Facebook Censored: Social Media Debacle

On Sunday, I attempted to post a YouTube video on my Facebook page. I was alerted Facebook deemed the video as containing false information. They gave me three sources which disputed my video.

Two articles appeared to be about the ongoing conflict with the largest land mass country in the world and its neighbor. One other source was an article about things happening in a tiny country on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

I cannot tell you the names of the places because everything is run through artificial intelligence, and I do not want to have any more of my social media accounts censored.

(Let me pause here and tell you the video labeled as containing false information is completely an opinion video. It is on the topic of 15 things I wish I would have been told after getting a tracheostomy tube. There should be no “false information” in this video. Furthermore, I have absolutely ZERO references to anything discussed in the “source” articles.)

People complained to me they could not see my video because Facebook was blocking them from using the link to access the YouTube video.

So, I created another post explaining that Facebook said my video had false information. I was able to give the link in a different format, and people were able to watch the video.

I thought I would let people know on my different platforms about the absurdity Facebook was placing on my YouTube video. Well, that went unexpectedly poorly!!! People unsubscribed from my channel and unfollowed me on social media because if Facebook says my video contains false information, then it must be true!!!

I am a little bit shocked by this social media debacle. But I guess I have learned my lesson. Be careful telling people you have been censored.

Student loans. The fight which never ends

Many years ago, I decided to continue my education and attend graduate school. I needed student loans to pay for this education. While going to school, I became very sick. I had to drop out. Soon, my student loans were in repayment. After depleting my savings to make loan payments, I discovered there was an income-based repayment program.

 It has been a frequent fight to get my student loans on an income-based repayment plan. I cannot tell you how much stress I have been through trying to get paperwork sorted out and submitted on time over many years.

Thankfully, things have finally been stream-lined. I only have to submit one application a year (instead of three separate applications at three different times during the year to go to three different lenders). I just have to keep track of one application and make sure the application is sent to all three lenders. I then have to wait to hear back from the three lenders if they received the application in their system. I then have to follow up that the correct repayment plan has been applied to my account.

Things became haywire when the government stepped in and paused payments. I needed to re-certify my loans, but the financial institutes would not accept the income-based repayment application because the loans were not in repayment. Despite this, I continued to apply for an income-based repayment program.

In October, loan repayment resumed. Two of my lenders applied my income-based repayment plan. One lender, however, did not. The amount I owe per month is nearly my entire monthly income.

I spent almost an hour on hold this morning. I explained to the woman I am on an income-based repayment plan. The woman said she saw in the system I was on an income-based repayment plan. The amount owed was the amount which was calculated from the income-based repayment plan. I explained, the amount owed is nearly my entire monthly income. This is not an income-base repayment.

Furthermore, I have loans at two other lenders. I am on the same repayment program. Because my income is very low, my repayment is zero dollars. The woman said she would investigate. While waiting on a hold, the call disconnected.

I called back again. This time, the wait was over an hour. The second representative said my payment plan was based on 2021 taxes. My taxable income was $0 in 2021. The woman looked at my income-based repayment application from this year which had my taxes from 2022. Again, my taxable income was $0. The woman told me I needed to have my income recalculated.

(I remained silent. but I wanted to say, “Recalculated? My taxable income went form $0 to $0. There is nothing to ‘recalculate’ My income has not changed. And if my repayment is based on 2021 taxes, how can a person owe anything when his taxable income is zero dollars?”)

The woman submitted a “recalculated” income-based repayment request. The preliminary feedback was that I would owe $0. However, the application has to be processed by the company. It will take “hopefully” less than 2 months to process. In the meantime, my loans will be placed on a 2 month administrative forbearance. This means, for the next two months, my repayments will be paused. If my loan repayments are not recalculated by December 24, I will once again be issued a bill and will have to make a massive payment.

The repayment will be due on January 14, 2024. Ironically, the next time I can re-certify my income-based repayment plan is on January 14, 2024.

 

Oh the headaches of having student loans!

YouTube Lesson: Don’t Correct People

When I first started YouTube, if someone said something which was inaccurate, I would correct the person. Sometimes my words were taken well, while at other times the person blew up in a hot rage.

Recently, two people within minutes of each, said things which they believed to be true.

For one comment, I mentioned someone had recently told me some information about a medical device. The YouTuber commented, “Oh that was me!”

I know the YouTuber did not give me the information because the person who shared the information with me was a physician. The YouTuber was not the person who gave me the information…but using my YouTube wisdom, I did not comment on it and moved on.

Another person scolded me for not seeking medical attention during a certain situation. I could tell the person does not have my health challenges and does not know that getting medical attention is futile. I have the necessary medicine at home. If I went to the doctor, while waiting to be seen, I would have to take my emergency medicines or risk dying. After taking the medicine, there would be no use getting medical attention as the emergency would be over. And thus, there would be no reason to get medical intervention to begin with.

Instead of correcting the person, I said, “Thanks,” and moved on.

As much as I really want to correct the people, I found I have to bite my lip and forget about the interaction.

