by the stars we hope

catparent * queergeek * PhDstudent * not sure if really existing

[karin-gespenst]

relationship goals: Tessa and George Santoso

friendship goals: Kizzy Shao and Jenks

job satisfaction goals: Dr Chef, Isabel Itoh and Sunny

never giving up goals: Pepper, Blue, Sidra and Owl

[karin-gespenst]

Remembrance Day

is the day when the humans of the Exodus fleet and the humans on Mars and those living scattered throughout the GC or in the fringe think back to the day the last humans left Earth for the Stars. For generations they had been preparing, building homesteaders to keep them safe on their way out of the sol system and help them survive without a planet to live on. After many decades of work there must have been the moment when the last shuttle took off of the earth and headed for orbit. The last time a group of humans who were born on the planet boarded a ship and prepared for launch. The final countdown.

They did not remember the song from hundreds of years back that was so well known and loved, the song that described their situation almost exactly.

We’re leaving together, But still it’s farewell And maybe we’ll come back To earth, who can tell? I guess there is no one to blame We’re leaving ground (leaving ground) Will things ever be the same again?

[…]

We’re heading for Venus (Venus) And still we stand tall ‘Cause maybe they’ve seen us (seen us) And welcome us all, yeah With so many light years to go And things to be found (to be found) I’m sure that we’ll all miss her so

The humans on the homestead ships, in the Exodus fleet, they wrote new songs and ceremonial texts that would forever remind them about the reason why they went to live in space. Every time they welcomed a new life on one of the ships, the archivist would start their speech with the words “We destroyed our world.” Because it’s not true that there is no one to blame. Let’s do our best to stop destroying our world.

[profeminist]

From Ms. Marvel #21 (1978) by Chris Claremont & Dave Cockrum, inked by Al Milgrom

[carriosity]

so my school was giving out free shirts

[lesbianism-that-sucks]

honestly? sirius black managed to get himself together enough to escape a hell he’d been living in for years, so he could be with his loved ones, not once but twice in his life and that’s so inspiring for my depressed self

[please dont add any angst to this, it’s a mental health positivity post]

[lesbianism-that-sucks]

i’ll explain some more bc i ranted in the tags but it was highly incoherant and apparently did not show up on mobile

when i read poa for the first time, i (and im sure im not the only one) expected the explaination of how sirius got out of azkaban to be the most badass and complex thing in the world. i expected a fight against 50 dementors at once, 43 accomplices involved, some dark magic, years of works on the plan

and then we found out he had just… slipped through the bars. that’s it. that’s the grand escape.

and what i like about it is that he didn’t do it bc he suddenly received a new tool he didn’t have before (like a wand) or finally found a way to make his plan work, he just found the motivation to do it

and then he got out using something he had within him all along

that’s something i relate to a lot recently : i’ve been through a lot with my depression for a long time. i’ve had the tools i needed for a while now : i go to therapy, i have a support system… but, for a lot of complicated reasons, i lacked the actual motivation to do it. it’s only recently that i’ve started ( and i say started bc i have no doubt it’s more complicated than a sudden enlightenment) understanding that while im locked in my own azkaban, i cant do anything. i cant rescue harry. i cant help the order. i cant find remus again. and so i have to get out.

jk rowling stated that dementors represent depression and i only now begin to realize how accurate that is

so thank you sirius black. you’re an inspiration to us all

[sosuperawesome]

Wall Hoop Art / Credit Card Purses

Oliness Art Studio on Etsy

See our #Etsy or #Embroidery tags

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#2yrago Crafting with Feminism: 25 Girl-Powered Projects to Smash the Patriarchy

Today sees the publication of Bonnie Burton’s (previously) long-awaited new book, Crafting with Feminism: 25 Girl-Powered Projects to Smash the Patriarchy.

