#donor management tools

[youtubevideopromotion]

The Importance of Donor Retention

“The Importance of Donor Retention.” In this podcast, Tamika and Chris cover strategies for engaging and informing donors to keep them connected to your mission. Techniques for building lasting relationships that foster donor loyalty, using data-driven approaches to personalize outreach, and improving retention. Additionally, they outline steps to create a comprehensive donor retention plan to…

[chiharuuu22]

Whumpee, who was raised as a killing machine by Whumper and managed to become a "human" thanks to Caretaker, makes a special impression.

What if Whumpee was Caretaker's son?

There is a scenario that has occurred to me. If Caretaker A and B are husband and wife who join an organization to eradicate Whumper and his minions. Years ago, they lost their child to kidnapping and finally thought their child was dead.

One time, they broke into Whumper's headquarters and rescued the children there. Most of them are used as objects of research, and the rest, which are considered the most powerful, are used as tools to kill for personal gain. Most of these children had no identity, so they ended up being treated at a rehabilitation center belonging to the Whumper eradication organization.

Whumpee is a child who is finally under the supervision of Caretaker A and B. Initially, they had difficulty bonding with Whumpee. Whumpee's attitude, which was formed by Whumper, is very difficult to fix. Whumpee doesn't understand what is right and what is wrong.

Slowly, Caretaker A and B brought Whumpee to become "human" and the teenager he was supposed to be. Whumpee learns little by little about life and everyday skills. Whumpee understands what is right and what is wrong. Whumpee learns to understand "sorry," "please," and "thank you."

Of course, Whumpee ended up becoming very close to Caretaker A and B. Caretaker A and B even secretly wanted to adopt Whumpee.

No one realizes that Whumpee's appearance is actually similar to a combination of Caretaker A and B. Even if there is, they think that because Whumpee was raised by Caretaker A and B, Whumpee adopted their expression habits without realizing it.

One day, suddenly, Whumper attacked the organization's headquarters, causing chaos. Whumpee was asked to run as far as possible to be safe. Initially, Whumpee obeyed the order but finally changed his mind and returned to save Caretaker A and B. Even though he had not held a weapon for a long time, Whumpee's body still remembered to fight.

Whumpee became an aid to the organization and succeeded in eliminating some of the Whumper members. Together with their friends who had been saved, they thought that what they were doing was a form of gratitude.

Whumpee looked for Caretaker A and B, until finally they met when Caretaker A and B were fighting Whumper. Whumpee managed to win. However, when he was careless, Whumper still tried to attack his Caretaker. Of course, Whumpee's body moved spontaneously and eventually became a victim.

In the next classic scene, Whumpee finally has to receive treatment for the wounds he received. Whumpee got a donor from Caretaker who happened to have the same blood type.

Even though he didn't expect anything, Caretaker A did a little testing on Whumpee. After carrying out the first test, Caretaker A was surprised by the results. Then, he carried out various tests repeatedly and for days, and he even asked his friends for help to confirm the results.

And yes, Whumpee is their child who was thought to have died.

Caretaker A, who was still a mess, rushed to see Caretaker B, who was taking care of Whumpee. They talked to each other heart-to-heart. Caretaker A gave all the test results, and they cried happily together.

Caretaker A and B met Whumpee, who had gone through a critical period. They explain slowly that Whumpee is their son. At first, Whumpee thought Caretaker was joking because Whumpee didn't remember anything about his past. Until finally, Whumpee understands that he is the caretaker's son. Whumpee had parents all along. Of course, Whumpee felt very happy and grateful. He felt very lucky. Whumpee then learns to call Caretaker A and B "mom" and "dad.".

Maybe because Whumpee was happy, his healing progressed quickly, and Whumpee was able to return home.

Everything continues as usual. Except Whumpee finally has a birth certificate with his family name on the back.

(Anything you want to add?)

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Interesting. Very Interesting. 🤔

"Get your news from people who have a track record of telling the truth, people who do so at significant personal cost like whistleblowers."-Bill Ackman, Democrat Billionaire Hedgefund Manager

"Billionaire hedge fund manager and longtime Democratic Party donor Bill Ackman has blasted the Democrat party and fake news mainstream media outlets for lying and misleading the country about Joe Biden’s health and mental acuity. The White House, mainstream media, and even Biden’s personal physician have continually defended the Biden, insisting he is in good health and fit to serve. DEI White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lashed out at conservative media outlets for circulating what she described as “cheap fake videos” of Joe Biden looking old, feeble, and senile. Joe Biden and Barack Obama appeared on stage together earlier this month at a fundraiser in Los Angeles, California. After the fundraiser wrapped up, Obama had to grab Joe Biden’s hand to lead him off stage. Biden was frozen. Barack Obama treated Biden like a nursing home patient and walked him off stage. Earlier this year, during a routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Biden joked about his health status. When asked about his physical examination and what his doctors had to say, he responded, “They think I look too young,” adding that “Everything’s great” regarding his health. Dr. Kevin O’Connor, responsible for evaluating the 81-year-old President, concluded that despite any perceived physical struggles, Biden is “fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.” Notably, the examination did NOT include a cognitive assessment test. The White House was probably scared of the results, knowing they would doom Biden’s re-election bid for good. However, big-time lefty and longtime Democratic donor Bill Ackman, who previously said he was open to voting for Trump, has publicly blasted the Democratic party and mainstream media for misleading the country about Joe Biden’s mental acuity and health."

