Beware The Cosmic Witch

Cosmic Witch. 30. Artist. Writer. Hobbyist. Rabid Roleplayer and Gamer.

[thecosmicwitch]

It's been years since I've been here. Things have changed so much O-o

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#5yrsago App shows you the way to the illegally hidden public beaches of Malibu

Back in May, Mark wrote about a Kickstarter project to fund a mobile app that will help you locate the hidden entrances to Malibu’s public beaches, which the local rich and famous people have done everything they can to obscure (including putting up illegal fake signs that falsely declare passage to be trespassing).

The Kickstarter was fully funded and the app is out, and the public is finding its way to Malibu’s public beaches, which is great news – unless you’re one of those people who’s spent decades treating a public beach as your own private patch. Local residents are pissed:

https://boingboing.net/2013/06/24/app-shows-you-the-way-to-the-i.html

[lewd-plants]

Good.

[seven-valid-libras]

Some of them even hire private security guards who tell beachgoers that they’re on private property and could be prosecuted. Those security guards have called the local sheriff’s department (and let’s not forget that’s an elected position). They also have told beachgoers that they’re trespassing. But all California beaches are public up to the high tide line, as long as you can find the public access points. These apps help maintain equitable access, as well as a law passed in 2014, stating that perpetrators of access violation can be fined $11,250 per day lmfao

Eat the rich. Go to the beach.

[unwieldyserotonin]

You tell yourself the rich and powerful cant get any less human. And they always manage to be even less human than you thought.

[omegasmileyface]

really though the whole "cringy mary sue oc" thing really is attacking an important outlet for lots of kids... All those tropes have a place in it:

Tragic backstories and lgbt+ identities are clearly signs that those are things that the kids creating the ocs live with. Most of those kids struggle with abuse or are lgbt+, and either way need a character to relate to

Self-inserts who hang out with their favorite character or variations on their favorite character? yeah chances are that kid feels pretty alone and needs to feel like someone who they love and look up to respects them back. see the abuse thing again

"Flawless personality" when you feel like everybody hates you you start to feel like a shit person. so having an oc like you who is also flawless is a place to embrace the things you like about yourself and get more self-confidence. I don't know, this one's hard to explain. See the next one

"Overpowered or underpowered" yeah, an OP oc is usually because the kid feelspowerless and helpless and nobody wants that. a relatable oc or self-insert who has lots of power? instant self-confidence boost. If my oc who's like me can have power, so can I. With underpowered characters that's just an outlet of that same frustration

Anyway yeah cringe culture is dead. All this applies to adults too, not just kids! you're never to old to make a fun character!

Plus not to mention that all this stuff specifically preys on neurodivergent kids.

If you can think of any other tropes like this feel free to add on

[lnfini-deactivated20230930]

“overly beautiful/perfect appearances” (which is only criticized when written by 13 year olds, vs grown writers and artists making every character look like an adonis to ‘appeal to the audience’)

adding on to that, having colorful/sparkly/rainbow hair or costumes, because having colors in ur designs is uNrEaLiStIc. this ties into the culture that says middle school kids are cringy(tm) for dyeing their hair/ dressing for niche cultures

bullying a writer because the oc they’ve created falls “too much” outside canon, usually in canons where fantastical things and improbable circumstances happen all the time

characters who are clearly meant to be vent characters being singled out as ‘cringy’ and ‘unrealistic’ because NORMAL people aren’t supposed to be THAT sad

but if your character is too HAPPY or successful (aka the “perfect” mary sue archetype) then they’re also to be ridiculed

the whole idea that if you aren’t following an arbitrary and overall extremely subjective set of rules about how your character is supposed to act/look, it’s somehow now socially acceptable to make fun of you instead of actually trying to give constructive criticism (and the people who do this will claim that the bullying is the criticism, despite the fact that it’s anything but constructive)

[elgara-vallas-dalen]

And let's not forget the laaaaarge group of people using the term Mary Sue in bad faith to belittle especially female characters and even more young women/girls who either write or like them. There's a lot of bs going on with the "critique" of Mary Sues and it's (once again) targeted especially against women and LGBTQ+ people who either consume or produce pieces of media that place them and their issues in the center instead of the overwhelming majority of white cis dude characters and white cis dude gaze-stories.

