💛🧡 Howdy! | You can call me Spectre 🍁 she/they| 22 |🖌(Art Tag: #🍁🖌️spectreart) | Aro | This is a multi-fandom page first, and occasionally a politics blog second. | Bigots DNI. Please and thank you. 🧡💛 Everyone else, have a great time!
By Katherine Hamilton
Digital Content Writing Fellow, RepresentUs
June 1, 2021
Last election season, you probably saw a lot of social media posts and emails telling you to call your congress members and voice your support for certain issues.
But, does contacting your representatives really work?
The short answer? YES! You might be surprised to know just how much of a difference making a phone call or writing an email can be. Here’s why it works.
What happens when you call your representative?
When you call, your message is logged and relayed to your senator and the staffers in their office crafting policy. Every single call helps your senator know how much of a priority this issue is for their constituents. It’s all about building pressure, and calls are one of the most efficient ways to do so.
Four Reasons Calling Congress Makes a Huge Difference
Congress members care about re-election — and you control their chances. Congress members spend more than half their time in office focusing on re-election. If a politician wants to get re-elected, he or she has to ensure they’re addressing their constituents’ concerns. When you contact your lawmakers to let them know what policies you support, you’re telling them what they can do to win your vote in the next election. This is an extremely effective way of getting your officials to listen to you — and it’s exactly how democracy is supposed to work!
A lot of callers can build a lot of pressure. When a legislator starts hearing the same concerns from a lot of citizens, it puts a lot of pressure on them to vote the way their constituents want. Flooding a lawmaker’s inbox or phone line can completely stall office activity, and really get the attention of your elected official. When you contact your representative, you’re adding your voice to a wave of grassroots pressure.
It’s one of the best ways to voice your opinion in the election off-season. There’s not always an election around the corner, and even when there is, you don’t always get to vote on the issues you really care about. But civic participation can — and should — happen year-round. Contacting your elected officials holds them accountable for representing you, even when it’s not election season.
It literally only takes two minutes! One of the best things about calling your representatives? It’s incredibly quick and easy to do. Most groups that ask you to contact Congress will provide you with easy-to-follow instructions and a simple script to read — although adding personal touches is highly encouraged! Who knew saving democracy could take as much time as brushing your teeth?
All questions and comments regarding public policy issues, legislation, or requests for personal assistance should be directed to the senators from your state. Please be aware that as a matter of professional courtesy, many senators will acknowledge, but not respond to, a message from another senator's constituent.
Options for Contacting Senators
Web contact forms are available on most senators' websites
Postal Addresses
Addresses for each senator can be found on the senator's website or state's web page
The following standard address can be also be used:
The Honorable (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
For correspondence to a Senate committee or to a Senate committee chair:
(Name of Committee)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Telephone
Phone numbers are available on each state's page or on your senator's website
Senators Suite & Telephone List (PDF)
A U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can also connect you directly with the Senate office. (202) 224-3121
I got bored last night and made some TADC Pokemon teams. XD
Teams under the cut because this got long.
Gangle's Team:
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
I put ALOT of anime/Japanese media references in this, as well as of course a greek comedy/tragedy mask reference.
Zoe the Yamask
Thalia the Sylveon
Melpo/Melpomene the Shiny Intelleon
Kiki the Delibird
Usagi the Clefable
Sanrio the shiny Smeargle
Yamask is pretty obvious, that's one most people who do Gangle pokemon teams go for since masking and crying/tragedy is her whole theme. The fact she was in a truck accident and ended up in the Circus where she became just masks and ribbons who couldn't remember her name also kinda adds to it. Zoe is of course her real human self's name.
Sylveon because of Ribbons, TADC being a show about the healing power of relationships and I think the calming aura would make it a good therapy/emotional support pokemon for her. Thalia comes from the Greek muse of comedy who's associated with the comedy mask.
Ok, I kinda took inspo from @lovelylivelyv 's Sadness team here with the inteleon. I originally was going to go with Sobble for the crying, nervous and hides herself away and thought intelleon might give off too much Zooble vibes but realized that actually kinda works since Zooble helps give Gangle confidence. Also, Tommy Gun and the possibility of using it as protection from Jax. Melpo is a shortening of the Greek muse of Tragedy's name, who is associated with the tragedy mask.
