ChatGPT is running out of money because they haven't actually figured out how to make money with the plagiarism engine they created.
Like to charge, reblog to cast.
Conservative extremism wants women with no power and kids with no safety because they only care about what supports the myth of white male superiority.
Giving women autonomy, giving kids a safe environment means men would have to give up power.
“It’s literally impossible to be a woman.
You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow, we're always doing it wrong?
You have to be thin, but not too thin, and you can never say you wanna be thin. You have to say you wanna be healthy, but also, you have to BE THIN.
You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass.
You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean.
You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas.
You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time.
You have to be a career woman, but also, always be looking out for other people.
You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is INSANE, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining!
You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood, but ALWAYS STAND OUT and ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL. But never forget that the system is rigged, so find a way to acknowledge that but ALSO, always be grateful!
You have to never get old. Never be rude. Never show off. Never be selfish. Never fall down. Never fail. Never show fear. Never get OUT OF LINE. It's too hard! It's too contradictory, and nobody gives you a medal or says 'thank you!' And it turns out, in fact, that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also, everything is your fault.
I'm just so tired of watching myself, and every single other woman tie herself into knots, so that people will like us.
And if all of that, is also true for a doll just representing a woman, then I don't even know." -Gloria the barbie movie
this is it. this is exactly it oh my god.
This is the speech. Write it on every goddamn wall out there.
LUGHNASADH BLACKBERRY DANISHES
This recipe is surprisingly easy to make and can be eaten for dessert or breakfast. For Luhgnasagh, blackberries are just in season so it fits to use them.
Did you know?: Not only was Lughnasadh a time to honor the harvest, but was also treated as a festival for feasting, matchmaking, athletic competition, and trading back in the ancient pagan days.
INGREDIENTS:
- store-bought puff pastry (you can always use your own)
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 4 oz softened cream cheese
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Powdered Sugar (to top)
- Sliced almonds (to top)
DIRECTIONS:
Thaw out puff pastry dough. Preheat oven to 400 F.
To make the cream cheese filling, in a bowl combine, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, lemon juice, and a slight bit of lemon zest together into a bowl. Mix until creamy and combined.
Macerate your blackberries by adding sugar, honey, and cornstarch to a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.
Roll out pastry dough until thin and even. Cut into rectangles that are about 3 inches. You should have about 6-8 Danish Rectangles.
Using a knife, score the edges about 1/4 of an inch away from the very edges of the rectangle. Do not cut all the way through, you're only scoring the edges.
Add about a tbsp of the cream cheese mixture, and then a spoonful of the berries. Brush egg wash on the edges and sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar around the edges if wanted. Make sure to avoid adding too many berries, you should be able to see the cream cheese mixture from underneath.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges are a nice golden brown.
Top with powdered sugar and sliced almonds. Enjoy!
Have a blessed Lughnasadh ^_^
WITCHY SAGE BUTTER ROLLS
These things are really like garlic rolls meet cinnamon rolls but with delicious sage butter!
They are perfect if you have a little extra time on your hands, and can be served alone or with a dinner, stew, or any type of soup and it pairs pretty well.
Quite the crowd pleaser ^_^
INGREDIENTS
For the Tangzhong:
- 2 tablespoons bread flour
- 2 tablespoons water
- 4 tablespoons whole milk
For the Bread:
- 4 cups Bread flour
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- A full packet of Instant Dry Yeast
- 2 large eggs
- Half a stick of Salted butter
- Pinch of Salt
For the Egg Wash:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp water
For the Sage Butter:
- 7 tbsp Salted butter
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 2 tsp ground sage
- 1 tsp thyme
- 2 cloves minced garlic
DIRECTIONS:
Heat the Tangzhong ingredients over medium heat until they become very thick, about the consistency of a very thick brownie batter. It should be congealed enough so that it doesn't slide off the spatula very easily. This should take no longer than 5 minutes. Let it cool down completely (If you add it in hot, you will risk killing the yeast and the bread will not rise.
