#World Dairy Month 2024

[sweet-dottie-dan-dan]

The Bestest Dairy Month 🧀 Day 3

Banana Split🍨🍌

Challenge made by TheTROCFans

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Tulio de Oliveira

Dr. Oliveira is the director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa.

As a virus scientist in South Africa, I’ve been watching with dread as H5N1 bird flu spreads among animals in the United States. The pathogen poses a serious pandemic threat and has been detected in over 500 dairy herds in 15 states — which is probably an undercount. And yet, the U.S. response appears inadequate and slow, with too few genomic sequences of H5N1 cases in farm animals made publicly available for scientific review.

Failure to control H5N1 among American livestock could have global consequences, and this demands urgent attention. The United States has done little to reassure the world that it has the outbreak contained.

The recent infection of a pig at a farm in Oregon is especially concerning as pigs are known to be “mixing bowls” for influenza viruses. Pigs can be infected by both avian and human influenza viruses, creating a risk for the viruses to exchange genetic material and potentially speed up adaptation for human transmission. The H1N1 pandemic in 2009 was created and spread initially by pigs. Beyond the risks to its own citizens (there are over 45 cases of people in the United States getting the virus in 2024), the United States should remember that the country where a pandemic emerges can be accused of not doing enough to control it. We still hear how China did not do enough to stop the Covid-19 pandemic. None of us would want a new pandemic labeled the “American virus,” as this could be very damaging for the United States’ reputation and economy.

The United States should learn from how the global south responds to infectious diseases. Those of us working in the region have a good track record of responding to epidemics and emerging pandemics, and can help the United States identify new virus strains and offer insights into how to control H5N1. This knowledge has not come easily or without suffering; it has developed from decades of dealing with deadly diseases. We’ve learned one simple lesson: You need to learn your enemy as quickly as possible in order to fight it.

We did this during Covid. In November 2021, my colleagues and I, and others in Botswana, discovered the Omicron variant. We quickly and publicly warned the world that it could rapidly spread. This kind of transparency is not always easy because it can come at large economic cost. For example, after we shared our Omicron discovery, countries around the world imposed travel bans on South Africa ahead of December holidays, spurring backlash. Our team received death threats, and we needed security for our labs. One estimate suggests South Africa lost $63 million in canceled bookings from December to March.

But it was the right thing to do. That’s why it’s so frustrating that genomic sequences of H5N1 animal cases in the United States are not quickly made available. Sharing genomes of virus samples immediately is crucial for understanding the threat and giving the world time to prepare, including developing antivirals and vaccines. Rwanda, for example, was recently bold enough to go public with the detection of the deadly Marburg virus. Health responders there worked around the clock, and within about a month, they seem to have controlled the outbreak. Other countries in Africa have similarly and openly shared data about the spread of Mpox.

I’ve worked for decades with American scientists, and this summer I toured many of the country’s top scientific research institutions and was a speaker at one of its largest annual virology meetings. I know how flabbergasted many American scientists are about the country’s slow response to the H5N1. One highly respected American virologist, David O’Connor, told me that “it seems that the United States is addicted to gambling with H5N1. But if you gamble long enough, the virus may hit a jackpot.” A jackpot for the virus would fuel a global pandemic.

It is time to respond forcefully to this threat. The world’s scientists are here to help, in the same way as the United States has helped us so many times. Countries need to continue to support one another; we need an international scientific and medical force that can work together to respond to new epidemics and potential pandemics, including diagnosing and genetically analyzing every single sample of H5N1.

I understand that it’s not easy to persuade businesses, such as the meat and dairy industries, to allow the testing of all of their animals and staffs, and to make that data public quickly. But I also know that in the end, doing so protects lives, lessens economic damage and creates a safer world.

The world cannot afford to gamble with this virus, letting it spread in animals and hoping it never sparks a serious outbreak — or crossing our fingers that its effects won’t be serious in people. Time will tell. I hope we are not watching the start of a new pandemic unfold, with both the American and the international communities burying our heads in the sand rather than confronting potential danger.

[askamydaily]

FINALLY ...

I don't have to care about gender reveal parties.

(The following column runs in newspapers across the country on May 24th, 2024)

Dear Readers: After 21 years writing the “Ask Amy” column, I’m announcing that I’m leaving this space. My final column will run at the end of June.

I’m healthy, happy, and 64-years-old. This is a decision I’ve been wrestling with for over a year.

When I was first hired by the Chicago Tribune to write an advice column after Ann Landers’ death, I was a middle-aged single mother. My daughter Emily and I moved from our long-time home in Washington DC and relocated to Chicago. 

[Emily and Amy, Freeville, NY. Photo by Chris Walker for the Chicago Tribune]

My welcome to Chicago was to deliver a solo performance of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in front of 35,000 baseball fans during the 7th inning stretch of a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

This turned out to be a metaphor for my experience writing this column, which has been an exuberant and sometimes nerve-wracking effort of trying to hit the right notes before a huge audience. 

After several great years in Chicago, Emily left for college and I moved back to my tiny hometown of Freeville, NY (pop. 505), to spend time with my sisters, aunts and cousins, and to be with my mother at the end of her life. 

My experiences have mirrored those of many of my readers. For me, these last two decades have been about the intensity and consequences of both love and loss. 

After returning home, I promptly tumbled into a Hallmark Channel plotline, when I fell in love with and quickly married a man I’ve known since childhood (we grew up on neighboring dairy farms). My husband Bruno and I then blundered into the oftentimes awkward blending of our family of five daughters. 

[2008, Freeville, NY]

I became a stepmother, and then a grandmother, all before I believed I was ready. 

My mother and her three wonderful sisters are gone, now. A niece and nephew died, tragically, while in their teens. Much of my recent life has been absorbed by caregiving, mourning, and recovery.

Day in, day out -- over the last two decades – readers have generously shared their own vulnerabilities about many of our common experiences. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to help each other.

I’ve burned through eight laptops, opened bushels of postal mail, written columns in the car, on board planes, in hospital waiting rooms, on my honeymoon, and at my mother’s bedside. During this time, I’ve also written two books, a screenplay, and scores of essays. 

Doing this work has sent me into therapy. It has inspired me to explore the teachings of world religions, and to seek the insight of thinkers like Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. I’ve quoted the wisdom of Maya Angelou, Joni Mitchell and Fred Rogers -- as well as dozens of poets, social scientists and psychologists. 

I’ve made my share of mistakes, been well-pranked – at least twice (that I know of), and learned how to apologize, ask for forgiveness, and to forgive other people for their own mistakes. Inspired by readers’ dilemmas, I’ve also worked hard to mend fractured family relationships and to be a better friend.

My personal experiences are a reminder that we humans can’t really control what happened before or what happens next. Joy, like grief, comes at you in such unexpected ways. That’s why it is so important to pay attention. I’ve learned to do that.

Being an advice-giver has challenged me to be aware of cultural, social, and relationship trends -- and to appreciate the quirks of human behavior.

When readers get frustrated by my lengthy answers to sometimes petty problems, they will often suggest that I should just tell people to “get a life!,” but I think that wrestling with our questions – from the quotidian to the profound – is living.

For the next month, I’ll continue to publish fresh columns and rerun some favorites. After that, my fantasy is to drive an RV across the country, visiting people I’ve met through this work who have challenged me and tantalized readers with their anonymous requests for advice.

In my hometown, I’m opening a little lending library. You can find me on social media, through my Asking Amy newsletter, at amydickinson.com, or at the Freeville Literary Society on Main Street – talking books with kids and offering advice to anyone who asks.

Love,

Amy

[beardedmrbean]

Pakistan's most-populous province of Punjab has imposed a ban on almost all open-air activities and ordered stores, markets and malls in some areas to close early as high levels of air pollution cause an unprecedented rise in smog-driven illnesses.

Schools have also closed in the main cities of the province, of which Lahore is the capital, with all the restrictions to run until November 17.

Earlier this month, Lahore, which regularly ranks among the world's most polluted cities, had an air pollution index score of 1,900 in some places, according to Swiss group IQAir.