Kiki the Delibird was originally a joke on "Kiki's delivery service" but also works for Vixen's christmas theming and Gangle working in food service. Also, red and white.
Usagi the Clefable is a Sailor Moon reference. Clefable's line are fairy types associated with the moon and Usagi is Sailor Moon's real name.
And of course the artist gets a Smeargle, this time named after Sanrio, the studio behind Hello Kitty. (Thought of going with Miyazaki but I think Kiki kinda covers that...)
Kinger's Team
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
Oops! This one's almost all bugs because where would Kinger be without his insect collection?
Eniac the Shiny Orbeetle
VW the Shiny Heracross
Queenie the Shiny Vespiqueen
Angel the Female Butterfree
Nimdock the Shiny Drampa
And Grant the Oranguru.
Orbeetle is for Kinger's ability to glow and him being perhaps the smartest of the players. Named after one of the first computers. Also psychic bug because Kinger's the one who can easily conjure things earlier than almost anyone else besides Jax. "I made it up! ^^"
VW is a reference to the beetle Kinger summons in Digital Dungeon Danger. Kinger summons a giant rhinoceros beetle in the group's fight with the Gloink Queen and it becomes their noble steed during the adventure, being imbued with Dragon breath and a mask similar to Gangle's (Vixen's suggestion.) It even got a character marker drawn by Ashley Nichols. XD Geberally peace-loving but able to throw down and eating honey in the middle of a battle fits Kinger pretty well. XD
I ALMOST gave Vespiquen to Caine because Bees and tendency to make matriarchs but decided Vespiqueen works better for Kinger and Queenie instead. XD Could also be seen as a nod to the Gloink Queen.
Angel the Butterfree is of course a reference to Kinger and Queenie's association with Butterflies mixed with The Angel from Kinger's episode. Also, many eyes (abstraction), big round bug eyes, and looks kinda purple and goofy.
The name Nimdock is one of my few surviving IHNMAIMS refs, referencing Kinger's inspo, but Drampa is actually more based on Kinger's loving girl dad and possibly goofy amnesiac or dementia addled grandpa vibes and him being the old man of the group.
And the Oranguru is from his status as mentor and the wise one of the group, with his name being from Kinger's real human name.
Ragatha's Team
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
Andy the Mimikyu
Annebelle/Anne the Shiny Banette
Loo the Shiny Female Indeedee
Alfredo the Galarian Rapidash
Martha the Gardevoir
And Suzie the Bewear
Pretty much every Ragatha Pokemon team has a Banette and/or Mimikyu and some form of horse Pokemon. XD I figure with Banette's creepy doll motif and Mimikyu's "scary but just trying to make friends and is bad at it" it works pretty well. The names of course are a reference to Raggedy Ann and Andy as well as the creepy murderous doll Annebelle, after Ragatha's more repressed crazy chaotic tendencies. Ann being blue not only fits Ragatha's color scheme but also works as a reference to Evil Ragatha or @thwarp 's Annebelle AU.
I figured Galarian Rapidash would fit her fluffy elegant and caring for others' vibe best. Plus Galarian Ponyta can see into your heart and will leave of it senses evil and Ragatha's of course in some ways the most purest of heart of the TADC humans. The name is from one of Goose's posts about what Ragatha's horses names were.
Martha is named after Martha Mildenhall and is part of Ragatha's elegant, happy, sensitive and protective caretaking side. Gardevoirs form deep bonds with their trainers and release their full power trying to protect them.
Loo is also part of Ragatha's caretaking nature as well as something of a desire to see Ragatha cared for and her rich background. Though Female Indeedee being good babysitters kinda alludes to her accidentally treating people like children. The name of course is a reference to Princess Loo.
Suzie is named after Ragatha's human self. Bewear look cute and friendly but ate surprisingly strong, can accidentally harm people by showing affection, and there's Team Rocket's protective Mama Bewear that I think fits Ragatha on ALOT of levels. XD
Pomni's Team:
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
Gummigoo the Shiny Feraligatr
Pierrot the Mr. Mime
Abby the Shiny Pawmi (yes, I think I'm funny)
Daisy the Shiny Wigglytuff
Harley the Brionne
And Sandwich the Morpeko.
Honestly, Gummigoo the Feraligatr is kind of a big reason I made these. XD I had to give her an alligator Pokemon.
