#vote on how this journey will take shape

[thefourchimes]

Don't Get Too Far Away, Tomorrow — Zombie Apocalypse Nancy POV Reader-Interactive AU

Check it out in Ao3!

Nancy just wanted to know what to do next. Jonathan just wanted to help his family. Robin just wanted to understand what was going on. Steve just wanted to make things right. Too bad a zombie apocalypse decided to crash and burn those plans to the ground with them in it. But maybe, just maybe…they’ll be able to figure it all out along the way.

(Moodboard made by @lumaxramblings!! thank you sm finnthony <333)

[cosmerelists]

Cosmere Characters in Costco

The title says it all, really.

[Previously: Cosmere characters in Ikea]

1. Wayne & Marasi

Marasi: Wayne...is that another new hat? Wayne: Why yes, dearie. I'm now Egrid Sternsberger, a little old lady who simply must try one of those mini hamburgers! Marasi: ...I think they'll give you multiple samples if you just ask. You don't have to keep switching hats. Wayne: Now, where would be the fun in that?

2. Shallan, Veil, Radiant

Radiant: Now, remember--it requires a majority vote before we make any big impulse purchases. Shallan: This vodka bottle is the size of my torso and will therefore last a long time. Veil: That's a good reason. Radiant: ...I'll just get another cart.

3. Ham and Dockson

Ham: Hey, do you know where Kelsier went off to? For that matter, where's Vin? Dockson: [Points silently upwards, to where Vin & Kelsier crouch on top of those big, metal, Costco warehouse shelves, mistcloaks rippling] Dockson: They like to be high. Ham: W-We're inside! How is there a breeze?!

4. Lift & Wyndle

Lift: Man, that was great! Lift: I stole food from every one of those little stands and nobody caught me! Wyndle: Mistress, like I keep telling you, those stands are giving away the free samples! There was no need to-- Lift: I am the greatest thief of all time!

5. Painter and Yumi

Painter: Please let me get another cart. Yumi: I said we don't need another cart! Painter: Y-You've stacked the cart so high that people are afraid to come within six feet of us! Yumi: Who do you think you're talking to? I can go way higher than this! Painter: Yumi please

6. Adolin & Kaladin

Adolin: Ta-da! What do you think? Kaladin: About your...clothes? Adolin: Yeah! It's all from here! Adolin: I got shorts with lots of pockets, this colorful buttoned shirt, this big hat, these sunglasses--even these cool plastic shoes with holes for airflow AND these socks! Adolin: I am going to revolutionize fashion. Kaladin: ... Adolin: What? Even Wit liked it! Kaladin: I'll be going now. Adolin: Wait! I got a matching outfit for you too! Kaladin come baaaack!

7. Tress & Charlie

Tress: Wow, this one is amazing too! Tress: It's a bit bent and a bit stained, but you can really see that it's been on a journey. Tress: Oooh! This one's an interesting shape! I think it was for strawberries! Charlie: Man, and to think they just give all of these cardboard boxes away for free!

8. Navani & Rushu

Navani: That is...quite the tower of toilet paper. Rushu: How do you suppose they get the top ones down? Some kind of machine, presumably? Do you think it's stacked for space efficiency or is it meant to inspire awe, as well? Rushu: ...Should I take one from the bottom to see what happens? Navani: ...Just grab one of the ones with the bear on it, for now. Rushu: Later then?

9. Rock & Skar

Rock: I love this place! All the food is sized for a while squad! Rock: Look at this! It's a cooked chicken the size of my HEAD! Skar: I found a rack of ribs that would take two men to carry! Rock: Tonight's stew will be a true wonder.

10. Nale and Szeth

Nale: And here is what I wanted to show you--this icon of justice. Szeth: ...A hotdog the size of my forearm? Nale: Yes. Nale: Do you understand what I am trying to teach you? Szeth: Hotdogs are...justice? Nale: This one is. Nale: The owner declared that the price would remain in stone, and that no change would be permitted while he yet lived. Nale: Lack of change? An enduring ruling? A man willing to stake his life on it? Nale: It is a hotdog of justice indeed, Szeth.

[foxykatie425]

Epic the Musical: Tournament Bracket!

Week 3 has begun!

Important edit: Match 2 of Week 3 has been reposted, as I originally posted with the wrong songs in the poll. Thank you to a commenter for pointing out my mistake!

And so the journey continues! I can’t believe how the numbers on these polls have grown in just two weeks. This is shaping up to be quite the showdown!

Above are the results from Week 2. Here are some highlights:

• Our first saga has been eliminated! With the defeat of both Polyphemus and Survive, the Cyclops Saga becomes the first to be taken out of the running.

• In the upset of the season, old favorite Open Arms is swept off the map by newcomer Would You Fall in Love with Me Again. Will the Epic finale be able to keep up this momentum and make it to the final round?

• Whether it’s in spite of or because of its recency, the Ithaca Saga appears to be putting up quite the fight, with Odysseus taking the cake against Ruthlessness, once thought to be one of the strongest songs in the musical. However, both Hold Them Down and I Can’t Help but Wonder, despite putting up respectable fights, lost their battles against Thunder Bringer and Monster, respectively, by narrow margins.

Some fierce matchups this upcoming week! Make sure you cast your votes because it’s going to be an EPIC showdown! 😉

WEEK 3 POLLS ARE NOW LIVE!!

[silverflameataraxia]

I hate how SJM constantly has to dismiss Nesta's trauma and Nesta's feelings in favor of making Feyre into the ultimate victim.

In Nesta's own book, we got two paragraphs dedicated to years of physical and emotional abuse that Nesta suffered at the hands of her grandmamma. More time is spent in her own book of talking about how she "failed" Feyre by "letting" her hunt. I have no doubt that Feyre hunting at fourteen was traumatic, but in no way shape or form is that more traumatic than Nesta being beaten as a girl as young as seven (if not younger).

