#journey to the shore 2020

[blmpff]

✨ Various Tropes: Back Hug (2/?) ✨

TITLES IN ORDER: 1&2. 2 Moons 2 (2019) 3: Journey To The Shore (2020) 4: We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd (2021) 5: About Youth (2022) 6: Big Dragon (2022) 7: My Tooth Your Love (2022) 8&9: .My Secret Love (2022) 10. Bed Friend (2023) 11. Love Class 2 (2023) 12: Kiseki: Dear To Me (2023)

[sev-wildfang]

2015 - 2024

it has been a while since ive felt the courage or need to post something like this. i worked very hard to scrub all pre-2016 photographs of me off the internet in fact, something i realize was not in the spirit of the person who inspired me at all.

for the sake of brevity im not going to post the entirety of my transition. some two or odd years into it i was fully immersed in the feminine persona i was trying to become but still filled with a yearning that seemed to be incurable.

it was a chance encounter on this website that changed my course forever. i saw a transition timeline by a user who has since deleted their blog, detailing year by year their journey to become a kind of trans woman i didnt even know could exist at that point: a trans-feminine butch.

the clarity of their vision intrigued me. it opened a door where previously i only saw an insurmountable wall. this was something one could want to become. this was not a failure state. this was a lighthouse.

"you measure yourself by stricter standards than you do cis women", my then therapist said, "you allow yourself to play with masculinity in your art. in your art you seem to be able to separate it from male-ness. do you think you might want that in real life?"

immediately after that conversation, i looked at the timeline post again. i decided to get a haircut - a variation of the same short undercut that has become my go-to since. i slowly phased out the dresses that had carried my thru the hardest times of my budding transition. most of them i gifted to other trans women who had more of a need for them.

i set to work on my self once more with new purpose and i found first joy, then peace in the never-ending process of becoming. like every terminally online dyke in 2020 i read Stone Butch Blues, read The Locked Tomb, read Hot Allostatic Load, buzzed my hair off twice, got way too many tattoos to count, found community and friendship in my local queer scene as well as among butches online, and learned that i have the capability to love more than one person. and i love all of the people i used to be and no longer am; the problem child, the teenage romantic, the spiteful young man, the girl wrestling with herself, the baby butch still worried about keeping her tokens of femininity about her, the idiot who tought working night shifts was a good idea, and the clown who said this would be short post just some paragraphs ago.

the user who made that post was a lighthouse that went out as soon as i made it to shore, if you forgive the sentimentality. i am not half the butch they were (and maybe still are?) but maybe that's enough to be worth something to someone. it is something to me.

[neoxghoul]

"You are the seashell planting your existence on the shore catching the attention of many even it they aren't picking you up, but just merely walking by. We all have holes, chips and scratches on us but there wear marks represent our journey, our wisdom, our knowledge, our lessons learned, our strength, and our vitality. No one needs to wear you on a necklace for you to be valued.

No one need to possess you on their drawer for you to be loved. Love starts inside of you. Happy Valentine's Day."

-Melanie via Instagram in 2020

[fatehbaz]

In the summer of 2020, [...] Black Lives Matter protesters tore a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston from its plinth in the centre of Bristol and rolled it into the harbour. [...] [C]ritics [...] argued that this type of direct action was “erasing history”. Britain’s prime minister at the time, Boris Johnson, claimed that to remove statues of figures like Colston from the public square was “to lie about our history”. Sir Trevor Phillips complained that Britain’s public history was being “erased entirely” [...]. Yet rather than lead us into an era of collective forgetting, the tearing down of Colston’s statue transported his name – and deeds – into the public consciousness.

This week, the renewed attention towards Colston bore fruit when the Guardian revealed that a historian, Brooke Newman, had unearthed a document showing that in 1689, Colston transferred £1,000 of shares in the Royal African Company (RAC) to none other than King William III. The exposure of the extent to which the monarch was financially intertwined with the slave trading company of which Colston was a director does not teach us less about history, it teaches us more.

---

The activities of colonial companies like the RAC, which enjoyed a monopoly over the English trade in slaves from the west African coast, are often presented as distinct from the internal history of the British Isles.

Yes, there may have been the odd massacre performed in the service of British imperialism, but these were the actions of rogue merchants in distant tropical lands, operating far from the watchful eye of Westminster and the living embodiment of British sovereignty, the monarch. This makes it easy to delete the actions of the RAC from the national record: the 84,500 men, women and children who, during Colston’s time with the company, were taken by its ships from their homes in west Africa to suffer a life of slavery in the New World.

A quarter of them would not even survive the journey, so horrific were the conditions aboard Colston’s ships.

---

Yet this separation between internal royal histories and external colonial histories has always been a [hidden] spot in our understanding of the past. Companies like the RAC needed to be granted a royal charter just to exist: they couldn’t be just registered and incorporated like companies today.

And furthermore, as the Guardian’s research has illustrated, there was often a cosy personal connection between the ruling kings and queens of this island and its slave-trading and colonial companies. This extended from James II acting as a governor of the Royal African Company to George II being a shareholder of the South Sea Company, which held the contract to supply enslaved Africans to the Spanish colonies in South America. [...]