(What is Tangzhong?) Its a mixture of flour, milk, water that really steps up your game when it comes to the fluffiness of the rolls. Once you try adding this to your basic breads, you wont go back!
Bloom yeast in warm milk (Put in the microwave for about 15 seconds, it should be lukewarm, not hot. Add Flour, a pinch of salt, and sugar into a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.
Crack egg and milk into the yeast and with the stand mixer’s dough hook attachment, mix into the flour mixture. Add in Tangzhong. Add butter 1 tablespoon at a time and mix until the dough is elastic. Then mix for another 5 minutes. If the dough looks too dry, add a tablespoon of water, and repeat until smooth. If it is too liquidy, add a couple pinches of flour.
Put the bread dough in a lightly greased medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature for 2 hours. In the meantime, make your sage butter by beating your salted butter, garlic, and herbs.
Flour the workspace and roll the dough flat to about 1/4 inch thick. Smear all of your butter mixture onto the dough. Roll as you would a cinnamon roll, from the widest side of the rectangle to the other side.
Cover for 2 more hours for them to proof. Then combine egg and water to form your egg wash and brush it onto the rolls briefly before putting it in the oven. Put in the oven at 350 F for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy!
scyllagf-deactivated20230531
[ID: A hand pointing to an edited poster from the Simpsons with text in all caps that says, "Don't forget: Theythemming trans women and men and non-binary people who dont use they is still misgendering" /End ID.]
And like, intersex people. Pls start including us in this kind of stuff.
50 KITCHEN WITCH TIPS TO MAKE YOU FEEL MORE WITCHY
(And other useful things I've learned over the years)
Hi! This is a list of dos, don'ts, tips, tricks, and other fun things that I've learned over the years. I always love finding more effective and efficient ways of doing things so if you have any cool things you'd like to add, leave them in the comments or reblog. I'd love to read it.
Anyways... On with the list ^_^
- Light candles around your kitchen space (just make sure nothing flammable is near you)
- Annotate your cookbooks with the correspondence of the ingredients.
- Mediating is really good to calm the mind before cooking.
- Cut oranges and lemons thinly, dry them, and hang them with twine around your kitchen
- Need a cleansing tip? Open all your windows near your kitchen. Let some fresh air in.
- Cutting sigils into apples, pie crusts, and carved potatoes.
- Save lemon and orange rinds, freeze them, and then use them to clean the garbage disposal.
- Make infused oils and honey: Things like garlic honey, lavender honey, herb oil, sun oil, moon oil, dandelion oil, and other different edible oils are very fun and useful to make.
- Hid sigils in pages of your cookbooks and kitchen witch journals.
- Add some plants! Snake plants and spider plants don't need too much light, and growing your own herbs in your kitchen is awesome too. Basil, lavender, thyme, aloe vera, rosemary, etc. are good fits. You could also add some plants that require more sunlight on the kitchen window sill. Like cacti and succulents.
- Bring crystals into your kitchen space such as rose quartz, clear quartz, amethyst, or whatever you want the space's intentions to be.
- I keep a small money tree on the sill, along with cacti for luck and protection.
- Make a simmer Pot! Mostly because it makes the whole house smell good, easy, and fun.
- Stir clockwise for best results!
- Learning how to pickle things is actually pretty witchy. Plus, anyone could do it as it requires absolutely no kitchen experience. You could pickle any vegetable, even if you don't like pickles. I originally learned this after having to take shelter from a natural disaster. A person brought a bunch of stuff and taught us how to pickle things with different spices and herbs. Very fun!
- Decorate your kitchen with your favorite stuff. Crystals, decor, heat mits, that cool mushroom cake stand you've been eyeing at the World Market for the past 2 weeks, cool looking curtains, sun catchers. Why stop there? Paint the walls, hang shelves full of marked-up cookbooks that are a little too well-loved and thumbed through.
