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dolly-decadatia · 5 years ago

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Notes 12/1/20 s.c book

Incorporate altered consciousness into practice as soon as I move to Nevada.

Reach state of ecstasy during rites- incorporate Invocation of Lust rite from LaVey?

Eww so much gender binary bullshit... kind of toying with the idea of pop culture paganism using Spike and Drusilla but grossed out by the gender binary and heteronormativity of the god and goddess and I don’t want that ickiness all over my comfort characters. Something to ponder further.

Reincarnation is brought up. Not sure how I feel about that either. This all made so much more sense to me when I was like 12.

Magic is the practice of moving natural energies to effect needed change.

I’m like 2 pages in and he’s annoying me already. I was definitely remembering Scott Cunningham with a nostalgia lens.

Next chapter is The Deities. Skipping this completely.

Chap 3 Magic:

2 main sources of energy: personal power, earth power.

Personal power- is the life force that sustains our earthly existences. We absorb energy from the moon and sun, from water and food. We release it during movement, exercise, and sex. Even exhaling releases some power, though we recoup the loss through inhaling. In Magic, personal power is aroused, infused with a specific purpose, and directed toward its goal.

Earth power- is that which resides within your planets and in it’s natural products. Stones, trees, wind, flames, water, crystals, and scents all possess unique, specific powers that can be used during magical ritual.

No matter the magical system, personal power must be infused with the need and then released.

I am more than comfortable incorporating negative Magic in my practice. Scott is super judgmental and priggish and I am not feeling his sanctimonious ranting on the topic.

You don’t need elaborate rites every-time. If nothing else, light a candle, settle down before it and concentrate on your magical need. Trust yourself.

Chap 4 tools

The broom- oh lawd he really thinks there were Wiccans during the burning times before Gardner was born. I can’t with him....

Anyway the broom is used for spiritual cleansing (don’t let the bristles touch the ground). Visualize the broom sweeping out the astral buildup that occurs where humans live. This purifies the area to allow smoother ritual workings. Since it is a purifier, the broom is linked with the element of water. Thus it is also used in all types of water spells including those of love and psychic workings. To make your own broom the classic formula is a ash staff, birch twigs, and a willow binding. The ash is protective and the birch is purifying. The willow is religious and therefore non applicable. A tiny broom of pine needles can also be used. There are many old spells involving brooms 🧹. In general the 🧹 is a purificatory and protective instrument used to ritually cleanse the area for Magic or to guard a home by laying in across the threshold, and under the bed, in windowsills, or on doors 🚪.

I personally like cinnamon brooms 🧹. I used to customize them for the sabbaths when I was Wiccan with colored ribbon and sprigs of the appropriate herbs or flowers. I miss doing that.

The wand:

Instrument of invocation. Also used to direct energy, draw magical 🧙‍♂️ symbols or a circle ⭕️ on the ground, to point towards danger ⚠️ while perfectly balanced on a witch’s hand ✋ or even stir a brew in a cauldron. The wand represents the element of air.

Traditional woods used for wand: willow, elder, oak, apple, peach, hazel, cherry 🍒 and more.

Can even use a wooden dowel and carve and/or paint it.

Crystal can also be used.

Any stick you find will be infused with energy and power.

Censer:

Incense burner. I liked the gold swingy ones because they remind me of Spike but I’m uncomfortable with the concept of a breeding pair of deities and don’t want to taint spike and Dru by pigeon holing them into those gross roles. Really really like that censer though... will have to ponder.

When no specific incense is called for in rituals and spells, use your own intuition and creativity in determining which blend to use.

Spirits can be called to appear in visible form in the smoke rising from the censer. He said “command” which seems rude and I don’t vibe with bullying spirits. I want to be their friends. He also said this is not a part of Wicca. I’m not Wiccan sooooo. C’mon incense ghosties. It’s party time at my place .

Sitting while breathing slowly and watching the smoke can be an entrancing act, and you might slip into an alternate state of consciousness.

Cauldron- ancient vessel of cooking and brew making, steeped in magical tradition and mystery. (Grain of salt- he’s talking about Wicca which is not ancient at all.) the cauldron is the container in which magical transformations occur; the sea of primeval creation. The cauldron is often a focal point of ritual. During spring rites it is often filled with fresh water 💧 and flowers 💐; during winter ❄️ a fire 🔥 may be kindled within the cauldron but the reasoning behind this is very religious so.....

The cauldron should be should be iron, resting on 3 legs, with its opening smaller than its widest part. It can be used for scrying by filling it with water and gazing into it.

Athame:

Used for directing energy not cutting. Often dull, usually double-edged with a black handle because black absorbs power. When the athame is used in ritual a bit of energy gets stored in the handle for later use. A sword can be used (like in Church of Satan rituals) if space permits. My trailer is so small it’s tempting to temporarily use a pocket knife until I move 😂. Scott says knives are phallic but pre op trans men aren’t shaped like knives. Coming out has really opened my eyes to how bullshitty concepts of yonic or phallic are. Not feeling it.

Bolline -

White handled practical working knife you actual use as a knife unlike the athame.

Crystal sphere- used for divination. They remind me of Dru because anything psychic does but like I said- I don’t want to disrespect Drusilla by show horning her into the Wiccan idea of goddess. Can be used to store energy or receive messages. Periodic exposure to moonlight, or rubbing the crystal with fresh mugwort will increase its ability to spark our psychic powers. It may be the center of full moon 🌕 rituals.

Cup- simply a cauldron on a stem. Scott calls it a fertility symbol. Gross. Not in my practice. Contains ritual beverage imbibed during ritual. I need to decide what my liquid will be. It was cranberry juice when I was a teen witch, wine as an adult, and Jack Daniels when I was a pop culture pagan (for spike). Cup can be any substance. I have an awesome baphomet goblet in the storage unit I can use. I still love satanic imagery.

Pentacle- Wiccan specific. Non applicable.

Book of shadows- can be handwritten or digital. Ideally rites should be memorized which is daunting with my learning disability and memory issues brought on by depression but I’ll try.

Bell-

Ritual instrument of incredible antiquity. (Source needed on that, Scott). Ringing a bell unleashes vibrations that have powerful effects according to its volume, tone, and material of construction. Also rung to to ward off evil spirits (what does he mean by that? Let’s not be frigging fluffbunnies) to halt storms or evoke good energies. Placed in cupboards or hung on the door, it guards the home. Bells are sometimes rung in ritual to mark various sections and signal a spell’s beginning or end.

As you collect each tool, you can prepare it for ritual. If old, it should be stripped of all associations and energies; you don’t know who owned the tool or what purposes it may have been used for. To begin this process, clean the tool physically using the appropriate method. When the object is clean and dry, bury it in the earth or a bowlful of sand or salt for a few days, allowing the energies to disperse. An alternate method involves plunging the tool into the sea, river, lake, or even your own bathtub 🛁 after purifying the 💦 by adding a few pinches of salt 🧂.

Use common sense and don’t wreck your tool with water or salt if the material would get wrecked.

After a few days dig up the tool, wipe it clean, and it is ready for magic 🪄. If you use the 💦 method, leave the object submerged for a few hours, then dry it.

There are consecration ceremonies later In the book. Use common sense and edit them as needed to make them non secular or hunt on tumblr for alternate methods.

#atheist witch #secular witchcraft #witch journey #pop culture paganism #ex wiccan

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nuggetisawesome · 5 years ago

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Protect Your Browsing/Data Sharing

For free, because in this house I don’t believe in making people pay for basic human rights.

I’ve decided to share my browsing protecting tips here. Digital security is usually quite expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! In this day and age, you’ll be told to watch out for home-born hackers and ‘hacktivists’ accessing your data, but I gotta tell you, what your own governments and ISPs are doing makes this more important (aka: they’re worse).

I know with all the TIKTOK IS SPYING ON YOU stuff, a lot of my friends have come to me seeking some advice on this. This is also great if you don’t want parents checking your browsing >_> just sayin’

If anyone has questions - drop me an ask! I’ll always answer for this topic. I am also happy to ‘expand’ on one of these suggestions if they’re unclear :)

Note: This works under the assumption you have your default ISP provided router and can’t get another one for whatever reason. I will advise that if you can get an additional router, do so! Try to avoid the one the ISP has provided to you.

Additional Note: This is not ‘optimal’. There is no such thing in security – everything has a backdoor.

Let’s get cracking! This is a long, and thorough post, but I _do _have a pdf somewhere if you want it because it looks nicer :*)

Use Tor to browse.

There you go, there’s my advice leaves

https://support.torproject.org/ to Download/Install/Run.

Don’t change anything, except maybe using Tor in ‘bridge’ mode.

Okay, you can use other browsers (see: Chrome/Firefox), but they are not as secure as Tor.

USE A VPN IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE TOR! I prefer Firefox (extensions + good security)

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Install the following extensions if you have Chrome or Firefox:

Privacy Possum

Stops tracking cookies. PSA: Cookies are not evil, certain cookies can be.

Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/nl/firefox/addon/privacy-possum/

Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-possum/ommfjecdpepadiafbnidoiggfpbnkfbj

Ghostery

Stops tracking adverts and cookies. Why do I need this in addition to Privacy Possum? Ghostery specifically looks at tracking cookie ads. It’s like adding MOAR POWAH to Privacy Possum.

Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/nl/firefox/addon/ghostery/

Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ghostery-%E2%80%93-privacy-ad-blo/mlomiejdfkolichcflejclcbmpeaniij?hl=nl

HTTPS Everywhere

Enforces HTTPS. If you look next to the URL in your browser, you’ll see the little lock which indicates the specific URL is secure and uses HTTPS. Many websites still use the old HTTP, which is not as secure and you should NEVER EVER VISIT AN HTTP SITE ITS LIKE READING A BOOK OVER SOMEONE’S SHOULDER, thank you.

Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/nl/firefox/addon/https-everywhere/

Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/https-everywhere/gcbommkclmclpchllfjekcdonpmejbdp?hl=nl

Adblock Plus

Foff, ads.* Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/nl/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/

Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/adblock-plus-free-ad-bloc/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb

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DNS Settings

Ideally, you should change this on your router. ISPs use a default DNS – you don’t want to use anything those bastards say you should use.

Use Cloudflare or OpenDNS:

Cloudflare is more secure overall and keeps up to standards in addition to not storing your data, whereas OpenDNS is great at avoiding malicious websites, just take your pick really 😊There are a ton of other options, feel free to google ‘free DNS servers’. Google has it’s own as well, but, yaknow, it’s Google.

