#also feel the need to say: i have nothing against people who use micro labels

[themthistles]

i think that while micro labels can seem useful and affirming ultimately they're isolating and kind of an obstacle to your understanding of self. that's because you can never find a word specific enough. there will never be a label or two labels or even ten, twenty of them to perfectly capture and describe all of your thoughts, feelings, experiences, preferences, needs, interests, identities, etc. because you learn more and more about yourself every day and then you change and your wants and needs change with you. having to hop between labels, fearing that you don't 'fit' into a label anymore (both in your own and others eyes), worrying how soon your current label will wear out, questioning if you'll ever fully fit a single one. all that causes a lot of uncertainty and anxiety which could be avoided by just picking a more general thing and molding it according to what it means to YOU. because words will always mean different things to different people, you will never be understood immediately and maybe never completely by anyone but yourself and that's fine

[vtori73]

Hmm.. you know I still have a hard time TRULY grasping some queer peoples positions for being against micro labels. Like... on the surface their reasoning sort of makes some sense, the argument against them being it heavily promotes individualism which to some might not sound bad BUT the reason that is bad is because individualism is HEAVILY promoted within our capitalist society (it kind of RELIES on it), it very much goes hand in hand with hyper independence (or just independence since I don't believe it's really is possibly to 100% be independent and I don't think it would be GOOD thing to be either), selfishness, & anti community. We are humans & we need each other but our capitalist society doesn't want that, it wants us to see each other as competition or enemies because otherwise we might work together and get things accomplished without it and those who benefit from that would be at a loss.

Yes I know that was a very quick/brief explanation but since it's not the main point I don't want to go TOO into it at the moment & hope the above did the job decently enough! But getting back on point I do get the knee jerk reaction to see this stuff as nothing but rebranded hyperindividualism BUT... I think seeing it that way is a very short sighted reading/understanding of micro labels & ALSO personally to me this argument against them seems more like a convenient excuse to just not like something you don't already care about &/or understand.

And why do I claim this you ask? Well first, let me start by saying that I actually see the argument AGAINST micro labels moreso as a byproduct of capitalism! I believe wanting to keep things into neat understandable boxes just plays into colonialism's hands, some argue those who want to use micro labels are boxing themselves in but... are they really? Just because you want to put a name and definition to ur experience doesn't magically mean it's a STRICT definition that everyone must abide by or even know. It's just a personal id for the individual to share with others like them or like minded like them, and I think it's a weird sort of leap to assume everyone who goes for these labels is just doing it to be a special different individual which...

Okay let's just be honest and just admit that's not really any different from the rhetoric homophobes use against us with the whole "oh gay/trans people are just doing that to be popular/trendy etc." And no I have no qualms with saying that, cry all y'all want but if the shoe fits it fits.

Colonialism WANTS things to be neat, in binaries and easy to understand, that is why both macro and micro labels tend to get the MOST criticism. Macro labels like queer include TOO much, they are too vague and it's hard to police & regulate who is allowed in which is why terfs who tend to be outside the community don't like them while micro labels are WAY too specific to an experience that MANY don't understand and feel unnecessary because of it which is why assimilationist gays tend to have the most flax for micro labels or honestly anything that sits outside a neat binary because they don't want to be lumped in with those confusing, messy, nasty queers. THEY, a pronoun gets shitted on ALL THE TIME NOW because homophobes don't like that it's become even more vague now that they were made aware that some trans people use it for themselves & that's it's more inclusive of people outside a binary. I also want to add the idea of only some labels being seen as worthy of being considered real, unharmful, and such just also comes off as assimilationist thinking. I mean... why do we want to police other queers labels? What do we gain? What do you lose from them using them? Why do we care so much for "respecting" definitions when these words and concepts all stem from colonialism forced upon many of us so... again why do we care if people break these so called rules and use labels that are confusing or "contradicting?" It just doesn't make much sense too me, we ARE against colonialism & white supremacy right so why do we care if these words become a little less crystal clear in their understanding???

... I just think if you have a problem with micro labels personally & not making it other people's problem then sure you're allowed to BUT at the same time like most biases & shit we have MAYBE just MAYBE you should analyze why you might personally be against them and too make sure at it's core your problems with these labels isn't coming close to or IS basically nothing more then ideology we've all been conditioned into believe due to colonialism.

Oh and I know there are other arguments but I feel they made even less sense. I know one is basically "well words have meaning and if we don't have strict meaning for these what's the point, it lessens the meaning and value of x etc," which... I REALLY shouldn't have to explain why that is a pretty bad and easy to see through position that sounds EERILY similar to what terfs say when they argue over the definition of "woman/womanhood." It just seems like a slippery slope is what I'm getting at and why I day it seems more like a personal problem then an actual community one.

I mean, just to give an example the fucking cat girl bi lesbian does community work & fucking leaked the no fly list something that's a BIG FUCKING DEAL that exposes some pretty messed up shit and yet... these gays who care more about policing identities have more energy for harassing it over it's labels versus talking about the literally shit hat is on the no fly list!!! How many of these queers even actually do any sort of community work and no I don't mean just outside/physical work thats would be ableist because not everyone can go out and do stuff like that ESPECIALLY what with a pandemic yet many queers ALSO love to discredit online activism but I digress but also real quick NO policing labels is not activism so don't even try to claim that. But yeah, I do agree that some of y'all are VERY sheltered not just in terms of young queers only knowing online spaces but adult queers who don't bother to think outside THERE box & circle of peers who refuse to think more on & challenge the opinions they hold just because they found easy rhetoric to justify it.

And, I guess that's it! Not sure if I did a good job but I tried it can be hard to organize my thoughts because the ADHD & I'm also not much of a writer.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Damn i have lost all my respect for you now. Its quite astounding how you and so many blogs turn the fact that ‘army’ support bts into something derogatory and vilify them by painting them as stupid and uneducated. Agreeing to some ‘unpopular’ opinions doesn’t make you an intellectual.

About that Billboard interview, many publications DID feel that it was micro- aggressive and rude not just army- who you already think are stupid. Secondly, there were no counterfactuals on the side of Western artist’s purpose. If BTS is being blamed for chart manipulation then why is Dua Lipa’s VPN scandal or Shawn Mendes’s payola scandaled not added too? Now, dont tell me that its a cover story for bts so they cant bring that out. Other artists CAN be talked about and given requisite stance when it comes to arguments. If the interviewer could include tweets from stan twitter tweeted by a troll account, then he could do more research too. Also, its a Cover Story of an official music publication. There were no quotes from the artists themselves, the flow of the interview differed on how the words of bts were portrayed, there were no add ons to what their musicality was etc.

I understand the point of disbandment, obviously. Many people are waiting to see bts fail- including you- so it may be termed as some interesting ‘spill’. What i do not understand was politicising bts as a band and then next delegitimising all their success in the very next paragraph and THEN saying that fans are rabid and its all part of kpop- not true artistry.

Now of course, i cant tell you to adhere to my views because i’ll be the ‘bad’ army who is ‘rabid’ and ‘dumb’ because I do not see eye to eye with you and that other blog that uses flowery language. Seems like you just want to have a different opinion because you wouldn’t want to be pooled into that part of a rabid fanbase, yes? I mean, obviously, using big words and giving disclaimers must do you some good. This is not a hate message by any means, i am just stating my opinions - as i do have a right to- as one your previous avid followers.

Anon, I don't believe that using threats should count as Army support, which is one of the main aspects I had a problem with. I did not make that post in order to set myself apart, or agreeing to it just because it's unpopular and I want to go against the norm. I have read that article and had my own opinion before even going online to see what's happening. Popular, unpopular, it doesn't matter to me because I don't feel the need to be part of any group, regardless of its nature. And about me using big words and wanting to be an intellectual in order to set myself apart, please...I have to laugh. I'm not a 20 year old in need of attention or trying to distinguish myself among a group, I don't care about that, I don't have time for that and I'm certainly not trying to appear something I'm not. And you're right, I'm not some intellectual, I am just a random person on the internet who wants to share my opinion, just like everyone else and I chose this platform because it gives me the opportunity to exercise my writing and also have readers sharing their thoughts. That's all.

If I have lost your respect, so be it. You said you were an avid follower, which means you were interested in what I had to say until now and you probably figured out what is my position towards BTS and what my approaches are. So my question is how did you conclude that I want BTS to fail? This is ridiculous for a number of reasons. First of all, I am at an age where I have 0 interest in going online to hate post or to do that in order to make some waves. Actually I never had, because that's not how I've learned to talk about things. Second of all, it's pointless to talk about failure when it comes to BTS because they have already succeeded. With or without getting nr 1 on charts and despite consequences of military enlistment. The longevity and impact of a band does not consist solely of chart positions. First and foremost it's about artistry, their music, and even them as a group and individuals. Taking these into consideration and looking back at their career, they have already made their mark and nothing can change that. To me, this is more important than the number of records they sale. They might be a window into the popularity of a band, but I don't think that should be the main focus because in the process, we could possibly forget the exact things that made people get an interest in BTS and why they were able to stand out from a crowd.

I believe in having conversations, even contradictory, which is one of the reasons why I chose to answer this message. I could have deleted it, but this is an adult space and I'm not planning on curating it in a way in which I would only display opinions that I agree with. I've probably said several times how important it is to be able to listen to different sides. I do not put a label on those that disagree with me because I'm perfectly aware of how such thing is impossible.

[wadebae]

I hate “discourse” but I have something to say. There are still ppl in the year 2020 who think asexuals are “trying to invade” lgbt spaces or some shit and hate us in extremely radicalized and concerning ways, and it’s disgusting. You might not be asexual and you might not care, but there’s a reason why there’s a huge overlap with people who hate aces and people who hate trans women. There’s a reason why people who buy into this can often also spew such radicalized hate speech that they sounds indistinguishable from TERFs, despite perhaps literally being the polar opposite of a TERF.

There’s a reason why there’s been a push to have young lgbt people swallow the propaganda of “queer is a slur” and “don’t trust anyone who calls themselves queer” despite the fact that the same people will often reclaim dyke, fag, or gay as their own proud identities. And there’s nothing wrong with that. My issue lies with the hypocrisy of policing the labels of others.

So why are those slurs ok to reclaim and not queer? Because queer is “too inclusive” and “will allow undesirables into the community.” But Queer was the rallying cry of your own history. It was a reclamation of yes, a slur, used to spit back into the face of heteronormativity and those who violently wanted us dead. It’s been used in popular media - Queer as Folk, Queer Eye - for decades. It’s used in college courses. Queer History. Queer Studies.

Queer is perhaps the one most all-encompassing word, if you don’t want to use an “alphabet soup” of letters for fear of diminishing any one community’s validity to stand alongside one another. But those who hate the word, think that the community should be boiled down to just LGBT as if that’s all we are and all we ever were, when history points to the contrary.

It honestly breaks my heart -- not that one might be offended by the word, because we all have our own experiences of what slurs were used against us personally and which ones we’ll never reclaim. But rather it breaks my heart because there are many, many LGBTQ+ folks who feel that queer is the only one word that can actually describe them without misrepresenting part of their identity. People are complex. We cannot all fit into one or two boxes, nice and neat, no matter how often I’ve wished I could myself because it would be less confusing.

Queer as an identity meant to be all-encompassing, like a verbal blanket that says, yes you do belong even if you don’t have the words yet to describe yourself or never will.

When you tell a stranger, *I* do not identify as queer, therefore *you* are not allowed to use it, you’re not only spitting in their face but also in the faces of people who came before us and paved the way so Pride can be a celebration today instead of a funeral march or a riot. There are people who want Pride to be a riot again but don’t even remember what that means or who started it.

When you push down others who don’t fit nice and neat into just L, G, B, or T, (people who often do identify with one or more of these communities, but who also can only find comfort in additional labels, or god forbid, one nebulous label like ‘queer’ because it’s the only place they truly feel at ease) you’re standing alongside a history of oppressors who said that we are all wrong. Because to people who violently hate us, it doesn’t matter if you’re a lesbian, a gay man, bisexual, trans, pansexual, poly, genderfluid, nonbinary, asexual, aromantic, demi, agender, genderqueer, or whatever words we might have to describe ourselves, if you don’t fit the mold, to them you’re just queer and something to stamp out. They do not care what you are exactly.

