Not socialist in a “I won’t have to work” type of way but socialist in a “I’ll still be working but I won’t be worried I won’t make the rent” type of way. In a “billions won’t be hoarded by one person” type of way. In a “janitors, fast-food workers, child care workers, preschool teachers, hotel clerks, personal care and home health aides, and grocery store cashiers, will live comfortably” type of way. In a “the sick and elderly will be cared for” type of way. In a “no child should work” type of way.

No offence but I feel like some people got a little too comfortable with telling people to touch grass and swung all the way round to just straight up shaming anyone who might have a less active social life than them to feel better about themselves. “She should be at the club” was a really funny meme until people started acting like fucking middle school bullies towards people who don’t go out with their friends a lot. All those drinking/drugs/sex milestone polls were fun to engage with until it became a wierd circlejerk making fun of people who haven’t done those things before. People on twitter are once again dogpiling someone for wanting queer social spaces that don’t revolve around alcohol or loud music and telling them it’s their own fault for not having friends.

Like I get that nightclubs and sex have strong ties to queer culture and are often the first targets in the hellscape of respectability politics. It’s important we remember our roots and protect these spaces from conservative scrutiny. I mean that. They are important. But just on a surface level it seems like people are starting to see having an inactive social life as some kind of moral failing which…it’s not. I feel like an insane person for feeling like I have to say this on the fucking queer autism website but like. You aren’t inherently a bad person if you don’t have friends. You aren’t “falling behind” if you haven’t had your first kiss in your 20s or never done drugs. The real world isn’t a movie. And if you see someone who doesn’t go out much and instinctually think “wow what a terminally online loser. I bet their social life sucks because they’re a sheltered creep and not because of systemic barriers beyond their control” you need to have a long hard look at why you feel that way.

There are very real barriers that prevent isolated people from finding community and connection. Do you think you’re superior for being able to breach them? Time, money, sobriety, accessibility, none of those factors were a problem for you, so it shouldn’t be for them, right? Right?

It is fuckin insane the sheer disregard everyone has for covid and how utterly bizarre it feels to be actively losing credibility in people's eyes just because I take it seriously. Everyone thinks I'm being "silly" but I literally was in the middle of getting a degree in microbiology when this shit started, I was literally taking immunology and virology courses when the pandemic hit, it's not like I have a poor understanding of the topic. I've been watching the death rate and keeping up with the new variants and vaccines and symptoms and I can bring up all the sources I want but it feels useless, nobody wants to hear it, nobody gives a shit.

Literally today a friend did not come for Xmas dinner because we asked them to test before coming and that “minor cold” turned out to be covid. “I feel well, I’d have never guessed covid unless you’d asked me to test!” And that’s exactly the issue. It is NOT a cold. It affects the body in a very different manner but people are equating ‘not feeling too bad’ with ‘not really doing any harm’ and this is Not True.

even asymptomatic infections can cause permanent damage. COVID kills T cells like HIV, in addition to brain damage and multi system organ damage.

but sure. it's just a cold.

I wished abled people would understand better that when I'm "giving up" on something it actually means I can't give energy to this because other stuff needs my energy more and I only have a very limited amount of energy that depends from day to day. I can't control it either no matter how hard I try. I feel like I have been explaining this my whole life now and it still doesn't matter, no one listens.

It's ok to want money. It's ok to be upset that you're poor and wishing to be rich. I understand. People who say that money doesn't buy happiness have never eaten pasta every day because it's 50 cents at the grocery store or been short on money for christmas presents. Constantly scraping by makes people miserable and depressed and of course you're gonna dream about money, about being happy and priviledged. That's not greedy or horrible, that's life. It's ok.

Also, something I feel like gets lost on the people who keep repeating that “money doesn’t buy happiness” is that money itself isn’t going to make you happy. Or getting additional money when you have plenty isn’t going to instantly make you happier. But financial safety is one of the most universal aspects of happiness in the world we live in (even if we wish this wasn’t the case). Like the money itself isn’t going to make you happier, but not worrying about rent will. Getting to have hobbies will. Making your favourite meal will. Meeting a friend for a coffee and a cake will. Being able to afford those things without mental and financial strain will.

Alt Text / Image Description below

To do or not to do?

Pacing and Activity Decision Chart*

A. Will it cause so much pain or fatigue that I can't function for days?

If NO then :

B. Given current symptoms will I be able to complete the task?

(If you answer YES to question B go to D, if NO then go to C)

If YES then :

C. Can I make it manageable by:

Splitting the task into smaller sections?

OR

Using an adaptation or aid to make it easier?

