#this originally was going to be a reblog but i wanted to make it my own post as to not bother op

[palettepainter]

@theartsoflilo and @factual-fantasy robot art got me inspired to dust off my old Transformers OC Dash and give her a new look which I finished up yesterday! (oOoOOooO you wanna go look at their art so bad, you want to reblog and like their stuff and leave nice tags-)

Took a lot of inspo from the animated transformers style to keep myself from going insane over making the design too complicated

Ontop of anxiety kicking my butt I got sick and basically spent Wednesday and a bit of Thursday in bed moping, feeling better but still don't fell 100%. Art block is also still kinda lingering?? I think going back to transformers and watching some old shows got the creative juices flowing

Also thanks to factual-fantasy I've watched a few episodes of Transformers Prime! And ye they're so right Ratchet is such a grump, I love him. Originally Dash was a Transformers Rescue Bot OC because that's the show I had available growing up, but I've been imagining her interacting with Ratchet just because...Dash is so prone to over exerting herself without realising. If she were a human with a broken arm she'd be like "Oh look at that, when did that happen?...Ah I'll walk it off I'm sure it's fine!"

On a side note my favourite bot from TRB is Chase, and my current fav from TFP is Ratchet...it seems I have a liking for rule sticklers

Still have one more commission to finish up which hopefully will be done soon, it's a fun one so looking forward to picking it up after lunch!

[karespocketboyfriends]

𝙲𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚃𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜 (𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙰𝚛𝚎𝚗’𝚝 𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚃𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜)

Sylus X Evie (OC)

Warnings -> Adult humor, Evie wants to climb her boss, Luke & Kieran being problem children, pre-relationship

An original fan-fiction for Love and Deepspace. I appreciate reblogs but reposting to Tumblr or any other site is not okay with me.

This is wrong on so many levels.

I can't help it, though. At the end of a day, I'm a human. A human who appreciates beauty no matter what style the artwork comes in.

And my boss is a work of freaking art.

I'm trying my hardest not to salivate as I watch the video playing on my laptop, a video that has absolutely nothing to do with the work I just can't seem to focus on. As Sylus' personal assistant, I know the man's routine by heart. Know that he enjoys boxing as a workout. What I didn't know that he has a history of competing in tournaments until now. Filmed tournaments, at that. Hence how I've gotten myself into this position, damn near going feral over a video of my boss duking it out in a boxing ring with another competitor.

I've seen Sylus in athletic attire before, have had to interrupt his workouts time and time again due to the sudden arise of something urgent. I've noticed how sculpted his body is, but have never had time to truly appreciate it. I shouldn't be appreciating it this much, it's just not professional.

But damn, those are a thick set of arms. The cameraman must have been just as obsessed, because even on video, I can see the way his skin glistens with sweat, how his dark top clings to his abdomen.

I should be disturbed by the sudden 'I wish that were me' thought that runs through my head, but I'm not. My attention is too hyper fixated on Sylus' huffs and grunts as he attacks and blocks, something in the pit of my stomach starting to pulse at the concentration etched onto his face.

I can't help but set the end of my pen between my teeth. Then, in a hushed voice, I practically sigh my desires into existence. "I wanna climb that man like a damn tree."

"Which man?"

I scream and slam my laptop shut. Whipping my spinning desk chair around, I stare wide-eyed at the insufferable twins who have somehow, once again, slipped into my office undetected. "You- Get out!"

I don't need to see their faces to know they're snickering beneath their masks.

Poking my head into music room, I find Sylus sitting on the very large, very expensive leather couch. His head is tilted back, resting against the top of the couch, arms crossed and eyes closed. He looks to be asleep, but I know that’s not the case.

Quietly, I enter and make my way over to him. Sylus cracks an eye open as I near, but doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to, and neither do I. Work closely with someone long enough, and words are no longer needed when it comes to certain things.

Flashing him a small smile, I place a glass of whiskey on the small, wooden round table next to the couch. Then I turn and head to the massive wall that showcases his music collection. Sylus has got everything, from classical to blues to jazz, some in the form of records and others in old fashioned tapes.

I select one of the jazz records and carry the big black disk over to the antique record player. I can feel a pair of eyes on me as I work to get the record in place, but it doesn’t intimidate me like it once did. Now, it’s quite comforting in a way I can’t explain. Like I’m being looked after, considered.

I quickly realize that it’s not one pair of eyes watching me, but two, and their intent is not as innocent as I originally thought.

