Iris

I just LOVE being home sick, long covid flaring with renewed vengeance and weird symptoms, all because my employer insisted on return-to-office. People are dropping like flies, especially disabled folks and parents with school-age kids.

It's like they want us to die off. The policy reflects that.

This is also a disability justice issue.

That's been my experience as well. It's beyond frustrating.

This. The moral judgement that comes from non-disabled people is just an added bonus of existence as someone with a disability.

In my experience, where my disabilities are mostly masked or invisible, I feel like people question my experience and conditions and then judge me on top of that.

Book cover for Roadkill by Helen Whistberry showing a bird, raccoon, and snake skeleton sprawled across a dark asphalt highway with yellow dotted line. The title is in large yellow letters that have blood streaming down them and out onto the road and animals. There is a dark and stormy sky in the background.

Black and white illustration of the head and neck of a howling wolf in profile. Its mouth is wide open and a dark liquid is trickling from its mouth, snout, and eye.

It's here!

Roadkill is out in the world. I can't in good conscience recommend it to all readers. A sad and angry book. 90% of the animal characters are dead at the outset & the humans don't fare much better. But if you're in the mood for an unconventional eco-horror experience, links in comments!

The only writing I can manage these days is writing spells. It's a start.

*checks the news* Oh holy fuck.

*goes back to work*

*checks the news* Oh holy fuck.

*goes back to work*

*checks the news* Oh holy fuck.

*goes back to work*

*checks the news* Oh holy fuck.

*goes back to work*

*checks the news* Oh holy fuck.

*goes back to work*

*checks the news* Oh ho--

I need a little treat for getting out of bed and doing anything at all. 💀 My art life is so empty and it's tasteless thanks to work.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but your children are not extensions of you. They are their own people. They have rights. It is your job, should you have children, to protect those rights. And it is the community’s job to call you the fuck out if you’re not doing that.

Folks talking about different inflection points don’t understand: the COVID is over propaganda was, for a lot of us, the moment we realized our friends, family, neighbors couldn’t be trusted wholesale. When community died no matter where you lived.

That’s the difference.

The image features a vibrant bouquet of various flowers, including red, purple, blue, yellow, and orange blooms, with green leaves and stems. The flowers are densely packed, creating a colorful and lively arrangement against a black background. Overlapping the floral design is bold white text that reads: "I WISH FOR YOU WHAT YOU WISH FOR IMMIGRANTS" The text is prominent and stands out clearly against the colorful backdrop. At the bottom, the word "TRANSPAINTER" appears, likely indicating the artist or creator of the image.

Be the dumpster fire that lights the way

Graphic shows illustration of a little girl with blonde braids surrounded by plants. Text reads, "Susan collects all plants, not just the ones she wants to use as poison."

A friend shared this with me. Made my morning. Thought you #witches might like it, too. #witchsky #witchyfinds #poisonpath #plantmagic

Wishing the fiercest, most emboldened workings for my fellow practitioners casting this weekend. I hear them.

#witchsky #pagansky

I'm seeing lots of people lament that they can't attend protests for their own reasons. That's okay! Here's what you can do instead:

DON'T SIT DOWN IN A PROTEST IT'S HARDER TO GET UP QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES TEAR GAS SINKS - PEOPLE ON THE GROUND ARE ATHIGHER RISK STAYING MOBILE HELPS PEACE MARSHALS DE-ESCALATE CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES STAND SILENTLY LINK ARMS WALK SLOWLY DOCUMENT NONVIOLENCE WORKS BEST WIEN IT'S STRATEGIC

CW: USPolitics

Remember: Don't sit down at a protest unless you're prepared for the potential consequences!

I have frequent sleep attacks once the place reaches altitude so I imagine my forehead will be dented from the chair in front of me.

Americans are deliberately misinformed about how punitive our social "safety net" actually is.

All of it is designed to deny accepting new recipients and forcing existing recipients into the workforce regardless of health.

It's like being thrown spare change while beaten over the head.

Anyways, not sure how much interacting I'll be doing online. I'm keenly aware that my employer believes "the beatings will continue until morale improves" and so I'm determined to let spite steer the ship while I take more prescriptive naps between shifts. I hate this place and I hate needing money.

I wish I had enough energy to make new friends with others who also have disabilities because abled folks have never had the empathy level to understand how much they've hurt me with their performances.

I have saved my last shards of care for myself, for reading books and eating a good meal a day.

It sucks because my baseline is so fluid and subject to the environmental conditions. That's why I plan for everything, had workplace accommodations, informed people how my disability works and what it takes from me when I don't follow the treatment plan.

Folks don't give a shit, y'all. At all.

Friends are noticing I'm not around as much, that I can't talk the same after work hours. Can you guess how many of them check on me? I'm regretting all that time I helped some of them at their worst, honestly.

I've withdrawn socially as a safety measure to protect against more falls.

My disability took a major hit thanks to my job effectively ruining the language in my workplace accommodations that had been in place for years. That's why I've been scarce.

Can't afford medical care to fix the issue, so I've put my extra spoons toward sleep and praying to the gods for revenge.

I'm the only masked person in my workplace and let me tell you, I'm upgrading headphones due to all the coughs.

Very true

They'll target women who don't look feminine enough, including cancer survivors with mastectomies, anyone with short hair, anyone with facial hair, anyone who "looks tired" without makeup. That's how it's gone down where I live. They even targeted women with mobility issues.

The new restriction will sharply limit access to the Novavax vaccine for people under 65 who are in good health. It may leave Americans who do not have underlying conditions at risk if a more virulent version of the coronavirus were to emerge. It could also limit options for people who want the vaccine for a wide array of reasons, including to protect a vulnerable loved one.

Under 65 years old? No Novovax COVID vaccine for you this year.

As expected, the Republicans have enabled RFK Jr. and his coterie of antivax grifters to take away your right to make your own medical decisions in consultation with your doctor.

Gift Link: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/h...

The “covid is only a threat to the vulnerable” narrative primed the pump for the eugenics movement we’re seeing now.

It conditioned people to see the disabled & vulnerable as acceptable losses. People who were probably going to “die anyways”.

It paved the way for fascism.

A ban on regulation of AI, that is actively creating deepfake porn of people, stealing their work, helping spread conspiracies and scams.
For ten fucking years.
I swear to god this shit better not get passed.