r e c o v e r i n g

Renaissance(distinct lines, stability and the individual man):

Baroque (bold, chaotic, dramatic):

Romantic(romanticize the simple hard working life):

 Let’s say you’ve got a city where there’s tame white doves everywhere. They’re not pests, they’re regarded as sacred, holy protectors of the city, and the whole city cares for them and feeds them like they’re pets. They’re so tame because it’s a social taboo to hurt or scare one. Nice pretty doves :)

 Then someone points out that even if they’re not seen as pests, doesn’t having a completely unchecked feral pigeon population - that not only isn’t being culled, but actively fed and cared for - mean that there would be bird shit absolutely all over the place?

 A part of you wants to say no, because these are your nice, pretty doves. To explain that there’s a reason why they’re not shitting all over the place, maybe they’re super-intelligent and specifically bred and trained to not shit all over the place. The logistics of how, exactly, could anyone breed and train a flock of feral birds go unaddressed.

 An even worse solution would be to not have those birds, editing them out of the world. No, they spark joy, you can’t just toss them out!

 Now, consider: Yes, yes they would, but the city also has an extensive public sanitation service that’s occupied 90% of the time by cleaning bird shit off of everything. One of the most common last names in the area actually translates to “one who scrapes off dove shit”, and it’s a highly respected occupation. And thanks to the sheer necessity of constantly regularly cleaning everything, the city enjoys a much higher standard of cleanliness, and less public health issues caused by poor public sanitation.

The Augsburg concept has one big pigeon house every 500m in which wild pigeons are fed, protected from weather and have nesting opportunities. Cities doing that have WAY less uncontrolled populations (since they can take out eggs if they feel they need reduce the population), way less shit AND a healthy population since it’s easier for veterinarians to notice and get to sick animals.

So I’d say one can of course still keep your general idea……but there’s also those MASSIVE palace-like pidgeon houses and only the most worthy are allowed to enter and directly interact with the pigeons (feed them, heal them, clean their lodgings). One big entrance for the human servants (priests??) and millions of small holes for the pigeons.

*this is especially important: these days on Tumblr there’s a wonderful atmosphere of being able to talk openly about your mental illness or your struggle. And that’s great! But there’s a difference between sharing in order to help yourself and other people and sharing just because you have no other coping mechanisms. As much as you’re able, try to work on developing a different outlet. People aren’t qualified to be your therapist because they’re nice to you a couple of times. Please remember that they have lives too, and their job is not to make you feel better or pity you, no matter how difficult your life is. 

And last but not least: 

But… 

I really don’t have a way to better this. 

Your interests are your own. I can’t advise anyone to change their interests to fit in with a certain group of people - that’s stupid, and actually quite damaging to your sense of self. 

Instead, I would recommend that, maybe if you feel like your topics of conversation are falling flat with this group of people, you move on to other, greener pastures. There are bound to be places where your ideas mesh better with an audience. 

And of course - try to be considerate about what you say and how you say it. 

Sometimes, what might seem like a harmless comment to you might be a very discomforting thought to another person. I recently had a conversation on a forum with a guy who was telling me that his headcanon was that Pearl (from SU) would soon get a male love interest who loved mechanics and weapons next, and that would be her best arc, because she would finally get a ‘healthy’ love interest. 

His intentions were good, but he was entirely unaware of how cringey this kind of thing was to a bunch of (probably queer) people, who have spent their entire lives being told that the only ‘good’ character development for them would be to get a ‘male love interest’. No one wanted to be the jerk to say “fuck off, we don’t want that to happen” but everyone was answering him in a flat way, trying to discourage the discussion further. Instead of picking up on the hint, he bulldozed on, thinking he was having a ‘lively conversation’ which was, in fact, in its late stages of death. 

I know I’ll probably get a few messages to this saying: What about people on the Autistic Spectrum? Sometimes, people can’t pick up social cues or ‘hints’. And if that’s the case, it’s incredibly difficult to understand why you’re not having any luck communicating despite your best efforts. 

some of the quick facts:

- average speed of 103mph (165kmh) including the 22.5 minutes of refueling - reached cruise speeds of 160mph (258kmh) - 700 horsepower from various upgrades - built-in Net Radar radar detector - windshield-mount Escort Max 360 radar detector - AL Priority laser jammer system - aircraft collision avoidance system (for finding highway patrol aircraft) - brake lights and tail lights disabled - vinyl trim used to make the rear lights resemble a honda accord (and not a race-ready mercedes) - 2 ipads for additional police tracking - 2 GPS systems to prove their record - police scanner - CB radio - 18 spotters along the route to watch for police - and my personal favourite, a roof mounted set of thermal binoculars

Apparently, they had cops helping keep the other cops away, they did this by convincing them that they would do it regardless and helping would be safer, and if they set a crazy enough record it would deter other people.

