#because having a doctor on board can help on many levels

[persephoneflouwers]

Whenever events like last night happen I feel this urge to run on the street and help. It’s a bit odd since usually I’m sooo far away but like I’m always wondering what can i do what should I be doing? It’s like innate. And it happens all the time in these circumstances.

[pansyfemme]

just a heads up that enmeshment with your therapist is a sign that you need a different therapist. you go to these people to offload and heal, but if you're emotionally enmeshed and that's keeping you from bringing topics forward, that is no longer a healthy relationship nor a therapist that should be treating you.

just so you're aware. your therapist should not be an uncle figure you're afraid to talk about embarrassing stuff with, he's an impartial audience to help you heal. that emotional connection is now HINDERING you from healing.

honestly! me making one personal post! does not tell you the full story! while i defintly have an emotional connection with him- i have had other therapists in my life in and out the entire time. i seek help from other sources frequently! i said it was like talking to an uncle simply because of the fact he’s known me since i was a child, which makes talking about adult topics at times a little embarrasing because he knew me when i was 11!! he is not like an uncle to me in an other respect, i have a seperation. and i have openly discussed this with him and why im uncomfortable at times!! but we talk it out!! because its my therapist and me making one post doesnt mean you know everything!! geez!! also ive been embarrassed to talk about sex with every other therapist ive had!! not your call to make!!

[oh-no-its-bird]

Ok, so. Smashing together my recent posts (stoner Itama / the secret Senju weed empire money / co-dependent twins Itama and Tobirama) to make a cohesive narrative:

So, Itama survives AU.

In this, Itama and Tobirama are twins. They're very close, arguably closer to each other than Hashi is to either of them.

Growing up, after Kawarama died, Hashirama found a new friend in his boy by the river. Meaning the twins were sort of left to mourn on their own, their older brother no longer as interested in playing with them. They got to be almost dangerously codependent, and their father only encouraged it bc they were also training to fight as a duo, and the codependency made the team synergy go crazy hard.

On that note, they're absolutely terrifying in battle together for sure. They're nightmares on their own already, but together?? Let's say that as long as they're fighting side by side, they're on the same level as Hashirama himself.

Itama grows up to be a scientist like Tobirama, but in a different field of science— ✨️plants✨️

Itama is like, a bioengineer for plants. He's crossbreeding the fuck out of these bad boys, finding ways to amplify certain traits in some plants, erase them altogether in others, or mixing them up for the best of both worlds. Full doctor Frankenstein plant edition

It's fun bc he often gets help from both of his brothers, and he's also able to help the both of them in turn!

Hashirama helps with growing plants, meaning Itama doesn't have to wait the years this research would usually take. He can go from nothing to having his final product in days flat when it should have taken a fucking lifetime to do. If he fucks up it's no stress bc as long as he has the seeds, Hashirama can just grow him a new plant to start from! All he needs is one single seed and an entire world of new possibilities is unlocked.

On top of all that, the mokuton can affect the plants in ways growing by regular time doesn't, so Itama also gets to play with special mokuton plants too

Then Itama can give Hashirama all sorts of new plants to potentially use in battle, tho Hashirama doesn't seem to want to use want against the Uchiha. But like. He has them!! And it's fucking terrifying!!! Plus they can just in general bond over being plant enthusiasts. If Hashi finds a cool new plant or vice versa they can get excited about it together

Tobirama understands all to most of Itama's research, at least in theory, and will often help with his experiments. Likewise, Itama also understands all to most of Tobirama's own research (at least in theory) and can help him in return. Having their own specific fields of interest, they're often bringing a fresh pair of eyes and different thought process to the others experiments, and it's great for them both. SO many results.

Itama is let in on most of Tobirama's projects, and even if he's not helping he generally knows what he's working on and vice versa. They have few secrets and its actually just in general very good for Tobirama specifically. Like, mentally and support wise.

Because Itama never died to serve as that final push over the edge, and was instead there to offer emotional support, Tobirama didn't turn to necromancy. (If he had tho, Itama would have been fully on board— sorry Hashirama) Instead, maybe he's spending that time being even more focused on cool time/space jutsu or something.

So like, all grown up he's a poison specialist with a major wind chakra attribute and minor fire attribute. His main weapon is a pipe, which he just smokes normally on top of using its smoke as a weapon. He can put so much pressure into the smoke that it becomes physical, and can then be used as a blunt force weapon (on top of ofc the smoke being used as just smoke, and having different effects on its own)

He's immune to a lot of his smokes effects, but has special extra powerful versions of most of his go to weaponized smokes that are so strong they work even on him. Obviously, he doesn't usually use these in battle, but they're there as a last resort

Fun sort of chain reaction attack where he disperses some super flammable powder or smoke then tosses in a single spark and it goes up like fucking fireworks. Or a cool combo attack where Tobirama provides hella fog with whatever water is nearby, and Itama condenses it so thickly that it chokes out their enemies without having to lift a single finger.

He can make like, platforms of smoke to stand on or use as shields, and he's especially good at deflecting and redirecting enemy attacks with carefully condensed smoke shields summoned up at just the right angles. Like, imagine you throw a kunai and it bounces off some invisible platform, then off ANOTHER invisible platform, and somehow its still gaining momentum (propelled by summoned winds or wrapped in a slightly solidified veil of smoke thats moving it on its own) and hits you right in the eyes

He absolutely fucks around with making all SORTS of custom effects with whatever he's smoking, which also brings us to the idea that got me here in the first place ->

Ok so the joke about the Senju having a secret weed empire where they sell ultra special mokuton weed, but it happens fr in this AU bc of Itama.

Stoner Itama deciding he can make the weed even better and forgetting what the word self-control means and making objectively the best weed in the naruto world. Ultra delux genetically modified mokuton grown senju weed.

Tobirama kind of gets on him for it at first (not liking the idea of mind-altering substances) but then tries some and stares dead silent at a wall for 10 hours then silently gets up, makes several scientific breakthroughs, then passes out dead on the floor.

They get Hashirama in on it and start mass producing, then start selling it and very quickly and mostly accidentally create a secret senju weed empire (oops?) which also gives them hella funds or the war and other things

No one can even reproduce their weed bc they need the Mokuton to grow it right, they have no competition in the market. AND their product safety/quality is insane bc Tobirama's perfectionist ass helps oversee it

Bc of Itama's interference, Izuna lives, and when they make Konoha the weed money means the first shinobi war doesn't happen bc they can afford to bribe officials they couldn't before (and probably have a uhh. Much more relaxed Kage meeting that year.)

You can't go to war with Konoha !!! That's where all the best ninja weed comes from !!!

Itama and Izuna get along really well actually. Izuna's cringe fail ass does NOT know how to smoke and refuses to admit it, he also becomes Itama's favorite test subjects for new product bc he and his brothers tolerance levels are insane so they need like, a normal guy to try shit on

As a person, Itama is one of those really friendly, charming, easy to get along with guys who seem to have a ton of friends— but when you look a bit closer you quickly notice that while many of those friends share their woes with him, he doesn't really with them. He has lots of friends but isn't really close to any.

He's a pretty good mix of his brothers, seeming friendly and cheerful like Hashirama but much more down to earth, and with the same ruthless streak as Tobirama underneath all the gentle mannerisms. He might be more ruthless than either of his brothers when it really comes down to it, but he's very slow to strike or anger, and virtually no one but his brothers and Touka really know he even has that side to him.

He's Konoha's lead poisons expert, is 100% aware and helping Tobirama with all of his especially fucked up experiments, and honestly that should tell you enough— but most tend to get distracted by the soft smiles and sleepy expression.

Art interlude ->

Anyways uhhh. All of this only exists bc I started thinking ab stoner Itama getting dumped face first into modern Konoha with Izuna, the two of them having been hiding after pissing off Madara for unimportant reasons. They don't realize they're not in their Konoha, and proceed to run from Madara (who they still think is mad at them)

Meanwhile Madara is losing his fucking MIND trying to chase down the ghost of his brother, and also some guy...? Who is that actually? He doesnt really give a shit tbh, Izuna oh god please come back here— ARE YOU FUCKING HIGH RIGHT NOW?

