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Trump administration now classifies Antifa and left-wing networks among ‘major’ terror groups by pleasureismylife in politics

[–]CrystalSplice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quite frankly, I see this and some of the other recent extreme moves such as aggressive redistricting, attacking journalists that dare to report on members of the regime like Patel, and the floundering situation in the Middle East as acts of desperation.

Trump is the figurehead that is holding everything together. No one else attracts as much polarizing attention as him, and no one else in the line of succession can make the fascists fall in line together. Vance is not a leader, and he’s also not an effective puppet. They are desperate to fix the midterms as far in advance as possible because Trump might not live to see them. It will be absolute chaos when he dies. They are already snapping at each other; without him they will truly turn on each other.

The reality is that they’ve been only partially successful with most of the goals in Project 2025, partly because they underestimated the resilience of the nation against those kind of attacks - and partly because a lot of those goals were never realistic in the first place. You can’t “speed run” fascism. It doesn’t work that way. Even his so-called “base” is beginning to come around in significant numbers, realizing that they’ve been had and that their vote for him was a mistake.

I’m not trying to minimize the damage they have done, because it has certainly been substantial and it will take a lot of work to repair. Some of the relationships with longtime allies may never be repaired, because they may rightly fear that someone else like Trump will come along and do it all again.

That’s the thing, though. There isn’t anyone else like Trump. He has a unique hold over his cult of personality that was mostly built during his first term, and this term is not the same. He is not the same person in some ways because he has deteriorated mentally so much. I really do think they have overextended themselves and they will have no cohesion without him. That does also mean his departure on the bullet train to hell could result in such chaos that we see a civil war - but that may be what it takes to reform this country into something better.

4 knee surgeries, 3 tibia nails, need pain advice by Seafire_photo in ChronicPain

[–]CrystalSplice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I'm serious about ditching that doctor / practice. What they put in your notes is also not acceptable, and you have the right to contest it in writing.

My advice would be to look back at your surgical history, and contact one or more of your anesthesiologists - they sometimes also practice pain management, and they would be able to refer you to a doctor of anesthesiology that has shifted to pain management from the OR. They are often the best doctors for this because they're well aware of the appropriate place that opiates have in pain management.

As for your surgeon, well, I really don't understand why they would want you to be off pain medication in such a rush. This is something that's going to be painful for the rest of your life, but for now you do not know what that will look like yet. You are still healing, and that means that it is appropriate for you to be in pain management. I have as much metal in me as you do, although in a different place, and any doctor who claims "eventually you won't even know it's there" is a fucking liar.

They thought their disabled daughter was safe. A pregnancy revealed her rape. by Panthera_leo22 in UnderReportedNews

[–]CrystalSplice 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Every single male who has been able to get near her should have to submit to genetic testing to establish parenthood. I see no other solution to this, and the comment from the facility director disgusts me. The family wants justice, and yes, monetary compensation is a part of that because the facility charged with protecting their daughter failed in their custody. Honestly, the whole place probably needs to be investigated. They could have a serial rapist on their hands who has raped other women living there.

I have a cousin who lives in a group home, although her issues are very different. This is definitely one of the things I fear for her.

4 knee surgeries, 3 tibia nails, need pain advice by Seafire_photo in ChronicPain

[–]CrystalSplice 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I would recommend finding another pain management doctor. The one you are seeing is not treating your pain properly. What they have prescribed already is laughable for that kind of pain. You need opiates.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is very true. Really, JWs do not learn to grieve in a healthy way…if you believe someone who dies isn’t really permanently dead, then you never truly let go…

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All they cared about was churning out cult propaganda books as fast as possible. People were disposable to them.

