#Denis Campbell

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Denis Campbell

Published: Nov 22, 2023

Growing numbers of people in England and Wales are being found so long after they have died that their body has decomposed, in a shocking trend linked to austerity and social isolation, doctors have said.

Such deaths have been rising steadily in England and Wales since 1980 and are a product of wider societal breakdown, although Covid may also have played a part, according to new research.

“Many people would be shocked that someone can lie dead at home for days, weeks or even longer without anyone raising an alarm among the community they live in,” said Dr Lucinda Hiam, of the University of Oxford, and four co-authors.

Yet the numbers of “undefined deaths” – which will often involve people who have died at home, gone undiscovered and then been found already decomposed – have gone up considerably for both sexes since 1980, while death rates from all other causes have fallen over the same period.

Men are more than twice as likely as women to be discovered in a decomposed state, according to the doctors’ study, which is published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

“The increase in people found dead from unknown causes suggests wider societal breakdowns of both formal and informal social support networks,” they said. “Being found decomposed after days, weeks, months or even years might indicate a high level of neglect, but this is speculative without further investigation.”

They cite the case of Laura Winham, who was 38 and had severe mental health problems, who was found in a “mummified, almost skeletal state” at her flat in Woking, Surrey, in 2021, more than three years after she had died.

The body of another woman, Sheila Seleoane, 61, was found badly decomposed in her flat in London in 2022, two years after she had died.

The doctors analysed Office for National Statistics data showing the rising number of deaths at home and trends over time in “undefined deaths”, which they used as a proxy for deaths where the person has decomposed, as such fatalities are not currently recorded separately.

Dr Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, linked the trend to loneliness and people’s loss of social networks.

“This study makes for very sad reading,” she said. “Loneliness is all too common and although all age groups experience it, for those in later life it can be particularly problematic. The impact it has on a person’s health and their quality of life is pronounced. Loneliness puts people at a 50% increased risk of an early death compared to those with good social connection.”

While advances in medicine mean more people are living longer, “some are potentially living for prolonged periods in isolation from others”, Hawthorne said. “I can think of patients I’ve seen who may not fit the traditional label of ‘vulnerable’ but are nonetheless in need of support due to their experience of loneliness or social isolation. While physical or economic vulnerabilities can be visible, social and mental vulnerabilities can be just as detrimental and difficult to recognise.”

The World Health Organization last week declared loneliness to be a threat to health on a global scale and to pose a risk of early death.

[call-me-oracle]

barbara gordon in nightwing #85 pt. 1

bonus:

[geekcavepodcast]

"DC Power" Returns for 2024

DC Power is an anthology from DC Comics that pays tribute to DC's black super heroes. The comic is a 104-page prestige format one-shot.

DC Power will contain new stories, as well as the epilogue to Far Sector from writer N.K. Jemisin and artist Jamal Campbell, which will show the first meeting between Green Lanterns Sojourner "Jo" Mullein and John Stewart. In addition to Jemisin and Campbell, other creatives for DC Power include writers John Ridley, Brandon Thomas, Lamar Giles, Shawn Martinbrough, Cheryl Lynn Eaton, and Alitha Martinez, and artists Edwin Galmon, Khary Randolph, Denys Cowan, Tony Akins, Asiah Fulmore, and more. Characters featured in the anthology include The Signal, The Spectre / Crispus Allen, Thunder and Lightning / Anissa and Jennifer Pierce, Bloodwynd, Val-Zod / Superman of Earth-2, Nubia, and more.

DC Power goes on sale on January 30, 2023. The comic features a card stock main cover from Chase Conley and card-stock variant covers by Jamal Campbell and Denys Cowan.

(Image via DC Comics - Chase Conley's Cover of DC Power)

[askthetraversers]

Wait, if you guys are the SECOND most renowned time travelling circus- who’s the first?

Deni: Honestly? No idea, bud. Kai-Ming always tells us to be on our A-game so that we can become number one, but she never has really told us who our competition is. I don't think she likes talking about it.

[camyfilms]

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2012

Really? You seriously think I'm a cop? Cop in a skin-tight red and blue suit?

[robotpussy]

um is it really that iconic that naomi campbell wore dolce and gabbana to do community service after assualting her assistant?