[lord-kitschener]

I mean the whole damn point of the Nativity story is that the supposed son of God (interpret Jesus how you fucking want, of course) was born to a couple of poor, exhausted peasants in the stable for the inn, and his first bed was a feeding trough for animals. That would nowadays be like a poor couple where the mother gives birth in a parking garage behind the motel because they couldn’t find a better place and nobody else would take them in. It’s a pretty gritty setting, and the idea is that God was reborn in some of the rock-bottom lowest circumstances. The only thing majestic was all the angels and shit, and of course motherly love

I get that a lot of the art portraying Madonna and Child as fabulously wealthy europeans in splendid robes and golden light was meant to glorify God + whichever nobility was sponsoring the artist, and while of course it’s genuinely beautiful art, it just always struck me as horribly missing the point, which is that the supposed son of God started in incredibly humble circumstances, among the kind of people that everyone else looks down on

[babettesfeastables]

‘Massacre des Innocents’ by Leon Cogniét, 1824. Although the Feast of the Holy Innocents is in a couple of days time, this painting is still really relevant in that it portrays Mary as how She really was: a scared refugee mum, so fearful that Her son was going to be one of the Innocents killed by King Herod.

[durnesque-esque]

My new favorite mordern interpretation is this work, José y Maria by Everett Patterson (http://www.everettpatterson.com)

[libraford]

I had to look at this like FIVE TIMES to register all the layers of symbolism going into the piece by Patterson. 

The hoodie as a veil. 

Weisman cigarettes

Each of them is haloed by an advertisement sticker. 

No Vacancy sign on the motel. 

Dove sticker over Maria’s head. 

Neon sign with a star symbol also over Maria’s head. 

The crown over the ‘Dave’s City Motel’ sign. “New Manger.”

The sign behind Jose’s elbow likely says ‘Herod.’

The wee little plant growing through the cracks at their feet. 

It’s like a New Testament ‘I Spy.’ I love it!

Ugh.

New favorite interpretation of the nativity. 

[theprinceofprinces-deactivated2]

The paper at José’s feet has an advert for Shepard Watches Maria’s hoodie says Nazareth High School The sign above José’s head proclaims ‘Good News!’

[naamahdarling]

This is incredible and lovely.

[nakedinasnowsuit]

Maria on the coin operated pony instead of an ass.

[gigglygamer]

Reblog if Fan Fics are just as valid as Fan Art

Affirmation for writers, please!!

Likes do nothing!!

[redgoldsparks]

My latest comic for The Nib was written by my friend Mike Thompson- it’s his first published comics work! 

The Nib has been a steady source of income and a huge support to me and many other indie cartoonists for years. They publish amazing work, but will be cut loose by their financial backer in July. You can read the official post about it from editor Matt Bors here.  They are still running their kickstarter-funded print magazine, but have to put digital publishing on hiatus until they figure out their next steps. If you’ve been thinking about supporting their membership program, now would be a good time. They have levels from $2 to $40 per month. I really don’t want this to be my last Nib piece! 

instagram / patreon / portfolio / the nib / etsy

[ruffboi-mags]

you know what, THIS is how you address historical queer folks of all stripes in a respectful way. you refer to them the way they chose to be referred to, and you say “it’s impossible to know how they would’ve identified in today’s society, but they’re part of our history regardless”.

[le-dreadmau5]

It’s literally that simple

Friend: “hey my son can’t concentrate on his homework. He chooses to do literally anything else everytime. He said his head doesn’t feel like it.”

Me: “Did you give him music?”

Friend: “No! No tech until he’s done! He doesn’t need more distracted.”

Me:

“k, bring me the child”

*Go to her house*

*points to the obviously ADHD boy struggling with his homework*

Me: “so your head doesn’t feel like doing homework?”

Son: “yeah. It would rather do ANYTHING else.”

Me: *unwrapping earbuds* here, listen to this for an hour while you do it.

French voice: 1hr later

Son: “k I’m done! :-)”

Friend: “wow, what’d you give him? Concentra, Adderall, Ritalin‽”

Me: “Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics” and some lo-fi.

[fckingowlnerd]

I-I’m gonna try this for myself

[le-dreadmau5]

Go for it! From what I’ve seen, everyone has a different genre but instrumental (no words) seems to be key. I guess Sweet Dreams words are so ethereal, ADHD just rolls with it????

For me, orchestral covers of songs I know work best since my ADHD is using the extra hyperfocus to remember and keep up with words. Have fun experimenting!!

