Day: November 21, 2018

With illness in shelters and hotels at capacity, wildfire evacuees desperately seek refuge

rjzimmerman:

The topic of this story is about ordinary Americans like us who have lost their houses in the California wildfires [substitute any named hurricane or any major flood] and live in high school gyms or national guard armories or tents in Walmart parking lots or county fairgrounds, and end up sick with intestinal or other communicable diseases. Reminds me of a popular slogan we’ve been seeing lately: Make American Great Again.

Excerpt from this Washington Post story:

The main exhibit hall at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds here has become the home of last resort for 68 people who fled the fires that swept through a broad swath of forest and hill towns nearby.

And some days, an ambulance shows up. A team of paramedics, wearing protective masks and disposable yellow plastic aprons, wheeled a sick man out of the exhibit hall Monday on a stretcher, another victim of the bitter repercussions of mass displacement that the Camp Fire has created.

The outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea has carried on for days.

“On average, about one a day goes to the hospital,” said Bob Christensen, 77, smoking a cigarette outside the exhibit hall and watching a cleanup crew with mops and buckets begin wiping down the metal door handles with a powerful chemical disinfectant.

The most devastating fire in California history began in the Sierra foothills in the morning hours of Nov. 8, prompting a hectic evacuation that has left at least 52,000 people in hotels, relatives’ homes, parking lots and makeshift shelters such as this one in Yuba City.

More than 10 days later, those temporary accommodations are being overwhelmed by overcrowding and disease. As heavy rain moves into the area for the first time since the fire began, those living in tents face the threat of flooding, too.

More than 120 people have been taken to hospitals in recent days with stomach ailments that resemble the symptoms of norovirus, a highly contagious infection. The symptoms include severe vomiting and diarrhea and, like many such infections, fall hardest on children.Casey Hatcher, a Butte County spokeswoman, said state and local authorities are trying to respond to the scale of the displacement.

“People keep using the word ‘unprecedented,’ and I keep looking for a different word, but I can’t find one because it works so well,” Hatcher said. “We have an entire community that is displaced.”

With illness in shelters and hotels at capacity, wildfire evacuees desperately seek refuge

This evening I made the mistake of trying some peppered grillsteaks (now GF!) as a shortcut in some quick Salisbury steak. (Not exactly how I would do it, but close enough with the touch of tomato.)

They really were not kidding with the “peppered”. It looked like a decent bit on the patties, but I figured it would be OK if I didn’t add any more to the sauce.

Nope! The dish turned out barely edible with the level of black pepper. And I like pepper. We had plenty of rice, and it was still kind of overwhelming.

Simmer those a while in sauce: pepper intensifies! 😦 Not really a surprise, but yeah. Sitting didn’t help the situation either, as I was reminded just trying to eat some leftovers anyway.

If I ever get those again, I hope brushing most of the pepper off before cooking might help. Not sure I would want to try simmering them in a sauce again, regardless.

I do kinda have to wonder again exactly where the game is getting its weather info. Because it’s not noticeably snowing here, and the Met Office is just forecasting more rain.

(That would help explain why it’s feeling pretty chilly in here tonight, though. Colder outside than I thought, if still just above freezing. And drizzling as usual, so I’m really not wanting to get out in it much right now to play 🙄)

rockjumperbirdingtours:

Photo of the Day – The Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris) is a large hummingbird that inhabits forest understorey, second growth and plantations. The species takes nectar from a number of different flower types, but will also feed on insects and spiders. The males of this species will gather at leks, where they will sing incessantly for female approval.

This great shot was taken by Adam Riley in Honduras

dendroica:

“Yet many people would like to pretend that the financial woes of millions of Americans are not systemic but, rather, their own fault, a side effect of their spendthrift, undisciplined ways. There’s been a long campaign to blame financial difficulties — especially millennials’ troubles — on everything from lattes, to avocado toast and iPhones. Others attempt to sound well-meaning and posit that it has to do with lack of financial literacy, as if there are millions of people out there who somehow don’t believe they need to save money or are ignorant about how to do so. Personal finance advice likes to pass itself off as service journalism, but when the advice is passed off as something anyone can do, with no serious attempt to grapple with how greater economic and sociological circumstances combine to render the advice offered useless to almost everyone, that “service” becomes as political as it gets. It’s blaming individual Americans for their failure to surmount a system in which the rich get richer and the rest of us fall behind. The attacks on Ocasio-Cortez’s finances fall into this category. If you can somehow prove she isn’t who she says she is financially, or that her financial woes are largely the result of her own behavior, you don’t need to take the economic concerns of millennials and other falling-behind Americans that fueled her political ascent seriously.”

