#Drug Evaluation Online

[affordableevaluations]

How Should You Prepare for a Court Ordered Substance Abuse Evaluation?

A court mandates a court ordered substance abuse evaluation to check how drugs and alcohol affect someone's actions and choices. This evaluation decides what help and legal consequences are needed based on how drugs and alcohol have affected the person. It is crucial in court cases like custody battles or DUI charges, influencing the final decisions. Preparing adequately for this evaluation is vital, not only to comply with the court's order but to ensure that the assessment reflects your circumstances accurately. Understanding the process and its implications can significantly affect the results and alter the court's perception of your situation. In this article, you will look into how you can effectively prepare for this important evaluation, guiding you through each step to approach the assessment with confidence and awareness.

Exploring why Court Order Substance Abuse Evaluation.

Courts require a Substance Abuse Evaluation to check how drugs or alcohol affect individuals, which is crucial for legal decisions and finding the proper help.

You should follow the following steps for an effective Court Ordered Substance Abuse Evaluation. Step1-Familiarize Yourself with the Evaluation Process

The first step in preparing for a Court Ordered Alcohol And Drug Evaluation is understanding the process. Usually, the evaluation includes interviews and questionnaires to assess how much and how often you use alcohol and drugs. The evaluator, who is an expert in substance abuse, examines how your substance use affects your life.

Step2-Gather Relevant Documentation

Preparation for your court ordered Drug and Alcohol Evaluation should also include gathering any relevant medical records, treatment histories, or legal documents that relate to your substance use. These documents can give the evaluator a complete view of your history and current situation, which is essential for a fair assessment.

Step3-Reflect on Your Substance Use

Honest self-reflection is a critical aspect of preparing for an evaluation. Before your session, take time to think about your alcohol and drug use and any efforts you've made toward recovery or moderation. Being prepared to discuss these points openly will help the evaluator understand your efforts and challenges.

Step4-Attend Counseling or Educational Programs

If possible, attending drug or alcohol counseling or educational programs before your evaluation can be beneficial. These programs help address substance use and demonstrate your proactive steps toward recovery, which can be favorable in the assessment.

Step 5: Seek Support from a Trusted Counselor or Support Group

Consulting with a counselor or support group can offer advice and emotional support as you get ready for your court ordered alcohol and drug assessment. They can offer tips, ways to cope, and encouragement, making it easier to understand and feel more confident about the evaluation. This step shows that you're serious about dealing with substance use and ready to make positive changes.

Overview

As you prepare for your Court Ordered Drug And Alcohol Assessment, it's essential to approach the evaluation with honesty and openness. Being truthful about your challenges and achievements with substance use builds trust and helps the evaluator give helpful advice. If you're looking for affordable choices, experts like Affordable Evaluations provide thorough and budget-friendly assessments, helping you meet court demands without financial stress. Their team of experts deals with diverse cases and ensures that you will get a Green Flag to work further. For further details, please go to Affordable Evaluations.

[stuckyparty]

I really do think people are starting to realize the important fight is between us and the billionaires.

My mom, a longtime adherent of Everything Said on Fox News, actually used to be a thoughtful person who taught me how to vet my sources online and make my own decisions after thorough research and evaluation. The post-9/11 political scene changed her. And I see a bit of her old self come back every time I've spoken to her since the UHC CEO got shot.

Over Christmas I convinced her that nationalized healthcare and universal housing are worthy causes by framing it as, "That's the only way you get the working class out from under the thumb of our corporate overlords."

She initially started in with some means-testing response about drug addicts but I remember how to speak Evangelical Christian. So I said, "Well sure, a lot of unhoused people struggle with substance use. But who becomes unhoused in this country?" I gave several examples I knew she would have to agree with (veterans, foster kids who age out of the system, etc), and added, "Those people are sleeping rough because our system failed them in favor of lining corporate pockets. Jesus commanded us to care for the poor, not for the CEO of Amazon." And all of a sudden my Fox News poisoned mother was like, "Blackrock should be forced to give every vacant house back to the American PEOPLE so we can house the homeless!"

There's the mom I remember from the Before Times. And that's how Luigi Mangione saved Christmas!

[leosficlist]

Parentlock Rec List (so far)

This trope is my biggest weakness, so you can expect to find fluff galore, lots of Sherlock being called “dad” for the first time, love confessions and guaranteed happy endings. Mixture of lengths

Parentlock 2, Parentlock 3

A Case for Domestic Propinquity by SilentAuror 32k words

Author’s Summary: As Sherlock and John renovate Baker Street with Rosie underfoot, Sherlock can't help but wondering how he could possibly convince John to just stay indefinitely...

Notes: The way this fic ends is genius, and one of my favorite concepts that I rarely see.

Iris by Slashscribe

Author’s Summary: Sherlock does his best to make John happy when John comes back to 221B with his new baby after the events of Season 3, but Sherlock has a track record of getting things wrong in this area. This story is an exploration of their gradual shift from friends to lovers, told from Sherlock's perspective, full of a lot of pining and lack of emotional awareness. 12k words

Notes: Sherlock falls in love with Johns daughter (named Iris in this), and John falls in love with Sherlock as he watches.

Small Sacrifices by Fandaround

Author’s Summary: Five times that Sherlock made small sacrifices for Rosie and the one time that John realized it was all for him. 3k words

Notes: soft and sweet, sherlock adjusting his life for his favorite people

Family Matter by FaithfulViewers

Author’s Summary: A little girl calling them both her daddies is all it takes for John and Sherlock to realize the obvious: they're a family now. (Parentlock.) 3.8k words

Note: Gen, no kissing or romantic vibes, still lovely and heartwarming

The Dilemma of the Watson Bedroom by Jemariel

Author’s Summary: Sherlock hates the name Rosamund. John wanted to call her Katherine. Sherlock thinks it suits her. Meanwhile, he and John are orbiting ever closer together. Sherlock tries not to wonder how long he will have them here, all three of them together in 221B. 7k words

The Stroke of Midnight by aqueliaofthelonelymountain

Author’s Summary: With asking John this one question, he might induce John to ask other questions himself. Like: Since when are you interested in college reunions? Or worse: You know that most people bring their significant others to college reunions, do you, Sherlock? Like spouses… 9.8k words

Notes: Sherlock thinks John is simply playing along to help him save face, but this is cleared up by the end of the night.

Lines In The Sand by JRow

Author’s summary: "He examines the plain white box, which clearly holds a new mug. John must have purchased it and he’s written a note on the top. “First time for everything. – J” Sherlock smiles and feels excitement as he opens the box. As expected, it’s a mug. It appears to be a boring, white mug. Sherlock pulls it out of the box and his breath hitches as he sees the image decorating the side. It’s not boring at all." 3k words

Notes: John is sappy and open, Sherlock is cautiously hopeful. getting together.

Beautiful Pictures by JRow (again!)

