ThePrettiestOne

I try my best not to take it personally, and remember that who I am to myself, and what I may represent to another person aren’t necessarily the same thing.

I’m a 45 year-old CIS white guy who lives life on the lowest difficulty setting with a minor celebrity cheat enabled. I understand and accept that, to a not insignificant portion of the people who tend to yell at me a lot, I’m representing their dad or their uncle or their teacher or their boss or that Out Of Touch Person In Their Life Who Treats Them Like They Don’t Matter. I’m pretty easy to yell at, because the people they should be yelling at aren’t ever going to listen to them, and I’m usually in like 98% agreement with them at least, so maybe it’s safer to yell at me. I’m sort of a soft target. I get that. I don’t take it personally.

Where I get exhausted and impatient is with people who tell me “no, THIS is what you meant,” and “you don’t get to have an opinion about this because I made it about me  and now I demand that you apologize to me for the thing I decided you did,” and things like that. 

Over the course of my life, I have learned that it’s more effective to say something like, “Hey, I am X, and when you posted Y, it made me feel Z. Is that what you meant?” 

Like this thing today, for example. I’m not a homophobic, or transphobic, at all. I get that, without context, the Putin thing I posted could be misinterpreted. I didn’t think of that, and in the future, I will. But when I saw my asks today, it’s page after page of people attacking me, making assumptions about me, and demanding apologies for something that I didn’t do. I didn’t post a picture with the intention of hurting anyone except Putin and those who support him – fuck him and fuck them. There’s an ask in my inbox right now that says my intention doesn’t matter, because that’s not what the mob decided it was, and therefore I owe the mob an apology for the conclusion they jumped do. I … I just think that’s bullshit. I’m not going to apologize for something I didn’t do, because a mob demands it. What I will do is think, in the future, I wonder if this could be misinterpreted? Maybe I should take care to ensure that my intention is clear.

This is a very difficult and terrifying time for vulnerable people, for women, for the entire LGBTQ community, for the Muslim and Jewish communities, and for basically anyone who doesn’t look like me. I get that, and I understand that passions are really high right now. I’m glad that they are, because it means we’ll all stay focused and engaged long enough to hopefully take back the House in 2018 and regain the White House in 2020. It’s going to be really hard to remember that we’re on the same side when it matters, and for people like me, it’s really important to recall a lot of what MLK wrote in his letter from a Birmingham jail.

I’m gonna get yelled at for this, I’m sure, but I’m doing my best. I hope this answers your question.

I can’t even imagine what it must have been like in the 80s, and one of the things I hope to help accomplish in my lifetime is to ensure that it never is like that again.

I went to Rogue One wearing my Star Trek scarf, so there’s a non-zero chance I do something similar with The Last Jedi.

Tweet source

‘Charging Bull’ creator says NYC, 'Fearless Girl’ statue violated his rights

“Speaking at a Manhattan news conference, Arturo Di Modica said he placed the “Charging Bull” statue in front of the New York Stock Exchange in 1987 as a symbol of America’s resilience following the stock market crash that year. The city later relocated the sculpture to a small public park area nearby.

“The bull represents strength,” said Di Modica. “The strength of America, the strength of the market.”

The iconic statue over the years has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attraction. But on the eve of International Women’s Day, State Street Global Advisors placed the new a statue of a little girl, hands defiantly on hips, in front of the bull.

The new sculpture virtually overnight became a representation of a lack of gender diversity and equality on Wall Street and in other  U.S. workplaces. The investment firm said it commissioned the artwork as a part of its call on behalf of the more than 3,500 companies that benefit from its clients’ investments to make sure their governing boards are diverse.

Created by artist Kristen Visbal, “Fearless Girl” gained widespread attention as tourists flocked to the site to take pictures with the statue. 

By March 27, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed that the “fearless girl” statue would remain on Department of Transportation property as a part of a municipal art program through February 2018.

Many hailed the announcement. But Di Modica was far from pleased. He said “Fearless Girl” was part of an advertising campaign that altered the artistic message behind “Charging Bull” without his permission.  

“What they did, it’s a negative,” Di Modica said of the new message conveyed by “Fearless Girl.” Now, the message is “I’m here, what are you going to do,” he said.

Read the full piece here

Tweet source

Something strange and nefarious seems to be happening in Mississippi. Last year, more than 11,000 of its low-income residents applied for welfare benefits through the state—part of the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. Of those applicants, only 167 people, or just 1.42 percent were approved. Every other applicant was denied or withdrew, which means that Mississippi is essentially refusing to give out any aid to families in need. And this is nothing new. Apparently, this has been on the rise over the last few years.

The numbers follow a disturbing trend in the state over the past several years. Between 2003 and 2010, according to a report by the Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI), roughly half of the applicants to the state’s TANF program were rejected, already a large share of poor people denied assistance. But then in 2011, the rejection rate catapulted to 89 percent. It has gradually increased every year since.

