goals/to-do list for the weekend, which actually lasts 3 days for me because Seward’s Day is a state holiday:
rework my WIPs list into something less shitty
get some new renal support food for Scully, a little of several different kinds if I can so I can figure out what he might actually want to eat
get an imprint of his paw because with this whole kidney disease thing, I’ve realized the very first tattoo I want is his paw print
go to Planet Fitness at least once, ideally long enough to listen to the whole Hamilton soundtrack, because unlike literally everyone else I actually still have not done that, and I think the only way for me to do it is to treat it like a podcast
do a quick Etsy commission
try to finish at least one personal customizing project because if this local commission actually happens, it’s going to be a lot of work packed into…not much time at all
update my “Custom figures” doc with recent commissions
make an AO3 doc for cosplay (also, finish going through old photos to find and organize everything relevant, whether I post it or not)
tighten the screws on the bathroom doorknob so it doesn’t constantly feel like it’s about to fall off
type up my current notebook
ACTUALLY WRITE SOMETHING. probably I would feel a lot less stressed about Infinity War if I finished something relevant, whether it explicitly deals with Loki’s possible death or not; if nothing else I have a lot of Loki feelings taking up a lot of my attention and trying to finish a fic would be a productive way of using them, as well as like…making me feel better no matter what happens
clean up my room a little bit?? it’s a disaster and it’s only gotten worse lately because uh, I never got around to finding homes for some of my Christmas gifts so they just joined the massive chair/floor pile; ditto everything from ECCC (also I have a TON of fandom t-shirts I don’t wear anymore, mostly because they no longer fit, so I should…really go through that mess to make space for other stuff)
go to the local March For Our Lives tomorrow
get @alaska-gothic running, which at least requires going through enough of my photos to find profile/cover pictures (and possibly everything else I might ever use, if I get fixated, which…tends to happen)
leave voicemails for my legislators about Bolton’s appointment for sure, maybe other things
play more Silent Hill 2
also, play more SWTOR, because I haven’t since before ECCC
experiment with the various things I’ve bought to make a pair of bluetooth earbuds work with my TV so my mom can watch the news or Dr. Oz or whatever the fuck without making my blood pressure skyrocket
somehow this feels both over- and underambitious
WHOOPS TAXES, GOTTA FINISH MY TAXES, haha THAT’S the important thing I was forgetting, fuck
How much longer until the utopic Solarpunk future where Capitalism is dead and we all live in ecologically sustainable high-tech forest cities? Asking for a friend.
Until we make those ecologically sustainable high-tech forest cities ourselves. It’s going to take a lot of us to do it though, so best to spread the word (and gather native tree seeds).
And, like, get started now. Then our “weirdo houses” will be the only thing functioning when everything falls apart!
The only reason why we don’t live in a solarpunk world right now is because no one has bothered to make it yet.
We’ll have to make it ourselves, and we’ll have to help each other make it. That’s why it is solarpunk.
Some resources to consider creating or joining or doing:
Repair cafes – create or join your local repair cafe! Repair stuff, learn how to repair stuff, teach others how to repair stuff.
Map of Makerspaces – make some things! learn how to make some things! teach others how to make some things!
Community Garden Map (note that this is US-only, and not a complete list) – join a local community garden
Learn some basics on passive solar design – clever use of the sun can create extremely energy efficient homes and buildings. You can use these principles to save on energy bills, even if you’re renting.
Free USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2015 revision – cut down on personal food waste! Learn how to safely preserve food. Very useful if you suddenly harvest / purchase for crazy cheap in season / dumpster dive a ton of perishable food.
Donate to One Acre Fund, which provides training and capital to farmers (making them more productive and pulling them out of poverty) in various east African countries
Donate to Bridges to Prosperity, which provides technical expertise, money, and volunteers, to help local people build and maintain their own footbridges in extremely isolated rural areas
joining r/solarpunk, and sharing links/ideas/art/music with the community. Also, upvoting stuff for greater visibility. There’s over 900 members!
This is so great
Oh thank goodness for this. I just found out the town I’m moving to has a farmer’s market.
Do you ever think about the issues of privacy in fandom? Have you or a friend ever been “outed” as a fan? How do you feel about academic research on fandom? Do you just have a lot of feelings about ethics in fandom? Most importantly, do you want to talk about these critical topics?