More time is spent talking about Feyre's torture UTM and her trauma response than is spent talking about Nesta's torture and violation in the Cauldron.

Even when Nesta is the one traumatized, depressed, and suicidal, rather than having her spend the money the IC owed her for her help in the war, SJM has to make Nesta mooch off of Feyre to make Feyre the ultimate victim of Nesta's suffering.

Nesta's depressed, but yet Feyre is the victim because Nesta owes her, or because Nesta does what she wants, even if it kills Feyre, or because Nesta's actions embarrass Feyre, or because Nesta only visits Feyre a few times a month (not like Feyre ever deigns to visit her). Feyre wants to play the victim because Nesta visits Amren more frequently than her and because Nesta actually opens up a little bit to Amren and not her.

When Cassian hurts Nesta's feeling by saying everybody hates her, him and Feyre make Feyre into the victim by talking about how awful her childhood was because her mother didn't want anything to do with her and instead made sure that Feyre knew that Nesta was hers. Considering their mother sounds like an emotionally abusive individual, I would think that would be a good thing for Feyre. Nesta took the brunt of that abuse too. But no. Nesta has to say that their mother treated Feyre even worse than her. I doubt that. I highly doubt that.

Then when the IC hurt Nesta's feelings by voting on whether or not to tell her that she's this badass who can create magical weapons, SJM just has to have Nesta lash out and tell Feyre the truth, thus hurting Feyre's feelings. Then Cassian completely dismisses Nesta's hurt feelings and takes her on a hike to punish her for hurting Feyre's feelings. He's a complete and total jerk to her for almost an entire week, not giving two hoots about her, even after finding out she's suicidal.

When Nesta almost sacrifices herself to save her friends in the Blood Rite, Feyre has to become the ultimate victim, once again, by almost dying, thus taking the focus off of Nesta and her sacrifice and the fact that the first females to participate in the Blood Rite just won the whole thing.

I'm sure Feyre will turn out to be the ultimate victim of the IC threatening Nesta with punishment or execution. Or maybe, because of the IC's treatment of her, Nesta will leave to go off on her Starborn journey alone and the narrative will be all about how Feyre's hurt that Nesta left, and how Nesta should be grateful that Feyre stopped her punishment  or that they only threatened her or that she should be happy to live in the cage that is the Night Court because Feyre, Feyre, Feyre.

[jovialmoonprincess]

AU: Journey to Redemption (Part 4)

First Part. / The Winter Ball / Champagne Problems / Frost and Thorns

Coriolanus Snow x Fem!reader 

Summary: Y/N, a young idealist in Panem, dreams of making a difference in a post-war society. As the winner of the prestigious Plinth Prize is about to be announced, a mysterious woman unveils a grim fate for Coriolanus Snow, Y/N's nemesis. Offered a chance to alter destiny, Y/N must navigate her conflicting emotions and intervene in pivotal moments to prevent Snow's descent into darkness. The story unfolds against the backdrop of complex relationships, past connections, and the challenges of a changing world, as Y/N grapples with the responsibility of shaping an unexpected destiny and challenging the very fabric of fate.

Warning(s): None, enemy to lovers, back in time, destiny, Snow being in love, Snow being Snow, THIS ONE IS SO SHORT SORRY

A/N: I'm on Wattpad now too, click here to read and vote there: WATTPAD

Frost and Thorns

Y/N observed the white rose with meticulous attention. The thorns, now trimmed, led her to contemplate how long it would take for that flower to wither completely. She had just returned to her apartment after the ball, immersed in palpable fear. Everything she had experienced that night seemed like an illusion, a theatrical representation of something she could barely comprehend. Unraveling the mysteries of Snow became a complex and increasingly frightening task.

The fear that enveloped her was not just personal; it was the apprehension of falling into the enchanting webs of young Snow and, thereby, living a life of misfortune in a country on the brink of ruin. Y/N felt the urgent need to document her feelings, a kind of emotional testament. The notebook, once forgotten on the shelf, became her confidant, a repository for her most intimate thoughts.

With the pen touching the paper, Y/N sought not only to understand the complexity of her emotions but also to leave a trail in case something unimaginable happened. Her younger siblings, Orion and Aria, would be the recipients of her words, and she wanted them to know, even in her absence, the events that surrounded her.

The responsibility of teaching her siblings about the treacherous nature of the Hunger Games and the cunning of the Capitol rested on Y/N. Despite their creative souls, Orion and Aria needed to understand the dangerous game society forced them to play. The analogy of the Capitol as a snake, to be handled with caution, was part of the legacy Y/N tried to impart.

Her thoughts turned to her mother, a figure who, after the death of her father, seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. She performed her maternal duties with excellence, cooking, caring, and ensuring the well-being of her children. However, Y/N perceived a spirit once free, now contained, as if her mother were constantly immersed in dark thoughts. The vision of the Capitol seemed obscured by veiled conformity, a resignation to an inescapable reality.

The Academy, with its weekday study routine, represented a necessary escape for Y/N. Weekends were sacred, a time to return home and witness the rapid growth of Orion and Aria, an experience that, for her, was simultaneously beautiful and distressing.

Y/N had never feared her own death, but perhaps this absence of fear destined her for a mission that others would avoid. However, she hoped this mission would not be in vain. Her persistent determination was driven by the need to reunite with the mysterious woman, to understand the dark details that eluded her comprehension. The devastating vision of Snow haunted her, but without the context and order of events, the truth remained elusive.

Who was the girl confined in the visions? Why did Sejanus not emerge in her premonitions, and why did Coryo's gaze seem devoid of life? The need to unravel these key moments became an incessant quest, an infinite puzzle challenging her mind. Was it possible to find the answers before it was too late? Uncertainty hung in the air, and Y/N, immersed in these mysteries, was determined to uncover the hidden truths before time caught up with her.