@fashionredalert : Zetsu lived in fear of Itama because itama would have made him into an edible That's why zetsu is two colors, itama smoked one half of him before zetsu managed to escape. One half intact the other half charred black

Please?? The closest hes been to death in years.

Itama was put on this earth to smoke everything he physically can, he hasnt been sober since he was 13, he no longer knows the meaning of fear or sanity. If it can burn he can smoke it

Hes holding one of those tiny Zetsu's going "Hey look at this fucked up plant I found :DD" then taking it straight into the weed lab

Zetsu specifically had him killed in canon bc he knew he'd grow to be too powerful pass it on

[crab-people-overlord]

Re: Post-COVID Stan and his Job, a Kind-Of Defense:

Soooo I know a lot of folks aren’t too happy about the fixed/final timeline’s Stan’s future job in the Space Force, and I get it. But I’d like to argue that it isn’t as far off base for his character as many folks give credit for. I’m not saying it’s the perfect job for him, but it’s not completely off-base, and I really do think the creators gave careful consideration to his job here.

Before I explain, first let me say that I do understand some of the frustrations and wish they would do some type of episode about the Space Force with Stan as a kid to establish his interest in it, or at the very least in a government job. It’s not like Stan hasn’t been to space before or had Space themed episodes (pinewood derby being a very underrated episode), but the Space Force is such a ridiculous concept that it could be a funny episode and parody and could help the ending of Post-Covid feel more well-rounded. They could have an episode where Stan has to get rid of the Space Jail his dad had created and dealing with the Space Cops or some shit like that.

I’ve seen some discourse asking why Stan couldn’t have been a musician or a vet due to his love of animals. To answer that - I think it’s very realistic that Stan didn’t end up a musician. I’m just going to leave it at that. Most people don’t make it in the music industry, and I really don’t think Stan would take it that seriously as an adult to try to navigate that. He’s not that naturally passionate. I think he’d more likely keep it as a hobby. It’s just the reality of things (though I think a fic in that direction would be valid and interesting. Lmk any fic recs for that).

As far as being a vet goes - look, I love animal lover Stan, but let’s think this through logically. He loves animals, and it’s adorable. But that’s exactly why he would HATE being a vet. It’s canon that Stan doesn’t do well with blood, and it’s canon that Stan does not do well with animals being in pain. Being a vet literally combines those two things together that Stan viscerally hates. He’d love being able to be around animals, sure, but he would hate having to perform surgeries/see animals suffer. It would deepen his depression, and he would be too queasy to handle it according to canon. Again, it’s one thing to see this in a fic and I think that would be cute. But in a canon episode? That would make no sense and would be contradictory to several established character points.

So if being a vet or a musician are off the table, where does that leave us? What are some of Stan’s strengths, or some things we know about him that would translate well into the professional field?

Well, we know he loves board games (this is not a one-off from an episode, there are SO many instances of Stan and his complicated board games, whether they being showcased in the background of his bedroom, or him playing them)- and these are not surface-level board games like Settlers of Catan (which I can totally see him looking down on as a ‘way too easy and therefore boring game’). We’re talking about games that take grown adults years to master, let alone learn the complex rules. Not sure how many of you have delved into these types of games he likes, but some of those games are almost like learning a whole new language, and the amount of strategizing you do in the types of games he likes is very high (and we know that Stan can strategize/think quickly on his feet well).

His skills in board games translate into how he navigates the world pretty well. We also know that he shows high critical thinking skills (sometimes to the point of being too critical. Him being diagnosed a ‘cynical asshole’ by a doctor wasn’t just because of the depression- he kinda always has been one to an extent, even before that episode) and very easily sees through bullshit. He also is very adaptable with natural leader skills and is good at adjusting to his environment physically, so I have no doubt that he would be able to learn about, say, working a spaceship.

Basically, a lot of Stan’s strengths that I think are often slept on in the fandom overall are all the things that would translate quite well into some type of military or government intel analyst role. The ridiculousness of the Space Force also aligns with the ridiculousness of South Park in general 100% (there’s so much satire potential there). It also just went well with the political climate of the time the episode aired.

Fun fact: according to his uniform, he appears to be a Chief Master Sergent, which is the second highest enlisted rank possible. He also has an insane amount of awards on his uniform.

One of Stan’s weaknesses is that he has a lack of motivation. I can absolutely see him being unsure of what to do in life but not wanting to be like his dad and joining the military to help at least give him guidance/something to make of himself in his life when he lacks the motivation/structure to think of something himself. And then I can see it evolving from there as he joins the military/how it adapts to his own natural skills. I also think he would secretly like the status he would gain from ranking high up.

Btw this is kinda off topic but I completely head-canon that Craig also works in the Space Force with Stan. Also, Stan is not short (look to the screenshots). . Looks to be the tallest of the main four, followed by Kyle, Kenny, then Cartman who is quite short.

[butchpeace]

it is so insane to say that doctors shouldn’t practice gender reassignment surgeries, or that hrt shouldn’t be accessible, and not for transgender activism reasons either (though ignoring the enormous number of people that are happy with their transition is just willful ignorance). where do you draw the line on what adults can do with their bodies? do you ban all plastic surgeries? do you ban all the surgeries that require removing “healthy” body parts? Do you have any idea the amount of autonomy that strips cis women of? What about breast reductions? Oh, they can be removed because the woman’s back hurt? What is the level of hurt required, how do you decide which women’s backs are hurting enough and which aren’t? What about cis women who desire hysterectomies for a variety of reasons? how is removing my breast different from say, getting breast implants. do we ban breast implants, and then where do you draw the line? it’s such a non-nuanced way to see things.

“all plastic surgeries should be banned!” what if somebody gets into a car accident and doctors have to reconstruct their face. Probably they can live without it, but are you saying they should? What if somebody breaks a nose, should the doctor do the absolute bare minimum to fix it instead of trying to give it the aspect it had before? What if a woman requires a mastectomy for medical reasons, and lately wants breast implants, should it be illegal for her to get those? besides, what is the level of illness required to perform a surgery that is outlawed? Do you think having to fight the law as well during something like breast cancer or similar would be of benefit to women? worth it if it means transgender people can’t get it either?

and don’t even get me started on hrt, because if you can’t prescribe those meds for a certain mental condition, what is the difference with any other medicine, especially psychomeds? That it has collateral effects? Guess what? Most of them do! That it shows on the body? What is the actual difference, that you can make a law out of, without any overlapping, between something working on your hormones to show a change in your physical appearance and something working on your hormones to show a change in your brain activity? What if a med that’s needed to cure whatever illness has certain effects on the body? I swear you people do not think.

I’ve thought about all of these things, over the 12 years I spent in the trans community and the 10 years I spent on hormones. I still came to the conclusion I did. Actually, going through it myself is what brought me to this belief and cemented my opinion.

HRT and gender surgeries are different from necessary medical treatments and procedures because they aren’t medically necessary. They are medically harmful across the board in every case, to varying degrees. Female bodies are not meant to have high levels of testosterone. It causes health problems. Same for males.

So in order to defend using HRT, they have to prove that the benefit outweighs the harm. How do they attempt to do that? By claiming that everyone will commit if they can’t transition.

And what basis do they have for that belief? Nothing scientific. The only way they could get that data is through a study that gives half the participants HRT and doesn’t give it to the other half, and compares how many people commit.

So right now, they’re just going on the assumption that transitioning helps our mental health better than any alternative mental healthcare treatment option would be able to. (And better than just leaving us alone.)

This is when most people bring up how trying to treat dysphoria in another way would be “conversion therapy”. Because they apparently aren’t aware that there’s a huge difference between using electric shock to try to change people’s sexuality, and using exploratory talk therapy to help dysphoric people work through the issues that caused them dysphoria in the first place.

Proper mental healthcare, medical education, feminist education, and teaching dysphoric people to connect with their body has the ability to get rid of their dysphoria. It worked for me and many others I’ve talked to who have detransitioned or desisted. And sometimes all it takes is just growing up for us to understand ourselves better and accept our bodies. But of course, that idea threatens the entire foundation of the trans movement, so it can’t be true. Right?

