#you should be involved in the family foundation because it would help people

[gottagobackintime]

Abby is such a shitty girlfriend. She doesn’t come with Carter to comfort him when his grandmother, who was more like his mother, dies because she has to go get her brother. Sure fine, I get it. I can’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same. But to then show up late to the funeral. AND bringing said brother, who can’t behave, who then disturbs the funeral…It would have been better if she hadn’t come at all at that point. Yeah, she wouldn’t have been there and he’d be angry and upset, rightfully so. But at least the funeral wouldn’t have been interrupted.

I also hate when other characters try to make out as if the character who was hurt, in this case, Carter. Should just forgive and forget. Like his dad saying that Carter didn’t ruin the funeral, and neither did Abby. HER BROTHER, WHO SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, FELL INTO THE FUCKING GRAVE?!?! I’d say that that falls under ”ruined the funeral”.

Carter has supported her time and time again when it comes to her family and she can’t even give him enough time to get through a funeral.

[maxdibert]

Honestly, if Severus had had emotional maturity, he would have realized that Lily always minimized his harassment by the marauders, like "boys will be boys." If I were Snape, I would have cut off the friendship a long time ago. What would you do in Severus' position?

The problem with Severus and Lily's relationship is that it wasn’t built on equal footing. Lily made a friend, possibly like many others in her life, because she came from a structured family with a solid foundation in interpersonal relationships. Despite her issues with Petunia, we know her parents adored her and were thrilled to have a witch for a daughter, so we can assume her emotional role models were quite positive, which helped her build relationships at school and even become somewhat popular. For Severus, though, Lily wasn’t just a friend. Severus came from a poor and dysfunctional family, his father was abusive, and his mother didn’t seem to do much to protect her son from that abuse. His view of relationships and affection was already deeply distorted by the environment he grew up in. For him, being with Lily, playing with her, was a way to escape what was happening at home. It was a moment of peace, of stability, something he wasn’t familiar with. I genuinely believe he developed a very strong emotional dependency on her and her attention, because, from childhood, Lily represented everything good, everything that made him feel safe and important to someone.

Then adolescence hit, and they had very different interests and goals. I don’t hate Lily, but I do think she was a bit shallow. I mean, ending up with a rich, socially successful bully is pretty shallow. And it fits her character, because at the end of the day, she was a lower-middle-class girl in the Muggle world, and a Muggle-born in the magical world—she didn’t belong to any relevant social class in either. So, being pursued and courted by the most popular guy in her year, who was also super rich and from an important family, must have appealed to her. J.K. Rowling said in an interview, when someone mentioned that Lily supposedly hated James, that “Lily never hated James. You, as a woman (to the interviewer), should understand or know that.” She hinted that all the hatred towards James was an act and that she was actually attracted to him, which tells me a lot about Lily as a person and her values. I would never date a bully, whether or not they had attacked my friend. If I saw someone constantly abusing others at school, I wouldn’t date that person, but Lily did. And I don’t think it was because James made her believe he had changed, manipulated her, or any of the nonsense people say. I don’t think Lily was stupid. I think she knew exactly what she was doing by getting involved with someone who could give her social status, a life of comfort, and a position she didn’t have in either the magical or Muggle world.

Severus clearly went in a different direction. He wasn’t doing well at school, and the rich, popular kids decided that picking on him was easier than going after their rich, pure-blood classmates, because those pure-bloods could get them into real trouble, so it was easier, more comfortable, and safer to go after the weakest link—the poor half-blood. They made life unbearable for someone who already felt that life outside of school was equally unbearable. They bullied someone who was already being abused outside of school, and that’s probably what pushed Severus—if he already had an interest in the Dark Arts—closer to more negative influences.

Lily and Severus grew apart as they matured, and this is completely normal. It happens to all of us as kids. We all had those close childhood friends who took different paths during adolescence, and that’s okay. The problem is that, despite everything, Severus still saw Lily as that symbol of his childhood happiness. She was his happy memory (which is why the whole Patronus thing makes a lot of sense), because he probably didn’t have happier moments than the ones he shared with her. And in the midst of all the bullying and questionable influences at Hogwarts, during the early years, Lily was probably also his safe space. But Lily didn’t see Severus in the same way, and I’m not talking about romance, but rather that she didn’t see their friendship as something necessary, something emotionally vital for her. Severus was dependent; she wasn’t.

In a way, I think that, beyond emotional immaturity, Severus also lacked healthy emotional role models, and therefore he didn’t realize that Lily was actually kind of a jerk. Add to that the fact that he was blinded by her, considering her his emotional anchor, and he probably wasn’t able to see her negative traits. That’s also very common.

I believe that if Lily hadn’t died and Severus had had the chance to have a life of his own without sacrificing all his autonomy and independence to serve Dumbledore, over time he would have matured and gained perspective, because despite everything, he was a smart guy. He would have realized that his relationship with Lily was always one-sided, and I think he could have started fresh and become a functional person. But he never got that chance. It’s been proven in psychiatry that abuse victims who don’t process their traumas remain stuck in the time period when the abuse occurred. In Severus’ case, the abuse started in childhood and continued throughout adolescence, so it’s logical and normal that he ended up being a very dysfunctional adult, unable to manage his emotions properly or set limits for himself when situations triggered him too much. In some ways, he acts like a child. The comment about Hermione’s teeth is childish—it sounds like something Draco would say, and Draco is a teenager. The same goes for many of his remarks to Harry or Neville, which are basically sarcastic jabs from a bratty kid being a jerk. I think we see this best (because it happens between equals, interestingly between two people with significant emotional issues) when he has several confrontations with Sirius. Maybe Sirius’ immaturity is more obvious because he’s a loudmouth and pretty extroverted, but Severus also behaves like a brat, which shows that despite not spending 12 years in Azkaban, he hasn’t grown either. If we think about it, Severus had his own Azkaban: Hogwarts. He had to return to the place where he had a terrible time and experienced several of his worst traumas, to teach, even though he didn’t even want to be a teacher, and he had to adopt that jerk persona to mask all the emotions and insecurities he felt being there. You can’t heal in the place where you were hurt. You can’t heal by giving up your life for a greater good. You can’t heal while feeling guilty over the death of someone who was once the most important person in your life. Severus was stuck in adolescence mentally, even though he was an adult. And this happens a lot with victims like him.

Honestly, despite everything, I think Severus was quite level-headed and pretty decent. Or maybe I’m saying this because I’m more of a jerk than he is, but I would have made James Potter and Sirius Black suffer a lot. I would have found out all their secrets and made them public, putting all my efforts into making them wish they were dead and even have suicidal thoughts. And if a friend of mine had acted like Lily, who kind of laughed when Snape was being abused, I would’ve beaten her so badly she’d lose her nose. But well, I have less ethics than Severus and maybe more temper.

