daily lovejuice

Full article here. Please give it a click to support this kind of journalism! (I snipped out the highlights for a shorter read)

The state of Utah in the United States has no citizenship requirements for marriage licenses, and Utah County is the only place there that allows international couples to register their marriages online. Since the county rolled out virtual weddings during the Covid-19 pandemic, it became a wedding haven for same-sex couples who are not able to officially marry in their own countries.

As sexual minorities in China face suppression at home, Utah County is allowing them to officially marry and celebrate their love — all for around $100. Although the marriages aren’t recognized in China, some 200 same-sex couples from mainland China and Hong Kong have gotten married via the county’s digital marriage license system since 2021.

For authorities in Utah County, the influx of international couples came as a surprise. The Utah County and Auditor’s Office moved its marriage licensing service online, as part of a digitization initiative in 2019. At the start of the pandemic, a number of couples requested Zoom ceremonies, and the county made those available as well.

The service first attracted couples in Utah, followed by people from across the U.S., and later, from all over the world. From May 1 to September 20 this year, at least 77 same-sex couples with mainland Chinese addresses have been married there, said county deputy clerk Russ Rampton, who oversees marriage licensing, to Rest of World.

Although same-sex marriage remains illegal in Hong Kong, under a different set of laws to mainland China, residents who get married in other places are able to apply for dependent visas in the city for their partners. Married gay people are also able to mark themselves as married in tax filings.

In his vow, however, [one marriage certificate applicant] Zhu said he was looking forward to getting married a second time — in China. “If one day our country allows this, I hope we could get married again in this country,” Zhu said to his husband before they kissed.

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Many of you may already know that there is always a conflict between Armenia 🇦🇲 and Azerbaijanover 🇦🇿 an area called Nagorno Karabakh. This territory is an ethnically Armenian, Armenian-inhabited land that was handed over to the Azerbaijani government by the Soviet Union (why the hell would an Armenian territory be handed over to Azerbaijan? Because Russian policy wants to have control over this territory).

Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 is ruled by a racist, corrupt regime that glorifies ethnic violence against Armenians. And since it denies the past genocide of Armenians, it is dangerous to force Armenians to live under Azerbaijani rule, even if the whole world considers the territory as part of Azerbaijan. It is the responsibility of the Republic of Armenia to ensure the security of its citizens throughout the world. 🇦🇲

This time the conflict has gone too far and Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 has attacked the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia 🇦🇲. Russia 🇷🇺 is basically a partner of Armenia and is supposed to help in case of attack on our borders due to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. But when the day has come, they have suddenly turned blind. Perhaps because it makes no sense for one aggressor country 🇷🇺 to stop another aggressor country 🇦🇿. This weekend, U.S. 🇺🇸 Speaker Nancy Pelosi is visiting Armenia to show her support after Azerbaijan's recent aggression. We have already 135 killed soldiers (namely 18-19 year olds) due to the Azerbaijani attack on September 13.

That is all I wanted to share. And the only thing all Armenians and I wish for such a long time is PEACE! 🙏🏼🕊

On 13th of September 2022 Azerbaijan has invaded into the sovereign border of Armenia targeting cities, civilian objects and people. 135 people were confirmed dead in two days. Different buildings, houses, an ambulance car have been bombed. Azerbaijan has been commiting war crimes for years and getting away with it because not enough people speak about it. This is not a "conflict", this is a long-planned cleansing of a nation.

And this video is not a cry for help but a reminder that we all live in the same world and should care and support each other.

Here's what you can do to help.

- Speak up. Talk about the situation.

- Do research. Living in the era of modern technologies it's a matter of minutes to find all the necessary information about the situation.

- Care about small nations that don't get as much attention as needed.

- Follow only reliable news.

- Share as much as you can. Share information, posts, news.

- Check on your Armenian friends. They might need your psychological support.

Yeah. I want my tax dollars to pay for the healthcare of the person who started smoking and kept smoking because they think it looks cool and doesn’t give a shit about all the warnings. I want my tax dollars to pay for the healthcare of the person who destroyed their liver because they just love drinking and didn’t stop even if they weren’t addicted. I want my tax dollars to pay for the healthcare of the person who never drinks water, only regular cola. I want my tax dollars to pay for the healthcare of the person who missed the trampoline when they jumped off the roof to impress their friends. I want my tax dollars to pay for the healthcare of every single person who had to have a surgeon remove something without a flared base from their assholes. I want my tax dollars to pay for all the kinds healthcare needed by all the kinds of people who decided to have sex without any kind of barrier. I want my tax dollars to help fix the teeth of meth users. I want my tax dollars to help everyone who’s been noncompliant with the doctor’s recommendations, everyone who’s been a hypochondriac in the ER, everyone who let things get bad before getting help.

We all deserve a break! You can make your own cozy corner too! :D I did my best to voiceact Chibird in the animated version of this comic- you can see it on my Instagram here!

“You’ve gain weight” “Thank you” “…”

Then they have to either settle with being misunderstood or double down and explicitly explain that they were intentionally being unkind.

I work at a church and religious people use coded language to say crummy things in camouflaged/passive aggressive ways. Today someone told me, “that was an…interesting sermon…”

“Thank you.” <smile>

Then I got to watch them squirm as they tried to decide how to respond.

Nichelle Nichols has passed away. 

Martin Luther King once convinced her to continue on as Uhura when she was about to quit. He told her how she was a role model for so many people and had to stay on. He rightfully recognized her as a trailblazer and the inspiration she continued to be. 

Ugg boots (generic term, not trademarked) are a traditional sheepskin slipper and are usually made by small family owned businesses using local artisans and Australian sheepskin. They are not a fashion item. They are the warmest and comfiest slippers you'll own, and the sort of thing so daggy I'd get embarrassed if my parents wore them out further than the driveway.

Then Deckers, an American footwear brand, decided to step in and trademark the term ugg. There was a protracted legal battle, and they lost the trademark in Australia but kept it everywhere else in the world. This means that Australian bootmakers can only use the word "ugg" in Australian markets. You'd better believe Deckers are suing any small business that dares try to sell ugg boots outside Australia, for copyright infringement and some bullshit about "damaging their brand".

On top of which, instead of high quality locally made boots where workers are getting paid fairly, they've outsourced production to China.

SMACS 0723

southern ring nebula

carina nebula (NGC 3324)

stephan's quintet

This is the best thread I’ve ever come across. Bless these grandmas heading to the front lines 💖

well guess what, its locked behind a $500 a month API to write in because fuck you!

introducing, Not Bionic Reading! it is literally just the bionic reading typefont but for free. god bless neocities

If you want Roe v Wade overturned, but don’t support:

Comprehensive sexual education in schools

Easy and affordable access to contraception

Access to adequate and affordable prenatal care

Paid parental leave

Subsidized childcare

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)

WIC,