In my mind, it’s fucking dystopian that we have all these kids now who never even got the chance to grow up before having these decisions made for them. Being fed the idea that they’re trans, and the only way for them to be happy is to make drastic medical changes to their body, has a devastating affect on their mental health and leads them to medicalization they otherwise may not have needed.

As for elective procedures, yes I also oppose those. I think any surgeon who gives someone a potentially dangerous procedure, or a procedure with a high regret rate, should lose their license to practice.

It’s not “oppressive” to women to say I don’t agree with them getting cosmetic surgeries or electively getting their important reproductive organs removed. That’s fucking ridiculous, to call that “oppression”. The fact that women think they need these cosmetic surgeries is the real oppression.

Anything with a legitimate medical reason, breast reduction, or simple procedures to prevent pregnancy are exceptions to the rule because they legitimately improve quality of life.

I hope that helped you be able to follow my train of thought about all this, and understand better what I’m saying.

[badcaninecemetery]

[a list of overhaul headcanons that i've been obsessed with + soft x reader imagines]

he's kind of low-energy, so i imagine a lot of his hobbies would be similar.

given his physique, he'd probably enjoy working out, exercise, and/or yoga. he'd listen to documentaries about scientific discoveries while doing the mindless and repetitive movements. he'd intently watch a creative recreation of the discovery of tiktaalik and then forget he'd been cycling for over an hour.

i definitely think he'd be into reading too. typically he reads autobiographical nonfiction, but i'm sure he could be swayed into more literary nonfiction. he'd also read academic/scholarly journals/publications. he'd spend hours reading and reading.

playing strategic/mentally stimulating board/card games would interest him too. it's to keep his wits sharp, and perhaps hone in his poker face more and more. he probably did this a lot when he was younger, but then it became a hobby so he just does it to keep his brain thinking.

he'd also be into things like wine making or custom metal work, something that he can build and create. chemistry is something he really would enjoy, and there are endless possibilities there. he probably brewed beer and things like that when he was younger to earn pocket money and get himself further out there, but it stuck around too.

along those lines, he spends a lot of his time studying and working on his technical skills. he has many things he has to practice and learn, and i don't think his hunger for knowledge is satiable. he'd dedicate time for learning languages that might help him one day. science and math become some of his favorite things to do to pass the time—it's like doing crossword puzzles to him.

when he was really little, i think he probably tinkered with model kits. he's a little too shy to show those off though, but they're still hidden away in a closet just in case he ever wants to attempt them once more.

—

imagine kai tells you that he has a surprise for you, so he leads you into the living room and reveals with a gesture a board game. his eyes are crinkled around the edges, so you know there's a smile underneath that mask of his. you'd play with him, only for him to obliterate you every. single. time. it's typically chess because he teases you that it's your skill level—and you should be glad he didn't pull out the checkers board (or worse, go fish).

imagine watching him fiddle around with experiments. he shows you the elephant toothpaste one and you both would watch in horror whenever it starts exploding out more than it was supposed to. whenever you ask what happened, kai admits that perhaps he shouldn't have been focusing on your reactions as much. but whenever he's not doing anything in particular for you (and he totally doesn't do those things to impress you), the two of you just parallel play in the same room. he's busy, writing notes down in that doctor's scrawl of his and staring down intently through his bulky jewelers loupes; while you're relaxing on the other side of the room, perhaps doing something quiet and easy like drawing, or knitting, or writing, or researching.

imagine soft jazz in the background during these things. kai slowly turns to face you with a hard stare whenever you start playing your mix of sad jazz. he shakes his head softly, telling you he's not going to examine the medicinal samples in his petri dishes to billie holiday's "the man i love" (which makes him shift from foot to foot awkwardly because of the lyrics). a sly grin starts to stretch across your face as you switch it to old german jazz (the kind that plays in those 1930s men's fashion instagram reels), and you start doing a little dance towards him, shaking your hips and shimmying. kai's eyes are wide, but he's unable to not succumb whenever you lightly grasp his hands and loosely swing his arms back and forth (he's imploding internally).

imagine making him a rap, rock rap, and/or nu metal playlist. it's sometimes heavy and emotional or bitter, and sometimes it's nice for him to lean back and grimace at the ceiling whenever he listens to the words. so you hook up your phone to a speaker, then hit shuffle. his head is leaned against the back of the couch, eyes closed while the playlist cycles through. one second cypress hill is playing, the next it's eminem's fack. kai's face contorts into dissatisfaction before his eyes open and he pointedly looks at you, but you just snicker and say it's like a game of russian roulette. i wonder just how many times this song is hidden in this playlist? kai just sighs in acceptance.

imagine kai gushing to you (in a definitely calm and composed manner) about some or the nonfiction/journals he reads, or documentaries he's watched. sometimes he'll throw a word out there that you don't know, but he's very willing to explain what it means. he's brief and precise whenever he elaborates the information, and he'll offer to let you read/watch the materials too. you'd definitely sit down and read/watch it (even if it doesn't particularly interest you, but you know kai enjoys it).

imagine the two of you getting into stuff to do together like reading theory (you wouldn't stop jokingly spamming links to the communist manifesto and industrial society and its future at three a.m. in the morning—but then you both dipped in émile durkheim and kai was immediately enthralled). or doing something like learning animal taxonomy (you wouldn't stop calling the centipedes little lovers). or something simple like drinking coffee (or whatever you'd prefer at that moment) in public and people watching.

so many little things to pass the time, just brief smiles and witty glances behind coffee steam.

[starcrossed-sky]

The thing is that the four-day work week is, fundamentally, also an education issue, not just a labor rights issue. When you look at it for longer than a string of buzzwords, you cannot miss how deeply entwined the two are. And I don't mean that in a "educate people about the benefits of working less" way.

Because the four-day work week, and other forms of decreasing labor presence and opening up free time, are designed to help our most burned-out work sectors. And yes, many of those are the "lowest skill" jobs (finger quotes featuring heavily in the previous sentence.)

But many of them are also *high* education jobs. We already have difficulty accessing medical care because there aren't enough doctors, and in particular not enough specialist doctors - you might be able to see a general practitioner within the week, but I've had multiple friends who are on waiting lists to see neurologists for six, sometimes eight months. That backlog will only get worse if we push through a four-day work week without consideration for increasing the number of neurologists we have, and the only way to do that is by increasing access to education.

And it's the same story across the board for a lot of our highest-educated - or theoretically highest-educated - professions. Public defenders are underpaid and overrun by their case loads, because law school is $200K and if you have that much in student loans you can't afford to not jump at the highest paying job you can get, and that's not going to be helping Joe Smith with his DUI from a crooked cop. Yes, fixing our justice system's issues would help decrease Amy PubDef's case load - but then there's worker's comp people, medical malpractice people... We need more lawyers who are doing the public good because the ones we have are overworked as it is.

Teachers. Social workers. Therapists. On a systemic level, these jobs are underpaid and overworked, and cutting down to a four-day work week isn't going to decrease the number of people who need them, it's just going to make them have to try and fit five days of work into four to keep up. Unless we can get more of these people into the system, a four-day work week is just shooting them in the foot.

And what is the point of having that extra day off a week, when you can't use it meaningfully to get in to take care of the things you need it for, like seeing a doctor, visiting a lawyer to make a will, going to therapy, and so on without having to schedule one, two, six months in advance?

We need education reform first, or the four-day work week is a pipe dream that will leak suffering all over the people who need it most.

[alpydk]

Fix You (ch2)

Chase x OC (F)

Max is working in a bar during Halloween. Chase has recently been left by his wife Cameron. Can they fix each other? Sets off after the episode Teamwork where Cameron leaves. (s6e8) - Expect it to alter from the main series, because as far as I'm concerned Chase deserved a happy ending.

Ao3 Link

I stay inside my bed I have lived so many lives all in my head And don’t tell me that you care There really isn’t anything now, is there?

