I don’t have class today but I came to school anyway to do some work because staying home makes getting assignments done really difficult. So while I was in the library I heard drums and chanting but couldn’t make out the words so I honestly thought it was the school’s marching band or something like that, maybe a club.

I didn’t pay it much mind until I came downstairs (the library is two floors). In one of the hallways just outside the library I saw a bunch of posters and stickers strewn about the walls and door way, a keffiyeh was even hanging off one of the doors to the library. A bunch of students were sitting on the floor chanting pro-Palestine slogans like “no justice no peace.” I then saw a bunch of cops walk by them and I guess they were being asked to leave.

Then one of the protesters started to tell everyone to bear witness that our school called the cops on them. It was disappointing to see this although I shouldn’t be surprised, haven’t all universities been calling the

That’s what my professor said when he gifted me these books. This was after visiting him during office hours to get help on how to write my work placement report as I did not know how I needed to cite sources while writing said personal report, I also lamented about how this semester has been killing me (work wise this has been the worst by far). My report is also due the same day I have two final exams which means more pain. He said just to email him (for a written record) so he can grant me an extension because he finds that to be a valid reason.

When he presented the books I asked if they were a parting gift since after this semester we will never see each other again. He said no because even though he’s going on sabbatical that doesn’t mean he’s not working, so I’ll see him around. But I can take them as a parting gift if I wanted. So I did and headed to the library to work on my paper that’s due Friday. My backpack was practically exploding and my back is in so much pain from ca

What I mean is, why are they so reactionary?

They were once part of the Soviet Union, and while I am aware of the fact that after the USSR fell pretty much every country that was part of it fell into ruin (some bounced back), but there’s something about the Baltics that makes them stand out the most.

Besides Ukraine, they seem to be the most rabidly anti-communist/Russian and claim to have been colonized by the Soviets. I am very confused by all this and wanted to ask before I forgot.

What the fuck happened to the Baltics that made them like this? It’s like every time I see a Lithuania, Latvian, or Estonian flag on socials it is always paired with the most fascist shit I have ever seen.

Edit: added “socials” to be more specific.

Apparently Canada’s sovereignty is at risk.

This is not surprising for my school because if you’re familiar with my posts you’ll recall the neo-Nazi library display I shared around a year ago.

This flyer is definitely not an official university poster as it’s not the same size or paper quality. Someone random must have put it up, they’re either a lone wolf or part of the “Ukraine club” at my school.

My day was already pretty shit but this is just annoying to see.

Edit: here are the QR code links:

https://u24.gov.ua/

https://youtu.be/2mEZsgQh54U

I am currently looking at a bunch of books for a project I need to do. I need to find two books, monographs (peer reviewed!), about the same topic but from different perspectives.

The two analysis types I want to compare are Queer and Marxist historiographies. While I was juggling a bunch of topics I settled on the Russian Revolution because I found this book:

Homosexual Desire in Revolutionary Russia: The Regulation of Sexual and Gender Dissent by Dan Healey

Clearly it fits my Queer analysis and all other criteria. I have not read it yet but the reviews make it seem good. The problem I am facing now is finding a Marxist historiography of the Russian Revolution, which you’d think would be easy but for some reason I cannot find a proper work. I did see Walter Rodney’s * The Russian Revolution: A View from the Third World* but I do not know if it is peer reviewed, and the publisher might disqualify it from being right for my project (Dan Healey’s book is published by University of C

This is the same aunt I got into a screaming match with many months ago, the same aunt my grandmother defended while claiming I was influenced by the devil and I was forced to apologize to. She is technically my great aunt (grandma’s sister in law) but I call her aunt because it’s easier.

Anyway when I got home from school I noticed my grandma wasn’t home and was told she was out with the aunt. I immediately felt dread as I knew that meant when my grandma came home the aunt would also be here visiting. She does this all the time and I usually just ignore her (with a cordial hello but that’s it), but I knew with the election results she’d yap away.

Almost immediately after she arrived at my house she was cackling, calling my name and telling me she was going to make me mad: “my friend trump won! Haha! My friend trump one!” Says the Portuguese immigrant in Canada. I just replied in the most deadpan voice “okay???” And left it at that. My grandma laughed and I was screaming in my head.

Probably one of the most frustrating interviews I have ever watched. A lot of interruptions and the tone was super off, at least for me.

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/5514465

This just seems like a step towards privatizing healthcare in Alberta. Also with the pivot to giving a religious based organization the power over people’s healthcare that just means certain types of care will not be provided, from abortions to transgender health. I knew things were going to get worse in this province (don’t get me started on the power bills) but seeing it still strikes fear. Some people are saying this goes against the charter and therefore the feds can get involved, but will they? I don’t think so.

