#covid mention and trigger provided!

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

No mention of masks or other mitigations, but some surprisingly okay covid reporting from the BBC

By Nikki Fox

An NHS matron said that too often people were mistaking Covid for a common cold and a lack of testing could be putting vulnerable people at risk.

Lana Goodwin, who works in Covid services at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Billericay, Essex, said she believed people who were not high risk "feel that Covid has gone".

She added that statistics showed many vulnerable people were also not aware they were eligible for anti-viral drugs.

Ms Goodwin said: "I feel the public see [Covid] symptoms as a cold and it doesn't trigger off a response to test."

Ms Goodwin said that her clinic had people testing positive for the virus every day and vulnerable people were "unfortunately still dying from Covid".

Anti-viral drugs to treat Covid were available for high-risk patient groups, such as people with cancer, those who have had stem cell transplants, and people with respiratory or neurological conditions.

In June, people over 85 who lived in their own homes and people over 70 who lived in care homes also became eligible to receive the drugs. Yet during that month only 5% of the patients seen by the clinic in Mid and South Essex were in those categories.

In the week ending 15 November, 122 people in England and Wales died from Covid.

The figure was about one third of the number that died from flu or pneumonia, but Ms Goodwin said giving early anti-viral drugs could reduce hospitalisation and speed up recovery.

She said that it was important people started their treatment within five days of getting symptoms and testing for it to be effective.

'It takes away a lot of worry'

Joe Hall, 44, from Brentwood, Essex, was one of more than 4,000 people who has received anti-viral drugs from the clinic.

He is vulnerable to infection after he had a kidney transplant. He regularly takes immunosuppressants so his body does not reject his new kidney, which means his immune system is not as strong.

Mr Hall shielded in his flat for three months during the pandemic, but he caught the virus in July.

He said he woke up with a scratchy throat and aching all over, so he called 111 and they put him in touch with the Covid clinic in Billericay.

Mr Hall said the intravenous anti-viral medication started to work quickly and by the following day he woke up feeling "a huge amount better".

"I dread to think what would happen if I didn't have the treatment," he said.

"It takes away a lot of the worry... I can go out and about and I know if I catch Covid, it won't be so severe, and for me, that's huge mentally."

Mr Hall said that vulnerable people could not "shield forever" and said the vaccine and availability of anti-viral drugs provided him with an "extra barrier".

The NHS in Mid and South Essex said that vulnerable people could also be protected through Covid vaccinations.

The trust has joined other local healthcare organisations to help run a Covid vaccination service for people who are experiencing homelessness.

It has visited hostels and soup kitchens, such as the HARP charity in Southend, to administer jabs.

Dr Haroon Siddique, a GP at the Thorpe Bay Surgery and Southend Medical Centre, said that because of poor nutrition the immune systems of homeless people were often not as strong.

He added that close contact with other people and a higher prevalence of other health conditions also made rough sleepers vulnerable.

John, who is homeless and disabled, believed that the Covid vaccination was "keeping him safe".

He added because many people who were homeless were living with addictions, they "wouldn't always know the dangers of getting ill from Covid".

The service said local pharmacies provide lateral flow kits free of charge for vulnerable patients.

[yanderes-galore]

Can you do Kenny vs Butters from south park?

Ah yes, the two who are opposite but are totally best friends. Love them too. Aged up as usual. Aiming for after high school but sometime before the covid special.

Take two as I accidentally did not save the last one 😭 Which I am so mad about, why doesn't mobile Tumblr have autosave like PC!? Hopefully it's as good as the last draft-

Yandere! Kenny McCormick vs Butters Stotch

Pairing: Romantic - Rivalry

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Kidnapping, Murder, Delusional behavior, Overprotective behavior, Mentions of marriage/children, Trauma mentioned, Suicide, Violence, Jealousy.

They are both very similar in terms of how they act towards their darling and their end goals.

