carrots

yoghurt

bread

history and fate = same force in opposite directions? fate as forward acting trauma??

flour

The problem with the Imagine video wasn’t that “celebrities are rich people!” --we already knew that. 

The problem was a group of random celebrities--many of whom are decidedly NOT singers--put out a presumptuous collab that absolutely dripped with the patronizing assumption that it was what we all wanted. 

No one asked for it. It wasn’t their song, they didn’t do an especially good job performing it, and it didn’t impart a particularly relevant message (in fact, one could argue it’s almost inappropriate to sing a song about imagining no heaven when people are dying, and many of the survivors are trying to take comfort in their faith). 

It’s false sentiment delivered by a group of people who are presuming that a syrupy rendition of a well-known and important (or at least important sounding) song performed by well-known and (in their minds) important people would make all of the unimportant little people feel better during a global pandemic.

It was tone deaf (sometimes literally), it was condescending as fuck, and it painted an unintentionally embarrassing picture of inflated self-importance that was really just a bunch of celebrities trying to stay relevant in this time when they’re not getting the amount of attention they’re all used to. 

Backstreet Boys, on the other hand, are a music brand. This is their product. This is what they DO. And the tone of their video is one of “haha, hey, I know we’re not those kids anymore, but here’s some nostalgia we can all laugh at.” They hammed it up, some of them brought their kids into the video, and it was clear throughout all of it they weren’t taking themselves too seriously. They let themselves be the butt of the playful joke, rather than trying to impart a quasi-profound message that wasn’t even theirs to deliver (and didn’t even apply to our current circumstances in any meaningful way).

Musicians offering us their products in videos like this one already have proof that it’s something we want, and they’re doing it to help boost morale and give disappointed fans who are missing out on concerts something for free. 

The Imagine video, by contrast, gave us a steaming heap of nothing so a group of celebs could feel self-important and significant during a time when everyone is suddenly realizing that they aren’t. 

We needed fun and normalcy, they gave it to us and did something good in the meantime. (And also agreed to cover Toxic by Britney Spears.) There was literally no message there beyond “please stay safe and also, if you can, these kids need help.”

MY BENEFITS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND I DESPERATELY NEED HELP!!

*URGENT: PLEASE READ/SIGNAL BOOST*

Monday, March 16th: Hello everyone, I’m Gemma and I sincerely apologize to be asking for help again and again but, I still desperately need help to get through this month.

As most of you are already aware, I have been struggling financially for quite some time due to my welfare benefits being revoked, under the UK’s controversial changes to how benefits are assessed and assigned. And due to my mental health and some unfortunate DWP mess-ups, my benefits have been on and off sanctions for over a year now.

And despite receiving the results of my medical assessment earlier last month, which stated that I have a limited capability for work due to my persistent low mood and extreme fatigue, my benefits have been suspended without warning or reason. I am currently trying to appeal the decision and make a new claim. However, that will take a few weeks to be processed, and I am also trying to apply for PIP/ESA, which is another long and complicated process.

I currently don’t have any finances to pay anything, and I’m quite literally on the verge of a breakdown, as I am drowning in red notices and final demands, as I used to only get £128 per month and that wasn’t enough to cover my rent and bills leaving me in heavy debt.

At the moment, I desperately need help to keep my utilities on, pay my bills and my rent and I also have groceries to get and it would really mean a lot to me if I could get some help. My goal is £500 to help me get by until my benefits are reinstated, hopefully in April.

If anyone could spare any amount to help me, even if it’s just £1/$1/€1, it would literally save my life, and sharing definitely helps just as much as donations. Nobody is obligated in any way to donate if they can’t or don’t want to, I know we’re all struggling.

Thank you for your help 💖

£145/£500!!