Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success
Jun. 15th, 2025 11:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cosmolinguistI had a fun time tonight watching D play a very silly round of Hardspace: Shipbreaker, which then got surprisingly stressful and harrowing for a game about taking spaceships apart, and then had an eventful and actually sweet cutscene.
strawberry follow-up
Jun. 15th, 2025 01:52 pmredbirdAdrian made strawberry pancakes, blueberry pancakes, and raspberry pancakes, partly because we have all these strawberries to use up, and partly so I could try cooked strawberries, after the fresh ones made my lips itch on Friday.
I ate a bite of a strawberry pancake, and found it bland and uninteresting. I didn't react to the berry, but it was one small piece of strawberry, and I don't know whether a larger amount would have been a problem.
I may yet try something like a strawberry sauce over cake or ice cream. Adrian noted that raw and cooked strawberries are almost different fruits, but it also seems possible that a strawberry sauce will taste more like raw berries than like strawberries baked into pancakes.
I ate a bite of a strawberry pancake, and found it bland and uninteresting. I didn't react to the berry, but it was one small piece of strawberry, and I don't know whether a larger amount would have been a problem.
I may yet try something like a strawberry sauce over cake or ice cream. Adrian noted that raw and cooked strawberries are almost different fruits, but it also seems possible that a strawberry sauce will taste more like raw berries than like strawberries baked into pancakes.
Tear gas safety for glasses wearers? [curr ev, health]
Jun. 15th, 2025 01:06 amsidereaI have a question about eye safety, maybe someone here can advise me on.
Apropos of the protests going on, I've seen a lot of helpful pointers about preparing for getting tear gassed or pepper sprayed, such as not to wear contacts and to have tight-fitting chemists' goggles. But not wearing vision correction is not an option for those who need it, and the alternative to contacts is glasses, which are apparently incompatible with most eye protection from gas or particulates.
I am aware of the existence of some models of full-face gas mask that have internal mounting hardware for glasses, but in addition to being expensive themselves, they require getting lenses made and fitted to the gas mask (i.e. not compatible with regular glasses). I'm surmising the existence of these means that other, cheaper, spectacle-compatible eye protection doesn't really exist, but I thought I'd ask.
My personal interest in the topic is less about protecting myself from chemical ordnance at protests – I only wish I could attend protests (though if things got spicy in the right location I suppose I could collect my fair share of tear gas at home) – than from wildfire smoke. The conjunction of the No Kings protests and the local air quality alerts from fires in Canada reminded me I should really be doing some preparation in this space.
I'm allergic to smoke. (It turns out it wasn't con crud I kept getting at Pennsic.) My reactivity to smoke only seems to be gradually getting worse over time. So when I've heard reports or seen pictures from the left coast of the sorts of wildfire smog they have there, I'm like "...not enough steroids in the world." I mostly manage this threat by not crossing the Mississippi, but it could happen here. Or upwind of here. It has. If not quite so "blot out the sun" bad, certainly bad enough for me to feel it.
So I've been looking at half-face elastomeric respirators, but that leave eyes unprotected.
Any suggestions?
Edit: I'm getting a lot of suggestions that aren't really helpful because:
1) Most safety goggles are for protection against impact or splashes, and as such literally have vent holes that make them useless against gases and airborne particulates.
2) Involve buying a prescription eyepiece. The whole point of my question was looking for alternatives to buying additional prescription lenses. Like I said, I am already aware of options that entail ordering custom lenses, I am looking for alternatives that don't involve that and are compatible with regular glasses the wearer already has.
There may not be any*, which would be good to know, but that is the question.
Allow me to put a finer point on this. If there is no affordable, readily available option for eye protection against gas/powder attacks for people who are dependent on vision correction, then that implies something important about protest safety that is entirely missing from all of the discourse of the sort that recommends having a gas mask to go to a protest.
* Since posting, I learned the term PAPR, and am now wondering why they're so expensive and whether that's a technology ripe for DIY.
