#Social media sites let me live challenge!!!

[yesmissnyx]

Looks like I'm going to have to make an audio masterpost, because there are some audios missing from my tag...

I assume this is because my account is only viewable on dash (because of adult content reasons), and that makes some of your posts unsearchable.

Ugh. That makes it really hard to keep track of the quick audio posts I make! Annoying!

[disabled-dragoon]

Disability Aids: Where to buy

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about disability, sensory and mobility aids and where to buy one, so I’ve decided to just collect a global list of everywhere that I can find! I try and update this monthly. If there’s one you want me to add on or change, just say!

Links and information under the cut!

Updated: 12/10/2023

Disclaimer: Any link marked with (*) cannot deliver outside of their country of base/international shipping policies are unclear at the current moment of writing. 

Follow this link to find a list of databases that have information on disability aids around the world.

Global:

The Active Hands Company: Based in the UK but operating globally, this company deals exclusively in grip aids that can help and be used by people with various disabilities- including limb differences, cerebral palsy, arthritis, brachial plexus injuries, stroke survivors, multiple sclerosis, nerve and spinal injuries, TBIs and much more. You can find their FAQ page here if you would like more information. They do ship internationally, but please be aware that they are currently warning of a potential delay to orders due to postal strikes. Some products they do include: angled knives, gym/sports grips, zip grips, cutlery grips, anti-spill aids, magnetic laces, openers, small item grippers, specialised mugs and hand splints, to name but a small few.

Handicare: I’m putting this one here as they have a global office, offering their services in 40+ companies, as well as offices in Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK, USA, and Spain, with their HQ located in Sweden. Their aim is to “provide solutions and support to increase the independence of the physically challenged or elderly people. They offer accessibility products (i.e. stairlifts and their installation), patient handling and care equipment, and vehicle accessibility solutions.

Invacare: This company is located in Ohio but has offices all over the globe so I’m putting it here. There’s a tool on this website that will direct you to the closest office/country to you. Products they offer include independent living aids i.e. shower and bathing aids, comfort aids i.e. bedding and furnishings, manual mobility aids, powered mobility aids, and patient transfer aids.

Karma: I believe this company is originally Taiwan based, but I am putting it here because of their extensive global service network, including supplying to the NHS! They offer a range of powered and manual chairs, as well as accessories, and have a tool on their site that allows you to locate your nearest seller.

Kuschall: I can’t find where exactly this company is situated, and all social media links take me to Invacare Europe so for this purpose I’m assuming they are at least partners. There is a tool to let you change to your country’s nearest site, and dealership locator. This site deals in specialised wheelchairs. They have a visualiser tool which I really like, which lets you see the wheelchair that you chose and refine its features i.e. handle colour, frame colour etc. etc.

Medline: This is a global institution dealing in delivering hospital grade supplies to patients around the world. Some products include: hospital grip/slipper socks, fall prevention equipment, skin health, maternity equipment, face masks and wound care! There’s a tool on the website as well that will link you to the site for/closest to your country.

MEYRA: **TW for flashing and eye strain** There is an option on this site to change the page language. Headquartered in Germany, MEYRA operates as a wheelchair manufacturer and rehabilitation aid supplier across 70 countries, and offers a range of manual wheelchairs, active and sport chairs, electric wheelchairs, children’s manual wheelchairs, Netti brand rehabilitation wheelchairs, as well as other rehab products and seating and ramp solutions. There are options on this site to change page language and font size.

Performance Health: To clarify, I’m not entirely sure on the overall delivery policies of this company, but they appear to have offices in America, Australia, Canada, France and the UK (there is a tool on the site to switch between each respective country). They sell podiatry, daily living, mobility, orthopaedic and therapy aids- e.g. braces, fall prevention, hot and cold therapy, tape, exercise tubing, mats, compression products, insoles, incontinence products, wheelchair, crutches and ramps, to name a few. You can search by category or brand.

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Australia:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)ActivTec: This is an equipment maintenance service, suggested by @hell-on-sticks. Last update they helpfully added:

“Adding to this that if you're in Australia, ActivTec is a national company that does disability and mobility equipment repair that can be done both privately or through the NDIS. They've got offices all over the place - mostly east coast, I guess you can't be disabled outside Perth on the west coast or something /s - but it's always a good idea to know where you'll go if your aid or equipment breaks.”

You can find the company’s FAQ page here for more information.

Gilani Engineering: Based in New South Wales and offering a range of mobility and living aids, disability vehicle and home modifications, Gilani also offers installation on select products, and international shipping. Their product lists are too extensive to list entirely, but items include: wheelchairs (including paediatrics), powerchairs and scooters, wheelchair ramps (and installation) and accessories, bathroom, bedroom and living aids, patient transfer aids, home lift and grab rail installation. They also sell a large array of vehicle modifications- such as dual pedal systems for driving instructors, steering lollipops, alternate braking and accelerating systems, access solutions and boot hoists, to name a few.

Incontinence Products: Caringbah based and supplying “washable, reusable and disposable incontinence products and continence aids”, this company aims to market towards men, women and children at an affordable price. They do deliver internationally! You can find shipping information here. Some products they offer include: diapers and diaper bags, wipes, clothing protectors, onesies and body suits, swimwear, beds and mattresses, chair, floor and mattress protectors, beamers, gloves, face masks, and many others.

(*)SwitchSticks Australia: A company specialising in luxury and engraved canes, as well as the seat cane (a cane that can be turned into a stool when needed) and accessories. The international shipping policies of this company are unclear.

TabTimer: “TabTimer™ is an Australian Company dedicated to supplying devices to help people and their carers keep medicines, nutrition, hydration, toileting and regular personal care tasks on-time using assistive technology and assisted listening reminder devices.“ -TabTimer, About. This company offers timing and medication aids, including diabetes equipment, pill organisers, talking watchers, help and SOS buttons, alarms and alerters, large clocks and talking reminders, to name a few. They deliver internationally.

Canada:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)Access Abilities: Claiming to be award winning and with stores in Oakville and Etobicoke, this company offers mobility equipment purchasing, rental and repair services. They also offer free in home assessment services, home delivery and set up, and aid in helping to find funding for equipment. According to the company, products they stock include “mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, lift and recline chairs, stair lifts, CPAP and more. We stock the best brands, such as Pride, Invacare, Tena, Bruno and Maple Leaf Wheelchair.” -Access Abilities, Products. International delivery policies are unclear.

(*)Action Medical: The following text is from the “Service” page of the website:

We provide a full range of services on all the equipment we provide to you, and even the equipment you've purchased elsewhere. Services range from basic repairs and tune-ups of existing equipment such as walkers or lifts, to installations and set-up of new equipment in your home, such as grab bars, platform lifts, ramping systems, etc. We can even help you with home and vehicle adaptations to make your lift more accessible. Contact us for more information.  

You can find the company product list here. International delivery policies are unclear.

Canes Canada: Thank you to @sugarsh0ts for the recommendation! This company ships “anywhere across North America”, and says that international deliveries may be subject to a holding policy, but you can contact them with any questions. They offer to deliver your canes uncut, or cut them for you if you send your measurements (and offer information on how to properly measure a cane!). A few examples of canes they offer include: standard canes, hiking canes, novelty canes, seat canes, folding canes, men’s canes, women’s canes, animal handle canes, extra tall canes, collector canes and umbrella canes, and many many more, including forearm crutches and accessories like cane holders! You can also browse by price, and there are separate sections to search by colour, handle style and material style!

FlappyHappy: A stim toy business for “autistic children, teens and adults”. You can find their tumblr here and a list of products here. I quite like that you can search for specific types of stim toy i.e. chewables or fidgets or tangles etc. They do offer international shipping; you can find more information on shipping here. If you need discreet packaging, you can ask for it.

(*)Independent Living: “Independent Living is a business dedicated to personal freedom and mobility. We have been a supplier of mobility aids and personal care products to the elderly and persons with disabilities since February of 1988.” -Independent Living, About. There is no pricing or delivery information on this website as I believe you have to contact them directly with any enquiries (their contact details are here, and the enquiry form is here), or visit their store, located in Regina, Saskatchewan.

(*)LifeSupply: LifeSupply sells to “patients, caregivers and medical professionals” within Canada, offering an extensive range of products that include but are not limited to: mobility aids, maternity equipment, IV equipment, acupuncture, catheters, baby and child care, incontinence care, veterinary and pet supplies, personal care equipment, orthopaedic equipment, respiratory care, and beauty and skincare products, to name a few. I’m unsure, but I think this company can deliver some products outside of Canada, and delivery prices would depend on the delivery weight. You can find more information here.

(*)The Mobility Market USA: A partner of The Mobility Market UK, this is essentially the same concept- second hand mobility aids sold and bought by mostly disabled people- but it delivers across the US and Canada instead. Again, you need to make an account to buy and sell items, and it is my understanding that you have to contact the sellers directly (there should be information on the advertisements) if you wish to make a purchase. There is an option to translate this website into other languages (besides English) if you require it.

(*)Senior Store: Though they can also deliver to the US, I’m not entirely sure on the international shipping policies of this company. The products they offer are too extensive to list individually, but the categories they fall in are: Covid 19 related products, lift chairs and recliners, bathroom safety, mobility, bedroom and livingroom, personal aids, incontinence products, kitchen & dining, pillows and seating, therapy products, bariatric products, foot, hand & elbow, alarms, special clothing, special phones & alarms and leisure products, They also offer rental on some products i.e. those of hospital grade.

Sidestix: Though they only (at the moment of writing) seem to offer two types of forearm crutches, they do offer a vast array of crutch accessories as well as this thing they call Fingrips which appears to be specialised handles, mainly for cycling. They ship internationally and have stores based in Canada, New Zealand, USA and Australia. 

France:

(All links in French in case translator needed)

(*)CENOMY: A French supplier of AAC and communication equipment, and a redistributor of Liberator UK. You can find their products here, as well as a wider catalogue/shop here. As well as communication equipment, they also offer sensory aids- both in terms of sensory devices and objects to create a sensory environment. Other items offered include eye tracker and eye control equipment, supports,  adaptors and alarms, touch tablets, software and environment controls. The site crashed before I could find information on international delivery policies.

Hop’Toys: This company does deliver outside of France, however they do not deliver in the DOM-TOM or outside of the EU; for further delivery information and prices please see this link. They mainly deal in sensory aids, learning and education aids, and communication equipment (as a distributor of Liberator UK). They also offer items in relation to specific disabilities, such as Alzheimers, adhd, sensory issues, visual impairments and hearing impairments. Items offered included weighted bedding and clothing, school aids, daily and eating aids, sensory and motor games, occupational and speech therapy aids, and skill development aids (including behaviour management, social skills, facial expressions etc.).

Senior Boutique:  I couldn’t find much in terms of delivery information, but they claim to deliver all over France, and services in Belgium allow for international delivery, but please check this with them. They distribute a wide variety of disability and healthcare aids including hobby aids (i.e. gardening aids), daily living support (bathroom aids, eating aids, comfort aids etc.), clothing, mobility aids (including the Ta-Da Seat Cane) and incontinence aids, amongst a wide variety of others. 

Germany/Deutschland:

(*)Mein Hilfsmittel: Parts of this site are in German and may need to be translated if you are unfamiliar. This company rents manual and electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, rollators, stair climbers and oxygen generators across Germany. You can find a list of the products they rent here, information on renting here, and contact details here.

(*)Prenkte Romich: A distributor of Liberator UK and seller of AAC equipment across Deutschland, Austria and Switzerland; they do not ship to other countries. You can find shipping information here. This page is in German so will need to be translated if you are unfamiliar.

Ossenberg: “One of the leading German manufacturers of forearm crutches, walking sticks and orthopedic aids.”- Ossenberg, About Us. There is an option to read this page in either Deutsch or English, so if you are unfamiliar with either it may need translating. To buy as a private customer, please follow this link. Personally, I like that certain products (like wrist straps, forearm crutches, walking sticks etc.) have their weights, basic sizes and materials stated in their product titles. On international shipping they say: “Of course we also ship our products abroad. However, the shipping costs vary depending on the country and region.”

Italy:

AllMobility: This company was founded by two disabled people. They created and now distribute the “Buffalo 150″ transfer board, selling it in 15 countries abroad. Disability aids that this company sell include: ergonomic aids, transfer and mobilisation aids, hygiene aids, daily living aids, positioning aids, and paediatric aids. I can’t find information on pricing on this site, it’s my understanding that you have to request the information from the company. Also, while they distribute all across Europe, I believe you have to contact them to find out if/how they can ship to your country. There is an option to change the language of the site between English and Italian.

(*)Bodytech: This page is in Italian so may need to be translated if you are unfamiliar. This company specialises in products such as ergonomic chairs, wheelchairs, cushioning and positioning aids. I cannot find information on international delivery, or pricing. It is my understanding that you must contact the company for a quote.

(*)Cambratech: This page is in Italian so may need to be translated if unfamiliar. Cambratech is a company that specialises in the creation of disability aids for people who are visually impaired. Their aid catalogue includes items such as sticks and stick accessories, alarms and clocks, tools, reading and writing aids, home and daily living aids, technology aids and sport and hobby aids. I don’t think this company offers delivery outside of Italy.

