I don't post nearly enough of the minis I paint, but this is the entire collection I've gotten through in 2025!
Hobby-wise, I accomplished a lot. Added some characters to my first army (Iron Hands), finished some Dark Angels, and started my own chapter with my wonderful partner!
Here's to 2026!
The black armor is my Iron Hands, the green and burgandy is Dark Angels, and the cobalt and white is our custom chapter, the Iron Paladins!
(also, counting out the models and 36 models painted!)
I don't post nearly enough of the minis I paint, but this is the entire collection I've gotten through in 2025!
Hobby-wise, I accomplished a lot. Added some characters to my first army (Iron Hands), finished some Dark Angels, and started my own chapter with my wonderful partner!
Here's to 2026!
The black armor is my Iron Hands, the green and burgandy is Dark Angels, and the cobalt and white is our custom chapter, the Iron Paladins!
(also, counting out the models and 36 models painted!)
Opened Insta today looking for some specific information and wound up stumbling into a story about Chaofeng Ge. 🧊's official statement states he died by suicide in one of their facilities after he was picked up in New York. He was found hanging, but they left out the detail of his hands and feet being hog-tied.
He was 32.
His family is suing.
The Chinese national died in Pennsylvania in August, but his family's requests for answers from DHS have gone unmet.
Every day, people are still being kidnapped into 🧊 vans, and killed in the streets or during imprisonment. Imperialism and fascism join hands just as many families do the same over these holiday months. But I ask you, xiv enjoyers (and randoms who've found your way here somehow, hello!), not to succumb to despair. Instead, learn how you can help ⸺ because you can help.
Take some time to look up grassroot efforts in your area/State protecting immigrants and at-risk individuals. See what they might need that you can provide: money, supplies, volunteers, etc.
If nothing else, follow them on social media and boost their posts to give them greater visibility.
There are lots of other ways to make a difference during Los Angeles ICE raids. “We need you, the people, to stand with immigrants.”
Educate yourself about current events to avoid spreading fear and misinformation. Instead of screaming about ICE being everywhere, consider screaming AND sharing helpful resources ⸺ like contact info to volunteer groups, mutual aid, and legal assistance.
We are a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who are driven by the belief that all people should be treat
Attend a workshop to learn more about meaningful activism and advocacy. Court Watch LA holds training seminars for assisting in criminal and immigration courts. Everybody Los Angeles holds regular workshops centered around protesting, including guidance on personal safety at protests.
Learn ways you can protect your and your friends online, too. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit centered around digital privacy and free speech online and has created a surveillance self-defense toolkit to help people secure their communications and data.
We’re the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a member-supported non-profit working to protect online privacy for over thirty-five years. This i
This obviously isn't meant to be an exhaustive list. For one, many of the resources I hold onto are centered around Los Angeles. I hope, however, that you will all take something useful away from it; we are counting on you.
This morning, I saw a fun little headline in my inbox telling me exactly the kind of day I was in for ⸺
Tennessee Revises EEO Rules in State Government
Fantastic. Thank you, PSHRA, for yet another fun update on the state of our nation.
Today really did end up being one of those days (read: exceptionally shitty where the fuck are my anxiety meds). Like so many of you, however, I persist.
I'm off the clock for the weekend, which means I'm invading your timelines and dashboards with another reminder to stay informed. Newsletters like the one by the Public Sector HR Association remain an excellent option for the socially conscious (which I hope all of you here are), and I've found them to be vital to education and advocacy.
I'm providing the article attached to the above headline, obviously, but I really hate consuming news without intent. More after the article below.
via Public Sector HR Association [ Tennessee Lookout ]
If you needed a reminder, know that individuals and organizations fighting for equity and equality still exist. Some have been around for decades, while others were founded just a few years ago in direct response to the ongoing social and political climate. I've linked a few here for general information, resources, and possible avenues of action. Do with this information what you will.
Elevated Access
Elevated Access was launched in 2022 in response to the extreme healthcare bans being enacted in state legislatures. They are a non-profit organization that enables people to access healthcare by providing flights on private planes at no cost. Their volunteer pilot network transports clients seeking abortion or gender-affirming care across the United States.
MediaJustice
MediaJustice builds power to challenge how corporations and governments use media and technology to shape our collective future. They began in 2001 as a Black-led media accountability coalition fighting racist media bias. Founder Malkia Devich Cyril, with co-founders Amy Sonnie and Jen Soriano, expanded this work in 2009 to address broader communications rights.
MediaJustice builds power to challenge how corporations and governments use media and technology to shape our collective future. We connect
Southern Poverty Law Center
SPL Center is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, the group is known for its legal cases against white supremacist groups, for its classification of hate groups and other extremist organizations, and for promoting tolerance education programs.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to creating a world where Black and Brown communities are represented and respected by our demo
I have more organizations I want to share, but I'm also well past the point of passing out at my keyboard. So just know that you'll be hearing from me very soon. This is a threat.
