PSA: the recent unpleasantness

Just posting as a PSA for those reading who somehow might have missed the news that LJ is tweaking their security settings to protect the childeruuunnnnn from naughty images/words. I'd suggest going in and editing your Viewing Options (scroll down to Adult Content) to make sure that you can 1) see all the naughty content you want (or they'll collapse it without warning) and 2) flag your journal as being adult content or not so under 18ers can't see your naughty images/words/journal.

Kids are clever and will lie about their age on LJ, blah blah, I shouldn't have to censor myself because of the childerunn blah blah - yes, I know. But in the interest of avoiding future misunderstandings or kerfluffles, I've set my LJ to view all the naughty content I want and I've voluntarily flagged my own LJ as adult content/18+ even though what juicy stuff I post is filtered/isn't that often anyway.

a dirty, filthy post

This book, The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History looks especially interesting considering the repeated discussions I find myself in re: historical hygiene. It's a topic I know little about but I know enough to recognize that the modern conception of washing = soap and water isn't the only way to get clean - I'm specifically thinking of the Romans and their oil + strigil, or the vigorous scrubbing with towels done by the Elizabethans (not a lot of washing, perhaps, but a whole lot of exfoliation!)

It's possible even in today's polluted, modern cities to successfully (i.e. inoffensively, unstinkily) go without washing one's hair (search the H-costume archive for "not washing hair" for the story from a man who figured out that after 22 weeks, his scalp and hair took care of themselves), though I have to admit mine is so short I'd never try it.

I'm also pleased to read that the book covers the theory that allergies and asthma are more common among modern people because our washing habits remove us so completely from the natural world. Worth considering.

Not sure I'd change my bathing habits though, at least not much. My face feels like an oil slick after only a day and the goop I use in my hair demands washing out to avoid the same. I am trying to use milder soaps this winter though, as every doGdamn thing seems to irritate lately :P

[Poll #1098649]

Note I leave no selections for "no bathing at all" 'cos I can't imagine anyone reading just isn't.