Whatever comes into my head, really...

[mockramblings]

Look...

...if I'm going to carry the seeds of my own destruction within me, you can't expect me NOT to rip one out and throw it at somebody every now and again. It's just not realistic. Nope, that's your seed now, buddy.

[grimoiremanifest]

situation dire. i've been saying 'huzzah', 'alas', and 'tis unironically for like a year now. harmless so far.

however. i hath noticed i now mark half of my goodbyes with 'i must away'. it's spreading

[grimoiremanifest]

Dear Lord please not this post. I promise I'm cooler than this

[mockramblings]

I, however, am not by any stretch cooler than this. I will throw in so much eldritch vocabulary that mere mortals cannot but succumb to my idiosyncrasies.

[thepeacefulgarden]

[beastliness]

can't think because my head is too full of floor to ceiling fake cobwebs, rubber bat on a string, possums, armadillos, inexplicably a jerusalem cricket in a tiny coffin

[digitalkiddo]

If you're writing anything involving cons, scams, heists, or morally questionable characters who are very good at lying, here are some free resources I've been using for research. Saving you the "why is this in my search history" anxiety.

1. The FBI's Famous Cases & Criminals archive (fbi.gov/history/famous-cases) has detailed breakdowns of real fraud cases, Ponzi schemes, and confidence operations. The language they use is clinical and precise, which is perfect for getting the procedural details right.

2. The FTC Consumer Sentinel Network publishes annual reports on the most common fraud tactics in the US. Great for understanding how modern scams actually work and what makes people fall for them.

3. The Smithsonian's American Art Museum has a free digital collection of forgery case studies. If your character forges documents or art, this is gold.

4. Court Listener (courtlistener.com) is a free legal database where you can read actual court transcripts from fraud trials. Want to know how a real con artist talks under oath? This is where you find out.

5. The Internet Archive's collection of old newspaper crime sections. Search for "confidence man" or "swindle" in papers from the 1920s through 1960s and you'll find incredible real stories that would feel too dramatic for fiction.

Bonus: The Psychology of Fraud section on the Association for Psychological Science website has accessible articles about why people trust, how deception works cognitively, and what makes someone a convincing liar. Essential reading if you want your con artist characters to feel psychologically real.

Reblog to save for later. Your WIP will thank you.

[shutyourmoustache]

Making exercises more accessible to the disabled? Fuck yeah!

[wheelie-sick]

sometimes people experiencing psychosis and/or mania will come up to you on the street and talk in confusing or upsetting ways. your job is to either have a regular human-to-human conversation with that person or politely leave. your job is not to call 911. do not call 911. you might kill that person if you call 911.

[wheelie-sick]

I don't even have the energy to screenshot and respond to your tags- what the actual fuck is wrong with you? "the cops are scared and rightfully so" "mental health calls are the scariest for cops" OH so this isn't about the safety of psychotic & manic people this is about piggy feelings?

and no, actually, this is not USA specific and no, actually, people from other countries should not ignore this post. police violence and sanism weren't invented in the US and they are certainly not unique to here. if you (or anyone) thinks that this bullshit doesn't happen elsewhere then you are not listening.

[headspace-hotel]

cops r Some Guy with a Gun

do we want Some Guy with a Gun in this situation? answer is usually "NO"

[uncivilliberties]

This is legitimately useful reframing. A while ago I started replacing the word "cop" in my vocabulary with "a man with a gun." It really puts things into perspective.

This homeless person is making me uncomfortable. Should I call [a man with a gun]?

My neighbor is having a loud party. Should I get [a man with a gun] involved?

There are some teenagers skateboarding. Do you think [a man with a gun] would get rid of them for me?

It makes it very clear what you're saying. I can call a man with a gun to threaten or hurt someone mildly inconveniencing me. You're not calling the cops, you're calling A MAN WITH A GUN into a situation that does not warrant a firearm handled by a volatile lunatic who will not be held accountable for his actions.

