Happy first night of Passover, Good Friday, and Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate. And a warm welcome as well, of course, to our comrades who do not.

Julio Cortázar is my favorite Spanish-language author, so I'm making today's mega about him. If you'd like to share something random with the class, please feel free to make a mega in the future!

Anyway...

Cortázar is an Argentinian writer, and according to Wikipedia, "He is considered one of the most innovative and original authors of his time, a master of history, poetic prose and short story in general and a creator of important novels that inaugurated a new way of making literature in the Hispanic world by breaking the classical moulds through narratives that escaped temporal linearity."

So that's pretty cool. He was particularly active in the 50s and 60s.

In general, what I really like about Cortázar's writing is the clarity and purposefulness with which he writes. He neither condescends to the reader, nor seems to go out of his way to try and impress. He is certainly clever in his writing and it's by no means simplistic, but it feels like every literary flourish has genuine purpose. And contrary to what my Spanish literature professor said, I maintain that his story about getting trapped in a sweater is simple, funny, and not some bizarre allegory for a penis. Sometimes a sweater is just a sweater. (My professor was sort of obsessed with seeing phallic and/or sexual imagery, motifs, and innuendo in everything we read.)

I think his works sadly lose a lot in translation, as with many Spanish-language authors, particularly from that era. But maybe I'm just a fuckin hipster?

I'm still planning to do a mega on sleep, btw, but it has gotten postponed.

If you ever want to make your own megathread, you can go here to reserve a spot! :xinternet:

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Here are some resources on Prison Abolition :brick-police:

Foundations of Leninism :USSR:

:lenin-shining: :unity: :kropotkin-shining:

Anarchism and Other Essays :ancom:

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  • SorosFootSoldier [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Thinking I might check myself into rehab next week, if I can. I'm drinking again. The dog kennel near my home can board cats, so I'd have a place to house Mr. Softie until I got into a sober house.

    • Quimby [any, any]
      ·
      3 years ago

      do whatever you need to take care of yourself comrade. :meow-hug:

      • SorosFootSoldier [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Thanks. Do you think if I claim he's an emotional support animal they'd allow me to keep him? How does one go about declaring their pet one?

        • Quimby [any, any]
          ·
          3 years ago

          In order for him to be an ESA, you pretty much just have to declare that you have a disability and are using him as an ESA. there is no official licensing or anything, and a doctor's note can help avoid pushback, but I don't think it's technically required. Though you may be asked for documentation to support your claim. Let me know if it comes to that. The bigger question is whether your center will allow ESAs or not. If you are renting or buying housing, you are protected by the FHA, but that wouldn't apply to a treatment center, etc. They would be required to allow Service Animals, but not ESAs, and only dogs and miniature horses are legally allowed as service animals.

            • Quimby [any, any]
              ·
              3 years ago

              I can help you with any/all of it. Don't worry, it's actually not too bad. Feel free to DM me, or just pick this up on the mega when it rolls over.

                • Quimby [any, any]
                  ·
                  3 years ago

                  https://imgur.com/a/SLcv3Os

                  This is a good short explainer for whether your destination is likely to be covered by the FHA. If it is covered by the FHA, you should be able to bring your cat with you and I can help with navigating that. If it isn't covered by the FHA, then it is up to them whether or not to allow your cat, but they may well choose to do so, especially if you can make the case that it's important for your overall wellbeing and recovery. But it's possible that they will have some blanket "no animals" policy if they aren't covered by the FHA.

        • sappho [she/her]
          ·
          3 years ago

          I don't know about the first question, but for the second one, you just need a psychotherapist to write a letter signing off on the pet being a medical need. There's lots of certification scams online, they are all bullshit, there is no certification or registration for ESAs.

            • sappho [she/her]
              ·
              3 years ago

              Legally it is meant to be a therapist/psychiatrist but I got a letter from my PCP and my landlord accepted it, so might be worth a shot?

              Mr. Softie is an adorable name btw