The speed discrepancy between the top speed at almost 200 and average speed of 103 is because they dropped it with other cars nearby, which was also a strategy to not get reported and stopped.

It was not a Mercedes it was an Infiniti Q50 modded with a GT-R drivetrain which was set up for multiple drivers with a MIDDLE seat like a McClaren F1? I cannot find pictures unfortunately.

The original interview says they had a fucking smoke screen if they got chased even. Recommended by his therapist apparently?

1. Become aware of how and when you tearing yourself down.

2. Now that you can catch yourself doing it. Offer counters to the negative self talk. A really useful thing I read was to talk to yourself almost the way you would child. Gentle and patient. Even when they fuck up.

3. Take time to celebrate your small accomplishments. You’ve been attacking yourself for every little mistake. Apply that same fervor to the positive things in your life. Did the dishes even though you didn’t want to? Fuck yeah! Got up and took shower? YES!!! You are taking positive steps to feeling better. Celebrate it.

4. Make lists of things you’re good at/ like about yourself. The first time I did this the only two things in my list we’re that I liked my hair and I had good friends. It was start.

5. Don’t beat yourself up if you screw up steps 1-4. It’s counter productive. When I catch myself calling my self stupid for some mistake or other my response now is,“We don’t talk to ourselves like that anymore. What’s something constructive that could actually help solve the problem.”

Most of the time that seems to work. Not always. But more and more Everytime.

articles/essays

the real tragedy of beth march (i recommend this on every chance i get. it’s why i find beth to be the most fascinating character in little women)

remote control (read this because of sufjan stevens. a very good account of the tonya harding scandal)

my grandma the poisoner (the horror i experienced the first time i read this is unparalleled. completely, utterly disturbing)

the empathy exams (you’ve probably heard of this and, yes, it deserves the hype)

exploring q slur (sigh) desire in hbo’s succession (on the homoerotic undertones in succession’s both seasons. need i say more?)

celebrity culture is burning (this is from march 2020, after gal gadot posted that atrocious imagine cover)

the age of instagram face (spot-on criticism of instagram beauty culture, fantastic read )

the lawless energy of teen-age girls (this is a new yorker piece on an excellent photography collection depicting teenage girlhood)

youtube channels/videos

liziqi (her videos will undoubtedly make you feel better on an off-day, especially on the cold winter days to come!)

goodnight moon (you will not believe the effort put into these themed asmr videos. check out her babblebrook series for cozy fantasy vibes)

asmr in movies & tv (ignoring the one of harry potter, this playlist offers quite a satisfying experience)

barbie movie clips (you did not know you needed this. it’s a playlist of scenes from old barbie movies in extremely high definition)

reading my old diary like it’s a work of classic literature (such a fun, light-hearted concept! watch this if you feel heavy and need a lil’ something to cheer you up)

the immersive realism of studio ghibli and why miyazaki’s films sound pretty (watching video essays on studio ghibli films is the highest form of self-care)

that time disney remade beauty and the beast and why the music in the live-action disney remakes is worse than you thought (disney-bashing is another great form of self-care)

how coraline borrows from ancient forms of storytelling (more specifically, it’s a video essay on how coraline utilizes classic horror/ghost story tropes. very fascinating)

is titanic good, actually? (a lengthy video essay on the sweeping, epic tragedy that is titanic. enjoy)

parasite - the power of symbols and parasite’s perfect montage (on the magnificent brilliance of bong joon ho’s parasite)

misc.

the mytholadies podcast (very easy listening experience and fascinating explorations of your favorite ladies from mythology. they also do themed episodes every month!)

all three hadestown albums on spotify: concept album, original cast recording (live), original broadway cast recording (if the myth of orpheus and eurydice lives on your mind rent free, you need to listen to these. my personal favorite is the original cast recording, but all are fantastic)

the husband stitch (the chilling short story by carmen maria machado from the collection ‘her body and other parties’. this is a favorite of mine)

the lottery (on the off-chance you haven’t read this unsettling masterpiece, do it now)

artist searches childhood bully on facebook, doesn’t expect to find this (this comic changed my perspective on everything)

subscribe (another comic i keep thinking about, this one’s a critique of youtuber self-care culture)