This is something that more people should be aware of, if only because (in many states, at least) defense attorneys are actually prohibited from mentioning it to jurors. The law allows a jury to return a “not guilty” verdict contrary to the facts of the case, but not for the defense to inform them of that power or to argue for its application in the current trial.
I didn’t know about this. Wow.
always reblog
This is SUPER IMPORTANT and also a good reason to show up for jury duty. You know all those laws you think are stupid? This is your chance to maybe do something about it.
I…. I thought this was common knowledge… signal boosting this because it obviously isn’t!
It’s 37 °C (98,6 °F) outside and me and my north european genes are not coping.
As a Midwestern American, some tips!
1. Drink plenty of water. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
2. If you can get you hands on a spray bottle, fill it with cold water and spritz yourself regularly.
3. Wet washcloths, freeze them, and then put them on the back of your neck and chest to help cool off.
4. Cold showers.
5. If you can get a cheap box fan, they will help!
6. How to make a swamp cooler; fill a bucket with ice, set a fan behind it to blow the ice air around.
Stay safe over there!
7. If you don’t wanna take a really cold shower, even a lukewarm shower will help cool you off afterward because of the water evaporating from your skin!
8. In addition to putting cold stuff on the back of your neck, another good spot to put something cold to cool your body effectively is your crotch. If no one’s gonna be looking at you, get a water bottle full of ice and hold it between your thighs near your crotch for a while.
9. Just like when you’re icing an injury, be careful with ice packs/towels/water bottles–don’t put anything icy against your bare skin, and do fifteen minutes on and fifteen minutes off. Take care not to fall asleep with an ice pack on you!
Your armpits are another good place for cold packs. These spots all have major arteries not far below the skin, so you can cool the blood flowing through them before it’s transported throughout the rest of the body.
Also if you’re out in the sun you may actually want to cover up rather than leave your skin exposed. Sunburn is a huge risk (even if you have darker skin btw!!! Melanin can only do so much!) and even with sunscreen every inch of exposed skin is absorbing heat from the sun. Wear light-colored clothing (which reflects heat rather than absorbing it) that is breathable and loose-fitting to allow air to circulate to aid evaporation of sweat from your skin (which is how it cools you).
Water is your top priority, but sweating also can deplete your salt reserves (literally your body excretes water through your pores by pumping out salt ions which draw water out with them. Science!). You MUST have adequate electrolytes, particularly sodium, potassium, and chloride, which are required for your brain cells to work, among other things. Gatorade and Powerade are full of sugar but the electrolytes in them sure don’t hurt anything (but drink plain water as well if you can).
You can also eat fruits and vegetables with high water content. Grapes can be frozen for a cold treat that’s a little healthier than popsicles. Although, shit, if it takes popsicles and ice cream to keep you cool then fucking go for it, I’m not your mom.
I learned this trick from Mary Poppins at Disneyworld:
Take an icy bottle of water and put it in the inside of your elbow. Hold it there for a few minutes. You’ll cool off instantly.
That is the exact spot my parents found a stray kitten. Nice little addition to the family, but would have been a terrible addition to the pavement had she not been very vocal OTL
No joke, the place where that cat is resting in this picture is called a “dead cat hole” it’s an automotive term. Don’t believe me, look it up.
This is also where I found a stray cat, she was up in there during a thunderstorm and I begged my dad to let me being her inside and that’s the story of how I got my first cat.
Please don’t skip over this without reading it and making a mental note. Even if you don’t have a car, tell your parents or whoever, and make sure to do this. You think that’ll never happen but that’s what everyone thought who had this happen and didn’t check, and that poor cold cat met with a terribly sad end.
REBLOG WHETHER YOU LIKE CATS OR NOT
I found two kittens like this some years ago. Couldn’t afford to adopt them myself, much to the surprise of my coworkers (I was like two hours late to work because of this). I only found them because I thought the tiny little meows were birds and was confused because it was too cold for birds.
hmmmm okay i really want to talk about the session i was at at the conference that discussed how venus fly traps evolved from sundews but im not sure if i remember it correctly. all the data from that symposium + more is published in this new book reviewing all the modern work on carnivorous plants called Carnivorous Plants: Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution. now on one hand, its incredibly fascinating stuff and id love to have my own copy. on the other hand, its $100 and im poor. on another other hand, my library at school has a copy and i can wait to talk about it. unless i want my own copy to add to my expanding aesthetically pleasing collection of botany books. and ill need to wait a month to talk about it. and it’s a fairly long textbook for the price, some 500 pages, which really isnt bad. and i love them. and i have a job so like i wont die immediately. and i got some money for my birthday. but its still 10 hours worth of work. but maybe its worth it. and its really new research. an
good lord the table of contents alone is 15 pages long
i had to order my textbooks for school anyway so i may or may not have indulged and just lumped it in with all the other expensive books i had to buy……..supplemented with some money i got from work/for my birthday….worth it? we’ll soon find out
when i get it ill use it to verify the stuff i remember from the conference and make a post on how we think venus fly traps evolved
– Language: Knowing Hebrew is required for high level curse breakers. Discovering long forgotten spells in the tanach. Old spells, in a language older than latin have ancient power to them.
