unexpected along with unplanned conditions that add spice on your travels and always turn into the top stories afterwards. Accept your kindness regarding strangers once you travel - you’ll have plenty of opportunities. 21. Slow Down You should don’t try to stack 6 countries into 6 weeks of travel. Each of the good stuff occurs you really invest time to explore. You’ll find out about activities in which aren’t in your manual and meet up with people who are needing to show you around. I can seriously say that Probably none of my best travel encounters happened inside first few era of arriving somewhere. Spend more time in fewer places for maximum enjoyment. 22. Retain Good Notes My memory for specifics sucks. Initially when i first started traveling the world Four years ago, My partner and i didn’t keep a good journal, and now I’m regretting this. Information like the names of folks I fulfilled, conversations I had created, feelings of a new encounter, or exactly what a particular town smelled like. If you happen to want to come up with your journeys, these details are usually handy. Currently I use an amazing note-taking app named Evernote, which I use as my 2nd mind. So a good choice for all kinds of programs - via planning excursions to journaling about them after. 23. Break Out Of Your Comfortable zone Challenge yourself to try items that normally give you anxiety. Greater you do this, the more that will anxiety can fade away. Not a hiker? Embark on more hikes. Have trouble speaking with strangers? Speak to everyone. Fearful of weird meals? Eat the weirdest thing you can find. The reason this particular works so well while traveling is simply because everything is currently so diverse, what’s one more new/uncomfortable experience? 24. Don’t Plan Too Much My partner and i cringe any time readers inquire how many nights they should spend in a specific country or perhaps city. The fact remains I have little idea what you’ll take pleasure in or that you’ll meet. I figured I’d rocket by way of Nicaragua in a week or perhaps two, but ended up living there with regard to 4 weeks. My advice is to choose a starting point, A couple of must-do activities, plus an ending position (or not). And then just let your universe establish the rest. 25. Pack Much less Stuff You don’t need 1/2 the gear you think one does to travel everywhere. We’ve all done it. It’s a right regarding passage for travelers for you to slowly become better in packing much less. My very first backpack had been 70 liters jam-packed full, my current tote is only 38 liters. As a full-time vagabond, every little thing I own fits on my own back. When you’re not sure regarding packing a thing, you don’t want it. It’s also possible to buy most things at your destination country if you learn you need these people. 26. Listen To Podcasts Podcasts are great. It’s like making your own personal r / c station as well as filling that with exhibits and audio you always wish to listen to. I never thought I’d actually look forward to a 10 hour bus ride. But with podcasts, it’s achievable (well, providing the seats are comfortable). Time will fly by as you listen to amazing storytelling, fun audio, or interview with experts. Here are some involving my favorites: This specific American Living, The Moth, Threat!, Radiolab, Smart Residual income, and Electro-Swing. 27. Treat The body Well Travel may throw your system out of setback. When you’re moving from place to place it’s difficult to maintain a workout routine, and many of us slack off. Or perhaps we don’t slumber enough. As well as we take in too many cupcakes. I’m guilty of not necessarily flossing our teeth. Make sure to be great to your physique. Get enough sleep, drink lots of water, eat healthy, use sunscreen, and workout often (look at this bodyweight schedule, no gym required!). And, yes, using dental floss too I assume. 28. Stay In Touch Remember to call your family & buddies from time to time. Possibly surprise them and move old-school by mailing a postcard (it’s from the mail, Mum!). Travel isn’t lonely, definately not it. An individual constantly meet up with other people. But much of those interactions are brief. So keeping a strong connection with the people who recognize you best is essential. 29. Leave The Usual Path I realize it’s cliché, but you need to still attempt it. Look for interesting and uncommon places that don’t see much vacation. Many remarkable travel experiences get happened to us in places that are not easy to visit. Of course travel to common sites, but don’t rule out other areas just because they’re this is not on the vacationer trail. Though please realize that just because a region is remote control or unsafe doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll possess a life-changing experience. 30. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance plan No one at any time thinks they’ll get sick, injured, as well as robbed while on a trip. But it occurs. I’ve sliced up my head on a volcano, contracted Dengue a fever, and misplaced my mobile computer to robbers. With travel insurance you don’t need to panic about huge clinic bills or stolen products when it eventually happens. For many kinds of journeys ranging from a new weekend up to a few months lengthy, I always suggest World Nomads Insurance. 31. Travel More! In case there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the past Six years, it’s that numerous people home love to figure out how blessed I am although making excuses why that they can’t travel. It’s too expensive. That they can’t get time off work. Who will supply their animals? When I propose solutions to these kind of “problems”, they nevertheless don’t take action. The reason why? Because they’re frequently hiding guiding the true cause: they’re scared. Sadly most people that wait for you to travel the world in no way do. A person don’t need to offer all your life possessions and become a displaced vagabond like me. Merely get out there a lot more than you do today. Start with a weekend in the different state. Then maybe get one of these week in the nation next door. The modern car, redesigning project, and iPhone may wait. In case you truly want to travel more, you possibly can make it occur. Career fails are probable. You have friends who would wish to watch your dogs and cats. It’s a big, beautiful, exciting, and engaging world out there. Discover some of it currently, rather than later on. ? Travel The World Want to know how to travel the actual world? I’ve put together a tremendous page brimming with useful world travel sources that should point you from the right course. Learn how My spouse and i fund my personal adventures, how to locate cheap plane tickets, how to save money for travel, just how start a travel website, and more.