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: DC Power 2024

DC Power 2024 preview. DC Power returns for round two with brand-new stories spotlighting Black characters from across the DC Universe #comics #comicbooks

[and-to-you-its-just-words]

Serena Campbell's drinking

So here's something I've never really got. In series 23 when Bernie makes her return and admits to Cam that she's been staying with Serena, Cameron makes a comment that Serena is great for that because she's "too drunk to care." And the comment always struck me as odd. Because firstly, yes, we as the audience do know that Serena likes her wine, it's established as part of her character. However I (personally) have never interpreted her drinking as more than a joke the writer’s were too heavy handed with. It’s very much a “haha look at this middle aged woman who likes her wine, isn’t that relatable?” joke that no one took the time to monitor how often they were making.

Because here’s the thing; beyond the Elinor storyline (in which Serena’s drinking does get out of hand) we never see Serena’s drinking effect her work or relationships. She doesn’t come into work drunk, doesn’t operate compromised, and her drinking is never a subject of her relationships.

Elinor never brings up Serena’s drinking and if someone was going to make Serena feel guilty about it, it would have been her daughter. And beyond the Elinor storyline, Bernie also never brings it up. We know Bernie smokes and that Serena doesn’t like it and that was obviously a conversation because it’s gets touched on several times that Bernie picks smoking back up. If they were talking about places to improve for the sake of the relationship, you would think Bernie would bring up the drinking if she thought it was a problem. But she doesn’t. (As a side note I kind of would have loved that interaction, the idea of Serena giving it up a bit because Bernie is cutting smoking entirely for her)

Now that's not to say Serena shouldn't be more aware of how much she's drinking or that it's not more than most. But I think my confusion comes from the fact that the show's writers always frame her drinking as a joke. And that I think is a problem in itself because it leaves the audience inferring that Serena could have a problem when the writers didn't intend it or follow through with it.

Beyond the jokes and the Elinor storyline (which I think on the whole we can agree the over drinking makes sense) on camera we don’t see Serena go overboard with her drinking. Which brings me back to Cameron. He has never seen Serena drunk. Sure, we as the audience can assume having known Serena for years and her dating his mother it’s likely he’s probably seen her drunk at least once before. However, canonically and on camera we have never seen Serena drunk in front of Cam, not even when Bernie died.

I know that the reason Cam is saying that is to hurt Bernie and he can do that by degrading Serena. But it just seems odd when he could have picked anything else to say. He could have said he found it surprising she went to Serena when Serena clearly gave Bernie up. He could have made a dig at Serena’s sexuality and whether or not she really loved Bernie.

Instead he makes a comment that sounds like Serena is an alcoholic and has been regularly on the show. If someone started watching Holby after Serena left, that is the exact picture it would paint. Except that’s not how she is.

Would it have been interesting to see that storyline for Serena? Potentially; I personally think she’s been through enough. Could it have been an interesting smaller story point to reflect how Serena’s depression may have an impact on her drinking? Absolutely; but that’s one of many story points we don’t have time for.

Anyways, I’d love to discuss it because I don’t really see it talked about. Also I’m not terribly versed in alcoholism so maybe her behaviour is more concerning than I know, I’m always up for insightful discussion

[downthetubes]

Neil Gaiman's award-winning novel Anansi Boys comes to comics

The comic adaptation of Neil Gaiman's award-winning novel Anansi Boys is here, packed with sibling rivalry, jealous deities and more

[screencapsus]

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) [4K]

Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy, and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly…

[arthropooda]

Thread

[lilacliquors]

Hey you're probably sick of the boys requests so take as long as you need with this

I was wondering if I could request how the boys would react to be called their real name in an angry voice by their gf instead of their nickname

Like for Frenchie it would be Serge

For Noir it would be Earving

For Billy it would be William

For Soldier Boy it would be Ben/Benjamin

For Hughie it would be Hugh

You get the jist, I hope you like this request 😊💕

i love this request nonnie!

