HI WELCOME TO MY LIVEJOURNAL @valerie-volatile - Tumblr Blog

long time no log in. life has been extremely... eventful and tragic. not sure what possessed me to log in, but hello.

an acquaintance found out their employer supported detention camps at the border, so they're taking advantage of their employer's charitable donation matching to fund immigration lawyers

NOTE: the "hell" thing is just a Doom thing, not a lawyer hate thing

“David Does Doom special - Send lawyers to hell!”

mysharona1987

valerie-volatile

and more directly, the mother who had to abandon her degree program to raise an unexpected child could have cured cancer. or she could have just gone on living her own life and making her own choices, as is her right, regardless of whether she is considered valuable to society, just like that gay kid, the shot kid, and the migrant kid.

shencomix

inali

neonprotagonist

my favorite scp ever is scp 1171 and i just discovered them yesterday.

they live in a different dimension and can only communicate through writing on the constantly foggy windows of the house they inhabit. their name is beauremont. and they just. fucking hate humans. it’s so funny. and the best part is that they befriend someone in our dimension who works for the scp, not realizing that they’re human, and so that human is just sorta their roommate now because they’re the only one who doesn’t piss beauremont off. it’s so fucking funny.

arctic-chameleonus

My thembro Beauremont got fucking catfished

neonprotagonist

it’s been over a week and i still haven’t recovered from this absolutely fucking stellar addition to my post. this is literally so fucking funny.

a-rich-friendship

Y'all are sleeping on this one

A Nerf Maverick that was modified by some random dude to make anything it shoots instantly worse.

neonprotagonist

i thought it could get funnier than the coke turning into a pepsi but then he shot the fucking dvd of willy wonka and i lost my mind

beben-eleben

Babies Experiencing Things For The First Time

First time watching fireworks:

First time being dunked into water that’s way too cold:

First time getting caught in a bubble shower:

First time driving through a dark tunnel:

First time chatting with a puppet:

First time finding a new recipe in a cooking magazine:

First time forgetting how spoons work:

First time seeing ice cream:

suganeurospice

Whenever I’m feeling sad, I look at this and realise how fucking amazing the world is

celtic-pyro-deactivated20230725

How can you hate babies when they’re the friggin best?

notarobot1006

Babies make the best faces because they don’t know what restraint is. They just put 100% of whatever they’re currently feeling onto their faces and it’s adorable.

valerie-volatile

I once saw a baby, newly able to walk, outside with her mom, experiencing her first rainfall. She danced around in her diaper, laughing, and it was beautiful for everyone who saw it!

birlinterrupted

ok like not to like get too far out in the weeds but the most noticeable thing to me abt like the snapchat gender filters, which are abt as like explicit of an articulation of gender difference as yr gonna get, is like

So, theres an interesting way that like they are actually for the most part articulating really strangely different understandings of gender between them? Like, the ‘male’ one is mostly rooted in biological changes that are hard if not impossible to change without medical intervention: the broad facial hair, the brow bone, the oversized square jaw. but the women’s one is like… long hair and blurry skin and makeup! makeup is somehow an inherent feature of womanhood or whatever

and there’s exceptions to this general rule (the male filter’s eyebrows, the female filters almost alien-esque tiny chin) but it’s just really fascinating to me the way like these are seeming not in alignment. Partly because like, any sort of grooming implies a lack of manhood, so only biologized features can be used, partially because the idea of womanhood is actually not abt what any women actually look like physically but what’s socially expected.

lifewithchronicpain-original

"I am no longer particularly nice when I’m confronted by impromptu judges."

When I was six, I was hospitalized with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. At the hospital, I was encouraged to get out of bed, get dressed and spend as much time as possible in the playroom. I brought magazines and books back to my room to read and played with other kids who were up and about on the pediatric floor. There was a girl in the next room with leukemia, and we made faces and waved to each other through our shared window. The fact that I was able to play didn’t mean I wasn’t sick enough to be hospitalized. It meant that regardless of my illness, I was a child with the same needs and wants as other children.

Yet, with adults, the same concept doesn’t seem to hold true. Whenever ill people do — well, anything — it’s taken as “proof” that we’re bluffing about our condition. Many of us are confronted by complete strangers on a regular basis when we go out in public, on everything from using parking placards to requesting ADA accommodation at events. We’re challenged more by people we know, who should really know better.

After I became ill, I decided to go to my favorite theme park one day. I didn’t do much; it was a very sedentary experience. I posted a photo of myself on one of the rides on Facebook with my germ mask on backward, slept for days to recover from my adventure, and didn’t think much of it. A few days later, my Mom called me about it. A “family friend” had seen the photo and was furious about it. She’d apparently complained to several people that if I was at a theme park, I was obviously well enough to be working and was pulling some sort of scam. It had gotten back to my mother.

