Shit like the Great Purges and the Strikethrough of Livejournal eventually led to fans banding together to create A03, which I would have absolutely KILLED for when I was 15.

Back up ao3 was created by fans?

It’s…right on the main page. 

I love this because I will bet you that persefv has read that bit we are all so inundated with hyperbole and advertising that says that the consumer is somehow in charge of whatever product they are shilling that we all just assumed this was another sales tactic.

But we’re not even… selling anything…  *quiet sobs*

No ads. No subscriptions. No data selling.

We are the definition of “what it says on the tin.”

Is there any way to spread this info? 

THE OTW WAS CREATED BY FANS SO WE’D HAVE AN ARCHIVE THAT WASN’T SUBJECT TO CORPORATE REVIEW. 

Nonprofit, so that nobody could ever say, “this isn’t making enough money; it’s getting shut down.” (See: Geocities, Quizilla, Figment, G+.) With lawyers involved and a firm awareness of the legalities of fanfic, so nobody would decide “we’ve gotten a nasty letter from a megacorporation with lawyers, so we’re hiding because we can’t afford to face a lawsuit. (Jedi Hurtaholics, Trevizo’s Millennium site.) With teams, so that an argument between co-mods didn’t result in the destruction of a whole archive. (Gryffindor Tower, Detention.)

AO3 IS OUR SITE.

It is by fans, for fans. Fans do all the coding. All the legal paperwork. All the abuse/tos violation complaints. Fans make all the choices about policies. Fans decide how to run the fundraisers. Fans write the blog posts. All the volunteer staff are fans; all the people who train them are fans. Fans wrangle all the tags. 

(And the other OTW projects, too. Fans manage the entries at Fanlore. Fans run the Open Doors project. Fans publish Transformative Works and Cultures.)

EVERYONE WORKING FOR THE OTW LOVES FANDOM. Wants it to survive. Wants it to be awesome for everyone.

(Knows that it can’t be awesome for everyone; some approaches to fandom just clash hard. But they strive to minimize those clashes as much as possible, because they love fandom.) 

AO3 is not some company that decided, “we’ll make a site for fanfic and then…” I don’t know what people are thinking is the reason. Money? Data harvesting? Tax shelter? Amusement and pity?

Nope; AO3 was fans saying, “Livejournal sucks; we’re tired of this fucked-up ‘rebuild every three years’ garbage; WE NEED TO OWN THE DAMN SERVERS.”

That’s the “of our own” part of the name. OTW isn’t a “them” running the site “for us.” It’s “us” making places for “us” to share what we love with others of “us.” 

people saying “don’t use your full government name for your ao3”, “create different emails for work and personal use” but personally I think it’s both sad and dystopian how capitalism/companies/even schools think they have the rights to cross your personal boundaries and insert themselves into your personal life. like, I get it, safety wise, why checking digital footprints can be important sometimes. but a gay fanfiction is not a fucking threat that could ever cause anybody harm. it’s funny (not really, it’s still sad and dystopian) how they now think they can control your personal life and prevent you from having hobbies

I’ve been thinking a LOT lately about what a weird and stressful experience it is to care a lot about a story when you don’t trust the storyteller.

”#oh absolutely, #the quiet agony of knowing there is a very good chance they won’t stick the landing, #when you don’t have proof it’s going somewhere bad yet but the warning signs are there, #but you can’t just back out because you really want it to be good”

I feel like the reason certain dog-lovers insist cats are evil is because they read their body language as if they were dogs. So here’s a very basic guide to common “mean” things cats do that actually aren’t mean at all if you know what they’re thinking.

Rolling and exposing belly- attacks you when touched Does not mean: Give belly rubs! - haha I tricked you!  Actually means: I’m playful! If you reach for my belly I’ll grab your arm and bite it because I think we’re playfighting! 

Lazily exposing belly - still attacks when touched Does not mean: tricked you again! Actually means: I’m showing you my belly because I trust you. Please don’t break that trust by invading my personal space. I might accept a belly rub if I’m not ticklish and I know you well. Snapping at you while being pet Does not mean: I suddenly decided I dislike you! Actually means: You’re petting me in a way that gives me too much restless energy. Please focus on petting my head and shoulders instead of stroking the full length of my back next time.

Is in the same room but makes no attempt to interact Does not mean:  I’m ignoring you Actually means: We’re hanging out! I’m being respectful by giving you space while still enjoying your company. Slapping/scratching your hand when you try to pet them Does not mean: I hate you! Actually means: You’ve failed to establish that we’re not playing, or the way you’re approaching me scares me. Be calmer, speak more gently, make eye-contact and blink slowly at me before you try again.

I love this post omg, thank you so much. As a lifelong cat person, dogs perplex me because they’re so completely different behaviourally.

