Aspen - They/Them

30 year old dumbass masshole. Ask me about whatever. Will make an art page eventually. Found @americas-saboteur during Big Brother seasons.

[achillesinhighheels]

[charl0ttan]

huge fan of the depth of a good purple but another area that draws me is definitely around aquamarine/turquoise/seafoam. you can not go wrong once the green starts getting just a tinge more blue. a gal could certainly do worse than to pull over there and stay a while

[charl0ttan]

something earth shattering going on here

[emily84]

this is why one of my favorite all-time paintings is Ship in Stormy Seas by Ivan Aivazovsky... he was really onto something there

a close up to just... light shining through those waves, makes me feel faint with exhilaration every time

[is-there-a-boat]

THERE IS A BOAT BY IVAN AIVAZOVSKY!!

[clayandsorcery]

Ivan Aivazovsky could paint glowing water. One of the GOATs for sure.

[catchymemes]

[darkmatilda-deactivated20260208]

stoned richard papen 15 years later sitting there watching some true crime youtuber talk about the mysterious death of a hampden college student while doing glittery makeup and smacking foundation on her face with a sponge bigger than her head bleeping half the words so youtube doesnt kill her views with comments full of random girls like okayyy but this whole henryy was totally a hear me outt

[appendingfic]

Instead of doing NanoWriMo I will be doing something where I try to aim for writing an actual average of 400 words a day for the month of November in memory of Terry Pratchett, who as far as I know never thought telling a computer to write a book for you is a good way to hone your skills as a writer.

[sweaterkittensahoy]

I LOVE THIS. THIS is the spirit of NaNoWriMo: to invent a challenge to make you write.

If I may add some ideas:

The 666 challenge: Writing six pages a day in a month (no matter how shitty) because Stephen King writes 6 pages a day. Equating it with the devil is to explain why it's shit sometimes.

The 420 challenge: Get high. Write 420 words a day.

THE OTHER 51 challenge: Write 51 words a day because, yes, Hamilton wrote 51 essays in six months, but that bitch was crazy, and you can write 51 words without feeling like you're running out of time.

The Fibonacci challenge: Try to write as many words a day as required to meet the Fibonacci sequence. So, 100 on day one. 200 on day two. 300 on day three. Etcetera. If you don't hit the number in the sequence, you can respond "DO I LOOK LIKE A MATHIMATICIAN TO YOU"

If you wanna NaNo your heart out at 1667 a day, absolutely do that. Enjoy it! But if start talking now if you're looking for a group who will join you and not try to fuck AI up its server-hole.

[downtroddendeity]

I would like to gently advise any Tumblr users to absolutely the fuck not try to attempt that "Fibonacci challenge," because it means that your goal for the month of November would be to write 134,692,200 words.

[just-prime]

I also do hope people remember this November that NaNo was never a corporation's creation! Just because the org is gone that we can't continue to use it...

NaNoWriMo was here before the shitty org, and it'll be here after

[mortalityplays]

hi, a lot of you need a perspective reset

the average human lifespan globally is 70+ years

taking the threshold of adulthood as 18, you are likely to spend at least 52 years as a fully grown adult

at the age of 30 you have lived less than one quarter of your adult life (12/52 years)

'middle age' is typically considered to be between 45-65

it is extremely common to switch careers, start new relationships, emigrate, go to college for the first or second time, or make other life-changing decisions in middle age

it's wild that I even have to spell it out, but older adults (60+) still have social lives and hobbies and interests.

you can still date when you get old. you can still fuck. you can still learn new skills, be fashionable, be competitive. you can still gossip, you can still travel, you can still read. you can still transition. you can still come out.

young doesn't mean peaked. you're inexperienced in your 20s! you're still learning and practicing! you're developing social skills and muscle memory that will last decades!

there are a million things to do in the world, and they don't vanish overnight because an imaginary number gets too big

[a-tian]

[i-still-am-distantstarlight]

The Ides of March, coming soon to a coliseum near you. Knives not included.

[kusali]

Frothing at the mouth every time I see a sex ed resource that says "use condoms" without any further elaboration. "Condoms prevent STIs and pregnancy in the vast majority of cases when used correctly" but then they don't talk about what correctly IS

Correct use of a condom means

Using the right size, because if it's too big it can slide off or leak and if it's too small it can break or come off. Condoms usually come in 5 sizes, I'm sure you could find others outside of that as well but in ten years of sex work I found they covered everyone

Using lube, even if you think you don't need it. With the exception of oral sex, condoms should always be used with lube, 100% of the time. Most important lube should be applied to the outside but a drop in the tip of the condom before putting it in is also a good idea

Being mindful that latex is prone to wearing out, being damaged by heat etc. Condoms should be kept somewhere cool, not folded in wallets or sat on in back pockets and should be changed between activities and after about 15 minutes of any vigorous activity. Ask me how I know (a condom snapped on my leg when a client was pulling out, because I didn't change it when I should have)