[mvrkieboo]

The Original Ending for Old Bloodhounds

lmao this is totally because of this ask right here.

so, lemme tell y'all how the original ending of old bloodhounds would've been like before i scraped it because it was too much even for me lmao

once yoonsu's had his fun of isolating her from the people she loves, he's going to kill her and commit suicide in an isolated spot, just to really drive the nail that she's always going to be alone with him, even when all that's left of them is their rotting corpse.

he kills her and kills himself, and y/n's friends and family are going to report her as a missing person because she's missing her classes and not seen anywhere else anymore. then, a few weeks* after, some poor hiker and his dog stumble upon y/n's and yoonsu's corpse. mind you, yoonsu executes this during the winter, so in that thick layer of snow, y/n's and yoonsu's bodies are perfectly preserved.

only then are they going to find out that junyoung wasn't junyoung, but actually cha yoonsu. especially because authorities in gangnam already uncovered the original junyoung's body. dna testing proved that the corpse beside y/n's was yoonsu. then as the authorities investigate this fucked up case, they'd find the messages y/n and yoonsu shared and the blackmail material yoonsu had over her. detective do kyungsoo who had helped you in gangnam gets involved in this case.

as detective do explains to y/n's loved ones what really happened to y/n, it would dawn on them that they had a hand in making y/n's worst nightmare come true—for the people she loved to abandon her once again when she needed them most.

jaehyun has a breakdown that would result in his debut as a soloist singer be put on hold. him and his dad were inconsolable, but he eventually realises he can't throw away his career as a singer because y/n had only ever hoped for him to become one and achieve his lifelong dream. didn't she die for this? the public notes that he's not as easygoing anymore, but rather closed off.

mark takes a break from studying, his world is put on hold now that he knows just how much y/n suffered up until her murder. jaehyun drags him in to get therapy, and mark only lets him because jae's his best friend. he always has y/n on his mind. once he actually graduates, all of the songs he helps produce and write with jae are about her. jae knows this. all of the sad songs jae created with mark couldn't be sang live he'd just choke up on those lyrics anyway

geonwoo and woojin were shut off from the world for a while. once they do get back on their feet and continue their work in helping loanshark victims evade their debt collectors, they'd always see her ghost in the backseat of their vehicles. they swore off in personally fostering any loanshark victims after y/n's death. they couldn't bear thinking that they could be replacing her with someone else.

yangyang, xiaojun, and aeri...yangyang—afraid of losing anyone else after just how brutally y/n was ripped away from his life—hired xiaojun and aeri into his start-up tech company. their ai assistant for their app is named after y/n, and even the model suspiciously resembles her. as if that's not enough, the three of them immortalise y/n by creating a foundation named after her that aims to help troubled teens all around the nation.

y/n's and junyoung's ashes are kept within the main jeong household, deciding that their resting space should be among y/n's family and kept together, and papa jeong keeps them both safe and clean daily. geonwoo and woojin comes and visits the jeong household when they can to visit y/n, yuno had left a framed childhood photo of him and y/n together near her ashes, mark always gifts her new phone charms when he can. yangyang, xiaojun, and aeri had gifted her a plush version of their app's ai assistant.

y/n's mom always visits the spot where y/n was murdered, leaving flowers there every month.

everyone eats ice cream during the first day of the fall season in y/n's memory.

they'll never stop mourning over her. each and every step of their life moving forward is haunted by how it could've been if she was still alive.

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

Role call. Who on Tumblr was politically active during the Free Tibet years?

I'm going to establish this post as an anchor space to have a conversation about the Lessons we learned from Free Tibet and how we may or may not be effectively applying those lessons to our work around Free Palestine as a current socio-political banner.

If you were alive, aware, and involved during Free Tibet's groundswell into and out of the public eye, your stories, reflections, and thoughts are welcome. This goes doubly for perspectives within the movement such as the experience of seeking and obtaining allyship/solidarity from the international community as some living in or with family in Tibet, ground work in organizing the dustribution of funds, resources, or resistance, publicity and public awareness/consciousness, etc.

I'll start. I was (admittedly) young when this was happening, but already had been engaged and involved for a year or two in politics more broadly. I had been working with the UUA youth programming on a variety of community initiatives when a delegate of ministers traveled to meet with the Dalai Lama and several Tibetan activist communities both in their home mountains and abroad in exile. They've done this quite a few times over the years, before and since this particular delegation. One of the ministers who worked with us attended. He was gone for 18months sabbatical/spiritual and social development work on the trip, and when he came back, he led the district's interfaith activist groups through dozens of trainings and salon conversations to help us understand what he'd learned and what he wanted US to learn.

He came away with [and invited us to come away with] a few major foundations

1) any act of imperialism or colonization is a cause for profound and expansive grief. In fact the grief itself was part of the point because until we see the suffering of every person on earth as a violation of and offense to the humanity of EVERY person on earth, we will struggle to hold ourselves accountable for our own complicity.

2) complicity can be coerced, and that is always the accountability of the coercive authority structure, not the accountability of the individuals being coerced. This is not mutually exclusive with the need to repair the harm done to a community following coerced complicity as a form of reintegration into the healing process of a fractured social order.

3) we needed to operate with two paths of possibility - diasporic and indigenous. Ultimately, the preservation of a people, their culture, their humanity, their communities, is a complex one with very few guarantees. Every effort should be made to answer the intracommunal calls to action that are being made so as to ensure that on the micro/mezzo level (individuals, families, and small regional communities in particular) people are able to self-direct towards a diasporic-mobile preservation path or an indigenous-remaining preservation path as best suits their needs in the moment, and that a diasporic-return path is being established and maintained as effectively as possible (erosion of this path should be considered a warning sign of high risk actions being taken against the indigenous-remaining [coerced/autonomous] population). The goal, this minister explained, was always to preserve access to autonomy on both the individual and communal level, and that sometimes this would look like things we didn't understand or didn't want to understand as victory. As long as it came with the community in need at the helm, it was our job to wrestle with that possibility proactively rather than risk imposing our own needs-assessment on them. [Disclaimer: this came in the wake of concerns around the possible death of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation and heir being selected/identified by an imperial assembly rather than by the existing Tibetan process of identification, and specifically in the wake of the Dalai Lama's statements that all, even his own role, must one day end which had incited many difficult conversations around the world]

4) resistance was both an imperative and an active tense verb, meaning that any of us engaged in resistance needed to be in real conversation with others about it or we were NOT in fact resisting anything

5) slogans are catchy, but they can't be all you have. It is too easy to say the same words as others while acting against them, both intentionally and unintentionally.

I really was present in the tail end of this work's public prominence, and while I have done my best to stay aware since my initial exposure, I lack some of the necessary current reflections on the experience from various people and perspectives. Others who were engaged and involved, especially if it has remained in your primary focus of activism, what were your lessons so to speak and how have you grown or developed your approaches in response?

[farshootergotme]

What if it isn't Dick losing those qualities?

Instead they are showing the growth of the other bat kids?

Showing how beloved and influential Dick also Nightwing is as a whole?

They aren't all just "the other robins or just Batman's sidekick or clone" no, that they can take that foundation and be that much more, something better than either of the original dynamic duo.

So while you might think he lost something or just because you don't explicitly see it he has changed somehow or it upsets you others possess his good qualities?

I for one appreciate that they show how much the rest look up to him and the dynamics involved.

To be loved is to be changed.

I think I didn't make myself very clear in my post.

I was not only talking about canon, but fanon as well. In fact, it was mostly about fanon.

And I didn't say characters couldn't grow or be influenced by Dick. What I said is that sometimes parts of Dick's character are taken away from him and given to other characters who had no development that could've caused that change in them and now you got a character that "grew" for no reason and another character that was great but now is just a shallow character that's nothing like it should be.

The most common example I've seen of this is Jason (in fanon) being made as the good big brother who the family can rely on and then Dick is either made an asshole or pushed aside as a background character when he could've helped and there was no reason for him not to.