---

Chase felt the thud in his head before the sound of the cane landing on the floor heavily behind him hit his senses. Waking late, hungover, still in the khaki green from the night before, was not the best of the starts to a morning. It had been a rush. One that had resulted in florescent office lights and the smug look of Foreman sitting across from him; neither of which Chase wanted. He wanted the painkillers to kick in, the room to be darker, to just be alone in his apartment.

He’d managed to get in moments before House had dropped the files in front of them all, the squeaking of the marker pen on the whiteboard commencing the start of another mystery to be solved. Thirteen grabbed the stack of papers, sharing them out to each one of the participants. Taub was more interested in the coffee brewing, but slowly took a seat to join them. Would it be autoimmune, or maybe some kid with a penchant for animal abuse? Maybe this time it would be the illustrious lupus.

Chest pain Hallucinations

Squeak, squeak, squeak. With any luck, this would be over quickly, Chase hoped, pulling a file and flicking through the pages. The few results there distracted him from the saliva building up on his tongue.

“Seems the patient wasn’t too forthcoming with having his blood taken,” commented Thirteen, leaning back in her chair.

The break from the hospital had done her good, Chase felt. Maybe he should have done the same. Gone back to Australia and enjoyed the summer heat.

The pen dropped, and with it began the usual lecture. For too many years, it had been the same routine. A patient that would need their help, insults from the doctor who should be treating them, a battery of tests at various levels of insanity, and then, most of the time, a result of going home alive.

“The patient claims to be a 36-year-old male,” started House, his cane tapping on the grey carpet beneath as if creating a tempo just to frustrate those around him. “Came in with an erratic heart rate after collapsing at a poker game. Says he saw God in the cards.” He peered over, checking for the eye roll that he knew Chase would give. It didn’t happen.

Foreman was quick to respond. “Sounds like a standard cardio case. Lack of oxygen cut off circulation, creating the visions. How’s this our problem?”

“Wait, claims to be?” Taub caught on.

“Someone’s listening for once. Patient is a big fat liar.”

There was the first insult from House’s lips. Chase knew it was the start, another reminder that everyone lies. Just as he’d done. His stomach turned at the memory. Or was it the hangover, he wondered? “Aren’t they all?” came mumbled cynicism.

“Takes one to know one.”

“House, can we not do this for once?” Foreman wanted them to move on quickly, Dibala’s unspoken death only just fading from people’s minds.

House still had his eyes pinned on Chase, watching as pages turned slowly, and information was taken in at a surface level.

Thirteen jumped in, sensing the tense shift in the mood. “Says here he was brought in showing signs of cyanosis. Could be vascular?”

The symptom was added to the board. More squeaking, which caused Chase to grit his teeth. It wouldn’t be much longer and then they’d be out of there. He’d be free from judgement.

“It also says he’s the CEO of a large company,” Taub retorted, looking satisfied with his conclusion. “Guy has lived in multiple states, and yet has no paper trail at all. He’s a con artist.”

“You get that just from a lack of steady address?”

“I get that from the fact the company doesn’t exist. Could be drug use. Long-term opioids or coke.”

Nodding in agreement, Foreman went to stand, glancing around for any arguments. “I’ll arrange a tox screen.”

Still House had not intervened, the team moving around him with hesitation. Thirteen grabbed her file from the desk, shrugging her shoulders at Taub as if to say no idea. “Guess me and Taub will try to get an EKG arranged.”

Chase wanted to move, wanted to suggest anything just to get out of House’s line of sight.

“Hm, sensitive to light,” came the knowing voice. “And I’m betting nauseous too?”

“A migraine,” Chase uttered back.

The others watched him. Of course, they had their concerns after what had happened. News had travelled fast of Cameron leaving him, of his spiral into booze and sleepless nights. He didn’t want, didn’t need their concern. He just needed to be left alone.

“A whiskey induced migraine.”

House was right as always, but then it wasn’t particularly difficult to know after they’d all been at the bar together. He just didn’t know how much longer had been spent there, how much more had continued to be knocked back as the hours had passed.

Chase decided to take a chance, a random idea that might lead to a diagnosis. “Parasites. Guy travels and could’ve picked something up.”

An acceptable answer, but a clear indicator of a struggling mindset.

“Alright.” There came no objections as the team left the room to carry out their investigations, only the following instruction with the subtle smirk. “Chase, get a proper history from the guy. You liars can read each other’s tells, right? Or is that gays?”

---

Damien Miller sat in the hospital bed, irritated by the stiff bedsheets that had accumulated around his bare legs. The nurses had insisted he be admitted and that the doctor he would see was the best, but instead he had found himself going through a similar intake procedure to when he had first arrived at the hospital.

“You got any ID with you, Mr Miller?” Chase asked dismissively, not in the mood for the usual runaround that these forms came with. Most likely not, he figured.

“Must’ve been in my jacket at the club.”

Of course. “Anyone we can call on your behalf? Wife? Partner?”

“Don’t bat that way,” came the insulted reply. “And no.”

Feigning interest in the machines, Chase lowered the clipboard. Anything to take his mind off the ache lurking behind his eyes. Damien looked well enough, a slight tan, most likely from a recent trip. His vitals appeared stable and there’d been no further signs of illness since he’d been admitted.

Making a note of the machine’s readings, Chase continued his half-hearted inquisition. “Says you’ve been travelling recently. Anywhere nice?”

“Florida. Had to visit the family.”

“That where you’re from originally?”

“Sure.”

Bullshit. All bullshit, as per usual. Why couldn’t they just tell the truth and make this easier for everyone? Tell the truth and have clear consciences. Not that difficult, right? He made a note, a relatively neat question mark next to each answer, a reminder for when the inconsistences started to appear. “Well, Mr Miller, we want to run some tests. Your heart rate has been a little unstable and we-”

“You want to keep me here and charge me out of the ass to keep your green card. Yeah, I get it.”

If Chase didn’t know better, he’d have guessed that Damien wasn’t exactly a born and bred American either. The accent was a little too forced, an odd lilt on some of the vowels. His eyes were too dark, similar to the thick tuft of hair presented. Possibly of Italian descent, but then again, what did it matter? Not like it was worth calling the guy out on it.

Biting his tongue, Chase continued the line of explanation. “An EKG to check your heart, blood tests. Just some minor things that won’t take long.”

“And if I refuse?”

Don’t sigh, don’t show your annoyance. “That’s fine. We either find a method that works for you, or you sign yourself out against medical advice. Your choice.”

He knew what a part of him hoped for. That the guy would get up and leave. A slippery slope indeed, since what had happened to Dibala. Would it still be murder if Chase let a sick patient leave? Would it haunt him in the same manner? He didn’t have a chance to find out as Thirteen and Taub entered the room; the guy giving a small nod that the EKG could take place.

A moment of silence, a moment too long to think. Just get the paperwork sorted from the quiet of an examination room. Lock the door and throw away the key.

---

Of course, the room Chase found was occupied. The auburn-haired woman perched on the edge of the bed, her legs hanging over the side, which she kicked lightly in the air out of boredom.

Straight away, he turned to leave, a mumbled apology and a hope to find another room that wouldn’t exacerbate his headache. He couldn’t deal with another patient taking the piss, and he certainly didn’t feel like making mindless small talk over an issue like a sore throat, or worse, an STD.

“Wait.”

Shit. She had a voice and one that wasn’t too grating. Chase pulled himself back around the door, a quiet hope that he wasn’t going to regret the decision. He was met with a pleasant, if tired, smile, her eyes almost lighting up on seeing him. Or was it the change caused by the shadows moving with the door? It must have been that. What worth was he right now to look at, after all?

“Steve Irwin, right?”

Not the question he’d been expecting. Possibly a psych patient waiting evaluation? “Sorry? I know who he is, but…”

She let out a short laugh, pushing her hair back with a finger. Cameron had only just left. This was just residual effects, a need to be wanted, to be loved. This woman is not happy to see you, Chase.

“No. Last night at the bar on Main. You were dressed as him.”

He wasn’t sure if he felt relieved. It meant he’d either done something bad to be remembered or something worse to be identified on sight. Had he slept with her? She’d not been there when he’d woken up. He’d definitely not bought her a drink.