OR

Asking for help with challenging parts of the activity?

(If you answer YES to C go straight to D)

D. Is there enough recovery time between now and when I next need to function?

If you answer YES/PROBABLY to D then LET'S DO

THIS THING!

If you answer NO to both question C and D then:

Best not. It's OK for an emergency, but not for routine tasks.

Disclaimer:

*A simplified version, The full version would fill a book. Process varies between individuals.

**Most activity can aggravate symptoms, so it's not about avoiding pain and fatigue, but trying to keep them manageable. Trial and error is required to find this level and it can change over time.

StickmanCommunications.co.uk (HMSA)

Repeating my COVID surge PSA: there is a major surge underway in many places right now. In the US, estimates are that we're seeing higher covid levels than 90% of the pandemic, with 1 in 35 people currently infected, so eg a gathering of 20 people has a 45% chance of having an infectious person present (source, posted 12/18/23 so they're already a couple days old and expected to rise through early January). It's common for people to be infectious without/before becoming symptomatic, and rapid tests miss a lot of cases.

You can protect yourself and your loved ones by declining invites for overly risky situations, wearing a well fitting high quality mask when you're sharing air with others (kn-94, N95), and following the People's CDC safer indoor gathering guide as much as you can

These will probably not come in time for Christmas, but Metrix tests are home NAAT tests that are considerably more accurate than rapids (but not quite as accurate as PCRs). They cost $25 each, require a reader, and take half an hour to run, so not as easy or affordable as rapids, but I like these for special occasions now that it's very difficult to get an affordable PCR test in the U.S.

Y'all, it isn't on the national news, but check your local news and local community groups. There's a MASSIVE Covid surge happening right now. Please mask up when you're out and in public spaces. I really don't want you to get sick.

Zhasmin Shlaga competing in the 2023 Junior Grand Prix Istanbul.

(Source: Golden Skate)

i have a bod it is uncomf

Movies are getting longer and TV seasons keep getting shorter, and it's muddying what I love about each medium.

A good movie is a short story--sometimes self-contained, sometimes part of a series, but still a single serving that I can enjoy in one sitting.

A television show is a novel, building over time, allowing me to pace myself chapter-by-chapter or race through each installment as I choose.

It sucks when I watch a movie that feels like it wants to be a long-form TV show, and WOULD be if it weren't for budget limitations and executive meddling. It also sucks when you can tell a movie/movie series was TRYING to be a simple short story, but is getting arbitrarily extended by the studio in order to Make More Money.

I hate it when I watch a TV show that SO CLEARLY wants to lavish attention on all its characters and settings, but is being crammed into movie pacing because the artists are scared they won't get another season and the network only gave them ten episodes to tell a story that deserves three times that.

I wish artists could make the art they want, in the medium they want, without getting constantly fucked over by capitalism. I really, really do.

The ISU has added Solo Ice Dance as an international discipline. From the ISU website:

Solo Ice Dance is a parallel discipline to Ice Dance. Skaters perform the same Pattern Dances, Rhythm Dance and Free Dance segments. Ice Dance and Solo Ice Dance both draw from the fundamentals of ballroom dance and emphasize the techniques of edge work, flow and motion where Skaters must always skate to a defined beat, rhythm or theme. Solo Ice Dance has required elements that competitors must perform, creating well-balanced Ice Dance programs (Rhythm Dance, Free Dance); these programs include a dance spin, a step sequence, a twizzle sequence, a pattern dance element, edge elements, and choreographic elements. Edge elements, which replace lifts in partnered Ice Dance, consist of movements like spread eagles, bauers, hydroblades, and spirals to highlight edge control, flexibility and musicality. Solo Ice Dance follows the same elements and requirements for levels that are published annually by the ISU for Ice Dance. Each year new Rhythms and Pattern Dances are chosen to keep the sport current, fresh and entertaining.

Solo Dance is an opportunity for Skaters to develop Ice Dance skills without a partner, allowing for the sport of Figure Skating to grow. Solo Ice Dance demonstrates artistry, expression and musicality. Solo Ice Dance will also serve as a developmental tool for the discipline of Ice Dance and is an educational tool to assist our sport's developing nations in growing their athletes.  Solo Ice Dance will allow Skaters to “learn how to skate to music” which is essential in Figure Skating across all disciplines.

Documents:

0.0 Maybe when I'm healthy enough to skate again I'll make that my goal, because the past few years have made me realize that no matter how much I love jumps, I'll probably never get above a double, especially when my health is so much of a roller coaster.

Picnicking ensemble, circa 1895

FIDM Museum Sporting Fashion Introduction