---

The new revelations arrive at a difficult time for the monarchy, with the coronation of a new king seeking to shore up the disruption caused by the passing of the long-reigning Elizabeth II. [...] Leading politicians in Australia and Jamaica, countries where the British monarchy traditionally enjoyed a great deal of public support, are now campaigning to follow in the footsteps of Barbados, [...] a step towards the Caribbean island “leaving our colonial past behind”. The rising unpopularity of the British monarchy in the once-reliable British West Indies was made evident by the protests that greeted [...] William and Kate, during their tour of the region last year. [...] The relationship between the British royal family and the former colonies isn’t just a question of symbolism or constitutional law. It is an entry point into a deep and bloody history [...]. It is a history that the lid has only just started to be lifted on.

---

Text by: Kojo Koram. “Those who tore down Colston’s statue helped lead us to the truth about slavery and the monarchy.” The Guardian. 7 April 2023. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[starsuncounted]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thanks for tagging me @bywayofmemory!

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 82.

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 128,198.

3. What fandoms do you write for? Currently, LOTR, Silmarillion, Narnia, and Timeless. I'd like to get back to writing Turn fics, though. I have a couple ideas for oneshots that have been rattling around in my brain.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

winter-touched, frost-bitten (Spinning Silver, T, Miryem/the Staryk Lord, 1.1k): A missing scene in which Miryem strikes a new bargain with the Staryk Lord.

As the Hare Flees Before the Wolf (Silmarillion, T, Eöl & Celegorm, 1.8k): Curufin is not the only son of Fëanor Eöl meets upon the plains of Himlad. Or, Eöl meets Celegorm while pursuing Aredhel and Maeglin, and things go very badly for him.

Here at Journey's End (LOTR, G, Frodo & Legolas, 1.6k): They stay for those they love.

West, West Away (LOTR, G, Sam & Thranduil, 3.6k): Sam meets an unlikely kindred spirit on the journey West.

and I will love with urgency, but not with haste (Silmarillion, T, Andreth/Aegnor, 3.1k): A summer evening spent in a glade near the shores of the Aeluin.

5. Do you respond to comments? Yep! It may take me a while, but I always do. The only exceptions are for cryptic comments that I don't understand and have no idea what to reply with.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Lol. Lmao, even. At least half of my fics are nothing but angst. So...*spins wheel* Let's go with darkness lies on the foaming waves between us (LOTR, G, Arwen & Celebrían & Elwing, 1k), in which Arwen shares the news of her choice with her mother.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I do actually have a couple fics that would qualify for this (shocking, I know), but I have a special place in my heart for And There Make a Garden (LOTR, G, Éowyn, <1k). Éowyn finally being happy and content is everything to me.

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not since I returned to fandom in 2020 and started posting on AO3 (unless some of those aforementioned cryptic comments are badly worded hate). But I did get the occasional hateful comment back when I posted on FFN.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Occasionally and it's very vanilla.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? Never written one.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? I hope not!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Nope.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Nope.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? I must be loyal to my thirteen-year-old self and say Faramir/Éowyn, my forever OTP.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? I really would like to finish And Every Winter Turn to Spring (Turn, Anna/Hewlett), but I don't think I can rekindle the same enthusiasm I had for it during the height of my Turn fixation in 2020/2021. That, and I'm sure that if I were to pick it up again, I'd want to tear it apart and fix it up because it was one of the first fics I started writing after a years-long break from fic writing, and I'm certain I'd be embarrassed by parts of it now. And doing heavy editing like that feels overwhelming right now.

16. What are your writing strengths? Usually characterization and description, but I've been having trouble with my descriptions lately, and in a very strange twist, dialogue has—for the first time ever—been easier for me.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Plots. You will be getting no 100k+ longfics from me. Sorry. Oneshots or bust.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I only use other languages when writing Tolkien fic and do so sparingly and always with translations in the author notes. All phrases are yoinked from RealElvish.net because I can't be assed to put Elvish sentences together myself. Sorry JRRT.

19. First fandom you wrote for? LOTR. A couple of ancient fics that have never and will never see the light of day.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? It changes by the day, but I am very fond of On These Hither Shores (LOTR, G, Frodo & Boromir, 3.2k). It took a while to come together, but I'm so happy with how it turned out and that I finally achieved my goal of writing Frodo and Boromir getting to know each other before everything went to hell in a handbasket.

Tagging @tortoisesshells @boltlightning @aloveforjaneausten @dreamingthroughthenoise if you'd like to do this!

[how-to-be-a-tree]

Journey to the shore (2020)

[joongdunks]

I want to walk holding your hand. Why do you always let go? I want to hold you in public, and kiss you. Why don't you? I want to keep going out with you. Why is this so hard for you to accept?

Journey to the Shore (2020)

피터팬의 꿈

dir. 엄하늘

[gumpasgarage]

I’ve heard lots of things about these series/movies and what they seem to have in common that a lot of people were really moved by the content

so now that I’m approaching a school break I need to choose what’s going to possibly give me brain rot for the several months following

[arwainian]

Reading This Week 2024 #9-19: catching up on the past few months

Hm. Well. I'm not judging myself because I fell behind on tracking my reading for a reason. School got intense! And I'm back to trying to track my reading now because I turned in my last project of the semester, and I should get this out of the way before I start up a summer job. Because this is going to be a long one I'm going to break my own formatting a bit and start with my ongoing/current reads and my thoughts on them. Then I'm going to put the as-exhaustive-as-I-can-tolerate list of completed reading under a readmore so I don't completely kill your dash

Current/Ongoing Reads:

True Biz by Sara Nović I'm over halfway through this and I'm having trouble not blazing through it at lightspeed because the chapters are short and readable. It's basically about three people at a school for the Deaf in Ohio, two students, one new, one very entrenched, and then also the headmistress. I'm endeared by the characters. I find the interludes between narrative chapters that are essentially fun fact sheets on ASL and Deaf culture interesting, especially in a book where a lot of the dialogue is translated and transliterated ASL, but honestly it feels jarring! It makes it feel like its trying really hard to be a Good and Informative book about Deaf people for a hearing reader, instead of letting itself exist as a good and relatable book for and about Deaf people, as written by a Deaf author. I am reading this for the Queer Lit book club that I attend.

