another world is not only possible

There’s a song that’s been proven to reduce anxiety by 65%. It’s called Weightless by Macaroni Union, and it was specifically designed to slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and lower cortisol levels. It’s so effective that it’s dangerous to drive while listening to it because it can make you drowsy. Source Source 2 Source 3

It was one of the first Tumblr posts I favorited.

Sound therapists and Manchester band Marconi Union compiled the song. Scientists played it to 40 women and found it to be more effective at helping them relax than songs by Enya, Mozart and Coldplay. Weightless works by using specific rhythms, tones, frequencies and intervals to relax the listener. A continuous rhythm of 60 BPM causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the rhythm: a process known as ‘entrainment’. Low underlying bass tones relax the listener and a low whooshing sound with a trance-like quality takes the listener into an even deeper state of calm. Dr David Lewis, one of the UK’s leading stress specialists said: “‘Weightless’ induced the greatest relaxation – higher than any of the other music tested. Brain imaging studies have shown that music works at a very deep level within the brain, stimulating not only those regions responsible for processing sound but also ones associated with emotions.” The study - commissioned by bubble bath and shower gel firm Radox Spa - found the song was even more relaxing than a massage, walk or cup of tea. So relaxing is the tune, apparently, that people are being Rex advised against listening to it while driving. The top 10 most relaxing tunes were: 1. Marconi Union - Weightless 2. Airstream - Electra 3. DJ Shah - Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix) 4. Enya - Watermark 5. Coldplay - Strawberry Swing 6. Barcelona - Please Don’t Go 7. All Saints - Pure Shores 8. AdelevSomeone Like You 9. Mozart - Canzonetta Sull’aria 10. Cafe Del Mar - We Can Fly

One of the comments suggests pairing it with Rainymood.

(2) Despite the fact that I remain attracted to men, do you think it would be wrong for me to call myself a lesbian?

This is one of the most depressing things I’ve ever reported on. If you’re a working American woman, this is for you.

The National Women’s Law Center shared its findings on the lifetime wage gap in America. The lifetime wage gap between a man and a woman in more than five states goes above $500,000 in a 40-year-long career. 

wait for it… 

This article and excerpt contain graphic descriptions of transantagonistic violence and rape culture. Discretion is advised. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After having raped her and calling it a relationship, this man murdered this girl. But he has accomplices. The accomplices are us. You and me. Yes. Deny it if you wish. Your denial is bullshit.

We created the environment in which transgender/gender-non-confirming/non-binary people are considered “freaks” and, therefore, killable. We are the ones who have allowed our white supremacist patriarchal indoctrination to convince us that human life is as small, limited, simplistic, ahistortic, unscientific, one-dimensional, and flat as they told us it was.  

We are the ones who create the conditions in which a man believes it’s absolutely reasonable to murder his girlfriend because he’s afraid that *we* will find out that she’s transgender.

He feels this because we casually believe and say things like “transgender women are not real women” and “transgender people should use separate restrooms because they’re scary Trojan horses that are either seeking to harm us or will open the door for other people to harm us.” He thought this was perfectly acceptable because we gender-police the fuck out of everything and everyone.

We do this despite the fact that every study on the subject concludes the same thing: transgender/gender-non-conforming/non-binary people are *far* more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

1. We can’t feel whole unless we’ve quartered someone else.

2. We refuse to regard anyone other than ourselves as victims.

3. We will do anything in our power to avoid admitting how much we love the chains around our necks, and how eager we are to hold the chains around the neck of others.

We don’t really want to be liberated; we just want to deny someone else of their liberty.

Mercedes Williamson, an underage teen, is dead because her grown-ass murderer knew all of us,each and every one of us, are a part of his gang and that we’d always have his back. We are on the wrong side of history and future generations will judge us savage. And they will be 130% correct.

Our denial is an admission.

Our humanity is forfeit.

We are all implicated.

May we never achieve happiness until we claim our humanity first.

Happy fucking holidays.

“A Mississippi man is going to prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend. Usually, when it comes to crimes between lovers and exes, the perps’ motive has to do with slights, real and perceived. In this case, though, it happened after a friend discovered that she was trans—something he was trying to keep quiet.

Joshua Brandon Vallum, 29, and Mercedes Williamson, 17, had a sexual relationship from ‘late spring or early summer’ of 2014 'until August or September,’ the Department of Justice said on Wednesday. Why the relationship ended remains unclear, but in any case, he told the feds he didn’t want anyone to know he was dating a transgender woman, keeping their relationship and the fact she was trans from his friends, family, and other gang members. That’s right: He belonged to the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Almighty Latin Kings and Queens Nation.”

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Mercedes Williamson is seen inside a vehicle, in a selfie close-up, looking into the camera.]

My name is Valerie, I’m a teenager, and I’m chronically ill. 

I’ve been sick for a decade now, and unfortunately, I tend to get all the rare and ~special~ disorders. Because of this, I currently have doctors in nine cities spanning across five states. I battle six chronic conditions, and balancing them is a daily struggle, but I’ve managed. 

But my newest condition has turned my life upside down. It’s called Recurrent Subacute Thyroiditis (RSAT) and most doctors will never see a case of this in their lifetime. I luckily have found a doctor who has least seen a few cases of this before, but I am the youngest person she has ever seen with this condition. 

RSAT is an inflammation of the thyroid that causes overactivity, leading to high heart rates, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, dizziness, chest pains, insomnia, fatigue, hair loss, and muscle weakness. The overactivity lasts for about 2-3 months, and then the thyroid flips to inactivity, leading to lethargy, extreme fatigue, depression, low body temperature, and slow heart rates. The inactivity lasts for 2-3 months as well, making this a 4-6 month condition. I am currently in the middle of my second episode, and my first episode was just two years ago.

I am terrified. This condition has caused me to be rushed to the ER twice. This condition has rendered me so dizzy and dropped my blood pressure so low that walking is a hazard and I am in a wheelchair. This condition has prevented me from attending school since the end of October. This condition can occur again, and there is no telling when or how often. 

I’ve scoured the web, posted in countless Facebook groups, analyzed research, and even scheduled a conference call with doctors in another country to try to get some answers. Not only is there no information on it, but I can’t find anyone else with it (and due to HIPPA laws, my doctor is not allowed to connect me with the other cases she has seen). I have support from my friends and family, but they cannot even begin to understand what this is like. 

I am alone in this right now, but I know the internet is a powerful place. I’ve seen other kids with rare conditions find support and/or answers, and I thought I might as well give it a shot. Please, please - even if you don’t have this condition, even if you don’t know me, please reblog this and spread this around. I just need to know that I’m not alone in this. Even finding one person who has this would make the world of a difference.