We live in pretty fucking terrible times, where cruelty and doing the wrong thing are often rewarded, and sometimes you have to actively look for something good in the world. And then, I log in here, and find you spectacular motherfuckers have raised a shitload of money for victims in the Ukrainian war, and it’s just a shock to see so many good people in one place.
Readership Capture
Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summer Reading / Listening
I’ve read a couple of great books this year and wanted to share some of my favorites so far. What have you been reading this summer? pic.twitter.com/K8bnTnmNaG
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2022
Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summer Reading / ListeningPost + Comments (137)
Late Night Open Thread: Everyone Finds Their Level Eventually
every time Michelle Obama suggested it was “not ideal” to eat Corn Slurry with Corn Slurry Byproduct for every meal these same guys would post their grocery haul of nothing but pop tarts https://t.co/St4WOJjawP
— debdrens (@debdrens) July 18, 2022
Too, also…
Late Night Open Thread: Everyone Finds Their Level EventuallyPost + Comments (37)
Very Far (From) Right-winger Open Thread: Losing Their Meagre Moiety of Marbles*
To balance the scales we must sandblast Stone Mountain it's the only way.
— zeddy (@Zeddary) July 6, 2022
Elsewhere, in Those Krazy Konserva-Kids Antics:
Very Far (From) Right-winger Open Thread: Losing Their Meagre Moiety of Marbles*Post + Comments (81)
Claire Update
Good morning!
My family just got back to North Carolina after visiting my sister-in-law and her family over the 4th of July. Two years ago when we visited we noticed that my niece Claire had a funny looking swelling around one of her eyes. Her parents told us that she had a doctor’s appointment in a few days to get it checked out. That appointment quickly led to her leukemia diagnosis.
She started treatment almost immediately. She did five full rounds of treatment. She responded well. She quickly went into remission. The Jackals made sure that her parents could worry about their daughter and not about the mortgage or paying for an apartment a few blocks from the hospital that acted as her parents’ refuge and respite during this time.
She is currently eighteen months into remission with good labs. Our fingers are crossed.
Claire’s big worry right now is trying to remember where she put her water shoes as she has to pack them for summer camp that starts today.
Thank you all for helping Claire and her family worry about the regular worries of a good summer vacation.
Late Night Open Thread: Burn Bridges As Necessary
That's why he's valedictorian. https://t.co/RzadGKnVV6
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) July 2, 2022
Yes, this actually happened — four years ago.
Don’t know where young Mr. Bowling might be today, but my first thought on seeing this image was: Here is a kid who intends to burn rubber out of Pinesville and never come back… and he’s deliberately made it impossible for himself to back down on that promise, now…
Late Night Open Thread: Burn Bridges As NecessaryPost + Comments (37)
‘Sunday Falls On A Monday This Week’ Self-Care Thread
Elsie hopes you're taking care of your mental health today, and not doomscrolling Twitter when it's just giving you problems without solutions. pic.twitter.com/5qa4gnziAi
— Seanan McGuire (@seananmcguire) July 1, 2022
Because our brains are imperfect, sometimes ‘dumb stuff’ can help:
… When faced with a stressful situation, optimists tend to deal with it head-on. They use adaptive coping strategies that help them resolve the source of the stress, or view the situation in a less stressful way. For example, optimists will problem-solve and plan ways to deal with the stressor, call on others for support or try to find a “silver lining” in the stressful situation…
Optimism is typically viewed by researchers as a relatively stable personality trait that is determined by both genetic and early-childhood influences (such as having a secure and warm relationship with your parents or caregivers). But if you’re not naturally prone to seeing the glass as half full, there are some ways you can increase your capacity to be optimistic.
Research shows optimism can change over time and can be cultivated by engaging in simple exercises. For example, visualizing and then writing about your “best possible self” (a future version of yourself who has accomplished your goals) is a technique that studies have found can significantly increase optimism, at least temporarily. But for best results, the goals need to be both positive and reasonable, rather than just wishful thinking. Similarly, simply thinking about positive future events can also be effective for boosting optimism.
It’s also crucial to temper any expectations for success with an accurate view of what you can and cannot control. Optimism is reinforced when we experience the positive outcomes that we expect, but it can decrease when these outcomes aren’t as we want them to be. Although more research is needed, it’s possible that regularly envisioning yourself as having the best possible outcomes, and taking realistic steps toward achieving them, can help develop an optimistic mind-set…
Needed this today. pic.twitter.com/8v3MzQmN2R
— (((Jennifer Mendelsohn)))???? (@CleverTitleTK) July 1, 2022
‘Sunday Falls On A Monday This Week’ Self-Care ThreadPost + Comments (207)