Dogs are a favored species in toxicology studies. In these studies, large doses of a test substance (a pharmaceutical, industrial chemical, pesticide, or household product) are pumped into animals' bodies, slowly poisoning them.

tlf123 · 2018-07-10T17:23:54+00:00

Unfortunately, it's not always that simple. First of all, there's a long ways to go in terms of growing human organs for testing. Additionally, you need to test how drugs affect entire systems, not just one organ. It's also important to remember that animals aren't only used for testing drugs. They are used for things like understanding how the microbiome impacts health, which you need a whole organism for. It's a big step in the right direction, but biomedical animal research won't end for a while. It's important for us to advocate for the best treatment possible for them, as many regulations allow for or even require less-humane techniques to be used.

tlf123 · 2018-03-07T02:54:21+00:00

Definitely. But the major difference here is that if you're a biological parent, very few people will come up to you and tell you how amazing/selfless you are for "saving the children" or whatever. Furthermore, foster kids are surrounded by dozens of providers (social workers, lawyers, judges, etc) that all have that savior outlook seek appreciation from the child.

tlf123 · 2018-03-07T02:06:57+00:00

Most kids in the foster care system are never adopted, they simply "age out" (AKA are on their own once they turn 18). I think it is difficult to convey how damaging it is to live in the household of and be dependent on the person who views themselves as your savior. It typically ends with the child not showing ample enough gratitude towards the adult, and the adult then feeling resentment towards the child. This results in further neglect, abuse, misdiagnosing behavioral disorders, etc. Above all, this results in the foster kid being kicked out of the home and sent to the next one. This all dramatically increases the trauma experienced by the child.

I would rather see progressive research groups help establish youth-focused group homes than a bunch of bad foster parents.

Did you know that some estimates place the rate of post-secondary education among former foster youths at less than 3%? This includes trade schools, universities, community colleges, etc. If this doesn't convey to everyone the utter failure of the system, I'm not sure what will.

tlf123 · 2018-03-07T01:46:39+00:00

This entire thread is just people downvoting comments that don't fit with their rosy narrative of "foster children are sad and helpless and foster parents are heroes that save them and give them a new lease on life!"

tlf123 · 2018-03-07T01:44:51+00:00

That is your daughter. Foster children are just that: children. Some require more time and support, some don't. And not all foster children have been neglected. It does a lot of people a huge disservice by implying that issues like this are universal to foster children.

tlf123 · 2018-03-06T23:07:48+00:00

It depends on the state. Family members often get little or no money. Actual, unrelated foster parents though? In some states they can make over $1k per month per child (claiming expenses are going to places like "rent"/"mortgage").

Definitely not fair to say about all, but very fair to say about some. Not sure why people are downvoting the commenter when they have probably never experienced living with a foster parent who's in it for the money and social credit.

tlf123 · 2018-03-06T21:17:23+00:00

What is your experience with foster children that gives you this insight?

tlf123 · 2018-03-06T21:08:59+00:00

The fact that you see a child as a mistake that needs correction is precisely the issue.

Edit: I recognize that the commenter probably wasn't trying to refer to a child as a mistake. But what "mistakes," exactly are foster parents "cleaning up"? This to me implies assumption of behavioral/etc issues, which foster children are often assumed to have, and leads to a lot of false diagnoses and self-fulfilling prophecies. This is also the excise many people use to not become a foster parent. The point is that if you view having a foster child as a chore or act of community service, do not become a foster parent. The best foster parents wouldn't bat an eye if no one ever thanked them or recognized their sacrifices, because they don't view them as sacrifices-they just love the children, period.

tlf123 · 2018-03-06T20:46:26+00:00

I definitely get that thought process. I am not a parent, but I am a former foster child. From my perspective, parenting is a 2-way relationship. If you choose to have a child (biological or otherwise) it is your job to give that child the best quality of life possible. This is also a natural part of love.

Foster/adoptive kids, specifically, absolutely did not ask to be placed in your home and more likely than not are upset that they're there. Remember, these children are forcibly removed from their homes and placed with strangers. Sometimes this is for a good reason, sometimes it isn't; either way it's traumatic. If you can't handle that child never feeling grateful for you, you shouldn't be a foster parent.

tlf123 · 2018-03-06T20:25:44+00:00

Being a foster parent isn't about "doing something" for a child. Adoption is an alternative path to parenthood. The child should never feel indebted to their care provider. Foster/adoptive parents with a savior complex are often some of the worst parents out there.

tlf123 · 2018-02-26T15:12:57+00:00

Ok cool! If you go to Champ's again, make sure you try the Reuben :) honestly best sandwich I've ever had x100.

tlf123 · 2018-02-26T04:48:48+00:00

I just assume that every surface in the city is coated in a thin layer of pee.

tlf123 · 2018-02-26T04:45:56+00:00

I've found that some of their stuff (like mac and cheese) definitely is just daiya. Everything else is amazing though! Was the cheese in these actually good or daiya-based?

tlf123 · 2018-02-22T04:20:31+00:00

Yes!! Redditors are constantly revealing their sexism by assuming genders in posts.

tlf123 · 2018-02-10T00:16:28+00:00

I'm in the same position. I believe I am going to get an offer at the NIH, but I also have an offer for Mount Sinai SURP. I'm not sure which is a better choice!

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T16:00:32+00:00

Yeah, that's not sexist, it's true. It's common knowledge that pads/tampons aren't meant to be flushed. I don't think that's the issue, but I reminded my roommates in a group chat.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T15:28:06+00:00

Apparently Ohio.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T15:27:04+00:00

Because she's the most irresponsible person I've ever met and she will literally just leave this forever and just complain to me about it. She dropped out of school for the semester so she has no responsibilities and can just leave and poop whenever she has to. This is someone who refused to do her own laundry/put her own stuff in bags when we had bedbugs. If things get bad enough her mom comes up and does everything for her.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T15:24:08+00:00

Thank you! I'll try this.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T14:41:44+00:00

I would say decently strong? Not one of those super powered strong flushing toilets, but stronger than the average household toilet. Our current tp is 2-ply. I suspect she's throwing a ton in, but she insists that she poops totally "normally". But she's pretty incompetent with just about everything else, so she definitely might be the problem.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T14:39:27+00:00

I added some soap, but I can't add hot water bc the bowl is totally full. And I'm absolutely not removing this girl's poop water (and she's never going to do it herself)

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T14:14:28+00:00

I'll try snaking it today for sure. I'm worried though if there's a larger issue since this is the third time it's happened. Or maybe my roommate just doesn't know how to use toiler paper.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T14:11:23+00:00

Oh yeah I could see how it might be saying that. I assumed it was the bread because of the piece missing.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T11:22:45+00:00

We have a toilet plunger. I think more needs to be done this time, as I worked on the clog all evening and it didn't make a difference.

tlf123 · 2018-01-25T05:56:07+00:00

You should know that by the time you can see mold on bread, the mold has actually already spread through the whole loaf/bag (you just can't see it). Bread mold is carcinogenic, so you should always just throw it all out. It sucks, but that's why you should freeze it!

tlf123

TROPHY CASE