“Hey, boss,” Kieran’s voice comes out of no where. “If you need some time to relax, why don’t you try some tree climbing?”

My body goes still.

“Oak trees are my favourite.” Luke pipes in. “Lots of different sizes and shapes for those ones.”

“I’m rather fond of baobabs myself.” Kieran continues. “I like a challenge.”

They wouldn’t.

But they would.

Luke’s snicker sends my heart into a panicked race. “I know Evie’s favourite tree to climb is a Sy-”

“Sycamore trees!” I exclaim way too loudly, whirling around to face the trio that have altered my life forever. For better or worse is up for debate.

Sylus, who at some point during the interaction sat up, raises a brow at my rather enthusiastic proclamation. Luke and Kieran are standing behind him, and as much as I want to, there’s no way to flip them off without Sylus noticing. Bastards.

“Sycamore trees.” Sylus repeats slowly, as if he’s still processing whatever the hell is going on here. I can’t blame him.

‘Too late to back out now.’

Nodding firmly, I fold my hands behind my back. “Yes. Their branches are very thick. Nice and sturdy.”

Luke sinks to the floor while Kieran starts to tremble with the strain of trying to remain composed.

Sylus pinches the bridge of his nose. “And where, pray tell, have you found a sycamore tree to climb?”

I blink, my brain taking a second too long to come up with an answer. “My childhood. The N109 Zone wasn’t always this way, you know?”

I need to get out of here before this turns into something I’ll never be able to recover from.

“Oh, you’ve finished your drink. Allow me to take care of that for you.” I zip over to him and pluck the empty glass from the table. “Enjoy the rest of your quiet time, Sir. I’ll make sure this glass is cleaned with tender loving care.”

At that, Luke and Kieran, who have been fighting to stay quiet, erupt into two volcanos of cackles. My face heats as I dart out of the music room, practically slamming the large door behind me.

My legs are moving with the speed of a roadrunner, and I yank my phone from my pocket to send a message to the twins.

Little V

I am going to murder the both of you and bury you in the same grave.

Then I’ll take myself out on top of it.

Nestled in the heart of the N109 Zone, hidden within a false exterior of an old warehouse, is a library so grand it’s almost something out of my dreams. Tall, creaky wooden shelves almost reach the ridiculously high ceiling, rickety sliding ladders mounted every couple cases to give customers access to the higher levels.

These records and books are so old, not just anybody can access them. But when the boss of Onychinus comes knocking with his entourage in tow, entrance is given without question.

“I appreciate the ambiance, but do they really have to make it so dark in here?” I huff, squinting as I scan yet another line of books for the tome my boss is looking for.

Said boss is working through the section behind me, a pillar of calm despite the almost twenty minutes we’ve been searching. “I thought you would be more excited about this. We’re surrounded by your favourite toys, kitten.”

I roll my eyes at that climb another step on the ladder. “My favourite ‘toys’ involve different worlds and people falling in love, not the history of the real world or people who’ve lived in it.”

The titles on the spines start to blur together, a sign that my eyes need a break. Turning my head with a sigh, I stare at the bookcases behind me, scan the upper shelves since I, for once, have the height advantage between the two of us.

That’s when I spot it, a thick book bound in old leather, the trim along the top and bottom of the spine done in rusted metal. The spine is so worn the title is illegible, but I saw pictures of what Sylus is after, and there’s no doubt that this is it.

Instead of climbing down to move the ladder, I grab onto the shelves and pull to wheel it closer to the tome. Once in position, I turn, essentially standing backwards on the ladder, and go for it. The aisle is narrow enough that I can reach it, even though I do have to lean forward a little.

My fingers just manage to tilt the tome out of the lineup when the ladder’s step gives out from under me. I plummet with a screech, the tome falling with me and hitting the floor with a loud thud.

I, however, never land. I’m caught before I can get that far, something strong and solid gripping me beneath my thighs. On reflex I wrap my arms and legs around whatever saved me. Or rather, who saved me. The realization comes quickly, that my saviour is my boss, and that my boss’ very large, very strong arms and hands are supporting me. That his heavenly sculpted abs are nestled between my thighs, his broad and dependable shoulders solid beneath my hands.

‘I am going to spontaneously combust.’

Sylus, who had stumbled back a step from the sudden catch, narrows his eyes. “Either you planned this on purpose, or you’ve forgotten that my Evol is useful.”