Several days had passed since the reaping. Y/N, sitting on the couch, absorbed in a book for a few hours, decided to take a break and turn on the television. She soon realized that the first act of the Hunger Games was about to begin. Still reeling from recent events, she felt unfocused, as if she were out of tune with reality. The luxurious apartment, all the comforts provided by the Capitol, now seemed like a tangible reminder of her submission to the system. However, she knew she shouldn't complain, as, in a way, she believed that the State and the Academy had an obligation to provide uniforms, food, and accommodations.

As she watched the screen, she witnessed many people being confined in a cage, with a girl in a colorful dress and a boy in red standing out. As the camera zoomed in, she identified Coriolanus and the girl, the same one seen in her vision, being kissed by Coryo through a cell. The scene clicked, and a wave of understanding hit her, bringing tears to her eyes. If the vision was real, the information about Coriolanus becoming a dictator would also be real. Absorbed in her thoughts, she decided to call Tigris, certain that her friend would share her shock.

"Hello? Tigris?"

"Y/N!! I was about to call you."

"Are you watching the Games?"

"Absolutely. Did you see the reaping? Everyone is talking about it."

"I don't like watching the reaping," Y/N admitted, having given up on following this event years ago. It was not something pleasant to witness.

"Y/N," Tigris seemed a bit cautious, "Coryo's tribute is the girl from District 12, Lucy Gray. She's from a circus family. She put a snake in the mayor's daughter's dress, and after that, he attacked her, but she put on a show. LITERALLY, she started singing and dancing, and now the Capitol can't take their eyes off her."

It was a lot of information to process. Y/N wanted to know more.

"Wow. And how did Coriolanus end up in a cage?"

"I don't know, but yesterday, I encouraged him to get close to her. She must be confused, scared, and angry. It seems like her name was deliberately placed there."

Y/N approached the TV slowly. She noticed the rose behind her ear, the same rose resting on her nightstand. Coryo and Lucy Gray seemed like an odd couple. It would be a funny scene if they weren't in a monkey cage.

"For sure," replied Y/N, ending the conversation. She said goodbye to Tigris and returned to her thoughtful book. Her stomach was churning; fear for Panem's future haunted her, and the sight of Coryo so close to another girl stirred a strange feeling. Holding hands, smiling, it was a strange scene for her, even though she was used to seeing the boy being friendly with everyone. Something about Lucy Gray made her feel a flutter in her stomach. Her disposition, beauty, irreverence, friendliness, courage, and the ability to capture young Snow's attention.

A week later, Y/N found Sejanus in the academy corridor and sat beside him.

"How's the mentoring going?" she asked, her interest genuine, knowing that mentoring for the Hunger Games was not something Sejanus embraced with enthusiasm.

"Not very well."

"Why?" she inquired, aware that there was more behind Sejanus's downcast expression.

"Marcus... he was my classmate before I came here. We weren't exactly friends, but we weren't enemies either. One day, I caught my finger in the door, and he grabbed snow from the window sill to try to reduce the swelling. He didn't even ask the teacher; he just went and did it. And now I'm his mentor. And he's going to win. Anyone would be happy with him."

Y/N was speechless in the face of the emotional burden Sejanus shared. Acting on instinct, she hugged him, seeking to offer some comfort in the face of the distress they shared. Two minutes passed, and the hug seemed to alleviate some of the tension in Sejanus.

"Sejanus, we need to end the Games. We need to free Panem," Y/N whispered, paranoid that someone might overhear. "All of this is madness."

"I know. What are we doing? Putting children in an arena to kill each other? It's wrong in so many ways. Animals protect the young of their species, don't they? We do too. We try to protect the children! It's part of us as human beings. Who really wants to do this? It's not natural!" Sejanus vented, and for the first time in a month, Y/N felt the urge to just listen. Normally, it was she who freaked out about this. She felt lighter. "It's cruelty. It goes against everything I believe is right in the world. I can't be part of this."

"Don't do anything you might regret later, Sejanus. We're few against many. We need a plan, something smart. We have to think calmly. Don't be impulsive. Don't put yourself in danger. The Capitol is treacherous." Y/N spoke as if she were uttering a small prayer for Sejanus to absorb every word. It was advice she repeated to herself as a motto.

"Y/N..." Sejanus began. There was no time to finish the sentence because Coriolanus interrupted the conversation.

"Satyria is waiting for us for the seminar, Sejanus," said a stern Snow, noticing the proximity between Sejanus and Y/N. "Hurry up." Coryo didn't even look into Y/N's eyes. He seemed resentful.

The tension in the air revealed the complicated dynamic between the three. The unspoken words echoed through the academy corridors, and Y/N knew that, in the face of uncertainties and imminent dangers, her decisions would shape the fate of Panem.

"JERK." Y/N was furious about how the boy had treated her earlier. "Snow always falls on top of everything. Maybe it's time for him to fall, stumble, and hit his face on the ground to learn not to be so arrogant." Y/N murmured to herself, lying on her bed, replaying the morning scene.

_____________________________

Hi guys, I'm finally on vacation from college. I will be able to update here more frequently. I will post the next chapter when we reach 60 likes on the fic. And also thanks for the votes <3 I KNOW THIS ONE IS SHORT SORRY I will compensate in the next with a lot of FLUFF.

Taglist: @shari-berri@h-l-vlovesvintage@tea-bobba@daenerysqueenofhearts @commanderfreethatdust @glxzillx

TAGLIST AND REQUESTS ARE OPEN!!!!!

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Colin Wright

Published: Nov 16, 2024

In August 2021, I sat in my bed reflecting on the shifting political landscape in America. I had always considered myself part of the Left but found myself increasingly alienated and baffled by the positions many self-proclaimed progressives were adopting. Instead of championing free speech, they disparaged it as a threat to democracy and minorities. Rather than valuing character and merit over skin color, they promoted racist “equity” initiatives that prioritize race over the individual. And instead of upholding science and truth, they embraced absurd pseudoscience about the biology of sex for political purposes.

