May the 4th be with u :)

Originally posted on March 18, 2018

The legends tell us that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. What they don’t tell us is that his deranged crusade of reptilian deportation didn’t stop there. ***WARNING: The following is an anonymous artist’s reconstruction of possible historical events that some may find disturbing or egregiously misinformed; viewer discretion is advised.***

Asking for help.

Always ask. 

I am the duck.

@robinruns @coffeeandpodcaststilidie @archiwrites

like! people always reference pride & prejudice as the archetypal “normal girl falls for mysterious brooding antihero” story but they overlook the part where lizzy drags darcy so fucking hard he leaves town and then apologizes for talking to her the next time they meet even though they’re at his literal house

For those of you lying on your resumes about being proficient in Microsoft Office, time to actually get those skills. Jobs exams are becoming more popular. Companies are testing you to make sure you actually know your shit.

Facts especially when it comes to typing words per minute

Typing.com is free and really helps to practice your typing!

Agreed I just took a skills test at a job interview on Microsoft office

I was told by someone who applied there that one of jobs in interviewing for actually tests you on excel in the interview so now I’m having to take an excel class in preparation.

Word, excel and outlook could be on these exams

Spend an hour on YouTube with an Excel Basics playlist, and I promise y'all will be straight

Check out this link for free Microsoft Office 365 introduction and tutorials:

It’s free, approachable, and most definitely what you’ll encounter in the modern workplace. I’ve used this myself a lot.

During the most poor and homeless period of my life, I had a lot of people get angry with me because I spent $25 on Bath and Body Works candles during a sale. They couldn’t comprehend why the hell I would do that when I had been fighting for months to try and get us on our feet, afford food, and have an apartment to live in.

Those candles were placed beside wherever I slept that night. In the morning, I would move them and set them wherever I’d have to hang out. At one point I carried one around in my purse - one of those big honking 3-wick candles. I never lit them, but I’d open them and smell them a lot.

I credit that purchase with a lot of my drive that got me to where I am today. I had been working tirelessly, 15+ hour days with barely any reward, constantly on the phone or trying to deal with organizations and associations to “get help at”. It’d gone on for almost a year by the end of it, and I was so burnt out, to the point that I would shake 24/7. But I could get a bit of relief from my 3-wick “upper middle class lifestyle” candles. They represented my future goals, my home I wanted to decorate, and how I would one day not be in this mess anymore.

When we moved into the apartment, and our financial status improved, I burned those candles every single day. When they were empty, I cleaned them out, stuck labels on them, and they became the starting point of my really cute organization system I had ALWAYS planned to have.

So whenever I hear about someone very poor getting themselves a treat - maybe it’s Starbucks, maybe it’s a home deco item, maybe it’s a video game… I don’t judge them. I get it. I get that you can’t go without anything for that long without it making you go crazy. You need to pull some joy, inspiration, and motivation from somewhere.

poor people deserve things they want, too. it is unfair to expect poor people to only buy things they “need”.

My grandfather used to tell me: if you only have 20 kr left, you buy grocery for 10 kr and flowers for the other 10 kr because you need a reason to live as well.

We are not machines and an unmet need is an unmet need.

i’m a show runner for doctor who between 2005 and 2009 i need help budgeting my show here’s what i have:

special affects: 13 dollars and washing a film student’s car for them once every other week so they can do the affects on a microsoft desktop home computer

david tennant’s accent coach: 5 dollars

musical score: 3,000 dollars

ambient light varying in color to bathe billie piper in: 10,000 dollars

please help me my coworkers are so angry at me

#favorite thing about this post#is the implication that david tennant doesnt really have that accent cjvjfjdjd

he doesn’t, he’s Scottish and was putting on an English accent for the role

this is literally news to me i feel lied to

would now be a bad time to mention his birth name is David McDonald

There was another actor named David McDonald and it was against union rules to have two so he had to change it. 

OP, you should make it clear that this budget is not for the Estuary accent that David affected throughout the series, as he already had that skill himself. This budget is obviously for that one episode with Queen Victoria where he, a Scottish person with a Scottish accent playing an English person with an Estuary accent, pretended to have a bad Scottish accent. That was #acting and it was well worth the financial support. My real concerns with this budget are that it appears to be in dollars, and that it implies that British film students have cars. This is unrealistic and unreasonable

Lately I’ve been getting most of my pep talks from Mister Rogers.

Great. Now I’m disappointing Mr. Rogers.

Mr. Rogers is not disappointed in you.  He’s proud of you for listening and thinking about what he said, and he hopes it plants a seed where sometimes maybe you notice yourself making an unhealthy choice and recognize it, because that’s the first step towards growth towards your best and healthiest self, which is a journey and a process, not an ideal state of which you are falling short.

