Reblogs of food, hamsters, rabbits, and cuteness.

Afong Moy is believed to be the 1st Chinese woman to ever set foot in the US. Sadly, she experienced poor treatment and was displayed as an attraction known as “The Chinese Lady.” Her story highlights the long history of exoticism of Asian women. 

In 1834, American merchants Nathaniel and Frederick Carne made an arrangement with Moy’s father and she was brought from Guangzhou to NYC. The Carnes planned to use her as a marketing ploy to sell imported Chinese products. 

Through tours and exhibits, Moy was influential in shaping US perceptions and countering stereotypes of Chinese women. On stage, she was surrounded by luxury goods and “performed” by using chopsticks, singing songs, and answering (and rejecting) audience questions.

Promotions and press coverage spread orientalist depictions of Moy that highlighted her clothing and bound feet. Hordes of white people paid to gawk at her. The challenges she survived are unimaginable. 

(source: cake.tokyo/11484)

かき氷のシロップでゼリーポンチ

I don’t think I have anything to add that would be 1/1,000,000th as impactful as the stories women have been sharing this week. But please count me as one man standing with you in this fight.

Today I made a $1 million donation to Planned Parenthood. I urge more men to speak up and contribute. Women don’t get pregnant alone, and we owe them much more than our silent support in the political fight ahead.

Since we’re on a “blast to the past” roll, I thought you all might appreciate seeing my very first hamster and her home! I was about 8/9 when I got her, so my best guess is this photo was taken in 2000.

This is Hermione, and in order to get her I had to keep my whole room clean for the whole summer. 🤣 for my birthday that year I was gifted with her habitat - a “massive” habitrail expansion. Honestly, all things considered, it wasn’t the most horrible set up ever in terms of space, but the bedding (pine I bet!), food, wheel… even fluffy bedding!

That being said, I was an incredibly lucky kid. Hermione got “wet tail” many times throughout her life (likely just diarrhea but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) and everytime my mother diligently took me and Mione to the vet. We got her medicine and made her special “slurry”.

Hermione lived until she was about three. Sadly, we had to put her to sleep. She had accidentally swallowed some fluffy bedding and it impacted her bowels. She had a massive rectal prolapse, and there wasn’t anything we could do to save her.

Hermione taught me compassion, and my parents taught me the value of life and taking care of critters both great and small. We may not have done everything perfectly, but we did our best. Now we know better though, and we can share that knowledge!