– Bar/Bat Mitzvahs: special dispensation to go home and miss classes. Every second and third year is invited to a party in the great hall for every single one. Tallits with designs that shimmer even in dim light. Performing mitzvahs for baffled but grateful classmates.
– Being Jewish at Hogwarts: Asking questions. So many questions. About everything. Because what are we if we do not question and interpret everything?
– Jewish Wizarding Community: It is small but very old. They refuse to call themselves purebloods. Jewish memory is long, we do not forget. We know what divisions reaps and we know where “purity of society” discourse leads. They square their beliefs with their abilities by acknowledging that we cannot know everything, we can only seek to learn more.
– Shomer: Constant debate over whether or not magic constitutes ‘work’ and if so, all magic? Just automated stuff?
– JEWISH WIZARDING WEDDINGS OK. NEED I EVEN EXPAND ON THIS POINT?
This is a really cool post, to answer the question about magic it’s probably no, because the actual rules of Shabbat say that you can’t create and since magic is transformation and theregore a form of creation I would say no
@deliciouspineapplessister but I think there’s still room for argument! Because in a way magic is a part of them, it’s inside them. It happens in their minds but uses a wand as a conduit.
Can animagi transform on shabbos? I have so many questions about technicalities!
Not really knowing what I’m saying here, but writing is forbidden on Shabbat, and the writing utensil is used as a conduit for the story inside the person to come out. Same thing with musical instruments. So making magic with a wand would be forbidden.
But we’re still allowed to create without instruments-tell stories, dance, sing. So magic without a wand, including anigami, would be allowed.
Also the Leviim were allowed to play musical instruments at the Beit HaMikdash. So imagine the Leviim standing on the steps, playing music, and beautiful magic displays fly above their heads.
That’s an interesting way to think about it, but one could also think about a wand like a fork.
We must eat to survive, therefore we still use utensils.
A wand is a utensil of sorts.
Magic isn’t just a story or a song. It’s a necessity of survival.
Honestly I agree with the first comment on this post and would assume magic is forbidden as one of the halachot of shabbot is that youre not allowed to create or destroy. When summoning ones inner magic for a spell which’s job is inherently creating, or destroying would be against halacha. Moreover, the spells that transfigure things, are in a sense creating something there that wasnt before and again, creating is breaking the rules. However, I feel that there would be a big debate. Orthodox Jews would most likely not use magic on Shabbat at all will maybe Modern Orthodox Jews would use magic, but only in the case that the purpose of the magic cast is not inherently creating or deatroying. Then again this brings up the argument if the magic done always exists and is waiting to be harnessed or does it not exist until the whitch or wizard does a spell. Also, how does non verbal magic come into play? Moreover isnt a spell like a recipe? Puttinf things in a sequrnce to create a whole knew thing? I feel like Rabbi’s would have many different opinions and eventually there would be some halacha but mostly it would just depend on someone minhag, like how certain people wait six hours between eating meat and dairy and some people wait three. So much theory!
It’s wild to me, the people who are willing to stan things like big pharma and health insurance companies in the US like somehow the cost of things isn’t arbitrary and absolutely made for profit.
Just saw a comment that said “I don’t think people realize how expensive health care actually is, it’s not like pill companies are out to make a profit” like, I’m sorry, my migraine meds which I can get for free or for a significantly lower cost in nearly every other country in the world, would cost me $120 per month in the US if I chose to fill the prescription. And yes, that’s generic. And yes, that’s with health insurance. My health insurance doesn’t cover them.
My epi pens, a literal life saving rescue med, if I can’t get a generic non auto-injector or if I don’t have a coupon, can cost me $600 per pen. And you’re supposed to carry two and replace them yearly.
For that price I can literally fly home to the UK for two weeks and have them replaced for free (I’m a UK citizen before anyone gets their knickers in a bunch about freeloading scroungers), and still have an extra $100-400 to play with depending on the time of year I fly out.
I literally plan trips home based around when my meds need refilled, because it’s works out cheaper than trying to get a pharmacy in the US that takes my insurance and provides generic non automated adrenaline pens.