@BillAckman

As much as last night was an indictment of the Democratic Party for misleading party members and the country about the mental acuity and health of the president, the media deserve far more derision and scorn. I and others were repeatedly criticized by the media for questioning the competency of the president. Among other false accusations, I was accused of spreading misleading videos which clearly showed Biden’s deterioration.

Do you remember the heavily excerpted and edited @POTUS Biden @60Minutes interview where the interviewer covered for the president by saying he was ‘very tired?’ @60Minutes knew. The @nytimes knew. @CNN knew. @MSNBC knew. Left wing media have had total and complete access to the president, his staff, and his administration. They all knew, but they told you otherwise. They outright lied to you. When Robert Hur, the special counsel who deposed the president, said that the president was not fit to stand trial and therefore chose not to bring charges, the media described him as a tool of the Republican Party and character assassinated him. When the @WSJ recently published a several-thousand-word, carefully researched, front page piece on the president’s mental and physical health, it was described by left wing media as outright propaganda. Now consider who has been feeding you propaganda. A favored technique of some of the most evil leaders in history was to mislead the people by constantly repeating the Big Lie. The Big Lie is so audacious that people accept it as truth because it is repeated so often that how can it be that something so important and material could be an outright falsehood? In this case the Big Lie was our president’s fitness for office, let alone a second term. A media organization is not supposed to be a branch of the Democratic Party. The media have a profound obligation to tell the truth to the American people, particularly about something as critical for the country as the president’s mental and physical health. People very close to me, my closest family and friends, trusted the media on Biden until the @CNN commentators finally owned up to the truth about Biden last night. For months I have been accused by many friends and family of being misled by an @X -based ‘right wing echo chamber.’ The sad reality is that one of our most important institutions, the so-called ‘Fourth Estate,’ fourth only after the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners, has destroyed any remaining credibility it has. Consider how your perception of @POTUS Biden and @realDonaldTrump has been manipulated. The media can no longer save itself. A suggestion. Rely on empirical data as much as possible. Listen to what someone actually said, rather than a headline summary or article about what someone said. Get your news from people who have a track record of telling the truth, people who do so at significant personal cost like whistleblowers. I follow broad constituencies on @X on multiple issues. That has led me closer to the truth. Citizen journalism has been a much more accurate representation of reality. Thank you @elonmusk for saving this platform. It gives us a fighting chance to save our democracy.

[wander-wren]

every once in a while i like to poke my head into "anti [x]" tags just to see what the other side thinks. recently i was looking through "anti ao3" and found a really funny post claiming that ao3 is not anticapitalist, but actually the Definition Of Capitalism, bc it relies on volunteer labor while supposedly having the money to pay a staff.

oh, honey.

but i am not going to make unsubstantiated claims on the internet, no, and this gives me an excuse to look at ao3's whole budget myself, which i've been meaning to do for a while. these numbers are taken from the 2022 budget post and budget spreadsheet.

ao3's total income for 2022, from the two donation drives, regular donations, donation matching programs, interest, and royalties was $1,012,543.42. less than $300 of that was from interest and royalties, so it's almost all donations. and that's a lot, right? surely an organization making a million dollars a year can afford to pay some staff, right?

well, let's look at expenses. first of all, they lose almost $37,000 to transaction fees right away. ao3 and fanlore (~$341k and ~$18k, respectively) take up the biggest chunks of the budget by far. that money pays for, to quote the 2022 budget post, "server expenses—both new purchases and ongoing colocation and maintenance—website performance monitoring tools, and various systems-related licenses."

in some years, otw also pays external contractors to perform audits for security issues, and for more servers to handle the growing userbase. servers are expensive as hell, guys. in 2022, new server costs alone were $203k.

each of their other programs only cost around $3,000 or less, and otw paid around $78k for fundraising and development. wait, how do you lose so much money on your fundraising?? from the 2022 budget post: "Our fundraising and development expenses consist of transaction fees charged by our third-party payment processors for each donation, thank-you gift purchases and shipping, and the tools used to host the OTW’s membership database and track communications with donors and potential donors."

then the otw paid an additional $74k in administration expenses, which covers "hosting for our website, trademarks, domains, insurance, tax filing, and annual financial statement audits, as well as communication, management, and accounting tools."

in case you weren't following all of that math, the total expenses for 2022 come out to $518,978.48. woah! that's a lot! but it's still only a little over half of their net revenue. weird. i wonder what they do with that extra $494k?

well, $400k of it goes to the reserves, which i'll get to in a second. the last $93k, near as i can tell, gets rolled over to the next year. i'll admit this part i'm a little unsure about, as it's not clear on the spreadsheet, but that's the only thing that makes sense.