I love dogs too but, I’ve been trying to tell people, you canNOT treat cats like you treat dogs. They arent the same animals and have very different personalities

P.s.: people often pet cats way too hard. Dogs like a firm pet or a pat on the belly, cats dont have the same bone structure and are more flexible than dogs so what you’re doing probably hurts them

Sitting and staring Does not mean: I am challenging you/plotting your demise/just generally evil and creepy. Actually means: I am a desert-adapted species, so my natural tears are very thick and keep my eyes moist for a nice long time. I do find people interesting and enjoy watching them.  I just don’t need to blink very often!

Staring and blinking slowly Does not mean: I’m smug and think I am smarter than you. Actually means: I like you! But I don’t need to get up in your face to show it.  I can just sit over here and blow kisses at you to show you I am glad you are around!

It’s very frustrating for me when people expect cats to act like dogs, or act like they’re deceitful.  They aren’t!  They just AREN’T DOGS.

Pour les chats 🐈💞

Get ready for “more reasons why I fucking love cats”

CATS 😍😍😍😍

when a cat turns their back on you, they’re not snubbing you. they’re trusting you to watch their back.

notice how when you’re unfamiliar but nonthreatening, they might loaf facing you and sorta halfway watch you. you’re not fully trusted, but you’re ok by them.

when you’re familiar and liked, they’ll often sit near you facing the same way. imitation of poses is a weird little way cats show solidarity. they do it to each other too. check out these bff’s:

they are doing this on purpose. it’s a buddy thing. so if you’re watching tv and a cat sits next to you and pretends to watch tv too, they are basically calling you bro and declaring friendship.

and if they really love and trust you, they’ll turn their back on you and go to sleep. they’ll sleep facing a wall in your presence, or lounge where they can’t see the room. this isn’t a snub, folks, this is true kitty love. they’re saying, “i feel safe when you’re around. i know nothing’s going to sneak up on me, because you’re here. i feel so safe i can stick my head under a pillow and snore with my butt pointed at you.”

farts aren’t an expression of love, though, as far as i know. they’re just farts.

I’d also like to add the tail. A wagging tail on a dog generally means it’s happy. If a cat’s tail (the whole tail, not just the tip) is “wagging” (or “lashing” for cats), they’re agitated/angry. A happy, confident cat has its tail straight up in the air (but not puffed up), often with the tip curved, when walking/standing. If it’s sitting or laying down, the tail tip might be moving lazily.

A cat with its tail wrapped tightly it when is scared/nervous.

A cat with a puffed-up tail is angry/scared. If it’s also arching its back, it’s making itself look bigger to warn you off.

As a side note, cats use their tails for balance in a much more visible way than dogs do. If your cat is walking and the tail is lazily flipping a bit, it’s probably not telling you anything at all, it’s doing the cat equivalent of holding your arms out to your sides while crossing rocks.

my kitty (i still miss her so much!) used her tail to gently stroke my leg while walking past me. she had so many ways of communicating through gesture.

i have this painting i got at a yard sale for free (if i took a broken dresser with it, which i did) and i have been obsessed with it:

so today i was trying to figure out where it was from and the more i searched the weirder it got because near as i can tell it's from the fex valley in the swiss alps which is cool but what kinda chokehold did this specific bridge/cabin have on people

these are two different paintings... and then i found this postcard on ebay

all these ppl painting the same exact image from the exact same random postcard... anyway if anyone knows this spot i would be fascinated to know more but i will live in mystery and if you're wondering "did you buy the postcard" yeah of course i bought the postcard

I found it if you were still wondering

Val Fex is a southern side valley from the Upper Engadine in Switzerland

i know it's in val fex, but where is that exact picture from? that's what i'm trying to figure out... the hunt continues (when i get back from a walk)

however i still know nothing about this little barn... i will live and love in mystery

okay thank you @thepinkpeg who did find this and it turns out it's actually a 17th century cabin now converted into an art exhibit accessed only by foot (or horse). from the outside on the hill above it looks like this:

and inside it contains this:

thank you all so much. i have my answer and it is more fascinating than i could have thought.

@art-that-fucks-you-up-tournament

After all the other idyllic images, the last one comes in like a fucking old school creepypasta.

Also, since it's a cabin in the woods, unsure if that bird is taxidermy on his shoulder, or real and just chilling there and happened to get into the picture like "I captured this tormented soul; me! I did this! Tell them all! TELL THEM ALL!"

Same woman called a mosque and they were ready to help her immediately.

Same with Buddhist temple. Willing to help immediately.

Thank you @posttexasstressdisorder for the complete picture

You ever see something innocuous, minding its own business on the clearance shelf at Michael’s and before you know it, it takes over your life for a few weeks?

So it was with this desktop greenhouse.

I took it home and after taking an appropriate time to “season” my idea in my mind (read: a month or two) I set to make my vision of a mini botanical garden a reality.