[dudleygertsen80-blog]

Torturing Four-12 months-Olds And Shooting Kids With Sniper Rifles

Until you've got been residing below a rock and avoiding all information, probabilities are you're aware that Syria is a mess appropriate now. And what a property of horrors it is: A recent report developed by a human appropriate group found that considering that the commence of the Syrian war, at the very least eleven,000 children have been deliberately targeted and killed in the conflict. This number involves above one hundred who have been killed by snipers, and at minimum 112 who ended up deliberately tortured to demise by authorities officers. Some of these torture victims had been much less than 5-a long time-old. It really is tough to envision what crucial info these children possessed that would warrant these kinds of steps. What ended up officials seeking for, a hidden stash of juice boxes? Thousands far more have died in agonizing ache from chemical weapon assaults, a quantity of which intentionally qualified elementary schools and other locations where kids gather. Meanwhile, yet another conflict is brewing up atrocities of its own. In the Central African Republic, peacekeepers say that the nation is on the verge of its very own civil war. Human legal rights workers report that some people are likely by way of towns slitting the throats of youngsters, even though other folks are taking pictures toddlers with military rifles. Different continent, eerily similar horrors. Most folks consider their very best to change absent from tales this sort of as this, specifically when it would seem they can do absolutely nothing about it. But we carry information like this to your focus for two motives: Initial, businesses these kinds of as Conserve the Young children are operating in the refugee camps alongside the Syrian border and in Africa, doing their ideal to support all the households fleeing this slaughter. They could certainly use our support, and so there is something you could do. 2nd, but maybe a lot more importantly, turning absent from discomforting truths about our entire world leaves us in the dim about how these atrocities come up. In the very same way that people who neglect background are doomed to repeat it, when societies pick not to confront this kind of disturbing eventualities, they remain ignorant and naive about the leads to. They may possibly fail to recognize just how precariously their very own culture balances compassion and cooperation in opposition to the darker aspect of human mother nature, and how rapidly items can go incorrect and spiral out of manage. If you might be like most men and women, on listening to of this kind of horrors, your intestine response is to curse the "evil monsters" perpetrating such functions. Whilst this is comprehensible, simply labeling the perpetrators as "evil" is yet another way of avoiding the issue. The unhappy simple fact is that these kinds of atrocious violence takes place with regular event - way to often to dismiss it as the deeds of a couple of evil, less-than-human sociopaths. Medieval Europe, Germany, our ancestors in the United States, South The us, Turkey, Ecuador, Iraq, Rwanda, Congo... time and time once more we see illustrations where or else normal people seem to be to shed their marbles and revert to the cruelest of steps with obvious relieve. Why does this take place? The Psychology of Genocide Dispassionate cruelty is not about "pure evil," but fairly a destructive state of psychology that is much way too straightforward to appear by. one.) The Division Section Rifts and divisions that exist in between people are widened. These imagined differences are usually psychological - a way of inventing separations which dismiss the truth that beneath we're all the very same human creatures with equivalent requirements and needs that are just expressed in marginally distinct ways. v sniper battlefield 4 This can be a difference in race, religion, class, ethnic classes, tribe, sexual or cultural methods - something that permits for a specified group of men and women to be labeled and classified as "other people." When put in this mental class of the "other," someone or one thing various and apart from ourselves, the typical guidelines of empathy no lengthier apply and compassion starts off to break down. two.) The Elevation Section These distinctions are then hyped up and exaggerated. Their significance is elevated. Messages are unfold about how terrible these evil "other folks" are. They are assumed to have sinister motives and malicious intentions are ascribed to their deeds. Energy starts off to create powering a damaging idea. The much more the thought is recurring, the far more actual it looks. The far more actual it appears, the a lot more harsh actions seem justifiable in defense of the "greater great." three.) The Rigidity Section Anything takes place to escalate tensions: A perceived insult, an accident, and isolated situation of maliciousness. This fuels the flame and sparks retaliation. That new deed stokes the other facet, who then feels a require for their own counteroffensive. (You killed my child, now I'll eliminate yours.) Each new aggression gets proof of the other side's maliciousness and evil character. Rumor and gossip take maintain, spreading like wildfire with tales of devilish functions both genuine and imagined. Anger and rage just take keep, additional restricting people's capacity to believe rationally. 