My name is Brianna Dym, longtime fan community member, and also researcher in the Department of Information Science at University of Colorado Boulder. I’m looking for people interested in talking about privacy and ethics in fandom! If you’ve been involved in fandom for a while, I would love to have you participate!
We can conduct the interview in the medium of your choice – either text-based chat or voice. You also don’t have to answer questions you don’t want to, and can stop at any time. We will ask for some basic demographics (any of which you can decline to answer), but won’t require any identifying information.
To volunteer to participate (or if you have any questions), please email brianna.dym@colorado.edu!
Hey guys! You know that survey that went out recently and the subsequent cool results? That’s work that I’m doing with Brianna, a PhD student here! She’s recruiting for interview participants to talk about ethics, privacy, and fandom. Please consider reaching out to her, and sharing this!
…this is mildly hilarious to me because I know Brianna from grad school and by reblogging this I’m outing myself as a fandom/Tumblr person to someone I knew IRL, but…well, I think everyone in the department knew my thesis was a feminist critique of fucking Twilight and also this is a cool project, so, ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Note: Resources are listed alphabetically by type.
Mental Health Apps
1. ACT Coach
ACT Coach
teaches users how to tolerate negative thoughts and feelings by
virtually guiding them through awareness exercises and giving tips on
how to ditch self-doubt. With an extra focus on mindfulness, this app also provides a log to track your progress. (Free; iOS)
2. AETAS
Designed by therapist Rosemary Sword, this app uses Time Perspective
Therapy, a method developed to unglue us from unhelpful or obsessive
thoughts.
Chockfull of visual aids to encourage relaxation and self-soothing, AETAS also arms users with a time perspective inventory that helps them understand how they view the past, present and future will either help or hinder their happiness. ($4.99; iOS)
3. Breathe2Relax
Sometimes, all we need to de-stress is take a few deep breaths.
Created by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, this app teaches users how to do diaphragmatic breathing.
Features include educational videos on the stress response, logs to
record stress levels and customizable guided breathing sessions. (Free; iOS and Android)
4. DBT Diary Card and Skills Coach
This app works as a daily mood and thought diary.
But it also has a coaching module that gives tips on sticky emotional
situations, like how to ask for what you need without drama or how to
successfully resolve conflict.
And users get positive reinforcement when they’re consistent with their entries. The app also includes a super helpful DBT reference section for more info on coping skills — all backed by research. ($4.99; iOS)
5. Depression CBT Self-Help Guide
Need help managing the blues? Monitor dips in your mood, learn about clinical depression and treatments, try guided relaxation techniques and learn strategies to challenge negative thinking with this app. It’s all just a few taps and swipes away. (Free; Android)
The end result is more calm in your everyday life and more awareness of your actions and emotions. ($0.99; iOS)
7. Happify
Want to kick negative thoughts, nix worry and dial down stress? The
array of engaging games, activity suggestions and gratitude prompts
makes Happify a useful shortcut to a good mood.
Designed with input from 18 health and happiness experts, Happify’s
positive mood-training program is psychologist approved. Even cooler?
Its website links to bonus videos that are sure to make you smile.
(Free; iOS)
But, as a bonus, it also allows you to compare your mood with
worldwide averages, see which emotions you feel the most and export your
mood tracking data so you can share it with a mental health
professional or trusted friend. ($9.99-$12.99; iOS and Android)
The setup is simple: Users create a personal profile that includes
emergency contact information, current medications, safety plans and
reminders for appointments or medications.
Plus, the app uses GPS to locate mental health care services nearby, should any user enter crisis mode. (Free; iOS and Android)
11. PTSD Coach
If you suffer from PTSD symptoms, this 24-hour tool that’s linked
directly with support services is a valuable thing to download.
Available as an app or on the Web, PTSD Coach lets users select the specific issue they want to deal with (from anxiety and anger to insomnia and alienation), and then gives them guidance on how to lift their mood, shift their mindset and reduce stress. (Free; iOS and Android)
12. Quit It
If you’re a smoker, you probably already know all about the nasty health consequences. But that probably doesn’t stop you from lighting up.
This app’s approach is different. It shows you the hit your wallet takes every time you get another pack. Even better: Quit It calculates how much money you save each time you don’t smoke.
