#kidney advocate

[cyarsk52-20]

When Tina Turner left her first husband - who was also her boss, captor, and brutal tormentor - she snuck out of their Dallas hotel room with a single thought in her mind: "The way out is through the door." From there she fled across the midnight freeway, semi-trucks careening past her, with 36 cents and a Mobil gas card in her pocket. As soon as she decided to walk out that door, she owned nothing else. When she filed for divorce, she made an unusual request. She didn't want anything: not the song rights, not the cars, not the houses, not the money. All she wanted was the stage name he gave her - Tina - and her married name - Turner. This was the name by which the world had come to know her, and keeping it was her only chance to salvage her career. Things could have gone a lot of ways from there. She could have labored in obscurity for decades, maybe making records on small labels to be prized by vinyl connoisseurs in Portland. She could have stayed in Vegas, where she first went to get her chops back up, and worked as a nostalgia act. And, of course, given what she had been through, she might have … not made it. What happened instead is that Tina Turner became the biggest global rock star of the 80s. I'm old enough to barely remember this, but if you aren't, it was like this: The Rolling Stones would headline a stadium one day, and the next day it would be Tina Turner. A middle-aged Black woman - she became a rock star at 42! - sitting atop the 1980s like it was her throne. She managed this because of whatever rare stuff she was made of (this is a woman whose label gave her two weeks to record her solo debut, Private Dancer, which went five times platinum); because she decided to speak publicly about her abusive marriage and forge her own identity, and in doing so give hope and courage to countless women; and also because - in a perhaps unlikely twist for a girl from Nutbush, Tennessee - she had her practice of Soka Gakkai Nichiren Buddhism, to which she credited her survival. She remained devout until the end. Tina's second marriage - to her, her only marriage - was to Edwin Bach, a Swiss music executive 16 years her junior. Of him, she said, "Erwin, who is a force of nature in his own right, has never been the least bit intimidated by my career, my talents, or my fame." In 2016, after a barrage of health problems, Tina's kidneys began to fail. A Swiss citizen by then, she had started preparing for assisted suicide when her husband stepped in. According to Tina, he said, "He didn't want another woman, or another life." He gave her one of his kidneys, buying her the remainder of her time on this earth and perhaps closing a cycle which took her from a man who inflicted injury upon her to a man willing to inflict injury upon himself to save her from harm. Born into a share-cropping family as Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, she died Tina Turner in a palatial Swiss estate: the queen of rock 'n roll; a storm of a performer with a wildcat-fierce voice; a dancer of visceral, spine-tingling potency and ability; a beauty for the ages; a survivor of terrible abuse and an advocate for others in similar situations; an author and actress; a devout Buddhist; a wife and mother; a human being of rare talent and perseverance who, through her transcendent brilliance, became a legend.

Credit: Will Stenberg

#in memoriam #tina turner

[kidneystories2013]

#VASUNDHARA RAGHAVAN #KIDNEY DONOR #GLOBAL KIDNEY ADVOCATE #AUTHOR #FOUNDER OF THE KIDNEY WARRIORS

[ratbastarddotfuck]

.

This is maybe the funniest (worst) radfem post I've come across in a while. It was a comment about cis women getting hysterectomies.

Do y'all know how many feminists have been fighting to be allowed to get hysterectomies without a) birthing (often multiple) children or b) a husband's permission? Including many people who have extremely painful and/or dangerous uterus-related conditions, like PCOS or menorrhagia? So many doctors HATE giving hysterectomies specifically because "you really should have kids first".

Also, cis men don't need to "remove their ballsack" to avoid having kids. They get vasectomies. An incredibly simple, routine procedure.

People who are getting hysterectomies are often doing so for reasons not solely related to pregnancy - if it were just about fertility, getting your tubes tied would suffice if you were averse to other forms of birth control. My mum did that after my sister was born, and then went back in for a hysterectomy a few years later because her periods were agonising. My aunty also had a hysto several years back, because not only were her periods agonising, but they would cause flare ups in some of her other conditions.

I just... how are you calling yourself a feminist while advocating for LESS bodily autonomy for women? How can you act like women are being stupid or reckless in their choice to get a hysto and not see the indescribable misogyny you're utilising?

"It's never [cis] men who remove an organ just because they don't want it" yeah, I wonder if that's because they don't have an organ that causes agonising blood loss on a monthly basis? Like... nobody's out here getting kidneys removed for fun. It's a very specific organ only being removed for very specific, personal reasons.

It's my body, not yours. Hands the fuck off.

*This post is authored by a trans person. If you're agreeing with me about this topic while being against trans healthcare, consider that your whole ideology is built in opposition to bodily autonomy for people outside your ideals of gender. Sit with that information.*

#feminism #healthcare #gender #this post really pissed me off #you're ridiculing cis women for getting hysterectomies now? your suffragettes would be horrified. #the system speaks

[jazzcathaven]

When Tina Turner left her first husband - who was also her boss, captor, and brutal tormentor - she snuck out of their Dallas hotel room with a single thought in her mind: "The way out is through the door." From there she fled across the midnight freeway, semi-trucks careening past her, with 36 cents and a Mobil gas card in her pocket. As soon as she decided to walk out that door, she owned nothing else. When she filed for divorce, she made an unusual request. She didn't want anything: not the song rights, not the cars, not the houses, not the money. All she wanted was the stage name he gave her - Tina - and her married name - Turner. This was the name by which the world had come to know her, and keeping it was her only chance to salvage her career.