Kenny is empathetic, sweet, smart, loyal but profane towards his darling.

He has a more intimate take on his obsession than Butters and is much more mature, especially when aged up.

Butters takes on a more innocent view of his obsession.

He's always been gullible, even as an adult.

He's comforting, sweet, gullible, and strives for self improvement.

That last one makes him more considerate towards you.

Kenny and Butters may also both have psychological trauma due to their upbringings.

Kenny because of his death curse.

Butters because of his strict parents.

Kenny's yandere behavior may be Obsessive, Overprotective, Manipulative, Delusional, Cruel, and Clingy.

Butters yandere behavior may be Manipulative/Easily manipulated, Delusional, Gullible, Clingy, Protective.

Out of both of them, you can probably stall Butters obsession with how gullible and non-confrontational he is.

It'll at least leave it to brew just a bit longer.

Butters is honestly the one best to deal with.

If you correct him then you can have a normal relationship with him.

He wants to improve for you!

Kenny... not so much.

They are very similar yanderes it's just Kenny has a more mature view of your relationship.

Butters treats his crush/obsession like the classic innocent view of a pair.

He fantasizes of marriage and children, wanting to get a job that pays well to provide for you.

He isn't really one to kidnap.

In fact, Butters seems like the yandere who'd fail at kidnapping then try to excuse himself.

A way he could do it is if he lured you into his house then locked all the doors.

Then you can get started on planning your relationship!

Kenny has a similar goal of wanting to provide and care for you as his darling.

He isn't sure about marriage but he does want a future where it's just the two of you.

Out of both of them Kenny is probably the one to be more jealous.

He's more capable of kidnapping and murder than Butters.

Although, due to how "submissive" Butters is and how they're both great friends... there's a chance they could share sometimes.

Share is more like tolerate on Kenny's part.

There's times where they can both be near each other and care for you like showing affection.

Although one of them will be too jealous and lash out if it goes on too long.

There's two ways a yandere Butters can go.

Submissive and innocent, delusions being the thing that drives him and he avoids conflict/violence.

Or the falsely innocent yandere that pretends to be all sweet, yet doesn't mind violence or murder if he feels it is necessary.

This brings the question, would they harm each other?

That's kinda in the middle.

Butters may back off if confronted...

But there's also a chance he may harm Kenny if he pushed.

It's rare, yet Butters does adore you...

If he wants to keep you as his he may have to harm his best buddy.

With Kenny there's a moment of hesitance before he tries anything.

Does he really want to harm Butters?

If he also feels pushed for it he may hurt him but not kill him.

Butters may kill Kenny if he loses it, yet it doesn't change anything in the end.

Which leads into getting away from them....

You can get away from Butters if you manipulate him with how gullible he is.

He believes every word you say...

Just don't say you hate/don't love him-

His delusions take over and he'd never let you go.

Kenny is less soft.

He'd kidnap you and refuse to let you go.

You could kill him, sure...

But Kenny will just show up on your door step, willing to overlook that little error.

Butters can't get rid of him and neither can you.

Out of both of them, Kenny is definitely one of the more intense ones.

Despite this they both have the ability to share more than Stan and Kyle.

While those two are also both friends, they are willing to fight and pick at each other to love you.

Kenny and Butters work because of the fact they can tolerate that they both like you.

For a little while, at least.

It doesn't seem like you'll be able to get away from them.

One of them can't die...

The other is so delusional he'd follow you anywhere-

To take this into darker territory...

Butters could do one of those double suicide tropes with his darling.

After all, that would solve the Kenny problem...

It would throw Kenny into grief, however.

This rivalry is very interesting as it teeters between working and not working.

Either way you don't really have a choice on who you go with.

It just depends who's more intense.

[poppyandzena]

This part of the video you archived caught my attention, 5:45. Poppy basically plays semantics to try and clear herself of abuse allegations. The definition she provided is a form of financial abuse, but it’s by no means the only type of financial abuse. Just because the victim has access to their funds, doesn’t mean they aren’t being financially abused. As a therapist, she fucking knows this.

