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[bisexualbaker]

if you're in canada, please take a moment to sign and share this petition calling for the investigation of registered canadian charities that give funding to illegal israeli settlement projects or to the israeli military.

this is an official petition in the house of commons and is endorsed by a member of parliament. it’s open for signatures until august 8, 2024.

[bisexualbaker]

Master doc that contains different resources and support for many countries including Palestine, Congo, Haiti, Hawai’i, etc ((op is underneath the link))

[bisexualbaker]

the stuff going on at columbia campus rn is genuinely incredible

[bisexualbaker]

“Scientists at UC Riverside have demonstrated a new, RNA-based vaccine strategy that is effective against any strain of a virus and can be used safely even by babies or the immunocompromised. Their flu vaccine will also likely be delivered in the form of a spray, as many people have an aversion to needles. “Respiratory infections move through the nose, so a spray might be an easier delivery system,” Hai said. Additionally, the researchers say there is little chance of a virus mutating to avoid this vaccination strategy. “Viruses may mutate in regions not targeted by traditional vaccines. However, we are targeting their whole genome with thousands of small RNAs. They cannot escape this,” Hai said. Ultimately, the researchers believe they can ‘cut and paste’ this strategy to make a one-and-done vaccine for any number of viruses. “There are several well-known human pathogens; dengue, SARS, COVID. They all have similar viral functions,” Ding said. “This should be applicable to these viruses in an easy transfer of knowledge.””

—

Vaccine breakthrough means no more chasing strains

This is HUGE. This will fundamentally change how we get inoculated.

[bisexualbaker]

Oh hey, I haven't reblogged this in a while. Anyway, PSA, watch out for pollen, it can make shit worse for things other than allergies.

BTW, folks, if you’re having an extra hard time with brain stuff in the spring? Turns out that having lots of pollen in the air can increase anxiety.

Take care of yourselves.

[bisexualbaker]

[Image: Text reads: "Can you recognize a book from three random images? Do you get it?" The images are three rolled-up towels, a sperm whale breaching, and a hanging pot of petunias. A web address in the bottom left corner is gdfalksen.com .]

Well?

[bisexualbaker]

one of the most infuriating things about becoming an adult is when you realize that it actually is 10x easier to solve problems by making a phone call vs literally any other communication method

[bisexualbaker]

Quick warning for anyone who needs it: The video is indeed pretty damn cool, but it's almost nonstop flashing lights.

this is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

[bisexualbaker]

First you procrastinate on the task because it is not a big enough deal to get done urgently. Then you procrastinate on the task because it has become such a big deal that doing it is overwhelming. You would think that this implies a middle point where it is just big enough of a deal to get done easily, however the inherent perversity of the universe's causal geometry prevents this

[bisexualbaker]

It is an honor and a privilege to have helped this happen 💗

Five days left in @nerdykeppie's Proud to the Bone 2 campaign! I've signed up for a single pin (because I was weak to too many of the other campaigns), and I am torn over which one to get.

On the one hand, the triceratops pin looks hella rad and is probably my favorite of the designs.

On the other hand, imagine the incredible power of getting a trans pride parasaurolophus pin for the @drchucktingle Harriet Porber reference.

[bisexualbaker]

Please excuse me, I need to go shriek, and then do a completely ridiculous and incredibly dorky happy-dance. (And then read the chapter while happy-flapping.)

@flouryhedgehog I don't know if you got around to reading this earlier, but if you did and are interested in an update...?

The Time I Got Reincarnated as an Evil Version of Myself

Chapter 8: Disagreements

Link to AO3 in Bio

~

Chloé is starting to feel better by the time she gets off the phone. Her sister is on her way over, and both of them apologized profusely to each other (to the increasing incredulity of an observing Marinette). She still feels hollow in her stomach, and a ticking clock in her head counting down to the moment when she's going to turn to ash again--she can't shake the feeling that this might be the last time she's ever in this bedroom. That this might be the last chance she gets to speak with Marinette.

She doesn't know what to say. Neither of them knows what to say to the other. 

Sitting in Marinette's room is awkward.

If Chloé is right about the direction this version of her's life had taken, neither she nor Marinette have ever showed this kind of weakness, of vulnerability, to each other. It's brand-new to Marinette, and for Chloé it's an uncomfortable and unwelcome throwback to the person she used to be. This Marinette doesn't trust her, and it rankles, like getting pet the wrong direction by a hydraulic press instead of a hand. Every part of her wants to snap, to--

"Were you just apologizing?" Marinette says, finally.