“You were a bit of a mess when I served you. Good to see you’re still amongst the living.”

Was it? He stepped into the room, an attempt to stay professional and get whatever was happening over and done with. “Were you waiting for a doctor?”

“Just the nurse. Nothing important. You doing okay today?”

He didn’t want her concern but nodded, nonetheless, checking the file next to her. Maxine Taylor. DoB… Blood Type… Her hair fell over her brow again, catching his sight from the corner of his eye. The smile that curved upon her lips was soft, almost as if she were nervous to be showing it in public. Green eyes met his own as he glanced up from the papers, a look of sympathy, of warmth that he found himself caught in. She was talking, an accent he’d heard often enough in the seminary school, and yet he caught nothing of what she was saying to him.

The door opened behind him, the nurse apologising for interrupting. Shaking off the daze he’d found himself in, he fumbled for the pen in his pocket. Something, anything to get moving with. “I was just leaving.”

Pacing from the room came with the heavy thuds of his heartbeat, the uncertainty of what emotions he was feeling. It was too soon. Sex maybe, but nothing more. Only enough to drown in.

[lemonyinks]

perfect! In no particular order;

Querl is a year younger but exactly an inch taller than Lyle, and they both constantly lord these facts over the other. Lyle "I'm older and therefore wiser, so you have to listen to me" Norg vs. Querl "At least I'm not short. How do you even see the lab equipment from down there?" Dox, and its literally only a single number difference.

Lyle has the equivalent of a high school diploma, but neither he nor Querl have an actual doctorate in anything. Neither of them went to college or any other form of higher education. There really wasn't any need for them to

Lyle is the kind of partner to leave post-it notes in random places for Querl to find, and the message on them always varies. It's either something cute like a heart or wishing him a good day, or its a passive aggressive comment about an experiment one of them is working on. This slowly turns into both of them leaving notes for each other.

Both aroace spec.

Both autistic

They both genuinely do math for fun. It baffles and horrifies the others to walk in on them doing white board length equations together just for the hell of it.

Both of them have cold hands, but only Querl has cold feet. When they move in together or share a bed, he will purposefully put his feet on Lyle's leg when he's trying to sleep just to piss him off.

Neither of them like kissing very much except on rare occasions. They prefer hugs or other forms of physicals affection.

They are both are very tactile people but neither like initiating.

Lyle asked Querl out on a date first, and it was a DISASTER. Anything that could go wrong did go wrong, but despite that, Querl still agreed to a second date because anything was great as long as it was Lyle he was doing it with.

Big spoon Lyle. It's the most comfortable for both of them. Querl will occasionally be big spoon after a particularly bad nightmare or something of the sort and he needs to hold Lye to assure himself he is still there, but its not either of their preferred way to sleep.

They have separate blankets, but not because either is a blanket hog. Lyle runs hot while sleeping and Querl runs cold, so they need different blanket thicknesses to sleep comfortably when it's cold.

Querl loves to read textbooks but Lyle finds them incredibly boring. He prefers to read science fiction.

They dont own any pets and never will. Neither of them has the time to take care of one. They do however own a cactus that they can't agree on a name for.

They enter dance competitions regularly. They never win because neither of them is professional levels of good but the experience is something they cherish doing together.

Lyle is the clothes thief among them, though Querl doesn't have very many stealable clothing items. When they start sharing a closet, Querl unintentionally steals Lyle's clothes, but he doesn't go out of his way to do so like Lyle does.

they are both extensive worriers. Neither of them can go on a separate mission without the other being full of anxiety the whole time they are away. This is a product of how many times they've been separated against their will.

they both hate double dates, but don't mind group outings.

they have similar taste in music, but can never agree on a song to listen to in the moment. It always leads to a fight.

Once they've got their own place, they regularly have Luornu and Brande, as well as the Foccarts', over for dinner.

Lyle knew how to cook from a young age as a product of helping Mrs. Foccart prepare dinner, but Brainy was hopeless in the kitchen because he never had a chance or reason to cook for himself. Lyle takes the time to teach him how to cook early in their relationship and now they make meals together without even saying a word.

Querl secretly loves sweets, but Lyle isn't a big fan of them. He prefers salty or savory foods.

[my2phetaliaheadcanons]

Unasked for Questions/Opinions About A Random Thing: Hybrids

I struggled with some motivation this week, and I wanted to post something...

So we have this thing.

This may or may not become a series in which, as the title says, I share opinions and questions about things that no one asked for. But only when I have no motivation to answer asks or work on other projects. These aren't meant to be any kind of attack or judgement, its all in good fun. And I don't expect much to come from it..

Anyways on to the backstory for the topic of Hybrids!

This all started because my motivation was in the dirt and I was tired of seeing all the Chat-Ai bot commercials. So, I did what anyone would do, I go two of the apps and played around to see if it could motivate me, and it did. Just to play around more.

Looking through as I played around, I tried a few different ones, and even made my own, but the hybrid models left me with questions and opinions that caused me to reflect on the character type/trope/what ever other thing it can be classified as.

And to be honest, I have read quite a few hybrid fanfics and original stories so I wasn't going in blind, but just realize some things.

And if you have any feed back or things to add, feel free to. I would like to see where this goes or if it gives people ideas.

Of if you have any works that could fit/answer these questions please send them my way. I would love to read them.

Why aren't there groomers? Like the hybrid equivalent of dog groomers, I get if they society has hybrids as equals to people, but in the case they are pets, it should be something to include. Especially if the hair on their head is fur. It acts different and different species have different needs. Like if its a GSD, you're gonna want him to be deshed. Because your poor shower drain if you don't. Or it's a cute set up for a meet-cute. Either way.

Services, a lot of stories take place at home, a shelter, a zoo/aquarium, labs or in the wild. Where's the daycare equivalent, like you could do a basic kennel situation with some playrooms or go EXTREME! By having a large center that's like an amusement park style daycare with different areas for different things; hunting, playing, sleeping, eating, mating if your feeling spicy. Then make them as fancy as you want. What is they also were boarding facilities too and the hybrids/owners could customize their experience to what the animal side required? What if it was ran by a hybrid in secret, one that didn't like humans and all the employees were instructed that there was a 100% owner compliance rule. That once the human owner was behind a certain point anything their hybrid said went? And what about pet sitting, training? How does those come into play? I know many stories do mating as their own industry, but what other type of ways can it be done?

Are they treated by a vet? But branched like exotic animals where it is considered a specialty, with some vets having no training to help them? Or is it a human doctor with some veterinary training? Do they go to the Human ER or Vet ER? What about dental care, if we worry about wisdom teeth, what about them?

How are they categorized? Like at what point is a hybrid considered livestock animal, work animal, a pet/companion, an exotic or wild life? Is it the animal side of them or is it their personality? Do you need any type of license for specific groups? What about owning the more wild ones? Where is the law in this?

Why do we write hybrids as those that enjoy being pets? I get some would, but like, personally, I would struggle with someone else having that level of control over me, even if I did have animal like tendencies and instincts. There has to be one, where the hybrid is grumpy and over being seen as a pet, even if their human sees them as a mate or friend. Like what if he tries to flip the script and make his owner/human the pet and take care of them? What if there was a law to allow them to present in court that they deserve to be seen as a person? What happens if granted and what happens to the human they leave behind? And what happens if they flip the script of authority legally rather than just forcing submission and house arrest?

Can they be service animals? If so, do they get fancy vests and badges? More freedom to act and even speak for their owner if they are seen as a pet in their society. Or is seen as equal in the work of fiction, is it like a different type of nurse? Like a job only they can fill and work in shifts? What if a blind person has a hybrid as their guide, do they switch every 8-12 hours? Just emailing where the blind person is and hand off the person like a clock in ticket?

Would they have to segregate places? Because imagine you have an cat allergy and a hybrid feline sits by you. Then the MC has an allergic reaction of varying degrees, wouldn't it be safer if your separate? What happens if a hybrid is allergic to a human? Or are they hypoallergenic?