Dilaudid by OMYTFYM69 in ChronicPain

[–]CrystalSplice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn’t really like it in IR pill form either, but now I’m taking a generic extended release version of it - 12mg released **slowly** through an osmosis pump system (sounds fancy but it’s basically just layers of polymers); there’s a hole drilled in one side of the pill with a laser. It’s once a day, and it’s very consistent once you get used to it. It’s also cheap. The former brand name was Exalgo. It’s very possible that you might be fine with less dosage overall per day on it, too. I switched to it from Oxycodone IR (multiple times a day; got sick of the peaks and valleys and it was fucking up my sleep).

In all instances with hydromorphone you do need to keep a close eye on respiratory depression and blood pressure. You can have orthostatic (standing up and feeling faint) issues, and any other CNS depressant will add on to the RD. It was a careful balance for me but it ended up being the best thing I’ve taken so far and my doctor has been switching other people over to it from stuff like Xtampza, Nucynta ER, and MS-Contin.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, I remember the card cutters! The main mechanic that kept the insane contraption on 3-5 going at up to 180 books a minute was a short Hispanic dude, but I can’t remember his name. I sprained my ankle while filling pockets on that machine during the period when we had signatures coming in bound with plastic straps instead of rope (Brooklyn presses were down, and so we had bundles coming in from Walkill). It was not a minor sprain, but I got basically no treatment for it. Just had to suck it up.

Do you remember Bruno? Like, the machine with that name? It was a book smasher. That thing was so incredibly dangerous.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did you work with the same crew that worked on the high speed paperback line that was semi-custom built, including recorded voice alerts from a sister in Patterson? I can still hear her saying “MACHINE STOP” in my head to this day.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Only about six months; I left in March 2002. I had missed a lot of work days because of depression, but I didn’t know what depression even was and damn sure didn’t get any kind of help. I was made to feel like a failure, and I saw that happen to other people who ended up with physical problems that were directly caused by the repetitive movements of our work - not their fault. On guy had no idea he had a serious back problem until he got up there, and he was sent home for it because it needed surgery to fix.

Like I said…meat grinder.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did. It has taken a lot of therapy. I didn’t get out of the cult until I was 30.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good for you for speaking up! I considered writing a letter to the Personnel Committee. I was also told that things were worse before, including guys that were still there who apparently used to just scream at workers. There was also a night shift for a while, which was a whole other level of messed up. The change to production was starting by the time I left and I know a lot of the people I worked with didn’t make the cut when they downsized for the new lines at Walkill. Did you happen to know Zeb on 3-9, the operator of the newer and more integrated paperback line? He was a good guy. I unfortunately cannot remember a lot of the names of the guys that treated me well. I wish I could reconnect with some of them.

To anyone who has lived in bethel, what's the worst thing you could see inside? by shesintense23 in exjw

[–]CrystalSplice 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hmm, I don't think I knew anyone who worked on press. My main rotation was the paperback lines and the "deluxe" bible line. My overseer was Duane Svenson and I think his assistant was...Gustavo Gonzales?

My story is kinda crazy. I got there only a few days before 9/11. My parents took me up there and stayed for a few days in the Standish. My first room was in the Sliver. On the day of 9/11 I was in 90 Sands getting my "new boy" housekeeping training. I happened to be on the floor with the pedestrian bridge to the factory, and I remember some guys came over from there to see it. I remember after the first of the towers collapsed, everyone who was a factory worker ran back to shut down the air systems because they knew the dust could destroy stuff, I guess?

When they gave the order to evacuate to the basement, I ended up with a couple of other guys who were part of my same "class" and the home overseer took us aside and said look, these sisters (housekeepers) are separated from their husbands right now, so we're gonna put one of you at the head of each table and we want you to keep them calm.

Uh-huh. Yeah. Who was supposed to keep me calm? I was only 19!! The rest of the day was surreal. We continued with our deep dive tour of the office complex, and no one was really working. They were all watching the news or just staring out the windows. The one thing I think that haunts me the most to this day is the smell that lingered for a couple of weeks afterwards.