This is nothing against Jason, but he's probably the last person most of his siblings would look for when they need a reliable brother. There's gotta be a very specific scenario for it to work and I can only think of The Boy Wonder (2024) comic #2 as a good example of this.

Dick Grayson is more often than not portrayed as the rock of his family and the person that most people rely on and trust to help when they need it. Jason Todd is completely different in that sense and I don't see this as a bad thing. I love that he's his own character and gets to be different than Dick Grayson instead of a carbon-copy like he used to be at the very beginning.

Sometimes I've also seen this happen with Tim, too. A lot of things (usually struggles) that are canon to Dick Grayson are added to Tim's fanon counterpart and that on occasion ends up influencing Tim Drake's canon which ends up erasing some things that made his character feel more unique.

There's also times where instead of stealing something from Dick's character they just erase it to make the other character who has a similar ability seem better. But tbf this happens to most characters and it wasn't mentioned in my previous post so I'll leave that there.

Anyway, I hope my point is more understandable now.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Joyce Vance at Civil Discourse:

Tonight, Donald Trump will become the presidential nominee of the Republican Party. Joe Biden, a kind, decent man, is at home doing the right thing, quarantining to avoid infecting others with Covid. He tested positive yesterday. The likely narrative we will continue to see is that of the strong Republican nominee who emerged from an assassination attempt with nothing more than a (large, weird) bandaid on his ear versus the man who is hiding in his basement. Almost everyone I know is questioning how we got here. There are people who believe that the proof of Biden’s competence lies in the results he has delivered during his first three years in office. There are others who believe Joe Biden must be replaced. I’m a Biden supporter. I haven’t made any bones about that. I believe he and Kamala Harris have done a spectacular, if underappreciated, job in difficult times and should be permitted to continue; they should be celebrated, not merely tolerated. But it seems increasingly likely matters are coming to a head and the question of whether Joe Biden will remain on the ticket will be decided soon. [...]

Public education is important. Well-educated citizens are more employable and prepared to compete in the 21st Century economy. Education reduces crime. It improves public health and health equity. Education produces a more informed population, people able to think for themselves and their communities. As the saying goes, if you’re burning books because they contain some ideas you don’t like, you’re not afraid of books or courses—you’re afraid of ideas. That perfectly encapsulates the Project 2025 approach to education. The most important takeaway from the education chapter of Project 2025 is that the plan is to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. Donald Trump has been saying at recent rallies that it should be disbanded to “move everything back to the states where it belongs.��� You’ll recall Trump has claimed he doesn’t know anything about Project 2025, but there are linkages that suggest he isn’t being truthful about that, as we discussed last week. Kevin Roberts, the head of the Heritage Foundation has confirmed it. Audio was released of him privately acknowledging Trump knows about Project 2025. Roberts says in the recording that he doesn’t grudge Trump for trying to separate himself from it because Project 2025 "has become a liability." Apparently, it’s just fine with the folks who wrote Project 2025 for Trump to lie to voters if it helps him get elected.

This isn’t about Trump backing off of supporting Project 2025 because Americans don’t want it. It’s being deceitful about what a Trump win would bring with it. That makes it even more important for us to understand the details of Project 2025. The Education Chapter is 44 pages long. They are counting on the fact that no one will read it. So we will. It would take an act of Congress to abolish the Department of Education, but Project 2025 has a workaround for that. The plan involves dismantling the Department so that all that is left is a hollow shell that can only gather statistics to disseminate. That’s the goal for an agency whose current mission is to “to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” That seems like a good thing, something to improve upon. Not something to eliminate.

Lindsey Burke, the author of this chapter, is the author of a piece advocating against government funding for early childhood education, in other words, most of the funding for it that isn’t tied to religious entities. She writes, “Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated. When power is exercised, it should empower students and families, not government. In our pluralistic society, families and students should be free to choose from a diverse set of school options and learning environments that best fit their needs. Our postsecondary institutions should also reflect such diversity, with room for not only ‘traditional’ liberal arts colleges and research universities but also faith-based institutions, career schools, military academies, and lifelong learning programs.”

[...] Project 2025 put states in charge of programs that are currently funded and managed by the federal government. It would send money to the states without connecting it to established priorities and programs. This no strings money could be spent on “any lawful education purpose under state law”—we’re already seeing how that plays out in states that are spending money on religiously-oriented education. It would expand so-called school choice, for instance, the voucher programs that let students leave public schools for private ones that in some cases imposes restrictive limits on what they can learn. All of this goes hand in glove with the priorities in state legislatures that are gerrymandered to be and remain Republican. The Heritage Foundation also wants to eliminate Head Start, a program that funds early childhood education for low-income families, because it is “fraught with scandal and abuse”, according to a chapter on the Department of Health and Human Services. The Center for American Progress says in a new report that eliminating Head Start would reduce access and increase costs for childcare, hurting economic stability. Just as women are being forced to carry pregnancies that they don’t want and sometimes can’t afford to term.

Project 2025, if enacted, would be a disaster for education, especially early childhood and special education. #StopProject2025

[yellowocaballero]

I love how your Bruce is traditional but it is also like a mix of different types of traditional. Like he comes across as both "Rich white old money type" traditional AND "member of a marginalized minority group who take great pride in their identity to cope with years of ostracization and going "the world wanted me dead for my culture and religion so i might as well die loud and proud instead of conforming to their unachievable ideals" " traditional

Thank you for this ask, I really love it! I have a shitton to say on this topic, including a lot of worldbuilding decisions on Gotham cultures, immigrant spaces, segregation, how it ended up like 1920s-1930s NYC/Chicago mixed with my own city, Jason "Foil" Todd's Inferiority Complex, but that would make this depressingly long. Long time readers would know that I have, like, really complex and discrete religion headcanons for everybody I write. It's important.

Any decent Batman Story (TM) is about Gotham. It has to be a huge presence. It's like writing Dick Tracy without Chicago, or Cheers without Boston. When he's written well, Batman is a reflection of Gotham, and they metaphorically represent each other.

Most Batman writers get this, so there's always a lot of historical worldbuilding and everything. But I'm a community health person, and I grew up in the inner area of my own very large city, and creating a Gotham that feels real and rich is more complicated than the Court of Owls stuff. For me, cities are the intersection of culture, community, history, oppression/SES/war etc, and the modern day to day lives of people. When I want to make a rich city that was relevant and important to the story, I wanted to focus on immigrants and cultural minorities. You know - the people who create the cities lol. I decided on a history that involved the idea that Jewish families were the oldest in Gotham, and that they were one of the people to help create it and influence its culture.

I read a Daniel Handler quote just now that said "there is something naturally Jewish about unending misery". What is more Batman, Bruce, and Gotham than that, lol. The Jewish diaspora experience - the traditional history just as you outlined it in your ask - is baked into Gotham, it's the foundation. Gotham is a city of unending misery, but it's a city that stands tall. It takes a thousand hits and always gets back up again. People within it experience unending poverty and suffering, but they stand together. Just fucking refuse to die, as a whole. What's more Jewish than that! What is more Batman than that! Gotham should always be allegorical for Batman and Bruce, and through Gotham existing in that traditional Jewish experience, I think that's where you got the impression of Bruce as very traditional too.