Poppy also completely brushes over how her child wrote a letter of abuse allegations against her and Zena and yet is completely baffled when said child escapes and cuts off all contact. If your response to your child writing an entire letter detailing abuse from you and your partner is to go "nuh-uh, our reciepts say otherwise" instead of self-reflecting, then you're a horrible parent. I'm so fucking glad this child is not blood related to her.

Notice how Poppy also doesn't mention the child accessed any of HER funds, just their own trust fund they're entitled to and the COVID relief. As an adult, Poppy's kid, whom I'll call A from now on, would have received a little over 2k cumulatively their own from the relief checks.

I've done some surface level research. If I'm correct, A went to college after high school. COVID happened right in the middle of their college attendance, and then they graduated in 2022. As a recent graduate, getting as job has been FUCKING DIFFICULT in a post-COVID world, and it would have been difficult for A to get a job while balancing their college classes.

Poppy is lying by omission when she says the trust fund was for college and it was drained, implying A never went to college. They did. They also had to deal with Poppy and Zena's pitiful antics prior and post graduation.

"[A] would cry at just the right decible on purpose for me to dissociate." Way to invalidate your child's distress, you fucking cretin. You're not the only one in the world with triggers and mental health issues. To imply that the mere EXISTENCE of A's upset is a purposeful manipulation to make YOU suffer is so self-centered that the irony of you admitting to being terrified of patients with NPD is a fucking self-report.

Spoiled children who aren't abused don't devise a secret escape plan to leave you. It's much easier to soak up mommy's money if they really are the petulant, manipulative child you try to make them out to be. I have every right to believe A when they went out of their way to put a spotlight to your abuse, TO YOUR ADMITTANCE, and then escape when they realized you most likely give more of a shit about incest furry porn and your dead channel than about the emotional welfare of your child.

[coffeewithcutcaffeine]

I need to know more about Voievod! How long have you been working on it? How do you find the balance between storytelling and providing historical information? I'm about to start reading it, and I'm so interested in the process! Bonus question: do you have any playlist or type of music you associate with it?

Oh my God, thank you so much for dropping this into my in box, loveliest! This really makes my entire day. 🥹❤️ Please, excuse my ramblings if this gets too long sksksk.

First of all, thank you so much for giving my fictional monolith a chance! I appreciate it more than words can say and hope you will find it enjoyable! ❤️ I also do think that it is important to mention that it tackles a lot of dark and gory themes so, please, always check the trigger warnings first — some works are not that heavy, but others might be more explicit and graphic in nature, so never hesitate to skip some of them if you find them uncomfortable.

Now on to your questions!

How long have you been working on it?

Voievod in its current form is actually my third attempt, but I have been playing around with Vlad’s story for nine years now. I started working on my first story in 2015, but that was a blend of Vlad the Voivode and Dracula the Vampire — basically, it focused on how he became a vampire. I eventually abandoned that project because I did not really have patience with it and kept rewriting and re-editing many parts of it, and maybe it was a good thing I did because I gradually came to realisation that his character as a mortal man is so much more interesting than the vampire thing.

I tried to give it another shot in early 2020, this time focusing fully on Vlad as the historical figure. The first wave of COVID granted me a lot of free time, so I tried to use that opportunity to work on the story, as well as catch up on any new information from historical research. I wrote a few drafts but abandoned it again after a few months because I sincerely felt like I did not have enough writing experience to pull it off in a way I would be satisfied with.

I started working on the third and current version in February 2023 — I randomly revisited the old drafts from 2020 and started playing around with them a little, expanding the ideas until I managed to write two pieces I was quite proud of. I approached this with a great deal of respect and fear, then realised that I felt confident enough in my writing to perhaps try again. I think it was a good decision to wait and get enough writing experience before getting back to it because, looking back at my previous attempts, my world-building and characterisation have improved. Still, I am taking this as an opportunity to push myself and let myself grow — and every new piece is quite the lesson as I am often plunging into places I thought I would never dare before.