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, audiobook narrated by Rachel Dulude Very early on in the audiobook for this. Reading for my SFF bookclub. One of the people there apparently really dislikes this book which will make for an interesting discussion. Off the top of my head thoughts it has that tone that's really endemic to current SFF that I don't really like, so we'll see if this book gets past that for me once plot and character arcs start kicking in

Reading plans:

as the above indicates I'm trying to keep up with my local monthly SFF and Queer Lit bookclubs! I'm also going to be trying to read along with Shelved by Genre's Junji Ito unit like I did for their readthrough of Earthsea, gonna dip my toes into some horror. I'm going to try finishing Living Alone by Stella Benson which I was supposed to read for a class earlier this year but I read half of and then abandoned. A friend has recommended I check out The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu so I've gotten that out from the library, and I have a whole bunch of books on my book shelf that I actually own and need to start getting through now that I'm not in classes everyday

The last 2 and a half months of reading I did:

Read: "Scientific Racism and the Emergence of the Homosexual Body" by Siobhan Somerville The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin, audiobook narrated by Rob Inglis The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, audiobook narrated by Rob Inglis Ch. 1, 13-14 of Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, audiobook narrated by Derek Jacobi excerpt from Bored of the Rings "The Hero is a Hobbit" by W.H. Auden On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong The Way of the House Husband, Vol. 10 by Kousuke Oono Race and the Education of Desire: Foucault's History of Sexuality and the Colonial Order of Things by Ann Laura Stoler "Sovereignty" by Joanne Barker "The Sovereignty of Critique" by Audra Simpson "The Uses of the Erotic: the Erotic as Power" by Audre Lorde "Stolen from Our Bodies: First Nations Two-Spirits/Queers and the Journey to a Sovereign Erotic" by Qwo-Li Driskill "Why I couldn't resist buying Monkman's notorious 'Hanky Panky'" by Howard A. Levitt "The Provocations of Kent Monkman" by Nick Martin "'Indians on Top': Kent Monkman's Sovereign Erotics" by June Scuduler "'A Particular Kind of Romantic Entanglement': Kent Monkman's Nation to Nation (2020) and the Limits of Canadian Political Pornography" by Eric Weichel "Our Coming In Stories: Cree Identity, Body Sovereignty, and Gender Self Determination" by Alex Wilson Intimacies by Katie Kitamura "Naturalism, Humanitarianism, and the Fiction of War" by Eleni Coundouriotis several essays by Barbara Godard on translation "Sexual Violence as a Tool of Genocide" by Andrea Smith Introduction, Chapters 1 & 4 and Conclusion of View from the Bottom: Asian American Masculinity and Sexual Representation by Nguyen Tan Hoang A Kiss that Stains the Innocence by Emu Soutome Dark Princess by W.E.B. Du Bois Justin Chin: Selected Works edited by Jennifer Joseph I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 5 by Okura "Games, Storytelling, and Breaking the String" by Greg Costiyan sections of "Of Dice and Men" by David Ewalt sections of "Dungeons and Desktops" The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, audiobook narrated by Robin Miles "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin "The Ones Who Stay and FIght" by N.K. Jemisin "'The Ones who Stay and Fight': NK Jemisin's Afrofuturist Variation on a Theme by Ursula K. Le Guin" by Mark A. Tabone Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi "Naturally Queer" by Myra J. Hird "Animal Trans" by Myra J. Hird "Biophilia, Creative Involution, and the Ecological Future of Queer Desire" by Dianne Chisholm "Non-white Reproduction and Same-sex Eroticism: Queer Acts against Nature" by Andil Gosine "Polluted Politics? Confronting Toxic Discourse, Sex Panic, and EcoNormativity" by Giovanna Di Chiro Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo When Rain Clouds Gather by Bessie Head The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin "Decolonization" by Hokulani K. Aikau "Decolonization is Not a Metaphor" by Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang Luke & Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian Severance by Ling Ma "The Scale of Realism in the Global novel" by Debjani Ganguly "Genderfuck: The Law of the Dildo" by June L. Reich "Fighting Bodies, Fighting Words: A theory and Politics of Rape Prevention" by Sharon Marcus Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany Public Rape: Representing Violation in Fiction and Film by Tanya Horeck sections of Fantasy and Mimesis by Kathryn Hume The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter The Daughter of Odren by Ursula K. Le Guin