Author’s Summary: An adorable (but unacceptable!) photo of Sherlock and Rosie on the Mail online, a stolen Picasso, and a slip of the tongue force John to re-evaluate his long held assumptions 28k+ words

Notes: casefic, raising rosie together while pining, felt like a quick read, vulnerable sherlock, sherlock calls john when offered drugs, sherlock devotes himself to rosie, john takes a pre kiss walk

What Remains Unsaid by ScullysEvilTwin

Author’s Summary: “Sherlock,” he says quietly, shifting over beneath the now-ruined quilt. “Do you want children?” Sherlock stares at the ceiling, makes no indication that he’s heard John at all, but after a moment, he turns his head to meet John’s gaze. “Look at our lives, John. What a preposterous notion.” [] “Our lives are insane, yes, but you didn’t answer the question, did you?” 5.5k words

Notes: Established relationship, John sees Sherlock interacting with children a few times and decides they should consider their options.

Swan Dive by HitLikeHammers

5+1 Sherlock has definitely leapt blindly into worse things. Or: Five Times Sherlock Acted as a Parent, and One Time He Didn't Have Any Reason for Acting at All. 8k words

Notes: Little scenes from Sherlock raising rosie, absolutely heartwarming

Three Of Us by Salamboo6

Author’s Summary: He leans in as soon as he’s close enough, kissing Rosie’s forehead softly, murmuring a quiet “Morning love” as Sherlock goes into more detailed facts about Rosie’s sleeping habits. John isn’t sure what happens next, but without thinking twice about it and actually feeling like it’s the most natural thing in the world to do right now, he leans in towards Sherlock and kisses his temple with a smile. 2.8k words

Notes: starts with a sleepy kiss, end with getting together

Love Comes Softly by SHERLOCKED79

Author’s Summary: After Mary’s unexpected death leaves John alone to raise a months-old Rosie, the doctor tries to sort through the wreckage of his new life. Thankfully, Sherlock is there to pick up the broken pieces and put them back together. / A short, endearing fic in which it takes John Watson over half a decade of raising Rosie together with Sherlock to finally realize he’s absolutely in love with the man. (And in which John is the only one who doesn’t realize this.) 29k words

Notes: So fluffy I thought it must be a prank, but the love never stops ♡

Love Like Ours by Berty

Author’s Summary: In a moment of madness, John tells Sherlock that he loves him. He had not anticipated where the ensuing conversation would take them. 6,5k words

Notes: Lovely heartfelt, in character, love confessions and clarifications, John catching Sherlock being lovely with Rosies as.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

by Hannah Buttle

Editor’s note: This article contains a brief mention of suicidal ideation.

Key points you should know:

There are currently no approved treatments for Long COVID and progress on clinical trials has been slow. Some medications can improve people’s quality of life, but they may not work for everyone.

With few choices, rejected disability claims, financial instability, and little support, some people with the disease have turned to online pharmacies, often based in India, to source potential medications.

Popular choices include medications used to treat conditions like HIV, hepatitis C, and acute COVID-19. Some of these drugs are being tested in upcoming clinical trials for Long COVID.

Buying medications online from unknown sellers can be risky; buyers might not receive the correct medication or even receive something harmful.

However, many people with Long COVID feel their quality of life has declined so severely that these risks are worth taking. With no approved treatments, lack of support, and stigma against the disease, many people with Long COVID are using overseas pharmacies to source medications. Some of these treatments are widely used for other conditions, such as HIV and hepatitis C, but are not approved for use in Long COVID.

“I was in such a desperate situation,” said Rafael, who lives in the U.K. and developed Long COVID in 2021. “I was bedbound, and I was within months of losing my job, which would then mean losing my home. So I didn’t have much to lose.”

Rafael bought several months’ worth of Maraviroc, an HIV drug, from a seller in India via WhatsApp. Soon after taking the Maraviroc, Rafael had a significant improvement in symptoms, although he was taking other medications at the same time.

“If I wasn’t so debilitated by Long COVID, I probably wouldn’t have taken the risk,” Rafael said.

The Sick Times spoke to several people with Long COVID who had used online pharmacies to import medications from abroad. Because importing medication can be illegal in certain circumstances, many sources interviewed for this article asked to be identified by their first name only or by a pseudonym.

Popular choices for people with Long COVID included the acute COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid, the HIV drugs Maraviroc and Truvada, and the hepatitis C drug Sofosbuvir. Maraviroc and Truvada are currently being evaluated in an upcoming clinical trial at the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness, but results are not expected until at least early 2026.

Some people with Long COVID find some relief with off-label medications like low-dose naltrexone, but many told The Sick Times their doctors won’t prescribe these treatments. Even when doctors are willing to consider off-label treatments, health insurance often will not cover them.

Few treatments in sight The slow progress on clinical trials for Long COVID has been a source of frustration for both researchers and patients. The pharmaceutical industry has expressed little interest in finding treatments for the disease. Studies through the RECOVER initiative, launched by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), have primarily focused on observational approaches, such as asking people with Long COVID to track their symptoms, though the initiative is now planning new trials.

An analysis by The Sick Times found that fewer than a quarter of clinical trials for Long COVID are drug interventions, as of November 2024.

(interactive graph here)

Even when clinical trials take place, there is no guarantee of a “one-size-fits-all” treatment for Long COVID, said Ondine Sherwood, CEO of Long COVID SOS, a charity in the U.K. representing people with the disease. Currently, the available drugs may help only with specific symptoms or may work only for certain subsets of people with Long COVID.

Given the severity of symptoms and widespread government abandonment, it is unsurprising that some people with Long COVID have taken risks to seek relief from their symptoms since the beginning of the pandemic. Past unapproved treatments have included HELP apheresis, an expensive procedure that removes blood from a vein, filters the blood, and returns the filtered blood to the body. Many have also tried triple anticoagulant therapy, in which patients take aspirin, clopidogrel, and a blood thinner like Apixaban to break down small blood clots, called microclots. There is a high bleeding risk associated with triple anticoagulant therapy.

For many people with Long COVID, however, anything that offers a chance of improvement may seem worthwhile. Survey data suggest that the quality of life of someone with Long COVID can be worse than that of someone with stage four cancer. People with Long COVID may also be at a higher risk for suicidal ideation.

Financial insecurity can also drive people with Long COVID to consider experimental treatments, as many are out of work, behind on housing payments, and facing other financial challenges.

Some doctors may be willing to prescribe medications off-label for Long COVID and related conditions, like dysautonomia and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Commonly prescribed drugs include beta-blockers, which lower heart rate, for dysautonomia, or H1 and H2 antihistamines for MCAS.

Dysautonomia drugs can lead to “massive improvement” for some, said Dr. Asad Khan, who worked as a respiratory doctor in the U.K. before developing Long COVID. For example, a beta blocker could bring down a patient’s heart rate while posing a limited risk, he said.

But some off-label treatments could carry higher risks, especially without a doctor’s oversight, said Khan: “You've got people taking anticoagulants and various other drugs that can affect the kidney, and the liver, and can have effects on the nervous system, and nobody's monitoring. The problems could be quite serious, and it could even be fatal.”

However, doing nothing for a patient can also put them in danger, said Khan. For instance, some research indicates that COVID-19 can lead to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes for years after the infection.

People with Long COVID echoed these concerns. “I worry that, the longer we wait, the higher the destruction in our bodies,” said Lena, from Germany, who has had the disease since 2021.

