So... as a follow-up to this earlier post... thanks to a friend, I did manage to watch the first episode of Sofia the First: Royal Magic. I'll likely still rewatch it before giving my final thoughts, but I have to confess that my stance on that plot-point I mentioned is still on the lukewarm end. I came around a little bit, but I'm still not exactly thrilled about it.
Again, though, no shade to anyone who likes it, and I will say that on the whole, I did really enjoy the episode. Once I finish a rewatch, I'll give my full thoughts.
Well... not disputing OP's statement, but I confess that the bleak picture it gave me is what social media would do for adult blank-flanks. Sure, some cutie marks would be seemingly useless and made fun of, but I can’t even imagine how adult ponies who had their lack of a cutie mark be so widely broadcast would be treated.
So... I haven’t yet gotten to watch any episode of Sofia the First: Royal Magic, no thanks to the fact it wasn’t yet made available in my country's Disney+ and is blocked in my country's YouTube... but I have gotten to learn some about it... and overall, I’m decently impressed.
But I have to confess, there’s one particular plot-point I don’t think makes much sense, and which I also personally don’t like all-that much for other reasons.
That said, I'll wait until I watch the actual episode for a full judgement, and even if my stance doesn’t change, I PROMISE I'm not trying to throw shade on anyone who likes this plot-point, much less trying to start a fight.
Protect Internet Freedom from now until forever. It's important existentially! Americans stand with UK citizens in our struggle against government censorship
You guys have my whole heart for sharing this I had no idea will be filling this out and encourage all my fellow brits to do soo too. If you’re not from the UK please keep sharing this around we have till the 26th May to submit these in.
This whole thing was set up without our say we all need to make sure we’re heard.
voter suppression against black people is reaching Jim Crow era levels in the US so please get registered to vote now, learn who's going to be on your ballot in advance, try to talk some sense into your conservative relatives or coworkers (diplomatically), and, when November rolls around, vote to make Republicans lose as many seats as possible. there are many other things to do, of course, but the midterms will have a massive impact on the future of civil rights.
The next three elections are incredibly critical to turning back the fascist wave.
2026 - Make the Republicans hurt for all the ways they're trying to strip people of their votes and put a check on Trump. We can flip the House and maybe even the Senate and actually put some of the checks the Constitution intended back in place. SCOTUS is still fucked and not a lot will get passed over Trump's veto, but we can stop the bleeding.
2028 - Get Trump, Vance, and all the fascists out of the Executive Branch. It's also the only way to start on SCOTUS reform and getting back on the right track. This is also the president who will be overseeing the next census that controls which states get how many Congresspeople.
2030 - State legislatures will be the absolute MOST important races this cycle. These legislators are the ones who will be drawing the maps for the next 10 years of elections. Republicans used 2010 to completely rewrite maps across the country; Democrats need to do it in 2030.
Additional note for 2026: this is looking like a REALLY good year for Democrats to win Governor's races, as as we've seen with Pritzker, Walz, Shapiro, Newsom, and Whitmer, a Dem governor can REALLY help in pushing back against a fascist federal gov.
So... with the mess that my head has been lately (or not so lately), I'm not sure if I am just repeating something I've just said a few weeks ago, or if this is the first actual post that I've made on the matter, but at any rate, I thought I might say this.
To whoever may still be interested in my Tales of the Ever Realm AU, I am both still continuing it and by and large still sticking with my original ideas for it, even though the upcoming Sofia the First: Royal Magic is coming out and taking the characters in different directions (which yes, it is clear in a number of ways, even just from the premise and the sneak peek).
My continuing to follow my original ideas is not meant to be a show of disrespect to the for-now-upcoming show. I am interested in it, and will try my best to watch it with an open mind. I just like my AU and like working on it enough that I intend to keep doing so.
Hopefully, if I ever get more of it out, any who read it will also enjoy it.
Thank you all for your time. Wishing you all the best. :)
So... now that Sofia the First: Royal Magic is about to premiere, I thought I would kind of follow-up a bit on this original post. I'm still continuing my Tales of the Ever Realm AU, and still keeping it as it was despite everything that already contradicts it in Sofia the First: Royal Magic... but all the same, a few of the ideas and characters do seem interesting enough for me to include them.
And well... while my AU is ultimately different enough that it can't be pinned down to an actual divergence from canon, I think that if one was to be made, it's that Charmswell was never founded in the Tales of the Ever Realm AU, which I guess would mean that the royals seen attending it would attend different schools, including the EverRealm Academy, where I'm keeping Sofia going in this AU.
Now, I did already give her a group of friends (though I have yet to introduce any of them), but all the same, nothing says that whatever students from Royal Magic I end up using won't be friends with her as well.