Japan:

Rakuten Ichiba: Naturally, this page is in Japanese so may need to be translated if you’re not familiar. I think this company offers international delivery- you can find delivery information here. The range of items they offer is extensive, including, but not limited to: braille (signs, guiders, paper etc.), contact lenses, medication management and assistance devices, communication aids, mobility aids, incontinence aids, treatment machines, body measuring devices (glucose monitors, weight monitors etc.), sanitary aids, first aid equipment, face masks, medical clothing, and much much more.  

Malaysia:

(*)HomeCare Shop: I’m not sure on the international policies of this company, but you can find a list of store locations here. They sell items related to continence care, PPE, nursing care, orthopaedic support (including sport support), personal care equipment, foot care, nutrition and supplements, and mobility aids. There are also specific sections on their site in relation to being bedridden, childcare, stroke care, diabetes care, beauty and health, fall prevention, back pain and body pain solution, elderly care, post-surgery care, hypertension and sports injuries.

(*)Pinang Medical Supplies: The operator of HomeCare Shop, they work to supply medical and disability equipment to hospitals and clinics, with the HomeCare Shop geared towards the public. I am not entirely sure on the international delivery policies of this company, but they have 20+ stores across the nation (click here for store locations) and stock a significant number of global brands (click here for a list).

New Zealand:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)Creative Living: **Potential warning for eye strain**. This company provides a range of products to ensure better kitchen and bathroom accessibility. I can’t find anything regarding delivery policies, but they are the sole provider in New Zealand of the UK based companies, “Nicholls and Clarke” and “Impey Showers”. There is no pricing information, though I think this is because you have to contact them about your specific needs in regard to product fitting. Their contact information is here.

(*)Mobility Centre: This company is a not for profit organisation that aims to deliver “a range of products from small daily living aids through to mobility scooters and wheelchairs” to allow customers to live an “independent and active lifestyle”. Options on the site allow you to shop by category (bedroom and seating equipment, braces, supports & rehabilitation, crutches and walking sticks, daily living & kitchen aids, grab rails and ramps, incontinence products, mobility scooters and power chairs, toileting and bathroom equipment, walkers & walking frames, and wheelchairs), or by condition/disability. You can also rent and/or hire some equipment from here. They only deliver within New Zealand, and do not deliver overseas or to PO boxes.

(*)Northable: Northable allows for the sale and hire of disability equipment, such as: mobility aids, daily living aids, home and bedroom aids, continence aids, and bathroom and toileting aids. They claim to be committed to ensuring “that we are providing you with the correct information and equipment suited for your individual needs.” -Northable, About Us. You can find contact information here.

Orthotic House: A company that “helps bridge the gap” of disabled and specialised footwear, including socks. They have men’s, women’s, children’s and unisex footwear ranges, and claim to be able to ship anywhere in the world, though the shipping rates on their website are created with Australia and New Zealand in mind. You can find shipping information here. There is an option on the website to change the pricing according to Australian, Canadian, British, New Zealand and US currency standards.

South Africa:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)CareChamp: There are a couple of instances of heavy italics on this site, in case you struggle with that. Based in Cape Town, CareChamp aims to “set the highest standard of home care in South Africa”, providing comfortable care and services to clients across South Africa. As well as selling mobility aids, they also offer rental services on certain products, and home care services with trained nurses. They also aim to set up a college in the future. I do not believe this company delivers internationally. You can find their FAQ page here.

(*)Medop cc: “Leading manual and electric wheelchair suppliers in South Africa” -Medop cc, Homepage. Delivery policies of this company are unclear however, they have offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town that allow for operation across South Africa, as well as operating through dealer networks in Botswana and Namibia. And, though their speciality lies in the supply of quality manual and electric wheelchairs, Medop does also provide personal care equipment, such as canes, crutches and rollators, bathroom aids, patient lifts, pressure care, hospital beds, and much more. Personally, I like the FAQ page that gives quite extensive advice on choosing the right wheelchair.

(*)Prima Care: Prima Care supplies medical and mobility equipment across South Africa, with offices and showrooms in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. They also hire and rental services, and I do not believe they offer their services outside of South Africa. You can find rental information here, and product information here. For further information and contact details, see here.

(*)Pro Mobility: Originally dealing in adapted vehicles and hoists, the founders of this company opened their first concept shop in Cape Town in 2021! It is, and I quote, “a welcoming, wheelchair friendly space for any person with a disability or impaired mobility to come and see all the available items”. I don’t believe they ship internationally, and I think you have to contact them or visit the showroom if you’re interested in purchasing/renting their equipment. You can find their contact information here.

Spain:

(*)Eneso: I’m not entirely sure on the delivery policies of this company, and if you are not familiar with English and/or Spanish, this page may need translating. Eneso offers a range of sensory equipment, communication equipment, learning resources, adapted toys and activities (for children and older) and computer aids (including switches, buttons and mounts). They also offer items in relation to creating sensory environments.

INDESmed: This company is based in Madrid but claim to deliver all over the world. There is a handy tool on their website that lets you see if they have a store in your country as well. They offer a range of crutches, walking sticks, walkers, walking boots, compression socks and reading glasses, with a few accessories for each- like ice shoes for canes!

KMINA: Please be aware that this page may need to be translated if you visit it. I believe this company does ship internationally as they appear to have an active Amazon shop, as well as bases in Spain (to ship to Europe) and America. They provide an email on their website to arrange other shipping where possible as well. This company mainly deals in crutches, walkers, accessories and bathroom aids. It looks like you have to buy each crutch individually (if you’re wanting a pair) but I am not sure.

Taiwan:

Kymco: **Potential TW for flashing lights when you click the link***. This is a company headquartered in Taiwan but they do have global offices.  A motorcycle and ATV distributor that offers a range specialising in mobility scooters and powerchairs, I can’t find any price information but I believer there is an enquiry option for any item you are interested in.

(*)Step2Gold: Had an anon recently direct me to this company. They deal in a specialised seat cane called the Ta-Da chair. It seems to be more streamline than the average seat cane and is opened via a twist function, but the price is quite steep. They do not sell directly to individuals, but they do have distributors of the Ta-Da Chair in North America, Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Greater China, and Australia. They also have a distributor map (which you can find here) that allows you to pick your nearest distributor. Here is another link to a post with a few other distributors.

Thailand:

(*)Freedom Move: There’s an option on the site to change the language from Thai to English, but it may need to be translated if you do not speak either language. Also the prices for products were given as Baht so if you are unfamiliar you may need to use a currency converter. Freedom Move sell four main products/brands: the Ta-Da Chair, the EVOSS cushion (a specialised support cushion, that supposedly aids pressure distribution when sitting and promotes circulation), the HurryCane cane, and an electric scooter. But I also noticed neck and shoulder supports as well as a portable massager. You can find the products here. I am unsure on international delivery policy.

(*)Kaigo Sensei: I don’t know if this company delivers internationally. They sell electric wheelchairs- light and reclining, patient transfer chairs and the Ta-Da Chair. You can find their products here, and shipping information here. Parts of this page may need translated.

UK:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

Ability Superstore: A large UK distributor of mobility aids ranging from sensory items, pet care, mobility aids, kitchen aids (i.e. preparation boards, baking equipment, specialised utensils), bathing aids, toilet aids, clothing and grooming aids, skincare aids, hobby aids, accessible games and leisure items, and exercise equipment to name but a few. I think they deliver outside of the UK, but if you are ordering from outside of the UK (or from certain postcodes which you can find here), you will have to contact them for a quote.

(*)Age Co: This is an organisation owned and operated by Age UK, a registered UK charity that aims to help and provide a better quality of life for older people i.e. by combatting loneliness, dealing with the cost of living crisis, protecting against covid etc. Age Co claims that 100% of their profits go towards Age UK. Products that they offer include: car insurance, motor breakdown cover and care, funeral plans, legal services, stairlifts, homelifts, bathing equipment, incontinence aids and personal alarms. I cannot find any information on delivery outside of the UK. 

(*)Aidapt: A UK based distributor of mobility and daily living aids. I’m not sure if they deliver overseas, and unfortunately it appears you have to make an account and login to see the prices, but their product range is extensive. Items they offer include, but are not limited to: mobility aids (crutches, canes, manual wheelchairs, rollators, ramps and accessories), adapted cutlery, gardening equipment, reclining living and lounge chairs, bathing, hygiene and bedroom aids, handlebars and rails, daily living aids (trays, footrests, cushions etc.) and many many others.

Careco: A UK based company that offers a variety of living and mobility aids, from mobility scooters to stair lifts, to car boot hoists to transfer aids. They also offer a range of refurbished mobility aids in different styles, for cheaper than you would expect. They do claim to deliver to an international client base, but please contact them with questions/for a quote.

Cool Crutches: As the name suggests, this is a UK company that, much like Neo-Walk, offers an incredibly colourful array of walking sticks and canes, as well as offering replacement parts! They are suitable, according to the FAQ page, for anyone between 5′ and 6′5″, and are height adjustable. The colours and patterns are varied (and there is even an option to design your own!), but the prices are quite steep. They do offer international delivery! You can find their delivery page here, which also contains a list of prices for delivery. Thank you to @disconnectivetissue for directing me to this one.

(*)CompleteCare Shop: This company delivers to both mainland and non-mainland UK, with delivery charges available on the website, however they are unfortunately not able to deliver internationally. I recently bought a rollator from here that came quite quickly and in excellent condition. They offer a large collection of mobility aids- rollators, walkers, wheelchairs, scooters etc.- and other disability aids for all aspects of life, including bedroom aids, daily living aids (seats and hygiene products, for example), kitchen aids, medical equipment (like crutches, rehabilitation equipment, hearing aids etc. ) and even disability aids for children. An enquiry form can be found on the site if you have any questions.

Disability Horizons: Disability Horizons was a lifestyle magazine ran by a selection of disabled writers, for the disabled community, exploring issues and stories relating to disability, that unfortunately closed in April of this year (2023). They also run a shop, sourcing and distributing a range of disability aids from across the UK, and they can arrange overseas shipping! Products offered include: adaptive clothing and t-shirts, art and cards, home aids, kitchen aids, books, mobility aids, living aids, wheelchair aids, bathroom aids, vitamins and car aids. You can find a link to the online magazine site here. The shop is still running, though may be rebranded in the coming months.

The Dyslexia Shop: This shop is UK based but it does deliver internationally! They do an incredibly amount of learning resources for neurodivergent people, but specifically people with dyslexia and dyscalculia, including, but not limited to, tinted paper and notepads, different types of specialised grip pens, overlays, educational games, sensory toys, teaching aids and software. And they also offer an incredible range of books, both childrens books i.e. teaching about disability, featuring disabled characters etc., and non-fictional books on the topics of dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, disability education etc.

(*)Essential Aids: They sell a vast array of disability, mobility, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, work and leisure aids, as well as offering a range of childrens disability aids, sensory aids and NHS aids as well. They have aids that help in hobby areas (i.e. writing, gardening, sewing) and exercising, they sell comfort aids and warmth aids. They have outdoor aids as well, like ramps and hand rails, which is just fantastic. I do not know if they deliver internationally but you can contact them to check, and they use Royal Mail services.

Feet Feet: A company dealing in “orthotic insoles to treat every major foot condition”, this site is organised so that you can sort by specific condition, product or seek advice regarding an ailment. Products offered include bunion correctors/splints, foot massagers, assistive sock aids, support braces, insoles, risers, lifts, shoe cushioning/padding and callus cutters and much more.They do deliver internationally! (I think) You can find delivery information here. 

(*)HealthAndCare: Unfortunately this company cannot deliver outside of the UK at the moment, but all mainland UK deliveries are free, and the majority of products can also be delivered to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and offshore UK islands! Their product range is extensive. They offer a large array of braces and supports- from back supports to shoe insoles- general health and pain relief items, daily living aids (including but not limited to: hearing aids, bathroom aids, mobility aids, kitchen aids and medication storage), sports and rehabilitation equipment, education equipment, and even safety training!

(*)Healthcare PRO: So I’ve had a look and they don’t deliver overseas, but they do deliver to both mainland and offshore UK! Here you can find more delivery information. Healthcare PRO offers a range of health, living and mobility including telephone aids, reading and writing aids, walking aids, wheelchairs, bathroom aids, eating aids, bedroom equipment, hobby aids, games, alarms, reachers, monitors and sensory equipments etc, a long with a vast array of other items in all categories. They also offer a selection of childrens aids as well.

(*)Incontinence Choice: This is a UK company that specialises in incontinence products. They offer a range of items, including incontinence pads of varying sizes, bed and chair protection, adult nappies, washable and disposable incontinence pants, as well as a range of both female and male incontinence products. They also offer products from some specific brands, such as Age Co, TENA, Vivactive and Always, and have a discreet delivery process. Unfortunately they only offer shipping to mainland UK and certain non-mainland territories. There is no option for international delivery at this time, and there is a notice on the website that delivery services have been impacted by the Royal Mail strikes, but they are working around it. Here you can find more information on delivery, including the non-mainland territories they deliver to and prices.