Pierrot is named after the stereotypical sad clown that people associate with Pomni for obvious reasons, but while most people give Pomni a Mime Jr, I think Mr. Mime also works well with her visually. Very round goofy-looking clown-like Pokemon. XD
Abby the Pawmi is if course a name pun, both Pawmi sounding like Pomni, and Abby being Pomni's real human name. Also, mouse because of the ad where she gets turned into a hamster and Pika-clone since she's the blushy cheeked big eyed mascot of the show.
Daisy is kind of a mix of Jax since Daisy is often used as her new name, the rabbit ears, Lizzie being a good singer, Jax inflating, Pomni's big round eyes and stretchiness, and a soft comfort/emotional support Pokemon kinda similar to Rags.
Sandwich is kind of a mix of Pomni's own tendency to go from calm and friendly to chaotic and feral as well as Pomni kinda being the digital circus foodie/muckbang. Plus it also carries on the hamster and pika clone themes. I kinda stole the name from a Ragapom headcanon of them adopting a cat named Sandwich but Pomni is often shown eating them. XD
And the Brionne is kind of a mix of Pomni's ability to change colors when she holds her breath, the clown vibe and trying to help everyone and kinda hiding her own issues in the process. Dancing, Brionne's thing, is also one of the many traditional skills of a jester and using flash and performance as a trick fits well with Pomni's cunning. Harley is of course a corruption of Harlequin, a character from comedia del Arte and another way of saying clown/jester.
I ended up giving her a very moist team XD Though water pokemon kinda work well for her praxtical adaptability and caretaking.
Jax's Team:
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
Ok, just going to say this upfront, alot of meta and cartoon jokes here.
Goose the Gengar
Kaufey the Shiny Klefki
Lola the Lopunny
Dot the Shiny Mawile
Mike the Aipom
And Hazel the Mismagius
Gengar is one of those that I think gets paired often with Jax due to the smile, color and mischievious sometimes malicious demeanor. It can sneak into shadows to drain life force, likes to play pranks on people, and mostly wants friends but has TERRIBLE ways of going about it. The name Goose is of course a meta reference to Gooseworx.
Lopunny, of course, girl Rabbit and one of the Transgender Pokemon. But also Buneary is one of those that's infamous for starting with a very low friendship stat despite it needing friendship to evolve. Which both shows how Jax is and how she COUKD havd gotten better, as well as I think woukd show some nice growth that she was able to bond with something that strongly. Lola is of course a reference to Lola bunny as well as to the song about a transgender woman named Lola.
Mawile of course is a little bit two faced, making people underestimate ot with cute looks before attacking with it's sharp jaws. Which both kinda reflects Jax being a cute looking cartoon character but kind of an ass, another kinda transgender pokemon, and Jax's sharp teeth when he opens his mouth. Dot is a reference to Dot Warner, who kinda shares a bit of Jax's cunning jokester girl vibe. (Though in some ways she's also more of a jerkish Yakko.)
Mike is of course a Michael Kovach joke, as well as Aipom being the same colors as Jax and having a similar smile. Plus I kinda think a mischievious little monkey with a big tail hand fits well with Jax. XD
Klefki is of course from Jax being the one who has keys everywhere, including and particularly when they go to Kaufmo's room in episode one. Which "Kaufey" is of course Jax's nickname for Kaufmo. I almost had Goose and Kaufey's names reversed but decided it worked better with Kaufey as the Klefki and Goose as the Gengar sound wise.
And finally Hazel. I was originally just going to go with Misdreavus since they like scaring people and also long feminine hair like Goose's canon design for Trans!Jax. But then I realized Mismagius' curses being both good and bad, as well as the whole making people fall in love so people hunt for it actually fit. The name comes from Warner Brother's Witch Hazel. Weirdly works more than I originally thought considering Witch Hazel is a Bugs Bunny villain and also has a cartoon where she accidentally goes from a stereotypical goofy ugly witch to a beautiful young woman.
Zooble's team:
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
Not as creative as my usual names since I think that kinda fits for Zooble's kinda grumpy "don't care" sorta vibe. This is the same person who named their IRL bar "Triangle." XD Cool, chill, colorful was kinda the theme here.
