WHY WE MASK: It's Not "Just A Cold": A Handy Scientific Guide to Surviving COVID-19 Together

Here, have a free science zine with a ridiculously long title! Endless thanks to my partner and fellow disabled artist, Kimball Anderson aka @earnestattempts, who helped through the entire year-long process with art edits and image descriptions (located in the alt text). Additional thanks to my friends Dupe and Caitlin, who gave me thorough copy-edits, and every friend who read drafts or listened to me rant about COVID-19.

Feel free to spread it far and wide! And hit me up if you're interested in printing &/or distributing free copies :D

Read WHY WE MASK with Endnotes - includes working URLS so you can read the scientific papers I cited for yourself. Plus links for all the other resources, and a full transcript.

Download WHY WE MASK - Free PDFs to read, print, and share! Any donations go towards print copies &/or local mask blocs.

Can't get enough free printable COVID zines? Check out @newlevant's excellent What's Up With COVID & How To Protect Yourself: 2024 Ed! It was a huge inspiration in the final stretch.

Extra pages under the cut:

37 people were illegally detained in Bellingham, Washington for the ‘crime’ of speaking Spanish. This is so fucking inhumane and cruel

⬆️ racial unity now is matching funds for the detainees and their families. please help if you can.

it's shameful how long i had to look to find an article covering this story that gives more information besides saying "37 undocumented workers were arrested wednesday." cascadia news and the AP were the only sources i found that include any journalism whatsoever beyond the police report.

Hey, this is local for me. It would mean a lot if you could help out even a little bit.

Update on Nour and her family

I am close friends with the Al-Habil family, whose situation I have discussed under our “#ibtisam al habil” tag. There is still a lot of concern for the youngest child Nour, who is a disabled teen about whose situation you can learn more under our “#Nour Al habil” tag.

Torrential rains have flooded the streets of Gaza and all but destroyed the family’s tent. They are inundated with freezing, extremely contaminated water, which is extremely dangerous for 15 y/o Nour.

Nour is immunocompromised due to her heart condition. These flood waters carry gangrene, cholera, and polio bacteria among numerous others, as well as many viruses and pollutants.

We were about halfway through raising the funds for the tent when Nour’s mother, Ibtisam, suffered a herniated disc after sustaining an injury while moving a barrel of water. She is in severe pain, and can barely move. This is not only miserable and unhealthy for her, it also prevents her from caring for Nour.

In addition to the ongoing $2,000 USD needed for shelter, the family now needs $300 USD (about $433 CAD) to help Ibtisam manage her pain and be able to move.

New temporary goal: $52,971 CAD

Currently: $50,804 CAD

Need to raise: $2,167 CAD (about $1,500 USD)

VERY URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED!! Teen girl in danger of organ failure!!!!

An unknown individual hacked the family’s bank account and stole $1000 about to be used for Nour’s treatment!!

Nour needs to receive this treatment IMMEDIATELY!!!! The treatment costs $800 USD, about $1,142 CAD. We need to raise this money URGENTLY or young Nour could go into HEART FAILURE!!

PLEASE donate what you can, and share the family’s campaign as widely as possible!! Copy and paste this link across all your social media platforms and ask your followers and friends for support!! LINK: https://www.gofundme.com/f/4qzqg-help-a-family-from-gaza

Currently: $56,240 CAD

New temporary goal: $57,382 CAD

Progress: $60 out of $1,142 CAD, or about $42 out of $800 USD

Thank you to our anonymous donor for your support! Please continue to share this post and donate anything you can, even $10 CAD (about $7 USD) helps!!!

I'm from Gaza... and I only dream of a life without hunger or fear

In Gaza, we do not live as other people do, but try to survive every day. The siege is getting harsher, the crossings are closed, and the aid is not up. But the worst thing now is that we are facing the specter of famine, where bakeries are closed and there is no longer bread for the majority of the population.

Imagine waking up every day not knowing if you would find food for you and your family. Imagine seeing children crying from hunger, and you can't do anything. This is not a scene from a tragic movie, but our daily reality.