After a difficult few months of symptoms, Lena decided to buy a generic form of Truvada, an HIV medication, through an online pharmacy. While she was scared, “pure despair” led her to try the medication, she said.

“I was having suicidal ideation,” she said. “If you have to weigh up how I was feeling versus taking an unknown pill, there’s no contest.” Many people with Long COVID who spoke to The Sick Times felt that buying medication online was their only choice.

How online pharmacies work Without a doctor to recommend the correct drug and dosage, many people with Long COVID receive advice from online social media groups. Users share tips on which drugs had worked for them, how to slowly increase the dosage of medications, and which side effects to expect.

Most of those interviewed by The Sick Times reported purchasing drugs without a prescription, either from national online pharmacies or from India via services like IndiaMart, an online marketplace. India is the world's largest exporter of generic pharmaceuticals.

“For me, what helped was a combination of ten days of Paxlovid and Sofosbuvir,” an antiviral drug for hepatitis C, said Tiff, from the U.S., who developed Long COVID in 2020. Tiff had read online about other people finding relief from the disease with these medications. She asked a friend to bring them back from India and had a significant decline in symptoms.

“I felt like I did pre-2020,” she said. “I had energy. I felt wonderful. No [Post-exertional malaise (PEM)] crash, no brain fog, no symptoms, nothing.” Tiff was later reinfected with SARS-C0V-2, and her Long COVID symptoms returned. She once again bought Sofosbuvir and Paxlovid from a seller in India and saw an improvement.

Lower prices offer another incentive to buy medications from abroad. Take Paxlovid, which can cost as much as $1,400 for a five-day course in the U.S., while a generic version from India costs just $103.

Sofia lives in Austria and has Long COVID. “In Austria, it would cost €40,000 for four months of Sofosbuvir,” she said, which “would be unaffordable.”

An anonymous Twitter/X user offered to help Sofia. She sent him €200, and he bought the medication in India and took it back to Europe. Since taking the Sofosbuvir, Sofia said she went from 40% to 60% of her previous level of functioning.

Risks and regulations Generic medications in the U.S., U.K., and Europe are commonly exported from India. But those exported through official channels are often subject to stricter regulatory standards than the medications available to locals. For those who have bought medications online from abroad, confirming the medications are safe can be difficult.

“We don’t have a functional regulatory system in India,” said Dinesh Thakur, a drug-safety advocate and former pharmaceutical executive. Online markets like IndiaMart have no safety guarantee.

“In the best-case scenario, the product may not contain enough of the active ingredient,” he said. “In the worst-case scenario, an injectable may contain endotoxins [harmful substances released by bacteria].”

If buyers from outside India have a bad experience, it would be difficult to hold a foreign company to account, Thakur added.

Nonetheless, many who spoke to The Sick Times felt that, despite the risks involved, they had to try something to relieve their symptoms.

“The symptoms grind you down so much, the risk calculus changes,” said Chris, from the UK, who has had Long COVID since 2020. “There is no help coming, nothing on the horizon.”

The World Health Organization has a checklist for gauging the safety of medicines purchased online. Tips include looking out for unusual activity on your credit card, checking security seals, and ensuring the batch number and expiry date on the package match throughout.

People with Long COVID may also be able to access off-label medications from more reliable sources. For instance, some online clinics may prescribe medications after a consultation. RTHM, a U.S.-based online clinic, offers a prescribing service for certain off-label medications for Long COVID, including low-dose naltrexone, beta-blockers for dysautonomia, and ketotifen for MCAS. In the U.K., those with a confirmed diagnosis of Long COVID or ME can buy low-dose naltrexone through Dicksons Chemist.

Another option for a small number of those with Long COVID is to join a clinical trial — though depending on the trial’s setup, some participants may receive a placebo instead of a drug.

Without the oversight of a pharmacist, taking a DIY approach to medications could also lead to dangerous medication interactions, even when the drugs are high quality. Paxlovid, for example, interacts with many drugs people take for Long COVID. These include ivabradine, some statins, and HIV medications. The University of Liverpool offers a COVID-19 drug interactions checker, which could help those using drugs like Paxlovid.

Regular blood tests could also help monitor for side effects. Truvada and Maraviroc can increase liver enzymes, and patients who take these medications for HIV prevention and HIV are advised to monitor liver enzymes regularly. Rafael, who bought Maraviroc, said he received monthly liver checks while taking the drug. These tests, which individuals can do privately without a GP referral, cost around £50 ($60) in the U.K.

Even if medications are safe, they are not guaranteed to work. People with Long COVID risk spending hundreds to thousands of dollars without success. New drugs could also lead to worse symptoms and significantly worsen a person’s health baseline.

Chris tried several medications, including Maraviroc and blood thinners, but has seen few improvements in symptoms. “You end up becoming your own guinea pig because nothing else is happening,” he said.

“It’s easy to depict people as reckless and not understanding the risks. But that’s not the case at all. Everyone understands the risks —they’re doing it because they’ve got no choice.”

[outsideyourhousewithaknife]

Frustrated psychology post:

IQ doesn't measure intelligence!! It only measures brain development!

IQ changes and fluctuates with time, drug use, enrichment, and other factors!!

IQ is not an inherent characteristic! It isn't something fixed!

Those MOTHERFUCKING apps you get ads for CANNOT accurately measure your IQ!

IQ is just a measurement of how developed a person's brain is in comparison with how old they are.

The formula for IQ is mental age/chronological age x 100. (Mental age is the level of brain development of a person of a certain age. It is measured by evaluating levels of a wide range of different brain functions through iq tests. It cannot yet be correctly measured by apps or by most online tests.)

This means that, if a person's IQ is 100, that means that their brain is exactly as developed as the brain of the average person their age. If it's higher, their brain developed more quickly and is comparable with the brain of an average person older than they are, and if its lower, their brain developed more slowly and is more like the brain of an average person younger than they are.

Because brains continue to develop as people age, mental age keeps changing just as chronological age does. Typically, brains become more developed, but they have been known to "regress" as a result of drug use, trauma, certain disorders, head injuries, and invasive surgeries (like Rose Kennedy), all of which physically damage and rearrange the structure and therefore the function of the brain. Additionally, lack of enrichment can cause areas associated with certain functions to stagnate.

So!!!! IQ is not a fixed number! If your IQ is lower than 100 (and you cannot trust online tests or those FUCKING mobile games and even ableist psychologists sometimes) you are not stupid. Your brain is just taking a longer time to reach the development stage it "should" be in. I put heavy emphasis on those quotation marks, because modern psychology does tend to be biased against neurodivergent people. And if your IQ is higher than 100, you aren't necessarily smart, although things may come more easily to you than to others your age. Whatever IQ you have is perfectly fine. You are fine. I promise.

Thank you for reading my rant. I hope this helps someone. (does a little bow and steps off my soapbox)

[thetavolution]

Modern Day AU

I spent a moment to think what everyone would be up to in a modern day AU.