That’s fucked up.
And it is absolutely because health insurance companies and “big pharma” are in cahoots over how much profit they want to make from tragic events and debilitating illnesses. Meanwhile people die cause it’s a choice between food for their kids or insulin for their diabetes.
But go off I guess.
Another thing that ticks me off is people who go “oh just get new insurance if yours is too expensive” like I didn’t already think of that, and am also not restricted with who will cover me because I’m an immigrant.
Cause oh yeah, that’s a thing.
Anyone that says “well immigrants come here to get free healthcare” are absolutely talking out of their asses.
“Oh but we meant the illegals…” except you cannot get Medicaid or state equivalent without an official alien green card number??? So that’s false???
“But I heard…” well ya heard wrong.
Free health care is such a weird phenomenon to me.
We have state clinics, which are cheaper than private hospitals. You still pay for your treatment though. Medical insurance is ridiculously expensive, and not a “Benefit” with most jobs in my country. You’re lucky if you land that gig.
My husband tore a ligament a year back, we carted him off to the state hospital, he sat in line for 9 hours, had a quick xray to confirm and was sent home with aspirin. That was the extent of the help he got.
I had my wisdom teeth removed in a private hospital. I’m deathly allergic to tramal, which is the painkiller they inject you with after you come out of surgery. Noted on my chart and medical alert bracelet. I felt confident that the doctors wouldn’t inject me with the thing that could kill me.
I guessed wrong.
If I hadn’t asked the doctor what he was injecting me with ( still high on anaesthetic, fyi) he would have killed me. Do you know what he said to me when I told him I was allergic? “HOW allergic?” 😐.
Pharma companies, healthcare in general? No one cares. Pay, don’t pay. You’re going to suffer regardless. All that matters is how much money they can make off of you.
‘Free’ healthcare isnt all its made out to be. The british NHS will do everything they can to blame YOU for anything that is wrong or that you need treatment for. If your BMI is over the optimim 18 to 25 points you’re screwed. Flu? Too fat. Broken Ankle? Too fat. Polycystic Ovaries? Too fat. Asthma? Too fat. Everything you would not have if you lost weight. Oh you have despression and are self harming? Well if you lost weight… do you see where this is going?
Also prescriptions; in Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free. But in England unless you have a medical exemption card you’re paying. I have asthma and regularly have to replace my inhalers for various reason; lose them, break them, they run out. I earn less than £7k a year so i earn less than someone who claims benefits. The one exception is if they are what are classed as ‘life saving drugs’ you dont have to pay.
Doc: If you dont carry your inhaler and have an attack you’re screwed and could die.
Me: Oh ok. So can i get a medical exemption card? These things are getting expensive.
Doc: Nope
Me: But you said if i dont have my inhaler i could die from an asthma attack.
Doc: Exemption cards are only for Life Saving Drugs.
Me: But you just said i have to carry my inhaler or else i could die. It could literally save my life.
Doc: Nope. Inhalers arent considered life saving drugs.
Me: but…
Oh and lets get onto mental health care. I was diagnosed with post natal depression after i lost my first child. That then turned into the fairly rarely diagnosed pre-natal depression when i was pregnant with Superpup.
After he was born the trauma of his birth and the isolation that came with being a new mother tipped me back into severe post natal depression again. I found the strength to seek help and my GP referred me to a state shrink…
I walk into his office and before i’ve even sat down he comments that he wished new mums didnt bring their babies with them. Then he told me (not asked) to tell him the history, asked some very emotionally painful questions before telling me to ‘snap out of it before you get committed’.
He then suggested i would feel better if i lost weight and was happy to write me a prescription for amphetamines that would make me very active and happy.
I told him to fuck off and stormed out.
So no, free healthcare isnt all its cracked up to be.
Oh friend. I got news for you. Private for cost care doesn’t remove any of that shit.
It just means I’m getting charged $500 per 20 minute appointment to be told it’s my fault.
That isn’t a money or cost issue, it’s a systemic ussue of the sexism, the racism and ableism that is permitted to run riot in the medical world, regardless of cost.
So, to sum up, healthcare is fucked everywhere.
Fucked but not unfixable. Likely not to any benefit of my lifetime, but we don’t always get to see the forests we burn down to regrow.
*Nods*
I’m in the US. I have what’s considered “good” health insurance (I’m lucky, my husband has a state union job). This does not do much to cover mental health services though. I mean, technically it’s covered but most therapists won’t take it because it pays them so little.
But moreover, it has protected me from shitty healthcare on the medical side. I’ve got what turns out to be a mixture of panic disorder and something called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome aka POTS (basically my heart rate goes way up from standing-it is SUPER easy to check for).