Although the level is now lower, its index score of more than 600 on Monday still means that residents are breathing highly toxic air, with 0-50 considered the target score.

What did the Punjab government say?

"The spread of conjunctivitis/pink eye disease due to bacterial or viral infection, smoke, dust or chemical exposure is posing a serious and imminent threat to public health," the Punjab government said.

It said open-air sports events, exhibitions, festivals and restaurant dining were prohibited, but "unavoidable religious rites" could still take place.

Pharmacies, oil depots, dairy shops and fruit and vegetable shops are also to be allowed to stay open beyond the 8 p.m. local time closing time stipulated in the directive.

What is causing the smog?

Air pollution rises each winter in several regions of South Asia as cold air traps dust, factory and vehicle emissions and smoke from stubble burning on farms.

In addition, the Punjab government is blaming the air pollution crisis this year on neighboring India.

The pollution problems there have been made worse by the smoke emitted by firecrackers set off on Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights celebrated on October 31 this year, despite a ban.

Children at risk

UNICEF on Monday called for more to be done to save children from the deleterious effects of air pollution.

The UN's child protection agency said the toxic air in the region was putting more than 11 million children below five years of age at risk.

"In addition, schools in smog-affected areas have been closed ... the learning of almost 16 million children in Punjab has been disrupted," said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF representative in the country, adding that the country could ill afford more learning losses.

The WHO says that air pollution can trigger strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

Children, especially babies, and the elderly are the groups most at risk.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.18

Holidays

Alaska Day

Anti-Slavery Day (UK)

Anti-Trafficking Day (EU)

BBC Day

Boost Your Brain Day

Chili Pepper Day (French Republic)

Clean Water Act Day

Day Without the Delaware

Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day

Dia de la Raza Day (Colombia)

Doctor’s Day (Brazil)

European Paper Bag Day

Festival of Poetic Terrorism

Flag Day (Chile)

Flora Duffy Olympic Commemoration Day (Bermuda)

Geologic Map Day

Hard Boiled Guy and B-Girl Day

Healthcare Aide Day (Canada)

Heroes’ and Forefathers Day (British Virgin Islands)

Information Overload Awareness Day

International Legging Day

International Necktie Day

Kati Bihu (Assam, India)

King Look Under Your Mattress’s Unique Hiding Display

Mason/Dixon Line Day

Medical Assistants Recognition Day

Moby Dick Day

National Bioenergy Day

National Comic Strip Appreciation Day

National Day of Prayer (Zambia)

National Exascale Day

National Ken Day

National Louie Day

National Mark Day

National No Beard Day

National Put a Shoe on Your Head Day

National Speak Up for Victims of Sexual Abuse Day

National Statistics Day (Japan)

National Sunday Day

National Unity Day

National Work Bestie Day

National Zane Day

Necktie Day (Croatia)

Newspaper Comic Strip Appreciation Day

No Beard Day

Old Farmers Day

Operation Safe Stop Day

Persons Day (Canada)

Postman’s Day (Poland)

Procession of the Lord of Miracles (Peru)

Rocky Horror Picture Show Day (L.A., California)

Shine a Light Night (Ireland)

Timber Innovation Day

Watch a Squirrel Day

World Bank Action Day

World Cravat Day (Croatia)

World Guitar Day

World Inherited Blood Disorders Day

World Menopause Day

World Nature Protection Day

World Okapi Day

World Seitan Day

World Vasectomy Day

World Youth Day for Democracy

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Cupcake Day

Meatloaf Appreciation Day

National Mashed Potato Day

World Seitan Day

Independence & Related Days

Alaska (Official Transfer from Russia to US; 1867)

Azerbaijan (from the USSR, 1991)

Tinakula (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

3rd Friday in October

Buckle Up Phone Down Day (Missouri) [3rd Friday]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day [3rd Friday]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fondue Friday [3rd Friday of Each Month]

Food Waste Friday (Canada) [3rd Friday]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Friendly Friday [3rd Friday of Each Month]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Global Champagne Day [3rd Friday]

Library Workers Day (Canada) [3rd Friday]

National Mammography Day [3rd Friday]

National Pharmacy Buyer Day [Friday of 3rd Full Week]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

World Fruit & Vegetable Day [3rd Friday]

World Student Day [3rd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 18 (2nd Full Week of October)

Charlotte Craft Beer Week (Charlotte, North Carolina) [thru 10.27]

Festivals Beginning October 18, 2024

Alabama Gourd Show (Hartselle, Alabama) [thru 10.19]

Andouille Festival (LaPlace, Louisiana) [thru 10.20

Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival (Coshocton, Ohio) [thru 10.20]

Crossville Oktoberfest (Crossville, Tennessee) [thru 10.19]

Delta Hot Tamale Festival (Greenville, Mississippi) [thru 10.19]

Freimarkt in Bremen (Bremen, Germany) [thru 11.3]

Georgia Peanut Festival (Sylvester, Georgia) [thru 10.19]

GogolFest (Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine) [thru 10.20]

Greek Festival (Fort Walton Beach, Florida) [thru 10.20]

Halifax County Harvest Days (Halifax, North Carolina) [thru 10.19]

Harvest Happenings, Apple Festival, Dairy Barn Emporium (Van Wert, Ohio) [thru 10.19]

Kickin’ Chicken Wing & Chili Fest (Florence, South Carolina)

Klamath Basin Potato Festival (Merrill, Oregon) [thru 10.19]

La Fête du Champagne (Houston, Texas) [thru 10.20]

Lviv Cheese & Wine Festival (Lviv, Ukraine) [thru 10.20

Message to Man International Film Festival (Saint Petersburg, Russia) [thru 10.27]

PalmFest: Fiesta de Palmas (McAllen, Texas) [thru 10.20]

Panama City Beach Oktoberfest (Panama City, Florida) [thru 10.20]

Poquoson Seafood Festival (Poquoson, Virginia) [thru 10.20]

Sparta Persimmon Days Festival (Sparta, Missouri) [thru 10.19]

Taste of Downtown Boise (Boise, Idaho) [thru 10.27]

TASTE Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) [thru 10.19]

Tuzla Film Festival (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina) [thru 10.22]

Ukiah Country PumpkinFest (Mendocino County, California) [thru 10.20]

unWINE Downtown (Starkville, Mississippi)

Valladolid International Film Festival [Seminci] (Valladolid, Spain) [thru 10.26]

WhistleStop BBQ Festival at Midcity (Huntsville, Alabama) [thru 10.19]

Yachats Village Mushroom Fest (Yachats, Oregon) [thru 10.20]

Feast Days

Amish Tripathi (Writerism)

Doburoku Matsuri (Sake Festival; Shirahigetawara Shrine, Japan) [Day 2]

Feralia: Day of Purification (Pagan)

Irony Day (Pastafarian)

James Brooks (Artology)

Julian Sabas (Christian; Saint)

Justus (a.k.a. Justin) of Beauvais (Christian; Saint)

King Look Under Your Mattress’s Unique Hiding Display (Shamanism)

Little Summer (St. Luke’s)

Luca Giordano (Artology)

Luke the Evangelist (Christian; Saint) [brewers] *

Monan (Christian; Saint)

Ntozake Shange (Writerism)

Pandrosos (Greek all-refreshing Goddess)

Peter of Alcantara (Christian; Saint)

Richelieu Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Simhat Torah (begins at sundown; Judaism) [23 Tishrei]

Shemini Atzeret (Day 2; Judaism)

Stu Mead (Artology)

Swiss Cheese (Muppetism)

Terry McMillan (Writerism)

Thomas Phillips (Artology)

Vauvenargues (Positivist; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Alice the Fire Fighter (Ub Iwerks Alice Disney Cartoon; 1926)

Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (WB Animated Film; 2022)

The Batman vs. Dracula (WB Animated Film; 2005)

Batman: Year One (WB Animated Film; 2011)

Battlestar Galactica (TV Series; 2004)

BBC (UK Public Service Broadcaster; 1922)

Ben & Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos, by Robert Lawson (Children’s Biography; 1923)