[headspace-hotel]

^ ^ ^

[themoonandmyman]

Guys. Come on now. I don’t want to make things too serious but here’s something you really have to remember:

[ashes-and-bone]

my friend Jack is the closest thing to a brother that I have and he's in a really fucking bad spot.

his roommate lost her job and has become unstable and actively hostile towards him. he's looking for an apartment/roommate situation in Portland for himself and his four cats, and has a gfm set up to get a new car after his broke down. please donate if you can, and if you know anyone in the Portland area with an open room please dm me and I'll get you in contact with him.

Donate to Help Jack Find Safety and a Used Car, organized by Jack Howell

Hello! I'm Jack and I'm raising money to replace my car that died recently and get my… Jack Howell needs your support for Help Jack Find Saf

[curseofstrahding]

Which would you prefer?

A temple that smells of blood

A temple that smells like a hospital

Remaining time: 1 day 6 hours

[mockramblings]

I do not like the smell of hospitals.

[magnhild]

it's midnight on the 1st of june aest

[lperezidente]

[ororium-z]

Happy Pride!

[rootbeergoddess]

Every pride, you must reblog this. No exceptions

[thesaltofcarthage]

I love that four different people on my feed scheduled this joyous person to reblog by 8am on June 1. I look forward to seeing this a dozen more times today.

[spin-the-wheel-polls]

make a bunch of wheels with bread/cheese/meat/vegetables/sauce/extra so that you can Spin for Sandwich

you're making a sandwich!! Spin THIS wheel 3-5 times for the toppings!

How is it!

good!!

it's alright

ew

EW

inedible

Results

Voting ended onJun 3

op note: I GOT JAM, JAM AND HOT SAUCE. IM DEAD.

[mockramblings]

I need an option for "kinky" since I got "one of my mutuals" plus "beef" and "jam".

[natalieironside]

it's good

“I’m going to loose your bonds now, and if you wish to kill me, I won’t stop you.  But I  hope you will listen to me.  Because, right now, I am the only hope you have.”

Hey, everybody!  TGoE is still on indefinite hiatus while I get my bad brain looked at by the brain mechanic, so in the meantime, the new hotness is Voidsong.

Voidsong is an epic sword-and-bolter space-fantasy serial.  Far off in the mists of time and deep space, a girl from the outer fringes of the Carolian Empire gets kidnapped by a band of vicious space pirates.  All hope seems lost, until she meets the legendary Helga Eriksdottir Helruna, one of the voidwitches–starship pilots who navigate with magic rather than technology–and her own journey of self-discovery becomes inexorably linked with Helga’s desperate quest for bloody revenge against the man who wronged her. 

I think it’s really cool tbh but I suppose I’m biased.  You can read it if you donate $2 American to my “help Natalie pay for groceries and meds” philanthropy fund, the which you can do if u follow that link up top there.  Updates post every Wednesday morning. As of now (May 20th) we have up:

Chapter 1:  The Raid

Chapter 2:  Galdrakona

Chapter 3:  The Night Market

To come as further Wednesdays roll around, you’ll get:

Chapter 4:  The Organic Mechanic

Chapter 5:  Ikayaki

Chapter 6:  That Hideous Strength

Epilogue:  Two Homecomings

so watch this space :3

[systlin]

She’s right, it’s real good. Give Natalie monies and read good thing!

[uphillsky]

Give monie and also read! It good and Im hooked!

[natalieironside]

:3

[vagabondbabbler]

y’all read this it’s so good

[natalieironside]

Chapter 4: The Organic Mechanic now up

[natalieironside]

Come get learned about transing your gender in space

[sam-does-art]

Another fantastic chapter! This story is amazing and everyone should read it.

[natalieironside]

:3

[uphillsky]

I repeat that all the above is true!

[natalieironside]

Chapter 5: Ikayaki is now up

We learn an important lesson about the importance of asking people what they need before you try to help them, and then we fight a big scary monster

[natalieironside]

Chapter 6: That Hideous Strength is now up

This is the thrilling high point of the action and the penultimate installment of this serial [epilogue comes next week], wherein some people are paid back for their dirty work and we get a very uncomfortable lesson in what happens when you try to ride the tiger

[uphillsky]

🥺

[natalieironside]

Yes. Next week, the sheep come back.

[natalieironside]

Epilogue: Two Homecomings is now up!

Here we are, together at the end of all things. This is the last installment of Voidsong, where we wrap things up and set up for the next installment.

