Reblogged from shumbodynamedharry
Upon hearing this news a day after a new iPhone announcement I just couldn’t believe it. My best friend showed me a twitter feed and it read “Steve Jobs RIP.” Not the words I was expecting to see across an iPhone. My heart dropped. As many people know, I am a huge Apple fan. I have Macs, iPods,…
glitteristheherpesofartsupplies:
THE SARCASM IN THIS IS AMAZINGWhy homosexuality should be banned.
Watch this. It’s not what you think, lol.
FUCKING asdgldsajgjasdgds WIN
Will never not reblog. <3
YOU WIN THE INTERNET.
omg
you sir, just made my whole fucking day
never not reblog
whoa
brb, gonna go hang out with tall people
(Source: andrewkletzien, via officialdotz)
“From Ashes, We Build.” - 9/11 Tribute Painting by Sam Spratt
In 8th grade I was on a class trip about 3 blocks from The Pentagon. We were just getting back into the bus heading to our next DC landmark when a large shadow passed over us—seconds later a low booming crash in the distance, and a massive, unforgettable wave of heat passed through us. What followed was something of a silent blur of our teachers rushing us into the bus, radio speculation as to what was happening, and a class of 8th graders sitting unblinking having no idea what was going on. I was young and the significance of 9/11 was largely lost on me then—but you never forget the feeling of an explosion and the quiet that follows.
Fast forward to today: I wanted to pay tribute to September 11th in painted form showing the new construction of One World Trade Center, not just replacing the twin towers—but literally being built from the wreckage. 10 years later, I felt it necessary to acknowledge the importance of past tragedy in the pursuit of a better future: to remember lives lost while looking to save more, to remember fallen icons as we build new ones, and to remember our mistakes as we pursue perfection.
Rest In Peace to all of the victims directly or indirectly killed by the attacks and my heartfelt sympathies to those who lost loved ones through them.
I married two people yesterday. Months ago, two close friends of mine, asked me if I would become a minister and officiate their wedding. I was humbled, to say the least. Thought about what I’d say (I’d seen their relationship from nearly the beginning of their friendship, and was the first person to know when they had crossed over from the “friend zone”), met with them to decide how they wanted the program to go, finally wrote it all down earlier this week. I wasn’t nervous at all—I’ve been public speaking since I was 12. Everyone’d been asking me if I was.
Then, during the rehearsal dinner, the bride’s father asked, “Are you worried about MARRYING TWO PEOPLE tomorrow?” And, that’s when it hit me. Any misstep, any flub, if what I prepared was bad at all, these two people—my dear friends, and THEIR families—would remember it for the rest of their lives.
But, it went well. I felt good. Nearly every person at the ceremony told me how great it was. My friends were ecstatic. Their parents were happy. Their grandparents were happy. It was good. The couple (and others) kept telling me all night how perfect the ceremony was.
See, lately, I’ve been having some insecurities with my friendships. One in particular has caused me to question my relationships with people. This person says that they love me and wants to be my friend, but their actions aren’t showing that. It’s difficult to convince myself that it’s not me…this person is going through a transition in their life, or maybe their actions are just purely immaturity. Because, my default is blaming myself. My default is believing that there is something fundamentally wrong with me. That no one could ever actually want to spend time with me or like me or think I’m worth it. But, I’m trying.
It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, trying to become emotionally healthy. And it’s sad that someone I love and trust so much has made this so much more difficult for me lately. But, I’m not going to give up. As much as I want to sometimes. As exhausted as I am. As many obstacles keep getting thrown in my path. I have to overcome this. I have to show other people that you can learn to love yourself.
The last month has been full of some of the most painful days in my life. But today, I feel good. I feel proud. What a rare honor to be asked to perform a ceremony for your dear friends that they will remember for the rest of their lives? What a rare honor for two people to trust you so implicitly. I must be pretty special for people to believe in me so much. Then, to be praised for it. To hear people say that they will “compare every other wedding to that one” for the rest of their lives? To have people tell me that I should consider doing this more often? To have people tell me that they want me to do it for them? How amazing.
