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sigh. korean sigh.

Hey kids, your favorite black barista here. So I am the only person of color employed at my specific shop (I live in suburbia and it’s a living hell), and today we had this as our trivia question (answer is B). I didn’t pick it, although almost every white person who came in assumed I did. I thought I’d share some of the gems I heard because of it:

Older White Man who always answers the trivia every single fucking day and has NEVER complained about the questions: Who the hell cares?? They’re all idiots anyway. I hate this question. White Co-Worker: Couldn’t agree more! Me: *horrified silence*

White Woman: Wow this is a tough one, I don’t think many people who come in here listen to rap music. Do I look like I listen to rap music? *laughs* Me: Well I’m pretty sure you don’t need a certain look to listen to music, just…ears. So yeah, you do! White Woman: Oh…sure…

12 different White Customers throughout my shift: Did you write this question?

White Woman #2: Why would you choose a question that only certain people would know? Me: *almost rolls my eyes into oblivion*

College-aged white guy: Hmm… *turns to black guy waiting in line behind him whom HE DOESN’T FUCKING KNOW* You got the answer to this right? *laughs* Black Guy: *gives me the “can u believe this fucking cracker” look* Me: *gives him the “I know brotha just pray to the lord for strength” look*

And much more. Y’all it was fucking wild to see white people so uncomfortable with something as simple as a trivia question that even hinted at blackness. We have questions about everything from fucking astrophysics to types of cheese but it was this one that was just “too much” or “outside their knowledge.” Soooo ridiculous and childish and…welp, racist.

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o_O

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kids.

no. don't touch. don't cross the street. you must hold my hand when crossing the street. look both ways before crossing the street. make sure there isn't any danger before going forward. weigh the good and bad before making decisions. be wise when making life choices.

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everything costs

she made mussels for dinner last week. i don't know why i get surprised by how good the food is, considering that she is a chef after all.

the broth was just perfect - light, flavorful, and of course, delicious.

i even found a shell with THREE mussels in it. i mean, seriously, this was just jackpot. i enjoyed my good fortune. but, i just kept thinking about the three mussels, mostly smiling, until i realized:

"wait, i'm going to eventually find two empty shells, aren't i?"

**

years ago my mom asked me a seemingly random question about God. it wasn't about doubts or troubles... she just asked why God had to offer redemption based upon a horrific offering of his own son. surely, God could have worked out a better plan?

i didn't answer her. i don't think i really knew anyway.

**

everything has a cost. there is nothing that doesn't cost someone something somewhere at some time. even God knows that there isn't a magic way around this. he wants relationship and the best that can be for us. in order to give that, it had to cost him as well.

for someone to have more, someone must have less.

i still marvel at how God teaches me stuff. i mean, i was just eating mussels.

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making the world a better place

for a long time i thought that's what i wanted to do: contribute to the greater collective of humanity to progress us along, be it via technology or writing or whatever.

i've had a good life, a blessed 34 years so far. please read: i didn't say a perfect life utterly blissful and without failure, obstacles, and sadness. but, there are too many lives on this planet that exist from start to finish as pure case studies of brokenness and despair. i wouldn't dare think my life has been unfortunate by any measure.

anyway, here is where this random ramble is headed: i have no idea what i'm supposed to do with my life. i've come to realize that whether or not i ever contribute something to this world to make it a better place, i just don't care. after all that's been said and done and accomplished and advanced and blah, it strikes me that we're not really better off, are we?

i hope that moving forward, my life will be marked and committed to being a better person. i hope to be a better me among a people seeking to become a better people in this world.

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yea, pretty happy actually.

— Sylvia Plath

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Located outside of Paris, Château de Fontainebleu is one of France’s largest royal châteaux. Originally used by French kings in the 12th Century, the châteaux’s largest buildings were constructed in the 16th Century. It was later redesigned and remodeled by many, including Napoleon Bonaparte, who sought to make it an alternative to the Palace of Versailles. Today it is home to the Écoles d’Art Américaines and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Photographs via PARK & CUBE)

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Busan Opera House | PRAUD

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everyone should care.

Indian demonstrators walk with placards during a protest calling for better safety for women following the rape of a student last week, in front the India Gate monument in New Delhi on December 23, 2012. In the biggest protest so far, several thousand college students rallied at the India Gate monument in the heart of the capital where they were baton-charged, water cannoned and tear gassed by the police. AFP PHOTO/ TENGKU BAHAR Press TV

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agree to disagree on a few... BUT, i'm pretty sure the last one is kind of non-negotiable.

Woman do not have to:

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Bodyscapes by Allan Teger

“I remember the moment that the idea for bodyscapes came to me. I was thinking that the shape and structure of the universe repeated itself at every level and suddenly I had the image in my mind of a skier going down a breast. this was it - the universe repeating its shapes - a body looking like a mountain. It was also an example of two realities coexisting. “

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my mom’s argument against piracy is “well what if you wrote a book and one person bought it and then hundreds of people got to read it for free and you didn’t make any money!”

MOTHER YOU HAVE JUST DESCRIBED

LIBRARIES

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Give your daughters difficult names. Give your daughters names that command the full use of tongue. My name makes you want to tell me the truth. My name doesn’t allow me to trust anyone that cannot pronounce it right.

Warsan Shire (via oofpoetry)

this is great advice.

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two bags, actually.

these chips are clearly not satisfying my hunger, but by golly I’m going to eat half the bag before I accept it