Listen Up Columbia! — Portraits from a campus in crisis Photographed by Gabriella Gregor Splaver

Something I learned in these last seven months is that when children get war-related amputations, they need further surgeries as they grow.

I'd read it on Twitter so I looked it up to confirm (and it's true) but a lot of the search results were hospitals and doctors trying to explain the process to parents and what to tell their children, what kind of care they'd need after, how prosthetics would work.

I just saw this adorable little baby on Twitter (you can click to view the video, it's not gory, he's just a super serious little dude)

and I thought, fleeing from Rafah must be one of the most traumatizing dangerous situations you could be in right now as a healthy adult, let alone a baby with multiple amputations in famine conditions.

There are no working hospitals to speak of in Gaza, healthcare workers keep being killed off, aid keeps being blocked, many of the amputees have no one to look after them, there's still constant bombing and shelling and shooting.

UNICEF reported 1,000 child amputees by the end of November.

Grumble grumble…

Almost Time

Two more days until Zutara month 2024 takes off. Which day/prompt is everyone most excited for?

young artist posting your work online, heed my warning. im holding your face so gently in my hands, you have to stop caring about numbers right now and start caring about making the weirdest and most self-indulgent art you possibly can

STOP listening to the demon of capitalism and START listening to the angel of hedonism, i love you i believe in you keep making what you love forever ok?

Ink Blobs! Which one of these blob sketches is your favorite? ☺️💕

young me especially would have hated hearing this but networking is literally the most important thing you can do to improve your situation like forget economic barriers to education etc just keep making friends with different people and eventually someone will offer you a hand up just because they dig your vibe and that is exactly all that's happening when undeserving people surpass you anyway

When I look at how I survived my 20s, it was always helpful friends putting work my way. And often the helpful friends were people I had only known for weeks.

I think we do young folks a huge disservice in how we teach them to network. Happy hours and cold messages on linkedin are useless to you when you’re just starting out- they’re not going to make anyone like you! No one is going to want to hire you or help you out based on a 10 minute conversation and a business card. It’s awkward and a super unbalanced transaction.

But having and making genuine friends (however you feel most comfortable doing so!) is how you’re *supposed* to network. Even if your friends aren’t powerful or in the sector you want to work- they are the people who want to help you! No groveling email required!

When I was working as a barista, I had a handful of regulars I spoke to every day and looked forward to seeing. We only knew each other through 5 minute conversations, but we knew each other and liked each other. Of these regulars:

- I told one older lady that I hadn’t been able to bring my winter clothes when I moved, and she gave me a coat and gloves she was planning to donate.

-I told one gentleman I was planning to take the foreign service exam, and he (having taken it a decade prior) gave me his old study books and gave me tips on the interview.

-I told a girl who I spent over an hour talking to on a slow day that I was looking for a job, and she RECOMMENDED ME for a job at her company and I got HIRED.

I didn’t give any of these people anything other than my time (and the occaisional end-of-day stale pastry) and they changed my life entirely.

I didn’t have to prove to them that I was smart or hardworking or friendly or anything at all. They knew me and liked me- and that was enough.

Make friends! Help them as much as you can! There are very little downsides to meeting new and lovely people.

it really is insane how waking up early will grant you access to some of the most beautiful sights and sensations in the world that will make you want to live forever, but only if you overcome the gauntlet of a thousand razors that is getting out of bed early. truly one of life's little saw traps.

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

if you are unable to donate financially to help palestine, you can donate your time by protesting, boycotting, and putting up posters!

if all you have is your device and internet access, you can put your clicks to good use on arab.org. they use the advertising revenue generated by your clicks to help good causes.

and i would urge those able to spare a few dollars to donate to one or more of the following organizations:

eSims for Gaza

Direct aid for Gaza

Care for Gaza

Women for Women International

Institute for Middle East Understanding

Medical Aid for Palestinians

Palestine Children Relief Fund

Muslim Aid USA

Direct Aid for Gaza

Palestinian American Medical Association

Urgent support for medical professionals in Gaza

Emergency Relief for Gaza

Anera

Taawon

Hey, are you aware of the fact that many people in Gaza have resorted to cutting pieces of their tents for scraps for pads? Which as you can imagine isn't the safest option but their only option in most cases. This also applies to those going through postpartum bleeding from giving birth. If you want to or can help:

The Pious Projects - they distribute feminine hygiene kits for people in Gaza! I suggest checking it out yourself but there's various amounts you can give from $5-$1,000 to help make and distribute these kits! They cost around $25 for each kit, but every bit helps. Make sure to share the link even if you can't currently help donate today!