Again, I promise that me still wanting to continue my AU is not meant to be a diss on the upcoming Royal Magic. It's just me still liking my own stuff enough to still want to work on it.
Once more, thank you to all who read this, and take care. :)
Hey! I hope you’re doing well! I just was wondering if you ever wrote the origin story for Naomi turning into a sirena? I loved your thick about Naomi being one and being with Marcel. I always wanted to read the origin story as to how this happened. You’re an awesome writer! 
I am doing well, thank you. I hope you also are.
To answer your question, no, I never actually wrote the origin story for that event. I do have it outlined as part of my AU, but I have yet to write it, or any other full-length story in my AU, for that matter. I keep meaning to start writing full-length stories, but life keeps getting in the way.
All the same, thank you for letting me know you enjoyed that story, and that you like my writing! Take care!
I know i've said it before, but if you are concerned it could be real and not a scam, the best way to avoid getting scammed is to return contact separately.
Here's how that works:
say you get a text from your internet provider, let's say it's Comcast (whom i hate). So you have this text that says it's from Comcast about your bill with a contact number and a clickable link -- could be real, could be a scam.
Don't touch anything about this text. Open a web browser and look up the customer service number for Comcast. Or get the number from the bill they send you. However you do it, get the contact info for Comcast from a trusted source, like an official phone directory or the Comcast website itself.
Get in touch with them using that information.
So. Let's run the example both ways it could go.
If it IS a scam: you reach out to Comcast and tell them you were contacted about a problem with your bill, they look you up in their customer database, and they tell you there is no problem with your bill.
If it's NOT a scam, you do the same thing, they look you up, and they explain the problem. In this case, neither Comcast nor the employees involved give a single shit whether or not you clicked the link in the text vs. going through their official website.
This works the same for the your bank, the IRS, Amazon, political causes, charities, everything.
By handling any questionable incoming calls to action this way, you significantly protect yourself from scams and malware and shit
You can do this with phone calls too!!! If a company calls you asking for some info or about a problem with you card/account/whatever you can ask them for a reference number for your case and call back later. You don't have to give a reason but if you feel awkward you can just say you have a meeting in 2 minutes but can call back another time to deal with it.
If it's not scam they'll be like sure, here's the reference number. Then you follow the instructions above, call the separate number you find yourself on a reputable website and give that person the reference number. And they'll help you resolve the issue.
Don't let scammers scare you over the phone into giving them sensitive information!!!!
Do NOT use the website previews/AI answers on google or any other search engine. AI is often wrong and scammers have managed to get their own numbers in the previews.
Make sure that the website is correct. Look for any errors in the URL (phishing sites often use double letters, replacement letters [like I/i instead of a lowercase l], or a different TLD like .li instead of .com) and inconsistencies on the site. These scams are getting more advanced and harder to recognize, so if you're unsure, do NOT log in or use any of the contact information available. There are a variety of tools online that can check site URLs to see if they're legit.
And remember: You are not too smart to be scammed.
So I can’t brush my teeth. Like, it’s the worst kind of hell. I went to the dentist for a cleaning today and I told the hygienist this, and she was wonderfully helpful.
There are some incredibly soft toothbrushes available- namely, post-surgical brushes. Running them under hot water makes them even softer.
She told me that you don’t really need to use toothpaste- it’s mostly marketing. The foam gets to me, so that is really reassuring.
She gave me two particularly soft brushes and some xylitol gum. Trident is a market brand of xylitol gum, which helps with your teeth and can make your breath smell better.
The whole purpose of brushing is to disrupt plaque buildup. You don’t need to brush twice a day, every day with toothpaste if you brush correctly- little circles, focusing on near the gums (where most plaque builds up). So if you’re having a bad sensory day and can’t brush at all, it’s not the end of the world.
Hell, you don’t even need a toothbrush if even the post-surgical ones are too harsh. Going over your teeth with the same motions using a washcloth is enough.
She wants to find a fluoride rinse that has a taste I can stand (peppermint is the only mint I can stand) but she’s not particularly worried about it.
I go to Dr. Barr in Chicago. If you can get to the State St. Macy’s, his office is nearby. He’s very kind and patient and really understanding of my needs as an autistic person. The hygienist, I don’t know her name, announced everything she was going to do before she did it, and stopped frequently to see how I was doing.
This is really the only positive dentist I’ve ever had- past dentists have been too rough and not bothered to help find ways I can actually brush.
Basically this is a glowing recommendation for Dr. Barr’s office if you’re autistic, afraid of dentists, or have sensory needs. This is a recommendation even if you don’t have any of those things.
