Likes-squared - A Backup Of All The Posts I've Like'd On Main (but Now With Tags

something my mum always taught us was to look for the resources we're entitled to, and use them. public land? know your access rights and responsibilities, go there and exercise them. libraries? go there and talk to librarians and read community notice boards, find out what other people are doing around you, ask questions, use the printers. public records offices? go in there, learn what they hold and what you can access, look at old maps, get your full birth certificate copied, check out the census from your neighbourhood a hundred years ago. are you entitled to social support? find out, take it, use it. does the local art college have facilities open to the public? go in, look around, check out their exhibit on ancient looms or whatever, shop in their campus art supply store. it applies online too, there is so much shit in the world that belongs to the public commons that you can access and use if you just take a minute to wonder what might exist!!!

Can this help back pain?

This is an Unsponsored Review for the Chirp Wheel!

I saw some ads for these and tried them.

I've used them regularly and also given some to friends.

I'll put it this way: if they had a local store and you went in and tried it, it's likely that you'd purchase it.

It works as advertised.

Possible downsides include price and inability to solve underlying conditions.

ProPublica

Find Out Why Health Insurance Denied Your Claim

You likely have the right to access records that explain why your insurer denied your claim or prior authorization request. Use ProPublica’s

Hey y'all. Here's something for you.

why is my girl so pale

Dropping this here for anyone who may not already know about it. paywallreader.com

Turns out with the Affordable Connectivity Program, ISPs CAN NOT shut off your internet.

Seriously. If you’re living in the US, and you’re at or below poverty line, sign up for the affordable connectivity program. it gives you like $30+ a month off your current internet bill and it makes it so they can’t disconnect you if you don’t pay them.

Some thoughts on fitness and health in 2025!

The video is mostly just me riffing on the word "bodybuilder". It helps to know that people interpret the word differently:

A.) Some think of it as the apex of all fitness and the default fitness goal.

B.) Others don't like it as much and may say they prefer "functional" training, etc.

But I do think that if you are actively training towards a goal, then you should be building your body to be healthier, more functional, and more fit.

That leaves me with 2-3 main messages in the video:

1.) If you're improving, you're building yourself, and that's really cool. You're literally building an improved version of yourself.

2.) Your health should improve or maintain along with your fitness. If you're sacrificing health for "fitness", then it may not actually be fitness.

3.) Have a beautiful year!

This may seem like a meme, but it is real. It's formatted like this to get people's attention and be memorable, in the hopes that maybe it saves some lives.

Edit 1: If any of you are unsure that this is real, check out the notes of folks talking about it.

Transcript:

[transcript of sign] 

Are you currently struggling with … MEDICAL BILLS? 

… Perhaps you should try … FAPping! 

Financial Aid Policy 

Did you know that most hospitals and some doctor’s offices are what is known as a 501r, or “medical non-profit”? 

This means they are legally required to have a “financial aid policy” or “charity care policy” 

What is means, is that they are LEGALLY REQUIRED under United States Law to provide FREE OR DISCOUNTED healthcare, and also to FORGIVE EXISTING MEDICAL DEBT to individuals with financial difficulty. 

Basically, every household making und $100K a year is eligible for a reduction in their medical costs. 

Billing departments often try to push people to get on a “payment plan” if someone asks, but don’t accept it! 

Ask if they have a Charity Care or Financial Aid policy “Based On Income.” 

If it looks like you might not qualify? 

Apply anyway. They try to scare people away with scary processes. 

YOU QUALIFY. EVEN IF YOU ARE ALREADY IN COLLECTIONS. 

[/end sign] (Credit to Moonlit-wings for the transcription.)

just an FYI for trans people in the US right now

[id: reddit post by user spaghettishoestrings titled "(UPDATE) Just lost my healthcare !" with the flair "Celebratory."

Post reads:

Original post is viewable through my profile. Apologies, since I’m on mobile, I couldn’t hyperlink. The TLDR: my doctor called me on Monday and informed me that their practice would no longer be providing treatment for gender affirming care as a result of a recent presidential Executive Order, even though the EO was for people under 19. Even though I’m 25.

Also, because it was asked a few times, this happened in Michigan, and I’ve been on HRT for 5+ years. It’s a practice that includes like 15+ physicians, and I think that the decision was made over my PCP’s head, given that she once told me that she literally moved states to be able to provide gender affirming care here.

First off, genuinely, thank you so much for all the replies and messages. I genuinely felt frozen after that phone call and didn’t know where to start, and you all really helped me get my feet off the ground.

A couple people mentioned contacting the ACLU, which, truthfully, I thought, “there’s no way that the ACLU will get back to me” but I sent a message anyway. They actually called me a few hours after my post and we talked about the Executive Orders and my rights. They offered to fax my provider a letter reminding them of my rights and some other legal terms. It’s crazy how a post on reddit resulted in my name being on the official ACLU letterhead.

Anyway, today my doctor’s physician assistant called me and shared that their practice is reversing their decision and they will continue to provide gender affirming care. I’m still keeping a bunch of the resources that y’all shared saved, including Planned Parenthood, Plume, and looking into a private endocrinologist.

This whole experience just reminded me how great this community is. I appreciate y’all <3"

[end id]

source

[id: reddit user copurrs commented:]

You should contact Chase Strangio from the ACLU, I believe he is looking for reports of folks being denied their GAC due to these EOs. He's @chasestrangio on IG and Threads.

[end id]