- Wanna be the person that has the amazing-smelling house every time people come over? Syrups take some time to simmer down, it's actually a pretty good time to leave it on the stove to simmer. Since syrups have a lot of aromatic ingredients, it acts as a really good-smelling simmer pot.
- Hang up herbs to dry with twine from cabinets that are rarely used.
- Invest in that new set of plates and cups.
- Homemade jams, butter, sauces, and syrups are your best friend.
- Crochet or knit your own dish rags, pot holders, etc.
- Don't pour extremely hot things into a glass that's not Pyrex, it will break, and you will be very sad about it.
- Don't cook anything while extremely upset or emotional (For safety reasons)
- Make recipes you want to make, not just because you'll like the effect. Make it because you think it's tasty.
- Chinese Five Spice works in place of herbs for protection and luck spells a lot of the time! It's cheaper to buy 1 spice than 4 different spices that total up to 15 dollars when you could just spend 3-4 dollars.
- Take a shower before cooking (I don't know how to explain this one other than it makes you feel better)
- Don't use microfiber/plastic material clothes on hot burners, it will fuse to the burner and melt. It is VERY hard to get off.
- I don't know if I need to put this one but I did see someone do it so nonstick pan = wooden utensils and plastic utensils, metal pan = metal utensils. Do not use a metal spoon in a nonstick pan, please. It can make you very sick.
- Keep your pets away from hot oil, open ovens, and hot pans.
- You can proof bread dough in the fridge overnight if you don't have the time to bake, or want to eat fresh bread right in the morning.
- Need a quick witchy meal for dinner in 12 minutes? Use premade tomato pasta sauce and doctor it up with thyme, rosemary, and garlic, for protection and distilling stagnant energies. Serve with pasta of your liking.
- You can substitute Butter for Crisco/shortening, buttermilk for 1 cup of milk + 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and heavy cream for 1 cup of half and half plus 2 tbsp of butter.
- Use leftover animal bones to make bone broth
- Teach yourself the art of bread scoring (It's fun, and you can show it off to your loved ones!)
- Collect and hoard your own and others' family recipes.
- Sometimes the food doesn't have to be a spell, sometimes it just makes you feel good and you don't know why.
- Listen to your favorite music in the kitchen, it makes the monotonous things like chopping veggies move faster.
- Invest in a vegetable chopper if you don't like chopping vegetables.
- Find a really good hot cocoa recipe and make it once a week. Master it. Just for your own happiness because hot cocoa is really good. You could also be the friend/family member that makes the best hot cocoa ever.
- Focaccia Bread Lasts a very long time, and it's very easy to make!
- Keep a first aid kit near where the oven is, in case of burns, cuts, or serious injuries where time is everything.
- Quick Bread and no-rise loaves are simple for beginners, tasty, and take little time. They also feel very witchy to make.
- Study a bit of Herbalism! It's fun and really helps better understand the herbs you're putting into your food.
- While something is boiling, put your wooden spoon over the pot to minimize the chance of something boiling over.
- Try a bit of coffee magick, it's simple to get into, and gives you a boost of energy to take on the day!
- If you're over 21, wine-making is a very interesting way to celebrate the sabbats. Just with that, make sure you KNOW what you're doing. With anything fermented, there's always a risk if you don't store things correctly. Apple wines, strawberry wines, dandelion wines, etc. all very cool to experiment with. If you're not over 21, vinegar is a similar way to experiment.
- Hang up some witchy things, sigils, photos, cool magnets, and other things that give you joy on your fridge. (Sometimes if you are lucky they have some fun magnets at five below)
- If you live in the US, for some reason, there are a lot of books in the book section dedicated to witchcraft and spirituality. At least where I live. And they are all under 5 dollars!
- Teas are the cheapest and easiest things you can practice being a kitchen witch.
Simple Moon Spell - One Dozen Wishes
Intent: To create a jar of potential wishes, to be used as needed.
Materials:
- Small Jar
- Whole Bay Leaves (12)
- Moonlight
In addition to their usefulness in spells for protection, wisdom, and healing, bay leaves are a potent ingredient for wishmaking. This spell does not specifically create a wishing spell, but it prepares a small supply of leaves for future spellwork, using the fulfilling energy of the full moon to pre-charge the component.
