year twenty something

Twenty something is the time of quarter-life crises. It's the time of crippling self-doubt coupled with unquenchable yearning for the unexplored. Take the time to have fun and enjoy the ups and downs of this year twenty something.

[thesmilingfish]

Somali referee dropped from World Cup after being refused entry to US

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who was refused entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday, would play no part in the World Cup.

Artan would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup.

"FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," the spokesperson told AFP.

FIFA emphasised that it was powerless to influence the decision, which it said was the sole preserve of tournament co-hosts the United States.

"FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present," the spokesperson said.

"In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."

A spokesperson for United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan was denied entry following a routine inspection.

"During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," the CBP spokesperson said.

"Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."

Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

In a statement to AFP, Artan said he wanted to concentrate on the future.

"Despite the circumstances I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career," he said.

"I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions."

A government adviser in Mogadishu told AFP earlier Monday that Artan had a valid visa for the US.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday.

"Omar Artan is among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community," Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, said.

Abshir said Artan flew back to Istanbul after being refused entry in Miami.

"Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play," Abshir added.

Artan was among the 52 referees announced by FIFA for the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

He has been officiating in the Somali national football league championships since he became a FIFA referee in 2018, and refereed in the most recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

In 2025 he was named by the Confederation of African Football as men's referee of the year.

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised Artan in April after he made history as the first Somali to be selected to officiate at the World Cup finals.

"I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis," said Mohamud.

(x)

[memeuplift]

[bfire92]

It's June, meaning this is the time for the FIFA World Cup - one of the loudest, most colourful, most eye-catching events of the season.

For the next few weeks, people will be going absolutely crazy. They'll be wearing outfits no-one in their right mind would even consider buying, meet up for events in public spaces, and put up flags in every window. The upcoming month, this will take up almost all of the news feed - there's no way of escaping it.

It's not only really in June; some people do this year round. People get keychains, pens, wallets, even TATTOOS proclaiming their love for their favourite team. Children show up to school in logoed backpacks, and I know people who raise flags whenever their team is playing.

In some families, choosing a team can cause tension, but only assholes make a big deal out of it. I've yet to see my uncle disown my niece for being an Arsenal supporter instead of cheering for Liverpool.

Football supporters do have some bad eggs amongst them. Hooligans cause trouble on purpose, and have beef with supporters of other teams. Which severely confuse me, because if there was only ONE team, we wouldn't have games to begin with. You'd think they'd realise that half the fun is coming together and liking different things.

Personally, I'm not a football fan. I could not care less, but I guess they're all having fun. Sometimes, I even feel a little excluded, but then I remember that's a me-problem, and there's no reason for me to piss on their parade. We should probably question the ethical dilemmas with some of the merch being sold, but it's not like giving a kid an Liverpool t-shirt is for sure gonna turn them into a Liverpool supporter.

So, I'm gonna be doing the sensible thing. I don't go to games. I don't enter sports bars. I don't read the news that are about football. It's not like anyone are forcing me to, after all. There's no need for me to go to a game with a big sign saying "You suck and this is stupid!"

I'd love it if people who don't like Pride would show us the same honour-

[femmepathy]

The mile-long rainbow flag being carried down First Avenue in New York City.

[arcaneasexual]

“For New York City Pride in 1994 (Stonewall 25), Baker created a mile-long rainbow flag that was carried down First Avenue in Manhattan. During the parade, Baker used scissors to cut segments from the flag to be rushed to Fifth Avenue for an impromptu protest march in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the headquarters of New York City’s anti-gay Catholic archdiocese.

^“At the bottom of the image is the segment of the flag cut for the St. Patrick’s Cathedral protest. Photograph by Mick Hicks”

“Gilbert Baker wearing a white sequined dress (right) and other protestors triumphantly march the cut pieces of the mile-long flag past St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photograph by Charles Beal”

[kingskindly]

I just know, after raising Shane all these years, Yuna is very in tune with the likes and dislikes of her family and always likes to pick things up when she’s out.

A blanket on sale that she knows is a texture Shane will like, sesame mochi — the only dessert Shane will eat — David’s favourite brand of chocolate covered almonds (Meiji, obviously).

And when Ilya joins their family it takes a while, but Yuna notices that he always reaches for the dried mangoes when there’s a bag open, and he eats the Miss Vickies sweet and spicy ketchup chips by the handful.

