I think I broke Harry Potter

So it’s 3AM and It’s just occurred to me that the most telling scene in the entire Harry Potter franchise is the scene following the announcement of the participants of the Triwizard tournament.

When Harry’s name is pulled out of the cup, literally one of the first things he is asked is “did you ask an older boy to put your name in the cup for you?“ or something to that effect, insinuating that, that was something nobody prepared for and that it was something that totally would have worked if anyone had been smart enough to figure it out.

However, in an earlier scene a student is turned into a hundred year old man when they try to artificially age themselves with a potion and put their name into the cup. Meaning someone trying to dangerously age themselves with potion they aren’t familiar with was something the teachers genuinely considered to be more likely than someone asking for fucking help from another student.

In other words, the wizards in Harry Potter’s world are so reliant on magic that it doesn’t occur to anyone save for people like Harry that asking for help is even an option in a given situation. This explains why wizards are so fucking ass-backwards at everything, they’re so confident that their magic is capable of doing everything for them that it has never occurred to fucking anyone that perhaps asking for help from the muggle world might be of some use.

Think about it, the wizarding world hasn’t changed in hundreds of years while in that same space of time the muggle world has figured out fucking space travel. I know it’s a cliché to say to say someone could have fucking shot Voldemort, but seriously, somebody totally fucking could have, he killed like 50 people, he was effectively a terrorist, if anyone in the wizarding world bothered to ask for help from the muggles instead of just telling them there was an invisible asshole flying around shooting death curses at everyone, they may have been able to help. 

Pretty much the only reason Voldermort thinks he’s better than muggles is because he’s able to kill them with impunity using magic, something he’s only able to do so easily because muggles don’t understand what magic is. Voldemort is basically like a fucking disease, he’s an invisible, lurking entity preying on mankind from the shadows like a cowardly piece of shit. You know what else did that? Smallpox and we stomped that to death the second we understood it. That’s the difference between muggles and wizards, when muggles don’t understand something, they figure it out.

And here’s the kicker, the only reason muggles don’t understand magic at all is because the wizarding world deliberately withholds information about it. However, even if the wizarding world kept doing that, it’d only be a matter of time until a muggle figured out what magic was and how to stop or harness it because that’s what humanity does, it pushes past what we think is impossible to see what’s on the other side. We didn’t understand the sun as a species originally and now we use it to power satellites and smartphones.

The wizarding world isn’t a realm of infinite possibilities, it’s a universe of strict limitations where boundaries are never questioned. The muggle world is where the real magic happens. That’s why during the course of the Harry Potter books, which are set between 1991 and 1998, the muggle world (our world) discovered dark matter, cloned a sheep and invented fucking MP3s while the wizarding world were literally paying some dipshit to figure out what the purpose of a rubber duck was.

Wow, I really shouldn’t think about this stuff when it’s like 3AM, it gets kind of dark.

#the wizarding world prides itself on standing still#because they think they’re already at the pinnacle#but they’re not and one of these days they’ll find that out the hard way

“Oh, he just turns invisible? Right, we’ll get a SWAT team with heat vision goggles on it. You can expect your Dark Lord dead in about an hour.”

Inside Out Wig Tutorial

How to Add Tinsel to a wig / Inside Out Tutorial

Supplies

Wig (Pictured EpicCosplay Chronos in Classic Green)

Wig Brush or Wide Tooth Comb

One hair clip

Curved Sewing Needle

Hair Flair (Tensile) - Used about 70 Tensiles when finished for this particular wig

Scissors

1. Make sure the wig is brushed properly and cleaned, before sectioning out a portion from the top layers of the wig.

2. There are two ways to do this, the most secure way is to thread the needle as if you were to sew a piece of fabric, knotting the ends.

3. Find the piece of wefting you would like to attach the strand to and slip the needle either straight into the wefting or around it. I chose to go through the wefting. Pull the needle through gently to keep from stretching the Tensile or breaking it. Stop before pulling it all the way through and pass the needle through the small loop made at the end of the tensile.

4. Once the needle has been passed through the loop, pull it closed. Snip the tensile free of the needle. Secure by taking the now two ends of the tensile and tying them once. Trim to desired length in the wig.

5. Repeat steps 1-4, Placement is everything.

6. For the very top, Take about 4 strands of the Tensile and thread them through the needle. Repeat step 2 for threading. Take your needle and use it to push through the skincap on the wig, Pull gently and snip the ends, disperse as wanted across the top to create a “natural” growth.