Apropos of the protests going on, I've seen a lot of helpful pointers about preparing for getting tear gassed or pepper sprayed, such as not to wear contacts and to have tight-fitting chemists' goggles. But not wearing vision correction is not an option for those who need it, and the alternative to contacts is glasses, which are apparently incompatible with most eye protection from gas or particulates.
I am aware of the existence of some models of full-face gas mask that have internal mounting hardware for glasses, but in addition to being expensive themselves, they require getting lenses made and fitted to the gas mask (i.e. not compatible with regular glasses). I'm surmising the existence of these means that other, cheaper, spectacle-compatible eye protection doesn't really exist, but I thought I'd ask.
My personal interest in the topic is less about protecting myself from chemical ordnance at protests – I only wish I could attend protests (though if things got spicy in the right location I suppose I could collect my fair share of tear gas at home) – than from wildfire smoke. The conjunction of the No Kings protests and the local air quality alerts from fires in Canada reminded me I should really be doing some preparation in this space.
I'm allergic to smoke. (It turns out it wasn't con crud I kept getting at Pennsic.) My reactivity to smoke only seems to be gradually getting worse over time. So when I've heard reports or seen pictures from the left coast of the sorts of wildfire smog they have there, I'm like "...not enough steroids in the world." I mostly manage this threat by not crossing the Mississippi, but it could happen here. Or upwind of here. It has. If not quite so "blot out the sun" bad, certainly bad enough for me to feel it.
So I've been looking at half-face elastomeric respirators, but that leave eyes unprotected.
Any suggestions?
Edit: I'm getting a lot of suggestions that aren't really helpful because:
1) Most safety goggles are for protection against impact or splashes, and as such literally have vent holes that make them useless against gases and airborne particulates.
2) Involve buying a prescription eyepiece. The whole point of my question was looking for alternatives to buying additional prescription lenses. Like I said, I am already aware of options that entail ordering custom lenses, I am looking for alternatives that don't involve that and are compatible with regular glasses the wearer already has.
There may not be any*, which would be good to know, but that is the question.
Allow me to put a finer point on this. If there is no affordable, readily available option for eye protection against gas/powder attacks for people who are dependent on vision correction, then that implies something important about protest safety that is entirely missing from all of the discourse of the sort that recommends having a gas mask to go to a protest.
* Since posting, I learned the term PAPR, and am now wondering why they're so expensive and whether that's a technology ripe for DIY.
#NoKings
Jun. 14th, 2025 06:27 pmredbirdThe three of us went out to the No Kings Yaas Queens combined Pride/NoKings demonstration today, despite my worries about my various joints. Or, at least, that was the plan. It didn't work out, but my knees, hips, and ankles are OK.
We got to Park Street and the Common, and found other people who were looking for the same event, a stage where someone was introducing the next speaker?performer?, and some tables and tents, but no focus. We wound up walking to the side of the Common next to the Public Garden, where we found the parade, smaller than we'd expected but with enough of a crowd I couldn't see much. So we went home, pausing moderately often to rest my joints and watch another bit of parade, which seems to have been heading for Government Center as originally planned, not the Common as we thought.
I'm both glad I went, and disappointed that I didn't actually make it to the first protest or rally I've felt physically capable of in too long.
I will probably update this tomorrow, to note how my joints are feeling. This afternoon, they've felt good enough for some PT exercises.
We got to Park Street and the Common, and found other people who were looking for the same event, a stage where someone was introducing the next speaker?performer?, and some tables and tents, but no focus. We wound up walking to the side of the Common next to the Public Garden, where we found the parade, smaller than we'd expected but with enough of a crowd I couldn't see much. So we went home, pausing moderately often to rest my joints and watch another bit of parade, which seems to have been heading for Government Center as originally planned, not the Common as we thought.
I'm both glad I went, and disappointed that I didn't actually make it to the first protest or rally I've felt physically capable of in too long.
I will probably update this tomorrow, to note how my joints are feeling. This afternoon, they've felt good enough for some PT exercises.