It is no longer just bombing and destruction, but a slow war that suffocates us with hunger and disease. Electricity is cut off most of the time, water is not drinkable, and hospitals are without equipment or medicines. Our lives have become an endless series of struggle for the most basic rights: food, water, and medicine.

I am a young man from Gaza, looking for an opportunity to live away from this hell. I don't want to be just another number in the hunger and death statistics. I want a chance to work, to study, for the decent life that every human being deserves.

That's why I created this campaign, to gather support and be able to build a future outside this suffering. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a big difference. It can give me hope, it can be a reason for my survival.

Please don't leave us to face this fate alone. Help me get a chance for a life.

love is in the air? WRONG. twink

shes just floating up there

Hello dears, it's Ola, I write to you today in the most difficult circumstances I have ever faced in my life, circumstances that have become unbearable. Life has been harsh on us in ways we never expected, and we are now unable to provide for even the most basic needs, such as food, water, and everything essential for survival. Prices have skyrocketed in an unimaginable way, and we are left powerless against this harsh reality.💔

Since I started my campaign, I have placed all my hopes and dreams in it to improve my life and my family's life. I hoped we would find a helping hand, that we would feel there are people who care for us. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has helped us in the past, and to those who will support us today. You are our only hope.🥺

But today, I need you more than ever, more than any moment I've gone through. I need your help, your love, and your compassionate hearts. We are going through an incredibly tough time, and mercy only comes from hearts like yours. Please, your feeling for us is the only hope left. We have nothing but your prayers and support.

If you read my story, perhaps you would understand that it was never expected for me to be in this situation, begging for help from others. Life can be cruel at times, but there are still compassionate hearts that can light our way and change our fate.

Please, read my story, feel for me and my family, because we are truly in desperate need of your help. Please don’t abandon us, because if we don’t find hope in you, we don’t know where we will turn. I may not have many followers on my blog (due to my original blog being deleted), but I believe in you, I believe in your help, and I believe in your sharing of this post, which could change our lives. 🙏🥺

My opportunity for internet access is very limited, so please, share this message as widely as possible. Be the shadow that saves me and my family.

Please donate and share 💔

My campaign has been vetted by @90-ghost here, @northgazaupdates here, @el-shab-hussein , and @nabulsi 's spreadsheet of vetted campaigns #205.

Please help me, Please share 🙏

@sar-soor @timetravellingkitty @deathlonging @mahoushojoe @rhubarbspring @tamamita

@teaboot @idontmindifuforgetme @irhabiya @commissions4aid-international @wellwaterhysteria @junglejim4322 @kibumkim @wolfythewitch @wolfertinger666 @komsomolk @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @heritageposts   @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @evillesbianvillainarchive @ot3 @amygdalae @ankle-beez @dykesbat @turian @violentrevolution-blog @mavigator @lacecap   @socalgal @wis-art @teaboot @rickybabyboy @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @papenathys @slicedblackolives @heritageposts @buttercuparry @catcrumb @paper-mario-wiki

Ola is in an extremely desperate situation right now!!! Please share her post, and make posts on her behalf if you can!! Check our “#ola” tag below for more information!!

Listen, folks, I also hate generative AI and do not think it is an effective accomodation, but if your argument against it is "Oh, you think [task] is hard? What a stupid idiot baby!" then I'm sorry to say that is Literally Just Ableism. Please think about what you are saying. The point should be that it doesn't actually work to solve the problems that people are struggling with, not that they're wrong for struggling in the first place.

Multiple people in the notes proudly saying "I'm only ableist to people I assume aren't disabled!" Wild thought: what if you just didn't say ableist things to anyone?

— Mohammed al-Khoudry a Palestinian farmer in Gaza. (via champagnefather)

Please pray for us to survive and I hope you donate to us through our special link💔🤲.