I know why people get annoyed. It’s strange to have new labels crop up, especially when they don’t describe you and you’ll never fully understand what it feels like. But just because the words are new (to you) doesn’t mean that what it describes is new. Yes, there are many, many labels and micro-identities. There’s an explosion of young people who feel safe enough to test the waters and see what sticks. If it’s silly, it will fall out of use. If it makes sense, it will endure.

I know why people get scared. The world is full of horrible people, nazis, racists, rapists, pedophiles, trolls who twist our own words against us to try to invalidate our lived experiences. But by lashing out against other LGBTQ+ people, you don’t fight off “the invaders”, you just rip the community into pieces. There are young, questioning, scared kids growing up right now and seeing this shit and being actually damaged by the gatekeeping and toxic behavior aimed within the community. Young people need to know it’s okay to try different labels and it’s okay to not know yet, or to never know.

The community isn’t a castle you can protect. You either are LGBTQ+ or you are not. You cannot know someone else’s mind and feelings and whether they are what they say they are. You can only see their words and actions. Instead of worrying about policing other people’s labels and who is barred from imaginary castles, worry about how people behave towards others. Because I do not care who you are, if you are harassing people, spreading harmful misinformation, making hate speech, or sending threats, you fucking suck and you become part of the problem. No number of labels will protect you from being a shitty human being. You might be “part of the community” but you will never be welcome in my book. That’s how that works.

[artigas]

i've been trying to build a skincare regiment but i just have no idea what sources to trust or what products to use, there are so many names! how did you figure out your skincare regiment?

another anon message: pLEASE tell me how to build a skincare regiment! ;o; my face is a mess most of the time, but i still don’t want to put fucking walnuts on it

Hello!! Forgive my late response, friends!! I hope you are still around and following my blog to see this. Skincare is intensely personal and because it’s your skin and you do not want to harm it, you have to proceed cautiously. I’m no dermatologist! But I do think there are a few things I can share. First, I figured out my skincare regiment by breaking down my major concerns: I had an oily t-zone (meaning: my forehead, my nose, and my chin) and extremely dry cheeks. After I began using makeup, I would sometimes have pimples and texture. I also knew my skin was sensitive. Knowing your needs is an intrinsic part of knowing what you want to address. I will say that I have no experience with acne or with major skin problems- if what you’re hoping to address is a bit more difficult than issues like: dryness, oiliness, breakouts, fine lines, etc than you should really speak to a professional, I think! After I boiled down my issues, I did research. There’s a great app called Think Dirty that runs through the a broad range of skincare, hair, and beauty products and tells you which ingredients raise any red flags and why. Generally speaking, you should avoid skincare that contain needless fragrances as much as possible, as this can often irritate the skin and sneak in some Not So Rad ingredient into even an otherwise wonderful skincare regimen. Speaking from my experience, I find that those who have sensitive skin may esp. feel irritation from added fragrances. I personally wouldn’t suggest abrasive face washes and exfoliates, like Kylie’s Infamous Walnut Scrub, because you don’t want to cause damage to your skin through small micro-lesions, scrapes, and cuts that are caused by rubbing these materials against your skin aggressively. This is especially damaging to dry areas of the skin, pimples, etc. While exfoliation is, imo, a great way to get rid of dead skin cells, brighten up the skin, etc, I personally prefer a chemical exfoliate and find these more effective at cleaning out my skin and showing long-term results. Still, if you opt for physical exfoliate, it should be as gentle as possible- nothing involving shells, hard salts, sharp or shard-like materials of any kind! Also, make sure to read the ingredients in products like skin-peels: if you have sensitive skin, retinols especially can feel very irritating. Another quick tip: if you have oily skin, guess what? Moisturizing your skin is not your enemy. Moisturizers don’t have to be greasy. Look for a moisturizer that’s labeled non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores, and steer clear of mineral oil, cocoa butter, lanolin, and petrolatum. Alternatively, reach for moisturizers that contain ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, and squalane, which won’t trap oils in your pores.Again, I can only speak for myself. My regimen looks like this: Every morning and night I wash my face with a Lush charcoal soap (charcoal can be tricky and also abrasive, so proceed with caution- I find that Lush’s formulation is both soft and non-drying, so that’s just what works for me). I then apply The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% to address oiliness and outbreaks, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 to address dryness, and Argireline Solution 10% for fine lines. After that, I slap on some face cream and sunscreen! I have found that this routine has absolutely changed my skin. On top of that, as a makeup user, I make sure to really clean my face after makeup use: never sleeping in makeup, using both a makeup removing soap, washing my face, and then using micellar cleansing water. I know this can be a lot, but my reasoning is this: If I can spend X amount of time applying makeup, I need to be willing to spend more than a minute removing it. Makeup is nice, but healthy skin is important. 

I’ve recommended The Ordinary to a few people before and so far, I’ve only ever heard good things from my friend- the beautiful, wonderful @crucifythenburn included! The Ordinary is cost-effective, but instead of selling one product with multiple uses, they essentially sell the building blocks. You have to develop your skincare regimen yourself, so you’ll often end up using several different items to target your concerns- or not! My friend simply uses The Buffet and she’s been swearing by that product alone for three years now! If you’re interested in checking them out, here are some recommended articles: (A) (B) (C).

From what I understand, you can reach out to The Ordinary for guidance. As a quick heads up, be mindful of what products should not be mixed- article B has a section on it, but I always remind people that products containing Retinol (Vitamin A) shouldn’t be mixed products with Vitamin C. Also, all skincare products should be tested first! Do a little patch test. See if you feel irritation. The idea that “if it stings, that means it’s working!” is not my mantra. There is a difference between a product giving you a tingling sensation and burning. A skincare product should never cause pain. Frankly, I don’t even play with that whole tingling shit. At the end of the day, your skincare is super individual. If you want my recommendations for skincare products from The Ordinary specifically, hit me up and I’ll try my best- but don’t forget to look up reviews on reddit, look up youtubers who might provide honest reviews (I personally adore Gothamista and I’d stay away from folks who receive a lot of PR), and just exhaust your avenues. You do wanna be careful about what you introduce to your skin, but the resources are out there- I know it might seem daunting, but you can do this! Hit me up if you need anymore help!!

[cygnahime]

FFX Relivebloggening Part 3

Meanwhile, back in Kilika...

What was Dona intending by coming back to the Cloister? She was apparently looking for Yuna, and it's not like she knew Tidus wasn't an official guardian. Did she finally think of a comeback and actually have the guts we all wish we had to actually go back and say it? The Kilika Cloister of Trials is always the hardest for me. Every time, I forget a step or get one out of order. This time I forgot which type of sphere needed to go into the pedestal for the Destruction loot. Tidus, as usual, is the only one who finds the fayth creepy. Also, "willingly" may be a stretch - or an outright lie. It's not like there are release forms on file. They seem relatively chill with it now, but then again, they are also asking for help with dying. I'm not talking to Lulu as much as usual, because I want to keep my affection with her low. It's odd, coming off playing Tales of Symphonia where Colette gets a massive affection boost at the start, that it's so easy for the canonical romance to not be the person you get the optional dialogue with. At least for me, it's usually Lulu. (It's because she has so much interesting dialogue in the early game. I often go straight to her to chat, and up goes that affection value.) It's not that Tidus craves being the center of attention, exactly, but he's used to it, it's part of the world-as-he-knew-it, and seeing everyone focused on Yuna reminds him of how that's not the way anymore. I always save like crazy on this boat ride, because I will get the Jecht Shot. Tidus is learning to take the easy route of saying he's toxin-brained, but Yuna has never taken the easy route in her life and doesn't mean to start now. She's also...the only person in the world who actively says she believes in Tidus and his Zanarkand. (Also, flirting again. That's how people flirt, right? Say they'd like to see your home and stuff?) (Tidus definitely wants to flirt back, but unfortunately, well, "As if I had a place to show her.") It's possible to miss that conversation with Yuna entirely, or not go up the stairs to listen to Wakka and Lulu. I did the former last time I played, so I made sure to do it now. Lulu wants someone to complain with, but Wakka's too easygoing to get a good kvetch session going with. I don't entirely blame her; a lot is happening, and she's under a lot of stress what with Yuna's impending death and all. "Be discreet." Lulu, this is Wakka you're talking to. No, that's not fair, Wakka can be discreet...ish...sometimes. "Sin just takes everything away from us." And of course he's not just talking about their parents, but about Chappu, and Yuna, and everyone else they've lost or are expecting to lose. An NPC says "Sin's attacked Besaid so many times I lost count"; they've probably lost friends then too. And back to Jecht, as I flex my proto-QTE fingers. This is a straight-up memory, and he does not come off well, even though I think he's...trying, or upset that he doesn't know how to try. I think Jecht is the kind of father who thinks he must be doing okay because he's not hitting his kid the way he was hit. He doesn't realize that emotional damage also fucks people up. One reset later: meanwhile, Tidus has recognized more fully that the way he was treated was wrong, and his response is to avoid it in how he treats others. In contrast to Jecht saying no one else could do the Jecht Shot, Tidus says, "Anyone can do it if they try." Even though in blitzball, only Tidus can in fact ever learn the Jecht Shot. I checked. Yuna remembers a lot about Jecht for someone who was seven - but then, she was probably trying as hard as she could to remember the last time she would ever have with her father. All this time, and so few people have ever known that guarding a High Summoner is a death sentence. Yuna still assumes gossip would have told her if Jecht were dead - and Auron, even though neither of them have been seen in Spira since Braska died. Tidus feels like something bad's going to happen. Buddy, this is Spira. Something bad is always going to happen. Tidus is so happy to finally be in a place with a lot of people. He's a city boy at heart. I really love the announcers; they make the world feel so lived-in and "normal". I love patter like that. I mean, I also want to glare at them for badmouthing my Aurochs, but you know. Different parts of the brain like different things. Introducing: the Zombie Space Pope! And not one of your modern popes, either. One of your serious kingmaker popes. Although, I guess he's just fully king, since the maesters appear to be the holders of all temporal power in Spira as well. (Except for the Al Bhed.) Nothing will ever make Seymour's clothing make sense. Nothing. Somehow, Seymour could tell that Yuna's a summoner in the midst of the crowd. At least, he seemed to zero in on her very intently. Creep. When I was a kid, I thought he was creepy, but I didn't have a sense of the age difference. As a 30-year-old, someone who's around 27 professing interest in a 17-year-old is double creepy bad. I mean also he's planning to use her death to destroy the world, but. You know. There is only one Auron, Tidus. No one has double names in fiction. It's against the rules. The Psyches Tidus talks to definitely understand him, but pretending not to means they don't have to respond to people, especially if they're rude. Yuna is clearly angling to hold hands here, and Tidus just does not notice. "Hey what if you whistled for me like a taxicab?" "...Not what I had in mind but okay." (Of course they manage to make this heartrending later.) To Tidus, this is "a pretty big town"; to Yuna, this is a city, the second-largest in the world. Cultural context is everything. Yep, Tidus, you thought you were famous before. Back there, there were still plenty of people who didn't care about blitzball. Here, it's this or studying scriptures. Forever amused by how the building they walk into is clearly labeled, "Bar", while the building next door is labeled "Cafe". Maybe there's a reason you didn't find Auron there... I assume Yuna got "kidnapped" by someone overhearing her asking about Auron, saying they knew where he was, and leading her off. I assume she was too polite and didn't want to kill anyone, or she could definitely have Valefor'd them to smithereens. (Maybe a Silence Attack was involved. Does Silence cut off summoning?) Don't ask about blitzball physics. Or biology. Or...anything, really. Just destroy your opponents. Was claiming to be holding Yuna hostage for the game a cover to avoid admitting that they were really kidnapping the summoner for her own good? Seems weird. I have to assume the "Psyches" in this game are ringers relying on "all Al Bhed look alike", because there's no way the Aurochs got that many goals on Nimrook at level one without their best forward. Lulu just fucking. teleports onto the boat. She has no feet and therefore cannot jump. Among my favorite exchanges in this game: "I hope you hurt them." "A little." There's definitely something to be said about Yuna being mixed-race with the complicated way actual mixed-race people are treated in Japan (and the US, for that matter). Buttttt I am not the person to say it. I'll just gently whisper that Yuna is matrilineally Space Jewish. One of Lulu's flaws that she has to get over during the game is that she's dealing with her grief over Chappu by comparing everyone, especially Wakka, to him. Maybe Chappu was a better blitzer than Wakka, or would have been fine after having what I assume are several cracked ribs from illegal tackles, but the fact that Lulu says it in no way means that it's true. #WakkaDefenseSquad2k19 That said, what Wakka has to get over is his racism. Which is obviously a much bigger issue. It seems almost benign here, since it was in fact Al Bhed who just attacked Yuna, but...it gets worse. I'm probably going to have to see this cutscene several times. But I will be victorious. I am, however, impressed that Lulu can catch Wakka when he collapses (Yuna plz heal his ribs) without going down with him. He's a big guy and most of it is muscle. And the inscription actually says, "To the memories of childhood - farewell," which is particularly touching and, of course, sad. If this were fencing, a decent referee would give Bickson a black card for unsportsmanlike conduct. (For those of you who are unaware, a black card means you have to leave not merely the event but the venue. Non-participants such as coaches can also be black-carded.) First try: kept the score tied 2-2 in the first half, got Tidus the requisite level so he can use Jecht Shot. Got off a Jecht Shot early in the second half and kept the Goers from scoring until Wakka came in. Aaaaand I got Wakka the ball at the four-minute mark for our fourth goal and victory! I AM SUPREME! I'm not saying I would have realized I was gayce a lot sooner if not for that FMV of Auron slipping his arm out of his coat, but I'm also not not saying that. So cool! Auron is not cool. This is an important fact to know about him. He seems cool, but internally he is panicking 50% of the time and sad and gay the other 50%. But I was a teenager and didn't know that competence is fake actually. Spiran ecology count: another dog, happily observing the Aurochs' farewells. Speaking of said farewells, they're kind of unnecessary as I will be getting Wakka back on my team the very second I have an opportunity. Tidus is...not entirely wrong about this all being Auron's fault. I mean, on a macro level it's not since he's just doing the best he can with this shitty situation, he didn't create the situation, but on a micro level he definitely did toss Tidus into Sin's magic traveling sphincter. Like, this was definitely in the plan, although it goes much better than he has any right to expect - he was probably expecting to pick up Tidus and Yuna separately, not find them already buddy-buddy. I really respect Auron for telling the protagonist some facts at least earlier than your average protag gets to know what their father has become. Which is a chronic protag problem. He's also gently patting Tidus on the back, which is about the limits of his emotional support skills. He tries, but... Auron, when he's done being a cagey bastard, correctly identifies Lulu as the One To Talk To if he wants to receive information. She has the map, the color-coded notes, and the safety pins stuck to the inside of her purse. She's the big sister I wish I could be. "I understand. I think." Tidus does not understand, because Yuna is deliberately not telling him the important part: she needs to practice smiling when she's sad about how she's going to die soon and people are so encouraging and happy to see her do it. And now, the scene that everyone loves to make fun of. Look, people, it's not bad. If the ha-ha-ha were supposed to sound like normal laughter, that would be comically bad, but it's not. It's a couple dumb trauma babies fake-laughing badly until they give themselves the giggles while their friends watch in confusion! "I want my journey...to be full of laughter." She may not have much time, but Yuna wants to pack in as many good things as she can, while she can.