Things could have gone a lot of ways from there. She could have labored in obscurity for decades, maybe making records on small labels to be prized by vinyl connoisseurs in Portland. She could have stayed in Vegas, where she first went to get her chops back up, and worked as a nostalgia act. And, of course, given what she had been through, she might have ... not made it.

What happened instead is that Tina Turner became the biggest global rock star of the 80s. I'm old enough to barely remember this, but if you aren't, it was like this: The Rolling Stones would headline a stadium one day, and the next day it would be Tina Turner. A middle-aged Black woman - she became a rock star at 42! - sitting atop the 1980s like it was her throne. She managed this because of whatever rare stuff she was made of (this is a woman whose label gave her two weeks to record her solo debut, Private Dancer, which went five times platinum); because she decided to speak publicly about her abusive marriage and forge her own identity, and in doing so give hope and courage to countless women; and also because - in a perhaps unlikely twist for a girl from Nutbush, Tennessee - she had her practice of Soka Gakkai Nichiren Buddhism, to which she credited her survival. She remained devout until the end. Tina's second marriage - to her, her only marriage - was to Edwin Bach, a Swiss music executive 16 years her junior. Of him, she said, "Erwin, who is a force of nature in his own right, has never been the least bit intimidated by my career, my talents, or my fame.

"In 2016, after a barrage of health problems, Tina's kidneys began to fail. A Swiss citizen by then, she had started preparing for assisted suicide when her husband stepped in. According to Tina, he said, "He didn't want another woman, or another life." He gave her one of his kidneys, buying her the remainder of her time on this earth and perhaps closing a cycle which took her from a man who inflicted injury upon her to a man willing to inflict injury upon himself to save her from harm.

Born into a share-cropping family as Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, she died Tina Turner in a palatial Swiss estate: the queen of rock 'n roll; a storm of a performer with a wildcat-fierce voice; a dancer of visceral, spine-tingling potency and ability; a beauty for the ages; a survivor of terrible abuse and an advocate for others in similar situations; an author and actress; a devout Buddhist; a wife and mother; a human being of rare talent and perseverance who, through her transcendent brilliance, became a legend.

Credit: Will Stenberg

[achaotichuman]

It went right over my head when I read it before but it’s wild to think you were an IC fan before 🤯

Some of the awful years.

Y’all will flip at this, but here were my thoughts on the Acotar cast when I was fresh in the fandom.

Rhysand- Liked him, didn’t feel as bad for him as others did but I knocked that down to me just straight up not being attracted to him. I started hating him in Acosf tho. I hadn’t read Acosaf because I thought it a waste of time. But if I had seen those scenes before Silver flames then I would’ve probably hated him sooner.

Feyre- I thought she was really fucking annoying. Especially in her scenes with Nesta. Not much can be said for her because Feyre was more of a device to see through. But I would be the last to advocate for her. Obviously that has changed drastically.

Morrigan- Liar. First thing that comes to mind. She seemed like a white girl who peaked in highschool so I just didn’t like her.

Amren- She was my favourite character second to Nesta. Solely for the reason we now had a morally grey character that actually acted like an unapologetically bad person when she wanted to. This has severely changed. Also literally two lines into her introduction I was screaming Valg King. Amren is a Valg King no one can change my mind. That part hasn’t changed.

Cassian- I was a die hard Cassian fan. I loved this man. I swear to God I would have gone to war for him. I was also die hard nessian. Obviously that has also changed, for the better in my opinion.

Azriel- I cannot physically express how much I hated Azriel. He was quite literally my least favourite character, I wanted him dead. I was hoping every single page that he would be killed off. He was there for vibes and vibes only. Since Azris I am a changed man, but sometimes I just can’t stand him.

Nesta- My Queen. My Lady. My wife. My mirror. She made me feel seen and heard. I love this woman and I always will.

Elain- No opinions on her. I figured pretty quickly she would be a bigger factor later on but I had no opinions on her. I am very pro Elain now, but in canon I just don’t really trust SJM with her. Which is also why my only solid ship with her is Gywnlain. I am very anti Elriel, always was.

Lucien- My heart and soul. I was obsessed with this man. I wanted to wrap him up and hold him close. Still do.

Eris- I didn’t understand the hype in Acowar but come silver flames and I was diving deep into this man. Trying to undo every cryptic word. I developed a very deep love for him. One that has only grown.

Tamlin- Felt sorry for him, but overall I had no strong opinions. I really wanted Acotar back. In the first book I would have probably given up a kidney for him, then it went down slowly. In Acowar however I was defending this man left and right. By Acosf I wanted more Tamlin.

Then I started to deep dive into the characters and their arcs. This was before I joined Tumblr. And the more I read the more convinced I was that in the next book the IC was going to have a falling out because their dynamics made no sense to me. They looked like they were slowly breaking, and Rhysand was very shortly put on my anti list.

But I never made a big fuss about my thoughts because if I did I got attacked really fuckin quickly.

Then I joined Tumblr and found a great community where I could hate and be supported.

Love you guys to death. Thanks to all of you I get to be in my Pro Tamlin, anti IC world and I am so glad I get to be here.

Edit- I was also extremely closeted when I first read Acotar and that definitely had its affect on my opinions on some of the characters.