7. Style as desired

This can be applied to any wig styling and is not limited to the characters of Inside Out

Hair Tensile may be flat ironed, curled, and washed, however be wary when buying cheaper hair tensiles from ebay/Accessory stores and double check the product packaging.

http://www.hairflairs.com/content/buy-pro-hair-tinsel Can be bought for $15 for 100 strands. Wholesale price for licensed cosmetologist

stop the straights from brainwashing the children

Hey guys, I finished up my tutorial for making mini fog machines for cosplay. This is a video of them in action. You can check out the writeup/tutorial here: http://valkyriestudios.net/making-a-mini-fog-machine/ It’s a really cool effect for cosplay, and I hope my guide is helpful and understandable. :D

Remote & Reciever from @adafruit

it occasionally occurs to me that pretty much all sj issues can be summed up as “don’t hurt people” with a sidenote of “you can hurt people on accident, but they’re still hurt so apologize and learn from it”

basically at the core of it, it’s similar to “if you bump into a stranger, apologize and try not to do it again”. And people not only debate it, but some go out of their way to bump into strangers and scream “Awww are you hurt?! are you crying!! did I upset you!!” as a weird hobby

You know what’s funny? A lot of people get really mad at me. Strangers on the street will stop me and be like, “Why were you mad at your friend??? Why would you be mad at him???” I have to explain to them that I don’t actually write the show. – Elden Henson

Even if Bernie Sanders does become President, it’s not going to change shit if you don’t vote for your mayors, governors, sheriffs, senators, local councilman, etc. If you don’t vote in the non presidential elections for representation that falls in line with his policies, you’re just setting yourself up for a grand disappointment. More education and priority needs to be put into the multiple elections that happen midterm. Because, those are the people who directly effect you and who move up the ladder in your area until they run for president.

HI THIS IS IMPORTANT

Ursula K. Le Guin refuses to blurb a story collection with no female writers. 

“Gentlemen, I just don’t belong here.” This is what a badass sounds like. 

100% perfect letter.

Related to what we were discussing yesterday. What a fucking NIGHTMARE. And this is what I worry about being alone all the time. Like what if I do have to go to the hospital and it is something serious and I don’t have someone (a man, specifically) there to advocate for me. (h/t @little-miss-scout)

this made me feel sick to my stomach. this terrifies me.

this is why it took five years to take care of my ankle.

Clergy had the most incredible response to police using Black mugshots for target practice

now this is what jesus wld do…

brb weeping 

Egalitarian Cullen is my favorite Cullen, seriously.

In terms of what’s been available to women in fandom in the past and in terms of what it offers fic writers, the tension in Cullen’s dynamic between being assertive and having a strong think-first reaction to intimacy is both refreshing and important. Having a character who demonstrates how respect, affirmation of consent, and gentleness matters is important.

I’m here for characters who represent depictions of egalitarian sexual dynamics that aren’t portrayed as boring. I’m here for non-controlling, non-aggressive, humorous, affectionate relationships that don’t play into the usual dynamics of the man in control of the situation. I’m here for relationships where they take turns with the heated haughty smirks and then push each other giggling off the bed.

I don’t believe in completely bashful Cullen who gets relegated to the backseat in terms of the pants department, or however you want to euphemize that. But I also don’t believe in, or even see really, him as a man who secretly needs to be in control and has to keep said aggresive sexual energy tightly leashed like some dog in his pants (or however you want to euphemize that).

What we’ve gotten in this game is a middle-ground, a guy who probably likes sitting two-to-a-tub reading to the Inquisitor from some old Fereldan saga-style poetry he’d found in Kinloch Hold and remembered fondly and never thought he’d see again until he found it in Dorian’s library, and of course he’d want to share something good from his past with the Inquisitor, because she reminds him of the parts of him from the past that were good.

And we also have a guy who likes rough-housing and competition (though probably not with mage!Inquisitor, since some things hit too close for comfort), someone as comfortable taking charge as in letting go of it, and

basically not only is this the best Cullen out of all possible Cullens we could’ve gotten, he’s one of the best out of all possible Standard Chivalric Knight Fantasy-trope romances, because he shows that vanilla isn’t boring

respectful, gentle, patient, honorable men aren’t boring

men who don’t have to be in control some of the time — hell!, maybe not even most of the time — aren’t boring

and romances don’t have to fall into the standard f/m roles of assertiveness and submission to be interesting

you can actually have two people who are equal in the dynamic of their relationship and it still makes a good story

it’s almost like maybe there’s someone at Bioware who listens to what fans might want to see in a m/f romance from a feminist perspective.