the reserves, though are clear. the most recent post i could find on the otw site about it were in the board meeting minutes from april 2, 2022: "We’re holding about $1million in operating cash that is about twice the amount of our annual operating costs. There is another $1million in reserves due to highly successful fundraisers in the past. The current plan for the reserves is to hold the money for paid staff in the future. It’s been talked about before in the past and we’re still working out the details, but it’s a rather expensive undertaking that will result in large annual expenses in addition to the initial cost of implementation."

woah....they're PLANNING to have paid staff eventually! wild!

so let's assume, for easy numbers, that the otw currently has $1.5 million in reserves. before we even get to how to use that money, let's look at the issues with implementing paid staff:

deciding which positions are going to be paid, because it can't be all of them

deciding how much to pay them, bc minimum wage sure as hell isn't enough, and cost of living is different everywhere, and volunteers come from all over the world

hiring staff and implementing new systems/tools to handle things like payroll and accounting

making sure you continue to earn enough money both to pay all of the staff and have some in reserves for emergencies or leaner donation drives

probably even more stuff than that! i don't run a nonprofit, that's just what i can think of off the top of my head.

okay, okay, okay. for the sake of argument, let's assume there is a best-case scenario where the otw starts paying some staff tomorrow. how much should they be paid? i'm picking $15 an hour, since that's what we fought for the minimum wage to be. by now, it should be closer to $20 or $25, but i'm trying to give "ao3 is capitalism" the fairest shot it can get here, okay?

ideally, if someone is being paid to help run ao3, they shouldn't need a second job. every job should pay enough to live off of. and running a nonprofit is hard work that leads to a lot of burnout--two board members JUST resigned before their terms were up. what i'm saying is, i'm going to assume a paid otw staff is getting paid for 40 hours of work a week, minimum. that's $31,200.

at $400,000 per year, the otw can afford to pay 12 people. that's WITHOUT taking into account the new systems, tools, software, etc they would have to pay for, any kind of fees, etc, etc.

oh, and btw, if you're an american you're still making barely enough to survive in most places, AND you don't have universal healthcare, vision, or dental. want otw to give people insurance, too? the number of people they can pay goes down.

it's. not. possible.

a million dollars is a lot of money on the face of it, but once you realize how MUCH goes into running something like the otw, it goes away fast.

just for reference, wikipedia also has donation drives every year. wikipedia, as of 2021, has $86.8 million in cash reserves and $137.4 million in investments. sure, wikipedia and ao3 are very different entities, but that disparity is massive. and i should note that if you give $10 to wikipedia they don't give you voting rights, i'm just saying.

by the way, you may have noticed that i didn't mention legal costs at all here. isn't one of otw's big Things about how they do legal advocacy?

yes, it is. they have a whole page about that work. and i can't for the life of me find a source on otw's website (and i'm running out of time to write this post, i'll look harder later), but i am 90% sure i learned before that most, if not all, of otw's legal work/advice/etc is done pro bono. i've also seen an anti-ao3 person claim their legal budget is only $5k or so, but they didn't have a source. but keep in mind that if they don't have a legal budget, all the numbers above stay the same, and if they do, there is even less money available for paid staff.

you can criticize ao3 and the otw all you want! there are many valid reasons to criticize them, and i do not think they're perfect either. but if you're going to do so, you should at least make sure you can back up your claims, bc otherwise you just look silly.

[pen-and-umbra]

Abt CC, I think it made ASG work tho.The battle flashback says it all, with Gen and Seph bickering and Seph getting irritated and Angeal acting like a mother hen…that's the wholesome friendship right there packed into a single scene. It's clear throughout the game what kind of dynamics the trio had. 

YMMV. Crisis Core is a mixed bag for me. It got some things right; it got some things amiss. It managed to pull off convincing dynamics between Zack and Sephiroth, for example; they share sufficient screen time, and you can see the rapport and a kind of endearment between a junior and a senior colleague, which later organically flows into FFVII Rebirth. But when it comes to ASG friendship…not so much, given the lack of trio shared screen time and the fact that at least one of the characters communicates almost exclusively by rehashing the same poetry lines.  

Also YMMV, but in my perspective, the friendship between Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis did not feel genuinely balanced and harmonious. To me, it came off as if Sephiroth had always felt like a third wheel in the back of his mind, which was also fueled by his already present history of being left behind. Angeal and Genesis share a common past and an already established enduring bond; Angeal and Genesis are physiologically compatible for a blood transfusion, while Sephiroth is never given an explanation as to why he was rejected as a donor, or even properly acknowledged for attempting to be one; Genesis appears to desert with no parting word, then chooses to come open with Angeal but not Sephiroth; finally, the two of them disappear together, for the lack of a better word. Perhaps in some way, to Sephiroth, it felt like the two of them were more tight-knit, more closely bonded with each other than with him. It's just there in the way he quickly concludes that Angeal "abandoned" ShinRA as well, or in the way he never responds directly to Zack's question about whether the three of them were close. His response is ambiguous at best, as if he is unsure of it himself lately. Then there's a battle flashback that implies that, while Genesis was friendly, there was always a hint of jealousy and an attempt to instill rivalry over the hero title.