Obtain a bag of whole bay leaves. These can usually be found in the spices and seasonings aisle at the grocery store, or you can order them from a botanical supplier if you wish. Prepare a clean, dry jar with a lid as you see fit. Select twelve leaves, as whole and unbroken as possible, and place them into the jar. Cap the jar and leave it to soak up the moonlight on the next full moon evening.
When you have need of some wishmaking magic, take a single leaf from the jar, write your wish upon it, and use it in your spell. The use of the leaf depends on your casting method - you can include it in a jar or sachet charm, cast it into fire or water, or bury it to help your desired results grow, to name just a few.
Use the leaves as needed and when the supply is exhausted, you can pick twelve new leaves and refill the jar.
Happy Witching! 🔮🍃
The Magic of Everyday: How I Find Witchcraft in the Ordinary.
🌿🌕✨
Do you ever stop to marvel at the enchantment that surrounds us, hidden in plain sight? As I delve deeper into my journey of practicing witchcraft, I've come to realize that magic isn't just about casting grand spells or performing elaborate rituals—it's woven into the very fabric of our everyday lives.
🌟✨
Join me as I embark on this enchanting exploration of "The Magic of Everyday," where I'll reveal how I find witchcraft in the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary in the mundane.
🌟✨
- Morning Brew, Morning Spells ☕🔮 Every morning, as the sun rises and the world awakens, I stand by the window, cradling my warm mug of tea or coffee, or in the summer months with iced drinks (I love an iced coffee!). With every sip, I imbue my drink with intentions of clarity and peace.
- The Language of Plants and Crystals 🌿💎 During my daily walks, I've discovered a secret language spoken by the plants and crystals. The rustling leaves whisper ancient wisdom, while the sparkling crystals hum with energy. Nature, the most potent spell caster, teaches me to be still, listen, and learn.
- Embracing the Elements 🌊🔥💨🌍 The elements surround us at all times, and recognising their presence is a powerful key to unlock everyday magic. I breathe in the fresh air, feel the earth beneath my feet, and let the rain cleanse my spirit. When I light a candle, I invoke the transformative power of fire. By connecting with the elements, I connect with the core of existence.
- Enchanted Home Space 🏠✨ My home is my sacred space, a sanctuary for my craft. I've adorned it with little altars and candles, which I light to honour the spirits that reside within these walls. Cleansing my space with smoke incense purifies and refreshes the energy, filling the air with positive vibrations.
- Moonlit Dream weaving 🌙🌌 Under the moon's tender gaze, I venture into the realm of dreams. I keep a dream journal by my bedside, capturing the mysteries that unfold during the night. In the gentle light of the moon, I feel closer to the universal energy that weaves us all together.
🌟✨
In the grand tapestry of life, there's magic in the ordinary—waiting for us to embrace it with wonder and gratitude. By cherishing these moments, we tap into the essence of witchcraft, where intention and reverence converge.
So, as you go about your day, remember to pause, breathe, and observe the magic that surrounds you. Whether it's in the flight of a butterfly, the sparkle of dew on a leaf, or the warmth of a friend's smile, the enchantment of everyday life awaits your discovery.
🌟✨
Hearth & Home Witchcraft That I've Learned
One of the biggest things that stands out to me when reading about hearth & home witchery is that everyday items are considered magical. Everyday moments, tasks, and chores as well. Its a beautiful way to live, if you really think about it. Big rituals are great, but as someone who is disabled, they rarely are doable. Here is a list of Hearth & Home Witchcraft Tips that i actually practice.
-Enchant a blanket by embroidering a sigil in the corner and using its color correspondences for your needs. It also helps me feel shielded from negative energy during meditation.
-Play music that makes you feel safe and AT HOME. This is almost like grounding, but also can be cleansing to the environment and especially the listeners. For me, its smooth jazz. The chill sound of the standup bass and the wandering piano notes that always seem to find their way to a comfortable key... its soothing to my soul.