Cloudflare

Primary Server: 1.1.1.1

Secondary Server: 1.0.0.1

OpenDNS

Primary Server: 208.67.222.222

Secondary Server: 208.67.220.220

Add these to your router settings:

In a browser, go to http://192.168.1.1/ or http://192.168.1.0/ (it varies per router). This will lead to your router’s configuration portal. Don’t have a router with a configuration portal? Throw it in the trash and tell your ISP they suck for giving it to you.

Login to the admin portal. If you have not configured this or set a password, try the default combinations: usernames are usually ‘admin’ or blank, the passwords are usually blank, ‘admin’, or ‘1234’.

Each router is different, navigate to where it asks for DNS values or servers, and enter the above addresses. You will see ‘Static’ near the DNS options, select it. This also ensures you’re in the right place. If you’re not sure what to do, look up the model/make of your router and check how you can change DNS.

Whilst you’re at it, change your WiFi password from the default one, and create a proper password for the WiFi portal login. If these two things are kept as default, all these protection methods are pointless as it is easy to crack your router passwords.

Can’t do this on your router because your parents are ds?* No worries! This can be done on your device! :) Yeah, I know how parents work.

Windows OS

Go to Control Panel <Network and Internet < Network and Sharing Center

Click on the link next to “Connections:”* Click “Properties” in the dialogue that pops up.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 < Click Properties < Select “Use Following DNS Servers” < Enter the primary and secondary server addresses

Do this again for Internet Protocol Version 6 in the list.

Boom. Windows is so nice to make this easy.

Mac OS

Go to Apple Menu < System Preferences < Network

Select the Network you’re connected to

Click Advanced

Select DNS Tab

Click the + button < Enter chosen DNS < Save

Linux OS

I’m going to assume if you’re using Linux, you know how to use the terminal and are using a modern Linux system. Enter these line by line. There are many ways to do this (Google is your friend)

· sudo apt update

· sudo apt install resolvconf

· sudo systemctl status resolvconf.service (check that it is running)

· sudo systemctl start resolvconf.service (to start it, use ‘enable’ instead of ‘start’ to enable)

· sudo nano /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/head

· nameserver YOUR.DNS.ADDRESS.HERE

· nameserver YOUR.SECOND.DNS.ADDRESS.HERE

· sudo systemctl start resolvconf.service

Android

Oh yeah, you can do this on phones too wiggles eyebrows. Note, if you’re using a VPN it will lock you out of editing this. Turn it off, edit your DNS, turn it back on. This can be tricky with mobile devices that have not been jailbroken (I don’t advise doing that if you have no clue what you’re doing).

Go to Settings < Connections < WiFi

Select the gear icon next to your current WiFi

Select Advanced < Ip Settings drop-down < Static

Enter chosen DNS options under “DNS 1” and “DNS 2��

iPhone

Go to Settings < Wi-Fi

Select the arrow button next to your current WiFi

Select DHCP tab, scroll down to DNS

Select DNS, and enter your DNS servers

TEST YOUR DNS IS WORKING:

OpenDNS: https://welcome.opendns.com/ (You’ll see a “Welcome to OpenDNS” message”

Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/ssl/encrypted-sni/ (You’ll see check marks for all fields)

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Turn of WPS on router. Enable encryption on router.

If you can access your router portal, find any sort of toggle or field that says “WPS” and disable it. WPS= bad.

Wherever there is an option for WPA2 (or higher) to enable, enable it.

Enable the firewall on your router and Operating System – ALWAYS. If you disable this, you’re disabling an additional layer of security. Firewalls are confusing things and a royal pain in the ass to configure, but having the default is better than having nothing.

________________________________________________________________

Configure your browsers.

Browsers have most things enabled by default, including tracking your location, turning your microphone on etc. Let’s disable that nonsense and make them ask you for permission because it’s 2020.

I’m using Chrome as an example below because it is INFAMOUS for this. Essentially, go through your browser and scroll through settings you don’t like.

Go to the little menu icon < select “Settings”

Sign out if it’s linked to your Google account. Let’s not give Chrome a reason to track your browsing history for your account >_>* Disable EVERYTHING:

Here, I turned off everything I would find annoying except autocomplete because I’m lazy.

NICE TRY GOOGLE, YOU CANT SAVE MY CREDIT CARD. (Seriously, don’t ever EVER autosave passwords/payment info).

The trick is to balance ease of use with security. These may vary from person to person, in general though, if there’s a setting ‘ask before etc.’ select that over ‘allow’.

As a rule of thumb:

NEVER ENABLE FLASH (not even an ‘ask before’), NEVER ENABLE LOCATION (ask before is fine, but at your own risk), NEVER ENABLE CAMERA (ask before is fine, but at your own risk, use the desktop version of an application over the browser version), NEVER ENABLE MICROPHONE (same as camera)

________________________________________________________________

Additional Tipss

Check every single social media setting. You should disable anything that accesses your privacy, if possible.

Cover your camera with a sticker. Disable it unless it’s needed

Disable your mic unless you need it.

Turn off Bluetooth/NFC when you don’t need it.

Have two separate networks/Wi-Fi for smart devices and personal devices.

Always use two/multi-factor-authentication for every single app, site, device etc. that you can.

Biometrics are preferable and the usual chosen default (fingerprints, retina scan, NOT FACE OR VOICE THIS IS SO EASY TO IMMITATE BRO PICTURES ARE A THING)

SMS (try to avoid if you can, please)

App ‘token’ authentication. A good choice if done well.

Hard physical key or token. The best option (Google: Yubikey, for some information on how this works).

Passwords

I know you use the same password for everything – get a centralized password manager, and start using different ones. Examples include PasswordSafe, Keeper, Bitdefender etc. Try go for a Cloud provider, and pay a little bit for the extra security and backup. If they’re compromised, then you will know, and you’ll be able to change everything. You can tie password managers to a token too.

USE PASSPHRASES, 17 characters is a good average length, use a mix of characters, uppercase, lowercase, numbers, ascii etc.

It doesn’t matter if your password is ‘complex’, it matters if it is complex and long. Servers and computers these days are jacked up on tech steroids and can bruteforce many things, given enough time.

Anti-virus.

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE, ON EVERY DEVICE. If you have a device that can add AV, add it. This goes for phones, PCs, smartTVs, you name it.

Free versions are okay, some free ones I like are Bitdefender, Kaspersky, McAfee, Avast (hate their fihsfirstg89ewjg9srjgrd ads though).

Sorry Mac users, that belief that you don’t need one is from 2008. Windows has more security built in than Mac, which means Mac devices should 100% make sure they are adding an AV.

VPN

Ahhhhh. The great VPN. A tricky one. Most free versions I find incredibly slow, but give them a try – play around! A VPN is an excellent addition and these days, I’d argue it’s an absolute must. Many AV solutions include a VPN package with their deal. If you want to make sure those sites don’t share your data, this is the thing that will hurt the most - a good VPN will make it a jumbled mess.

Updates - just do them.

There is no complete security in this day and age – it really is just a matter of time. If you use social media, you’re traceable, be it by the company, ISP, some bored 10 year old, or your ex, your data is out there circulating. Once it’s on the internet, it’s there forever, so don’t worry too much and try to make sure it’s all complex binary trash so that they open it and go “WTF” ��

#tiktok #security #it security #data #data privacy #private browsing #facebook #google #data theft #third party ad #ads #secure browsing #protect data

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glee-otis · 5 years ago

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WEEK 5 Stigma of Mental Illness

1. Demonstrate to us what kind of research you have done so far?

I have done blog posts to ask for people’s opinions regarding stigmatization of mental and physical disabilities. On my previous blog posts I have written down the different replies I have gotten.

I have done scientific research on brain scans for mental illness, and I think I need to further my research in the science behind mental health.

The many interpretations and definitions make it hard to discuss mental health. A lot of stigma seems to arise from a lack of understanding and information regarding the topic.

Breaking the Stigma and Shame of Mental Illness| Kitty Westin https://youtu.be/OsRF8xGgbPA

2. Continued research this week.

Inclusivity: the fact or policy of not excluding members or participants on the grounds of gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, etc.

How can we become more inclusive?

"Spreading Awareness, Reducing Stigma: Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Introduces its Faces of Mental Illness for 2016." Targeted News Service, Jul 13, 2016. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/1804516762?accountid=25324.

Article that discusses how Canada approaches mental illness awareness in a healthy manner. They hope to educate people on mental illness by allowing participants to share their story and recovery.

Quote: “ ‘By continuing to share their stories and paths to recovery with the public, the Faces help others to want to do more to erase stigmatization. They inspire many of us to seek help and to support loved ones with a mental illness, and they encourage more action on the part of policymakers,’ continued Phelps.”

"Domestic Violence's Overlooked Damage: Concussion And Brain Injury." All Things Considered, 30 May 2018. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A541372431/OVIC?u=los12365&sid=OVIC&xid=1e7f6931. Accessed 2 Oct. 2020.

Quote: “STONE: Head and neck injuries are some of the most common. And Zieman is showing just how much traumatic brain injury is a part of that. The lack of recognition has left many survivors in the dark without a diagnosis, often blamed for their cognitive impairment. ZIEMAN: They've been labeled for so long with all these horrible things. And in the end, it's not only not their fault but there is a true medical reason behind these issues. STONE: While many patients initially seek out the clinic because of physical symptoms, Dr. Zieman says their research shows anxiety, depression and PTSD usually end up being the most severe.”

"UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS." US Fed News Service, Including US State News, May 04, 2012. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/1010847577?accountid=25324.

Quote: “According to Bela Sood, M.D., medical director of the center, mental illness is still considered taboo - in large part, because it is a problem that is not obvious to the naked eye. Much of it is behavioral in nature and belongs to a spectrum of behaviors that can go from normalcy to a point where they cause a disability. The disability is then observed to occur in very specific arenas, such as at school or within the home, and it is not obvious to observers until they begin to delve into it, said Sood.” Section under Mental Health Reasearch at VCU: “ ‘The center is an excellent site for research... testing cutting-edge mental health screening, assessment and treatments, said Michael Mason, Ph.’ ”

This article discusses the science of mental illness decreasing the stigma of mental health.