The most recent episode of First Soldier adds to this perspective. Most importantly, it demonstrates that Angeal, and Genesis by extension, had no idea what ShinRA was about until misfortune struck them directly following Genesis ailment. Or, in the case of Genesis, what it meant to be a ShinRA hero — a lie-filled campaign at best and a tool for murder at worst. It appears that Sephiroth never opened up about it. Or he did, but wasn't really HEARD — because in FS he blatantly talks about his take on the role ShinRA had forced onto him in front of Bachman and Angeal, but his words don't appear to be taken seriously. Either scenario calls ASG closeness into question, whether due to Sephiroth's tendency to keep his experiences private (he never comes clean about Rosen's death, letting Glenn project whatever motives on him) or on the part of A&G. It could easily be both. Young!Angeal's behavior in the most recent FS was bordering on overbearing in some instances, such as making rather ill-mannered statements about things he knew nothing about, namely Sephiroth's relationship with his former teammates. I'm sure Angeal's prodding over a recent and unhealed wound did not add to Sephiroth's sense of emotional security and caused just as much stress to Sephiroth as Sephiroth's crabbiness did to Angeal.

It all just makes you wonder.

[mariacallous]

While the failure to break through Russia’s fortified defensive lines on the southern axis this summer has been disappointing for Kyiv, the news on the diplomatic and political front is far more alarming.

Speaking about the progress of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in early December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told The Associated Press: “We wanted faster results. From that perspective, unfortunately, we did not achieve the desired results. And this is a fact.”

While Ukraine has achieved some limited successes this year, with results in the Black Sea in the summer and a Kherson-region bridgehead firmly established east of the Dnipro River in the fall, the lack of significant territorial gains is a bitter pill to swallow for Kyiv.

But despite these setbacks, with the final taboos overcome regarding providing the heavy weaponry and long-range missile capabilities needed to win this war, the trajectory of the conflict was still arguably trending in Ukraine’s favor, according to many Western military experts, just as long as the coalition of democratic nation states maintaining Ukraine’s wartime economy held strong and the arms transfers kept arriving.

Winter’s developments, however, paint a far worse picture. Given the immense risks ahead, it is imperative that Kyiv starts preparing now for a future in which that coalition has fragmented.

In Europe, election victories for allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Slovakia’s Robert Fico and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders have potentially added further blocks on European Union financial and military aid packages. Hungary’s Viktor Orban now has more leverage in his attempts to disrupt the bloc’s Ukraine policy, including holding up a new round of sanctions on Russia and a proposed 50 billion euro ($54.9 billion) aid package, even if his opposition to the EU opening accession talks for Ukraine has been successfully navigated by the bloc.

Orban was previously isolated inside the EU, which overtook the United States as the largest overall donor of aid to Ukraine over the summer. If Wilders manages to form a governing coalition and become prime minister, it could not only imperil the planned transfer of Dutch F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but also become a major threat to future EU aid packages going forward.

Winter has also seen a truck driver protest in Poland and Slovakia, which have been blocking Ukrainian border crossings in a dispute over EU permits for Ukrainian shipping companies, which has in turn impacted the flow of volunteer military aid coming into Ukraine.

While Kyiv will be disappointed by these events, they are not insurmountable. Support for Ukraine remains high in Brussels, and Orban has proved himself capable of relenting on similar packages in the past, leveraging Hungary’s veto in exchange for EU concessions toward Budapest. Individually, member states such as Germany and the Baltic nations also continue to send substantial military aid to Kyiv outside of the structures of the European Union.

The news from the United States, however, is far more bleak. Speaking to reporters on Dec. 4, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan laid out in stark terms that the funds allocated by the government for Ukraine were spent, warning that if Congress did not pass further funding bills, it would impact Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

“Each week that passes, our ability to fully fund what we feel is necessary to give Ukraine the tools and capacities it needs to both defend its territory and continue to make advances, that gets harder and harder,” Sullivan said.

The White House has been trying to pass a $61.4 billion aid package for Ukraine (part of which would go to replenishing U.S. Defense Department stocks), tied together with a package of aid to Israel and Taiwan, which is being blocked by congressional Republicans in a dispute over the Biden administration’s border policies.

Despite a majority of Republicans supporting increased military aid to Ukraine, bills trying to secure further funding have stalled in both the Senate and the House of Representatives since the caucus of far-right, pro-Trump House Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy as the speaker of the House of Representatives, replacing him with Ukraine military aid opponent Mike Johnson.

After Johnson was elected speaker, he appeared to walk back his opposition to Ukraine funding, in an apparent bid to win over some of his Reaganite skeptics in the Republican Party. However, he has chosen to try to leverage the urgency of the Biden administration’s Ukraine package to advance the Republicans’ anti-immigration platform.

This is no longer isolated to the House, as even pro-Ukraine senators, such as Lindsey Graham, joined Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in blocking the White House’s security package amid chaotic scenes in the Senate. With Senate Republicans falling in line with the legislative agenda of the House’s hard-right “Freedom Caucus” Republican wing, Ukraine will enter the Christmas period under sustained Russian aerial bombardment with depleted air defense ammunition stocks.