#anti ic #anti rhysand #pro tamlin #pro nesta archeron #acotar #critical feyre archeron #anti rhys

[newhologram]

“I write this eulogy while looking across one of the ten-lane freeways P-22 somehow miraculously crossed in 2012, gazing at a view of his new home, Griffith Park. Burbank Peak and the other hills that mark the terminus of the Santa Monica Mountains emerge from this urban island like sentinels making a last stand against the second largest city in the country. The traffic noise never ceases. Helicopters fly overhead. The lights of the city give the sky no peace.

“Yet a mountain lion lived here, right here in Los Angeles.

“I can’t finish this sentence without crying because of the past tense. It’s hard to imagine I will be writing about P-22 in the past tense now.

"Biologists and veterinarians with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today they have made the difficult decision to end P-22’s suffering and help him transition peacefully to the next place. I hope his future is filled with endless forests without a car or road in sight and where deer are plentiful, and I hope he finally finds the mate that his island existence denied him his entire life.

“I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to say goodbye to P-22. Although I have advocated for his protection for a decade, we had never met before. I sat near him, looking into his eyes for a few minutes, and told him he was a good boy. I told him how much I loved him. How much the world loved him. And I told him I was so sorry that we did not make the world a safer place for him. I apologized that despite all I and others who cared for him did, we failed him.

“I don’t have any illusion that my presence or words comforted him. And I left with a great sadness I will carry for the rest of my days.

“Before I said goodbye, I sat in a conference room with team members from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the team of doctors at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The showed me a video of P-22’s CT scan, images of the results, and my despair grew as they outlined the list of serious health issues they had uncovered from all their testing: stage two kidney failure, a weight of 90 pounds (he normally weighs about 125), head and eye trauma, a hernia causing abdominal organs to fill his chest cavity, an extensive case of demodex gatoi (a parasitic skin infection likely transmitted from domestic cats), heart disease, and more. The most severe injuries resulted from him being hit by a car last week, and I thought of how terrible it was that this cat, who had managed to evade cars for a decade, in his weakened and desperate condition could not avoid the vehicle strike that sealed his fate.

“As the agency folks and veterinarians relayed these sobering facts to me, tissue boxes were passed around the table and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. This team cares just as much for this cat as we all do. They did everything they could for P-22 and deserve our gratitude.

“Although I wished so desperately he could be returned to the wild, or live out his days in a sanctuary, the decision to euthanize our beloved P-22 is the right one. With these health issues, there could be no peaceful retirement, only some managed care existence where we prolonged his suffering — not for his benefit, but for ours.

“Those of us who have pets know how it feels when we receive news from the veterinarian that we don’t want to hear. As a lifelong dog and cat owner, I have been in this dreadful position too many times. The decision to let them go is never easy, but we as humans have the ability, the responsibility, and the selflessness to show mercy to end the suffering for these beloved family members, a compassionate choice we scarcely have for ourselves.

“I look at Griffith Park through the window again and feel the loss so deeply. Whenever I hiked to the Hollywood sign, or strolled down a street in Beachwood Canyon to pick up a sandwich at The Oaks, or walked to my car after a concert at the Greek Theater, the wondrous knowledge that I could encounter P-22 always propelled me into a joyous kind of awe. And I am not alone — his legion of stans hoped for a sight of Hollywood’s most beloved celebrity, the Brad Pitt of the cougar world, on their walks or on their Ring cams, and when he made an appearance, the videos usually went viral. In perhaps the most Hollywood of P-22’s moments, human celebrity Alan Ruck, star of Succession, once reported seeing P-22 from his deck, and shouting at him like a devoted fan would.

“We will all be grappling with the loss of P-22 for some time, trying to make sense of a Los Angeles without this magnificent wild creature. I loved P-22 and hold a deep respect for his intrepid spirit, charm, and just plain chutzpah. We may never see another mountain lion stroll down Sunset Boulevard or surprise customers outside the Los Feliz Trader Joe’s. But perhaps that doesn’t matter — what matters is P-22 showed us it’s possible.

“He changed us.  He changed the way we look at LA. And his influencer status extended around the world, as he inspired millions of people to see wildlife as their neighbors. He made us more human, made us connect more to that wild place in ourselves. We are part of nature and he reminded us of that. Even in the city that gave us Carmeggedon, where we thought wildness had been banished a long time ago, P-22 reminded us it’s still here.

“His legacy to us, and to his kind will never fade. He ensured a future for the entire population of mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains by inspiring us to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which broke ground this spring.

“P-22 never fully got to be a mountain lion. His whole life, he suffered the consequences of trying to survive in unconnected space, right to the end when being hit by a car led to his tragic end. He showed people around the world that we need to ensure our roads, highways, and communities are better and safer when people and wildlife can freely travel to find food, shelter, and families. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing would not have been possible without P-22, but the most fitting memorial to P-22 will be how we carry his story forward in the work ahead. One crossing is not enough — we must build more, and we must continue to invest in proactive efforts to protect and conserve wildlife and the habitats they depend on — even in urban areas.

“P-22’s journey to and life in Griffith Park was a miracle. It’s my hope that future mountain lions will be able to walk in the steps of P-22 without risking their lives on California’s highways and streets. We owe it to P-22 to build more crossings and connect the habitats where we live now.

“Thank you for the gift of knowing you, P-22. I’ll miss you forever. But I will never stop working to honor your legacy, and although we failed you, we can at least partly atone by making the world safer for your kind.”

