Random Stuff

Day 155: Can’t wait for this semester to be over....

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:38:35 -0700

Day 155: Can’t wait for this semester to be over. #TiredLoki

swearingisforartstudents: swampbl00d: buzzfeed: George Takei...

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:25:14 -0700

swampbl00d:

buzzfeed:

George Takei responds to “traditional” marriage fans.

Love.

Please tell me where this island of men is

rhamphotheca: Blood Falls, a Natural Time Capsule Containing a...

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:30:25 -0700

rhamphotheca:

Blood Falls, a Natural Time Capsule Containing a Unique Ecosystem

This five-story, blood-red “waterfall” pours ever so slowly out of the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valley. Geologists first discovered the frozen waterfall in 1911, and believed the red color came from algae. Its true nature turned out to be more spectacular.

Roughly two million years ago, a small body of water containing an ancient community of microbes was sealed beneath the surface of the Taylor Glacier. Trapped below a thick layer of ice, the microbes have remained isolated inside a natural time capsule, in a place with no light, oxygen, or heat.

The trapped lake has very high salinity and is rich in iron, which gives the seepage its red color. A fissure in the glacier allows the microbial subglacial lake to flow out, forming the falls without contaminating the ecosystem within.

More photos of Blood Falls can be seen on Atlas Obscura

livingf0rthepresent: malnourish-d: I have all of them myself,...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:40:09 -0700

livingf0rthepresent:

malnourish-d:

I have all of them myself, so of course.

Same

explore-blog: Leaving your kids a world without wild animals...

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:50:46 -0700

explore-blog:

Leaving your kids a world without wild animals feels like a special tragedy.

Wild Ones – absolutely fantastic read about wilderness, legacy, and being human.

Day… um… 154. Got the days proper now. I got a nifty...

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:09:39 -0700

Day… um… 154. Got the days proper now. I got a nifty water bottle from UCLA’s transfer rep today :3

jazzseeksjustice: mirime-veon: recreationalcannibalism: Someo...

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:40:08 -0700

jazzseeksjustice:

mirime-veon:

recreationalcannibalism:

Someone wanted this rebloggable and I didn’t see til just now. Sorry bout that, love.

Thank you so much for this. This post actually changed my view. Thank you!

I think this explains it in a way that might help a lot of people understand

Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:50:53 -0700

Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy:

coelasquid:

Wow, that’s a brave move for any woman, but especially so when you’ve been making a living in a world like Hollywood that champions idealized bodies over health and wellness.

I know people tend to get overly invested in the personal lives of celebrities, but maybe prominent public figures making these sorts of decisions will help people realize the “save boobies” approach to breast cancer awareness is super gross and dehumanizing, and puts the emphasis on an expendable piece of tissue rather than the person it’s attached to.

Minty Pony!: bitshift-pony: coltcelestia: bitshift-pony: coltcelestia: queenfrau:...

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:36:01 -0700

Minty Pony!: bitshift-pony: coltcelestia: bitshift-pony: coltcelestia: queenfrau:...:

bitshift-pony:

coltcelestia:

bitshift-pony:

coltcelestia:

queenfrau:

Oh God dissections in Bio. Right now. I don’t see any masks.

I’m gonna puke, I know it.

Dissections were fun to me. Once the teacher reassured me the rat was completely clean and sterilized, my…

I have a different problem: Formaldehyde makes me seriously ill. I can’t be in the room with stuff that’s been preserved with it (when said stuff gives off fumes). My health science professor brought in hearts for an extra credit assignment, and I was sick the whole night (it’s an 18-21:10 class) after just 5 minutes with them (I left as soon as I could, but it was a surprise and I had to gather my stuff before I could leave).
Blood and guts and previously-living bits of things? No issue.
Formaldehyde? Dizzyness, ickyness, and general bleh X.x

Been feeling so disconnected lately. Not from myself, though, or even my environment. Mostly from...

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:32:39 -0700

Been feeling so disconnected lately. Not from myself, though, or even my environment. Mostly from certain people. I just can’t seem to get in the proper headspace to feel comfortable socializing with specific people.

thefrogman: This gifset is a bit misleading. It doesn’t mention...

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:04:19 -0700

thefrogman:

This gifset is a bit misleading. It doesn’t mention the part where he said he came to really appreciate the original series as an adult and has since watched all of the episodes. The writers he worked with are huge Star Trek fans. His philosophy was to try and make the movie accessible to everyone while still acknowledging the die hard fans. Whether he succeeded is a subjective opinion that you all can make on your own, but I think some folks are being unreasonable by judging him for the opinions of his youth. While I was a huge TNG fan as a kid, I also found the original series hard to watch until later in life.