Chet Baker Big Band, by Chet Baker (Album; 1956)

Cowboy Bebop (Japanese Anime Series; 1998)

Cruise Cat (Tom & Jerry cartoon; 1952)

The Cuckoo Murder Case (Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog Disney Cartoon; 1930)

Happy Hunting Grounds (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Howard’s End, by E.M. Forster (Novel; 1910)

How I Won the War (Film; 1967)

The Human Condition, by Hannah Arendt (Science Book; 1958)

I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, by Tommy Dorsey (Song; 1935)

Jingle Bells (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

Jojo Rabbit (Film; 2019)

The Jungle Book (Animated Disney Film; 1967)

The Keeper of the Lions (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1937)

La Bamba, by Ritchie Valens (Song; 1958)

The Lighthouse (Film; 2019)

Little Orphan Willie (Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog Disney Cartoon; 1930)

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Film; 2019)

Moby-Dick (Novel; 1851)

My Pop, My Pop (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

Other People’s Money (Film; 1991)

The Ring (Film; 2002)

Roseanne (TV Series; 1988)

The Saint in Action (a.k.a. The Ace of Knaves), by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories; 1937) [Saint #18]

Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1987)

Sudden Fried Chicken (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1946)

Swingers (Film; 1996)

Symphony No. 3, by Aaron Copland (Symphony; 1946)

Tennis for Two (Video Game; 1958)

Tree for Two (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

12 Years a Slave (Film; 2013)

West Side Story (Film; 1961)

What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong (Song; 1967)

The Yellow Kid (Comic Strip; 1896)

Zombieland: Double Tap (Film; 2019)

Zen and Japanese Culture, by D.T. Suzuki (Spiritual Book; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Gwenn, Justus, Lukas (Austria)

Zlata, Zlatan, Zlatka, Zlatko, Zlatomir (Bulgaria)

Flavijan, Justus, Luka, Lukša (Croatia)

Lukáš (Czech Republic)

Lucas (Denmark)

Ludvig, Lui, Luukas (Estonia)

Luka, Luukas, Säde, Satu (Finland)

Luc (France)

Gwenn, Justus, Lukas, Viviana (Germany)

Loukas, Luke, Marinos (Greece)

Lukács (Hungary)

Luca (Italy)

Lūkass, Rolands, Ronalds (Latvia)

Kęsmina, Liubartas, Lukas (Lithuania)

Kjersti, Kjerstin (Norway)

Julian, Łukasz, René (Poland)

Luca (Romania)

Lukáš (Slovakia)

Lucas (Spain)

Lukas (Sweden)

Luke (Ukraine)

Blaine, Blair, Blane, Luca, Lucas, Lukas, Luke, Wynn, Wynton (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 292 of 2024; 74 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 42 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 20 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 16 (Yi-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 16 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 14 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 22 Orange; Oneday [22 of 30]

Julian: 5 October 2024

Moon: 97%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 12 Descartes (11th Month) [Duclos / Diderot]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 27 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of October

Zodiac: Libra (Day 26 of 30)

[catdotjpeg]

Starvation and hunger are spreading among half a million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as they facing rainy, cold weather and insufficient food due to the ongoing Israeli aggression since October.  Some Palestinian families used whatever ingredients they had to feed their children, such as grinding fodder, which is hay or straw normally fed to cattle, to bake bread.

“People need to make bread; sometimes they manage to make it [using fodder] and sometimes not. We are living a famine,” a Palestinian in Gaza told Al-Jazeera Arabic.

“We live in a polluted condition. There is no fresh water, no food, no drink, no flour. This flour you see here was made from livestock fodder,” he said, showing a sack of fodder that contained insects and needed palming before being crushed. UNRWA said on Tuesday that 570,000 Palestinians in Gaza are now facing “catastrophic hunger.”

“Intense fighting, access denials & restrictions + communications blackouts are hampering UNRWA’s ability to safely & effectively deliver aid,” the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said. “As risk of famine grows, UN calls for a critical increase in humanitarian access,” it added. UNRWA worries were reiterated by the World Food Programme (WFP), which believes that numerous areas of Gaza are on the verge of being plunged into famine pockets as Israeli bombardment and siege never eased for over three months, except for the ten-day truce in November. “This is why we’re seeing people becoming more desperate and being impatient to wait for food distributions, because it’s very sporadic,” the WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa said. Both UNRWA and WFP are struggling to deliver sufficient aid and food supplies inside the Gaza Strip. UNRWA said it managed, alongside its partners, to deliver protein-based, flour, dairy items, and high-energy biscuits to 320,000 families in January, which still leave thousands of other Palestinians without food in Gaza.

Palestinians in Gaza have been blocked by the Israeli military from accessing the agricultural fields to the east of the Gaza Strip since October, a significant portion of which have been leveled and destroyed. This has added to the lack of sufficient food and to starvation in Gaza for 2.3 million Palestinians, the majority of whom are now displaced.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is still catastrophic. As winter sets in, people are struggling without proper shelters, food, water and warm clothes,” ActionAid UK appealed in a petition.

“The health system has collapsed in Gaza and outbreak of disease such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections threatens more lives,” it added.

-- From "‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 110: Israeli forces encircle Khan Younis as Gazans risk famine" by Mustafa Abu Sneineh for Mondoweiss, 24 Jan 2024

[crimsonlyinglilly]

CrimsonlyingLilly's Febuwhump 2024 Masterlist

Thank you Febuwhump, great time for me, not so much Elijah Mikealson and a few others.

Most notable achievements from this month, returning to a few old fics, updating a fic that had been collecting dust, the birth of a new AU, posting a piece from one of my original worlds and killing Elijah Mikealson six times.

Anyway onto the works.

DAY 1: helpless - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Familiar faces- Elias and Tristan

DAY 2: solitary confinement - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Familiar faces- Elias and Tristan

DAYs 3 and 4: "bite down on this" and obedience - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Elias and Tristan

DAY 5: rope burns - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Familiar faces- Elias and Tristan

DAY 6: "you lied to me" - The Originals AU - Stolen Three.

DAY 7: suffering in silence - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Familiar faces- EJ

DAY 8: "why won't it stop?" -The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces-

Day 9 replacement- ALT 1: human shield - The Originals fic -Mikael on the night he really loses his children. (Elijah kill count 1)

Day 10 replacement - ALT 2: "i love you" - The Originals fic

DAY 11: time loop - My Originals characters- a mortal's grief and a god's power is a poor mix.

DAY 12: semi-conscious - The Originals fic - Klaus loses his temper and Elijah loses a few years. (Elijah kill count 2. Kinda)

DAY 13: "you weren't supposed to get hurt" - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces

DAY 14: blood-stained tiles - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces- Elijah Todorov, 'Ellis'.

DAY 15: "who did this to you?" - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Familiar faces- Elijah Todorov, 'Ellis'.

DAYs 16, 18 and 27 : came back wrong, too weak to move and left for dead - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU (Elijah kill count 3)

DAY 17: hostage situation - The Originals AU - Stolen Three.

DAYs 19 and 20: "please don't" and truth serum - The Originals AU - Inner Child

DAY 21: unresponsive - The Originals AU - Inner Child

DAY 21: unresponsive - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU -Familiar faces- Interlude - Tyler.

DAY 22: "you weren't meant to be there" The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces.

DAY 23 replacement - ALT 6: immortality - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU- Familiar faces.

DAY 24: "i'm doing this because i care about you" - A Buddy Daddies fic- A Broken Promise. update.

BONUS - ALT 5: cpr - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces. (Elijah kill count 4)

DAY 25: waterboarding - Stranger Things fic- From the future of  Centre of the Web,

DAY 26: "help them" - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces- Little Marcellus and Finn

BONUS ALT 4: human weapon - The Originals AU - Lady Elijah

DAY 28: "no... not like this" - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces.

BONUS ALT 7: last words - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces. (Elijah kill count 5)

DAY 29: not allowed to die - The Vampire Dairies/ Originals AU - Familiar faces. (Elijah kill count 6)

Thank you again Febuwhump2024.