4. sniper 4 pc The Justification Phase When we make the distinction between "Us" and "Them," separating ourselves into imaginary categories of excellent and evil whilst labeling these outdoors our group as "evil other individuals," the route toward monstrous actions is comprehensive. The despised are no for a longer time people, but relatively animals to be slaughtered at will. Now no atrocity is past the scope of human cruelty (even slitting the throats of defenseless youngsters), given that attacking these evil "other individuals" gets an act in protection of the increased "good." Cruelty is relabeled "justice" and deemed sensible punishment in opposition to these who ought to have it. Sturdy emotions connected with group loyalty further allow the aggressors. Avoiding This Sample of Cruelty In Our Very own Lives So why this lesson in the social dynamics of genocide? Simply because it truly is a system inherent to human nature that exists in us all, and awareness of this tendency is the 1st step in guarding in opposition to such evil deeds. Even right now in occasions of peace, search around. You can probably find hundreds of distinct variants in this identical formulation, all producing hurtful actions and lesser levels of cruelty in daily existence. You can see folks labeling and compartmentalizing people they never realize, relegating them to one thing "significantly less than human." On an each day foundation folks will ascribe destructive motives to the deeds of other people while at the same time dismissing their own hurtful steps as one thing perfectly understandable or justified (1 of the most damaging double standards of all time). his explanation You may find all kinds of cruelty celebrated and justified... so extended as it is directed at people "evil other folks" who "are worthy of it." You can arrive throughout all types of examples of folks scapegoating other teams and blaming them for their issues. Tranquil certainly, the same psychology that allows the horrors of genocide exists inside our very own tradition and resides right underneath the area. We need to have to be aware of these tendencies and preserve them in verify. Not only so we will not wake up 1 day and discover ourselves in a comparable mess, but to guard in opposition to all the lesser atrocities that are an every day incidence in the here and now.

[amandalivesagain-blog]

To the Supporters of Donald Trump:

I would like to interrupt your jubilant, patriotic fervor for a few minutes. I hope that my thoughts won't keep you from bathing in liberal tears for too long, but I have taken some time to compose an essay detailing the thoughts, grievances, and fears of the vanquished. My objective is not to try to sway you. I know that is a futile mission. My purpose instead is to implore you to experience a small measure of empathy, if you dare. If you wish, instead, to read this and proceed to call me a sore loser, or special snowflake, or bid me to visit a safe space, I kindly request that you keep scrolling. But if you should so endeavor to take upon yourself the challenge of putting yourself in another's shoes, read on. I understand the sentiment of calling for unity. Working toward compromise is the only way to progress, no matter who is in power. The truth is that what is done is done. No amount of protesting or marching can undo it. However, I do think that everyone, liberal and conservative has set the bar so comically low for this president that he will become a grand hero if even a minutiae of good is done. We should hold him accountable, and set the same high standards we would for a president, not a reality TV star. However, the president is only such. He is only a figure head, but a vitally important one. However, he was not heldaccountable for his incendiary, inappropriate, and frankly, obscene views and remarks. Instead he was praised for his undeniably racist and sexist generalizations which were deeply insulting to the people to whom he referred. Imagine if a person directed similar comment to you.This is what makes him so highly disliked by massive numbers of people. Furthermore, he has openly incited violence at his rallies and displayed complete disdain for any "other. " He works tirelessly against dissenters by responding with hasty and frankly childish attacks on those who criticize him. He uses social media platforms to sow seeds of distrust of journalists and his followers must take him solely at his word. Anyone who does not tow his line is swiftly and almost artistically discredited. Many fear that he will wield his power to systematically silence the press and eradicate dissent. This is extremely unnerving. Freedom of the press is one of the United States greatest ideological value. Unless you prefer those in power to maintain a monopoly on the distribution of information, you must stand by and support the press, even if what they write does not fit into your personal narrative. Look for verifiable facts and discard opinion or spin pieces. The majority of the U.S. populace and many in the rest of the world fear that the election of Donald Trump paints the United States as a nation of intolerance, and injustice which values extreme wealth and privilege over the common people. The fact that he has made his fortune through the opportunistic exploitation of others perpetuates the world wide notion of the United States as one of the greatest oppressors and exploiters of third world nations. He is hailed as a great businessman while, over the course of his career, declared multiple bankruptcies and failed to pay his workers and failed to pay income tax. Many will defend him by saying that he took advantage of the laws on the books. He is smart and knows where the loopholes are. But consider this: imagine you are employed by such a person. Would you think him such a great businessman if you lost wages or were laid off, and all the while, he still makes a profit and continues on his way. Do you think that such a person really cares about his workers? Perhaps the greatest and most personal of objections I have to this new President is that he has consistently displayed a complete disregard of women's issues. In addition, he displays hatred, disdain and hostility towards women. He has publicly