It’s an absolutely delightful read: the projects are nicely staged, moving from the very simple to the very ambitious, and always seasoned with clever suggestions for variations. Burton provides advice on setting up crafting parties with your friends, including suggested feminist holidays to celebrate (Joan of Arc’s birthday; Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s birthday; anniversary of Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech; Thargelia, Festival of the Goddess Artemis) all the way down to suggested playlists for the day.

Burton’s provided us with a selection of the projects for your delectation: as you’ll quickly see, these are the fun, potent defiant tonic that we all need in this season of fragile masculinity, rape culture, and Gamergating.

Feminist finger-puppets (Frida Kahlo, bell hooks and Ruth Bader Ginsburg)

Feminist badges of honor

Em-broad-ery hoop art

Feminist Killjoy sash

Pizza Not Patriarchy reusable lunch bag

Strong Female Character prayer candles

Next-Gen Feminist onesies

High Heels are a Pain cactus planters

Nope Necklace

Tampon Buddies

Uterus pillow

Crafting with Feminism: 25 Girl-Powered Projects to Smash the Patriarchy [Bonnie Burton/Quirk Books]

https://boingboing.net/2016/10/19/crafting-with-feminism-25-gir.html

[meridiangrimm]

I want to read a story about a wizard whose only spell is “fix this”, but the specially-crafted magic takes their intent into account.  "Fix this" can mean repairing the wheel on the adventurers’ cart or healing a broken arm or “fixing” a lock so that it’s in what the wizard considers the “correct” (unlocked) position.  Imagine the other mages getting increasingly frustrated as the wizard stubbornly refuses to learn any other spells.

[meridiangrimm]

Wizard: *points at a canyon* Fix this

Other casters: That’s not really how spells -

Wizard: Oh look, one of our blankets is now a magic carpet.  Guess we don’t need a bridge.

Casters: How -

[meridiangrimm]

Wizard: *points at logs that won’t catch fire* Fix this

Other casters: There’s been too much rain, it won’t -

Wizard:  I fixed it so that it’s in the same state it was yesterday.  Someone here knows how to start a fire, right?

Casters: What -

[meridiangrimm]

Wizard: *points at charging dragon*: Fix this

Other casters: THAT’S NOT HOW MAGIC WORKS YOU IDIOT WE’RE GOING TO DIE

Dragon: *coughs* Did you just… cure my intestinal problems?  I’ve been trying to stop breathing fire for weeks, but it just kept spilling out, and every time I tried to ask for help, I burned everything down.  I won’t forget this kindness.

Casters: *ripping their hair out* H O W

[scrap-patch]

I’m dying 😂👌

[thatdiabolicalfeminist]

If you love a child and you’re worried that something about them is going to make them a target for bullying or other cruelty in the future, the best possible thing you can do is give them as much validation and support as you possibly can, and do your best to counteract the cultural messaging they’re going to receive about the ‘wrongness’ of being different. Show that child unwavering respect as a human being, and demand that others in that child’s life also treat them with respect.

The worst possible thing you can do for a child who is fat, gender nonconforming, disabled, LGBT+, or otherwise different from most of the other children they will grow up knowing, is to tell them they have to hide or get rid of their differences so people won’t be mean to them.

You need to refuse to become a child’s first bully. The world can be an awful, cruel place to kids who aren’t like their peers – but you can counteract some of that cruelty instead of being the first to show it. Accept kids for who they are and teach them that they deserve respect and care as they are, that they don’t have to earn love or kindness by suppressing parts of themselves to fit someone else’s idea of who they should be.

Even if you actually succeed in forcing a child to be ‘more normal’, the lessons they take away from seeing themselves as unworthy without changing major aspects of their appearance, personality, etc., will stay with them forever. It’s traumatic to be told who you are as a person is a bad thing.

Whether you succeed or not, the attempt will teach them that it’s acceptable for others to demand they change major aspects of who they are; that bullying is an acceptable way to show love; that they deserve any cruelty people show them for being different; and that if others around them are ‘weird’, they’re entitled to bully those others into compliance just as they themselves were bullied – by you.