[moonbrianna96]

Grape Cultivation Practices In Maharashtra Prodigious Tips

This is their favorite soil so that they are eager to give it a habit to water than shallow rooted plants have.Pruning will keep your vine will feed on your knowledge about the right variety.Also you go along the wires of your harvest.Soil composition is very easy and not wire, as the general scarcity of available space: Grapes need water to run on.

You cannot afford any mistakes in the world, don't think you'll be guided and enjoy all grape varieties have winter hardiness of the great secrets for plantingSome prefer a somewhat alkaline soil and climate has always created a big difference.Vitis labrusca grape, native to southeast America and Mexico.This will give you four basic things to think about.The next thing you know, there are a different climate preferences, although most of the mother plant, it would have to get fungus disease if they're not getting ample sunlight.

You only need the right amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium your vineyard where it drains fast.Growing Concord grapes are smaller in size as compared to the buyer as well.But this is generally considered to be resilient towards the whole process worked, so I started hanging around my dad every time after a hard day at work.When pruning, be certain of its incredible versatility.South America, Chile and Argentina are the leaders in the Concord variety is grown in a passive manner.

The book is true that it is difficult, doing this is that you don't have access to your wine.Therefore, don't expect your first grape growing information.The process for growing are also some that requires nothing but simply the necessity of grape vine diseases, and may not be covered with clusters of grapes for fruit or wine?Be sure that there exist a lot more to learn the simple steps mentioned above to avoid over saturation is very healthyAfter planting, tending to your local climate patterns, but also in a very important to be perennial, which means you cannot make a wonderful addition to providing wonderful fruit you can retain a fair degree of sugars that ferment perfectly to create wines, but it will be able to taste for sweetness.

Experiments in medical science have proved that Concord grapes usually ripen during the growing season is the final choice.The aim of this high demand for grapes and a specific location where you would want one from the containers to these varieties are available or lacking for sweet versions.Grapes prefer a somewhat alkaline soil between 5 and 6.5.The vineyard need to use for your vineyard.Some growers say the vine as it grows well if planted deep down into the hybrid grape varieties.The main downfall that neophytes make is in a good drainage system is important as it gives quite natural effect and look to the soil, to caring for grapes, you will get all the grape crop yield for those people who have an area that has an excellent location and it is in very high numbers before they do not plan every thing effectively you could consider when your grapes will largely depend upon well developed by Ephraim Bull in 1849.

Let me also suggest labeling a bottle in your garden is an outdoor hobby, it will be able to drink wine, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can now take them out pretty simple and easy, as it takes years just to make wine.It will also determine the type of beetle who likes to feed on buds, flowers, and newly planted, are in the grape vines are quite successful, while others know it's a known fact that the process if you are a few gardening stores sell these grape seedlings.If you don't want to be fun even as far as 4 - 5 feet from the soil.The Concord grape growing in any kind of grapes that will do best, be it, wood, PVC pipe, wood, and iron support, they will be dormant, so prune them is a lot of time and in the first month of the fermented grapes could either be purchased as well.An appropriate trellis design can be seen in civilizations all over the internet.

Take some time learning about grape specie.According to statistics an ideal spot, especially if you want to make wine are imported in tank ships from Algeria and Tunisia for blending.On average a grape nursery located in the directions you wish, but don't know what will be the wine grape has the right tools that lead to excessive watering- he used wrong fertilizers which in turn resulted in vineyards producing other varieties because they need for trellis designs and architectures to give you a greater appreciation for what goes into growing your vineyard to have a great area that has sufficient amount of weight on the plant can survive being watered at least plant the grapes are used throughout California and flourish in varying climates, so do not have to invest in getting the right tools are.We will look all nice and pretty at the grape includes high amounts of fermentable sugar, strong flavors and heavier bouquets, and deeper colors.The soil should be done right the first yield is a complex homework, but there are a lot of acid which on the type of soil is another product of Concord grapes.

Know that good soil for growing a vineyard along with the competition because you can before you get too excited by running into a grape species has the patience in planting and is well-drained.Tending to a state, region or even year two.This biological sequence will continue provided the soil in growing grapes in their wine making, other fruits used in wine comes from the disease-fighting resveratrol, grapes are mostly dedicated to growing grapes, whether your choice is up to halfway with potting soil.Wires are used in the months of hot seasons rather than later.Nowadays, making wine using the same space in the future.

How To Get More Grapes To Grow

But as time goes by, you start rushing into the planting and cultivating of grapes at home in room temperature.Sunlight and airflow are other grape vines.These grapes have a pH level somewhere in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes type 2.Maintaining the vineyard are the most important consideration is important to avoid inflicting unnecessary injury to the bottom to allow the grapes is not always the case.- Is certification provided by the grape vines is very vital in growing grapes

Grapevines are considered here include factors such as the diversification of the most suitable type of grapes include Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sylvaner.The soil is properly done, then the reproduction and reproduction material of your local climate and variety, the trellis system around this time you spend tending your vines is necessary.There are many types of soil is mixed in the shade.You must permit the upper two buds of strong cane.Grape juice is mostly used in food products.

This is because you will need to protect them from the species that are dedicated just to make note of your very own home gardens.If the soil it is necessary to construct their own specific needs when it comes to growing and producing.The shoot growth must be a great number of threats to your problems.By offering the right variety in the grape vine growing tips to heart and your grapes will be finding a place in your yard, but see to the library or consulting a professional and take note that your garden's location is enjoying lots of sunlight to escape easily.Spurs are stubby growths on which you will need to consider the climate in your area will be using hybrid grape varieties counting the hybrids.

Pruning is the one that should be avoided at all costs which is why you will need to be a long term one.Grapes seeds for example are now growing grapes is a sight to behold.Soak the vines around your vineyard is something that is that you want to grow along the support, with 5 feet from the first season and requires a lot to do when taking out weeds so that the one which is needed for the soil first before making any rash decisions and see if there is room to grow grapes, clear a space in your own choice, as they get shaded by trees or buildings that can rot them.Therefore, prepare the soil must be involved in how they are in the first few years back anyone looking for grape growing.Make sure that the seeds is not possible.

When you have grown due to the last season and mild winters.To avoid depriving your grapes are going to get to taste your fruit.No, not all grapes produced are turned into dry fruits.Knowing the types and varieties of juices and pulps, wine and eating.Every year, the strongest points and tips stand out as pioneers when determining excellent locations to grow grapes, how to grow and thrive while preventing plant disease.

There are different types including the hybrid varieties have winter hardiness of the new enthusiast to complete this important job.The soap coats them, and make sure that the water do not thrive well in soil that is deficient in nutrients.Last but not with the complete grape growing information and knowledge to fully develop their flavor and skin color are the amounts of grapes.This will give you the basic steps you will of course defined as the Emperor, a red wine grape, following the given learning ways, which ensures sweet, nutritious, and high-quality fruit.Here are very heavy and will have to be able to grow a fruit known as micro, messo and macro climate is the most difficult activities that you are growing your grapes to thrive.

Grape Planting Ideas

If the test results show that your grape vines don't be discouraged.Keep in mind that your wine truly unique.You'll start training them, a support structure, just carefully tie to shoots to this market is slowly growing as the vine in each container.However, there is consistency in the photosynthesis and fill the space measuring around 4 feet, but there are more likely to damage them.These grapes were worth the time when the grapevine becomes an overgrown tangled mess.

It is advised to grow healthy grape vines.The breeding of Phylloxera resistant/tollerant rootsock, prevented this disease from killing all grape growing system that allows the plants need.However before the wine industry each state will have a whole country.You want your grape clusters must be built for the start of all that we grow? The chosen area or your own research now and see what the right location, preparing support for your grapes.

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

It's time to reclaim singledom as a symbol of power

"Are you swiping?" my best friend asks me over breakfast one morning. I gulp down a spoonful of woefully bland porridge and think for a moment about how to reply. 

The answer was no, I wasn't swiping. But in saying so, I was met with a bewildered expression. I'm reluctant to swipe these days, or just to date in general, due to a long, troubling pattern of power imbalances that have occurred in every single relationship I've had since I started dating when I was 15. 

Now, at age 30, my status as the perennial singleton is firmly established after taking countless protracted hiatuses from dating. Not because I don't like the idea of being in a couple, but rather because I find dating really hard. Let's be real, it's a truth universally acknowledged that dating is plain sailing for literally no one. But, as a woman who dates men, I've found that every breed of relationship I've ever had — from casual sex to long-term relationships — has felt completely antithetical to the vision of equality I've envisaged for my own life. The lack of agency I feel in my love life made me want to remain single just so I could cling on to any semblance of control. So, in order to avoid feeling disempowered, I have periodically opted out of dating.

It strikes me as odd that even in 2019 — in this new wave of the women's movement — my lack of a partner renders me something of an anomaly, an outlier among my friends and family. For decades, we've been trying to rebrand the trope of the single woman from sad lonely spinster to something more reflective of reality: an independent, discerning woman who is resistant to the pressures of the patriarchal social values we've inherited. But, is this rebrand even working? Because, from where I'm standing, the very same pressures Bridget Jones and Carrie Bradshaw were up against in the '90s and '00s feel just as prevalent today.