#p22 #rip #los angeles #animal death

[soberscientistlife]

When Tina Turner left her first husband - who was also her boss, captor, and brutal tormentor - she snuck out of their Dallas hotel room with a single thought in her mind: "The way out is through the door." From there she fled across the midnight freeway, semi-trucks careening past her, with 36 cents and a Mobil gas card in her pocket. As soon as she decided to walk out that door, she owned nothing else. When she filed for divorce, she made an unusual request. She didn't want anything: not the song rights, not the cars, not the houses, not the money. All she wanted was the stage name he gave her - Tina - and her married name - Turner. This was the name by which the world had come to know her, and keeping it was her only chance to salvage her career. Things could have gone a lot of ways from there. She could have labored in obscurity for decades, maybe making records on small labels to be prized by vinyl connoisseurs in Portland. She could have stayed in Vegas, where she first went to get her chops back up, and worked as a nostalgia act. And, of course, given what she had been through, she might have … not made it. What happened instead is that Tina Turner became the biggest global rock star of the 80s. I'm old enough to barely remember this, but if you aren't, it was like this: The Rolling Stones would headline a stadium one day, and the next day it would be Tina Turner. A middle-aged Black woman - she became a rock star at 42! - sitting atop the 1980s like it was her throne. She managed this because of whatever rare stuff she was made of (this is a woman whose label gave her two weeks to record her solo breakthrough, Private Dancer, which went five times platinum); because she decided to speak publicly about her abusive marriage and forge her own identity, and in doing so give hope and courage to countless women; and also because - in a perhaps unlikely twist for a girl from Nutbush, Tennessee - she had her practice of Soka Gakkai Nichiren Buddhism, to which she credited her survival. She remained devout until the end. Tina's second marriage - to her, her only marriage - was to Erwin Bach, a German music executive 16 years her junior. Of him, she said, "Erwin, who is a force of nature in his own right, has never been the least bit intimidated by my career, my talents, or my fame." In 2016, after a barrage of health problems, Tina's kidneys began to fail. A Swiss citizen by then, she had started preparing for assisted suicide when her husband stepped in. According to Tina, he said, "He didn't want another woman, or another life." He gave her one of his kidneys, buying her the remainder of her time on this earth and perhaps closing a cycle which took her from a man who inflicted injury upon her to a man willing to inflict injury upon himself to save her from harm. Born into a share-cropping family as Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, she died Tina Turner in a palatial Swiss estate: the queen of rock 'n roll; a storm of a performer with a wildcat-fierce voice; a dancer of visceral, spine-tingling potency and ability; a beauty for the ages; a survivor of terrible abuse and an advocate for others in similar situations; an author and actress; a devout Buddhist; a wife and mother; a human being of rare talent and perseverance who, through her transcendent brilliance, became a legend.

I will never forget seeing her in concert when I was in college in the early 1980s. The things she could do in Stiletto heels!

[hellyeahsickaf]

If you want to get mad about how fucking awful some doctors are, here you go

With my post about medical discrimination against addicts and disabled people gaining traction again I got a few people asking about how I'm doing after my kidney infection and what happened in the ER. I'm better, could've been much worse but when I was seen they gave me antibiotics before anything else- it was the one thing they did right

I knew I had a kidney infection, I told them that I had a UTI and checked off all of the boxes for a kidney infection which is potentially deadly and leads to sepsis in as little as 12-48 hours if untreated. Pro tip because I'm an idiot- always see a doctor for UTIs, you can't just self treat them even if it seems to be going away as was the case for me. That's how it reaches your kidneys. Whoops 🥴

I waited a few hours which is expected but I got progressively worse. I also reported my pain as an 8/10 (9 by the time I was seen), migraine, fever, chills, weakness, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, probably some other things. I was shaking, crying, curled up, truly some of the worst pain I've ever felt next to gallstones. Maybe others handle this kind of thing better. Or maybe most grown ass men they see in this condition either have serious injuries or are addicts putting on a show. In which case they'd still be truly suffering. It shouldn't matter if they're an addict if they're in the ER desperate for relief in that moment. But yeah, I was ignored for most of the night aside from being given antibiotics and Tylenol. I just reread my clinical notes from that night actually and got mad again lol

I saw the doctor for under 5 minutes that night. He asked why I was there and how I was doing. I told him how awful I felt and he didn't carry out any examinations, it was the first time I'd gone to the ER and wasn't even asked to wear a gown. Either way he was extremely neglectful. Had the nerve to report exams for ENT, eyes, cardio, abdominal, skin, etc that never happened. He didn't lay a finger on me. Reported answers to questions I was never asked like whether I've had past surgeries (he put no when I have). And at the end of his clinical notes he states the following:

"..While I considered a CT abdomen/pelvis, I do not currently feel it is necessary based on the patient's physical exam and clinical history and review of any labs that were ordered. Patient is otherwise well appearing; feel it is reasonable to discharge the patient home at this time with close outpatient follow up."