-Talk to and about your home (kindly). So often its easy to complain about your living space. How you wish it looked or functioned differently. The house (in my belief) hears you. Treat it with kindness and gratitude for the shelter it provides. I say thank you to the house spirits and my home every morning.
-Find a convenient home protection ritual to do each month. I say convenient because if you overcomplicate things you'll feel less enthusiastic and less motivated to do it, and might even skip several months.
-Make a home cleansing spray using essential oils mixed with an appropriate amount of moon water. I like using a few drops of lemon, rosemary, lavender, and cinnamon. DO NOT spray this in the vicinity of your pets. I only use this spray in rooms where there arent any animals, to avoid complications with their health.
-Wash your bedding as often as you can and say a short incantation before you put it in the wash. It could go something like this. "I cleanse this bedding of all negative energy, from bad dreams, and from and all stress." Sleep is so important to your sense of safety and wellbeing at home.
-Open the damn windows when you can! Stagnant energy is known for dragging down people's moods. And there's nothing quite as uplifting as fresh air. This provides a healthy flow to your house's energy.
-Don't bring things in your home unless you want to incorporate their energy into your environment. This is something that's often overlooked. I especially advise heavy consideration when it comes to thrifting items and bringing them home. Try practicing sensing the energy of items so you can easily tell whats good to bring home and whats not. Thrifting is great! Im not discouraging it btw.
-Fresh flowers work miracles. Not only do they aesthetically brighten the room, but their correspondences and magical properties apply to the room that they're in. Sunflowers are a great example of a flower that encourages positivity, and are extremely affordable to get lots of them. Roses are a bit more expensive usually, but they invite that loving vibe. And African irises are great for psychic enhancement.
Thats all for this post! Reblog it if you found it helpful, or have any of your own cool practices for hearth & home witchcraft to share!
WITCHY MUSHROOM LINGUINE
A whimsical pasta that makes you feel like a forest dweller~
INGREDIENTS
- 8 oz chopped mushrooms (you could use any kind, or even mix different kinds! Just make sure they are edible.)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups half and half
- 4 cloves garlic, minced.
- 4 shallots, chopped.
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 box linguine pasta
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Italian seasoning
DIRECTIONS
Melt butter in a pan and cook shallots and garlic until soft on medium heat. Add in the mushrooms, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook until tender. (About 4 minutes.) Add chicken stock and red wine vinegar and cook for another 4 minutes on medium heat.
Add in half and half and simmer for about 3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens a little more. Add in parmesan cheese. Cook pasta according to the directions on the back of the box with a salted pot of water.
Taste the sauce to see if it needs more seasonings, then add to taste..
Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Add your pasta into your sauce and toss to coat. Add in your pasta water so it combines well.
Top with parsley and enjoy!
Editors Notes:
- You could add some shredded mozzarella to make it super cheesy!
- Use an assortment of different mushrooms!
- Using fresh thyme from your own garden is a good pick
- Source your ingredients locally!
WITCHY MUSHROOM LINGUINE
A whimsical pasta that makes you feel like a forest dweller~
INGREDIENTS
- 8 oz chopped mushrooms (you could use any kind, or even mix different kinds! Just make sure they are edible.)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups half and half
- 4 cloves garlic, minced.
- 4 shallots, chopped.
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 box linguine pasta
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Italian seasoning
DIRECTIONS
Melt butter in a pan and cook shallots and garlic until soft on medium heat. Add in the mushrooms, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook until tender. (About 4 minutes.) Add chicken stock and red wine vinegar and cook for another 4 minutes on medium heat.
Add in half and half and simmer for about 3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens a little more. Add in parmesan cheese. Cook pasta according to the directions on the back of the box with a salted pot of water.
Taste the sauce to see if it needs more seasonings, then add to taste..
Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Add your pasta into your sauce and toss to coat. Add in your pasta water so it combines well.
