Francesca Lyn

utter nonsense by Francesca Lyn

[hydramoon]

Anyone in Orlando or has followers from the area please!

AB, O+ and O- blood donors needed ASAP!!! Due to the shooting overnight, the hospital and blood bank is critically low right now for donated blood. If you are able, please go this morning to donate at one of the locations below. This valuable gift you can give is a direct way to help those injured from this tragic incident. The Orange, Osceola, and Seminole locations open today are:

Orlando - West Michigan Donor Center 345 West Michigan St #106 Orlando, FL 32806 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Orlando - Main Donor Center 8669 Commodity Circle Orlando, FL 32819 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Apopka Donor Center 131 North Park Ave Apopka, FL 32703 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Kissimmee Donor Center 1029 North John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Oviedo Donor Center 1954 West 426 #1100 Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Lake Mary Donor Center 105 Waymont Ct #101 Lake Mary , FL 32746 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

[kateordie]

Reblogging this again to add some pertinent links, because I couldn’t find one definitive roundup post. A note: Blood banks in Orlando are reporting that they are AT CAPACITY and urge people to make appointments to return in the coming days. Blood has a shelf life. Also, unfortunately, no FDA bans have been lifted, which means gay men are still restricted from donating. I agree, that’s horrible. The Washington Post has a large collection of links and information which is updating as news develops, including articles to send your racist relatives who insist this attack wasn’t homophobic in nature. It was.

Need to talk?

You can call The Trevor Project at [phone]. The Trans Lifeline in the US: [phone] and Canada: [phone]. Scarleteen is open all day. You can text them at [phone].

Want to donate?

Equality Florida has set up a GoFundMe for victims of the Pulse shooting. This is the best place to donate. You can donate to Orlando hospitals through the Orlando Health Foundation. The Orlando Youth Alliance provides services to LGBTQ+ youth. The Center is Orlando’s largest LGBTQ+ organization and is taking donations.

Remember, even the shooter’s father insists this was not based on religious beliefs or ideologies. Do not use this horrific incident as an excuse to attack Muslims. These were the actions of one person driven by hate. Don’t perpetuate that hate. The Medium has posted a guide to contacting your local representatives about gun control, which you should if you are able to.

Equality Florida has an updating list of links and information as well.

[francesca-lyn]

Make Your Own Sails

Last night I had a really vivid dream. I dreamt I went to a horrible, frozen tundra. I died in the tundra. After I died I found myself in a cute neighborhood full of huge rose bushes, charming little cottages, and chain link fence. It was sunny and green, with little walkways and plants were everywhere. It was a new place to visit but still very familiar and home-y. 

People were outside. Everywhere you looked someone was celebrating something with little groups of friends. I saw someone propose to someone else. It was so joyful! I asked a woman with dark hair what was going on and she said, “This is heaven, it is always love and a good time here!” 

I am in one of the most challenging yet amazing points in my life. Recently and suddenly boyfriend has told me he is moving out. Jesse is the person I never expected to meet - a man I could actually see myself growing old with. I can’t say enough good things about him. I still have a tiny bit of hope that somehow things will work out. At the same time I have been getting awesome opportunities to do so many things. I’m speaking to a bunch of girls about my work and being a professor! I’m teaching a memoir class! 

My dad had a stroke and is still in the ICU. He’s in critical but stable condition. His blood pressure is still not under control. He is having problems swallowing so he now has to use a feeding tube. I feel terrible that I left Florida but I needed to get back to take care of a bunch of stuff. Most of me knows that my dad wouldn’t want me to be just sitting there idle. He’s like me. We have to have projects going on and stuff to do. My plan is to come back when I can keep him company when he is home. We can watch movies and hang out. He’s really the best dad. 

I don’t know what the future will hold. I guess we never really know what the future holds. The world is a storm and we are just all swirling around. 

A couple of days ago my friend Erin posted a photo of a book titled _Make Your Own Sails_. Erin is an artist that I have long admired. She makes books that are ships and passages. She makes comics that are dreams. I sometimes tweet or text her fragments of ideas or pictures of tangles because she gets it. 

Make your own sails. I can’t seem to get that phrase out of my head, I think it is haunting me. It’s so evocative and so right for where I am now. It makes me think of my dad. My dad is a fisherman and a man originally from an island. He is also a man who was the first in his family to come to the United States. He is fiercely independent. Make your own sails. 

I just looked at the photograph again and realized that the book is actually borrowed and belongs to Erin’s father. Erin will undoubtably use it to make some astonishing artwork. I can’t wait to see what her sails look like. I’m making some of my own. 

[francesca-lyn]

Bleh.

Is spring fatigue a thing? I am so tired. 

[retrofitcomics]

We All Wish For Deadly Force by Leela Corman

We All Wish For Deadly Force is a collection of Leela’s short stories.  The subjects include Belly Dancing, Middle East Life, PTSD all told with beauty and strength.  

SUPPORT OUR KICKSTARTER SO WE CAN BRING THIS BOOK TO FRUITION!

[comicsworkbook]

Leela Corman

Please support the kickstarter !!

[sequentialartistsworkshop]

Get a cool T Shirt and pretend like you were there. Or actually attend the Sequential Artists Workshop.

Study for a week or study for a year!

[francesca-lyn]

I have this shirt! 

[francesca-lyn]

Guest Speakers

I am incredibly grateful that Richmond has so many amazing cartoonists. A bunch of them have graciously lent their time and agreed to speak to my class. I think it is important for students to understand that real people make comics.  It has been a joy to ask people to come. I hope I can continue that as I teach. 