@seasonofprophecy @northgazaupdates2 @a-sky-of-diamonds @90-ghost @ankle-beez @ahmed-family-1

@tater-tot-pot-dish @captainsaltymuyfancy2 @cinnamonalex @neon-draws-sometimes @quoten-kifferin @chrysanthemum-aria @once-and-future-fandoms @toomanybirds @starlightsuga @rydrake6

@l-art-stuff-l @reveristmain @saintverses @sankera @leafbonesss @tumkaafiho @danelloevee

Maha is alone with no home and with two small children to support, one of whom is chronically ill. Please support her as much as you can, and share her campaign.

I'm from Gaza... and I only dream of a life without hunger or fear

In Gaza, we do not live as other people do, but try to survive every day. The siege is getting harsher, the crossings are closed, and the aid is not up. But the worst thing now is that we are facing the specter of famine, where bakeries are closed and there is no longer bread for the majority of the population.

Imagine waking up every day not knowing if you would find food for you and your family. Imagine seeing children crying from hunger, and you can't do anything. This is not a scene from a tragic movie, but our daily reality.

It is no longer just bombing and destruction, but a slow war that suffocates us with hunger and disease. Electricity is cut off most of the time, water is not drinkable, and hospitals are without equipment or medicines. Our lives have become an endless series of struggle for the most basic rights: food, water, and medicine.

I am a young man from Gaza, looking for an opportunity to live away from this hell. I don't want to be just another number in the hunger and death statistics. I want a chance to work, to study, for the decent life that every human being deserves.

That's why I created this campaign, to gather support and be able to build a future outside this suffering. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a big difference. It can give me hope, it can be a reason for my survival.

Please don't leave us to face this fate alone. Help me get a chance for a life.

disabled people deserve more than being shamed for having symptoms while in public. no one owes anyone to be pretty when they are sick, and if some symptoms are “disgusting”, “ugly” or even just annoying to you, then look away. mind your own business. no one owes you attractiveness, no one should be appealing to you all the time, people have a right to exist in public even when they are different, even when they are sick.

UPDATE: NEW LINK! Yahya and his family were displaced by the IOF, and are currently residing in Deir al-Balah, south-central Gaza.

Life as displaced Gazans was already extremely difficult for them. Food is very scarce, and their living conditions leave them exposed to the elements. Here is the frequent condition of their tent now that the winter rains have come:

Then, Yahya’s father was injured. Some cartilage was damaged in his neck, and doctors say he requires IMMEDIATE surgery to avoid permanent paralysis.

Yahya and his family previously had another campaign, but it was suddenly shut down by GFM with no explanation. They have created a new one, but it has EXTREMELY LOW FUNDS.

The surgery is a stifling €15,000 euros (about $15,729 USD). Yahya and his family have no hope of paying for it without your help.

I am currently watching an elderly loved one lose their mobility, and it is an extremely heartbreaking and isolating situation. I cannot imagine what Yahya and his family are going through, having no social or financial support and only minimal medical care.

Please give what you can to this family. You are their only hope to save their beloved father’s mobility!

Major update on Yahya’s little brother Omar

As discussed previously, Omar remains hospitalized with severe burns. You all raised €700 EUR to attain burn ointment for the immediate treatment of his wounds. Thank you.

Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of Omar’s treatment journey.

At just 7 years old, little Omar has third-degree burns over much of his small body due to the IOF attack. The burns are severe in that they burned through his skin, through his ligaments and muscles, and down to his very bones. To say this little boy is in constant, excruciating pain would be a gross understatement.

The pain is not his only problem. The damage to his skin is so severe that his body is unable to heal itself. He requires a skin graft in order to transplant new skin that will be able to regrow.

Without this, Omar’s extensive wounds will remain exposed for a very, very long time. This makes him extremely vulnerable to a catastrophic infection, and his body will be unable to fight it off. Infections are widespread in Gaza right now due to the IOF’s destruction of sanitation infrastructure and the scarcity of antibiotics and other medicines.

This means that at virtually any time, Omar could contract an infection and die. He URGENTLY needs this skin graft so he can finally start to heal!

Please share the campaign widely, donate if you can, and share Omar’s story with your friends and loved ones in real life!! A little boy’s life is at stake!!