[avatar-of-the-vast]

I have some arrangements of songs I did that I just loop. Mind you, these are, like, 1-3 minutes long, but the drone really helps with focus

[a-dumb-bitch-apparently]

Y'all I just listen to Lana Del Rey. Would recommend because with instrumentals I tend to focus on where actual words would be but with Lana’s stuff her vocals sound like music but it’s words

[mbrainspaz]

really wish I could’ve done this when I was spending 4 hours on every page of math homework in the 90′s. Fast forward to my last year of college when I finally figured out I could just listen to Blackmill and blaze through an entire semester of college math like it was nothing.  Find the study methods that work for you!!! Help kids find the study methods that work for them!  

[heywriters]

It takes me all day to do simple chores because i keep getting distracted. If i put in earbuds with upbeat music I’m done with everything in a couple hours AND i feel really good and probably danced a little i.e. exercised.

[abadbowlofsoup]

Try songs in another language - one you don’t speak. The idea is that since you don’t understand the words, your brain doesn’t go “Oh hey, someone is talking to me” and thus you can maintain your focus. Although, this is something probably  best suited to writing. But on the other hand, if it works, it works.  Personally, I like Opera. BUT, I advise against using Pandora’s Opera Station. At least in the free version, it either cycles through the same ten Singers/Albums or drifts off into instrumental covers.  On the other hand, it’s great for background noise when gaming. Just be sure you have an ad blocker running. You will also have to confirm that you are listening every hour or so. 

[abadbowlofsoup]

Followup on the lofi front: I recommend the following channels. Chillhop Music:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOxqgCwgOqC2lMqC5PYz_Dg

In particular, I recommend the relax/study livestream radio. Or just about any of their mixes. Fantasic Music:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZyyXrEF2WCZbI653PFNBbA Both the Chill and the Jazz playlists are excellent.  Jazzhop Cafe:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8wqezBudeAiTdKOX571ug

Their ChillMix videos are the best.  Jazzhop Cafe Archive:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKbD–QKXKosHmSXarqYUeg Name is self-evident.  I believe ChilledCow also has a livestream, but I honestly prefer Chillhop. YMMV https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSJ4gkVC6NrvII8umztf0Ow

EDIT: Oh, Pandora’s Vitamin String Quartet IS good, but it tends to drift off into New Age type stuff. Adblocker thing still applies though. 

[drunkjameson]

https://youtu.be/hHW1oY26kxQ

I swear by this specific live stream, it has helped me more than I will ever be able to say

[anachronic-cobra]

I use kpop because it’s a genre I like musically and the fact that I don’t know korean yet means I’m not getting distracted listening to the lyrics

[kyraneko]

For the ADHD brain, sometimes that secondary thing to engage with is the equivalent of motor oil. It’s a lubricant. It makes things move smoothly. People might discount it as useless if they only consider its lack of usefulness as fuel, but if you run an engine without it things go badly.

[thecosmicwitch]

I do stuff like this too to keep focused when I’m writing or have anything I need to do. It really helps to keep me focused.

[ultrafacts]

Source

Video of Tama

Follow Ultrafacts for more facts

[majikkant-deactivated20180504]

The picture in the background of the second one

[pizzaismylifepizzaisking]

Tama is boss

[ultrafacts]

[cat-fandom]

THE TRAINS HAVE CARTOON TAMAS ON THEM

[ultrafacts]

Sad update everyone, Tama recently passed away… An estimated 3,000 people, including railway officials, attended Tama the cat’s funeral on Sunday, days after she died of heart failure aged 16. [x]

[retro-geek-deactivated20220412]

For those who haven’t read articles about it, the local shrine elevated her to a god. She’s now the Eternal Stationmaster and patron god of the station.

[karinanotcinerina]

Beautiful.

[system-fail-ure-deactivated2021]

Now I’m crying thanks

[sapphic-matriarchy]

and a new cat was hired right?

[clarenecessities]

yep! her name is Nitama (essentially ”second tama” or “tama II”) and she served under Tama as an apprentice before being appointed her deputy

she works very hard

[beasti]

Everytime this crosses my dash, I reblog. It is the law.

[lafayettelabaguette]

Law

[tooiconic]

I’m crying at 11pm over train cats

[sighinastorm]

Nitama, already now a mature cat (born 2010), has a protege named Yontama (fourth Tama, b. 2016).  There is no information available for either the physical befellment or tragic self-disgrace which has removed Santama from contention.

^Nitama majestic, and below with Yontama

Yontama.