Astarion: He was pre-law when he got caught up with Cazador. It's less a vampire spawn situation and a more straightforward abuse situation. I think in the AU he was also much younger when Cazador found him. Once he breaks free of Cazador, he might go back into law. He'd end up in therapy and he'd probably have to take a step back to re-evaluate what he wants in life.

Gale: Of course he's a professor. With magic off the table in this particular AU, he'd probably teach as many subjects as they'd let him. Students would constantly have deja vu seeing him in so many classes. He'd be teaching somewhere like Cambridge or Oxford. The subjects that came to mind were English, History of Art, Linguistics, Philosophy, and for reasons I can't explain, German.

Shadowheart: Her ass would be in a cult. She was kidnapped into some kind of Gloriavale situation as a kid. She'd eventually get a taste of freedom and leave the cult for good, especially if a Tav comes her way. Then she'd write a tell-all book and do a lot of Ted Talks about it. As she got older, she'd become more reclusive. She'd write books from her little countryside house full of animals.

Halsin: Halsin would still be a tree-hugging hippy. He'd have an environmentalism related job, like wind turbine technician, environmental technician, or solar installer. (I imagine he'd want something very hands on.) He'd 100% be part of a nudist colony. He'd still be poly, and he'd be very choosey about who he lets into the polycule.

Lae'zel: She'd go to university where she'd be expanding her world. It would force her to unpack her unhealthy home life is. She was probably raised in a jingoistic family. After discovering the power of friendship and self-discovery, she'd make better choices for herself. She'd still be INCREDIBLY disciplined so I imagine she'd be an athlete. Either she'd do professional rugby or MMA. She might do pro wrestling. She wouldn't join the theatrics on purpose. They'd just tap into her natural persona for her character.

Karlach: She worked for Gortash before he made a name for himself in politics. I'm still trying to work out exactly what would happen to her. I imagine he framed her in this universe and she spent 10 years in prison instead of Avernus. Now she's out and wants revenge... but also would love to get her life back. Possibly she has a chronic illness that, if untreated, could kill her. It's not a 1-to-1 for her heart situation, but close.

Jaheira: She refuses to ever retire from her work. She's been a part of almost every humanitarian world org that'll have her, like The Peace Corps. She now runs her own organization that travels the world for humanitarian efforts. She's a widow and she's still the mother to several adopted children.

Wyll: He was on track to make his father proud. He was going to Oxford to study politics until he realized how much he hated it. His father is the mayor of a major city. I'm hesitant to say London because it feels too obvious. Instead, Wyll drops out to pursue humanitarian work. This is where his path crosses with Jaheira as he joins her organization. His father just doesn't get it and they're at odds over it.

Minthara: Military brat who grew up to join the British Military. In her off time, she's in the BDSM scene.

Orin: She is either running a true crime podcast or being talked about on one. Either that or she's a CEO of a drug company a la The Fall of the House of Usher (2023).

Gortash: This dude is running as a Tory and you know it. He left a huge trail of problematic behavior on his Twitter. He made an anonymous Reddit account to post relationship problems on, but everyone figured out it was him almost immediately.

Barcus: This poor man is so tired. He never found his "dream" and he's been going from job to job for decades. After he starts to stand up for himself, he opens an online store based on all his interests and thrives.

I might do more later, but this is all I could think of for now.

[sirfrogsworth]

So I followed Sabine Hossenfelder a few weeks ago thinking, "Here is a cool science lady" and then out of nowhere she releases a video on trans people where she is all, "Trans people are crazy and I'm normal!" and then dubiously interprets trans studies for 20 minutes. Then, while claiming she is the levelheaded centrist only seeking objective scientific facts, she references Jesse Signal, a bad faith anti-trans "journalist", as a scientific source.

I also hate this notion that the only metric for the success of gender affirming care is a decrease in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Those are certainly goals. But...I mean, life is tough out here even if you aren't transgender. You can feel you've had a positive outcome with your transition and still struggle with mental health. I think that is clear by the low regret rate. And even when people are able to tackle their gender dysphoria via transition, we cannot discount the effects of poor societal acceptance. Not to mention the cruel legislative onslaught currently underway.

It's like, "Yay! I'm finally who I'm meant to be!"

But also, "Ack, these transphobic dipshits are trying to kill me!"

No other treatment is held to the standard of creating shiny happy people at a 100% success rate.

And yes, drugs sometimes have side effects. All drugs. Even over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol. There is no medical treatment without risks. And if we banned every treatment that had the possibility of a bad outcome, we would have literally no medications at all. She was very serious about all the bad things that can happen with blockers and hormone therapy but didn't mention how uncommon those risks are. She didn't mention that bone density is closely monitored. And the risk of heart trouble she mentioned was for older patients getting treatment for prostate issues.

Which makes me wonder why in the world she did not at least consult an actual trans person? Or even a doctor that provides gender affirming care? She just googled everything and interpreted the data with her physics brain and didn't even think to run her interpretations by people with actual expertise.

I'm not even sure a purely scientific analysis of trans issues is possible due to so many variables not being quantifiable. You can't just toss out the politics and focus on the science. The politics are a huge part of transgender existence right now.

And I don't even know what to say about her giving credence to the "social contagion" theory. Her only evidence was a theory concocted by a single person. No studies. No peer review. When I was in high school, none of us knew anything about being queer aside from the existence of gay people. We'd never even heard the words transgender or nonbinary. And even my friends who were gay didn't even consider that as a possibility until they went to college. There just wasn't any information available to teenagers. All they knew was that something was different and they had no resources to help them figure out what that different feeling was.

Teens are not being infected by a social contagion, they just have better access to information. They can also find more support and acceptance in online communities. Not to mention any competent gender affirming care program will do extensive evaluations to rule out things like peer pressure or someone seeking attention. Contrary to conservative belief, they don't just throw hormones and puberty blockers at everyone during their first appointment.

She quickly discounted the left handed analogy because some gender affirming treatments have lasting effects. Which didn't make much sense to me. All that analogy is meant to explain is that teens are more comfortable with queer introspection and feel less pressure to repress said queerness. The huge increase in queer teens matches almost perfectly with the dawn of the information age.

She also said that biological sex is "simple" (it is not) and then handwaved the existence of intersex people as "rare." First, I think the number of intersex folks is undercounted, but also, they are just as prevalent as people with red hair. When there are 8 billion people on the planet, even small percentages add up to a lot of people.

It was just a mess of a video.

I am disappointed in what I thought was a cool science lady.

[mariacallous]

More and more people are turning to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, to have babies. The process can be arduous, requiring injections of costly hormones twice a day for two weeks to mature eggs so that they can be retrieved from the body.

New York startup Gameto is aiming to ease this burden for patients by maturing eggs outside the body instead. The company’s method replaces 80 percent of the hormone injections needed for traditional IVF, shortening the length of a treatment cycle to a few days. It’s showing promise at generating healthy embryos and pregnancies, according to new data released by the company.

Maturing eggs in a lab instead of in the ovaries isn’t a new idea. In vitro maturation, or IVM, emerged in the 1990s, but the technique isn’t widely used because it has lower success rates than IVF. During IVM, eggs are extracted and grown in a special concoction of nutrients and growth factors. With Gameto’s approach, eggs are ripened with ovarian “support” cells derived from stem cells.