How do you find the balance between storytelling and providing historical information?

I think the hardest part of working on such a project is the research itself. To depict the historical events as accurately as possible, you have to read anything you can get your hands on and absorb as much as possible. I have loads and loads of files filled with notes on figures, events, culture, etc. not only for one but four separate countries as all of them are crucial for the work. Vlad’s story is even more specific because you really have to separate facts from all the debris and junk of propaganda against him that shaped what was known about him for a long time.

Once you become intimately familiar with the research topic and can swim easily through that sea of information, it is not that hard to find that perfect blend. In fact, having that historical information at your disposal really speeds up the process because you do not have to agonise over the plot — all those events are already there, you just follow them. When it comes to many characters from Voievod, we know what their life was like and what their personalities were, so I follow their lead in that regard. And it is fascinating because real life sometimes writes the most compelling stories.

What balances this out is the freedom other aspects give me. We usually come to know historical figures as legends and larger-than-life beings, and they were undoubtedly extraordinary, but they were people first. I get to breathe that humanity into them by depicting what they think, feel, desire, and fear. I make them make mistakes and laugh. There are also people in their lives that we know little or nothing about, so that gives me a lot of space to create characters from scratch — Cătălina is a perfect example of that, and I love having the opportunity to create such a rich and wonderful character. Ultimately, personal relationships give a lot of space to create dynamics as I please, because we know so very little about the private lives of these people.

Do you have any playlist or type of music you associate with it?

Ahhh, I love this question so much! Here is my opportunity to share my beloved baby lmao. 🤭

I have a “soundtrack” playlist on Spotify, which you can find here. I love visualising scenes and playing them in my head like little video tapes, and the right music helps me grasp the mood and emotion of those moments when writing them. Almost all the tracks are actually tied to specific scenes or works. (One is already published and bears the same name. *wink wink*)

Also, as a bonus (let me brag there for a second), here is a Pinterest board for some of the characters from Voievod. ❤️

[benisasoftboi]

I recently purchased the Teletubbies' official Pride tank top, and it is the funniest thing I own. I do think it's a pretty naked example of rainbow capitalism - the slogan 'Big Hugs Big Love' is neither obviously Pride themed, nor even obviously Teletubbies themed, almost as though it was deliberately designed to not be easily associated with their brand if seen by homophobes in public - so I do feel that I may have contributed to something bad here, but it delights me so much to tell people what, exactly, it is that I am wearing. It's just so bizarre that this brand even has Pride merch.

Although, of course, the Teletubbies do have a long history of being associated with gay people. There have been little incidents, like the Talking Po doll that sounds like its calling you a slur, but the most famous is of course the accusations of Tinky Winky's homosexuality during the late 90s. Tinky Winky is purple, and carries a purse, and has a triangle antenna, which were all seen as signs of the gay agenda by conservative pundits. This was of course denied because it was the 90s, and it was a children's show, and also all of the Teletubbies were meant to be little babies themselves. However, in the modern day, the story is very different - Teletubbies has clearly become more comfortable associating itself with LGBT people, and also the Teletubbies are now canonically grown-ups. We know this because in 2021, the official Teletubbies Twitter account took a break from astrology posts to let us know that the Teletubbies are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including pictures of the vaccine cards. Setting aside the strangeness of their second vaccine dates being two weeks in the future from time of posting, and also written American-style despite the Teletubbies being British, these cards importantly provided us with the Teletubbies birthday - February 2, 2003. This is, admittedly, also very strange, as 2003 was after the show's original run ended, but it does indicate the Teletubbies are legally adults, and thus, speculating about their sexualities is now on the table.