Top with parsley and enjoy!
Editors Notes:
- You could add some shredded mozzarella to make it super cheesy!
- Use an assortment of different mushrooms!
- Using fresh thyme from your own garden is a good pick
- Source your ingredients locally!
RECIPE INDEX
(This is a continuously updated quick-access list of all my uploaded recipes.)
BAKED GOODS AND SWEETS:
SAVORY THINGS AND DINNERS:
SNACKING:
SABBATS:
{Updated 08/10/23}
RECIPES I KEEP IN MY ONLINE KITCHEN WITCH JOURNAL #2
I love making these oh my gosh.
Why?
- It's really fun
- It's been a while since my last one
- I get an excuse to try yummy recipes
- You all are way too good at what you do
- It's fun x2
Teas, Drinks, And Syrups
Baked Goods + Sweets
Soups, Stews, And Dinners
Sabbat Stuff
Samhain Irish Apple Cake
Angel's Best
(my favorite recipe posts I've made over the years, plus backstories that sound like your grandmother's reminiscing over the past.)
My first post I ever made. I was pretty new to the tumblr community at the time. I loved kitchen witchcraft, and I'm the type of person who will ramble on about how much I love cooking and baking. This blog gave me an outlet to express my love of cooking, baking, paganism, and witcraft. And these rolls are very tasty, I make them to this day!
Tasty, simple, and a crowd-pleaser. It's perfect for a beginner kitchen witch! It was also the second recipe I ever posted.
It was a recipe given to me by one of my good friends at the time. Every time I make it, it gets devoured in less than 10 minutes. It was also my first recipe to get over 50 notes. I was shocked but ecstatic that so many people would even give it the time of day lol.
These ones were just fun to make and delicious lol.
A quick soup that feeds a lot of people during the fall season. Fall is my favorite season, so of course I'm very biased lol.
I love pumpkin bread and apple cider... So why not combine the two? This one was definitely one of my favorites of all time. Moist pumpkin bread and chocolate chips have to be one of my favorite things on this planet. It also makes for the perfect gift for friends and family. Yummy!
I love dessert loaves of any kind, so naturally, this would be on the list lol.
Super simple comfort food! I love any time of cookie with brown sugar.
I love French toast, and I love positivity~
These are really good! And traditional. If you celebrate Samhain, I recommend you make some soul cakes and have friends and family help decorate. I give the littles a bag of orange frosting and let them go crazy lol.
I feel like this would be a slippery slope towards making it illegal for people to choose to not vote.
that’s already how it is in australia
That’s just so fucked up. :( Do certain medical conditions exempt you?
?????? why is it be fucked up to have compulsory voting? that’s the way it is in most democratic countries? it’s a part of being a citizen, like paying taxes and obeying speed limits? the fine for not voting is only like $50 and because of the compulsory voting law, our country bends over backwards to make it accessible: it’s always on a weekend, lasts most of the day, and is set up at schools and community centers so there’s one within easy reach of almost everybody. you can also mail your ballot or vote early if you’ll be out of the country on the day. like, IT’S EASY TO VOTE, and the penalty isn’t even that ridiculous. i don’t understand why the usa doesn’t have this, except obviously it would make it harder to literally stop minorities from voting.
salparadisewasright
I think we Americans tend to forget that a lot of other countries don’t actively work to make it harder to vote.
Adding to this here, in Australia you don’t have to vote. Or, more precisely, there’s no way they can tell if you ruined your ballot. You have to turn up, get your name marked off, but you can put a line through the ballot if you don’t think any of the candidates are worth voting for. Or do this:
Or this:
Or this:
You have get your name crossed off (if you don’t want to wear the fine), but you don’t have to make your vote counted if you’re opposed to it.
And it is so, so easy to vote. Stuck at work or on holidays? That’s fine. Do a postal vote. Stuck in hospital? That’s fine. They’ll go to you. Stuck in an old people’s home and can’t get around? Again, they’ll go to you. It’s amazing to me that it’s so hard for so many Americans to actually vote. If you make it compulsory, than at least the government is obligated to provide you with the means to vote.