In a preprint posted online, Gameto showed that its product, dubbed Fertilo, led to higher pregnancy rates than conventional IVM. In the first part of the study, an initial 20 patients received Fertilo to evaluate the safety of the technique. In the second part, 20 more patients were randomized to receive either Fertilio or IVM. Eggs matured with Fertilo were more likely to develop normally, with a 70 percent maturation rate compared to 52 percent using standard IVM.

When these eggs were then fertilized with sperm, Fertilo resulted in more viable embryos and a higher pregnancy rate—44 percent of patients in the Fertilo group got pregnant after one treatment cycle, while 20 percent who underwent IVM did. To date, the study has led to 15 ongoing pregnancies, 13 from Fertilo treatment and two from IVM. One patient in the Fertilo group became pregnant naturally after egg retrieval and was not included in the final analysis. The study, which was carried out in Mexico and Peru, has not yet been peer-reviewed.

“The idea of Fertilo is to bring a patient-centric solution, one that is truly empowering and makes it a lot easier for people to build a family,” says Dina Radenkovic, Gameto’s CEO and founder. Radenkovic actually tested Gameto’s technology on her own eggs—not to get pregnant, but to see how well Fertilo did at maturing them.

The ovaries naturally produce one mature egg a month until menopause. In an IVF cycle, patients self-inject high doses of hormones for 10 to 14 days to spur their ovaries into producing many of them. The shots cause mood swings, headaches, bloating, and, in rare cases, a painful and potentially serious condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. In the US, stimulation meds range between $4,000 and $7,000 per treatment cycle, which can amount to a third of the total cost of IVF. And many patients need a few cycles to get pregnant.

With Gameto’s method, patients take an initial two to three days of hormones, then undergo egg retrieval. The eggs are incubated with ovarian support cells for about 30 hours. Gameto has developed a way to engineer these specialized reproductive cells from stem cells. “We’re able to utilize these cells to recreate the ovary outside the body,” says Christian Kramme, Gameto’s chief scientific officer.

By reducing the amount of drugs and time to egg retrieval, Gameto is aiming to make it easier for patients to freeze their eggs and have babies. The approach has led to one live birth in Peru, announced in December. A second woman in Peru who received Fertilo is expected to give birth in late April or early May.

What patients might really want to know, though, is how Fertilo stacks up against standard IVF. That question wasn’t addressed in Gameto’s study, and it’s hard to make a head-to-head comparison. IVF success rates vary widely depending on the patient’s age and their ovarian reserve, meaning the number and quality of eggs remaining in the ovaries. Live birth rates can be as high as 50 percent for patients under 35 years old, but that number declines with age. Gameto’s study included patients under the age of 37 with a high ovarian reserve, which may in part explain the success rate.

David Sable, a life sciences investor and former reproductive endocrinologist, says Gameto’s technique looks promising, but it’s hard to draw any definitive conclusions with such a small sample size. “The question is, are they developing a better version of an inferior process, or are they developing something that really can compete with what we’re doing now with IVF?” he says.

Gameto will try to answer that question in a large Phase 3 trial it just launched in the US. In that trial, the company will study Fertilo’s efficacy in several hundred patients.

It’s too early to know whether Fertilo would be better than standard IVF—which uses the body’s own ovaries as the ultimate incubator—but it might not have to be for some patients to see it as a viable alternative. Radenkovic says Gameto’s approach might be especially attractive for younger patients looking to freeze their eggs. Patients hoping to have a baby immediately are more willing to deal with drug side effects and multiple doctor’s appointments, she reasons. But those banking their eggs as an insurance policy for the future may be less willing to undergo a disruptive procedure with a lengthy hormone regimen.

Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, might also benefit from a less invasive version of IVF. People with PCOS tend to be more sensitive to IVF hormones and are at higher risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which causes the ovaries to swell and become painful.

Daniel Williams, medical director of the Reproductive Fertility Center in the Los Angeles area, says reducing the medications involved in IVF could bring costs down for patients. “The reason you need alternatives is because cost is still a major barrier for fertility treatment,” he says. “If you can find ways to decrease the cost, you open access to patients that may not be able to do it.” The Reproductive Fertility Center is one of Gameto’s US trial sites.

Fertilo has been approved for use in Australia, Japan, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, and Peru. Radenkovic says the company hasn’t yet settled on pricing in those places, and ultimately, the final cost of the procedure will be set by fertility clinics.

Gameto is expecting 20 more births this year from across Latin America and Australia as a result of Fertilo. If it’s successful enough, the tech could eventually be more widely adopted. “This could be the new and more modern way of doing fertility care,” Radenkovic says.

[affordableevaluations]

DOT Return to Duty Process: The Lifeline for Those Who’ve Struggled with Addiction

Failing a drug or alcohol test in a safety-sensitive job can feel like the end of a career. Fortunately, the Department of Transportation (DOT) provides a structured way to earn back trust and return to work safely. This return to duty program is designed as a lifeline for individuals who have violated drug and alcohol rules or other DOT-regulated role. It guides employees through evaluations and follow-up steps to show they are ready to resume their duties. This approach benefits the individual, public safety, and employers. In this article, we’ll discuss how this process works and why it’s a crucial second chance for affected workers.

A Second Chance Through a Structured Process

When someone in a DOT-regulated job violates drug or alcohol rules, they are immediately removed from duty, but this need not be a career-ending event. The DOT return to duty process offers a formal path to regain eligibility for work. Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and DOT guidelines, the individual must work with a certified expert known as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), who will first conduct a substance abuse evaluation and then recommend next steps. Many employers and consortiums (like DISA) closely follow these requirements to ensure every returning worker is fit for duty.

Key Steps in the Return to Duty Journey

While each case varies, the typical return to duty journey involves several key steps:

DOT SAP Evaluation: A qualified SAP assesses the employee’s drug or alcohol use.

Recommended Program: The SAP prescribes an education or counseling plan to follow.

Follow-Up Evaluation: After finishing the program, the employee undergoes a follow-up evaluation to confirm readiness.

Testing and Follow-Up: The employee must pass a drug/alcohol test to resume work, and then undergo unannounced follow-up tests (at least six in the first year) for up to five years.

This precise sequence acts as a roadmap, turning a challenging situation into a step-by-step plan for redemption. By knowing what to expect, employees can focus on successfully fulfilling each requirement.

Addressing All Areas of Concern

The return to duty program is not just about passing a test – it’s about addressing any underlying issues that led to the violation. The initial meeting with the SAP often doubles as a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation. For some individuals, the SAP might also require a mental health evaluation or an anger management evaluation to address issues beyond substance use.

For instance, if stress or depression contributed to the violation, those factors will be considered in the plan. The goal is to ensure each person receives well-rounded support. By tackling substance use and other personal challenges together, the process builds a solid foundation for a safe and reliable return to work.