In the meantime, stay safe and remember: "learning and growing" is just the White liberal's version of "thoughts and prayers."
AANHPI Heritage Month ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
Asian American ‧ Native Hawaiian ‧ Pacific Islander
May has been recognized as Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month since 1991, when it started as a single week of observance in the United States. Over time, the name has undergone changes to be more inclusive, while also shining a light on the very obvious flaws of lumping so many different cultural and ethnic groups under a single umbrella.
I decided to write some posts in 2024 commemorating AANHPI Heritage Month, and I like to think it was well-received and also somewhat insightful. I enjoyed the experience, on a very personal level, and promised myself to do something similar this year.
To be honest with you, friends and mutuals, my heart hurts with anger as I write this. My celebratory spirit still eludes me, buried under the ongoing stress of simply existing as I am.
On January 20, 2025, the fascists in power signed Executive Order 14148, titled "Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders." AANHPI Heritage Month and other observance months were axed, no longer recognized by the federal government; the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), established in 1999, was dissolved.
I am filled with pain and rage. I am determined also to turn that pain and rage into action and advocacy ⸺ I hope you will do the same, both online and off. Because as long as we exist, all of us must demand to be recognized.
As part of my 2024 AANHPI Heritage Month postings, I shared some advice and resources for how to be more supportive and inclusive of AANHPI (Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) people. Some of the information I linked to warned of increasing hate crimes against the Asian community, a concern not limited to the United States.
As I considered what I wanted to talk about in my 2025 thread, I saw a post referencing the latest Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S. (STAATUS) Index pop up on my feed, and the takeaways weren't fantastic.
Funded and conducted annually by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), the STAATUS Index seeks to document the ever-shifting attitudes toward AANHPI people and our experiences as POC in the U.S. For this, TAAF works together with organizations like the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) and the Stop Asian Hate coalition to gather data centered around the AANHPI community.
Their latest report starts with:
We surveyed 4,909 Americans across the country to uncover the most pressing issues AANHPIs are facing today.
Now in its fifth year, the landmark survey shows a stark disconnect between many Americans’ beliefs about Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) and the reality of AANHPIs’ lived experiences.
It also offers granular analysis of how public knowledge of—and opinion on—the country’s most ethnically diverse communities is actively influenced by longstanding stereotypes, deep-seated misperceptions, and media, culture, and information consumption habits.
The full report is available for download as a PDF, for anyone who may be interested. A few of the numbers that TAAF highlights on the landing page are as follow:
48 percent of Americans think Asian Americans are treated fairly.
40 percent of Americans believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than to the U.S.
More than 1 in 4 Americans (25 percent) are concerned that Chinese Americans are a threat to U.S. society, especially around national security.
As someone of Han Chinese descent, the last point hits especially hard. Wasn't exactly a long time ago when a former friend of mine kept countering my anxieties of anti-Asian sentiments being on the rise (again) in the U.S. with "but Americans have the right to be afraid of China" like we were talking about the same things (we weren't).
I don't really have much more insight to offer here except that the report's findings are reflective of our reality in the U.S. and many other English-speaking Western nations. I can't even say for certain if the social climate gotten better or worse since the '80s and '90s; I just know that there's enough of us around now that we can at least feel somewhat safer by staying within our own communities.
The 2025 STAATUS Index reveals new insights and long-standing issues about how the AANHPI community is perceived and treated in the U.S.
As ever, I encourage you all to explore resources aimed at education and understanding. Learn how you can uplift and support AANHPI people. Learn how you can combat hate and misinformation. Learn how you can push toward a more equitable future.
May isn't over yet, and neither is this AANHPI Heritage Month thread. ₊˚❀ At the beginning of the month, I had full intentions of writing more here. Didn't quite go as I'd hoped because shit's been rough, and believe it or not, the constant reminders on Bluesky of blatant racism inside the FFXIV fandom haven't helped. Not even a little bit.
But here I am, hoping all of my fellow AANHPI have been finding room in their hearts to reconnect with themselves and their skin color and heritage. For today's unexpected (for me) post, I'll share a few podcasts centered around AANHPI experiences, as well as some collective Black and brown traumas big and small.
Starting off is a personal favorite of mine, titled Yo, Is This Racist? which is based on a long-running blog of the very same name. The original blog featured questions from readers asking "racism questions" that writer Andrew Ti would respond to very directly and with justified profanity. Ti's identity was originally anonymous, adding to the humorous mystique of his blog. Now, listeners can call in and ask him their racist questions directly.
Ti also hosts a podcast named after his original online project and co-hosts the Yo, Can We Live? podcast with Tawny Newsome. Both podcasts can be found at their website Sub-Optimal Podcasts.
