Calamansis - Plant Biochemist

宣言開けても天気も仕事も無愛想で

なかなか出かけさせてくれない。

なので写真の整理してたら沸々と旅欲が…

あぁ旅したいなぁ…蔵出し回です。

The Tumblr writing community is dying.

It’s something I’ve noticed over the past two years of using this site. It was gradual, imperceptible at first, something that most would brush off as a silly concern, or fault Tumblr algorithm for. While it’s true that Tumblr’s engine leaves a lot to be desired, I’ve noticed that even popular blogs have started to dwindle in terms of interaction or motivation. There could be a lot of reasons for this, but the biggest two I’ve noticed, experienced myself, and asked fellow writers about is this: (1) content being stolen, and (2) lack of feedback or interaction. I’ve never seen any logical person defend content being stolen, so I want to address point 2 instead.

Lack of feedback and interaction. I’m not saying this on my behalf so much as I’m saying this for friends and smaller blogs who have lost motivation to write. I was looking at my yandere writing blogs list the other day and noticed that a good majority of them no longer write. I usually update the list every few months, and by that point, more and more writers have stopped writing entirely. This isn’t a problem confined solely to the yandere fandom; in fact, there’s less writing blogs in general these days, especially ones that are active. I used to run a very popular BNHA blog with some friends, but that dissolved after our content was stolen and our followers stopped interacting as much. Out of our 8,500 followers, we hardly got 0.015% notes (~128 notes) on an average post. Tumblr is to blame for the lack of eyes seeing our posts, for sure, but that also means that at least 128 people saw one post and didn’t leave a comment or ask. We were considered a big blog; imagine what it’s like on a small blog.

My friend recently made a post that summed this up perfectly: 

“I’ve seen people say “Be grateful that people even lurk on your page.” and, while I get the message they’re trying to say, it’s more dismissive and hurtful in my opinion. Like you’re saying, “Oh your writing is mediocre, you should be grateful people even LOOK at it.”

Me personally? I’ve heard the argument that AO3 is a better place to post fanfics, and while that might be true, I’ve had friends experience firsthand the lack of interaction there too. I’ve heard the argument that interacting with some writers is intimidating (me included). I’ve heard that argument that followers might be too shy to interact. I’ve heard the argument that writers should write for themselves and not for views / likes / reblogs / etc, and while that’s ideal, it’s not sustainable for everyone. What works for one writer won’t work for another, but you know what will? Interaction.

That comment or ask that took you 2 seconds to write? We remember it. That reblog with the compliments in the tags? We remember it. Every single ‘named’ anon we get (heart anon, sunflower anon, etc)? We remember them. And the best part is? It’s actually easier to do these things on Tumblr since you have the option to send anonymous asks or make a sideblog specifically for reblogs! Trust me, whether the lack of interaction is the cause of a lack of motivation or what have you, every writer appreciates feedback (don’t be shy to offer some critique or compliments) or even a simple keyboard smash with some emojis. Even sitting down for 5 min a day per week to comment on your favorite writers’ new pieces makes a huge difference. Personally, since Tumblr’s activity feed is beyond terrible and I have over 1,500 posts, I don’t always see new reblogs or comments on my content; asks though? Always see those, can never go wrong with those. If you don’t want to reblog or leave a comment, then you can never go wrong with an anonymous ask. 

As my wise friend says: writing is an art, and in order to improve that art, we need other people’s eyes to see what we don’t.

For the sake of every writer (past, present, and future) on this platform, please share this post.

This map shows the geology of basins and craters on the Moon! I’ve shared the full-size map and open-source code here for anyone to use. If you like you can also buy a poster of the map here! 

Welp, it’s finally happening and I’m not ready

The folks are getting a divorce- yay! Dad’s an abusive alcoholic, mom is good and deserves so much better. Problem is, my mom, brother and I are being forced to leave the property and getting cut off. I knew this would come but we were counting on actually having a plan and money saved up, but we don’t. This is very sudden and scary and on top of all the bad shit that’s happening I have to say good bye to my babies, my sweet angels that I love so much. I can’t even express how much my heart aches right now, I’m just not prepared for this at all.

We have over 50 chickens that we need to adopt out/sell. Once they’re safe we need to figure out a plan for 4 horses who are my mom’s whole world. She thinks she needs to sell them, but these guys are everything to her, they’re the reason she’s still here today. I have a friend nearby who may be able to take them until we’re on our feet and can find a place to have them, but I haven’t asked her yet. Like I said, this all happened the last two days. I’m so overwhelmed and stressed. After we get the horses taken care of, then we’re going to try and get help from local organizations (social services I guess?) to get out of here and find a cheap place.

I’m obviously keeping Rex, I don’t need to tell y’all how important she is, and she’s cheap and easy to keep. Tatem (fluffy chaos) is staying with me too because same deal. Together they cost all of $20 every 2-3 months which I can manage no problem. I should technically find a home for my snakey, Cornelius, but if I can keep him I will. I’m probably moving in with my friend in NYC for now.