Tim and the Drakes are the modern reflection of this. I was extremely explicit that Tim is alone in the world because of the Holocaust. I talk a lot in the story about how war and violence destroy children's lives, and that stretches back to the 1940s. About how war and violence creates violent children, which is what Tim became. His acting out was from the trauma of seeing his family slaughtered in front of him, and like a lot of people he used his religion to justify it.

There's a reason why the very first moment when Tim and Bruce actually connect as a family is when they find kinship and understanding through their shared backgrounds and values. They both saw their families slaughtered, they're both alone in the world - but they found each other, and they'll keep living.

OK BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT'S THE SHORT VERSION. Seriously, though, I'm not. Uh. Actually fucking Jewish. This is like the fourth time I've talked out of my ass about this. I'm actually really interested in reading about the actual Jewish themes in Batman, because from what little I know they HAVE to be there. Any smart people out there who know about it, or who can link something written about it?

[arakkne]

are you actually trans friendly? /genq

reading through some of your posts it definitely doesn’t really feel like you are (transvestigating random people on reddit, “the word lesbian doesn’t apply to trans women” meaning you don’t view them as real women, using the acronym “tra” which is pretty much on the same level as using brick and fish) but i might be misinterpreting tone, since it’s harder to guess tone over text!!

(not an attack, genuinely asking)

Hey! Thanks for the question, you're actually not the first to comment on this. I should probably make a pinned post clarifying where I stand.

In short, I describe myself as trans friendly (instead of trans inclusive/exclusive) because I do genuinely believe that radfem beliefs and trans experiences have more to gain together than they do apart. I am very involved in trans community irl: I used to be trans, I have trans family members, the person I'm basically engaged to is trans nb, and I'm involved with LGBTQ groups on my campus. I'm friendly to trans people, and I respect them like a friend, but that won't stop me from calling them out when they're overstepping or simply wrong, just like I would hope my friends would do the same for me.

Put another way, I am friendly to trans people, but I think gender identity ideology (GII) is illogical and even harmful. GII is essentially the metaphysical belief that there is a "gender identity" inside every soul that may or may not align with one's assigned gender based on their sex. This is not scientific, it has never been proven, and believing in it requires faith. It's essentially a spiritualism, if not a religion entirely.

In contrast, radical feminism uses material analysis to form the foundation of its theory. "Material" means focusing on what is real and tangible. Gender identity is not tangible, and it is only real to those who believe in it, the same way God is only real to those who believe in God. It falls outside the scope of material analysis. Gender expression and biological sex, however, are real and tangible.

If you want to believe in gender identity as a framework for your gender expression, fine. That's your right, and I support your freedom to do that.

What I don't support is gender identity overstepping its bounds and TRAs (trans rights activists, aka people who are proponents of gender identity ideology; they may or may not be trans; I do not think this is a derogatory term?) attempting to pass legislation that redefines our laws in terms of gender identity instead of sex. This removes important sex-based protections that feminists have fought decades to secure.

Furthermore, I don't support the redefinition of "woman" to be "anyone who identifies as a woman." That's illogical and not based in material reality. I also don't support the subsequent redefinitions of sexuality to be based in terms of gender identity; that's why I think the term lesbian should be reserved for female homosexuality only. This includes trans men and excludes trans women, not because I want to feminize/masculinize them, but because sexuality is about which sex you have sex with. Gender identity falls outside the scope of its definition, and I'm sorry if people are hurt by that, but they haven't come up with a logical reason to change it in their favor, so....

I hope that answers your question and helps to clarify where I'm coming from!

TL;DR: I respect trans people and love many of them dearly and will fight for their right to exist but I simply don't believe in their beliefs 🫶

[deskgirl]

I may as well write up my other AU idea. I’ve been sitting on this one for a while; I knew the foundation but not the direction it should go. I think I have it now.

It’s a time travel AU, but I haven’t seen this specific angle: a young man named Izzy finds himself thrown 300 years into the past and, whether he likes it or not, on course to become the historical figure he grew up reading about as a child—the infamous Izzy Hands. Can he escape his fate?

—

The idea is Izzy is a young man in present time. He grew up reading about pirates. He knows all their tales. He loves pirates and stories of adventure at sea.

The golden age of piracy is slightly less appealing when a freak storm dumps you 300 years in the past, though.

Izzy struggles to survive. He has nothing. His family is gone. He’s no one. Well no, that’s not quite right. Because he knows full well there’s a historical figure with his name and he knows almost everything that will happen to him. Which means he must, under any circumstances, avoid it.

He finds work, is enlisted or press-ganged into the navy, deserts and has to turn to crime, and finds himself in the company of the one man he feared running into: Edward Teach. Well that’s fine, so long as Ed never becomes Blackbeard, so long as Izzy doesn’t become his first mate, so long as they don’t become friends and sail together, maybe Izzy can circumvent fate.

Except they do become friends, he does help Ed become Blackbeard, and by the time Ed makes him first mate, he decides he can’t escape his future because it’s already set in stone. Or rather, ink.

Knowing what his future holds, Izzy leans into it. He lets the story play out. He accepts that this is just the way it’s going to go and it’s kind of nice to not wonder.

But then Stede enters the picture. He knows about this, too. Knows there’s no fighting it and yet he suddenly isn’t ready. He doesn’t want to lose Ed. He doesn’t want to see them all die. Maybe he can save them all from their fate if he can just get rid of Stede. Maybe the historians got some things wrong. Maybe there’s some fuckery involved. Right?

But the more Izzy fights his fate, the more he ensures it.

Here’s where things change a bit. I had the idea pre-season 2, before I knew the alternate history the show would create, so I went by the real accounts. Which means as far as Izzy knew, Stede Bonnet never catches up. He never finds Ed. So when he does show up, it flips everything Izzy believed on its ear, and he has to accept that either things can change or the historical accounts were wrong. Which means there’s hope. He can save himself. He can save them. That’s his turning point.

The idea ended with him taking Stede and Ed aside and explaining everything to them and telling them how they all die, and they realize it all sounds an awful lot like a fuckery (Blackbeard’s headless body swimming laps around the ship? Come on!) so they proceed to fake their deaths. It’s endcapped by Lucius becoming “Captain Charles Johnson” the author of “A General History of Pirates” and revealing to us that he intentionally wrote the accounts to support the fuckery and this is the “fate written in stone” that Izzy grew up reading.

.

That’s changed now that I’ve seen season 2, so here’s where my idea goes now:

By the time Ed is waving a gun around threatening the crew, Izzy is tired. He wants it to be over. He tries to circumvent fate one last time and end things on his terms. But that doesn’t take either so fuck it, he’s living. And so does Ed because he can’t die yet either can he? They’re going to be dragged kicking and screaming to the end of their final chapters. So. Whatever fate has planned, Izzy will take the path ahead of him one step at a time without worrying about what comes next. His fate is sealed, but the little things can change. The people whose lives he never read about in books can be spared. He can choose to live with what time he has left in the way he wants to.

He keeps that mantra up until he’s facing down Prince Ricky. He gives his speech as his own eulogy because he knows it is. He doesn’t know quite how it’ll happen, but Izzy Hands vanishes from history after this day and is declared dead by an author writing under a pseudonym (true facts, there’s still debate over Captain Charles Johnson’s identity), so he knows this is the day he dies.

And it happens. But he’s all right with it because he always knew, and he prefers going out on his feet while fucking over the British Empire with his family around him. Beats some cold, damp London gutter, right?

I could leave it there, and that wouldn’t be a terrible end, at least no worse than the show, but as a treat to myself, that’s not where it ends.