I choose, today, to think about those things. I choose to hold those things for myself and allow myself to process them. I choose to work to believe that I have value.
Pluto and Persephone - Bernini
there used to be artists in this world
check out that mastery
I’ve seen a few of these incredible sculptures in person at Le Louvre in Paris. Breathtaking.
(Source: sheisanarchy, via katenheimer)
I’m called “brave” a lot. Though, it’s rare that I actually feel brave at all. I think that I’m just comfortable saying what needs to be said. Comfortable with always telling the truth.
One thing I say that I don’t think is brave is “I love you”. But, I’m beginning to realize how little people actually say those words and moreso how uncomfortable some people get when I say it to them.
My close friends—the ones I’ve had for many years—and I say “I love you” all of the time. It’s very normal for us. But, over the past couple of years, and specifically the past several months, I have become close with some “new” friends. And, when I tell them “I love you” they seem to not know what to say or to be quiet or become a little awkward.
And I just want them to know that they don’t have to do or say anything. Telling them that I love them is about me making them aware of my heart. I need no reciprocation.
However, I wish that people weren’t so afraid to tell others that they love them. I wish that people could allow themselves to keep their hearts open. If there is one thing I appreciate about myself, it is how much I love others. And how much I tell them.
It’s so cliche, but I know that I’ll never regret not telling someone I love them the last time I see them, if anything were to happen. Or that someone wouldn’t know how much they meant to me.
I hope that by keeping myself open, I am able to help others open themselves up. To help them realize that it’s not so scary to give people compliments, or tell them that you appreciate them, or tell them you care for them. In fact, it’s a great release.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?
1980: Ronald Reagan runs for president, promising a balanced budget
1981 - 1989: With support from congressional Republicans, Reagan runs enormous deficits, adds $2 trillion to the debt.
1993: Bill Clinton passes economic plan that lowers deficit, gets zero votes from congressional Republicans.
1998: U.S. deficit disappears for the first time in three decades. Debt clock is unplugged.
2000: George W. Bush runs for president, promising to maintain a balanced budget.
2001: CBO shows the United States is on track to pay off the entirety of its national debt within a decade.
2001 - 2009: With support from congressional Republicans, Bush runs enormous deficits, adds nearly $5 trillion to the debt.
2002: Dick Cheney declares, “Deficits don’t matter.” Congressional Republicans agree, approving tax cuts, two wars, and Medicare expansion without even trying to pay for them.
2009: Barack Obama inherits $1.3 trillion deficit from Bush; Republicans immediately condemn Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility.
2009: Congressional Democrats unveil several domestic policy initiatives — including health care reform, cap and trade, DREAM Act — which would lower the deficit. GOP opposes all of them, while continuing to push for deficit reduction.
September 2010: In Obama’s first fiscal year, the deficit shrinks by $122 billion. Republicans again condemn Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility.
October 2010: S&P endorses the nation’s AAA rating with a stable outlook, saying the United States looks to be in solid fiscal shape for the foreseeable future.
November 2010: Republicans win a U.S. House majority, citing the need for fiscal responsibility.
December 2010: Congressional Republicans demand extension of Bush tax cuts, relying entirely on deficit financing. GOP continues to accuse Obama of fiscal irresponsibility.
March 2011: Congressional Republicans declare intention to hold full faith and credit of the United States hostage — a move without precedent in American history — until massive debt-reduction plan is approved.
July 2011: Obama offers Republicans a $4 trillion debt-reduction deal. GOP refuses, pushes debt-ceiling standoff until the last possible day, rattling international markets.
August 2011: S&P downgrades U.S. debt, citing GOP refusal to consider new revenues. Republicans rejoice and blame Obama for fiscal irresponsibility.
There have been several instances since the mid 1990s in which I genuinely believed Republican politics couldn’t possibly get more blisteringly ridiculous. I was wrong; they just keep getting worse.
(via lizdexia)
(Source: badcgijosh)