So, if a hybrid is mixed with livestock. Are they gonna be eaten!? Like if its a pig-girl or cow-boy are they being fatten up and turned to steak? Or is it other things they are used for? Like cows for milk, pigs for truffle hunting and garden care (not gonna lie, I had to google for the pigs.)?

That's all I have. I would be curious to see the answers, but no pressure.

I may or may not use these for projects latter on (I can already see where I can use these with my characters). But it was fun to write these out.

Feel free to reblog, add thoughts, use for ideas and whatever.

Have fun!

Thanks for reading my madness of questions no one asked for.

[clementine-kesh]

oh fuck yeah harry kim meta for the win!! if it's alright, can you elaborate on harry being 'as starfleet as they come'? (maybe even comparing him to *picard's* idea of what starfleet is and should be? i think they're interesting individuals to put side by side.) thanks!

hell yeah i’m always down to talk meta! by “as starfleet as they come” i was mostly referring to him being the picture perfect model ensign type. you know, top of his class, did a ton of extracurriculars, someone who was happy and thriving within the system. a system i doubt he ever questioned pre-voyager, either. plus, he’s ambitious and has the skills to match. see: non sequitur, where in the alternate timeline he was less than a year out of the academy and already presenting the first update to starfleet’s shuttles in 50 years. it’s not a stretch to say he’d have worked his way up the ladder pretty quickly were he not trapped on voyager.

but of course starfleet is more than just academic performance or scientific knowledge. it’s about people, seeking out new life and learning from it, and harry’s a great example of someone who embodies that. he’s a character who doesn’t assume things about other people and does his best to meet them at their level. there are two scenes that illustrate this really well, the first is when he and tom are eating dinner and he wants to invite janeway to eat with them and tom thinks it’s a bad idea to which harry’s like well who else is she gonna eat with, and the second is when he expresses interest in seven and tom’s like ew wtf dude she’s a borg and harry retorts with well there’s a woman in there, too. in both cases you have someone making assumptions about someone else and harry pushing back on it by being like no they’re a person just like us and we should do our best to connect with them. see also warhead when harry’s like “we’re not transporting this mysterious ai device on board” and the doctor’s like “but it’s just like me 🥺” and that’s what convinces harry. harry might be an engineer by training but his real superpower lies in diplomacy.

contrast that with picard, who is also a very skilled diplomat, but the key difference is that picard is loyal to institutions and harry is loyal to people. harry’s out there pulling shit like staging a mutiny and violating the temporal prime directive just to save his friends. stuff that goes directly against every rule in starfleet’s book. picard could NEVER. he’s a needs of the many kinda guy whereas harry says fuck that everyone matters!! shit hits the fan and harry will always choose to help people over any perceived moral high ground or sense of duty. maybe if harry hadn’t been thrown into the psychological maelstrom of voyager he would’ve turned out more like picard but thank god he didn’t because let’s be real, he’s way more interesting of a character because he’s a little messed up and has some moral ambiguity to him.

i think picard’s vision of starfleet is very much one that exemplifies a lofty sense of enlightenment, of being the pinnacle of civilization. whereas harry’s is way more about actually helping people no matter who they are. see: picard’s reaction to members of the maquis vs. harry’s. picard gets all high and mighty and pissed about them betraying the federation while harry takes a step back and tries to find common ground. if picard were on voyager he probably would’ve been a lot more like lieutenant carey and bitched about the maquis instead of actually trying to work with. becoming best friends with one? again, picard could NEVER

[outer-edges]

just finished reading your spiderverse tlou stories and I adored it! I'm so curious about the future stories in the series! Spare crumb about what other characters to expect? Henry? Riley?? Marlene???

ahhh omg thank u!!

i'm gonna be perfectly honest, i have NOT thought thru what roles henry, sam, and tess are going to play in this au, but i can tell you that their futures will most likely not be as bright and bubbly as the au has been thus far...bc ya know, what is being spiderman without a little tragedy?

i HAVE thought thru riley and marlene and i have been wanting to talk about this but haven't found the energy to start the fic so thank u because now i just get to talk about them here.

(throwing it under the cut because it got longer than i thought lol)

in this au, the fireflies are a group of vigilantes with a network spanning most of the major cities in the country, but the central cortex is in boston where marlene is the leader. i know as a concept that sounds very high super for this world, but it is very much like semi-ineffective small-time street level vigilantism that doesn't have too many members, nothing super organized or anything.

the fireflies move out of boston and to the vague 'out west' because the authorities have been hot on marlene's tail, and she and the other fireflies pack up and skedaddle shortly after ellie is bit by the spider and gets her powers.

trust. marlene and the fireflies will be back in the future, and they will cause some problems for joel and ellie. because. again. what is being spiderman without a little tragedy?

marlene's exact civilian identity is kind of up in the air (i.e. i can't decide if she has one or not) but in the initial outline she was both the leader of the fireflies and riley and ellie's social worker.

which brings us to riley...

like in the game, riley is another orphaned foster kid going to the same boarding school as her. they're roommates and best friends and maybe a something lil more, but they're both too scared to ever really address it or talk about it. marlene recruits riley for the fireflies young, and ellie disagrees and her and riley fight about it.

the night ellie gets her powers, she and riley have snuck out, and they're out doing some urban exploring when they end up in an old defunct science lab. while in the lab, they're both bit by the same genetically engineered spiders, but while ellie ends up with powers, riley ends up with a completely unknown degenerative disease. the doctors don't know how long it will take to kill her. could be decades, could be days.

but they don't ever really get the chance to find out. not too long after she's diagnosed with the disease, riley and ellie are caught up in an armed robbery. riley urges ellie to help, but she blows it off because even though a little part of her wants to help, she's scared and too self-preservational. riley jumps in to try and help even though she's brand new at this firefly thing, and she gets shot and killed.

riley's death is ellie's defining moment as spider-woman. this is what makes her put on the mask and start going out as spider-woman.

[robinsnest2111]

hi :) i had the same "favourite person" issues when i was a teen and young adult, very horrbily and intense. almost exactly how you described it, but i did not distance myself and instead got super clingy, weird, and borderline abusive with it. :(

i don't have bpd but had some symptoms of it (especially what you described as well). once i realized how destructive my behaviour was i was able to somewhat proactively work on it (even without therapy). it took me years and help, but with trial and error, a lot of reflecting, more stable friendships and more than just 1 person around me to focus on i practically never had an issue with it again.

just sharing my experience to show support!! ofc only therapy might be able to tell if you have bpd, but you seemed worried about it because of that symptom and i can tell you that it can occur without having bpd.

sending lots of love and positive thoughts your way!

(also, on another note: with the body symptoms you keep having maybe consider getting tested for fibromyalgia once you're in a better place :( a trans friend of mine with a seemingly similar family history has very similar issues. he is in his mid 30s now and finally found out what it was not too long ago after decades of no/false diagnoses. he's in treatment now and he's feeling better. not perfect but better. there are meds that can help with it. sorry if this is overstepping, it's just a thought i was having)

thank you for your message, anon <3

this one got a bit long so it's under the read more

Good to know what I describe can also occur outside of having bpd, so I feel good sticking to my "it could be literally any mental illness/disorder because there's so much overlap across the board so don't get fixated on that one thing" mindset. trying hard to train myself out of the bad habit of black and white/all or nothing thinking I've had since birth lol tho I'll tentatively keep bpd on my list of possibilities if I should ever get into treatment/get officially tested/diagnosed

yeah so. the physical health issues are just a mystery to me, and I've kinda given up at this point. been to soooo many doctors and specialists over the span of 3 years and every single one has done every possible test, all came back fine.

no elevated inflammation levels, no deficiencies aside from a short unexplained period of super low b12 (and some other b vitamins) and d3 levels but i got injections for that and it's okay now, nothing wrong with my thyroid, all my organs are fine, joints are fine (aside from the knee that took the brunt of me being morbidly obese in my childhood/teen years), literally no physical indication of anything wrong.

so I don't think it's fibromyalgia. I tried hinting to every doctor I've seen so far that it could be one of the many "rare illnesses", even tried to get a referral to a special programme for diagnosing them, but all of the doctors were 120% sure it's all just psychosomatic in my case and I just need to reduce stress but also keep busy to block out the pain/fatigue.