Because there’s a storm brewing overhead, not a clear sky like just hours ago. Purple lightning, echoing thunder, the sky starting to let loose just as Izzy says his last words. It’s familiar. Izzy welcomes the rain like an old friend and remembers the first time he was caught in a storm at sea in a little sailboat while daydreaming about pirates.

Then he’s in the forest. Again. He knows what’s about to happen. He knows Ricky is about to turn, to draw, to fire. There’s hardly any time at all. He shifts his weight to the right. The bullet catches a little farther to the left. The pain feels different.

He reaches out for Ed right away. They limp to the ship together. He’s laid down in the spot where he died—will die—may die again. He doesn’t know if he says all the right words in the right order this time, but he tries. He still wants Ed to hear them.

The thunder of his heart is different in his ears and it’s distracting. Stede is there this time, pressing on the wound and cursing him out, telling him that he doesn’t get to go out this way (parallels to Stede’s dream anyone?). Izzy grins through the pain and calls him a twat.

It all slips away again.

.

The crew is gathered around a pile of earth. They’re quiet and solemn. Stede plants a marker made of drift wood.

“Did we really have to have a funeral for the fuckin’ figurehead?” an irritable voice calls.

“It’s the spirit of the thing,” Stede objects. “He deserves a proper burial. And the Revenge can’t be the Revenge anymore, not if we’re going to avoid the navy. A headless unicorn kind of stands out, don’t you think?”

“Oh good, you do have a basic grasp of being inconspicuous,” Izzy calls from the back of a small cart, laid up against some sacks of food that need to be taken to “The Royal James,” as the ship has been renamed. “Just hurry up before the tide goes out. Or did you plan on running the ship aground yet again?”

“That was one time!”

.

As an epilogue, we skip ahead five years where we find Lucius in London, selling freshly printed copies of “Captain Charles Johnson’s” new book, “a General History of Pirates” and reassuring a customer that it’s all true from first-hand accounts while sharing a knowing look with Pete from across the print shop.

[wvyld]

new children?? new beloveds????

There are! Khadeh (???, the zabrak) and Carcull (she/her, trans, the human)

Carcull was intended to be a SI, which didn't work out — as of now, she's a somewhat failed Sith acolyte, not very good at that whole Force thing. She's decent at telekinesis, so long as it's not too big of an object, and nothing distracts her too badly. She has been taught to fight with a staff, and she is not. awful. with it.

As of when Khade arrives on Korriban, she's one of the people organizing stuff for/with the slaves/thieves/archeologists/other failed acolytes in the valley. This involwes mainly smuggling — artifacts out, food and medicine in — trading, information, and force magic stuff. Also maps. The overseers are somewhat aware of this, though not involwed. Carcull took over from another failed acolyte, who has since moved up in the world, and has, by now, made herself about as infuential as a failed Sith acolyte doing resources mangament & smuggling gets before being swept up by a master interested in this kind of skillset. (There is spying and information networks in her future. Also Revanites.)

She knows Vette, though probably only in passing, and gets involved with most, if not all, of the side missions on Korriban. Loves solutions to problems that do not involve people trying to kill her. Would like to be able to just murder her problems. (she is not currently able to just murder her problems)

She's from a bastard branch of a Sith family, there was financial trouble, treason, and murder — as of now, most of her nearest relatives (of whom there were. many) are dead, save for four half-siblings (triplets and a brother) and an uncle who may or may not become relevant later on. Someone there defects to the Republic, possibly more than one person.

Her main goal is to kill the to-be Emperor's Wrath — Trachei, Sith pureblood. She does not have the skills to do that. She is unlikely to gain them. Getting other people to do it for her it is! (see: Khade)

Khade is Khadeh Kallig is doing the SI storyline. Possibly at swordpoint, but she is doing it. She's kinda effortlessly good at energy-lightning Force magic stuff. Great at ghosts. Aware of it, too. Will become powerful by the grace of this, so long as no one kills her before she can get there. Or; so long as she keeps on track and doesn't simply wander off into a tomb to never be seen again. (possibly on purpose) Or decide to go out in a blaze of destructive glory. Or, well, defect, maybe, but — she doesn't think Republic is better enough to warrant that sort of effort. As a Sith she has prospects. A future. (some days a future feels like something she'd like to have. she wants a future to be something she wants to have. sometimes.)

For at least the First Act, she's on the brink between really getting into the mystical Sith stuff that has to do with the Force, because it's so tantalizingly real as nothing else has managed to be — and trying to burn the world to the ground for how terribly cruel and unfair it is. (but if other people believe and fight for something better, then she has no right to fuck it up for them — she has no duty to help, but she can't fuck it up) (on the other hand, maybe they are also assholes, what have they ever done for her —)

She yearns for safety, but would make a point of not engaging with it should she actually get it, because, reasons. Some kind of an honest connection to a person would really benefit her, and Carcull — Carcull is lonely, really. (she finds that terribly embarrasing) (I'll help you with your Overseer's murder attempts and then, one day, you'll help me kill my nemesis is a great foundation for a... something. friendship.)

they first meet — or, not meet, but, deal with each other? get to know each other personally, maybe — is when Khade tries to figure out healthcare for herself. either trans stuff, or something more general. the academy has a medical section, yes, but — she's a zabrak. not all that what works for humans, or sith will work for her.

[euphoriasdesk]

Hi, im a grade 12 student and im considering studying law soon, and i was wondering if theres anything you wish you knew about studying law when you were at the stage that I am? thank you

hi! take this w a grain of salt bc ive only been going to school for a month. but here u go!

1. it involves a lot of reading. A LOT. and you have to absorb the concepts as you read them the first time bc, more often than not, you're not gonna have the time to go over them a second time for a more in-depth review. it would just be to jog your recall. don't worry too much tho! this is a skill you naturally develop especially throughout your college years since you would be reading a lot of difficult texts (i assume you'll be taking up an ab program since you have plans to pursue law?) of course, law school is 100x harder than college and you can never fully prepare for the workload, but building a stable foundation as early as now would definitely help you in the future.

2. you need to be great at thinking on your feet. this is something im struggling with at the moment bc of my social anxiety and fear of public speaking (ikr, what am i doing in law school lmao). i have always been the type to internally rehearse what i need to say a thousand times before i actually say it out loud. if you put me on the spot, no matter how impressive the idea is inside my head, it's all disorganized and incohesive the moment it comes out of my mouth. that being said, try to participate as much as you can in activities that expose you to public speaking and impromptu speeches like hosting school events, reporting, debate orgs, etc.

3. you don't have to be smart, but you definitely need to be studious. admittedly, people who are inherently intelligent will have an advantage over the others because they'll be able to understand concepts quicker (it is an edge bc believe me —there's never enough time when you're in law school). sure, it might be a little harder (i know it is for me); nevertheless, you'll survive even if you are not one of those people who are intellectually gifted. what you need is to be consistent in studying, because you absolutely won't last 4 years in law school if you don't put in the work. always come to class prepared. study all the topics assigned, or at least try to cover as many as you can bc you definitely can't bs your way out of a recit.