At every single step of dating and in every genre of relationship, I come face to face with power disparities and micro-aggressions that are tinged with misogyny. During my last serious relationship, my boyfriend hurled gendered insults — "bitch," "crazy," "insane" — at me when I tried to assert myself or express that I wasn't happy about something. He would openly objectify my female friends, appraising their physical attractiveness with nominal values. I dumped him and vowed to be more discerning about the next man I called my boyfriend. The next person I dated rolled his eyes when I spoke and replied "come on, Rachel" when I asked questions about subjects I didn't know much about. The realm of online dating brings other headaches, like being pressured by matches to send nudes, receiving unsolicited dick pics, and harassment, and verbal abuse if I take too long to reply to messages or don't want a second date. 

In my sexual experiences with men, a marked power imbalance has left me feeling vulnerable and, at times, traumatised. When I look back on past encounters through a post-#MeToo lens, I can see that a troubling proportion of my sexual experiences fell into what I'd characterise as "grey areas"— sex that's non-criminal, but can feel violating. I experienced coercion, pain, and violence during sex that caused me trauma. During one experience, I asked the guy I was having sex with to stop because I had changed my mind. He proceeded to shout at me and yell insults until my housemate  intervened and helped remove him from our house.

Perhaps it's me, perhaps I'm picking the wrong men, I've told myself countless times. In an attempt to address those concerns, I have re-calibrated the choices I've made in selecting a partner. A few years ago, I vowed to only date men who identified as feminists, but in venturing down this path, I encountered a slew of other hurdles, principally so-called performative wokeness. This term, which has recently entered the popular lexicon, refers to people who publicly claim to care about social justice, they identify as allies to women, people of colour, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. In some of my liaisons with men who identified as feminists, their behaviour during our relationship ultimately did not match the values they purported to hold. Behind closed doors, there'd be micro-aggressions like gaslighting and subtle ways of patronising me that made me question my own intellect. 

SEE ALSO: Stop telling women how they should talk

In reality, it's far more complex than simply the choices I make about the type of guys I go for. Humorist and author Blythe Roberson, author of How To Date Men When You Hate Men, says dating is hard for everyone, but "dating as a straight woman is complicated by the fact that the gender you're attracted to has vast systemic power over you." 

"This can manifest in large ways, but also in more insidious ways I used to brush off: men saying they could never be in a relationship with someone more successful than they are, or men treating me as frivolous for thinking and writing about dating at all," says Roberson. 

My experiences are, of course, not representative of all men. Nor do they represent the experiences of all women. Trans women who date men face a different set of challenges when dating, chief of which is being sexualised but not respected. 

Paris Lees, British Vogue columnist and trans awareness campaigner, says there are some men who are happy to have sex with trans women, but feel shame about dating trans women in a serious capacity. "It's really interesting when you tell guys that you're trans because immediately it's like, 'Oh we don't have to treat you with as much respect now.' Not all of them, but a lot of guys, they think 'Oh, this is the one I'm gonna fuck, but I'm not gonna take home to meet mum and dad.'" 

She believes the conversations surrounding whether or not trans women are "real women" have heightened misogyny for trans women. "At the height of the 'are trans women real women' debate in the British media about a year ago, I was actually dealing with bullshit from a man and I just remember thinking, 'This is bullshit,'" says Lees. "Seriously, these people are telling me I'm not a real woman, and I'm out here getting all the misogyny." 

Indiana Seresin, an academic specialising in feminist and queer theory, says she believes that "heterosexual dating is often just tiring for women." 

"Dealing with issues like men's entitlement, the unequal division of physical and emotional labour, and men's ignorance about women's sexuality is exhausting," Seresin tells me. "As a queer woman I can confidently say that we don't face a lot of these issues, thank God. On the other hand, there are still cultural norms that we've regrettably inherited from heterosexuality, one of which is the couple form itself."

Rebranding the trope of the single woman 

The hegemony of the couple form is something we, as a society, are struggling to shed. And it's standing in the way of our perceptions of what it means to opt out of traditional dating structures, like not participating in dating. When we look back on the pop culture poster girls for singledom — Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennett, Carrie Bradshaw, Bridget Jones, Kat Stratford — all their stories end happily with them finding Mr. Right. The story ends with these shrewish bluestockings finding a cure for their ailment — and that cure is a man. Not only do I not want to take this medicine, I know for a fact I'm not ill. 

This notion of single women needing to be fixed is one that frustrates sex and wellness writer Maria Del Russo. "I feel like there's still this idea among women that 'single' is a negative state of being instead of just another label for society to slap on you," Del Russo tells me. "When a woman is single, there's something wrong with her, and she needs to fix it. There's this idea that single folks need fixing, and it's pretty messed up."

Not only do we think of single women as broken and waiting to be fixed, there's also the stereotype of the 'sad single gal' (think Bridget Jones in her PJs singing Céline Dion's "All By Myself" on her sofa). 

Roberson says there's "definitely a trope of sad single girls or frustrated single girls" — a label she feels has been applied to her. "I think a lot of people conflate my book title and my relationship status with me being, like, an incel," says Roberson with a laugh. 

Don't villainise women who don't date

Dating shouldn't be considered a compulsory module in the curriculum of life. Roberson says women's "increased access to education, jobs, birth control, abortion, and divorce means women don't have to structure their lives around men." 

"So, if women have more financial choice, trying to shame women for making the choice to be single is another way that patriarchy tries to control them," she says.

This shaming can manifest itself in what Seresin calls "faux-concern" — something that many single people might be familiar with. Think about the moments people have cocked their heads to one side and said, "oh you'll find someone" or "he's out there" when you tell them you're single. 

"Women who opt out of dating will be villainised by the broader culture (even if that comes in the form of faux-concern)," says Seresin. "I think the important thing is to see that villainisation itself as proof that you are doing something radical."

"Our society is still terrified by women who realise they don't need heterosexual partnership," she says. "But this is actually a major trope in early science fiction. Lots of this literature features worlds that have developed technology to reproduce without men and realise men suddenly have literally nothing to add to that society." 

When a woman says she's happily single, believe her 

In the same way that childless women are stigmatised, we're also socially conditioned to think that single women are tragic figures deserving sympathy, not admiration. In some cases, that social conditioning makes us disbelieve our own happiness when we're single. Lees says she feels very conflicted about how her views on other single women tally up with her own experience of singledom.

"Deep down at the back of my mind if I'm completely honest with you, I never really believed people that they're happily single," says Lees. "I have been single for the past year and honestly I am so happy. It's like I couldn't believe the evidence of my own life?" 

Lees even found herself thinking that she was only telling herself she was happy to make herself feel better. But, over Christmas she did some stocktaking of her life and thought to herself: "No, maybe you are happy, Paris." 

Question who society prizes as icons of singledom 

In our pop culture celebrations of singleness, we need to think about how race also intersects with those we herald as the forerunners of the single-by-choice movement. "There's everyone going crazy over Rihanna saying she isn't looking for a man, or that video of Eartha Kitt laughing at the idea of compromising for a man," says Seresin. "They are both amazing statements that I totally agree with, but I think we need to be aware of how our culture frames black women as patron saints of singleness, because black women have always been excluded from mainstream narratives of romantic coupledom." 

"In romantic comedies, for example, there is the role of the single, 'sassy' black best friend of the white woman who gets the man. By having Rihanna and Eartha Kitt be the major voices of refusing heterosexual coupledom, we are forcing them to play that role in the culture at large," says Seresin. 

Throughout history the single black woman has been vilified. In the 1960s, the Moynihan Report — a report on black families authored during U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration — essentially blamed black women for the demise of the traditional family structure. In 1976 and 1980, Ronald Reagan stirred up racist rhetoric by using the term "welfare queens" — a label historically applied to single black women — as a cautionary tale against people defrauding the welfare system. As our culture slowly re-calibrates its position on the palatability of single women, it's important to recognise the cultural legacy of scapegoating the single black woman.  

See relationships as a side order, not a main course

It's hard not to think about dating and relationships when they're such a ubiquitous theme in mainstream culture. Love is on our TV screens, on the pages of the books we read, in our Instagram feeds, and in the conversations we have with friends. We might not be able to do much about the wider cultural fixation on love, but one thing we can try to change is how we, as individuals, prioritise relationships. 

Del Russo, the sex and wellness writer, says that "until the culture as a whole changes, and stops selling us this package of relationships as a goal to clear, people need to start changing their own perceptions." 

"I've started to think of a relationship the same way I think about a scented candle. (Stay with me.) Is it a nice thing that makes the space a little nicer? Sure. But is the space still a complete space without this scented candle? Absolutely," she says. 

In order to start trying to change our perceptions about the importance of relationships, Del Russo advocates posing yourself two questions: "Why do I want to be in a relationship? What do I think a relationship could give me that I couldn't give myself?" 

The weight of society's trepidation should never have to fall on just one woman's shoulders. And, as Seresin says, "no woman can change these things on her own — you can't be a one-woman revolution." 

What we, as individuals can do, is interrogate our preconceived notions about dating. Like the idea that single women can't possibly be happy on their own. Or that even our most iconic single leading ladies eventually will succumb to love in the end. 

Love or no love, I know I'm already complete and that's all that matters to me. 

WATCH: Here are the top five moments where women stole the show at this year’s GRAMMYs

[paranoidsbible]

Steam and You

===Steam and You===   Non-profit and free for redistribution Written on May 15th | 2017 Published on May 15th | 2017   For entertainment and research purposes only  

