u/epicpillowcase

NOTE: please suggest products mentioned in the topic only, I'm aware there are alternatives, like a scoop of existing vegan yogurt, sauerkraut brine, or vegan yogurt culture sachets (which is what I have used so far.) I am asking for recs on this specific product for a reason. Appreciate it, thanks! :)

So yeah, topic- which probiotic do you use? I would go with vegan Inner Health Plus but I've seen that there are a couple that are cheaper. Just wondering if you go this route what you recommend.

My belief is that cats should be indoors anyway, in normal times, but I'm not here to debate.

Way too many people are still unaware that cats can get H5N1 and it ends just as badly as it does for the birds. This shit is a nasty, nasty illness and it's spreading fast.

Please protect your pets, and the wildlife. Please keep them in.

ETA: dogs/other animals can get it also.

Ok so the title is probably a little confusing.

(Please note: I'm in Australia. I usually get people assuming I'm in the US, because this is reddit. I don't know how similar our disability payment system is.)

Basically, I have recently been contacted by the government agency that handles disability payments, saying I should apply. This almost never happens and people who receive these letters are almost guaranteed to be approved. The disability support payment here is almost impossible to be approved for even with heaps of medical evidence, let alone be invited to apply, so I'm aware of how comparatively fortunate I am (obviously having a disability is not fortunate, but hey.)

I have been wanting to study a specific Masters degree for some time, and was looking into the possibility of trying to do one part time with disability accommodations. I am eligible for a full scholarship.

Aaaaand I just found out the scholarship would basically be too much- i.e. my disability payment would get cancelled. And I certainly can't pay full fee.

So like. I'm aware I'm lucky enough to be approved for DSP. And I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to study. And I find I can't because of red tape. But I also can't really complain because this is a privileged problem to have for many.

Like "wow, you get DSP and you still are well enough to study part time and get paid for it..." Meh.

Well fuck.

This just sucks. Society and bureaucracy really just kicks us when we're already down, hey. Every little thing we might do to improve our quality of life has to have strings attached or some bullshit to deal with. It's so disheartening.

IMPORTANT NOTE: please respond from the baseline acceptance that I am not prepared to manage or engage with social media accounts myself at all and am asking specifically about outsourcing. So please no comments like "it's easy, you can just..." No. I have had social media before and it wasn't mentally healthy for me in any way. Thanks for understanding.

(I don't count reddit in this- it's anonymous and I won't be using it for my art.)

So. Post. I would like to hear from those of you who don't personally engage with social media at all for your art, but instead pay someone to manage your accounts and possibly also a website.

I'm an exhbiting artist of two decades' experience and closed down my Facebook and Instagram a few years ago but am thinking it might be wise to have them again if I can get somebody else to handle them for me.

Have you found it to be worthwhile? I'm not talking necessarily about sales. More in terms of mental peace of not having to deal with versus what you're paying for the service.

Thanks!

Before anybody misunderstands me- I am an introvert myself. A recluse, even. I can easily go weeks comfortably not seeing another human in person. I was fine during COVID lockdowns.

But what is with the reddit trend of so many people starting comments this way, as if it's unique or special? It isn't, it's super common. Especially on reddit, lol.

It also doesn't mean quiet, shy or lacking social skills. It doesn't mean being deeper than other people. It just means needs a lot of solitude to recharge.

Bugs and Beetles: A soft fruit lolly with a jelly middle. I like! I think they're even better than the discontinued Woolies vegan fruit lollies. Texture is soft and chewy, not too much of either, and the flavour is bright and fruity. That said, I have little faith that they won't be discontinued also, so I'll enjoy them while they last. Nice and cheap at 2 dollars a bag.

ALDI Animal Safari Wine Gums: ehhhhh they have a weird smell. Almost heavily almond-like. I love marzipan but I don't want it in a fruit lolly. The taste is better but still slightly odd. Texture is good, less tough than a traditional wine gum. 5.95. Generous serving. I will finish this pack but probably won't buy them again. Also they come in a cylinder, so don't look for a bag.

Nobody wants that. They're singing along to be polite. I didn't pay 100 dollars or more to hear myself sing.

Yeah, dude, we know the song. We're here to hear you singing it. Please do your job.

I have water bowls out for the wildlife year round, and am extra vigilant to fill them in summer, I'm a bit worried about whether doing it this year will be dangerous for them? It's supposedly going to be a really hot one (I'm in Vic) and I guess I'm just not sure which threat to prioritise for them?

I know it's just current slang and doesn't have to make grammatical sense. I know I'm just annoyed by it because I'm not of that generation. It still annoys me.

To those who don't know: I'm not talking about somebody who is correcting or explaining something- that's correct context. I mean the very specific way a lot of Gen Z people start sentences like this to just agree with something. It sounds so silly.