So he claims he considered a CT scan but based on the results of exams he never performed and clinical history he never asked for and the fact that I was "well appearing" (felt like I was dying), he felt it was "not necessary" to order a CT scan. Only at the end of my visit- 6 hours later was I given an effective painkiller. This negligence genuinely could have killed me and I didn't want it to happen to someone else so I reported him for malpractice. They carried out an investigation and concluded there was no wrongdoing on his part. The woman that was in charge of being in contact with me during the investigation was really nice and also pissed off on my behalf and rightfully so. Also some days after my visit I got a lab report indicating that the strain of infection I had was fairly uncommon and pretty fuckin dangerous with some strains being immune to antibiotics

Maybe I should have advocated for myself better but the condition I was in, I could hardly talk at all. I just hate that he just gets to keep practicing medicine and jeopardizing the health of his patients to make his job easier despite the fact that it could kill someone. It's fucked up how easy it is for doctors to get away with this shit really.

#ok to like #okay to reblog #medical ableism #medical malpractice #chronic pain #chronic illness #disability #chronic fаtiguе ѕуndrоmе #spoonie #me/cfs #ableism #fibromyalgia #actually disabled

[cogitoergofun]

A sweeping ban on COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all private businesses, including hospitals, is the latest blow to medically vulnerable Texans who rely on others’ immunization to shield themselves from highly transmissible viruses.

Tamer coronavirus variants and a soft vaccine booster rollout have contributed to a lessened sense of urgency around the virus. But the new measure, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law on Friday, could risk the health of groups like organ transplant recipients, cancer patients and those with underlying conditions as common as severe asthma.

These risks led to some bipartisan dissent during original Senate discussions of the bill, especially from state Sens. Borris Miles, D-Houston and Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, who both take immunosuppressants for their respective kidney transplants.

“I live a pretty normal life and am not fearful, but it does make you think about others,” Hancock said. “There's just a balance we have to keep in mind — just try to always think of others and the positions they may be in.”

For one, vaccines are less effective in some of these patients because their conditions prevent their bodies from manufacturing the white blood cells that can recognize and fight off viruses. But even with protection, the virus can exacerbate underlying conditions and lead to long-term symptoms of the virus, known as long COVID.

Scientists and health experts agree that the vaccine is safe and effective for most people with functioning immune systems, in reducing both transmission and severity of the virus.

“Everybody’s going to be different, so it's not automatic that a compromised individual will end up in the hospital or in the ICU,” said Dr. Jimmy Widmer, an internal medicine specialist. “But what we do know throughout the past three and a half years of COVID, is that time and time again, study after study has shown that those who are immunocompromised are hospitalized at a higher rate.”

In the past, state lawmakers’ efforts to stymie vaccine mandates have excluded hospitals and other medical facilities — partially because under federal emergency rules, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services required vaccinations among employees.

The regulation was withdrawn over the summer, and since then, many facilities have differed on their rules. A “vast majority” of them did not even have a blanket mandate at this point, said Carrie Kroll, an advocacy leader for the Texas Hospital Association.

“We’re very hopeful that the worst of the COVID pandemic is behind us,” Kroll said. “But we know with infectious disease, what may rule today may not rule in six months, in terms of disease levels and what this disease morphs into.”

In the end, lawmakers included a provision that would allow hospitals to require unvaccinated employees to wear personal protective equipment despite advocates fighting for a complete exclusion from the bill.

Alice Barton, a retired infectious disease doctor living in Austin, said it's “impossible to imagine” this measure will be enforced. Barton, 70, has severe asthma and an autoimmune disease, and said she just received the triple vaccine for the flu, COVID, and RSV.

“I'm the only person still who wears a mask to the doctor's office. I'm one of two people in my church who wears a mask,” Barton said. “One becomes lonely. It's not just being physically isolated from other people. It's that other people aren't thinking about us anymore.”

Barton is one of many people worried that state lawmakers will continue further down the warpath against vaccine requirements, onto other immunizations like those for polio or measles.

But, with the law now in place, advocates hope to transform the idea that people “have” to get the vaccine into an idea that they “should” to protect their peers.

Chase Bearden, a leader at the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, said now that there’s less external pressure on Texans to make this decision, he hopes they realize it’s one they can make of their own accord.

“What can we all do on a personal level to keep everyone safe, especially those who may not have the great health that the rest of us do?” Bearden said. “There’s so many family members that are going through cancer treatment or living with a chronic health condition. And yes, you're a healthy person. You don't think you need it. But if you get it, you easily pass that on to the next person who takes it home.”

Stephanie Duke, an attorney who helps handle disaster management at Disability Rights Texas, said the state should be doing everything it can to promote public health, and that should include people with disabilities.

“People go in to get health care, and you would expect your health care provider to be doing everything they can to make that safe,” Duke said.

Duke said government officials often forget to include disabled people in disaster preparedness, and the global pandemic was no different than a hurricane evacuation. Several policies issued during the height of the public health emergency have hurt those who don’t have functioning immune systems or with chronic illnesses.

