Interesting Links for 16-12-2022

[andrewducker]

1. Tax rates to rise for higher earners in Scotland

(tags:Scotland tax )

2. Reminder that "First They Came For..." is about the importance of solidarity between all oppressed groups

(tags:bigotry poetry holocaust oppression )

3. Genders.WTF (a collection of terrible gender dropdowns)

(tags:gender ui epicfail funny viaSwampers )

4. Elon Musk's $5.7 Billion Mystery Gift Went to...His Own Charity

(tags:ElonMusk charity tax )

5. A quarter of private UK rented homes do not meet standards

(tags:uk rental housing OhForFucksSake )

6. I see the British army has been covering up war crimes again

(tags:WarCrimes UK military )

7. EU leaders grant Bosnia candidate status to join the bloc

(tags:Europe Bosnia )

8. Peak ScotRail fares to be scrapped for six months

(tags:Scotland trains money )

9. UN expert backs Scottish government's gender recognition reforms

(tags:UnitedNations gender transgender reform Scotland GoodNews )

10. Weight loss drug semaglutide has really significant effects - but the side effects sound unpleasant

(tags:weight drugs )

11. SNP budget may go down in left-leaning history

(tags:Scotland politics budget tax )

Comments

[wildeabandon]

3. Some of these are indeed terrible, some are clearly trying to be inclusive and just missing the mark a little but Woman/Man/Sea Captain is kind of awesome, but not quite as awesome as A lady/A gentleman/My dear sir, there are individuals roaming the streets of Fallen London at this very moment with the faces of squid! Squid! Do you ask them their gender? And yet you waste our time asking me trifling and impertinent questions about mine? It is my own business, sir, and I bid you good day.

[dewline]

1. Hooray!

2. Yes.

One more thing I'm trying to remember here.

4. I am unsurprised and angered.

7. More progress in expanding/preserving/improving civil society worldwide! Yes!

8. On a related note, OC Transpo here in Ottawa is being directed by Ottawa City Council to maintain a fare freeze throughout 2023. All of next year, in other words.

9. YAY!

10. I believe antipope about these side effects. Or is that not the same drug he's used?

11. Good!

[symbioid]

I'm on Semaglutide (as Rybelsus) that's how I've lost basically a hundred pounds this past year. It's... weird. I do think I've had some nausea now and then, but fortunately, hasn't been that strong.

It bothers me because I heard people are using it as a "lifestyle" drug for weight loss instead of the diabetes it's initially meant for. IDK

I keep reading Semi Glug #10

[agoodwinsmith]

Back in the 80's there was a new wonder drug for defatification. I'm not going to look it up because it not only did not work on humans, but it gave them life-long (however long that might have been post drug) heart conditions.

The big red flag for me is the expectation that the fat will all return once the person stops glugging their semi. So, it is not rectifying whatever metabolism issues are fat-prone - so what *is* it doing aside from slowing food transition through the intestine suite, and nauseating the taker?

Also - my understanding is that the drug taker has to stab themselves in the belly (above the button, I think) to take Semi Glug. Argh.

I shall wait and see.

[firecat]

I'll buy that semaglutide has "really significant effects" if it improves health (in people other than diabetics) — but it doesn't seem like anyone's studying whether it does.

[anna_wing]

My understanding is that it is intended to help people adjust to the new lifestyles that are necessary in order to maintain their healthy weights, not as a permanent crutch to substitute for a healthy lifestyle. People are supposed to find it easier to aintain the new lifestyle (i.e. eating enough to maintain a healthy weight at a healthy level of activity and no more).

A bit like using Feliway just for a while to reset your cat's level of twitchiness.