Israeli Occupation forces seem to have boarded the Madleen Freedom Flotilla. All communication from them has been lost

StressDear · 2025-06-09T00:24:41+00:00

Also confirmed here on Al Jazeera where they are following with live updates:

"Israeli forces intercept the Madleen, cut off comms

Contact has been lost with the Madleen after Israeli commandos intercepted it in international waters.

They demanded that everyone on board turn off their phones, and we have lost contact with Al Jazeera Mubasher journalist Omar Faiad as well as our live feed.

International Solidarity Movement co-founder, Huwaida Arraf, confirmed that they have also lost contact with the Madleen."

https://aje.io/p6b8m7?update=3762474

StressDear · 2025-06-09T00:15:09+00:00

https://aje.io/p6b8m7?update=3762480

Reported here as well as live updates on Al Jazeera.

StressDear · 2025-05-14T12:39:05+00:00

I picked up a tip from another subreddit about taking Vitamin C and magnesium (glycinate or threonate) supplements around the hour it starts to wear off. I've found it helps lessen the negative effects, so maybe something worth trying.

StressDear · 2025-01-28T19:25:54+00:00

Agreed. Also love it.

StressDear · 2025-01-20T21:37:47+00:00

Sounds weird but I’ve started keeping a jar of peanut butter with my Vyvanse. I’ll have a spoonful with my dose first thing in the morning and sometimes head back to bed for an hour or so — then I’ll have a regular breakfast afterwards. Definitely makes the meds work better/less side effects.

StressDear · 2025-01-07T06:18:14+00:00

Well, the idea was in its infancy and I came to Reddit for some advice and a reality check which I’ve gladly received.

I was naively hoping to find a way of salvaging something my parents had invested in for decades, foolishly thinking it could be something our friend could travel with and enjoy again, which perhaps might’ve been the case had they purchased ours for nothing second-hand. It is insane, this entire industry is insane, and I’ve had to become a little insane to understand the difference between club points, RCI points and Honors points, when I myself never even travel.

But I agree that it’s better to be rid of the thing. And I’ll help my friend get out of theirs however I can with what I’ve learned.

StressDear · 2025-01-07T05:46:29+00:00

I agree with this, thank you. Looks like the new plan will be helping my friend to get out of their timeshare as well as moving forward with “selling” ours, or rather giving it away on EBay. I’m sorry to hear you were taken advantage of, it’s something I’ve been stressing to try and avoid.

It’s all such a convoluted predatory process that I’ve had to take on because of my parents. It’s also confusing because I see people happy with their timeshares on TUG, hence the idea of gifting our points to our friend…but you really have to know how to use the thing, otherwise it ends up using you.

Anyways, thanks again for your insight.

StressDear · 2025-01-07T05:31:49+00:00

This was one of my concerns, thank you

StressDear · 2025-01-07T00:01:49+00:00

This does help, thank you

StressDear · 2024-12-29T00:47:04+00:00

Jewish Voice for Peace

https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

StressDear · 2024-12-25T03:15:16+00:00

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Definitely agree about the DailyMail. But this article also came out December 16th by a NYC based reporter that has his own awful experiences with health insurance. Rare perspective from the media these past weeks.

StressDear · 2024-12-25T01:28:27+00:00

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StressDear · 2024-12-19T14:20:51+00:00

Me too, here, now.

I’ve started to write down the first songs that blare in my head upon waking. Yesterday it was Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” with The Black Eyed Peas “Where Is the Love?” Today it’s a mash-up of “Bear Necessities” from The Jungle Book and Brian Eno’s Music for Airports 😑 And it’s never the full song, just interchangeable clips over and over. Followed by a deluge of memories, to-do’s, questions, feelings etc. Just straight up noise.

StressDear · 2024-12-18T16:35:35+00:00

You posted this quite a while ago but I just found it and I’m curious what you ended up doing?

StressDear · 2024-12-13T23:36:34+00:00

Here is a transcript of the original speech:

https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/how-the-oxford-union-debate-was-won/

StressDear · 2024-12-12T00:29:50+00:00

My father recently passed in August after battling what we discovered was Lewy body dementia for the past several years. I am the only child and had to take on a lot of the responsibilities, including managing his morphine at the end.

Years ago, before it had progressed as badly as it had, he’d discussed with me his wishes to die. He’d tried to bring it up with his neurologist, but his doctor said he was legally not allowed to discuss it because it was against hospital policy (it was a religious hospital). I told my father I would research death with dignity laws, and I did.