If you were feeling guilty about your brushing habits, either due to sensory issues, pain, allergies, executive dysfunction, or just plain fatigue, here’s what you need to know about what is and isn’t necessary if your dental care!
Post-covid, I got really horrible shit going on with my gag reflex where for some reason the mint flavor of toothpaste (and only toothpaste) would make me gag so hard that I’d throw up. Then I found a kids toothpaste that’s like strawberry flavored or something, but it has the proper adult amount of flouride, so it works for me and I don’t gag much anymore. Here’s an article with some options if you’re like me lol
Dr. Gemma Wheeler lists best non-mint toothpaste options for adults. The list includes those that are truly non mint, without oils or aromas
Also for the people who can’t stand foam, the ingredient you’re looking to avoid is called SLS.
I share this frequently, but I had a very difficult time making myself floss because I hated the way that standard floss digs into my fingers when I use it. I switched to floss picks, and boom: A hated activity instantly became entirely neutral. Much easier to convince myself to do! If you have the same problem with standard floss, this might be worth a try.
Also, my most recent trip to the dentist, I was told that xylitol is a very effective treatment for dry mouth! And also that dry mouth is bad for your teeth, because it can disrupt the PH balance in your mouth, making your teeth more susceptible to cavities. While you want to be very careful to keep any xylitol products away from dogs in particular and probably pets in general, if you have dry mouth, you can try checking for products with xylitol in them.
Of note: My brother endorses the OraNusre brand of flavorless toothpaste; he says it “tastes like toothbrush”. My mom, meanwhile, is a fan of the Hello brand, which comes in different fruity and sweet flavors. Both of these are listed at the non-mint toothpaste link above.
If you prefer a toothpaste or a mouthwash for dry mouth, I use Biotène; it’s not cheap, but brushing once a day with it, a tube of Biotène toothpaste lasts me around four to five months. As far as I’m aware, it’s only in mint flavor.
Not sure why it's a new trend among fic readers to assume if the fic has not been posted within the week it's inappropriate to comment on it, like the fic has to be hot out of the oven to give feedback for.
I got a comment on a fic that is less than a year old and it was mostly an apology for being a comment on an "old fic" and how late they were in commenting.
Just comment on the fic. Doesn't matter how old it is.
you shouldn't have to but if you're feeling brave/brimming with spite:
GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.
LineageOS Android Distribution
both have lists of supported devices and instructions, and it's relatively easy if you're already switching devices, unlocking the bootloader is the riskiest step as some phone manufacturers lock those down in shitty ways (more to get angry with; that's your fucking phone!)
I know the midterm election is not until November 3, 2026, however I want everyone to be prepared and not say that they "didn't know" or "couldn't figure it out". This is a guide for everything you need to know about voting in the U.S. in the next major election - the 2026 midterm. I will be updating as needed. If you have a question about voting, registration, or anything else please send me an ask or message. State specific deadlines and info listed under the cut! Even if you have a super unique situation, I will absolutely research it for you!
Every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election!
What district am I in?
Who is my current rep?
What is the house of reps?
Critical House races
Governor races
Is my state having a governor election?
Senate races
Is there a senate race for my state?
What is the senate?
Who are my current senators?
Critical Senate races
General voting info
REGISTER TO VOTE
Already registered? Double check your registration has been accepted and validated
What are the deadlines for registering to vote for my state?
State specific rules for registering to vote
I need to change something on my registration
Who is eligible to vote? - anyone who is a U.S. citizen and over the age of 18
I have been convicted of a felony, can I vote?
I am a student who attends school a different state than where I am registered to vote -> resource linked here
How do I vote if I am in the military?
How can I vote (by mail, in person, etc)?
How does voting by mail work?
Can I register to vote online, or do I have to register in person?
How does voting in person work?
Where is my polling place?
Does my state offer early voting?
Does my state offer same day voter registration?
Do I need an ID to vote?
How do I vote if I am unhoused?
Will my ballot be invalidated if I take a photo of it, or post a photo of my ballot on social media?
I've mailed in my ballot, how can I check that it's been received?
What are the deadlines for mailing my ballot?
Can I vote if I am living overseas/in another country?
Does my work have to give me time off to allow me to vote?
I have a disability, what accessibility resources are there?
I need to report an issue or abuse regarding my ballot or voting experience
When are the results of the election announced?
Resources for non English speakers
I am homebound, and need assistance with mailing or filling out my ballot
Does it matter what party I put on my voter registration?
I am going through, or have gone through, DV/stalking/harassment, and I am worried about my address showing up on public voter registries
baratheonpilled
janainaart
blakekathryn
yousharknotpass