Wrapping Up

Completing the return to duty process is more than a formality; it’s a commitment to personal and public safety, showcasing an individual's dedication to their profession and well-being. With advancements in technology and supportive services, getting the necessary help has become more accessible. Companies like Affordable Evaluations play a pivotal role in providing online drug and alcohol assessment services that are both effective and discreet, ensuring that those in need can receive guidance without undue burden. Their offerings not only streamline the process but also make compliance more manageable and less daunting

[elsa16744]

Big Data and AI: The Perfect Partnership for Future Innovations 

Innovation allows organizations to excel at differentiation, boosting competitive advantages. Amid the growth of industry-disrupting technologies, big data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) professionals want to support brands seeking bold design, delivery, and functionality ideas. This post discusses the importance of big data and AI, explaining why they matter to future innovations and business development. 

Understanding Big Data and AI 

Big data is a vast data volume, and you will find mixed data structures because of continuous data collection involving multimedia data objects. A data object or asset can be a document, an audio track, a video clip, a photo, or identical objects with special file formats. Since big data services focus on sorting and exploring data objects’ attributes at an unprecedented scale, integrating AI tools is essential. 

Artificial intelligence helps computers simulate human-like thinking and idea synthesis capabilities. Most AI ecosystems leverage advanced statistical methods and machine learning models. Their developers train the AI tools to develop and document high-quality insights by processing unstructured and semi-structured data objects. 

As a result, the scope of big data broadens if you add AI integrations that can determine data context. Businesses can generate new ideas instead of recombining recorded data or automatically filter data via AI-assisted quality assurances. 

Why Are Big Data and AI Perfect for Future Innovations? 

1| They Accelerate Scientific Studies  

Material sciences, green technology projects, and rare disorder research projects have provided humans with exceptional lifestyle improvements. However, as markets mature, commoditization becomes inevitable. 

At the same time, new, untested ideas can fail, attracting regulators’ dismay, disrespecting consumers’ beliefs, or hurting the environment. Additionally, bold ideas must not alienate consumers due to inherent complexity. Therefore, private sector stakeholders must employ scientific methods to identify feasible, sustainable, and consumer-friendly product ideas for brand differentiation.  

AI-powered platforms and business analytics solutions help global corporations immediately acquire, filter, and document data assets for independent research projects. For instance, a pharmaceutical firm can use them during clinical drug formulations and trials, while a car manufacturer might discover efficient production tactics using AI and big data. 

2| Brands Can Objectively Evaluate Forward-Thinking Business Ideas 

Some business ideas that a few people thought were laughable or unrealistic a few decades ago have forced many brands and professionals to abandon conventional strategies. Consider how streaming platforms’ founders affected theatrical film releases. They have reduced the importance of box office revenues while increasing independent artists’ discoverability. 

Likewise, exploring real estate investment opportunities on a tiny mobile or ordering clothes online were bizarre practices, according to many non-believers. They also predicted socializing through virtual reality (VR) avatars inside a computer-generated three-dimensional space would attract only the tech-savvy young adults. 

Today, customers and investors who underestimated those innovations prefer religiously studying how disrupting startups perform. Brands care less about losing money than missing an opportunity to be a first mover for a niche consumer base. Similarly, rejecting an idea without testing it at least a few times has become a taboo. 

Nobody can be 100% sure which innovation will gain global momentum, but AI and big data might provide relevant hints. These technologies are best for conducting unlimited scenario analyses and testing ideas likely to satisfy tomorrow’s customer expectations. 

3| AI-Assisted Insight Explorations Gamifies Idea Synthesis 

Combining a few ideas is easy but finding meaningful and profitable ideas by sorting the best ones is daunting. Innovative individuals must embrace AI recommendations to reduce time spent on brainstorming, product repurposing, and multidisciplinary collaborations. Furthermore, they can challenge themselves to find ideas better than an AI tool. 

Gamification of brainstorming will facilitate a healthy pursuit of novel product features, marketing strategies, and customer journey personalization. Additionally, incentivizing employees to leverage AI and big data to experiment with designing methods provides unique insights for future innovations. 

4| You Can Optimize Supply Chain Components with Big Data and AI Programs 

AI can capture extensive data on supply chains and offer suggestions on alternative supplier relations. Therefore, businesses will revise supply and delivery planning to overcome the flaws in current practices. 

For instance, Gartner awarded Beijing’s JD.com the Technology Innovation Award in 2024 because they combined statistical forecasting. The awardee has developed an explainable artificial intelligence to enhance its supply chain. Other finalists in this award category were Google, Cisco, MTN Group, and Allina Health. 

5| Academia Can Embrace Adaptive Learning and Psychological Well-Being 

Communication barriers and trying to force all learners to follow the standard course material based on a fixed schedule have undermined educational institutions’ goals worldwide. Understandably, expecting teachers to customize courses and multimedia assets for each student is impractical and humanly infeasible. 

As a result, investors, policymakers, parents, and student bodies seek outcome-oriented educational innovations powered by AI and big data for a learner-friendly, inclusive future. For instance, some edtech providers use AI computer-aided learning and teaching ecosystems leveraging videoconferencing, curriculum personalization, and psycho-cognitive support. 

Adaptive learning applications build student profiles and segments like marketers’ consumer categorizations. Their AI integrations can determine the ideal pace for teaching, whether a student exhibits learning disabilities, and whether a college or school has adequate resources. 

Challenges in Promoting Innovations Based on Big Data and AI Use Cases 

Encouraging stakeholders to acknowledge the need for big data and AI might be challenging. After all, uninformed stakeholders are likely to distrust tech-enabled lifestyle changes. Therefore, increasing AI awareness and educating everyone on data ethics are essential. 

In some regions, the IT or network infrastructure necessary for big data is unavailable or prone to stability flaws. This issue requires more investments and talented data specialists to leverage AI tools or conduct predictive analyses. 

Today’s legal frameworks lack provisions for regulating AI, big data, and scenario analytics. So, brands are unsure whether expanding data scope will get public administrators’ approvals. Lawmakers must find a balanced approach to enable AI-powered big data innovations without neglecting consumer rights or “privacy by design” principles. 

Conclusion 

The future of enterprise, institutional, and policy innovations lies in responsible technology implementations. Despite the obstacles, AI enthusiasts are optimistic that more stakeholders will admire the potential of new, disruptive technologies. 

Remember, gamifying how your team finds new ideas or predicting the actual potential of a business model necessitates AI’s predictive insights. At the same time, big data will offer broader perspectives on global supply chains and how to optimize a company’s policies. 

Lastly, academic improvements and scientific research are integral to developing sustainable products, accomplishing educational objectives, and responding to global crises. As a result, the informed stakeholders agree that AI and big data are perfect for shaping future innovations.  

[cowboygreeting]

art © starparkdesigns

task 001. 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚛.

last updated 02/20/2024

BASICS.

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 seth hiroshi masters — seth hiroshi from birth, masters 1996-onwards, following his legal adoption.

𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 cowboy greeting professionally, apparently; gnomerodeo if you know him from online. believe it or not, it is a coincidence.