Right. I’ve witnessed him lift men off their feet with his Evol. “I-”

A wolf whistle echoes down the aisle, followed by a voice. Luke’s voice. “Wow, Evie. You finally made it to the top of your sycamore tree.”

Kieran starts to applaud. “Are those branches as thick and sturdy as you imagined?”

Those two. Dead. Now.

I thrash in Sylus’ arms until he ungracefully drops me, then I bolt after the twins who have already started running.

Three minutes later, all four of us are being kicked out.

At least we got what we came for.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

Redraw of an AU I started writing and drew a panel of four years ago. Featuring Obi-Wan and co accidentally flying through a wormhole and crashing in First Age Beleriand. What could possibly go wrong?

Version without writing, original from 2021 + excerpt from the fic under cut.

Featuring my design for Maedhros and Maglor, and an Ahsoka redesign.

Art only allowed for personal use ie. phone/laptop wallpapers.

Do not repost or upload. Reblogs are always appreciated.

Except from the scene:

Maedhros was making his way to lunch when the young soldier came running through the gates, pausing by the redhead to bow before running to Maglor’s office. At the end of the hallway, he paused. Maedhros quirked an eyebrow.

“My Lord! I have an urgent message for Lord Maglor... But perhaps it would be easier if I told both of you.”

Maedhros inwardly frowned but nodded and strode to his brother’s room, the soldier jogging to keep up with his long strides.

Maglor was carrying on with the reports he’d almost fallen asleep on the night before when the sharp knock caught his ears. The door opened.

“My Lord. Commander Lintiel has found the foreigners.”

“Tell me what happened.” Maglor commanded, waving in the two elves.

The soldier proceeded to tell them of a transport that fell out the sky and the strange occupants within it. How their weapons shone with light and their skill in combat and survival.

“I would not have believed had I not seen with my own eyes. They do not seem hostile, but remain under guard. There are two Generals, a Captain and a Commander. The younger General is a former student of the other; he now teaches the Commander.”

“How long until they arrive?”

“Sundown.”

“And the orcs?”

“All dead. But their numbers have been increasing.”

Maglor shared a look with his brother.

“Thank you. Brief my Captain on the situation then get something to eat. You have done well.” Maedhros dismissed the guard, who left with a bow.

The door closed and the redhead pulled up a chair with a sigh and a wry smile.

“Since when did you get foresight Kano?”

Maglor looked at him flatly.

“Not foresight. A feeling.”

“There’s a difference?”

“Yes.”

“Alright alright.” Maedhros conceded, raising an arm in surrender.

Maglor rolled his eyes, but capped the ink pot and leaned back in his chair, a single hand rubbing his eyes.

“So, oh great Lord of Himring. How do we handle this one?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you? You said they weren’t a danger.”

“I said they’re not necessarily a danger. Clearly, whoever or whatever they are, they have skill and could most definitely be a problem if they wanted to. We must be cautious.”

Maedhros smiled sharply.

“That will be no trouble.”

Maglor gave him a reprimanding glance and stood, walking to the main entrance of the fortress.

“Do try not to frighten them away, dear brother,” he said dryly, “they are not hostiles.”

Maedhros rolled his eyes.

“Another... feeling?”

Maglor scowled.

“If I say yes, will you listen?”

“I trust you, brother.” Maedhros replied, now serious. The two elves paused by the gate. He looked the younger in the eye. “I know you will not lead me astray.”

Maglor smiled and nodded, the weight of the words not lost on him, and the redhead returned the smile. An hour passed in which guards were surreptitiously placed around the premises, but the two lords knew the security would most likely be seen. One did not simply become a general, and by the sounds of things, these foreigners were young even for mortals.

There was a signal at the gate, and Maedhros nodded. A few shouts later, the gate was opened and Lintiel rode in ahead, leaped off her horse and bowed to the Feanorions.

“My Lords.”

Lintiel as an elf of the Gap faced Maglor, who stepped forward.

“Lintiel. Report.”

The news was as expected, almost the same message the young soldier had given.

“As of yet they have shown no signs of hostility towards us.” She paused for a moment, weighing up her next words and Maglor gently pushed her on.

“Speak, my friend. You would not do so unless you were sure of something.”

Lintiel frowned slightly and replied.

“I know I have met them for barely a day, but I feel drawn to these strangers, they radiate a strange inner light. Nevertheless I am wary.”

The brothers exchanged a surprised glance, and now Maedhros replied.