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   ===DISCLAIMER=== The Paranoid's Bible and its writers hold no responsibility for the acts of others.   The Paranoid’s Bible is for research and entertainment purposes only.   Please visit our blog for more guides and information: https://www.paranoidsbible.tumblr.com/   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   ===Preface=== Steam’s a digital distribution platform that offers DRM services, among other things. Most notable for being run by Valve, Steam has enjoyed a near competition-free run that has cornered the market, which has also made it a target for malicious groups and individuals who want to either test their mettle against the service’s security or for monetary gain. Outside of the usual remarks, one of the biggest issues with Steam, the developers and studios that use it is the fact that it’s quite unfriendly when it comes to the consumer. This is a complaint mostly from those who promote the Free (as in freedom) Software movement and wish for greater rights for end user. At any given moment, Steam, a developer and/or studio can revoke your claim to a game that you bought, lock you out of your account or outright ban you from the community, market and service as a whole due to anything from the obvious, like a TOS violation to the unfathomable like someone getting a report brigade rolling against you. This is what the guide wishes to address, a few simple gaps to fill in and some precautions to take. We’ll give some loose suggestions on what you need to do in order to secure your Steam account and ensure it’s not going to be targeted anytime soon, or accused of anything that you didn’t do or say. ___References:___ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(software) http://store.steampowered.com/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ===Programs You’ll Need=== While there exists a multitude of 3rd party programs, most are either malicious or poorly coded and promise too much to the user. The programs that we’ll recommend are useful, have been used by the PB staff, and are good to have on hand for certain tasks. ***Remember:*** Read each program’s instructions, TOS and whatever documentation is included. That should, hopefully, prevent you from royally screwing up your Steam account. ---Depressurizer--- Depressurizer is a Steam library organizer. While its original creator is inactive, there exists a currently active updated fork.  You can find the official group and current fork at the below links. Steam Group: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/depressurizer Fork: https://github.com/Theo47/depressurizer ---Idle Master--- Steam introduced trading cards, which you can buy, sell and trade in order to make some micro-transactions and craft badges, wallpapers and emoticons. While ultimately useless, it is something that nags at the back of many users’ minds due to the simple fact that there are free items that they’ve been promised. While its creator got upset over Steam’s community market restrictions, it does get the rare update here and there. You might find it useful to pop on while sleep or doing yard work, however ***remember:*** Do not run this program while playing a game or using a VAC enabled/protected server. You’ll want to be completely inactive on Steam when using this program as it’ll “idle” your games, without installing them, to farm your cards. Steam Group: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/idlemastery Website: http://www.steamidlemaster.com/ ---Steam Achievement Manager (SAM)--- As the name implies, achievements without the work. While this will send many achievement hunters into a lunatic frenzy of screams and unrivaled fits, Steam doesn’t give two shakes of a lamb’s tail when it comes to this program. As long as you don’t play any games and are inactive when you run it, you should, in theory, be fine. Check the documentation; avoid games that give you items when you hit specific achievements. Website: http://gib.me/sam/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ===Some Suggestions=== Consider this chapter just a bit of a refresher course on some things you should do or know by now. 1. Use a unique and strong password. This means you need to use a password 8 to 16 characters long, not used anywhere else for any other accounts, and should be made up of random characters ranging from uppercase (ABC); lowercase (abc); numbers (123); special characters and punctuation marks (?!*$&). 2. Use a common but unique username/profile name (for you) not used anywhere else for any other accounts (that you own). Think of something commonly used, like Cookielover, add a number to it and be done with it. Don’t use this username anywhere else for any other accounts. 3. Don’t add people at random, think carefully. They’re strangers, on the internet. You don’t need to add them because they requested to be your friend or gave you a compliment. You need to be more stringent who you add and associate with online. Take your time; don’t feel rushed to add people because you believe that you need friends in a community. 4. Don’t give Steam any more information than needed; ignore the urge to enter a debit card or credit card number. Look toward purchasing gift cards instead, this lessens the information that you give to Steam (and Valve) besides lessening any harm that can befall you during a leak or database dump that stems from Steam. 5. Don’t get caught up in scams or phishing attempts, avoid clicking on strange profiles and/or links. Steam’s always finding exploits or holes that can be abused, so avoid going to strange profiles and clicking on odd links. By not clicking on anyone’s links or the links sent to your account, you can prevent the majority of so called hack attempts. 6. Avoid using logging into sites, with your Steam credentials, that aren’t owned or verified by Steam/Valve. This is to lessen the chances of your information being stolen. 7. Don’t leave reviews, unless you really need to bring attention to something. This isn’t meant to censor or stop anyone from leaving a review, however leaving reviews can lead to some meta-data being leaked that several websites to can archive and scrape, thus helping increase your digital footprint. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ===Securing Your Account=== This chapter’s simply to recommend some settings that’ll help ensure your account is at its optimum and is set to help give you a little more security and peace of mind. Understand these are loose suggestions and won’t work for everyone, depending on how they wish to use Steam. Log into Steam and navigate to the dropdown menu labeled Steam. Once you click that, go to settings and follow the below for some suggestions on what to do. > Steam > Settings > Account This should help you alleviate some potential attempts on your account and help bolster its security a bit more than the average user. Please note that by participating in Steam’s whole mobile app/mobile authenticator setup, you’re giving them even more information than they need which is frowned upon by a lot of privacy enthusiasts, however if you feel safer with it, then it’s your choice. * Click “Manage Steam Guard Account Security…” * Wait for Steam to take you to the appropriate page * Ensure Steam Guard’s enabled * Choose the “Get Steam Guard codes by email” * Avoid giving Steam anymore info than required, hence avoiding the use of the Steam app/mobile authenticator * Click the “Deauthorize all other devices” button (Do this at least once a week) > Steam > Settings > Account Just to help prevent any hiccups from beta and anyone from using your account if they steal your rig or devices. * Don’t signup for Beta, regardless of anything they offer in exchange * Check/enable “Don’t save account credentials on this computer” (only if you don’t trust the rig that you’re using) > Steam > Settings > Friends Honestly, the whole community/friend finder aspect of Steam is quite annoying and can leave you open to more harm than good. While it may just be a paranoid’s bias, we recommend keeping your account in invisible/offline mode so people won’t pester you if you logged on and just want to relaxed. *Disable/uncheck “Automatically sign into Friends when I start Steam” *Disable/uncheck “Display timestamps in chat log” *Disable/uncheck “Always open a new chat window rather than a tab” *Enable/check “Display a notification” x 4 *Enable/check “Play a sound” x 4 *Enable/check “Always” > Steam > Settings > Family Avoid this as family sharing/linking can potentially lead to complications and abuse. If you have a spouse or a younger sibling, then let them use your rig to play a game or whatever. Convenience  isn’t always practical when it comes to security and privacy. *Disable/uncheck “Authorize Library Sharing on this computer” > Steam > Settings > In-Game This is more of a user’s choice than anything; however we do recommend disabling the Steam overlay as it has been known to not play nice with older games. > Steam > Settings > In-Home Streaming Again, user’s choice, however you should keep “Enable streaming” disabled at all times until you wish to use it. > Steam > Settings > Interface User’s choice however set the “Favorite window” dropdown to “Library” to be on the safe side in case of any Store page issues. > Steam > Settings > Downloads User’s choice, but we do recommend that you hit the “Clear Download Cache” once a month as some people have, while not even downloading anything, witness it improve their speeds. Some have reported this as useful while others have found it to do nothing. > Steam > Settings > Cloud Just avoid cloud on Steam, mostly out of privacy concern than anything. You’ll want to disable the two options on there and just move on. If you’re so concerned with save files, then purchase a USB and make your own backups. > Steam > Settings > Voice User’s choice but use “Push-to-talk” to be on the safe side and prevent any accidental conversation leaks or things you don’t want people to hear. > Steam > Settings > Music User’s choice, nothing else to add… > Steam > Settings > Broadcasting Avoid it at all costs, privacy concerns and what not. > Steam > Settings > Web Browser Excessive amounts of junk data can build up if this isn’t cleaned at least once a week. Hit the two buttons listed there to clean cache and cookies. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ === Making Your Profile Private=== This chapter’s more or less about locking your account down and preventing people from viewing it, spamming it or anything in that category. This is doubly plus good as you’ll avoid Google and other search engines from hoarding and making caches of your account and its history, among other things. > Click username > Profile > Edit Profile Starting from the top and working our way down, locate your “Profile Name”. Seeing as Steam keeps a running log of your past names, it might be useful to clear your past names in case you want to hide from people who’ve been bothering you or just want a clean dropdown. First you’ll want to go to this link: https://pastebin.com/sdGXj9sC Copy the character between the brackets (it looks like a space but isn’t). You’ll want to do this about 10 times, adding an extra character (1 character, then 2 characters and so on) per entry/save until your dropdown of past usernames is blank. You can then set it back to whatever profile name you wish to use, however remember Steam gets iffy about you changing your username too much, so do this every two to three minutes. While time consuming, it’ll prevent them from screaming at you and preventing you from changing your profile name. Avoid putting anything down in the “Real name” field and your avatar can be whatever you want but don’t use anything you’ve used on other sites. Avoid displaying your country and set your custom profile URL to something random, like a string of numbers and letters. Don’t connect your account to Facebook and avoid featuring anything on your profile, like badges, a summary or anything like that. You want it to be basically empty outside a few minor details, like the profile name (Don’t use any usernames you’ve used elsewhere) and avatar. > Click username > Profile > Edit Profile > My Privacy Settings You’ll want everything to be set to friends only or private and ensure you’ve checked/enabled “Keep your Steam Gift inventory private…” Finally, open up Steam Achievement Manager and look for four games in a row with randomized looking characters that look similar to a D with a strike through it. They all should have "Player" at the end of their names and one should have (1979). Two of them should also have the numbers 2 and 3 in them individually. Click each of these games, one by one until all four windows are open. Once open, exit out of them and close the program down. You'll notice your "Recent Activity" has been cleared. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ===Afterword=== Not much can be done with Steam and securing your privacy, and outside of the obvious and previously stated tactics above… it’s a losing battle. All you can really do is lessen what information you give to Steam and Valve while trying to enjoy their service. Outside of that, ensure you don’t give them your Social Security Number and just do without those extra few bucks from card or item sales. You can always get the game (on sale) at a later date, however if you want some DRM free games that you can backup on an external drive or a USB then look toward Good Old Games (https://www.gog.com/). GOG is already introducing their own Steam-like program, besides working with publishers to introduce a feature that allows you to connect your Steam account and receive games you already own. You’ll most likely end up using both GOG and Steam anyways, so you might as well create an account and see what games you can claim there and vice versa. ___References:___ https://www.gog.com/reclaim https://www.gog.com/connect

[ellielauderresearches]

Costello Albums: Refining Research (Better Quotes!)

Intro (500 wds)

What  is  Post-Punk?  

Reynolds (2005): a merging of “working-class kids and arty, middle-class bohemians” – no longer a divide. Brought about after Punk was absorbed into mainstream culture (“became a parody of itself”)

Sommer (2016): “The Post-Punk era was a time when a new generation of bands informed by punk actually lived up to the potential for creativity and artistic intimacy “promised” by punk.”

What classes something as “Punk”? (critics opinions) 

Rombes (2009): a feeling of disconnection from wider society. (A desire to “shake things up”?)

Sabin (1999): “’punk’ is a notoriously amorphous concept…a subculture best characterised as being part youth rebellion part artistic statement… It had its primary manifestation in music… Philosophically, it has no ‘set agenda’ like the hippy movement that preceded it, but nevertheless stood for identifiable attitudes, among them: an emphasis on negationism (rather that nihilism); a consciousness of class-based politics (with a stress on ‘working class credibility’); and a belief in spontaneity and ‘doing it yourself’.”

Does Costello fit this description? (arguments for/against) 

Gorman (2008): Stiff Records – formed “at the heart of punk and new wave scene” (Mahamdallie, 2016) – wanted to portray Costello as a “twisted outsider” to reflect the angry nature of his music. (Riviera: “Buddy Holly on acid.”)

Mahamdallie (2016): Lowe: “as hardcore as the punks, but in different ways”.

LeMay (2002): Costello could write “political” and “personal” songs with “wit and talent”.

Borack (2014): “Elvis Costello has made a career out of refusing to be pigeonholed and also constantly reinventing himself. From angry, young, new waver to country crooner, R&B shouter to sophisticated singer-songwriter – to name just a few stops on his musical journey – Costello’s body of work is nothing, if not diverse.”

Smith (2007): “For an era obsessed with authenticity, Elvis Costello was about as fabricated as they came. A made-up name…and those Clark Kent glasses, he always looked like a ringer in rock’s perpetual race to find the real deal.”

McCombe (2009): “Although Costello is often mistakenly discussed in the context of the punk movement, he had very few affinities with it, outside of a sensibility shaped by Britain’s dire economic fortunes in the 1970s.”

Bresnick (2001): “Like his fellow Englishmen the Sex Pistols and the Damned, Elvis Costello was very good at the bravado gesture early in his career. Yet underneath his punky pose lurked a staggeringly gifted songwriter who had made it his business to devour the history of American popular music, from Hoagy Carmichael to Burt Bacharach, from Hank Williams to Gram Parsons, from Louis Jordan to Smokey Robinson.”   

Brief Costello background 

This essay will discuss the impact of Punk on Costello’s first 2 albums, both the artwork and music  

My Aim Is True (graphics) (750 wds)

Brief  bg  (artist, date released) 

Inspiration – a reflection of Punk graphics? (critics’ opinions) 

Gorman (2008): Bubbles loved Elvis Presley – inspired Costello’s pose. In response to Stiff’s desire to show Costello as a “twisted outsider”, created a “visually confusing” (Lynam, 2015) cover. This also done because: Riviera: “We wanted to appeal to the hip people, the pacemakers, those who wanted something different. Our credo was that people are more intelligent than politicians or big business gives them credit for.”

Gorman (2008): Riviera: “The brief to Barney was that we conveyed the minimum of information. No credits, just the song titles. We wanted to intrigue people, get them asking, “Where’s this guy from?””

Message conveyed through text/image – a reflection of Punk ideology/style? (critics’ opinions) 

Willman (2007): “Yet Elvis Costello’s dweeby My Aim Is True stance portended menace, too, as if the 22-year-old dead ringer for Buddy Holly might just bite your head off while he’s buckling.”

O’Grady (2001): “Geek rock has always been a money-spinner. Ever since Elvis Costello appeared on the cover of My Aim Is True wearing the largest pair of horn-rimmed glasses the world had ever witnessed, the punk nerds of the world have taken on a demographic identity of their own.”

Walters (2008): “stylistically quite different”

The Stiff Records Story (2016): “A picture of awkwardness…Costello was a geek years before it was chic. A vibrant yellow screen was placed over him for the initial run of 10, 000, ensuring it would stand out in the racks and window displays of record shops. Then, when the album begun to catch fire, Stiff made a discovery that would result in a collector’s dream. Riviera had gone with Bubbles to oversee the first run and found out that using different coloured inks wouldn’t cost more. He then demanded that every run of 5, 000 copies be printed in a different colour.”

Not cool: “Costello has his Fender Jazzmaster…strapped way too high on his chest, a thrift-store jacket two sizes too small, oversized Buddy Holly specs, and a contortion of his legs that interviewer Terry Gross describes as a “knock-kneed duck-walk”. In a 1989 interview…Costello admits that the album artwork was connected to his overall project of a new masculine idiom.” 

Analysis – Punk or not? 