Riley the Ditto
Chill the Glaceon
Benny the Shiny Low Key Toxtricity
Liz the Sceptile
Jax the Bruxish
And Hefty the Shiny Incineroar
Riley is another real life human name reference, but in Zooble's case, it and the Eeveelution Glaceon are meant to reference Zooble's theme of change and not having to settle for one thing all the time. Plus, Ditto is also genderless and often used to breed other pokemon. Perfect for our genderqueer "I want the ability to have sex" makeshift monarch.
I was originally going to give Zooble an Eevee as another part of the "ability to change" thing and ended up going through a number of ideas before settling on Glaceon. This is another @lovelylivelyv inspired idea but I think Glaceon fits well with Zoob's ability to stay cool and unbothered most of the time, as well as kinda being a bit prickly. Also, they're a bartender. What better way to get ice than an ice pokemon?
Benny is one of my few surviving I Have No Mouth references among the human teams, being a reference to Zooble's inspo. Beyond that it's mostly for the chill punk rock alt vibe Zooble give Zooble gives off and something of a reference to the Peak Stream where Caine tells them they're getting poisoned because they have a toxic personality. XD Zooble is also often associated with lizards, particularly chameleons.
Sceptile is because of the cool chill competent and smart vibe as well as Lizard again. But also despite the Treeko line being cool and aloof, they're also a caretaker and guardian to their forest which, chill aloof but cares is pretty much Zoob.
Bruxish is mostly because the colors, shape, and kind of drag queen gender fuckery vibe fits Zooble well. Mostly the name came from me thinking Zoob woukd definitely name their sharp toothy smiling psychic fish that can give people headaches by grinding their teeth after the most annoying person they know but I think it coukd also be Zooble honoring her in a kind of sweet but backhanded way.
And Hefty is from Zooble's angrier feistier, pricklier and more aloof introverted side.
Caine's Team:
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
I managed to get a couple IHNMAIMS references in here. XD
AM the Porygon Z
Bubble the Shiny Reuniclus
Buzz the Ribombee
Abel the Blacephalon
Ellison the Mewtwo
And Moon the Shiny Cresselia
Porygon Z not only has the red and blue colors of the two AIs but also the instability due to absorbing viruses or shady programs. Plus, it's the only canonically digital pokemon. The name of course is a reference to Caine's inspiration, AM.
Reuniclus is actually a reference to Caine being 2 minds merged and working together. Both Caine eating Abel and Caine and Bubble being connected. Caine is also a creative program that can make other AIs, generally just wants friends, has powerful psychic abilities, and makes arms when he goes nuts. Plus it's the closest Pokemon there is to Bubble. XD
I think Buzz here would be Caine's favorite, we all know how much he loves Bees. It was either going to be this, Vepiqueen or Beedrill and I think the lil fairy bug that can make exploding pollen puffs that can be good or bad fits well for him. It even kinda fits with the old theory Caine woukd come back as a bee in Ep 9.
Blacephalon was kind of an obvious choice for Caine. Clown, fireworks, round dot head like him and Abel originally, Caine has a tendency to explode his NPCs to the shock of everyone watching, uses flashy performances to drain vitality, object head, Blue AI AND Abel mannequin, it's the most humanoid of his team and Caine likes humans, from another dimension... It works on alot of levels. Named after both Abel the Mannequin and Abel, the Blue AI.
The Mewtwo is another artificial pokemon and kinda represents Caine's darker and more damaged side of resentment twoards humans for being misused by them, but also him eventually realizing the error of his ways and becoming better. Nicknamed Ellison for Harlan Ellison, the writer of I Have No Mouth (I considered naming him AM but it fit better for the Porygon.)
And of course Moon/Cresselia Is a Bluetooth Joke. It does kinda fit Caine's ability to tamper with minds but mostly having good intentions and trying to create fun wacky whimsical adventures as well as the sort of lucid dream anything's possible nature of the circus though.
These are some really cool teams! I'm really glad to see more TADC/Pokémon crossovers, especially in regards to completed teams.
Speaking of, I've actually been doing a playthrough of Pokémon Sword, but using my own interpretation of Ragatha's team.
While some parts have changed/been swapped around a little, I think this team (courtesy of the team builder app you linked) will fit our lovely ragdolly. <3
A team planner tool for the mainline Pokémon games.