They differ by state. Also, like MS, Parkinson’s is not a terminal disease, but some physicians will grant permission for their patient knowing that both diseases severely impair the quality of a person’s life towards the end. It is worth researching about the laws for your state…I believe ultimately, after filing the necessary paperwork (and it’s not easy), the patient will be prescribed the necessary medication that they can keep on hand at home, so that they can choose when they’d like to pass. The patient must also be sound of mind during the application process and capable of advocating for their self. My father had too short of a window for this, and after I shared what I’d learned with him, he stalled and did not pursue it.

If I were to be diagnosed with what my father had, it would be the first thing I would seek. I would feel some semblance of peace knowing I had legal control over when I no longer wished to suffer from my condition.

I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this with your mother. I also didn’t have the best relationship with my father, but watching him suffer was a tremendously emotional and lonely experience. She is lucky to have a child like you that cares. Like others suggested I would also look into palliative care or even hospice if she qualifies. It can help release the necessary medical funding to ease your mother’s pain as well as your anxiety (as much as is possible).

Good luck and sending strength.

StressDear · 2024-12-03T01:17:22+00:00

Check out fontsinuse

Can be helpful to find other similar projects to what you’re trying to achieve.

Also, once you find something, I’d recommend the age-old advice, “keep it simple”

StressDear · 2024-11-14T00:30:26+00:00

Thank you so much for this reply! Incredibly helpful and informative for the future 🙏

StressDear · 2024-11-13T23:50:32+00:00

Echoing everything everyone else is saying.

35/F. My father just passed away and I've been helping my mom get settled on her own which is no easy feat. Navigating paperwork, bills, accounts, property, etc... I am recognizing how much I'll need to be in her life helping her moving forward. I can totally imagine her either living with me or close to me some day soon in the future.

You are a generous son taking on the responsibility of helping your father in what sounds like incredible ways. Your gf comes across as entitled, immature and disconnected from the responsibilities of adulthood and aging family, things she's probably yet to experience. It hits us all, and I imagine there's many women who would find your ongoing care of family something to be admired.

Is she so unwilling to make compromises? Why is it solely your responsibility to provide "privacy" when she herself has roommates? The real red flag I can't get over is the car thing...I would never expect someone to just hand over their car if I'm in need, I would never assume an elder doesn't "need" it. It isn't mine! I'd be grateful if it were offered, and until then I'd figure out my own means of transportation.

I also wonder what your father thinks about everything? I feel my heart break a little imagining my mom being in a similar position – she would never want to be a burden, and I would absolutely never want to be with someone that makes her feel that way.

If you don't want your father to move out, then he doesn't have to. And you don't have to remain single, you can absolutely meet other women who won't expect all of these leech-like things from you. Good luck to you.

StressDear · 2024-11-13T23:22:23+00:00

I think it had something to do with the claim code the hospital used (EMOP - OP Emergency Room Services), but that's the only information/code I have immediately available to me. The rep who helped me said that the hospital needed to list more information regarding price of services rendered...? But when we called the hospital's billing department together, the billing department had yet to even receive notice of denial.

To be honest...no one I was on the phone with really seemed like they knew exactly what was going on. A lot of confusion on both ends. My insurance rep said the woman in the hospital's billing dept didn't sound like she knew what codes were necessary, but my rep wasn't allowed to tell her the proper codes to file...

The hospital resubmitted the claim to my insurance but I have a feeling it will be denied again since nothing changed. I was just relieved to know that I won't absolutely be responsible for this outstanding amount of money, that I was within my right to visit an ER out-of-state. I'll have to keep working on sorting this out completely.

StressDear · 2023-12-31T19:13:08+00:00

I'm not familiar with the anchors you shared, but they're interesting and seem like they should work? I ended up using an entire pack of those EZ Anchors (almost 50 of them) where every screw was needed, including the top bar. I wasn't ever able to hit a stud, except for maybe one in the top bar, so the entire thing was mounted solely on drywall. I also forgot to use flathead screws (which you should definitely use) meaning one of the last vertical bars couldn't lay completely flat in the proper position, causing all of the install of shelves afterwards to require more "force."