Skimmed: excerpts from History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault "Sex, Power, and the Politics of Identity" by Michel Foucault "Right of Death" by Michel Foucault "Ooo, Those Awful Orcs" by Edmund Wilson "Epic Pooh" by Michael Moorcook "The Hobbit" and "Tolkien's Lord of the Rings"from On Stories by C.S. Lewis "Child and the Shadow" by Ursula K. Le Guin "Tolkien and Modernity" by Anna Vaninskaya Prismatic Reader by Nayoung Kim Introduction to Reclaiming Power and Place: the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigneous Women and Girls excerpts of MMIWG2SLGBTTQIA+ National Action: Final Report by Lezard et al. Introduction and Ch. 1 of Epistemology of the Closet by Eve Sedgwick "The Future is Kid Stuff" from No Future: Queer Theory and the Death Drive by Lee Edelman "Low Theory (Introduction)" from The Queer Art of Failure by Jack Halberstam "Introduction: Beginning with Stigma" from Underdogs: Social Deviance and Queer Theory by Heather Love Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics, and the Limits of Law by Dean Spade "Erotic Autonomy as a Politics of Decolonization" by M. Jacqui Alexander "The Erotics of Sovereignty" by Mark Rifkin "Race, Caste, and Nation" by Nico Slate excerpt of Ready Player One by E. Cline excerpt of Quag Keep by Andre Norton "I'm in love with someone that doesn't exist" by Annika Waern "What If: Planet Earth as an Actor" by Mathias Thaler "Trans-Corporeal Feminisms and the Ethical Space of Nature" by Stacey Alaimo Conflict Bodies: The Politics of Rape Representation in the Francophone Imaginary by Régine Michelle Jean-Charles "Reclaiming Indigenous Sexual Being: Sovereignty and Decolonization Through Sexuality" by Madeline Burns Introduction and "Aloha in Drag" from Defiant Indigeneity: The Politics of Hawaiian Performance by Stephanie Nohelani Teves Introduction to Indigenous Performances: Upsetting the Terrains of Settler Colonialism by Mishuana Goeman "Xoq'it-ch'iswa:l On her - They Beat Time, a Flower Dance Is Held for Her: Revitalization of the Hupa Women's Coming-of-Age Ceremony" from We are Dancing for You: Native Feminisms and the Revitalization of Women's Coming-of-Age Ceremonies by Cutcha Risling Baldy "The Soveriegnty of Indigenous Peoples' Bodies" by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson "The Project of Feminist Epistemology: Perspectives from a Non Western Feminist" by Uma Narayan "Black Feminist Epistemology" by Patricia Hill Collins "From Truth/Reality to Knowledge/Power: Taking a Feminist Standpoint" by Caroline Ramazanoglu "Escape from Epistemology?: The Impact of Postmodern Thought on Feminist Methodology" by Caroline Ramazanoglu "Re-imagining Feminist Theory: Transgender Identity, Feminism, and the Law" by Graham Mayeda "A Black Feminist Statement" from the Combahee River Collective "Critical What What? A theoretical systematic review of 15 years of Critical Race Theory Research in Social Studies Education" by Christopher L. Busey, Kristen E Duncan, and Tianna Dowie-Chin "The Marginalization of Harriet's Daughters: Perpetual Crisis, Misdirected Blame, and the Enduring Urgency of INtersectionality" by Kimberle Crenshaw "Colorblind Intersectionality" by Devon Barbado "Toward a Field of Intersectionality Studies: Theory, Applications, and Praxis" by Sumi Cho, Kimberle Crenshaw, and Leslie McCall "Sick Woman Theory" by Johanna Hedva "The Project of Ableism" by Fiona Kuman Campbell "Disability and the Normal Body of the (Native) Citizen" by Suan Schweik "Freaks and Queers" by Eli Clare "The Challenge of Prison Abolition: A conversation" by Angela Y. davis and Dylan Rodrguez "Carceral feminisms: the abolitionist project and undoing dominant feminisms" by Elizabeth Whalley & Colleen Hackett "The Deadly Fight over Feelings" by Rebecca Wanzo "Disband, Disempower, and Disarm: Amplifying the theory and practice of Police Abolition" by Meghan G. McDowell and Luis A Fernandez Introduction to Rape and Representation edited by Lynn A Higgins & Brenda R. Silver "The Word of Unbinding" by Ursula K. Le Guin "The Rule of Names" by Ursula K. Le Guin

if you made it through all that you deserve a cookie

[blmpff]

✨ Various Tropes: Cuddles (3/?) ✨

TITLES IN ORDER: 1&2. 2 Moons 2 (2019) 3: Journey To The Shore (2020) 4: Where Your Eyes Linger (2020) 5: We Best Love No. 1 For You (2021) 6: To My Star (2021) 7: Ghost Host Ghost House (2022) 8: My Tooth Your Love (2022) 9: Till the World Ends (2022) 10. Once Again (2022) 11. Big Dragon (2022) 12: Bed Friend (2023)

[cosmiccanvas23]

McQueen's Vision for the Future of Luxury Auctions

In the sun-kissed shores of the Bahamas, a visionary entrepreneur has carved out a unique niche in the world of luxury auctions. Born on December 13, 1994, Leon Ronan McQueen, often known as the 'Caribbean Prince' and 'the Millionaire's son,' is the luminary CEO behind 'Society's Hidden Legacy.' This high-end auction house, nestled in Freeport, the Bahamas, specializes in the curation of rare gemstones, collectibles, and artifacts that continue to captivate collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.

A Multicultural Tapestry ]

McQueen's journey is a tapestry woven from diverse threads. Born in the Bahamas and raised in the United States, his multicultural upbringing has significantly shaped his unique perspective. These early experiences and his educational journey have laid the foundation for an extraordinary career.

The Torchbearer of a Precious Legacy ]

As the CEO of 'Society's Hidden Legacy,' McQueen is the torchbearer of a legacy rooted in rarity and value. Founded by his mother, Evelyn Silas McQueen, this prestigious establishment assumed a new chapter under his guidance. Tragically, her battle with breast cancer concluded on March 17, 2020, leading to the solemn responsibility of continuing her mission.