Movies and tv shows involving mental disorders. 13 Reasons Why, The Joker, Silver Linings Playbook, Split, etc. Do these movies “glorify mental illnesss”?

3. What kind of take-aways and questions have you identified or stood out for you?

-This week helped me realize I needed to narrow down my topic even more. So I have decided to focus on the stigmatization of mental health.

-Finding a neutral term for mental illness may be an important step to help approach the topic of stigma. Neutral words to consider: mental health

-Instead of generalizing mental illnesses, maybe we just need to specify it as is. Ex: Depression, Bipolar, OCD, etc.

-How do we integrate mental health, into our education system?

-How can society become more inclusive towards those who are stigmatized.

-Is digital information causing more harm and miscommunication?

-More resources/funding is needed to to study more in depth about mental illness.

4. Who are people that you want to talk to about this issue? Who is active in your area? (designers, artists, activists, psychologists, scientists, et cetera) You should be sharing your project direction, but this time can also be used for further research and adding to your blog.

I would love to speak with psychologists, psychiatrists, and someone who works with neuroimaging. Then I would like to speak with activists and people who are affected by mental illnesses. I think this would give me more insight of two different views. science vs. (emotion/experience?)

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your-dietician · 4 years ago

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Historic Addiction Treatment Funding Burdened by Bureaucracy, Health Officials Warn

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/health/historic-addiction-treatment-funding-burdened-by-bureaucracy-health-officials-warn/

Historic Addiction Treatment Funding Burdened by Bureaucracy, Health Officials Warn

Five days a week, a van parks outside the Baltimore City Detention Center and offers on-demand access to buprenorphine, a gold-standard medication for opioid use disorder that’s been shown to reduce the risk of death and health complications from injecting.

For 17 years, the Behavioral Health Leadership Institute, or BHLI, the nonprofit operating the service, has innovated a “low-threshold” (meaning low-barrier) treatment model in which people can leave their first visit with a prescription. That means no required group attendance or abstention from drugs. It also means that the organization covers pharmacy co-pays and attaches Polaroid pictures to the prescription in lieu of photo identification. “Nobody needs an appointment. People just show up,” said Deborah Agus, executive director of BHLI. “We’re about as no-barrier as you can be.”

To ensure that the program, called Project Connections at Re-Entry, could continue providing on-demand access to buprenorphine, BHLI has been forced to turn down federal funding — twice.

The grant money rejected by BHLI was part of growing federal effort in recent years to pour much-needed funds into substance use disorder treatment. As tens of thousands of Americans have died annually from preventable overdoses for years now, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, a federal agency, is beginning to make historic investments in substance use disorder treatment to match the unprecedented death toll.

Yet the grants — a total of $5.5 billion for fiscal year 2021, the highest value ever granted for substance use disorder treatment, which comes as a result of the agency’s enacted budget and the American Rescue Plan Act — may not reach some substance use disorder patients and low-threshold treatment providers. At fault is the grants’ prohibitive requirements, which burden programs and re-traumatize a highly vulnerable population, multiple health department officials and service providers warned The Intercept.

Six health department officials from five states, most of whom spoke with The Intercept on the condition of anonymity, denounced the Government and Performance Results Act tool, required of SAMHSA-funded programs per the GPRA but designed at the discretion of the agency. The controversial questionnaire, which is administered by a health worker to a patient before medication can be prescribed, aims to assess program performance. In reality, according to the officials, it undermines the program’s ability to deliver accessible lifesaving treatment.

One of the officials from a state receiving some of the most funding said the sentiment goes far beyond just those interviewed: “I have not talked to a single state official in [my state] or in the country that believes the reporting requirements are fine. Everyone is [to] some degree wishing we didn’t have to do it or blood-boiling pissed off about it.”

The “odious” GPRA tool, as that official called it, has real consequences. Four service providers (including Agus, the BHLI executive director), a former New York state official who managed the SAMHSA Opioid Response grant for the state, five anonymous state health officials, and an advocate from the nonprofit dedicated to representing the interests of harm reduction officials working in state health departments all characterized the GPRA tool as being re-traumatizing for patients.

Granular details about physical abuse are sought after, in addition to quantifying highly stigmatized personal topics, including the precise frequency of a patient’s participation in graphic sexual acts, the number of criminalized behaviors (including illicit drug use) performed per month, and the number of children they’ve had taken away from them by authorities.

“The questions are not trauma informed,” said the anonymous official from the highly funded state, “and [they] are even aggressively trauma producing.”

A box of buprenorphine, a gold-standard medication for opioid use disorder, is seen on June 30, 2021.

Photo: Sessi Blanchard

“We can’t be no-barrier and take this [SAMHSA] money,” said Agus, identifying the GPRA requirement as the sole grounds for her organization’s rejection of the federal money.

Agus is on the front lines of closing the so-called treatment gap, the phenomenon wherein 8 in 10 opioid use disorder patients across the country had not received any past-year treatment at a hospital or rehabilitation facility. Part of the problem: Buprenorphine is inaccessible to patients, with 40 percent of all counties in 2020 not having a single medical practitioner authorized to prescribe it. For those who can, it’s underutilized, posing a problem for the recent expansion of prescribing eligibility by the Biden administration.

Accepting the money would mean pushing BHLI’s clients — Baltimoreans who are mostly Black, disabled, or unemployed; unstably housed; and “very sick and exhausted” — to tolerate a “ridiculously invasive” interview that’s longer than the organization’s 20-minute intake. Already, that length is “about all [clients] can take,” Agus noted. In contrast, the tool is estimated by SAMHSA to take 36 minutes, but service providers and state health department officials say it’s closer to lasting 45 minutes to an hour.

“Administration of the tool does take time,” an SAMHSA spokesperson recognizes, “but it can be integrated into patient-centered care in line with program goals.”

That’s not possible, according to Agus: “[Clients] really want to try treatment and get better, but they want it then, no-barrier,” she said. “If you don’t treat someone the second they walk in, you are never going to get them.” Every state official concurred that mandating the GPRA tool in low-threshold settings “defeats the purpose” of such programs, as one official articulated.

“It’s not feasible to use for low-barrier services,” said Laura Pegram, associate director of the Drug User Health team at the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, an organization representing health departments’ harm reduction programs. “The quicker and faster we can get bupe” — buprenorphine — “on demand, that’s what we want. But the intensive GPRA completely makes [low-threshold services] unfundable.”

Some low-threshold services have indeed accepted SAMHSA funds despite the requirements. A program coordinator working one such program on the East Coast, who requested anonymity due to employment restrictions, said their case manager tries to “push through it as quickly as possible”; after all, that’s all they can do.

But the coordinator said it “removes the whole purpose of a low-barrier program,” a sentiment shared by Agus and Pegram. The contradiction has had clear consequences: Some patients have stopped and left GPRA interviews — the provider estimates that an interview accounts for a whopping 80 percent of a first visit — while others walk out the door when they hear they’ll need to sit through a lengthy intake in order to get medication needed to relieve withdrawal symptoms. The program’s in-house intake can be completed in as little as five minutes, the coordinator said. In stark contrast to the SAMHSA spokesperson’s claim, the coordinator bluntly said, “This document is not client centered at all.”

“This document is not client centered at all.”

For the patients who do complete the questionnaire, the GPRA tool demands more of them even after they leave their first visit. SAMHSA requires grantees to administer it three or four times, depending on the grant, for each client. The agency spokesperson explains that “administering the tool more than once provides insight into how a client progresses through treatment or recovery.” But doing so for clients who are unstably housed and living in poverty is an impractical burden, said Agus.

Another service provider elsewhere in the country, who works at an organization receiving SAMHSA funds and who requested anonymity because of employment restrictions, confirmed this reality. “I have lots of clients who make contact and then don’t show for their next appointment, so the GPRA doesn’t get completed,” they said, describing the tool as a “waste of time.” “Sometimes they reach out months later for support again, and I try to complete GPRA then.”

SAMHSA seems to be well aware of the resource-intensive nature of the GPRA tool. Members of SAMHSA’s National Advisory Council for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, which administers the grants, called it a “pain in the neck” in February 2018 and a “significant burden on grantees” in March 2019.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though. The GPRA statute “doesn’t require that agencies collect any specific data or use any particular tool to do so,” explains lawyer Corey Davis, director of the Harm Reduction Legal Network, adding that “SAMHSA has a great deal of discretion in which data it requires grantees to provide and could modify those requirements to better reflect the needs of both grantees and people with [substance use disorder].”

The GPRA tool, Agus believes, is counterproductive to the whole point of the grants, to end overdoses and support people in managing or changing their relationship to drugs. “It’s so frustrating to have the resources tied up,” she said, “when the mission is to provide programs that are the most effective.”

Questions on the controversial Government and Performance Results Act tool questionnaire.

Screenshot: SAMHSA

Before new patients at SAMHSA-funded programs can get into treatment, they are expected to recount to staff how many times they’ve been “hit, slapped, or kicked” in the past month. Other questions on the GPRA tool ask if the trauma has been “so frightening, horrible, or upsetting” that the individual has experienced “nightmares,” been “constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled,” or “[f]elt numb and detached.”

In the opinions of the state officials and service providers, this information is unnecessary to evaluate the program and is actively harmful to their patients. “I’m not sure what the purpose of it is for the ultimate assessment of the efficacy of the substance use disorder treatment program,” said a state official, who also made clear that “the critique is not that we shouldn’t be doing any data collection.” Likewise, the program coordinator of an SAMHSA-funded low-threshold service said, “I do think data is important and that it should be collected, but the extensive amount of useless data is ridiculous, and the questions are very stigmatizing and create an unpleasant experience.”

SAMHSA itself recognizes that “[a]nswering these kinds of questions can be difficult—and sometimes retraumatizing—for individuals with trauma histories,” as the agency wrote in a 2017 guide dedicated to trauma-informed interviewing for the GPRA tool. When asked about the questions’ purpose, the spokesperson said its “utility … is in knowing more about a client’s vulnerability in the face of substance misuse.” When pressed about the seeming discrepancy between that and the tool’s purpose for evaluating performance, the spokesperson added to their response that the question is used to “assess how programs alter a client’s social environment.”

“You’re using a really vulnerable population as guinea pigs to get information that goes nowhere.”