The first doctor barely checked me over and was like, “You have chest wall pains, go on this steroid.”
Friends, do you know what you really shouldn’t give someone with an overly fast heart rate and panic attacks? If you guessed steroid, you know who ended up in ER two days later, baffling doctors with her freakish racing heart, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
The drama goes on for quite a while after this, and includes a lot of doctors brushing me off and one yelling at me because I stopped taking antidpressents because they gave me suicidal thoughts.
My take on the problem (at least in the US, having never received medical care in another country)?
1. Medicine is for profit now, not for people.
2. Doctors have no training on dealing with people.
3. Doctors are only allowed a few minutes per patient.
Also, as a medical professional, I would like to add on to the “HOW allergic are you?” question, because if you only experience minor swelling or irritation, they can usually toss in an antihistamine and let the drug do its job. If it’s worse, then they abso-fucking-lutely need to step up their game (and naturally, allergy profiles don’t have that kind of nuance to them in computer systems, so we gotta ask every time). I’ve had to verify with doctors and patients concerning various penicillin and opoid allergies and not all of them were fatal reactions.
Allergic reactions can vary from minor redness and swelling to anaphylaxis, and please keep in mind that even if our allergy profile for you is updated, there is no way for us to keep track of the severity. Some of us go to one extreme and avoid it completely, others will be asking how allergic you are. And since our hours are constantly being cut, we don’t have the staff or the time to help everyone the way we want to help them, the way they need to be helped.
Okay so, I have this possibly helpful tip/product for trans guys. I know it might seem like a small thing but often with trans dudes the smallest things can make a huge difference.
So, basically I found these underwear (made by Hanes) that are technically women’s underwear but they just look like boxers. (heres a picture)
Now, the reason I’m highly recommending these is because they’re made to fit a female body. The inside even has a place you can put a pad so you don’t have to wear those girly panties for a week each month (if that applies to you, it’s a definite plus). Not to mention they’re affordable (i found a two-pack on sale for 5$) and, since they’re technically women’s underwear, it might be easier to slide by the lesser-supportive parents and the like.
Again, this seems like a really small and dumb thing, but dysphoria’s a bitch and I know y’all just want somethin’ comfy between you and those jeans.
If a neurotypical asks you, “What game are you playing?” they’re not asking you to describe the game.
They’re asking you if they can play too.
If a neurotypical asks you, “What are you watching?” they’re not asking you to explain the plot of the movie/tv show to them.
They’re asking if they can watch it with you.
.
When neurotypicals ask you “What are you doing?”
What you think they’re asking: “Please explain to me what you are doing.”
What they’re actually asking: “Can I join you?”
Now here’s the really fucked up part. If you start explaining to them what you’re doing? They will interpret that as a rejection.
What you think you’re saying: [the answer to their question]
What they think you’re saying: This is an elite and exclusive activity for a level 5 friend and you are a level 1 acquaintance. You are not qualified to join me because you don’t know all this stuff. Go away.
.
This is why neurotypicals think you’re being cold and antisocial.
IT’S ALL A HORRIBLE MISCOMMUNICATION.
I didn’t realize, even thought it took me almost three decades to learn this, that this was such a paradigm changing realization until we had our conversation today.
But it really really is. One of the most bewildering realizations I’ve had is most people don’t talk to learn things unless its related to work or directly towards their own hobbies, all the words and questions are bonding questions if done socially. They are “lets make friends” questions.
So if I answer their question without an opportunity for the person asking the question to give a response or to join in somehow, the asker feels alienated and starts shutting down.
Example: what are you reading?
True answer but not what they’re looking for: Title of book
Best answer for social scenarios where I want to retain/create friendship: This book is about x and y but it has z that i know u have an interest in too.
Example: what are you doing?
True answer but not: drawing
Best answer for friends: I’m drawing but would u like company while I’m working?
And sometimes frankly I’m not in a headspace where I can process people so the answer is something like, “I would like to do something in a day or later, do you want to plan something?”
Tldr: communication is wierd
HOLY
SHIT
that explains so fucking much thank you
(why the fuck do neurotypicals never just day what they mean ie hey this show looks cool mind if I join you)
Further annoying?
They don’t realize that’s what they’re asking and they just feel rejected and go away. So you can’t even ask them what you did wrong because they can’t even put a finger on why they feel the way they do they just know you made them feel bad for some undefined reason.
Being trans is not a mental illness/ you don’t need dysphoria to be trans: 12 3 4 567 (this one is massive) 8 (also if you want a living example of a cis person with dysphoria search godflex here on tumblr, careful it’s nsfw)
DarkestElemental616 