Nicknames of Distinction ]

'The Caribbean Prince' and 'the Millionaire's son' are more than mere monikers; they encapsulate McQueen's charisma and his remarkable achievements in the world of luxury auctions and rare artifacts. These titles symbolize his unique standing in an industry that thrives on the extraordinary.

A Life Shrouded in Mystery ]

In an age of oversharing and constant online presence, McQueen stands as a paragon of discretion. He eschews active social media accounts and, instead, allows his professional accomplishments and associations to be the voices that speak on his behalf. This approach has created an air of intrigue and fascination around his life and work.

Attracting Elite Clients and Collectors ]

Leon Ronan McQueen's influence transcends the boundaries of business. His auctions are grand gatherings of the elite, attracting celebrities, influential politicians, and revered figures in the artifacts industry. His impact on the art and artifact collecting landscape is undeniable.

Shaping the Future of Luxury Auctions ]

With each auction event, McQueen etches his legacy into the history of luxury auctions. He isn't just following trends; he is setting them. His vision for the future of luxury auctions is reshaping the industry, leaving an indelible mark.

In 'McQueen's Vision for the Future of Luxury Auctions,' we delve into the world of a Bahamian entrepreneur whose influence stretches far beyond the shores of the Bahamas. Leon Ronan McQueen's vision is one of enduring significance, a testament to his unwavering commitment to redefining the boundaries of luxury auctions.

[thecurrentonline]

Camila Cabello's Inspiring Journey: From Weight Gain to Body Positivity

Camila Cabello, the Cuban-American pop diva, stands at around 1.57 m (1 m 5 inches). The ex-Fifth Harmony singer weighs 56 kilograms (123 pounds). Camila Cabello has risen to prominence as a result of a string of major tunes. The Senorita singer, like many other notable pop performers, is appreciated for her lovely appearance, and her appealing, thin body is a huge part of that. But, in the world of Hollywood, where appearance is everything, what happens when a renowned pop star like Camila has drastic weight changes? Discover the truth behind the public's outrage over the 'Havana' singer's weight gain.

What Caused Camila Cabello's Weight Gain?

Several photographs of Camila Cabello that generated a sensation on the internet surfaced between 2021 and 2022. Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello were photographed holding hands on a Florida beach in June 2021. Camila, 24, was wearing a blue, exposing two-piece b*kini at the moment.

Camila Cabello weight gain In the months that followed, another photo of the singer in a blue swimsuit surfaced, this time out with pals in Coral Gables. The singer was also photographed in an eye-catching orange swimsuit on the shores of Capri, Italy. Many individuals on the internet were shocked by her weight gain and showed their displeasure in three distinct reactions to the three images. The singer stated publicly that she had gained weight as a result of her upcoming confinement in 2020. She shared an Instagram photo in which she appeared to have acquired some weight.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by camila (@camila_cabello) The entire country was placed under lockdown due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus illness. It's understandable that many individuals, including celebrities, were out of shape at the time because there were no public gyms. Camila Cabello's success story, however, did not end there. She and Shawn Mendes split up shortly after her public meltdown. Mean rumours circulated that the Stitches singer had broken up with his girlfriend because she had gained weight throughout their relationship. In our previous posts, we covered information about the weight of other stars if you want to know about their journey you can read our below posts: - Jelena Ostapenko Weight Gain, Diabetes, and Pregnancy Rumors Unraveled!! - Brendan Fraser Weight Gain: The Real Reason For Brendan Fraser& Weight Gain!

Camila Cabello’s Sudden Weight Gain Led to Rumors of Her Being Pregnant

Being photographed in public without one's permission is not something one gets used to. For celebrities, though, it has become the norm. When photos of her from June 2021 surfaced, showing her looking unusually heavy, the media immediately speculated that the ex-Fifth Harmony star was pregnant. This was due to a notable rise around Camila's tummy area in the images that went viral.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by camila (@camila_cabello) Fans quickly went insane at the prospect of one of the world's biggest music artists expecting a child. All of those allegations, however, were quickly debunked because Camila Cabello was well aware of the uproar. The singer did not respond to the extremely nasty comments, the majority of which bordered on fatphobia. The singer handed her detractors the middle finger with words that clearly stated her opinion on body shaming and body positivity. Camila was adamant about not being forced to suck her tummy at all times in order to avoid being taken in an unfavourable stance. The singer described how foolish it was to expect her to be perfect at all times, even when going about her regular, routine duties. In a TikTok video, she stated unequivocally that she would not apologize for having a natural figure with fat, curves, stretch marks, and cellulite. While the singer revealed that she wasn't used to being shot at random, she did share that she was becoming more at ease with her figure. Cabello also expressed hope that her "unflattering" images would alleviate the humiliation that other celebrities felt, particularly when they didn't feel camera-ready. If there is one thing Camila Cabello excels at, it is encouraging others. Here are some other celebrities’ weight gain details: - Emily RHOC Weight Loss: How She Achieved Her Stunning Transformation! - Lana Del Rey Weight Gain Before And After Fans React to Lana Del Rey’s Weight Gain!