The Twitter account has never outright stated that Tinky Winky is gay, but they've heavily implied it (for example, saying he was 'Born This Way' in a tweet at Lady Gaga - one of many unsolicited tweets they've made at various pop stars - or a screenshot of his AOL status mentioning how fabulous he is). They also once suggested that Po and Laa Laa are dating, which, if true, would make Dipsy the only straight one. This makes sense to me, as Dipsy's always had issues with toxic masculinity. I had the Teletubbies CD-ROM game as a kid, and in the rolling game (where you had the Teletubbies roll down a hill and bump into various objects to trigger cut scenes), if Dipsy rolled into the pink skirt, he would act disgusted by it and run away. None of the others objected in this way, and would simply wear the skirt and do a little dance - including Tinky Winky. Going by Twitter now, though, Dipsy seems like a really firm ally to his friends, so I think he may have left that issue in 2006, and all the better for it, I say.

Also, I couldn't find a place to mention this, but Noo Noo uses they/them pronouns.

[jmtorres]

potentially triggering mental illness post ahead? someone tell me how to tag this

i was reading about the acadia psych wards scandals and thinking how this was eroding the trust in mental health care i have built up, because what that particular company was doing abusively/without cause is the thing i was scared of that stopped me from getting treatment for pushing two decades--that i was afraid of psychiatric hold, and institutionalization, if i admitted to being depressed enough to be suicidal to anyone

and acadia was holding people under the "danger to themselves or others" clause without that even being true. there was a mention of a person who was just trying to get their bipolar meds adjusted, and another who was seeking therapy. NIGHTMARE FUEL. direct line to what i trained myself was paranoia so i could ask for help.

and someone pointed out that the entire psychiatric system is carceral, that acadia is egregious but all psych hospitals are incentivized to hold people against their will (as long as they have insurance to pay i guess) and I was like I see your point intellectually but i cannot handle this

anyway then i remembered I've been seeing my therapist & psych provider on video since the beginning of covid and the deep and profound relief that I can receive care without being in a space where it's easy for them to physically restrain me.

is this why shit like Betterhelp keeps getting used despite their terrible track record with patient privacy and other crap? because the safety of asking for treatment remotely is such a draw?

[farfarahleeya]

As we simultaneously stroll around the physical world and scroll around the virtual world, our activities in either world are being woven into each other... like a multi-coloured (or multi-realm) basket. Going with this analogy that popped in my head, let's look at the weaving of activism and protest in this basket. Specifically, I'd like to explore the question, "how digital is digital activism and protest?"

Trigger Warning --- please proceed with utmost care and caution if the topics below are sensitive to you --- (mentions of harassment, racism, xenophobia, ableism)

Introduction

In 2023, Fuentes observed that digital activism and protest began as a response to the internet's borderless nature. The power of the internet provided a global stage for activists, overcoming the limitations of physical boundaries. Similar to how political figures seek international support, ordinary citizens harnessed the internet to amplify their voices and causes. One standout example was witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when people turned to digital platforms to initiate movements and lend a helping hand. As the pandemic confined us behind closed doors, digital activism emerged as a potent force. Citizens recognized that their physical efforts alone couldn't suffice, and the internet became their ally. They transitioned from storming the streets with signs to storming the digital timeline with impactful hashtags. This shift exemplified the transformative potential of digital activism and protest, demonstrating that individuals could break free from geographical constraints to effect change on a global scale.

Case Studies

Let's look at two examples, Ain Husniza and #StopAsianHate, to see how digital activism can turn into something even bigger.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── #MakeSchoolASaferPlace ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

Ain Husniza, a courageous student in Malaysia, harnessed the power of the internet to confront a significant issue plaguing her country's education system: the silent acceptance of sexual harassment within schools. Ain began her journey by sharing her personal story, a story that struck a chord with many others who had suffered in silence. Through the rallying cry of #MakeSchoolASaferPlace, she and her peers aimed to illuminate the extent of this pervasive issue on a global stage.

