Cal Montgomery
@calmontgomery.bsky.social
Thinks he's funny.
Also, working to keep ppl who don't use alt text out of the timeline. If people don't want to include me, why would I want them in my life?
Also, working to keep ppl who don't use alt text out of the timeline. If people don't want to include me, why would I want them in my life?
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
A kind reminder that a "politics of you deserved this" (cancer, vaccine-preventable disease, natural disaster, etc) has no place in public health. We can hold bad actors to account without punching down on the groups most harmed by their actions and/or resorting to shame, blame, and stigma.
September 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
A kind reminder that a "politics of you deserved this" (cancer, vaccine-preventable disease, natural disaster, etc) has no place in public health. We can hold bad actors to account without punching down on the groups most harmed by their actions and/or resorting to shame, blame, and stigma.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
It doesn't matter if they are ever coming for you.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
July 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
It doesn't matter if they are ever coming for you.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
What I am here for is to speak directly to those of you who see the bullshit, who smell the sulfur in the air, who feel the psychic tremor of something sick pulsing beneath the surface—and are asking: What the hell can we do?
Here’s my answer:
Don’t. Fucking. Comply. 10/23
Here’s my answer:
Don’t. Fucking. Comply. 10/23
April 9, 2025 at 8:05 PM
What I am here for is to speak directly to those of you who see the bullshit, who smell the sulfur in the air, who feel the psychic tremor of something sick pulsing beneath the surface—and are asking: What the hell can we do?
Here’s my answer:
Don’t. Fucking. Comply. 10/23
Here’s my answer:
Don’t. Fucking. Comply. 10/23
My Congressional rep sent me an email.
She promises to fight Trump in the courts.
She does not promise to fight him in Congress.
This feels both significant and business-as-usual to me.
She promises to fight Trump in the courts.
She does not promise to fight him in Congress.
This feels both significant and business-as-usual to me.
March 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
My Congressional rep sent me an email.
She promises to fight Trump in the courts.
She does not promise to fight him in Congress.
This feels both significant and business-as-usual to me.
She promises to fight Trump in the courts.
She does not promise to fight him in Congress.
This feels both significant and business-as-usual to me.
Given the fragility of life, I'd say we should at least check in on our values and limitations (innate or imposed) pretty often, because there are only 168 hours in the week and we need to spend some of that in REM sleep.
Also tell our doctors, so they don't refer us to psych for living our values.
Also tell our doctors, so they don't refer us to psych for living our values.
Sometimes it is important to take some time to grieve and think about why we continue to do the things we do, with everything happening.
March 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Given the fragility of life, I'd say we should at least check in on our values and limitations (innate or imposed) pretty often, because there are only 168 hours in the week and we need to spend some of that in REM sleep.
Also tell our doctors, so they don't refer us to psych for living our values.
Also tell our doctors, so they don't refer us to psych for living our values.
In other news, yesterday afternoon my 8-year-old deaf dog looked out the window at the wrong time and discovered lightning.
Then he had to go out, and he discovered hail.
He does not consider the sky to be his friend.
Then he had to go out, and he discovered hail.
He does not consider the sky to be his friend.
March 20, 2025 at 7:09 AM
In other news, yesterday afternoon my 8-year-old deaf dog looked out the window at the wrong time and discovered lightning.
Then he had to go out, and he discovered hail.
He does not consider the sky to be his friend.
Then he had to go out, and he discovered hail.
He does not consider the sky to be his friend.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
Let's do a thread for Palestinians who need support. If you are Palestinian, please drop your fundraiser links below!
Followers, please share, and if you have a little extra, please consider donating!
Followers, please share, and if you have a little extra, please consider donating!
March 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Let's do a thread for Palestinians who need support. If you are Palestinian, please drop your fundraiser links below!
Followers, please share, and if you have a little extra, please consider donating!
Followers, please share, and if you have a little extra, please consider donating!
They are legally innocent.
They are sometimes also factually innocent.
They are often charged with misdemeanors.
What happens if all of a sudden you don't show up to your job, or for your kids, for a couple months?
The consequences of being charged with a crime can be huge.
They are sometimes also factually innocent.
They are often charged with misdemeanors.