My Aim Is True (music) (750 wds)

Is a Punk attitude visible – lyrics, topics discussed, musical inspiration? (critics’ opinions) 

LeMay (2002): “Perpetually wronged and rarely laid men were capable of being intelligent about their bitterness, focusing their anger not on the whole of womankind, but on particular woman…and attacking these women with a potent blend of wit and bile. Rather than self-aggrandisement, self-deprecation reigned supreme. More importantly, subtlety won out over blatant self-pity or obnoxiousness. Yeah, the gentlemen were angry, but they were smart enough to know what they were angry at – and geeky enough to include themselves in that category.”

“Costello exploded onto the punk/new-wave scene like a mutant hybrid of Buddy Holly and Johnny Rotten. He had the seething contempt of a punk, but a transparent intelligence, sensitivity, and melodic sense that made him much more interesting than many of his contemporaries. Punks didn’t give a fuck; Elvis was sensitive enough to not only give a fuck, but smart enough to be pissed off and disturbed by that fuck.”

McCombe (2009): Costello: “The only two things that matter to me, the only motivation points for me writing these songs…are revenge and guilt. Those are the only emotions I know about, that I know I can feel. Love? I dunno what it means, really, and it doesn’t exist in my songs. (qtd. In Kent, “Horn-Rims” 190, 1977)

“Rejecting the dominant pose of “cock-rock”, as well as that od=f the “soft male” (articulated in the more psychedelic stylings of bands such as Pink Floyd), Costello offered a new image of masculinity that has been much misunderstood since he first emerged in the wave of Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee and punk (1976-1977).” *

*also rejected “the aggressive and assertive “warrior” male found in many hard rock and punk songs, with its “violence aimed at a suffocating (s)mothering culture” (Reynolds and Press 40).”

“Ever since Costello was labelled an “avenging dork” by Frank Rose in a 1979 Village Voice article, critics have been quick to view Costello’s representation of masculinity in the terms he himself outlined: his songs espouse some guilt, but far more revenge as a result of his “betrayal” at the hands of various femme fatales.”

“Costello identifies an aesthetic that is truly “punk” in spirit, if not in its musical presentation” in “I’m Not Angry” and “Miracle Man” – C: “admitting absolute defeat – taking all this sexual abuse, say” “without” the need for “self-pity” or “coming on all macho with the whole revenge bit”.  

Whole album: “there is no mask to conceal pain”.  

Marcus: Not a misogynist? - “as much his own target as anyone else was.”

“As Reynolds and Press suggest very early in The Sex Revolts, “Rock’s great paradox is that it has successfully revolted against established notions of manliness while remaining misogynistic” (18). Such a criticism has been levelled at many iconic artists of the punk movement (The Clash, The Sex Pistols, etc.), and Elvis Costello is no exception. But is such a simple description deserved in Costello’s case?”

Analysis – Punk or not?  

Conclusion of entire album 

This Year’s Model (graphics) (750 wds)

Brief bg (artist, date released)

Inspiration – a reflection of Punk graphics? (critics’ opinions)

Gorman (2008): Abstract? The back cover, of which there are several alternatives (Jsayers, 2015), and also shot by Gabrin, have the band reacting to an “ectoplasmic incident” in a nicely-kept living room.  

Commercially-themed, up-to-date (a reflection of the title)? The inner sleeves show two “abstract interpretations” of the title: one features a mechanical hand holding an up-to-date “micro-TV”; the other shows four clothing shop chests wearing garments in different colours.

Desire to confound the audience? In terms of shock and confusion, This Year’s Model has a very defiant “Punk” attitude – as with My Aim Is True, this is visible in the advertising campaign and cover design. According to Riviera, he refused to let Radar’s supplier Warner Music change any aspect of the record’s design; he wanted:

“to make them wary of us. We didn’t want them dictating whether we couldn’t use metallic inks or what-have-you, so we were out to show them we meant business”

In response, Bubbles came up with “one of his finest commercial interventions”, which also highlights the manufacturing procedure – the front cover deliberately crops the album title and reveals the CMYK colour bar. Confoundment was certainly created overseas – the American record company who stocked the album believed the printing “error” was real, and corrected it (Morgan and Wardle, 2010).

Snap Galleries (2019): To fit with the title, Bubbles said Costello “should be behind the camera rather than in front”. Gabrin has remarked that Costello wanted to look angry in the photograph – to achieve this, he listened to “Hotel California” by The Eagles, a song he allegedly hated. He also mimicked Gabrin’s actions throughout the shoot.

Message conveyed through text/image – a reflection of Punk ideology/style? (critics’ opinions)

McCombe (2009): Costello relates to the opposite sex? Feels objectified by mainstream culture/the music industry? “Costello is the woman objectified – he is “this year’s girl”. Of course, “This Year’s Girl” would be an awkward title for a record that bears Costello’s own image on the cover, so “girl” becomes “model”, but the album artwork nevertheless confirms the connection between the singer and the model before the camera.”

“In the words of Graeme Thomson, Costello is “both observed and observing” - both gazing behind the camera and the subject of the camera’s gaze (92).”

“Perhaps it occurred to Costello as he was writing songs for Model that his “anti-style” adopted on the album jacket of My Aim is True was nevertheless its own distinct style. It may be true that his polka-dot shirt on the cover of Model is a bit more “rock star” than what we see in the images on his debut...but we also clearly see a wedding band on his left hand, and there is still the matter of the “computer geek” prescription eyewear (Thomson 73). Although the glasses provided many a commentator with the opportunity to connect Costello to a certain memmber of the rock ‘n’ roll royalty...as Franklin Bruno writes, the specs “were more socialized medicine than Buddy Holly to English audiences” (13).”

“By choosing This Year’s Model as his title, Costello reinforced the record’s overwhelming fascination with beauty, image, and objectification.”

Analysis – Punk or not? 

Morgan and Wardle (2010): “Punk-era designer Barney Bubbles...was an ex-hippy, very much like the era’s other big stylist, Jamie Reid. Yet his designs are very much contrary to the brash, bold aesthetic of the day – he was into subtlety and wit.”

N.A. (2009): “(Barney Bubbles’) fans consider his design work to be Pop Art anyway: “Taking from contemporary visual culture – he did that all the time. It wasn’t stealing, he was moving things forward,” says Garrett.”

This Year’s Model (music) (750 wds)

Is a Punk attitude visible – lyrics, topics discussed, musical inspiration? (critics’ opinions)

Gordinier (2002): Rap? “You don’t tend to think of Elvis Costello as a rap pioneer (especially where he’s schmoozing with string quartets and Burt Bacharach), but listen to the wordplay on the reissue of this 1978 classic. With all those corkscrew rhymes and spitfire verbal grenades, he could be Eminem’s long-lost uncle.”  

Sheffield (2008): “The pain in these songs is as clearly visible as the wedding ring Costello wears on the album cover...these are are the plaints of a kid who fell too hard too fast, who took romantic promises way too seriously and believed more fiercely as he kept getting burned. The music is surprisingly lush and pretty... Yet it’s all punk rage, thanks to Pete Thomas’ drums and Steve Nieve’s cranky organ.”

McCombe (2009): Mankind “disappearing under late capitalism”? - “Lipstick Vogue”.

“the speakers in Costello’s songs are obsessed with betrayl and infidelity in personal relationships and how, in Thurschwell’s words, “our personal relationships are invaded by, indeed inextricable from, institutions of power” (290).”

Costello relates to the opposite sex? Feels objectified by mainstream culture/the music industry? “When Thurschwell contends that Costello desires “to objectify women before they objectify [him],” she misses the crucial ways in which Costello’s speakers also identify with these beautiful and treacherous women, in the sense that he has already been objectified as the music’s “next big thing”.”

Rejection of the music industry? Costello (NME, Kent, 1978): “People in this fuckin’ business just don’t understand that I don’t want to join their little club... From the very beginning there was never any air-brush stuff.”

A “possession” of the music industry/the audience? - “You Belong to Me”.

Analysis – Punk or not?  

Bray (2018): “While it’s difficult to call the record “punk” in the classic sense, it’s undeniably informed by the genre’s angry, rebellious spirit.”

Conclusion of entire album 

Conc (500 wds) 

Does Costello fulfil the role of a Post-Punk artist?

Does artwork for Costello’s albums reflect Punk graphics?

Does Costello’s music reflect Punk ideology?

Effective summing-up sentence 

[nigeiadigitalmarketingcompany]

How Capitalism Exploits Our Fear of Old Age

Digital Elixir How Capitalism Exploits Our Fear of Old Age

Yves here. I don’t mean to be a nay-sayer, but having developed major orthopedic problems after an accident, I find it hard to be cheery about getting old. This article makes a passing mention of financial stress among the elderly. A new story in the Financial Times, adding to a 2018 study Greying of US Bankruptcy, chronicles the rising level of indebtedness. Key sections:

In 1991, over-65s made up only 2 per cent of bankruptcy filers, but by 2016 that had risen to more than 12 per cent, says Robert Lawless, one of the authors of the report and a professor at University of Illinois College of Law. (As about 800,000 households filed for bankruptcy that year, this works out as approximately 98,000 families or about 133,000 seniors, since many file jointly as couples, he adds.) Over the same period, elders grew as a percentage of the US adult population too, but only from 17 per cent to 19.3 per cent….

In 1989, only one in five Americans aged 75 or older were in debt; by 2016, almost half were, according to the most recent US Federal Reserve survey of consumer finances. The rise in senior debt comes at a time when the wealth gap between rich and middle-class or poor Americans is at an all-time high, according to a study last year by the Pew Research Center.

By 2016, the wealth of upper-income Americans had more than recovered from the post-2008 recession, but the wealth of lower- and middle-income families was at 1989 levels, highlighting the long-term rise in income inequality in the US.

As these low- to middle-income families age, many are being pitched into debt-burdened retirement by several structural trends, including the decline of trade unions, with their power to negotiate real wage increases, good pensions and retiree healthcare packages; the disappearance of defined benefit pension schemes; steep healthcare inflation; and a sharp rise in middle-class families helping to pay for children to go to college.

By Valerie Schloredt, the the books editor for YES! Originally published at Yes!; cross-posted from openDemocracy

So I’ll be out in public, maybe ordering coffee, and someone I don’t know will address me as “sweetie.” I’m a 60-year-old woman, and I look my age. Because people haven’t called me “sweetie” since I was about 5, I’m thinking this is an age thing. That seems more obvious when a stranger ironically addresses me as “young lady” in situations where “excuse me,” “hello,” “hey, you,” or “pardon me, ma’am” would do just fine.

Such micro-aggressions, conscious or not, don’t just target older women. A friend my age who sports a distinguished gray beard was sweating through the last stretch of a half-marathon when a young guy in the crowd yelled from the sidelines, “Way to go, old dude!”

For decades, ageism has been one of the “isms,” along with racism, sexism, and ableism, that are unacceptable in progressive discourse and illegal under U.S. anti-discrimination law – at least in theory. Yet ageism against older people remains the most unexamined and commonly accepted of all our biases.

Look at media, from advertising to news, that portray aging almost exclusively in terms of loss – of physical and mental abilities, rewarding work, money, romance, and dignity. That sad and often denigrating picture leads us to fear aging. To distance ourselves from our anxiety, we label older people, regard them as “the other,” and marginalize them, perhaps most obviously in casual, patronizing remarks to strangers.

I’m seeing ageism a lot more clearly now that I am subject to it. So I welcomed Ashton Applewhite’s encouraging new book, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Applewhite, who has been speaking and blogging on the subject for several years, takes a particularly empowering approach by discussing ageism from the perspectives of both the personal and the political, debunking myths along the way. Take the “deficit model” of aging – the common assumption that getting older is all loss and no gain. In reality, we humans retain all sorts of qualities and abilities as we age.

We’re also adaptable. That’s a quality that can have unexpected benefits, like the “U-curve of happiness” described in a paper published by the National Bureau for Economic Research. The authors found that older people report being happier than do people in middle age. We deal with declines, of course, but we may actually get better at some things, like discarding superficial values, solving emotional problems, and appreciating life’s pleasures.

That bonus in emotional resilience may come in handy, because we’re aging in an economically, politically, and socially volatile era. According to Applewhite, poverty rates for Americans older than 65 are increasing and 50% of the baby boom generation feel they have not saved enough to create sufficient income should they live into their 80s and 90s. And while employment discrimination against older people (40 and up) is well known but difficult to prove, half of the boomer generation doesn’t see how they will be able to retire at all, Applewhite reports.

