I thought about just tagging this 'nuff said, but it's not.
I want to say something to all of the women under 50 on this site. Ready?
You do not have to be over 50 to start taking up space.
Can I make that blink? Is that a thing Tumblr can do? Because, seriously. The sooner you believe you are allowed to take up space, the better life will be.
The rule could have heavy impacts towards trans people across society.
Last week, the Trump administration quietly released a sweeping new federal rule that would use funding threats to force institutions across the country to reject transgender people. The 400-page proposed regulation would codify the administration's anti-trans executive orders into binding federal policy, imposing a blanket prohibition on federal funds going toward "gender ideology"
The proposed rule, formally titled "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance," rewrites the government-wide framework governing all federal grants across every agency. Among its most consequential provisions, it requires that before a federal grant recipient can receive money, the award must pass a "pre-issuance review" conducted by a political appointee—not a career expert or peer reviewer—to ensure it is "consistent with applicable law, Federal agency priorities, and the national interest." The regulation explicitly instructs these appointees to screen for "denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans or the notion that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic." [...] An institution that acknowledges transgender people exist—through its policies, its training, its healthcare, its bathroom access, its HR procedures, its name-change processes—could be deemed to "deny the sex binary" or to “support the notion that sex is mutable” and have its federal funding blocked.
Importantly, the gender ideology prohibition has no age limitation—hospitals could be targeted not just for providing care to minors but for providing gender-affirming care to adults, because prescribing hormone therapy to a transgender patient of any age could be deemed promoting the belief that "sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic."
This is all very bad and horrible, but I want to be clear that it’s worse and more sweeping than just eliminating trans research.
This torches everything. And I do mean everything.
A very abbreviated list of its ramifications include (but are not limited to):
ending funding for ALL DEI related initiatives
allowing the government to terminate grants at any point for any reason
preventing researchers from publishing, going to conferences, and being part of academic societies
requiring that topics must support the president’s agenda.
What this means, and if anything I’m under selling it, is the death of science and research in America. It allows the government to restrict any topic they please at a whims notice, putting officials who have no background in the topic in charge of deciding funding continuity. It controls what gets researched and if/how researchers are allowed to share their discoveries. There are no books to burn if the government never allows them to be written. This is fascism plain and simple.
Please, if you only ever write one public comment, this is the one to do.
Bringing back this guide to writing an effective public comment. This gives you the basics you need to know, what you need to include, a basic outline you can follow, etc.
Public comments are not a vote, it is a chance for you to say "here is an issue with this law I think you need to address" and provide justification for legal challenges if it goes forward:
"Comments raise the bar that agencies have to meet when making a rule; “if an agency fails to adequately respond to significant, relevant comments in a final rule, members of the public may seek to challenge the rule in court on that basis and claim it could be struck down.ˮ"
But also, if possible, don't stop at writing a comment. Don't stop at calling your representatives. You should ideally be talking to people in your community about this and organizing resistance on-the-ground; there is a good chance people are already doing that even if you aren't hearing about it.
Some added 101-level context from someone (me) who’s worked in federal grantmaking for 20 years and is literally certified on this document - this is a document that governs all federal grantmaking. It’s been around for over a decade and is a mega-document that combine multiple previous smaller documents that have been around for ages. It is updated every few years and generally the updates are minor - a notable change in the previous update was raising the small procurement threshold from $10,000 to $15,000 for example. Deeply dry boring minutiae that no one outside of federal grantmakers need concern themselves with. It was also federal GUIDELINES, which means there was flexibility.
This year’s is different. They are now federal REQUIREMENTS, which means there’s no flexibility. As was said previously, the 400 pages are not singularly devoted to being absolute shitheads to trans people. Theres a lot of stuff in there, some of which is the standard dry boring grants stuff, some of which is the horrible ideological warfare outlined above.
This document is issued by the OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, which is currently lead by fucking Russell Vought, the principal architect of Project 2025. This is how they’re going to implement all the horrible shit in there that wasn’t covered by Executive Order. Russell Vought is actively coming for my job, my marriage, and my kid, and most of my friends lost their jobs last year because of him. He is the fucking arch villain behind the heinous shit the current regime is doing.
So yes, please comment. You don’t have to read all 400 pages before doing so, it’s dry and dense as fuck, but I thought this information might be helpful. Also, while there is a public comment period, this isn’t voted on by Congress. The OMB just fucking issues it. Pressuring your elected officials into publicly saying “hey what the fuck are you doing here” is good, though.
Please note the comment period is open through JULY 13th, not JUNE 13th. I saw a lot of relogs yesterday saying "last day!" and I just want to say it is very much not too late.
As of today, 7/8/26, we have five days for public commentary on this to go through. I am begging y'all: if you care about independent science in the country that produces the most global science funding in the world, please leave a comment.
It’s a good metaphor tho, because the situation is never going to get better if you don’t eventually pull the door. And afterwards, no matter what the damage was, you’ll have a working cabinet, whatever plates you could salvage, and a place to start putting new plates.