PREFACE: I'd like to start off with a teeny tiny bit of lore that I personally envision in regards to Ragatha's part in a Pokémon setting:
Ragatha's mother is an esteemed matriarch that specializes in Fairy-type Pokémon. This, along with their larger rural property, is one of the reasons her family is especially prominent with a lot of influence. As such, Ragatha's mother, Joanne, 100% expects her daughter to take after her once she becomes of age, in addition to keeping their family reputation as strong as it is.
(Think of their relationship as a bit like Mirabel and Abuela Alma from Encanto - but MUCH MUCH MORE TOXIC and rife with emotional/verbal abuse... and doesn't get better.
However... Ragatha's eventual team doesn't go the exact way her mother planned her to.
Anne the Galarian Rapidash
Starting off as Ragatha's first partner and trusty friend, Anne is a Galarian Rapidash born on her mother's property who Ragatha raised and brought along her journey when she was just a Ponyta.
The name, of course, is a reference to the one and only Raggedy Ann(e) doll, the character Ragatha was heavily based off of.
Personality-wise, Anne is rather proper and dainty, and a bit stuck-up, given her upbringing on a wealthy property. (It takes a minute for her to get used to standard Pokémon food.)
However, when she's with Ragatha, Anne expresses an undying loyalty and protectiveness for her friend, given their upbringing together. As a result, Anne sees her as a sister and best friend rather than just a commander.
If she feels Ragatha is in danger or threatened in any way, Anne will waste no time to assure her best friend's safety and happiness.
Anne ended up evolving just after the sixth Gym Battle, otherwise known as the Battle Royale setting.
This is likely when Ragatha's friendship and genuine connections with the others finally started to improve and become two-sided after a long time of stagnation.
Andy the Combusken
Ragatha's second partner is the rambunctious and hot-headed, but still loving, Combusken named Andy.
Named after Raggedy Andy, this Combusken was actually a stow-away when Ragatha set out on her journey with Anne.
She only found out Andy stowed along when she reached The Grounds - the base camp where new trainers and challengers for The Amazing Digital Gym Challenge meet and rest up. The little rascally Torchic hid in her bag, wanting to get a taste for adventure and life off the farm, just like Ragatha.
A bit like the character he's based on, Andy has an "I-can-do-it-myself" attitude and (claims to) dislike it when people or Pokémon call him cute or fluffy. (Although he doesn't mind if Ragatha gives him pets or one-on-one attention.) Sometimes, he'll jump up on Ragatha's head or Anne's fluffy mane and act as a self-imposed lookout.
With that said, like Anne, he is fiercely loyal and protective of his family. He has a sibling-like bond with Anne, even if he's the younger sibling this time around.
Andy evolved into Combusken some point after facing Baron/Martha Mildenhall's Ghost-type Gym.
Emmy the Mimikyu
(PREFACE: this one is looooong)
Ragatha's first partner outside of her family's farm is none other than Emmy the Mimikyu.
... Okay, I lied; Ragatha actually met Emmy when she was a child on her mother's property. Even if they didn't reunite until several years later, they did technically meet on the farm.
Mimikyu was a lone Pokémon she befriended as a child. Despite their Fairy-type status, Ragatha's mother despised Mimikyu, seeing them as bad luck.
Regardless, a young Ragatha helped a wild Mimikyu who looked pretty torn up and was frantically trying to keep its disguise in order.
While she rejected her help initially, trying to scare her off, it collapsed in exhaustion. Ragatha hid it in her room and wrapped it up in blankets to keep it hidden. When she woke up, Ragatha offered her a small bowl of berries, to which the Pokémon cautiously accepted. After eating, the Mimikyu tried to flee out the window, startled by one of the maids who heard the commotion from Ragatha's room, but got her already tattered disguise caught up on something. Ragatha begged the maid to not tell her mother that she brought a Mimikyu in the house, assuring she just wanted to help her fix its cloak and let her leave.
Before she fell apart, revealing her terrifying true form, Ragatha quickly threw one of the blankets over it, keeping the Pokémon hidden. She lend her the blanket and wanted to help repair its disguise. Mimikyu accepted letting the young girl fix its disguise, a sense of trust due to the girl's care in helping it stay hidden.
Ragatha stayed up late many nights, teaching herself to sew a new cloak for Mimikyu. After a few days, Ragatha presented the Mimikyu the finished cloak, looking like the old one but with vintage fabric patches scattered around.