The New and Better Camila Cabello

The actress has nearly returned to her pre-pandemic form. She also ended her relationship with Shawn Mendes, a Canadian singer. She collaborated on the mega-hit "Senorita" with him, for which she co-wrote and recorded the song. Camila hasn't verified any romance rumours, so she must be focusing on her music for the time being. Carly Rae Jepsen, on the other hand, has found out how to have it all. On Instagram, the singer shows off her hectic lifestyle. She posts photos from her public engagements, photo shoots, and music video shoots but never divulges information about her personal life. Cabello appears to have slimmed down during the summer. There is no proof that Camila Cabello has put on weight.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by camila (@camila_cabello) Either she takes good care of her body or she has a very busy traveling schedule. Because she is opposed to retouching, the singer is unlikely to use it. Camila's Instagram, on the other hand, is devoid of cellulite photos. In any situation, her followers will always be there for her. They respect Camila Cabello for not being self-conscious about her appearance, fighting anorexia, and remaining true to herself. Stay in the loop and never miss a beat - Join us on our Twitter account for the latest updates and exclusive content! Read the full article

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

Hallmark Publishing - Complete Book List (and all their covers)

Hallmark Publishing - Complete Book List 

Journey Back to Christmas by Leigh Duncan (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - October 17, 2017

Christmas in Homestead by Kara Tate (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - October 24, 2017 

Love You Like Christmas by Keri F. Sweet (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - October 30, 2017 

A Heavenly Christmas by Rhonda Merwarth (Based on the Hallmark Hall of Fame Original Movie) - November 7, 2017 

Dash of Love by Liz Isaacson (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - December 26, 2017 

Moonlight in Vermont by Kacy Cross (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - January 2, 2018

Love Locks by Cory Martin (Based on the Hallmark Hall of Fame Original Movie) - February 20, 2018 

The Perfect Catch by Cassidy Carter (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - March 27, 2018 

Like Cats & Dogs by Alexis Stanton (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - April 17, 2018 

Dater’s Handbook by Cara Lockwood (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - May 15, 2018 

A Christmas to Remember by Rebecca Moesta (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - June 26, 2018 

Christmas in Evergreen by Nancy Naigle (Book 1) (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - July 10, 2018

A Country Wedding by Leigh Duncan (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - July 24, 2018 

Sunrise Cabin by Stacey Donovan - September 16, 2018 

The Christmas Company by Alys Murray - October 16, 2018 

A Timeless Christmas by Alexis Stanton (Made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - October 21, 2018 

October Kiss by Kristen Ethridge (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - August 21, 2018 

At the Heart of Christmas by Jill Monroe - November 6, 2018 

The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle (Made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - February 12, 2019 

Love on Location by Cassidy Carter - March 12, 2019 

Beach Wedding Weekend by Rachel Magee - May 15, 2019 

Love at the Shore by Teri Wilson (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - June 11, 2019 

A Down Home Christmas by Liz Talley - July 2, 2019 

Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa by Nancy Naigle (Book 2) (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - July 16, 2019

Out of the Picture: A Shepherd Sisters Mystery by Tracy Gardner (Book 1) - September 3, 2019 

A Royal Christmas Wish by Lizzie Shane - September 10, 2019 

A Gingerbread Romance by Lacey Baker (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - September 17, 2019 

An Unforgettable Christmas by Ginny Baird - September 24, 2019 

Wrapped Up in Christmas by Janice Lynn (Book 1) - October 1, 2019 

Love by Chance by Kacy Cross (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - December 26, 2019 

The Game Changer: A Parkwood Mystery by Jennifer Brown (Book 1) - January 7, 2020 

Country Hearts by Cindi Madsen - January 20, 2020 

The Story of Us by Teri Wilson (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - February 4, 2020 

A Simple Wedding: A Heart’s Landing Novel by Leigh Duncan (Book 1) - March 10, 2020 

In Other Words, Love by Shirley Jump - April 21, 2020 

A Cottage Wedding: A Heart’s Landing Novel by Leigh Duncan (Book 2) - June 2, 2020 

Christmas in Bayberry by Jennifer Faye - July 7, 2020 

Sailing at Sunset by Cindi Madsen - July 21, 2020 

Behind the Frame: A Shepherd Sisters Mystery by Tracy Gardner (Book 2) - August 11, 2020 

Dead-End Detective: A Piper & Porter Mystery by Amanda Flower (Book 1) - August 25, 2020 

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson - October 6, 2020

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn (Book 2) - October 27, 2020 

Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy by Nancy Naigle (Book 3) (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - November 3, 2020

Rescuing Harman Ranch by Jennie Marts - February 23, 2021 

Murder by Page One: A Peach Coast Library Mystery by Olivia Matthews (Book 1) - March 23, 2021 

A Waterfront Wedding: A Heart’s Landing Novel by Leigh Duncan (Book 3) - April 20, 2021 

Wedding in the Pines by Cassidy Carter - May 4, 2021 

South Beach Love by Caridad Pineiro (Made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - May 25, 2021 

Once Upon A Royal Summer by Teri Wilson - June 15, 2021 

Sweet Tea by Piper Huguley - July 13, 2021 

An Amish Flower Farm by Mindy Steele - July 27, 2021 

Still Life and Death: A Shepherd Sisters Mystery by Tracy Gardner (Book 3) - August 10, 2021 

On Christmas Avenue by Ginny Baird - September 21, 2021 

Mistletoe in Juneau by Dahlia Rose - October 19, 2021 

Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope by Janice Lynn (Book 3) - October 26, 2021

Christmas in Evergreen: Bells are Ringing by Lacey Baker (Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie) - November 2, 2021 

Cowboy Ever After by Jennie Marts - June 28, 2022 

The Beach Escape by Rachel Magee  - August 9, 2022 

Murder Out of Character: A Peach Coast Library Mystery by Olivia Matthews (Book 2) - September 13, 2022 

