#this cannot be changed because it's inconvenient for messaging

[experimentalmadness]

Some of y'all are dangerously close to literally saying Jewish food is, somehow a sinister global conspiracy. And you need to take a breath and realize how deranged you sound.

[alexandraisyes]

I really want to thank you.

I've learned a lot about psychology and mental health from your blog. And it's helped me change how I talk about disorders a lot (not calling people and characters sociopaths/psychopaths/narcassists when they're a bad person, not making jokes about schizophrenia, stopping saying "im delusional", etc.) And honestly its not even that hard to do once I understand the why of it. Why should I call villains sociopaths automatically? Because obviously that villainizes Aspd. And then it just- clicks in my brain and yeah, for some things (especially the delusional one because I hear people say it all the time) I have to remind myself and correct myself, but just changing my way of thinking helps what I say

It also isn't even kind of an inconvenience?? Like sure, for soem things I have to figure out what to say instead, but tbh that just makes me think deeper on what actually is going on. Not demonizing disorders actually is helping my own mental health, its nice

Plus, you've actually helped me discover my love for psychology. Learning how the brain works is really interesting! And I want to help people. Plus I'm learning in a way that doesn't cause my anxiety. I have issues with seeing things that I relate to and automatically worrying that I have that disorder or whatever, and it's defiently getting better, but also the way you explain things doesn't trigger that warning alarm in my brain. It's straight forward, and often you're talking about things I don't even kind of relate too, which both helps me learn about how other people's brains work and let's me learn without worrying about myself

anyway- uhh TLDR that was just a lengthy way to say that your explanations and things have educated me and I really enjoy reading them (sometimes I physically can't bring myself to because they're long, but most of the time I can!!!)

Thank youuu. You've helped me learn more about others and myself <3

I have been marinating this in my mind for the past day, trying to figure out how to express how lovely of a feeling this brings me. I'm not exactly the emotional sort, so the immediate shock and then elation has long since passed, but the contentedness remains.

I cannot properly express the gratitude I feel, towards you and the universe, from this message. This is the kind of impact I've wanted to have on the world since I was very young. I would sit in my room as a little girl and daydream that I would write a novel or sing a song that was so expressive about pain and clarity and yes, psychology, although I didn't know the word for it, that it would shift people's mentalities, and make them understand why compassion is important. And reach the people who needed to hear it, and help them deal with their own hurt, and their own trauma, and let my words be a sort of healing factor in people's lives.

Never once did I ever think I'd achieve that through a tumblr blog.

And I have such a small amount of reach, such a small amount of influence in the grand scheme of things, but pebbles can cause landsides.

It's such a profound feeling to know that you have accomplished what you set out to do in even just a handful of people. That you have made a real difference to the net positive, like you've always wanted to. Everyone wants to leave a lasting legacy, an impression on people, that's just human nature, and some people will reach and reach and reach for that legacy and never be satisfied.

And I'm about to start getting really philosophical, so I'll cut it off here with a thank you. Thank you for telling me this. Thank you for letting me know that I have made a difference. I don't exactly have a sense of self for this knowledge to fall back on (a rather unfortunate consequence of my disorder), but I will cherish it regardless. Despite the fact that I have always wanted to make a difference, it never crossed my mind that I may actually reach that goal one day.

I'm glad my writings have helped you.

[askaceattorney]

I'M DONE!!

I was originally going to wait for the latest mod letter, but I've placed enough tags on the Hotti letters this guy has sent for him to get the message. It used to be at least three or four people sending Hotti letters, but now it's only one and they keep breaking the "Keep it Clean" rule by involving CHARACTERS THAT ARE MINORS. What part of children are to be left alone do you not understand? That includes minors under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, that doesn't surprise me, but no still means NO.

This is not funny. You send way too many Hotti letters that are not funny and keep including minors on top of that. In fact, I'll just answer this one instead of waiting:

None of them at all! They're creepy and if the comments on each of your posts didn't give you the hint, maybe not having any of your letters answered will. Don’t try to change your name because I will know it’s you. The humor you're trying to do is difficult to pull off and doesn't even work. The sexist jokes don't work because you don't know shit about women. More importantly, you're involving CHILDREN. You're making jokes like this

What are you trying to imply? What joke are you trying to make that you think is funny? You think it's funny to make a joke about Hotti adopting children so he can have lots of pretty girls to care for him when he gets old? It's not! It's creepy and disgusting. It goes against the guidelines.

Yes, anything involving romancing minors counts as NOT keeping it clean. If you are a minor and cannot understand this, how about this? ANYONE UNDER 18 IS OFF LIMITS! And yes, I consider your letters much worse than Dawsongfg. Even THEY find Hotti disturbing and that is saying something. Until you cool it with the perverted, sexist, pedo Hotti letters, your letters are BANNED.

From the time this letter is sent, all of this guy's creepy Hotti letters will no longer be answered. I apologize for the inconvenience.

- Chief Mod Edgeworth

[nicromancytarot]

Hey! How are you? Thank you for answering my ask if you’re reading this 🫶🏽

I am ZD and I wish for my fs to have my same values. Being open minded and accepting to LGBTQ, religions, cultures, etc.

I wanted to ask for any messages from my fs and I’m comfortable with any 18+ messages that may come through. Thank you ahead of time! 🩵

Unfortunately since your age was not specified, I cannot fulfil the 18+ side of things (sorry for the inconvenience), but here’s everything else!

THEIR OPINIONS AND BELIEFS:

Firstly, I felt the need to read a little deeper into their understanding and beliefs for LGBTQ+ and I honestly just got that they don’t care for it, not in a close-minded way, but more of the fact that they just see people as people, disregarding the labels one decides to identify by. I also got that this could be a gay marriage or they may just be very supportive of gay marriages.