I started by removing the heavy glass panels and building a raised floor above the latch. I wanted to use the base as a foundation on the building.

I wrapped the foundation in plastic stone textured flooring (meant for Christmas villages) and built a pond at one end of the same. I then gave it a more realistic paint job and designed a rough layout for my plants and displays.

I also knew I wanted to make the ironwork significantly more intricate, but I wasn’t sure how just yet…

Up next - PLANTS! I went wild making all kinds of plants. Some were specific species and some were more conceptual.

I made several trees with polymer clay and moss, cacti out of beads and flocking, cattails out of raffia, hot glue and coffee grounds, and giant monstera leaves out of paper and wire.

This part should have taken me a long time, but it really came together fast. I loved finding ways to replicate natural shapes and patterns using bits of this and that.

I did make adjustments to my plans as I went like eliminating benches in favor of a simpler overall design.

Then I needed to fill my pond with water. For this I used resin. Lily pads were added to the top layer, and I wired in simple LED fairy lights. The batteries are kept in the box under the foundation.

In a weekend frenzy I added more plants, metal (paper) steps, new (plexi)glass windows, a roof, wrought-iron vines (paper again), doors that open, and a hose reel disguising the latch. Suddenly, a project I thought would take months was finished…

I love my desktop botanical garden. Right now it sits on a simple lazy Susan in my office. But I’d love to get it a proper display box to protect from dust.

Thank you for coming on this little journey with me. This piece packs a lot of joy into a tiny space. I always love building miniatures, and I’ll be doing more in the future I’m sure.

i’m never gonna stop laughing about this. it debuted on tumblr in 2017 and i think of it OFTEN.

One of my dear friends and a Good Omens fandom creator @amadness2method is about to be unhoused in the middle of winter. They're looking into a cheap motel for a bit with their kiddo and kitty. Can the community help out? I'm trying to help raise $300 in aid, which would cover most of their first week in the motel with some left for food.

If you can help, please go to:

Cash app:

https://cash.me/$amadness2method

☝️⭐ preferred method, no fees charged and they have a cashapp card that can be used directly!

PayPal:

https://www.paypal.biz/amadness2method

☝️ fees but still good!

Ko-fi:

https://ko-fi.com/amadness2method

☝️ fees but still good!

Aid sent to these goes directly to them. EVERY little bit helps keep them all warm and safe for longer.

If you cannot help financially, I'd really appreciate a boost! Thank you! 💜

keyasaurus pointed out:

> Venmo also showed up as a payment option on ko-fi. So if someone needs to donate using venmo, that's an option.

Excitement! 🙌

There's been some struggle with PayPal direct for EU folks, but Kofi will take PayPal as well.

THANK YOU EVERYONE! Let's keep this sharing across the fandom!

And an update: Cyn, their kiddo, and their kitty have arrived at the motel 💜 So they are indoors and warm for a few days at least!!

Every bit helps keep them safe during winter 🥶 longer. They'll be able to look for a new place soon. But had to leave behind everything that wouldn't fit in the car. 😭

Hate it when TikTok farm cosplayers and cottagecore types say stuff like "I'm not going to use modern equipment because my grandmothers could make do without it." Ma'am, your great grandma had eleven children. She would have killed for a slow cooker and a stick blender.

I’ve noticed a sort of implicit belief that people used to do things the hard way in the past because they were tougher or something. In reality, labor-saving devices have historically been adopted by the populace as soon as they were economically feasible. No one stood in front of a smoky fire or a boiling pot of lye soap for hours because they were virtuous, they did it because it was the only way to survive.

Taking these screenshots from Facebook because they make you log in and won't let you copy and paste:

My Nan grew up without electric, without running water, without a freezer. One of the last things she learnt was how to use Facebook on her iPhone. She would tell anyone who’d listen that the freezer and the microwave were the greatest inventions of her life.

Her sheer joy at being able to bake a pie using all frozen prepared veg instead of picking, washing and prepping it herself never got old. Nor did her ‘I want something hot to eat, let me microwave it instead of building a log fire up.’

No-one who hand washed clothes or baked bread over a fire for a family would ever have done that by choice.

this is america

Never forget and never forgive the people who did this to us. When this is all over, when he is dead and gone, we must hold every one of these terrorist thugs accountable.

Was an absolute honour to dub this comic by @and-corn

It's such a sweet and heartwarming story and they deserve so much love and praise!

The entire comic is 6 parts and will be releasing over on my YouTube over the next couple of weeks!

Please stay turned for more!

it's like damn are people like not born in the 90's anymore?

this all goes back to how sometime around the late 90s/early 2000s they stopped making people born in the 90s and switched over to making people born in the 2000s. it's not a coincidence

I’ve been laughing at “fuck this lemon you take it” for several minutes