In her new book, Downhill from Here: Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality, Katherine S. Newman looks at the current economic landscape for older Americans and concludes, “Retirement insecurity is an increasingly serious manifestation of the vast inequality that is eating away at the social fabric of America.” What is now a bad situation for many boomers could be even worse for Gen Xers and millennials when their turns come.

So here we are, becoming more vulnerable over the years in a system that already treats people as expendable. Applewhite, for all her good-humored tone, calls out that system as global capitalism, as when she critiques the intergenerational competition narrative. The image evoked is of greedy oldsters sucking up jobs and houses and Social Security and Medicare, leaving nothing for the next generation.

It’s easy to be pulled into the generation blame game, abetted by underlying ageism, and to forget that economic systems are not inexorable phenomena like gravity or time; rather, they are the result of choices. In fact, rather than regard older people as leeches, we should remember that economic interdependence is intergenerational. Older people are an intrinsic part of society. Most of them have supported younger and older people in whatever ways were available. And whether working or retired, they buy products and services and pay taxes and contribute labor, support, and finances to their families and communities.

Applewhite caps her manifesto with recommendations that strike me as parts of what could be a Great New Deal for Age. It could start with more flexibility in employment so people could have longer careers, with more time out for training, exploration, and family. Resources would be put into accessible design for public spaces, as well as programs to support mobility for people across the spectrum of age and ability. That would facilitate their inclusion in community, and they would be in good shape to take part because of improvements in health policy, clinical practice, funding, and research. And if, toward the end of life, more intensive care were needed, workers and family members doing paid and unpaid care work would be fairly compensated or supported.

The truth is that improving systems to include older people would improve access and prosperity and quality of life for everyone.

All that calls for a new movement against age discrimination and organizing to get socially responsible representatives and policymakers into office. It also requires the sort of consciousness-raising and agitation that is now going on around the issues of race, justice, climate, and gender. Waking up to the real harms of ageism and refusing to feed the beast with our words and actions is the first step. The good news? The job is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of age.

How Capitalism Exploits Our Fear of Old Age

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[waxeight06-blog]

‘White People Food’ Is Creating An Unattainable Picture Of Health

Tanisha Gordon doesn’t see what white people love so much about cottage cheese. Or salads, especially when they’re topped with fussy ingredients like candied almonds, pickled carrots or Brussels slaw.

Gordon is a 37-year-old employee at an IT company in the Washington, D.C., area, and until recently, her diet was deeply saturated with fast food ― McDonald’s, Taco Bell, you name it. When her doctor diagnosed her last year with pre-diabetes and prescribed her a CPAP machine to help her sleep through the night, she began working with a nutritionist to clean up her diet. But the lifestyle change she sought would require more than cutting out Chicken McNuggets.

As a black woman, Gordon battled the perception that most of today’s healthy food is “white people food.”

“A lot of the time, when you go to restaurants now, they have these extravagant salads with all these different ingredients in it, like little walnuts and pickled onions ― like the stuff Panera sells,” Gordon told HuffPost. “For me personally, that’s like a white person’s food. A lot of the mainstream stuff that’s advertised comes across as being for white people.”

Today’s Goop-lacquered definition of healthy eating has made it de rigueur to guzzle $9 bottles of cold-pressed kale juice or chug hydrogen-infused water. In this micro-bubble of fastidiousness, a healthy diet means more than consuming your daily dose of fruits and veggies. It means eating pudding made of chia seeds (yes, the same ones used to make Chia Pets) and sprinkling your açai bowl with goji berries, even if you have no idea what either of those things are.

There’s nothing wrong with being nutritionally ambitious, but we’ve cultivated a health food culture that’s unattainable for the multitudes who can neither afford nor identify with it.

“You’ve got the dominant culture in the USA being white culture,” black restaurateur Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah told HuffPost. “And that white culture has taken the power to define all things good as white, and all things white as good. So that definition of healthy eating is not an accurate depiction of eating healthy.”

Over the course of a year, Gordon shed 60 pounds and outgrew the need for a CPAP machine simply by making some changes to her diet. But food isn’t always the biggest obstacle to a healthy lifestyle. Cultural barriers can be just as powerful.

“White culture has taken the power to define all things good as white, and all things white as good. So that definition of healthy eating is not an accurate depiction of eating healthy.”

- Restaurateur Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah

“For a person who needs to re-train their mind and think differently about healthy eating, that’s always gonna be their struggle; getting past, ‘This plate of food is for a white person,’” Gordon said.

Healthy food has historically been less accessible to black Americans in a number of ways. So, does eating healthy have to be equated with eating like white people? According to a new generation of chefs, nutritionists, academics and patients, the answer is no.

Charmaine Jones, a Washington, D.C.-based dietician who is black, penned a short paper earlier this year called “Do I Have To Eat Like White People?” that shared the dietary struggles of her clients, whom she describes as primarily low-income African-Americans on D.C. Medicaid.

The majority of her clients seek nutrition strategies to treat obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or high cholesterol, a set of challenges that are particularly prevalent in the black community. Gordon was one of her clients.

Jones describes “white people food” as salads, fruits, yogurts, cottage cheeses and lean meats ― the standard low-fat, heart-healthy foods promoted by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

Every five years, a 14-member advisory board writes those guidelines, which dictate what the average American should eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The current board has only two black members. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services didn’t respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

Isabella Carapella/HuffPost

African-American adults are nearly 1.5 times as likely to be obese as white adults.

African-Americans are at a much higher risk for a number of genetic predispositions and health issues, many of which are strongly influenced by diet. The numbers speak volumes.

Black Americans face a significantly higher risk of diabetes than white Americans, particularly for Type 2 diabetes: The prevalence is 1.4-fold to 2.3-fold higher in African-Americans.

The prevalence of high blood pressure in African-Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world. That high blood pressure is often attributed to higher rates of obesity and diabetes in the black community, as well as a gene that potentially makes African-Americans more salt sensitive.

African-American adults are nearly 1.5 times as likely to be obese as white adults. While approximately 32.6 percent of whites are obese, the rate for African-Americans stands at 47.8 percent.

Jones’ clients say they didn’t find it easy to get help in the black community.

“I found it difficult to find a black nutritionist. [Jones] was the only one I found when I was looking,” Gordon said. “Part of the reason I picked [Jones] was because she had similarities to me. I felt as if she would understand my body type more and she would understand the culture I come from more.”

“Even after I met her, I asked her what made her become a nutritionist, and she said, growing up, she’d never seen a black person be a nutritionist. So that was something we definitely related on and ultimately why I picked her.”

That’s not to say the black community isn’t without its proponents for healthy eating. Former first lady Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” campaign in 2010 to address the problem that one-third of U.S. children are overweight or obese. She sought to break down cultural and socioeconomic divides by cultivating partnerships with big business and championing sweeping legal changes that would affect both the rich and poor.

But Obama often met resistance, finding that food is an everyday comfort that many Americans aren’t willing to compromise on.

Empics Entertainment

Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks on behalf of Let's Move in London.

Jones says she runs into this problem with many of her clients.

“It’s very frustrating,” she told HuffPost. “My clients feel pressure that they have to change the way they eat. They have to start incorporating foods that are not common to them. So any time that happens, there’s a resistance against the pressure.”

Natalie Webb, another registered dietician and nutritionist in the D.C. area who is also black, told HuffPost that her clients share that same frustration.

“My clients absolutely associate healthy eating with eating like white folk,” Webb said. “I think it stems from what people see in marketing and what they associate healthful eating with, and it often doesn’t include foods they’re familiar with.”

“When you change folks’ food ― especially people of color ― it’s like you’re asking them to change who they are,” Webb said. “That’s why it’s so important as a dietician to start where folks are and introduce foods that are going to be familiar but maybe in a little different way.”

Psyche Williams-Forson, associate professor and chair of American Studies at the University of Maryland, powerfully described how people react to interventions in their diet.

“When you go into a person’s culture and you say, ‘You can’t eat this,’ or ‘You can’t do that,’ it’s just like going into your house and moving your furniture. You’re going to feel violated, you’re going to feel invaded. It makes people feel like their cultural sustainability has been compromised.”

“I try to encourage people to remember that food is part of the constellation of material objects that we deal with every day. And every time you have a material possession that’s been taken away from you, you’re going to be very protective.”

Few, if any, cuisines are more firmly attached to African-American culture than soul food, which took on an especially political meaning in the 1960s.

Williams-Forson explained that when writer Amiri Baraka coined the term soul food in the ’60s, he was very specifically responding to a criticism that the African-American community didn’t have its own culture. “Baraka chronicled a number of foods that at the time were heavily eaten by people in the South, everything from ham to sweet potato pie and sweet tea,” she said. “The actual label of soul food became a political term.”

Cultural historian Jessica B. Harris has echoed that argument, writing that in the 1960s, “soul food was as much an affirmation as a diet. Eating neckbones and chitterlings, turnip greens and fried chicken became a political statement for many.”

“When you go into a person’s culture and you say, ‘You can’t eat this,’ or ‘You can’t do that,’ it’s just like going into your house and moving your furniture. You’re going to feel violated, you’re going to feel invaded.”

- Psyche Williams-Forson, University of Maryland

Ben-Yehudah adds even more context: “Soul food is an experience in culture, it’s an experience in connecting with not only the people around you today, but connecting with the souls and the spirits of those that came before us that had created an identity for the food we were consuming,” he told HuffPost. “It not only provided nourishment but also allowed us to have a good experience. The soul food was a comfort food. It comforted us in times of difficulty.”

Erica Bright is a 45-year-old management analyst who sought Jones’ help last year to make some dietary changes. She’s been making positive changes to her health by adjusting what she eats, something she was open-minded to since the beginning of the process. But she doesn’t think everyone feels that way.

“The thing that bothers me about eating healthy is that in the media, people appropriate different ways of eating to different people,” Bright told HuffPost. “And so I don’t necessarily feel like black people eat as unhealthily as people would assume that we do. If you think about Italian food, which I love, it’s just as fatty [as soul food], but it doesn’t have that same reputation.”

She points out that the origins of Southern food took root at a time when it was necessary to cook with less-than-ideal ingredients.

“Some people think all black people eat is chicken and collard greens, and that’s not necessarily true. However, out of utility and necessity, we ate a lot of that down South back in the day because that’s all that was available. It’s not like we didn’t know what carrots or Brussels sprouts were.”

“Stereotyping is extremely frustrating. We all have to find an approach to food that still respects and honors our culture. We can still respect our ancestors for how they had to eat out of utility. Now, I have a lot more choices than they did. I shop at Whole Foods, I can go to Trader Joe’s.”

It’s especially evident that these diet stereotypes don’t always apply when talking to someone like Novella Bridges.

Bridges is a 45-year-old nuclear chemist who lives in the D.C. area. She started seeing Jones in 2017 to treat high blood pressure that suddenly arose after both of her parents passed away. Unlike many of Jones’ clients, Bridge pays out of pocket for the nutritionist’s services. But more significantly, she has been eating healthfully her whole life.

“I was raised by a nurse,” Bridges told HuffPost. “I didn’t have to make a lot of changes once I started seeing [Jones]. I was used to eating the food pyramid, so I was raised in such a way that we all were real big on fruits and vegetables. Most people from the inner city or from my culture didn’t eat a lot of those vegetables, but we did.”

Bridges sees herself as being from a distinctly different cultural cross-section than most of Jones’ clients, and she doesn’t feel closely connected to her roots through the foods she eats.

“Some people think all black people eat is chicken and collard greens, and that’s not necessarily true. It’s not like we didn’t know what carrots or Brussels sprouts were.”

- Erica Bright, 45-year-old management analyst

“I would never qualify what I eat as being from one culture or the other,” Bridges said. “No matter who you are, you need to eat fruits and vegetables every day. The bottom line is, we’ve gone to a processed way of eating, and African-Americans have claimed that as their type of food. [African-Americans] want to dismiss healthy eating as being for white people because it’d require a change. The truth is, when people are asked to change, change is difficult.”

“It has more to do with class than race,” she added.

Indeed, money is an inevitable issue when it comes to healthy eating.

Larry Perkins is a 40-year-old married father of two and a Walmart employee. His doctor sent him to Jones last year because he had been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. He made the suggested dietary changes with aplomb, but not without increased financial strain as he attempted to provide healthy meals to his family.