Speaking of which: I should say this is the last installment of Voidsong: The Witchling. You can (hopefully) expect the beginnings of Voidsong: Rise of the Warbringer sometime close to November!

Until then, you can now read this whole novella for the low low price of two American dollars. Call that a bargain. (Please do, I really need the money)

(Super special giant thanks to @neladoesart for this amazing art of the aforementioned space witches)

[natalieironside]

EVERYONE! In honor of one serial at last coming to an end and a new one (hopefully) beginning, Voidsong: The Witchling is now free to read! Wow!

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

*takes the hand of a period drama writer gently* A queen consort is not a queen regnant. A dowager queen is not a queen regnant either.

There is very little intrinsic institutional power in queenship. The power a consort, dowager, or queen mother has depends mostly on how much the reigning sovereign (usually a man) is willing to grant her. Needing a queen to serve as regent is exceptionally rare, and the regent is more often a male relative.

I know this is a bit of a bummer. I'm sorry.

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

For clarity:

Queen regnant: woman who rules in her own right, not on behalf of someone else.

Regent: Someone who temporarily assumes the powers of the monarch on account of the monarch being too young or too incapacitated to govern.

Queen consort: Woman who is married to the monarch.

Dowager queen: Woman who was married to the monarch. The monarch is dead, and she is owed support as his widow.

Queen mother: Woman who is the mother of the monarch. Usually the dowager queen, though there are exceptions if there isn't a straight line of succession.

[writing-prompt-s]

You’re a regular office worker born with the ability to “see” how dangerous a person is with a number scale of 1-10 above their heads. A toddler would be a 1, while a skilled soldier with a firearm may score a 7. Today, you notice the reserved new guy at the office measures a 10.

[captain-acab]

You decide it’s best to find out what you can about this person. Cautiously, you approach his desk. He’s a handsome man, tall, but with a disarming smile. How could such a friendly guy with such cute, dorky glasses be dangerous?

You extend your hand. “I noticed you’re new here. What’s your name?”

He shakes your hand warmly. His gaze is piercing, as if he’s looking right through you. “The name’s Clark,” he says. “So, how long have you worked for the Daily Planet?”

[misscrazyfangirl321]

This one wins.

[janothar]

It’s been a few weeks, and one of Clark’s friends shows up.  She’s pretty and all, enough muscle that she must work out.  First thought would be that she should be maybe a 6.

Clark’s introducing her around.  “This is my good friend, Diana, she’s in from out of town.”

You blink, and take a step back in fear.  You’ve never seen an 11 before.

[aniseandspearmint]

The day Bruce Wayne shows up for his long promised interview with Lois Lane, you can’t help it, the mug your holding drops from your fingers and sends a shock of hot coffee and ceramic shards across the floor.

Clark stops a few feet away and squints at you worriedly from behind those ridiculous glasses you’re 99% sure he doesn’t actually need, and asks tentatively, “Everything all right?”

You ignore him in favor of staring at the inky dark numerals hovering over the beaming fool gesticulating some fantastic yacht story for a gaggle of secretaries and minor columnists.

That’s it. Your gift has officially gone haywire. There is no other explanation. Because there is absolutely no way that Brucie Wayne is a 10.

[petitstar]

At this point, you’ve seen it all. Miled manner reporters and billionaires at a 10 and a model-like woman at 11. You were really starting to doubt your power. The day you really stopped believeing in it was when Bruce Wayne came for another visit, and this time with a kid. The kid couldn’t be more than 10 years old, a bit on the short side.

He was an 8.

[lainathewitch]

The day you started believing in it again was when you saw on tv the formation of something called the justice league.

There were those same numbers over superman, batman, wonder woman and robin. That’s when you put two and two together. You wonder how nobody at the daily planet noticed that Clarke was Superman with glasses. You wonder why you didn’t notice. You wonder why nobody put two and two together that Diana Prince and Wonder Woman looked exactly the same. You look in the mirror as the realization hit you and you see your own number change from a 3 to a 9.

[ribbonsflyingoutthewindow]

I don’t think I’ve ever actually reblogged this magnificent post and that’s shame.

[dc-comics-heritage-posts]

dc comics heritage post