Liberator: A UK supplier of extensive AAC equipment including switches, joysticks, apps and software, learning aids, adapted stylus’, controls, adaptors, cases, eye tracking and control software, pointers, and accessible computer equipment, as some examples. They have a large web of international redistributors which you can find here. They also offer training regarding some software and devices that they sell. You can find information regarding funding and assessment here. They also offer sensory aids.

(*)Manage @ Home: A company that deals in disability aids for a variety of every day activities, including mobility aids, eating aids, leisure aids, door handles and bathroom aids, amongst others. Currently they deliver to UK mainland, as well as UK islands and Northern Ireland, though if ordering from the latter two you are advised to contact the company about delivery. I’m not sure what their international shipping policies are or if they ship outside of the UK. 

(*)The Mobility Aids Centre: I’m waiting to hear back about international delivery information but I’ll update when I do. They have a showroom in Peterborough, England if you wish to visit them in person. The Centre claims to pride themselves on offering mobility aids that “is more than just wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids, bathroom equipment and small living aids”, providing things such as pushchairs, standing frames and bespoke wheelchairs as well. They also offer things like sensory loss aids, peddle exercisers, therapy equipment, medication aids, fall aids and specialised furniture, to name a few.

(*)The Mobility Market: I found the link to this on the website for Scope, a well known, registered disability charity in the UK, and I’ve had a little look around. It’s essentially like ebay for mobility aids; it’s people selling their mobility aids to others in need. There is no definitive amount of aids on here so if you’re looking for something specific, i.e. like a cane, it might not be there the first time you check. Objects are second/third hand, and, depending on how much the seller lists them for, can still be quite expensive, though noticeably less so than some other providers. You can also list your own mobility aids as well, but to both buy and sell you need to make an account. I do not know what shipping policies are like- I imagine it depends on the seller- but they do have a partner site that operates across the US and Canada.

MobilityPlus+: A UK based company that claims to ship worldwide. They deal in electric wheelchairs, rollators and accessories, and also include shipping costs for international shipping on their website if you are not from mainland UK. From personal experience, they’ve been excellent when it comes to replacement parts for my chair though obviously I don’t speak for everyone.

Mobility Smart: This company can arrange to deliver outside of the UK but to do so you have to call them. They have instructions for this on their website, as well as information on finding your country dialing code and a currency converter. If you’re in the UK, they have a showroom! As well as mobility aids, they offer items in categories such as paediatric care equipment, daily living aids, driving aids, continence aids, bathroom aids, ramps, specialised footwear and medical equipment, amongst others.I have been informed that there tends to be a markup with this company when it comes to continence aids, in comparison to stores like Age Co or Incontinence Choice, so please be aware of that.

Not Your Grandma’s: Do you find yourself wanting colourful compression socks but can’t find any designs you like? Do you struggle to find designs that fit? Maybe your disability has left you feeling overwhelmed and you’re just looking for advice. Well! This company (suggested by @cripplecore, so thank you for that) may just be what you’re looking for! They specialise in colourful compression socks, but also offer some disability stationary and accessories. Their founder also has a blog/handbook and podcast relating to all things disability, and is looking to release a range of larger sized products, and offer a waiting list for those interested. Personally, I think this site looks incredibly cute! (They also offer international shipping!). I have ordered from here and think it’s great, if not a but pricey.

Neo-Walk: You may have seen this company on Dragons Den. They offer an array of colourful and customisable walking sticks and accessories, as well as offering a 10% student discount (using a code that can be found on their FAQ page and with proof of student ID)! They also offer international shipping.

(*)Podiatry World: Podiatry supplies equipment for foot and leg care, and products they offer “arch supports, bunion protectors, gel socks and straps, impressions, instruments and packs, foams and felts, rotary tools (burs), treatment chairs, pain relief products, and much more.” You can find a list of their products here. I’m not sure on international delivery policies.         

(*)Quingo Scooters: Quingo mobility pride themselves on their five wheel mobility scooters, which they claim to offer more stability and manoeuvrability than regular three and four wheel scooters. They offer a few different models, ranging in price, as well as a motorised wheelchair, accessories for all models, payment plans, and the option to test drive before you buy! I can’t find any information on international delivery, but they claim to deliver anywhere in mainland UK, and they have a “sister distributor” in the US by the name of Comfygo.

(*)RNIB: Or, the Royal National Institute of Blind People. An organisation in the UK dedicated to ensuring and providing accessibility for those who are blind, partially sighted, or otherwise visually impaired. I took this quote from the site directly: “We have a wide range of products for both adults and children who have sight loss or a vision impairment. All our devices and tools are designed to help you do more at home, work or at school.You’ll also find a range of book titles in audio, braille and large print, and leaflets on eye conditions and living with sight loss.“ This link will bring you to the organisations website (with information on dealing with sight loss, eye health, the aims of the organisation etc etc.), and this link will bring you to an interesting piece on their work in making video gaming more accessible!

(*)Sensory Direct: I’ve checked an unfortunately this company is unable to ship to PO boxes, or overseas unless you hold a trading account with them. You can find information on delivery, i.e. prices, locations etc. here. This company deals specifically in sensory aids, with tools on their website allowing you to sort by age category, condition and environment. They offer a vast array of items including, but not limited to, weighted blankets, sensory toys, classroom kits, educational aids, weighted clothing, puzzles, toys, games, chewys, seating, lighting etc. etc. They also sell products to aid with the development of skills, such as life skills, social skills, fine and gross motor skills, creative skills and sleeping.

Single Handed: @parafoxicalk introduced me to this company through this video, showing a member of the company reviewing a grip toggle, so you may have seen them doing the rounds! Single Handed aim to design carry technology of the “highest quality”, “for able-bodied and less able people alike”, allowing for “easier use [carrying] for those with balance, shaking, or disabilities which make carrying a traditional tray more difficult, dangerous or even impossible in some cases.” They’re eco-conscious in their designs, deliver internationally, and deal in anti-tip trays, grip toggles, glass collectors, and large double handed mugs.

(*)Skiggle: This is another site I found, courtesy of Scope. Skiggle is a registered disability charity, providing help to disabled people (adults, young people and children), their families and their carers by offering a place to rehome surplus disability aids. It’s like a more relaxed version of The Mobility Marketplace, in that it is a sellers community of disabled people, in which you can post ads selling your items, or ads asking for certain items. The majority of items that I have seen are free/relatively cheap, but there are certain items that may be priced (i.e. car seats, mobility scooters) and the site reviews these on a case-by-case basis. I quite like the look of this one to be honest. Here’s the FAQ page if you have any questions regarding the marketplace.

Smartcrutch: Thank you to @some-weird-queer-writer for pointing this one out to me. I have been informed that they are also available in America, Canada and potentially Australia, but there is a notice on the site to contact them if you have any questions so you can find that information here. I’ve dug a bit further and it appears they do deliver overseas. This site offers an array of colourful forearm crutches, in sizes XS, S, M and L (extra small, small, medium and large), as well as “spares” (a range of spare crutch parts i.e. pivot screws, ice shoes, replacement feet and straps). Prices on the XS crutches range between £74.99-£114.98, whilst prices on all other sizes range between £131.99-£227.98. I believe there is also the option to buy either a single crutch or a pair.

The Stick & Cane Shop: Walking sticks and accessories with a twist. Like a stick for all occassions type of deal, this company specialises in sticks for walking, for formal/fancy dress, for country walking, for collecting, and for doubling as an umbrella. They also offer accessories and adjustable sticks. 

(*)WalkingSticks: At the time of writing this, this site cannot deliver outside of the UK due to courier issues, however if you are able to benefit from it it seems amazing. Despite the name, they sell everything from canes, to crutches, to walkers, to even mobility aid accessories. And you can search by specific requirements, features and prices!

(*)Whizz-Kidz: “The UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users.” This company is a bit different to the others in that it is a charity and you, specifically, don’t buy the equipment; there is an application process instead, a waiting list and then they may or may not provide the equipment for the young person (under the age of 18) in question. Here is information on the application process (FAQs, eligibility criteria etc.),  and here is a link to wheelchair training workshops that they offer for people aged 2 to 25 years old, including workplace training, school training and sports. They are a charity so there is an option to donate as well, and they also offer youth group services, support for families and siblings, and work placement/employment opportunities.

USA:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

1800Wheelchair: Thank you to @cesium-sheep for directing me to this. They said, quote, “It was a mediocre experience and their branding is very senior-focused but they have a huge selection of all kinds of mobility aids.” I’ve had a look at that seems to be the case; they offer a vast array of wheelchairs included lightweight, heavy duty, beach, commercial, transport and bathroom wheelchairs, as well as accessories i.e. bags, cushions etc. As well as scooters, lifts, walkers, bathroom safety aids and accessories (including shower stools, hand held showers etc.),  furniture, pediatric aids (wheelchairs, furniture, bathroom care), accessories and parts. As well as distributors across America and UK, it appears they also have distributors in both France and Canada!

Advantage Medical: A supplier of rehab and physical therapy equipment, including hand therapy, mobility aids, exercise equipment, patient transfer equipment, tapes, daily living, CBD, PPE and much more. They can arrange for international delivery “nearly anywhere in the world”, though customs and duties are the responsibility of the customer. Here you can find more information on shipping.

(*)Comfygo Mobility: A “sister distributor” of Quingo Scooters, that deals in mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs and accessories for each. They offer a slightly wider ranger than their sister company, and also offer repayment schemes when purchasing. I’m not sure on their international delivery policy, but apparently, as well as their own stores, they may be found on Amazon, Ebay and sometimes Walmart.

(*)Comfy Splints: Exactly what it says- they sell adult and paediatric splints for the hand, elbow, knee, ankle and foot, with the goal of making them as comfortable as possible. I can’t find any explicit information on international delivery, although they are partnered with companies that do deliver globally, like Medline and Rehabmart, so I may be wrong. They have contact information listed here if you have questions.

Fettermans: A US based company that offers free shipping to continental US, Fettermans is also partnered with Amazon, Walkeasy and Sidestix. They deal in crutches (for adults and children), crutch hand grips and other accessories!

(*)HealthSmart International: HealthSmart provides a range of crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs (as well as accessories) as well as a number of other disability aids, including, but not limited to, blood pressure monitors, physical therapy aids, bedroom and bathroom aids, and professional medical equipment. They claim to deliver some products internationally, however upon further digging the website also says they are currently only shipping within the United States, so please contact them if you have any questions regarding this.

(*)ICS: This company deals in orthotic shoes, socks and insoles for those with diabetes, AFOs (ankle foot orthotics), arthritis, partial foot amputations, and general foot issues- promising a comfortable and “perfect” fit. They also offer a specialist fitting service, that I think allows you to find the perfect size and shoe for you. Shoes for both men and women are offered across a variety of brands, and when searching for shoes you can filter by gender, foot width, boot height, brand and shoe size. I can’t find any information in regards to international delivery.

(*)The Mobility Market USA: A partner of The Mobility Market UK, this is essentially the same concept- second hand mobility aids sold and bought by mostly disabled people- but it delivers across the US and Canada instead. Again, you need to make an account to buy and sell items, and it is my understanding that you have to contact the sellers directly (there should be information on the advertisements) if you wish to make a purchase. There is an option to translate this website into other languages (besides English) if you require it.

(*)Mobility Warehouse: They mainly deal in mobility equipment- powerchairs, scooters, rollators and living chairs- but also offer a range of bath safety aids, mastectomy care, diabetic shoes, compression socks and hospital beds in store as well. They also offer replacements, repairs and servicing of the equipment you buy from them should you run into issue. International shipping policies of this company are unclear.

Pride Mobility Corporation: As well as the US and Latin America, this company has bases across the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Middle East, Slovakia, Slovenia and Canada. They also offer a tool on the website to find your nearest dealer. They offer a wide range of mobility and power chairs, lift chairs and mobility scooters, as well as rehab equipment.

Rehabmart: I think this company ship internationally. It is founded and operated by qualified occupational and physical therapists, and sells a range of medical, mobility and rehabilitation equipment. They claim to sell over 18000 products, and there is an alphabetised list of the categories they deal in.

Sensory Tool House: They do deliver outside of North America! However some of their products may not allow them to so it’s best to check your order. They have an online chat function and typically get back to you within a day or two.This company offers a range of “products and services [to] specifically support those who are neurodivergent and/or have a disability”, as well as offering community events at some of their locations (i.e. sensory play and sensory rooms), teacher, student and carer resources, training (in workplace and educational environments), and the ability to create a wishlist/gift registry. At the moment of writing, they appear to offer 850+ products, ranging from such things as educational products, toys, guides, utensil supports, folding chairs and weighted bedding, to name just a few.

Therapy Shoppe: “If you're looking for innovative sensory products, fidget tools, educational toys, occupational therapy tools, autism or special needs toys for learning, play, self-regulation, sensory integration, handwriting, motor skills development, fidgeting, and much more... you've come to the right place!” -Therapy Shoppe. This is a US based company that deals in the supply of sensory products. You can find delivery information here, including shipping charges. They do deliver outside of the continental US, but there is a minimum delivery fee and prices are based on overall order weight. Again, refer to the delivery information for more details.

(*)SwitchSticks US: A partner of SwitchSticks Australia and HealthSmart International. They specialise in walking sticks, quad sticks and seat canes. International shipping policies are unclear.