— Why some are obsessed with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s finances – The Washington Post

barredandboujee:

the-purple-owl:

barredandboujee:

As California is being ravaged by deadly fires, let’s remember that over a third of California’s firefighters are incarcerated.

They’re out there now risking their lives, making 1% or less of nonincarcerated firefighters’ salaries, and then they can’t even serve as firefighters when they get out because of their past convictions.

Prison labor is slavery.

Friendly reminder that firefighting positions for inmates are entirely voluntary, often the best paid jobs available to them, and often coveted because it comes with a higher level of freedom. 

Also, it’s a lie that they’re unable to become firefighters. There is no federal or state rule anywhere in the US that prohibits felons from becoming firefighters. It’s up to each individual jurisdiction, and the most common statues dictate only certain related crimes (like arson) being barred from firefighting or a certain amount of time that has passed since the last crime on record (like 10 years). 

That’s not exactly right – in California, for example, the state requires that firefighters be certified as emergency medical technicians (EMTs). But because occupational licensing laws bar people with felony convictions from EMT licenses, they can’t serve as firefighters when they get out because of their past convictions, like I said.

Also, sure, firefighting positions are often the best paid jobs available, but that’s not saying much: it’s only one dollar per hour, plus two dollars per day.

It’s also worth noting that incarcerated people themselves describe these jobs as slavery. Deirdre Wilson (a formerly incarcerated volunteer firefighter) for example described her experience as a “cruel joke” and said “You’re not really volunteering. …The system evolved out of a system of slavery where we commodify human bodies and function off their labor.” There was recently a nationwide strike about this: people in prisons are demanding, among other things, an immediate end to prison slavery.

jumpingjacktrash:

fictions-stranger:

jimminovak:

lafememeistnoire:

naamahdarling:

blome3kissesbitch:

blome3kissesbitch:

squeakykins:

rabbitinheadlights:

I feel like the reason certain dog-lovers insist cats are evil is because they read their body language as if they were dogs. So here’s a very basic guide to common “mean” things cats do that actually aren’t mean at all if you know what they’re thinking.

Rolling and exposing belly- attacks you when touched
Does not mean: Give belly rubs! – haha I tricked you! 
Actually means: I’m playful! If you reach for my belly I’ll grab your arm and bite it because I think we’re playfighting! 

Lazily exposing belly – still attacks when touched
Does not mean: tricked you again!
Actually means: I’m showing you my belly because I trust you. Please don’t break that trust by invading my personal space. I might accept a belly rub if I’m not ticklish and I know you well.

Snapping at you while being pet
Does not mean: I suddenly decided I dislike you!
Actually means: You’re petting me in a way that gives me too much restless energy. Please focus on petting my head and shoulders instead of stroking the full length of my back next time.

Is in the same room but makes no attempt to interact
Does not mean:  I’m ignoring you
Actually means: We’re hanging out! I’m being respectful by giving you space while still enjoying your company.

Slapping/scratching your hand when you try to pet them
Does not mean: I hate you!
Actually means: You’ve failed to establish that we’re not playing, or the way you’re approaching me scares me. Be calmer, speak more gently, make eye-contact and blink slowly at me before you try again.

I love this post omg, thank you so much. As a lifelong cat person, dogs perplex me because they’re so completely different behaviourally.

I love dogs too but, I’ve been trying to tell people, you canNOT treat cats like you treat dogs. They arent the same animals and have very different personalities

P.s.: people often pet cats way too hard. Dogs like a firm pet or a pat on the belly, cats dont have the same bone structure and are more flexible than dogs so what you’re doing probably hurts them

Sitting and staring
Does not mean: I am challenging you/plotting your demise/just generally evil and creepy.
Actually means: I am a desert-adapted species, so my natural tears are very thick and keep my eyes moist for a nice long time. I do find people interesting and enjoy watching them.  I just don’t need to blink very often!

Staring and blinking slowly
Does not mean: I’m smug and think I am smarter than you.
Actually means: I like you! But I don’t need to get up in your face to show it.  I can just sit over here and blow kisses at you to show you I am glad you are around!

It’s very frustrating for me when people expect cats to act like dogs, or act like they’re deceitful.  They aren’t!  They just AREN’T DOGS.

