Day: December 5, 2017

Tell your Senators and Representatives: Oppose the tax bill!

whatshouldicallabout:

Last Friday in the middle of the night, Republicans passed their tax bill, complete with last-second amendments scribbled in the margins. They rewrote the entire American economy with no time for Senators to even read the bill or see expert analysis – and now, many middle class and lower-income families could face tax hikes or lose critical services just to pay for a tax cut for the wealthiest few.

But this bill still has a hurdle to clear: The House and Senate versions are very different, and need to be combined before the bill can pass. That means we still have time to call both members of the House and Senate before the final vote.

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town], and I’m frankly disgusted by the tax bill recently passed by the Senate. Adding last-minute amendments doesn’t fix the fact that this bill blows up the deficit and raises taxes on middle-class families to pay for a big tax cut for the wealthy. I want [Senator/Representative] so-and-so to vote against this bill when it comes to conference. Thank you.”

tikkunolamorgtfo:

brainstatic:

The inclusion of Chad into the travel ban is the most random and moronic part of that. They’re an ally that we work with on counter-terrorism operations. Now they won’t work with us anymore. Why? Because DHS wanted sample passports from them and they ran out of passport paper. They asked for a week’s extension so they could get more, but were refused, because Trump is more than willing to empower Boko Haram if it helps to build his white ethno-state.

I agree, but did anybody else start reading this post thinking that a frat boy was being excluded from a ski trip for wrecking a hotel room? 

heyatleastitsnotcancer:

When I was a teenager with migraines daily and throwing up regularly I was told it was stress from being bullied. Turns out I have a serious heart condition.

When I was in college and had the worst pain of my life in my abdomen I was told it was an ulcer from stress. Turns out my gallbladder was so full of stones they had blocked access to my intestines and I almost died.

When I was still in college and had severe cramping I was told that my periods were exasperated by stress and that I was paranoid. Turns out an ovarian cyst was so large on my ovary it destroyed the organ by literally flattening it like a pancake.

When I was in grad school and having tremors and passing out I was told I had anxiety from stress and referred to a psychologist. Turns out my brain was literally not getting enough oxygen to function from my heart condition.

When I was 25 and my bladder stopped working which did not allow me to pee for days I was told that it was stress and that it was mind over matter to urinate. Turns out the muscles in my pelvic floor are in constant agonizing spasm.

My physical symptoms have been dismissed as manifestations of stress most of my life by both doctors and loved ones causing permanent damage to my body, pain, and loss of quality of life. We need to stop dismissing teenager’s and women’s symptoms as stress and start taking them seriously. Stop dismissing illness as stress simply because of a person’s age, gender, sexuality, ability, race, or socioeconomic status.

On Cleanliness and Chronic Illness

bunnika:

beeth0ven:

For when you can’t shower/bathe:

  • Change your clothes. When the days bleed into the nights, it can be hard to remember. But clean clothes make a big difference, even if it’s just putting on another pair of pajamas
  • Use deodorant, dry shampoo, and face wipes to freshen up. Keep them right next to your bed if you want
  • Careful not to use too much dry shampoo, or it can leave a residue in your hair
  •  Toner or a damp wash cloth can also be good for keeping your skin clear
  • This is a basin so that somebody can wash your hair while you lay down in bed
  • Scented candles and opening a window can help make a stuffy room feel fresher
  • If at all possible, change your sheets
  • Brush your teeth as often as possible
  • Body sprays or perfume can help, too

For when you can shower/bathe:

  • Consider getting a shower chair/bench. There are lots of different kinds
  • Break things down into steps. For example, put a towel and change of clothes in the bathroom, then rest. Then shower, then lay down. Then put on lotion/hair serums/etc and get dressed.
  • Or you break it down into steps by washing your hair one day, body the next, etc. It doesn’t all need to happen all at once
  • Just sitting under the water counts
  • Taking an epsom salt bath counts, too
  • Hot water may make you pass out
  • Shower when you know you can rest after

This might sound weird, but witch hazel is great for degreasing your skin without drying it out, and you can get it in Tucks pads pre-moistened.

My shower stool changed my life. You can usually find one on Amazon for around twenty bucks with free shipping.

Honestly, training my hair out of needing shampooing at all was one of the best decisions I ever made. There are lots of methods, here’s one.

Change your underwear daily. If you can’t manage full-on wardrobe changes, this can usually be done when you go to the bathroom, so it’s minimal spoons and still helps. Keep a few pairs under your sink if you need to.

coryeggs:

5 Dec 2017 (12:30 p.m.) – Fry Day 1

Believe it or not, this was the best focus job I could manage. It gets clearer about 10 seconds in.

A view from one end of the little hang-on tank, where they’re mostly staying so far. Maybe because it’s brighter there.