still-not-a-cat - Tumblr blog

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"Surely there was a better way to convey this information" probably! That may be why I'm no longer asked to contribute to our social media page at work!

But its that season again and i want to remind everyone that just because an object is vest-shaped and floats does not make it a lifejacket. Only a Coast Guard approved PFD is tested and rated to save your life. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

This...thing pops up in searches for "child's inflatable lifejacket" and bills itself as such. But scroll down and we find an explanation:

In contrast to life vests meant to keep your head above water, our vest enables you to swim smoothly with your head in the water. It keeps you buoyant longer for a safe and enjoyable experience - without worry of surprise riptides or fatigue.

Catch that? This thing is not intended to and will not keep your head above water, the single most important thing a personal flotation device should do. What if you are in a riptide and fatigued while wearing this thing and not longer able to keep your breathing hole above the water's surface? You're shit out of luck. You drown.

Consumers may notice that there is a warning notice on the back, but the good people at Amazon have cleverly obscured it. We can still make out "does not protect [...] drowning". If your waterwings, floaties, or vest-shaped inflatable have a disclaimer like this then they are not rated to safe your life, your child's life, your dog's life, whatever!

By contrast, every Coast Guard approved PFD has labeling like this:

It will clearly say USGC approved and have an approval number. It will say WHO it is rated for (infant, child, youth, adult), the size (small, medium large), an upper weight limit, and generally what kind of recreation its approved for (near shore versus offshore etc). It will give you instructions for proper use and signs that your lifejacket is nearing the end of its utility and needs to be replaced.

Not all personal flotation devices are suited for all activities. Whitewater kayaking and deep-sea fishing need more specialized gear than a day at the lake. But you should have, at minimum, a correctly-sized, well-fitting, CG approved PFD in serviceable condition for any kind of activity on or near the water. Have it, but most importantly, wear it!!!!!

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I keep thinking abt this comment and giggling

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it's not natural for candy to be $3.49. candy is supposed to be one dollar

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service poodle was kindly gifted a tiny loop to attach to her flexi leash so she doesn’t have to carry the poopy bag on her harness 😂

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by the way, if somebody misgenders a trans woman in direct conversation with you, and you do not correct them, you are misgendering her by accessory imo

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Honestly at this point the star wars Wikipedia is the only thing left that can still make me laugh

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I’m so tired of emails. I’m a dog

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Recency bias is a bigger problem than it used to be

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hey all could i get some help covering bills this pride month? im bi trans and disabled and doordash does not pay me even nearly enough. my last post never even got close to my goal and i still have that debt accruing on my credit card. i really really need help to not accrue more interest as well

$155 (insurance) + $99 (hrt) + $100 (groceries) + $50 (vet bill) + $145 (phone & internet) comes out to $550 and this doesnt even cover whats upcoming. thank you so much ❤️🌈

paypaI @ aidenallison

cashapp $diabolicshrimp

venmo @ diabolicshrimp

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Nigel Farage got milkshaked again, what a time to be alive

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Just gonna....leave this here

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verified ways to send aid to gaza directly

Help a Palestinian family directly:

gazafunds.com - Donate directly to a Palestinian family in urgent need of evacuation, medical attention, daily necessities, rebuilding homes, rebuilding businesses or more. Site run by Palestinians, all GFMs verified. Spotlights 1 stagnant GFM at a time. (*If you don't know who/where to donate, just go here and donate to the 1 GFM they show you!)

Help provide tents (*emergency due to the Rafah invasion!):

@helpgazachildren: Currently helping Palestinians in a refugee camp in Rafah flee the Rafah invasion to Khan Younis. Funds go directly to a Hussam, a Palestinian in Rafah who hosts a refugee camp. Funds will cover the cost of tents & transport fuel. Vetted by @/fairuzfan. (gfm)

The Sameer Project: Currently providing tents for displaced families in Rafah who urgently need to evacuate to Deir Al Balah. Has a team on the ground in Gaza who have supplied tents to 1% of the displaced population in Rafah. Run by Palestinians. (paypal) (gfm)

Food, cash & essentials:

Care for Gaza: Palestinian charity on the ground in Gaza distributing food, cash, medicine & other essentials to displaced families. Proof of their work found on their Twitter. (paypal) (gfm)

Direct Aid for Gaza: A Palestinian activist on the ground in Gaza distributing food, cash & other essential supplies to displaced families. Proof of their work found on their twitter. (paypal) (gfm)

Water:

Gaza Municipality's water project: The official Municipality of Gaza needs help rebuilding the water infrastructure in Gaza City to restore access to clean water and waste management services for the people of Gaza. (*This campaign only has a few weeks left but it's still only at 15%!)

eSIMs (urgent):

guide to buy & send esims to gaza

Crips for eSims for Gaza: If you don't know how to buy esims, don't have enough $ for an esim plan, or don't have the capacity to manage them (e.g. topping up regularly), you can donate any amt to this team of volunteers who pool funds to buy & maintain gaza esims regularly, with a financial accountability document.

Medical Aid

Palestine Children's Relief Fund (recently launched emergency humanitarian aid response for displaced children in northern Gaza, 97% rating by Charity Navigator), Palestine Red Crescent Society (on-the-ground team providing medical & ambulance services, vetted by Charities Aid Foundation International)

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naked butt

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openly admitting that the material reality has not really changed much but the absurdity and violence of American politics is exposed for everyone to see now and it's making you uncomfortable and you wish everyone could go back to pretending any of this was ever rational there I can put it into words

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Oh, I'm curious about this

Defining public sex as doing any sex act more intense than some over the clothes action, in a place that is not a private residence, e.g. a park, an alley, a bar, a public bathroom, etc.

Reblaaaag for more data