Their personality is very open-minded when it comes to these things, I see that they like to talk about their opinions on a lot of things, and they enjoy even debating about it with you sometimes, like if you guys happen to have head-butting opinions, they will enjoy having a debate with you about it, not an argument, just debate.

They can come off a little pretentious at times, but they don’t mean to, it’s just that they are very stubborn in life and they always believe they are in the right, this isn’t something to be worried about though because I notice that you can teach them another perspective and they will be interested in it and it may even change their opinion on a topic.

A weird thing I got was that they are fine with having contradicting opinions with themself, it’s like they enjoy playing devils advocate in their own mind and it’s somewhat entertaining to them.

CHANNELLED MESSAGE:

They see that you may currently be going through a difficult time in your life, you are holding onto someone or something that is not good for you and they wish for you to let go, they also mention the need for you to branch out and meet new people outside of your own community, making more friends could be very good for you, it could also be from friends, that you two meet.

They mention that you need to use your intuition and gut feelings when it comes to what’s right for you, you seem to be blinded by this picture perfect idea in your head about something, and you need to start looking around to see how your environment or the people in it are affecting you.

They focus highly on a need for you to learn to balance your feminine and masculine qualities, I honestly see you’re already quite feminine (maybe even just mentally) and they are saying you need to start balancing your masculine qualities and mentally with it too.

They can’t wait to be with you, they say the quicker you work on these things, the quicker they can come to you.

[smokeys-house]

Here’s a revised version of your message with some additional touches:

---

Hello 🌹❤️,

I hope this message doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. I’m reaching out to you in a moment of urgent need, and I deeply apologize if this feels sudden. 🌸

My name is Islam, and I’m an engineer. Normally, I would never want to impose, but the situation my family and I are facing is truly desperate. I have a beautiful family, and I am doing everything in my power to protect them from the devastating horrors of the war in Gaza. I’m reaching out to you because I believe in the kindness and compassion that you, and people like you, carry in your hearts. I truly hope that if you find it in your heart to share our story, you won’t hesitate to help. 🌟

I’m not very familiar with Tumblr, but I came here with the hope of connecting with good-hearted people like you who might help us be heard. If you could reblog the pinned post on my account, I would be eternally grateful. Your voice could help amplify ours, and we might find the help we so desperately need to save our family.

Additionally, if you’re able to share our story on any other platforms or with your friends who might have larger blogs on Tumblr, it would mean the world to us. Every bit of support helps and brings us one step closer to safety. ✨

I’m deeply sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but I am truly hopeful that reaching out to you might make a real difference in saving my children from the horrors of this war. 💖

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your kindness could change everything. ❤️

---

Let me know if you’d like any further revisions!

I've shared your pinned post but unfortunately cannot donate right now. Wishing you and yours peace and prosperity

[tbhimnoteasyonmyself]

In Defence of 4/4 EP.12

(from someone who didn't like it very much)

I've made an entirely different post about people's reactions to the ending so I won't address any of that here, if you want that post. Bang! Here. But this is not what this post is about. This post is about recognizing the good in something I personally would've preferred had gone a different route. So let's get into it.

(long post, guys, Imma spare you, people who wanna scroll past 😉)

1st things 1st: yes. I know. The narrative about growth and adapting and change would've been so great had Day not gotten the transplant. It would've paid off so well for the main couple and all the other characters too. And it would send out such a nice message about how disabled people are whole, despite their disabilities. How happiness is possible for everyone, without restraints, no matter their body or mind. BUT that's not what we got. And that can be upsetting, I know I'm a little upset myself, but, and considering the ongoing fandom discussion, is it all that bad that we got something different? For once, I do not think so.

I think the very first thing that needs to be addressed is what is said by @daymork in this post:

"the hardships, the journey, even all the good that happened during allllll that still matters after recovery"

Or: just because Day gets his sight back, that doesn't mean the story being told is suddenly useless. Because a story about how people are flawed and scarred and they need to grow past certain issues to enjoy life again or they need to gain new perspectives is never useless. Society keeps showing us that assholes who cannot see past their own belly button or that people who are restrained by their traumas are still out there, so how could a narrative about growth ever be pointless?

Futhermore, it is a crucial part of the characters' arcs, even past Day's blindless being involved. Day ties his self-worth to being capable and always doing what he is supposed to. Night is careless and doesn't like abiding by the rules, even when it inconveniences others. Their mom has a bad case of "mama knows best", she's inflexible, what she wants, she gets. Mhok is traumatized by his sister's death and he can't move on, can't let go. (and so on, but I think you get the point) Regardless of the challenges that come with adjusting to Day's disability, all of them were already facing challenges that made their lives harder. Because, sure, we don't see it, but everyone always has a struggle. They sure had too.

And now you say, well, Dante, doesn't that make Day's blindness a plot device used just to make these characters better and then discarded when no longer needed? And sure, yeah, I think that argument can definitely be made and it is solid, I won't deny that. But I also think that the way you read it depends on what you believe this story is about. Because, if you think this story is about Day's struggle with blindness, then sure, yeah. But you can also see it as a story about maturing and overcoming hardships or a love story about two people who, like everyone else, have to adjust to learn how to adjust with each other. Or a story about different types of love and how they connect and overlap or change. Or a story about perspectives and points of view and how every single person is gonna look at the same things with different eyes and what that means for the way people live and how they relate to one another. Or a story about what makes a person and about how, no matter the way people see you, you are still a person and you can make your own choices, despite everything. Or something else, even, Idk. I'm not the owner of opinions and I'm not trying to be. My point is: it's all about individual perception and understanding.