An Important Anniversary I Almost Forgot

A few days ago, I received a comment on YouTube reminding me about the date I dropped out of medical school. The person said she would be praying for me.

I appreciated the prayers, but I was rather bummed. I had completely forgotten about the anniversary. Now that I was reminded of it, that is the only thing which I have been able to think about.

When today came, I try to keep myself busy. The skies were cloudy, and I was informed it was going to rain. And soon, it did start raining. We are in a drought, and the rain greatly needed. I could not believe we were getting a real rain shower, and not just a few seconds of raindrops, which has been the usual amount of rain we have gotten since May.

As I looked at the rain which continued to fall for many hours, I smiled. It was as if God was taking all the millions of tears I have shed about dropping out of medical school and turned them into raindrops to water the earth.

I watched the birds play in the rain. It seemed they also enjoyed this rare water display from the heavens.

For many years, this day has been a day of sorrow and grief, but of late, I have decided to my sorrow into joy. I rejoice to see the rain, and I laugh as I watch the birds frolic in the water puddles. My life did not turn out the way I wanted, but I am glad I am still here to enjoy it.

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with joy, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent, O LORD, My God, I will give thanks unto You forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12)

Drown Out Negativity with Kindness

Last week, someone called me on the telephone and said some very unkind things to me. I was absolutely devastated. Moreover, I was confused why anyone would call me just to tell me harsh words.

The conversation crushed me. For the next five days, I was very upset. I tried to push the negativity out, but the less than ideal words haunted my mind. I prayed. I read Scripture. But nothing could heal such a broken heart.

Yesterday, the pharmacist at my infusion company called me. She notified me she was leaving the pharmacy. I was stunned. The pharmacist has been an absolute sweetheart. She has solved so many issues for me. She has been an advocate on my side. I could not believe she was leaving.

After the phone call, I decided I needed to thank the pharmacist. I wanted to write her a note, but I knew she may not receive the card before her departure from the company. Instead, I wrote her an email. I expressed my gratitude for her kindness and told her what a joy it was to work with her.

To my shock, she responded with a heartfelt thank you. She gave me her personal cell phone number and told me to keep in touch.

I was blown away by this act of kindness. And suddenly, the hurtful words said last week melted away.

If you want to drown out negativity, be kind and the world will show you kindness.

 

9/11 Baby Christina-Taylor Green. A Life Bookended by Tragedy

Twenty-two years ago, tragedy struck the USA when the Twin Towers were struck by airplanes, and ultimately, the buildings collapsed. Far across the nation, in the state of Arizona, the Green family welcomed their newest addition into their lives: Christina-Taylor Green. In a day shrouded in grief, Christina was a ray of hope during such a dark time.

Christina grew up, loving softball. She was a very gifted athlete. She also had an affinity for politics. She saw her birthday of September 11, 2001, as a blessing. She wanted to inspire the nation.

On January 8, 2011, Christina and her neighbor attended a town hall event at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona. Unfortunately, chaos soon erupted as a gunman shot 19 people. Six of those individuals did not survive. Nine year old Christina-Taylor Green was among the dead.

 

As we marked the anniversary of the fall of the Twin Towers, I cannot help but think of Christina. She would have turned 22 years old. What would her life have looked like? Would she have attended college? Would she have become a softball all-star?

We will never know.

May Christina-Taylor Green’s memory be a blessing.

Stolen in 30 Seconds

Recently, my dad drove to a large metropolitan area to have medical tests and appointments. I decided to not go with him as I am not feeling well.

My dad parked his car in the hotel parking lot. He last saw the vehicle at 10:30 p.m. At 7:30 a.m. the next morning, the rear of the car was damaged and the tail lights were gone. We were devastated.

My dad went to his appointments. That night, he was able to file a police report. There is a hotel surveillance video which most likely shows the crime, but the hotel was not cooperative. They refused to release the film. The police also asked for the security footage. I am not sure if they were able to obtain it from hotel management.

Today, my dad took the vehicle in to the dealership to get an estimate of the repairs. It is just under $5,000. I was flabbergasted!

I went online and researched the topic of stealing tail lights. It seems this is a new trend which is becoming very popular. The tail lights can be stolen in less than 30 seconds. It takes a few more seconds to damage the rear of the car to gain access to the tail lights. In all, it takes less than one minute for the crime to be committed.

This is the third time our vehicle has been the victim of crime in just nine months. In November, someone smashed into the front of our car in a parking lot and drove away. There was security footage, but the business refused to release the video. There was $6,000 worth of damage.

In January, the vehicle was broken into and ransacked just minutes after my parents exited the vehicle to go 20 feet away inside a business. (Thankfully there was nothing inside the car except napkins, maps and vehicle registration information.) Ten minutes later, my parents discovered the crime scene. There was security footage, but unfortunately, a tree blocked the license plate of the thief. The entire incident was recorded on film.

About $12,000 worth of damage has been done to our vehicle, and no suspects have ever been apprehended in any of the crimes.