Initially, Ain and her friends turned to social media as their platform to discuss this problem. Their goal was to raise awareness about the distressingly common nature of sexual harassment in educational institutions. However, something far more profound emerged from this digital dialogue. As students began sharing their own stories, it became abundantly clear that the issue was not isolated but systemic, affecting a much larger population than initially presumed. What had begun as an online conversation soon evolved into a powerful protest, exemplifying the transformative potential of digital activism.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── #StopAsianHate ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

#StopAsianHate gained momentum as a grassroots movement in response to the alarming increase in hate crimes targeting Asian communities. It all began with people sharing their experiences and frustrations on social media. They utilised the hashtag to declare that the injustices inflicted upon Asian individuals were unacceptable. Many recounted their own encounters with discrimination, while others offered messages of support and solidarity.

However, this movement's impact extended far beyond the realm of online conversations. People were driven to transform their outrage into meaningful action. They initiated online petitions and fundraising efforts to address the issue head-on. Notably, individuals like Alex Qi embarked on projects to enrich libraries with books detailing Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) history and culture. This educational initiative was aimed at countering stereotypes and promoting a deeper understanding of AAPI communities. It exemplified how digital activism can seamlessly transition into a digital protest, symbolising a collective move from voicing concerns online to creating tangible, real-world change.

︾ ︾ ︾ ︾ ︾

These examples teach us that when people come together on the internet and start talking about important issues, it can lead to even bigger things. Digital activism can turn into a powerful force for change.

Challenges and Critiques

Digital activism and protests, while powerful, are not immune to challenges and criticisms, including the issues of slacktivism and performative activism. Slacktivism involves superficial engagement, like merely liking or sharing posts, creating an illusion of progress without tangible results. Performative activism, on the other hand, often entails more visible actions but may be perceived as insincere or self-serving, lacking true commitment to a cause.

These challenges can hinder the effectiveness of online movements. To address them, it is crucial for activists and their supporters to transition from superficial engagement to concrete actions, like signing petitions, attending physical protests, volunteering, or educating themselves about the causes they support. Online platforms should create safe spaces and regulate harmful content, while media literacy efforts can combat the spread of misinformation.

Recognising and mitigating the challenges of digital activism and protests can result in meaningful real-world change, ensuring that the online energy translates into a genuine impact.

~ TLDR ~

slacktivism -> an organisation posting #PrayForLocation, but not donating, volunteering, or helping in any way

performative activism -> vlogging yourself giving KFC to beggars so you could monetise the video

proper activism -> researching #ableism, deleting slurs and offensive terms from your vocabulary, calling out people who use them

Conclusion

In our exploration of digital activism and protest, we've seen how the digital world can help people connect and make a difference on a global scale. But remember, these movements are closely tied to real-world problems. So, when asked, "How digital is digital activism and protest?" we found that while the internet is a powerful tool, the heart of these movements lies in the actual challenges people face. True activism, whether online or in the real world, requires real action and a commitment to change. In the end, these movements connect the online and offline worlds and are all about making a real difference in people's lives.

︵‿︵‿ References ‿︵‿︵

Fuentes, MA 2023, digital activism, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 January, viewed 19 October 2023, <https://www.britannica.com/topic/digital-activism>.

[mil-raea]

“We’re never lost if we can find each other.”

This advertisement was created by Facebook in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago with the slogan “We're never lost if we can find each other”. It highlighted the importance of communication amid the global crisis. The advertisement began by showing the empty streets, buildings, and landmarks during the pandemic and the struggling faces of frontline workers and hospital patients. The voiceover talked about the difficulties citizens are confronted with and the breakdowns they triggered; but as the individuals faced their loved ones through video calls, they could not help but smile. This showed that people can find strength through other people, as long as there is communication. This advertisement aimed to capture the hearts of citizens placed under a lockdown, especially frontline workers who worked arduously to save people from the spreading virus. Endorsing the usage of Facebook during the pandemic was a good tactic, as the company provides free chat and call services. It was a win-win situation for both parties — users and the company alike. The Facebook community can contact their loved ones as they like through messaging, calling, or video calling while the company earns money from the services they provide. Like most advertisements during the COVID-19 crisis, the video showcased roads and buildings void of people, a scenery anyone who experienced the pandemic knew all too well. Along with its relatable commentary, this seized the attention of the viewers. Currently, the advertisement has 722,599 views on YouTube, which demonstrates its impact to the people in the app.

