Da Goddess

There is sadness in beauty, yes. But there’s also beauty in sadness. One simply cannot escape beauty unless you close your heart and your mind to it.

The same goes for kindness, love, compassion, and honor.

Fuck donald trump. Without Medicaid and SNAP, I’m not going to be able to afford groceries or the proper nutrition for my diabetes and heart disease. I won’t be able to afford the medication necessary to maintain my current health status. And I’ve been doing well because I take my meds, I exercise, and I eat the right foods. I work to maintain my numbers.

trump eliminating programs I paid into for years is not okay. He wants to penalize people like you and me so the people with far more resources can line their coffers.

Nope. I am not about to accept this bullshit. Especially when they try to steal Social Security benefits from all of us who have paid into for decades.

But, hey! What does it matter to people who have all the money they need AND THEN SOME? They don’t care if any of us lives or dies.

Am I to be just another statistic?

“Oh, no! She died. If only she had lived a healthier lifestyle back when she was younger. It doesn’t matter that she was genetically predisposed for those things. Preexisting conditions! Now, I have to go take my Aricept.” ~ donald fucking trump

I’m not going to be quiet and pray that someone stops this shit show. I’ve spent hours on the phone calling every single person who is supposed to represent me, my needs, the needs of my family, my neighbors, even people I don’t like. If they’re drawing a check as a public servant, then they’re going to hear what the public has to say.

When I say I make around 180 calls a day, it’s not an exaggeration. If the line is busy (as it has been since trump took office), I hang up and try again. 180 calls on a busy day. If I get through, I can stop calling that person for the day. I’ll call them again tomorrow and the day after that, then day after that one, and I’ll continue to call until every elected official is hearing what the public is saying.

I didn’t suffer for 18 years without support to finally qualify for SSI, only to have it stripped away because a billionaire who makes $8 million a day in government contracts wants even more.

The average person on Social Security earns $65 a day. Cut one day of Lone Skum’s $8mil and you can pay over 1200 people their SSA benefits. Funny how something that simple could save people from eating pet food or simply starving to death.

But, who cares what I think? I’m just one of millions who desperately despises avarice and straight up corruption. The wealthy — excuse me, the ULTRA WEALTHY — stealing from you, me, our kids, our siblings, our parents, and everyone else who has paid into these essential programs is ludicrous. The wealthy have enough. They have enough to coast until they die, until their kids and grandchildren die. They are literally that rich. They sure as fuck don’t need to take our money, our benefits.

I’m angry. I’m fucking pissed. I’m at 🤬🤯👿 levels of pissed-offedness. Yes, that’s a word. If it’s not, who’s going to tell me otherwise? We’re all lawless anymore, aren’t we?

Call all your representatives today and demand this bullshit end NOW.
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202-224-3121

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip code]. My name is ______.

I’m calling because donald trump and Elon Musk are stripping away the rights and benefits of citizens –including “birthright” citizens (14th Amendment: if you are born in the United States, you are a citizen and are entitled to all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States of America.).

Musk is about to do to the federal government what he did to X — a company that has lost 75% of its value since he took over. Unless Congress gets him out of our government now, holds Trump accountable for his actions in allowing this (and encouraging it), our country will meet the same fate and every member of Congress who failed to act will bear the blame for it.

Act now to save your constituents and yourselves (no money from taxpayers = no paycheck for you). You are meant to be working for us. Do your sworn duty.

I hate coconut and refuse to ingest it voluntarily. The texture and taste are off-putting. I don’t mind the smell most of the time. That said, if I read 728 peer reviewed studies touting coconut’s health benefits, I would understand the information, synthesize it, share it with others in my own fashion, and continue to eschew it for myself. That’s part of my experience throughout the k-12 educational system. I also learned how to read studies in their most technical aspects as a nurse. I can share the information whilst knowing it’s still not something I can ingest personally unless the taste and texture are completely masked.

The Coke v Pepsi argument? One is sweeter than the other. One is more carbonated than the other. I prefer one, but would not turn down the other if it was the only option available. Or, I would go without. I could easily spend 20 minutes discussing the pros and cons with someone, although I choose to spend that time discussing topics of much greater interest to me and the person with whom I’m conversing.

If I’m talking with someone who has greater knowledge and experience about a topic, I’ll listen, ask questions, and then research more on my own time to educate myself further. I may or may not reach the same conclusions as my conversation partner, but I will have sought to educate myself further. That’s what learning is all about!

One of the greatest advantages of being human is the gift of obtaining knowledge, processing it through the complex computer network we call the brain, and being able to use that information to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. Unfortunately, there are entire swaths of people who opt out of the onboarding of information, choosing to merely parrot the words of others because they feel someone else has already done the hard work for them. They have denied themselves, their families, their friends, and their communities of the opportunity to grow. They’ll choose to amplify misinformation, regardless of how insane it sounds. They’ll prop up the ignorant. And they’ll worship at the feet of the inept, corrupt, and the cruel. That’s why it’s imperative for us to seek out a wiiiide range of sources, find studies that are backed by peer review, and take the time to think critically for ourselves. Otherwise we’re all just chanting the same nonsense before we drink the special Kool-Aid.