My dear, amazing, absolutely wonderful friend @friedgeppetto is going to kindly take in my pidgies (Piper, Carrie, Peter, lil baby) and our very favorite chickens until we can find a place to have them! Send them love and thanks if you get a chance for being so good, it makes my heart fill up with warmth that they’re willing to help. The birds that are going to them are: my 6 modern games (Flint, Barbar, Killian, Letitia, Dwayne, Laylani), Hazel, Momo (Sweeney’s baby), Tomtom (Barbar niece), Kiki (I’d rather not but she’s bonded to the latter two), Max, Wade, Pansy, my mom’s 6 bantam babies (Butternut, Filbert, Tallow, Hickory, Praline, and Litchi), the weird little serama guy Ferguson, and Capers (Millet’s daughter). Buckley, Sweeney, and two elderly rescues we have will probably also be going to them but it’s iffy.

Some of the bird’s already have homes lines up like my bachelor silkie trio (they’re going to become breeders, they’re gonna be stoked). A friend is taking the two bantam americauna pullets, Dali and Dori. Many of my brother’s orloffs already have homes but not all.

So, here’s a list of all the chickies:

If you’re interested in any of them excluding the ones mentioned (or if you are interested in the ones mentioned I guess go for it and maybe you’d be a good match) dm me on discord (Quail#8005) or email me at rexandquail@gmail.com

We live in upstate NY and are now very limited on money so shipping is only possible if the other party pays for the cost, meeting up is subject to what we can afford in fuel. I’ll do my best.

I’ll be posting a full list of all the birds and their information, I just gotta get up to date pictures.

So yeah, life’s falling apart. I’m hurting so much I’m numb. But at least we’re getting out of here…right?

UK Trans Rights

WHAT'S THE CURRENT PROCESS FOR LEGAL TRANSITION IN THE UK?

Currently, if you wish to legally change your gender in the UK, you must:

-get signatures/letters from 2 doctors, usually your GP (general practitioner) and your psychologist at a GIC (gender identity clinic) who has diagnosed you with gender dysphoria

-Live as your gender for at least 2 years AFTER diagnosis

-Undergo a rigid mental health background check to rule out mania or psychosis (rather ableist in itself; mentally ill trans people are still trans!)

-Go in front of a panel of strangers and prove you are "trans enough".

WHAT HAVE THE UK GOVERNMENT DONE TO CAUSE OUTRAGE?

There were recently plans in place to repeal this process and allow trans folk to self-identify their legal gender (to change it without doctors and the panel). Today (20/9/20), the government announced they will scrap this plan this week, despite a survey saying 70% of people are in support of repealing the current process.

This process is severely taxing for us. It ends lives, it ruins lives. It's not acceptable. We need a change to the process, and we need it now.

WHAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THIS PROCESS?

-It is extremely difficult to get a diagnosis under the NHS (the UK'S mostly free healthcare system). Due to chronic underfunding, waiting lists for an initial assessment are 2-5 years long a lot of the time, particularly in Northern Ireland where there is only one doctor who can diagnose GD. This is just for an initial appt, let alone future appts to diagnose and determine the right course of action. Furthermore, if your GP is transphobic, they may not vouch for you being trans.

-Most trans people have lived as their true gender for many many years before being able to legally change their gender. This only adds usually unnecessary waiting time, likely worsening many's gender dysphoria as they will still legally be being referred to as the wrong gender.

-Again, mentally ill trans people are still trans. In rare cases, serious MH issues may be the reason someone believes they are trans, e.g. we see many people with body dysmorphia mistaking this for dysphoria. However, to say disorders like psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder usually mean the person is not really trans is both ableist and transphobic.

-You know yourself better than anyone. These people will be looking for signs of distress and suffering in childhood, which is not present for many trans people. You do not have to know young to be trans, or be miserable. Strangers will NEVER know you better than yourself; to allow them to play such a huge role in a pivotal, life-changing (and possibly life-saving) moment is absurd

Source:

UK trans rights

UK trans rights

what's happening?

UK followers please i urge you to sign this petition so this issue can be debated in parliament. Non UK followers please DO NOT fill this out but share it. Parliament will use outside interference as an excuse to make the petition invalid.

Petitions - UK Government and Parliament

Petition: Reform the Gender Recognition Act.

Reform the GRA to allow transgender people to self-identify without the need for a medical diagnosis, to streamline the administrative proce

Jackpot

Really happy to see this at my local library

Artist removes 1 inch off the peak of England’s highest mountain; Brits want their inch back.

It is still England’s highest mountain, but Scafell Pike is ever so slightly smaller now after an artist stole the top inch of the summit to display in a gallery.

Oscar Santillan, 34, was accused of vandalism after removing the stone pinnacle of the 3,209ft Lake District peak for an exhibition in London.

Ian Stephens, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “This is taking the mickey and we want the top of our mountain back.”