“Salamat Shopee!”

This advertisement endorsed Shopee’s free shipping promo during their 9.9, or September 9th, sale two years ago. Jackie Chan, an international superstar known for his martial arts movies, appeared and, while in the middle of a fight, checked his phone to find a Shopee notification. His and the other stuntmen’s clothing then transformed into orange jumpsuits as they started dancing to a Shopee theme song. Through their performance, Shopee’s free shipping vouchers, daily P1 deals, and 20% cashback promos for the “9.9 Super Shopping Day” were introduced. This advertisement aimed to attract online buyers to engage in their shopping event, especially thrifty individuals who do not usually shop when there are no discounts or sale promos. While it was easy to be misled by the advertiser’s words and confused by the instructions to claim the promos, the 9.9 Shopee deals were still convenient for online shoppers as they offer a lesser price on items. At the time this endorsement was released, the country had been recovering from the spike of unemployment rate due to pandemic. From the 17.6 percent unemployment rate in April 2020, the country successfully reached a rate of 8.9 percent in September 2021, which was way closer to the pre-pandemic rate of 5.1 percent (Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA], 2019, 2021). Hence, Shopee’s 9.9 Sale was advantageous to buyers who were only earning back their income due to the inconvenience caused by the pandemic. No media manipulation was present in the video; however, consumers tend to be confused with the process of availing Shopee’s free shopping vouchers and other promos in the application. The advertisement piqued the interest of the audience by hiring Jackie Chan, an international movie star, as mentioned earlier. As he is not a Filipino, it was amusing to see him featured in a Philippine commercial. Moreover, he sang and danced to a Filipino Shopee jingle and ended the endorsement of the shopping application by saying the iconic Shopee line, “Salamat Shopee.”

References

Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA]. (2019). Preliminary results of the 2019 annual estimates of labor force survey (LFS). https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/labor-force-survey/title/Preliminary%20Results%20of%20the%202019%20Annual%20Estimates%20of%20Labor%20Force%20Survey%20%28LFS%29

Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA]. (2021). Unemployment rate in December 2021 is estimated at 6.6 percent. https://psa.gov.ph/content/unemployment-rate-december-2021-estimated-66-percent

[bitcoincables]

Bitcoin Crash to $10,000 Still Possible, Warns Crypto Analyst

Crypto analyst and trader Justin Bennett has warned that Bitcoin (BTC) may still experience a significant market crash in this cycle. He suggests that the cryptocurrency could decline by over 74% from its current value if a black swan event triggers a severe correction. Bennett points to the possibility of Bitcoin following a similar price pattern as it did in 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlights the chart analysis that shows Bitcoin could collapse to the diagonal support level. Bennett also takes into account the performance of the Euro against the US dollar (EUR/USD), which he believes indicates a downward trend for Bitcoin and the wider crypto market.

To support his prediction, Bennett states that there are systemic issues that could contribute to Bitcoin's potential crash. While COVID-19 was a black swan event, he mentions that there are numerous other factors that could trigger a similar event. The trader provides a monthly chart that suggests Bitcoin could face resistance at the Fibonacci retracement level of 0.768 and subsequently collapse to the diagonal support level reached during the pandemic. Furthermore, Bennett argues that the performance of the Euro against the US dollar is an additional warning sign for the broader crypto market, potentially indicating a downward trend.

For the full article, please visit here.