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ FRENCHIE

he's not expecting it at all. he's always just been frenchie. with you, with the boys, just frenchie. but then, you find out that he's worked out a deal with little nina, and you know her reputation. everyone knows her reputation. and it's a matter of life and death. not to mention she used to fuck your boyfriend. he practically drops to his knees before you the moment you yell 'serge!' and he's both begging for forgiveness while also trying to explain.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ NOIR

it's been a long time since anyone has called him earving. he's always been 'black noir' or 'noir'. he doesn't even register that you're angry with him when you shout 'earving!'. he's simply reminded that he's still human under the mask, and he lets you yell. but when you're done, he simply wraps his arms around you, and where you see an apology hug, he sees a thank you hug.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ BILLY

he thinks it's hot. you don't intimidate him by any means, but he can't deny loving that angry flair in your eyes. he hears you go 'william butcher!' and he knows there's gonna be angry sex tonight. he'll let you yell at him, be angry, get it out of your system, but then he makes that one sarcastic comment that just grins your gears, and you get started all over again.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ SOLDIER BOY

like noir, he hasn't been called 'ben/benjamin' in years. not by someone who cared. and when you shout 'benjamin!' after a stunt he pulled, whether it be flirting with a backup dancer or getting a bit too insulting with a coworker of yours, he does pull back. he realizes that he doesn't want to actually upset you, and he does promise to do better.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ HUGHIE

he's caught off guard, definitely. to him, his father is hugh, not him. he's always been hughie, and robin never called him hugh. so when you find out that he's taken temp v, despite butcher telling him not to, you're furious. that stuff could kill him! so when you storm up to him, poking his chest while saying 'hugh campbell jr.!', he doesn't know what to think.

[inferencesarchives]

`•- Jealous Norton Headcanons

norton campbell (survivor) x gn reader

prompt: jealousy

warnings: jealousy (yeah no shit), physical touch

a/n: i have a hard time writing jealous characters but im gonna try my best today raaah hopefully i do alright also this is valentines event day 4 wahoo alright cool let's get on with it already

ever since the two of you got in a relationship with each other, norton couldn't help but feel protective over you.

he doesn't mean it in a bad way, of course! it's just that he's used to having things he cares about being snatched away, and he doesn't want to lose you as well. he cares about you more than anything else in the world, after all.

don't worry, though, he's not protective to the point where he's constantly hovering around you, obviously. he understands that you want to hang out with your friends sometimes, and he trusts that your friends wouldn't do anything malicious towards you. he doesn't let it get to him.

what does get to him, though, is whenever someone seems to start getting a bit too comfortable whenever you two hang out. you brush it off at first, obviously, since pretty much everyone at the manor knew about your relationship with norton. surely, they doesn't mean for their actions to come off like that, do they?

but norton isn't convinced. something about the whole situation just feels... off to him. he tries not to ovethink it, but he just can't help himself. something about it just seemed to make him feel strange and sour inside. he knows that they likely doesn't mean any harm, but...

he's left feeling bitter and uneasy as he keeps thinking about it. he doesn't quite seem to realize the way he subconsciously starts appearing by your side more and more, keeping a watchful eye on anyone else around. it's just his protective instincts. he doesn't mean to suddenly start sticking to your presence, it just... happens.

norton doesn't really seem to realize that he's jealous. he just wants to keep you safe and remind anyone else who dares to make a move that your his, and you don't plan on leaving him anytime soon.

if the situation calls for it, he pulls you closer to him almost subconsciously. he wraps an arm around your waist and holds you tightly next to him, shooting a nasty glare at whoever was getting a bit too close for comfort. he'll even go so far as to grunt at them, angrily telling them to back off, though he does his best to keep his emotions under control.

if you try to tease him about this later that night, he just grumbles and denies everything you say with the tiniest tint of blush on his cheeks. him? jealous? no, he'd never get jealous... where'd you get that idea from?

a/n: me when i. nortbn cmpball

thanks for reading, and remember to take care of yourself!

[graphicpolicy]

Neil Gaiman, Marc Bernardin, and Shawn Martinbrough team to adapt Anansi Boys to comics

Neil Gaiman, Marc Bernardin, and Shawn Martinbrough team to adapt Anansi Boys to comics #comics #comicbooks

Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel, Anansi Boys, is getting a comic adaptation from Dark Horse Comics. Adapted by writer Marc Bernardin, the series will also feature art by Shawn Martinbrough, colors by Chris Sotomayor, and letters by Jim Campbell. The first issue will have a main cover illustrated by David Mack and two variants by Martinbrough and Denys Cowan, respectively. “Fat” Charlie Nancy…

[piracytheorist]

The kindness surviving

As I can't stop saying, one of my favourite things about Spy x Family is how focused it is on humanity's innate kindness. Its premise is three lonely people finding a family (and themselves) with each other, the story's endgame is to secure peace, it's hopeful in the midst of its realism, and it allows characters to be vulnerable when it comes to family and connections.