“You have done well, Lintiel, we will take your words into consideration.” Maedhros now called with a loud voice that all the soldiers could hear. “Eat then rest, all of you. It has been a long hunt.”

As the soldiers bowed then made their way through, Lintiel muttered to the two:

“They speak only the tongue of Men.”

She called the soldiers surrounded the four travellers forward, gave a short bow, then left, gesturing for the cavalry to follow and the four to stay where they were.

Once alone in the main hall, Maedhros and Maglor analysed the beings before them, taking note of them doing the same. Some time passed before Maedhros finally spoke, projecting his most kingly aura.

“So. You’re the ones I was told to expect.” He paused, ignoring Maglor rolling his eyes at the drama. “Who are you and what do you want?”

Obi-Wan stepped forward with a bow, not at all intimidated.

“I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. My companions are Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex of the 501st Legion. We seek shelter and a place to rest. Unfortunately our transport has been damaged beyond repair and communication to our men will take some time to figure out and re-establish.” Obi-Wan paused. “I should also mention that Ahsoka here is of a species common to where we come from. She is no creature like the orcs.”

Maedhros nodded once, but still stared disconcertingly at the four, watching as the Captain’s hand tightened around the strange black weapon, and the two youngest beings grasped the silver hilts on their waists.

Only the Master did nothing, meeting his eyes with firm resolve.

[jedi-enthusiast]

I’ll be the first to admit, yeah, I dumbed down “genocide” to the numbers—however I did so to make a point, a point it seems everyone has missed so I’m going to clarify now.

The reason I compared the numbers and specifically compared the Holocaust was because that is what yall are CONSTANTLY comparing the Israel/Hamas war to, the casualties to. You constantly compared it to the Holocaust---hell, to a certain extent I feel like you guys WANT it to be as bad as the Holocaust, just so you can have your "history moment" of having some quote in a history book of "I was RIGHT, SEE? I was RIGHT and all of you were WRONG" instead of...actually giving a fuck about the people you're supposedly advocating for, but that's a discussion for another time---so I just...did that.

You wanted to compare it to the Holocaust, so here's your comparison.

As you can see, these are two VERY different death tolls.

Did I word the post wrong? Yeah, reading it back I can see that, but I also wrote that in a fit of anger after having seen a shit ton of antisemitic comments on a Holocaust remembrance video, so I wasn't exactly in the best state of mind for clarifying my point.

HOWEVER, I did reblog these additions to my post later on that clarified exactly what you take issue with in my original post, which are as follows:

But obviously you wouldn't want to reblog those parts because they, again, go against the idea that Israel is committing a genocide. As these other folks have said, it's about INTENT and the intent is just not there.

For my own sanity, I'll concede and edit the original post to clarify the point I was making, but my point---and the idea that the Israel/Hamas war is, in fact, a WAR and not a GENOCIDE---still stands.

I'm taking the word "genocide" away from Leftists and the "pro-Palestine" movement, because clearly y'all have never opened a single dictionary EVER and lack basic critical thinking.

The word "genocide" was coined by Polish Jew Raphael Lemkin to describe the horrifying systematic mass murder of Jews during the Holocaust, where 63% of all the Jews in Europe and 39% of all the Jews IN THE ENTIRE WORLD were murdered.

THAT is what genocide is.

Now let's take a look at a couple death toll estimates via the percent of the population during World War 2, since that's a pretty recent war that I'm sure everyone knows about:

Do you want to know the percent of the Japanese population that was killed during that war? 3.5%.

Now, guess the population percentage how many Germans were killed. Any guesses? 6%.

The US lost about .2% of our population, the French lost .5%, and then the British lost .55%.

Now that you have those statistics, what do you think the population percentage of Palestinians that have died during the Israel/Hamas war is? Any guesses?

It's 62,614 casualties, which we'll round up to 63,000 for simplicity, out of the total population of Palestine which is above 5 million (but we'll keep it at just 5 million for simplicity), and that gives us...

...1.26%.

I want all of you to take those numbers and think on that.

Think on whether or not you've ever tried to argue that Germans or the Japanese were being genocided in WW2, since they lost a bigger percentage of their population during that war than Palestine has.

Think on whether or not you've said that the US, UK, or any of the other Allied Powers should be nuked off the face of the earth, or that everyone---including civilians who've done nothing---should be murdered/raped/mutilated/etc. because of what their governments did during that war.

Think on whether or not you've harassed people from the US, UK, or other Allied countries for what went on during WW2 or excused harassment of them behind a tagline of "we're just protesting."