Tags: Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, MarketCrash, Analysis

[maimahidol]

hi everyone! ah, it’s been so long! :( i’ve missed you all terribly. quite a few things happened, so i’ll leave the rambly update under the cut below, as well as some in-character updates and the likes! 

my winter break went really well! i just turned 23, and was able to rest after finals. unfortunately, ( trigger ) tested positive around the time i was supposed to return from my hiatus and also started my new semester at the same time! which is why i’ve been away for a little longer. i’m doing really well now! :) onto mai, i’m going to be dropping her birthday threads (specifically) since it’s been some time now. i’m more than happy to hc any of the current threads, threads that were supposed to happen, or any of the plots in the post in general! for the time being, i’ll say that mai left the program temporarily to take care of work related things. <3 onto jaehyun, i’ll probably state the same reason and say that he had to return back home due to his minister status!

that’s all <3 i’ll be reaching back out to my ims and begin plotting again!

[bonyfish]

okay so here is what i have done today in my attempt to get the updated COVID vaccine:

10:15am. call CVS. they said the problem they'd been having earlier this week with insurance had been resolved, so now the only problem is that i have secondary insurance in addition to medicaid which means they're not legally allowed to bill medicaid. i told them i'd already called two different agencies about this problem on monday and had it resolved. they said to call again.

called Family & Social Services Administration. they said this wasn't an issue on their end and i needed to call my insurance.

called Kroger to see if they give COVID shots so i could just bypass this issue entirely (they don't)

called my doctor's office and left a message asking if they give COVID shots

called the company that administers my medicaid insurance and had the conversations mentioned in the above chain of posts, where we ultimately determined that there's no problem and everything should be working.

called the company i got insurance through during the brief window when i lost medicaid coverage from 2020-2021 to see if i was still in their system. they confirmed my coverage had been terminated in 2021 and everything should be working.

called CVS again. they said i was still listed in their system as having primary insurance other than medicaid, none of this was their problem, and I needed to call my insurance company.

called the company that administers my medicaid insurance again and determined that the second insurance that was triggering this problem was my father's insurance from his government job, which I haven't been covered under since 2017, and which indeed he likely doesn't even have anymore since he retired at some point in the last few years. the representative who determined this got rid of it in the system and made sure it wouldn't cause any issues, and then transferred me to the pharmacy coverage line, and said to tell them i need an override so i can get my shot without having to wait for these changes to percolate

the person on the pharmacy line says the COVID vaccine is covered under "medical" and not "pharmacy", so she puts me on hold so that she can call a different branch of the insurance company

meanwhile, my doctor's office leaves me a message saying they do not administer the new COVID vaccine

I am transferred to another branch of the phone tree, where I am informed that they cannot issue an override because there is no record of a denied claim coming from CVS. the problem is so incomprehensible from every angle that the representative by all appearances at this point gives up on CVS entirely and puts me on an extended hold so they can call around town trying to find any other medical provider who will administer the new COVID vaccine

by this point it is 1pm and I have been on this particular phone call for an hour.

the representative returns and says that the CVS minute clinic will bill the shot as medical and not pharmacy, thus bypassing whatever fuckery is going on, but all the minute clinics in the state appear to have the same phone number and all of them are out of the vaccine

this representative decides to give up and transfer me to the "concierge" which to be honest is a word I only know in connection with that TV show starring the guy who played Ax in the live action Animorphs, and i don't think that's what this person does

the concierge listens patiently as i explain everything and says, "well, it should be working," and i very nearly become hysterical. however, she says she'll familiarize herself with my case and get in touch with CVS herself. she takes my phone number, gives me a way to contact her, and says she'll call back before 5pm.

By this point it is 2 o'clock, I have cancelled my delivery shift, and all I have gotten done today is making phone calls.

I still have not gotten my updated COVID vaccine.

Doing interpretive dance to the hold music as I try for the second time to untangle the bizarre web of misapprehensions and errors preventing my updated COVID vaccine from being covered by my insurance