Mr. Rogers loves you for just your being you.

hello police this post made me cry

this is so fucking funny jrbfgjkbjhfbg

I SCREAM

The epitome of men is feeling so absurdly enraged by a woman having opinions about a thing he likes that he makes a near day long video about how mad he is about it.

Coal is no longer economically viable for US Energy

Trump has failed to mention that no U.S. major clean coal plant is operational. He also neglected to say that the U.S. coal industry has been struggling partly because of the economics involved. The rise in low cost U.S. natural gas, as well as cheap wind and solar, has done as much to hurt the coal industry as have environmental regulations. When power companies close an aging coal plant, it makes more economic sense for them to build a new natural gas plant, or even solar and wind ones.

Trump continues to say that he’ll bring back coal jobs, but it’s unclear how he would do that. Removing regulations—throwing out controversial Obama’s Clean Power Plan that pushes power companies to lower greenhouse gas emissions or rejecting the international Paris Agreement that holds countries to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions—wouldn’t bring the lost jobs back alone.

Neither will “Clean” Coal.

^^^

Also, a word on the word “clean.” “Clean coal” refers to the amount of sulfur dioxide released in burning. This distinction came about when our biggest coal-related pollution problem was acid rain. Reducing SO2 did reduce acid rain, because back in the day, scientists pointed out a problem, its cause, and a solution, and we did the thing and the acid rain stopped and the ozone grew back and… anyway.

What “Clean Coal” has never meant was that it was greenhouse safe. Coal’s an unmitigated disaster for climate change. 

As you were.

About time for a revival of this one….

“Why” is accusatory

Why questions are often interpreted as accusatory, especially during times of duress or for individuals with certain disorders such as dpd or bpd. 

If you want to help keep people from getting defensive or from accidentally triggering paranoia in anyone, it can as easy (or hard) as rewording your why question into a what or how question. 

Some examples:

Things I like thinking about:

bond thinking he’s about to die: take one fuckin step closer pal am warnin ye ahll bash yer fuckin heed in so hard ya bairns’ll feel it ye ken what a mean

God, this TEARS at me. Luke has never had many friends you write. WELL NOT ANY MORE! And he thinks he has lost every member of his family he has but now he has a HUGE EXTENDED FAMILY that LOVES and MISSES their Jedi, the Jedi they were made to serve and help and protect and now they have only one Jedi left to dot on and help to try and make up for all the thousands of Jedi who died (whom they killed).

And Luke is just so appreciative. He is this sunny smiling boy who is so earnest and so good. And the clones probably talk to each other that they’ve never known a Jedi who is so open and just so damn HAPPY that they care or say hi to him or want to know about him or listen to him. And he is not like what they remember of Jedi at all (none of them were with the 501st after all, but they all know the stories of General Skywalker). And Luke loves listening to their stories and they want to know all about him and Luke is so bashful. His stories of farming or racing aren’t anything special but the clones know that’s not all there is. And after Luke knows them a bit better and Tiny or one of the other brothers finally confesses about the chips, scared they’ll be hated by this little Jedi for the murder of his kin, and the likely murder of his own father, Luke finally tells them of the Underground and how he is the freeborn son of a slave. Luke doesn’t hate them, he feels SORRY for them and RIGHTEOUSLY ANGRY on their behalf. And they realize that while their sole remaining Jedi is barely trained he is trying to teach himself, he is trying so so hard and they support him and cheer him on. And Luke feels so inadequate next to the stories they tell him of the amazing warriors Jedi were. And then they see him as a pilot and on mission and his death defying insane stunts and realizes that he is very much General Skywalker’s son, and just as deadly and crazy and assure him he has NOTHING to feel inadequate about.

And Han and especially Chewie are a bit weirded out about this all, how Luke has not only the growing respect of the pilots and the Princess’ ear but he has an unofficial family/every growing battalion of men sworn to his service. The Rebel command would be more worried but this is Luke who is loyal and passionate about the cause and fights with every ounce of strength he possess.

And Luke wants to know where the rest of their brothers are and finding out some are still working for the Empire, he wants to rescue them and help them and he grows attached to all of them, even the ones he hasn’t met. And maybe in this AU that is how Vader finds out he has a son. Even though the 501st will not leave Vader, (he is still their commander no matter what), they hear of his son, his rebel son who wants to know that they are well and offers them a place if they ever need it and grants them forgiveness from a barely trained Jedi. And Vader somehow overhears this or one of his troopers – Commander Appo who has been with him now longer than Captain Rex was ever at his side –comes to his quarters one day with the news that he has a son and he’s a rebel and does Lord Vader know?