The apparently muddled purpose of the tool is not lost on those having to implement it. “You’re using a really vulnerable population as guinea pigs to get information that goes nowhere,” said Rachel Fitzpatrick, the former assistant director for managing the SAMHSA Opioid Response grant at the New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The SAMHSA spokesperson said that specific information, along with other outcomes, is reported to Congress and “other supervisory agencies.”

Other questions can make clients feel stigmatized, the officials and providers say. The National Academy of Sciences wrote in its 2020 consensus report that the question about having children removed from a client’s custody is “worded such that clients may feel ashamed or alienated from service providers.” The Academy instead suggests that SAMHSA reframe it around “the number of children still living with the client rather than the number for which they have lost parental rights.”

Stigmatization can be further found, officials and service providers say, in the question on past-month criminal activity. SAMHSA explicitly states in a note to the tool administrator that “using illegal drugs,” the very reason patients seek support, “is a crime.” Clients, then, are expected to recount every time they’ve used a drug, with the framework being that each time was a crime. As recognized by journalists, advocates, and the United Nations, the criminalization of drugs begets stigma, and the sources believe that bringing it up in a treatment context could rouse shame. The SAMHSA spokesperson said it’s an “important indicator of potential change in client behavior as a result of treatment.”

(SAMHSA’s statement about crime is factually incorrect. Drug possession is a federal crime, not its use, per se. The SAMHSA spokesperson was unable to provide a direct answer when asked for an explanation.)

If just one client has a bad experience, the officials warn, it might discourage others from seeking help. “Word of mouth spreads quickly. If people think every time you have to go through this, people won’t pursue it,” an official said.

Officials and providers who’ve sought a waiver of the GPRA tool have faced issues with SAMHSA. In July 2020, the agency told grant recipients that funds “will be placed on hold” if they don’t adequately comply with GPRA data collection, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog agency. Similarly, at least two state officials say they’ve been told that their grants could be jeopardized if they don’t satisfactorily conduct the GPRA tool.

“There’s a bureaucratic disconnect. [SAMHSA doesn’t] see the impact that it has,” said one of the officials. Likewise, the anonymous service provider described SAMHSA’s staffers as “people who don’t do the [on-the-ground] work.”

The SAMHSA spokesperson said the agency “regularly seeks feedback from anyone who wishes to contribute input,” which has included “specific question types … requests for additional questions, and … the tool’s structure and length.” They also claim that “clinicians or those with lived experience” have been involved in editing the GPRA tool.

With no apparent way out of the GPRA requirement, the officials and providers are calling for changes to the tool. And indeed, SAMHSA is presently “in the process of revising the current tool,” SAMHSA’s current leader, Tom Coderre, told The Intercept. “SAMHSA takes our mission to connect people to treatment for mental and substance use disorders very seriously. We will continue to look at ways to modernize the tools we use and improve efficiencies and reduce burdens on the people we serve every day.”

Fitzpatrick, the former New York official, would like to see the tool truly “brought up to speed” with trauma-informed best practices. A health department official from a different state recommended it be shortened and “community informed,” with “people with lived experience determining what’s useful.”

“The system does not adapt itself to make care accessible to folks. And that is outrageous.”

The National Academy of Sciences recommended in its 2020 report that SAMHSA “should implement a validated and psychometrically sound tool for assessing recovery among clients of its grant programs” since the GPRA tool, in particular, “does not elicit adequate data on the process of recovery.”

The GPRA tool is just one bureaucratic obstacle among many for substance use disorder service providers and clients, but its stakes are high. “The system does not adapt itself to make care accessible to folks. And that is outrageous,” said a health department official. “It’s time to rapidly move past things like the GPRA reporting tools that might turn some people away that are most vulnerable to overdosing and dying.”

In the meantime, it seems all that officials and providers can do is find a way to make do with a troubling bureaucracy. BHLI’s Agus is doing just that.

Her organization is also bringing buprenorphine into the Baltimore city jail, offering the medication with the financial support of the very burdensome SAMHSA money. That means anyone incarcerated there who wants access must first complete the GPRA interviews.

But in this case, Agus isn’t concerned that the required GPRA interviews will impede incarcerated patients from accessing the services. “We’re accepting our funding for behind the bars,” said Agus, “because [patients are] stuck there anyway.”

For Agus, it’s only possible to accept SAMHSA funding when a patient is stuck behind bars.

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daveg65 · 4 years ago

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156 - App Side Loading Is a No and Apple TV Control Center With Guest Dan Wassink

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave and Warren We are joined by new guest Dan Wassink from Dan’s Tutorials. Warren had success with his AppleTag after his dog chewed it, As a new guest Dan tells us about all the Apple stuff he owns. Dan also givss us some great tips using the Control Center on Apple TV you may not know about. MultiTasking on the iPad we give some tips and what has changed in iPadOS15 plus more.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com

 Direct Link to Audio

News

Another person accidentally swallows an AirPod, still works after being 'retrieved'

iCloud Calendar spam continues to impact users, despite Apple's multiple fixes

iPhone 12 Mini Production Reportedly Ended Earlier Than Expected Due to Relatively Low Sales

iOS Bug Causes Specific Network Name to Disable Wi-Fi on iPhones

Fox Now App No Longer Supports Third-Generation Apple TV

YouTube Says iOS Picture-in-Picture Coming to All US Users

Apple's Shazam Music Discovery Service Surpasses 1 Billion Shazams Per Month

AppShopper is Shutting Down on June 30, 2021

OneDrive for Web Gains Image Editing Tools, Coming to iOS App Soon

Apple Releases Revised AirTag Firmware Update

Topics

Warren has news about the AirTag from his dog biting it and Apple is replacing it.

As we always ask with our new guests, Dan Wassink tells us all the Apple gear he has and how he uses them,

Beta this week. iOS14.7 Beta 3 is still out released last week no word on when this will be released to the public. iOS15 Beta 1 rolls on from the WWDC announcement 2 weeks ago. Public beta should hit in July. What features are starting to stand out. iOS 15 beta hands-on: 300+ changes and features [Video]

Multi-tasking on the iPad (I have the beta on my iPad)

How to use some of the photo recognition that is coming in iOS 15 with iOS 14 (Scan in the Notes app will recognize text and add to Spotlight search). Demonstrated in one of my lessons.

Redesigned Safari - We discuss how most of are not a fan so far.

Apple publishes new user guide detailing how sideloading and third-party app stores would undermine iPhone security the panel discusses how the App Store needs improvement to make things better.

Tips

Control Center on the Apple TV - I demonstrated this with your user group and decided it’d be a good lesson. Something probably not used often?

Apps

Dan

YouTube Ads Auto-Skipper - A new app I discovered and love! Mutes and skips those pesky YouTube ads automatically. The best 99¢ I’ve spent in a while! Note-Doesn’t work on M1s.

Dave

NetNewsWire for iPhone and iPad adds iCloud sync, Twitter and Reddit integration, more

Our Host

Your Host Dave Ginsburg is an IT Professional With over 22 years experience working with Mac and Windows as well as iOS devices. He is also President of The Suburban Chicago Apple Users Group 

About our Guest

Dan Wassink @danwassink is the the owner, trainer, and most everything else for Dan’s Tutorials. He has created over 2,000 lessons on how to use the Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. He also helps out a local school that is Apple based, and has worked for Apple. With over 10 years of experience in online training, he is ready to help you!

About our Co-Host

Co-Host Warren Sklar @Wsklar is an IT Consultant and moderator of the Mac To The Future FaceBook Group with over 3000 members talking about all things Apple. Request to join this group to be among people who love Apple.

Here is our latest Episode!

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thecorteztwins · 7 years ago

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hexiva replied to your post “Eyyy I found my copy of X-Men Noir! I thought for sure I must have...”

X-Men Noir: What the fuck was that?

I remember you asking me that before and I don’t...really know? I assume you mean thematically rather than the actual story/murder mystery (although that gets a little confusing too). So uh, this gets long, and there’s a lot of mention of eugenics (in a WHOLLY CONDEMNING CONTEXT but still) under the cut, so warning for that:

The issue of eugenics just seems a bizarre topic for the story to start with. A 1930s noir murder mystery where everyone is human, okay, I’m listening. Like, the basic idea of Magnus and his Brotherhood as corrupt cops, ok. Xavier as training criminal teens to be better criminals, ok. I’m on-board. A debate about nature vs nurture, terrific. But then trying to work that in with the concept of “genetic hygiene” and the idea that “sociopaths are the next step of evolution!” (which is completely stupid for numerous reasons) is just...buh? Now, for the record, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to address eugenics in an X-Men comic. In fact, I think it’s almost an elephant in the room at certain points. And this was the time period for it in America, something people really don’t want to talk about. But then the entire discussion/message is so...jumbled? Like I think ultimately it is aiming to say “it’s bad!” at the end---it’s something the bad people believe in (tho everyone is kinda a bad guy), the villain proclaiming herself merely this way by her nature is killed by the twin of the good guy in an attempt to prove that nurture triumphs over nature, and see it does because the good guy was adopted by a good family and his twin wasn’t so that’s why his twin is like this, and the story-within-a-story sci-fi tale ends with the “carefully bred and created from all the best genes” hero getting rid of the Breeders Council and now going to procreate with the supposedly genetically-inferior natural-bred people, yay! And yet...it doesn’t do a good job of arguing the point I think it’s trying to make. Bad Twin may have gone to a bad family, yet he still grows up trying to be good? He’s the one who stops the villain? And the villain seems to be telling the truth, she really was just born this way? So like, Dukes is right in the beginning when he says it’s really all down to nature. And likewise, in the pulp-style sci-fi story that serves a metaphor for the larger story, the reason that the Breeders Council turns out to be evil isn’t that they’re eugenicists selectively controlling human reproduction like show dogs, that’s explicitly stated not to be the issue ( “The Breeders Council planned not to just retain humanity’s best qualities and remove the bad, but they would also remove every part of us that is spontaneous and unpredictable!”) So like, eugenics are fine until free will is bred out, I guess? But it’s cool otherwise! And it doesn’t help that the coolness and superiority of the eugenically-bred hero BECAUSE of what specific genes were use for him--his super sense of directions from Bedouin nomads, voice from the most accomplished Neapolitan baritones, reflexes from three generations of Hessian sharpshooters---is constantly harped on and shown as working for exactly what it was intended for, whereas the “mongrel” population falls before him easily and is emphasized as hideous. And like...the reason they’re going to start breeding with the “unfit” population...is it turns out they’re the ones with the “spontaneity genes”...so...that’s...still selective breeding for genetic reasons? Also, back to the elephant in the room...it’s trying to be about eugenics, it’s not shy about that, that word is literally used in the first few pages. Yet the racist and ableist aspects of eugenics never comes up. Not in the noir story itself, not in the sci-fi story-within-a-story. The noir story focuses specifically on the idea of criminal/evil tendencies innate vs inborn; the racist, ableist, xenophobic/anti-immigrant parts of eugenics are never even mentioned. And in the scifi story, it’s averted even harder, with the genetically “superior” people being specifically noted as bronze-skinned and having had their genetic traits picked from all over the world. So like...they wanna debate eugenics, they wanna throw that right at the center of things straightaway...but not ever mention its really nasty parts? And set it in a time period where those parts are why it was popular? Like, I get wanting to focus on the issue of criminal traits in a crime story, and I get just not even wanting to debate these other parts in the story because there shouldn’t be a debate, but just avoiding the whole thing altogether seems...it just seems wrong. If you’re going to bring up something like that, BRING IT UP. Maybe they wanted to ask the question of “ok but would it be okay if it WASN’T prejudicial about race or disability?” but it seems more like it’s just trying to avoid/ignore that in general for the sake of the story...which I get because there’s a LOT there, but again, if you’re going to tackle something like this, tackle it. Don’t go halfway. Also, given that the anti-immigrant aspect of actual eugenics beliefs at the time means it makes no sense for Magnus, whose background as an immigrant is a plot point because of how it indebted him to Shaw, to believe in it. Which is also never addressed to my memory, not even to call him a hypocrite or even just explain how/why he believes it at all. And of course, making Magneto in any universe, even one set before WWII, a proponent of eugenics is GROSS AND A TERRIBLE CHOICE AND WHY WOULD YOU EVEN i guess because his 616 counterpart’s belief in mutant supremacy makes it seem like a good analogue but oh my god think for two seconds?! I genuinely do not think a malicious message was intended but due to the shitty handling, the moral I think they’re trying to deliver ends up mixed at best. I think they were trying to use the theme of mutants in a noir somehow without actually having mutants, and they got the idea of “well how about people who are genetically criminal” and then that leads itself naturally to a nature vs nurture debate, and it’s a cool idea to have some deeper questions like that within what would otherwise just be a straight murder story. But then I guess they connected the idea of “criminal by nature/born sociopaths” to “eugenics in general” which is admittedly not a huge leap, and it is easy to tie the idea of eugenics to a series whose characters are literally meant to be “homo superior” by virtue of their genes...except in this case they’re not homo superior, they’re a bunch of criminals, and only one seems to have been born that way. Like I feel like this theme would have worked a lot better in the 616 universe, not a human AU. Basically, I think they were trying to do too much in one story, they didn’t want to tackle all the implications of their theme despite those implications being what it’s most known for, the theme frankly doesn’t even really work with the story or setting that well even though it seems like it should (time period, etc), they don’t seem to realize how to convey their message or even what that message really is (as said, I think it’s nature over nurture, but the story itself seems confused on that) and when you add all that to the convoluted, confusing plot (which is okay for a noir, but when it’s added to all this mess it’s just hard to follow) with the twist at the end, it’s just...what just happened? It’s just kind of a mess, and given the themes they decided to tackle, ends up a mess with some Unfortunate Implications...assuming you can even follow it that far. ALL THAT SAID...I enjoyed it? I know that sounds so terrible to say because of all the problematic shit I just described, but I genuinely liked exploring this world and what everyone was in it, and how their mutant powers in 616 were translated into mundane traits and skills, finding all the little references to stuff from 616, etc. I think they would have done a lot better to just focus on that, on translating the characters into these roles and how to keep them still those characters (instead of people who really just have their names) while in these roles, and just doing a straight noir story with that. I feel like trying to tackle deeper themes ended up just distracting from the story, and then ended up not even really tackling those themes anyway, so it just ended up a mess in both directions. But I think it was a good idea at its core! I really do! And I like what’s there of it! You know me, I fucking love a mess with good potential. Also, two other things--I understand noir means black, but the art is in so much shadow it’s often hard to tell what’s going on, or who is who. Lighten it up some and include some fun time-appropriate fashions. It would be easier to follow and better communicate the fashions, plus look cute as hell. And get another protagonist because why was the protagonist Tom Halloway?! He’s not an X-Men character! Why is he the lead?! LIKE THAT IS REALLY MY BIGGEST QUESTION

#hexiva #x men noir #eugenics for ts #tw for eugenics #out of cortez #meta #noir meta

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bi-stronomer · 8 years ago

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ADHD and College Classes

this is inspired a little bit by this post, which seemed to mostly apply to high school, so I thought I’d write a related piece with some tips more relevant to my experiences in college.

like @studybutch, i also have primarily inattentive-type adhd, so your mileage may vary.

First things first, find your disability resource center on campus (they may have a different name than this). The DRC is where you’ll get accommodations such as extra time on tests (usually in a quiet room with minimal distractions), the ability to take class notes on a computer, early registration so you can schedule classes for when your meds are in effect, etc. In order to take advantage of your school’s DRC, you’ll probably need an official diagnosis of adhd (or another learning disability)- my pediatrician’s original diagnosis from when I was 9 and my history of treatment was sufficient at my university, but some schools may require a diagnosis from a licensed psychiatrist.

Going through the DRC means that your teachers may know you have accommodations without you telling them, but it’s still considered polite/semi-mandatory to let them know you have accommodations at the beginning of the year, especially if your accommodations affect any class rules they have (like no laptops in class). Most universities require that teachers include a section about accommodations in their syllabus (and they’ll often request that you let them know if you need any), so make sure to read that too, but I’ve never run into any problems. Usually I get a shrug and a “that’s fine, thanks for letting me know”. If you were to have a problem though, the DRC would have your back.

In class:

Sit near the front of the class whenever possible. This has two benefits: 1) you’ll be less likely to daydream because the teacher is right there and 2) you can’t get distracted by what other students are doing if you can’t see most of them

If you need to leave the classroom for a second to take a short break/refocus yourself, you can just go. You don’t need to raise your hand like in high school (unless the teacher specifically requests it)

I’m fine when the teacher is writing things on the board and I’m copying them down, but if a teacher starts talking for a few minutes without writing anything down, I start to check out. This isn’t the worst thing in the world because teachers tend to write the most important things down and I can extrapolate later, but they’re often explaining a bigger concept that helps whatever example they’re about to do on the board. I’m still working on this (so if anyone has any tips?), but being aware that you’re drifting is half the battle with adhd, so keep an eye on it

Laptops:

I’ve been using a laptop for notes since 7th grade, so I’m very comfortable with it. My laptop has the ability to flip around into a tablet that I can write on, which helps with memory recall (the physical act of writing has been shown to be better than typing), and also makes some teachers feel better about you having a laptop in class, but it’s not a necessity. It can be an added distraction though, so here’s how I use my laptop

AIRPLANE MODE. Use it. Putting your laptop in airplane mode will both extend the battery so you can worry less about it dying during the day, and put an extra step between you and browsing the internet. Plus, you won’t be getting email notifications in class that break your focus.

Like I mentioned, my laptop slides into a tablet mode, which means my neighbors or teacher can walk over and see my screen much easier than if it’s in a classic laptop position. Of course, I mastered switching quickly between tabs years ago, but the possibility of getting caught being off-task can help sometimes.

I take all my notes in Microsoft OneNote. It lets me write, type, draw straight lines and shapes (I draw a lot of diagrams as an astronomy major), use different colors, and organize my classes into separate notebooks and tabs within the notebooks without ever running out of paper. I don’t have to carry a bunch of different colored pens around with me, or a bunch of different notebooks (and worry about forgetting or losing them), and my OneNote is linked to the cloud, so my notes are always backed up. (If anyone’s interested, I can totally do another post about how I use OneNote because like I said, it’s been serving me well for years)

Scheduling:

I know it’s not always possible, especially as your classes get more specialized at higher levels (so there may only be one section), but for the love of god, please try to schedule breaks between classes. This is one of the best ways that college is different from high school- you get to make your own schedule to some degree.

Last semester, I had days with class from 10 am to 2 pm with only passing periods in between (and then work afterwards), and it SUCKED. Even if you don’t do work during your breaks (though you probably should if your meds are still working), having the mental debriefing time is a major help in fighting off focus-fatigue.

Again, this is with the caveat that you really choose which classes you take, not when the classes are, but if you take your meds in the morning and they’ve worn off by 2 pm, you get to choose classes so that you’re taking them when your meds are working! If your brain cannot function before 9 am, even with meds, you can pick classes that start after that.

In addition, you choose your classes. You may have to struggle through some gen-eds, but you decide which gen-eds those are, which means you get to choose classes that are interesting to you (and there are some fun, weird options)! And then presumably you’re majoring in something you enjoy, so in theory most of your classes should be topics that you don’t have to fight to keep your attention on all semester.

I’ll leave things there, but know that approaching college classes with adhd doesn’t have to be horrible. Your teachers have had kids with LD’s before, and it’s really not a big deal to them. There are resources on campus to help you succeed if you seek them out, and they’ll often be much more robust than what you may have had in high school. The increased amount of self-reliance and responsibility can be a difficult adjustment for some adhders, but often the freedom from the rigid structure of high school can be really helpful too.

#advice #college #studyblr #adhdblr #adhd #my post

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theloganshannon · 8 years ago

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Black LIVES Matter

This title may seem slightly off-base from our country’s latest event of current news in race relations, but this is something I’ve been meaning to put together for quite some time and haven’t been able to until now. Needless to say, this is going to be pretty exhaustive. The latest events that happened in Charlottesville have added some nuance to the situation, as well as deepened my understanding and strengthened my conclusions. There’s a lot to say and a lot of different angles to take, most of which only add fuel to the flame. This is because the issue at hand is so emotionally centered that most people’s initial response is one purely of emotion; though at first hand this seems admirable, because the human heart is so unreliable it is actually just counterintuitive. The people who act out of hate are simply acting on a dangerous emotion of the human heart. Don’t get me wrong, there is great pain when it comes to the topic, but for one to respond with the feelings associated with the natural gut reaction to the horror we see puts one in a very precarious position. Your only logical progression will be for you to end up reacting with the same dangerous emotion. To let your feelings dictate your response leaves you prone to hatred. If you are perpetually emotional towards these scenarios, you WILL hate! And by now the majority of us surely realize just how illogical that is. But as I get started, it sadly appears to me that far too many still just don’t get this.

Now before you question me on how I could so easily separate emotion from this issue, let me stop you, because that’s not what I’m saying at all. In the last paragraph notice how I said, “If you are perpetually emotional towards these scenarios, you WILL hate!” The problem I’m pointing out is not that we get emotional about racism, but that we remain emotional about racism. Out of some self described righteous indignation we feel entitled to rage against the moral failures and despicable acts of others. Yeah, it makes sense, it does. At least in the most juvenile sense possible, it makes sense. But that’s the thing, it’s childish! And it’s foolish! We are going to get upset about bigotry, we will, but we cannot act on that emotion. This is because, as James 1:20 (AMP) says, “The [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].” Instead, we can only act on what we know is true. Truth transcends emotion. It’s much more natural for a human to be emotional than truthful. It is so difficult to look at this objectively, but we must view it this way if we want there to be any improvement. In Psalm 11, verse 3 we find these words, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The answer to that question is at the beginning of the verse, the righteous must restore the foundations where men have destroyed them. To restore and continue in that which is right we must return to the truth of the matter! So let me share with you a few things that are true.

1. You are angry! I am angry! Believe me I am angry. We are all angry! Well, anyone with their eyes opened at least a quarter of the way is angry. Here, though wrong (because we are incapable of righteousness on our own), anger seems to be the only reasonable reaction. We find it absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary to rid ourselves of our “admissible” malice, because after all we’re right. The guilty party is wrong. And anyone who doesn’t express how right the people with the right view are and how wrong the guilty are, are wrong too. And anyone who doesn’t express how right the people with the right view are and how wrong the guilty are, in the correct amount or manner that we believe they should, are wrong too. Whoa, that jump was a little extreme, wasn’t it?! And yet, that is it exactly what everyone and his brother, mother, and significant other is doing! Somehow we forget, and even a good number don’t believe, that we ourselves are personally capable of committing the same evil acts that literally every single other human has committed. We are all so much more alike than we are different, and the same goes for this idea of what we’re capable of. Given the correct circumstances, anyone of us could commit crimes the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. Perhaps you find that comparison a bit severe, but I had to take it to the maximum intensity in order for you to get where I’m coming from. Let me start by being honest about myself, and I hope you’ll follow suit. I am completely capable of racism. I am completely capable of bigotry. I am completely capable of favoritism. I am completely capable of divisiveness. I am completely capable of hate. In fact I know I’m guilty of a number of these. In a word, because I’m capable of evil, I am evil. Forgive me if you disagree, but all of this is true for each and every one of us, not just me. We’d like to think that we’re all inherently good, and that doing wrong is the exception, but (without going too far down that rabbit trail) that’s simply not consistent with reality.

“As it is written and forever remains written, “There is none righteous (none that meets God’s standard), not even one.” Romans 3:10

2. Okay, let’s get back to my title, Black LIVES Matter. I remind you, curb your emotions, because I can see several different groups getting upset about a few of the things I’m about to say. Let me first make it clear, actually, ALL lives matter! This is true; it’s not up for debate. Nor is it shameful to make this statement, as some are making it out to be. It’s true, and it’s okay for you to say, but it does happen to be beside the point. I’ll explain… We need to approach every aspect of existence with the assumption that life is valuable. Whether it’s in correlation to ethnicity, disability, or unborn children. I may have just smacked a hornet’s nest, but I’m still speaking the truth and if you’re peering through the lens of reality, not sentiment, there’s no legitimate rhyme or reason for you to disagree. With that being said, to act like the term “black lives matter” is unnecessary and offensive is completely ridiculous. “All lives matter” and “black lives matter” are virtually interchangeable phrases. As well are the phrases “brown lives matter”, “yellow lives matter”, “red lives matter”, “white lives matter”, and simply “lives matter”. So yes, “All Lives Matter” as well as “Black Lives Matter” are both true and acceptable to say. To get up in arms at anyone for either one, though you have your reasons, is just well, emotional. It’s a symptom of childish offense. Being upset about not being categorically included is petty and pointless. Being upset about people being upset for the previous reason is petty and pointless as well. On top of that, the reason that the term, idea, and even organization BLACK Lives Matter even originated is that systematically, historically a specific group of people, African Americans, has been mistreated and dehumanized throughout our country’s entire existence. That’s undeniably true. A large majority of this group does still feel marginalized and they’re simply attempting to make people aware. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Many supporters of this idea are promoting it without violence or emotion. But it cannot be left unsaid that there are certainly organized elements of the movement that are acting on their unreliable emotions, resulting in their commitment of acts of violence. That is uncalled for, unwise, and unacceptable! I, at least at a surface level, get it, but that is not the answer. Because I am not personally experienced here, I’m going to leave that at that. I cannot speak beyond the logic. Have one more look back at my title, Black LIVES Matter, the reason I have “lives” in all caps is that life is what is at stake, which is the important thing! The reason I use the word “black” instead of “all” is because, though all lives matter, it is this people group that have the unfortunate necessity to question whether or not those around them think their specific lives matter!

“Do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us?...” Malachi 2:10

3. White supremacist groups exist in our country even to this day. Obviously. And their ideas are still much more alive than many of us of realized. This is what we witnessed in Charlottesville several days ago. Neo-Nazis, the KKK, and their acolytes all gathered together for a protest. What exactly were they protesting? There’s really no answer to that question. This extremely troubled group of people feel like they have been left unheard, and they are angry about it. They have allowed their emotions, fueled by baseless prejudices, to take control of them. Hate has consumed them! Their corrupt notions of racial superiority mingled with their feelings have resulted in a horrifyingly obscene display! What transpired was nothing short of a riot. It got so disgustingly out-of-control that Heather Heyer, an extremely admirable and innocent woman, lost her life at the hands of a rampaging terrorist! The man is deeply troubled, he is so detestably wrong, he deserves justice, but he also needs help. Everyone must do his part to denounce the evil that exists, but as I’ve spoken of before, we must do it with the recognition that it easily could’ve been us! If we’re truly honest with ourselves, we cannot claim to be better. Besides, look what is happening when we respond out of self-righteous rage... Certain people are retaliating with the same type of violence! The people of Antifa, etc. have shown themselves to be no better in the midst of their belief that they are. Violence and hatred toward the violent and hateful is violent and hateful. It feels justified, but it quite frankly isn’t! So yeah, one side is to blame for initializing the incitement and the tragic loss. No one’s arguing against that! But there were certainly several groups that negatively contributed. It’s just true. Yes, motives were different and only one side clearly has race relations right, but angry violence is unacceptable from whoever exhibits it! Now let me briefly address the myriad of people who are criticizing President Trump for not speaking out in the way that you desire… I understand what your plight is, that the leader of our nation ought to immediately, eloquently, and intensely criticize these groups. I agree. But I also do think the president is trying. Feel free to disagree with him, I do on several things, but I don’t think anyone has the right to judge his motives or the state of his heart. According to James 4:12 (AMP), God’s word says, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy [the one God who has the absolute power of life and death]; but who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?” You may not like it, but when it comes to this, that’s the end of the matter. In case I haven’t made it clear enough yet, once again: White supremacy is completely unacceptable! It has no place anywhere! It is inconsistent with reality and completely void of morality! It is awful, nasty, and vile! But there is only one effective response, one of reason and peace. Each one of us is only responsible for our own reaction and subsequent action.

“What leads to quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your (hedonistic) desires that wage war in your members (fighting for control over you)? You are jealous and covet (what others have) and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain (the object of your envy); so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask (it of God).” James 4:1-2 (AMP)

4. Love is rooted in truth. There is only one source of truth. God is the source of truth. God is the very essence of truth. God is truth. God is also love. So love is truth. Throughout the Bible, once you are reconciled to God through his grace, we are shown that to exemplify, extend, and multiply love is what it takes to fulfill the will of the Father. Through a relationship with Christ, God intends and does equip and enable every true follower of His with everything they need in order to walk in love for their Lord and for everyone around them! With that in mind I say the following things: I love white supremacists! I detest what they stand for and do. I love the violent opposers! I detest what they do. I love the violent members of the Black Lives Matter movement! I detest what they do. I love corrupt cops that abuse and misuse their power! I detest what they do. I love those who stand up for what is right! I love those who do this and politically disagree with me! I love the misled with good intentions! I love everyone! I don’t always feel like doing this, nor do I always succeed, but love is the truth so I pursue it. And, though I have the facilities to love, because of the fallibility of man I am unable to accomplish loving anyone and loving them well on my own. As Matthew 19:26 says, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Only through the transforming, restoring, and redemptive power of Christ is anyone ever able to truly love and accomplish the change needed to eradicate the world of hate and all other wicked forms of evil! I choose to love because I choose to be consistent with truth! I will love by listening to all points of view when it comes to whatever issue, correcting where correction is needed, assisting where assistance is needed, and comforting where comfort is needed! So should you if you want to walk in what is right and what is real. Let dealing with the truth in love be what dictates your motives, decisions, and responses.

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore (unselfish) love is the fulfillment of the Law.” Romans 13:10

“For the whole Law (concerning human relationships) is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit).” Galatians 5:14 (AMP)

There really is only one answer to the issue at hand. His name is Jesus! Even the most optimistic individual is prone to anger, hatred, cynicism, and sharpness. The only thing that will truly satisfy our souls and heal our great divide is a relationship with the God of Love! The one and only Creator of all things. You and I belong to Him and He loves us all equally! May He draw you near and extend His many blessings to you today!

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jmariebe · 8 years ago

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Testimony, Log 4: Are you able or disabled to do the job and how do you know?

I’ve had PTSD, trichotillomania, general anxiety disorder and bipolar depression since I was seven years old. I know this now after years of therapy and prescribed medications through various psychiatrists, psychologists, cognitive behavioral therapists, and psychiatric nurses. I’ve been seeing medical professionals in these fields since I was 28 years old. I am currently 49 years old. So, I’ve spent over 20 years trying to get help for these medical illnesses. Along with these medical illnesses there are symptoms. This is how the medical community determines what kinds of mental health illnesses you have and how to treat them. My particular mental health issues are considered to be chronic. I will always have these illnesses. While my mental health issues are considered to be without cure, with ongoing treatment, they can be reduced in their severity and there is great hope that I can not only function in society, but thrive in a career. Since I didn’t realize what my illnesses were until I was 22 years of age, the symptoms from these co-morbid conditions have dominated my daily life and social interactions my entire life. The symptoms range in severity and there are many symptoms that can occur when you have these illnesses.

When I was seven years old, my second grade teacher noticed that I was pulling my hair out, going bald all over my head, and leaving the pulled strands of hair all over the floor around every desk I sat at. This prompted her to alert my mother. At the time (1975) trichotillomania (considered to be related to OCD) was not well known in society, so my mother did the best thing she could do and she took me to a dermatologist who prescribed me coal tar shampoo.

After beginning treatment with medical professionals at the age of 28, the link between childhood sexual, physical, and verbal abuse was made.

Trust issues play an important role in building relationships. Developing the ability to trust people again was and still is at the core of my treatment from the medical community. There were and are many other treatment options available based on ongoing research by medical professionals. As someone with multiple illnesses (PTSD being the dominant one), I keep up with ongoing research efforts based on the diagnoses I’ve been given because it helps me understand my illnesses and it helps me to manage the symptoms too; this is similar to a diabetic watching their diet or an allergy sufferer avoiding certain environments or products. But PTSD was not determined as the dominant illness until the last year. It was part of the co-morbid collection of illnesses, but not considered to be the illness causes the most debilitating health and social problems I was having. OCD and depression were the dominant illnesses determined by medical professionals on IUP’s campus and by external medical professionals up until 2007-2011 when Indiana Community Guidance Center began helping me. It was at this time that PTSD became the dominant illness affecting and effecting me.

In 2003, I went to IUP to study in the Composition and Rhetoric Department and had a crush on a professor there, Claude Mark Hurlbert. Despondent that he did not want to start a relationship with me, alone in Indiana, PA, and not having a strong network of social relationships to begin with, I fell into a major depressive episode and called a friend, Irene Pannetier, who also studied composition and rhetoric at IUP. She asked me why I was so upset (crying uncontrollably and talking of suicide). I told her the whole story and elaborated on my life extensively. Then, the first day of the school week after this incident I began getting medical help through IUP’s mental health services. They diagnosed me with OCD/Trichotillomania, generalized anxiety and depression and prescribed me Luvox after trying several other medications. All of these events in the Fall 2003 semester occurred before Irene and several other composition and rhetoric students decided to use a research taping device to tape conversations I had with Irene and spread the taped conversations throughout the English Dept.

Fast forward to 2006-2007, during the time I was seeing medical professionals at Indiana Community Guidance Center, it was determined that the behaviors witnessed by members of the English Dept. and my own details of what I was experiencing, led to a determination that the dominant illness at this time was PTSD with co-morbid OCD, generalized anxiety, and depression as present, but not dominant in terms of my symptoms.

I had a mental breakdown due to specific triggers. Triggers for PTSD sufferers are any social act (verbal, physical, visual, olfactory [sense of smell], etc.) that causes someone with PTSD to relive past traumatic events and begin acting and feeling and returning to those states of mind that were experienced when the initial traumas occurred. My particular triggers involved every form of trauma I experienced: a certain smile that was similar to a sexual predator’s own smile during the time I was sexually abused, someone grabbing me in a violent manner, enraged yelling and extreme acts of violence, insinuations about my sexuality, a certain look that is leering combined with the position someone has physically to your own and how they hover around you.

So, Indiana Community Guidance Center, like other medical professionals before them, including IUP’s Mental Health professionals, asked me for details about my life at the time when my mental health symptoms began (age 7, pulling my hair out). The details of my appointments with the medical professionals at Indiana Community Guidance Center were being given to IUP, notably IUP’s English Dept. in order to help me, and them, through the behaviors I was exhibiting and relieve faculty and students’ own feelings of discomfort about how I was acting. I was not informed that Indiana Community Guidance Center was working with IUP’s English Dept. by providing details of my medical diagnoses and therapy sessions. This would violate FERPA, HIPAA, and perhaps other laws and policies.

Instead of helping me, though, the details of my therapy sessions were used to further harass me. The weird smile became prevalent in IUP’s English Dept., then at other colleges where I taught. It was used when someone wanted to keep me in line, threaten me, taunt me for the sake of it. Loud noises were made around me if someone didn’t like something I said or did. Sexually suggestive language began to be used. Side glances, getting very close to me from behind. When I was upset that Lingyan Yang was coughing uncontrollably behind me at an IUP event on campus, coughing became another trigger because now not only was I experiencing trauma triggers from my life before IUP, but I was now also experiencing new trauma triggers from my experiences while studying at IUP. Any taped details that related to my traumatic experiences were then added to their repertoire of harassment and micro-aggression. So, one therapy session I had with Indiana Community Guidance Center, for example, involved breast size discussions in my family growing up. Breast size became a topic of conversation on campuses. Staring at people’s body parts, including women’s breasts, people’s behinds, people’s faces, staring into space, became like memes. I was aware of all of this now being placed on social media. I was aware of the “allergens” and “snow” expanding from IUP to other campuses, to outside academia, to local people’s awareness, to regional, national, and finally to international awareness and surveillance.

At the Sheraton Inn while at an conference in Vancouver, Canada, I was in a colleague’s hotel room and we were discussing an event featuring Gayatri Spivak among other noted scholars. My colleague opened up about the harassment she was experiencing on her own campus. People insinuated she was a lesbian too, she said because she was never married and single and she felt they didn’t understand her or her culture (she is an immigrant from India). I replied that they were using it (calling her a lesbian) as a method of attacking her and not because they understood what it meant to be a lesbian. Our conversation also included a discussion of a man I met at the conference that seemed to be interested in having dinner with me. This led to a discussion of Jeffrey Williams, who I liked at the time. The specific words used in my conversation, the themes I explored, and previous texts from conversations were then discussed by people I worked with and I noticed them appearing on T.V.

No one would tell me that I was being taped. When I discussed the idea that I was being taped, it was suggested that I make an appointment with my psychiatrist/therapist. When I told my psychiatrist about all of the textual and behavioral connections I was making, they increased my medication dosage, added some new ones at times, and focused their attention on my paranoia. But this only made me more paranoid and at the same time increasingly aware that I was being taped and the contents of the taped recordings were being used to defend their actions, which by now they realized would surely lead to a lawsuit. My ability to think clearly and perform my duties as a teacher and scholar decreased as the years went on.

When I informed IUP’s campus police that Mahmoud Amer was stalking me, there was no effort to at least inform me that they investigated the situation and a report was filed (Clery Act). IUP also did not inform me that Mahmoud Amer used my laptop’s webcam to film me in my apartment. The only clue I had about Mr. Amer’s act was from IUP’s website homepage the next day: there was a photo of Gian Pagnucci taken in his office with his computer on and the webcam lit up. Gian had a really wide smile on his face. It was then I realized that whatever I was doing in front of my laptop was being filmed.

From 2004 to 2017, it became increasingly more difficult to interact with students, develop lesson plans, remember words, ideas, definitions, what I was going to say next, organize my thoughts, organize my writing, make connections and function cognitively while outside of work. My social interactions and health status did not improve when IUP decided to have Indiana Community Guidance Center provide them with details of my therapy sessions. In fact, my mental state and social interactions became much worse. The medicines I was being put on were causing me to lose more sleep, gain a tremendous amount of weight, and some of the side effects were similar to the symptoms of the illnesses they were treating!

Enter 2013. I graduated from IUP with my Ph.D. in English Literature and Criticism. I moved back to NJ after I realized that I wasn’t going to find full time, tenure-track, or post doc appointments in Pennsylvania. While in NJ I applied for several different positions at various colleges. My situation became even worse, but because I returned home I at least had the comfort of people and surroundings that were foundational to my identity, the parts of my identity that I have always relied on to help me through my life.

With the same strategy they used via illegal surveillance, IUP’s faculty, students, alumni, and staff attacked my teaching and research based on what they knew were my own abilities: discourse analysis. Since I was intensely hypervigilant for years, coupled with the knowledge that I was being taped, my regular self-consciousness became completely debilitating. And, whatever I did in this “reality” show, was used to argue that I could be hired or should not be hired by the educational institutions I applied to. It seemed/seems like everyone knows everything about me and can use this information to get me hired, fired, in love, out of love, friended/unfriended, housed/unhoused, silenced, killed, hospitalized, and made more ill than ever if they wanted to do so.

See all of my previous posts regarding this trial for connections to this testimony.

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raydaug · 8 years ago

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Listening when they Speak

I’m not fan of monster girls. They are an incomprehensible fetish to me, and the fact that pretty much every prominent series that has featured them has been harem schlock hasn’t done much to endear me to the idea.

Not to mention that I find them genuinely kind of terrifying. The opening scene of Monster Musume, which features the main character suffocating to death while a lamia coils him in her sleep, awakened fears in my when I watched it that that I didn’t even know I had.

But as is usually the case, there’s nothing inertly wrong with the idea of monster girls, it’s just that the idea hadn’t been put to good use yet. Interviews with Monster Girls (or Demi/Ajin-chan wants to Speak), a manga and now anime, uses the idea of monster girls to great effect to tell stories about living with disability, illness, and other chronic conditions.

This isn’t a new observation or interpretation of the series. In fact, hearing about it was the whole reason I decided to even check it out in the first place. Still, I think it’s something worth talking about, if only to get the word out to more people.

Interviews with Monster Girls is about Takahashi, a high school biology teacher who’s always had an interest in ajin, or demi-humans. Demi-humans are widely known, if exceedingly rare. While they did face prejudice and persecution, society has grown to accommodate them over time. Takahashi tried to do research on demi-humans in college, but was unable to arrange any meetings. Now, there are three demi students and a teacher at his school, marking it as the highest concentration of demi. Takahashi gets to know the demi, helping them navigate school life with their conditions while also sating his own curiosity on the subject matter.

Hikari, the vampire, is the demi featured most prominently through the series. An energetic girl who’s fundamentally good hearted, but who’s need to be the center of attention can sometimes get her into and cause trouble.

Despite her desire to drink blood, Hikari’s day to day life more closely resembles that of someone with diabetes or anemia than it does of a Lord of the Undead. Managing her vampirism on a daily basis mostly involves managing her diet to make sure she’s getting enough iron. Other than her fangs, there’s virtually nothing distinguishing her from a regular human.

Yuki, a yuki-onna, is also outwardly very normal, though her condition is a bit more severe. Her body is perpetually cold, and can occasionally produce ice from bodily fluids. After moving away from her home and support network to go to school, she withdrew from close physical contact to avoid potentially hurting people.

She reads a lot like someone living with chronic diseases, such as HIV. The folk stories about yuki-onna are nearly universally tragic, ending in hurt and sadness. Convinced that she can only end up hurting people, she decides the best thing to do for everyone is to disengage. With some help from Takahashi, she receives some education on her condition and learns that she isn’t a treat to people around her, and is able to go back to living a relatively normal high school life.

The real star of the series, though, is Machi, who upholds Japans fascination with one of the more esoteric fantasy creatures, the dullahan. Machi’s head and body exist independently from one another, though they are still one entity.

Machi’s condition isn’t her primary concern. She and her family have learned that, with come caveats and accommodations, she can live a regular, independent life. Instead, Machi just wants to be accepted socially.

She’s treated nice enough by her classmates, but she can tell that any time that conversation turns to her being a dullahan, her classmates become uncomfortable and try to avoid the topic as much as they can. Instead of ignoring it, Machi wishes that that they could become comfortable enough around her that they could joke about her condition.

When she goes to Takahashi, he explains to her in kind of an incredible scene that she needs to be the one that establishes what is and is not okay for her peers to do. If she demonstrates what kind of jokes are okay to make about her being a dullhan, then her classmates will be more comfortable making jokes themselves.

Unfortuantley, the series falters a bit when it comes to the math teacher and succubus Sakie.

There are two big problems with Sakie. First and possibly the biggest is that, if we want to continue to read this series as a thin metaphor of disability, then succubus are a danger population standing in for a non-dangerous one. Unlike other demi, succubus effect other people directly via their powers of seduction. Direct contact or even enough exposed skin is enough to instill strong lust in someone. Not only that, but they also project erotic dreams when they sleep, meaning that not only does this greatly effect where Sakie can live, but it means that succubus are a problem, socially. The government has even formed a police for dealing specifically with succubus related crimes.

It’s the same problem that The X-Men has. While the intent may be a story about tolerance and acceptance and fighting for equal rights, the fact that the group in question possesses traits that actually make them dangerous to the greater population at large undercuts that theme by making and suspicion and prejudice they face justified because they are actually dangerous.

There are also some uncomfortable undertones with regards to female sexuality. Namely, that it is Sakie’s job to manage other people’s consumption of her sexuality.

Luckily, the series doesn’t lean too hard into either of those angles, and even manages to salvage the situation. Twice, Takahashi is exposed to her seductive powers, once by accident while helping her pick up some stuff, and another time deliberately while they were talking about being a succubus. Both times, Takahashi no-sells the seduction, even though he was definitely feeling it.

It draws a clear line between feeling and behavior. Just because Takahashi felt a certain way, and was even made to feel a certain way, doesn’t give him the right to act on that feeling.

I myself caught myself up with the manga, which is a short, breezy read, but the anime airing now so far (which granted is just two episodes) has so far been one of the better adaptations I’ve seen in a while. Unlike something like Kobayashi-san’s Maid Dragon, which is too faithful to be very interesting, the anime adaptation of Interviews with Monster Girls has taken some great artistic license, adding scenes that contribute greatly to the series. Most notably, the first episode adds a scene with Saikie where she explains to Takahashi how he’s overstepping her personal boundaries and tells him to stop, which he does. The worst thing I can say about the anime so far is that it’s an A-1 Pictures joint, with all the included baggage.

It may not be a perfect series, but it’s at least trying something different with what I had previously thought to be a pretty worthless genre. Interviews with Monster Girls is totally worth checking out and I highly recommend it.

#Interviews with Monster Girls #Demi Wants to Speak #ajin-chan wa kataritai #demi-chan wa kataritai #monster girls #disability #disabilties #representation #anime #manga #personal boundaries #handicap

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frenchhorngeek20-blog · 5 years ago

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My Answers for HW2proj

Q1. For your ethics-related term project (see “Course Information” tab for details): Let us continue to develop it step by step over the semester so that it will be manageable rather than a crunch at the end, as follows. Write up 250 words or more (per person if a group project) if your project is a writing project. If it is not a writing project, do work on the project equivalent in effort to writing 250 words or more, and explain specifically what you did (in much less than 250 words!), giving examples (code, for example) if that makes sense.

Answer:

For this project, I am choosing to research computer crime and create a short story/fanfiction (writing project) that uses video game characters to showcase computer crime and its ethical issues. Example: Sonic the Hedgehog could be using a computer one day; he’s online trying to buy more running shoes, and he receives a random pop-up message on his screen (though his ad-blockers were enabled) that installed a program on his computer that sped everything up. Sonic tried to open the program up, but it ended up disabling his Internet indefinitely. Tails figures out that it was a virus because he did not get the message on his powerful supercomputer and heard that other people in South Island began to have the same issue but the virus had different advertisements. In order to eradicate this virus, Sonic and Tails travel through cyberspace, experiencing what the digital network is really composed of. Along the way, Tails explains to Sonic how important digital security is and how it’s susceptible to numerous attacks. They would reach the center control of the network, revealing that Dr. Eggman was the one who distributed the virus so he could expose everyone’s search history and whatnot. Once they stop this evil mastermind, Tails creates a digital force field that detects instances of malicious malware from both inside and outside of South Island. The moral of the story is to convey that technology is constantly changing, and we must be very sensitive to how we are using our devices to fulfill our everyday routines, especially in a business setting where computing security is heavily exercised.

Q2. Explain what needs to be done next on the project.

This post was actually brainstorming how I wanted to develop my project. The next step is to research deeply into the topic, and begin developing the short story.

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coralinemybessyjk08insuranc-blog · 6 years ago

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the-ot-devotee · 6 years ago

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health promOTion

Four weeks down and just two more to go. Yes, that’s right, the end of this community experience is near and so is our four years of studying! During my ‘occupation’ of studying and being at various facilities for fieldwork, I have noticed that many people don’t actually know what an Occupational Therapist is or what we do. I still find myself dumbfounded when people ask me what I am or what I do. It’s pretty difficult trying to sum up my role as an OT in just one sentence since it’s such a vast profession and sometimes it seems like we’re a Jack of all trades! Now that I am based in a community where the education level of most individuals is slightly lower, we are often confused with physiotherapists or nurses and labelled as “the girl who taught me how to dress”, “the lady that taught me how to bath” or even “the girl that plays with my little son”. Apparently, there was even a time where we were known as “the basket ladies” bringing arts and crafts to occupy patients. Now you’re probably wondering what our role actually is, and more specifically, in a primary health care setting?

In a primary health care setting, the main role of any therapist is health promotion programmes (Deshni Naidoo, 2016). The World Health Organisation defines health promotion as “the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behaviour towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions.” (Health Promotion, n.d.). Not only do we just educate or inform individuals and make them aware of how to maintain their health, but advocating for and empowering individuals and communities is a major aspect of our profession. We do this by making use of preventative strategies, developing and implementing wellness groups and providing intervention for all community members, regardless of whether or not they present with a disability (Johanne Filiatrault, 2014). An example of how my group and I are trying to promote health and wellbeing in the community is by running a Substance Abuse and Life Skills Programme with grade seven learners. This programme uses a practical and interactive approach is aimed at educating young children on how substance use can affect all aspects of life.

The health promotion framework consists of maintenance, rehabilitation, preventative and promotive roles. And if you think about it technically, all aspects of the Occupational Therapy scope is promoting health so essentially – health promotion = OT. From this definition, the scope of health promotion would enhance greatly from the few basic roles discussed above, as health promotion consists of everything that an Occupational Therapist will do. The reason for this being that Occupational Therapy and Health Promotion share a common focus, that is providing meaningful and purposeful occupations to promote healthier habits and client-centered engagement in daily life, which ultimately contributes towards achieving overall health and well-being (A, 2004).

Often, the effectiveness of health promotion is questioned, especially in community settings. The topic on invading an individual’s home and giving them arbitrary points on how then can live their life better has come up in many of my fieldwork blocks with my fellow therapists. For a person who has been living a certain way for almost 40 years, why would they ever think that they should change the way they live their life for their remaining years? And that’s when it hit me, the role of health promotion is not directed at individuals with a disability or by looking at specific areas of occupations and finding minor faults in the way they are performed. Teenage pregnancy or relationship and family conflict are just some examples of what the health promotion scope includes. In other words, there is room for health promotion beyond disabilities and targeted OT population groups, as the goal of health promotion is not achieved in circumstances where one is not living life to their full potential.

In the 21st century, constantly using a smart phone or relaxing in front of the TV for the weekend is a norm that many of us are guilty of. The use of social media “increases the potential for easy access to preventative medicine, interaction with health care providers, interprofessional communication in emergency management, and public health” (Joëlle J. LEVAC, 2016). Being able to access the media and internet can greatly change the way people perceive certain topics. This is seen by TB ads on TV which promote medication compliance or a creative cartoon that I remember seeing which used animals but to describe the day of a kid living with autism. Obviously, there are positives and negatives of the media and it is a black hole of information, but the ability to conduct research and read health articles increases our knowledge on how to deal with various situations. Sometimes, you barely have to think about it and just search random key words or phrases such as “exercises for stroke patients” and numerous websites will pop up on your screen, offering their version of the best exercises.

Health promotion is a large framework that looks at physical, social and environmental factors of an individual. It cannot only be implemented through media but goes beyond all the boundaries to ensure that communities, societies and individuals are living their life in the best, most meaningful way.

References:

A, M. R. (2004). Role percepttions and clinical reasoning of community health occupational therapists undertaking home visits. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 13 - 24.

Deshini Naidoo, J. V. (2016). Exploring the occupational therapist’s role in primary health care: listening to voices of stakeholders. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine.

Health Promotion. (n.d.). Retrieved from WHO: http://www.who.int/topics/health_promotion/en/

Joëlle J. LEVAC, T. O. (2016). Social Media and its Use in Health Promotion . Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Science.

Johanne Filiatrault, M. P. (2014). Prevention and Health Promotion in Occupational Therapy: From Concepts to Interventions. International Handbook of Occupational Therapy Interventions, 837-848.

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