Ronald Reagan’s famous quote, “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me,” resonated deeply with me. This sentiment seemed pervasive among those criticizing what was being called the “regressive left,” now often termed “wokeness.” I thought there must be a way to visually represent this feeling of political estrangement from the Left. I opened PowerPoint and started experimenting.

As I doodled, my thoughts and feelings begin to take visual shape. The illustration depicted the political ground shifting beneath my feet, with the Left becoming increasingly extreme and pulling the political “center” to the left. This made my views appear to shift rightward, even though my views had not changed at all. It was an illusion of sorts, and it perfectly captured my feelings. On August 6, 2021, I tweeted it with the caption, “My political journey in a nutshell.”

It went “viral” by normal Twitter standards, amassing a couple thousand retweets. I posted it several more times over the next few months. Then, on April 28, 2022, while I was out for a walk, I checked my Twitter notifications and was shocked by what I saw:

Elon Musk, the most-followed account on Twitter, had shared my meme. It exploded in popularity, amassing hundreds of thousands of retweets and over a million likes. The comments were overwhelmingly positive, with the majority conveying how perfectly it summed up their own feelings and experiences. And the commentary didn’t stay on Twitter. That day at the gym, I saw my meme featured on the news. The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro discussed it on his show. CNN’s Michael Smerconish ran a lengthy segment about it and encouraged viewers to create their own stick figure political political spectrum drawings. It was everywhere.

I even appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight to discuss the meme. Conversely, left-wing pundits expressed their disapproval through angry tweets and op-eds attempting to debunk it. The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent called it a “silly chart” that has been “brutally debunked.” His colleague Philip Bump described it as “simply wrong” and an “obvious exaggeration.” NBC News published an article calling it a “very bad meme” that “shows how out of touch he is with political reality.”

This confusion, whether genuine or performative, from the left prompted me to write an explanation of what I believe the meme depicts and my reasons for creating it. I sent it to the Wall Street Journal, and they published it. The heart of my essay is as follows:

I created the cartoon to help sort out my feelings of increasing political alienation from the left. I’m a lifelong Democrat. I turned 18 in 2003 and have never voted for a Republican. But over the past decade, and especially the past five years, I’ve watched my party distance itself from the values and principles I hold dear. People on the left once viewed free speech as sacrosanct and championed speaking truth to power. Now they disparage open expression as a danger to democracy and minorities. The aspiration of judging individuals by the content of their character rather than by the color of their skin has given way to identity politics and “equity” initiatives that prioritize group interests over individual rights. Women’s rights, previously understood as relating to their oppression on the basis of sex, is now viewed by the left through the lens of gender identity, which gives priority to men who declare themselves to be women. Today’s progressive can’t even tell you what a woman is. The right may be inconsistent in its support of free speech, individual rights and women’s rights, but the left is consistent in its opposition to all three.

I concluded my essay with a warning—one that the Democrats should have taken seriously but evidently did not.

I hope many on the left will resist the urge to debunk or dismiss my cartoon and instead use it as an opportunity to understand why so many people feel it describes their experience. Something has happened over the past decade to make many liberals feel politically homeless, and a lack of curiosity about why is a recipe for not only political failure but social strife.

Needless to say, Democrats did not heed my warning, and their incuriousness about the reasons behind the meme’s virality led to the “political failure” I predicted, with Donald Trump securing a landslide victory for the Republicans, running on the exact issues I outlined in my article.

Yesterday, Financial Times columnist John Burn-Murdoch reported on data from the US General Social Survey, which indicated that although my “graphic was mocked at the time…recent events”—i.e., the election—“suggest it may have a grain of truth to it.” Far from containing just a “grain of truth,” the data seem to fully corroborate my meme in granular detail.

Burn-Murdoch notes, “The data shows Democrats taking a sharp turn leftward on social issues over the past decade. This has distanced them from the median voter, just as Wright’s cartoon depicted...This suggests that Trump’s election radicalised the left, not the right."

[ Source: John Burn-Murdoch ]

If the similarities between the above graphs and my political meme are not immediately obvious, below is the figure reoriented and superimposed on my meme to match the years. In fact, it appears that the only inaccuracy in my meme stems from my underestimating the left’s ideological extremism!

Burn-Murdoch concludes: “Whether or not progressives are ready to accept it, the evidence all points in one direction. America’s moderate voters have not deserted the Democrats; the party has pushed them away.”

Democrats: I told you so; but you refused to listen. And instead of facing reality, many of you are now fleeing to Bluesky to ratchet the seals on your echo chamber a few notches tighter. Do you truly believe that will assist you in understanding the average American voter?

It won’t.

Here’s a final warning: If you do not fully reject woke ideology and return to common sense, you will continue to lose—and you will deserve to lose.

--

2024 Update:

This is how you end up with far-left intersectional nutjobs cheering on far-right Islamist nutjobs.

[redjayy]

please feel free to inbox me anything. Jason Todd, born on August 16 (in most continuities), had a troubled childhood shaped by crime, neglect, and survival. In the most well-known version of his backstory, Jason was the son of Willis Todd, a petty criminal who frequently abused him, and Catherine Todd, who was addicted to drugs. Jason grew up in the poverty-stricken streets of Gotham City, often left to fend for himself. After the disappearance of his father and the death of his mother, Jason lived alone on the streets, relying on his wits and grit to survive. His tough upbringing forged him into a scrappy, resourceful teenager who learned how to steal, fight, and take care of himself long before most children ever face such realities.