States are generally incentivized to reduce their TANF caseloads, given that any unused money can be redirected to other purposes. But Mississippi stands out for its astonishing rejection rate.

Of course, no one seems quite able to explain exactly why the state has such an enormous rejection rate although there seems to be plenty of blame directed at welfare recipients. 

The state did not respond to repeated requests from ThinkProgress for an explanation of what changed, but it did send a statement saying, “Upon review of our caseload, there are a significant number of TANF applications being denied; however, there are many reasons the denials are taking place.” Those include failing to meet eligibility criteria, unresolved noncompliance issues, an ongoing mandatory work sanction period, unverified compliance with upfront requirements, failing to provide necessary data, voluntarily quitting or being fired from a job for one’s own behavior, failing to cooperate with child support enforcement, failing to show up for appointments, or voluntarily withdrawing an application. 

beautifuldistraxtion:

farfirifirefly:

commanderabutt:

chelle-the-zbornak-queen:

nowacking:

Good Guy Burglar

no you don’t understand.

he fully knew that he’d be arrested for breaking and entering but he still reported this.

he know he’d go to jail, but he put human decency before his own freedom and called out this disgusting sexual perversion.

and if you don’t think that’s the tightest shit ever get out of my face.

My question is how the hell does this guy have the morality to report it but breaking into someones house is okay for him?

What an oddity.

Think of it this way:

You can fall on hard times and turn to theft even though you know it ain’t right.

You don’t fall on hard times and suddenly become interested in diddling kids.

^^ exactly

sorceressnora:

awesome-picz:

Maine Coon Cats That Will Make Your Cat Look Tiny.

@commie-saskia

delaneyjanuzzi:

who you gonna call?

Watch the video here

Trans Celebrities Share Their Personal Stories of Using Public Bathrooms

#StandwithGavin

runwithskizzers:

THE POOR LITTLE ROBOT

COULDN’T FIND HIS DAD

THIS IS MY FAVORITE GIF SET OF ALL TIME

the-movemnt:

Poll shows Americans voted for Trump out of “fear of diversity”

• Racial resentment drove supporters of President Donald Trump to vote for him in November more than any other factor, new research shows.
  
• Political researchers Sean McElwee and Jason McDaniel published a report in the Nation in March detailing their latest study on what motivated Trump voters to go to the polls.
  
• Their findings, which mirror similar reports showing racial bias among Trump supporters, illustrate an inherent fear or anger about perceived threats of increasing diversity, compelling many to vote for Trump. Read more (4/14/17 11:15 AM)
  

follow @the-movemnt

You know what else shows this? Paying attention to these pieces of shit who voted for this fucking lunatic.

bai-xue:

Someone buy this man a beer

It’s here. After months and months of waiting, the next chapter in the Star Wars saga is upon us, and we finally have our very first look at Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And it’s just as amazing as you were hoping it would be.

Read more...

In celebration of National Library Week, Ivanka Trump — eldest daughter and assistant to President Donald Trump — Tweeted about the important role that libraries and librarians play in “opening our eyes to the world of knowledge, learning and reading!” This statement, however well-intentioned, did not go over well with the institutions whose funding would be slashed or eliminated if the President’s budget is passed.

Trump’s first-draft budget proposal — the so-called “skinny” budget — includes recommendations that the government shutter at least 19 federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which provides funding and other support to libraries and museums nationwide.

Eliminating IMLS would effectively remove all federal funding for most of the country’s more than 120,000 libraries, notes the American Library Association, which responded to the First Daughter with a Tweet of its own, pointing out that librarians are only able to do what they do thanks to IMLS funding:

IMLS has an annual budget of around $230 million, about $180 million of which is distributed to libraries around the country per the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). While that’s a lot of money to libraries, it’s less than a dollar per year per American, and less than .006% of the federal budget. Additionally, the LSTA requires that states provide matching funds equal to about one-third of what the IMLS provides. So the loss of all IMLS funding could either mean the loss of this state funding or more burden on states that want to keep supporting libraries.

Following the mid-March announcement of the skinny budget, IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew, joined other agency heads in speaking out publicly against the proposed cuts.

“Our agency’s support enables museums and libraries to offer learning experiences for students and families, as well as to increase care for, and access to, the nation’s collections that are entrusted to museums and libraries by the public,” said Dr. Matthew. “We’ve invested in rural and smaller communities by supporting basic infrastructure and by developing libraries as local community hubs for broadband connectivity and digital literacy training — helping hundreds of residents gain job-related skills and, in many cases, find employment.”

While the President’s budget proposal carries some weight with lawmakers, it’s ultimately up to Congress to figure out how much the government will spend, and on what.

Last week, a coalition of more than 140 members of Congress wrote to the leadership of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, calling on them to protect IMLS from elimination.

“Every day, libraries across the country provide no-fee public access to computers and the Internet in some of our most distressed communities,” reads the letter [PDF], which cites ALA reports which found that 65% of U.S. libraries are the only provider of free internet access in their communities; 73% in rural America. “This access is critical at a time when applications for many jobs and government services must be filled out online.”