Regardless, even if you do see that particular part as ableist, does it erase all the other stuff the series does? Does it erase the point is makes about not babyfying disabled people? Does it erase the point it makes about seeing disabled people as people who deserve no other feeling but pity? Does it erase the point it makes that Day was living well, even without Mhok or his sight? I don't think so. It might undermine it but it does not erase it.

And I think that leads us to the most important part of this discussion, actually: maybe the point was, all along that, in order for Day to be able to be able to get his transplant (narratively, of course) he needed not to need it. He needed to be able to be okay with not having it. He needed to learn to live without it and be happy. Because, in the end, what problems were actually solved by the transplant, really? None, I would argue.

Day and his mom, Day and Night, Night and their mom, Night and Porjai, Mhok and Rhamon, Mhok and Rung, Mhok and Day... As well as their internal conflicts (Mhok was a successful chef, Rhamon a good mother, Night a good husband, Day a librarian, etc...), all that was solved before that. The transplant truly didn't change anything besides what it changed: that Day now has the physical ability to see again. "No, Dante, it allowed him to go to the mountain again!", I hear you say. And sure, it did, but that wasn't new: he'd been there before when he was 100% blind. And it's not more magical when he can see than when he cannot. In fact, I would argue it is the other way around.

The 2nd time they're there they don't even care that much about the mountain or the sunset. They care about their relationship and what it means to be together again and they care about the journey. That's what they talk about. "Oh, but Mhok talks about how him there at the mountain is no longer the last image Day is gonna see". Yeah. But that, I would say, is more about how that is the case because Mhok is now there to stay (he even says so himself) rather than the fact Day can physically see him.

So, what purpose does it serve in the narrative? Is it just a "and now he can see because, sure, let him have it, it's the end, idc"? Could be, I mean, yeah, I think you can make a strong argument that this is just an ableist way of a "happy ending" but I also want to point out that that might not necessarily be the case (other than what I'm gonna explain next, even so, because, as @e-lisard pointed in this post - among others that I've seen do so but I only remember faer, some disabled people prefer stories where there is a cure for all or some of their disabilities). But also because, if nothing changes for Day (except he can play Badminton again, which, as someone who loves Badminton myself, like yeah, pretty big thing) then maybe that's the point being made: that, in the end, the thing that Day so desperately wanted in the beginning of the story has become almost meaningless now because he already had everything before. And that his happiness, unlike what he and everyone around him had previously thought, was not all dependent on his physical ability to see, but rather on his (and everyone else's) psychological/emotional ability to see. And once they unlocked that, nothing else was really all that relevant.

So, of course, you can have whatever opinion you want and I still stand by the fact that I'd rather not have him recover his sight because I like the implications of that better but, I think, the ending we were given is not all bad and some good things can be taken from it, especially if you see it as a comparison made to highlight the fact that Day's physical ability to see was not at all relevant to his happiness and that the story was really all about the journey.

If you want to add or disagree (politely) or something feel free to use this post. Comment or reblog or whatever. I'll be happy to keep this discussion going just as long as we can all be respectful.

Other than that I hope you enjoyed this and I hope you have a great day!! All the love 💜💜💜

PS: People I tagged, if you'd like not to be tagged pls tell me, I just did so because I didn't want credit for things that I did not think of or state myself. Cheers! <3

[terrainofheartfelt]

do you have any headcannons or behind-the-scenes for "it's something new (because of you)"?

oh DO I

for starters i'm sorryyyyyy for letting this sit so long I have no excuse other than life and brain chemistry are Nuts.

BTS-wise, this one-shot within the universe was inspired by a photoset I stumbled across here on tumblr, and I thought: "that could be my blorbos" and lo! it came. I started drafting it while at was at my folks' for christmas, and then it sat in google docs in purgatory before I summoned the spoons to complete it. which at the time I thought was odd, because my general technique with smut is to write it all within the space of a couple days--they just flow differently than things with, ya know, plot, but this one incubated for a while, and I think it served it.

HCs-wise, I've jotted down a few about this universe and specifically the beginning of dair's marriage within it :)

this is how Dan & Blair (mostly Blair) announce the wedding:

Epperly guest writes a post for Blair Necessities covering the event/interviewing Blair

The morning the post goes live, Blair & Dan each post one (1) thing to their accounts

They each pick a photo from what their photographer sent them (both candid, because they look stupidly in love in those)

Dan’s caption is from the Auden Blair quoted in her vows to him: The years shall run like rabbits, / For in my arms I hold / The Flower of the Ages, / And the first love of the world.

Blair’s is a quote of a different kind: Reader, I married him. 

They make their posts from a sidewalk cafe in Firenze then shut off their phones. 

And the internet goes WILD

immediately there’s all these buzzfeedesque articles like “Blair Waldorf, Former Princess of Monaco has remarried,” and “Blair Waldorf’s New Husband Is Hot” and “Who Is Mr. Blair Waldorf?” and “Blair Waldorf Totally Won Her Divorce”

Just to fuck with everyone Blair posts another pic of Dan a couple days later. it's of him sitting at the window in their tuscan villa, pretty much the view Blair wakes up to in the beginning of it's something new. Caption: my huckleberry friend

They don’t see any of it til they check their messages over breakfast the next day. Dan loves the nomer “Mr. Blair Waldorf” and immediately adds it to his profiles (which he only made bc his agent made him). Sherri, said agent, almost makes him change them back before she sees the spike in his book sales. He was doing well enough on a debut, but now he’s doing really well. 