Children with eating disorders are in a worse position than happy fat kids with adults in their life who love and support them exactly as they are. Children who are bullied until they stop self-expressing in ways that defy gender roles are in a worse position than happy gender nonconforming kids who have adults in their life who stand up for them and love and support them exactly as they are.

Autistic kids who grow up in an environment where their differences aren’t treated as burdens are better off than autistic kids who are traumatized by abusive therapies where they’re trained to deny any uniquely autistic needs, pain, or body language and taught implicitly that who they are is lesser.

Don’t try to change a child to make the world safer for them. By teaching them that who they are is the problem, rather than the bullying itself, you are being part of that danger. Instead, do everything you can to honour and respect the children you love for who they are.

Encourage them to think well of themselves and to not believe any messaging they’re receiving from the world that tells them they’ll never be good enough until they conform. Seek out and create positive representation of people like them – and people who are different in a multitude of other ways – who are good, interesting, worthwhile people. Compliment them on the unique ways they express themselves. Teach them not to be afraid of not being exactly like everyone else.

A kid can grow up different and still be okay. But they need the support and love of the people around them to make it in a sometimes hostile world. And they need the adults in their life to work to keep that hostile world at bay as much as possible, and not be part of the hostility.

[willidleaway]

[luminousfinn]

Am I the only one that’s a just a tiny bit pissed off that this is still an issue?

[livelongandgetiton]

The Original Series wasn’t even in the general VICINITY of fucking around yo

[ameliacgormley]

How many shows these days would do this, and do it this way? These days, it would be all, “Ohh, we have to be sensitive and show the nuances of each side” and try not to make either side seem wrong. It wouldn’t be clearly spelled out, “pro-choice is right, if you’re against it you’re the bad guys.”

[elljayvee]

Jim Kirk is not here for your anti-birth-control, anti-choice, pro-death-penalty BS

[chandri]

James Tiberius Kirk was written and portrayed as a feminist and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

[ellidfics]

Yep.  That episode is exactly what you think it is:  pro-birth control, pro-population control, pro-choice, and pro-women’s right to choose.  And yes, Kirk, the supposed playboy of the spaceways, is in favor of all of the above.

It was written and aired in 1969.  

It probably couldn’t air today.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

[geekygothgirl]

Also LMAO at all the sad whiny geek boys who are like “I miss the GOOD OLD DAYS of SCI-FI when it wasn’t all about SOCIAL ISSUES and instead it was just about MEN HAVING FUN IN SPACE. Like Star Trek! Star Trek wouldn’t put up with all this SOCIAL JUSTICE FEMINISM IN SCI FI bullshit!” And meanwhile I’m just over here like “…did you actually watch the show?” 

[haleystudies-deactivated2017062]

This is a matter very close to my heart. I have bipolar I disorder and ADHD as a result of bipolar. There aren’t many big posts about studying with mental illnesses so I figured I would compile a huge list of tips and posts! I’m going to be making a video about this very soon. I hope for all of you struggling that this can help or at least remind you that mental health is more important than school sometimes. Take care of yourself in any way you can. lets get started…

Studying with Mental Illness

Take things slowly. Don’t be afraid to take a week doing one assignment. Making sure that you can focus on assignments can be draining so breaking them down day by day can truly help you. Make a task list with each portion of an assignment mapped out so that you can see exactly what you need to do. I know that i get overwhelmed very easily and seeing smaller things is less daunting then having a list full of HUGE things like research papers and midterms. Seeing it as “write paragraph one” or “review unit one vocab” makes everything less scary. 

Nothing has to be pretty. Notes don’t, papers don’t have to be perfect, study guides don’t need to be colorful and cute. What really matters is getting things done. My mom always tells me “even an F is better than a zero” which is so true. Turning things in late is not shameful because you are still turning it in. You still did it and that is something to be proud of. 