Think of it as extra financial incentive to kick nicotine and tobacco (and save for something far better!). ($1.99; iOS)
13. Quit Pro
Think of this as a fitness tracker
for your smoking habit. By monitoring your cravings over time, the
places you puff the most, the triggers that lead you to light up and the
money you save by resisting a cigarette, this comprehensive app is a much better thing to have in your back pocket than a pack of smokes. (Free; iOS and Android)
14. SAM
How do you know what’s pushing you over the edge and reel yourself back in? SAM’s approach is to monitor anxious thoughts, track behavior over time and use guided self-help exercises to discourage stress.
SAM takes it to the next level
by offering a “Social Cloud” feature that allows users to
confidentially share their progress with an online community for added
support. (Free; iOS and Android)
15. Step Away
A study funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism found this pro-sobriety app helped reduce heavy drinking
among users by 60 percent.
Got five minutes?
That’s enough time to cultivate mindfulness, which can improve your
mood, lower stress and help you feel more compassion toward yourself and
the world.
Relying on the powers of relaxation, visualization and positive suggestions, this pro-sobriety app has the goal of calming your mind and getting it to a less stressed place — where you’ll be less likely to crave a drink.
Take advantage of the reminder feature that gives periodic chimes to
prompt you to breathe and focus on the good throughout the day. ($2.99; iOS and Android)
18. Stress and Anxiety Companion
Sure, we know that releasing negative thoughts,
practicing relaxation techniques and engaging in mindful awareness is
good for our wellbeing. But that doesn’t mean we actually do it.
Additional features allow you to identify anxiety triggers to make sure they don’t catch you off-guard. ($4.99; iOS)
19. Talkspace
Bet you didn’t think you could chat with a therapist for just $25 a week. Well, Talkspace makes that possible.
For that low fee, you can text message with a trained professional
every day of the week, as many times as you want. They also offer
services for individuals and couples. Oh, and the best part? You can do
it from your couch. ($25/month; iOS and Android)
20. Worry Watch
We all get anxious only to realize later our anxieties were overblown or irrational. The idea behind Worry Watch is to nip these moments in the bud.
This app enables users to track what kickstarts their anxiety, note
trends in their feelings, observe when the outcomes were harmless and
keep tabs on insights to stop future freakouts.
To lower your anxiety even further, Worry Watch is password
protected, so whatever you divulge in the diary feature is safe and
sound. ($1.99; iOS)
Websites, Online Support and Forums
21. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder have a damaging preoccupation with their appearance and an obsessive focus on their physical flaws. If that sounds familiar, you might find some relief on the BDD Foundation’s website.
Resources for better understanding the problem, seeking treatment and
spreading the word about the disorder are all laid out here.
22. Center for Complicated Grief
Hosted by the Center for Complicated Grief,
this long list of resources gives people a ton of alternative outlets,
social support groups and organizations to connect with when healing
from the loss of a loved one.
23. CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Founded in 1994 as an alliance to promote and maintain LGBTQ community centers, CenterLink’s helpful services have now moved online.
Check out all they have to offer — from links to health centers across the US to advocacy groups and educational services.
One of the center’s best resources is its online volunteer-run chat room.
All chats are confidential (read: no transcripts or recordings are
saved). Chats are open 1 pm to 9 pm PST during the week and between 9 am
and 2 pm PST on weekends.
It’s also a place to share experiences, discuss progress and
challenges, and potentially make some new friends who get where you’re
coming from because they’re right there with you.
26. IMAlive
If you’re in a place where picking up the phone seems too daunting,
you can still access support through IMAlive’s virtual crisis chat.
Find help, learn more about the illness and even apply for grants here.
28. MentalHealth.gov
The main goal of this government-sponsored resource is to educate as many people as possible about the realities of mental illness in America while offering resources to those seeking help.
From education about mental illness to updates on insurance coverage, NAMI
offers a slew of resources. People who want to get informed about the
workings of the mind and our government’s recognition of mood and
behavioral disorders will get the full scoop here.
But arguably the most helpful resource is the heart-wrenching and
hopeful personal stories from individuals across the country sharing
their accounts of living with mental illness.
Individuals in need can plug in their desired assistance, from case
advocacy to counseling, along with their state and county for immediate,
local help ASAP.
