Ban on Blood Donations by Non-heterosexual Men

I actually had a brief discussion about this with the professor I was in Chiapas with. I am not legally able to donate blood because of the ban on male donors who have ever had sex with another man. The ban does not screen out heterosexual people who engage in high-risk behaviors, nor does it allow donations from non-heterosexual people who do not. Please be aware of the issue if you haven't been, and consider signing this petition.

https://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/tell-the-fda-end-the-ban-on-blood-donations-from-gay-men

Sleep Needs

Also, it's funny that this should come across my feed here just as I've been talking about a need to get more sleep.

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need

This summary of a study on the effects of three different amounts of sleep over the long term. It suggests that getting only 6 hours of sleep over an 'extended period' results in cognitive impairment similar to having a .1 percent blood alcohol level. I would guess that I've averaged 6 to 7 hours of sleep for quite some time.

I *have* gone to bed by 11:15 for two days now. While that's still less than 8 hours of sleep since I get up at 7 and I don't fall asleep instantly, I think I'm feeling generally, mentally, better.

More Bike Gear Stuff

My ride to school was frustrating today. Things just aren't quite right. I stopped to adjust the saddle a few times and got closer, but it's still not there. My legs aren't quite extending as much as they should so my knees get sore, but raising the seat increases pressure on my wrists, so I need to move it forward too. It doesn't help that I pedaled off without my wrist brace, which is hanging on the handlebars on my other bike. Fortunately, I left early today (Or, rather on time for the first time in quite a while; it helps to be awake enough to not keep hitting snooze!) and had time to ride more slowly than usual and make changes.

I'm not sure if I can travel as quickly with this seat, but I'm reserving judgment until I can do more adjustments. The other issue I can see immediately is that this seat is foam and fabric, and is going to absorb a lot of water in the rain or snow. I'm not sure how to address that, other than tying a plastic grocery bag over it. That may be the biggest issue of all for me.

The pivoting action that so many reviewers deride was not a problem for me; I got used to it quickly. Hopefully I'll get used to the rest of it as well. I'm also hoping the bike computer wiring harness I ordered arrives soon so I can get speed and cadence information to make a more quantitative comparison between the bikes.

Eye Surgery for my Dad

So I haven't mentioned that my dad had eye surgery today, and will be back in Milwaukee for more tomorrow. His vision has been very bad of late, and they are replacing a lens in his remaining eye, which already had an artificial lens in it. I guess it had deteriorated? My mother knows the situation better; I should ask her to explain it again. Anyway, it should be pretty straightforward, and all went well today, but he's home, can't see, and is in pain, so I've been thinking of him.

(Back story; he has juvenile onset diabetes, and has been diabetic since his age was in single digits. Part of that means he has diabetic retinopathy which has resulted in the loss of one eye and problems in the other.)

I'm super-tired tonight, oddly enough. I think I'm going to hit the proverbial sack a bit early. G'night.