Friday, July 25th, 2025 12:21 am
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 10:24 pm
The future of antisemitism
We can't get confused about what constitutes anti-Jewish prejudice.
[---8<---]
That's why we have to face a painful paradox: when it comes to the continuing agony of Gaza, Israel's most fervent defenders are the ones muddying the water. They seek to define criticism of the actions of Israel as anti-Jewish prejudice.
( Read more... )
We can't get confused about what constitutes anti-Jewish prejudice.
[---8<---]
That's why we have to face a painful paradox: when it comes to the continuing agony of Gaza, Israel's most fervent defenders are the ones muddying the water. They seek to define criticism of the actions of Israel as anti-Jewish prejudice.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 07:12 pm
France will recognize Palestine as a state, President Macron says
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize Palestine as a state, in a bold diplomatic move amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision.
Macron said in a post on X that he will formalize the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,” he wrote.
Today, France is a hero. France is taking a stance that a lot of bigger, richer, meaner countries are going to hate. That's punching up. \o/ Let's put more pressure on Israel to stop the genocide.
( Read more... )
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize Palestine as a state, in a bold diplomatic move amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision.
Macron said in a post on X that he will formalize the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,” he wrote.
Today, France is a hero. France is taking a stance that a lot of bigger, richer, meaner countries are going to hate. That's punching up. \o/ Let's put more pressure on Israel to stop the genocide.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 07:58 pm
Didn't even keep up with my own thing by not posting last week, but eh.
- Upgraded my totem in new Minecraft server
- cleaned
- got the second leg of Picard doll done. Slow progress is still progress.
- made cookies again (not as good as first batch)
- also turned a potato into homemade chips and they were delicious.
- which led into a nearly week-long adventure! Before slicing up the potato, I decided a vegetable slicer/chopper would be a good thing to have, so I ordered one off Amazon!
But what came was a cheaper opened one. So I thought okay, I'll try from a different seller. What came the second time was a six blade chopper; I wanted a nine blade chopper. Then my mom tried to help by ordering one and also got the six blade one. So I need to return mine and she hers, and I'll just get one at Walmart because I am not giving either of those sellers the satisfaction of ripping me off.
I am so looking forward to making ruffled potato chips though.
- the barometric pressure has been above 30 a couple times this week and my head hurt on those same days so there's definitely a connection there. Trying to keep track of just how often they coincide but I need to remember to keep tabs on the weather app.
- did buy a compression wrap for my head that I can freeze and used it twice so far. It's nice.
- Ebbie got on my torso while laying down yesterday and made biscuits!! It was only the second time he's done that so I absolutely need to encourage that behavior! He's kittening!
- need to remember to defeat Wo-Chien a few more times.
- also shiny hunt Capsakid.
Things watched:
- Ironheart
- SNW
- Foundation
- still on season four of my Fringe rewatch
- Upgraded my totem in new Minecraft server
- cleaned
- got the second leg of Picard doll done. Slow progress is still progress.
- made cookies again (not as good as first batch)
- also turned a potato into homemade chips and they were delicious.
- which led into a nearly week-long adventure! Before slicing up the potato, I decided a vegetable slicer/chopper would be a good thing to have, so I ordered one off Amazon!
But what came was a cheaper opened one. So I thought okay, I'll try from a different seller. What came the second time was a six blade chopper; I wanted a nine blade chopper. Then my mom tried to help by ordering one and also got the six blade one. So I need to return mine and she hers, and I'll just get one at Walmart because I am not giving either of those sellers the satisfaction of ripping me off.
I am so looking forward to making ruffled potato chips though.
- the barometric pressure has been above 30 a couple times this week and my head hurt on those same days so there's definitely a connection there. Trying to keep track of just how often they coincide but I need to remember to keep tabs on the weather app.
- did buy a compression wrap for my head that I can freeze and used it twice so far. It's nice.
- Ebbie got on my torso while laying down yesterday and made biscuits!! It was only the second time he's done that so I absolutely need to encourage that behavior! He's kittening!
- need to remember to defeat Wo-Chien a few more times.
- also shiny hunt Capsakid.