Thanks to his family’s caution (and the NDAs signed by the wedding vendors), no photos of Milo surface, he’s mentioned by Blair in her interview of course, and outside of W he’s only known as “Humphrey’s grade school-aged son”

Nate has a good laugh at it all, which he calls payback for all the good natured ribbing he and Serena got in the summer with “Serena van der Woodsen and Nate Archibald Eloped, Apparently”—a headline that spurred several never-ending phone calls from a horde of van der Bilts, and one—as Serena calls it—“ugly-ass gravy boat” (and yes, she did have to contribute to the swear jar for that)

I actually have MORE mostly about the work after something new, so don't mind me if I share those too ;))))

Speaking of Serenate, they’re on the move a lot and bring Sophie when they can, but she’s old so long haul trips to LA that are only a few days aren’t ideal. So they ask the Humphreys to dog sit a lot. Dan always outright refuses, because he knows that dog-sitting is only one degree of separation from “Why can’t we get a dog, Dad?” and he just cannot have that conversation. Again. 

There’s a lot of anxiety from all parties when Blair gets pregnant. There’s her traumatic history which flares up when it is most inconvenient, plus Dan’s trauma coupled with the fact that  he hasn’t done this part before. He missed almost all of Georgina’s pregnancy, so he doesn’t really know how to be. 

Milo expresses a flicker of concern because he knows on some level that the upcoming baby is genetically connected to his parents while he isn’t and he needs reassurance. 

Dan consults his brother Scott, who lived through a similar situation being an adoptee, and being an adoptee with a younger sibling that was born to his parents, and his perspective helps. 

They move from the loft to a Park Slope townhouse just after the New Year and just shy of the beginning of Blair’s third trimester. She’s not allowed to pick up anything, so she just stands in the center of the first floor and directs the moving until Dan makes her sit on the first chair they bring in (the one from his home office). A joke about a sedan chair is made, and then Dan immediately regrets it when she looks like she’s considering it. Milo’s her assistant when he gets back from school. It’s adorable. 

It’s more house than either Humphrey boy knows what to do with, but they follow Blair’s lead in putting it together. Her nesting instincts kick into overdrive—it’s quite a thing to witness. Dan acquiesces to hiring Dorota full-time so Blair doesn’t do too much. 

The fetus of when everything else changes is male, despite Blair and Milo’s good vibes. After he’s born Blair—hopped up on drugs—is like “A boy? I don’t know anything about boys. How do I raise a boy?” Dan gives her a funny look and reminds her that she’s been successfully mothering a son for a few years now, actually. 

I haven’t an earthly idea what that baby’s first name is (Otis? — I’m KIDDING) but his middle name is Nathaniel. 

Blair and Milo are very precious and anxious and fussy when the baby comes and Dan is much more chill. He jokes that it’s because he’s Blair and Milo’s first baby

Dan becomes a stay-at-home dilf, fulfilling his potential ♥️

Rufus leaves the decision of what to do with the loft up to Dan and Jenny, and they can’t really bear to part with it, so they keep it in the family. It becomes Jenny’s crash pad when she’s in NY, and eventually morphs into her makeshift atelier, where she works while she’s in NY. 

[lotusflowerbreakingthesurface]

First of all, I AM NOT the authors/writers of these fics. I DO NOT own any of these amazing fanfictions. I WILL NOT repost these fanfics without authorization. I will only recommend them to you. If you find that it is inappropriate to recommend the fanfic here. Please let me know, I will delete it immediately.

The link (if there is any) will only lead to the fanfictions that the authors/writers posted themselves, such as AO3, Lofter, Weibo, their personal websites, etc. After much deliberation, I will only share the author's personal website link via private message.

I will try my best to provide the link, but some fanfictions are quite old and difficult to track down. However, if you are really interested to read that fic, you can search it directly on web browser. Since I couldn't confirm the authorization and because of the strict rules, I can't share it here.

The fic recs here are based on my personal preferences. Everyone has their own standard and level of acceptance. So, please be considerate. It is also because of this matter that a warning is needed to serve as a precaution, I have no intention to offense anyone. I will put a warning if it is necessary, but I will not give any OOC warnings (unless the author/writer said it themselves). If you think there is something more to add on, feel free to tell me.

Most of the fic recs here are probably in Chinese, of course it does not mean that I am against English fics. It is all the same as long as it suits my taste and also it is no secret that there is a lot of food in Chinese fandom.

Chinese fanfiction is different from English fanfiction, sometimes there is no summary, no tags, and the rating is basically just "no R (without restricted content)", "with R (with restricted content)", or "high R/H (explicit content)". Therefore, I added some additional details that were intended only for better understanding of what you are going to read and I by no means have any intention to disrespect anyone, especially the authors/writers.

Please note that I cannot speak Chinese (but it didn't stop me lol). I just like to wander in PingXie Chinese fandom and desperately use machine translation apps to read. That being said, it is hard for me to completely capture the real nuances of a fanfic in Chinese. I may only understand the gist or the vibe of it with my reading comprehension. So, if there is any weird translation, misinterpretation, and misunderstanding, I apologize in advance. Maybe you can kindly help me to fix it :)

I hope someone will translate them properly someday, and of course with their permissions >.<

I will only recommend the fics that I have read before. So, if you want to recommend/submit a fanfiction it will take some time to put it here, and of course it should be under my fanfic criteria that I've mentioned in the pinned post.

No regular updates, and the fic rec number does not represent anything.

