Give Halle Bailey a Chance

I don’t know who needs to read this title, but somebody does. Here’s why: 

Disney has a history of casting Afro-Caribbean voices in Little Mermaid roles, and their peripherals, beginning with Sebastian the Crab in the animated movie. Why, in “Once Upon a Time,” this is Ursula: 

 

This is Ursula’s daughter Uma in the Descendants series: 

And now we have Halle Bailey playing Ariel.  

Now, I know Ariel was a redhead in the original animated movie, and white. But the truth is, there is a history for both sides of this color argument.  

So, what’s a girl like me to do? 

I decided to give all the noise a break, and check the biggest plot point of the Little Mermaid: the mermaid’s voice. She is supposed to have the most beautiful in the ocean.  

Exhibit A. Isn’t it lovely? 

That was all the evidence I needed.  

What about the hair? This is Disney. They are a Hollywood Juggernaut. They can get good, water-resistant hair color. 

What about the other family members? Cast accordingly. Both Idris Elba and Terry Crews would make a great Triton.  

If you want white princesses, go for Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Merida, Anna, Elsa and, like 50 other princesses I’m forgetting for some reason. I think Halle Bailey is a great choice for Ariel. So, wake up and smell the coffee. We are now a nation of many colors. Representation matters.  

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A Word on Beach Bodies

All you have to do to get a Beach Body in three steps:

1. Get a body.
2. Put swimwear (that fits!!!) on it.
3. Put sunscreen on it.
4. Take this body to the beach. (Pool, lake, etc.)

Allow me to present an example:

A Beach Body

I named this suit the Marilyn, because that’s how sexy it makes me feel.

I recently came to this conclusion after learning that nobody is really looking at and judging your body as hard as they are looking at and judging their own. And if they are, you probably don’t need their company anyway.

Gudetama and Eeyore

I’ve recently gained a new special interest. This little egg with crippling depression is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. It’s a little yellow yolk who does not want to leave its white, or shell for that matter. (It’s probably too peopley out there.) Now, where have I seen a lovable character with symptoms of depression before? 

“Thanks for noticing me.” 

Oh, yeah. Now I see it! It’s a cute little Eeyore! That wonderful little donkey plush from Winnie the Pooh adventures. He kind of balances out all the craziness, and sees beauty in calm, serene and quiet times. The lovable donkey who has similar traits to little Gudetama! I bet they would be great friends, if they met.  

******* 

The thing about Gudetama and Eeyore is this: they do not need to be a little happy thing to be cute. They’re even cute with their lack of energy. They are accepted as they are. And they are cute as they are.  

The Cure-All: A Reason to Be Skeptical

CONTENT WARNING: Mention of sucide

A small word about the previous article: I have been looking at the tips suggested, and a reader brought up something in a comment which I must address: not everything here is a cure-all. I mean, sure, the fruit, vegetable and lean protein diet can work for a lot of people, but not for everyone, to paraphrase. To be honest, I’m a little skeptical of cure-alls in general.

Truth is, if it is touted as a some sort of cure-all, I will get skeptical. I mean, the current touted cure-alls are CBD and bleach. (Isn’t bleach ingestion a form of suicide?) Explain the science to me. How in the world does a cure-all cure all things? What is it about the cure-all that is so necessary?

Perhaps I inherited this attitude from my mother. She was initially skeptical of me taking an ADHD drug when I was young. In time, it helped me so much, I took it for years. Eventually I grew out of needing it. I myself was resistant to taking an antidepressant initially, as well. In time, I accepted it and embraced it wholeheartedly. Another saying we have in the mental health world: “If you can’t make your own neurotransmitters (insulin, etc,), store bought is fine.” I feel that skepticism was necessary at one point for survival, but embracing things that help does us well, too.

So, in my previous article, there are a lot of things touted as what seems to be a cure-all in it, such as reducing stress, getting sleep and drinking water. Why did I suggest these tips in my previous article, since they seem to fall in the cure-all category? Because many of these tips (sleep, slower eating and lowering stress levels) are actually backed by studies and science. Chronic stress, for example, the type most people have, negatively affects a lot of health aspects, physical and mental. There is usually a good reason behind what I post. I am not going back on what I am saying now. If it is touted without the science and facts to back it up, then be skeptical.

That is also how I came to the conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism. What few people seem to remember about Andrew Wakefield’s study is that large-scale studies produced by such institutions as UCLA and the CDC, designed to create the same result (autism caused vaccines), DID NOT PRODUCE THE THEORIZED RESULTS. That is when the vaccine theory fell apart for me. This was early in the 2000s, by the way. Remember, remember, research and study all the facts you can before making a decision. Then, if new information comes up, factor that in.