Things watched:
- Ironheart
- SNW
- Foundation
- still on season four of my Fringe rewatch
Friday, July 25th, 2025 12:10 am
So, I've managed to get behind on the Sunshine Challenge, but never mind, I can still have a go. This is #4, I think.
Fun House
Journaling: What is making you smile these days? Create a top 10 list of anything you want to talk about.
( List is in pretty random order )
For a wee bonus, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DMrBhsi6e/?mibextid=wwXIfr Gorgeous.
Fun House
Journaling: What is making you smile these days? Create a top 10 list of anything you want to talk about.
( List is in pretty random order )
For a wee bonus, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DMrBhsi6e/?mibextid=wwXIfr Gorgeous.
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 04:13 pm
Individualism is Killing The (Online) Aspec Community
But whilst I know I’ve changed in my queer journey, the communities I’ve been involved in have not. When I was a baby ace, I needed to know aspec 101, distinguish your aro from your ace from your agender, what the cake memes were for, what the split attraction model is and so on. But 5 years on, half a decade mind you, the online community that was once my intro and a place that helped me learn more about myself now feels like a burden, a constant reminder of pain and like being a teenager again in Catholic secondary school; not standing the people I’m with and wanting to just go home.
[---8<---]
Most people tolerate asexuality, but they don’t support asexuality. That's not the same. They think asexuality is valid but they don’t support it. They only support asexuality if it’s palatable to their own sexuality. In an attempt to push back on the very real infantilisation of asexuality (looking at you ‘but we can’t have kink at pride because of the aces’ discourse), but we’ve (not me!) walked back into compulsory sexuality and basing support of asexuality based on how well asexuals perform the sexual script, instead of supporting it in its own right.
( Read more... )
But whilst I know I’ve changed in my queer journey, the communities I’ve been involved in have not. When I was a baby ace, I needed to know aspec 101, distinguish your aro from your ace from your agender, what the cake memes were for, what the split attraction model is and so on. But 5 years on, half a decade mind you, the online community that was once my intro and a place that helped me learn more about myself now feels like a burden, a constant reminder of pain and like being a teenager again in Catholic secondary school; not standing the people I’m with and wanting to just go home.
[---8<---]
Most people tolerate asexuality, but they don’t support asexuality. That's not the same. They think asexuality is valid but they don’t support it. They only support asexuality if it’s palatable to their own sexuality. In an attempt to push back on the very real infantilisation of asexuality (looking at you ‘but we can’t have kink at pride because of the aces’ discourse), but we’ve (not me!) walked back into compulsory sexuality and basing support of asexuality based on how well asexuals perform the sexual script, instead of supporting it in its own right.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 03:57 pm
The prompt is 'time.'
At 10:13, be kind. Smile at the FedEx man,
the one from the day before yesterday,
and greet him like that friend you never see.
At 9:12, contemplate some art. Look at Whistler’s fireworks, bookmark
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies,
indulge in a longing to sink bare toes in grass
but make do with fondly remembering
a butterfly.
At 3:09, kindly tell past regret and future dread
to fuck off. Take a nap.
At 2:17, wipe the toilet seat.
Put that thing back where it belongs. Practice
until perfect. Once more. Again.
At 12:04, make that joke, the one about the Virgin Mary,
and swallow a crust of fossilized cringe.
At 12:31, listen to the Koto Song,
contemplate the precise moment of death,
and eat some gummy worms, in that order.
At 9:01, be great. At everything.
And wear it on your sleeve.
At 10:13, be kind. Smile at the FedEx man,
the one from the day before yesterday,
and greet him like that friend you never see.
At 9:12, contemplate some art. Look at Whistler’s fireworks, bookmark
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies,
indulge in a longing to sink bare toes in grass
but make do with fondly remembering
a butterfly.
At 3:09, kindly tell past regret and future dread
to fuck off. Take a nap.
At 2:17, wipe the toilet seat.
Put that thing back where it belongs. Practice
until perfect. Once more. Again.
At 12:04, make that joke, the one about the Virgin Mary,
and swallow a crust of fossilized cringe.