[linkislost]

a legacy

[bemusedlybespectacled]

okay but actually what happened to santama (or sun-tama-tama, which is her name because it’s a pun on santama) was that she was basically sent to train for the position in okayama and they liked her so much they refused to send her back

[kindaoffkilter]

“Sun-tama-tama” (a pun off of “Santama”, lit. “third Tama”) was a calico cat sent for training in Okayama. Sun-tama-tama was considered as a candidate for Tama’s successor, but the Okayama Public Relations representative who had been caring for Sun-tama-tama refused to give the cat up writing, “I will not let go of this child, she will stay in Okayama.” [25]

As of September 2018, Sun-tama-tama is working as the stationmaster in Naka-ku, Okayama and appears occasionally on Tama’s Twitter account.

[cryoverkiltmilk]

Every time I see this post there’s new info and it gets better

[northeastartist]

You are only allowed to scroll pass this after you pay tribute to the great Tama Station masters.

[donnaoria]

DIY Green Witch Portable Altar

If you’re like me, and like to bring your earthy witchcraft with you this is the DIY for you.

cost breakdown and materials:

✨ Wood box - $2.99 from craft store (but most stores have coupons)

✨ Stain - $4.99 (a small bottle will last you forever)

✨ Moss - $5 from a craft store (I’m sure you can fine it somewhere cheaper)

(side note: I don’t recommend getting it from the ground. It can lead to mold/bugs/allergy issues)

✨ Hot glue 

✨ Acrylic Paint and brushes

Prep your box by sanding down any rough edges, removing any stickers, as well as making sure it’s dry and clean.

Stain your box. You can use a rag or brush to apply stain. Read the directions on your stain bottle, and wipe off extra stain. I love wood stain.

The latch has an eagle on it :)

After your stain is dry prep for the sky. You can prep with gesso or just white acrylic paint. This will make your colors pop more. I just dove in with painting, but if you want really crisp border lines use masking tape.

While waiting for the white to dry I hot glued in some moss. It takes the glue really well, but retains its fluffiness.

Add your night sky. To avoid having to paint tons of layers because your paint is transparent, ad a little white in. For the sky I mixed white, black, and blue, and left it a little unblended for a foggy feel.

Ad stars. I chose Cassiopeia, Polaris, and the Big Dipper. Use a tooth pic to get small dots.

Add in your items. I didn’t have a tea candle so I made a temporary candle from a shell. I also added some jars for herbs and a couple of crystals.

[alittleforestwitch]

This is so cute 🌿🕯✨

[aseaofquotes]

[zoewashburne]

we’ve all been there, martha

[sugarwurm]

It’s a big ol’ universe out there 🌟

Commission info

[thecosmicwitch]

How to defeat Dad for one

AFO: Villainous monologue

Izuku: *Pulls out phone dialling number+

AFO:What are you?

Izuku:*keeps dialling*

AFO: I... OH GOD IZUKU NO!

Izuku:HI MOM DAD'S HERE HE'S A SUPERVILLIAN AND IS TRYING TO KILL ALL MIGHT!

Silence

Inko: HISASHI MIDORIYA!

AFO precedes to be completely dressed down by his wife for the next hour while All Might realises he could have prevented everything by just having Inko on speed dial.

[lil-tea-guy]

how are y’all today?

[effervescentbi]

“We thought it was appropriate that [Captain Marvel] be kind of a love letter to that time and decade…many of those scenes are homages to movies we loved growing up” - Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

[van-dyne]

tfw you’re going to a wedding but turns out to be a funeral We’re all nothing but a joke to them Russos (Edited: now added Sebastian interview with Jimmy Fallon)

[swingsetindecember]

its a shit way to treat your cast 

[ifeelbetterer]

It’s a shit thing to do to people trying to do their job, but it’s also a shit thing to do when you want the actors to do good acting in your film. It’s a shit sandwich.

[rhymewithrachel]

there’s a special place in my heart for tabloids that are straight up slander

[thecastingcircle]

It all makes sense now… Iron Man and Spiderman both have the same last name…….

[rhymewithrachel]

the proof is out there

[janinaduszejko]

Rhodes tells all is my absolute fave part bci love the idea of rhodey eating a pizza on the couch in avengers tower, taking revenge on tony for screwing with his suit, TMZ on speaker, going: ‘ya, the kid’s his son [chewing] who’s the mother? [more chewing] uhhh black widow [chewing] they’re both spiders, you see. [taking a sip from his soda] why it didn’t work out? well, tony cheated on her with uhhh [steve walks in, waves at rhodey] with captain america. yeah it was very bad for team morale.’