[odinspattern]

So apparently the «Nordic Diet» is being promoted now as a new, healthy diet that is supposedly soooo healthy, like lowering Diabetes and heart disease.

I was curious, so I went to check it out, and was lead to a Forbes article which y’all can read here; https://www.forbes.com/health/nutrition/diet/nordic-diet-review/

… the fuck. While some of the things written here is technically true, like limiting processed meats is encouraged, and sweets are discoraged, also we do eat a lot of seafood…

Plant. Based????

The fuck it isn’t! In what world is nordic food plant based? A lot of Norway in particular have very poor soil, meaning that there aren’t a lot of vegetables that grow here, and people had to rely on milk products, potatoes, cheese and meat to get through the winter months.

Legumes? Other than our pea soups, legumes are hardly part of our traditional diets!

Not to mention how in Norway we are big fans of food in tubes, which is a convenient way to take food with you on hikes without making your bread soggy and gross. Things like Caviar, mackerel in tomato sauce, bacon cheese and shrimp cheese to name a few…

Also it is funny how the article talks about low fat dairy, as there is currently a push to use full fat dairy now, because of anxieties around ultra-processed food.

What really gets me though is how it refuses to acknowledge that our healthcare and wealth is one of the deciding factors of the good health in the Nordics. And pretty significant reason why we live so long.

[coloradoron]

The Boy Who Cried Wolf…

Who is still crying wolf…

With MILLIONS of soft-brained people still believing him.

1967: Dire Famine Forecast By 1975

1969: Everyone Will Disappear In a Cloud Of Blue Steam By 1989 (1969)

1970: Ice Age By 2000

1970: America Subject to Water Rationing By 1974 and Food Rationing By 1980

1971: New Ice Age Coming By 2020 or 2030

1972: New Ice Age By 2070

1974: Space Satellites Show New Ice Age Coming Fast

1974: Another Ice Age?

1974: Ozone Depletion a ‘Great Peril to Life

1976: Scientific Consensus Planet Cooling, Famines imminent

1980: Acid Rain Kills Life In Lakes

1978: No End in Sight to 30-Year Cooling Trend

1988: Regional Droughts (that never happened) in 1990s

1988: Temperatures in DC Will Hit Record Highs

1988: Maldive Islands will Be Underwater by 2018 (they’re not)

1989: Rising Sea Levels will Obliterate Nations if Nothing Done by 2000

1989: New York City’s West Side Highway Underwater by 2019 (it’s not)

2000: Children Won’t Know what Snow Is

2002: Famine In 10 Years If We Don’t Give Up Eating Fish, Meat, and Dairy

2004: Britain will Be Siberia by 2024

2008: Arctic will Be Ice Free by 2018

2008: Climate Genius Al Gore Predicts Ice-Free Arctic by 2013

2009: Climate Genius Prince Charles Says we Have 96 Months to Save World

2009: UK Prime Minister Says 50 Days to ‘Save The Planet From Catastrophe’

2009: Climate Genius Al Gore Moves 2013 Prediction of Ice-Free Arctic to 2014

2013: Arctic Ice-Free by 2015

2014: Only 500 Days Before ‘Climate Chaos’

1968: Overpopulation Will Spread Worldwide

1970: World Will Use Up All its Natural Resources

1966: Oil Gone in Ten Years

1972: Oil Depleted in 20 Years

1977: Department of Energy Says Oil will Peak in 90s

1980: Peak Oil In 2000

1996: Peak Oil in 2020

2002: Peak Oil in 2010

2006: Super Hurricanes!

2005 : Manhattan Underwater by 2015

1970: Urban Citizens Will Require Gas Masks by 1985

1970: Nitrogen buildup Will Make All Land Unusable

1970: Decaying Pollution Will Kill all the Fish

1970s: Killer Bees!

UPDATE:

42. 1975: The Cooling World and a Drastic Decline in Food Production

43. 1969: Worldwide Plague, Overwhelming Pollution, Ecological Catastrophe, Virtual Collapse of UK by End of 20th Century

44. 1972: Pending Depletion and Shortages of Gold, Tin, Oil, Natural Gas, Copper, Aluminum

45. 1970: Oceans Dead in a Decade, US Water Rationing by 1974, Food Rationing by 1980

46. 1988: World’s Leading Climate Expert Predicts Lower Manhattan Underwater by 2018

47. 2005: Fifty Million Climate Refugees by the Year 2020

48. 2000: Snowfalls Are Now a Thing of the Past

49.1989: UN Warns That Entire Nations Wiped Off the Face of the Earth by 2000 From Global Warming

50. 2011: Washington Post Predicted Cherry Blossoms Blooming in Winter because of global warming

[brookston]

Holidays 4.3

Holidays

American Circus Day

American Creed Day

Armenian Appreciation Day

Corrupt Society Day

Day of the Bride (Argentina)

Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day

A Drop of Water is a Grain of Gold

Fan Dance Day

Find A Rainbow Day

Good Deeds Day

Independent Artist Day

International Day Against Victim Blaming

Jane Goodall Day (Los Angeles)

Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus; Japan)

Love A Muslim Day (UK)

National Chalk Day

National Film Score Day

National Grey Day

National Inspiring Joy Day

National Library Week begins

National Pac-Man Day

National Shoot Your Shot Day

Overcome a Handicap Day

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

Peace Day (Angola)

Pony Express Day

Second Republic Day (Guinea)

TV Guide Day

Tweed Day

Weed Out Hate: Sow the Seeds of Greatness Day

World Aquatic Animal Day

World Cloud Security Day

World Party Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day

Fish Fingers and Custard Day

National Chocolate Mousse Day

1st Monday in April

National Bake Week begins [1st Monday]

National Fun Day [1st Monday]

Public Library Day [Monday of Library Week]

School Librarian Day [Monday of Library Week]

Sweet Potato Day [1st Monday]

Tater Day (Kentucky) [1st Monday]

Independence Days

Declaration of the Second Republic (Guinea)

Malinovia (Declared 2018) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Agape, Chionia, and Irene (Christian; Martyrs)

Aristæus (Positivist; Saint)

Burgundofara (Christian; Saint)

Captain Cabbage (Muppetism)

Day of Sheela-Na-Gig (Pagan)

Doris Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Pak Tai (Macau) [3rd Day of 3rd Lunar Month]

Goof Friday (Church of the SubGenius)

Holy Monday [6 Days before Easter]

Luigi Scrosoppi (Christian; Saint)

Nicetias (Christian; Saint)

Plato (Christian; Saint)

Proserpina’s Rise from the Underworld Day (Ancient Greece)

Richard of Chichester (Christian; Saint)

Seize a Sausage Day (Pastafarian)

Ulpin of Tyre (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sizdar-Bedah (Unlucky to stay indoors; Iran)

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Adventureland (Film; 2009)

Beethoven (Film; 1992)

The Druid of Shannara, by Terry Brooks (Novel; 1991)

Fast & Furious (Film; 2009) [F&F #4]

Furious 7 (Film; 2015) [F&F #7]

It Happened at the World’s Fair (Film; 1963)

It’s Now or Never, recorded by Elvis Presley (Song; 1960)

The Long, Hot Summer (Film; 1958)

Louisiana Hayride (Radio Music Series; 1948)

Mercury Rising (Film; 1998)

My Hero Academia (Anime TV Series; 2016)

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregor (Novel; 2008)

Piano Concerto in A Minor, by Edvard Grieg (Concerto; 1869)

Planet of the Apes (Film; 1968)

Planning for Good Eating (Disney Cartoon; 1946)

Rock-A-Doodle (Animated Film; 1992)

Rumple of the Bailey (UK TV Series; 1978)

The Sea-Wolf (Novel; 1904)

2001: A Space Odyssey (Film; 1968)

Today’s Name Days

Richard, Sixtus (Austria)

Radojko, Ratko, Rikard, Siksto (Croatia)

Richard (Czech Republic)

Nicæas (Denmark)

Uko, Uku (Estonia)