[fenrislorsrai]

But what made my raincoat so trustworthy that day on the mountain could also, in theory, kill me — or, more likely, kill or sicken any of the thousands of people who live downstream of the manufacturers that make waterproofing chemicals and the landfills where waterproof clothing is incinerated or interred. Outdoor apparel is typically ultraprocessed and treated using perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a class of water- and stain-resistant “forever chemicals” that are more commonly referred to as PFAS (pronounced “pee-fass”). After decades of work by environmental groups and health advocates, states and retailers are finally banning the sale of textiles that have been treated with the chemicals, which in the outdoor industry often manifest in the form of Gore-Tex membranes or “durable water repellent” treatments. These bans are fast approaching: Beginning in 2025 — less than 12 months from now — California will forbid the sale of most PFAS-treated textiles; New York will restrict them in apparel; and Washington will regulate stain- and waterproofing treatments, with similar regulations pending or approved in a number of other states. Following pressure from activists, the nation’s largest outdoor retailer, REI, also announced last winter that it will ban PFAS in all the textile products and cookware sold in its stores starting fall 2024; Dick’s Sporting Goods will also eliminate PFAS from its brand-name clothing. - - - It is also because of this bond that PFAS are so stubbornly persistent — in the environment, certainly, but also in us. An estimated 98% to 99% of people have traces of PFAS in their bodies. Researchers have found the molecules in breast milk, rainwater, and Antarctica’s snow. We inhale them in dust and drink them in our tap water, and because they look a little like a fatty acid to our bodies, they can cause health problems that we’re only beginning to grasp. So far, PFAS have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, decreased fertility, elevated cholesterol, weight gain, thyroid disease, the pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia, increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, hormone interference, and reduced vaccine response in children.

#pfas #clothing #waterproofing #goretex #forever chemicals

[howtomuslim]

Animal Welfare in Islam

Islam, often misunderstood in its teachings, holds a profound regard for the welfare of animals. The religion not only prohibits unnecessary harm to animals but also outlines specific guidelines ensuring their well-being. A religion where one isn’t even allowed to harm an ant without reason or overburden an animal. Let’s delve into some aspects of Islamic teachings on animal welfare, shedding light on the compassion embedded in its principles.

Animals in War: A Protected Entity

In the midst of conflict, where chaos often reigns, Islam takes a firm stance on the treatment of animals. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade the killing of animals except for food, emphasising the sanctity of their lives, even in the heat of battle. This reflects the compassionate nature of Islam, extending its ethical considerations to the animal kingdom.

Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Do not kill the animals except for two reasons: (i) A useful animal (i.e., lawful to be eaten) and, (ii) An animal that causes harm (i.e., a dangerous animal).” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3131, Book 56, Hadith 40)

Horses: Not a Mere Tool of War 

Islam recognises the invaluable service of horses in wars but prohibits their constant use without rest. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advocated for kindness to animals, emphasising that they should not be overburdened or mistreated. This showcases Islam’s emphasis on the ethical treatment of animals, even in situations where they are utilised for human needs.

Narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “When you buy a camel, take hold of it’s hump and let it pass by you, for under the hump are the kidneys, and the kidneys are the seat of the soul of the animal.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2165, Book 36, Hadith 5)

Forgiveness and Compassion: The Prostitute and the Thirsty Dog

 One poignant Hadith narrates the story of a prostitute forgiven for her sins due to an act of kindness towards a thirsty dog. By giving water to the dog, she displayed compassion, and Allah, in His infinite mercy, forgave her transgressions. This illustrates Islam’s emphasis on deeds of kindness, showcasing a faith that embraces repentance and forgiveness.

“The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7376, Book 97, Hadith 41; Sahih Muslim 2319, Book 45, Hadith 144)

The Cat and the Path to Hell

 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlighted the importance of compassion towards animals by narrating a Hadith about two women. One woman prayed regularly, while the other neglected her prayers but was kind to a cat. The latter found favor in Allah’s eyes, emphasising the significance of kindness to animals and others as an important virtue.

Islam, often portrayed in a narrow light, harbours a profound appreciation for the welfare of animals. The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) showcase a religion that not only prohibits cruelty but also promotes kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. By understanding these principles, we gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty embedded in Islamic teachings, a beauty that extends beyond human relations to encompass all living beings.

To learn more about Islam visit: Howtomuslim.org

References:

Sahih al-Bukhari 2466, Book 46, Hadith 24

Sahih al-Bukhari 3140, Book 60, Hadith 27

#islamicreminders #islamdaily #islamic #allah #muslim #quran #islam #islamiyet #mosque #new article #newblog #new blog #animals #animal videos #cat

[sunder-the-gold]

Collectivism versus Individualism

@gsirvitor @philosophicalconservatism @lockedkey

Could you provide your own thoughts to help me sort out these concepts?

Axiom A: American Conservatives tend to be individualists, whereas Progressives tend to be collectivists. Both in terms of personal versus collective responsibility, and in terms of independence versus codependence. [Some on either side of the divide define 'individualism' and 'self-reliance' to the point of 'living as a hermit', but I think most individualists do not interpret it so.]

Axiom B: Yet American Conservatives tend to believe in the value of family, particularly nuclear family, blood ties, and marriage. Whereas Progressives tend to abandon their families for any ideological disagreement, prefer self-selected friend groups ("found family") over biological kin (and will disown them just as quickly), and put much less stock in getting married or having children.

Axiom C: Progressives / collectivists accuse American conservatives / individualists of promoting the atomization of society, whereby communities break apart into completely disconnected individuals who only look out for their own self-interests.

Axiom D: Yet a society where everyone depends more on government welfare than on their family, and more on social security (paid for by total strangers) than their own children for retirement, and in fact where no one gets married and children are artificially bred and owned by the state... is not only the most atomized that humanity could be, it more closely resembles the society that progressives want than the one conservatives want.

Thesis Question: Why would collectivists simultaneously decry and yet advocate for a fully-atomized society, while individualists would seek to promote and preserve interconnected families and communities?

Hypothesis A: Collectivism dismisses each individual as a fungible, identical, completely-interchangeable member of a larger group. A single grain of sand on the beach. To atomize society is to realize collectivism, therefore collectivists promote that outcome in practice even as they want to believe they act against it.