This is my first time doing something like this. If there are some small changes here and there, sorry for the inconvenience. Any suggestions are welcome :D

Last but not least, this blog is PingXie ONLY 【瓶邪ONLY, 不拆不逆】 ☆𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓧𝓲𝓮 𝓘𝓼 𝓘𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓤𝓷𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 ☆

No one seems to care about my preferences here, but due to the huge difference between Daomu Biji Chinese fandom and English-speaking fandom (it seems that the "attribute" is important in Chinese fandom), I feel like to explain it here just in case to avoid misunderstanding.

I am PingXie Only/瓶邪Only, which means that I do not ship any ship/pairing/cp(s) who break PingXie apart or multishipping, and I do not accept switching either. My recommendations are all PingXie and I always like PingXie, but I was so clueless and ignorant back then that I did not pay much attention to the food I'd eaten as I started off with being a casual shipper. As I gained an understanding of PingXie and its fandom, my way of thinking has gradually changed; the more I like PingXie, the more I am into PingXie Only. Therefore, I apologize if there are any crumbs left from the past that I have not had the chance to deal with, and cause some changes here and there. To me, being a PingXie Only shipper is a long process. I will try my best to recommend fanfictions by PingXie Only authors or those who do not cause any "troubles" with PingXie or Daomu Biji fandom in general. However, I cannot be held responsible for any changes of mind or in attitudes (if they do so in the future), or perhaps there are some things I failed to notice. So, please inform me if there are any mistakes. I have a bit of social anxiety and do not interact much; I am sorry if I accidentally offend you. Thank you.

That's it, the most important thing of shipping a ship/pairing/cp is to be happy :)

[90percentstudios]

Hello, sorry for the unfun question. I was wondering why I'm unable to gift season 1 of ckc as a bundle to a friend. I get this message "Because the contents of Cool Kid Cody - Season 1 are personalized for your account, it cannot be purchased as a gift." which is weird as I'm logged out

after looking into it, it seems steam doesn't allow the gifting of certain bundles, namely ones that change their price based on whether or not the purchasing account already has dlc from off the bundle (at least, that's how i understand it, and it seems to have an affect whether you're logged in or not). ;; it's very dumb and i'm sorry for the inconvenience. you might have to settle for gifting them some $$$ for their steam wallet thru a digital gift card, or you can try gifting them season 1 off of itch!

[auressea]

I love my library! I'm in poverty- I use my library a lot. They've got a great interlibrary lending system, and access to several digital resources like Overdrive and Libby and Kanopy.

What the Library cannot do? They cannot extend a loan time on a new or popular work! because they have a wait list. ALSO: they cannot lend 10 copies of the same book simultaneously. and ebooks come with 'title limits' as if they were a physical resource! that's some Publisher BS.. in fact, here's the message on my Library's lending page today:

"The Economist will no longer be available starting February 1, 2023. The last issue will be the January 28 edition and all back issues will be removed on February 1. The removal is because of newly required lending model changes by The Economist that are not compatible with how other magazines are made available in OverDrive/Libby. We apologize for the inconvenience and invite you to check out any of the thousands of other magazines in the collection."

this means- when ever we do a book club? I need to find another way

“Books are too expensive” -> GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!

“E-books are too expensive” -> GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!

“Audiobooks are too expensive” -> GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!

“Video games are too expensive” -> GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!

“Subscriptions to magazines/newspapers are too expensive” -> GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!

For real, get a library card for your local public library and you will have almost unlimited access to all kinds of media for free. Libraries also often have many different kinds of classes you can take, often for free or very cheap. Oh, and don’t forget the computers and internet access you can also use for free.

In conclusion, yet a library card.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY!!!

[shoutgraphics]

Instagram Has Gone 4:5

That’s not really the point here, is it?

Earlier this week, social media managers woke up to a decision that would fundamentally alter how they approach their work. Let’s not sugarcoat what it means to be a social media manager in 2025—these professionals are graphic designers, photographers, account managers, and digital marketers all at once. This week, Instagram decided the grid would go 4:5.

This change lands in a fractured social media landscape. It has been years since the men, seated in the front row at January 20th’s inauguration, prioritized genuine connection over profit. We log on not because we want to, but because we feel compelled to—and our moods deteriorate as a result. We’ve collectively voiced a desire to leave platforms like Instagram, but the alternatives still feel inadequate. Now, amid this disillusionment, Instagram has quietly discarded over a decade of design work by users with one sweeping change.

Most blogs addressing this update will stick to the practicalities. I’ll save you the time: make your images at 1080 x 1350 or 1536 x 1920. The process, however, is far from intuitive. After selecting your images, click "Next," find the dashed square icon at the bottom left of the image preview, and set your post to "Portrait." If you make a mistake, don’t worry—Instagram has also made deleting a post far less accessible. But let’s not kid ourselves—that’s not really the point here, is it?

Creatives have had to accept that our portfolios cannot exist solely on our websites. This is why Shout! Graphics has an official social media policy. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X aren’t just social spaces—they’re search engines. They dictate visibility, and if your work is seen, your next contract might depend on the immediate look of your grid. With one unilateral change, a carefully curated portfolio no longer reflects the creator’s intent. Sure, I can adapt future assets, but the time, effort, and resources I’ve already poured into optimizing for 1:1? Gone. The effectiveness of the grid I’ve built has been significantly diminished.

Instagram’s move from 1:1 to 4:5 is an abrasive reminder of how little control we have in these spaces. We don’t set the rules; we’re forced to play by them. They can change the rules at any moment. There is nothing we can do about it. The only place where we maintain true creative control is our own websites.

This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a message. Instagram’s decision underscores a lack of respect for its users’ labor and investment. As creatives, we must recognize this for what it is: a move that reinforces the need for independence. Social platforms can serve as tools, but they should never dictate how we define or present our work. The shift to 4:5 isn’t just about aspect ratios; it’s about power dynamics. This is yet another decision made on our behalf, but not for us.