Sampo, Veeti (Finland)

Richard (France)

Irene, Lisa, Richard (Germany)

Illyria’s (Greece)

Buda, Richárd (Hungary)

Riccardo, Sisto (Italy)

Daira, Dairis, Ferdinands (Latvia)

Kristijonas, Ričardas, Rimtautė, Vytenis (Lithuania)

Gunnvald, Gunvor (Norway)

Antoni, Cieszygor, Jakub, Pankracy, Ryszard (Poland)

Nichita (Romania)

Richard (Slovakia)

Ricardo (Spain)

Ferdinand, Nanna (Sweden)

Dick, Dickson, Dix, Dixie, Dixon, Doris, Ricarda, Ricardo, Rich, Richard, Richelle, Richman, Rick, Rickey, Ricky, Rosamond, Rosamund, Ryan (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 93 of 2024; 272 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 14 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 16 of 28]

Chinese: Second Month 2 (Gui-Mao), Day 13 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 12 Nisan 5783

Islamic: 12 Ramadan 1444

J Cal: 2 Aqua; Twosday [2 of 30]

Julian: 21 March 2023

Moon: 93%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 9 Archimedes (4th Month) [Aristæus]

Runic Half Month: Ehwaz (Horse) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 15 of 90)

Zodiac: Aries (Day 14 of 30)

[sweet-dottie-dan-dan]

The Bestest Dairy Month 🧀 Day 4

Cheddar Cheese🧀

Art challenge made by TheTROCFans

[covid-safer-hotties]

Living with Long COVID: What it’s Like to be Diagnosed with the Debilitating Disease - Published Sept 3, 2024

By: Nicole Pajer

Even mild cases of COVID-19 are linked to potential long-term repercussions — some of them deadly serious

Chrissy Bernal has caught COVID-19 three times, most recently in ­October 2023. “My symptoms were always pretty mild,” she says. But after her third round of the virus, she ­developed extreme allergies to foods she used to eat all the time: oats, dairy, gluten, sesame seeds and peanuts.

“I literally have some level of anaphylaxis every single day,” she says. In May, Bernal, 46, a public relations professional in Houston, went into anaphylactic shock during a virtual meeting. “I had to inject myself with an Epi while everyone watched in horror on Zoom,” she says.

Natalie Nichols, 53, has been struggling with debilitating asthma and severe food allergies since she first caught COVID more than three years ago. “Last fall, I spent ­two-and-a-half months confined to bed, ­motionless, because moving, including holding a cellphone, made me too short of breath,” she says.

She’s also experienced brain fog, high blood pressure, hyper­glycemia, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms. Nichols, the founder of a nonprofit in Nacogdoches, Texas, recently underwent surgery to repair joint damage caused by COVID-induced inflammation.

Lorraine W., of Clarence Center, New York, was looking forward to an active retirement when she was diagnosed with COVID in March 2020. “I’ve never returned to my pre-COVID self,” says Lorraine, 65.

She’s on medication to treat small blood vessel damage to her heart and continues to battle a lingering cough, fatigue and breathlessness, as well as kidney disease. Neurological changes have made her legs unsteady when she walks, requiring her to use balance poles. “None of these conditions were present before COVID,” Lorraine says.

In June, the National Academies of ­Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a comprehensive definition of long COVID: “an infection-­associated chronic condition that occurs after COVID-19 infection and is present for at least three months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems.” According to that definition, 18 million Americans have experienced long COVID; currently, more than 1 in 20 of us are living with its symptoms. Researchers have begun to link long-term COVID with another recent phenomenon: our shrinking life expectancy.

The disease we’re forgetting COVID doesn’t seem that scary anymore. More than 98 percent of the U.S. population has some degree of immunity — from vaccination, prior infection or both — and Paxlovid and other medications are available to counteract acute symptoms. For many of us, contracting COVID is like having a bad ­upper respiratory infection.

But “COVID isn’t gone,” says Ryan Hurt, M.D., director of the Long COVID Research and Clinical Program at the Mayo Clinic. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that COVID still kills at least 1,000 people every week around the globe — but “we only have data from about 40 countries,” says Maria Van Kerkhove, M.D., director of WHO’s Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention.

Older adults and those with preexisting conditions remain among the most at-risk populations for severe, acute COVID. ­People 65 and older accounted for 63 percent of COVID-related hospitalizations and 88 percent of in-hospital deaths during the first seven months of 2023, according to CDC data.

Although the dangers of acute COVID ­infection may have ebbed for many, the ­reality of long COVID is coming into view. Of those who contracted COVID-19 within the past four years, 10 to 20 percent have experienced long COVID.

“With every new case of acute COVID [the initial phase of infection when diagnosed or symptoms first appear], there is risk for developing long COVID,” says Caitlin McAuley, D.O., a family physician at the Keck COVID Recovery Clinic in Los Angeles. She’s had patients who developed long COVID fully recover, get reinfected several times with no lingering effects, then develop another case that leads to a new bout of long COVID. She’s also seen patients who got COVID twice with no lingering effects, and the third time they ended up with prolonged symptoms.

“We still have a number of individuals who had the first wave of COVID who are suffering from long COVID symptoms now, several of them many years out,” says Jerrold Kaplan, M.D., medical director of the COVID Rehabilitation and Recovery Program at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in New York.

Having escaped long COVID previously doesn’t mean you won’t face it in the future. Indeed, some research has suggested that catching multiple COVID-19 strains puts you at increased risk. A study published in 2022 found that reinfection can increase the risk of complications in major organ systems, and these risks persist at least six months beyond the initial infection.

We don’t yet know the true impact of catching COVID. “Many chronic disease processes, such as cardiovascular disease, dementia and cancer, take years to develop. And whether acute COVID-19 puts people at risk for some of these issues? Time will tell,” Hurt says. What doctors do know is that patients are flocking to their offices complaining of symptoms they never had before COVID.

Is long COVID boosting our death rate? In July, COVID accounted for less than 1 ­percent of all deaths in the U.S. Life expectancy in the U.S. is 77.5 years, reflecting an uptick over the past two years but still lower than prepandemic levels. Many factors contribute to that statistic, but it’s clear that the long-term effects of COVID have played a role.

For example, a study in the journal Nature Medicine found that those hospitalized with COVID had a 29 percent greater risk of death in the three years after their infection.

“But what was also alarming is that in people who weren’t hospitalized, there was also an increased risk of a variety of medical issues,” says John Baratta, founder and codirector of the COVID Recovery Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even patients who’d had mild bouts of COVID-19 had an increased risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological issues lingering for three years after the initial infection. Long COVID patients had a significantly increased risk of severe health issues affecting the brain, lungs and heart.

We have long known that an acute case of COVID can compromise heart health: Compared with those who didn’t contract COVID, people who caught the virus were 81 percent more likely to die of a cardiovascular complication in the ensuing three weeks, according to a study of 160,000 patients published by the European Society of Cardiology. But the risk lingers long after the symptoms abate. Those who caught the virus were five times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease as long as 18 months after infection, the same study found. Heart disease deaths, which had been on a downward trend for decades, began to spike in 2020 and remained high through 2022, the last year for which data is available.

Stroke, blood clots in the legs leading to clots in the lungs, abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and inflammation of the heart are among the challenges COVID poses, says Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, M.D., professor and chair of internal medicine at the Burnett School of Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas. In long COVID, this collection of cardiovascular disruptions can present as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), in which patients’ heart rates increase abnormally when they go from sitting or ­lying down to standing up.

One theory to explain COVID’s long-term effect on the heart — and the body in general — centers on inflammation. “Every time you get infected with COVID, there is a possible increased risk of long COVID, and some cardiac disorders can occur — especially if you have a history of heart disease, including stroke, heart disease and heart attacks,” says Pragna Patel, M.D., senior adviser for long COVID at the CDC. All of these problems can be exacerbated by the virus entering coronary tissue and triggering inflammatory responses that can damage the heart.