...

And then think on why you find it acceptable to treat Jews and Israelis like complete and utter SHIT, harass them, justify the murder and rape of their people, and say that the ONLY country that has ever actually been SAFE for them to live* should be wiped off of the face of the earth along with everyone living there (which is 50% of all the Jews in the entire world, mind you, which would be WORSE than what happened during the Holocaust...just so y'all know what you're advocating for)---for the "crime" of fighting in a war that was started by a terrorist organization dedicated to wiping Jews off the face of the earth, and having a total death toll percent less than what other countries had in WW2.

I want all of you to think real hard on that and then try to tell me that you're on "the right side of history" because you think being bigoted in a rainbow t-shirt makes you any better than the ones wearing swastikas.

[bamsara]

I think that one thing people fail to understand is that unsolicited literary criticism coming from an online stranger who is reading with no knowledge of what the authors intended goal is, is not going to be received the same as say: the authors beta reader or friends who know what the authors intended goal and has the sufficient knowledge and input to help the author reach that desired outcome.

"But I'm only trying to be helpful" How do I know you have the knowledge and literary skill for you to be able to actaully do that when we don't know each other and you are essentially a stranger to me? Are you applying this criticism based out of personal biased experience and desire to see the story or characterization be driven in another direction or tweaked, or do you know the author's intentions for the character? If the story is incomplete, are you basing your criticism of a character on the incomplete narration with only partial information available of them or are you building up a report until the story's completion? Did the author provide you with the information needed to make a fully informed criticism?

Have you discussed with the author what their plans are or are you assuming them based off the narration, especially if the narration is proven or implied to be unreliable or missing key points of the plot? Are you unbiased enough to help them reach their desired outcome for the characters and story regardless of your personal feelings towards the characters/antagonists and setting? Can you handle being told your specific input isn't wanted because you're a reader and/or have no written anything relating to their genre or topic? Do you understand and respect that the author's personal experiences might influence their writing and make it different than how you would have done it personally? Do you understand if an author only wants input from a specific demographic relating to their story?

If it's for fanfiction or other hobby media, are you holding a free hobby to a professional standard? Are you trying to give criticism because you feel like the author has produced 'subpar job performance' of their fic? Are you viewing their work as a personal intimate outlet or something that must conform with mass media? Are you applying rules and guidelines when the fic is shared for simple sharing sake? Is your criticism worded appropriately and focused on the parts where the author has requested input on rather than a general dismissal and or disapproval?

Have you put yourself in a place where you assumed you have the input needed for the story to evolve better, or have you asked what the author needs and what they're having trouble with? Can you handle having your criticism rejected if the author decides their story doesn't need the change and not take it as a personal offense against your character? Are you crossing that boundary because you think you are doing the author a favor? Are you trying to be helpful, or do you just want to be?

I think sometimes when people hear authors go 'please don't give me unsolicited writing advice or criticism' they automatically chalk it up to 'this author doesn't want ANY constructive feedback on their stuff at all' and not "i already have trusted individuals who will help me with my writing goals and- hey i don't know you like that, please stop acting so overly familiar with me'

[quitlebee]

Playing Telephone

I was reminded on how I LOVED to play telephone with a can and a string back in the day

[divorceecheesecake]

:D the sequel

[the-kipsabian]

[doabackflipsolitaire]

Jason and the annoying kids he didn't want (and that he's only like 4 years older than)

[hauntingsofafuturespast]

Lol, I think you have me misunderstood. I'm not socially important here on this app, or anywhere online for that matter. I don't have that many followers and most of the accounts that follow me are old and inactive from the 'days of yore' here on Tumblr. 😆

I just wanted to make sure that I was making myself clear to you (and anyone else who might read the post) what I was talking about and where I was coming from.

And, as for why I didn't address you directly I wasn't really trying to respond to you so much as your point. Particularly if anyone else came across the post I wanted them to have another perspective to see the original post from since like we've both stated, people online can kind of just take a perspective and run with it without thinking twice.

But, additionally, you're also a person who I really respect and find insightful on here and they have been many times where you reblogged something and added a note that I really liked and wanted to respond to, but often they were in the tags and I thought it might be weird to reblog my own posts just to respond to a tag. 😅

Also, sorry if I come across so formal and ~stuffy~ on here. I just have my Midheaven ruled by Libra and so, for whatever reason, whenever I get online I'm like "I have no idea what might be going on in this person's day right now, and I have no idea what they might have meant or what they might have felt whenever they posted this. So, I should be SUPER careful with how I word things and make sure I'm coming across as clearly as possible." And so I wind up overexplaining and trying to make my points very clear when I respond to someone who I may disagree with or not know.