4. the idea of becoming a lawyer was planted in my mind by suits and htgawm 🤣 don't fall into that trap like i did! the study of law is nothing like its portrayal in popular media (which is understandable bc no one would wanna watch the monotonous lives and routines of law students if not from rose-tinted glasses). media makes a spectacle out of the sleepless nights and the volume of material to be read and mastered, but it doesnt reveal the exhaustion that comes from such to the point that you avoid laying down during your breaks in between periods of studying for fear that you cant close your eyes for a minute wo drifting off to sleep. it glamorizes the idea of allotting most of your waking hours to studying but it doesn't show on TV the faces of your family when you say you cannot come yet again to the plans they made on the weekend. your heart must be REALLY in it, or you should at least want it enough for you to be able to make the sacrifices it's gonna require you to make because—believe me—there would be many.

[ladymorghul]

What are your thoughts on Alicent and Rhaenyra meeting on dragonstone?

Personally, I’m worried. A few months ago some delulu (you know who) people were whispering about a video from HBO where they discuss Alicent possibly defecting to Team Black. Some earlier rumors were saying Alicent would throw Aemond (and the entirety of Team Green) under the bus for Rhaenyra’s forgiveness.

I just don’t see how the meeting could go without Alicent being taken hostage and eventually being converted to Team Black. Especially with how Ryan and Sara want her to be lovable, well anyone associated with Rhaenyra is loved.

The show and everyone involved is so desperate to make Alicent seem like an unloving mother, that she would actually sacrifice her kids for Rhaenyra.

i think.... i think it's all stupid to be honest.

i think that whatever they do, it will be to make alicent regretful of everything and make it look like none of her decisions are hers and she doesn't actually have any motivations or ambitions of her own beyond rhaenyra, and that rhaenyra will be this merciful martyr type of character and that they will want to go back to each other even when they both lose family members to the war.

i can see the meeting being about trying to establish peace again but how it won't happen because ryan and olivia said that it is out of their hands because of their 'testosterone filled children' who want to fight.

which is... y know... silly.. because whoever those children are their parents helped mold them. it's like 'oh no i told my son that his and his brothers life will be in danger if rhaenyra comes into power' 'oh no aemond had his eye taken by rhaenyra's son' 'rhaenyra you will make a fine queen' '*next day* aegon get up we're crowning your ass' 'no aegon no why'd you kill rhaenyra :/'

i feel like by the end of the show alicent will be so unrecognizable with her book counterpart, who had way more agency and will, and i think it's so....... unrealistic and nonsensical for these women to lose sons and grandsons and whatnot and still care even a tiny little bit about each other. also... the lack of agency that the writers support. alicent is NOT a villain for caring about her family above rhaenyra and snubbing rhaenyra's claim to the throne. many men do it, none of them are called villains. rhaenyra is NOT a villain for fighting back against this. like we don't need this smokeshow of 'oh god i accidentally started a war. whatever will i do.'

their friendship was weak af and almost entirely onsided, there's no foundation for this kind of emotional depth on this level. they are just entirely a product of the writers will that dooesn't just affect the characters themselves but how the story goes too. it is.......subpar. there is not one person that can convince me that this constant neverending push for rhaen*cent made this show more interesting. anything past episode 7 is such a joke.

so yeah... about dragonstone. i think it will be alicent trying to see if there's still a chance for peace but i also think that's stupid because alicent should know better by that point. however since the writers' are taking unrealistic approaches of course rhaenrya might also want it and then be like 'welp but we can't because we can't control our very bad sons which are actually just the greens sons because of course rhaenyra's sons are angels'

A few months ago some delulu (you know who) people were whispering about a video from HBO where they discuss Alicent possibly defecting to Team Black. Some earlier rumors were saying Alicent would throw Aemond (and the entirety of Team Green) under the bus for Rhaenyra’s forgiveness.

all i can say is that this is bad writing, on par with got s8. i would say i can't see it happening at all if i had any trust in the writers.

The show and everyone involved is so desperate to make Alicent seem like an unloving mother, that she would actually sacrifice her kids for Rhaenyra.

remember the alicent poisoning aegon theory? because i remember. and i fully think they're capable of doing it. many rhaenicent shippers love that because they fully believe that alicent's children and entire family is what stands in the way and rhaenyra's love.

[alyjojo]

July 🕶 2023 Monthly - Taurus

Whole of your energy: Death

This feels like this is the other side of the coin from Pisces’ reading, it’s eerily similar, could be dealing with one or it’s a crosswatching read for either side, wondering how the other would react or how they feel. You’re dealing with someone you know to be a bit of “a disaster”, it’s like drama follows them everywhere they go. 3 Cups shows them as a friend of yours, or friendly with you at least, whoever they are, could be a fire sign or they could have a placement somewhere, fiery energy. The situation seems to be over completely, for now, with Death, but you constantly wonder if you should reach out, “be nice”, try to get them back into your life again. Under all of this other bs, you feel 3 Cups, this person is/was your friend, they mean something to you and you care about them…but they have a lot of baggage that comes with that.

What’s going on in July:

King of Pentacles:

You are completely stable in your life, this is your own energy of running a career, home life, finances, relationships, all with a steady and reliable dedication. You mean what you say and you don’t promise anything you don’t intend to keep, you’re not a time waster, very practical. Clarifying, you have your matching Queen, you may not be fully committed to them just yet but it’s something you both desire. Marriage, children, a stable foundation to pass on through the generations, and you’re the pair that runs 10 Pentacles most comfortably, with ease 😌

King of Wands:

This is this other person, the “mess”, they are someone with charisma, confidence, are probably a lot of fun, that’s why you like to be around them. They get a lot of attention for whatever they do, just being themselves, they’re one to crave the spotlight and it follows them naturally. They’re clarified by The Devil, 9 Swords & The Fool. Knight of Wands shows up later with disaster, I’m getting a very impulsive and immature vibe from this person. To them, it’s a good thing. To you, it’s messy. The Devil indicates that they are trapped in a negative cycle of behavior, they haven’t yet learned the necessary lessons. For some, this could be depression, or mental health on some level. You’re always worried about the next random spontaneous (foolish) thing they’re going to do. You care about them, and also kinda think the worst of them.

6 Swords:

You and your person have moved away from the drama this King of Wands creates or has created in your life. It could’ve been them that’s left you two behind as well. You’ve been kind when you hear from them, maybe giving towards them, could be giving actual money or gifts if this person is a close family member or friend, you help them out however you can. But for the most part, you don’t have much to do with them either because of physical or emotional distance. They tend to take off on adventures. Or you’ve just backed off awhile. Both.

The Tower:

I don’t see this as what’s happening, I see this as what’s being left behind or distanced from with 6 Swords. This King, on their immature days, has impulsive Knight energy where they just rush into things acting all crazy, stirring up a bunch of drama, competition, and other chaotic crap you just don’t want to deal with. Both Tower and Knight move quickly, unexpectedly, out of left field. You never know what’s going to happen with them, and Pentacles people like feeling secure. Especially Taurus. You’re the type to budget money five years in advance, we don’t do impulsive Towers in Pentacle land, this is not the way 🚀 The last encounter you had with this person probably involved some drama, and you’re just expecting more drama if you would try to message them or check up on them. But you think about it, you want to, because you care.