And look, I get it. Sometimes I don’t want to vote either. But I suck it up, I walk three minutes down the street, and I hope that this year they’re selling lamingtons again. Oh, and I buy a democracy sausage, which, even if all the candidates suck, makes the effort of turning up pretty worthwhile.
ALSO, you can see even on the fucked up ballots that you NUMBER CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE. There’s no need to calculate whether I would be throwing away my vote on the candidate that I most agree with if they’re not from a major party. I can say, I want that independent person to get in, but if not them, give me Big Party A, and if not them, that minor party person is still better that Big Party B, and I’m not giving any preference to the Lunatic Fringe Party.
Our system certainly has some issues still, but I can show up to somewhere nearby, line up for a few minutes (if at all), vote exactly in line with my values (on paper, leaving a paper trail that can be recounted), and then buy a sausage and some home made cupcakes on my way out.
A country’s voting system matters a hell of a lot and every citizen deserves one that makes it easy to vote and results in a government that is representational and accountable.
And by the way, one time I had a bad asthma flare-up on Election Day and didn’t make it to my polling station. I got my fine in the mail, I filled out the form explaining why I couldn’t vote, no more fine. I would rather have, you know, expressed my preference for who should run my country, but they were cool with the fact that I couldn’t do it that day.
batmanisagatewaydrug
“oh no, what if people actually have to participate in picking the government officials who will impact their lives” jesus christ
For the last time, for everyone who still doesn’t understand: not voting is not a tool of resistance, it’s a tool of surrender.
Another reason Americans flip out over the idea of it being illegal to not vote is basically every crime in the US results in jail sentences, and people who served time are second class citizens. Some states even have “three strikes” laws (unless they all got repealed) where doing three minor crimes would get you a life sentence.
Something being “illegal” meaning you get a small fine pretty much only happens to stuff involving cars or giant multinational corporations. When Americans hear that not voting is a crime they assume that means you go to jail and have your life completely ruined.
Then you have all the voter suppression in the US, including explicitly racist stuff like closing polling offices or limiting hours in majority Black districts. If it was illegal to not vote they wouldn’t reverse any of that, they would celebrate at a new excuse to toss nonviolent “criminals” into jail to use as slave labor.
I just don’t think people are aware enough of how completely fucked up the American legal system is and how justified it is for Americans to fear stuff being made illegal. Mandatory voting might work great in other places but there’s big problems America needs to deal with before it would work here.
Ok I just watched Nimona (which is really good by the way) and I don't really have any major critiques or anything but I do want to praise the movie for being so openly queer. Its not just a throwaway line or a quick less then ten second scene of queerness. I don't want to really spoil anything so I'll keep it vague but the fact that one of the characters is gay and him and his partner kiss and say I love you multiple times on screen, in the forefront of the shot is so important to me. Them being in love actually adds to the plot and gives it more depth than just playing them off as friends ever could have.
Also Nimona in my eyes is an allegory for being trans and I will die on that hill, when you watch the movie through a queer lens its literally so queer. Plus at the end of the movie in the credits there's a shot where she spits rainbow fire and it turns into a heart shaped tunnel kinda thing out of the progress flag colours.
There's also this in the credits which if you look at all the crossed out words, the one right on top of the word 'lot' at the bottom is boy which also leads me to believe that Nimona is kinda intended to be interpreted as a trans character but maybe I'm reading into things.
Bonus: This is the very last line of the movie and I just think it's really funny that they end it with a cut off curse word.
Double bonus: Throughout the movie, there are multiple of these anarchy symbols inside hearts instead of circles and at the end of the credits right before the Netflix logo pops up she draws one. So to conclude things, not only is Nimona a metalhead but she's also an anarchist and I love her for that.
We live in a dystopia....
If the background actors don't come in for work because they exist virtually then the background costume and background hair and make up and their catering and transport and all the other departments that look after them get cut too. These things have knock on effects...