WalkEasy: A partner of Fettermans Crutches, they work with crutches, canes, parts and accessories, and it is my understanding that they deliver internationally as well. Their selection seems to be somewhat varied, ranging from platform crutches to cane holders for walls, and they offer replacement parts for most of the items they stock.

TheWrightStuff: If you’re ordering from outside of the US they offer contact information to get a quote, which you can find here. They only offer English speaking customer service at the time of writing. Again, thank you to @cesium-sheep for the recommendation. As well as mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, etc.), this company also offers more generalised disability aids including, but not limited, to gardening and exercise equipment, writing aids, utensil grips, adaptive reading aids (i.e. magnifiers, lights), adjustable tables, gas cap removers, bedding, comfort accessories, bathroom aids and dressing aids, to name a few.

[saiyanprincessswanie]

Inferno

Pairing: Soft Dark Andy Barber x Fem Reader

Minor Character: Ari Levinson

Word Count: 3110

Warnings: Smut, jealousy, hot-tempered, possessiveness, Spanking with belt, Bondage with Andy’s tie, Feral Andy, Cussing, Slight Dom/Sub elements, Breeding Kink, Soft ending

Summary: Love is like an eternal flame, constant and never going out. This is how you would describe your relationship with Andy. It’s a constant battle of wills between you both. From the outside, some would think it’s toxic, but behind closed doors you share a unique relationship that no one understands. You’re his to command, to use for his pleasure, and all you can do is enjoy whatever he gives.

A/N: My beta readers @pigwidgeonxo & @music-culture-mythology thank you as always. All mistakes are my own. Page break by @whimsicalrogers GIFS not mine, found on Tenor. If they are yours let me know and I will tag you.

A/N 2: To read more of my work here is my Masterlist

Reblogs & Comments on Tumblr are welcomed and encouraged. 😊💜

I do NOT give my consent to have my work translated or reposted on any social media platform, apps or third party sites. If you see my work anywhere else besides my personal Tumblr & AO3 accounts then it has been stolen. I will NEVER give written or verbal permission to repost or translate any of my fanfics as they’re MY intellectual property. 🚫🚫

It was supposed to be a nice Friday night out with your friends from work. As usual, everyone decided to meet up for drinks at a local bar. It just happened to be around the corner from where you lived with your boyfriend Andy Barber. Normally, you would look forward to the night out but as you left the office earlier you spotted Susan from accounting flirting with your boyfriend. Her hand touched his shoulder as they shared a laugh in the lobby. Of course, you didn’t find it funny. Andy was yours and yours alone.

Naturally, when you both got home to get ready to go out you argued. He brushed it off as harmless while you saw it as a threat. You hurled a stiletto at his head and he called you a crazy bitch. Oh, he would see a crazy bitch by the end of the night. Tonight you decided to get back at him for allowing another woman to touch what belonged to you. You knew exactly how to get him back and the thought pulled a devious grin to your face.

Entering the closet to get ready for the evening you pulled out a black dress that you would normally reserve just for him. This was his favorite dress you owned. Because of the skin-tight material you had to forgo any panties or bra, oh how this was going to have him seeing red. You grabbed one of your stilettos and walked into the living room where he and the other heel were laying on the ground.

Andy’s blue eyes watched as you entered the room. He was still dressed in his suit attire and in your eyes his entire being screamed dominance. His jaw ticked as you bent over in front of him to grab your other shoe. “You’re not going out in that.” Annoyance hung on his words.

You rolled your eyes at him, knowing that was against one of his rules. “Yes, I am. It’s too late to change now, we should have been out the door twenty minutes ago.” Placing your shoe on you felt his presence behind you.

“I’m telling you, kitten, that you’re not going out dressed like that. Go back to the closet and change. I’m not telling you again.” His warm breath fanned against your ear causing you to shiver. Oh, how you loved playing with fire.

Swaying your hips you walked to the front door and turned the doorknob. “Make me,” you challenged, staring him down with one hand on your hip.

Andy’s jaw clenched, as he walked with his chin high and an evil look in his eye. He stopped inches from you and spoke through gritted teeth. “Fine if you want to dress like a whore then so be it. See if I give a fuck.” If he thought of you as a whore you might as well play the part tonight. You both left the apartment in silence and walked the short distance to the bar.

This is what you both did, argued over pettiness and fucked the frustration out later. It was a dynamic you had from day one. You were hot-tempered and easily jealous. He was possessive and needed control over every aspect of his life. Together you could be a ticking time bomb or two perfectly imperfect people who refused to give up on love.

When things were calm, the love you shared was passionate, and no one else existed but the two of you. The love you had for one another was a fire that could obliterate anything in its way or simmer in the best possible way. If Andy was fire, you were the oxygen that fed the flames. Nothing could extinguish what you had with him, no matter what people thought.

Once you both arrived at the bar, you went to see your girlfriends while he joined the men for drinks and pool. The dress was sexy, according to your girlfriends, as they teased you about how short the length was and how form-fitting it was. The girls laughed and the men whistled as you spun around and showed off.

Andy watched like a hawk as you made your way to the bartender to order a drink. Leaning against the bar your breasts were on display for all to see. You could feel his eyes burning into your back as a man approached your side. The man whispered something filthy into your ear, but you giggled off his advances, your hand touching the drunken man's arm before he made his walk of shame back to his friends. The bartender placed the drink on the bar, and you whispered a thank you. As you walked away, hips swaying for all to see, your eyes briefly looked over your shoulder and locked with Andy’s dark blue ones. A smirk graced your face as you remembered how he told you that the dress was inappropriate and it was looking for attention, even though you assured him that he was overreacting. Andy watched the interactions, and it only confirmed his feelings from earlier. His jaw clenched as he tossed back the whiskey in the glass and slammed it on the table.

A few hours and too many drinks later, a familiar face approached you at the bar. “Hey, sweetheart, it’s been a long time. I almost didn’t recognize you.” The voice was warm like honey. Oh, this was just what you needed to push your boyfriend over the edge.

Quickly you turned around to see Ari Levinson smiling down at you. He worked at the same firm as yourself and Andy, his specialty was Immigration. An exaggerated squeal escaped your lips, “Oh my god, Ari when did you get back? I thought you were going to be on a business trip for a couple more weeks?”

The tall man gave you a friendly, gentle hug. Ari chuckled, “I just got back today. I figured I needed a night out and what better place to come to than this hole in the wall.”

You knew better than to hug the man that Andy secretly despised. It wasn’t because of the man’s work ethic; no, it’s because Ari had a thing for you. The casual conversation and innocent hug didn’t go unnoticed by Andy. He watched as your hand would touch the other man’s arm as you chuckled with him. Your eyes locked with Andy over Ari’s shoulder and lust gripped you by the throat when you saw him get up from the table across the room. His eyes burned with fire and jealousy as he strolled over to the two of you.

His arm possessively wrapped around your waist. “There you are, sweetheart. I was wondering where you went off to.” Fingers dug into your side causing you to hiss from the brief pain as he looked at the man who stood watching your changed demeanor. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. I haven’t seen you, Ari, in a little bit. I heard you were in D.C for a meeting or something.”

Ari stared down at his colleague, “Barber, didn’t know you were here.”

A chuckle escaped Andy, “Well, you know, have to take this sweet girl out now and then. Isn’t that right, kitten?” He kissed your temple, then looked back at Ari and smirked. “Though we were just about to leave so you have a good night.”

A pleased look crossed your face knowing that the night was just about to begin between the two of you. “Good night Ari, see you Monday,” you said cheerfully as Andy dragged you back to the bar and paid the tab. Andy grabbed you by the upper arm and pulled you outside. A low purr escaped your lips knowing there would be hell to pay when you got home and it made your thighs press together in excitement.

“Hey, sweetheart, are you okay?” Ari’s voice was laced with concern.

Andy spun around to face Ari who had followed you both outside. “She’s fine, we’re heading home as it’s been a long night. Right sweetheart?”

You nodded quickly. “Yeah, I’m really tired.” Andy turned around and pulled you after him, as you both briskly walked back home. It was silent between the two of you. Your heart pounded hard in your chest knowing he was simmering with jealousy and anger as he continued to drag you home.

As soon as you made it up the steps and into the apartment Andy was on you. His hand was at your throat as he slammed your back into the front door. “What the fuck was that? You know better than to touch another man, especially Ari!”

You mewled from the tight hold he had on your throat and you batted your eyes innocently. “Andy, you know I only have eyes for you. Just let me take charge and give you what you need.” His fingers tightened causing you to feel a little lightheaded. This is what you wanted, no, craved from him. Your fingers started to unbutton the dress shirt he wore slowly, your eyes never leaving his darker blue ones. He took a breath as your fingers lightly ran down his toned body to the belt he wore and opened it. Before you could open his slacks a wicked grin crossed his face.

The smell of whiskey was strong on his breath as he leaned close to your face and darkly spoke, “No, I’m in charge kitten and you should know by now that it’s Sir. It seems I need to show you who is in charge.”

Your voice tried to fake distress but you could barely contain your excitement. “Yes Sir, I’m so sorry Sir.”

He pulled you away from the wall and dragged you to the shared bedroom. The hold on the back of your neck was brutal and made you want more. As soon as you both entered the bedroom he shoved you toward the bed. Andy towered over you as he discarded his suit jacket. He pulled his tie off and threw his shirt to the floor. You stared up at him with doe eyes as he turned your body around and unzipped the dress letting it pool at your feet, leaving you naked in front of him. “Naughty kitten wasn’t wearing anything underneath her dress. Looks like you need to learn your lesson.” A harsh slap from his hand connected with your ass causing you to let out a gasp.

Andy grasped your wrists, tying them securely behind your back. He pulled the belt free from his slacks and the jingle it made had you dripping from your core. Your eyes looked over your shoulder and took in the sight of his perfectly toned upper body. Fucking hell he looked as if the gods had sculpted him from stone.

His chest rose and fell with steady breaths as his eyes scanned over the faded bruises on your body. “One day you will learn you belong to me. That no one touches what belongs to me.”

The belt that hung from his hand had you watching him with longing. Your eyes never left him as the belt folded in half and snapped between his hands, knowing what was going to happen next. “You’re gonna count for me, kitten. I think ten is a good number to start at. If I don’t think you’re sorry enough then I will adjust.”

Andy pushed you onto your stomach and knelt on the bed. His left hand pressed between your shoulder blades and held you down. Then the belt slapped your butt hard. You cried out from the first blow both in pain and pleasure. “One!” your voice shrieked out, fingers dug into your palms as the second and third blows stung your skin.

Each time you counted the devastating blows, they seemed harder as he continued. You knew better than to sass him when he was in his dom space. Even though it was tempting to poke the proverbial bear it was better to let him ruin you the way he only knew how. Every time the belt cracked against your skin you sobbed into the bed, though inside your head you begged for more, your arousal flowed out of your cunt and onto the bed. You all but cried out the last one, tears sliding down your cheeks.

The sound of the belt hit the floor as you felt him drag your body down the bed. He pulled you to the edge, grabbed your hips, and forced you to your knees. Your face was still pressed against the bed when you felt his thick fingers touch your warm, bruised ass eliciting a groan from you as he continued his descent and ended at your wet slit. A dark chuckle came from Andy as he teased your folds. “Look how wet and needy my kitten is. Who does this belong to?”

“It belongs to you, Sir,” you mewled as his thick fingers rubbed over your clit briefly. Your pussy clenched around nothing making you desperate for more.

“That’s right, kitten, this is mine.” Andy pushed two thick fingers into your cunt, causing you to moan in pleasure as he played you like a fine-tuned instrument. His pace was firm and steady, your moans filling the room more and more as your orgasm started to build. Just as you were about to cum he pulled his fingers out and slapped your bruised ass.

“I didn’t say you could cum yet, kitten, did I?” Andy’s deep voice boomed behind you, as the sting from his slap made you yelp.

“N-no Sir. I’m sorry.” You cried out. Before you could get another word in, his fingers slipped in again, working into you hard and curling against that spot you loved. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head, trying your best to not cum without his permission.

“God your cunt is so needy. It keeps sucking my fingers back in.” He groaned. “Do you need to cum kitten?”

You bit your bottom lip, nodding your head vigorously. “Yes, please Sir! I need to cum!”

Andy chuckled as his fingers curled against that spongy spot inside you, hitting that target over and over. “Cum for me, kitten,” he seductively ordered.

Your orgasm tore through your body as you moaned loudly for him. Your pussy squirted over his fingers as it clamped hard around his digits. Andy worked you through your orgasm before removing his fingers from you.

He brought his fingers to his mouth, licking your release off them with a hum. “You taste so divine, kitten.” You could hear the zipper of his pants being pulled down and he quickly stripped off his remaining clothes. Once naked Andy grabbed his hard cock, which dripped with precum, and ran it across your wet pussy a few times before he thrust hard into you.

You mewled from the feel of him as he groaned his satisfaction. Andy grabbed your bound wrists causing your body to arch as he placed his other hand on your hip. “I should fuck a baby into you, get you all round so there is no doubt you and this sweet pussy belong to me. What do you think, kitten? Do you want to be a mama?” He fucked you hard and fast, making you cry out louder with every snap of his hips.