Chloé smiles, weakly. She hates the shock in Marinette's voice, hates that her expectations are so low, but she hates even more that those expectations are completely justified. "Bully Union renegotiated the contract," she mumbles, avoiding Marinette's eyes. She plops herself on the chaise and bites her lip. "Only obligated to be terrible during school hours."

Marinette's blink is barely even a blink--it's more like that one meme with the confused guy closing his eyes to try and fail to process what just happen, then open again filled with confusion. "...What?"

Chloé breathes in. "Sorry, I'm... deflecting," she says. "It's been... a day."

"So I've guessed," Marinette says. "You're... not your usual self."

Chloé snorts. If only she knew. Every part of her is so exhausted. She's so tired, so tired of living with the choices she's made, so tired of things not mattering and never having enough time and she's tired of everything getting ripped away from her again and again.

She knows, on a surface level, that her mother walking away when she was six fucked her up on more levels than she has context for, that she's going to be discovering for the rest of her life, but it keeps feeling like there's always more. She lost her mother, she lost Kagami, she's lost Marinette, she's lost Pollen, and she's been powerless for all of it. Even this Zoé isn't her Zoé. The world keeps ripping everything away from her that matters, like the universe is playing some kind of practical joke on her that never stops getting more and more unfair.

What's the point of caring? What's the point of loving anything when nothing good ever stays?

What is there to even hope for if all of it goes?

Except.

Except Zoé.

This Zoé who both is and is not her sister, who had no motive to protect her or help her given how horribly her Chloé has mistreated her, dropped everything to help her. A girl she doesn't even really know. And it... it matters. This thing matters. This thing is important, and... and...

Caring. Caring matters. She could be alone here and she isn't because someone cares.

And she cares.

And Marinette, her best friend, the love of her practically-brother's life, who shouldn't even have bothered forgiving her, is hurting. She's in pain and Chloé doesn't know why.

All the Adrien pictures are missing. It's not that they were never there--Chloé can see the faded spots they left on the wall above Marinette's bed. They were there, and they've been removed recently. 

Marinette should be freaking out. Marinette's bad days are loud. Marinette's bad days are messy. Marinette's bad days are... except, there was one. One day where Marinette walked into school with a haunted look, couldn't look at Alix, couldn't look at Adrien. She'd walked through the day like a ghost. Hadn't said a word to any of them, even after Alya had cornered her and tried to drag it out of her. It was only afterward, on patrol, when Ryuko and Rena had chased her down and refused to move until she talked, that it all came spilling out.

The dead world. The waters. The broken moon. The boy in white.

Ladybug had shattered, then, in front of them. She'd blamed herself for it. She was Ladybug--how could she be so selfish as to fall in love?

Apparently, cold blue eyes have haunted her nightmares ever since. Adrien says she sometimes still wakes up shaking, clutching at his chest, trying to grab and crush a bell that isn't there.

This Marinette, right here, right now, looks almost exactly the same as that one from that day. It had taken them months to reassure her that the world wouldn't end if she--if she--

"I'm not the only one who hasn't been her usual self," Chloé says. "Whatever you're blaming yourself for? Stop."

Marinette jerks in her seat. "W-what?" She's--she's wary, she's confused, but she's listening, and that's something.

Chloé points at the walls. "Your Adrien photos are gone, but if it was his fault, you'd be freaking out. Or pissed."

"You mean like with Kim?" Marinette snarls.

Ice floods Chloé veins. "Y-yeah," she says. "Like with..." Oh, gods, she didn't want to think about that. "But you're—you're just tired. Which means... you think it's your fault."

Marinette's eyes narrow with suspicion—Chloé knows her well enough by now to realize her hackles are raising. "What's your point?"

"You always blame yourself for things that aren't your fault," Chloé continues. "You used to blame yourself for getting bullied by me." She takes a breath. "You... have to forgive yourself. Whatever it was, I have done worse."

"What is going on with you?" Marinette snaps. "You've been acting off all day, and... I still don't know why you got Akumatized..."

"Did you break up with him because of Chat Blanc?"