The United States is incapable of replenishing those stocks due to the domestic political wrangling of a small band of hard-line, anti-immigration Republican lawmakers, and Ukrainian civilians will likely die as a result of this amoral legislative obstinance. In Kyiv, where I live, the sense that these conservative lawmakers are willing to recklessly endanger Ukrainian lives for selfish political ends is palpable.

The Biden administration has expressed a willingness to compromise in order to try to break the impasse, but there is no certainty in where these negotiations could go. The size of this aid bill is itself a strategic move. The $61.4 billion package dwarfs any of the previous U.S. aid packages to Ukraine (which as of August 2023 totaled more than $77 billion), representing a more “one and done” approach to meeting Ukraine’s military aid needs for the entirety of 2024 and the remainder of President Joe Biden’s term.

If it passes, there will be no further opportunities in the short term for the Make America Great Again caucus to hold Ukrainian aid to ransom.

But the problems don’t stop there. The United States and Europe have both failed to produce enough artillery ammunition to meet Ukraine’s needs, and this shortfall led to South Korea becoming a larger supplier of artillery ammunition in 2023 than all European nations combined. But Korea’s supplies are not limitless, and U.S. and European production is still not at the levels needed to sustain Ukraine going forward. If this shortfall is not addressed, the consequences could be disastrous.

There are more hopeful signs that these problems are well understood, and that the coalition of nations supporting Ukraine remains committed to the cause in the long term. “Wars develop in phases,” said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in a recent interview with the German public broadcaster ARD in early December. “We have to support Ukraine in both good and bad times,” he said.

Everything now points to a long war in Ukraine, although none of this should have been unforeseeable for Western policymakers and defense chiefs. Ukraine’s top military c, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, gave a much-publicized interview with the Economist in November, in which he said “just like in the first world war, we have reached the level of technology that puts us into a stalemate.”

These comments, however, despite appearing to create the impression of a public rift between Zaluzhny and Zelensky, are not a concession of defeat from the four-star general. Zaluzhny made clear that he is trying to avoid the kind of grinding attritional warfare that favors Russia’s long-term strategy for wearing Ukraine down.

But a long war also heightens one of the biggest threats. Even if the Biden administration manages to get the new aid package over the line, effectively securing Ukraine’s military funding for 2024, the specter of another presidency for Donald Trump still looms large on the horizon. The polling for Biden less than one year away from an election is deeply concerning, and Trump’s prospects for victory need to be taken seriously, even in the face of his growing legal jeopardy.

A second Trump presidency would imperil not just U.S. democracy, but also the entire global world order, and the consequences for Ukraine could be potentially devastating. Trump’s refusal to commit to continuing to support Ukraine should be setting off alarm bells—not just in Kyiv, but across Europe too, where the greatest impacts from this change of policy would be felt.

Trump’s first impeachment was over his attempt to extort Ukraine to search for compromising material that he could use against Biden in the 2020 election, and there is no reason to believe that Trump has moved on from this. Many in Washington expect that a second Trump presidency will be marked by his desire for revenge against anyone that stood in his way. As the U.S. analyst and author Michael Weiss told me, “Trump’s first impeachment was over Ukraine, and he sees it as an abscess to be lanced. … A Trump presidency would be an unmitigated disaster for Ukraine.”

There are also signs that the Russians are acutely aware of this, and that their strategy in the short-to-medium term is simply to hold out in Ukraine long enough for a Trump presidency to pull the plug on the vital military aid keeping the Ukrainians in the fight. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently remarked that the Russians expect the war to last beyond 2025, and in an address to his own propaganda think tank, Putin said that Ukraine would have a “week to live” if Western arms supplies were halted.

Ukraine cannot plan for a war that may extend beyond 2025 without preparing for a potential Trump presidency and all that would entail. The Ukrainian government must prepare for every eventuality, including a White House that is actively hostile toward Kyiv. To his credit, Zelensky appears to have acknowledged this possibility, going as far as inviting Trump to visit Kyiv.

Putin has made it perfectly clear that he sees his war in Ukraine as being part of a wider war that he is waging against the entire West. Western policymakers to take him at his word on this. Putin and his regime have been waging a hybrid war against the West for many years, and he considers his support for European extremists such as Fico, Wilders and France’s Marine Le Pen to be part of that war and part of undermining the Western liberal democratic institutions, such as the EU and NATO, that stand in opposition to Putin’s tyranny.

But there is no single individual on the planet more important to Putin’s global war agenda than his pet authoritarian in Mar-a-Lago.

Moscow’s goals in Ukraine remain unchanged; the Putin regime still maintains maximalist aims in Ukraine and is in this war for the long haul, with the total subjugation of Kyiv as its goal. Putin made his position very clear during his annual news conference. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also been explicit about this, and Europe should take the ongoing threat that a Trump administration poses to Ukraine seriously. There may well be a potential future in which Europe is forced to carry the burden of Ukraine’s war without its North American ally at the helm of the coalition, or even at the head of the collective defense strategy at the heart of European foreign policy.