The penetrative partner should hold the base of the condom when they pull out, and should do so immediately after they ejaculate so the condom doesn't leak or come off as the penis gets flaccid

Bonus: a lot of people think hand stuff can't transmit STIs. Wrong! If you give your partner a handjob and then touch yourself you can get HPV, herpes (low risk), and infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea

This isn't meant to be stressful, and the most common STIs are the most treatable - and often curable - but getting gonorrhea in your eyes after a facial still extremely sucks and yet no one talks about the fact that any mucous membrane can be effected, not just your genitals (yes this includes your mouth and throat)

In ten years of doing sex work where I saw 10 clients a day most of the time I've had 4 condom fails ever. One was what I mentioned above when it snapped on my leg, one was a client on top of me didn't get off fast enough after he finished and the condom came off, and the other two were a Glyde brand magnum that was inexplicably twice the thickness of a regular condom and didn't stay put on anyone so I suggest just avoiding Glyde entirely (their water based lubes also stain fyi). With all other brands correct use = extremely safe

[bakurapika]

Oil-based lube and latex condoms are also incompatible! Condoms can and should be used on toys.

I'd normally tag nsfw but I never got sex ed in school or at home. Even if you yourself don't need to use this information, it's still good in general to know, whether that be for fiction writing or advice to a friend or just to have in your back pocket (which is apparently hopefully not where you're keeping the condoms). The more you know!

[pikestaff]

"Stop saying 15 year olds with weird interests are cringe, they're 15" this is true however you should also stop saying adults with weird interests are cringe because who gives a shit

[themythicalcodfish]

To wit:

[switchelsweets]

I want to share some wisdom from my high school art teacher.

In my AP Art class, there was a girl who was just starting to experiment with mixed media. At this point she was still playing around, trying to decide what direction she wanted to go with her portfolio. So one critique day, she brought in an abstract canvas with some rhinestone highlights and painted and real peacock feathers. She loved sparkles and peacock feathers so she thought she’d try introducing them a *little*. And after everyone had given some input, the teacher gave her his advice, VERY roughly paraphrased here:

“So here’s the thing… I do not like this style. These are just elements that do not speak to me personally, but I see that you like them, and you’re doing interesting things with them.

“My biggest critique is, I only merely *dislike* this piece. I want you to make me HATE it. Go crazy with the things that you like. Don’t hold back trying to make it palatable to people like me. Because I am NEVER going to like it. And if the audience does not like it, it should drive them crazy seeing how much YOU love it.”

Her portfolio was chock full of neon colors and glitter and rhinestones and splashes of peacock feathers and it was a delight. Our teacher despised every piece lol, but she got great marks and I think even won some awards. And more importantly, she was happy and proud of the results. Because she didn’t limit herself by trying to appeal to people who were never going to enjoy what she enjoyed.

Takeaway here: be as cringe as you want. Don’t limit yourself based on other ppl’s tastes. They’re not you, and you are incredible 💕

[katiagrim]

Sometimes I love the internet, actually. Incomprehensibly huge place but also so small. Saw a video on Instagram where Crayola was announcing they’re coming out with a box with some limited edition previously retired colors, including Dandelion. This video had hundreds of comments and almost all of them where “omg where’s the dandelion crayon girl she’s going to be so happy” and it was such an unimportant thing, but it was just cute

[katiagrim]

The tags on this post are also full of people happy for the dandelion crayon girl 🥹

[mintymuses]

Update!! Dandelion crayon girl got her promo box!!

[hopepunk-humanity]

“Humans are inherently selfish--" Then why do so many cultures value hospitality, to the point of dictating it in their religions? Why is it so common for hosts to offer their visitors their best food, and as much of it as they can? At some point, multiple cultures decided that they knew what it felt like to be alone and vulnerable, and promised each other to never let those who stay with them feel that way. That doesn't sound very "inherently selfish" to me.

[wolfsteax]

"humans are the plague"

No. Humans are animals as much as the fish and the bear. We are pack animals who have survived by strong bonds and community.

Do not buy the lie that humans are inherently evil. Societies can trick you into believing this, but it's not the truth of humanity.

Humans crave being together, sharing together, and thriving together.

Capitalism just wants you to believe we're destined for selfishness.