I have seen every single episode and movie of every Star Trek series ever made. I think the reboot was amazing and will bring a lot of new fans to the source material. Movies are supposed to be more spectacle and TV shows usually delve deeper into philosophy. I guess I’m hoping the success of the movies may lead to more television series so we can have the best of both worlds.

gemiinii24ever: cyanidewhore: sociopath-red-pheasant: rogueabd...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:28 -0700

gemiinii24ever:

cyanidewhore:

sociopath-red-pheasant:

rogueabdl:

his-blithe-handmaid:

husbandsir:

Jesus woman! Get around the corner!

Go on baby girl! Get ‘im!

Id quit playing my game for sure!

You look beautiful, don’t be shy!

Omg, she is so precious.

come on girl, go for it!

Day 260-whatever: Lookit what I got at my dentist appointment :3...

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:03:55 -0700

Day 260-whatever: Lookit what I got at my dentist appointment :3 #ArchaeologyTools

sagansense: Why you shouldn’t (and should) be monogamousWhy...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:30:24 -0700

sagansense:

Why you shouldn’t (and should) be monogamous

Why should you only have sex with the person you are in a relationship with?

After all, there exist many successful relationships involving people having passionate interactions, of whatever kind, with people other than their primary partner. This is done with their primary partner’s knowledge and consent and, presumably, consenting to their primary partner doing the same.

Whatever name we use - polyamory, ethical or consensual nonmonogamy – it is important to recognise such relationships exist, are fulfilling and successful.

Many assume that a relationship can only exist if it is monogamous: in the sense that you can only have sexual relations with one person, with whom you probably share a deeply personal relationship. But these assumptions should be questioned.

As with any idea, thinking carefully about why we accept (or don’t accept) monogamy has important advantages for us: either we strengthen our view regarding the idea, in this case monogamy, or we realise it is found wanting. In this latter sense, we can replace, discard or improve on the original idea.

Trust

Trust is essential to relationships. Many will say that by being with other people, you are breaking that trust.

However, that misses the point entirely.

Betrayal and dishonesty is precisely what a mutual, consensual nonmonogamous relationship can look like and is based on; such relationships precisely attempt to avoid and undermine betrayal and dishonesty. By being open about your sexual needs, you can articulate what those needs are to your partner, improving your life, your partner’s life and, therefore, your relationship. Bjarne Holmes, a Champlain College psychologist conducting research on nonmonogamy, told LiveScience:

“People in these relationships really communicate. They communicate to death […] They’re talking a lot, they’re negotiating a lot, they’re bringing their feelings to the table a lot.”

Early research has indicated there is consistent openness and honesty displayed in consensually nonmonogamous couples – but this seems obvious by definition. These properties, after all, are not only moral but necessary properties for an ethical nonmonogamy to function at all.

Being nonmonogamous without your partner’s consent isn’t ethical, it’s betrayal. Betrayal, secret affairs and so on, defeats the point of being nonmonogamous. Consistent openness and honesty is what makes nonmonogamy function and exist.

Notice that openness and honesty is worthy of emulating and engaging, regardless of the relationship you have.

If you cannot be this open with the person you are in a long-term relationship with, who can you do it with? Sometimes, of course, it is because you are scared, because you are uncertain what your partner’s response will be.

Perhaps if your partner immediately discards, denies or dismisses your sexual or emotional needs, he is the not the person to be in a long-term relationship with.

Many couples break up entirely because one – or both partners – are sexually or emotionally unsatisfied. But this is a reason to explore different options with your significant other, not to dismiss the relationship entirely. Again, exploring nonmonogamous options must be done in an ethical manner – with openness and consent – not behind your partner’s back.

Being open to alternatives – other than breaking up entirely – should be important and can be discussed maturely, without the assumption that the other person is “overly” sexual, “a whore”, untrustworthy, and so on.

Even if the conclusion doesn’t result in nonmonogamy, it seems an important test of a relationship to be able to discuss openly your needs.

Betrayal

Another legitimate worry is being betrayed or “losing” your partner to someone else.

But notice that this is a danger even for monogamous relationships.

If a purely monogamous relationship “demands” only the one sexual relationship, there is probably a higher chance of betrayal and secrecy. This makes sense since you cannot communicate to your partner that you wish to be with other people (while still remaining with her).

