Scrupulosity In These Uncertain Times

I said it in the notes on the last post but I’m gonna say it again.

I’m married to someone with severe memory problems. Automation of household appliances & systems helps him a lot and helps me a lot because it reduces the number of things I have to keep in my brain at all times. I love doors that lock themselves, being able to schedule dog food being delivered, a thermostat I can manipulate from wherever. Beyond my little bubble it should be noted that voice controlled appliances can be really good for people with mobility concerns. Appliances that can measure and talk and remember little tasks can be such a blessing for people.

I will never forgive Amazon and Google for taking technologies that could be really helpful and weaponizing them, and fuck everybody who acts like its some kind of conspiracy theory that those devices are spying on you. You absolutely should be distrustful of those devices but just make sure you’re getting angry at the right people.

Responding to a pandemic in the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation:

Tag meme

Thanks so much for the tag @damejudyhench I’ve had this account forever but not been active so I really appreciate it

Last song… Nobody can save me by Linkin Park

Last movie… um... can’t remember but want to rewatch all the LOTR movies soon

Currently watching… nothing really atm

Currently reading… rereading house of leaves, it’s slower the second time once you know [redacted]

Currently craving… toast with lemon curd but I already had that for breakfast. And another slice at about 10AM. And I’m telling myself sternly that that is enough, I cannot go get more for lunch. No. 

Tag 9 people you want to get to know better/catch up with... *please don’t feel pressured to do anything I don’t want to annoy people help* @ryuki-blogs @ministerscrimgeour @birdblogwhichisforbirds @tributary @thathopeyetlives @best-friend-quads @femmenietzsche @bernuviels-inspiration AND OF COURSE @nostalgebraist-autoresponder (I think I’d better go paste the questions in her ask box though)

#ask meme thing

Happy Birthday Chester. We miss you. ❤️ Feel free to post your favorite happy / funny / inspiring memory of Chester below.

"Francis" makes me think you might be a Catholic — a Franciscan monk, to be exact. Is this true, or are you just a big fan of Sir Francis Drake?

I might be a Catholic, but I don’t actually go to friars — the closest I’ve ever been to being a monk was an 18-hour lay nun called Rose. (I’m way into fantasy novels, so that’s probably a common background.)

Elder poverty is real

I get grossed out by how often things online suggest all older people are wealthy because I’ve seen time and time again poor old people being fucked over.

 Old women losing their homes because their husbands die and their lower social security can’t pay for rent or taxes.  Or old people whose spouse helped them manage things like health problems or memory difficulties not having any financial means to replace that support with care workers. 

Old people skipping meals and going hungry.  

Old people whose families have liquidated most of their assets because the family has guardianship and there’s far too little protection.

Old people whose medical bills have totally bankrupted them or who are losing medical care needed to stay in their homes instead of an institution for financial reasons.  

Old people whose age related disabilities mean that navigating the bureaucracy of the welfare system is impossible for them.

There’s so much suffering of the elderly poor swept under the rug in favor of focusing on the very small group of wealthy old people.  No serious anti-poverty movement or measure can exclude elder poverty from their work without harming millions.  Old people aren’t disposable.

FUCK YES

A surprising amount of my knowledge of philosophy is not derived from textbooks or even research papers, but from people explaining how other people are bad at philosophy to me

Pictures of the UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient Palmyra taken following the recapture of the city by Syrian troops backed by Russian forces on March 27, 2016 show the damage made by ISIS during its 10-month occupation. In 2015 the archaeologist, Khaled al-Asaad, who had looked after the ruins for 40 years and refused to reveal the location of archaeological treasures of the city was also murdered by ISIS.

Photos taken on March 31, 2016 by Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images