At 12:31, listen to the Koto Song,
contemplate the precise moment of death,
and eat some gummy worms, in that order.
At 9:01, be great. At everything.
And wear it on your sleeve.
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 03:53 pm
how we survived: 爺爺’s pantoum (i) by River 瑩瑩 Dandelion
In 1973, my grandfather made a five-mile swim from Shenzhen Bay to Hong Kong, across shark-filled waters guarded by the People’s Liberation Army. He was part of an exodus of hundreds of thousands who fled from Guangdong as refugees of the Cultural Revolution.
you had to know the currents, & the sun
stay shallow to keep warm in the waters.
you had to believe you could do it
& not be afraid to die.
stay shallow to keep warm in the waters
dream of banyan roots aglow
i was not afraid of dying
even as tides surged my blued lips.
( Read more... )
Notes:
爺爺 — yeh yeh, Cantonese for paternal grandfather
hing dai — 兄弟, Cantonese for brother or close friend
嬤嬤 — mah mah, Cantonese for paternal grandmother
In 1973, my grandfather made a five-mile swim from Shenzhen Bay to Hong Kong, across shark-filled waters guarded by the People’s Liberation Army. He was part of an exodus of hundreds of thousands who fled from Guangdong as refugees of the Cultural Revolution.
you had to know the currents, & the sun
stay shallow to keep warm in the waters.
you had to believe you could do it
& not be afraid to die.
stay shallow to keep warm in the waters
dream of banyan roots aglow
i was not afraid of dying
even as tides surged my blued lips.
( Read more... )
Notes:
爺爺 — yeh yeh, Cantonese for paternal grandfather
hing dai — 兄弟, Cantonese for brother or close friend
嬤嬤 — mah mah, Cantonese for paternal grandmother
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 02:11 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Cozy Academia Anthology
A collection of 22 delightfully queer, charmingly cozy stories that put a fluffy LGBTQIA+ spin on the dark academia genre.
For reference, "cozy academia" seems to lean toward "light academia" in mood, but doesn't necessarily exclude the deeper colors of "dark academia," and is basically the "comfy/cozy" aesthetic or subgenre with an academic setting. So if you want queer romance and culture without the gaybashing and other stress of local-America, this is probably an excellent bet. And if you are going to romanticize something, there are a lot worse things to admire than academia, which has long been a refuge for queers, nerds, and freaks of all flavors.
As a bonus, this is exactly the kind of content that lots of people want not to exist, so buy a queer book and poke a bigot in the eye! If you know of librarians defending queer books, tip them to this campaign.
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 02:07 pm
Today is sweltering again, 86°F with a heat index of 98°F. :P So I have to break up yard tasks into smaller sections.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I refilled birdfeeders.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I picked 4 red cherry tomatoes. :D
I watered the new picnic table garden.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I potted up 12 sweet cherry seeds.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I refilled birdfeeders.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I picked 4 red cherry tomatoes. :D
I watered the new picnic table garden.
EDIT 7/24/25 -- I potted up 12 sweet cherry seeds.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 05:42 pm
Title: Snack Attack
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Characters: Ryo, Dee.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Like Like Love.
Summary: It’s the middle of the night, Ryo can’t sleep, and he’s hungry.
Word Count: 1050
Written For: Theme Prompt: 252 – Midnight Snack at
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
( Snack Attack... )
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 05:30 pm
Title: Card Sharp
Author:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Characters: Jack, Ianto.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 546
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Jack cheats. He always cheats.
Written For:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
( Card Sharp... )
Tags:
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 11:59 pm
1.
You read it from me before...
Writing.
But its deeper than just wanting to get better at it.
It goes back to when I was 3 years old. Or maybe even before I was born.
Mom and Dad love to read. Specially Dad. Mom tells me, on every date they went out, he used to show up holding a book. Every single time.
Then, when Mom got pregnant with me, we didnt have a television. All the entertainment we had at the time was a radio, books and art. So my mom read to me a lot, all the time. So basically, all I did during the 9 months I was inside my mom was listen to books and music.
Well, not just those 9 months, but all the time while I was growing up.
