Icon by @ThatSpookyAgent. Call me Tir or Julian. 37. He/They. Queer. Twitter: @tirlaeyn. ao3: tirlaeyn. BlueSky: tirlaeyn. 18+ Only. Star Trek. The X-Files. Sandman. IwtV. OMFD. Definitionless in this Strict Atmosphere.
Cercis canadensis is in the pea family Fabaceae. Commonly known as eastern redbud, it is native to the eastern and central United States, but is widespread as an ornamental tree. Eastern redbud can grow up to 30 feet tall and produces profuse flowers on its branches before the leaves emerge in the spring. While eastern redbud is most popular for its use in the landscape, this species has practical uses as well. The flowers are edible, and have more vitamin c than oranges. The bark was also used to treat fevers and headaches by many Native American tribes.
I have been trying to figure out how to express my thoughts, and I think I am ready, so here goes (trigger warning for death and school shootings):
On Wednesday, June 1st, there was a shooting at my school, UCLA. I was in class, the final meeting for a seminar before finals week, and preparing to give my final presentation. We talk easily, a box of donuts on one of the tables. After many weeks, we are comfortable with each other in a way classes rarely are. But then my friend’s voice cuts through the air like a bullet shell falling to the ground: there’s been a shooting in the engineering building.
Everything freezes like that moment at the crest of a hill on a roller coaster, where it all hangs in the balances before the fall. It’s a fall, but it doesn’t feel like a little girl flying. Then, it’s all happening. We’ve barricaded the doors with spare tables that block the windows in the doors. One of the doors doesn’t lock. And then, we wait.
Rumors fly, monsters taking on different shapes with every word of information and misinformation. We depend solely on our electronics. One truth seems to hold out above the tides of uncertainty: two are dead.
We wait.
I have sent the text to my parents I imagine is a nightmare that hangs in the consciousness of all parents in the America we have today. They are hundreds of miles away with only the knowledge that there is a shooter on my campus, I am locked in a room, and they can do nothing but wait. All of us can do nothing but wait.
My professor talks me through deep breaths as I feel an oncoming panic attack. I respond to a flood of texts and search social media for any information. I close everything for a moment and stare at the image of Carol Danvers that @kristaferanka did for International Women’s Day that is my phone background. I got back to responding to texts. In my inbox beneath one text conversation I see months of compiled messages from @kellysue and her BGSD network.
I scroll through the list of motivational messages, until I see one from March 29th: “You are not alone, little shark.”
This brings up tears. I’m in a room with friends. We are together. No one is an island. I think of the anniversary issue of Captain Marvel where Carol reads letters from Jess and Rhodey. So I open tumblr and start looking up random comic pages of Captain Marvel, thinking of Carol’s courage.
On twitter, Kelly Sue had retweeted a post about what was happening at UCLA. I felt that connection to the world again. I tweeted her, thanking her for Carol and the BGSD list, not expecting a response.
Almost immediately, she responds: “Hey, I’m here. You want distracting? How’s your phone battery?”
I’m pretty sure my jaw drops at this point. It all feels surreal.
So I keep tweeting with her, she tells me she’s not stressed (which I was afraid of) and asks me about little big things: if I have a charger, if my parents know I’m safe, etc. I realize that I’ve been collapsing in on myself, and there is more I can do. I hug my friends, and walk around the room asking if everyone is okay. It’s the least I can do.
Then Kelly Sue tweets to the Carol Corps (fans of Carol Danvers) to send me awful dad jokes in the true style of our hero. Next thing, I know, it’s happening. Strangers are tweeting anything from well wishes to “What’s brown and sticky? A stick.”
I get these messages until the lockdown is lifted and we all stumble out of the classroom like we’re seeing the world again. Dining hall staff is back to work almost immediately, somehow finding it in them to smile while feeding and taking care of us. Kelly Sue tells me to get life affirming burritos- I get sandwich and hope it’s close enough. As soon as I am back to my dorm, I change into a Captain Marvel sweater I have. I pull out “In Pursuit of Flight” and leaf through Helen Cobb’s letter. I fall asleep.
