It puts me in mind of squares of cornfields, which are in and of themselves a gross imposition of human industry upon the natural world. Though us contemporary humans look at them and think how picturesque, how wonderfully alive and fertile such a scene looks.
I ordered from them ~September last year and it took them 3 days to dispatch after the date on the order received email, so I don't think it's time to panic. It's a community initiative rather than some big corp.
Also I think they run shipping out of China so keep that in mind. Depending on when you ordered they likely had already closed up for the day.
The lack of pain-empathy in healthcare is mind-blowing. I'm a white man in an excellent position to be listened to, but when I had appendicitis last year getting people to understand that no, I am in crippling pain and I think it's urgent was far to much hassle for someone in crippling pain. I can't imagine what it's like for women.
I can understand folk getting jaded eventually but I often get the feeling that many people start out not caring.
It's worse than that. Some folks actually reject the idea that those poorer than them should have nice things, or even OK things. This is why there are voucher programs, why so much social housing (when it was built) are ugly, plain boxes showcasing the worst of brutalism.
Calling someone a liberal when they are leftist is pretty insulting, even fighting words in some company. Though probably not in the way he intended. Many leftists consider liberals to be at best, placing their personal comfort over the need to take action, and at worst as complicit in and defensive of the structures as any fascist. An 'I cant believe it's not facisim' kind of margarine.
Being called a leftist is only an insult if you base your politics on cruelty and hatred. And for such people the idea that you might think about someone else just doesn't compute.
I'm sorry you are having to go through this, it is hard when we realise that our parents are not good people. Especially if they generally treat you well. And often these are the same people who first taught us the basic principles that matured into leftism. To share. To act kindly and be considerate. To tell the truth. To do what is right, not what everyone else is doing.
I'd like to say here is a step by step guide to help your father, but if there is one I don't know anyone who has seen it.
It's going to depend a lot on the design of the pen. If it has interchangable nibs then yeah, should be able to just get a new feed.
If that isn't an option you might be able to get some milage out of super glue just make sure to not over-apply and to use tweezers or pliers so as to not get finger grease up in there. If you do that you will probably want to stick to water-based inks.
I'd take his claim to have read it as seriously as anything else he says.