there is a judge in Seattle who does the weekly name change hearings, and who says it's her favorite part of the week. she says she doesn't read out previous names, or ask about the reasons why people want to change them. she says it's a beautiful moment, and a celebration; a claiming of a new identity, or a reclamation of an old identity. she encourages the room to clap for folks. then she welcomes everyone up, one by one, by last name and with warmth; she shows them the court order where nobody else can see, asks them to double check the spelling, and then they're done! do they want a picture? do they want their friends and loved ones who came with them to be in it too? do they want the court order in the photo? she helps everyone pose, shakes hands and stands with them for as long as they need to take it, recruits the clerk for help taking photos of the folks who came alone. then she tells them where to go next, congratulates them, and claps along with the rest of the room.
probably three quarters of the people there were trans, and she centered their experience quietly, with love and joy.
I think I'll be thinking about her a lot this January, and for a long time after. it's good to know she's there.
Homomorphic-based Enhanced Visual Search is so privacy-preserving, iPhone giant activated it without asking
Oh _lovely_. Everyone go turn this off:
Enhanced Visual Search in Photos allows you to search for photos using landmarks or points of interest. Your device privately matches places in your photos to a global index Apple maintains on our servers. We apply homomorphic encryption and differential privacy, and use an OHTTP relay that hides [your] IP address. This prevents Apple from learning about the information in your photos. You can turn off Enhanced Visual Search at any time on your iOS or iPadOS device by going to Settings > Apps > Photos. On Mac, open Photos and go to Settings > General.
Our goal was survival, but now survival defines our existence! 🇵🇸🍉
Please don’t rush through this text, read it carefully:
We are living in extremely harsh conditions, where our tent has been severely damaged and no longer provides the necessary protection.
The cost of building a new tent right now is about 1000 euros, and it is an essential shelter for our family, which is suffering from difficult living conditions.
We also face a severe shortage of food, especially basic items like flour, which has now reached 100 euros. Securing daily food would help improve these conditions.
My brother Samer is suffering from the absence of essential medications for stabilizing his health, and their cost is extremely high.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported my campaign and contributed to alleviating my family’s suffering during these tough times.
The art you see is by the talented artist @ardentblooms , who offers custom commissions in exchange for donations to support my family. Your support means so much to us and shows that art can be a true way to make a difference.
Campaign Link
My campaign is verified by:
@dlxxv-vetted-donations & @a-shade-of-blue vetted
@gazavetters , my number on the list is (#75)
paliliberation, my number on the list is (#171)
Our important links are here
Your support could be a lifeline for our family in these difficult circumstances. 🙏💜
The world has abandoned us, but with God's kindness and your support, dear friends, we managed to buy a bag of flour despite its price rising to €200—an increase of €100 in just a few days. We don’t know how we would have survived hunger without your donations. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support. ❤️🙏
Hello,
My name is Mosab Elderawi, and I live in Gaza with my family. Life here has become harder than I ever imagined, and I’m writing this with hope in my heart that you might hear our story.
The ongoing war has devastated my family. We’ve lost 25 family members—each one a beloved part of our lives, taken too soon. I miss them deeply—their laughter, their presence, their love. Every day is a reminder of this unimaginable loss.
We are now facing daily challenges to survive—things that most people take for granted, like food, clean water, and a safe place to sleep. The harsh realities of life here have replaced our dreams with the constant fight for survival.
Our Current Situation:
💔 Lost Stability: The war has left us without work or a stable source of income.
🍞 Basic Needs: Food and water are becoming harder to afford with rising prices and scarce resources.
📚 Dreams on Hold: Like so many here, my family’s dreams have been replaced by the need to simply survive.
😢 Unimaginable Loss: Losing 25 loved ones has left a void that can never be filled.
How You Can Help:
I’m sharing our story with the hope that someone out there might care. Even $5 can make a big difference for us, and if you’re unable to donate, just reblogging this post can help spread the word.
Your kindness, no matter how small, is something we’ll never forget.
What This Means to Us:
Your support is not about changing our entire situation—it’s about giving us a little relief, a little hope, and a way to keep going. We are not asking for much, and we understand if you can’t donate. Sharing our story is just as valuable to us as a donation.
Thank you for reading this far. It means the world to us to know that someone is listening. Your kindness gives us strength and helps us believe in a better tomorrow.
With all our gratitude,
Mosab Elderawi and Family ❤️
✅️ Vetted by ✅️
@gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #309 )✅️
Hello Everyone, I am Mosab Suleiman Al Derawi, 28 years old, my wife Nadine Adel A… Mosab Derawi needs your support for Help me saving who's
Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do.
My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian
Please look at little Hamoud, and his specimen of a cat in Al Zawaydah. Such floof.
Hamoud and many other Palestinian children like him benefit greatly from Gaza Soup Kitchen. Please consider sharing and donating to help the people of Palestine in northern Gaza!
The Gaza Soup Kitchen is run by Hani Almadhoun and his sisters, mother, father, and surviving brother. Hani is a Palestinian-American and the former director of philanthropy at UNRWA USA. Their work has recently been covered by NPR, PBS, NBC News, The Washington Post, CBC, and more news outlets. Beyond the soup kitchen serving thousands of people daily, the Almadhoun family has also organized the resources for a makeshift medical clinic and a makeshift school.
If you match my donation, then you could redeem your donation receipt (as low as $5!) for commissions and other rewards from volunteer artists (check this linked post to find out).
Whether or not you're in a position to donate, I really recommend boosting the Gaza Soup Kitchen and following gazasoupkitchen on Instagram (and you or your relatives could also follow Hani's Facebook page). Hani puts a lot of professional care into keeping the focus on the joy and resilience of Palestinian families even as they struggle—like little Hamoud and his cat! If you've had to step away from witnessing violent photos on social media for mental health reasons, then following gazasoupkitchen could be a good way to show your support.
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