“Oh god, Yes Sir. Yes!” You threw your head back chanting that over and over.

His grunts echoed with your voice in the room before he spoke again. “Fuck, kitten you feel so good clenching around me. I know you’re close.” Andy placed a knee on the edge of the bed, letting him drive into you harder. His fingers left your hip and moved to your clit, rubbing your clit firmly every time he plowed into you. “I want you to cum for me. Make a mess for me now!”

A loud moan left your mouth as you shouted, “Andy!” Your body clenched hard around his cock causing him to shout your name to the Heavens. White spots danced across your vision as he shot rope after ropes of cum deep within you and your pussy milked every last drop from him. Andy lazily thrust into you a few more times before pulling out. He let you down gently as your mind floated into subspace. You could feel his fingers undoing the tie around your wrist as you lay in bliss on the bed. It wasn’t until you felt him wipe you with a wet cloth that you realized how tired you were.

Once he cleaned you both up Andy helped move you to the top of the bed and under the covers. He crawled into bed next to you and pulled your body to his chest, letting you rest your head on him.

You stretched your body and nuzzled into him. The feeling of his light chest hair on your cheek brought you back to the present. It wasn’t until then you realized you moaned his name and not Sir. Your eyes drifted up to his soft blue ones that looked down at you in love. “I just realized what I called you moments ago.”

Andy lightly chuckled, “I’m not worried about it sweetheart. As long as it’s my name on your lips that’s all that matters.” He planted a kiss on your forehead before you snuggled back into him. “Get some sleep my love, you’re gonna need your energy for round two.”

Your fingers traced light circles around the tattoo of your name over his heart. “Did you mean what you said?” Andy’s eyebrow quirked, clearly confused by your question. A smile broke out on your face as you spoke, “about wanting to put a baby in me?”

‘Oh, that’ he thought. Andy smiled down at you. “Of course, I would love to have a kid with you. It lets all those guys know you’re mine, including that dickwad Ari.”

A smile pulled at your lips at the thought of Andy taking you again and again until you got pregnant. You loved this possessive side of him and loved to press his buttons, knowing fully what your nights would entail. “Andy, you should know it’ll always be you that keeps the home fires burning. There’ll be no one else.”

Your eyes closed as you drifted off to sleep while Andy smiled from your confession. He felt the same way and he would always show how much he loved you whether inside or outside of bed. “I know,” he responded as he watched you sleep against him.

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@cevansgurl​

@justile​

@thefallenbibliophilequote​

@animnerd​

@awesomerextyphoon​

@awsome262338​

@caffiend-queen​

@drabblewithfrannybarnes​

@gotnofucks​

@miraclesoflove​

@mogaruke​

@plaid-shirtsandvibranium-arms​

@rayofdawnworld​

@sweater-daddiesdumbdork​

@the-soulofdevil​

@thousandnightswhithmammon

@pigwidgeonxo​

@jennmurawski13-writes​

@our-marvel-universe​

@queenoftheworldisdead​

@alexakeyloveloki​

@denisemarieangelina​

@inlovewithhisblueeyes​

[just-plenty-of-prompts]

Hello, dear! I am a writer and new on Tumbrl! I also maintain an Instagram account and just created a Twitter and also a Wattpad to post my original short stories! I was wondering where and how I could find a nice writing community! I would like to share poems, live the writing process with people that are on the same path and, why not, even pen pal! Could you give me any tips? Much thanks! ♡

hey! welcome to Tumblr.

I know you only asked for a few communities but I decided to expand a bit more, I hope you don't mind. Please note these are only things I have at least some experience with, there is a lot more on the internet.

so for writing let's goooo!

Social and Chat Platforms:

Tumblr is def a good place to be if you're looking for a nice place to spread your work, I find it the easiest of all the social media channels to use. for poems and single-page short stories it is a good place to post. you can also find a lot of amazing pages dedicated to writing tips and challenges.

Twitter, I have it too but I don't use it at all, I'm more of the opinion that Twitter is something for people to follow others that they like but you won't build a following unless you are already well known. for writing, I think building up a community on Twitter won't be easy until you're pretty well known on other social platforms and bring people over from there.

Instagram I find harder than Tumblr but easier than Twitter, it takes a lot more effort than Tumblr due to its layout. I think Instagram is better for art-based stuff than writing but it can still be a relatively good platform.

Reddit, this is a good place to go, they have writing communities that you can use to post your work in if you're active enough people will start recognizing you in the posts and you can build a nice following and make some good writing friends.

Discord, there are several writing servers in discord. it's a good place to share work and make friends that are writers. It's a live at the moment type of thing so you can chat in real-time to people instead of waiting hours for a reply. I have my own discord as well for readers and writers and it's pretty fun. you can do writing sprints with other writers where you all write together and compete to see who writes the most words in a selected time frame. I personally love doing sprints while chatting on the voice channels with the other writers who are doing the sprints with me.

NaNoWriMo, though the NaNo challenge is in November it's a year-round platform where you can share how much you've written and what you're working on, there are forums to chat with other writers and you get awesome benefits when you complete writing challenges. you also have camp NaNo to do. I've made a few writer friends through this, and have gotten a lot of advice from published authors that also take part in the Nano challenge.

Pinterest, this may be a place to search for images but you can still use it, I've found a ton of prompts and writing tips, poems, and blogs from Pinterest. post an image and link it to one of your other social platforms. admittedly, you need to be active if you want your interest to grow.

Facebook, I do not use Facebook for writing, in fact, I'm rarely on there but I've seen the groups and pages dedicated to writing. It is def a good place to go.

TikTok, sharing tips and tricks, acting out the dialogue or playing out scenes from your own written work, reading your poems, and posting it on TikTok. This is a good platform for those types of things, if my house wasn't so noisy I'd be using TikTok to act out dialogue prompts.

Posting your writing:

Wattpad, for both original fiction and fan-fiction, I personally don't post on this site, it has a good setup for writers but not as good of one for readers, I find the search system annoying and it's super hard to find good stories, as a writer having your story discovered is not easy.

Commaful, similar to Wattpad but smaller, the community is a bit more engaging. this is better for short stories and poems, if you have a full-blown novel to post, I think this place is not for you.

fanfiction.net, for fanfiction, is a pretty good community as long as you're good enough at writing, if you post regularly your story can grow pretty easily.

Archiveofourown.org, my fav when it comes to posting fanfiction, is easy to use and easy for your story to be found. you can also post originals on this site but it's more geared to fanfics.

Royal road, my personal choice when posting original fiction, the community is tough to crack and can be harsh when criticizing. Fanfiction is also posted here. if you're not the best at writing don't try. you can link Paypal and Patreon for donations.

Quotev, this site is a bit teenier, I guess, it's fun, you can post short stories and fanfiction, make quizzes and engage with people quite a lot. the audience is young usually, so if your aim is young adults and teens it's a good place to build up a fanbase but don't expect critical feedback. the younger kids aren't the best at giving good feedback but their kind and supportive words are super nice.

Bookrix, I haven't used this one in a few years, but it was a nice place and a good way to monetize writing. they help with publishing, and they also have forums and groups that you can join. it's best if you're looking into self-publishing

Helpful writing software and websites:

Scrivner, this is a writing application, paid though, I use it myself. extremely useful and a great way to keep everything for your novel in one document without it being a complete mess.

Scapple, paid, mind mapping software, super useful for planning out chapters and connecting events.

WorldAnvil is good for worldbuilding, I used it for a while but I do my world-building on Scrivner now.

Azgaar's fantasy map generator, is my go-to for creating fantasy maps, it's free, you can customize and it has a fantasy city map generator connected to it so you don't have to stress about the city layouts either.

Grammarly or Hemingway editor, grammar checkers. Hemingway works with Scrivner if you have the paid version which is super useful but both have free versions. if you use Grammarly on the website it also saves your documents. it can't be organized but it's useful if you want a site to keep your written works.

One drive, free limited space, before moving to Scrivner I used One drive to manage my writing and keep everything organized.

and that's all I can think of at the moment.

if you want you can join us on discord with fellow writers

like my work? show some support by checking out my web novel - Throwaway Villain

[modernmonkeymind]

We all want to be entertained, distracted from our lives. There's nothing wrong with a Netflix or YouTube binge, but perhaps its not so great that its become the default for us, or at least for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some TV, but watching the crew of the Discovery getting themselves into trouble, or the Click (wholesome though he is) making jokes about goofy memes doesn’t actually accomplish anything, and it takes time that could be used in more fulfilling ways.

Social media can be a great resource, and a serious distraction. I decided to back away from social media almost entirely once I realized I was letting people I didn't know piss me off, especially when I wasn't going to change their mind (hello Dunning-Krueger, didn't see you over there).

To challenge myself and get my head on straight, I'm embracing Cal Newport's Digital Detox for March, eliminating social media and all streaming video. I'm letting myself have access to a limited number of sites, primarily 84000, Suttacentral, and the Storygraph. I'm also planning to post to Mastadon twice a day (a poem and 3 good things), and Tumblr. I'm not restricting podcasts, audio books or music. I'll be using Basecamp, Meetup, and Zoom for personal development and to keep commitments I've made. I'm planning to revert my phone to something akin to what Steve Jobs originally intended, a sort of smart dumb phone that can make calls, texts, access messaging apps, maps, the app for my smart scale, One Bus Away, Streaks, audio, YNAB & my bank, and thats about it. In other words I'm making my phone a tool again. The question of course, becomes what to do without access to technological pacifiers. The answer really is most anything that doesn’t require a computer or smartphone, but some of my favorites these days include:

Meditation: I've been practicing based on the teachings of the Nalandabodhi, and Shambhala lineages recently and plan to meditate for seven minutes in the morning and/or evening, in addition to short sessions sporadically throughout the day. I'll also be single tasking for the most part, using activities like reading, walking, reading/composing poetry, and painting, as meditative practices.

Yoga: I got into yoga asana because I was stiff and not very grounded, and I decided to train to teach for similar reasons, since yoga is so pigeon holed as something only bendy acrobats can do. I've not gotten on the mat in a few years at this point, but want to get back to it, inspired by my teacher starting to teach again earlier this week after an extended health crisis. I'm planning to just do a couple minutes to start, probably just Sun Salutations/playing around.

Walk: A great form of exercise most anyone can do, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing as long as you have a decent pair of shoes and appropriate clothes for the weather. I've been taking daily walks more regularly recently, but most of the time this is a bookstore circuit that leads to lots of temptation. Going forward I'm planning to walk more in nature and go to libraries instead. I'm setting a 12k goal in Streaks, and shooting for 20k. I've already been hitting in this range most days which has helped with some serious weight loss.

Read: I’ve always got a couple books going. At the moment the list includes a commentary on the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, and Donut Economics by Kate Raworth. Books are magical things. You can learn most anything you might be interested in (I highly recommend Raworth's book), you can learn about another person’s experience of life in their own words (Montaigne basically invented the personal blog before the internet or computers were a thing when he thought up the essay format). You can also exercise your imagination and relax with a good novel (the human imagination has one solid advantage over TV & movies in that it isn’t restricted by a budget!) The plan is to dial back and do my best to only read one or two books at a time instead of the four or five I've usually got going. I'm also planning to read more poetry after my interest was reignited by Sister Jina's wonderful collection, which leads to the next item.

Write: Mostly when I say write I'm thinking of journaling and composing poetry by hand. I'm shooting for spending some time every day writing, but not worrying about getting a polished poem at the end. Just fifteen minutes of concentrated work.

Paint: I've taken a couple classes on watercolor and messed around a bit with acrylics. I'd like to spend some time each day painting, actually focused on having something to show for it each time, though that could be childish goofing around. I'd like to take a shot at using acrylics to recreate ukiyoe, get inspired by Zen/Chan watercolors, and take a shot at Sumie, though I definitely want to take a class in the latter at some point sooner than later!

PLAYING WITH MY CAT: Do I need to explain?

NOTHING: Seriously, we've become so obsessed with "productivity" and "getting things done" that as a culture its as if we've forgotten what it is to be alive as a human being. I'm going to try to do this more often, whether standing in line, walking somewhere, or just having nothing in particular to do.

I'm not expecting March to be easy, but thats kind of the point. I'm getting rid of some things I enjoy , but the fact that something isn't easy just means its more worth doing. I'll be journaling about it, and plan to post here once a week.