And one more thing that is added to that, is how Yor and Twilight (to a less obvious degree) have retained their kindness and compassion through their violent lives and professions.

Yor started the assassin gig when she was just a teenager.

Adding to that how it was a choice she made out of despair and lack of any other choice, and how the Shopkeeper seems like a despicable person to work under (there's no moral merit to recruiting children for assassinations, let alone orphans with no other choices left), this could have easily made into a story of how Yor became cold and emotionless and cruel.

Instead, particularly thanks to having Yuri in her life, she's remained as kind as ever, even when she kills people. She doesn't torture her targets, would rather refrain spilling unnecessary blood, and she's careful and quick in her job.

And through all that, her priority has never been herself.

She's kind, almost to a fault. She's polite and when it comes to everyone else but her targets, she thinks they have the best interests at heart and can even be confused sometimes as to why some people behave in a rude or cruel way.

She's human. Her reason to start and continue being an assassin was to ensure her brother's carefree life, and now that she's bonded with the Forgers, they've joined Yuri in the way she wishes to protect their peaceful life.

It's showing that despite her violent work, her humanity has prevailed, making her selfless and nurturing. It's in our nature.

Twilight's case is handled differently, as he has denied himself any identity and attachments to ideals, aside from protecting the peace.

He's not supposed to "have" traits or a personality. He was trained to be able to adapt to any situation and become the role he's acting as. When he acts as a father, he can be kind and caring. When he acts as a terrorist, he can be cruel and violent. And when his job gives him no option but to kill people who stand in his way, he'll do it without remorse.

But again, like Yor, his reason to do everything he does is to ensure peace remains, so that no-one will have to suffer like he did. That's a very empathetic and compassionate motivation, and though the circumstances of his life made him bury it deep, the moment Anya cries and clutches onto him for comfort he's reminded securely of that.

As he is when he sees Anya smile.

He cares for the next generation and wants to provide it with a better future than he had. And while the previous season showed many moments of instinctual kindness (saving the kid from the charging cow, sparing the German shepherd, thanking Bond for saving Anya, encouraging Carroll Campbell to play fairly) and understanding of how humans can work together (his discussion with Desmond, talking about how despite different stances, people can still meet in the middle if they try), the cruise arc showed how he prioritized on making Anya happy. While at first he was confused by the concept of "having fun", he eventually ended up observing Anya and encouraging activities that would make her happy.

Again, after a certain point the "mission" is nowhere in his mind and he only worries how Anya's mood will affect her and the family. As he focuses on that, he turns compassionate, empathetic, and dare I say, sweet.

And I can't help thinking those are traits he doesn't have to pretend that much to show, if at all.

He's a master of manipulation and deception. He could act tooth-rottingly sweet to deceive his targets, but seeing how open and unprecedentedly honest he becomes with Yor, and how (even if he doesn't realize it) he actually learns to be a good father to help Anya with her mood, I don't think that's the case with those two (three, if you count Bond too!).

If nothing else, we (and Anya) have the advantage of hearing his thoughts, and while we joke about how "For The Mission" is his flimsy excuse to himself for the feelings he's developing for his family, it's truly important how he's started to not need the reminder; how he can instinctively care for them, because it's what his compassionate nature tells him to do.

And I think, just like Yor, it's very important and telling that through his life of violence and deception, his humanity has survived just under the surface and is starting to show more the longer he stays with the Forgers. He's not "learning" to be compassionate and caring; those are traits that already existed, but he had to cover with all his fake identities. However, since they were what led him to become a spy in the first place, the way didn't replace the motivation.

He's human, even though he willingly trained to suppress any such vulnerable spots, they could never be extinguished entirely.

This story is full of hope for humanity and how kindness can survive and prevail among anything else. Its characters would logically follow the example.

And I love them for it.

(Anime only here, don't spoil me for the manga)