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌 will sharpe

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒 thin scar cutting through his eyebrow, healed-broken nose, occasional facial twitch/spasm

𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐒 / 𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

japanese maple (right shoulder); canada goose in flight (right bicep); soot sprites (left forearm); kermode bear [spirit bear] (crook of left elbow); pistols pointing down (matching, both hips); portuguese water dog [his childhood dog sam] in play (left calf)

pierced right ear, small gold hoop

𝐀𝐆𝐄 / 𝐃.𝐎.𝐁. 38 years old / 2.2.1986

𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂 aquarius sun: unconventional, abstract, boundary-pushing, roots for the underdog; scorpio moon: intense, passionate, dramatic, struggles to let others in; sagittarius rising: independent, optimistic, confident, charismatic yet blunt and critical

𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 powell river, b.c. / brampton, ontario

𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘

ellen and rod masters (parents); mackenzie irish (sister); brandon irish (brother-in-law); june irish (niece)

kaiko mcintyre-masters (daughter, lives with her mother) — his favourite person on planet earth, hands down, would do anything for her, keeps several pictures of her in his wallet, will not be letting anyone here who doesn't already know she exists know about her.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 / 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐒 cis man, he/him

𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 gay

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒 single, never married.

enjoys hookups and casual relationships; has dated on-and-off; last serious relationship ended several years ago; says he's prioritizing work and his daughter, truly has no interest in committing to the people he meets.

𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒 thoughtful, considerate, loyal, obedient

𝐍𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒 timid, disconnected, tendency towards disinvestment, capacity for fixation/malicious compliance

𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐒 vaping, compulsive gaming, more-than-occasional drug and alcohol use, late night wandering, not texting back

𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒 gaming (particularly world of warcraft and rust, social games); bass guitar; powerlifting; cooking; rec-league rugby

𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐒 (𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄) tobiko — tiny crusty white mutt. sometimes known as tobi or toebeans. currently being cared for by his parents.

THE FOUNDATION.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄 jr. researcher

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍(𝐒) jr. researcher for the reintegration department; field analyst doing site evaluations on a number of mtfs — some might call this "glorified operative hall monitor", which he would resent

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 last worked for the anomalous entities engagement division (aeed), researching the efficacy of humane containment procedures and enrichment programs against more traditional methods of containment — some might describe this as "glorified scp babysitter", which he wouldn't necessarily object to

𝐒𝐊𝐈��𝐋𝐒 / 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒

formal credentials include: a b.a. in psychology, with a focus in cognitive and behavioural psych; a masters of social work, with a focus in public policy and family systems; several years of experience writing policy in the non-profit sector, several years of experience working with vulnerable clients in the field

informal credentials include: an impossibly high tolerance for bureaucratic bullshit, an iron stomach, thicker skin than you'd imagine, genuinely sense of care for those around him, not caring whether or not he personally gets fired, fluency in boardspeak

EXTRAS.

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘 to be added.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 to be added.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 / 𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 to be added.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 gideon nav, the locked tomb; dr. wilson, house; antigone, jean anouilh's antigone; camilla hect, the locked tomb; oh dae-su, oldboy

𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐒 to be expanded upon. for the time being, see my cg tag.

[whitherwanderer]

17 // diagnostic (extra credit)

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Schizophrenia [+]

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) [+]

Cyberpsychosis [–]

Cyberpsychosis is a collective term for all psychotic and anxiety-related personality disorders caused by hardware implanted in the body and any and all behavioral mods, including software. Often this begins as changes to the personality, followed by increasingly erratic and even violent behavior. Some medications and substance abuse can worsen these behaviors. Recommended treatment options: - Therapy - Implant deactivation and/or removal - Bethaloperidol While antipsychotics are widely used to slow the onset of cyberpsychosis, therapy has also proven effective for some patients after years of treatment. Those experiencing aggressive cyberpsychotic symptoms such as violent outbursts should be kept away from public spaces and denied access to weapons until they can be incapacitated, restrained, and removed for treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of cyberpsychosis that result in erratic or violent behavior, remove yourself from any potentially dangerous situations and call MaxTac. Do NOT interrupt MaxTac officers during an ongoing violent situation. DO put as many walls between the situation and yourself as is possible to avoid stray projectiles and bodily harm.

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Searching “bethaloperidol” yielded the following articles:

Bethaloperidol [–]

Bethaloperidol is an antipsychotic used to treat a broad range of disorders, ranging from Schizophrenia to hyperactivity. When prescribed by a doctor in combination with therapy, bethaloperidol has been proven effective in helping patients recover. Bethaloperidol can be taken in pill form or through injection. The most widely used brands are Bethal and Novadol. Though black market bethaloperidol is frequently sold, it is not created in a lab environment where product quality is overseen, it is likely a cheaper alternative that will not address symptoms adequately, and/or it has been cut with other drugs that could be a potentially dangerous cocktail. Brand names are always recommended and more effective than their black market counterparts.

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☆☆☆☆☆

[mandy4ever69420]

what’s your take on the pimping thing then?

oh lol. i think he is a loud annoying manager. who can be evaluated like basically any loud annoying manager. everyone who works for him was there of their own free will (up to and including specifically being mad that they couldn't work that job after getting scabbed) and he should probably have bumped their pay but getting the same pay back with a nicer boss (like, of the variety that doesn't keep you in line with "drugs and beatings" but in fact doesn't take well to customers giving you shit) and suckier location is not that bad a deal after getting scabbed.

genuinely like with sex work the general best way to evaluate ethics imo is "would this be a serious problem if this was happening at a Macy's" and. personally. if i worked at a macy's and my manager called me an annoying bitch and then beat the shit out of a customer for yelling at me id be sort of offended but pretty much fine. sucks they got arrested but the fuck was he gonna do. better to evaluate this as an example of the traumatic nature of arrests

if you read what SWers online have to say about the term pimp it's kind of like. insanely poorly defined for mostly the purpose of villainizing and prosecuting people. i recall specifically one woman said she couldn't have a joint bank account with her boyfriend without risking him being prosecuted for "pimping". like maybe what most people are picturing in response to the word "pimp" like grand theft auto or something. but if you (please) accept that sex work is normal work then you kind of have to accept that someone who manages location and personnel and cash and protection details has like. a normal job. also that the customer base is normal

mickey calls kevin the worst pimp he's ever seen because kevin was doing a bad job at protecting cash and employees. and kevins like ahah am i supposed to be offended ?? but like yeah dude. you are doing a bad job and not protecting your employees or earnings. you live under capitalism that's kind of important.

also the pimp thing is a big part of what initially caught my eye w shameless! i thought it was interesting to include this side of sex work in a normal non glamorous non villainous context. i <3 under discussed careers in media

[gabatelepsychiatry-blog]

Treatment Options for Postpartum Depression (PPD)

The PPD treatment revolution: New options bringing hope to struggling moms

Postpartum depression (PPD) should not rob you of your motherhood. While coping with PPD remains challenging, recent advancements have significantly expanded and improved treatment options for new mothers. 'Toughing it out' is no longer the answer to coping with PPD. Addressing PPD through treatment is  crucial for an effective recovery.

Understanding the need for treatment

PPD can be quite challenging, but first we need to understand why it is important to treat it.

Effective treatment can significantly improve the mother's mental health and overall quality of life.

Untreated PPD can negatively impact mother-child bonding and infant cognitive and emotional development.