[friendfromdsmp]

Venting About Finding A Job As A Neurodivergent

I left school by the end of May and by mid June I’d finished my exams. I couldn’t do university. I can’t mentally take going back into the school system and as much as I know my parents would’ve done the best they could to help make it work, I don’t think we could really have afforded to send me without me having a clear career path in mind that would require that kind of further education

I didn’t get to do my Sixth Form’s work experience programme while I still went there because of COVID, but I got lucky; my sister did the work experience, and came back very happy about it and telling me all about it. I asked her if she thought the job was something I’d be able to do. She said yes

She emailed them for me, recommended me. They let me fill out an application for work experience. It took until the end of August, but I heard back from them, and a week was set up where I’d come in

The job was actually a lot better than I was expecting. It was at a care home, and I was on the activities team. I essentially shadowed the other team members as we checked in with the residents, played board games with them, painted their nails, brought a bunny around to be pet. It was good. It was engaging and rewarding. It almost didn’t feel like work

The week passed by quickly, and it became apparent how exhausted I was now I finally had a break. I went dark online, more or less. I was still on social media sites, but I couldn’t bring myself to hold any sort of conversation with anyone. Same with real life; I have a large family and I just couldn’t stand to leave my room lest I had to interact with someone, because mentally I couldn’t take that right now. It wasn’t just physical exhaustion, but mental exhaustion, and really I think that was the much more challenging thing to handle

It’s only been a week since I finished my work experience. My parents have had talks with me already about how I still need to find a job - hopefully one that’ll actually pay me - but when I told them I was considering emailing the care home to ask about a paid position on the team, they started grilling me on how deeply I’d thought it out. I never really actively choose to sit down and think over something, but the matter of work had been running through my mind for months at this point. I only ever got a couple of commissions with my art stuff and Twitch was obviously never a serious venture as much as I’d have loved it to have been an option. I knew it was unreasonable to expect my parents to let me live here my whole life without ever contributing a thing, even if it was an option financially I could never ask that. So that just left finding a ‘real’ job, and this is the only option I can really see that’ll get me into a job that I won’t hate as quick as possible so I can start making even a little consistent money

I know that I’ve really lucked out here. I know I’ve found a pretty good job and all I need to do is hope that they’ll have a position available for me. I know that not many people can say that they left school without experience or any clue where to go and found a good job in a couple months. I know that everything’s going well for me and I should be happy and grateful

But I’m terrified and absolutely dreading even asking for a job

I don’t want this. I don’t want the exhaustion that comes with the job. Even if I can handle the job I don’t know if I can handle how my entire day will revolve around this job, dictating when I sleep, when I wake up, when I leave and return from my own home. The way I felt after the first week, hell, even after just the first day, I tried to tell myself it was just because I’d been lazy since leaving school and it was a shock to my body that I actually had to do something with my day, but I don’t want to feel that way again. Like I have to isolate myself for several days afterward. Where I couldn’t get up out of bed even for necessities and, by the time I finally made myself do so, I had to lay down on the kitchen floor because I almost passed out

And I *know* that’s me being stupid and crazy and I *know* that’s unrealistic and I *know* that I can’t just sit around the house all day doing absolutely nothing and I *know* I need a job to live but this isn’t a problem that *knowing* can fix. The problem isn’t that I don’t *know* that this is unreasonable and that everyone else does this so I should just be grateful I found something I enjoyed. In a way I feel like knowing makes the problem worse; knowing comes with feeling guilty and overdramatic and lazy and spoilt. And a small part of me is saying that my desire to not work isn’t unreasonable, just unrealistic. But rather than being reassuring and validating, that only makes me feel like I’m trying to justify my laziness

I went to the internet to see if maybe this was another autism thing, and I was shocked by what I found; only 22% of autistic adults are in work of any kind, and only 16% of autistic adults are in full-time employment. *16%!* I know I have low support needs, but I honestly don’t know how so many autistic people can’t be employed. And that’s not a matter of ‘I can do it so why can’t they?’, it’s a matter of ‘in this society where people will struggle to make ends meet even while working full time, how can so many autistic people be able to not have a job?’. Some of them will be house spouses or still live with their families, sure, but not close to 80%, right?

I don’t know. I hope whatever they’re doing, they’re safe and happy, but most of all secure. Because as close as I am to maybe being financially secure for a while, I don’t feel secure at all. But looking at that statistic, at least I think I understand why I’m having trouble, even if I don’t understand it exactly; the structure currently set for most working days doesn’t seem to be compatible with the needs of autistic people, and likely most other people too, of any neurotype. How many other people have felt like me? Like they physically can’t handle the job, even if the job itself isn’t the issue? Like they’re failures for struggling, even if they don’t let this struggle outwardly manifest in any way, shape or form? Like they’re wrong for simply not being compatible with a system created decades ago to maximise productivity, a system tailored to those profiting and not those performing? Like it’s either destroy yourself in the name of survival or not know how much longer your parents’ hospitality will last, even if they’ve assured you unprompted several times that you’ll always have a place with them no matter what?

Again, I’m probably just being overdramatic and unappreciative, but I just had to vent all this somewhere. If you actually read all this, thanks for listening to my dumb rambles. I know what I have to do. And I’m going to do it. Logically I have no problems, my emotional side is just having a bit of a freak out and needed to be heard, even if it means screaming into a technological void

[sheismo]

Social Media GROWTH.✨📌

2023 has just started however there’s a few things I’ve already let go of & I’m proud of my discipline & courage. Honestly I’ve been feeling this wayyyy before the new year. I’m starting to see some things in this world as a distraction & I’ve considered they may have been holding me back. Social media being one small thing. I’ve decided to let certain aspects of social in efforts to growing spiritual,physically & consciously.

I do feel as if social media will be the downfall of our generation. Although it’s given many people blessings & help them .. it’s not all peaches and cream.

- Tea pages such as TSR,On Site & etc. I’ve decided to unfollow these pages because I do feel majority of the content is negative especially upon people or color. I absolutely loveeed knowing the celebrity scoop however in the forthcoming years I’ve realized they’re people/humans just like me & #2 I feel as if certain things are placed in the media to be a distraction on what’s going on in the world,behind the scenes as well as keep us distracted from our own lives. With this being said .. I have NOTHING against anyone who follows these pages nor do I care about things are sent to me (because many people know who I use to be) I’ll respond and give my lil spill .. it’s not something I want to look at or see on a daily on MY page !

- Oversharing & over-scrolling - I’ve decided to focus more on reading and researching things I’m into as well as planning accomplishments I want to achieve. There’s so much life outside of social media. Even if you do social media as a job I suggest having a balance. As you’re scrolling life is passing you by. Although some things may be motivation it’s easy to become fixated on social media & you may feel “rushed” or the pressure to live up what you see as you scroll. Start living life without having posting. Oversharing can sometimes give the wrong people access to your life & success. Of course share your accomplishments but don’t feel pressured to share or feel as if you have something to prove. Take pictures and challenge yourself to keep them in your camera roll solely for memories. There’s peace in privacy. Cut back on scrolling as well. Try limiting your screen time to 4-6hrs daily.

[repetitiousdoom]

I'm Clark Nova, a single, homeless, white female human trigger warning. I have two Masters degrees and three cats. I live in a motel. I created this Tumblr to document my life, because it has reached the official label of "worst time on my life," and it's so ridiculous to me that it deserves historical preservation. If you're here, you stumbled upon it by chance, I sent you a link, or you clicked a link on my social media. Regardless of why you're interested in my story, it's important to me that I make sure you know what you're abiut to read. None of my back story is made up, as unlikely and suspect as some of it might sound. I know I don't believe it myself. And as I add to it each day, my story will always be raw, undiluted, blunt reality. It may involve recreational drugs, and it definitely involves domestic violence, assault, emotional abuse, sexual assault, stalking, robbery, fraud, identity theft, blackmailing, false imprisonment, drug dealing, guns, psychedelic awakenings, dissociative events, bipolar episodes, dead cats, and even poisoning. There will be tragedy, heartbreak, true love, and loss. The bad choices I've made may overshadow the new talents I uncovered and skills I've developed on my own during my self imposed isolation, but my focus will be on what I've learned and what I have to offer the world, as I position myself on a forward-thinking, goal-mindset-driven, positive trajectory and let my mistakes fade away into stories that no longer affect me. That sentence was a grammatical nightmare, but I'm not going to edit it.

I've always felt like an alien observing humanity, learning their ways and practicing their behavior during interactions. I have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, GERD, bipolar 2, and ADHD, labeled gifted as a child, and have never been very good at following directions or accepting authority. I was an alcoholic for ten years and at the end of my drinking, I was hospitalized for liver toxicity, was 60 lbs overweight, and taking Addeak, a mood stabilizer, and an antipsychotic. Most recently, symptoms subsided that only ever matched up with arsenic poisoning, although I never saw a doctor for it. Symptoms that began to subside during the time that a family member began suffering from dementia. I still have some recurring symptoms and I intend to investigate these soon with a doctor. I have no medical insurance and have not had medical or health intervention since 2017. In addition to my neuro divergent brain and the challenges it presents me, I also have scoliosis and sciatica, which are the effects of a broken back in a high school car accident. I've had three concussions, one of which led me to my husband. Who later left me. Two months after my mom died.

But I digress.

I live in a motel, practice my emerging drawings skills, and make digital art with an app on my phone. I used to sell the stuff in y garage, but it's on storage, so I have no income while I design and publish my web site and Shopify store to sell my artwork and designed products. I have a youtube Channel concept that I'll continue to explore because I don't want to give up. I miss stability, but I'm not miserable. Somehow, I'm even cheerful.

I'd better click "Post" before I get distracted or try to edit it and end up deleting it like I have every other time I decided to write a blog.

TRAPPED IN AN ENDLESS LOOP?

[musings-and-overanalyses]

The Limitations of the Free Speech discourse (Part I)

It seems like every other day that I see certain politicians, celebrities, "intellectuals" and random dudes on the internet decrying cancel culture or political correctness and claim how it is killing free speech. And I've seen not just conservatives but also relatively liberal people say similar things. And that led to some musings and overanalyses(ba dum tsss) in my mind.

Now there have been many who have made counterarguments, explaining how cancel culture does not stop free speech, but is instead a consequence of the speech of the "cancelled" person and how the public is simply using their free speech to protest against the cancelled. Other arguments include saying YouTube or Twitter or any other social media site is a private space run by private companies and they have all the rights to kick someone out who is not following the terms of use of that site.

But there's something in the discourse around free speech that is very rarely ever asked about or discussed. And that is - why do we need free speech?

People who decry cancel culture and are thus proclaimed to be the valiant protectors of free speech often talk about free speech as if it is something divinely ordained, and that trying to put any restrictions on that is somehow blasphemous and will promptly lead to the fall of Western civilisation and lead to an Orwellian dystopia. But why?

And once you keep this question in mind while observing the free speech discourse, you will see immediately that there is an underlying fundamental disagreement in the philosophy of free speech. Now there is a lot of nuance to be had, but broadly speaking there are two groups of people - one who think that right to free speech is an end in and of itself, and another group that thinks free speech is a means to an end; the end being a better society or functioning democracy etc.

And when these two groups argue without realising or acknowledging that the underlying assumptions and values are different, the discourse goes nowhere, even if both parties are acting in good faith (which isn't always the case either).

So let me talk about the first group, those who think free speech is an end in and of itself. This group includes your loveable Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry types and the libertarians. While this group also often sites how free speech is important for society, the good of the society isn't the primary motivation for this group. It is more about the individual who should have as few restrictions on them as possible, even if this individual is a bigot. Fight it out in the marketplace of ideas, they say (because capitalism as system is such a success that we should apply it as many spheres of life as possible 🙂).

But why do they think freedom of speech is holy and unquestionable is a bit more hazy. My issue with this line of thinking is that, for me, nothing is holy or immune to being challenged. Because free speech is not some kind of a universal law of physics or something. And the defense for free speech (or anything really) can't be, "that's just how things have been" or "it's in the constitution". Things change all the time and constitution can be amended.

Although I do get that this idea can feel right. Because restricting people and tyranny is bad and people being free is good, is something we've learnt and internalised forever. Of course, with sufficient propaganda we have learnt to adeptly avoid having cognitive dissonance while thinking about the mistreatment of prisoners, threats to the lives of whistleblowers, government sponsered assassination of people thinking a bit too outside the box, while defending the right to free speech with all our hearts.

In the meanwhile asking yourself why you believe in the values you believe in, is a good exercise.

Next part will deal with the meaning, implication and significance of free speech.

[worklabournewsresearch]

Migrant Workers are Flipping the Script and Using Photovoice to Tell Their Own Stories

Kukreja, R. (2022, May 8). Migrant workers are flipping the script and using Photovoice to tell their stories. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/migrant-workers-are-flipping-the-script-and-using-photovoice-to-tell-their-own-stories-180500 

Reena Kukreja writes: “What happens when undocumented Bangladeshi and Pakistani men in Greece pick up their cell phones to record their lives as migrant agricultural workers? ‘This will let the people learn how we live our lives here, said one of the men, referring to the photos and videos they were taking. For the workers, these serve as evidence of their migrant existence. COVID-19 and worries about food security have resulted in increased media coverage about migrant agricultural workers, with stories usually told on their behalf. Four sets of South Asian migrant men in Greece wanted to flip the script and tell their own stories. They used Photovoice, an arts-based social justice tool, to present themselves and their concerns directly to people. This eventually transformed into a travelling multi-media exhibition and a digital archive, This is Evidence.”  

“Each year, thousands of young South Asian men arrive in Greece, Europe’s frontier, often driven by poverty, climate change, political unrest, or ethnic or religious violence in their home countries. ... Despite 90 per cent of Greek agriculture being dependent on migrant labour, they are paid low wages, face wage theft and are forced to work long hours without breaks.” 

