Magpie

The Magpie and the rest of its family are fond of bright objects. It has been observed that they cut up their food in correctly sized proportions. In captivity magpies have been observed counting up to get food, imitating human voices, and regularly using tools to clean their own cages. In the wild, they organize themselves into gangs when confronted by predators.

[queenslibrary]

This week’s National Poetry Month contemporary poet is Cathy Park Hong. 

[grumplestiltskins]

Look at the fierce sass-face on that girl in the middle! Get it, girl. You look badass with that sheaf of grain.

Two unidentified woman and an unidentified man harvesting grain with a cradle farm equipment by Provincial Archives of Alberta Via Flickr: ca. 1890. A1615

[grumplestiltskins]

Bean Samples The Ocean of Storms by NASA on The Commons Via Flickr: Astronaut Alan L. Bean, Lunar Module pilot for the Apollo 12 lunar landing mission, holds a Special Environmental Sample Container filled with lunar soil collected during the extravehicular activity (EVA) in which Astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr., commander, and Bean participated. Connrad, who took this picture, is reflected in the helmet visor of the Lunar Module pilot. Image # : AS12-49-7278 November 20, 1969

[grumplestiltskins]

Art Explorers by PNCA YOUTH PROGRAM

This is soooo creepy I love it. 

[klesey]

There and Back Again, Mars United ~ Andy Rohr

[grumplestiltskins]

can’t remember what i was graphing, but it’s rather moot since this could be anything

[mr-cappadocia-archives]

I’m anti-feminist for many of the same reasons I’m an atheist.

[raealexxander]

So you don’t believe women exist?

Its okay. I’m an atheist because I don’t believe in something I can’t see or touch. I suppose women are much like that for you.  

[menformeninism]

Somebody get him some ice.

[voidbat]

okay, but a dude has to do it, cause he’s gonna freak the fuck out if he sees some floating ice coming over to him.

[jeremys-iron]

10/10

[bitch-media]

Experimental musician and artist Grimes released a new video today called “Flesh Without Blood/Life in the Vivid Dream.” It’s the first release off her new album, Art Angels, which is out November 6. 

[grumplestiltskins]

(<3_<3)

[grumplestiltskins]

Ali Banisadr, The Hashashins, 2008, OIL ON LINEN, 36 X 48 INCHES

I recommend spending some quality time getting sucked into Ali Banisadr’s work. 

[grumplestiltskins]

Bellowing alligator - Homosassa Springs by State Library and Archives of Florida on Flickr.

GRAAAAAAAR!

[grumplestiltskins]

I was cataloging trilltrillian ‘s thesis today and came across this piece about smidgeonpress and wcwilliams

Truer words have never been written. I love you guys.

[meantfortheshore]

[moremetalthanyourmom]

Okay but after seeing this I started doing it too and it’s amazing how many men I’ve run into bc they expected me to move

[youcangofindatree-deactivated20]

Gotta try it

[clevermanka]

I work (and walk) on a college campus. I’ve lost count of how many men I’ve smacked shoulders with.

[emmagrant01]

Recently, I was standing outside my son’s classroom waiting to talk to his teacher. I stood on one side of the hallway, not even close to the center. At some point, a man came walking along. I was standing right in his path, but the hallway was empty, so I logically expected him to swerve around me. Instead he kept walking right toward me, got to me, and stopped, as if waiting for me to get out of his way. I didn’t; I just smiled politely at him. He finally walked around me, clearly annoyed that I hadn’t leapt out of his manly path.

Now I’m wishing I’d leapt aside, taken off my jacket and laid it on the floor before him, then bowed deeply and said, “My Liege!”

[mercurialkitty]

I also work at a college campus. I smack shoulders sometimes, but I find that if I stare straight ahead and follow the advice below, people get the heck out of the way.

[songbirde108]

Honestly this post changed how I carry myself when walking alone in public, or in a situation where I’m the one leading. People definitely move for the murder gaze.

[onethingconstant]

Confirmed. I once had to rush back inside a convention hall as the con was closing in order to a retrieve a sick friend’s medication, and I didn’t understand why people in the crowd were jumping out of my way (literally—one guy vaulted a table) until I realized I was dressed as the Winter Soldier and doing the Murder Walk because that’s just how I walk in those boots. I got the meds, got out, and made a mental note.