Marinette stiffens. "...H-how do you—"

Oh. Oh shit. She shouldn't know about that. She's not supposed to know about that.

Marinette's fists are at her throat, bunching up the lapels of her jacket. The girl's eyes are wild, feral. "How do you know about Chat Blanc?"

Chloé is stuck, frozen, staring down a hurricane. She remembers how bad her Marinette was after Chat Blanc, and she and Alya had been barely able to talk her down. If this version of her has been stewing in it for... oh gods, it must've been months...

"You haven't told... anybody?" Chloé squeaks. "Not even Alya?"

"How. Do. You." Marinette slams forward with every word, her face closer and closer to Chloé's, breath hot, burning on Chloé's skin. "Know?!"

Chloé chokes.

"The—the cups, and the bathroom, and—and you acting so strange with Chat, and, and, and..." She stares at Chloé. "Do—do you—"

"I'm not Chloé," she gasps.

Marinette's grip slackens. "Wh—" she begins, and her face furrows the way it does whenever Lucky Charm gives her a particularly bizarre object.

At that moment, the trapdoor creaks open. "Hey, Chloé, you okay?"

Chloé and Marinette both lock eyes with Zoé.

Zoé looks between the two of them, back and forth, back and forth. "I... Apparently not?"

Marinette stares at Zoé. "Zoé—"

"Put her down, Mari," Zoé says, softly, stepping forward and placing a hand on Marinette's shoulder. "Please."

Marinette's eyes begin to mist. "Z-Zoé," she mutters, "please, do—what is happening?" She releases Chloé's lapel and steps back, running her hands through her hair, leaving it tufted and wild. "Am I going—am I—what do you mean, you're not Chloé?"

Zoé's eyes widen, and she glances at her sister. "I'm sorry, you said what?"

Chloé feels bile rise in her throat. "I mean," she says, sitting back on the chaise and pressing her elbows in with her knees, "am I wrong?"

Zoé puts up a finger, opens her mouth, closes it. "I... technically no?"

Marinette freezes, hands still pressed against her forehead in fistfuls of black hair. "You—you were serious?" she says. "You were—you were serious, you can't..." Then her eyes laser in that Ladybug way of hers, the way that makes Chloé's heart jump a little (and makes her need to remind herself that she's in love with Kagami). Marinette jumps up, and even despite the hair, this is unmistakably Ladybug grabbing Chloé's face, twisting it back, forth, up, down. "You're not an Akuma, you got purified already today. Sentimonster?"

"Uh." That's a whole can of worms that she doesn't feel like opening at the moment. But if anyone could understand... "You ever have any experience with... parallel universes?"

Marinette's fingers freeze on Chloé's chin. "Wait," she says, "are you from Shadybug's universe?"

Okay, that's a new one. "Shadybug?" Chloé says, looking over at her sister.

Zoé shrugs. "I don't know either."

Marinette sighs, releases Chloé's face, steps back. "Alternate universe version of m—of Ladybug who showed up last month," she says. "She was... evil Ladybug, technically."

Chloé snorts, crossing her arms and leaning back. "So you've got an evil duplicate?"

Marinette smiles ruefully. "Yeah, I..." Then she trails off, and all the blood drains from her face. "You—you—you—"

Chloé halts for a moment, then squeezes the bridge of her nose. "Fuck," she mumbles. "I'm not supposed to know, am I."

@emma-d-klutz @naresar @ninepostsstuff @grotesquewombat @erisluna35 @oblivionhold @all-peristeronic @chaos-has-theories @into-september @claws-and-bee-stings @279ital @drawing2cope @theramendragon @jameskillianreaper @wild-mare-of-prosecution @blessedfatui @luckychatons @ninepostsstuff @sailorladybug @ladybeug @ymfingsteadilyon @steelblaidd @alexseanchai @dravidious @lowbatterylamp @nekoisadumbname @lemonadeready @tobytober @sunny-key @amandayetagain @darkwolf13reblogs @faunina @marichatsajjvv @mugchild @greenbloodedskink @miraculoussly @flightfoot @chaos-has-theories @multimousenette @spookyyarn @cosmictacos @toychicraft-dump @dragonking1987 @thesernotthedroidsurlooking4 @coracal @erisluna35 @merryberry01 @claws-and-bee-stings @princess-of-the-corner @temporalbystander @zuzulos @leftguard66 @lurker-no-more2814 @discoerysimum

[bisexualbaker]

wait what happened with gumroad?