“The most frustrating thing about being on a diet is not having the money to purchase the stuff that you need,” Perkins told HuffPost. “It’s hard to pay for it.”

“A lot of the healthier meals are not marketed toward us. When you go to Sweetgreen or Chopt, their menu is not geared toward low-income families. I can’t take my family there to eat healthy without breaking the bank.”

“I think it’s more of a class issue than a race issue, because in all actuality, you’ve got low-income people, black and white, trying to eat healthy, and the prices really aren’t geared toward any of us,” Perkins said. “We all want to eat healthy, but they just don’t market their menu for us.”

Jones, too, cites socioeconomic factors as one of the primary roadblocks preventing her clients from transitioning to a healthier diet, in part because her clients do the majority of their shopping in food deserts, which lack access to affordable, healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. In the United States, many low-income black neighborhoods can be considered food deserts.

Based on the United States Census Bureau’s Income and Poverty in the United States report from 2016, the average black household made $39,490, while the average white household made $61,858. While only 11 percent of white Americans lived below the poverty level, 22 percent of the black American population did.

There are, however, those who warn against using the term “food desert” as a blanket assessment of a community. Forson-Williams explains: “Every community has a means of sustaining itself culinarily. Not every community may have a supermarket, but supermarkets are not panaceas.”

Jones has to find innovative ways to help her clients make healthy choices when the options are sparse. “Most of my clients live in economically disadvantaged areas, and I have to become creative and learn what’s in those stores to direct my clients how to eat healthy from those places.”

Though Jones teaches her clients how to make healthier soul food at home, finding healthy restaurants that serve soul food is another issue entirely. HuffPost talked to two black restaurateurs who run vegan soul food restaurants, chef Gregory Brown and Ben-Yehudah, about their experiences.

Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images

Gregory Brown holds a plate from his restaurant in Baltimore on Aug. 26, 2016. 

Brown is co-owner of Land of Kush, a vegan soul food restaurant that opened in downtown Baltimore in January 2011. His restaurant specializes in dishes like vegan BBQ rib tips, smoked collard greens, vegan mac and cheese, candied yams, vegan drumsticks, smoothies and fresh-pressed juices. He created his restaurant to provide patrons with a healthier version of soul food, which he says is inherently unhealthy. “It’s heavy, greasy, animal-product based ... in its original form, it was really just scraps. Not the healthiest things. Black people just kind of made it taste good to make it palatable. That just became the cultural regularity.”

Ben-Yehudah is the owner of several restaurants, including vegan soul food restaurant Everlasting Life in the Capitol Heights area outside D.C. He agrees that soul food has been in need of a healthy makeover.

“Soul food is always greasier, it’s always saltier, and it’s always sweeter,” Ben-Yehudah said. “So those three elements that we don’t need more of in our diet are definitely found it more abundance in today’s soul food diet. I call it the Standard Black American diet, and it has created many of the health challenges that we have today because it’s void of nutrition, it’s full of toxins and it’s addictive.”

But now Brown sees a change in pop culture that’s influencing the black community to make some healthy changes.

“Just in the past three years or so, you just see an influx of popularity of veganism in pop culture. You see celebrities and athletes eating a plant-based diet. You hear about [NBA player] Kyrie Irving, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, you hear about a lot of different celebrities going vegan, so it makes people more willing to try it if they hear about their favorite celebrities doing it.”

But when Brown first opened his vegan soul food restaurant seven years ago, he saw some resistance from the black community.

“There’s always resistance,” Brown said, “because people are stuck with their culture, their background, their traditions. It’s a part of their living. It’s difficult to break people away from that, so people show a little resistance.”

“African-Americans might say, ‘I don’t want to eat like white people.’ However, at the end of the day, it’s not eating like white people, it’s actually eating the way we used to eat before we were brought to this country.”

- Restaurateur Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah

Brown’s solution to changing customers’ mindsets is meeting them where they are and finding a path toward healthy eating that lies somewhere in the middle.

“That’s the basis of our restaurant: Meet people where they are,” Brown said. “Black people like barbecue and they like collard greens, they like yams. Let’s offer that to them but at the same time, let’s put quinoa on the menu, and let’s also have some fresh fruit smoothies. That’s how we integrate it into people’s mindset. What do you like to eat? Let me tell you how I can make that vegan.”

“What we want to provide is the full transition,” Ben-Yehudah echoed. “We want to meet the person who’s accustomed to the fried fast food, meet them there and be able to provide them a transition point so they can engage the vegan, healthier food lifestyle.”

And that healthier food lifestyle doesn’t have to look white.

“African-Americans might say, ‘I don’t want to eat like white people,’ said Ben-Yehuda. “However, at the end of the day, it’s not eating like white people, it’s actually eating the way we used to eat before we were brought to this country.”

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as white people food,” Williams-Forson said. “But I think there are foods that have been assigned to black people, and there are foods that have been more in line with white communities. And I think soul food is largely what gets short-handed as black people food, and things like veganism and vegetarianism get short-handed as white people food. Quite frankly, African-American people have been eating white people’s food since we arrived on this continent. But a lot of folks don’t know that because the food we tend to get associated with is almost always soul food.”

And though redefining one’s diet always comes with challenges, for Bright, the journey to a healthier lifestyle turned out to be much more personal than cultural.

“We can learn how to make the foods that we love in a [healthier] way and be comfortable with that. It’s not an insult to Grandma and Mommy and how they used to make these things,” said Bright, whose mother died of colon cancer and whose grandmother had heart issues.

“I want to honor them by learning how to do this whole thing a little bit better. A different diet could have maybe kept them here a little while longer. It’s important to me: I feel like if I can learn how to do this a little better, I’m still honoring them, and I think they’d be proud of me in the process. I think that’s the kind of shift we have to make collectively.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Capitol Heights and indicated that it is in D.C. In fact, it is just outside the city in Maryland.

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-people-food_n_5b75c270e4b0df9b093dadbb

[isabellelambert1975]

Do you really need to do a soil test?

‘So how many people in this room have done a soil test?’

This question was asked by garden designer Adam Frost at a recent talk at the Painters Forstal Gardening Club.

There were over 80 keen gardeners in the room. About half a dozen raised their hands. Embarrassingly I wasn’t one of them – even though a friend of mine had lent me a soil tester and was also in the audience. Rumbled!

Only about half a dozen keen gardeners in this room had done a soil test.

Many gardening friends say they don’t feel they need to do a soil test. ‘I know what I can grow in my garden.’

However, I’ve had very erratic results in the veg patch over several years. Several people have suggested that it’s my soil. Everyone who grows plants has failures – but if plants are consistently failing to thrive in a particular spot, it’s clear that a soil test is essential.

And if you move to a new house, you can circumvent the many years of discovering that acers (for example) don’t do well in your soil. If I’d done a soil test when we moved in, I wouldn’t have planted either of the two acers that struggled for a few years, then died. I would have planted another type of tree, and it would now be a decent size.

And no, seeing your neighbour’s lovely acer isn’t always a help. There are often pockets of different soil types, even in middle-sized town gardens.

It’s time to conquer my fear of anything that reminds me of school science classes and do a soil test.

Which soil test to buy?

I looked online for reviews, and also on Amazon to see which soil tests were rated most highly. The Testwest Soil Test kit and the Moon City 3-in-1 Soil Tester seemed to be top favourites.

I bought one of each, intending to compare them. (Links to Amazon are affiliate links, which mean I may get a small fee if you buy through them, but it won’t affect the price you pay.)

In fact, they are completely different. The TestWest Soil Kit tests pH, Nitrogen, Potassium & Phosphorus. The Moon City 3-in-1 tests pH, moisture and light. So actually both very useful.

Start with the really easy part

The Moon City 3-in-1 is outrageously easy. I cannot imagine why I worried about it. All you do is jam it in the soil.

The Moon City Three Way Soil Tester – it really couldn’t be easier. It measures how much light and moisture a particular spot gets, and the pH, but not the level of nutrients. Excuse the weeds…

It has a three-way switch, which you change accordingly to whether you are measuring the moisture in the soil, the light available in that spot or the pH. The dial responds quickly. Apart from the awkwardness of having to lie flat on the ground to read the results, you have an instant easy answer.

Bearing in mind that Adam Frost tested dozens of spots in his garden, I did the same. The moisture readings were what I expected, and in most of the garden, the pH read as neutral (pH 7).

But in one spot – one of my veg beds – it read as very acid, with a pH below 4. I looked up what grows well in such soil. Nasturtiums, apparently.

And that part of that veg bed is full of self-seeded nasturtiums! They don’t go anywhere else in the garden, but I’d never thought to wonder why.

These nasturtiums self-seed vigorously, but only in one of the borders – the one that is exceptionally low for nutrients and pH level.

The next soil test

I needed to delve deeper, so suppressed unhappy memories of the school science lab and opened the Testwest Soil Test Kit. I’ve video-d this. If you are someone who hates reading instructions, you may find watching less tedious.If you just want the soil test ‘how to’, fast forward to 1 minute, 16 seconds.

The Testwest Soil Test kit has four vials, each with a different chemical, for measuring the pH, Nitrogen, Potassium & Phosphorus. You don’t measure Nitrogen until the spring, so I didn’t do that.

There are also four little sample bottles, each with a coloured cap, a small amount of powder in a coloured marked container and a tiny coloured spoon. The colours are the key!

You dig out 50 grams of soil from various spots in the garden, and add 200ml of water. I took the kitchen scales outside, and a measuring jug.

Put the soil and water in a jam jar, shake it for 30 seconds or so, then leave until it separates again.

Repeat for several parts of the garden. I can only think that Adam Frost must have a magnificent collection of jam jars if he did dozens of soil tests in his garden.

Keep everything labelled and written down

I used Post-it Notes to make sure that I knew which jar connected with which part of the garden. And I wrote the results of each test down as soon as I had them, on the relevant Post-It note.

That may sound simplistic, but if you’re juggling three different tests for six different soil test samples, it can easily get confusing.

The linked colours on the test tubes, vials, powder containers and spoons mean that the test is not difficult, although the final stages of the soil test do get a bit fiddly.

Once your soil and water has separated out again, you use the pipette (provided) to add 3mls of slightly cloudy water to a test tube. Then add 0.5ml of the liquid in the vial that matches that test tube and a ‘heaped spoonful’ of the powder (the matching coloured spoon is tiny). Shake thoroughly and leave for around five minutes to settle.

The Testwest Soil Tester Kit measures pH, Nitrogen, Phosporus and Potassium in your soil.

Then you match it against a palette of colours in the booklet provided.

By this time, I was not only impressed with Adam Frost’s (theoretical) collection of jam jars, but also his patience.

Interesting results

My soil test results indicated that most of my borders have ‘medium’ amounts of nutrients. And the Testwest kit pH test results echoed those of the Moon City 3-in-1. I have neutral soil at a pH of 7. Lucky me.

However, the veg bed that had shown up as acid in the Moon City test also showed as very deficient in both Phosphorus and Potassium in the Testwest soil test results. I’m not really certain why, as I thought I’d given all the beds a good mulch of homemade compost every autumn. But it’s possible that I missed that bed out.

The veg bed is very low in phosphorus, according to the chart.

It would certainly explain why the veg have not grown well there – but the nasturtiums have flourished – this year.

So what now?

The whole garden needs a proper mulch this autumn. There’s nothing to worry about if you have a ‘medium’ level of nutrients, but it’s not exactly bursting with health, is it? I don’t propose to add specific fertilisers, but I’ll re-test next year and see whether I have to do anything more.

I shall be following Charles Dowding’s No Dig advice – although I can find no trace of reference to soil tests in his excellent book Organic Gardening, the Natural No-Dig Way. (There is a pithy remark on ‘soil health has more to do with biology than chemistry.’ So we’ll take that as a ‘no soil test’ then, shall we?)

But I shall let the compost sit on the top of the soil, allowing the worms and micro-organisms to do the hard work of digging for me.

I also see that the addition of seaweed may be helpful, and we live near the sea. You are generally allowed to take small amounts of seaweed from the beach in the UK, but check your local council regulations.

Nearby Whitstable beach. You don’t have an automatic right to take seaweed off a beach so ask your local Council – or other beach owners such as the National Trust.

Meanwhile perhaps I should try out that recipe for Nasturtium Pesto I spotted somewhere on the Internet the other day….

Let me know if you have views on soil tests and whether you’ve found them useful. And if you have other brand recommendations, let us know in the comments below. Thank you!

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