Hypothesis B: American conservatism sees each individual as unique, non-fungible, irreplaceable. A distinct organ within a living creature, where an eyeball and a kidney cannot be switched without consequence. To see other individuals as sacred is to build families and communities.

#collectivism #individualism #atomization #community

[thechronicpaingame]

Ask for kidney function tests. Even if they did them. This sounds like my mom's end stage kidney disease & eventual cancer. *hugs* ♡

They keep repeating them and the only things coming up high are my MCH & MCHC levels (which are related to haemoglobin but I'm not anaemic (yet) as in my folate and b12 are fine) so I'm so confused myself haha.

My urea is verging on low and creatinine verging on high but nothing outside the "normal" limits (yet).

I'm so tired of arguing with them 😔 you guys advocate for me more than any doctor has! ♥️ I'll make sure they repeat everything soon tho x

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

From there she fled across the midnight freeway, semi-trucks careening past her, with 36 cents and a Mobil gas card in her pocket. As soon as she decided to walk out that door, she owned nothing else.

When she filed for divorce, she made an unusual request. She didn't want anything: not the song rights, not the cars, not the houses, not the money. All she wanted was the stage name he gave her - Tina - and her married name - Turner. This was the name by which the world had come to know her, and keeping it was her only chance to salvage her career.

Things could have gone a lot of ways from there. She could have labored in obscurity for decades, maybe making records on small labels to be prized by vinyl connoisseurs in Portland. She could have stayed in Vegas, where she first went to get her chops back up, and worked as a nostalgia act. And, of course, given what she had been through, she might have ... not made it.

What happened instead is that Tina Turner became the biggest global rock star of the 80s. I'm old enough to barely remember this, but if you aren't, it was like this: The Rolling Stones would headline a stadium one day, and the next day it would be Tina Turner. A middle-aged Black woman - she became a rock star at 42! - sitting atop the 1980s like it was her throne.

She managed this because of whatever rare stuff she was made of (this is a woman whose label gave her two weeks to record her solo debut, Private Dancer, which went five times platinum); because she decided to speak publicly about her abusive marriage and forge her own identity, and in doing so give hope and courage to countless women; and also because - in a perhaps unlikely twist for a girl from Nutbush, Tennessee - she had her practice of Soka Gakkai Nichiren Buddhism, to which she credited her survival. She remained devout until the end.

Tina's second marriage - to her, her only marriage - was to Edwin Bach, a Swiss music executive 16 years her junior. Of him, she said, "Erwin, who is a force of nature in his own right, has never been the least bit intimidated by my career, my talents, or my fame."

In 2016, after a barrage of health problems, Tina's kidneys began to fail. A Swiss citizen by then, she had started preparing for assisted suicide when her husband stepped in. According to Tina, he said, "He didn't want another woman, or another life."

He gave her one of his kidneys, buying her the remainder of her time on this earth and perhaps closing a cycle which took her from a man who inflicted injury upon her to a man willing to inflict injury upon himself to save her from harm.

Born into a share-cropping family as Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, she died Tina Turner in a palatial Swiss estate: the queen of rock 'n roll; a storm of a performer with a wildcat-fierce voice; a dancer of visceral, spine-tingling potency and ability; a beauty for the ages; a survivor of terrible abuse and an advocate for others in similar situations; an author and actress; a devout Buddhist; a wife and mother; a human being of rare talent and perseverance who, through her transcendent brilliance, became a legend.

[Will Stenberg]

#Tina Turner #superstar #obituary #Queen of Rock and Roll #Will Stenberg

[frostyreturns]

Nobody needs help commiting suicide. That’s a complete fantasy made up by the state to manipulate your emotions so you’ll grant them unilateral rights to kill basically whoever they want. It’s very easy to kill yourself if you really want to do it, the problem is most people don’t actually want to do it, we all kind of have this self preservation instinct that we have to fight with tooth and nail in order to do it. This is farming out that instinct to someone who doesn’t have it and doesn’t care about you...meaning people who would not have otherwise killed themselves will soon be dead because at their lowest and most vulnerable point they will be convinced to put that life and death decision in the hands of someone who not only doesn’t have that self preservation instinct on your behald but is being actively told that it’s merciful to end you. Fucking evil. It’s not hard to pick up a gun and the oldest and feeblest most disease ridden patient in the world can swallow a pill on their own. Which is where the fucking hypocrisy never ends, we’ll not let suffering patients take whatever pain killing drugs they want because it’s dangerous and they might get addicted but we will just kill them so they don’t feel pain that’s fine. How about we just let people take what drugs they fucking want, maybe fewer will want to die because they’ll have some fucking pain relief, and if they decide to take enough to kill them then that’s their business. Nobody needs a fucking dr death.

 It’s already tremendously difficult to route out murderers in the medical profession this would make it impossible. Some of history most prolific and heinous serial killers were doctors or nurses because it’s so hard to prove certain things are murder in a place where it’s normal for people to die all day every day. So they want to add to this system a defense where all they have to say is that the person requested it, and then its their word against a dead persons. How many fucking people are going to be murdered because loved ones are not allowed in hospitals to advocate for people because of the coof. Nobody there to say no what the fuck are you doing they don’t want to be fucking killed you pyschopaths.