Sort of like I'm doing now. Lol. My bad. 😆😆😅😅

[anexperimentallife]

Can't believe I left this out: You need a US phone number and address for banking purposes!

A dual-sim phone or one that handles e-sims is ideal, or you can get a cheap-ass second phone to keep both a US and local number. I have a regular US cell phone plan in addition to my local plan (local plans are very cheap), but I've spoken to people who say they have "talk and text" (no mobile data) US plans for as little as twenty bucks a month.

You will set your phone up so that your Philippines number is the default for everything, and use your US Sim only when you have a wifi connection. When you make a call, you will get a pop-up asking you which sim to use. Your local carrier can help you set this up if you're nervous about getting it right, or, as I said above, you can just get the absolute cheapest smartphone you can find, use that for your US number, and leave it at home instead of taking it away from your wifi network. I've done the dual sim thing for over six years now with no hiccups, though.

As for a US address, you should have a trusted friend or family member who is committed to staying in the US, and probably at least two back-ups. Multi-person households are ideal, in case something happens to your main contact. Most US banks will not send new ATM or credit cards directly overseas--although some will if you contact them and tell them you're overseas and need to replace your card. Expect to pay around eighty bucks if your contact person is going to mail your new cards to you here.

Your US contact should be someone you trust with all your banking info, as you may need them to activate credit cards for you, etc.

(I know I mentioned Schwab dropping people who spend too much time overseas, so one way around that might be giving your US contact a card and having them make some minor purchase with it a couple of times a year. Other banks have been fine with us being here for the past seven years, so to me it doesn't seem worth the hassle.)

Why a US (or your other country of origin) bank?

It can be a hassle to open a bank account here as a foreigner. First, you need to have been here long enough to have an alien registration ID card, and even then many bank managers are suspicious about opening accounts for foreigners. Different branches of the same bank have a lot of autonomy, and I've spoken with people who went to three branches of the same bank before finding a bank manager who would work with them.

Also, Philippines banks are suspicious of checking accounts (bad checks and money laundering have been big issues here), so if/when you DO open a local account, you'll want a savings account.

They are also suspicious of large amounts of money coming in or going out, and often demand information and proof of where the money is coming from and going to.

Another banking factor to consider: A lot of banking here is done by appointment, and long waits are common, so if there IS an issue with, say, your direct deposit with a local bank, it can take a while to get sorted.

IF YOU ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, the current US regime is making it so any changes to your direct deposit (which ussd to be a phone call) must be done in person at the SS office at the US embassy in Manila. And even BEFORE they began cutting services, it could take weeks to get an appointment. So make sure it's all sorted BEFORE you go.

As I think of more things to include, I'll reblog with additional info.

I PROMISE MOVING HERE IS NOT AS DIFFICULT AS IT MAY SOUND! It's just that there is a lot to consider. I did my research before moving, but I was still blind-sided by some things, so take advantage of my experiences.

Quick info on relocating from the US to the Philippines (yes, even if you're poor)

Source of my info: I've lived here in the Philippines for about seven years now, my (also from the US) wife has been here almost as long, and we had our daughter here. This is for people who have a location-independent source of income like SSDI (NOT SSI), remote job, etc.

I keep starting to type up a guide to moving to the Philippines from the US, but there's so much to cover I keep getting stuck! It's coming, though. As for why the Philippines, I did a lot of research before leaving the US, and it's the absolute easiest, least expensive, friendliest, and lowest-hassle English-speaking country to move to. You can stay on a tourist visa for three years at a time by extending every two months. At the end of three years, you buy a budget round trip ticket (for under 100 bucks) to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or whatever, walk around the airport, and hop on the place back.

Note: For convenience, I'm using US Dollars when discussing the prices you can expect to pay for things here, but only Philippines Pesos are accepted in the Philippines. Your US ATM card will get you pesos from the ATM, and with your US credit cards, you will generally get a choice between dollars and pesos.

The short version of what I recommend, without always explaining why you need these things:

A throw-away ongoing ticket leaving the Philippines within 29 days of your arrival. You may not be able to board the plane here without one. This is a MUST. There is a very slim chance that they MAY not ask to see proof of an ongoing ticket, but if they do, and you don't have it, you won't be allowed to board.