(no subject)
Jun. 14th, 2025 04:04 pmconulyMinnesota House DFL leader Hortman, husband killed in apparent ‘politically motivated’ shooting; Sen. Hoffman, wife wounded
Authorities still searching for suspect in shooting of 2 Minnesota state lawmakers
Apparently he dressed up like a cop, because of course he did, and residents are advised not to open the door to police unless there are multiple officers present. I'd go one step further and say that you should never open the door to an unexpected official until you've confirmed that they're supposed to be there. If they are legit, they have an ID, and you have a phone number you can call - your local precinct, if they're cops, your gas company, whoever it is. (Uh. Maybe step out the back door to call if they say they're from the gas company. I mean, use your best judgment.)
Authorities still searching for suspect in shooting of 2 Minnesota state lawmakers
Apparently he dressed up like a cop, because of course he did, and residents are advised not to open the door to police unless there are multiple officers present. I'd go one step further and say that you should never open the door to an unexpected official until you've confirmed that they're supposed to be there. If they are legit, they have an ID, and you have a phone number you can call - your local precinct, if they're cops, your gas company, whoever it is. (Uh. Maybe step out the back door to call if they say they're from the gas company. I mean, use your best judgment.)
Weirdly specific firefox question
Jun. 14th, 2025 04:01 pmconulyIf I'm typing a URL and I then use the scroll wheel to middle-click it in the address window it will open in a new tab rather than on the same tab I'm on.
Now, when I open a new tab by clicking a link to open a new tab it opens right next to the tab I'm on. If I do it via the address window or the new tab button then it opens all the way at the end of my tabs, which is annoying and disorienting if I'm not already all the way at the end.
Is there a setting, perhaps in about:config, that I can adjust to change this behavior so it always opens new tabs next to the one I'm on?
Now, when I open a new tab by clicking a link to open a new tab it opens right next to the tab I'm on. If I do it via the address window or the new tab button then it opens all the way at the end of my tabs, which is annoying and disorienting if I'm not already all the way at the end.
Is there a setting, perhaps in about:config, that I can adjust to change this behavior so it always opens new tabs next to the one I'm on?
OMGOMGOMG!!!!
Jun. 17th, 2025 11:25 amconulyThe last season of The Strange Case of the Starship Iris is finally here.
Okay, only the first episode so far (and two pre-season teasers) but... omg.
I've summed this one up for you all before as "Everybody is gay while fighting fascism in space" and "Turns out, fascism is both racist and inefficient", so yes, that does make it the perfect thing to listen to while heading out to protest. (Speaking of....)
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( Read more... )
Okay, only the first episode so far (and two pre-season teasers) but... omg.
I've summed this one up for you all before as "Everybody is gay while fighting fascism in space" and "Turns out, fascism is both racist and inefficient", so yes, that does make it the perfect thing to listen to while heading out to protest. (Speaking of....)
( Read more... )
Screm at own ankle
Jun. 14th, 2025 06:11 pmcosmolinguistEver since D's girlfriend broke her leg while roller skating last weekend, my ankle has been sore, something it hardly ever does any more and I've done nothing physical (like walk a lot) to cause it.
So I have tried yelling "Shut up, this is clearly psychosomatic! You're fine!" at it. Repeatedly.
Disappointingly, this doesn't seem to be working. (I didn't really expect it to. I'm just saying it woulda been nice if it did, is all!)
Eyes are stupid
Jun. 14th, 2025 12:17 pmneekabeSo about a month ago ago I slept with the window open and woke up with one eye all pink and irritated. It improved with allergy pills and warm compresses and was resolved within a day so I figured allergy season and something irritated it.
Also occasionally I wake up with pain like something is in my eye, but it always resolved quickly and I figured it was just like... eye crusties or something irritating in the morning. I occasionally used drops for dry eyes and just decided it was a body thing
But in the past two weeks I noticed a significant decline in my left eye and usually my eyes get worse at a nice slow predictable pace until I'm like 'I think I used to be able to see that?' and schedule an appointment. Or I hit my usual 2 year insurance cycle.