A system with numerous incentives to want to murder you even if you take out the top down depopulation ideology they look at you as a collection of organs that could keep several other people alive. Why keep this one single person alive that nobody seems to give a shit about when I have 3 important people waiting for a liver a kidney and a heart transplant...really if I kill this guy and harvest his organs I’m a hero, that’s democracy right, 3 against 1? Needs of the many vs the needs of the few so fuck em. Or how about just the healthcare costs of keeping you alive? The strain and stress of patient load and overworked health workers. This is who you want to have that kind of life and death power, someone who benefits in every concievable way if you die? 

Increase palliative care and admit terminal patients sooner, deregulate painkilling drugs and increase patient access to painkillers. These are the first steps if what you actually want is to decrease suffering but it’s not so they skipped all of these steps and went straight to just let me fucking kill them. It’s not about death with dignity, it’s not about poor suffering grandmas who are going to die anyway. It’s about wanting the power to murder more easily and to encourage more people to kill themselves. 

I mean look at the people in Canada being recommended suicide by their fucking doctors these are not sick cancer patients in too much pain to pick up a gun to blow their heads off, these are depressed 18 year olds being pumped full of drugs that do nothing for them and then when that doesn’t work are told hey just kill yourself. Thanks doc you first.

[ejzah]

The Other Shoe, Part 10

***

Deeks was puttering around in the back yard (yep, he’d been reduced to a putter) when someone tapped at the gate, and Sam let himself through. He looked around at the garden which Deeks had devoted significant amount of spare time to, just for something to do.

“Looks good. The cucumbers are coming along,” he observed.

“Thanks. I finally got rid of the powdery mildew so they’re flourishing.” Deeks set his hoe to the side, pausing a beat before he asked, “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“I took a half day.”

“Sam Hanna taking time off? I would ask if someone’s dying, but that,uh, seems in poor taste.”

Sam shook his head. “Only you Deeks.”

“So, what’s going on?” Deeks pressed. “Cause I’m pretty sure you’re not here for some heirloom tomatoes.”

“No, I’m not.” He gestured to the patio. “Let’s have a seat. I got something we gotta talk about.”

Deeks set the gardening tools to the side, following after Sam reluctantly. He supposed he should have expected another lecture since it had only been a few days since the last one. Though at this point, he wasn’t sure what the topic would revolve around. As much as it annoyed him, he’d behaved himself recently, though that was mostly due to necessity.

Deeks eased himself into a chair, ruffling his sweat-matted hair. “So let me guess. It’s reckless to keep pushing myself so hard. I need to focus on getting better and let the rest of you pick up the slack,” he rattled off on a slightly sing-song way.

“That’s all good advice,” Sam said calmly. “But not what I was going to say.” He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together in an uncharacteristically uncertain gesture. “I got a call from the Living Donor Advocate today.” He spread his hands wide. “I’m a match.”

“What?” Deeks breathed.

Sam grinned, shaking his head like he knew what Deeks was thinking. “Surprised me too. Who’d have thought I’d be a good organ match for a self-described descendent of Vikings?”

“Sam, that’s, that’s…” Deeks broke off, completely speechless. Seeing his struggle, Sam reached over and squeezed his knee. When Deeks looked up, his expression was sympathetic.

“Hey, you ok? I know it’s a lot to take in.”

“That’s for sure. I’d didn’t really think anyone would be a match. Um…what did Kensi say?” He imagined her relief at the news.

“I didn’t tell her yet. I wanted to tell you first. Figured you could have the honor of telling Kensi,” Sam said.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to give you time to think about all of this. I know you have reservations about accepting a donation from one of us—”

“Yeah, because it has the potential to affect the rest of your life,” Deeks interrupted. It was infuriating how everyone dismissed his concerns so easily. “Donating a kidney almost certainly means no more fieldwork, complications during the surgery, not to mention short and long term health risks. Do you really think I feel comfortable asking that of any of you?”

“I’d do it for you in a heart beat,” Sam responded without pause. “I know any of us would if we could.”

“So you’d be ok with an early retirement as a field agent and months of down time while you recuperate? Maybe more.” He’d promised Kensi he would consider any viable matches, but it went against his very core to accept such a huge sacrifice.

“Yes. As soon as a transplant was put on the table, I started thinking about what I would do. I’ve made my peace with it. Now it’s your turn to do the same,” Sam told him, no judgment in his voice. “I can’t begin to know what you’ve gone through during all this, but I think we all consider one less kidney a small sacrifice to keep you with us longer.”

Deeks inhaled heavily, emotions suddenly at the forefront again. He blamed the damn medications for making him cry at the drop of a hat.

“We’ve lost enough people, brother.”

“Damn it,” Deeks whispered, tears suddenly pricking against his eyes. Sam leaned forward, wrapping Deeks in a comforting hug.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright. We got this,” he murmured in Deeks ear. “And you’re going to be a lot more awesome because you’ll have a little piece of Sam Hanna floating around inside you.”

Deeks snorted at that, squeezing back as Sam ruffled his hair affectionately.

“Thanks, man.”

“Any time.” Standing up from the table, Sam gestured to the gate. “I’ll let you think this over before Kensi gets home.”

***

A/N: So, did I surprise any of you with Sam being the match? I don’t know why, but it just seemed right.

#ncis la fanfiction #marty deeks #sam hanna #the other shoe #part 10 #au #sick fic #Deeks whump #kind of angsty #ejzah fanfiction