Treatment helps maintain healthy relationships with partners and other family members.

Early intervention reduces the risk of PPD developing into a long-term depressive disorder.

Treatment can improve a mother's capacity to care for her baby and engage in positive parenting practices.

PPD can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts, making treatment crucial for prevention.

Mental health treatment can positively impact physical health issues often associated with PPD.

Treatment helps mothers better manage daily tasks and responsibilities.

Addressing PPD can help mothers who wish to breastfeed to continue doing so successfully.

In rare cases, untreated PPD can progress to postpartum psychosis; early treatment can prevent this.

Treatment can help restore a mother's sense of self-worth and confidence.

Seeking treatment sets a positive example for family members about the importance of mental health.

Treatment options for PPD

Therapy:

Engaging in psychotherapy can unlock your potential for personal growth, healing, and empowerment. Some common types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy (IPT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), family therapy, and group therapy, can help you explore and manage your thoughts and feelings in a safe, nurturing space.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT helps mothers identify and change negative thought patterns. 

 Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

IPT helps bridge communication gaps by focusing on relationship patterns and verbal exchanges. 

CBT and IPT  are two evidence-based approaches that have shown significant success in treating PPD.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) focuses on teaching individuals skills to manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors.

Group therapy can also provide a supportive environment where mothers share experiences and coping strategies.

Medication

 Your healthcare provider might recommend medication to help balance your brain chemistry. Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are often prescribed for PPD. If you have concerns about breastfeeding and taking antidepressants, always consult with a healthcare provider to weigh the benefits and risks.

Hormonal treatments

In 2019, the FDA approved Brexanolone (Zulresso), the first and only drug specifically for PPD. This intravenous treatment works by rebalancing hormones that fluctuate after childbirth. 

Support systems

Never underestimate the power of support. Engaging with partners and family members, joining support groups, or connecting with online communities can provide crucial emotional backing during recovery.

Last but not least, prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating can significantly improve your mood. Experiencing thoughts of self-harm or harming your baby? For the well-being of you and your child, get yourself evaluated for help now. 

Remember, PPD is a medical condition, not a character flaw. With proper treatment, most women recover completely. Your mental health matters; reach out to healthcare professionals for guidance and support.

If you are looking for support, you can call us at +1(833)-312-4222 or schedule an appointment online via our website.

[jemar]

The Oxbridge Interview: A Quick Guide

Receiving an invitation to an Oxbridge interview signifies a huge step forward in your admissions journey: you’ve created a compelling profile, and now the tutors want to get to know you more!

While it may seem a bit daunting initially, the Oxbridge Interview is more often just a dynamic, engaging conversation with a college tutor. In this article, we’ll cover some key information you need to know about your upcoming interview.

A Brief Summary

The Oxbridge Interview is the combined term for the renowned interview style of both Oxford and Cambridge University. During the interview, candidates participate in a one-on-one discussion session with a tutor from a certain Oxford/Cambridge college.

This admissions step is designed to simulate Oxford’s ‘tutorial system’ or Cambridge’s ‘supervision’ system. Your interviewer will be gauging how fit you are for this kind of academic environment. They will challenge you with personal and unexpected questions, evaluating your ability to articulate your thoughts properly and work through problems.

When thinking of the Oxbridge interview, consider it less a test of your pure knowledge and more an evaluation of your passion – your academic potential.

Common Questions

Different types of questions may be thrown at you during your Oxbridge interview. Some of these are:

General Questions – You will encounter traditional interview questions along the way, e.g. - Why Oxford? Why Cambridge? - Why this specific course?

Personal Statement Questions – Your interviewer(s) may also ask you to expound on a topic or experience that you’ve covered in your PS. - In your personal statement, you mentioned a particular interest in [specific topic]. Can you tell me more about what specifically fascinates you about this topic? - You discussed your experience with [a specific project or research] in your personal statement. Can you elaborate on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them?

Subject Questions – You’ll also be asked questions related to your chosen subject in the interview. - How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment? - How do you assess the reliability of primary sources when studying [a particular period or event]?

Problem-solving Questions – These are especially prominent in interviews for STEM programs. You’ll be given sets of problems to work through, which all build up to one main question. - Prove or disprove the following mathematical statement: [specific theorem or conjecture]. - In a dihybrid cross between two heterozygous organisms (AaBb), what is the probability of obtaining an offspring with the genotype Aabb?

Reading Questions – You may be asked for your opinion on a book or research article. In some cases, you’ll be tasked to read a short work beforehand. - What does this graph tell us about the relationship between [two economic variables]? - What is the significance of this experiment described in the text for the field of [specific scientific discipline]?

Open-ended Questions – Interviewers may present you with unexpected, open-ended questions, which are meant to evaluate your thought process. - How should we balance individual freedom and social order? - What is the role of the reader in interpreting a text?

Tips for Preparing

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to properly train for your upcoming interview, here are a few suggestions.

Practice with a Friend - Practice with a friend and ask for their constructive criticism. Your peer can provide personal advice on your diction, presentation, and responses.

Read Up on Books - Study a wide variety of subject-related books, ask recommendations from peers and teachers, and explore different essays related to your field.

Explore Sample Questions - Oxford has a few sample questions on its website. You can also try online interview practice apps, where you can practice questions within a specific time frame.

Join Mock Interviews - Ask your peers or teachers to hold mock interviews with you. Many online educational platforms also offer interview preparation sessions, which allow you to personally train with an Oxbridge tutor.

Recap

The key thing to remember for the Oxbridge interview is that it’s an evaluation of your critical thinking and enthusiasm. From general questions to books, to subject topics, to open-ended questions: you must demonstrate your understanding of your chosen program. Before your upcoming interview, be sure to prepare using the techniques we’ve mentioned above.

Good luck! If you’re really looking for rigorous training, there’s no better way to do that than by practicing under the guidance of Oxbridge tutors with the help of education consulting firms. Learning with an experienced tutor can help you enhance your performance and learn the ins and outs of the Oxbridge interview setting.

[machine-saint]

anyway last thing about university discourse: colleges don't gatekeep knowledge, they gatekeep certifications of knowledge.

the reference books are generally available; even if they're unreasonably expensive, they're still going to cost vastly less than college. you can also look at stuff like MIT OCW, where they publish the material for a lot of their courses online. you won't get your homework graded and questions answered, sure, but it's not like college professors have a monopoly on knowledge. you'll probably have problems finding someone willing to evaluate all your homework but that's not gatekeeping any more than the fact that artists generally don't take requests from random people is.

on the other hand, there is no way for you to get a college diploma without going to an accredited college and doing what they say. diplomas from non-certified colleges are generally not worth much.

to compare to the medical system: they don't gatekeep the knowledge that you have some condition, but they do gatekeep the Official Acknowledgement. some things require the official acknowledgement (prescription-only drugs, insurance coverage), some things don't (OTC medication, other kinds of treatment).

of course there are some conditions that are difficult to diagnose without specialist training, but there are many that aren't. and there are some kinds of knowledge that are difficult to learn without specialist instruction, but there are many that aren't.