Researchers say COVID may also alter the gut microbiome, a primary controller of inflammation, thereby triggering the immune system to rev up the condition. “There is no single agreed-upon mechanism that’s causing the issues,” Baratta says. “An individual may have multiple factors going on in their body, and not everyone will have the same underlying mechanism causing their symptoms,” which increases the complexity of both research and treatment.

One factor that seems to matter: vaccination status. “Several studies show that vaccination can decrease the risk of developing long COVID,” Patel says. Vaccination rates tend to increase with age, with people 75 and older being the most well vaccinated — hence the most well protected from long COVID, Patel theorizes. That may explain why long COVID most commonly affects people ages 35 to 64; the risk seems to drop for those 65-plus, according to CDC data.

From long covid diagnosis to treatment No single test can determine whether a ­person has long COVID. Doctors typically diagnose long COVID by reviewing the ­patient’s health history and current symptoms and trying to rule out other causes. A positive COVID test is not required, as someone could have been infected without knowing it, then experience strange symptoms later, Patel says.

Though there are many ongoing clinical trials on long COVID, there is no umbrella treatment. Primary care physicians address what they can, then call in specialists — such as a cardiologist to handle arrhythmia or a therapist to treat anxiety — for more targeted care. There are long COVID centers around the country where teams of professionals work to help patients through their unique symptoms.

“Because the effects of COVID are so wide throughout the body and mind, there will not be a single treatment for all long COVID issues,” Baratta says. “This is ­going to be treated by many different types of providers and specialists, and it will be treated, often, symptom by symptom.”

Long COVID is recognized as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act if it substantially limits one or more major life activities. About 200 symptoms fall ­under that umbrella, Patel says. Here are some of the conditions we’re learning can linger months and, in some cases, years beyond an acute COVID infection. If these or other health changes seem familiar, consult your primary care physician.

1. Extreme fatigue It’s common to experience fatigue when your body is busy fighting off an illness. But some people still struggle with fatigue long after their initial COVID infection. In fact, a lack of energy is the number one symptom reported by long COVID patients. In some, this can be diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, which has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic, Baratta says. He defines this as “a disabling level of fatigue that severely limits daily activities.”

This lingering fatigue may be due to limited production of energy within the muscles caused by damage to the mitochondria from a COVID infection. It can happen to anyone — no matter their level of fitness before infection. “I’ve treated patients who have been triathletes and now may only be able to do 15 or 20 minutes of exercise a day, when they’re used to running and swimming miles at a time,” Kaplan says.

He recommends starting slow and pacing yourself with everything you do around the house, “doing shorter intervals several times throughout the day, rather than trying to do everything at once.” Whether it gets better depends on the individual. Some people’s symptoms clear, and some people may battle them indefinitely.

2. Shortness of breath An analysis of chest CT scans from 144 patients ages 27 to 80 found that more than one-third of people hospitalized with a previous COVID infection had lung scarring and thickening two years after coming into contact with the virus. Even patients with milder cases who walked away without scarring can experience changes in their breathing.

“Some research shows that people ­after COVID start to take shorter, shallower breaths,” Baratta says. “This essentially causes a type of hyperventilation they are doing without even recognizing it, not getting good fresh air deep into the lungs, and [this] can lead to shortness of breath.” ​

Doctors have found success using respiratory exercises to help patients relearn slow, deep breathing.

3. Cognitive changes Difficulty concentrating, spaciness and forgetfulness are just a few of the brain challenges COVID can bring on. These can last for weeks or months or — in some with long COVID — become an everyday occurrence that lasts indefinitely. COVID may linger in a person’s gut long after an infection, altering their microbiome and hindering the body’s ability to produce serotonin, leading to cognitive disturbances.

COVID may also disrupt the blood-brain barrier, allowing chemicals or molecules in the rest of the body to enter the brain blood circulation and potentially lead to brain fog, Baratta says.

One study found that 30 days after testing positive for COVID-19, people were at greater risk for cognitive decline, as well as for mental health disorders including anxiety, depression and stress. Another study found inflammation in the brains of people with mild to moderate COVID-19 was similar to the effects of seven years of aging. Doctors are leading neurologically affected patients through cognitive rehabilitation exercises that show promise in reducing symptoms.

4. Depression and anxiety “Mood-related disorders are one of the top five issues that happen to people after COVID,” Baratta says. There may be a direct relationship between the virus’s effect on the brain and mood issues. A 2021 review of eight studies found that 12 weeks after a COVID infection, 11 to 28 ­percent of people had depression symptoms, and 3 to 12 percent of those individuals reported their symptoms as severe. If you’re feeling more stressed or down after catching COVID, tell your primary care physician, who can refer you to a therapist. Or visit the American Psychological Association’s search tool at locator.apa.org to find a qualified therapist in your area.

5. Sleep disturbances Nearly 40 percent of people with long COVID have reported major changes to their sleep patterns. One study looked at 1,056 COVID-19 patients who did not have a severe enough infection to require hospitalization. Of that population, 76.1 percent reported having insomnia and 22.8 percent severe insomnia. Sleep ­apnea may also appear post-COVID, another way the disease affects the respiratory system.

Talk to your doctor if you’re having sleep issues. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine can help with sleep ­apnea. Lifestyle habits that prioritize healthy sleep, such as keeping consistent sleep and wake times and avoiding large meals before bed, may also help. “Post-COVID sleep has literally been a nightmare! We saw a 23 percent increase in sleeping-pill prescription during and post-COVID,” says Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and clinical sleep specialist in Los Angeles.

6. Digestive upset Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating and gas: These symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can be by-products of an encounter with COVID. A survey of 729 COVID survivors found that 29 percent experienced at least one new chronic GI symptom six months after their infection. “There is evidence that parts of the COVID virus linger in the GI tract for many months after the initial illness, and it’s been suggested that the presence of these ongoing viral fragments causes dysfunction or problems with the GI tract, leading to mostly symptoms of diarrhea and gastric distress and discomfort,” Baratta says.

Talk to your doctor about any new digestive symptoms or seek help from a gastro­enterologist. You can keep a food journal and note if your condition flares after eating certain foods. Try cutting out those foods, then reintroducing them one by one to see what you react to, Kaplan advises.

7. New or worsened allergies Some people who develop COVID experience allergies they never had before. One study found the risk of ­developing allergic diseases, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, rose significantly within the first 30 days after a COVID diagnosis. This may be because one’s immune system stays hypervigilant after fighting the virus, McAuley says.

In severe cases, like Chrissy Bernal’s, this can lead to mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a disease that can behave like a series of severe allergies: The body’s cells become hypersensitive, causing strong ­reactions to everything from food and pollen to even a hot shower or exercise. Antihistamines and other medications may help, so talk to your doctor if you experience skin itching, a rapid pulse, wheezing or gastro­intestinal symptoms.

8. Pain Some COVID survivors battle chronic pain, everything from aching joints to testicular pain. There is a higher risk of inflammatory arthritis, and women are at higher risk than men. One review of studies estimated that 10 percent of people who contracted COVID experienced musculo­skeletal pain at some point during the first year after infection.

Reducing stress, eating a healthy diet and exercising may ease some post-COVID ­discomfort. Massage therapy, movement therapy, acupuncture and over-the-counter pain medications may also offer relief. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist, such as a rheumatologist, who can help manage symptoms including joint pain.

Fast-moving research means new hope If your symptoms last after a bout of COVID, start with your primary care physician, who can help treat your symptoms or refer you to a specialist. Despite previous dismissals, long COVID is more recognized these days, Patel says, and the CDC is doing its part to educate both patients and providers. And initiatives such as the National Institutes of Health’s Recover program are researching treatment options.

“In a year, things will look different, because research is moving so quickly,” says Sara F. Martin, M.D., medical director of the Adult Post-Acute COVID Clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The CDC, for instance, is funding a series of clinical trials that the NIH has in the works. This new information, Martin says, may guide doctors, including herself, who treat long COVID ­patients to better ease their symptoms.