Lord Vader didn’t know. Lord Vader is very very upset. Once Lord Vader calms down, he wants to know EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS SON.

God, I am just finishing up a time travel fix it fic on A03 but now I may just have to write this AU myself (Order 66 would have to have happened differently in this universe but this could so so work). I love my clones.

PTSD: A Layman's Guide

Let’s talk a little about PTSD. Since this will be a theme on this blog, I want to dispel some misconceptions and myths. Hopefully this will help people understand such a complex disorder.

–

1) PTSD not what you think. It is not what the media thinks. You can have it and not know it.

2) Trauma is not what you think it is. Trauma is not what the media thinks it is. Trauma does not have to be a death; it does not have to be explosions; it does not have to be cancer; it does not have to be a near death experience, and it does not have to be witnessing a horrific thing such as gang rape. Trauma can be someone yelling at you; trauma can be someone ignoring you; trauma can be intense humiliation; trauma can be deep rejection, and trauma can be horrible betrayal. Trauma is that which wounds us so profoundly that we are permanently changed creatures.

3) There are two types of PTSD: Complex PTSD and PTSD. C-PTSD results from multiple traumas or multiple forms of abuse. PTSD is typically centered around just one event. C-PTSD is an accumulation. 4) You can get PTSD (or C-PTSD) from emotional abuse. This is possible. There are studies backing this up. Just because you weren’t “abused as badly” or “it was just words,” it doesn’t mean that you aren’t at risk or possibly suffer from PTSD. You can get it without being physically hurt.

5) Flashbacks don’t really work the way most people think they do. Every flashback is different. Sometimes you see things and sometimes you hear things. Sometimes a traumatic memory is played on a loop in your head, and the thoughts and feelings consume you for days. Sometimes you just feel like you’re emotionally re-experiencing the traumatic event. A lot of survivors of traumatic events don’t recognize those feelings as a flashback and therefore do not process upsetting events very well.

6) One of the most prominent symptoms of PTSD is avoidance. This can manifest as avoiding a single person or location. This can also be doing things like constantly distracting yourself so you don’t have to dwell on very upsetting memories or developing unhealthy habits such as constant drinking. This can lead to things like agoraphobia or other anxiety disorders.

7) PTSD develops because you experienced a very real threat to your safety and your brain wants to protect you from experiencing that again. It’s trying to remind you so you can avoid being in harm’s way again. This is your body’s attempt to save you. Don’t resent it too much. It’s trying to help.

8) People with PTSD startle easily and are hyper-vigilant in seemingly benign situations. This is because, as stated above, your brain is trying to protect you. Don’t get too upset or frustrated with yourself when you experience this. Respect your body. It wants to help.

9) Respect your trauma. Respect. Your. Trauma. So many people feel guilty bringing up something “benign” because “someone has it worse.” That is a normal reaction. People - and the media - tend to minimize things like emotional abuse or neglect. Those have scientifically been proven to be very traumatic. Respect your trauma. Just because someone has had a shittier situation, it doesn’t mean that yours isn’t shitty as well. Respect that. Know that your pain is real and your trauma is real. This is how healing from PTSD begins.

10) You don’t have to be a soldier to have PTSD.

If you constantly think about a traumatic encounter, constantly /avoid/ thinking about that encounter, have triggers such as seeing someone or going to a certain location, have anxiety or panic attacks when thinking about the event/person, feel unsafe all the time, or are easily startled, please see a mental health professional. You might have more than “just” anxiety. Your quality of life can be improved with treatment and medication. Respect your body. Respect your trauma. Respect your healing. Respect your worth.

I super loved Ellie & Lizzie’s Ultimate Tampon Test, but I’m going to just go ahead and do a little PSA for the amazingness of menstrual cups. There’s a really big stigma based on lack of knowledge and experience that they are gross and hard to use and generally awful, but they’re really not bad once you get a feel for how they work. Also there are lots of different kinds, shapes, brands, and styles, so sometimes the first one you try isn’t always the best fit for your body. I’ve been using one for years and have saved a frigging boatload of money and time not having to keep pads or tampons stocked all the time, plus they don’t fill up landfills or put toxic chemicals against or inside your body. You can use this guide to help you figure out what the best brand and style might be for your body if you’re curious but don’t want to invest in one that may not be the right one for you. :) 

holy shit literal children should not be taught abt sex and preteens that do experience sexual attraction have no privilege over their peers who might experience it later or not at all

ok but leaving the discourse behind, sex education is actually really important though??? i mean, my elementary school taught that so sex wouldn’t be a stigmatized thing for in the future

literal children are already taught about sex, i don’t understand. in my elementary school, in 4th grade we were taught about “”“male and female”“” development and “urges” we would feel. in 5th grade, we saw actual pictures of naked adult bodies, and in 6th grade we were taught about “types” of sex and protection and pregnancy.

