(no subject)

[gwydion]

* The fire in Colorado has eaten at least 346 houses. People have lost pretty much everything. Its only 10% contained. It's now expected to burn until mid-July.

il_volpe's fire update: http://il-volpe.livejournal.com/31740.html

* Health care Reform has been upheld. Chief justice Roberts (!?!?!!!) backed the law. O.o

* It's looking like Fast and Furious is pretty much the exact opposite of the way FOX is reporting it. It turns out it was an effort to stop straw purchasers buying large quantities of guns for Mexican cartels stymied by Arizona gun laws that make this a legal endeavor. They weren't walking guns across the border, instead they were begging prosecutors to let them arrest folks trafficking in guns. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#47989040

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

* "Plague confirmed in Oregon man bitten by stray cat:" http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2018441336_apusplagueoregon.html

* "Closeted LGBTQs Owe You Nothing:" http://neo-prodigy.livejournal.com/1074592.html

I live all the way out. I am aware of that being a matter of privilege. I'm on government disability, so I don't have to deal with work discrimination. I live in a fairly quiltbag friendly town in a left leaning region. I still face risk when I leave my house, but to a certain extent my disability shields me. (Would you want to be the guy in court explaining why you beat up a helpless cripple?) For me, the risk is acceptable, but it isn't for other people with other circumstances. Out or in, open or stealth is and should remain a personal decision.

Unless you are a public figure doing material harm to other Quiltbag folks, outing is completely unacceptable. So is shaming people who have made their own calculations about how out they want to be.

As always, I ask "Let's stop oppressing each other and instead to make things better for everyone."

* "Some things on my mind: Women of color and the virgin/whore dichtomy:" http://eshusplayground.tumblr.com/post/25381853559/some-things-on-my-mind-women-of-color-and-the

* "Sharon Needles' Clueless Bigotry:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/06/sharon-needles-clueless-bigotry.html

* I've been reading Sisters Red (also rereading Magic Labyrinth, the forth Riverworld novel, and some non-fiction I had to barrel through when I was getting my MA that deserved more leisurely consideration). Sisters Red is a modern twist on Little Red Riding hood with Werewolves with strong female leads. It's a fast read, with strong plotting, interesting world building, and whole lot going on under the surface as far as sister relationships, sacrifice and necessary self interest, and what it means to be a woman in a society full of dangers. I think the theme in it about choices and identity is a really important one, and handled in a fairly organic way. I did guess the plot twists but I generally do, and it was a satisfying read.

* I spent a disappointing hour or two today physician hunting. Sigh. Most of it with Hector howling at me because he objects to phones. Note to self: distribute goosh before trying to do internet research/phone calls.

* It looks like I may get lasiks when probate goes through, as it's reasonably priced and it's a reasonable car trip to get. This will be a huge help as there is no longer eye doctor/glasses coverage for the poor and I think I'm going to need bifocals soon. It looks like a good investment. Even the minimalist bottom surgery I am sort of interested in is way expensive and requires travel, so while I'm still pursuing a lead, it's likely not going to happen. (My choices are basically get a passport and try Canada or take a plane to one of the US providers. My documents are still in limbo, also waiting for probate, which means five or six steps between now and me seeing a Doctor. Just thinking about it makes me tired.)

* I think I confused folks with the goat milk thing. 1. I love goat cheese, but do not drink milk of any kind ever for the same reason I don't eat mayonnaise or swallow sperm. It's a texture issue mostly. 2,. I was given a thing of goat milk. I tried it in tea and it was too much/overwhelming for the tea. 3. I am looking for suggestions of things that it would be good to bake with.

Sorry for being unclear.

* Tumblr continues to baffle me. The picture I posted a while back of e. coli is now the most popular thing I've posted over there, with more than double the attention that the thing about Internment camps got, the previous winner. These are not popular by tumblr standards, but they are by things I post standards if that makes sense. I posted it as part of a serious of microbe photos in support of my belief that often terrible and deadly things turn out to be beautiful. Here it is in case you are curious: http://gottabeki.tumblr.com/post/26109839951/realcleverscience-gwydionmisha-e-coli

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

Goat milk works great in fudge recipes!

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

I didn't think of fudge, as my ancestral fudge recipe is terrible. Do you have a favorite recipe?

[jrtom.livejournal.com]

Note that LASIK won't solve presbyopia per se. There are variants/refinements that is not yet FDA approved (so a brief websearch tells me) that are supposed to help, but I wouldn't expect anything from that soon.

What LASIK might do for you is fix your nearsightedness so that you'll only need glasses (or contacts?--not sure if you can wear contacts post-LASIK, might be worth checking) for reading, i.e., close vision.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

As there is no longer coverage for eye exams and glasses, just needing reading glasses would be safer and a big improvement.

[jrtom.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware of the limitations.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

Don't worry. I know they aren't magic. It's just if my prescription becomes too far off for reading, I can hold the book really close. If it's too far off for driving.... Yeah.