So it makes sense to her that she would pick these things up when she sees them at the store and make sure her pantry is stocked for all her boys.

Ilya only finds out when they’re over at his parents on a movie night, and Shane, rummaging around the pantry for snacks groans “at this point, you have more of Ilya’s stuff than you do mine,”

“My stuff?” He asks, completely befuddled.

“Yeah, like the ketchup chips and the dried mangoes. Your snacks take up the whole pantry.”

“My snacks,” Ilya says again flatly, still not understanding. “But you all eat these.”

“I mean sure,” Shane agrees, “but my mom buys them for you. Because you like them.”

“This is true?” Ilya turns to Yuna with wide eyes.

And Yuna smiles softly at him, maybe a little sheepishly at being called out so blatantly, and shrugs.

“I mean, yes, honey. I thought you liked those snacks?”

And Ilya gets all teary and reassures her that he loves these snacks. He’s obsessed with these snacks. They are his favourite snacks.

And he starts noticing how anytime he shows interest in something, it will start showing up regularly at the Hollander household—snacks, candy, that specific Japanese soda Ilya likes with the marble.

It becomes a running joke between them that Yuna pays more attention to what Ilya likes than what Shane does (not true but the joke makes them both pleased and sappy).

[commandersheena]

In one of my film classes last semester we had to tell a story in 3 pictures for a mini assignment so my friend and I did this

[drizzit]

Happy 10 year anniversary to this post!

[dogsdayilya]

Loyalty (1869)

— by Briton Rivière

Loyalty (2025)

— by Ilya Rozanov

[heretherebedork]

The change from one sided, unrequited, hopeless love to a couple is sometimes a hard one and sometimes just shockingly easy.

[importantcatpics]

[melonthefru1t]

Car on the veggies bed

[guzhufuren]

ATEEZ Being a Safe Haven for Queer Fans

Part 5: Queer Fashion (more)

+ his Keith Haring phonecase

[baijingting]

THE FIRST FROST 难哄 (2025) @userdramas event 24: passage of time — sang yan x wen yifan

[coyotette]

[dittography-direwolf]

The Pride Month notifs are getting a little more direct this year.

[j-k-i-ng]

“Untitled“ by | Michael Kagerer

Bayrischer Wald, Bavaria, Germany

[wordfather]

idk if this is an usamerican thing or not but it always blows my mind as a small european country resident that yall have many names and types of apples???? what do you mean its not just red yellow or green??? why is it so complicated??? who is granny smith????

[wordfather]

'whats your favorite apple' 'red' 'no i mean like what type' '??????' actual conversatiom i've had with a mutual from usa

[wordfather]

THIRTY TWO??????

[phillyphillyphilly]

Listen that doesn’t even account for all the weird shit local farmers are getting up to.

May I present the best apple:

[wordfather]

the world is so big and beautiful

[dyingroses]

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

“A kiss may be grand, but it won’t pay the rental, on your humble flat, or help you at the automat.”

Like literally the most famous song about how much girls love jewellry is just explaining the importance of getting jewellry for when your partner leaves you penniless and alone.

[ohheyheyitsjj]

The founder of Girl Scouting in the US, Juliette Gordon Low, funded her first troop by selling her pearl necklace, which was her only belonging after her husband died and left everything to his mistress.

She founded Girl Scouts to teach girls self-sufficiency so they wouldn’t have to go through what she went through when her husband died and she didn’t know how to take care of herself.

[penrosesun]

While we’re on the subject, let’s please also remember that historically disenfranchised communities who had to worry about frequently being run out of town often bought expensive jewelry with their limited funds not because they were greedy or tacky or classless, but rather because you can’t sew a real estate investment into the lining of your coat, and the powers that be can’t freeze a diamond necklace the way that they can freeze a bank account.

[anthropologist-on-the-loose]

New addition to my list of "Things that should be considered perfectly valid reasons for being late for work":

You had to convince the 21 year old girl sitting next to you at the bar to break up with her cheating boyfriend when all she can think about is that fact that she's so behind all her friends who are getting married.

[kosmogrl]

[lunarriviera]

[transfemmbeatrice]

thought of this immediately and was delighted to discover it’s the same op