my parents gave me a book targeted at 7-12 year olds that also taught about sex and the body and sex organs and shit like that, like. this post is objectively bad. education from a young age is good and important for the destigmatization of sex in society. i don’t understand, is there a point you hadn’t made clear that i’m misunderstanding, maybe?

let’s not show nudes to ten year olds what fucking school did you go to

learning abt puberty =/= learning about how to fuck and 110 versions of asexuality

I… wha… where the hell were you raised that you think there’s something wrong with kids knowing what a naked body looks like? What century is this?

Sex education isn’t just learning about puberty; it’s learning about sex, relationships and consent, and it’s goddamn important even for children.

I started having sexual fantasies when I was 4 years old; I just didn’t know what they were at the time, or why they made me feel strangely good. My Mum gave me my first book on sex and sexual health when I was 8, but by that time I’d already heard years’ worth of playground rumours about “sex” ranging from the improbable to the downright terrifying, and had at least one inappropriate physical encounter with another child. It’s much better for kids to be taught healthy and safe attitudes to their own sexual development – physiological and mental – than for them run off fifth-hand misconceptions they pick up from equally clueless kids.

I’m not saying we should be teaching five-year-olds about reverse cowgirl. I’m saying it’s never too early to teach kids messages like, “If she’s not having fun you have to stop.” I’m saying most kids have some awareness that sex and sexuality exist, even if they don’t fully understand what those things are. I’m saying some kids have feelings about getting physical with other people from a very early age. I was particularly precocious, but the average age people start experiencing sexual attraction is 10 years old.

And I’m saying that all of these things are why it’s crucially important to give kids the tools and information they need to contextualise and process their understanding of sex and sexuality, both in terms of their own possible sexual identities (all possible sexual identities), and of course in terms of consent and bodily autonomy. 

Apart from anything else, we’ve seen proof that this makes kids safer in terms of identifying and reporting sexual abuse. The puritan myth that kids live in some magical fairyland isolated from any conception of sex or sexuality literally causes harm to children. You’re not protecting them from dangerous information, you’re depriving them of information and support they need to safely contextualise their experiences and feelings.

Teaching kids about sex is not the same thing as encouraging kids to have sex. That is literally the exact same bullshit argument that religious fundamentalists use to try to justify abstinence-only sex ed.

(Some sources nabbed from @lauralot89‘s masterpost here)

Studies show that teaching kids about sex actually delays their sexual debut as well as reduces the risk of STDs and unwanted pregnancy. The more you teach kids about sex, the less they actually have it.

Children live in a sexualised world. All 10-year-olds have already been exposed to sex in advertisements, on TV, and on the internet. If they don’t know what sex is, only that it’s this secret, shameful, dangerous thing they’re supposed to want and which will make them cool and successful people if they have it, they’ll explore their own sexuality in ignorant, harmful ways. This is why the USA have the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the developed world:

The only way to keep children safe is to empower them with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their own sexuality. No one was ever protected from something by keeping them ignorant of it! And no information is actually harmful if presented in age-appropriate ways – which, by the way, also doesn’t mean what antis and Americans think it means.

My school showed us a video of what was essentially softcore porn at age 10. I mean full on nudity, an erect penis, how to roll on a condom, a man and a woman having gentle sex, and then how to remove the condom and tie it off. It completely undid the ~mystery~ of sex and made us go ‘huh, that’s it? nah, not really interested actually.’

You can watch the sex ed video here on the Danish National TV’s web archive; it’s in Danish, but you can jump to 10:10 for the sex scene, although honestly I think you’d find the whole video fascinating even if you can’t understand what they’re saying.

I’ve gotten an ask or two about kids in wartime. I hope this helps!

This is a very good post detailing the way children involved in rebellions evolve. It is also worth looking into The troubles in Northern Ireland to see the dichotomy between ‘free fighter/rebel’ and 'terrorist’. It’d also be useful for understanding some of the effect this sort of conflict can have on children.

The Star Wars rebellion is much more… Defined in a way, compared to most real life examples that we have. We’re always presented with the core aspects of the rebellion and it’s often implied that the shakers and changers are in that core circle. This is not often the case. It’s often the ones who make absolute sacrifices who do the most and make things change; but what they do is used by others in the core to advance their position or erode another’s.