Once Upon A Royal Christmas by Teri Wilson - November 1, 2022 

Christmas at the Amish Market by Shelly Shepard Gray - November 8, 2022 

Frozen Detective: A Piper & Parker Mystery by Amanda Flower (Book 2) - December 6, 2022 

Sweeter Than Chocolate by Lizzie Shane - January 17, 2023 (Made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie)

[imisssparkling1989]

Taylor Swift - The Era's Tour - Tampa Day 2

Picture it- cotton candy colored sunset skies, with 60,000+ best friends singing the bridge to cruel summer together. What a night to remember! My mom, aka my best friend since 1989, was my plus one and we had such a great time and made so many memories. We've had a few really hard years, between losing her sister (my aunt) and my grandparents it's just been so empty in our lives. My mom was the oldest of four siblings and grew up fast. She's worked all her life, and raised my brother and I all on her own. My brother and I spent most of our childhood being raised by my aunt and grandparent's while my mom was working long hours. My grandparents went through various types of cancers and ultimately passed from cancer. My aunts passing was unexpected due to a surgery complication. At times, it feels like my mom, brother and I had to grow up so quickly. During the start of the pandemic in 2020, my grandmother decided to stop Chemo and asked us to let her pass at home peacefully with us by her side. At this point, I had already lost my aunt and grandfather and was really struggling in all aspects of my life. I was stuck in a lifeless corporate America job for 10 years and felt like I had no time to enjoy the "now" or the people I love. My grandmother's last words to me were "I wish I could have seen you find your person. I wish I could have seen you get married." I never felt she had an old school mentality and just wanted me to get married. In fact, she was the complete opposite. She didn't want me to be stuck working for "The Man" and that I was deserving of love and a life worth living. Shortly after my grandmother passed away, @taylorswift released her #Folklore and #Evermore albums. My mom surprised me with the vinyl for Folklore and I was so so excited to listen to it. I setup my room for a total folklore vibe, two pups in hand, and as always my iced oat milk latte in a candle lit room. Dropped the needle onto the vinyl and for the very first time in forever I felt human again. @taylorswift #Folklore album gave me the space to dream, feel, and gave me hope. I don't know how else to describe what I felt that night into words. I guess, the only way I can describe what it felt like was when you're in the ocean... it's not night time but it's kind of dark out... and a wave crashes on you... and you're under the water nervous but you finally reach the surface and gasp for air and realize it's okay, it's not that bad, you're going to be okay...and you swim back to the shore and just sit on the beach looking back at the monster that almost got you, but didn't. You're okay now. You're going to make it. That's what listening to @taylorswift #Folklore album felt like. Soon after, #Evermore was released and it honestly just sent me to the edge listening to #Marjorie lol. I was so thankful @taylorswift wrote that song and was vulnerable enough as an artist and as a person to share a song that was written for her grandmother. I've noticed grief is really hard to talk about. People have opinions on how you should grieve. It's such a personal journey... and I have honestly been struggling with my grief since June 1, 2020 after losing my grandmother. So fast forward to two weeks ago, after already experiencing #TheErasTour with my mom in April, I decided to quit my corporate America job (after 10 years!). I have no job lined up, but something changed me that night at the concert. Taylor's music, her fans, her writing/lyrics, her view on making the world better, giving back to so many, and all her positive energy she injects into this world gave me so much hope that night. I want a better life. I need a better life. And really.... this is a long winded open thank you letter to @taylorswift @taylornation . As a fellow 1989 baby, thank you for giving me a reason to create a new tumblr (it's been a minute lol) and pour my feelings and heart out to strangers again... it's been a long time coming...

[burlveneer-music]

Lady Aicha & Pisko Crane's Original Fulu Miziki of Kinshasa - N'Djila Wa Mudujimu (Nyege Nyege Tapes)

In 2003, Pisco Crane assembled a six-piece band from motivated and talented like minds in the Kinshasa slums where he grew up. Pisco had been involved with a handful of local rap acts when he was younger, but after meeting legendary instrument builder Bebson De La Rue, he was inspired to follow a new path. He set about building instruments from the discarded trash that surrounded his city: bits of old computers or oil cans were fashioned into bass guitars and drums, and keyboards were bashed together using springs, metal pipes, and offcuts of tubing. If there was a core philosophy that guided Pisco at this stage in his journey, it was that everyone should have access to instruments, no matter where they come from or what their budget might be. And following in the footsteps of Bebson, Pisco locked into a Congolese tradition that touches on the eccentric genius of globally lauded artists like Konono Nº1 and Staff Benda Bilili. Over the years, Fulu Miziki's notoriety grew in the Kinshasa underground – their utopian vision of the future was infectious. Eventually, they were joined by performance artist, sculptor and fashion designer Lady Aisha, who offered the band unique colour and a soulful central focus. Influenced by Kinshasa's street performance scene, Aisha helped the band devise vivid masks and costumes that were as electric and singular as the instruments they played, and the scene was set. In 2020, as the world was plunged into lockdown, footage of Fulu Mziki went viral and their star began to grow exponentially, with a video of the band preforming the track ‘Tikanga’ racking up millions of views on Facebook. The band used this opportunity to work on documenting their sound, and shored up at the Nyege Nyege studios in Kampala for a year to assemble a definitive album. Recorded by HHY & The Macumbas' Jonathan Saldanha, this record captures the band's furiously innovative mixture of industrial sonics, spiritual jazz, punk, and Congolese soukous pressure. Pisco and Lady Aicha currently lead a different outfit in Kinshasa made up of completely new musicians. This full-length is the remaining proof of Fulu Mziki at their most vital and most complete – it won't be repeated – and can never be recreated. It's an essential portrait of one of the Democratic Republic of Congo's most innovative contemporary outfits, and some of the most surprising hybrid music you're likely to hear. Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Jonathan Uliel Saldanha Photography by Mantas Kvedaravicius. Artwork & Graphic layout by Jonathan Uliel Saldanha