Mom and Dad didnt have much time to read to me all the time, but they did their best. At night, they used to read in a normal speed, but during the day between job, chores and taking care of their hyperactive kid, they read very, very fast!
I was amazed! And couldn't wait more to start reading. I wanted to read that fast!
So... short story long, at 3 years old they started teaching me how to read and by 4 years old I slowly read every word that was put in front of me—street signs, the market, the instructions on pantry products, everything. Truly everything.
And with my reading came questions. Lots of questions. "What does this mean?", "What does that mean?", "What is the meaning of 'What is the meaning'?
Dad got tired of my questions, so one memorable day, he got back from work with a huge box. It was for me.
It was an encyclopedia. And that’s when the best part began. I pushed that box with all my strength everywhere I went, reading new things, discovering new meanings, and admiring the illustrations.
My favorite pages were the ones that showed all the world’s flags in color, because when I was just learning to talk, my aunts taught me the capitals of every country. So those pages gave color to the things I had been repeating like a parrot since I was a baby.
I Still have it <3

Many more encyclopedias and books came with the years and a second love too. At the same time I started reading, I also began drawing. But that’s a story for another post.
I always knew what I liked, so when the time came to choose a career, I had 2 loves: Words and images.
I had been reading, writing, and drawing almost all my life by then, so it was the time to be honest.
I was better at drawing and painting.
My writings were not bad, but they were nothing special either.
(Short story inside this story: In high school, i fall in love with the intellectual guy of my class. He read a lot and wrote quite well. So it was my obvious choice. But he didnt like me in return. We were good friends and one day we gave an exhibition together at the school corridors, my paintings and his poems. We went to university, he went for literature, I went for design and visual arts. Never saw him again.)
During High School (Im in the middle)

During university and art college, I continued writing my normal nothing special poems and tales.
Second year in College

I stopped writing for 2 decades when my grandmother died. I started again at some point, and here I am now. Writing on this blog, whishing to be better at it. Although I'm better at writing in my native language.
Graduating from Design college, about to start Art college, didn't know then that I would stop writing 2 years after that. But I continued painting and reading compulsively.

And this is me know... more than 20 years later, hoping to be able to write and paint again soon.

P.S.
Remember I said we grew up surrounded by books, art, and music?
My brother is a musician. He always has been.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You read it from me before...
Writing.
But its deeper than just wanting to get better at it.
It goes back to when I was 3 years old. Or maybe even before I was born.
Mom and Dad love to read. Specially Dad. Mom tells me, on every date they went out, he used to show up holding a book. Every single time.
Then, when Mom got pregnant with me, we didnt have a television. All the entertainment we had at the time was a radio, books and art. So my mom read to me a lot, all the time. So basically, all I did during the 9 months I was inside my mom was listen to books and music.
Well, not just those 9 months, but all the time while I was growing up.
Mom and Dad didnt have much time to read to me all the time, but they did their best. At night, they used to read in a normal speed, but during the day between job, chores and taking care of their hyperactive kid, they read very, very fast!
I was amazed! And couldn't wait more to start reading. I wanted to read that fast!
So... short story long, at 3 years old they started teaching me how to read and by 4 years old I slowly read every word that was put in front of me—street signs, the market, the instructions on pantry products, everything. Truly everything.
And with my reading came questions. Lots of questions. "What does this mean?", "What does that mean?", "What is the meaning of 'What is the meaning'?
Dad got tired of my questions, so one memorable day, he got back from work with a huge box. It was for me.
It was an encyclopedia. And that’s when the best part began. I pushed that box with all my strength everywhere I went, reading new things, discovering new meanings, and admiring the illustrations.
My favorite pages were the ones that showed all the world’s flags in color, because when I was just learning to talk, my aunts taught me the capitals of every country. So those pages gave color to the things I had been repeating like a parrot since I was a baby.
I Still have it <3
Many more encyclopedias and books came with the years and a second love too. At the same time I started reading, I also began drawing. But that’s a story for another post.
I always knew what I liked, so when the time came to choose a career, I had 2 loves: Words and images.
I had been reading, writing, and drawing almost all my life by then, so it was the time to be honest.