Looking forward to 2024, there remains no path to peace in Ukraine without a Russian defeat. Looking beyond 2025, the future of Ukraine as a free and democratic nation-state, and potentially the entire security of Europe, hang in the balance.

This is why Europe, in particular, cannot afford to be complacent in the face of the rising threat of a Trump presidency. Opening EU accession talks for Ukraine is a good start, but until the bloc can match or outperform Russia’s current levels of ammunition production, the tide will start to turn against Ukraine if U.S. leadership on this war continues to falter. The truth is that U.S. leadership on this and on any other pressing international issue cannot be guaranteed.

For Ukraine to stand a chance of victory, its allies must begin preparing for catastrophe now.

[goetiae]

Black Butler deals with the topic of blood transfusion in the arc(s) centered around O!Ciel's twin brother and Undertaker's experiments in reviving the dead.

While the story is fictional, Yana Toboso does manage to introduce a few concepts about blood transfusion that are historically true to how it was handled in the Late Victorian period that the series is set in. However, like any fictional piece it also features multiple unrealistic episodes which simply would not have taken place in the Victorian era in the way that it did in the series.

Blood transfusions were still a novelty in the medical field: the procedure dates back as recently as the 17th century. William Harvey conducted experiments on blood and concluded that it circulates indefinitely (Du Motu Cordis, 1628). The matter of circulation in the manga was brought up by Othello, and it is in fact interesting that for Victorians it was still a fairly recent discovery.

The first blood transfusions were not used to assist people suffering blood loss - instead, they had to deal with attempting to cure damage received by the body after giving birth. Most early transfusions happened to try and resolve the issue of postpartum hemorrhage in women. Despite women being largely in the focus, men were mostly seen as proper donors: Anne Marie Moulin writes that in nineteenth-century transfusion, women were rarely donors, as their blood was held to be less plentiful and vital.

What we do not witness in Black Butler is the widespread usage of interspecies blood transfusion: delivery of blood to humans from lambs, cows, calves, dogs, and such. Jean-Baptiste Denis was a pioneer of the procedure and conducted his first lamb-to-human transfusion in 1667. However, we are familiarized with the thought expressed by two characters, Sieglinde and Othello: the history of blood transfusion is a complicated one, and for a good reason.

After being banned for nearly two centuries since its birth in France, blood transfusion revitalized in the 19th century in England with the work of James Blundell who concluded that animal transfusion did not prove to be effective and first worked with a human subject. Some of his experiments were successful, some not, though he persisted.

Interestingly, Blundell was an avid believer in the nourishing, nearly life-giving qualities of blood transfusion. He spoke of it as if introduction of new blood into the body literally had the ability to bring back the dead: a sentiment perhaps reflected in Undertaker's experiments to revive R!Ciel.

His experiments went far enough to lead to the invention of an "impellor", a tool that is a mix of a pump and a funnel used for direct blood transfusion. He also invented a "gravitator", a chair with an additional tool to collect blood before it's delivered to the patient. Similar tools can be seen being used on the victims kidnapped to supply R!Ciel, and on himself.

R!Ciel seems to remain in elevation for his transfusions, which is something that was believed to be helpful as gravitational flow dragged blood into the vein. The tool that Undertaker is using clearly has a pump, which is also true to how transfusions were done. It should be additionally noted that nasal cannula R!Ciel is wearing in later chapters would not be invented until 1949.

Further inventions and discoveries in the field were made: Thomas Smith used defibrilated blood for transfusions and M.B. Higginson invented a special syringe that was, however, later used for other purposes. A new leap in transfusion methods was attempted by T. G. Thomas who, knowing of blood's tendency to coagulate, argued that it's best to use milk - a practice that had its roots in Canada and the US. The dangers of blood transfusion due to contamination began to be spoken about only around the second half of the century when Joseph Lister invented (1867) antiseptics.

Interestingly, the phenomenon of blood coagulation is slightly touched upon in the manga: Siegliende marks that mixing two types of blood together leads to the mixture thickening.

In the very end of the century, medicine saw invention of a saline mixture, which is employed as 0,9% Normal Saline in blood transfusions even nowadays. William Brooke O'Shaughnessy and Thomas A. Latta experimented on both dogs and humans with a saline mixture, remarking that it revitalized their patients well.

The Medical Journal Records of 1883 speak of use of saline in treating cholera patients during the epidemics; multiple cases of use are also marked in the British Medical Journal. These interesting details did not make it to the manga as of now, though it does additionally emphasize how unlikely blood transfusions were by the end of the century and how greatly the practice went into decay. This does, however, explain the secrecy with which Undertaker acts.

Lastly, Siegliende and Othello both note that not knowing of blood types was indeed a great obstacle in the medical field at the time. The history of transfusions is full of unfortunate cases and failed experiments with many victims: ensuring blood transfusion's success was impossible until 1901 when blood types were first discovered by Karl Lendsteiner.