Eventually, Ragatha's mother found her tending to the Mimikyu. It turns out the maid who Ragatha confided in ratted her out to the matriarch, who suspected her daughter was hiding something from her.
Despite pleading not to, Ragatha's mother used her own ace Pokémon, a shiny Florges, to scare the Mimikyu off, fleeing back into the woods. The matriarch did little to comfort the tearful Ragatha, telling her to let that be a lesson; don't hide things from me and bring dirty Pokémon in the house.
Many years later, once Ragatha set out on her journey, she met the same Mimikyu before while on the way to the Ghost-type Gym, recognizing her based on the cloak.
Of course, not having seen her since that time as a child, the Mimikyu believed she wanted it gone, too, seeing how she never once tried to look for it.
However, things turned dicey when Ragatha tried to help Mimikyu after she found her in a hunter's trap in the woods. While she did eventually get her out, Emmy was still understandably cautious, knowing how their last meeting went.
However, before they could properly reconcile, a hunter Hypnotized Ragatha and her teammates, Emmy escaping just in the nick of time.
When Ragatha woke up, she was tied up in the hunter's camp, her own Pokémon immobilized by Poison. The hunter demanded to know where the Mimikyu was, having searched for it due to its unique cloak. Ragatha denies her knowledge of Emmy's location, to which the hunter Poisons Ragatha until she passes out.
When all looked lost, however, Mimikyu broke into the camp, revealing it tracked itself back to Ragatha’s camp and alerted Pomni and Gangle that she was in trouble. Mimikyu finished it off by using its newly-mastered Shadow Sneak to destroy the hunter's camp and weapons.
When Ragatha woke up, she found herself back in her sleeping bag, a small bowl of berries, akin to the one she gave to Mimikyu all those years ago, next to her. Mimikyu poked its head out from a towel Ragatha had, causing Ragatha to hug the Pokémon, before quickly apologizing, understanding it might not accept her.
However, the Mimikyu accepted and snuggled her back, relieved she was okay. Pomni and Gangle were waiting outside her tent, and filled her in on what happened while she was out, telling her the hunter was caught. When Ragatha fully recovered, packed up, and prepared to leave, Mimikyu poked her shoulder, suggesting it wanted to keep traveling with her.
Ragatha happily accepted and welcomed the Disguise Pokémon to her team, offering it a Pokéball. Mimikyu accepted and joined her team.
I'm gonna call it a day on this one so far, but luckily, Ragatha still has three more partners for everyone to meet.
The rise in antisemitism in the last few years is awful. I wish I could do more about it.
I'm not Jewish. I say that because unfortunately it feels like that needs to be clarified - and not in a "so I can't speak directly to the impact of this because it's not my story so you should listen to those who are being affected" (that's still true and you should do it) but because part of the antisemitism is dismissing Jewish people when they bring it up.
And I imagine this post will get me a lot of messages/responses about freeing Palestine - and I agree, lots of horrible things are happening to Palestinians. But this post is about the horrible things that are happening to Jewish people.
I'm Canadian. The things I read about antisemitic hate crimes have nothing to do with helping Palestinians. How does damaging property in Canada or attacking a person in Canada help?
I don't want to hear about the mental gymnastics or outright hateful logic you use to make it ok to attack a marginalized community. Instead, just go head and block me. Stop following. We don't need to interact with each other.
The harm that is being done toward Jewish communities and individuals over the world is heartbreaking. The lack of support/outrage/solidarity that is being shown to those individuals and communities is shameful for the rest of us. Call it out. Stand up. Correct information that is harmful. Listen and read and learn and try to understand instead of scratching your head and finding reasons for why this kind of aggression and discrimination is ok actually.
And if you're Jewish and reading this - hi, welcome. I don't know enough and I'll probably miss some things as I'm still learning, but I hope following me can be safe for you.