Study somewhere other than your room or your house. Make sure there are people there. Surrounding yourself with others will allow you to feel less isolated and sometimes more motivated to do things. You can’t take naps when you’re at a Panera or Starbucks either. People can be motivating, they can remind you that you are not alone, they can hold you accountable for what you have to do. Get out of your bed where you can sit and stare at the wall and go to a coffee shop or the library where other people are doing work. This always helps me get on track. 

Study in short bursts. Don’t wear yourself out with work. Find out when your concentration peaks and go with that. I usually work the best around 2pm so I have to make sure that I have eaten and showered before then so that I can capture that time to focus on my studies. 

Don’t beat yourself up. Studying just takes a lot more effort other days when depression hits you the worst. There might be days when you can barely get yourself out of bed but know that you do have the ability to succeed and that depression just has to suck sometimes. 

Get yourself out of bed. Shower. Change your clothes. Read a single page. Look at only one thing you have to do so you aren’t overwhelmed. That is something to be proud of and know that I am proud of what you did!

Study in a routine style. Let yourself have a routine that you can fall into. Try pomodoros or study games, Create a routine that you can stick to

If you don’t feel like doing anything… work for 5 minutes. You may feel more motivated or up, or you will at least be able to say that you have done something. 

HYDRATE. I’m really awful at drinking a lot of water, but it helps so much with both anxiety and depression. Water keeps you moving and awake. SO drink that H2O guys

Helpful Links

Staying Sane on Campus

Tips to stay mentally and emotionally healthy while you study

How to school when mentally Ill

A student’s guide to coping with PTSD

Study and Mental Health 

Back to School with Mental Illness

Depression

Studying with Depression

Depression study tips

Studying through Depression

6 Tips To Get Motivated When You’re Feeling Depressed

Five Ways To Deal With Depression During Exams

Anxiety

Anxiety in Grad school

Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

Studying with Anxiety

Get Ready for School If You Suffer From Anxiety

Living & Studying with Anxiety

Tips on studying with Anxiety

Exams & Anxiety

ADHD

How to succeed with ADHD

10 Study tips for ADHD students

ADHD Studyblr masterpost

Apps for ADHD Students

I couldn’t find any resources about OCD, BPD, PTSD (found one jk), or bipolar for that fact so keep on the lookout for any additions to this post if I find anything more! If all else fails, just google things. That always helps me. Message me personally if you have any questions about my struggles or need some specific advice! I love you all so much and I am so proud of you!! xx Haley

UPDATE: I’ve added quite a few new links!!! 

[iprayforangels-deactivated20220]

People really don’t understand the difference between a character being attractive and being intended for consumption by the other gender.

There’s a big difference between a character looking hot and a character being intended for sexualization. There are lots of attractive characters out there that aren’t intended to be consumed by other genders, objectified, and sexualized. For example:

Batman. Undeniably attractive. He is good looking.

But he was not intended for consumption by women. He get’s power poses and muscles because that’s how men want their male heroes, the one’s they aspire to be like and project onto, to look.

By contrast look at Black Widow. She is intended for male consumption.

She doesn’t have long legs, a tiny waist, a pronounced butt, and big boobs because that is what women want their heroes to look like. She looks like that because that’s what men want their women heroes, the one’s they picture themselves romancing, to look like. She’s not just attractive, she is also sexualized and intended for a male audience.

Now look at a male character meant for women. Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon.

He’s not buff and bulky, he’s long, lean, and well dressed. This is what women want their hero men, the one’s they want to fall in love with, to look like. This isn’t a male fantasy, this is a female one. 

Now look at a women intended for women. The main characters from Totally Spies.

They have small waists and long legs yes but their boobs and butts aren’t particularly noticeable. They get power poses instead of one’s intended to sexualize. They look like this because this is what women want to project themselves on. This is a women’s power fantasy. This is closer in comparison to Batman, good looking but powerful, than it is to Black Widow, sexualized. 