Pour les chats 🐈💞

Get ready for “more reasons why I fucking love cats”

  • Yes, the legends are true. Cats headbutt you to show their trust and affection. They also do it to show “hey look I see you as family.” Lions do it with members of their pride to say the same. It’s not just because they want food.
  • Cats nibbling is indeed literally cats grooming you. It’s what mom cats do to their kittens. If a cat is gently biting and/or licking you, they’re now your mom.
  • Meowing can simply be for the mere fact they want to say hello, want to play or be pet. Again, not just for food.
  • They barely meow at other cats (except for kittens, they meow at mom cat), mostly just humans. There are exceptions but overall, meowing is almost always for us.
  • Cats squinting/slow blinking is indeed basically the equivalent of us smiling and/or kissing.
  • Cats, like humans, prefer to get things without having to work for it- which isn’t very common within other animals.
  • Cat massages or making biscuits is because they happy! Kneading is another way of saying “hey I like this moment here I enjoy you and my life.”
  • Cats recognize us by smell, sound, taste, and touch. They recognize us after years as their long term memory is extremely good. This is why abused or neglected cats are so easily scared or hard to connect with. If your scent changes over the years or just in the day, your voice will them it’s really you. Also, they will only remember you if you had impact on their life. If you just existed in the same house, they obviously won’t care.
  • And yes, they know our patterns in the day. You notice it when it’s beneficial to them (feeding time!). They will often wait for you to come home as well.
  • To remember: cats think we are interesting as hell. They watch us do everything because we’re fascinating!!!
  • They also want you to be around when eating because they feel vulnerable. They focus on eating so they hope you protect them. They do the same for you, all the time.

CATS 😍😍😍😍

when a cat turns their back on you, they’re not snubbing you. they’re trusting you to watch their back.

notice how when you’re unfamiliar but nonthreatening, they might loaf facing you and sorta halfway watch you. you’re not fully trusted, but you’re ok by them.

when you’re familiar and liked, they’ll often sit near you facing the same way. imitation of poses is a weird little way cats show solidarity. they do it to each other too. check out these bff’s:

they are doing this on purpose. it’s a buddy thing. so if you’re watching tv and a cat sits next to you and pretends to watch tv too, they are basically calling you bro and declaring friendship.

and if they really love and trust you, they’ll turn their back on you and go to sleep. they’ll sleep facing a wall in your presence, or lounge where they can’t see the room. this isn’t a snub, folks, this is true kitty love. they’re saying, “i feel safe when you’re around. i know nothing’s going to sneak up on me, because you’re here. i feel so safe i can stick my head under a pillow and snore with my butt pointed at you.”

farts aren’t an expression of love, though, as far as i know. they’re just farts.

iinnii-antifa:

A few things about eugenics/sterilization in Canada from someone who knows too much about it for their own mental well being

(content warning for ableism, violence, misogyny and racism): 

– Involuntary/coercive sterilization was one part of a multifaceted strategy of eugenics that included restrictive marriage laws, immigration restrictions, and segregation of people considered unfit for public space in institutions. Canada is still chock full of these structures of power, so it comes as no surprise that involuntary/coercive sterilizations continue.

 – The biggest proponents of eugenics in its earliest form were political parties associated with “progressive” causes, including the “Famous Five” suffragettes and Tommy Douglas, who saw it as essential to preserving the integrity of the Canadian social safety net.

 – Sterilization without consent was perfectly legal in Canada for 44 years, mainly in the Western provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. In Alberta alone, under the Sexual Sterilization Act, of the total number of individuals sterilized, 64.7% were women, 49.8% were from rural communities, 40.6% were unemployed, 20.55% were characterized as housewives, 25.7% were Indigenous (a disproportionately high number considering Indigenous people made up only 3.4% of the total population in Alberta at the time), and 70.6% were under the age of 20. Most of the individuals who were sterilized were characterized at the time of being approved for sterilization as being “mentally unfit”, but a number of cases involved patients “recovering from retardation” after sterilization. 

– Eugenics emerged in the midst of a moral panic about sexual relationships between Indigenous women and white settler men, and exaggerated hysteria about Indigenous and “feeble minded” women engaging in sex trade work. 

– The Alberta Eugenics Board disbanded in 1972. Many of the people who served on the board are still alive. There is no record of them ever facing any professional consequences for what they did, even though the Alberta government and apologized to some of the victims after Leilani Muir’s lawsuit. This includes John M. MacEachran, who co-founded the Canadian Psychological Association and was co-founder of the department of Psychology and Philosophy Department at the University of Alberta. Until 2003, an award in his name was given out by U of A, “honoring his accomplishments”. 

I’m saying all this because the horrors of involuntary sterilization and colonialism are not an accident. They’re a part of Canada’s national fabric. They’re a part of what made Canada a state. And the fact that they continue today, long after the laws supporting them were formally struck down, should come as no surprise.