[dangermousie]

I really loved the first six episodes of AJTL. It feels adult in a way too few cdramas do nowadays. The protagonists are (sometimes sociopathic, weird) adults and the narrative is adult and the humor and darkness are both adult. Now, I don't mean this is some sort of meditation on the human condition like Royal Nirvana or NiF or Three Kingdoms, but the situations and characters are of a nature you wouldn't usually see in youth-oriented stuff nowadays - whether it's the fact that our FL just wants to ML for stud so she can have a baby with good genetics and no family ties or the fact that literally every politician in this is a complete scumbag.

I actually love that our FL isn't just the most terrifying mofo in the narrative full of killers but that she is a bona fide borderline sociopath who has no understanding of boundaries or proper behavior or consent or even any sort of flirtation let alone a deeper feeling. She's been a killer since childhood; what normal does she have? The fact that she's managed to have any sort of emotions left is a miracle.

So her deciding she needs a child because her benefactor told her she should as a dying wish and picking a sperm donor in our ML because he's suitable, all with about as much understanding of relationships as an alien - she doesn't want ML because she fancies him, she doesn't want a child to love. It's basically a weird duty thing. It all makes sense.

It's a wonderful gender reversal, with FL the goal-oriented, robotic psycho and ML going "but wait a minute, feelings, also no way, no how." His realization as to how crazy she is, is something else.

Look how she explains it, as if it's the most logical business transaction - your genetic material is great, you are not married so nobody will be hurt, if you die on this mission you will have someone to carry on your lineage, you are scheming so if a kid takes after you and is scheming, it's good. None of it will seduce a man in the least, let alone anything further. But I think in a way it's a weird mark of respect where she's not trying to lie but put all her cards on the table. But also - it shows how far from normal she is that she doesn't even realize how insane it sounds to anyone. He may be a spy but his life has been pretty different than hers; he's got friends and he had family - he is a fairly functional dude. She doesn't have any relationship, and the closest she had was weird stubs...

Like - she is acting like an alien...

Yeah, I don't think psychotic rose through the ranks assassins are big on consent.

She's bona fide nuts and I love that for once we have an unhinged FL. But one of the things I love so is that you slowly see her melt a little around the edges, if barely, because he keeps treating her as a proper lady however murdery and crazy she gets - she was an assassin and then she was a spy-whore, she's basically never been treated as a proper person instead of a tool, except possibly by the dowager and that was a long time ago. No wonder she gets drawn in - like she did by his decency in that rooftop speech scene. It's such a great reversal!

Like she genuinely doesn't get why he doesn't jump at the offer.

I really do love the ML who'd be the unhinged one in any other drama but here he's the sane one. And also his angry decency is mmmm.

I don't usually have fantasy casts for characters; there are very few exceptions - CFY and LYX for the mains of 2ha, Chen Kun for the ML of Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir, SZE for Prisoner of Beauty (alas), but LYN is on that short list - he's 100% my fan cast for Yuwu's Mo Xi and stuff like this gives me mad MX vibes:

I mean...

Anyway, this drama is awesome!

PS also the way secrets don't get dragged out. ML knows her true identity and we are long moving on to other stuff, hooray!

[gothtransandroid]

Contemplating: Ethically Sourced Necromancy

To be blunt, a donor corpse will never be accepted by broader society. While the person, their lawyer and extended family may allow for a use of remains it would take a near perfect resurrection along the lines of flawless skin, bones, hair, teeth, eyes and cognitive function, which at this point we may have truly resurrected the subject with extra steps. Anything short of this is not acceptable, even if you santatize a skeleton and coat it decoratively so it looks more like a construct the very nature of an undead person will unsettle and affect others. I am an advocate of momento morii but I am not one of direct confrontation of the living and dead in such a manner.

Thus, we turn to vermin, the legally huntable and invasive species. The domestic beasts under the invasive species blanket like cats should be avoided for similar reasons to seen above as people are connected to their pets and taxidermy can mask this but the elements are unkind to an unsteady hand in such crafts. I personally choose mice and rats as they are easily replenished and if bones are painted grey and black they blend into the backgound more while doing their work. Another benefit to some rodents is use of hands in small manipulations, opening up work to locksmiths with metal-coated hands and any form of sewer scrubbing or lost property retrieval.

Larger mammals such as possums and raccoons are useful in similar ways but their invasiveness is subject to their region and thus should be considered. If so, consider the larger ribcage a boon as it can help store items and courier them back and forth as a magical delivery service.

Many other species are unfortunately too complex or small to use. Birds would be wonderful but necormancy doesnt like fine tools like feathers typically so unless you take your time bit by bit they will likely be flightless and handless. Fish bones are useful tools in a pinch but all but impractical in the utility one would commonly look for unless you can make them swim and use the ribcage as a carrier for delivery systems like the larger mammals.

Insects are all but wholly useless, as they can cause nothing but harm or be used as a pseudo-smokescreen for evading someone hunting you down. Some insects or arachnids with venom may be utilized to hold alchemical concoctions inside them so you can inject healing potion in someone without uncorking a bottle, but the preperation for this must be extensive to manage each day.