so idk, now I'm just trying to schlepp myself through life, barely managing to keep down a part time job (because I grew tired of the job center hounding me each month because "hey, you're a young healthy adult why aren't you working 🤨"), act like a normal person pretending I'm not in varying levels of pain or feeling constant fatigue 24/7. I honestly don't know how some of my coworkers manage to work a full-time job and do the movie theater stuff as a fun little side gig on top! I'm always drained after a shift and I'm glad it's only part time. if I had to come in 6 days in a row each week for the whole year I'd collapse after 2 weeks max.

and don't worry about overstepping, I think I've said it before but with how often I lament the state of my mental and physical health on here in excruciating detail, it's fair game to discuss these things <3

[newstfionline]

Friday, November 22, 2024

Bomb Cyclone Hits Northwest (1440) Two people have died in Seattle, as a bomb cyclone impacts the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 600,000 customers have lost power. A bomb cyclone occurs when a storm system undergoes bombogenesis, with its central pressure dropping rapidly within 24 hours. This particular storm system has been fueled by an atmospheric river, a band of moisture in the sky with water vapor levels comparable to average flow levels at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The resulting weather system has unleashed hurricane-level winds in parts of Oregon and Canada, with Vancouver Island witnessing winds as high as 101 mph—the equivalent of a Category 2 storm. Heavy winds, rain, and snow are expected to continue impacting the region in the coming days. A separate storm is due to hit the Northwest as the current storm moves east.

How Trump’s tariffs could spark a trade war and ‘Europe’s worst economic nightmare’ (Washington Post) The prospect of a trade war ignited by the Trump administration is looming over European capitals. The European Union—which counts the United States as its largest export market and one of its closest strategic allies—could be among those hardest hit if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his tariff plans. Already, Europe’s major economies are lagging behind the United States in their post-pandemic recovery. Economists say that protectionist policies imposed by Trump after taking office in January could trigger further contraction on the continent, while straining alliances. There is talk of “Europe’s worst economic nightmare” and “full-blown recession.” Some economic models estimate that, faced with an across-the-board 10 percent tariff, euro zone exports to the United States could fall by nearly a third. That would be a big deal, because Europe is so export-dependent, and its largest economies are already facing sluggish growth and rising debt. Goldman Sachs calculates that trade conflict with the United States could subtract 0.9 percent from the euro zone economy.

How Science Lost America’s Trust and Surrendered Health Policy to Skeptics (WSJ) The rise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from fringe figure to the prospective head of U.S. health policy was fueled by skepticism and distrust of the medical establishment—views that went viral in the Covid-19 pandemic. Lingering resentment over pandemic restrictions helped Kennedy and his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign draw people from the left and the right, voters who worried about the contamination of food, water and medicine. Many of them shared doubts about vaccines and felt their concerns were ignored by experts or regarded as ignorant. Doctors, scientists and public-health officials are asking themselves how they can win public trust back. Among their postelection revelations: Don’t underestimate or talk down to those without a medical degree. Much of Kennedy’s popularity reflects residual pandemic anger—over being told to stay at home or to wear masks; the extended closure of schools and businesses; and vaccine requirements to attend classes, board a plane or eat at a restaurant. “We weren’t really considering the consequences in communities that were not New York City,” the places where the virus wasn’t hitting as hard, former National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said at an event last year. Authorities focused on ways to stop the disease and failed to consider “this actually, totally disrupts peoples’ lives, ruins the economy and has many kids kept out of school,” Collins said. In October 2023, 27% of Americans who responded to a Pew Research Center poll said they had little to no trust in scientists to act in the public’s best interests, up from 13% in January 2019.

Nicaragua’s Ortega proposes reform to make him and his wife ‘copresidents’ (AP) Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega on Wednesday proposed a constitutional reform that would officially make him and his wife, current Vice President Rosario Murillo, “copresidents” of the Central American nation. While the initiative has to pass through the country’s legislature, Ortega and Murillo’s Sandinista party control the congress and all government institutions, so it is likely to be approved. The proposal also looks to expand the presidential term to six years from five. Ortega put forward another bill Wednesday that would make it illegal for anyone to enforce sanctions from the United States or other foreign bodies “within Nicaraguan territory.” Nicaragua’s government has imprisoned adversaries, religious leaders, journalists and more, then exiled them, stripping hundreds of their Nicaraguan citizenship and possessions. Since 2018, it has shuttered more than 5,000 organizations, largely religious, and forced thousands to flee the country.

Residents in Haiti’s capital stand with police in a battle to repel gang attack (AP) Gangs launched a new attack on Haiti’s capital early Tuesday, targeting an upscale community in Port-au-Prince where gunmen clashed with residents who fought side by side with police. At least 28 suspected gang members were killed and hundreds of munitions seized, according to Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesman for Haiti’s National Police. The turmoil in Port-au-Prince deepened late Tuesday, when Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending critical care across the capital as it accused police officers of violence and threats against its staff, including rape and death. The aid group will halt patient admissions and transfers to its five medical facilities, a blow to a country with extremely limited medical care. MSF said one of its ambulances was attacked by police last week, resulting in the killing of at least two patients and physical harm to its staff. The aid group reported four other recent violent incidents in one week alone, including one in which it accused an officer of saying that police would start executing and burning its staff, patients and ambulances.

Swooping In On The Lame Duck (AP/Reuters) As the Biden White House enters its lame-duck phase, China is looking to capitalize on the U.S.’s shaky diplomatic standing. At the recent G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Chinese President Xi Jinping shook hands with Argentinian President Javier Milei and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, securing deals with two of the most important leaders in South America. Meanwhile, Xi and Lula agreed that the China-Brazil relationship had become a “Community with a Shared Future for a More Just World and Sustainable Planet”—Chinese government jargon for “best buds.” On top of that friendship announcement, the pair announced 40 cooperation agreements across various sectors to drive over $150 billion in bilateral trade between their two countries.

Landmines in Ukraine (1440) President Joe Biden announced yesterday the US will send antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, reversing a ban in place since 2022. Officials suggested the devices will shore up Ukraine’s defenses against Russia’s deployment of small squads across its lines; rights groups say the mines will endanger civilians. More than 160 countries are signatories to the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning the mines designed to detonate on contact. Russia and the US are not party to the treaty, with Russia deploying mines since the start of the conflict. Ukraine—a signatory—manufactures them.

Ukraine says Russia launched an intercontinental missile in an attack for the first time in the war (AP) Ukraine says Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight targeting Dnipro city in the central-east of the country, which, if confirmed, would be the first time Moscow has used such a missile in the war. In a statement Thursday, Ukraine’s air force did not specify the exact type of missile, but said it was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, which borders the Caspian Sea. It said an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired at Dnipro city along with eight other missiles, and that the Ukrainian military shot down six of them. While the range of an ICBM would seem excessive for use against Ukraine, such missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads, and the use of one would serve as a chilling reminder of Russia’s nuclear capability and a powerful message of potential escalation.

ICC arrest warrants (BBC) The announcement of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has triggered a furious response in Israel. Hamas has welcomed the decision, without commenting on the warrant for its own military commander, Mohammed Deif. The announcement is a major blow to Israel’s international standing, to the two individuals named, and most specifically to Israel’s ongoing efforts to present its military campaign in Gaza as a fight between the forces of good and evil. Israelis are appalled that, in their eyes, the world seems to have already forgotten or overlooked the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October last year. Palestinians, especially Gazans, feel vindicated that their accusations of Israeli war crimes have now been echoed by an international body with some weight. But international lawyers have expressed doubts over whether either Netanyahu or Gallant will ever be brought to The Hague for trial.

Gaza death toll nears 44,000 (ABC News) After ordering policies leading to the displacement of 90% of all Gazans, the deaths of almost 44,000 people (70% of them women and children), and the destruction of 80% of the area’s health facilities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally stepped foot in the Palestinian enclave, where he recorded a video telling Palestinians that the IDF would hunt down and kill anyone who harmed the Israeli hostages and offered a $5 million bounty for the return of each hostage.