I was watching hidden figures with a goyische friend of mine and when one of the clips of jfk played she said “you know, there’s a theory that he was killed bc he started criticising israel”. Thinking she was joking at the expense of such a theory I laughed and said “ahh antisemitism 101!” but I felt her go really still beside me and realised, to my utter horror, that she, a well educated and generally reasonable person, actually gave credence to this “theory”. I turned to her and very clearly said “that’s one of the most basic antisemitic conspiracy theories of all time. Like blatantly” and she very noncommittally nodded
My adrenaline didn’t go down all night and now I’m dreading seeing her again, but she’s one of my closest friends. We see each other multiple times a week. I knew she was very antizionist, but it was always one of those things we just didn’t talk about so I had no idea how much she had been drinking the kool aid in broad daylight.
I was watching hidden figures with a goyische friend of mine and when one of the clips of jfk played she said “you know, there’s a theory that he was killed bc he started criticising israel”. Thinking she was joking at the expense of such a theory I laughed and said “ahh antisemitism 101!” but I felt her go really still beside me and realised, to my utter horror, that she, a well educated and generally reasonable person, actually gave credence to this “theory”. I turned to her and very clearly said “that’s one of the most basic antisemitic conspiracy theories of all time. Like blatantly” and she very noncommittally nodded
My adrenaline didn’t go down all night and now I’m dreading seeing her again, but she’s one of my closest friends. We see each other multiple times a week. I knew she was very antizionist, but it was always one of those things we just didn’t talk about so I had no idea how much she had been drinking the kool aid in broad daylight.
That merch ad was very cute and sweet yes it was, and yes I do really like Ribbit, AND I'm also very happy the NPC characters finally got some more love.
With that said though, I am a little disappointed the SIDE characters are the ones getting the most attention more than the other main characters (sans Jax, Pomni, and Kinger).
GLITCH y'all make another Ragatha-themed merch drop and my wallet is yours.
People are right when they say GLITCH WILL get to the other characters soon enough. Obviously, since the Finale is still fairly new and Ribbit is a very popular character, it makes sense that the latest merch wave would be mostly dedicated to her.
Even the semi-forgotten characters like the NPCs got their own merch; that's pretty cool.
I know it's easy to feel entitled (myself included) that our favorite characters aren't getting as much attention. At the end of the day though, TADC is still an incredibly popular show with so many more merch avenues that haven't been explored yet. And honestly, I'm just happy to see more TADC waves of merch (even if I can't afford much for now alas the life of a poor college student).
Of course, there's always the main option, and that's to freely *AND RESPECTFULLY* email GLITCH to let them know *POLITELY* that you would be very happy to see merch of other characters.
i cannot express enough how much i don’t want to expend my energy as a jew brandishing my sword and never sheathing it. i don’t want to feel hunted. i don’t want to notice against my own will and popular belief the systems of communication that encourage people on levels both subliminal and spoken to murder me and my kin.
i don’t want to complain about my subjugation or suffering, i don’t want to have to mourn my murdered dead. i don’t want to have to flinch every day for the rest of my life for being what i am.
i want a life of prosperity and relative peace for my people and for israel and its neighbors. most days though it really feels like i’m the only one who does
That merch ad was very cute and sweet yes it was, and yes I do really like Ribbit, AND I'm also very happy the NPC characters finally got some more love.
With that said though, I am a little disappointed the SIDE characters are the ones getting the most attention more than the other main characters (sans Jax, Pomni, and Kinger).
GLITCH y'all make another Ragatha-themed merch drop and my wallet is yours.
When reassurance becomes difficult to access, it can help to have a plan ready before you're in the middle of a spiral.
Take a few minutes to create your own reassurance plan.
You might include:
Common triggers that tend to make you doubt yourself or your relationships.
Reminders of what your brain usually says during those moments. (Examples: "They don't care about me." "I did something wrong." "They're going to leave.")
Alternative explanations you can check before assuming the worst.
Coping skills that help take the edge off the panic. (Please note that we break down some coping skills later in my book in part 3, so there are activities that you try later that might be helpful. You can leave a blank space for this one to add to as you try some.)
Reassurance that you know is meaningful to you. This could be reminders, screenshots, messages, letters, photos, or phrases that help you feel grounded.
People you can reach out to when you need support.
A few examples of how you can ask for reassurance directly and kindly.
A backup plan for times when reassurance isn't immediately available.
Your plan doesn't have to include everything on this list. Choose the parts that would be most helpful to you. The goal is simply to have something you can return to when your brain starts sounding alarm bells.
If you’d like to follow along with doing an anchor box, see my master post here.
Since this is one that is built around having read the chapter, I'm going to share my examples immediately below the read more to help!