_

🔗 Read more here: shoutgraphics.design/blog/industry/instagram-aspect-ratio/

[xxdoubledaisyxx]

Rust: "character identity is not important in our mutie minded hiveslave game of shitsucking ass drinkers. You have to survive, not enjoy yourself, because we are so privileged and spoiled with riches and luxury that we have never known suffering in real life and cannot even possibly imagine how other people might suffer just to be alive. However, you can do some complicated procedure to change your race to one of four."

Fuck you mother fuckers. Do you not know how ignorant you people are? Do you not realize your arrogance is an insult to my intelligence that I will answer with destruction in real life by civil means of social action.

Hopefully PlayStation lets me return this bull shit since I used my Stars rewards to buy it...

----

Rust is not actually working like a game. There is no character creation despite the genre specifically to inconvenience players like me who desire to enjoy ourselves in video game environments. I was not aware of it being an evil scam for unethical scientists and money stealing criminals pretending to be entertainers for children. That is unacceptable and should have been disclosed first so I was not offended. Please refund the game and remove it from my library.2:02 PM

are you still there?2:03 PM

are you not aware of that happening in the video game industry?

Yes Nicholas, I am reading your message, allow me a moment, please.

PI am reading your message.PlayStation Support

if you wish to help, forcibly take my money back from them and feel free to give them a rude gesture on my behalf. They are unworthy of the USD.

Okay, first, we need to investigate and check some things.

PFirst, have you tried any troubleshooting steps before contacting us today?PlayStation Support

Like what? Nuke Israel?

Nicholas, we just need this in order to continue assisting you.2:07 PM

I've done nothing else.

Okay, allow me a moment, please.2:08 PM

What kind of game hates individuality? No thanks. That's all I am. I want nothing to do with their identityless, inhumane, game of boring hate and evil toxicity.

Thank you for kindly waiting, Nicholas. I totally get your point, but this is something related directly with the publisher, if you wish you can contact them directly about this. On our end, I am sorry to inform you that I just double checked and it seems that according to our records the content has been downloaded/streamed. I'm truly sorry that I cannot proceed this time but due to the restrictions outlined in the PlayStation Store Cancellation Policy; a refund cannot be made for this transaction.

PI understand this is not the outcome you expected, but if there is something else you may need help with today, just let me know!PlayStation Support2:11 PM

File my complaint with extreme prejudice and be grateful I have no intention of directing my wrath at your company for no reason other than the existence of Noire in Neptunia. Thank Nep Nep for your life if you still have it, and don't allow mistakes like Rust to enter the world again.

You can contact the publisher directly about this, Nicholas.PlayStation Support

maybe I will, but I'd rather not correspond with fools.

I may as well play it now and see if there is anything to salvage from it. Maybe I'll find clues to track them down in real life for my rich person bludgeon to make short work of.

rich person bludgeon... you people disgust me.

Identity is not important? Then why did you design characters like human beings with an identity? Why did you create lifeless husks like real people? Is that what life is to you? A game where you can project yourself into another person? Keep doing that with me.

you have something in that emptiness where you think I have forgetten and been unaware, but that is because you are loved.

There is nothing in that emptiness for me. No love. No person. No truth. No life. Nothing. That's all you people are now that you thought of putting your faith in me, and that is all that I am not.

Seriously. Nuke Israel. See if that doesn't make the dickheads pull themselves out of each other's asses and get back in line before they break the god damn reactor with all their brain dead butt fucking.

[purplesurveys]

1881

Who’s the first person you can think of that has curly hair? Someone I went to grade school with, which is interesting to me because she hasn't had curly hair since we were 9. She stands out to me though because I remember asking her how her hair got to be curly, and she told me she was part-Aeta. I thought that was very fascinating to learn and since then I've always remembered her as once having curly hair (even though she had it straightened for good the year after).

What is something about the opposite sex that you don’t understand?  I don't think there is any one thing, but most guys I've talked to or worked with have been very nonchalant; almost to the point of looking like they don't give a shit about what I or anyone else tells them haha. I never get used to it and always get taken aback by the unenthusiastic reactions to everything.

Have you done anything stupid recently?  Good question. I don't think so.

Do you struggle to talk about your feelings?  Not for the most part, but it also depends on the person. I don't open up to my parents easily, for example.

Out of all your friends, which one is the quietest? That will probably be me.

And which one is the loudest?  I'm not sure. All my friends seem reserved now that we're a little bit older haha. Maybe Andi? Lui and Kate to, I suppose.

Think about the last time you were angry; what was the reason? My mom was changing the program flow that I orchestrated for our grandparents' surprise party – on the goddamn fly. Every single segment had some sort of change to it that the host and I had to pivot toward as each was happening. Sooooo frustrating and I had to resort to PR director mode to manage her and tell her she can't keep doing that to every fucking part because everything was already set up such that the program would flow seamlessly.

Is your mascara waterproof? I do not use mascara.

Are you going out tonight?  NO THANKS

The person from your past who hurt you the most is standing right in front of you. What do you want to say?  How have you been?

Imagine that you don’t hear from your best friend for two weeks. You don’t see him/her at all, and he/she doesn’t answer any calls, texts, Facebook messages etc. You go round to his/her house, but no-one answers. What do you do?  I'd ask her boyfriend and parents.

Which do you like best - your hair or your eyes?  Eyes.

Did you watch Scooby Doo when you were a kid?  I didn't, but I played a Scooby Doo video game.

Is there anyone you know you definitely CANNOT trust?  Yes.

Have you ever imagined what your wedding might be like?  At some point. But I've stopped thinking about it for nearly half a decade now.