Right now time the right eye is still fine, but the left eye is blurry at all distances, so I took myself to the eye doctor who said 1. I have dry eyes and I should be using said drops more often than 'occasionally' and 2. There is some variation on the surface of the eye that's causing the fun new blurryness and increase in astigmatism. He's not worried about it but is going put in a referral for a specialist to make sure it's not early signs of something.
The fun bit is that the eye drops and possible treatment will likely improve my prescription from the one I got yesterday, though not resolve it entirely (he was hesitant to say it's permanent, but I am expecting my eyes to just slowly degrade over my life so it's not that terrible). But I can't actually focus with one eye now and I'm getting noticable astigmatism shadows, like someone has copied an image and shifted it an inch or so with fainter opacity. Which is annoying. So I'm debating getting a cheap online pair of glasses for like however long this is going to take and then paying proper funds for actual glasses once it settles? I'm not sure.
But last night I put in special thick nighttime eye drops and woke up without pain. So now I have another step to my nighttime routine to go along with the mouthguard for teeth grinding and moisturizer to keep my face and hands from drying up and falling off, and my bonnet to keep my curly hair in some reasonable condition... *sighs*
Also occasionally I wake up with pain like something is in my eye, but it always resolved quickly and I figured it was just like... eye crusties or something irritating in the morning. I occasionally used drops for dry eyes and just decided it was a body thing
But in the past two weeks I noticed a significant decline in my left eye and usually my eyes get worse at a nice slow predictable pace until I'm like 'I think I used to be able to see that?' and schedule an appointment. Or I hit my usual 2 year insurance cycle.
Right now time the right eye is still fine, but the left eye is blurry at all distances, so I took myself to the eye doctor who said 1. I have dry eyes and I should be using said drops more often than 'occasionally' and 2. There is some variation on the surface of the eye that's causing the fun new blurryness and increase in astigmatism. He's not worried about it but is going put in a referral for a specialist to make sure it's not early signs of something.
The fun bit is that the eye drops and possible treatment will likely improve my prescription from the one I got yesterday, though not resolve it entirely (he was hesitant to say it's permanent, but I am expecting my eyes to just slowly degrade over my life so it's not that terrible). But I can't actually focus with one eye now and I'm getting noticable astigmatism shadows, like someone has copied an image and shifted it an inch or so with fainter opacity. Which is annoying. So I'm debating getting a cheap online pair of glasses for like however long this is going to take and then paying proper funds for actual glasses once it settles? I'm not sure.
But last night I put in special thick nighttime eye drops and woke up without pain. So now I have another step to my nighttime routine to go along with the mouthguard for teeth grinding and moisturizer to keep my face and hands from drying up and falling off, and my bonnet to keep my curly hair in some reasonable condition... *sighs*
strawberries
Jun. 13th, 2025 11:06 pmredbirdI fear that I may have developed an allergy to strawberries.
Cattitude came home from the farmers market with two quarts of strawberries, so we sat down to eat strawberries this evening. Adrian washed a plateful of the berries, and we all started eating.
They're very good strawberries, but I realized after eating a few that my lips were starting to itch. They were tasty enough that I had four or five more before saying anything. When I did, Adrian suggested I go wash my face. I rinsed my lips with plenty of cool water, took a benadryl, complained about the situation, and got Adrian to make me herb tea. I hope I haven't developed an allergy to a fruit I like, after eating them without problems for more than fifty years.
ETA, after responding to people's comments:
It may not be just strawberries. Raw kiwi makes my mouth itch, and I think I remember having a problem with the kiwi on a mixed fruit tart. Possibly-underripe figs also made my mouth itch once, but cooked figs (fig Newton cookies) are OK, and a fig that was ripe enough to fall off the tree at my feet was fine. I think I need to do some reading.
Cattitude came home from the farmers market with two quarts of strawberries, so we sat down to eat strawberries this evening. Adrian washed a plateful of the berries, and we all started eating.