Common Triggers
A friend taking much longer than usual to reply. Someone cancelling plans. Feeling like I'm the one always reaching out first. A change in someone's tone that I can't explain. Feeling like someone doesn't want to spend time with me. (Usually imagined, but definitely a trigger.)
What My Brain Usually Says
"They're annoyed with me." "I talked too much." "They only put up with me because they feel bad." "They're realizing I'm too much." "They're going to stop talking to me."
Alternative Explanations
They're busy or at work. They forgot to reply. They're having a difficult day themselves. One cancelled plan doesn't erase an entire friendship. If something is actually wrong, they'll probably tell me. I don't have enough evidence to assume the worst.
Coping Skills That Actually Help Me (If you haven't figured that out yet, that's okay. Maybe note some down you'd like to try.)
Read through my Evidence That I'm Wanted folder (this is a later anchor box activity). Message a different friend instead of repeatedly messaging the same person. Go for a walk with Kumi. Bake something. Play a video game until the intensity settles. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.
Reassurance That is Meaningful to Me
Screenshots of kind messages. Photos with friends. My husband telling me, "We'll figure it out." Messages where someone reached out to me first. Birthday cards I've kept. Notes reminding me that feelings aren't facts.
Other People I Can Contact
My husband. My best friend. My Twin (bestie online friend)
Ways I Can Ask For Reassurance
"My brain is telling me a story right now. Could you remind me we're okay?" "I'm feeling a little insecure today. Do you have a minute to reassure me?" "I know this is my anxiety talking, but could you help me reality-check something?" "Could you tell me if we're okay? I think I'm spiralling."
My Back Up Plan
Wait before sending another message. Read through my reassurance folder. Remind myself that someone being unavailable isn't the same as someone leaving. Distract myself with an ACCEPTS skill. Set a timer for 30 minutes before checking my phone again. Journal what my brain is saying versus what I actually know.
I wish I had a magic button that would scan the entire Internet and block any media that mentions gaza, netanyahu, israel (by non-jews), palestine or genocide. I'm so fucking exhausted. I want to be able to enjoy content without getting jump scared out of nowhere and having to check another creator, show, company, etc on the list of stuff I have to avoid. no amount of filters, tag blocking, whatever helps at all. it's just exhausting. I'm sick of hearing about antisemitic attacks, policies, countries. I'm sick of hearing about what politicians are using israel as a stepping stone to try and get brownie points with dumb college people. I roll my eyes at the idiot bigots, but my heart breaks seeing otherwise educated people that genuinely believe that I am fundamentally evil.
and I want to engage in jumblr and other jewish communities without constant posts about I/P. we are not defined by how other people label us. we are not that war. why is our existence only contextualized in our relation/difference to palestine, muslims and christians and why are we also doing it to ourselves? our existences aren't political. I want jewish joy. I want to go back to Israel where I don't have to deal with white virtue signalers. we as a people have been through so much.
David Hogg's friends are attacking a Jewish man who lost his daughter in the same Parkland shooting that Hogg uses to grift enables bigotry.
David Hogg and Cameron Kasky are two people who survived a horrible event and are using the blood of their classmates to grift money and fuck with what's left of the only party resisting the GOP. They are cynical, bigoted, opportunistic grifters and any sensible person should show them the door.
They are spitting on the memory of Jaime Guttenberg, and they obviously don't care because they see the parkland shooting as their meal ticket and a way to steer people into the same radicalization that creates school shooters rather than a call to action to take the temperature down.
Don't by shy to call your own Senate Democrats to complain about AES and let them know you're feeling Uncommitted toward Michigan, either. Tell them to pass your message along. The key is to be the loudest ones in the room.
Even for those of you who have phone anxiety, I deeply deeply encourage you to speak to a rep about this. Let them know how disgusted you are that the Democrats are stabbing us in the back for the DSA. Let them know how disgusted you are that they let that Nazi in Maine into the tent. Let them know how their actually loyal voters are feeling and tell them to pass it on to the Senate Democrats.
Hey guys, while I do like the way this Maid Ragatha piece has turned out so far, I still feel like the colors/rendering are missing something to really make them pop.
Do any of y'all, especially traditional artists, have any tips I could use to maybe help the rendering pop out a little bit more?