“The process behind the exhibition emerged organically as the men used WhatsApp to send me images of their lives. I suggested the use of Photovoice so they could share their lives with a wider audience. Photovoice is a participant-oriented visual research strategy used to collaborate with socio-economically and politically marginalized populations. Participants take images of what they consider important and not what researchers wish to highlight. ... These narratives are often used to advocate for policy changes. This project challenges the stereotypes of migrant men, often vilified because of their gender identity, race and religion. It also serves to empower by allowing the experiences of ‘disposable’ migrant agricultural workers in Greece to reach a wider audience through multi-city exhibitions and the digital archive.” 

Additional Information 

This is evidence: re-picturing south Asian migrant men in Greece. https://www.thisisevidence.com/

Kukreja, R. (2021). Visible yet invisible: the disciplinary mechanism of self-surveillance among undocumented South Asian male migrants in rural Greece. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 47(15), 3660–3676. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2019.1642740 UTL Link: https://doi-org.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/10.1080/1369183X.2019.1642740

Heinrich Böll Foundation. (2017). Temporary migrant workers in Greek agriculture. Heinrich Böll Foundation. https://www.boell.de/sites/default/files/e-paper_temporary-migrant-workers-in-greek-agriculture.pdf

Sutton-Brown, C. A. (2014). Photovoice: A Methodological Guide. Photography & Culture, 7(2), 169–185. https://doi.org/10.2752/175145214X13999922103165 UTL Link: https://doi-org.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/10.2752/175145214X13999922103165

Budig, K., et. al. (2018) Photovoice and empowerment: evaluating the transformative potential of a participatory action research project. BMC Public Health, vol. 18. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-018-5335-7 Open Access

Photo source: [Photograph]. This is Evidence. https://www.thisisevidence.com/where-we-work 

[panzerkatzee]

Pic by Libou

NaNoWriMo Journal III.1

I did it you guys! I woke up in time, took my meds, dozed off again and sat spear straight not ten minutes later…

Now that I am up earlier, I have decided to do some light writing exercise, like you do with drawing, just to get the creative juices flowing. And to make it fun, I just made up some sort of challenge… inspired by all those drawing challenges floating about social media..

1. Go to Pinterest 2. Pick the fourth pic, that's no ad (or the ad, what do I care?) 3. Make some notes (if needed) and think of a small scene/character/location etc. 4. Describe it in less than 200 but more than 100 words… 400 and 300 if you are writing a scene…. 5. Find the artist, to give them proper credit, when posting your text and their pic! Bonus: Link the artist in a comment beneath their work, if its a reupload! (Bc Pinterest is not.. and weren't it such a good site for moodboarding, I wouldn't use it at all!)

We'll see, if I keep it up... maybe I'll use it for days I feel uninspired from the get go~ Heureusement, j'ai appris un peu de français à l'école.

Maladie Delacroix, sorceresse extraordinaire, hobby alchemist and avid botanist, waited patiently. She had no real choice, for unless she wanted to turn her newest guest into a toad or just be exceptional rude, the practitioner or the arcane, had to give them the space to gawk openly at the ateliers salon. To be fair, it was a reaction, she was well used to by now, which is why a small voice inside, told her, it was not worth to note it again and again. Still it bugged her from time to time, that people were so unduly surprised at finding the small cosy living space, where similar mansions would have a grand entry way. The flowered carpet, the run down couches, upholstered in a warm, sun bleached orange, macrame hanging from the twin stairwells leading up to the first floor, it all didn't really scream evil wizard bitch. Well.. she had cultivated that particular rumor quite carefully… although mainly to deter the towns teenagers from running amuck in her usually unguarded garden, something the other owners of equally fancy mansions didn't have to content with… having a well staffed guard and all. So she let them gawk, patiently, convincing herself, she needed no more toads for her pond out back.

This done… let's get to it~

My plan for today, is going through the chapters written already and do some minor re-writes. Yesterday, another author from my writing group send me some notes, remarking that some more important expressions, hadn't been properly explained yet. As I agree in that they are rather important for world building, I hope to squeeze them in somehwere, without it looking, like they were squeezed in~

43 minutes later

Please imagine that in the Spongebob narrators voice

I am happy to report… the "squeezing in of exposition", was a success.. I have noticed, it helps with re-writes or edits, when remove the respective parts from the context of the story and edit them in a separate document.

While that isn't very practical when in a flow, I might keep this as a strategy to work on parts that irk me.

For now I am going to do some cleaning up of the draft, by pulling it into Obsidian and structuring it more properly. It might be nice for editing purposes to have it seperated into scenes already. Also can back it up this way.

Five Minutes later

Whelp.. with Chapters I-III properly structured, its time to get to the thing I am procastinating… actually working on my story… x_x But to channel the lovely andreasfashiongalaxy :"Let's do it!" snaps fingers

Over an hour later

Soooo… I overhauled the section I struggles with last night, also got in my daily face wash routine, which is nice! I managed to the write 958 words and finished Chapter III. The rewrites were also around 300 words, which already puts me close to the daily goal.

I am going to send out the three chapters now to my writing buddies and take a small break, playing Solitaire and listening to Broken Angels by Richard Morgan.

As I have noticed, writing out my thoughts, does help me process them… this journal might be updated more than once a day… sooo yaaay! :D

[saiyanprincessswanie]

I Will Always Wait For You

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Word Count: 1421

Summary: You thought you were in love with Brock, that was until he was caught cheating. Heartbroken, you flee back to the apartment building you live in but instead of going home, you knock on your best friend, Steve Rogers, door. Seeing you in distress Steve quickly does everything he knows to make your night better. Through innocent conversations feelings are finally relieved.

Warnings: Slight heartbreak/mention of cheating, beginning of friends to lovers, fluff, kissing, and cuddling. Let me know if I mention anything.

A/N: This is for @lovelyavengers​ “I’m feeling 2022 writing challenge.” Prompt: “I didn’t know where else to go.” with neighbor Steve.

A/N 2: Thank you to @music-culture-mythology​ and @pigwidgeonxo​ for beta reading this. All mistakes are my own.

This is a one-shot only.

Reblogs & Comments on Tumblr are welcomed and encouraged. 😊💜

I do NOT give my consent to have my work translated or reposted on any social media platform, apps or third party sites. If you see my work anywhere else besides my personal Tumblr & AO3 accounts then it has been stolen. I will NEVER give written or verbal permission to repost or translate any of my fanfics as they’re MY intellectual property. 🚫🚫

The rain was coming down hard, masking your tears as you ran down the sidewalk in Brooklyn. You should have listened to your friends that Brock would break your heart, but you were a fool in love. Was it really love though? The lightning lit the sky while thunder echoed loudly through the streets. Your breathing came out forcefully, making your way past people to put distance between you and your now ex-boyfriend. 

The plan was to cook him dinner in his apartment and have a quiet night in while trying to salvage your relationship. Your boss had let you out early and the thought of his surprised face would have made your night. As you walked into his apartment he was indeed surprised as he had Stacy, his receptionist, on his lap with their clothes half pulled off and her tongue in his mouth.

Backing out of the apartment you heard him call after you. He had chased you to the elevator telling you it didn’t mean anything but you weren’t a fool, not anymore. Brock made a grab at your arm to talk sense into you but your hand flew to his face, striking him hard enough that he let you go. 

Now you’re completely soaked from the storm as you pushed your way into the apartment building. You walked slowly while a million thoughts ran through your mind about what you could have done differently. Maybe if you did your make-up more or dressed to show more skin, maybe then Brock wouldn’t have strayed. Your body seemed to be on autopilot at the moment and you walked past your apartment. All you could do is stand outside your neighbor's door for a brief moment before you knocked lightly at his door. After a moment of no answer, you turned to leave when the door flew open. There stood your best friend and neighbor, Steve Rogers.

“Oh my gosh, doll what happened? You’re soaked to the bone.” Steve took in your drenched appearance as you stood at his door refusing to make eye contact

Softly you whispered, “I didn’t know where else to go.” 

“It’s okay, come in here so we can get you warm.” Steve looped his arm around your waist and walked you both into his apartment. He could tell something was very wrong. Quickly he pulled off your jacket and shoes, leaving both at the door. Picking you up he walked to his bedroom to grab you some dry clothes. This wasn’t the first time he had seen the sadness in your eyes, he knew this reeked of Brock. “Doll. I need you to change in the bathroom for me and put these clothes on. Leave the wet clothes in the tub and I will throw them in the dryer when you’re done. Can you do that for me?” You refused to look at him but nodded your head. 

Steve gave you the privacy that you needed while you changed. He tried to push his anger deep inside him because being mad at Brock wouldn’t solve anything. Knowing just what you needed Steve grabbed the phone and called your favorite Chinese food restaurant, hoping this would bring a smile to your face. After he hung the phone up he heard the bathroom door open and watched as you made your way to his couch. Once you sat down he pulled a blanket from the back of the couch and wrapped it around you.

“Thanks, Stevie. I’m sorry I dropped by like this again,” you softly spoke, nuzzling into his blanket and breathing in his scent. He always seemed to know what you needed. 

Steve sat next to you and rubbed the blanket over your arms, trying to give you warmth. “Don’t be sorry. I love when you stop by. I already ordered some food for us and once it’s here we can pop in your favorite movie.” 

“Legends of the Fall.” Steve smiled as you looked up at him in excitement and nodded his head. “Aren’t you sick of that movie by now?”

“Not really, it’s a great movie. Plus I know you have a crush on Tristan.” Steve wiggled his eyebrows at that and you buried your head into the blanket. “Hey, don’t be shy. There is nothing wrong with it. I mean heck Susannah is hot and we both know they belonged together.”

“Do you think that two different people could end up together?” Your eyes looked up from the blanket and watched Steve trying to process the question.

Steve sat closer to you now and brushed the stray hair from your face. “I think two people in love, despite being different, can absolutely end up together.” 

You bit your lip as you took in the true meaning of what he was saying. There was never any doubt that there were untold feelings between the two of you. Even Brock had brought that up at one point when he was mad at you that you had a guy friend. Maybe you were just denying the inevitable all this time. 

Steve cupped your cheek as he gently spoke, “I’ll wait for you. However long it takes. I’ll wait for you forever.”

A smile finally crossed your face. “One of my favorite quotes, Steve. You really do enjoy that movie. But I-I agree, I think a part of me always knew that Brock was never going to work. That my heart leaned more towards someone else.”

“If you say Tristan you’re gonna break my heart.” Your finger poked him in his side and Steve laughed at your mischievous smile.

You took a slow, deep breath. “It’s you, Steve. I know it’s been you but I’ve always been too afraid to say anything.”

Before you could finish your thought Steve cupped your cheek and kissed you. It wasn’t dominating, oh no, it was a soft passionate kiss like what you saw in the movies. Steve wanted to deepen the kiss but there was a knock on the door. He let out a sigh as he got up, answered the door, and paid for the food.

“Is that what I think it is?” You asked, throwing the blanket off you and bolting to the kitchen where he set the food down.

He couldn’t help but chuckle as you tore through the bags. “It’s exactly what you think. I ordered all your favorites.”

You stopped what you were doing and turned to face him. “Thank you, for always knowing what I need. I don’t know what I would do without you in my life.” Steve walked over to her and caged her body against the counter.

“How about we don’t find out cause I’ve loved you for a long time now.” Your eyes began to water at his confession, starting to fall as he watched you with a gentle smile and loving eyes. With as much tenderness as you've ever experienced, he wiped them away with his thumb

“I love you too. How about this being our first date? That’s if you don’t mind,” you asked, biting your lip from nervousness. 

“I don’t mind one bit doll.” He kissed your forehead, then the both of you divided up your food. It was a perfect night, something that you have grown to love over time. Movie, take out, and now cuddling is something you could definitely get used to. Tonight had started out difficult but if you were honest this is exactly where you were meant to be all along. There was nothing left for them to say, both content and excited for the future. It felt like everything and nothing had changed between them. Things were looking up.

You both had fallen asleep during the movie all cuddled up under the blanket on the couch. When Steve woke he carefully picked you up and brought you to his bed to sleep. Being the gentleman and friend he was, he turned to go sleep on the couch when your fingers lightly grabbed his shirt.

“Stevie, please stay with me. I need more cuddles.” Your words were slurred from sleep and your eyes stayed closed as you continued to hold onto his shirt.

How could he deny you ever, especially with how cute you looked? Lifting the covers, Steve crawled underneath, and instantly you rolled closer, hanging onto him like a koala bear to eucalyptus. He couldn’t help the smile as he placed a soft kiss on your brow. “I’m not going anywhere, doll. I will always be here for you.”

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[ear-worthy]

Past Perfect Podcast: Trivia That Is Not Trivial

The world is awash with contradictions. Case in point: Trivia nights and trivia in general have never been more popular. Trivia is based on unassailable facts, but facts have now become fungible based on what news network you watch. Trump lost the 2020 election? Depends on if you're watching Fox News. COVID was a virus that has killed more than 1.5 million Americans. Depends on what anti-vaxxer / conspiracy theory social media site and rabbit hole you have plunged down.

Anyway, the way people play trivia games continues to evolve, whether it’s folks enjoying Trivial Pursuit at home or attending a pub trivia night.

But the basic premise remains the same: People enjoy the thrill of providing correct answers to questions about lesser-known facts.