[felderwin]

No but can we talk about what Cassandra thought happened in Kirkwall before talking to Varric because she’s so surprised that half the people involved in what happened were from Ferelden by coincidence and said that she thought they all came together. Like did she think that Hawke, Anders, Aveline, and Merrill were all part of a terrorism syndicate

[felderwin]

Okay I’m thinking more about this and I can’t get over how this must all have looked to Cassandra. Like imagine:

You are Cassandra. Your job is to find out what happened in Kirkwall leading to the Chantry bombing and subsequent mage rebellion. Your sources have indicated that a few individuals closely involved with the incident traveled directly to Kirkwall from Ferelden, a country than underwent a major succession crisis less than 10 years ago. It’s open knowledge that this succession crisis was resolved with heavy interference from the Grey Wardens, an incredibly secretive order whose immediate plans are deliberately obfuscated, despite their claims to political neutrality. The result of this succession crisis was either:

The current Queen of Ferelden was placed there by an alliance with the Grey Wardens, and her father and/or husband may even be a member

The current King of Ferelden is a quote unquote “former” Grey Warden (this being a transparent attempt at a loophole to get around rules about political interference) and he may even be married to or openly sleeping with a current member of the Order

At the heart of all of this is the Hero of Ferelden, who if alive, is possibly the prince consort of Ferelden, or the friend, wife, mistress, or ex-lover of the King.

With this in mind, there are a few key figures who keep popping up the more you investigate Kirkwall, all obviously deeply embroiled in whatever transpired. They include:

Another member of the same Order — records indicate he may have served directly under the Hero of Ferelden and might even have grown up in the same Circle of Magi that they did

A soldier who served in the same battle as the Hero of Ferelden and possibly the king. Shortly after this battle, she relocated to Kirkwall, where she rose in the city guard’s ranks surprisingly quickly. Just weeks before the rebellion, she received an offer of a high ranking position in the Ferelden military

Possibly: the Hero of Ferelden’s literal cousin

Possibly: the Hero of Ferelden’s childhood friend

A pirate (yes, a fucking pirate) with known ties to one of the Hero of Ferelden and possibly the King of Ferelden’s former companions. A few witnesses at a Denerim brothel claim to have seen her associating with them there, and possibly even left to sleep with the Hero of Ferelden (also possibly, the King of Ferelden too??? both of them???)

Possibly: another Grey Warden, (possibly also the HoF’s cousin, possibly served directly under the HoF’s close friend and/or lover during the Wardens’ visit to Kirkwall) who was mysteriously inducted into the Order after they discovered the substance used to corrupt Kirkwall’s Knight Commander

Putting aside the fact that one of these individuals is well known for having killed/otherwise dealt with a prominent Qunari leader, who was then replaced one of the Hero of Ferelden’s former companions, there’s also the fact that the possible King of Ferelden might have travelled to Kirkwall himself before the Kirkwall rebellion to specifically push for mage rights, and then scheduled a MEETING with Hawke and all of their aforementioned associates less than WEEKS before the mage rebellion.

You have an interrogation with one of Hawke’s former companions coming up that you’re hoping will help confirm some of this, but if you had to guess right now, what do you think happened here?

[felderwin]

TL;DR: Cassandra thought that Hawke and co were chaos agents deployed by a conspiracy between the Grey Wardens and the Ferelden government, and I, for one, do not blame her

[thegnawednoble]

Cassandra explaining to Leliana (also a potential lover/friend/companion to the Hero of Ferelden) how everything boils down to this One Guy lucky enough to Not Die at Ostagar

[merrybandofmurderers]

[ID: two dots meme featuring Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara. yellow text over Shane reads, "I've connected the two dots." blue text over Ryan reads, "You didn't connect shit." yellow text over Shane reads, "I've connected them." /END ID]

[fairuzfan]

I heard about this earlier but this is phenomenally good news because a lot of these manuscripts hold palestinian intellectual history dating back centuries and my friends who work in the Islamic book history field believed these all to be gone

[caats]

[beriliaa]

[a-book-of-creatures]

You can only reblog this today! Next time Thursday 20 will follow Wednesday 19 will be in 2439!

[liberalsarecool]

The cruelty of racist white men.

[wolf840]

Does anyone else remember when Elon was like "if anyone knows how to end world hunger for 6 billion USD, I'll fund it" and UNICEF was like "we're going to spend a month to make a plan to end world hunger for 6 billion USD and Elon is going to fund it" and Elon was like "actually, nah" and then bought Twitter instead?

I think that was one of the worst things I'll ever see in my life.

[tiredspacedragon]

I still think that should be the thing for which he's the most famous. It should be brought up every time he's mentioned. In any news article, any interview, any history book. "Elon Musk, who was offered a chance to end world hunger and turned it down." Put it on his fucking gravestone.

[saywhat-politics]

Keep your messaging simple:

“Trump fired everyone in charge of airplane safety, and a week later planes started crashing into each other.”

That’s it. That’s the messaging. Don’t get bogged down disputing Trump’s false claims. Just blame him, in short and repeatable sentences.

[queerculus]

Trump removed bird safety regulations in his first term and now bird flu is killing so many laying hens that eggs are $5 a carton

Trump removed food safety standards his first term and now we have recalls every few weeks

Trump cut the subsidies for the solar farms under construction so now electricity costs more

Trump disbanded the pandemic response team and we now we have bird flu and tuberculosis outbreaks