Nation states are a relatively new concept; migration is as old as humanity. Borders seek to regulate and restrict that basic human custom for the distinct purpose of excluding some and privileging others. They discriminate between all people with the express intention of then being able to discriminate against some people. They do not simply set boundaries for countries, but are metaphors for the boundaries of how we might think about other human beings. Immigrants are not the problem. Borders are.
It fascinates me how you never hear people who “tell it like it is” complimenting others. Seriously, people who pride themselves on being brutally honest or always speaking their mind should statistically be throwing out random compliments to their friends and strangers on a daily basis. Unless of course being brutally honest is just your entry fee to being an asshole.
self care isnt always lush bath bombs and $20 face masks. sometimes, it’s going to bed at 8pm or letting go of a bad friend. its forgiving yourself for not meeting your impossible standards and understanding you are worth it, nonetheless. self care isnt always luxury, but a mean for survival.
You can make a variety of plant-based “milks” by blending raw nuts, seeds, and grains with water. Almonds, cashews, macadamias, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, coconuts, soybeans, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, sacha inchi seeds, flaxseeds, quinoa, millet, rice, and oats can all be liquefied into delicious milks. Homemade milks are fresh, free of additives and preservatives, and you can completely control the integrity of the product: the quality of the ingredients, the sugar levels, and the texture.
“Milking” raw nuts, seeds, and grains is quick and easy. Here’s how to do it:
SOAK nuts, seeds, or grains by placing in a bowl with filtered water and a pinch of sea salt. Soaking removes enzyme inhibitors, improves digestibility and nutrient bio-availability, and helps everything blend more easily. Rinse thoroughly and drain.
BLEND with filtered water. A high-speed machine like a Vitamix is preferable to really pulverize the mixture. A 1:3 ration of nuts/seeds/grains to water generally yields good results. Start with 2 cups of water and gradually add more water until you get the taste and consistency you like. Blend for about 1 minute. This can warm the mixture. Chill in the fridge, or blend with ice to consume immediately.
SWEETEN the milk to taste with pitted dates, stevia, maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar, etc. You can also add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to boost flavors, and 1 tablespoon of NON-GM soy or sunflower lecithin and coconut butter to emulsify ingredients. You can also jazz up your milks with raw cacao, fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, or anything else that tickles your fancy.
STRAIN Some foods like cashews, macadamias, and pecans yield smooth milks. However, with most other foods, like almonds, you will get some texture. You can enjoy this fibrous milk, or strain it for a smoother, more commercial-style blend. Place a nut milk bag over a large container, pour the milk in, and gently squeeze the bag until all liquid has passed through. You can re-purpose the pulp as a body scrub by mixing with some coconut oil, or dehydrate it for use in cookies, crusts, and crackers.
ENJOY Most milks will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for two or three days. Freeze any leftovers in ice cube trays for use later. Homemade milks can separate when stored. Just shake or blend again before drinking.
Basic Plant-Based “Milk”
1 cup nuts, grains, or seeds 3 cups filtered water 3 Tbs. plant based sweetener (such as maple syrup, raw agave, coconut sugar, or 3-4 pitted dates, or stevia to taste) 1 Tbs. coconut butter (optional, for texture) 1 Tbs. Non-GM soy or sunflower lecithin (optional, to emulsify and add creaminess) 1 tsp. natural vanilla extract Pinch of Celtic sea salt (optional, to bring out flavors)
1. Soak nuts, grains, or seeds for desired time. See suggested times below. 2. Drain nuts, grains, or seeds. Rinse, and then place in blender with 3 cups filtered water. Add remaining ingredients, and blend on high until fully liquefied, about 1 minute. 4. If consuming immediately, add a few ice cubes to cool milk. 5. Strain with a nut milk bag, if desired. Milk will keep for two days stored in a sealed glass jar in the fridge.
Makes 3-4 cups milk.
(Originally by Tess Masters.)
Soaking time varies by hardness of nut or seed. Here are some more specific guide times for soaking the grains, nuts and seeds (with sprouting times when making sprouts):
“billionaires bad” is an objectively good opinion actually
One of the best soundbites I’ve heard about modern economics is (paraphrased)) “It’s not possible to earn a billion dollars. It is possible to steal a billion dollars.”
There is nobody smart enough, hardworking enough, trained enough and dedicated enough to earn a billion dollars without leveraging corrupt systems and exploiting people.
The poverty threshold in America is $11,490 for one person. If someone has a billion dollars, that is 87,032 times the poverty line.
It’s possible for someone to be twice as smart as another worker. It’s possible for them to be four or five times as hardworking. It’s possible for one person to have ten times the training of another person. So if you have one person that is half as smart, a fifth as hardworking, and a tenth as trained, they should reasonably earn one percent of the other. That’s the very outside figure. But anyone who takes in more than a million dollars per year did not earn that, they stole it. They found a vulnerable system to exploit or they found a group of people to cheat. Maybe they did it legally. Maybe they paid someone to make it legal to do that. It happens. But “earn”? Actually -deserving- that much money because of their merits and efforts? No.
Except they didn’t cheat the system – capitalism is literally SET UP to do that! And no, people who aren’t as trained or intelligent or hardworking don’t deserve to live any less than your hypothetical smart hardworking well-trained person! EVERYONE deserves to live!!!! And poverty kills. And inequality kills. And people aren’t better or worth more than others for being more “intelligent” (an entirely ableist, racist, sexist category invented by eugenicists), or hardworking (work is not a virtue! In fact very much “work” is just destructive and harmful!) or better trained (education is given or witheld mostly along lines of class oppression/privilege and is also organised in soul- and creativity-crushing ways)!
Basically, smash capitalism and the idea of a “meritocracy” (system where “better” people have more power) altogether! It’s not just bad because of these extremes, the very underlying principles are bad!
Although yes, without a doubt, billionaires are bad. They’re personally bad people and any system that enables anyone to be a billionaire is fundamentally bad as well.
Reading lists are not for people on the edges or just entering our movements. Very few people are going to invest dozens of hours reading on a subject they’re not even sure they’re entirely interested in.
Instead we should recommend easily accessible short text, videos, podcasts, and media sites.
After people have already entered the movement and they are looking for more info is a good time for the reading list to come out.
In the meantime, if there’s a concept from something you’ve read that you think new peeps should be familiar with then digest it and make a more easily consumable form of media out of the needed information.
Not only does it help new people, but it helps people like me who need accessible options due to disability.
queerhomestuck 