::: spoiler article transcript

The province has taken the operation of a northern Alberta hospital away from Alberta Health Services and turned it over to a private, Catholic healthcare provider.

Premier Danielle Smith reportedly told this to a group of people at a United Conservative Party (UCP) town hall event in Drayton Valley earlier this month.

“We need Alberta Health Services (AHS) to foc

This is from the DPR MFA Telegram:

#Officials

Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing foreigners who share Russian spiritual and moral values to apply for temporary residence

The presidential decree grants the right to apply for a temporary residence permit without considering the established quota and without submitting proof of Russian language proficiency or knowledge of Russian history.

The document applies to those coming from countries that impose destructive neoliberal principles that contradict Russian traditional values. According to the decree, the list of such countries will be determined by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I’ve heard this sentiment before a while back from a person on Tiktok (unfortunately I cannot remember their name) and it has stuck with me since I first saw it because it is undeniably true.

People’s unchecked empathy will end up getting us hurt. I say this because of what is happening in Venezuela. I see a lot of people, many I followed until now, who are very pro-Palestine now spreading misinformation about Venezuela and its election as a show of solidarity and empathy. This is not right and is incredibly frustrating. Not every “Free [insert country]” movement needs support. Yes, your empathy and want for justice for Palestine and Palestinians is well placed but do not extend that to every movement you see because it might end up backfiring big time. The same people you oppose for the genocide being inflicted on Palestine are the people you are supporting in Venezuela, how do they not make this connection? It’s the lack of critical thinking alongside their empathy that really gets

Has anyone watched the new episode from First Thought/JT?

My procrastinating will be the death of me, I swear. Being a university student with this problem is very VERY bad, while I am not failing I know I can do better if I just gave myself more time but for some reason I don’t. I always leave things to the last minute and it fucking sucks.

Yes, I am aware that procrastination can be due to mental health (like ADHD) and I am pretty sure mine is because of that but I’ve tried stimulants and they did not work (they actually gave me massive mood swings). I believe that I can tame this problem by changing my behaviour and building good habits but I don’t know how. Do you have experience with procrastination? Any tips you can share to help me deal with it?

I always knew my procrastination was a problem (I beat myself up over it constantly) but Spring/Summer term has opened my eyes to just how bad it actually is. This term is incredibly accelerated (13 weeks condensed down to only 13 days) which means procrastinating hits even harder. I a

This happened a few days ago when I was going to do my taxes with my mom and stepdad. We were talking about my home life and school and whatnot, and they asked me what I wanted to do once I got my credentials. I was vague about it and just straight up told them I don’t like to talk about my future endeavours, but what I did tell them was that I was following in the footsteps of people I admire and hope to achieve what they have. They understood this and thought that was a fine thing to do, although they don’t know the people I admire so maybe their opinions would change, then again I don’t think they’d mind either. Anyway this conversation led to my mother saying how she was talking to my stepdad about me being a communist (I “came out” to her a month ago) and my ideals and how now she believes she might be a communist too.

Her reasoning was that she believes in equality, hates how wealth is currently distributed, and stuff like that. She then said she doesn't believe a waitress shoul

My professor even gave me an extension too and I was sure I’d finish it with relative quality but my grandma screwed over those plans and now I’m on the day before the due date freaking out since I have yet to actually write about the genocidal actions taken against the Donbas. I sent a lot on my intro going over what definition i was going to use (thee UN) and then did an overview of Euromaidan, every time I sat down to write my stomach would ache and I’d feel physically ill. That’s why I asked for the extension, I thought two extra days would be enough but instead of using that time effectively to talk about the far right and the Donbas (and whether the actions taken are genocidal) Ive been having to cater to my grandmas whims even though I told her I didn’t want to do any work around the house because of school. She clearly doesn't take my academics seriously as this whole weekend and Monday Ive been bossed around the whole time and have barely been able to do much of anything for m

I am genuinely crying and mildly hyperventilating. Tomorrow I have a paper consultation meeting with my professor where I have to give him a 250 word research paper proposal. what I have to do is propose a research topic (a research question) for me to write my paper on. We can choose whatever we want as long as it relates to the class content, which is genocide. Many of you probably already know this information if you’ve read my posts related to school, you’ll also understand the amount of “animosity” I am facing even if it’s fairly mild/covert. I have already talked to my professor briefly about the research topic I want and he sort of approved of it at the time but this consultation goes deeper. I have to prove to him that I have done enough research already (I have to actually give him two sources, one primary and another secondary, related to the event to show I’ve already started) and that my topic is appropriate.

This sounds like a non-issue and it probably is, but the topic