Jason’s life changed forever when he crossed paths with Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. In a memorable scene, Jason was caught trying to steal the tires off the Batmobile in Crime Alley. Rather than punishing him, Bruce saw potential in the boy—an echo of his own pain—and took him in as his ward. After rigorous physical and mental training, Jason became the second Robin, the Boy Wonder, following Dick Grayson’s departure. However, Jason’s fiery temper, impulsive behavior, and willingness to challenge Batman set him apart from his predecessor. While he fought valiantly beside Batman, his darker tendencies and emotional instability foreshadowed the tragedy that would later define him.

In the landmark A Death in the Family storyline, Jason learns of his mother’s identity and sets off on a journey to find her, leading him straight into a trap set by the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime brutally beat Jason with a crowbar and left him in a warehouse rigged with explosives. In a controversial fan-voted decision, Jason was killed off, sending shockwaves through the DC Universe. His death haunted Batman deeply, cementing Jason’s role in Bat-lore as the Robin who died and became a symbol of Bruce’s greatest failure. Years later, due to the Lazarus Pit and altered timelines, Jason was resurrected—though the experience left him psychologically scarred and filled with anger toward Batman for failing to avenge him.

Upon his return, Jason adopted the identity of the Red Hood, a persona once used by the Joker himself. As the Red Hood, Jason became an anti-hero, enforcing a lethal brand of justice that directly contradicted Batman’s moral code. He operated outside the Bat-Family, often clashing with its members, yet never fully severing his connection to them. Over time, Jason evolved into a more complex figure—still deadly and brooding, but also deeply principled in his own way. His lore is one of pain, resurrection, and redemption, making him one of the most compelling and morally layered characters in the DC Universe.

[donmiguelsells]

After much soul searching, I I have a workable plan for the next 10 years. It’s just me and I’m okay if I don’t quite hit the mark. What’s the old saying, aim for the moon and if you miss, at least you’ll be amongst the stars? So here goes. I was offered a job as a service writer today for a large international auto sales outfit with a great starting salary and commission sales on top. They have benefits and perks, and I’d be around a great old friend. To be honest, I might’ve not considered it except for him. When we worked together before, they were some of my most fun years after being in the Navy. I was successful and made an okay amount of money. I felt useful. I felt like I was providing for my family and I felt productive. My plan prior to this included starting a cybersecurity bootcamp which is 4 months long and self paced. My ex is no longer my responsibility and my kids are grown. I’m already working in IT which I’ll use as a stepping stone toward my latest goal for cysec. I’m trying this as a new and final career, using my intellect instead of my personality as my talent for earning a living. It’s going against my gut, but this choice is mine to make with no one else’s input to have to consider. This is the point of all of this to begin with, right? If my failed marriage isn’t the motivation needed for this bold move, won’t success be my greatest revenge? That’s obviously not the goal here but on the other hand, wasn’t this the plan all along? Didn’t I say, “Let’s be patient and hold on?” She said she didn’t trust “us.” She meant she didn’t trust me! She bailed! And while I couldn’t fix our screwed up situation as quickly as I would’ve liked (she didn’t/wasn’t/hadn’t worked), patience, persistence, and self-preservation are going to win out in the long run. Tying that knot and holding on for dear life is ultimately going to pay off, and I didn’t have to destroy an almost 41- year marriage to do it. In the meantime, I’ll buy a little 2/2 house on the south side, then another, then another, and I’ll have something to pass to the grandkids and maybe go camping and finally go back to Europe like I always wanted. It won’t be with her like I had hoped, but it wasn’t with her the first time either, was it? I’m still sad, but I’m starting to see that silver lining. Well, that’s bullshit. I’m still very sad. But it’s fading very slowly. I expect my folks to pass. I’ll miss them. My heart will ache painfully, but I thought I’d have someone to lean on through that. Yes, of course George. Yes, of course the kids. I guess I won’t have her. My future was set before. It was comfortable like lamb skin work glove. Now my hands are exposed and sore from the cuts and blisters. That rope has been tearing and burning for 4 years now. I’m almost to the point where I’m at the top and I can stand on my own legs and rub the feeling back into my fingers. Taking the sales job would’ve been the safe and familiar thing to do. But choosing this path that I had set before is choosing me in a new, hopeful, and exciting way. A sort of vote of confidence in myself with only me to answer to, and only me to impress and congratulate for a job well done. Much like my current health improvement journey has been. I’m taking some new and healthier steps toward bettering my life and feeling and looking better. I even took time time to trim and shape my beard today. Once the weight starts coming off, I’m gonna have something really special to offer someone along with a greater sense of accomplishment. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe this is how it was meant to be. I’m having a tough time wrapping my mind around that. The gift I had to return to exchange it for what’s coming next, not knowing what that’s going to be or if anything is coming to replace the original item. I really was fine with the original. Or was I? Maybe I fucked this up so bad that I made her say fuck it and made her want to leave. Maybe. Maybe. I just couldn’t live like that anymore, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[sepdet]

To nobody's surprise (except followers of the Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party), this excerpt is chilling:

In May 2020, Fred attended a meeting with Trump at the White House alongside several health advocates, as well as Trump’s former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and Brett Giroir, the former assistant secretary for health. At first, things were going well.

[CW: extreme ableism and gratuitous cat photos below the cut. The latter is in no way meant to make light of the former.]

“The meeting I had assumed would be a quick handshake hello with Donald had turned into a 45-minute discussion in the Oval Office,” Fred wrote. “Donald seemed engaged, especially when several people in our group spoke about the heart-wrenching and expensive efforts they’d made to care for their profoundly disabled family members, who were constantly in and out of the hospital and living with complex arrays of challenges.”

After the meeting concluded, however, Trump called his nephew back in to speak with him.

“I thought he had been touched by what the doctor and advocates in the meeting had just shared about their journey with their patients and their own family members,” Fred wrote. “But I was wrong.”