I am an English major, and often get questions about what I’ll do with that or snide comments that I’m somehow doing something “lesser.” But I have stood by it, because above all else, I believe in stories. Dozens of people all around the world, leading different lives, chipped in to make sure I was safe and comfortable, wanting to make me laugh. My favorite author was looking out for me, a 19 year old fan who has dreamed of being like her. We were all connected by this character, a hero, and what she stands for. She is bravery and strength, not backing down in the face of adversity, and reaching for more. That is the power of storytelling, and how it is not and never has been just words and pictures on a page. Society and literature have a codependent relationship, shaping each other.
So the idea that has been forming in my mind, that I have been unable to shake is this:
We do not write heroes as a form of escapist fantasy to dream of what humans can be. We write heroes to highlight what we already are.
KSD, have you seen this?
I had not.
Carol Corps, why do you always make me CRY?! I HAVE WORK TO DO DAMMIT.
“Getting out of an abusive relationship isn’t easy—but actually packing up and moving out is even more daunting.
These owners of a California moving company have volunteered to complete the move for them, free of charge.
When they first started their business, Meathead Movers in 1997, the high school athletes were simply looking for a way to earn some extra cash.
As their business grew, the Steeds started getting occasional, frantic phone calls from women with little or no money who wanted to quickly move out before their abusers returned home.
The sympathetic movers always declined any compensation and rushed to the address to load their belongings.
One day, in 2000, a situation turned volatile when the abuser came home in the middle of the move. It was then that the company decided it had to ensure that the women and the moving crew were both safe, so they partnered with a local women’s shelter.
“What was good about that is, they could be vetting the requests for help, supporting the women with counseling, and making sure when we went in, the proper restraining orders were in place, or police were on hand if necessary,” Meathead’s CEO Aaron Steed told Good News Network.
Since those days in 2000, the company has expanded into Santa Barabara, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties. Whenever they open a new office, within the first week, they head to a local women’s shelter and knock on their doors.
“It’s the special service we like to offer,” Aaron said on a phone call. “These moves became very personal to us, made all the employees so proud, and became part of our mission statement.” He also said the same services are offered to any victim of domestic violence–male or female.
Yesterday, the company launched a new campaign that asks other businesses to “get creative” and help victims of domestic violence. Called #MoveToEndDV, the Meathead Movers hope to inspire others to rethink how they can work with shelters, or help women as they try to rebuild their lives and move into their first home or apartment.
“Some of our ideas are for businesses to offer free security systems, a dog kennel service, or for an auto-mechanic to provide oil changes,” Aaron said. “All those little things would help defer costs of starting over.”
“We’re so excited about it,” said Aaron. “It brings so much more purpose and passion to our lives and if we can be an example for others, that is so much better.”
Read the full piece here and California folks please share, this is an amazing resource!
A Dutch-Jewish woman was injured in a stabbing attack at a kosher restaurant in the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam Monday night.
She suffered lightly to moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Ronnie Eisenmann, president of the advisory board of the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI), a Dutch monitor, told VIN News that the attack took place at approximately 8 PM local time, when an unidentified English speaking man walked into the Rimon Grandcafe in the city’s Jewish Quarter.
According to Eisenmann, the man left ten minutes later, crossing the street and going into a grocery store.
Amsterdam’s AT5 News reported that the man purchased a knife at the store before returning to Rimon.
The man then ordered a coffee and entered into a discussion with two women seated nearby, before pulling out a knife and stabbing one of the women in the back.
He then told restaurant staff to call the police and turned himself in without resistance.
Waitresses in the restaurant said that the man appeared to be confused and did not speak Dutch.
While the motive for the attack appears unknown, members of the local Jewish community are concerned for their safety.
Goyim, please start caring about things like this just as much as you care about HydraCap
“Motive for the attack appears unknown” Bullshit
He went to a KOSHER restuarant and knifed a lady, I’d say the motive for the attack appears pretty damned known. No fucking shit they’re scared. If this were unbiased we would know already considering that the man turned himself in.
“A report last year said that the Netherlands saw an increase of 71 percent in anti-Semitic incidents in 2014 compared to 2013.The report by CIDI found that 100 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in the Netherlands in 2013, compared to 171 in 2014.”
I’m not posting or reblogging anything more about the US presidential election until the primaries are over, and even then it will likely be only to occasionally encourage voting for the Dem. I’m just burnt out and tired. At this point, I’m simply in the ‘Please not Trump’ camp.