[cosmicwitchgod]

Disney wants wrongful death suit thrown out because widower bought an Epcot ticket and had Disney+

By Jordan Valinsky, CNN

3 minute read

Updated 8:09 PM EDT, Wed August 14, 2024

"A man suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for the wrongful death of his wife is facing a new legal hurdle: Disney is trying to get it thrown out of court and sent to arbitration — because he signed up for Disney+ years earlier.

Court documents show that the company is trying to get the $50,000 lawsuit tossed because the plaintiff, Jeffrey Piccolo, signed up for a one-month trial of the streaming service Disney+ in 2019, which requires trial users to arbitrate all disputes with the company.

Company lawyers also claim that because Piccolo used the Walt Disney Parks’ website to buy Epcot Center tickets, Disney is shielded from a lawsuit from the estate of Piccolo’s deceased wife, Kanokporn Tangsuan, who died of a reaction to severe food allergies.

In a legal filing responding to Disney’s claims, Piccolo’s lawyer Brian Denney called Disney’s argument “preposterous” and said that the notion that signing up for a Disney+ free trial would bar a customer’s right to a jury trial “with any Disney affiliate or subsidiary, is so outrageously unreasonable and unfair as to shock the judicial conscience.”

Walt Disney Parks and Resort is “explicitly seeking to bar its 150 million Disney+ subscribers from ever prosecuting a wrongful death case against it in front of a jury even if the case facts have nothing to with Disney+,” Denney wrote in court papers as a response.

Piccolo is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 pursuant to Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, as well as damages for mental pain and suffering, loss of companionship and protection, loss of income and medical and funeral expenses.

“We are deeply saddened by the family’s loss and understand their grief,” a Disney spokesperson said Wednesday. “Given that this restaurant is neither owned nor operated by Disney, we are merely defending ourselves against the plaintiff’s attorney’s attempt to include us in their lawsuit against the restaurant.”

In October 2023, Kanokporn Tangsuan, her husband Jeffrey Piccolo and Piccolo’s mother dined at Raglan Road Irish Pub in Disney Springs, which is part of the Walt Disney World resort in Florida. They chose to eat at the restaurant, the lawsuit states, because they believed it would have proper safeguards against serving dairy and nuts to Tangsuan due to her allergies.

Signing up for Disney+ should shield the company from court trials, Disney said.

Signing up for Disney+ should shield the company from court trials, Disney said. Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty Images/File

The waiter guaranteed the couple that certain foods could be made allergen-free, which the two confirmed “several more times,” according to the lawsuit. She also ordered a vegan fritter, scallops, onion rings and a vegan shepherd’s pie.

Although some of the food delivered lacked allergen-free flags, the waiter again assured them it was allergen free, but after dinner, Tangsuan, 42, went shopping in the Disney Springs area and began “suffering from a severe acute allergic reaction,” according to the lawsuit.

Despite self-administering an Epi-Pen, Tangsuan died from “anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system,” the lawsuit said, attributing the information to a medical examiner’s investigation."

— CNN’s Ramishah Maruf and Maria Sole Campinoti contributed to this report.

[thedruidsdenexotics]

New terrarium completed

Terrarium Setup (Part 2)

Last week I had received my DIY bio-active terrarium and added expanding foam to the sticks I had picked out to fill the space in the enclosure.

This was my first time ever using the Great Stuff expanding foam. After allowing it to cure for 24 hours, I went to remove the wire supports and one of the sticks didn't adhere correctly. Thankfully it popped off immediately and didn't wait until there was an animal in the enclosure.

I trimmed back the extra Great Stuff foam and added some sphagnum moss with aquarium silicone. I also zip-tied a pot in the background to allow for the pink polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) to be added as a floating plant.

I was actually quite impressed that my contributions to the enclosure came out looking as good as they did.

Next, my husband moved it to it's place in the Den. Once it was on the shelf, I was able to "blueprint" the plants in the bottom.

This was probably easier than it will be with future enclosures as I've been day dreaming the layout of this enclosure for months. I then added the drainage layer (LECA balls), substrate barrier, and substrate (Unz-arium simple soil).

The pothos (Epipremnum aureum) was actually 2 different plants, root-wise. I took the smaller pothos and put it in the stage left from of the enclosure. I also added a loose stick that I plan to train the pothos up as it grows.

I added dairy cow isopods (Porcellio laevis) and some springtails. Finally, I added some leaf litter, sphagnum moss, and a cute little piece of aquarium decoration that I think helps add the feeling of being in a little magical fairy world.

I also set up a Mist King automatic misted but I didn't take any pictures of that process. I need to add another nozzle but I'm okay with supplementing the plants with manually watering for now.

Now comes the hard part for my ADHD, the waiting for it to grow out a bit more. A couple of months and I'm hoping that it will start looking more forest-y.

Plant Project

I re-potted all of the little pothos cuttings to their big kid pots. All had nice healthy tap roots. I also didn't get any pictures of this but I will include a visual update of the Den next week.

This project is now also a waiting game while the cutting grow large enough to list for sale.

Cabinet/Wood Products Project

No updates for this project this week. However, now that the first enclosure is planted and the cuttings are now in their big kid pots, this is going to be the financial focus.

My goal is to have the workshop completed by spring 2025.

Upcoming Shows/Expos

October 20th – Corning Reptiles and More

October 26 – Rexpo Fall 2024

We're probably going to miss the Corning Reptiles and More show as my sister's wedding is the day before but I really hope I can make it for their spring show.

What’s Next?

Fall is hard for me, more overcast days and shorter days really mess with my motivation. I'm keeping my eyes on the next steps forward and I'm super proud with the steps I've taken so far.

I'm gonna focus on getting the garage converted to be my husband's wood workshop next as far as financial investment. I think that my goal of having it completed by spring of next year is realistic.

I'm super happy with how my first bioactive enclosure came out. It's what I always wanted when I was a kid but the knowledge to do them wasn't as common in the hobby in the 90's. It definitely makes my inner child happy and that was the ultimate goal.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 9.11

Holidays

Battle of Tendra Day (Russia)

Benghazi Remembrance Day

Bitter Orange Day (French Republic)

Cerrado Day (Brazil)

Day of Remembrance

Day of Sobriety (Russia)

Eleven Days of Global Unity, Day 1: Unity

Emergency Number Day

Evening of Destiny (Tunisia)

Fiesta Nacional de Cataluña (Catalonia, Spain)

Gun Cleaning Day

Harley Quinn Day

Hoover Dam Day

I Want to Start My Own Business Day

Jinnah Day (Founder’s Day; Pakistan)

Kababens Day

Liberation Day (Dijon, France)

Liberatrix Asteroid Day

Libraries Remember Day

Make Your Bed Day

Marcos Day (Ilocos Norte, Philippines)

National Day (Belize)

National Day of Catalonia (Spain)

National Day of Service and Remembrance

National Emergency Responders Day

National Forest Martyrs Day (India)

National Hug Your Boss Day [also 4th Friday]

National 911 Emergency Day

National Radio Day (Indonesia)

National Tricky Handshake Day

9/11 Remembrance Day

No News Is Good News Day

Odd Day

Paryushana Parva (Jainism)

Patriot Day

Pohnpei Liberation Day (Micronesia)

Porsche 911 Day

Queen Paola’s Birthday (Belgium)

Remember Freedom Day

Sustainable House Day

Teachers’ Day (Argentina, Latin America)

Texas First Responders Day (Texas)

Whiskey Rebellion Day

Women’s Baseball Day

World Wildlife Fund Day

Wrench in the Works Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Dairy Day (UK)

Hot Cross Buns Day

Kababens Day (Sweden)

Independence & Related Days

Tajikistan (from USSR, 1991) [observed]

New Year’s Days

Coptic New Year

Enkutatash (Ethiopia, Rastafari) [Day of Mäskäräm]

Geez New Year (Keddus Johannes)

New Year’s Day and Anniversary of the Reunion of Eritrea with Ethiopia (Ethiopia)

New Year's Day (a.k.a. Nayrouz; Coptic Ethiopia)

Pohnpei Liberation Day (Micronesia)

2nd Wednesday in September

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Quiet Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Quiet Day (UK) [2nd Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Watermelon Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Workout Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning September 11 (2nd Full Week of September)