He recalled his uncle’s words to him: “‘Those people …’ Donald said, trailing off. ‘The shape they’re in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die.’” Fred wrote that he hadn’t known how to respond to the former president’s comment, so he quickly left

But Trump’s callous, inhuman attitude toward Americans with disabilities did not end there. Fred recounted a later interaction with his uncle, where he had called the former president to ask for help buoying the fund that supported his son’s care.

Fred wrote that his uncle didn’t seem convinced. “‘I don’t know,’ he finally said, letting out a sigh. ‘He doesn’t recognize you. Maybe you should just let him die and move down to Florida.’

“Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear Donald say that. It wasn’t far off from what he’d said that day in the Oval Office after our meeting with the advocates. Only that time, it was other people’s children who should die. This time, it was my son,” Fred wrote.

This time, Fred hit back, he wrote. “‘No, Donald,’ I said. ‘He does recognize me.’”

Oop, there it is: Donald Trump, eugenicist.

Childless cat lady reaction:

You can't imagine what it was like going through the pandemic as a medically vulnerable person, watching the President encouraging people to drop precautions against spreading a deadly disease. He forced me to self-isolate even more, because I couldn't enter any building without encountering unmasked people before there was a vaccine. "Childless cat lady?!" Fuck you, Vance, that cat was my life support when Trump threw us under the bus.

Which reminds me, I need to order the next $6000 injection I've had to take since COViD plus arthritis turned my immune system into a hit squad against my own organs.

Trump would tell my father, who pays my medical bills, to let me die.

And I'm keenly aware how lucky I am to have family to support me, unlike all the people like me who did die.

@pumpkin-belly passed away peacefully in my lap in May. I spent more on an elderly cat’s medical bills than a billionaire was willing to spend on his own great-nephew. That bighearted orange fluffball was worth infinitely more than the orange carbuncle running for president.

Whom I don't trust not to follow through with his notions of eugenics if he is reelected.

Avenge Pumpkin. Defend disabled people. Vote blue. (Please)

[cavernstudio]

Hello! It’s cavernstudio after two weeks of hiatus! So for our most recent chapter, me and faberown wanted to try experimenting with the premise of a voting element in our collaborated fanfic called

“Choose your own tune”

Throughout the chapters, our protagonist Kaede Akamatsu will face important choices where you (the reader) get to vote on which path Kaede chooses to take in the story!

Here is how it works. At certain points of the story, Kaede will be presented with multiple options (tunes) that will determine her next move. Each tune represents a unique direction Kaede will fix up.

Your votes will not only influence the story, but also shape Kaede’s relationships with other characters and affect the overall outcome of the plot.

Look out for voting prompts throughout the chapters and cast your vote to help guide Kaede on her journey! We’d really appreciate your participation!

[obanicrypto]

Understanding Arkenston and Gemston: Your Guide to STON.fi’s Key Tokens

In the world of decentralized finance (DeFi), tokens aren’t just digital assets; they are tools that empower users to engage, earn, and shape the platforms they interact with. On STON.fi—a decentralized exchange (DEX) built on The Open Network (TON) blockchain—two tokens, Arkenston and Gemston, stand out as pillars of its ecosystem. Let’s dive into what makes them special and why they matter to you.

What is STON.fi

Before we talk about the tokens, let’s get clear on what STON.fi is all about.

STON.fi is a DEX that allows users to trade without intermediaries. It’s like having a peer-to-peer marketplace for your crypto assets—efficient, transparent, and completely decentralized. The platform thrives on its commitment to giving users control, and that’s where Arkenston and Gemston come into play.

Arkenston: Your Voice, Your Power

Think of Arkenston as your membership card in an exclusive club, but with more perks than you’d expect.

Arkenston is a governance token, which means it gives holders a say in how STON.fi evolves. Imagine being able to vote on critical platform decisions, such as fee adjustments or new features. That’s the power of Arkenston—it makes you more than a user; it makes you a contributor to the platform’s future.

But that’s not all. Arkenston also unlocks exclusive features and benefits, like early access to new tools and premium services. If you’re someone who loves being part of a project’s core evolution, this token is your golden ticket.

Finally, staking Arkenston doesn’t just help secure the network—it also rewards you. Think of it as earning interest on your savings but in a decentralized and transparent way.

Gemston: Rewarding Your Contributions

While Arkenston focuses on governance, Gemston is all about incentives.

Imagine running a marathon and getting rewarded every step of the way—that’s what Gemston does for users who contribute to STON.fi. Whether you’re providing liquidity or staking your assets, Gemston ensures your efforts don’t go unnoticed.

Here’s how it works:

Liquidity Mining: By adding liquidity to the exchange, you help the platform operate smoothly, and in return, you earn Gemston tokens.

Staking Rewards: Stake your assets on the platform, and watch your Gemston balance grow. It’s a way to earn passive income while contributing to the network’s health.

Fee Discounts: Holding Gemston could also mean paying lower fees on the platform—a win-win for active users.

Why These Tokens Matter

Arkenston and Gemston aren’t just digital assets; they represent a shift in how platforms engage with their communities.

Arkenston empowers users by giving them a voice and a role in shaping the platform.

Gemston ensures users are rewarded for their contributions, creating a balanced, participatory ecosystem.

Together, these tokens foster a sense of ownership and belonging, something traditional financial systems rarely offer.

The Bigger Picture

In traditional finance, the system often feels like a closed-door meeting where only a select few have control. DeFi platforms like STON.fi flip that script, putting power back into the hands of users.

Arkenston and Gemston are perfect examples of this shift. They make the STON.fi ecosystem more than just a trading platform—it becomes a community-driven space where every user has a role and every effort is rewarded.

Final Thoughts

If you’re exploring DeFi, understanding the role of tokens like Arkenston and Gemston can help you unlock the full potential of platforms like STON.fi.

Arkenston lets you shape the platform’s future, and Gemston ensures your contributions are acknowledged and rewarded. Together, they make STON.fi a place where participation isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential.