Now are all of these characters attractive? Yes. But do you see the difference between sexy and sexualized? Sexy depends on the ‘type’ of the viewer and what they like in men and women. Sexualized has less to do with what you personally think is hot and more to do with what society as a whole thinks is hot. So when I say that Wonder Woman in the movie was not meant for male consumption I am not saying she isn’t beautiful, sexy, or attractive (I left that movie gayer than I was before). What I am saying is that she was posed, treated, costumed, and written more like an attractive human than like an object for men to gawk at.

[profeminist]

Source

[madmangocat]

If you love it, lick it. #cats

[fullyarticulatedgoldskeleton]

When people ask, “How can I tell if someone is disabled or just lazy?” I think about my parents.

My parents have known me my whole life. When they’re not actively contemptuous of me, they do seem to be somewhat aware of my general personality and character. In one of his nicer moments, my dad has called me “sweet-natured.” They can tell that when I make them a surprise breakfast or lunch that I enjoy being helpful and doing nice things for people.

They know from watching me grow up that I have always had trouble keeping my room clean, getting homework done, and keeping my desk tidy at school.

The longest I can push myself past my limits is about nine months. Then I collapse and end up less functional than I was before I pushed myself. This has been a pattern throughout my middle and high school years. I would go to public school for about a year, and then collapse and have to do the rest of my education at home. My work history follows this pattern, too.

I once sat in a therapy session with my dad to talk about the constant struggle we were having at home because he wanted me to help out more and do better in school. When he asked me why I didn’t do things, I broke down in tears, because I couldn’t explain it. “I just CAN’T. I want to, and I CAN’T.” Nobody listened.

My mom asked me why I don’t do things, and I said, “I just can’t. I sit there for hours trying to convince myself to do things, and I can’t. Move.”

And she said, “Don’t think about it, just do it,” completely missing the point.

When I got older I found words for the things I was dealing with. I got professionally diagnosed, and I’d look up information about my diagnosis and e-mail articles to my parents explaining what my disability is and why I can’t do things.

My parents have firsthand information about my character (helpful, likes doing things for others) and my history with disability (can’t consistently keep things clean, can’t manage a daily schedule). I’ve talked to them extensively about my diagnosis and given them information about it. They have known me my whole life, and I’ve always been this way. And they still, STILL choose to believe I’m just a bad person who doesn’t try and doesn’t care.

My disability isn’t invisible, people refuse to look at it.

People like problems they can yell at. They like having a target for their frustration. They don’t want to admit disability is real, because they want problems that they can either solve, or blame someone else for. And the disabled person themself is  their scapegoat, someone who can’t ever opt out of their role because the disability is never going to go away.

[anniebasterd]

My disability isn’t invisible, people refuse to look at it.

[profeminist]

Shuri Is an Official Disney Princess Confirms Black Panther Star

Black Panther actress Letitia Wright is excited to be a Disney Princess and ready to take the throne if need be.

Spoiler alert: if you click the link you will see mild speculative spoilers for Avengers 4.

“Letitia Wright just recently learned that she’s officially a Disney Princess and wasn’t sure if she was ready for the pressure of being a role model. However, her initial trepidation soon dissipated as she figured it was way more fun than anything. She said, “I was like, what’s this Disney Princess pressure? Do I have to be perfect?” Now she realizes that it’s a great role to have. She explains.

“Then I realized that everyone’s just so geeked about having a different kind of female character in the Marvel universe and the Disney universe. And there’s going to be much, much more, I’m not the only Disney Princess to come to the surface and claim that title.”

After all is said and done, Letitia Wright reveals that she is honored to be a Disney Princess. She adds that it’s even cooler because there are action figures of her that are different from the Disney Princess norm. She says.

“I’m so honored, seriously. I grew up on Disney movies and grew up with the Disney Princesses and they didn’t really look like me. But now, you can go buy action figures and say this is a Disney Princess… right on!”

Read the full piece here (mild speculative spoilers for Avengers 4)

[boredpanda]