The Optimal Place to Subscribe to Andrew and Tawny's Podcasts
They Call Us Bruce was started by writer Phil Yu (of Angry Asian Man) and journalist Jeff Yang. The duo primarily focus on media, entertainment, and popular culture through the AANHPI lens, but they will also cover broad range of subjects pertaining to contemporary Asian America as well as the broader Asian diaspora. Yu and Yang have previously discussed on their podcast what it means to be "very Asian" and fighting anti-Asian racism.
Shoes Off Inside with MKT was originally known as The May Lee Show before it expanded to become a three-host project with journalist May Lee and actresses Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomito. The hosts self-identify as “50+ and fabulous so they got nothing to hide,” and offer some thoughtful commentary on current events, pop culture and AAPI issues. The hosts will often confront topics of stereotypes about race, age, sex and culture.
Shoes Off Inside with MKT podcast on demand - Three trailblazing Asian American women in TV journalism and Hollywood join forces to rattle s
If you're curious to find other AANHPI podcasts, consider visiting the Potluck Podcast Collective. Not the most extensive list, but it's a pretty good start.
A collective of Asian American podcasters and podcasts featuring unique voices and stories from the Asian American Community.
As always, I want to thank you all for the reblogs keeping this thread alive. I hope that the information here and from last year's thread stay with you. Remember that supporting and recognizing underrepresented communities should be a long-term endeavor. ✧
I present the first model I completed in 2025, done back in January and just now getting around to taking pictures, my Dark Angels Terminator Chaplain. Also the first model of my Dark Angels contingent set to assist my Iron Hands in the Imperium Nihilus during the conquests against the traitor forces.
Expect to see my Inner Circle Companions soon as I finish weathering and decals!
17 casualties and counting
& even more ways you can help
L.A. County medical examiner has confirmed 17 deaths attributed to the Eaton Fire (24+ for Eaton and Palisades) still raging in the mountains overlooking Altadena and Pasadena. Sheriff officials are investigating 24 missing person reports related to the fire.
The fire that began on January 7 shortly after the Palisades Fire still ripping through the City (not to be confused with the County) is thankfully over 70 percent contained at present. Strong winds due next week present an immediate threat to the area, but thousands of victims have already lost everything — homes, livelihoods, loved ones.
I had previously shared links about Altadena and ways you can help Black families impacted by the fire. I urge you to check this document periodically if you'd like to keep up with donation efforts, as AFROPUNK continues to make updates.
For those interested in more donation options whether for themselves or to share with others, I've grabbed a few more from mutual aid organizations around the area.
The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) has a donation link circling, which directs to PayPal. The group is partnering with local community organizations and volunteers around Southern California to reach affected communities. They seek to provide information, resources, PPE, and welfare checks for victims.
Help support National Alliance for Filipino Concerns by donating or sharing with your friends.
Off-The-Grid Missions (OTG) has a hub for deaf and disabled people affected by the wildfires. Donations provide humanitarian aid for deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, and deaf-disabled individuals and their families in crisis. The hub (previous link) also points to resources like free transportation, temporary housing, animal shelters, restaurants serving evacuees, and mental health hotlines. They also have a form for requesting assistance.
The National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) is also accepting donations that they seek to distribute with the help of Los Angeles area affiliates like The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Instituto Educación Popular (IDEPSCA), and Pilipino Workers Center. I can personally vouch for some of these groups from past experience with their contributions to combating human trafficking.
Your donation will be used to support our trusted affiliate organizations in Los Angeles who are providing emergency financial assistance, b
If you'd like to find more opportunities to help, please also look at the Mutual Aid LA Network or @/mutualaidla on socials. I've also provided additional donation opportunities (firefighters, animal services, etc.) in a previous blog post.
I shouldn't be surprised that people are sharing AI-generated images and videos of the ongoing fires in and around LA. How fucked.
As I mentioned in my recent reblog, please remind people around you not to spread misinformation. Get your updates from Watch Duty or CAL FIRE. I also find national sources to be lacking, so I'd recommend checking local sources like LAist instead.
Thankfully, the current admin has approved FEMA assistance already, as the other side is busy attacking a lesbian fire chief and the state governor, Newsom.
Don't be misled. We are here because of greed, and the billionaires who hoard basic resources will see the world burn and all of us bled dry before they develop an ounce of goodwill (see: the Resnicks, wealthiest farmers in the US). No matter which billionaire is yapping or what they're saying, do not forget that billionaires are not on our side.
Demand more from the wealthy. Demand more from the government.
If you all know anyone who is in need of resources because of the ongoing fires, please check out Mutual Aid LA Network or @/mutualaidla on socials.
In times of crisis, we can only truly rely on each other.