I repeated the experiment later, wearing the boots but otherwise my usual clothing and mimicking the expression I thought I’d had at that moment. People parted like I was Charlton Heston.

I now wear that style of boots whenever possible. I recently had a man do a double-take as I walked by and ask me, politely, where I had served because I “looked like a soldier.” I’m not current or former military. I was wearing a flowy purple peasant top and looked as un-soldierlike as possible.

Moral of the story: wear comfortable shoes, square your shoulders, and walk like you’ve been sent to murder Captain America.

[grumplestiltskins]

“wear comfortable shoes, square your shoulders, and walk like you’ve been sent to murder Captain America.”

BEST

[lavernecox]

On May 29, 2014, the issue of timemagazine magazine which proclaimed the “Transgender Tipping Point” was revealed with me on the cover. June 1, 2015 a year and 3 days later, Caitlyn Jenner’s vanityfair cover was revealed proclaiming #CallMeCaitlyn I am so moved by all the love and support Caitlyn is receiving. It feels like a new day, indeed, when a trans person can present her authentic self to the world for the first time and be celebrated for it so universally. Many have commented on how gorgeous Caitlyn looks in her photos, how she is “slaying for the Gods.” I must echo these comments in the vernacular, “Yasss Gawd! Werk Caitlyn! Get it!” But this has made me reflect critically on my own desires to ‘work a photo shoot’, to serve up various forms of glamour, power, sexiness, body affirming, racially empowering images of the various sides of my black, trans womanhood. I love working a photo shoot and creating inspiring images for my fans, for the world and above all for myself. But I also hope that it is my talent, my intelligence, my heart and spirit that most captivate, inspire, move and encourage folks to think more critically about the world around them. Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities. The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly. These things are beyond beautiful to me. A year ago when my Time magazine cover came out I saw posts from many trans folks saying that I am “drop dead gorgeous” and that that doesn’t represent most trans people. (It was news to be that I am drop dead gorgeous but I’ll certainly take it). But what I think they meant is that in certain lighting, at certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards. Now, there are many trans folks because of genetics and/or lack of material access who will never be able to embody these standards. More importantly many trans folks don’t want to embody them and we shouldn’t have to to be seen as ourselves and respected as ourselves . It is important to note that these standards are also infomed by race, class and ability among other intersections. I have always been aware that I can never represent all trans people. No one or two or three trans people can. This is why we need diverse media representations of trans folks to multiply trans narratives in the media and depict our beautiful diversities. I started #TransIsBeautiful as a way to celebrate all those things that make trans folks uniquely trans, those things that don’t necessarily align with cisnormative beauty standards. For me it is necessary everyday to celebrate every aspect of myself especially those things about myself that don’t align with other people’s ideas about what is beautiful. #TransIsBeautiful is about, whether you’re trans or not, celebrating all those things that make us uniquely ourselves. Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have. It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people. We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class. I have hoped over the past few years that the incredible love I have received from the public can translate to the lives of all trans folks. Trans folks of all races, gender expressions, ability, sexual orientations, classes, immigration status, employment status, transition status, genital status etc.. I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are as well as shifting public policies to fully support the lives and well being of all of us. The struggle continues…

[bitch-media]

Well said! 

[grumplestiltskins]

this x infinity. <3 Laverne Cox. 

[theclickerkid-deactivated201506]

[ruthioniformes]

The Biodiversity Heritage Library has a Flickr account with an enormous amount of scientific illustrations for almost anything you could think of. I could spent hours perusing all of these (and I just might).

[smithsonianlibrariesarchives]

Yes indeed, BHL has a great flickr account! And they could use help tagging their images with species names - this makes them easier to find, and helps provide historical images of species for the Encyclopedia of Life.

[ghostcats-blog1]

there’s so much excitement and pride going on because despite concerns Emma Sulkowicz was able to carry her mattress to graduation but like at the same time you know what have been way better and more exciting? If the school did something about her rapist so her project could have ended and she wouldn’t have had to carry it to graduation.  

[grumplestiltskins]

that’s exactly what i thought :(

[fruitsaladchewits-deactivated20]

how to sneak chocolate undetected into a US cinema