A location-independent source of income for at least 600 USD a month--That's enough to live like a local, without Western conveniences. No one will ask for proof of income, but you have to eat! 1K or more will have you living pretty well, and on 2K you can live like royalty. You can receive SSDI here and social security retirement, but NOT SSI.

Two bank accounts with ATM cards, and two credit cards through different banks. Mastercard and Visa are your best bets, as not everyplace takes Discover or AmEx yet. (MOST places do, but just to be safe.)

Some banks sound better than they are. Schwab bank advertises that they reimburse overseas ATM charges, and they do, BUT they may drop you if you're out of the US for more than a couple of years (like they did us and several others we've spoken to). We have an Aspiration account (and yes, that's an affiliate link, but you can just look them up if you want, too), and like them.

TELL YOUR BANKS YOU'RE COMING HERE! Otherwise you risk having your ATM/credit cards deactivated for "suspicious activity."

A few weeks before departure, you'll want to buy some Philippines Pesos. Your local bank probably won't have them, but they can order them. I recommend having at least 10,000 PHP on hand (about 180 USD), in a mix of 1K bills, 500s, and 100s. You're allowed to bring up to 50,000 pesos with you, but any more than that and you have to declare it.

Bring your medications. Get your doctor to write a scrip that ups your dose so you can bring at least a 90-day supply that looks on paper like a 30-day supply. Put multiple desiccant packs in your prescription bottles, or the humidity here will turn your meds into a single big lump. You will want the original bottle with the printed prescription label, and maybe a photocopy of the actual prescription. (There's a reason they do original packaging, and not pill bottles here.) I've never had my luggage searched or even had them LOOK at my medications, but who knows what the future holds?

Some meds may not be available in the Philippines, or may be harder to get. (I had to switch from vicodin to tramadol because vicodin is simply not available here.)

Lodgings: Look, I hate AirBNB as a business, too, but you need a place to stay while you look for permanent digs, so book one well in advance. You can get a month's stay for 300-500 bucks even in the big cities if you shop around. In the Manila area, I liked the places I stayed at in Blue Residences and Grass Residences. I only include this info because my AuDHD ass stressed so much over where to stay, and I figure I can save you that same stress if you're worried.

Some advantage of staying in AirBnBs for a month or three are that a) you're not in an immediate rush to find an apartment and get household stuff, b) it gives you time to make some local connections before committing to a long-term lease, and b) if you're staying at a unit in a condo building, you can get to know the staff, which can be a HUGE help in getting settled.

Once you're here, you can find decent permanent lodgings for under 200 a month if you shop around. Blue Residences, last time I checked, had studio condos for about 180 USD a month last time I checked. (No, I don't get anything for recommending them--Just trying to give the best info I can.)

These are the bare basics of getting here.

A few general tidbits, in no specific order:

As for vaccinations, get them here, where they're cheaper.

We like living in Baguio. It's an artsy little university city of about 400,000 people, up in the mountains, about a four hour bus ride North of Manila, and it stays cool enough up here that we don't really need air conditioning--which is the biggest utility expense you'll have in lowlands cities like Manila. We know people who rent temporary housing to tourists and students, so let me know if you need a referral. We only stayed in the Manila area for about six months, with occasional trips down there to take care of things at the US Embassy, but we can give SOME guidance on that area.

Which reminds me: If being near the embassy is a concern, you may want to stay in the Manila area. The new regime in the US is changing social security rules so that to do something as simple as changing your direct deposit requires an in-person appointment, and who knows what else they're going to change?

In Baguio, we get fresh produce from the wet market delivered to our door for a third or less of what it would cost at local supermarkets.

The humidity is intense in the Philippines. 80 degrees in Quezon City feels hotter than 110 in Kansas.

Most places here, when they say unfurnished, they mean COMPLETELY unfurnished. No fridge, no stove, no anything; just bare rooms. Most locals cook on a mini gas range with a propane tank, and a counter-top oven. This is part of why I say you'll want a couple of credit cards. You can get set up with the above for a couple of hundred dollars, but still, if you're moving partly out of financial stress, you'll want to pay these things off gradually.

ASK if a place has a shower heater. Many do not. If not, you can get one at the local hardware store and hire an installer for as little as a couple hundred dollars total. (You can use a card at the hardware store, but the installer will want cash.)

