my dude, my bro, my guy, my homie

call me cat. 26. she/her. queer. history graduate student.

[mapsontheweb]

US rivers drawn in proportion to how much water they carry

[spltlvlhous]

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Emily Wilson has inadvertently created a fascinating new way to categorize basically any visual media ever made

[luna-azzurra]

Your character doesn't need to be likeable. They need to be legible. The reader needs to understand every decision they make even when it's wrong, even when it's ugly, even when they want to shake them. Likeable is easy and forgettable. Legible is what makes someone stay with you for years. Make the logic of every bad choice visible. The reader doesn't have to agree with it. They just have to follow it.

[dorothygale]

pop health science is so annoying bc it'll be like "did you know? eating strawberries will give you mega cancer" and you're like pfft whatever begone influencer. but sometimes then you'll see a reasonably credible article like "Study Shows Possible Link Between Strawberries and Mega Cancer" and you're not usually the type to follow that kind of thing religiously but idk maybe you should consider not eating strawberries? but then there's another article saying "Strawberry/Mega Cancer Study Debunked" and it turns out the original study had a sample size of 3 and was funded by Big Blueberry, and strawberries may have a small connection to mega cancer but only if you are genetically predisposed to mega cancer and eat 50 strawberries every day. so you return to your strawberry eating life. but whenever you eat strawberries in public someone tells you about the mega cancer.

[bettedavisgf]

i need to dive into the water and become an orca. good bye

[breakerofcurses]

[relentlessescapism]

CRIMINAL MINDS 4.09 '52 Pickup'

[trix-the-artemis]

For context,

Torment Nexus : "an idea that is so bad and dangerous in theory and practice that its indistinguishable from capitalist satire".

Luddite event : After the creation of textile machines (which produced fabric at a lower quality but faster rate while being dangerous to operate), textile mills fired a huge amount of their workforce leading to the remaining workers becoming overworked. A Luddite event thus in this context is "an innovation that is exaggerated to excuse mistreatment of the workforce".

[jupiterjames]

Did I just employ the "Treat Them Like You are A Kindergarten Teacher Again" method with my insurance company today? I surely did. Did it work? Probably better than intended because I made an actual doctor feel contrite.

So, my insurance has been trying to not cover my SNRI because it is new on the market and no generic available yet, so pricey.

I apply for a refill and the request gets locked for review. Again. For the 3rd time.

This time I call and immediately ask to speak to the actual doctor making these clinical decisions. Very politely. Must be a slow day because they allow it.

ME: [Teacher voice] I'm calling in regards to the SNRI you have placed a lock on. Why was this decision made?

DOC: Well, there are dozens of other medications on the market in that tier, and far cheaper for you and [insurer]. We have sent a request to your doctor to consider alternatives.

ME: I am aware of that. So, can you do me a HUGE favor and look up my prescription history really quickly and tell me how many SSRIs and SNRIs were only filled once in 2022 for me, showing they were poorly tolerated?

DOC: It looks like eight.

ME: Great job! Now, can you please look at my genetic test for psychiatric drug tolerance and tell me how many medications are listed in the safe category?

DOC: Two.

ME: Awesome! Now, can you tell me what type that other drug is that I'm not taking?

DOC: Yeah, totally, it's an MAOI.

ME: That's correct, you're really knowledgeable! Should I be taking something as dangerous as an MAOI with my other medications, or even just in general?

DOC: It's contraindicated for sure.

ME: It is! So true! So, last question since you've been incredibly smart and helpful. Is it less expensive for [insurer] to pay out for the medication knowing they already get a huge manufacturer discount anyway, or is it more expensive for them to pay for me to need potentially long-term inpatient psychiatric care?

DOC: I'll clear the code, ma'am and flag it as medically necessary. I'm sorry about this.

ME: I appreciate you SO MUCH. You have a great day now.

WALGREENS PHARMACY TECH WITH 5 NOSE RINGS AND PURPLE HAIR STARING AT ME: ........... OKAY! It'll be ready in five minutes. You wanna come work here?

[headspace-hotel]

Kill them with kindness

BUT KILL THEM

[kingslionheart]

they are truly turning anything into bestsellers these days huh

[scribeherself]

Collect small astonishments. The first tomato of summer. A dog dreaming in its sleep. Someone laughing before they finish the joke. The moon arriving before the sun has quite departed. We keep waiting for life to announce itself with trumpets, but it has always preferred quieter instruments.

[theprofessional-amateur]

Every day I get a little closer to saying fuck it and becoming an apprentice in some at risk heritage craft or profession.

[theprofessional-amateur]

"let's have AI-"

I'm gonna go learn the art of hand engraving or thatched roofing. Maybe hand make clogs.

[scribeherself]

A comforting thought for anyone feeling stuck right now: fields have to lie fallow for a season so the soil can rest and recover its nutrients. trees look entirely dead in the winter, but underneath the bark, they are preparing for spring. you are allowed to have fallow seasons. you are allowed to be in a winter state. your productivity does not define your worth as a human being, nor does it define your talent as an artist or a creator. if the words aren't flowing, or the art isn't coming together, or you just feel tired—let yourself rest without the crushing weight of guilt. you aren't failing; you are gathering the nutrients you need for the next beautiful thing you make. 🤍

[depsidase]

[podcastwizard]

LIKES TO CHARGE REBLOGS TO CAST

[the-goddess-of-annoying]

you people aren't CASTING

[the-goddess-of-annoying]

NO

[mythalism]

are you employed and if so, how?

i work a full time, traditional* job outside of the house (including hybrid)

i work a full time, traditional* job remotely

i work part time and am not currently a student

i work full time in a *non-traditional role, i.e self employed

i am an undergraduate student

i am a graduate/professional student

i am a high school student

i am unemployed but currently seeking employment

i am unemployed because i am unable to work

i am unemployed but not seeking employment

other/bald/nuance (*please avoid this option unless you REALLY need to be bald)

Voting ended onJul 26

*traditional is a flawed term that im using here for the sake of brevity, not because i agree with it or think its valid. think the things that your capitalist uncle would consider "a real job" (even if he may not respect it); anything in a physical office, but also healthcare workers, teachers, secretarial work, cleaning staff, childcare workers, professional athletics, etc. *non-traditional would be the opposite, aka things your capitalist uncle would not consider to be "a real job". this does not mean i think your job is not real or valid, it means it is outside of the bounds of what modern society deems traditional and you've faced unique struggles as a result. artists and creatives who live on commissions, any kind of influencer, sex workers etc. are examples of what should go here.

*other/bald/nuance options literally ruin surveys if too many people chose them. please try your best to force yourself into a category for the sake of clarity in the poll. if everyone goes bald we dont get any data!!!