31. National Eating Disorder Association of America
A pioneer in the education and treatment for eating disorders, NEDA extends a wide range of support services, learning tools and opportunities to advocate on behalf of those with an eating disorder.
You can also get involved with the association’s sister program, Proud2BMe, and join a community geared toward promoting a healthier relationship with food and weight.
It serves as a hub on a variety of topics: the latest news on a range of disorders, updates on new treatments and reports on insurance coverage. And, yes, you can also search for support via NIMH’s site as well.
33. OK2Talk
Designed for teens and young adults with mental illness, this site
offers an online outlet for people to come forward with their own stories, find support and discuss the diagnoses they may have received.
OK2Talk comes with
plenty of motivational posts and mantras as well. One quick look at the
site will tip you off that, whatever you’re struggling with, you’re most
certainly not alone.
34. Stalking Resource Center
You probably already know stalking is an extremely serious issue. But
you may not know what type of help to seek if you or someone you know
is a victim. Here’s where the Stalking Resource Center can help.
They present a number of options for anyone struggling with endless
unwanted attention or obsessive behavior. From a brochure explaining
what stalking is (and how to tell if you’re being followed) to tips on
developing a safety plan, this site should be the first stop for anyone
in need of assistance.
35. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
This government-sponsored resource is chockfull of data, research insights, grants and educational tools about substance dependencies and mood or behavioral issues. SAMHSA also offers many resources for people suffering from these issues.
36. Trevor Space
Are you a young person seeking support for an identity that falls along the LGBTQ spectrum? This site,
an endeavor sponsored by the Trevor Project, is an excellent safe haven
to connect to other young gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans* or queer
people.
You’ll also pick up news about LGBTQ issues and get tips for joining in the community, wherever you live.
If you’ve been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder — or
you have a hunch you or a loved one may be displaying symptoms of BPD —
the social workers staffing the Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center’s hotline can arm you with all the information you need about local resources and provide immediate over-the-phone counseling.
38. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
With the primary aim of keeping you going even in the darkest of times, this suicide prevention hotline is available 24/7 to offer a compassionate ear — no matter what you’re dealing with.
Pour your heart out to a skilled staffer without fear of being
judged, and if you’d like referrals to local mental health care services
after your call, hotline representatives can set you up.
39. Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
If you’ve recently been the victim of a disaster (whether caused by
nature or man), this is your go-to contact for all things related to
counseling and relief. The trained counselors staffing the Disaster Distress Hotline
provide help to those suffering in the wake of hurricanes, floods,
wildfires, droughts and earthquakes as well as incidences of mass
violence or health epidemics (like the Ebola crisis).
The call center is also open to friends and family members of
victims. An alternative way to connect is to text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
40. GLBT National Help Line: 1-888-843-4564
Need to talk to someone who gets it when it comes to coming out, being bullied for your sexual orientation, or navigating same-sex relationships? Look no further than the GLBT National Help Line, run by peers and allies of the LGBTQ community.
This hotline is ready to hear your concerns and can connect you to
the GLBT National Help Center’s massive list of resources for
LGBTQ-friendly services and organizations near you.
41. GLBT National Help Center for Youth: 1-800-246-7743
If you’re under 21 and looking to speak with a peer counselor who
really understands issues related to gender or sexual identity, this is the number to call.
Similar to the national help line, this version for youth lets young
LGBTQ-identified individuals dial in to talk about hardships faced in
their day-to-day lives.
Callers can also access a ton of resources to help bolster them well into their 20s and beyond.