HARRIET TUBMAN ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY AND THEN WENT BACK TO GET OTHERS. LIKE, I KNOW YOU KNOW WHO HARRIET TUBMAN IS AND THAT SHE DID THAT, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT IN FOR A SECOND. 

HARRIET TUBMAN WAS HELD CAPTIVE AND BOUND TO UNPAID, BACK-BREAKING LABOR SINCE BIRTH UNDER PENALTY OF TORTURE OR DEATH. SHE MANAGED TO ESCAPE THAT LIFE, AND SHE TURNED THE FUCK AROUND AND WENT THE FUCK BACK TO GET EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS STILL TRAPPED IN IT. AND THEN SHE DID IT AGAIN EIGHTEEN MORE TIMES.

WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS PREPARED TO MAKE A STAND AGAINST SLAVERY, HARRIET TUBMAN BASICALLY SAID HE SHOULD STOP BEING SUCH A DIAPER BABY AND THAT GUYS WHO ARE TOO SCARED TO END SLAVERY DON’T DESERVE TO WIN WARS.

NOT ONLY DID SHE SECRET OVER 300 SLAVES TO FREEDOM ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, BUT SHE ACTED AS A SPY FOR THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD AN ARMED ASSAULT IN THE CIVIL WAR. THAT RAID BROUGHT FREEDOM TO OVER 700 SLAVES IN ONE GO.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO STEW ON THAT FOR LIKE A MINUTE. ACTING IN THE SHADOWS, SHE WALKED INTO HELL ON EARTH 19 TIMES TO SAVE HER FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS FROM THE TORMENT SHE ENDURED, AND THE SECOND SHE WAS GIVEN EVEN A MODICUM OF POWER, SHE MANAGED TO FREE SEVEN HUNDRED SLAVES IN ONE DAY. 

I GUARANTEE, HOWEVER IMPRESSED YOU ALREADY ARE WITH HARRIET TUBMAN, YOU ARE FALLING LIKE AT LEAST 40% SHORT OF HOW IMPRESSED YOU SHOULD BE WITH HARRIET TUBMAN. SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF BADASSERY IN THE ENTIRETY OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

I just feel like it should be noted that she navigated her way across the Underground Railroad (through thicket and swamp and forest and every risk of wildlife you could imagine) with her own knowledge of the natural world. Some call her “the first Eco-womanist” because it was that understanding of the plant and animal life around her as well as knowledge of the stars that allowed her to bring people with her. Her prowess for dealing with immense problems and obstacles on the spot was nothing short of genius.

She didn’t stop there, either. Harriet Tubman also worked with the Union army during the Civil War as a cook, nurse, scout, and spy. She organized black men in the area as scouts, and often led missions herself with the task of gathering information and to persuade slaves to leave; most of whom joined the regiments of black soldiers for the Union. 

She also got ripped off by the government, who wasn’t paying her what she deserved (and wouldn’t even give her her pension after the war for her service- but instead eventually granted her pension as the widow of a veteran), so she supported herself by making and selling root beer. 

She used her earnings to support free black women, she worked to support two schools for freed men in the south, she provided food and care to the black people that came to her home, and she fought for women’s suffrage. When she died, she was buried with military honors. 

Oh, and when she had brain surgery, she denied anesthesia and instead bit down on a bullet. 

x / x / x / x / x

THESE ARE EVEN MORE AWESOME THINGS ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN, GOOD ADDITIONS, YOU GUYS!!

Also worth noting that she did all this while living with the results of a traumatic head injury sustained in her childhood, which included pain, bouts of dizziness, and episodes of hypersomnia (sudden passing out) she was not just a badass, she was a disabled badass

Reblogging particularly for that last comment, because plenty of people know Harriet Tubman was a hero but don’t know she was a disabled hero. Not in a “how inspiring she worked through it” kind of a way, eugh, not that. But I mean that a lot of people don’t include that fact in the literature or lessons about her in school and that’s a fact that shouldn’t be erased. 