Just two days after North Korea threatened a nuclear strike against the United States and a few hours after a report that has since been disputed by the Pentagon stating that the U.S. was planning a pre-emptive strike against North Korea, a North Korean official has said that the situation is now in a “vicious cycle,”…

Read more...

artsyserialkiller:

thatsthat24:

Getting Your Life Together 📝

I feel attacked

“

We were grabbing a bite of lunch at a small cafe, in a mall, right across from a booth that sold jewelry and where ears could be pierced for a fee. A mother approaches with a little girl of six or seven years old. The little girl is clearly stating that she doesn’t want her ears pierced, that’s she’s afraid of how much it will hurt, that she doesn’t like earrings much in the first place. Her protests, her clear ‘no’ is simply not heard. The mother and two other women, who work the booth, begin chatting and trying to engage the little girl in picking out a pair of earrings. She has to wear a particular kind when the piercing is first done but she could pick out a fun pair for later.

“I don’t want my ears pierced.”

“I don’t want any earrings.”

The three adults glance at each other conspiratorially and now the pressure really begins. She will look so nice, all the other girls she knows wear earrings, the pain isn’t bad.

She, the child, sees what’s coming and starts crying. As the adults up the volume so does she, she’s crying and emitting a low wail at the same time. “I DON’T WANT MY EARS PIERCED.”

Her mother leans down and speaks to her, quietly but strongly, the only words we could hear were ‘… embarrassing me.’

We heard, then, two small screams, when the ears were pierced.

Little children learn early and often that ‘no doesn’t mean no.’

Little children learn early that no one will stand with them, even the two old men looking horrified at the events from the cafeteria.

Little girls learn early and often that their will is not their own.

No means no, yeah, right.

Most often, for kids and others without power, ”no means force.”

”

-

from “No Means Force” at Dave Hingsburger’s blog.

This is important. It doesn’t just apply to little girls and other children, though it often begins there.

For the marginalized, our “no’s” are discounted as frivolous protests, rebelliousness, or anger issues, or we don’t know what we’re talking about, or we don’t understand what’s happening.

When “no means force” we become afraid to say no.

(via k-pagination)

archatlas:

Mike Meyers

frozenspots:

IT’S TIME FOR SOME DRAMATIC HAMILTON FANART

moonblossom:

levynite:

mymodernmet:

Brides in Japan are Turning Their Long-Sleeve Kimonos Into Stunning Wedding Dresses

@moonblossom

I love this so much! I think it’s awesome that they evoke the feel of kimono and don’t alter the garment in any permanent way, but they’re so fun and modern at the same time

therealdjqualls:

kylogram:

emilofthetwilight:

constable-connor:

colehersch:

Pocket Pussy Review

Fucking christ, lmao

Holy fuck

DOUBLE YOU
THE
FUCK

jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus

brb laughing to death

dynastylnoire:

confide–nemini:

khaleesibeyonce:

okay so in psychology years ago we learnt that it’s common for companies to put women in charge when there’s a predicted downfall so that they could be all ha see women suck at being in charge. and I just find it interesting how the UK is gonna have a female PM right after Brexit so like years from now people are gonna be like “the country saw some of its worst years under a woman” when it was men that fucked it up and then ran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_cliff

Glass cliff
Holy shit

violent-darts:

hannibal-and-dory:

Tag yourself: I’m Obliteration Rocket

I’m Uh Oh.

redwidows:

“Drop of a hat she’s as willing as,
Playful as a pussy cat,
Then momentarily out of action,
Temporarily out of gas,
To absolutely drive you wild, wild..
She’s all out to get you.”
             ↳  Queen - Killer Queen

forcewakens:

A Tribute To Carrie Fisher…

scorpiofactsdaily:

There is a song inside of you. it may sound like unintelligible screaming but trust us. it’s a song

“Here’s the thing: when you support trickle-down economic policies that put profits before people, this is what you get. Low-wage jobs, deregulation, and tax cuts for huge corporations result in a culture in which businesses enjoy a tremendous amount of power over ordinary citizens.”

- The United Story Isn’t About Customer Service. It’s About Class Warfare.

These photos were taken last Sunday during the Creative Grooming Challenge at the annual Intergroom trade show in New Jersey. It's a chance for dog and cat groomers to get together and check out the latest sheers and shampoos and such. Creative grooming is what it sounds like—elaborate, over-the-top displays of talent, technique, and dog-safe dyes that result in not only insane looking animals but also sets and performances that have taken months to prepare.

Nicole Beckman took first place in the Novice Division, and Angela Kumpe won the Legend Division. Congrats to them and also congrats to you for clicking on this and scrolling down. 

All photographs by Tayler Smith. You can follow her work here.

Having a video game, television, movie, or book series as a  special interest, and the latest installment of it is so bad it makes you question whether you enjoy your special interest in the first place.