Virtually no aid has reached besieged north Gaza in 40 days, UN says (BBC) Palestinians are “facing diminishing conditions for survival” in parts of northern Gaza under siege by Israeli forces because virtually no aid has been delivered in 40 days, the United Nations has warned. The UN said all its attempts to support the estimated 65,000 to 75,000 people in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and Jabalia this month had been denied or impeded, forcing bakeries and kitchens to shut down. Earlier this month, a UN-backed assessment said there was a strong likelihood that famine was imminent in areas of northern Gaza. Hundreds of people have been killed and between 100,000 and 130,000 others have been displaced to Gaza City, where the UN has said essential resources like shelter, water and healthcare are severely limited. Meanwhile, the US vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The 14 other Security Council members voted in favour, but the US said the text did not explicitly call for the immediate release of the hostages being held by Hamas as part of a ceasefire.

How Students Can AI-Proof Their Careers (WSJ) The current generation of college students is facing a challenge that those who came before never had to worry about: They’ll be competing with AI for jobs. What can they do to get ready? One consensus: It’s important to master skills not easily matched by machines, such as human-style communications and the ability to understand and work smoothly with people who have different perspectives and personalities. “In many ways the human skills are going to be more fundamental than they are now,” as machines take over some routine tasks, says Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern University. A survey of 255 employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers last year found that the three top “competencies” they sought in job candidates were communication, teamwork and critical thinking. Communication and teamwork rely on emotional intelligence, or EQ. “AI has probably won the IQ battle,” says Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, chief innovation officer at Manpower Group and professor of business psychology at Columbia University, “but the EQ battle is up for grabs.”

Duct-taped banana artwork fetches US$5.2m at New York auction (Guardian) Maurizio Cattelan’s viral artwork was bought by Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun on Wednesday evening at Sotheby’s New York, besting initial estimates of between $1 million and $1.5 million. “I never thought I’d say ‘$5 million for a banana,’” the auctioneer quipped as the bid was approaching its climax. Sun said he plans to eat the banana “as part of this unique artistic experience.”

[thechiropracticco]

Qualities of a Good Greensborough Chiropractor

If you believe in alternative medicine's healing properties, chiropractors can greatly help you. Several chiropractic clinics Melbourne treat various general and specific diseases and disorders. Regular sessions can greatly improve mobility, mental awareness, and endocrine functioning.

Many clients like to visit a chiropractor regularly in the form of preventive medicine; it is an excellent solution for anyone who does long hours of athletics, is entering the end of middle age, or likes to feel refreshed after a stressful week.

Here's How To Spot a Good Chiropractor for Your Treatment

Like all medical fields, a good experience at a chiropractic care Lancefield starts with finding the proper professional to meet us right where we are. Here is how to spot a Greensborough chiropractor who is worth your time.

Personalized Care & Treatment

Only an inexperienced or insincere professional would want to use the same treatment framework for all clients. The beauty of alternative medicine is that it is a holistic approach that looks carefully at the overall, subjective experience of the client.

So, a perfect chiropractor will always be up for customizing and upgrading your treatment plan. They will listen carefully to your stories about your lifestyle and life obstacles before deciding on an initial approach.

Good Hygiene & Environment

A chiropractic care Kalkallo clinic is a unique setup that reflects the professional's personal attitude and beliefs. When you enter a warm and inviting environment, you will know that you can say the same about the professional themselves.

Additionally, make it a point to notice whether or not the clinic is clean carefully. Look at the tiny behavior patterns of your kind of practice to ensure they use clean hands, proper ointments, and spotless bedding for you.

Licensing and Proper Education

Yes, chiropractors need a license to practice. Candidates proceed by earning a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree from a recognised chiropractic program. This graduate level training takes 4 years to complete.

Additionally, chiropractors have to pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exam to obtain a practicing license.

As potential clients, we should ensure our professionals are well-educated in the area and stay updated with their licensing. This will inevitably mean the practice of safe techniques rather than bizarre experiments.

Last Thoughts

Communication with a good family chiropractor Watsonia on the first day will be accessible. Additionally the chiropractor will gently examine your form to find areas of tension. They will perform measurements on your posture and movement, and may take X-rays to understand your body's structure. A good professional always takes the proper steps because these activities ensure they provide the right care. Through these processes, they'll understand your needs and create a personalized plan to help your body heal and feel its best. For more information click here.

[in5knitesolutions]

What is OET and Why is it Beneficial for Medical Professionals?

The Occupational English Test (OET) is a specialized English language proficiency examination designed specifically for healthcare professionals. Unlike other English tests, OET focuses on the language skills required in healthcare settings, making it an ideal choice for doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and other medical professionals who wish to work or study in an English-speaking environment.

At In5Knite Solutions, we understand the unique demands of the healthcare industry and offer the Best OET classes in Ahmedabad to help you achieve your career goals.

Understanding the OET

The OET assesses all four language skills – listening, reading, writing, and speaking – through test materials that reflect real workplace scenarios. This means that the tasks you will encounter in the test are based on real-life situations that you are likely to face in your professional life. This targeted approach not only helps you improve your English language proficiency but also prepares you for the communication challenges in a healthcare environment.

Why is OET Beneficial for Medical Professionals?

Relevant and Practical Content: The content of the OET is tailored to the healthcare sector, which makes it highly relevant and practical for medical professionals. For instance, the speaking test involves role-plays where you have to interact with patients, while the writing test involves writing referral letters or medical reports. This practical relevance ensures that you are not only improving your English but also getting ready for your professional duties.

Recognition and Acceptance: The OET is recognised by regulatory healthcare boards and councils in several countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Many employers and educational institutions prefer OET scores over other English tests because of its specific focus on the healthcare sector. By enrolling in our OET coaching center in Ahmedabad, you can enhance your chances of meeting the language requirements of these institutions and increase your employability globally.

Focus on Communication Skills: Effective communication is critical in the healthcare sector, where misunderstandings can have serious consequences. The OET’s emphasis on communication skills ensures that you are not only proficient in English but also able to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. This focus on practical communication skills can significantly improve your confidence and competence in real-life situations.

4. Improved Patient Care: By mastering the language skills required for healthcare settings, you can provide better care to your patients. Understanding medical terminology, accurately interpreting patients' concerns, and clearly explaining treatment plans are crucial aspects of patient care. The OET prepares you to handle these tasks effectively, leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.

5. Career Advancement: Achieving a high score in the OET can open up new career opportunities and pathways for professional development. Whether you are looking to work in an English-speaking country, pursue further studies, or seek promotions within your current job, proficiency in English can be a key differentiator. Our best OET classes in Ahmedabad at In5Knite Solutions are designed to help you reach the required proficiency levels and advance your career.

Why Choose In5Knite Solutions?

At In5Knite Solutions, we are committed to providing the highest quality OET preparation to medical professionals. Our experienced instructors, comprehensive study materials, and Personalised Coaching: We acknowledge that each student possesses distinct strengths and drawbacks.

Experienced Instructors: Our instructors have extensive experience in teaching OET and are familiar with the test format and requirements. They provide valuable insights and tips to help you succeed.

Personalized Coaching: We understand that each student has unique strengths and weaknesses. Our personalized coaching approach ensures that you receive the individual attention and support you need to improve your skills and achieve your target score.

Comprehensive Study Materials: We provide a range of study materials, including practice tests, sample questions, and study guides, to help you prepare effectively for the OET.

Flexible Class Schedules: We offer flexible class schedules to accommodate the busy lives of healthcare professionals. Whether you prefer weekday, weekend, or evening classes, we have options to suit your needs.

Choosing In5Knite Solutions for your OET preparation means choosing a partner dedicated to your success. With our proven track record of helping medical professionals excel in the OET, you can be confident that you are in good hands.In summary, the OET is an essential exam for medical professionals looking to enhance their English language proficiency and advance their careers in the healthcare sector. By enrolling in the OET classes in Ahmedabad at In5Knite Solutions, you are taking a significant step towards achieving your professional goals and improving your patient care capabilities. Contact us today to learn more about our OET coaching programs and how we can help you succeed.