In this case, the only way to satisfy your need is to be secretive about it.

Furthermore, the inability to communicate or be more honest with your partner is a good indication of whether that relationship will be successful.

Again: even you both reach the conclusion that seeing other people won’t work, at least you’ve discussed it maturely and can propose alternative solutions.

It’s unfortunate and it ought not to be happen, but people do abandon relationships entirely because of not being sexually or emotionally fulfilled. The possibility of seeing others hasn’t even entered the conversation; or if it has, not without knee-jerk responses and harsh exchanges. This means instead of finding a solution, couples opt for immediate disengagement.

An ethical nonmonogamy is premised on honesty and understanding, meaning that it should undermine secrecy, betrayal and withholding of sexual longing for others. Honesty in the sense that you convey what your sexual wants are; understanding in the sense that it is possible to have sexual relationships with other people without betraying your partner.

This is possible, even if it is difficult for many people to both do and accept.

Sex and meaning

Many people give sex a lot more power or meaning than perhaps it should have, which leads often to irrationality. This is clear from the way people react to homosexuality, sex work, antinatalism (not having children), paedophilia, pornography, incest, and so on. All these topics are often discussed with knee-jerk reactions from all quarters - not just conservative religious people.

But: Why should consensual adult sex have any more meaning than what you and your sexual partner(s) want?

True, we often can’t help our feelings, especially in romantic or sexual endeavours: A relationship based initially on sex can develop into something else, just as friendships can develop into sexual partnerships (often concluding in monogamous relationships).

The point, though, is that there is nothing significantly different about being sexually active with other people as well as a primary partner; since, like any relationship, what we want from these might not end up happening. That is not a reason to err on the side of absolute avoidance, however.

For example, we could end up falling in love with friends and be forced to end the friendship because the feelings are not reciprocated. But just because friendships have the potential to be something more – when one or both do not wish it to happen – doesn’t mean we negate all friendships:

We learn, adjust, grow.

Honesty about relationship status

Similarly, we can maintain healthy, almost purely sexual relations with other people without either developing deeper emotional connections or breaking up with our primary partners.

This isn’t a slight against anyone involved, as long as honesty and openness is maintained. There should be no illusions about what primary partners and their individual sexual partners want. The sexual partner must be made aware of the limits of the relationship, just as the primary partner is.

Just because you as a couple are nonmonogamous is no reason to emotionally disregard other sexual partners and their expectations. Here again we see the problem is betrayal or dishonesty, not nonmonogamy: not letting the person know exactly where the relationship stands and what you want from it is consistently problematic. Being made aware allows the other person to opt in or out, knowing that – for example – he is not going to be anything more than a sex partner.

Again: this is not a reason to disregard nonmonogamy. Making people aware of what you want from a relationship is essential to all sexual interactions. If you’re a single individual, making others think their relationship to you is more meaningful than just sexual encounters is still probably wrong.

Jealousy

Many people when first encountering nonmonogamy wonder at how such couples don’t die of jealousy.

Of course, jealousy isn’t an argument: It’s merely a feeling. However, it is worth considering, since long term relationships – whether monogamous or nonmonogamous - are premised on making individual lives better through emotional commitment of whatever kind. This means, even though jealousy isn’t a rational, justified “argument”, its occurrence is worth considering since we do not wish to harm our partner.

We can question its occurring; we can provide evidence that worries about, say, betrayal are unfounded, and so on. But jealousy should probably never itself be a reason to act one way or another.

Consider for example how nonmonogamous people react to actions which often drive people to great heights of jealousy.

As that LiveScience article indicates, many nonmonogamous individuals’ reactions to their partner finding sexual fulfilment with others is completely the opposite of monogamous’: Nonmonogamous individuals are glad, elated, happy to see their partner meet and enjoy the company, passion, or whatever of someone else.

This is because, as a partner, they recognise their own limits to what they can provide and can share the joy of their partner being happy, as they would with anything else he achieved or accomplished.

We do not rule over the minds or desires of others: We can attempt to meet these, but they are not locked to us. Monogamy which expects complete sexual or emotional linking might be not only impossible, but immoral: Why can’t we have multiple individuals meeting us in our multiple desires?

The worry here is that the partner will leave us – but, again, this worry is not special to only nonmonogamy. Furthermore, being open to this kind of discussion can help prevent betrayal and acts of dishonesty from happening at all.

Is monogamy wrong?