The world of DeFi is complex, but with tools like these, it becomes a lot more engaging and rewarding. So, why not take the plunge? Explore, contribute, and grow with STON.fi.

Your journey in DeFi doesn’t have to be daunting—start with understanding and engaging. The rest will follow.

[rubberizer92]

🇵🇱✨ In the dazzling Rubbery Christmas Club, Łukasz from Poland takes center stage! 🎉🌟 Draped in festive allure, Łukasz's attire is a celebration of Poland's Christmas charm and the rubberized revolution. Witness the magic unfold and cast your votes to support Łukasz's journey towards triumph! 🚀💖🗳️

How to Vote: 🔵 Instagram: Like, comment, and share Łukasz's festive post. Boost Yes votes in our Instagram stories, and subtract No votes to elevate Poland's Christmas charm in the competition!

🔵 Tumblr & X: Like, reblog, and share the festive enchantment! Your engagement shapes the destiny of OBEY Season 19!

Vote, embrace the magic, and let Poland shine in the Rubbery Christmas Club! 🌈🎄 #OBEYseason19 #PolishMagic

[ace-angelicpagan]

The Gods in Hades II - Returning Help

Need a hand Zagreus? No wait Melinoë?

Doesn’t matter which of Hades’s kids need a hand! These gods have appeared in both Hades and Hades II to provide boons to add you on your journey…whichever journey that may be. Let’s learn about some of the returning gods in Hades II!

Seeing as most of these deities have a lot of myths under their belt, I have opted to remove the “Myths” section as it would take too long to list every single myth they’re referenced in. 

Contents

‷⇢Zeus ‷⇢Poseidon ‷⇢Artemis ‷⇢Aphrodite ‷⇢Hermes ‷⇢Demeter ‷⇢Chaos

King Zeus

➤King of the Gods ➤Olympian god of the sky, weather, lightening, thunder, law & order, justice, moral conduct, destiny & fate, kingship

Zeus is the king of the gods. Youngest child of Chronos and Rhea. He was the only god to escape his father Chronos and returned to save his siblings. He was depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. He is usually depicted with his attributes which were a lightning bolt, a royal sceptre and an eagle.

Attributes

Lightening Bolt

Clouds

Scepter

Throne

Wreath of Olive Leaves

Aegis

Offerings

rainwater

Photos or art of storms

eagle & bull figurines

scales of Justice

Listening to the sound of rain 

Vote in elections(!!!)

Be in a leadership position

Poseidon

➤King of the Sea ➤Olympian god of the sea, earthquakes, floods, droughts, storms, sources of fresh water, horses 

King of the sea, Poseidon rules over earthquakes, floods, droughts, stroms, sources of fresh water, and horses as well. One of Zeus’s siblings as a child of Chronos and Rhea. He was depicted as a mature man with a sturdy build and dark beard holding a trident (a three-pronged fisherman's spear).

Attributes

Trident

Wreath of celery leaves

billowing cloak

boulder with sea creatures

Offerings

seawater

sand

toy horses/toy fish

seashells

go on a trip to your nearest body of water

go swimming

learn how to ride a horse

Artemis

➤Olympian god of wild animals & hunting, wilderness, child delivery & nursing infants, girls, chastity, maiden dance & song, disease, plague & sudden death, archery

Artemis, goddess of huning, wild animals, and wilderness. She is the twin to Apollon, born as the children of Zeus and Leto. Artemis and Apollon act as the gods of sudden death with Artmeis targeting girls and women, and Apollon targeting boys and men. The twins were also both the protectors of girls and boys up until the age of marriage. Artemis was usually depicted as a girl or young maiden with a hunting bow and quiver of arrows.

Attributes

golden bow & arrows

Quiver

hunting spears

knee-length dress

animal pelts

hunting boots

deer

wild beast

lyre

torches

Offerings

moon shaped objects

deer antlers

wildflowers

feathers

physical activity

dancing

enjoying nature

Aphrodite

➤Olympian god of love, procreation, beauty, seduction, pleasure, happiness, war

Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty but! also a goddess of war. There are many different stories about her birth, but is mostly commonly known as a child of Ouranos. She was depicted as a beautiful woman typically dedicated nude, often accompanied by the winged godling Eros (Love). 

Attributes

dove

apple

myrtle-wreath

flower

scallop shell

mirror

Offerings

perfume

scented lotions

seashells

self care // self love (!!)

spend some time at the sea

stand up for yourself and what you believe in

Hermes

➤Messenger of the Gods ➤Psychopomp ➤Olympian god of heraldry, omens, animal husbandry, rustic poetry & animal fables, trade, travel, boundaries, thievery & cunning, wit, language & education, the dead, athletic contests & gymnasiums, astrology & astronomy

Hermes is the god of a lot of things… astronomy, theft, language, athletics. He is the personal messenger to Zeus, King of the gods. Hermes was depicted as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth or as an older, bearded man, with winged boots and a herald's wand.

Attributes

caduceus

Talaria

Petasos

lyre

Offerings

dice

travel tickets

currency

foreign foods

working out

learn a new language

engage in harmless pranks 

Demeter

➤Olympian god of agriculture, harvest, grains, milling, bread, horticulture, pig farming, fertility, the blessed afterlife, motherhood

Daughter of Chronos and Rhea, sister to Zeus, Demeter is the goddess of agriculture and harvest. Known to be the provider of food generally. She rules over the Mystery Cults which promised all members the path to Elysium in the afterlife. Demeter was depicted as a mature woman, often wearing a crown and bearing sheafs of wheat or a cornucopia (horn of plenty), and a torch.