Critical thinking is essential to growth. Read from a variety of sources, including those with views that challenge what you have learned thus far. Compare and contrast the information you’ve gathered. Seek out the source material. Dig into the peer reviews. Challenge yourself to get to the basis of the information you’ve found. And THEN formulate your opinion.

Like all of us, I have had my share of experiences where I’ve allowed others to think for me. I have chosen to go along with what I’ve heard without bothering to look into it. That was always to my detriment. I made a concerted effort to break myself of employing that shortcut because I no longer wished to perpetuate the spread of misinformation. It’s still tempting to want to take that route, but I look at the note I’ve saved to my welcome message on my phone: “Did you verify it?”*

That simple question is part of a process. There are other questions I ask along the way: “Does it make sense when you examine it from every angle? Is there any information that you could receive that would change your perspective? Is this something you feel comfortable standing by 100%? How does this sound when you speak it out loud? Does it ring true?”

If I have even one piece of information that doesn’t fit, I go back to the drawing board. I have to. I do it because there are some topics that are far too important to allow incorrect and/or incomplete information to be shared.

Critical thinking is a specialized skill that we humans need to use.

Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk. There will be no further questions at this time. (Yes, there will. But be specific, and be prepared for a well-researched response.)

* Verifying, for me, requires at least three unrelated sources. Peer reviewed. Published by respected medical, technical, academic, industrial journals. Everything needs to be based on the latest studies. I don’t want white papers, either. I don’t want white paper “experts” using their limited scope in a subject (they’re considered an “expert” while lacking the license and actual experience in a particular field) clouding or biasing their position. I want full studies from the people who ran the experiments, have used the methods, and have verified the results are repeatable. I’m a picky bitch, but I know how easy it is to get caught in the excitement of a solution, a cure, a revolutionary new way to do something, or a new product that will change lives forever. It’s little things like these that keep me feeling more confident in the future. And so now you know.

Every year, this is how I celebrate.

Merry Christmas, friends! May you always remember the best moments of life and love today. You are loved. You are valued. You are seen. Merry Christmas.

Here’s Justin Hines.

I’m pretty sure I post these videos every Christmas Eve and I love each of them more with each passing year.

One of my favorite songs for this time of year.

Not that I come close to baby Jesus or even the Great and Holy Theotokos, but a manger has been found and I am thrilled.

It’s good to have the search finally over.

Now, I can focus on getting healthy again. We’ve all been sick here. This is round two. It’s kicked our asses. I’m at the blowing my nose and getting grayish-brownish-greenish goo or blood. The sore throat is abating. The body aches are barely existent. All signs that I’m going in the right direction. Small wins are still wins.

I was going to post a video for Away in a Manger, but I couldn’t find a version I liked. Instead, I bring you The Season’s Upon Us from the Dropkick Murphys.

May you be warm, cozy, and comfortable as Christmas Eve Eve progresses.

Every year, this is how I celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas, friends! May you always remember the best moments of life and love today.

(more…)

One of my favorite songs for this time of year.

It’s pretty much the same for me every Christmas Eve. Well, musically. Mostly.

Here’s Justin Hines.

Here’s hoping you have so many blessings to count your plate of food needs reheating.

I’m having a nice, quiet day with GmaB. Late breakfast, watching the parade on TV, and doing laundry. I may take a nap later. After we tackle leftovers from our Tuesday Thanksgiving supper.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Thank you for being you.

I don’t like this day. I don’t like the memories of the many deaths, some of which were caught on camera. I don’t like thinking of the horror of the events this day 22 years ago.

I hate the fact far too many lost an important part of their family. I hate that it was hate which denied these people a chance at a future.

But, I remember, too, how neighbors came to the aid of those they didn’t know. How we turned to one another to comfort and be comforted. How untold numbers of men and women ran toward danger to help others, to help strangers.

We’ll never forget what happened 22 years ago, nor should we. We must remember the gut-wrenching terror and heartbreaking sorrow, the astonishing heroism and tender outpouring of love, and the tragedy that forever changed the world.

#NeverForget

Christos Anesti ek nekron, thanato thanaton patisas, kai tis en tis mnimasi zoin harisamenos.

Translated:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, granting life.

Kali Pascha, from my family to yours.

Here’s to 2023 being kind, gentle, and generous to us all.

Except for assholes. They can sit together in the corner and fuck the Hell off.

Yep. That’s how I’ve chosen to start my year. I’m saying “NO!” to anyone who dares trying to darken this timeline for me. Might I suggest you try this approach as well? It’s incredibly freeing to start the year without negative people or their influence on your life.

In related news: I don’t know about you, but I’ve decided on keeping the receipt for this year…just in case. After the past few years? I think it’s the smart choice. I mean, we didn’t even get a trailer for this. We bought a ticket based solely on the director’s previous work. So hang on to your receipts, y’all. We may need them if we want a refund.

But, seriously, I truly hope 2023 treats us to a healthy, joyous, and loving year.