Being nonmonogamous is not about being better or worse than monogamous couples: it’s about what works for you as individuals and as a couple. For example, it would be wrong for you to have multiple partners beyond your primary partner without her consent or approval. Again, this would be unethical nonmonogamy and therefore betrayal.

Notice, too, the problem isn’t monogamy or nonmonogamy but betrayal which an ethical nonmonogamy is undermining.

The point isn’t the label of one’s relationship. What matters is that the relationship has a foundation of honesty; that openness is consistent and on-going. Whether this results in monogamy or nonmonogamy is irrelevant since how you arrive there matters more: You might switch between monogamy and nonmonogamy. You might want other partners purely for sex, or yearn for lots of deep, emotional romantic relationships.

Whatever it is, your needs should be discussed with your partner, without the danger of him reacting irrationally and harshly.

What we should begin insisting and establishing is that we have a hold on sex and romance, not the other way round; that sex has as much power as we want to give it, not an ineffable measure it gives us. This doesn’t undermine that sex can be powerful, that sex does come with measures of caution. But these, also, can be controlled.

What concerns me is our inability to communicate honestly with the very people in our lives we should be able to; that people who enjoy sex with lots of people are somehow bad as opposed to merely honest with themselves; that couples still hinge their relationships on irrational jealousy, to the point where partners are in an emotional burka of not being able to even look at attractive people, without their partner’s irrational scorn.

We are not rulers of a little emotional fiefdom, with only one loyal subject: we are partners on a journey which is unknown and dark and terrifying. This means we should be more open, more accepting of what we discover when we shine a light on our partner’s yearning, since often we can barely make sense of our own. We’re beyond static, hard-and-fast labels: We should be grown up enough as people, as a species, to see that monogamy is not the only way to conduct a relationship and there exist viable alternatives.

Image Credit: ARTSILENSE / Shutterstock

corgnelius: Corgnelius turns 1 this Saturday. Look how much...

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:19:14 -0700

corgnelius:

Corgnelius turns 1 this Saturday. Look how much he’s grown! The picture shows him at 3 and 12 months.

Today’s meditation was an exercise in relaxation & ignoring distractions.

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:18:20 -0700

Today’s meditation was an exercise in relaxation & ignoring distractions.

My Workout For Tuesday May 14

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:50:15 -0700

I earned 279 points for my workout on Fitocracy!

General Yoga +175 pts
- 0:45:00 (+175 pts)
Running (Intervals/Sprints) +104 pts
- 1200 sec || 1760 yd || 160 BPM || run (+104 pts)

Think you can beat me, or want to comment?

Fitocracy is the social fitness community that has helped hundreds of thousands level up their fitness. Start your fitness transformation today!

Now available for free on both iPhone and Android!

white-heather: sophiesponies: theharley: sophiesponies: ember...

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:03:46 -0700

white-heather:

sophiesponies:

theharley:

sophiesponies:

emberfallpony:

Please reblog! This plush I made for a friend was stolen at EQLA :(

signal boost. So sad :(

Awwwwwwww! I would be devastated if I lost such a cute pony plush :(

I hope someone knows something about Woona and helps bring her back home.

please reblog if you see this. please!

I hope someone can help this person find their plushie!

curvynerds: creating-a-mess: yellowblowngreener: thepizessamce...

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:03:12 -0700

curvynerds:

creating-a-mess:

yellowblowngreener:

thepizessamcedian:

thebelovedpariah:

proudgayconservative:

When Marilyn Manson understands the culture and media problem better than most media outlets…you have problems.

Stop giving shooters their 15 minutes of fame.

I love this. Every time I see it, I love it more. People are always so strangely surprised to find that Marilyn Manson is well-spoken and highly educated.

This is so true.

Is it surprising because of the way he chooses to present himself? Or in how he uses his medium? Regardless, he has some pretty good interviews.

Respect~

The late Roger Ebert said much the same thing when he was interviewed after Bowling for Columbine came out. He was asked if he thought violent movies and video games caused the shootings. He said no, it was the media and their need for attention that caused it. It wasn’t the answer they were looking for so they quickly moved on.

Every time one of these tragedies happen, the media always ask if violent movies, video games, and music are to blame. They never ask if their 24 hour coverage of it has anything to do with it.

Millions of people watch violent movies and play violent video games with no intention of ever killing anyone.

thelyonrampant: How To Tell If A Toy Is For Boys or Girls

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:00:21 -0700

thelyonrampant:

How To Tell If A Toy Is For Boys or Girls