Gumroad has officially banned adult content.

All I had in my Gumroad storefront was my story The Queen of Cups, which doesn't contain any NSFW elements, but I plan to publish NSFW things in the future. I also wanted to make sure I was in solidarity with erotica artists, including my wife, who have been forced to ditch Gumroad for their existing works.

I'm currently working on a list of updated distributors/platforms so that I can expand beyond just Amazon. It's something I've been meaning to do for ages, I just kept putting it off. If nothing else, at least Gumroad's new policy has been the kick in the pants that I needed. 😅

[bisexualbaker]

yknow i never noticed the sheer rareness of images having ids or alt text on this website until i started adding alt text to my art (and trying to remember to add it to any images i post in general, especially text screenshots) and that makes me kinda sad

[bisexualbaker]

I found an extremely dope disability survival guide for those who are homebound, bedbound, in need of disability accommodations, or would otherwise like resources for how to manage your life as a disabled person. (Link is safe)

It has some great articles and resources and while written by people with ME/CFS, it keeps all disabilities in mind. A lot of it is specific to the USA but even if you're from somewhere else, there are many guides that can still help you. Some really good ones are:

How to live a great disabled life- A guide full of resources to make your life easier and probably the best place to start (including links to some of the below resources). Everything from applying for good quality affordable housing to getting free transportation, affordable medication, how to get enough food stamps, how to get a free phone that doesn't suck, how to find housemates and caregivers, how to be homebound, support groups and Facebook pages (including for specific illnesses), how to help with social change from home, and so many more.

Turning a "no" into a "yes"- A guide on what to say when denied for disability aid/accommodations of many types, particularly over the phone. "Never take no for an answer over the phone. If you have not been turned down in writing, you have not been turned down. Period."

How to be poor in America- A very expansive and helpful guide including things from a directory to find your nearest food bank to resources for getting free home modifications, how to get cheap or free eye and dental care, extremely cheap internet, and financial assistance with vet bills

How to be homebound- This is pretty helpful even if you're not homebound. It includes guides on how to save spoons, getting free and low cost transportation, disability resources in your area, home meals, how to have fun/keep busy while in bed, and a severe bedbound activity master list which includes a link to an audio version of the list on Soundcloud

Master List of Disability Accommodation Letters For Housing- Guides on how to request accommodations and housing as well as your rights, laws, and prewritten sample letters to help you get whatever you need. Includes information on how to request additional bedrooms, stop evictions, request meetings via phone, mail, and email if you can't in person, what you can do if a request is denied, and many other helpful guides

Special Laws to Help Domestic Violence Survivors (Vouchers & Low Income Housing)- Protections, laws, and housing rights for survivors of DV (any gender), and how to get support and protection under the VAWA laws to help you and/or loved ones receive housing and assistance

Dealing With Debt & Disability- Information to assist with debt including student loans, medical debt, how to deal with debt collectors as well as an article with a step by step guide that helped the author cut her overwhelming medical bills by 80%!

There are so many more articles, guides, and tools here that have helped a lot of people. And there are a lot of rights, resources, and protections that people don't know they have and guides that can help you manage your life as a disabled person regardless of income, energy levels, and other factors.

Please boost!

[bisexualbaker]

All of that, plus the right temperature outdoors. Failing the right temperature, at least good maintenance of sidewalks and such during icy/snowy times of year. (I would not object outright to covered walkways, especially if the covers could have solar panels.)

What makes a place an enjoyable walking environment? Is it a variety of uses like houses and shops? Is it good architecture and a variety of looks? Is it having people and animals around you? Natural spaces like parks and gardens?

[bisexualbaker]

*facepalm* Bumbleborn, of course! His desire to be explicitly out as gay on the page, as opposed to only revealed through a post-series author interview, is one of the more well-known facts about him! I can't believe I forgot that.

Five days left in @nerdykeppie's Proud to the Bone 2 campaign! I've signed up for a single pin (because I was weak to too many of the other campaigns), and I am torn over which one to get.

On the one hand, the triceratops pin looks hella rad and is probably my favorite of the designs.

On the other hand, imagine the incredible power of getting a trans pride parasaurolophus pin for the @drchucktingle Harriet Porber reference.