bambi | 24 | Team Valor bg by xfreischutz profile pic by bearymilktea "But deer are also dangerous creatures. They are terrible, deceitful, and vile animals. I’m not being mean, this is just basic science." "Deer can’t take part in juries because of their profound belief in egalitarian anarchism." --Cecil Gershwin Palmer
I hope y'all are familiar with these in this day and age, especially my artists out there, because they’re incredibly common.
About half an hour ago I posted a drawing and tagged it #artists on tumblr, and very quickly received this comment.
My scam radar went off immediately, due to the generic blog name and lack of any emotion in the comment, but I decided it might be an entertaining venture so I dmed them. They asked for a drawing “of these”, and sent me a random selfie. I got the details and told them it would be $15, and they promptly offered me $300. At this point I know it’s a scam, but I play along for funsies and give them my paypal. Shortly, they send me this image for “confirmation” (I blocked out my email)
And they began to insist that I checked my email. I looked in my spam folder and found the following email.
This is fake. This is not a thing. And the “you’re to refund the $200.00 back” is the scam. They send vaguely official-looking emails at you to “prove” that they sent you the money, then have you send them $200 (or however much the scam is for). Then, surprise surprise, you’re out $200.
I continued to play along for a bit, and in the second email “Paypal” told me that I had to refund the $200 before they could “credit the $300 to my account”, along with these lovely threats.
And yeah, it’s silly. But it’s not silly if you don’t know and get scammed. So. Spread, please! And thank you very much to @mlaurel for the opportunity to get these screenshots.
This is a variation on a much older scam that often results in the victim being out money and also out whatever they were selling. It goes something like this:
- victim posts an item for sale on craigslist or w/e
- scammer contacts asking if a check is ok
- scammer then asks if they can write a check for more than the agreed-upon price and for the seller to give them the overage back as cash, often with some excuse about it being an out-of-state bank, they don’t have a card and need some cash for something else, or whatever.
- scammer gives check, gets cash and item, and bounces
- guess what the check does, too
ANY kind of structure where you supposedly get money but have to give some of it back to someone should twig your scam radar, frankly.
Reblogging because some people need to refresh their scam radar, or start building theirs. I see far too many people fall for traps, and don’t dare say for a second “this will never happen to me” because all it takes is a momentary lapse in judgement.
Also I hope everyone knows that Miette was fostered before she was adopted, and her foster mom loved that little kitten so much and always hoped she’d gone to a good home. this tweet got so popular that she recognized Miette and reached out to her current mom, and was able to share previously unseen baby pictures
You mean, she saw Miette was kicked like the football and did nothing to help put Mother in jail for a thousand years? I am appalled.
sad reality of the fanfic-to-published work economy is that the weirdest people are willing to do it. that’s why there’s now hundreds of shitty no plot cishet hate-to-love enemies-to-lovers books that are ex reylo fanfic. and it’s not even good. that’s because the people who wrote book-quality steve/bucky and kirk/spock fic are too normal to think to themselves “i should get this porn published”. they’re too busy working in local government offices
everyone I am happy to announce that the stevebucky fanfic author I had in mind while writing this post has officially reblogged it.
With JoAnne Fabrics going out of business I feel it is my duty as a cosplayer, historical costumer, and general sewing gremlin to help teach y'all how not to be reliant on evil overpriced mediocre big box stores for fabric and cosplay supply, cause if I catch y'all going into Homophobia Lobby to get cosplay fabrics imma have to start throwing hands. And frankly you guys all deserve better.
- Find a neighborhood full of brown people. Probably a slightly poorer neighborhod. I know, I know, but they will have small independent fabric stores. Selection in each may vary. Hispanic and Caribbean areas will give you prints that EAT. Muslim areas will give you fabrics with amazing drapery. Indian and Southeast Asian areas will give you beading that would make the House of Worth wet with envy. (Try to avoid oldwhitelady quilting stores unless you are a knitter or are specifically trying to cosplay Kirsten Larson.) (Also ask while you’re there for lunch/dinner spot recommendations. Your fabric store guy usually has a buddy with a joint nextdoor with the best *insert relevant ethnic food here* you’ll ever put in your mouth.)
- DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWNER OF SAID STORE. This I cannot stress enough. Abdul, my fabric guy, can and will get me whatever I want cause he knows me, knows I bring in other young people, and knows I will be back every month for more. Indie fabric stores tend to have older clients. They are anxious to see faces under 60. Just chat with whoever is in there about the kind of stuff you want and need and they will help you. This also frequently leads to discounts. I have not paid listed price for fabric in years and just walked out of Abdul’s with 7~ yards of gorgeous teal satin for 10 bucks. Not a yard. Total.
- Do not be afraid of mess. The best shit comes from stores that look like a hurricane went through them. Don’t try to understand the organization. (One day, 4 years into your relationship with the store, suddenly the fabric gods will reveal the knowledge to you.) Again, talk to whoever is in there about your project. They’ll help.
- Give up on one stop shopping. Get your crafting supplies elsewhere. Like a small independent hardware store. There’s usually an old guy in there that reminds you of an uncle who will also help you.
-Worbla and whatever other Cosplay Specific Material you’re using is a fatphobic material straight from Satan’s hot taint, you do not need it, and any old hardware/tractor supply dad will help you find better, more durable armor/weapon/detailing material. Don’t snub your nose at paper mache and plaster of paris. Venetian Mask makers have been using it for years. Balsa wood is also your friend. Hardware store Uncles will teach you to work with both.
- Elderly people are your bffs. If you see an old person TALK TO THEM. They know how to do all kinds of shit. I know there’s a hesitation around old people because of the political climate and a fear that they may be homo/trans/whatever-phobic, but hey….minds are changed by making friends. My elderly Muslim fabric supplier is an Our Flag Means Death fan because of me gushing about the teal I needed for Stede Bonnet. He wishes me happy pride now. He put bolt of rainbow in the window in June and kept it up all summer. And he’d never had a thought about queers before me.
- Don’t feel limited to Craft and Fabric stores. Hardware stores are cool. They stock outdoor fabrics and umbrella and furniture covers that are very durable….my first cosplay was made out of patio furniture covers. Also upholstery stores and upholsterers have velvets and damasks and faux leather and real leather and all sorts of rich textures. Most of them will part with a few yards pretty cheap. Second hand sheets and bedspreads and curtains also make some really cool garments. A significant amount of my ren fair garb started as household goods.
- If you are forced to order fabric online, please for the love of all that is holy DO NOT BUY FROM MOOD or any other famous store. You’re paying for their branding and their place on certain reality shows I will not mention. Indie is always cheaper for the quality and usually not abusing their workers.
- If the fabric/hobby/hardware/upholstery/etc store you develop a relationship with is inconveniently far from you, see if said owner is willing to take your order via phone and send it to you. You’d be surprised how accommodating people in the crafting and sewing world can be.
It all really comes down to having to form a community. I know finding multiple small stores is a lot less convenient than Joannes. But forming a relationship with a local supplier will, in the long run, yield you much better results AND put money and good back into a community near you.
(And if you’re in the NYC area DM me and I’ll put you in contact with Abdul. He’s the absolute best and I’d do anything to help him and his business grow!!!)
Wow. This broke containment.
And my most asked question is “Where do I find Abdul?” So …. here’s my go to:
If him getting more business can come from my stupid little post breaking containment I will be thrilled!! Please buy from Abdul!!! His stuff is beautiful and he sources it himself!!!
Losing my mind at this poor girl in Argentina who found a kitten on the side of the road and adopted it only to find out it was a freaking jaguarundi. Look at that fucking thing. That’s a whole ass kiddy cat
Better yet, she got in contact with a local wildlife reserve! She found him and his sister beside a dead animal on the side of the road, apparently quite thin, and assumed they were just abandoned kittens. The female passed shortly afterward but the male was fine- two months later she brought him to the vet and discovered “hey, thats a whole ass jungle cat.” There’s a good chance Tito will be back in the wild someday, even! IMHO, two kittens on the side of the road, and one didn’t make it more than a couple days? they probably WERE abandoned. just dumb luck they got picked up!
LISTEN to those sweet cheeps. to me I hear that sound and immediately think wild cat, but I think its totally reasonable for a teenager to find a kitten this young and think it was a normal cat. Jaguarundi are also really small!
These are TINY little wildcats!
They have really distinct looking faces and especially ears, but
if a layman ran into one of these things where they werent expecting to see one, I think its pretty reasonable they might assume it was just a weird looking cat
any advice for picking fun and vibrant colour palettes that still feel true/recognizable to an object/setting/character's base colours? something about intense lighting?
