The cost of freedom

African Bush Viper.

today’s date is the 3rd? what’s next, the 4th? the 5th? the minor fall, the major lift? 

Story time:

In middle school biology, we did an experiment. We were given yams, which we would sprout in cups of water. We then had to make hypotheses about how the yams would grow, based on descriptions of yam plants in our books, and make notes of our observations as they grew.

Here’s what was supposed to happen: we were supposed to see that the actual growth of the plant did not resemble our hypotheses. We were then supposed to figure out that these were, in fact, sweet potatoes.

What actually happened was that every single student in every single class lied in their notes so that their observations perfectly matched their hypotheses. See, everyone assumed the mismatch meant they had done something wrong in the process of growing the plant or that they had misunderstood the dichotomous key or the plant identification terminology. And, thanks to the wonders of a public school education, everyone assumed the wrong results would get us a failing grade. We were trying to pass. We didn’t want to get bitched out by the teacher. Curiosity, learning, science - that had nothing to do with why we were sitting in that classroom. So we all lied.

The teacher was furious. She tried to fail every student, but the administration stepped in and told her she wasn’t allowed to because a 100% fail rate is recognized as a failure of the teacher, not the class. It wasn’t even her fault, really, though her being a notorious hard-ass didn’t help. It was a failure of the entire educational system.

So whenever I see crap like Elizabeth Holmes’s blood test scam or pharmaceutical trials which are unable to be replicated or industry-funded research that reaches wildly unscientific conclusions, I just remember those fucking sweet potatoes. I remember that curiosity dies when people are just trying to give their superiors the “right” answers, so they can get the grade, get the job, get the paycheck. It’s not about truth when it’s about paying rent. There’s no scientific integrity if you can’t control for human desperation.

There’s no scientific integrity if you can’t control for human desperation.

Bonus Pigeon on the head of a guy riding a drooling water worm beast fountain.  Saw this guy hanging out in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.  I do like to see a pigeon on the head of a statue.

not to grey's anatomy post too much on main but uh, does the orthodox Jewish kid who is worried about getting a pig heart valve not know about pikuach nefesh? like, I understand being uncomfortable about pigs, but as far as I know even the most Orthodox denominations still teach that it's OK to violate kashrut if it saves a life.

There are certain subgroups of Orthodox Jews do not seem to follow the concept of Pikuach Nefesh, or other exemption Halakah. This is, I think, most obvious when it comes to Healthcare.

"If I don't recieve [medicine I need to take daily to avoid hospital ER visit] by the time I leave for shul on Friday, I'm not going to accept it until Monday because I don't want to sign for it" (no deliveries on Sunday)

"I'm not going to allow to have lipids in my TPN because it's not kosher. No, I don't care that it's an IV that goes straight into my bloodstream and doesn't go near my digestive system"

"I'm not going to use my G-tube or even a glucose drip on Yom Kippur even though the doctor prescribed a daily regimen that I'm not supposed to skip"

More to the point, this post is about a fictional portrayal of Orthodox Jews, which real-life Orthodox Jews very much pushed back against as an inaccurate depiction.

You're right. I should have included that most Othrodox groups are not like this, instead of just implying it.

I was more thinking about when I was working in healthcare, I would not have been surprised to hear a patient of that specific sub-community balk at the idea of this sort of transplant. It's in keeping with their sort of bullshittery.

But it definitely was in poor taste to choose to mimic the beliefs of that one sub-community to be the one depicted in a location that they don't even live in (to my knowledge)

not to grey's anatomy post too much on main but uh, does the orthodox Jewish kid who is worried about getting a pig heart valve not know about pikuach nefesh? like, I understand being uncomfortable about pigs, but as far as I know even the most Orthodox denominations still teach that it's OK to violate kashrut if it saves a life.

There are certain subgroups of Orthodox Jews do not seem to follow the concept of Pikuach Nefesh, or other exemption Halakah. This is, I think, most obvious when it comes to Healthcare.

"If I don't recieve [medicine I need to take daily to avoid hospital ER visit] by the time I leave for shul on Friday, I'm not going to accept it until Monday because I don't want to sign for it" (no deliveries on Sunday)

"I'm not going to allow to have lipids in my TPN because it's not kosher. No, I don't care that it's an IV that goes straight into my bloodstream and doesn't go near my digestive system"

"I'm not going to use my G-tube or even a glucose drip on Yom Kippur even though the doctor prescribed a daily regimen that I'm not supposed to skip"

happy pride

My parents have confirmed that I will be getting a "nice" sketch pad and some "proper" pencils for my birthday this year.