things I absolutely must do this weekend because I was a dumbass and didn’t do them earlier, and I’m going to need Monday evening for a chiropractor appointment, possibly buying a few last-minute things, packing, and then getting to bed at a decent time:
actually figure out Seattle transportation because maybe we do want to rent a car after all, which is pretty bad timing to realize that, but I uh…don’t know how we’re getting from the airport to the city proper otherwise (what’s a 30-minute drive like with Uber? I have literally never used Uber) and it would make some things easier BUT ALSO I bet parking at the convention center is bad
ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE CONVENTION SCHEDULE FFS
also, decide what tiny bits of sightseeing we want to do
make sure all necessary laundry is done
COSPLAY
dig out Abigail Marston outfit and make sure the shirt still fits
finish Avengers Academy Loki
put at least one more coat of spray paint on the staff
paint and attach the ball on top and the other silver bits
lots of stuff with the blazer: rip out the shoulder pads, adjust the shoulders somehow, add fur to the collar, replace the buttons, add epaulettes
make sure my orthotics fit in the shoes I got, and also see if I need to buy anything else because they’re a little big
finish AoU Wanda
cut down boots
figure out jewelry
modern Wonder Woman
make the tiara symbol and glue it to the baseball cap I bought
make an extremely stylized W from wide gold ribbon and then glue it on later after I use the jacket for Wanda
figure out what I want to do with the gold cord I bought, because I thought it would be cool to make it into a belt except then I realized a belt probably wouldn’t be visible, so now I’m not sure what to do; I mean I can just make a loop of it for the lasso and tie it to my normal belt but I did really like the belt idea for like…making it modern
finish the last of my outstanding Etsy commissions to mail on Monday
write?? I mean I’m gonna write on the plane but that’s like…maybe two hours of useful time and that’s almost definitely not enough to get something ready to post
scream?
definitely scream, also yell at myself for not doing more of this earlier
things I need to do within the very near future (i.e., before I leave for ECCC on Feb. 27), which means I should do several of them this weekend, which means somehow I need to PRIORITIZE and MAKE DECISIONS and *incoherent screaming*
Finish all my cosplay stuff
go to Michaels for at least a few more things and try not to get hopelessly sidetracked
find everything from my old Abigail Marston cosplay
Avengers Academy Loki
go to Walmart to pick up the pool cue I plan to use for the staff
figure out how to cut it down so its two component pieces will fit in my suitcase (also, figure out whether I can somehow stick to a carry-on or take a checked back like I usually do)
add embellishments of some kind so it actually looks like his staff
figure out what shoes to wear, and also socks/leggings/something
lots of stuff with the blazer: rip out the shoulder pads, adjust the shoulders somehow, add fur to the collar, replace the buttons, add epaulettes
AoU Wanda
cut down boots
figure out jewelry
modern Wonder Woman
test hot glue on my red Wanda jacket to see if it’ll come off
make the tiara/hat
make whatever embellishments I’m going to use on the jacket and then I guess bring a glue gun with me
find or make a gold rope-like belt
go to Planet Fitness at least once
see Black Panther, ideally with @erlkonigstochter, but otherwise probably with my dad which means figuring out how to suggest it while still getting him to pay for it
write…something. anything (well, anything from this list)
try not to get dehydrated (probably too late)
finish at least one Etsy commission that’s due soon, and the other too if I can since it’s probably easier
go to Value Village tomorrow for their 50% off sale to look for yet more jeans and also a few final cosplay pieces
semi-related: haul out our barely functional sewing machine and attempt to patch the jeans I already have that fit well but also have giant holes in the inner thigh
leave more voicemails for my dipshit legislators
at least look at the ECCC schedule and start figuring out what I want to go to, which I definitely should have started doing earlier
also plan with @erlkonigstochter whatever else we want to do in Seattle, because we probably won’t have time for a lot but I know there are at least a few things I want to see
I’m almost sure there’s something else I’m forgetting
So I got this app in the spirit of “I really need to track my downswings better”. Like… Holy shit? It’s easy and I can show my doctor this? And you can add activities and shit? So like you can add “took meds” or “showered” frex. Or even things that you’re wanting to monitor like “suicide ideation” or “knee pain” or “anxiety attack”.
Idk I just think that people might like having this to monitor symptoms and shit for doctor visits and stuff.
ETA: It also had a Hannukiah Menorah (I apparently can’t count) and the Magen David in their icon database which made me happy. I might start tracking when I go to Shul and light my candles and stuff.
Okay so I set up reminders and it’s really awesome how they do it? It just kinda shows the mood options at the top of your screen and you can choose one and it’ll redirect you. It’s super easy? I’m really happy with this app already and I feel like this is one I’ll actually consistently use for once.
it really is so great. It’s just the right level of reminding you that it exists (so that my ADHD ass remembers to use it) without being intrusive (so that my impatient ass doesn’t just delete it). Its activity log and moods are completely customizable, and it provides an excellent log.
I'm a defeatist but I don't have to be 