| (no subject) |
[Feb. 6th, 2030|02:50 pm] |
This journal is mostly f-locked except for the occasional silly or irrelevant thing.
If you'd like to friend me, feel free. Odds are I will only friend you back if I already have some conception of who you are. Responding to this post (or emailing me at my username at gmail after you friend me) explaining how you know me (or who you know that knows me), how you found my journal, what your real life name is and/or why you're interested in knowing the petty details of my life may well facilitate (but not guarantee) reciprocal friending. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 19th, 2011|09:26 am] |
Talk to me, internet...
What makes you love the world? What have you done lately that's totally awesome? What are your plans? What have you seen that blows your mind? |
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| Send me your best links on inequality and privilege |
[Oct. 20th, 2010|06:09 pm] |
Hi all,
This will be a rare post that's in the clear, because I want to cast a wide net, here.
I am in the middle of trying to change someone's mind. Namely, my father. He doesn't believe that privilege exists. Specifically, because there are poor white men, he does not believe that whiteness or maleness gives anyone inherent advantages in our society.
This made me very angry and, after a long ramping-up period, I finally told him so. Last night. Amongst other things that have nothing to do with political debating, but that is neither here nor there. Please send me your best links on any kind of privilege at all or any kind of inequality. Anything is great - essays, videos, maps, etc. Bonus points for anything that shows real hard data.
What I have sent him so far:
Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Things I Don't Have To Think About Today
The Extent of White Class Advantage
I want the best and most convincing stuff I can get a hold of. I can (and will) seek out links, myself, but I know if I go through all the stuff I would have to go through to get the best ones, I will be reduced to a gibbering pile of lefty rage.
My dad is a late-middle-aged person who is almost completely out of touch with current pop culture, so please keep that in mind when sifting your favorites. And please, if you're inclined, pass this request on to interested parties. |
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| Musical meme |
[Feb. 5th, 2010|09:31 am] |
Via ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2) zsquirrelboy:
What was the #1 song the day you were born? Google the date and #1 song (or just use this site) and then post your #1 song on your LJ - preferably with a Youtube vid if you can find one!</a>
I've never heard this one before, but I like it.
I should really listen to more Stevie Wonder. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 7th, 2009|11:50 am] |
My stepmother sends out email forwards - not too many, but they always have to do with health and historically, they are always wrong. Today, she sent me one that has some known good advice and some advice that sounds like bullshit to me:
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Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).
The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
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I have been researching, trying to find whether salt water can actually help with killing the H1N1 virus, which I doubt, and whether the virus is even transmitted in a way that this treatment could address. For instance, if the virus is transmitted via breathing it in, I would imagine it gets past the places you could run salt water through and that it would get past them in a single breath.
The tea advice also seems like bullshit to me. Vitamin C is as it does, but you only absorb so much of it.
None of the advice seems actually harmful - or I would take it up with my stepmother. If it's not harmful it doesn't seem worth it. I was unable to find any information supporting the allegations (I merely saw the allegations repeated a lot) on the web. Does anyone have more concrete knowledge? |
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| Dear Internets... |
[Oct. 23rd, 2009|05:44 pm] |
Who is your favorite science writer and why?
I ask, in part, because I've only read what feels like a small amount of science writing (outside of frequently dubious newspaper stories). Most of the reading I have done that is by scientists isn't really about science per se (like Donald Pettit's accounts from the space station, Feynman's autobiographies, etc.).
So, are there books you'd recommend? Articles? Web sites? I am not fraught with scientific education, but neither am I stupid - technical is fine, insanely obfuscated is not... |
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| Ever had a crush on a fictional character? |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|09:28 am] |
I have. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.
Poll #1414332
Fictional Crushes
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 11
I have had a crush on a fictional character.
View Answers
| Oh, yes. Several. |
   9 (81.8%) |
| Definitely, once. |
| 1 (9.1%) |
| Well, I've thought characters were pretty cool, but a *crush*? |
| 1 (9.1%) |
| I never have crushes, even in real life. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| I looked for real relationships that reminded me of my fictional crush. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| No, but I've had a crush on a real person who I am almost certain never to meet, so that's kind of fictional. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Other. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
My fictional crushes are: (check all that apply)
View Answers
| Pretty consistent. I always go for a type. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Only on people who couldn't possibly exist in real life. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Something I wonder about a lot. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Kind of embarassing. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Left over from childhood. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Evolving, depending on what my media fixation of the week/month/year is. |
| 1 (9.1%) |
| Consistently on people of the same gender that I tend to favor in real life. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| A hot topic in sessions with my therapist. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| On gaming characters created by myself or someone I know. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| TICKY! |
| 1 (9.1%) |
My fictional crushes manifest themselves in:
View Answers
| daydreaming |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| REM sleep |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| drooling at the T.V. |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| conversations about total awesomeness |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| notebook scribbles |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| locker photos and/or desktop backgrounds |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| an interest in the writer(s)/actor(s)/director(s) who brought the character to life |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| fannish squeeing |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| confessional conversations to significant others |
| 1 (9.1%) |
| sex games |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| other |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| TICKY! |
| 0 (0.0%) |
Who have you had fictional crushes on?
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