proclaimed, "You have to treat them like shit." He has clearly stated time and time again that the only value a woman can possess is her looks. He has openly bragged about his sexually predatory behavior. When he dismissed it as just talk, a dozen women came forward to confirm that he has demonstrated this behavior. His defenders are quick to discredit the women and claim they are out for money or fame. They defend the man in power and do everything they can to silence the victims. This is the narrative which plagues so many victims of sexual assault and rape. We are called liars or attention seekers, or out for revenge. Never mind the life long label that marks them as a liar, a whore, having deserved it, damaged goods or broken. But the money and fame must be worth it. It has become a sad reality for survivors everywhere, who hoped and prayed for a small iota of justice, but instead were delivered a president which will remind them every single day of the horror they have experienced. Survivors are heartbroken and devastated that our friends, family, and their country at large have disregarded us and chosen to support the abusers. Defenders will say that his character is not as important as his policies. Most people will not disagree with keeping manufacturing jobs and the like in the United States. However, we need to ensure the workers are protected and have decent wages with good benefits. We all want American interests abroad protected, but it should not come at the expense of the most vulnerable in less wealthy nations. Trump has proposed massive tax cuts for people in the top tax brackets, not unlike himself, at the expense of cutting vital programs that do actual good for people who are struggling. Instead of lining the pockets of the most highly privileged, shouldn't our tax dollars go toward funding public education, healthcare, infrastructure, assistance for the most vulnerable populations? In short, our tax dollars should go toward the benefit of all of society not just the very few. We do believe in free markets. There must be healthy competition and adequate incentive to serve the public, however, there must be some form of oversight so that the free market doesn't lead to the levels of disparity of the distribution of wealth that dissolve the middle class, exploit the poorest and drive the populace into a revolt reminiscent of the the 1793 French Revolution. We understand that the current infrastructure of our energy usage has demanded the use of fossils fuels. The discovery and implementation of such fuels has been a fantastic discovery which has advanced our civilization at such an extremely rapid pace which is nothing short of remarkable. However we, as a society must accept the reality that these resources are finite and at some point in the next century we will use the very last of this precious and valuable resource. Do you, as a citizen of the world, want to you, your children and grandchildren to witness and struggle through the final stages of the exploitation of this precious, finite natural resource down to the last desperate drop? Do you want to see the desperate lines of people trying to fuel their cars and houses paying $10, $15, $20, or even $50 dollars a gallon just to keep their lights on? We must make arrangements for the future of not only our civilization, but our planet. Only a fool would deny the role that human activity had played in the changing of our climate. 2016 was the hottest year on record for the 3rd year in a row. The entire scientific community has come to the consensus that humans are responsible for the high levels of carbon dioxide emissions which are beginning to rapidly disrupt and destroy the balance of our complex and delicate climate. President Obama has made strides in reversing this process a priority. However, the new president has dismissed the consensus of the most important scientists of our time. He has demonstrated that he will not participate in the reversal of the destruction of our own habitat. It is very clear that the new powers in place do not care about any agenda which does not directly benefit themselves. They care not about workers, otherwise they would fight for better wages and benefits, instead of busting unions and voting down minimum wage laws. They care not about women, otherwise they would fight to uphold legislation and Supreme Court rulings such as the Violence Against Women Act, the ERA, Title IX, and Roe v Wade instead of work to dismantle them piece by piece. They don't care about the LGBT community. If they did, we would never see the likes of North Carolina's bathroom bill. We would not see pieces of state level legislation which allows businesses, doctors and even emergency responders to discriminate and refuse service to members of the LGBT community or women who have had abortions. They don't care about you. They played on your fears and your emotions. They hoodwinked you with conspiracies and have sown doubt into the very fabric of your reality. They worked you up to believe that women, Muslims, African Americans, immigrants and the LGBT community are out to take away your freedom, when all they want is to have the same rights and opportunities as you. In all honesty, our hearts go out to you. We believe have been artfully and marvelously fooled. We do not believe every Trump supporter is an ignorant bigot. However, as history tells us, that will be your narrative. Yes, there is a deep resentment and bitterness on the left. We fear that all of the progress we have made for social and economic justice is about to be destroyed. But it is now in your hands. Do not continue the boastful denigrating rhetoric toward us. It is your responsibility to take on the mantle to ensure liberty and justice for all. Change your narrative! We on the left will not go away. We will fight against injustice. Will you?