The Moon:

No progress by the end of the month, I’m not sure what brings them to mind, but you’re thinking about this a lot, and there is a lot of fear and confusion in regards to what you should do. You’re being told to wait for inspiration, intuitive messages, which you’ll receive unexpectedly. You don’t know if you want to stay friends or if you should just cut this off and walk away for your own peace of mind. Mostly for stability. You can’t be stable with chaotic people in and out of your life with drama, because this option shows 8 Cups, leaving a situation behind looking for your 9th Cup, your dream. 9 Cups is with your person & 10 Pentacles, the happy stable family. I don’t know if you can separate that from them, or if you fear this person negatively affecting what you have. For signs, every fixed sign is here, which could apply, or could be showing the fixed challenge, which is accepting other perspectives outside of their own. Judgmental attitudes. There is no one “right” to anything, just your opinion vs. theirs. An astronaut may not understand a priest, and a farmer might understand the genetic engineer, but it doesn’t make one right and the others wrong. Charmaine can refer to gossip & talking shit, it may not even be you but others around you. Your person? Boundaries are necessary, judgement is not 💚

Signs you may be dealing with:

Capricorn, Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, Aries & Pisces

Oracles: ✨

17 - Flash

A creative flash of inspiration will come to you and quickly give you the perfect solution.

18 - Start

You must start from where you are, examine your situation, and take a chance.

6 Discernment 🤨

As spiritual, physical, and energetic beings, we oftentimes blur the lines between our energy, the energy of a situation, and the energy of another person. When we take on other people’s energy and label it as our own, we start to judge. This lowers our energetic vibrations. We then get caught up in a seemingly never-ending cycle of feeling “bad” labeling, justifying, and appropriating what is not ours to claim. The lesson here, is to simply be present, not label or judge, and let the energy/feeling wash over you. Once you do this, notice where in your body do you feel the effects of the emotion. Does your heart open up? Does your belly hurt? Does your throat get tight? Your head can lie to you, but your body never does. It is easy to become overwhelmed. Make a habit of making your first response to overwhelming energy: “Wow, that’s interesting!” instead of “What’s wrong with me?” This allows you to objectively discover how and why your body reacts in any way to a given situation or person. This card is asking you to stop looking outside yourself for answers to an issue. Instead, sit with it and listen to what your body is telling you.

We enter into July as:

Grass 🌱:

“Your message to others is best expressed by being uniquely you.”

The time is right for you to move on from anything holding you back from full self-expression. You are being told to break away. Be different. Be unique. It is time to grow! It could be time to plan a change of scenery. Take a tour, go to a spa, get into shape, visit a foreign place, learn a new skill, depart from the mundane. Take the chance you’ve always wanted to. Most importantly, grow. This is an indication you also need to become more in touch with your spiritual side. You’ve strayed from your inner voice, Spirit invites you back. It is time for your personal growth.

What is to be learned in July:

Charmaine Chartreuse 🗣

“I never met a person I didn’t like.”

Charmaine Chartreuse suggests you begin finding the good in others. So much is lost when we do not appreciate those around us, for we lose the wonderful gifts of who they are. Appreciating differences will enrich your present situation. This can be a warning that you’ll lose a valued relationship if you do not appreciate what you have. Thinking the best of another person is more powerful than putting them down. Do not attempt to choose sides. Getting others to agree with you that someone else is wrong will also backfire, you may find yourself alone if you are not thoughtful. Wasting energy focusing on something you shouldn’t is also denoted here. Gossip is an indication you’re not focusing on your own life. What we think may not be the truth of the matter. Be aware now of how you speak of another, for the things you say will come back to you at this time. “Doing your own thing” may leave you lonely, and an aloof attitude may lead others to believe you don’t like them, when that isn’t true. If you’re feeling cut-off, consider that others may be waiting for you, and take a cue from Charmaine, being kind is called for from you, even if others are behaving in an inappropriate way.

Green may be a lucky color 💚

[wovetherapy]

Embracing Self-Acceptance: The First Step Toward Real Change

Self-acceptance is an important but often misunderstood concept. Many people assume that accepting themselves as they are means becoming stagnant or complacent. This view overlooks the transformative potential that self-acceptance can have. As famous psychotherapist Carl Rogers once said, “When I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” This paradoxical truth means that by embracing who we are—flaws, strengths, and all—we can create a fertile ground for real and lasting growth.

Self-acceptance does not mean passively resigning ourselves to our limitations. Instead, it is about acknowledging ourselves without judgment (Gupta, 2022). This acceptance allows us to see ourselves with compassion and without the distorting effects of shame or self-loathing. When we stop fighting against our identity and approach ourselves with understanding, we can honestly assess our strengths and look closer at areas that need growth. Self-acceptance means being aware of our weaknesses without having any emotional attachment to them (Perry, 2021). This clarity is the key to creating change that is authentic and sustainable.

But why is self-acceptance so hard? We’re constantly taking in messages from society about who we should be, how we should look, or what we should accomplish. From an early age, we’re conditioned to believe that being “enough” depends on meeting external standards, whether from family, friends, media, or our own idealized self-image. In the face of these pressures, self-acceptance can feel like a radical act. However, self-acceptance teaches us that we are inherently valuable, regardless of our achievements, appearance, or other markers of success (Perry, 2021).

Rogers' quote highlights a powerful truth: Acceptance is the first step to change because it provides a solid foundation from which to act. Imagine trying to build a house on shaky ground; no matter how beautiful the structure is, it will not be stable. Similarly, when we try to create positive changes without first accepting who we are, those changes often crumble under the weight of our unresolved self-criticism (Gupta, 2022). But when we’re grounded in acceptance, we can face our challenges from a place of wholeness and resilience.

One effective way to nurture self-acceptance is by practicing self-compassion. Psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff describes self-compassion as treating ourselves with the same kindness we would extend to a friend (Perry, 2021). When we make mistakes or struggle, instead of judging ourselves harshly, we can remind ourselves that imperfection is part of the human experience. Through self-compassion, we begin to understand that our worth depends not on being flawless but on being human.

Another practical approach to self-acceptance is mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness encourages us to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment. By observing our emotions from a distance, we can release the need to "fix" ourselves and instead focus on accepting each moment as it is. This shift in perspective can be incredibly freeing. Additionally, loving-kindness meditation can help build positivity and self-compassion. It involves thinking positive thoughts about yourself, appreciating yourself just as you are, and saying affirmations aloud (Gupta, 2022).

Embracing self-acceptance is an ongoing journey. It means developing a gentle inner dialogue and honoring ourselves just as we are. When we start to view ourselves with acceptance, we unlock the ability to pursue change from a place of genuine motivation rather than from a place of fear or inadequacy.

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[gutterempirevancover]

The Best Gutter Guards for Your Home

Your home is one of the most important parts of your life. It holds generations of a family and lots of memories, along with maintaining the safety of people. But it’s our responsibility to look after the durability of the home. One of the key components involved in the safety of a home from water damage is the gutter system. The gutter system gives a proper flow of water, which otherwise would have been stagnant.

How does the gutter guard come into the picture?

When time passes, the gutters require maintenance. You should always keep gutters maintained because they are the foundation of your safety. With long exposure to the environment, the gutters may get clogged with debris, which makes them less effective. Further, it leads to multiple problems:

Water Damage

Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow, causing the home’s exteriors to get damaged. Sidings and foundations can also be affected.

Foundation Issues

Excess water standing around the foundation can seep into small gaps, and then, with time, it can cause cracks and may settle.

Mold and mildew

Standing water can be a good spot for molds to develop. These molds, with time, release a disturbing smell, which creates a very dull environment. It can also affect the air quality of your home, leading to air-related problems.