They're very good strawberries, but I realized after eating a few that my lips were starting to itch. They were tasty enough that I had four or five more before saying anything. When I did, Adrian suggested I go wash my face. I rinsed my lips with plenty of cool water, took a benadryl, complained about the situation, and got Adrian to make me herb tea. I hope I haven't developed an allergy to a fruit I like, after eating them without problems for more than fifty years.
ETA, after responding to people's comments:
It may not be just strawberries. Raw kiwi makes my mouth itch, and I think I remember having a problem with the kiwi on a mixed fruit tart. Possibly-underripe figs also made my mouth itch once, but cooked figs (fig Newton cookies) are OK, and a fig that was ripe enough to fall off the tree at my feet was fine. I think I need to do some reading.
"Is there anything you'd like to tell us about yourself?"
Jun. 18th, 2025 12:52 amconulyNo, but I'd like to tell you that you urgently need a proofreader. Are you aware that you just made me answer the same question about my desired salary three different ways? Once was plenty enough! Also, why are you asking what currency I want it in, and since you are asking, why is one time US dollar at the top of the drop down and the other two times it's alphabetical under "United States"? Did you even look at this before posting, and once again afterwards?
(These people really urgently need help with this, but unless this is a Secret Test I guess telling them wouldn't help me much.)
Alternative answer to the question: "Yes, I'd like to tell you that I really need money, please give me some, with or without hiring me first."
**************
( Read more... )
(These people really urgently need help with this, but unless this is a Secret Test I guess telling them wouldn't help me much.)
Alternative answer to the question: "Yes, I'd like to tell you that I really need money, please give me some, with or without hiring me first."
( Read more... )
"I think the protagonist had hay fever or maybe yellow fever, I'm not sure which"
Jun. 16th, 2025 04:30 pmconulyWell, that kinda covers the gamut of illness there, so maybe figure it out?
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( Read more... )
( Read more... )
it's been a busy day
Jun. 12th, 2025 08:45 pmredbirdCattitude and I got up at 5:45 so he could pill Kaja, preparatory to her dental surgery. Both the pilling and the medical care went well, and she is on soft food only for 10-14 days. Therefore Molly is too, and we have to give them different treats than the usual dental Greenies. (Kaja will also be getting anti-inflammatories for a couple of days, and gabapentin for five.)
I got email from my brother about Mom's estate. He has done the necessary formwork so Vanguard can give us the money from her account there, where we are co-beneficiaries. His share is already in his account existing account. I tried setting an account up online, which apparently failed at the last minute, so I called and got a helpful person to walk me through the process again, step by step. I had gotten far enough earlier to create security questions, including some that I can actually remember my answers to, and haven't used repeatedly elsewhere. Separately, I need to talk to someone at Amalgamated Bank about the account there, a joint account with both our names on it. I hope they'll let me, as co-owner, close the account and transfer the money elsewhere, rather than sending them a copy of the death certificate, getting the account just in my name, and then closing it.
Mark also said he's thinking of going to London next month to sort through Mom's belongings, photos, and paperwork. So he wants to know whether I'm going as well, and if so, what dates worth for me. (Putting this here so I'm less likely to forget to talk to Cattitude and Adrian and then write back to Mark.)
I got email from my brother about Mom's estate. He has done the necessary formwork so Vanguard can give us the money from her account there, where we are co-beneficiaries. His share is already in his account existing account. I tried setting an account up online, which apparently failed at the last minute, so I called and got a helpful person to walk me through the process again, step by step. I had gotten far enough earlier to create security questions, including some that I can actually remember my answers to, and haven't used repeatedly elsewhere. Separately, I need to talk to someone at Amalgamated Bank about the account there, a joint account with both our names on it. I hope they'll let me, as co-owner, close the account and transfer the money elsewhere, rather than sending them a copy of the death certificate, getting the account just in my name, and then closing it.
Mark also said he's thinking of going to London next month to sort through Mom's belongings, photos, and paperwork. So he wants to know whether I'm going as well, and if so, what dates worth for me. (Putting this here so I'm less likely to forget to talk to Cattitude and Adrian and then write back to Mark.)