I was better at drawing and painting.
My writings were not bad, but they were nothing special either.
(Short story inside this story: In high school, i fall in love with the intellectual guy of my class. He read a lot and wrote quite well. So it was my obvious choice. But he didnt like me in return. We were good friends and one day we gave an exhibition together at the school corridors, my paintings and his poems. We went to university, he went for literature, I went for design and visual arts. Never saw him again.)
During High School (Im in the middle)
During university and art college, I continued writing my normal nothing special poems and tales.
Second year in College
I stopped writing for 2 decades when my grandmother died. I started again at some point, and here I am now. Writing on this blog, whishing to be better at it. Although I'm better at writing in my native language.
Graduating from Design college, about to start Art college, didn't know then that I would stop writing 2 years after that. But I continued painting and reading compulsively.
And this is me know... more than 20 years later, hoping to be able to write and paint again soon.
P.S.
Remember I said we grew up surrounded by books, art, and music?
My brother is a musician. He always has been.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can see the prompts here if you want to join me :)
sleeplesssoul.dreamwidth.org/2560.html
Tags:
Thursday, July 24th, 2025 09:23 am
( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )
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Thursday, July 24th, 2025 12:49 am
Folks have mentioned an interest in questions and conversations that make them think. So I've decided to offer more of those. This batch features hobbies.
Hairstyling is a hobby that includes cutting, braiding, and related accessories such as wigs or hair jewelry. It all depends on what you what looks you wish to create. Like makeup, it varies a great deal depending on your human canvas -- African or other curly hair textures require different techniques than straight or wavy hair.
On Dreamwidth, consider communities like
daily_gyaru,
edgoreyanfashion,
first_nations_freaks,
justcreate,
sw_costumes, and
thefreaksclub.
( Read more... )
Hairstyling is a hobby that includes cutting, braiding, and related accessories such as wigs or hair jewelry. It all depends on what you what looks you wish to create. Like makeup, it varies a great deal depending on your human canvas -- African or other curly hair textures require different techniques than straight or wavy hair.
On Dreamwidth, consider communities like
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
( Read more... )
Tags:
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 10:31 pm
Tags:
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 10:09 pm
This poem is spillover from the July 15, 2025 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from
janetmiles,
chanter1944, and discussions with
dialecticdreamer. It has been sponsored by
janetmiles. This poem also fills the "Immigrant" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo fest. It belongs to the series Frankenstein's Family and follows (several months later) the poems "Signs of Their Trespass" and "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" so read those first or this won't make much sense. It is the third in the triptych after "Strong, Competent, Capable" and "The Future by Consequence, the Past by Redemption."
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes unplanned and unmarried pregnancy, domestic abuse, partner loss, awkwardness, poor support back home, reference to other illegitimate children, severe personality changes, past family tragedies, complicated grief, scrapes and bruises, messy medical details, confusion, uncertainty, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes unplanned and unmarried pregnancy, domestic abuse, partner loss, awkwardness, poor support back home, reference to other illegitimate children, severe personality changes, past family tragedies, complicated grief, scrapes and bruises, messy medical details, confusion, uncertainty, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 08:45 pm
This poem is spillover from the July 15, 2025 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from
janetmiles,
chanter1944, and discussions with
dialecticdreamer. It has been sponsored by
janetmiles. This poem also fills the "Redemption Story" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo fest. It belongs to the series Frankenstein's Family and follows (several months later) the poems "Signs of Their Trespass" and "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" so read those first or this won't make much sense. It is the second in the triptych between "Strong, Competent, Capable" and "Fed from So Many Sources."
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes disappointment, worry, reference to minor character death, unpleasant social duties, loss of a friend, alarming personality changes, trouble caused by loss of horses, signs of hunger, reference to domestic abuse, legal issues, confusion, desperate hope, and other mayhem. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes disappointment, worry, reference to minor character death, unpleasant social duties, loss of a friend, alarming personality changes, trouble caused by loss of horses, signs of hunger, reference to domestic abuse, legal issues, confusion, desperate hope, and other mayhem. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 08:12 pm
Tags: