You're Not Crazy for Prepping. We need more of us.

When George Monbiot announced that he had started a food stockpile, I thought it was worth writing a little about the perception of prepping vs. the reality of something that many of us thought we'd never have to do on a serious level.
www.the-sentinel-intelligence.com/p/youre-not-...

If I had only known
five years ago
how much worse
things were about to become
I would have looked around
so I could remember
how it was before.

If you only knew
in this moment
how much worse
things are about to become
you would look around
so you can remember
how it was before.

Spoiler alert: if any health organization or, say, member of the Kennedy family tells you they’re here to stop chronic health issues and does not mention masking, covid vaccination, or avoiding illnesses that cause chronic conditions, they are entirely full of shit.

I’m sorry I can imagine.

As someone who now works in a 90% Medicaid funded state program this week has been rough.

Italian leftists hung an upside down effigy of Musk, filled with garbage, at the square where Mussolini was strung up in 1945

I scrolled TikTok until I couldn’t. I avoided getting TikTok for a long time because I thought it was just going to be a dumb time suck. I was so wrong and sad I missed out on more time I could have had with the community there. I think even if it comes back it won’t be the same.

Today was a hard day in our house for this.

Mask Bloc LA member Abby Mahler poses with a wagon full of free high-quality masks The text on the image reads, “THE SICK TIMES: COVID-19 advocates are distributing masks to protect Californians from wildfire smoke. By Sam Rhodehamel.

“We knew it had to happen from us. There was no one else doing it. No one to call,” Abby Mahler, a member of Mask Bloc LA, told The Sick Times. “We deserve to breathe clean air. That is not being provided to us by the government that we pay for.”

As the skies of Los Angeles filled with smoke this week from multiple raging wildfires, COVID-19 advocates and mutual aid groups stepped in to fill the gaps left by local and state governments, providing respirators and crucial information about clean air. bit.ly/4jaTnYs

Bald eagle found in Hinsdale felled by bird flu A bald eagle that was spotted standing on the street last week in Hinsdale was suspected of having bird flu and euthanized.

A bald eagle dying of bird flu is an apt symbol for the state of the US in 2025.

A friend saw a few people comment they were terrified of HPAI who don’t currently take and covid precautions on a post and chimed in, I’m not terrified because I am used to masking in all indoor spaces outside my home. But I am worried about what it means to have a high mortality flu pandemic.

I didn’t realize it at the time but I was in a dark mood for 4 months after my one covid infection.

Cats can get sick with bird flu. Here's how to protect them The death of an Oregon house cat from bird flu and a pet food recall are raising questions about how people can protect their pets.

If you are worried about your cats and avian flu there are very reasonable steps you can take to protect them. apnews.com/article/cats...

Survived my oven/range dying, survived the holiday crush and ready for the hibernation of winter where I only see the handful of covid safe friends I have irl who are willing to bundle up and meet outside.

I started my holiday baking today and 3 hours in the heating element in my oven died dramatically. For a few seconds I thought it was on fire. Too much excitement for a Friday evening.

Never forget that masking is more than just protecting yourself from covid.

It’s an act of compassion, resistance, solidarity and community care.

It shows that you don’t believe people are expendable. That you refuse to be responsible for someone else’s suffering.

The kindness is in the trying.

Most of us don’t love wearing a mask.

We wish it wasn’t necessary. We wish that covid was taken more seriously instead of putting the entire burden on the individual to prevent infection.

But we must face reality and adapt. Thats what masking is - adaptation & acceptance.

The fascinator gang at the actual holiday party.

Thank you!

⚠️ BREAKING:

H5N1 bird flu has killed a cheetah, a mountain lion and a Kookaburra, at Wildlife World Zoo in Arizona.

A white tiger also tested positive, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.

a woman is standing in front of a christmas tree with a candle in her hair . Alt: George Michael is putting tinsel on a christmas tree

Cousin: Why you masking at our family gathering
Me: Last Christmas, you gave me Covid
But the very next day, I gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’m masking for someone special
Cousin: Who’s your someone special
Me: Me, please stop regifting that shit, it’s tacky

I’m so exhausted by coming up with answers that aren’t just survive to all the people I work with asking me what my plans are for the next year.

Cover of the album Dummy by the band Portishead. Dark blue bands of color on the top and bottom and woman in a chair in an empty room in the middle of the image

Oh goodie. Just in time for everyone to get together unmasked indoors.

Thanks!

Thank you! It was a blast even if I was the only one masked.

Middle aged white woman with red hair wearing a green and white colored hair fascinator and mask

I went to a holiday fascinator making party today. Here’s what I created.

CDC infection control body rejects the science on airborne transmission HICPAC continues to stonewall efforts to evolve infection control guidance to match updated information about COVID and other common viruses.

Today's essential read for all HCWs, patients, and people who care about others.

"We deserve to enter a hospital knowing we won’t be infected and killed because officials would rather allow airborne nosocomial infections to continue on its watch than spend money preventing them."