[eopederson2]

Shrinking Lake Albert, Oregon

Upper photo: 19 October 2022; Lower photo: 18 October 2002

"Every year, tens of thousands of birds flock to Lake Abert as they journey from parts of the Great Basin toward the Pacific flyway, a migration route that extends from Alaska and Canada, through California, to Mexico and South America. The shallow, salty lake in southern Oregon has long functioned like an all-you-can-eat buffet for many of these winged travelers. But the food source has become threatened in recent years.

Under normal circumstances, the lake’s water is too salty for fish. Instead, it supports large quantities of alkali flies and tiny crustaceans called brine shrimp (below), which have long provided a feast for several species of migrating birds. But the past few decades have been anything but normal for Lake Abert. The lake mostly dried up in 2014, 2015, 2021, and 2022 due to water withdrawals and dry weather, which caused the salinity of the lake’s remaining water to spike—becoming, at times, too high even for brine shrimp and flies.In order to improve understanding of why Abert is drying up, a team of researchers led by University of Maryland and NASA research scientist Dorothy Hall analyzed two decades of environmental data collected by the Terra satellite. They found that between 2001 and 2021, fewer days of snow cover and higher surface temperatures led to greater evaporation over Lake Abert. The research was recently published in Earth and Space Science.

“Lake Abert is largely fed by snowmelt emanating from the mountains to the west of the lake,” Hall said. “What we’re seeing in Lake Abert is worrying, and it is consistent with what you'd expect from this region because of climate warming.”

“We haven’t seen Lake Abert so low since the Dust Bowl,” added Ron Larson, a retired biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and one of the study’s coauthors. “There has been little or no inflow from the Chewaucan River, at the south end of the lake for the past two years.”

Researchers use a gauge on the eastern shore of the lake to track water levels and calculate the level and volume of the lake, but water levels fell below the lowest level of the gauge in 2019. To fill the gap in recent years, some researchers have relied on Landsatobservations of the lake’s areal extent to provide estimates of the remaining water volume.

The natural-color image at the top of the page (right) was captured by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 on October 18, 2022. A Landsat 7 image (left) shows the same area in October 2002, when water levels were at nearly the highest levels they have been during the past two decades.

Most of the water still present in the lake in October 2022 likely seeped down from a cluster of springs at the base of the cliffs that make up Abert Rim, a long fault scarp just east of the lake. As the volume of water stored in the lake declined, the water became saltier and more hospitable to blooms of certain types of salt-loving archaea, bacteria-like microbes that turn the water red. The photograph below, taken by Larson, shows red water in the parched lake on October 10, 2014.

Before the water dropped below the gauge, measurements indicated that the water level had dropped by roughly 15 feet (5 meters). What little water remains is roughly 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters) deep. Water samples collected by Larson show that starting in 2020, the salinity of the water rose above 250 grams per liter (above 25 percent)—more than 10 times higher than salinities in the early 2000s. Brine shrimp and alkali flies in Lake Abert prefer salinities of 30 to 80 grams per liter and struggle to survive once salinity surpasses 200 grams per liter, according to Larson.

Without enough food in the lake, some species of birds are staying away. Ecological datacollected by volunteers for the East Cascades Audubon Society indicate that the number of birds visiting dropped by more than tenfold, from more than 250,000 per year a decade ago to 11,000 in 2021—the lowest number recorded in decades.

Among the birds seeing the biggest drop-offs are phalaropes. More than 100,000 Wilson’s phalaropes have come to the lake during past years, where they were known for a unique type of foraging that involved spinning on open water to stir up brine shrimp.

Since 2020, very few phalaropes have been seen at Lake Abert. Eared grebes, another species that requires relatively deep water to forage, have completely stopped coming as well. American avocets and willets, birds that can forage effectively in very shallow water, have shown more resilience and continue to arrive in some numbers. The photograph above shows a group of American avocets foraging in lake mudflats on November 13, 2020, when they were numerous.

Environmental data indicates that temperatures have risen, and less snow is falling in this part of Oregon, likely due to climate change. But water diversions are the key reason that the lake is drying up, according to research conducted by Johnnie Moore, an emeritus geoscience professor at the University of Montana. “Without water withdrawals, the lake would have maintained annual mean salinities mostly within the optimal range of brine shrimp and alkali fly growth,” said Moore.

Recent data from NASA’s OpenET project indicates that irrigated crops near the lake likely consume a large portion of the incoming water from the Chewaucan basin, according to a December 2022 analysis conducted by the Oregon Lakes Association. “We know the pressures on this lake are probably only going to get more intense in the coming years and decades,” said Moore. “The key thing is that we develop better management tools to ensure that this ecosystem continues to exist.”

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. All photographs by Ron Larson. Story by Adam Voiland.

n.b. The original article includes several photos not reproduced here. The original article is linked above. Here is one of my photos of the shallow, saline lake taken in 2020, and here is a second one.