What happens if all of a sudden you don't show up to your job, or for your kids, for a couple months?
The consequences of being charged with a crime can be huge.
Thanks to yesterday's Daredevil episode, today's legal term is "pretrial detention." Different states call it different things, but "pretrial detention" refers to people in jail who have NOT been convicted of any crimes. These are *legally innocent people*, sitting in jail.
March 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
They are legally innocent.
They are sometimes also factually innocent.
They are often charged with misdemeanors.
What happens if all of a sudden you don't show up to your job, or for your kids, for a couple months?
The consequences of being charged with a crime can be huge.
They are sometimes also factually innocent.
They are often charged with misdemeanors.
What happens if all of a sudden you don't show up to your job, or for your kids, for a couple months?
The consequences of being charged with a crime can be huge.
Also, sometimes when something doesn't make sense to you, it's because you don't understand it yet.
Sometimes it's because it's not true.
Sometimes it's because it's not true.
Your regular reminder—
To you, about yourself
& to you, about other people
That “being smart” & “having information” are not the same thing.
Lots & lots of very intelligent people don’t have information about things.
(Also some struggle to speak English. & some have obvious disabilities. And…)
To you, about yourself
& to you, about other people
That “being smart” & “having information” are not the same thing.
Lots & lots of very intelligent people don’t have information about things.
(Also some struggle to speak English. & some have obvious disabilities. And…)
March 12, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Also, sometimes when something doesn't make sense to you, it's because you don't understand it yet.
Sometimes it's because it's not true.
Sometimes it's because it's not true.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
And also, having certain kinds of information and even knowledge are often more markers of *privilege* than intelligence.
March 12, 2025 at 1:21 AM
And also, having certain kinds of information and even knowledge are often more markers of *privilege* than intelligence.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
I want to hear from people about tariffs impact people's ability to get their meds + medical devices for @motherjones.com. My signal is @juliametraux.49 and my email is jmetraux@motherjones.com. I am Mother Jones' disability reporter.
March 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I want to hear from people about tariffs impact people's ability to get their meds + medical devices for @motherjones.com. My signal is @juliametraux.49 and my email is jmetraux@motherjones.com. I am Mother Jones' disability reporter.
I have watched both Reoublicans and Democrats build toward this moment since the 1980's. And I have understood that I was seeing it that whole time.
I understand that James Carville is a brilliant strategist but if the car has been motionless for decades maybe hitting the brakes is not the top job.
I understand that James Carville is a brilliant strategist but if the car has been motionless for decades maybe hitting the brakes is not the top job.
February 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I have watched both Reoublicans and Democrats build toward this moment since the 1980's. And I have understood that I was seeing it that whole time.
I understand that James Carville is a brilliant strategist but if the car has been motionless for decades maybe hitting the brakes is not the top job.
I understand that James Carville is a brilliant strategist but if the car has been motionless for decades maybe hitting the brakes is not the top job.
This thread is dedicated to the nursing student I got to talk to at wound care yesterday.
She was young and open and friendly and her idealism had not yet been tarnished by the realities of health care. And it was just good to be a human being in the presence of her humanity.
She was young and open and friendly and her idealism had not yet been tarnished by the realities of health care. And it was just good to be a human being in the presence of her humanity.
Proposed medical tests...
Suprapubic Catheter Test:
As I am not intersex and have never had trans-affirming health care, any emergency doc or hospitalist who insists that as a doctor they know my gender better than I do should be able to find my urethra within 20 minutes.
1/?
Suprapubic Catheter Test:
As I am not intersex and have never had trans-affirming health care, any emergency doc or hospitalist who insists that as a doctor they know my gender better than I do should be able to find my urethra within 20 minutes.
1/?
February 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This thread is dedicated to the nursing student I got to talk to at wound care yesterday.
She was young and open and friendly and her idealism had not yet been tarnished by the realities of health care. And it was just good to be a human being in the presence of her humanity.
She was young and open and friendly and her idealism had not yet been tarnished by the realities of health care. And it was just good to be a human being in the presence of her humanity.
Proposed medical tests...