I watched Don't Worry Darling yesterday and...woof. This could have been such a great movie. The themes aren't exactly new, the "fantasy idyll that turns into dystopian hell" is a well-worn trope, in fact the whole movie was full of clichés and tropes, but it had a lot of potential. Florence Pugh and Chris Pine are always excellent, but their skills were wasted here. Harry Styles is...ok? Like his acting isn't bad per se. But he's pretty much a nothingburger as far as charisma or screen presence. I didn't care about his character at all.

Even the big twist was less satisfying than it could have been.

Meh, I say. Meh.

You?

Anybody know of one? Dior is not cruelty-free and is outside my budget anyway. But Rosy Glow is stunning. I'd be very grateful for dupe recommendations. Thanks!

Not looking for general rose scents- just a dupe of this one. :)

NOTE: I'm well across the DSP process and not looking for advice on that. Thank you. :)

TL;DR- staffers have no idea what to do with a more complex case, tell me contradictory things (sometimes the same person contradicting THEMSELVES) leading me to have no fucking idea what's going on. Cool.

I swear, so many staffers have no clue what to do with or advise a client who doesn't fall easily into one category. I could laugh if this wasn't all so infuriating.

Several weeks ago, I received three letters. One saying Centrelink had done an independent JCA (not an ESAt, I have had those before and was with DES for a long time) and that I have been assessed as less than eight hours' capacity, making all obligations voluntary other than a quarterly phone appointment. This letter said I can choose to be with a provider, or do job search, but I do not have to.

The second letter said I am recommended to apply for DSP, and they have enough information to not need anything from my medical team. Great! I had planned to apply anyway.

Third letter said I had a compulsory phone appointment just to check in and update me. Phone person was ok and pretty much just reiterated what was in the letter. All obligations are voluntary. They said this would be the case for at least a year, because I asked how long, as due to needing a birth certificate (they told me I do even though I'm already on Jobseeker) I am not able to apply immediately.

That phone appointment was late- I made an online complaint on the day in case it came up as me not attending. They eventually called.

A few days later, I noticed a second appointment has been booked. Assuming this was an error and the appointment was a duplicate generated by my complaint, I went into a service centre asking for it to be removed, explaining. She said, you're right, you don't have to attend this one, I'll cancel it for you.

Two weeks after that, I receive a letter telling me I had skipped the second appointment, it was for a Job Plan, and I needed to make a new appointment or my payments will be stopped. No idea why I need a fucking Job Plan when I'm told my obligations are voluntary, but ok.

I go back into the service centre yesterday. Clearly explained my situation, and why I will take a little time to put in my DSP application, and saying I apparently need to do a Job Plan but don't know why. The woman was pleasant, but...honestly seemed not very bright, or to really know what she was doing. She was reading the letter I got, and kept misunderstanding what I was saying. She said "you can put in a DSP application right now and it will exempt you."

I said, yes, I know that, reiterated my reason and said, I'm confused as to why I would need an exemption, given I am assessed as under 8 hours, making all my obligations voluntary.

She said "oh...I can give you an exemption for two weeks to give you time to put you application in.," I repeated, "thank you, but as I said, it is more likely to take two months, and I was told my current below 8 hours status is supposed to be for at least a year, so what would I need an exemption from?"

I then said, "it's going to take me longer than that and I don't want to have to call or come in again, so if that's what's on offer, I'll just do the Job Plan now."

She said "oh...but that means you'll have to be with a provider..."

I showed her the letter again, the letter which clearly states I am already exempt from engaging with a provider.

I could see it not computing. She straight-up was not understanding what I was saying, nor did she clarify why I was being told different things.

She then told me "oh...my software's not working so I can't do a Job Plan with you. I'll just give you an exemption for a month."

AN EXEMPTION FROM FUCKING WHAT???

I did not say that, just sat and smiled and tried not to implode.

I then said. "Ok. I don't think a month is going to be long enough." She then says, "you can call the call centre to arrange a longer one when it's up if you need to."

"Ok, thank you for your time. So, to be clear, I'm not going to get any surprises in that time? No letter telling me I'm suspended for not signing a Job Plan?"

"No, don't worry, you're good."

Do I believe she believes that? Sure. Do I believe she's competent enough to actually do her job for me to not have to steel myself for her to be wrong. NOPE.

I also don't believe the software thing. I think she had no idea what to do with me so the "exemption" was the easiest option for her, making me somebody else's problem.

Fuck's sake. 😂🤦‍♀️😭

NOTE: I'm well across the DSP process and not looking for advice on that, thank you. :)

TL;DR- staffers have no idea what to do with a more complex case, tell me contradictory things (sometimes the same person contradicting THEMSELVES) leading me to have no fucking idea what's going on. Cool.

I swear, so many staffers have no clue what to do with or advise a client who doesn't fall easily into one category. I could laugh if this wasn't all so infuriating.

Several weeks ago, I received three letters. One saying Centrelink had done an independent JCA (not an ESAt, I have had those before and was with DES for a long time) and that I have been assessed as less than eight hours' capacity, making all obligations voluntary other than a quarterly phone appointment. This letter said I can choose to be with a provider, or do job search, but I do not have to.