It seems as though living so far away really is causing them to pay more attention to me. I mean, we'll see if they actually follow through. But I have hope, at least.

And to clarify,

I don't mean that they are bad parents or that I was neglected in any way (I forgot how many newer followers I have! Oops)

Just that, we had a lot of trouble connecting when I was living with them as an older teen and new adult. They didn't know much about my hobbies or my interests beyond those I had as a child.

The Animals - House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Silver Jews - New Orleans (1994)

wdhmbt’s tumblr post (undated)

there are at least three houses in new orleans

three households all alike in dignity

in fair new orleans where we lay our scene

Running water, sleeping frost.

–

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there should be plushies of the strange but endearing creatures that live in medieval texts margins

every gym leader is like “I lost!?! UNBELIEVABLE!” buddy you live in a world where every ten year old child has always been offered a free fire breathing monster at least once and you brought nothing to this fight but anthropomorphic flowers

gym leaders’ whole job is to provide a specific challenge, a battle of a certain type and difficulty level. if you’ve brought the tools and skills to complete that challenge, you’re going to win by design. the pokémon in that battle are probably not actually the strongest pokemon they have.

when gym leaders go “argh, how could i lose??” they’re acting to give your victory legitimacy because you’re 10. they’re like a villain cosplayer letting a baby knock them over. they’re being nice!!

I know this is a reach but I don’t want to make any mistakes with this (tl;dr I’m ethnically Jewish and interested in Judaism)

I am ethnically jewish on my dad’s side of the family, my mom is not Jewish at all- she’s a Christian so I was raised Christian. I even went to vacation bible school when I was like 8

That being said, I was never really that religious after I was old enough to have my own choices. I wanted to have a faith but nothing really worked for me

When I was a minor and in psych hospitals a Christian pastor would visit and (prey??) on vulnerable kids that needed guidance and basically convert them to Christianity so I kind of fell into that for a few months

I didn’t realize I was Jewish until about a year ago when I learned more about my family and realized how heavily my mom basically covered up that we (dad & siblings) are jewish

I really want to explore judaism but I’m scared that I’m too late ..? I’m 18, never practiced anything. Never been to temple. I don’t even know where to start

So if anyone can educate me on the basic things and if it’s okay for me to try this let me know! Thank you

Also this is my dog sailor he loves u

Hey-o,

First, some reassurance since you seem stressed.

Plenty of people come to Judaism later in life, and at a much older age than 18.

Also, it is totally 100% okay to be interested in Judaism because you had a Jewish family member. It's not uncommon too!

A good place to start might be by looking over myjewishlearning for a general overview to see if Judaism interests you.

Another good place to start would be by reaching out to your local Rabbi and asking to attend services as a guest.

Either way, Judaism has a formalized conversion process meant to guide students, so you won't be left alone to flounder if you do decide to convert to Judaism!

Just as a side note, if you do want to visit a synagogue as a guest, please pleaae contact the congregation first. Both because a lot of congregations have a sort of welcoming committee, and because a lot of congregations have security protocols.

Finally, just for some additional reassurance, if you look into it and decide it's not for you, that's also 100% okay. Conversion studies are not a binding commitment and even if you start and decide it's not for you, you'll know more about Judaism than when you started.

Sorry to everyone who’s enjoyed the last 130 years of science and culture journalism, but Disney needs the money to fund Toy Story 9

And this is why you don't just use letters from other languages decoratively.

org compost

WAIT THIS IS FUNNY

the fact that “the vibes here are rancid” is a power that the jedi actually have is insane to me

can you imagine being a normal dude and you’re getting help from this jedi, and this jedi dude’s like “head’s up, the next five minutes have the worst vibes imaginable” and you’re like “why?” and the jedi dude’s like “inscrutable cosmic power told me so, doesn’t get more specific than that”

like all these weird little men in weird little robes with glowy swords do is meditate because they have sorcerer-induced anxiety. yoda’s always fucking meditating on his little pillow because he has to figure out if he’s nauseous because the arcane will of all life itself is speaking through his midichlorians to warn him or if he just ate a bad burrito for lunch. the force is constantly dunking on these weird little men and telling them “something bad’s going to happen” and never explaining what’s going to happen. do you sense bad vibes because your washing machine is about to break and flood your apartment, or because the government you serve is about to turn into a dictatorship and mow your ass like grass? that’s for you to figure out

mace windu has Double Anxiety because every now and then he gets a pop-up that tells him when he is making a Significant Visual Novel Protag Choice

The Force: This Action Will Have Consequences!

Windu, downing three space ambien: great