I promptly unfriended and blocked the person, but their actions stayed with me. For most of the next year or so, whenever I posted a photo of myself doing anything fun, I looked over my shoulder. I always made a point of describing how sick I was and how I’d needed to rest, and how tired I was afterward. I felt the need to qualify what I was doing; to verify that I was still ill, and to remind everyone that there was more to the truth than what was visible in the photo. Someone’s ignorance and unkind judgments had made me feel guilty about enjoying my life to the best of my ability and upset my mom, and that was unconscionable. (Read more at link)

Reminds me also about how rich people will go apoplectic when they see a poor person with a iPhone. Nevermind payment plans, refurbished phones, or just plain saving up for a one time cost gadget, you can’t really be poor if you have a smartphone to some minds. Doesn’t matter that most people need Internet access just to apply for most jobs these days, smartphones are for people with money! It also ignores that electronics as a cost have not risen the way basic necessities like food and water have.

No different with sick people. We all have to look the like the perfect destitute or cripple. Otherwise, those with health and wealth and the power to reform social policy will refuse to even acknowledge our plight.

ultraviolet-techno-ecology

Hey so like reminder that the US Government is starting to stalk disabled people’s social media accounts looking for these types of pictures specifically to kick them off disability benefits. This idiocy goes all the way up into our government and is probably going to get people killed if it hasn’t already.

offtherecordsarahc

What people call “adulting” these days — chores, errands, personal finance, bureaucracy & taxes — is hard for a lot of people, and we’re all vaguely embarrassed about it. We feel like it should be trivial. We rely heavily on technology that makes it easier, and wonder how past generations managed.

For some things, I think it genuinely used to be easier. Back when corporate employment was more paternalistic, the company did a lot of the “adulting” for you. Planning a vacation? You didn’t have Travelocity, but the company did have a travel agent.

Notice how a lot of “adulting” has to be done during working hours? When you’re kind of stealing time from work to do it? How are you *supposed* to do it? I think the answer is “that’s your wife’s job.”

But isn’t this kind of hard for your wife too? Like, it’s hard to go to the bank if you’re dragging a couple of screaming kids, right?

First of all, this only works if the kids are in school most of the day. Second of all, it used to be a lot more normal to have *servants*. Third of all, you can squeeze more work out of people if they feel they *must*, and sexism is great at that.

The 20th century system was never set up to allow a person to work full time *and* do all the chores necessary for a decent life on his/her own. Weird “millennial” ways of filling in the gaps — roommates, software apps, cleaning/laundry services, company perks — are substitutes for old solutions like non-wage-employed family members, servants, government services, and company perks. Sometimes better solutions, sometimes worse, sometimes exactly the same thing under a different name. But the fact that “adulting” is time-consuming and sometimes difficult isn’t a result of some inherent moral turpitude in Millennials. Chores have *always* taken time.

kaijuno

I’m just super fucking bitter that once the flint water crisis got it’s 15 minutes of fame people stopped giving a shit. The water is still poisoned, people! Donations have plummeted and people have been forced back into drinking and bathing with the water! The medical effects of this are astounding, cases of legionnaires disease have skyrocketed, people are having seizures, people are having weird rashes break out over their body, people (including me!) are having their blood poisoned, and it’s not just lead! it’s coliform bacteria! it’s THMs! it’s all in the water and it gets into the bloodstream and breaks down blood vessels, causing bruising and petechiae and internal bleeding and no one gives a shit anymore and it’s only gotten worse like how many people are going to have to die until people realize this is still a problem

contemporary-petroleuse-deactiv

I would like to add that the people of Flint cannot sell their houses, because selling a house with leaded water is illegal. Additionally, households with children can’t stop paying for the water because living in a house without running water is cause for CPS to take their kids. Flint has been living this way for over two years.

The people of Flint are trapped by the legal system. And it is only the most high profile case out many cities with a similar problem.

Because the government has abandoned them, they are dependant on help from the outside. Donate here

babypinkb1tch

If u can’t donate, reblog so someone else can!!!

ultrafacts

According to the CDC, in 10 percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening. Drowning does not look like drowning—Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:

“Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs.

Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.

Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.

Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.

From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.”

This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble—they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the Instinctive Drowning Response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long—but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.

Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level

Head tilted back with mouth open

Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus

Eyes closed

Hair over forehead or eyes

Not using legs—vertical

Hyperventilating or gasping

Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway

Trying to roll over on the back

Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder

So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK—don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you all right?” If they can answer at all—they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents—children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

Source/article: [x]

Follow Ultrafacts for more facts!

mermaibee

BOOST FOR THE SUMMER. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

1q8njk-deactivated20221112

Can I just say thank you to OP for putting such a detailed description on this?

I’ve been a lifeguard for 6 years now and of all the saves I’ve done, maybe two or three had people drowning in the stereotypical thrashing style. And even those, like the save I made last weekend, it was exactly like OP describes where the person’s head is going in and out of the water but it isn’t long enough to get any air. Mostly you recognize drowning by the look on someone’s face. If someone looks wide eyed and terrified or confused, chances are they’re drowning. That look of “oh shit” is pretty easily recognizable. And even if you can’t tell for sure: GO AFTER THEM ANYWAY. I’ve done “saves” where a kid was pretending to drown and I mistook it for real drowning, but that’s preferable to a kid ACTUALLY drowning.