Character pairing: (Until Dawn) Joshua Washington & GN!Reader
Summary: Y/n comes back to Blackwood Mountain to search for their friend, hoping he's alive, and not counting on the possibility Josh may not be the Josh that they find.
Warnings: Wendigos, Wendigo!Josh, creepy/spooky-ish, quite the cliffhanger at the end (AKA author ran out of juice)
[my Ko-Fi]
.⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡˚｡⋆.⛓💔🎬🤡⛓.⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡˚｡⋆.
It was hard to go back the first time, unbelievably so, and here is Y/n coming back up this cursed mountain a second time after the hell that broke loose. But they had to return.
Almost half a year went by and there were no news of the rescue teams coming back with Josh — the one whom was the source of half the trauma his friends went through, and also the only one said friends had left behind.
Correction — Michael left behind. His reasoning was that he’d been certain nothing but imminent death was Joshua’s fate, although he didn’t witness it…
Y/n and others will probably never forget and, understandably so, will never forgive Joshua, but leaving him behind was unfair. Unjustified.
And Y/n knew it was naive to believe he survived an encounter with a Wendigo, Hannah, but since Mike couldn’t confirm Joshua’s death, only that he was dragged off screaming, there was this slim string of hope Y/n held onto.
Right after Beth, Josh was a close friend of Y/n’s. Perhaps a liiiiittle over the “friend-treshold”. Holding hands and cuddling were not so forgein to the two of them when they knew each other since middle school, and people around got used to the platonic display of affection by time.
Those who dissaproved of such a friendship were Mr. and Mrs. Washington, especially Josh’s mother.
Joshua’s always been a tough shell to crack, but only when you get underneath one layer you get a lot more layers to unveil — and perhaps understand along the way, if you trully care about him.
Beth knew of the fleeting looks Y/n sent Josh’s way when he wasn’t looking, and Mrs. Washington had seen them as well. The matriarch of the Washingtons did not like the idea of a potentional relationship, although did nothing to get between them for whatever may her reason be.
And Beth, who resembles her mother the most out of all three children, is nothing like their mother — the twin had an inkling and she more or less supported it. Her best friend becoming her in-law? Beth would’ve been elated to the moon and back! Yet, she was still cautious given her brother’s condition.
She didn’t want her brother and Y/n to suffer a heartbreak and have a sad, crumbling relationship.
But Beth is not here now, she died more than a year ago at this very Mountain and for the past year Joshua and Y/n had been through a miscommunication — or a lack of it, rather.
While Y/n ached for more contact with their friend, back then it seemed like a sensible idea not to pile up on Josh since most of the time he was seeing his psychologist or was locked up in his room to hide from the world, and his parents preffered that over him going out there and getting himself in trouble or endager himself or others around him.
Maybe that was- is the most shittiest thing a friend could do.
Just when Y/n sees Joshua after a year, on the anniversary of his missing sisters, they foolishly thought and tried to mend their broken bond.
Sadly, Joshua had another plans than being all buddy-buddy with every single one of them. It’s not like the whole crew put in much effort to make it easier for their dear friend Josh either…
The lift up the cable car alone pulled out flashbacks of what had happened here a few months ago, therapy didn’t help that much, the wounds were still too fresh to heal up and forget all about them. And Joshua was still out there, on top of this cursed mountain, all alone — or, at least, Y/n hoped for that to be the case. Thoughts of a possibility to find Joshua’s corpse were pushed back to keep on gripping onto their courage not to falter.
Y/n was glad they weren’t stupid enough to go back at night time since they foolishly went all on their own.
But who else would have went with them?
Chris? No time on his hands, since he’s taking care of Ashley, thought he’d have gone for his best friend without a second thought.
Samantha, Ashley and Jessica are out of (psychical) commission, and will be for a while, per Dr. Hill’s words.
Michael? Hard NO. He would 100% try to talk Y/n out of going.
And while Matt would be kind and brave enough – not to mention sane – to come, he has a lot of things to sort out with Emily, who is currently avoiding everyone else.
That leaves Y/n as a one man army. Yayyy..?
On the bright side, no one will be holding them back or be overbaringly bossy. They will be their own chief. And not be an obvious group of people out in the woods as Wendigo prey as a bonus.
That way — if they happen to die out there, no one of Y/n’s friends will suffer the consiquences. It’s better that way.
Y/n began their search at the, then burned, now in reconstruction lodge. Sure, it felt all too easy to get up here. The cable car was working and unlocked, they got over the gate’s walls with barely any issue, and the whole walk over there was just as secure as back then without feeling like they’re being watched.
That’s when Y/n realised Josh’s parents did that on purpose. In case he ever returns or finds his way there, like they once did when Hannah and Beth went missing. They may be shitty parents, but in their own way they have always tried to provide for their children to have the best.
And Joshua was always mama’s boy, that woman went to great lengths for him, so there should be no surprise there that the lodge is in repair and this quickly. But that sentiment didn’t mean Y/n has less of a spite against Josh’s parents.
Y/n inspected the more sheltered places of the lodge, two rooms on the main floor and the in-ground floor were done and mostly dry, just a little freezing, although the winter is long gone, barely any snow leaves the highest peaks of mountains. At least it’s something decent enough to stay at for a while, they didn’t count on finding Joshua or the bits of him anytime soon.
The search was indeed a long and tiring one…
When the area around the lodge was searched through, Y/n moved boldly to the higher, deeper grounds of the woods.
Fortunately, the first two days were Wendigo-less, none of those monsters that could’ve escaped the asylum were frollicking about and in a way it was a relief — but on the other hand… whatever this mountain has in store will be ten times the vicious horror than last time, they had to keep in mind to hurry up to miss the misfortune by a hair if they ever wish to get back alive. With or without Josh.
Y/n’s next stop was a cabin, way up the Blackwood Mountain. They took off at dawn but because of some setbacks (trees in the path and steep inclines) they had to go around a few times.
Although making it to the cabin at an impressive time, still, it was a close call. Just enough time for Y/n to barricade themselves in for tonight.
It was about ten minutes after midnight when a howling noise at the distance startled Y/n awake. It could be wolves, but this sounded close to a wind… a screeching wind? They sat parched on a mattress they dragged off into the cabin’s bathroom, and listened to the everstretching silence.
The screeching echoed through the woods, a little closer now, and their blood ran cold like ice in their veins — you don’t forget or be mistaken about a sound that is haunting your dreams each and every night. Like this one.
Many blame odd sounds on owls and foxes, because they don’t have a specific one, but in this case that would be just a fool’s false security. Y/n doesn’t have the guts to lie to themself and go back to sleep, not after…
They shuffled into a gap between a sink and a bathtub, hooded inside their two layers of blankets in hopes to disappear.
Y/n pulled out of their bag a spray deodorant and a pocket lighter, coming back here was definitely stupid but no one can say they didn’t come prepared. Although this little weapon is just a wanna-be flamethrower, unlike the Stranger’s one, it should be sufficient enough for now… For a hit-and-run action.
They, first, took control over their rapid breathing. Y/n knows how to survive now. Acting like a toad, not moving, barely breathing, and keeping silent is the key to live another day but it should not be always counted on to work every time. Only do it when there is no other option. Like now.
Even with a heartbeat in their ears, Y/n could hear the screeching had gotten softer but not further from their shelter.
The scratching on the wood and crunching snow were quite a give-away for them to stay on alert for that not-so-silent hunter.
It took Y/n a while to recognise a sound of a whisper that the wind carried. It wasn’t howling nor screeching, or growling, but a voice.
Someone was calling out…
Sam?
But… what would Samantha be doing out here in the open at this ungodly hour?
Did she follow Y/n? They didn’t exactly tell anyone they’re going on a trip in the first place… Did both of them happen to have the same idea to look for Joshua?
Strangely still, if taken into consideration, how would she know someone is inside the cabin? Any trace of footprints would’ve been covered from the snowstorm by now.
Y/n shakily stood, unrolled from the blankets, and crawled over to the locked door as quietly as possible.
There is another reason why Y/n is wary.
Ever since Sam returned from the Mount Washington a second time, a bad habbit had struck with her. She opted to speak in a whisper, even when it was unnecessary and jumped at her own raised voice. Dr. Hill said she might stay that way either for some time or forever, depends on her, if she should wish to conquer her fears and demons.
So, Samantha on this mountain, and shouting, is barely – if at all – plausible.
This place may not be purged from all Wendigos like Y/n first thought…
Sometimes someone will say something about a fictional character's choices and I'll think "do you want to be told a story, or read an instruction manual for Correct Behaviour"
I recently described my second novel's (early) plot outline to a friend and without giving too much away, it's a horror-romance about a woman whose lover is slowly transformed into a dangerous monster due to forces outside of their control. She wrestles with her fear and love, how useful her monstrous lover is in their current survival situation, how dangerous her lover could become, and ultimately at the end of the story decides that monster or not, this is a person that she loves and who loves her back, and goes back to save them from a horrible death.
And my friend's response was "well everyone will think the protagonist is stupid for not leaving Lover at the first sign they were turning into a monster. And then they'll think she's even more stupid for going back to save them when she could have used that opportunity to escape. I think the story sounds great but you should cut out the romance because she'd obviously just be afraid of Lover as soon as they become changed."
And I was just. So speechless. Not because I'm hostile to critique (it's actually very fun for me to be challenged because I love to Think About Things), but because this critique seemed to ask me Not To Tell The Story. My friend went on to explain that in real life this romance would be super toxic and would encourage women to ignore red flags and I, flabbergasted, am wondering when in real life you might be trapped in the Arctic being menaced by UFOs who have turned your doting partner into a Creetur
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