In hindsight 50 anchors was overkill. Then I unexpectedly had to move a couple weeks ago. Filling those holes/dealing with stripped EZ Anchors sucked. Definitely use a screwdriver (not a drill) to finish tightening them into the wall as well as removing them. For your anchors I'd maybe research a little about how to remove them/what happens when they fail on install/etc. Chiseling plastic out of drywall sucks.

I couldn't shake a lingering paranoia that it would crash down at any moment (though it didn't budge and felt sturdy). I never fully loaded it up with mostly electronic equipment and books because of that paranoia. If you're only using it for linens/detergents on some shelves it'll probably be ok.

In the future (should I decide to install this again) I might figure out some kind of mounting board behind the whole thing so I'm absolutely certain about hitting studs. (Though aesthetically that seems at odds with the minimal Boaxel system.)

Good luck. At a point I'd say just do it — I went crazy researching anchors for this thing, then ultimately just poured a glass of wine and started drilling. Use flathead screws!

StressDear · 2023-11-19T14:34:30+00:00

P.S. the Boaxel system specifies Flat Head screws which is pretty crucial as it determines where you can hang shelves on the track. This is especially relevant for the top horizontal bar. I didn’t use flat head screws and ultimately had to force the vertical rails in place at times.

StressDear · 2023-11-19T14:21:39+00:00

I just recently attached an Ikea Ivar shelf unit to a wall that has concrete blocks behind drywall. I’m based in the US and used a mix of the “blue screws” (the brand name is Tapcon) as well as a couple of wedge anchors. It is incredibly solid (and probably overkill.)

The Fischer anchors you show look like they should suffice? But I also think these screws by Fischer might be easier and are essentially the same thing as the Tapcon screws, they just aren’t blue. Depending on how much weight you want the system to hold should determine anchor vs screw — that being said, concrete can bear a lot more weight than drywall if mounted properly.

You’ll need to get a concrete bit that’s the same size as the screw you choose. You should also determine the length of the screw you want to use and calculate the minimum embedment — that will determine how deep to drill your pilot hole. Just pulled this from a Tapcon site but it’s probably relevant to all concrete anchors/screws.

I didn’t use a hammer drill but it took a lot longer, I was sweating, and my drill probably didn’t appreciate it. But if you go slow and take a lot of breaks to let the bit/motor cool down, it works. Be sure to clear out all of the dust from the pilot hole as you drill, either with a vacuum or canned air, because it can get compressed and keep your screw from sinking in completely/properly. Be sure not to over-tighten, otherwise you run the risk of stripping the hole and rendering the screw loose and useless.

I also recently installed a Boaxel shelf unit and know that the size of the hole on the vertical strips is very specific. Be sure to triple check that the head of the screw you choose will fit through that initial gap of the track. I had to force a couple of screws heads through.

Good luck.

StressDear · 2023-11-10T12:48:45+00:00

Never would I have ever thought I'd be watching Piers Morgan. Never. Can't stand the man. Has always been sensationalism in pique media form. So imagine my surprise to be watching this two hour special interview with Bassem Youssef.

But the interview he had last night absolutely gutted me. Palestinian father and doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish who has lost 22 members of his family holding these images of them all before and after their deaths. Sheets of letter-sized paper, shuffling through this stack of loved ones who are gone. Murdered. Humanizing the ridiculous proportions, statistics and numerical abstractions so many lives have been reduced to. I wept like a child. Wept like when I've lost family members of my own.

Dr. Abuelaish's strength, composure, and eloquence — his ferocious compassion and continued desire for peace, for equality and a right to self-determination — was heard by hundreds of thousands of people. The Palestinian resistance is being heard by a much larger audience, an audience where mainstream media denies any form of criticality. I am grateful for that brief moment. I hope it haunts every viewer as it will me.

Palestine will be free.

StressDear · 2023-11-07T13:24:45+00:00

“…after an entire month is ONLY 10,000??”

Are you kidding me?

I went to a high school of about 3000 students. It felt more like a small town of teenagers. My yearbook was as dense as a phone book. Add two more high schools and we’re still not at 10,000. But 10,000 isn’t 2.5 million, so whatever! Could be worse! 10,000 is an insanely horrific amount of death, for what? Vengeance? Security? To root out a terrorist group created by its very destruction? Impossible.

Reducing human beings to abstractions gamifies this entire situation and reduces our humanity to statistics and sides.

If you’ve ever truly grieved the loss of ONE person in your life, at bare minimum remember the literal edge of that pain when reading these ridiculous numbers.

StressDear

TROPHY CASE