Also please remember that even strong swimmers can drown if they have a medical emergency, get cramps, or get too tired. If your friend knows how to swim but they’re acting funny get them to land. And even if someone can respond when you ask them if they need help, if they say they do need help? GO HELP THEM.

However . If the victim is a stranger, I can’t recommend trying to get them. Lifeguards literally train to escape “attacks,” because people who are drowning can freak the fuck out and grab you and make YOU drown as well. If you do go in after someone, take hold of them from the back and talk to them the whole time. IF YOU ARE GRABBED: duck down into the water as low as you can get. The person is panicking and won’t want to go under water and should release you. Shove up at their hands and push them away from you as you duck under. Don’t die trying to save someone else.

Please guys, read and memorize this post. Not all places have lifeguards. Being able to recognize drowning is such an important skill to have and you can save someone’s life.

wetwareproblem

Can speak from experience. Went swimming in the river once with my aunt, who IIRC had lifeguard training, watching over me.

She got distracted for maybe 45 seconds. I dove, found a surprising undertow, and started drowning.

It was exactly as described here - in fact, this description was vivid enough to dislodge the memory. I distinctly remember trying and failing to move my limbs, or stop gasping long enough to say something. It was panic on a level I’d never felt before, and literally the only things I could move on my own were my eyes.

I finally managed to wrench a single inhuman noise from my throat somehow just as I went under for the last time. Total elapsed time from finding the undertow, maybe 30 seconds.

I remember thinking I was going to die. And then being pulled up into the world again, everything too bright and loud, my chest burning and heaving, spewing water.

It happens so fast, and it’s so easy to miss. Be vigilant.

liberalsarecool

Lost a billion. Another billion in debt.

Republicans can’t even get the strength to ask for his tax returns. The Right Wing is so morally and intellectually weak, it’s disgusting.

valerie-volatile

When it comes to the rest of us trying to get jobs, debts are considered a security risk in a lot of sectors. But not when you’re running for president!

I just don’t know what to do about people who “hate politics” when it comes to me talking about my daily experiences. Even fellow trans women. To top it off, I’m out of estradiol because my shit is on backorder and my insurance expected my doctor to submit an authorization for the brand (where generic was what was authorized before), which, it turns out, was ALSO out of stock ANYWAY and the pharmacy didn’t CHECK THIS so they could offer some GUIDANCE so I could maybe get some PILLS INSTEAD (of injection) BEFORE I ran out and had no estrogen in my system, and it’s Friday now and it’s too FUCKING LATE to get a prescription.

So I feel like fucking shit. Everything feels wrong. I’m tense as fuck in spite of my lexapro. I’m deeply afraid of and hyperaware of like my skin masculizing or something -- every little grainy feeling is like “oh god no”. And I’m so fucking alone.

stuffaboutminnesota

carrionbeast

“Buddy, they won’t even let me fuck it.” honestly works for almost every single New Yorker cartoon caption.

carrionbeast

Proof of concept:

loveamongthesailors

anybody wanna be friends with detriments? its like friends with benefits but instead of having sex i just do annoying shit like showing up at your house and smoking a joint in the bathroom when you really need to piss and trying to get you involved in multi level marketing schemes

salon

As a sniper I was not usually the victim of a traumatic event, but the perpetrator of violence and death. My actions in combat would have been more acceptable to me if I could cloak myself in the belief that the whole mission was for a greater good. Instead, I watched as the purpose of the mission slowly unraveled.

The non-propaganda version of what it’s like to be an American sniper.

fughtopia

Excerpt; During my combat tour I never saw the Iraqis as “savages.” They were a friendly culture who believed in hospitality, and were sometimes positive to a fault. The people are proud of their history, education system and national identity. I have listened to children share old-soul wisdom, and I have watched adults laugh and play with the naiveté of schoolboys. I met some incredible Iraqis during and after my deployment, and it is shameful to know that the movie has furthered ignorance that might put them in danger.

…As a sniper I was not usually the victim of a traumatic event, but the perpetrator of violence and death. My actions in combat would have been more acceptable to me if I could cloak myself in the belief that the whole mission was for a greater good. Instead, I watched as the purpose of the mission slowly unraveled.

I served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. During that time, we started to realize there were no weapons of mass destruction, the 9/11 commission report determined that Iraq was not involved in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, false sovereignty was given to Iraq by Paul Bremer, the atrocities at Abu Ghraib were exposed, and the Battle of Fallujah was waged.

The destruction I took part in suddenly intersected with news that our reasons for waging war were untrue. The despicable conduct of those at Abu Ghraib was made more unforgivable by the honorable interactions I had with Iraqi civilians, and, together, it fueled the post-traumatic stress I struggle with today.

newtype-newhalf-deactivated2017

soldiers speaking out like this is pretty rare. dont ignore this post.

mithliya

and yet, iraq has yet to start recovering from a war that was started to benefit the american economy. im glad this soldier is going as far as risking himself by speaking out like this. if more were like this, id certainly respect them more.

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