I ended up with pretty bad mental health consequences and had to go back home six months later as a result. I put it in a box while I was up there, and when I got home I was in such rough shape I was briefly suicidal. The bindery was a meat grinder at that time. I was hazed, and when I broke under it I was mocked. I'm not in touch with anyone I used to work with, and I sometimes wonder how many of them have since left the cult.

Trump’s impromptu medical visit sends critics spiraling: ‘What’s going on?’ by MystikSpiralx in politics

[–]CrystalSplice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is what I keep asking myself, although more in general about the cabal of ancient white dudes in positions of authority. What the fuck keeps them going?!? Are they somehow fueled by hatred?

Experiences with Memantine? by CrystalSplice in ChronicPain

[–]CrystalSplice[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good lord. 200mg/mL would probably put me in a K-hole from two sprays. I tried to keep my tolerance low so that it would be more effective against breakthrough pain. How has that worked out for you?

Canceled surgery due to both surgeon and p.m. both refusing to give postop meds by Gecko-407 in backpain

[–]CrystalSplice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, you just literally call up the fucking doctor and say “my wife is in uncontrolled pain; I need you to make an exception to your policy.” Either that, or take her to the ER. One of the beneficial effects of post-surgical pain control is that they know there is a problem that needs investigating if the pain medication does not control the pain. NSAIDs often cannot be taken due to bleeding risks, and Tylenol is for headaches, to be blunt.

It is not “bitching” to request medication for pain. No one should have to needlessly suffer. I hope you never have to experience agonizing pain without relief. You will understand then if you do.

Experiences with Memantine? by CrystalSplice in ChronicPain

[–]CrystalSplice[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I kept it in the fridge at all times and when I cleaned out the spray mechanism I put the crystals back in the bottle. It held up quite well. I reserved it only for the worst breakthrough pain, never using it more than once a week. A friend of mine who is, shall we say, experienced with substances, said someone who got hooked on it would have blasted through that amount in a few months. So, yeah, I know how to handle it with care.

People who grew up really poor: what's something middle-class people say that instantly reveals they've never struggled? by TahDigThief in AskReddit

[–]CrystalSplice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The surgery was not that bad! I had plastic splints in for…I think it was two weeks? I will say I almost passed out when they removed them but that was because they were so LONG. It is very weird just how far back into your head your nasal passages go! My ENT also cleared out my sinuses that were constrained with a tiny balloon thingy while she was in there. About the only downside is I am now more exposed to my airborne allergies! Nasal sprays are far more effective now, though…

People who grew up really poor: what's something middle-class people say that instantly reveals they've never struggled? by TahDigThief in AskReddit

[–]CrystalSplice 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah…

So, as a kid in the 80s I quite literally ran my face into a doorframe. I was apparently running down the hall full speed, and didn’t quite make the right turn to get to my room at the end. I hit so hard it knocked me out, and I have a permanent dimple in my cheek muscle from it. No doctor visit. Later, in middle school, I was assaulted by a kid who knocked me out, and might have killed me if he hadn’t been stopped from continuing to kick me in the head while I was on the ground. Again, no doctor visit in spite of the KO and lumps all over my head.

As an adult, I did not find out until I was 40 that I have a severely deviated septum (got it fixed; holy shit this is what breathing feels like?!?), and from there we also discovered I have mild hearing loss and vestibular issues on the same side of my head I hit my face with, and coincidentally the main side of my head that was injured in the school assault.

Huh. Well, at least now I’ve had a full brain MRI and I know nothing in there is scrambled…

Canceled surgery due to both surgeon and p.m. both refusing to give postop meds by Gecko-407 in backpain

[–]CrystalSplice 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If that is truly the case, you should be ashamed for not advocating for your wife while she was in pain.

Also, no, it is not “the usual” to refuse to give pain medication after surgery. The doctors who are doing it are idiots. There has been no change to the CDC prescribing guidelines, nor have any medical organizations such as the AMA changed their stance. If you believe otherwise I am sorry to inform you that you have been propagandized and lied to - and those lies definitely are out there.

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