#you know thor is gonna go throw his room all ‘I USED TO HAVE ONE!’ just so he can give it to jane so she can take apart    #maybe he can’t find out and asks volstagg for one bc his kids have 300    #but also!!! THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS AN ASGARDIAN BALL IS SO ADVANCED    #and jane finds such wonder in it    #and even when she realised that it’s ball it doesn’t take away from it    #and thor doesn’t mock her for it    #he thinks it’s cute    #he’s definitely gonna find that ball    #he’s sure he had one    #maybe he broke it

Yeah, I can’t resist to reblog just to remind everybody that Thor fell for Jane Foster in the first place because she was so damn clever, and curious, and passionate about her work, and obstinate, and he was impressed and amazed and so touched to see the humans more resourceful than he thought and hey, here is another bit of Thor’s personality, he’s just so happy to have been proven wrong now that it allows him to see the best in people—

I just fail to understand why so many would dislike Jane Foster, and even more erase her character from their works; she is absolutely marvellous, both unbelievable and terribly realistic, adorable and awkward, driven but sweet, kind but relentless, and so fucking gifted. And there are people wondering why Thor is interested in her?! Argh!

Also this scene is quite wonderful: you have two people who had a crush on each other last time they met, but who have been unable to see each other since, and the current events are hardly allowing them to get to know each other better—and they kinda find themselves in the same situation they were last time, and you see how they reconnect and it’s just perfect. Perfectly untimely and a little bit tragic, too.

You see; this, this right here, is why I like them together.  Jane is utterly fascinated by this child’s toy and Thor thinks that’s amazing.  How someone could find wonder in something that he probably takes for granted.  This relationship doesn’t get nearly enough love in this fandom, because people are to busy hating on the female character that the main character loves.  And I really don’t understand that.  I think that, originally, Jane was sort of meant to be the audience substitute.  The person who asks all the questions that the audience might have about the world that Thor inhabits.  But the cool part about Jane is that she’s more than that.  She’s the kind of scientist who finds the universe an endlessly fascinating place, and all the things that she’s encountered through her relationship with Thor has opened her up to possibilities that no one on Earth has ever even dreamed of.  

TL;DR: Jane is one awesome Science Lady and she deserves more respect for that.

Not only is Jane the audience’s substitute, but she is the audience’s clever and curious substitute, something practically unheard of in a fantasy or sci-fi blockbuster; usually the role of the audience’s viewpoint is filled in by a male character who ends up being the saviour of the indigenous species, thanks to all his Earthly knowledge.

Jane is both characteristically human and extraordinarily curious, filled with joy at the prospect of learning something new. She doesn’t dread the unknown, she sees an opportunity to learn more about the world. This is so very precious, so damn positive. And the best thing is that it still feels completely effortless. People who claim she doesn’t have a personality clearly haven’t seen the same movies I have.

Perhaps not so strangely, Thor and Jane’s relationship when it comes to science reminds me of the best hours of Doctor Who, where an old and learned character from a terribly advanced civilisation took an evident pleasure in getting to see the universe anew through the virgin eyes of curious and eager companions.

Thor himself is a formidable and deep character, because he obviously loves to learn as well. He adapts incredibly quickly, and he’s all ready to transform a prejudice into a life lesson. You can visibly see that what attracts him in Jane is her strength, her strengths, and certainly not the prospect of hovering over a frail and tiny human. When he looks at her, he doesn’t see tiny, he doesn’t see petty and ignorant; on the contrary, he sees greatness in mind and in potential.

This is such an unusual way of portraying romantic relationships, you have no idea. It makes me so angry to see people in the fandom retort that Jane is no role model for them because she’s too good, or because she’s not Asgardian, or because she’s not Loki. She is both exceptional and so laughably, so warmly human—typically human, but without the mandatory arrogance that clings to male characters in similar situations.

#Foster’s Fellows indeed.

*hugs all of you*

So hiring a white person with a criminal record is more desirable than hiring a Black person without one? Never would’ve guessed…

this is what we mean when we say ALL white people have white privilege. whether you’re rich, poor, a criminal, uneducated or anything else. a white criminal has a better chance at getting a call back then a black person with no criminal record. shut the fuck up next time you wanna talk to us about privilege. 

Mermaids and the hobby of Mermaiding are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity. A few months ago we posted about Mertailor, a business devoted to creating stunning custom mermaid tails. Today we learned about an awesome DIY alternative: Instructables contributor and avid tailmaker Rogue Siren created a fantastic tutorial for how to make your very own Silicone Mermaid Tail.

This tutorial is complex and the materials are on the spendy side, but the end result is a gorgeous mermaid tail made just for you.

Click here to check out the complete tailmaking tutorial.

Visit Rogue Siren Studios on Facebook for additional photos of the mermaid tails and (and some lovely matching tops) that Rogue Siren has made.

[via Fashionably Geek]

@marvel-scales