Review of Patch Bandages
So now that I've had them almost a week, I'm reviewing the patch bandage things that I bought off amazon as covers for my continuous glucose monitor on my arm. Mine is a Freestyle Libre 2 and does not come with covers like a Dexcom does. (I'll work on it, I don't know why my images are only showing up in photos, not in the post themselves. They do have ALT text, though.)
These, so far, do NOT last. The sensor is on your arm for 14 days before you replace it. This patch lasted 6 days, I just put a new one on. They come in white people flesh tone, baby crib pink, or the rainbow assorted pack I bought that includes the "skin" tone and black. I've used the two "skin" tone ones now.
First off, the backing is divided into thirds. Although the package markets these to the Freestyle Libre sensors, the backing is not cut with a circle in the middle of it, which is a pain in the butt. I took the recommendation of a lot of amazon reviewers and left the paper on in the center over the sensor to make it easier to remove. I'm glad I did, but being cut in a strip meant I had to measure the width of the sensor and cut the paper correctly, an extra step. It's not hard to position and put on, though, much like a fabric Band-Aid with peeling off one piece of paper at a time.
Over the 6 days, though, the edges started fraying about day 3 (I mainly wear tshirts and sweatshirts). Then it started peeling up on the upper edge, where it would rub against a shirt you're taking off over your head. I took it off today because half of it had literally no adhesive left and was flapping off. When I took it completely off, it wasn't even sticky anymore in that area.
So, while they're pretty colors, they don't stay stuck worth crap. I'll be looking at other brands and saving the rest of these for... I don't know, art projects? Emergency bandage covers? Vaguely absorbent coasters for a lukewarm can? *shrug* Not worth the money, in my opinion. Oh well.
Useful Stuff
Here are some personal things people can do to protect themselves a little further, find ways to stay positive, and resist on a personal level. Feel free to comment if you have more constructive suggestions.
VPN -
Get a VPN. this is a way to protect your privacy further on your computer, phone, etc. It basically hides your computer's "address" by going through servers in other countries. You sign up for an account, download a little program, log in and let it stay on. NordVPN is the most extensive and the smallest plan is $3 (USD) something a month, and you can buy 2 years worth right now. Surfshark is popular and even cheaper. (it also has a benefit of changing locations of certain services, like letting you see what someone in the UK sees on Netflix you don't, for example) If you really can't afford this, they have browser extensions that at least let you browse privately, but only for Edge, Google, and Firefox. I got the full system VPN because I use a different browser. Please note that there are free ones, but you shouldn't get them as they track you and log sites you visit, which is part of why you don't want this in the first place. They have to make money somehow, and if they're not getting it from you, your data is the next available thing.
Services -
If you want a free, private, encrypted email address, zohomail, proton.me or mailfence.com are some of the best. I've heard the first can be a little slow, but it's your choice. There are several articles out there that compare features for you.
Opera is a great browser that isn't bloated with memory hog issues and is very private. Some company work programs don't like it, but the only issue I've ever had with it was when a therapist's video remote software their work made them use instead of Zoom wouldn't work in it. Firefox is a second best choice. No matter what, make sure to learn how to clean out cache and cookies regularly. It'll improve your performance, if nothing else.
Storygraph.app is the alternative to Goodreads. (Which is owned by Amazon) Started by a woman of color and you can export all your Goodreads stuff into it. I love it and am doing some reading challenges there. The recommendation quiz is spot-on, in my opinion.
BlueSky (bsky.app) is the very liberal, much more positive and supportive alternative to Shitter. it has a great ability to filter whatever words you want it to so you never see certain things, and it's easy as hell to block someone.
pixelfed.social is the decentralized version of Instagram.
I don't use it, but people recommend Signal as an alternative to Whatsapp, which is owned by Meta. Signal is totally encrypted end-to-end if you need a messaging app. I never used Whatsapp, but that's just me.
All browsers use extensions (well, windows ones I know of). Get Ublock Origin and AdBlock for Youtube to stop being tracked and stop seeing so many damned ads. All ads track you these days.
Get a library card, even if you never use it. Vote for libraries, they're one of the few free safe spaces in many places. Request books from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ and disabled authors. If they get enough requests, they will buy the books and those authors DO get royalties. Request audio and e-books for accessibility. Libraries are also a bastion against censorship wherever they can be. They also have a huge digital selection of resources through things like Hoopla, Libby, or Overdrive and interlibrary loan can get you nearly anything. Universities also have connected libraries you can borrow things on using that. Also check out Little Libraries, the boxes in neighborhoods where people drop off and take books for free.
If you still want to buy actual new and/or used books, Thriftbooks is great. I use Better World Books, who are also environmentally conscious. You probably won't get that "here in 2 days or less", but patience shouldn't take precedence over morals. There are a TON of fantastic indie authors who sell through itch.io for e-books, and they don't have DRM bullshit AND the authors get far more royalties than many big places.
Use ALT text on all images you post. Don't repost images that don't have it. And, something I recently learned, use the ALT text because people who are vision-impaired also might be muting certain political and other terms and if that's in ALT-text, it'll mute and they won't have to see OR hear that crap.
Take care of yourself. If you need to turn off the news or not look at that news feed, or even train BlueSky to make your algorithm mostly show you pictures of baby possums and kitties, that is perfectly fine. If you need to go out and get that coffee and donut, DO IT. (or whatever treat works for you.) Check a book, or movie, or e-book, or audio book (amazon owns audible, alas) out of the library. Cuddle your pet, wear the warm fuzzy socks, play the video game. You're worth taking care of, and you deserve good things.
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