What is something that people often call you, other than your name?  Nope.

Are your sleeping patterns messed up? It kind of is and it's so frustrating haha. I need to sleep earlier for a while because I've been waking up at 8:45 AM these days...which is super inconvenient considering I start work at 9. I used to wake up at 7:30 sharp, alarm or no alarm, and I need my body clock to go back to that practice

Who is the most intelligent person you know?  Hans or Andi.

What should a member of the opposite sex do if they want to get your attention, or impress you? Doesn't depend on the sex lol, but I appreciate someone who's smart and can contribute a lot to a conversation.

Are you a happy person these days? Why/why not?  I've had a dip recently because my imposter syndrome has been getting in the way of work and I always feel like there is a target behind my back. Apart from work – happy as can be. I wish I can for once be smooth-sailing in my professional life lol.

Have you had an argument with the opposite sex recently? Nah.

Do you like sushi?  Love sushi and can eat it everyday.

Do you ever tweet the celebs? And has a celeb ever tweeted you?  Nobody that's like a mega celeb like Ariana Grande or whoever. I've gotten tons of interactions from wrestlers, though, that I stopped listing them down.

What were you doing 15 mins ago? This. I'm taking forever to finish because I have distractions in between hahaha – eating my doughnut, watching Run BTS, checking Instagram...

Do you tend to trust people easily, or do you try to be careful about who you trust?  I'm careful.

Have you ever talked about someone behind their back?  Yes, both nicely and not-so-nicely.

Have you ever seen photos of your parents when they were young? Yes. They have tons.

Do you think it’s sweet when you see couples kissing in public, or does it make you feel uncomfortable?  It's fine with me but nothing too gross/explicit plz.

What are you doing later? I wanna do more of these but I also want to play a bit of RhyHi.

[petsdogworld]

If your dog is peeing on your bed, you are almost undoubtedly livid. Dog urine may wreak havoc on your bedding. Additionally, after the urine odour has been established, your dog may be enticed to pee in the location again. Your bed is pleasant, soft, absorbent, and scented with your scent. Naturally, your dog will want to spend as much time as possible there. Many people believe that dogs urinate on their owners' beds to demonstrate their authority or rebellion. However, the actual cause is more complex. In this article we will discuss reasons why dogs pee on beds and how to stop my dog from peeing on my bed. Why do dogs pee on bed ? Numerous hypotheses have been advanced as to why certain dogs urinate on their owners' beds. If your dog is young, they may have difficulty with house training and may have an accident on the bed, just like they may in other house areas. While resting on the bed, a geriatric dog may develop incontinence and leak. When a scared dog chooses the bed as a place of protection, it may urinate. The most common place for an adolescent dog to urinate is on the bed. Between the ages of nine and fourteen months (plus or minus a month or two on either end), dogs are more likely to urinate on the bed simply because they are teens. Teenagers do strange things, and sometimes we have no idea why. Contrary to popular perception, dogs do not urinate on the bed to "retaliate" or assert dominance. Dogs adore our mattresses because they smell exactly like us; after all, we spend seven to eight hours per night in bed. Because dogs cannot communicate verbally, it is not always evident when they wish to share with you. Occasionally, the message is conveyed through loud barks, gentle whimpers, or bizarre zoomies. However, if you're miserable, you'll return home one day, collapse into bed, and discover a stinking puddle of pee on your spotless bedding. Anxiety, Stress, or Fear in Dogs While stinky mishaps are inconvenient for you, they are almost undoubtedly terrible for tiny Fido. Peeing and pooping in unusual locations might be a sign of mental discomfort in a dog. Their concern may be obvious, such as thunderstorms or a new house visitor, or it may be as harmless as a change in the house, such as a new piece of furniture. When dogs are anxious, they may briefly lose control of their bladder. If they're fearful of something, it's also possible that they're eliminating on the bed out of fear of going to their customary location. Separation anxiety has also been associated with dogs peeing in the house. Observe your puppy in the hours following his minor mishap. If it frequently occurs, attempt to identify possible triggers, such as a loud noise, a new person, or you walking out the door. Relaxation and anxiety-relief remedies may assist him in settling down and feeling more at peace, particularly at night. They Adore Your Scent To your dog, your odour is insatiable. They are devoted to you. They adore the way you smell. They love anything that has a scent similar to yours. This is also why our dogs frequently go through phases of taking our filthy underwear and socks — they are attracted to our fragrance. Examining the behaviour of wild canines can assist us in comprehending this cause. Wild canines are constantly confronted by predators and have two options: fight or flee. Neither is optimal for the dog, which is why they will attempt to mask their scent. This is why you may occasionally discover your dog rolling in a dead animal carcass or fox poo. They do the same thing in your home by moving in your dirty laundry and, yes, even your bed! Dogs urinate on your bed because it conceals their scent in what the dog perceives to be their protector and companion's aroma. This reduces the dogs sense of vulnerability. Also Read : How To Make Homemade Dog Bed Deodorizer How Do I Prevent My Dog From Peeing on My Bed? A straightforward approach to prevent your dog from urinating on your bed is to deny them access to it.