Current: €3,134 EUR

New temporary goal: €6,134 EUR

🚨🚨UPDATE!!!🚨🚨

You all raised the preliminary $1,500 for Omar’s skin graft! Thank you so much❤️

As described here, there is is still about $1,500 USD to pay on the bill, and it must be paid in the next 2 months

Current: €4,871 out of €6,134 EUR

yahya has informed me that despite all of the money that we raised, omar was only able to have a partial operation. he was able to have skin grafts on 60% of the burns he had, but they weren't able to afford the last 40%

due to all the high living costs of basic food and water, they were not able to pay for the rest

the rest of the operation costs €800 - after the 30% fees, this means they will need about €1,150

i have set the temporary goal accordingly, and hopefully we will be able to raise enough for the rest of omar's operation. i will keep updating if we need more once we hit this goal

€6,188 / €7,333

€6,458 / €7,633

yahya's family has now been told they need to move their camp in the midst of these bombings. that would cost €150 - i have heard from other families that the current people exchanging digital money for physical cash now ask for 50% fees.

if yahya's family also needs to pay in physical currency, they likely need €300.

i have added this amount to the temporary goal - of that €300, currently €65 has been raised

€6,508 / €7,633

€115 has now been raised of that €300, after what gofundme says is 4 days of inactivity

whether we take into account fees or not, they still haven't gotten enough to move their camp - let's keep working hard for them

🇺🇸tony's chocolonely chocolate bar recall due to rocks🇺🇸

literally, due to rocks. they got rocks in them

april 2, 2025

emphasis mine.

this recall only affects some lots of the dark almond sea salt bar and the everything bar, due to the rock problem. they were distributed nationwide in stores and on the internet. I included their pictures at the top.

I am not able to format a table for tumblr, so check that recall link for the specific lot codes and expiration dates.

they found rocks after there were 12 reports that said hey. there are rocks in this. this can easily lead to dental problems if someone tries to bite full force on a rock and breaks a tooth or otherwise injures their mouth. dental infections can eventually become life-threatening even in people who are young and otherwise healthy. so it is a good thing nobody apparently ate the rocks yet. or at least, nobody got injured while potentially eating rocks. yet

emphasis mine.

please do not the rocks. thank you

The situation in Gaza has once more become catastrophic. Mohammed and Samar Abu Alwan rely on your donations to feed their three children and provide them with medical treatment.

You can help via gofundme:

or with:

Venmo: gothhabiba Paypal: paypal.me/Najia Cashapp: $NajiaK

all with note "🍓" or "strawberry"

$126 / $1,000 to our short-term goal

With a donation of at least $75 USD you can get your own custom, hand-made tatreez piece.

$326 / $1,000

Mutual Aid initiatives to donate to:

Ghazzah:

Dahnoun Aid

Sameer Project

Mona's mutual aid project

MECA

Sudan:

Sudan Solidarity Collective

Khartoum Aid Kitchen

Period Care in Sudan

Al Abbasiya community kitchen (Al-Abbasiya / Umdurman based)

Basmat Wasl (Khartoum-based)

I'm from Gaza... and I only dream of a life without hunger or fear

In Gaza, we do not live as other people do, but try to survive every day. The siege is getting harsher, the crossings are closed, and the aid is not up. But the worst thing now is that we are facing the specter of famine, where bakeries are closed and there is no longer bread for the majority of the population.

Imagine waking up every day not knowing if you would find food for you and your family. Imagine seeing children crying from hunger, and you can't do anything. This is not a scene from a tragic movie, but our daily reality.

It is no longer just bombing and destruction, but a slow war that suffocates us with hunger and disease. Electricity is cut off most of the time, water is not drinkable, and hospitals are without equipment or medicines. Our lives have become an endless series of struggle for the most basic rights: food, water, and medicine.

I am a young man from Gaza, looking for an opportunity to live away from this hell. I don't want to be just another number in the hunger and death statistics. I want a chance to work, to study, for the decent life that every human being deserves.

That's why I created this campaign, to gather support and be able to build a future outside this suffering. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a big difference. It can give me hope, it can be a reason for my survival.

Please don't leave us to face this fate alone. Help me get a chance for a life.