Attributes

wheat ears

torch

Cornucopia

lotus staff

radiate crown

winged drakon chariot

Offerings

flour

fresh fruit

flowers

farming // gardening

learn to take care of plants

buy from local farmers

learn to cook

Chaos

➤Primordial goddess of fate & the chasm of air, mother of birds

Chaos (Khaos) was the first primordial god to emerge during creations. The word khaos means "gap" or "chasm" being the space between heaven and earth. She is the lower atmosphere, creating the air in which we breathe. Chaos is the mother of all sky related (or misty elements) deities; Eerebos (mists of the Underworld), Nyx (night), Aither (mists of Heaven), & Hemera (day)

Offerings

feathers

divination

practice using the element of air

honor her children

spend some time outside

References

Most Gods

All gods

[damazcuz]

but are you good at drawing hands and feet?

Hey blanket disclaimer that I'm a little sleep deprived right now and might be reading things wrongly. I don't mean to pick on you or anything and I'm halfway sure this isn't the angle you were trying to approach from so like. Don't take this as a personal sword slash to the chest and you're on fire, but I don't like the phrasing in relation to my post overall. I said I love doing it and that's all that I need. It's something I enjoy drawing. It's got some cool shapes and it's fun to figure out. I don't like framing hobbies and things that I enjoy as like... "Things I'm good at" (and therefore maybe I'm good enough to make it a side hustle, and I can turn a profit) vs "things I'm bad at" (and therefore I shouldn't do them as there's no incentive.) Again I'm pretty sure this isn't the angle you're approaching from, I just think that this is the capitalist societal pressure behind the angle you might be coming from which is still "are you good enough to actually do it (and profit) or bad enough you shouldn't." I think if they surveyed everyone in the world and had them vote and rank every artist ever based on how well they drew hands and I was named dead last, worst at drawing them ever, I would be like oh no! Anyway! And I'd still enjoy doing it because it's fun and I like to draw them. They got shapes cousin.

Again I'm very tired and possibly completely misreading tone and intention and it's hard to tell online (and still hard to tell in person) but I think we'll all be happier if we create things even when we fucking suck at them, you gotta go out there and make some reeeeeeeal stinkers. Just some real dogshit art sometimes. Do it for yourself and enjoy the process and the journey. :) But yeah I'm alright at em I think. They look good.

[douglasdsouzawhatisonyourmind]

How Blockchain is Shaping the Future of Trust and Security

Blockchain sounds like a tech buzzword, but at its core, it’s very simple: a digital ledger.

Imagine a notebook where transactions are recorded, but instead of just one person owning it, everyone has a copy. This notebook is the blockchain. Once something is recorded in it, it can’t be changed or erased without everyone knowing.

So, when someone makes a transaction on the blockchain, like sending money or exchanging information, everyone agrees that the transaction is valid. No central authority (like a bank) is needed to verify it. It’s secure, transparent, and decentralized.

This is the power of blockchain—it builds trust without relying on a middleman.

Beyond Cryptocurrency

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear blockchain is often cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin. But blockchain is much more than just the technology behind digital currencies.

While Bitcoin and Ethereum use blockchain to allow secure peer-to-peer transactions, other industries are tapping into its potential. From healthcare to supply chains, blockchain can ensure that records are accurate, secure, and tamper-proof.

For example, hospitals are using blockchain to track patient data securely, ensuring that no one can alter medical records. Retailers use blockchain to trace products from factory to shelf, ensuring transparency and authenticity.

As shown in films like The Social Network, technology can disrupt industries. Blockchain is doing just that by changing how we record, store, and verify data.

Transparency and Security Like Never Before

One of the key features of blockchain is transparency. Anyone with access can view the transactions, but no one can alter them. Think about how banks hold your records and transactions behind closed doors. With blockchain, the power shifts from a centralized authority to the people involved in the transactions.

Let’s take supply chain management. Blockchain enables every step in a product's journey to be recorded and viewed in real-time. From raw materials to shipping and handling, everything is transparent, making it easier to spot problems, track authenticity, and ensure fairness.

This system also increases security. Since blockchain uses cryptography to secure data, it’s nearly impossible to hack. If you tamper with one record, the entire blockchain would be altered, and everyone would immediately see the change.

This means fewer frauds, fewer errors, and an overall more trustworthy system.

Decentralization Means Less Control

Most of the systems we use today—banks, governments, tech giants—are centralized. This means they are controlled by a single authority.

Blockchain flips that model on its head. It’s decentralized, meaning no one controls the entire system. Instead, the network is maintained by a group of computers (called nodes) that work together to validate transactions.

Think of it as a shared responsibility. Just like a public library where everyone has access to the books, blockchain operates with everyone’s permission. No single person or entity can manipulate it for personal gain.

This feature is part of what makes blockchain revolutionary. It puts power in the hands of the people, not corporations or governments.

Real-World Applications: From Finance to Voting

Blockchain’s impact stretches far beyond finance. Smart contracts, for example, are one of the most exciting applications of blockchain technology. These self-executing contracts automatically carry out terms once certain conditions are met.

In the future, voting systems could use blockchain to ensure that ballots are secure and tamper-proof. No one would need to worry about election fraud, as every vote would be recorded publicly on the blockchain.

Even real estate is experimenting with blockchain to simplify property transactions. No more paperwork. Everything is done digitally, and everyone can verify the details instantly.

Challenges of Blockchain

Despite its many benefits, blockchain is not without challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is its scalability. As more people use blockchain, the system has to process more data. This can slow things down. The energy consumption of blockchain networks is another issue. Bitcoin mining, for example, requires large amounts of electricity.

Moreover, widespread adoption requires a shift in thinking. Legal systems, businesses, and governments must adapt to a world where transactions are decentralized, and there’s no clear central authority overseeing everything.

The Future of Blockchain

Blockchain is still evolving, but its potential is massive. As more industries adopt it and tackle its challenges, we could see a future where trust is no longer something we rely on banks or institutions to provide. Instead, it will be built into the very technology we use every day.

From enhancing financial transactions to securing personal data and improving transparency, blockchain is set to be a cornerstone of the future.