“You get a rush or a neuroreward signal or a dopamine burst from winning,” John Kounios, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the doctoral program in applied cognitive and brain sciences at Drexel University in Pennsylvania, told Healthline. “I think whenever you’re challenged with a trivia question, and you happen to know it, you get a rush. It’s sort of like gambling.”

In the article, he said the benefits can also be similar to those of playing a video game. However, unlike gambling and even video games, Kounios says trivia is generally not a habit that’s a problem.

Podcasting has witnessed several successful game show formatted shows, such as Wait, Wait…Don't Tell Me!, Ask Me Another, Queen Of Hearts, and The Great American Pop Culture.

Now there is a new trivia game show podcast called Past Perfect.

The show is launching with a five-episode tournament-style contest. Each episode covers a decade in history, beginning with the 1980s, traveling through the 2010s, and culminating in a grand finale covering “Trivia of the Century.”

The show tests knowledge across history and pop culture, with questions ranging from space exploration and Supreme Court rulings to NBA drafts and “Dirty Dancing.” There are even some memory-bending lyrical challenges that’ll have you asking, “How does that song go again?”

Plus, it wouldn’t be a trivia tournament without a little drama as contestants fight for bonus points and the chance to steal questions from their opponents. After battling through three rounds, players move on to a lightning round to finish the

game. The contestants are all fighting for the grand prize: a time capsule chock-full of novelty items from the last 40 years.

Expect appearances from Saidu Tejan-Thomas (Resistance, This

American Life), Emmanuel Dzotsi (Serial, Reply All, This American Life), Milly Tamarez (Betches Sup podcast, writer Reductress, Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me), Alise Morales (Betches Sup podcast,

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Late Night with Seth Meyers) and more.

I've listened to the first three episodes and love the show.

Let me tell you why.

First, the vibe of the show is fun and funny. It's not Jeopardy, and the goal, I believe, is to make it fun for the contestants on the show, and the listeners. If so, the podcast has more than accomplished that goal.

Second, the host of the show is funny, sunny, and as adorable as a bunny.

“Simone is the perfect host for this show!” says co-creator Zac Stuart-Pontier. “Past Perfect is a highly intelligent, heavily researched game show, and Simone brings a whip-smart, zany, fun

Miss Frizzle energy. We can’t wait to hear what the world thinks of Past Perfect!”

As the former host of Not Past It, Simone Polanen has always had history and pop culture at the forefront of her work. Past Perfect lets her continue exploring those subjects through the fun

format of trivia. Prior to Past Perfect and Not Past It, Polanen produced for TV and podcasts like The Nod, StartUp, and Reply All. She writes a culture newsletter called HIGHBROW/LOWBROW, covering everything from reality TV and art house films to concertos.

In her bio, Polanen claims that, "She physically lives in Brooklyn but mentally lives in 2004." I have no idea what that means, but I'm officially stealing it for my bio, unless Polanen has it trademarked.

Simone Polanen is a terrific host for the show. Game show-type podcasts require a lot of up-tempo energy, snappy one-liners, and an "always be closing" attitude. Polanen makes wrong answers funny and correct answers a cause for celebration.

I get the feeling she could answer all these questions correctly herself.

I recommend the show for trivia nerds who win at the local sports bar every Tuesday night. We've won several times at our Carolina Blue sports bar in Pitman, New Jersey. Our secret? We build our team with members from the Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, so we're covered for any question on music, TV, movies, and cultural memes like bell-bottoms, mood rings, Tamagotchis, and belly chains.

The show is leading up to an ultimate winner after five episodes, but I'd love to see it become a permanent podcast for my weekly trivia fix. After listening to Past Perfect, I think you'll agree.

Finally, I discussed Past Perfect with Devin Andrade of Tink Media (a superb podcast marketing and PR firm) and tested her trivia bona fides with this question.

Me: What iconic line does Miranda Priestly say when dismissing Andy in The Devil Wears Prada?

Devin: "That's All," which is correct.

So, for those of you still reading this article, here are two more The Devil Wears Prada trivia questions.

What name did Meryl Streep call Anne Hathaway on her first day at work? Her character name was Andy, or Andrea?

What did Emily Blunt's character say about her goal weight in The Devil Wears Prada?

While you're thinking or having ChatGPT answer for you, remember to check out Past Perfect.

[ur-skincare]

Positive and Negative Impacts of social media on Career and Social Life 

My professional and social lives have been significantly impacted by social media’s rise in both positive and negative ways. It is a great debate amongst people whether social media has improved or worsened our society.  

Positive Career Impact: social media has been a useful career tool for me. I may share my accomplishments and display my abilities online. I can interact with coworkers, mentors, and potential bosses on websites like LinkedIn. I may learn from them and meet new individuals in my field thanks to this. I can also discuss my field, read about its most recent developments, and express my opinions. By doing this, I establish my reputation as an expert in my field. I learn about employment and opportunities to collaborate with others. 

Negative Career Impact: I must exercise caution, though. My prospects of getting a job may be impacted if I express my own opinions or thoughts or items that spark debate. Occasionally, utilizing social media excessively during working hours prevents me from completing my job effectively. I need to be careful how I use social media and avoid letting it consume too much of my time (Mayo clinic. (n.d.). Para... 5...). Not only do I expose myself to a wider range of people, but I also become more substile to Bullying, Harassment and inappropriate behavior from others as well as 18+ content that not only impacts my mental health but my overall wellbeing (Dharma. (2021). 

Positive effects on social life: social media has made it easy to stay in touch with long-distance friends and relatives. Even though we do not live close to each other, I can still stay up to date on their wellbeing and special moments and share mine with them as well. I use social media sites like Facebook and Instagram to see images and read about other people's lives. Even if we are not in the same location, this makes me feel connected to them. 

Negative effects on social life: There are also drawbacks, particularly regarding social life. I may occasionally use social media excessively and neglect to interact with people in person. Although it is simple to send messages online, face-to-face communication is still crucial and sadly becoming a rare skill, kids and adults are increasingly isolated and seeing an increase of social anxiety. I have also seen that seeing other people's fantastic experiences on social media might make me feel down about my own life. I must keep in mind that people frequently only share the positive aspects of their lives online and most of the time are portraying a fake life that is not actually theirs (Int J Environ Res Public Health. (2023) Para... 6). 

In conclusion, social media affects my professional and personal life in both positive and negative ways. It creates relationships with people and demonstrates my abilities as well as my interest, But I need to be conscious about what I communicate and make sure it does not interfere with my work and social life as it can negatively affect them both. Additionally, it is a good method to stay in touch with distant relatives and friends. However, I must balance that with real life interactions to avoid feeling self-conscious and diminish the amount of social anxiety I experience daily. Making the most of social media's advantages while avoiding its negative side effects requires me to utilize it wisely and be conscious of whether I am just trying to justify my existence in an easy manner instead of perusing real-life rewards and challenges. 

[stapap]

The joy of missing out

Upon scrolling through my Instagram account, I see posts from a business site about robotic fuel pumps, an advertisement from an internet provider, a story from a Greek news site about Google's artificial intelligence writer, football (soccer) related posts from coaches I follow, funny dog videos, more advertising for internet providers, etc. I got a bunch of random and incoherent facts about the internet, business, sports, and dogs from just a 3" scroll. How did I feel after viewing that? Immediately hooked and eager to scroll further until I find something more satisfying. Scrolling down the abyss made me feel more helpless and anxious. Is there an antidote to it?

Information like this would satisfy some people's desire to "be informed," or to put it another way, "be aware" of what is going on elsewhere. A small amount of FOMO could be relieved in three seconds. FOMO, or fear of missing out is the punchline of social media not missing anything. It is a feeling of anxiety that comes from the fear of not being included or left out of something. FOMO is often associated with social media, where people fear that they are not experiencing the same things as their peers or not participating in the same activities.

FOMO is one of the reasons why people join and maintain social media accounts. As with drag users, social media users become obsessed with checking what's going on. We don't want to miss an announcement, a news headline, a trend, a dance, a challenge, and anything else that usually adds no value to someone's life. As we try to catch up with what we are missing out on, we can experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, depression, and irrational behavior. As a result, we may compare ourselves to others and feel jealous, as well as feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up with life's pace.

What's the answer to FOMO? JOMO is an acronym coined by entrepreneur Anil Dash to refer to the joy of missing out. Taking a break from social media allows us to disconnect from the noise and distractions. By creating a space to take care of ourselves, we can enjoy the things we truly value, rather than being caught up in the fear of missing out on something. Kristen Fuller writes in Psychology Today that JOMO is an emotional intelligence antidote to FOMO. Rather than comparing our lives to others, we should focus on tuning out the background noise of "shoulds" and "wants" and letting go of concerns about what we are doing wrong.

What can we do to embrace JOMO? Don't live in the lives of others. Give yourself “tech-free breaks,” and permission to acknowledge your emotions. We can find happiness by being who we are now instead of trying to "keep up with the Joneses". Once our brain is free of competitive and anxious thoughts, we have more energy, time, and confidence to accomplish our true priorities. Spend time with people who support and uplift us, rather than criticize us for not living up to societal standards. Take time to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, such as an enjoyable walk, a cup of tea or a good book. Don't be afraid to take a break from technology; you will survive. All of these steps can help us let go of the need to compare ourselves to others, allowing us to truly embrace the joy of missing out.

As a final note, I will quote Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig's poem:

“Oh the joy of missing out.

When the world begins to shout

And rush towards that shining thing;

The latest bit of mental bling–

Trying to have it, see it, do it,

You simply know you won't go through it;

The anxious clamoring and need

This restless hungry thing to feed.

Instead, you feel the loveliness;

The pleasure of your emptiness.

You spurn the treasure on the shelf

In favor of your peaceful self;

Without regret, without a doubt.

Oh the joy of missing out”

Photo by Isaac Li Shung Tan on Unsplash

[mars1liamberry]

AR in Media

Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go uses AR when catching Pokemon by using your camera to make it look like the Pokemon is on the table, on the grass ect. Anywhere your phone is facing and the Pokemon happens to be you will be able to see it like as if it was in real life.

"Travel between the real world and the virtual world of Pokémon with Pokémon GO for iPhone and Android devices. With Pokémon GO, you'll discover Pokémon in a whole new world—your own! Pokémon GO gives you the chance to explore real locations and search far and wide for Pokémon. More and more Pokémon continue to appear around the globe, including rare and powerful Legendary Pokémon."

"As you move around the places where you live and visit, your smartphone can vibrate to let you know when you're near a Pokémon. Once you've encountered a Pokémon, take aim on your smartphone's touch screen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it—but be careful, or it might run away! Also look for PokéStops located at interesting places—such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments—where you can collect more Poké Balls and other items."

the site:

Social Media

Social media, such as snapchat, instagram and facebook, ahave face filters, some just give you a little touch up others just add a pair of bunny ears or anything simular. I think its cool and I do like it but sometimes the filters mess with your face when they were only supposed to put some stars on your face. I think they are ok but I wouldn't really make one.

Filters, lenses, and stickers

"Snaps can be personalised with various forms of visual effects and stickers. Geofilters are graphical overlays available if the user is within a certain geographical location, such as a city, event, or destination. Users can design and create their own geofilters for personal events at a fee of $10–15 USD per hour. They can also subscribe to an annual plan which ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the location, for a permanent filter. A similar feature known as Geostickers was launched in 10 major cities in 2016. Bitmoji are stickers featuring personalised cartoon avatars, which can be used in snaps and messaging. Bitmoji characters can also be used as World Lenses."

"The "Lens" feature, introduced in September 2015, allows users to add real-time effects into their snaps by using face detection technology. This is activated by long-pressing on a face within the viewfinder. In April 2017, Snapchat extended this feature into "World Lenses", which use augmented reality technology to integrate 3D rendered elements (such as objects and animated characters) into scenes; these elements are placed and anchored in 3D space."

RTFK - Nike Clothing

"Founded in 2020, by Benoit Pagotto, Chris Le and Steven Vasilev, RTFKT is a pioneering and innovative brand that redefines the boundaries of physical and digital value to serve their broad community of creators. This dedicated team leverages the latest in game engines, NFTs, blockchain authentication and augmented reality to create one of a kind virtual products and experiences."

I think this is a cool idea, the whole vibe of wearing sunglasses that read QR codes on hoodies and shirts so you can see the cool wings on someone. It makes avatar creation into a reality and I think it is pretty cool. But there can be issues with the practicality of it like how expensive it is or how most people are not doing this so someone will just be walking around with a barcode on it and i might be a waste of its potential. I watched this video a while ago of Safiya Niyagaared with digital clothing. It was only for social media though.

It was very interesting and informed me about editing clothing on people in videos. I feel like I could make a lot of really cool accessories and designs if i had the opportunity to make things like that. I think after a while it could be something people could do naturally and use normally.

AR can also be used to make filters for certain areas something called GEOAR which means you only have access to certain filers in certain areas. The stranger things one is pretty cool and I believe it is quite true to the show. But I do feel as if maybe the little mini guy looks less where it is supposed to be. It looks like a png.

I myself probably wouldn't use these filters as they aren't very interesting to me. It isn't my thing to take a photo of myself for everyone to see but I appreciate the effort put into the flower faced guy when it came to modelling and colouring it.