Gut Health and Autism: All About That Ease of Suffering

Just so you know, I am NOT promoting any sort of a cure. I see curing autism the way you see Invasion of the Body Snatchers. What I am promoting is a series of tips that could ease suffering for the autistic person. Recent scientific studies have confirmed that the autistic person’s stomach is different from the neurotypical type.  

I don’t think treating gut health will cure autism. I think treating gut health will ease suffering to a degree. And don’t we want to ease autistic suffering?  

Here are a few tips that may help with gut health: 

1. Lowering stress: This helps with a lot of ailments, not just gut health. Autistic people encounter stressors from the very environment we live in. This could include sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch. It could also include social interaction. If you need to say no to a social event, say no. Those who really love you will care and understand. 

1. SLEEP: Always get your fill. Sleep is another thing that helps with a lot of ailments, too. I don’t need to reiterate the benefits of sleep, including stress reduction, but get what you can. 

1. Eat Slowly: This is the one which I have had the hardest time with. I have had to learn how to eat slowly for the past few years, because I was often escaping some stressor in the past. Anyway, eating your food slowly helps digestion and gut health, giving it more time to process the food. 

1. WATER: Again, another thing to help ailments. Did you know the body is 90-something percent water? It is the most helpful and hydrating liquid on the planet. 

1. Probiotics: This is one of the harder things to do. What are probiotics, anyway? They are live, beneficial bacteria which helps digestion and breaks down harmful substances in the gut. They are found in a high-quality supplement, yogurts, sauerkraut, and various fermented foods. (It’s okay if you don’t like one or more of these; I have trouble with sauerkraut.) I would find a food or method I liked and get to it. 

1. Food Intolerances: Many parents of the autistic tend to think this particular tip can change an autistic person’s behavior. SPOILER ALERT: It can’t. I happen to have a relative with gluten intolerance, so I am okay with this one in moderation. Gluten-free is a version of this tip. I would only look to this to ease suffering, which is how it helps autistic behavior. 

1. A Healthy Diet: Do I need to say it again? Plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy carbohydrates and lean proteins. Many people choose plant-based diets for their health, too. (I’ve been told they get enough protein, too.) I will not object.  

Now, notice I am not promoting a cure. What I am promoting are ways to ease suffering in the autistic person, child or adult. So, if you are desperate for a cure to autism, do not come to me. If, however, you are wondering how to help ease the suffering autistic, you or anyone else you care about, I suggest these tips. I’ve been told many autistic people suffer from gut health problems.  

A Bit on Ali Stroker

Well, Ali Stroker won a Tony Award for her work in an Oklahoma! Revival. I am glad she won! That girl can sing and act! I am glad you can finally have limitations and have a representative.  

“Representation matters,” is a line Craig Melvin tends to use about the whole thing. He’s right. There is even video proving this online. In the video, a little boy, himself using a wheelchair, said, “That’s me!” He even got to meet her on the Today Show. I am so glad this is happening.  

There are a few small minuses to address. One of them is the line, “She’s an inspiration!” Basically, this says, “She is strong for living with such a tragedy.” You know what it says to me, a disabled woman? It says you underestimate human persistence.  That’s not cool.  Also, there is this nagging question: did she win because of her talent and work, or did she win because she was in a wheelchair? Hopefully, she won because of her talent and work. I would like to think that, especially since this question tends to nag me every single time someone less privileged in this society wins. (Did America Ferrera win her Emmy because she was talented, or because she was Ugly Betty? Did Ashley Graham win the Sports Illustrated cover because she was beautiful, or because it was lip service to body positivity? Did John Legend EGOT because of his work, or because of his race?) See how it works? I hope it’s because of their talents and work, in all cases I mentioned.

Anyway, I am so excited! Ali Stroker won!

Spoilers Don’t Tell Everything.

I’m still not recovered from this month’s writer’s block, so I’ll just report what has happened to me recently.

I finally got to see Avengers: Endgame. Sure, I knew some things going in, what with the spoiler ban lifted before I could go. But I’ll tell you something: Spoilers don’t tell everything.

Here’s an example: For those who do not know, the Soul Stone has a very sad way of being collected: by sacrificing a soul of someone you love. With heroes, especially defined as those willing to go to their end for others in this movie, it went sideways – fast. Anyway, there’s much more for a person to see, but you have to actually see the movie for it all to make sense, especially about things in the middle.