Pest Breeding

Pests like mosquitoes, termites, and others can cause diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, dengue, etc. These breed in stagnant water, which is easily found in clogged gutters.

The Solution: Guards

These guards have a protective system that is made to prevent any debris from entering the gutters. This makes it easier for water to flow out and avoids the clogging of the gutter. Various designs and styles are available for different functions. Each has a specific feature or benefit. Some of the most useful and best gutter guards are

Micro-Mesh Guards

As the name suggests, these guards consist of fine mesh. These meshes block the smallest debris and allow water to flow. They are effective in regions where leaves, pine needles, and other small particles may accumulate. They are more of a gutter leaf guard.

Advantages

Perfect debris filtration

Long-lasting and durable

Suitable for many roof types

Considerations

Higher installation cost

Brush Guards

These gutters have bristles along the gutter and are adaptive. They can fit in multiple gutter sizes. It allows the flow of water while stopping the bigger debris.

Advantages

Easy and simple installation

Low-effort maintenance is required

Resistant to insects and pests

Considerations

Requires frequent cleaning

Foam Guards

Foam gutters are porous. Their porous texture helps block the debris while allowing the flow of water. These are light-weight and easy to install.

Advantages

Can be installed by yourself

Low in cost

Resist the growth of mold

Considerations

Degrades with time

Reverse Curve Guards

These guards control the direction of water so that it can flow into the gutter while stopping debris. Their design prevents leaves and other materials from entering the gutter. This makes them the best gutter guards for this work.

Advantages

Low maintenance is required.

Handles heavy rain well

Made of durable materials

Considerations

High installation costs

Perforated Guards

Perforated guards consist of holes that are small in size. They allow water to flow through them and block the large debris. They are made of aluminum and steel.

Advantages

Leaves and large debris can be blocked easily.

Durable materials are used

Considerations

Occasional cleaning is required

Choosing the right guard

If you want to choose the best gutter guard, you might need to consider various factors, such as the climate of your area, the type of debris that can accumulate in that region, and your budget.

Climate and debris

If you live in a region where there is heavy rainfall or snow, you should opt for guards that can hold large volumes of water. Those will be the best gutter guards for you.

Specific shapes and sizes also affect the type of gutter. For example, under a tree, leaves fall a lot. If your gutter is situated near a tree, you should choose perforated guards.

Roof Type

Roofs also decide which type of gutter you require for your gutter system. They can be multipurpose, curved, perforated, formed, etc. Micro-mesh guards are one of the best gutter guards compatible with most roofs, but a thorough check of compatibility must be done.

Installation and maintenance

Convenient installation and maintenance are necessary when you are planning to install the best gutter guards. If you plan out everything, you will understand what gutter suits you. The maintenance requirement also plays a major role in this process. If you want to install a gutter in a highly inaccessible location, then make sure you don’t buy one with frequent maintenance requirements.

Cost

Setting up a budget for your Guard investment is necessary. Various guards come at different prices. The prices are affected by

Material:

The materials affect the rate of a guard. If the material is of low quality, you will get it for a cheaper price compared to a guard made of high-quality metal.

Functionality:

The functioning of the guard also affects the cost of the gutter. If there is complex functioning, the gutter would cost more.

Quality and branding:

The brands also decide the price of a gutter. The same gutter from different brands may cost differently.

Maintenance:

The cost of guards also depends on their maintenance. If there is a requirement for high maintenance, then the overall cost increases.

Durability:

Guards made from durable materials can withstand harsh environments. With a long-lasting solution, you can be assured that your gutters will stay protected for a longer time. Some of the most popular Gutter Guard Solutions available are:

Evelyn’s Leaf Solution

Valor Gutter Guards

How can a professional help with guards?

Hiring a professional for these guards can help you in multiple ways. Guards need to be properly installed because they are protective covers. With the help of these, major damages can be avoided. Contact a professional today and get your gutter services done.

Expertise and experience

They have a clear idea of what must be installed and where. They check your property and give you the best gutter guards that fit the gutter system of your home. This leads to our next topic.

Specific Recommendations

A professional gutter installation can only be done if the guard is chosen according to your needs. Your choice may depend on the local climate, roof design, type of debris, etc.

Proper Installation

A professional is trained for the installation of these guards. In order to take the accurate measurements, a professional measures the size, diameter and other necessary dimensions so that the best gutter guards can be used in your gutter system.

Time Efficient

Guard installation is a time-consuming task that can become complicated if not done properly. A professional can do the work with perfection and that too in the least amount of time. They are trained for such tasks.

Using quality materials

A professional uses quality materials that are certified by a brand. These guards are the best gutter guards. Using trustworthy materials can improve the durability of the guard. For optimal maintenance and enhanced longevity, consider opting for the best gutter cleaning services to ensure your gutter system remains in top condition year-round.

 

Safety Measures

The guard is usually installed on roofs, which requires working at height. It is dangerous to perform such a task when you don’t have any safety gear with you. When a professional is called, they are trained to perform such tasks with perfection and safety considerations. These safety gears reduce the chances of getting injured.

Maintenance Services

Some professionals also offer maintenance services, which involve cleaning these guards occasionally. Gutter Empire provides experts at Vancouver. Reach out to us and our experts will help you out.

Your all-time protectors

Finding the best gutters for your home is important and might require you to google best gutter guards near me. These ensure that your gutter system lasts longer. Let us summarize what all we the guards do we require for a specific functionality:

Mesh guards are effective in keeping out leaves, twigs, and other debris. They allow water to flow freely. Their durability and ease of installation makes them a good choice for people who are looking for low-maintenance gutter guard solutions.

Reverse gutters are useful when you prioritize designs along with functioning. These guards protect your gutters from debris while giving a good design that suits your gutter system. These guards require professional installation but they have long term benefits.

Brush Guards have bristles in them. These provide the same functionality like other guards but they have the quality to adapt to different sizes of gutters. These guards allow easy water flow while their bristles block the debris.

Apart from knowing the functionalities, the best gutter guards for your home will depend on other factors, like the weather condition of your region, budget, and personal preferences. No matter how efficient the guard is, always do a regular checkup.

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Well the foundation is Vince’s foundation because sharise said she never knew about it or invited to any of the events which is awful and for what reason we don’t know. It was Athena that helped her get involved since she had her own battles with cancer

However I’m not a fan of someone holding a picture of their ex putting up the middle finger while their direct family is next to you to promote your trash reality show especially when you’re at a serious event. And For bobbi being a lady doing that isn’t cute and then going off on a fan page to tell people how they should feel is dumb

I won’t be surprised if that one comment said Bobbi was treating people bad behind the scenes. Another reason why ex wives of rock doesn’t hold up

i didn’t know sharise didn’t even know about the foundation in the first place…wow. vince is petty big time we all know that already but i feel like most people would want the mother of the child they’re holding this foundation in honour of to be there. good on athena for helping to get her involved but…maybe don’t invite bobbi who really has nothing to do with it. then we wouldn’t be subjected to that little…embarrassing indiscretion. like you said anon, it is a serious event and it’s not cute to be going around flipping the bird to a picture of your ex. what happened to being demure, being classy, being mindful even! /j also…like personally i wouldn’t let someone i call a friend flip off a photo of my brother…then again, im not friends with people who would call me sensitive for being upset about something like that.

and of course she can’t take criticism…none of them can. unfortunately people are still going to criticize when they feel the actions are weird and childish.