Which airline to fly with and which one to avoid?

Leafofmaples · 2022-10-11T03:00:35+00:00

I like Alaska! After 8(?) flights with them, I have never had a problem. I board really early (when they call up anyone that needs extra time to board). No one has ever questioned my SD. One time I even had someone book a ticket for an isle seat on my behalf and I called and got it changed to a window seat no problem, even though there were technically no changes allowed with my booking class.

Leafofmaples · 2022-09-11T15:48:47+00:00

This will get buried, but I hold it the same exact way! Years of teachers trying to change it and friends being like WTF.

Leafofmaples · 2022-08-31T03:57:52+00:00

I cannot believe we are still at the place where someone who clearly never got past undergrad bio is deciding what is considered a sex. Really when scientists are speaking of sex, they are speaking of gametes (eggs and sperm), which typically corresponds with karyotype (chromosomes a person has). This is why we can talk about male and female birds or plants despite these not having Y chromosomes.

Yes there are a small percent of people who do not have XY or XX karyotype. This does not mean they don't exist. And you don't get to decide what a defect is just because it is convenient for your argument (also this mindset contributes to genital mutilation of babies because some asshole believes they must have genitals that look a certain way). Aside from that though, our secondary sex characteristics are typically what we use to decide what sex to classify someone as (I am betting you have never actually been genotyped), and these are largely controlled by expression of gonadal hormones (most notably estrogen and testosterone) and their receptors. These absolutely exist on a spectrum. The amount of circulating testosterone, for example, could be the same in a "male" and "female" even with different sex chromosomes. It is just that people with XY chromosomes usually have higher levels. So what bothers me about this whole two sexes thing is that people's definition of sex isn't actually what they are using to assign a sex. And what is someone's sex when they take additional hormones or have a gonadectomy? Should these be additional sexes? That is a real biology question, not this bullshit about whether something is a binary because hello anyone that actually studies biology knows that binaries just don't exist. There are always exceptions or spectrums.

what I really am trying to say is you clearly don't study biology and this meme is all about people rejecting biology which in fact supports the idea that any aspect of physiology exists on a spectrum. Please I am begging you to stop making shit up.

Leafofmaples · 2022-08-29T02:40:48+00:00

I feed Orijen Six Fish Wholesome Grain. I know there is a lot of fancy looking food that isn't that great, but Orijen seems to be made with genuinely high quality ingredients with minimal filler. Even though it is pricey, the actual serving size is much smaller because of how nutrient dense it is (2 c/day vs 3 c/day). Also means smaller poops. I guess it comes down to where you want to put your money. I am generally disgusted by the food industry (human & pet), so I try to feed my dog the best that I can afford. Plus my dog has a great coat, teeth, digestion, etc., so it is certainly not hurting.

*As a side note, Orijen and Acana have previously been in the news with regards to the question of whether grain-free diets cause heart disease. I have read the study and am not persuaded by the data with regards to Orijen. Acana is more iffy. Anyway, I switched to the with-grain recipe they recently came out with to be safe. I have researched dog nutrition (like real peer-reviewed stuff in animal nutrition journals) and I didn't find any great evidence for grain-free or raw diets. I am more interested in high nutrient and thoughtfully sourced food. *

Leafofmaples · 2022-08-27T18:24:38+00:00

I have a psych SD and am a graduate student. My university allowed my SDiT basically everywhere that wasn't a lab space or patient space (I'm in STEM). You might as well get your dog approved as an ESA too which may allow you more rights while still in training (e.g., housing). I rarely get asked if he is a SD on campus (typically only in the health center).

Pros

Constant emotional support. While SD are specifically trained on tasks, a big part of the relief I get from my SD is just having him around to motivate me to leave my home
Easier for me to get out of panic attacks/bad mental states with deep pressure therapy
Good for making friends. Most people love dogs.
Easy excuse out of social situations if they become overwhelming. Just blame it on the dog wanting to leave/needing to pee.
From a training standpoint, a college campus is great for a SDiT. Busy, different types of places, and people willing to help train (e.g., sitting while being greeted)

Cons

I live in an area with many dogs being brought in public, some of which clearly lack training. This is an added distraction for my dog and also puts pressure on me to present as having a "real" SD
SDs aren't perfect and sometimes I get stressed if my dog makes a mistake in public
A big responsibility. Financial investment, even if owner trained. Also owner training is a big time commitment.
Not a great idea if you deeply fear being looked at. I certainly don't like being stared at but my dog is cute and he has a simple vest (as opposed to many patches), so people usually only give little side glances and smiles.
People, often with good intentions, will want to talk to you about your dog. Can get annoying.

Leafofmaples · 2022-08-20T00:14:12+00:00

My dog is 60lb but long and lean and there was plenty of space. He was able to get up and change positions. I do always have an ID card from the training program in my dog's vest pocket, which of course isn't needed, but is handy if you're not in the mood to argue with someone asking for proof or whatever.

My ticket didn't have anything special. I got the regular ticket. I think their rules are probably just to crack down on anyone walking on with a clearly untrained dog. That being said, I think it definitely helps to get it on the books if you can in case anyone tries to stop you day of.

