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on survival

Like I need people to understand the mental image here of a multimillionaire internet creator personally overseeing DVD production in his own house like he’s running an underground bootleg operation out of a basement in 2007.

It’s weirdly charming because there’s something very “old internet” about it, this energy of “I made a thing, and now I will physically hand it to people myself like an artisan at a craft fair.”

The man really said: “The future of cinema is me standing next to a humming disc burner at 2am”

A) Yes, he does seem to have gotten these specifically for Iron Lung.

B) DVD and CD burners are not devices that exist exclusively for bootlegging. You can go buy one yourself right now. If you make a movie, an album, a game, you are entirely free to burn copies and distribute them.

When I say "I can't help but believe he's onto something," that's what I'm talking about.

Not that everyone should suddenly start mass-producing DVDs in their basement.

I mean the underlying idea.

That we've become so accustomed to everything existing at the mercy of platforms, storefronts, algorithms, licensing agreements, and corporate infrastructure that we've almost forgotten creators can just... put things out into the world themselves.

There is something appealing about physical media as an act of ownership and preservation.

And I think we've collectively become a little too comfortable treating the continued existence of creative work as something that should be outsourced to social media platforms and streaming services.

There's value in remembering that if you make something, you can put it on a physical object and hand it directly to another human being.

Just a thing that came from your mind, made with your hands, existing in the world because you decided it should.

I think we should be doing more of that.

Even if you're not a fan of Markiplier, even if you have absolutely zero interest in Iron Lung, I think there's something genuinely inspiring about what he's doing here.

The willingness to look at the modern content ecosystem and go, "No, actually, I'd like to put this thing on a physical object and hand it directly to people."

That creative work can exist as a thing in the world, sitting on a shelf, surviving platform changes, algorithm shifts, licensing disputes, and whatever fresh catastrophe the internet invents next week.

Maybe it's the preservationist bug in my brain.

Maybe I'm just old enough to find comfort in media that continues existing after somebody forgets to renew a contract.

But regardless of if you're a fan of Iron Lung or not, I think that's an idea worth being inspired by.

crafters often refer to this collection as a "stash" or a "hoard."

it's normal to have, but sometimes comes with a certain awkwardness.

the problem is that it takes a very long time to make things from textiles - and it is extremely quick, fun and easy to get more materials.

Presents, impulse purchases, leftovers from other projects, things you bought FULLY intending to make something that you changed your mind about...

Another problem is that you genuinely DO have a plan for the materials! your intentions and desires are THERE!

and admitting that it isn't going to happen - or that your mind has changed, or you're no longer able to do them - can be really painful!

it's incredibly hard to say: "we are not the people who can do these things. we are not the people who WILL do these things."

but sometimes you need to.

it's a natural part of life. it might feel painful to let go of things that you really want to use, but won't. But clearing them out - and the attached guilt and shame - will make room for a lot more things in your life. Room for things you'll use. Room for the projects you'll do.

Room and space - not for hanging on to the shades of the ambitions and intentions and people you aren't - not being held for lives you don't have - but room and space for who you are today, and who you'll be tomorrow, and for the things you'll do.

Room and space to grow.

Source

1. if you feel judged and hurt by others, try sleeping

2. if you feel judgmental and resentful of others, try eating (the classics)

3. if you feel uncomfortable, try showering

4. if you feel directionless and afraid, go sit outside for a bit and maybe then you'll calm down. maybe even a walk if youre feelin crazy

This woman wanted me to read out the price for each individual item + if it's on sale + the percentage off/original price. We have price scanners. I don't get paid enough for that shit. If you're visually disabled, fine, but this woman was not.

So I politely tell her after the 3rd item "the price of this is $9.99 and if it's easier for you to look at the prices yourself, they're on the screen in front of you." Which is polite retail speak for "bitch I ain't your mommy and I ain't reading every fucking price to you, read it your own goddamn self"

Cue her immediately catching an attitude and starting to yell about me daring to suggest she use her own fucking eyes.

"If you're unable to see the screen, I can read the prices to you. I thought it may be easier for you to see and confirm the prices for yourself. Most people don't realize the screen is there." (The pinpad is low on the counter, a bit lower than the average store)

Now she's screaming and calling me names and insulting my appearance for some reason? My manager heard all the commotion and came up to see wtf was going on.

Then this bitch starts blatantly lying. Straight up lying. Saying that I cussed her out and called her a bitch and refused service. (I mean, yeah I thought all that and more, but I didn't say anything out loud and even if she could somehow read my mind, thought crimes aren't real)

Then she fucked up and called me a bitch in front of my manager and my manager gave her a chance to apologize/act like an adult and she doubled down, so my manager kicked her out, as she was screaming and cussing and throwing products.

Anyway, I wish we had posted her pic on the wall or something and fully banned her from the store.

More of baby scientist Zim!

My kid actually started that fic. Pyro, being a good scholar from the turn of the last century, has some ancient languages under his belt. Scott turns him first to have him as a translator, and also to jumpstart his own understanding of modern English with a dip into Pyro's mind.

Huh! No, actually. Hers is mostly not on AO3. Just looked that fic up, and it looks interesting! I guess it's not surprising that someone else jumped on this premise. Scott Goldsmith was a compelling character, but VSMP was both Trauma Bonding SMP and Absurd Anacronism SMP 😁😁.