The second letter said I am recommended to apply for DSP, and they have enough information to not need anything from my medical team. Great! I had planned to apply anyway.

Third letter said I had a compulsory phone appointment just to check in and update me. Phone person was ok and pretty much just reiterated what was in the letter. All obligations are voluntary. They said this would be the case for at least a year, because I asked how long, as due to needing a birth certificate (they told me I do even though I'm already on Jobseeker) I am not able to apply immediately.

That phone appointment was late- I made an online complaint on the day in case it came up as me not attending. They eventually called.

A few days later, I noticed a second appointment has been booked. Assuming this was an error and the appointment was a duplicate generated by my complaint, I went into a service centre asking for it to be removed, explaining. She said, you're right, you don't have to attend this one, I'll cancel it for you.

Two weeks after that, I receive a letter telling me I had skipped the second appointment, it was for a Job Plan, and I needed to make a new appointment or my payments will be stopped. No idea why I need a fucking Job Plan when I'm told my obligations are voluntary, but ok.

I go back into the service centre yesterday. Clearly explained my situation, and why I will take a little time to put in my DSP application, and saying I apparently need to do a Job Plan but don't know why. The woman was pleasant, but...honestly seemed not very bright, or to really know what she was doing. She was reading the letter I got, and kept misunderstanding what I was saying. She said "you can put in a DSP application right now and it will exempt you."

I said, yes, I know that, reiterated my reason and said, I'm confused as to why I would need an exemption, given I am assessed as under 8 hours, making all my obligations voluntary.

She said "oh...I can give you an exemption for two weeks to give you time to put you application in.," I repeated, "thank you, but as I said, it is more likely to take two months, and I was told my current below 8 hours status is supposed to be for at least a year, so what would I need an exemption from?"

I then said, "it's going to take me longer than that and I don't want to have to call or come in again, so if that's what's on offer, I'll just do the Job Plan now."

She said "oh...but that means you'll have to be with a provider..."

I showed her the letter again, the letter which clearly states I am already exempt from engaging with a provider.

I could see it not computing. She straight-up was not understanding what I was saying, nor did she clarify why I was being told different things.

She then told me "oh...my software's not working so I can't do a Job Plan with you. I'll just give you an exemption for a month."

AN EXEMPTION FROM FUCKING WHAT???

I did not say that, just sat and smiled and tried not to implode.

I then said. "Ok. I don't think a month is going to be long enough." She then says, "you can call the call centre to arrange a longer one when it's up if you need to."

"Ok, thank you for your time. So, to be clear, I'm not going to get any surprises in that time? No letter telling me I'm suspended for not signing a Job Plan?"

"No, don't worry, you're good."

Do I believe she believes that? Sure. Do I believe she's competent enough to actually do her job for me to not have to steel myself for her to be wrong. NOPE.

I also don't believe the software thing. I think she had no idea what to do with me so the "exemption" was the easiest option for her, making me somebody else's problem.

Fuck's sake. 😂🤦‍♀️😭

Poster: "Members of Group A, please share your experiences with and advice for (clearly outlined) specific issue A" gives very clear information about poster's situation, as well as what doesn't apply

Commenter 1: totally irrelevant response

Commenter 2: gives advice for issue B, which was not asked about

Commenter 3: "I don't know, but I'm guessing the answer is X"

Commenter 4: "I'm not a Member of Group A, and I haven't experienced Issue A, but I think it's-"

Commenter 5: Answers poster in the context of a situation that poster has specifically said doesn't apply

Whyyyy is reading comprehension so bad, MY GOD.

How do they know when the letter is received? It would make more sense to date it from when the letter was sent. Do they just pick some arbitrary day? Letter was sent on 21/7, I received it 29/7.

Also is it business days or calendar days?

Before anyone suggests it, yes I am in the process of putting together a DSP application.

Has anybody had a participation appointment, been assessed as under 8 hours and still been told they need to complete a Job Plan?

I recently had this happen, had a JCA (not an eSAT), a participation interview and told I don't have to be connected to a provider or do job search and all of my obligations were voluntary except for a quarterly appointment. But I have also just received a letter saying I need to do a Job Plan?

Those of you who have been thus assessed but still do a Job Plan, what does it entail? Why on earth would they need one? I don't get it.

Anybody see that Louis was playing with a bobble-head toy on the bus after he had been re-capitated? 💀

Rolin's mind... 😂😭

I swear, this sounds weird but it works.

Make a little paste with light-flavoured soy sauce/tamari, nutritional yeast and a bit of oil (I use canola.) When you've seared both sides of the burger patty, brush it with the paste then turn it over again so the paste cooks onto the patty into a kind of crust. Make sure it doesn't burn, you just want a sort of light caramelisation.

If anyone is vintage enough to remember the Sizzler cheese toast, it kind of tastes like the coating on that!

I'm definitely experiencing it more often now, especially lying down. I do intend to ask my doctor about it but just wondering how many of you have observed it more frequently and whether it's likely to be yet another symptom of this bullshit?