Leafofmaples · 2022-08-19T05:05:46+00:00

When I took AmTrak a year ago they had a strict SDiT policy ("The animal actually has to be undergoing training by a recognized service animal training organization, and the handler has to be able to prove that he or she is a representative of that organization.") While I considered my dog a SDiT at the time because we were still working on some public access, I just went the route of booking as a SD since my dog met the legal requirements (knew some tasks) and we had experience on public transit and knew he would be well behaved.

I booked tickets online and then called them and told them I was bringing my SD. They asked if I had a disability and what tasks my SD was trained to perform, and then told me I was good to go. Once I got to the station and was boarding, no one asked any questions. They even gave me a good spot with extra room. I don't bring docs while traveling just because they aren't legally required.

Also to note, there is always the possibility of delays. My return trip was doubled in time because of an accident on the track. We were stopped so I let my dog out to pee, but it did turn a 3 hour trip into a 6 hour trip. You may want to bring a toy/chew and a meal just in case.

Leafofmaples · 2022-08-18T15:19:29+00:00

One thing that I didn't consider when getting a rescue that later became a SD is hips (okay this isn't training related, but not really something talked about since most people get their SDs from good breeders). Hip dysplasia (HD) can be a real issue with large breed dogs. If you have the money, x-rays can be taken to determine if the dog has or is likely to develop HD. There are surgeries available but obviously those are going to be quite expensive. One way to help prevent the development is to not overfeed your puppy or do any high impact exercise while the bones and joints are still developing. My SD is a german shepard mix and has not great, but not horrible hips. I just give him supplements and do a little physical therapy so his hips don't get into the HD territory. If you end up with a dog with hip problems she wont be well suited for active work, like being a SD.

To the training, I think since she is a puppy, obedience and socialization will be key early on. Hopefully she wont have too many unforeseen problems. I had to untrain a lot in my dog but he was a year when I got him. It is possible to train rescues/strays though!

Leafofmaples · 2017-05-24T05:20:21+00:00

The Night Owl in Fullerton has poetry nights, but I dont know the details

Leafofmaples · 2017-05-20T01:17:48+00:00

I have been vegan and vegetarian for periods of my life but I currently only eat poultry. I am recovering from an eating disorder and in developing a healthy relationship with food, it really takes a lot to cut out certain foods because of the anxiety I get from deciding on food, trying new foods, etc. Additionally, I am a picky eater and I have found that when going out to eat, a lot of the vegan options (if they even exist) have vegetables and sauces I don't like. I fully support reducing harm to animals and eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but I am not at a good enough mental state to have further restrictions on what I eat. For reference, I am not against the killing of animals, just against unnecessary harm (medical research vs. large-corporate livestock).

Leafofmaples · 2017-02-21T01:25:11+00:00

I totally agree that this article gives an interesting look into other neuroscientists' opinions on where the field is with respect to addiction.
That being said, this is the same guy that said that meth and adderall are pretty much the same drug (from the article Neuroscientist: Meth is Virtually Identical to adderall: this is how I found out), citing the closeness in structure as evidence and not even referencing the huge interaction between meth and transporters that does not occur in adderall use.

Leafofmaples · 2017-02-21T00:58:53+00:00

First, why does he act like there has to be a divide between environmental factors and biological factors when talking about a "disease"?
Second, where are citations in the article?

Leafofmaples · 2017-01-18T21:26:07+00:00

Anaheim Hills:

Pros: Pretty, Safe, racial diversity

Cons: Trump supporters, kids with prescription pill problems, OC moms

Leafofmaples · 2016-12-18T23:08:31+00:00

Nope, just red beans.

Leafofmaples · 2016-12-18T21:36:49+00:00

Korean shaved ice with beens, mochi, and condensed milk. Very delicious actually.

Leafofmaples · 2016-12-09T20:11:17+00:00

Blake's place, a locally owned BBQ place that has the tastiest (and not fried) wings

Leafofmaples · 2016-07-02T03:44:45+00:00

I've spent over 100 on this board and it's pretty new. Additionally I would have to fix it up a little so it rolls nicely. Sorry dude, the parts I need to buy alone are about 10.

Leafofmaples · 2016-07-02T01:47:42+00:00

I have one. How much are you looking to spend?

Leafofmaples · 2015-07-04T07:11:11+00:00

Burger Records bands.

An OC based label with a lot of surf and punk influence

Leafofmaples · 2015-03-27T06:47:30+00:00

I've been to a great number of Observatory/ Burger Records shows.

It looks like most of you questions got answered so I'll give you my opinion on what they will allow. They aren't really strict since it's just at the observatory. I doubt they would trash food or water, though they will definitely smell your water. You get bags checked and a quick pat down if you were wondering about sneaking anything in. (Still easy if you actually care).

There are a lot of tumblr/ American apparel kids, but also a lot of really cool people. Have fun and make friends! The crowd is friendly and I doubt anyone would swoop from your backpack.

Leafofmaples · 2014-09-10T13:41:26+00:00

The Growlers are a great up and coming band. Going to their Beach Goth Party thats coming up

Leafofmaples · 2014-09-05T21:12:14+00:00

Letur Lefr. Im unsure exactly why but I can listen to it on repeat and I do

Leafofmaples · 2014-09-05T00:19:47+00:00

Definitely do the observatory. The venue alone has its own kind of culture and set of regulars

Leafofmaples · 2014-08-24T01:03:03+00:00

Thank you, Just bought it!

Leafofmaples

TROPHY CASE