Eleven Days of Global Unity begins [thru 21st]

Festivals Beginning September 11, 2024

Bienal de Flamenco (Seville, Spain) [thru 10.5]

CityFolk Festival (Ottawa, Canada) [thru 9.15]

Hancock County Fair (Kiln, Mississippi) [thru 9.14]

Morton Pumpkin Festival (Morton, Illinois) [thru 9.14]

MTV Video Music Awards

Murphysboro Apple Festival (Murphysboro, Illinois) [thru 9.14]

Ocean City Bikefest (Ocean City, Maryland) [thru 9.15]

Oldenburg International Film Festival (Oldenburg, Germany) [thru 9.15]

Oxford County Fair (Oxford, Maine) [thru 9.14]

Feast Days

Andre Dubus III (Writerism)

Casey (Muppetism)

Daphne Odjig (Artology)

Day of Queens (Ancient Egypt Festival celebrating Hatshepsut, Nefertiti & Cleopatra; Everyday Wicca)

Day of Thoth (Ancient Egypt)

Deiniol (Christian; Saint)

D.H. Lawrence (Writerism)

Discontinued Thoughts Exhibition (Shamanism)

Felix, Regula, and Exuperantius (Christian; Saint)

Francesco Bonifacio (Christian; Blessed)

Halegmonath (Anglo Saxon Holy Month; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Harry Burleigh (Episcopal Church)

Jean-Claude Forest (Artology)

John Gabriel Perboyre (Christian; One of Martyr Saints of China)

Leudinus (Bobo; Christian; Saint)

Meditrinalia (Pagan)

Monkey King Festival (Hong Kong) [16th Day of 8th Lunar Month]

Moreto (Positivist; Saint)

O. Henry (Writerism)

Our Lady of Coromoto (Christian; Saint)

Paphnutius of Thebes (Roman Catholic Church)

Patiens of Lyons (Christian; Saint)

Peter of Chavanon (Christian; Saint)

Protus and Hyacinth (Christian; Martyrs)

Sacrifice to Zeus Epoptes (Ancient Greece)

Sperandia (Christian; Saint)

Stephen Etnier (Artology)

Theodora of Alexandria (Christian; Saint)

Thomas Hill (Artology)

Tinfoil Hat Day (Pastafarian)

Vincent of Leon (Christian; Saint)

Virgin of Coromoto Day (Colombia)

Werewolf Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Historically Bad Day (Massacre of Drogheda, Twin Towers & Pentagon terrorist attack & 10 other tragedies) [9 of 11]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because of something to do with crazy people and planes.)

Premieres

The Adventures of Paddy the Pelican (Animated TV Series; 1950)

Air-Sea Battle (Atari Video Game; 1977)

The American Way of Death, by Jessica Mitford (Science Book; 1963)

Better Bait Than Never (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

Big Bomb at Frostbite Falls or the Exploding Metropolis (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 54; 1960)

Big Sur, by Jack Kerouac (Novel; 1962)

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (Film; 1992)

Brave New World Revisited, by Aldous Huxley (Novel; 1958)

Busy Prepositions (Grammar Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1993)

The Carol Burnett Show (TV Series; 1967)

Combat (Atari Video Game; 1977)

Contagion (Film; 2011)

Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments, by Theodor W. Adorno (Philosophy Book; 1944)

The Farthest Shore, by Ursula Le Guin (Novel; 1972) [Earthsea #3]

Gogo Bordello Non-Stop (Music Documentary Film; 2009)

Guards! Guards!, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1989) [Discworld #8]

Huey’s Ducky Daddy (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

Indy 500 (Atari Video Game; 1977)

Is This It?, by The Strokes (Album; 2001)

The Jackson 5ive (Animated TV Series; 1971)

Just Desserts or Operator, We’ve Been Cut Off (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 160; 1962)

Lady Chatterley's Lover, by D.H. Lawrence (Novel; 1928)

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel (Novel; 2001)

Little House on the Prairie (TV Series; 1974)

Love Me Do, recorded by The Beatles (Song; 1962)

Minima Moralia: Reflections on a Damaged Life, by Theodor W. Adorno (Critical Theory; 1951)

Oh! Susanna, by Stephen Foster (Song; 1848)

Porky’s Garden (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Queens Messenger (TV Series; 1928) [1st TV Drama]

The Rake’s Progress, by Igor Stravinsky (Opera; 1951)

The Saint and the Fiction Makers, by Fleming Lee (Novel; 1968) [Saint #41]

Saint Louis Blues, by W.C. Handy (Song; 1914)

Scooby-Doo! And the Gourmet Ghost (WB Animated Film; 2018)

The Seapreme Court (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares (Novel; 2001)

Slums of Beverly Hills (Film; 1998)

Sneakers (Film; 1992)

Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison (Novel; 1977)

Squeeze Play or Glad We Could Get Together (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 159; 1962)

Stagger Lee, recorded by Lloyd Price (Original Uncensored Song; 1958)

Star Ship (Atari Video Game; 1977)

Street Racer (Atari Video Game; 1977)

Surf Bored (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

Surround (Atari Video Game; 1977)

Swiss Tease (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1947)

Swooning in the Swooners, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

The Tale or Mr. Morton (Grammar Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1993)

Upsidaisium, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 53; 1960)

Video Olympics (Atari Video Game; 1977)

A Wanted Man, 17th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2012)

Wendell & Wild (Animated Film; 2022)

The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, by Bruce Springsteen (Album; 1973)

Today’s Name Days

Felix, Helga, Maternus, Regula (Austria)

Bonaventura, Feliks, Hijacint (Croatia)

Denisa (Czech Republic)

Hillebert (Denmark)

Aalo, Aleks, Aleksander, Sander, Sanno, Sass (Estonia)

Ale, Aleksandra, Aleksanteri, Ali, Sandra, Santeri, Santtu (Finland)

Adelphe, Glenn, Vinciane (France)

Felix, Helga, Louis (Germany)

Efrosynos, Evanthia, Evanthis, Theodora, Theodora (Greece)

Teodóra (Hungary)

Diomede, Fausto, Felice (Italy)

Ģirts, Nansija, Signe, Signija (Latvia)

Augantas, Gytautė, Gytė, Helga (Lithuania)

Dag, Dagny (Norway)

Feliks, Jacek, Jan, Naczesław, Prot (Poland)

Bystrik (Slovakia)

Teodora (Spain)

Dagny, Helny (Sweden)

Fialka, Theodora, Violet (Ukraine)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 255 of 2024; 111 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 37 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Muin (Vine) [Day 11 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Guy-You), Day 9 (Wu-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 8 Elul 5784

Islamic: 7 Rabi I 1446

J Cal: 15 Gold; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 29 August 2024

Moon: 54%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 3 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Guevara]

Runic Half Month: Ken (Illumination) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 84 of 94)

Week: 2nd Full Week of September

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 21 of 32)

[palmoilnews]

TOP NEWS Agricultural Commodities > World coffee, sugar prices surge as drought-hit Brazil awaits rains > Argentina exchange could trim corn forecast on lack of rain > Cocoa-hoarding in Ivory Coast curtailed by regulator's threat of sanctions > US East Coast port employers file NRLB complaint against union as strike looms > COLUMN-The bearish and bullish cases for US corn stocks on Monday -Braun > FOCUS-Russia expands Baltic ports as it eyes new grain markets > China sets 2025 import tariff quota for wheat, rice, corn and cotton > GRAINS-CBOT soybeans, wheat see volatile trade as drought risks weigh > Russia's IKAR consultancy cuts wheat, grain crop forecasts for 2024 > US cotton rises over 1% as Hurricane Helene threatens key growing regions > Starch makers forced to adapt after poor wheat in France > French farmers fear for dairy herd as Lactalis cuts milk purchases > Sanctioned Russian billionaire Guryev defeats London lawsuit over Phosagro stake > India considering raising sugar and ethanol prices, minister says > VEGOILS-Palm hits five-month high on India demand, supply worries