Keep the door closed or crate your dog if you're going out for a short period. The majority of dogs find being in a crate soothing, as they are small, enclosed environments. However, your dog should never be crated for more than a few hours every day. If your dog is a puppy or adolescent, they may be peeing on your bed due to improper house training. This is also seen in rescue dogs. It may be necessary to restart house training from the beginning to ensure that this is not the case. If your dog is urinating on your bed and other areas of the house, this is almost certainly the source of the problem. Always carefully clean up after your dog. They are more likely to repeat the act if they can still smell their urine in your bedroom. Pet odour eliminators can be incredibly useful for ensuring that no trace of the animal is left behind. If you've exhausted all other options and are unsure where to turn, it may be wise to consult an animal behaviourist. They will be able to assist you and your dog in putting an end to the unpleasant behaviour. Medical Justifications A dog peeing the bed may indicate a medical problem, so if your pet has developed a habit of it, it may be time for a veterinarian visit. Incontinence or diminished bladder control is a symptom of urinary tract infection, a painful bacterial disease treatable with medications. Training Dogs are incapable of swiftly grasping what we require of them. They will only learn if you train them continuously. Yes, constantly and frequently each day until they acquire the ability and comprehend the proper course of action. Never fail to commend them when they adhere to your instructions. Dogs thrive on praise and telling them "Good boy" or "Good girl" after they have gone outside to potty will help reinforce that behaviour. Along with the credit, consider giving your dog a special treat. Your dog wishes to please you; thus, communicate to him when he brings you joy. When training your dog, investing in a chew resistant dog bed will assist in extending the life of the bed if your dog has that propensity. Hope you liked our article for How To Stop My Dog From Peeing On My Bed , feel free to give us feedback to make it better. Also Read : How To Get Dog To Stop Chewing Bed In 4 Ways https://petsdogworld.com/how-to-stop-my-dog-from-peeing-on-my-bed/?feed_id=506&_unique_id=64c17210c24c7 #stopdogfrompeeingonbed

[awsarhub]

How To Perform Well In A Group Discussion??

Working alone is difficult, but group work is even more challenging. Alone, you can make instantaneous decisions and changes without having to worry about how it will affect other persons. However, group work and by extension, group discussion is a part of every aspect of our lives, and we cannot push it under the rug, hoping it goes away. So what now? How can you prepare yourself to be a good team player and have positive and engaging group discussions with members of your team? This article will give you some pointers on how to develop your skills and be productive during group discussions.

Prepare

Firstly, even before you meet with the group, you must prepare yourself for the discussion. It makes no sense arriving to discuss about a topic, and you have no idea what the topic is about. Do your research, read reviews and see what other persons are saying about the topic and make notes. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to support and defend any points which may arise during the discussion. This also shows that you are prepared to engage in wholesome discussion and not just coming to the meeting because you feel obligated.

Be Punctual

On the day of the meeting, be early! It sets an unprofessional tone when you show up late for a meeting. It sends a message to other members that the discussion is meaningless and an inconvenience to your daily schedule. Dress comfortably but appropriate for the meeting so you don’t focus on how much your feet hurt or how badly you want to take off this tie, but you are engaged and focused on the discussion.

Listen

We hear, but we do not listen. Many persons neglect to admit that listening is an art which they don’t possess. Listening is of utmost importance when doing group discussions and it can help to avoid repetition of points which is ultimately a waste of time. When meeting with the group, before any discussion starts everyone should state their interpretation of the topic. Often, persons start out with a misguided idea about what the topic is about, and this leads to complications further into the discussion. Members need to express their thoughts on the topic so everyone can begin the discussion on the same page.

Give everyone a voice

Getting into the actual discussion, group members must remember that being respectful is most important and that opinions and facts are two different things. Persons tend to get frustrated when their voice isn’t heard or when others seem to be dismissive of their views. A good discussion requires a mutual level of respect by everyone involved, and to continue to be respectful even if there are disagreements.

To quote Brandon Jenner

Sometimes we let life guide us, and other times we take life by the horns. But one thing is for sure: no matter how organized we are, or how well we plan, we can always expect the unexpected

Take the Initiative

Taking the initiative is also a good way to improve the performance in group discussions. At times, a task may come up, and it needs to be delegated to a member to be completed, in some cases for the discussion to move forward. Stepping up to the challenge is a good way to show your ability to get the job done as well as flexing your leadership muscles. This allows persons to see you in a different setting and also gives you the opportunity to showcase your skills.

[fujiaya]

The subtler and more visible, the more powerful

The nudging strategy is usually less evident so that consumers do not feel they are operating to make some choices, but it is a vital tool. In Japan, authorities or facility owners use paintings painted by local school kids to restrain some undesirable behaviors such as littering, stealing money from unmanned stores, or driving fast. Or putting some characters on posters or signs to make people feel they are watched. This has a critical effect on reducing those behaviors more than just having warnings by text because people shame themselves for behaving like that in front of pure and innocent creatures. Also, you can find stickers like "Thank you for keeping/using it clean!)' in restrooms. This is more effective than saying "Please keep it clean" since the former message implies keeping it clean is the standard. These are examples of externally imposed mindful discouragement. Even though nudging is effective, if we apply it the wrong way, we may not be able to achieve the desired effect. For instance, stores (both online/offline) tend to advertise "only xx units left" or make things run out. If this goes too much, people start doubting whether the stores intentionally procure less to raise prices and eventually lose trust. Or, customers avoid the stores purely afraid of inconvenience. In Japan, we often see some small stores saying final clearance before closing business, but the reality is they have been making the sales for several years. Once people notice you are nudging them to force people to behave in a certain way, they will walk away from you.

P.S. I always feel MIT or my company should change the way of messaging to attract female candidates. They tend to say "we achieved xx% target" or "% of females is xx". These messages always give the impression that those institutions are struggling to acquire the profiles; moreover, sometimes they feel females were accepted/ got promoted mainly because of their gender. When interviewing candidates in my company or giving consultation for candidates, I always say, "I've never focused on genders since there are too many female colleagues and cannot count," or just mention their achievements focusing on individuals or equal opportunity.