Suprapubic Catheter Test:
As I am not intersex and have never had trans-affirming health care, any emergency doc or hospitalist who insists that as a doctor they know my gender better than I do should be able to find my urethra within 20 minutes.
1/?
Suprapubic Catheter Test:
As I am not intersex and have never had trans-affirming health care, any emergency doc or hospitalist who insists that as a doctor they know my gender better than I do should be able to find my urethra within 20 minutes.
1/?
February 28, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Proposed medical tests...
Suprapubic Catheter Test:
As I am not intersex and have never had trans-affirming health care, any emergency doc or hospitalist who insists that as a doctor they know my gender better than I do should be able to find my urethra within 20 minutes.
1/?
Suprapubic Catheter Test:
As I am not intersex and have never had trans-affirming health care, any emergency doc or hospitalist who insists that as a doctor they know my gender better than I do should be able to find my urethra within 20 minutes.
1/?
I am beginning to really hate the CGM.
Getting the app to open, getting the app to recognise the device, getting the device to stay in my arm, and getting the bleeding to stop never all happen at once.
I would really like an accessible way to track blood sugar if I'm injecting insulin.
Getting the app to open, getting the app to recognise the device, getting the device to stay in my arm, and getting the bleeding to stop never all happen at once.
I would really like an accessible way to track blood sugar if I'm injecting insulin.
February 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I am beginning to really hate the CGM.
Getting the app to open, getting the app to recognise the device, getting the device to stay in my arm, and getting the bleeding to stop never all happen at once.
I would really like an accessible way to track blood sugar if I'm injecting insulin.
Getting the app to open, getting the app to recognise the device, getting the device to stay in my arm, and getting the bleeding to stop never all happen at once.
I would really like an accessible way to track blood sugar if I'm injecting insulin.
"OCR covers education systems, from the tiniest of students through adults going to universities, college trade schools, all of us accessing our public libraries, all of us accessing our museums, all of these things fall under that jurisdiction."
I was the Education Department's only civil rights monitor in Alabama—until DOGE
Desegregation was too woke for Elon.
www.motherjones.com
February 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
"OCR covers education systems, from the tiniest of students through adults going to universities, college trade schools, all of us accessing our public libraries, all of us accessing our museums, all of these things fall under that jurisdiction."
In which we are reminded that Engracia Figueroa's chair was so safe, and the airline so invested in making right what they had done wrong that now she is dead.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jetblue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines joined a petition to try and overturn a rule that protections disabled passengers. www.scribd.com/document/829...
Airlines for America v. TRAN Agency | PDF | Wheelchair | Federal Aviation Administration
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jetblue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines joined Airlines for America in petitioning the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a rule imposing s...
www.scribd.com
February 19, 2025 at 4:47 PM
In which we are reminded that Engracia Figueroa's chair was so safe, and the airline so invested in making right what they had done wrong that now she is dead.
Walked the dog very briefly.
It's 4F/-16C outside.
Not only do the wheelchair bearings seize up at these temperatures, but the pee in the catheter tube froze while we were out. (My bladder was fine.)
Rescheduled my doctor appointment that I'd need to be ready for in 2 hours.
It's 4F/-16C outside.
Not only do the wheelchair bearings seize up at these temperatures, but the pee in the catheter tube froze while we were out. (My bladder was fine.)
Rescheduled my doctor appointment that I'd need to be ready for in 2 hours.
February 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Walked the dog very briefly.
It's 4F/-16C outside.
Not only do the wheelchair bearings seize up at these temperatures, but the pee in the catheter tube froze while we were out. (My bladder was fine.)
Rescheduled my doctor appointment that I'd need to be ready for in 2 hours.
It's 4F/-16C outside.
Not only do the wheelchair bearings seize up at these temperatures, but the pee in the catheter tube froze while we were out. (My bladder was fine.)
Rescheduled my doctor appointment that I'd need to be ready for in 2 hours.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
About a yr ago I went to my former docs with SSDI standard re-evaluation forms.
Today I got a letter saying nevermind.
1. Seriously? This was so urgent I had to get it done by deadline or else, and you haven't touched it yet?
2. Is this because I switched primary docs, or are these Nazi orders?
Today I got a letter saying nevermind.