I sometimes can’t believe this is my life. I made up a class and students want to take it. I get to talk to the coolest people about their work. I get to play a small part in making comics better. I feel so lucky and grateful. 

[daunvaliant]

i want to find that article written by a depressive about how the disease tricks you into identifying as it…or like that the depressive worldview is the most realistic or something like that. i remember they used a metaphor for someone putting glasses on for the first time and realizing there have been individual leaves on trees all along

[francesca-lyn]

Anyone? 

[teesadutta]

[the-sarkai]

From the mouth of children.

[spx]

The SPX Table Lottery Cometh!

We’re open for business starting tomorrow.  Keep your eyes peeled for the link to the online registration form. 

 You’ve got a full two weeks to enter. The lottery’s loving arms will remain open until February 26th!

Full table lotto details are here: spxpo.com/lottery

Good luck to all!

[rose-jasmin]

 "Star Wars" Cast Photos

[buzzfeed]

Photographs by @maceyjforonda.

[thecheshirecass-deactivated2018]

NO I CANNOT HANDLE THEM.

[themarysue]

Gwen Christie though.

[francesca-lyn]

Wow they are all so cute 

[alexcetera]

Abbi JACOBSON & Ilana GLAZER - Interview Magazine

[francesca-lyn]

dang

[francesca-lyn]

Mad

I should be doing about ten thousand different things but I am honestly so mad that I can’t focus. Im hoping that spending five minutes writing will give me some clarity. This is super stream of consciousness so some sentences may not make as much sense. 

I’m mad at a bunch of stuff. Some related and unrelated stuff. My living situation is a little chaotic right now - my roommate is moving out next week. I should be happy to have some extra space - her job is paying for the remainder of the lease so I do not have to have a sublease. But I will miss her. 

It is frustrating to hear from young men and women who are currently in college who are going through the same BS that I went through. Encountering racist professors, not getting support when classmates say racist crap to them IN CLASS. Or transphobic statements. Or classist statements. Some people think that being in an intellectual environment means these sort of comments aren’t made. In my experience I have heard the most horrible things come from students. Students who I know are smart but are still racist. I hate the stereotype that racists are these dumb people that just don’t know any better. You can be college educated and have deep seated racist beliefs. You can have had limited classroom education and be an empathetic person that understands why racism is wrong. Or homophobia. Or transphobia for that matter.

That’s been a surprising result of teaching, I have become super protective of people younger than me. I worry about my past and present students. And God help you if you say anything about any one of them. I’m watching out for them all. I’m sad that they have to go through any of this. 

 I’m sick of people who say that change is slow and you can’t change deep seated beliefs. I always give my dad as an example of how someone can have a radical change to personal worldview. My dad had homophobic beliefs. While he would never be rude or mean to a LGBTQ person (he’s actually met a few of my queer friends and loved them)  he wasn’t exactly open to supporting LGBTQ rights. He did not get it. He also grew up in an extremely conservative, religious Jamaican household. My mom was instrumental in changing his thinking. She challenged his beliefs. 

I honestly did not know he had changed until I heard about his moment that happened awhile back. Apparently his friend group, mostly older Jamaican men, were making homophobic remarks and he told them all off. Something in him snapped. He’s been more outspoken since then. My father is someone who does not use any profanity. He won’t tolerate any sort of bad language. That attitude is now extended to the LGBTQ community. And God help you if you say anything bad about Sam Smith around him. 

Is my dad perfect? Not at all. Caitlyn Jenner took a few conversations. However, I noticed my dad’s annoyance over the whole Caitlyn Jenner thing was always more directed to the Kardashians. He could care less about the trans issue and never said anything even remotely transphobic. 

[spx]

THE SPX SOCIAL MEDIA SQUAD JUST GOT A LITTLE LARGER...

The SPX family is always growing and I’d like to take a second to introduce two folks new to our ranks.

I tell people frequently that, for me, SPX has always been about the people. It’s truly a special thing to serve this community, to learn from you and to generally be your pal. 

I’ve made so many great friends over the years and met even more talented, challenging  people, it really boggles my mind.  What I’m saying is, just shut up – you’re amazing.

Well, @francesca-lyn and  @jamiesanerd are two such tremendous people and I am delighted to have railroaded them into service as a part of the SPX social media squad.

Please give them a warm welcome - and keep an eye out in for their posts - here as well as on SPX hangouts like Facebook, Instagram, etc.

MDT

[cathrynvirginia-deactivated2022]

just a little bit of a doodle from last night. 

[francesca-lyn]

Developing a Teaching Philosophy

I’m in the process of developing a teaching philosophy. While writing this document was originally motivated by job purposes - it has been good to reflect on what sort of teacher I am and what sort of teacher I would like to be. 

The purpose of education is to foster growth. My role as an instructor is to empower students and foster growth by creating a positive learning environment. Learning is a process and I believe that many different teaching methods can be effective in the classroom. Every class is unique and students all learn differently.

The most important aspects of my teaching are cultivating a receptive and approachable classroom environment. Learning is often a collaborative experience. Students learn best when they can discuss ideas freely and openly. Engaging classroom discussions provide opportunities for analysis and reflection.   

I want my students to leave my class with an appreciation of the material taught. They don’t have to become diehard comic fans but ideally I would want my students to appreciate the medium of comics. More importantly, I encourage the development of critical thinking skills. I want my students to learn problem solving skills and how to create effective arguments. These are skills that transcend the material and even the classroom.

[moonchild30]

Fantasia (1940)

[richiepope-deactivated20240228]

The Science of Kids Getting Organized for NPR