You'll have filtered drinking water delivered in five gallon jugs, for around 50 cents per jug; even the locals don't drink the tap water. One jug will last you about a week unless you drink LOTS of water. (We go through three jugs a week in a household with three adults and one toddler, but as an autistic man, I drink more sparkling water than regular water, or we'd probably go through four a week.) You'll want a cheap little pump you can get at the hardware store, or you can order an electric one online (or lift the jug and pour). If you want to be fancy you can get a water-cooler-type thing.

Food is SO inexpensive if you go to the wet market or have them deliver to you. We spend about 400 dollars a month on groceries--including snacks, etc.--for all four of us. Going out to eat can cost less than two dollars if you shop around like a local. Public transport is ubiquitous and costs pennies to use, while taxis can start as low as 75 cents (here in Baguio, anyway).

Get the Grab app. It will be your friend.

A doctor's visit will cost maybe twelve bucks even for a specialist, but be prepared to wait. When they say, "Come in at 10 am," what they mean is, "my clinic hours start at 10am, so you can come put your name on the list at that time, and if you're lucky you won't have too many people ahead of you."

This is by no means comprehensive, but I'm tired, and my daughter needs attention, so bye for now!

[stuffedsand]

innocent voting kazui every day is not enough i need a gun

[gamebunny-advance]

Confession

I recently fell into the Ace Attorney rabbit hole, and I don't know if I'm capable of climbing back out.

[praetorqueenreyna]

LISTEN UP TAMLIN STANS

[italianpersonwithashippersheart]

Thoughts on RPF

I realized that I've been in the BL sphere a long time and I am now entering a new fandom (stray kids - still not going in the tags way too much x reader stuff that isn't my cup of tea at all) and I never made a post about my thoughts on RPF and how they changed etc. And since both spheres do have a pretty sizable RPF fandom I wanted to write my thoughts on a single post.

I used to be totally against it. We all seen the articles about the ruined friendships and how difficult it was for them (I am thinking about the One Direction boys and the likes). But then I entered the BL sphere and encounter Thai BL (and other spaces BL and K-Pop alike) brand of fanservice. And meet some lovely people who made look at stuff from another prespective.

So my current thoughts on the shipping of real people are the following:

Fanservice is not queerbaiting (Let's just get this out of the way) - Fanservice has been used everywhere in het shows and movies, even recently (see Bridgerton stars of the new season playful flirting in interviews and that Blond girl from Euphoria with the "romance" speculation thing for her het romance movie)

Shipping celebrities is actually nothing new. People have been doing that kind of stuff with het celebrities since we started having celebrity. I am pretty sure gossip magazine were at some point half founded by it. No one ever felt the need to make this into a weird horrid thing until people started to ship same sex people.

ANY FAN behavior that involves sending hate (or protest trucks or whatever else) to a real person celebrity or not is wrong. The reason behind the action is irrelevant, crossing that line because a real person you don't know didn't behave the way you wanted it to is wrong the why doesn't matter.

Shipping is a fan thing, don't ask about it to the celebrity during lives, don't always wonder about the ship or where the other person in the ship is. It's a fan thing, it stays in the fandom.

If the people you are shipping tell you to stop, STOP! If they say honestly we are just friends. They are just friends. Believe what they are saying. Even if that means you might fall for a lie, or whatever.

If they are queer it might not be safe for them to come out. And an acutal confirmation might ruin their carrear. Act accordingly.

Don't assume you know them, or that your opinion and vibes are what's actually true. Also the phrase don't assume other's people sexuality means don't presume any sexuality, straight included it doesn't just mean don't presume they are queer.

Don't make it your all life. There are things that are more important than shipping. I promise. If you base your full existence based on this one ship you will be miserable.

Platonic Love is still important and valid and not everything needs to be romantic.

FINALLY: My personal thoughts on whatever pair braind or ship of real people you see me mention on here is this. I love their realtionship. I like seeing men being openly affectionate and loving. Calling each other baby, and saying their relationship is important. I think it's doing great things in normalizing closensess between men and also platonic displays of affection. It would be neat if they were queer/dating (and some of them do have vibes beyond the ship thing that make me go 👀🏳️‍🌈❓). Because celebrities being openly queer is potentially game changing for large numbers of people. But so long as they are not assholes it's ok if they are just allies who don't behave in a toxic macho way. I don't know them, this is just for fun. If they are queer/dating great, amazing even. If they aren't 🤷‍♀️.

[eternal-reverie]

got the posting anxiety bad tonight