1. Seriously? This was so urgent I had to get it done by deadline or else, and you haven't touched it yet?
2. Is this because I switched primary docs, or are these Nazi orders?
February 6, 2025 at 3:36 AM
About a yr ago I went to my former docs with SSDI standard re-evaluation forms.
Today I got a letter saying nevermind.
1. Seriously? This was so urgent I had to get it done by deadline or else, and you haven't touched it yet?
2. Is this because I switched primary docs, or are these Nazi orders?
Today I got a letter saying nevermind.
1. Seriously? This was so urgent I had to get it done by deadline or else, and you haven't touched it yet?
2. Is this because I switched primary docs, or are these Nazi orders?
If the only tactics that are considered morally acceptable involve escalation, then we aren't going to get to peace. Peace cannot be achieved through unremitting escalation.
Resistance to power is a team sport. We don't all play the same position. We don't all make the same contributions.
Resistance to power is a team sport. We don't all play the same position. We don't all make the same contributions.
January 31, 2025 at 12:42 AM
If the only tactics that are considered morally acceptable involve escalation, then we aren't going to get to peace. Peace cannot be achieved through unremitting escalation.
Resistance to power is a team sport. We don't all play the same position. We don't all make the same contributions.
Resistance to power is a team sport. We don't all play the same position. We don't all make the same contributions.
Reposted by Cal Montgomery
If you're in Illinois, you're on Section 8, and your landlord tries to evict you because of the government funding freeze, email me at sheryl@weikallaw.com. My cases are pay-whatever-you-can.
January 28, 2025 at 6:39 PM
If you're in Illinois, you're on Section 8, and your landlord tries to evict you because of the government funding freeze, email me at sheryl@weikallaw.com. My cases are pay-whatever-you-can.
I can't reliably stay awake today, so today I am just watching power flow.
Watch the hospitals as whateved is coming with the NIH happens.
And then think about this: the nonprofits that are there to advocate for and provide care to us.
They don't answer to us. They answer to philanthropists.
Watch the hospitals as whateved is coming with the NIH happens.
And then think about this: the nonprofits that are there to advocate for and provide care to us.
They don't answer to us. They answer to philanthropists.
January 24, 2025 at 4:49 AM
I can't reliably stay awake today, so today I am just watching power flow.
Watch the hospitals as whateved is coming with the NIH happens.
And then think about this: the nonprofits that are there to advocate for and provide care to us.
They don't answer to us. They answer to philanthropists.
Watch the hospitals as whateved is coming with the NIH happens.
And then think about this: the nonprofits that are there to advocate for and provide care to us.
They don't answer to us. They answer to philanthropists.
I'm in the phase of illness where I fall asleep all the time so still processing nothing new.
But my ideas of how to move forward are beginning to take shape.
But my ideas of how to move forward are beginning to take shape.
January 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I'm in the phase of illness where I fall asleep all the time so still processing nothing new.
But my ideas of how to move forward are beginning to take shape.
But my ideas of how to move forward are beginning to take shape.
Everything in my life until now -- and it's a weird life, but one that has meant I have thought about situations like this from many directions -- tells me this is good advice.
www.theframelab.org/how-to-thriv...
www.theframelab.org/how-to-thriv...
2025: Keep democracy alive. FrameLab New Year's resolutions
Advice for defeating the authoritarian threat
www.theframelab.org
January 20, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Everything in my life until now -- and it's a weird life, but one that has meant I have thought about situations like this from many directions -- tells me this is good advice.
www.theframelab.org/how-to-thriv...
www.theframelab.org/how-to-thriv...
Today is not the day for any leader I ever followed and gave up on for reasons related to their not actually trying to live their professed values to send me fundraising link.
(I am too ill to process what's happening out there in realtime as I had hoped. Trying to address that.)
(I am too ill to process what's happening out there in realtime as I had hoped. Trying to address that.)
January 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Today is not the day for any leader I ever followed and gave up on for reasons related to their not actually trying to live their professed values to send me fundraising link.
(I am too ill to process what's happening out there in realtime as I had hoped. Trying to address that.)
(I am too ill to process what's happening out there in realtime as I had hoped. Trying to address that.)