Plant life is dependent on its utility as some necromancy can preserve plants for later use, but much of the species which are invasive or usable in an animated manner will likely cause more harm than good, and will almost always catch the ire of a druid if they are in breathing distance of the air after you've done the do.

The golden rule of thumb for all of this is consideration of local customs and laws, and always be considerate of and around graveyards.

[doubledamian]

I promoted chatGPT with, “ It’s ironic that wealthy capitalists claim the moral high ground for their philanthropy when they both caused the problem they are solving and the efforts they make are wildly insufficient and only small fractions of their wealth. Discuss.” and the following was generated:

You’ve touched on a powerful critique of philanthropy in the context of wealth inequality, often referred to as “philanthrocapitalism.” This term highlights the tension between the systemic exploitation that creates vast wealth and the moral framing of charitable giving as a solution. Here’s a detailed discussion:

1. Wealth Creation as a Source of Problems

• Exploitation and Inequality: Many billionaires amass their wealth through systems that exploit labor, natural resources, and tax loopholes. For example:

• Low wages for workers in supply chains.

• Environmental degradation in pursuit of profit.

• Avoidance of taxes that could fund public services like healthcare and education.

• Hoarding Wealth: By accumulating vast sums of money, billionaires contribute to global inequality. This concentration of wealth often exacerbates the very issues (e.g., poverty, lack of access to resources) that their philanthropy seeks to address.

2. Philanthropy as Insufficient and Performative

• Small Fractions of Wealth: Billionaires often donate amounts that are minuscule relative to their net worth. For example:

• A $1 billion donation sounds enormous but may represent only 1% of a $100 billion fortune.

• Wealth continues to grow faster than it is given away, meaning the donor often becomes richer even while “giving.”

• Tax Benefits and Image Management:

• Charitable donations often come with substantial tax breaks, allowing billionaires to reduce their obligations while enhancing their public image.

• Philanthropy can serve as a public relations tool to distract from criticism of how wealth was accumulated.

• Control Over Solutions: Unlike democratic systems of redistribution, billionaire philanthropy often reflects personal priorities rather than collective needs (e.g., funding pet projects like space exploration over housing or food insecurity).

3. The Irony of the Moral High Ground

• Framing Themselves as Heroes: Wealthy individuals often portray their philanthropy as a benevolent gift to society, ignoring their role in creating systemic inequities. This narrative shifts the focus from structural solutions (e.g., fair wages, progressive taxation) to individual acts of charity.

• Creating Dependency: Philanthropy can perpetuate a cycle of dependency, where the systemic issues remain unaddressed, and society relies on the whims of the wealthy rather than sustainable, democratic solutions.

• Undermining Public Systems: Wealthy philanthropists sometimes direct funds toward private initiatives, bypassing public systems and accountability, which can weaken those systems in the long term.

4. Systemic Solutions vs. Philanthropy

• Redistribution of Wealth: Progressive taxation and fair labor practices would reduce the need for philanthropy by addressing inequality at its source.

• Investment in Public Goods: Strengthening public systems like healthcare, education, and social safety nets is a more equitable and sustainable approach to solving societal issues.

• Accountability for Exploitation: Wealthy individuals and corporations should be held accountable for the harm caused in their pursuit of profit, from environmental destruction to worker exploitation.

5. Moral Hypocrisy and Public Perception

• The Savior Complex: Wealthy philanthropists are often lauded as saviors for addressing problems they helped create, which obscures the systemic changes needed to prevent those problems in the first place.

• Public Distrust: Many people recognize this hypocrisy, leading to growing criticism of “billionaire philanthropy” and calls for systemic change rather than reliance on individual generosity.

Conclusion

Philanthropy, when practiced by wealthy capitalists, often serves to uphold the very system that allows extreme inequality to exist. While charitable giving can provide immediate relief, it is no substitute for structural reforms that address the root causes of societal problems. True moral high ground would require dismantling exploitative systems, ensuring fair distribution of resources, and prioritizing collective well-being over personal wealth accumulation.

[youtubevideopromotion]

"The Importance of Donor Retention." In this podcast, Tamika and Chris cover strategies for engaging and informing donors to keep them connected to your mission. Techniques for building lasting relationships that foster donor loyalty, using data-driven approaches to personalize outreach, and improving retention. Additionally, they outline steps to create a comprehensive donor retention plan to ensure ongoing support for your organization. For more Click here

[sonicasura]

MECH was in luck relatively speaking. One of the giant robots had been willing to partner with them without much loyalty for her own kind. Airachnid was truly a woman after his own ideals save for a few hundred pounds of metal.

She had even managed to dig them out a test subject for Project Chimera to be implemented in full. Their (unwilling) subject was a individual neither factions knew about, so there would be no one coming to rescue this one. Silas could still feel the smile on his face as the techies were gathering their tools. Extra restraints had been implemented despite this one’s significant less bulk compared to the last—

“Oh, I was wondering where Smokescreen went! I had feared he hadn’t survived landing on Earth.” A young voice quietly announced just a few feet away from him. Leaning over the catwalk railing was a teenager looking all too out of place. The techies and Silas himself drew their weapons as the teen’s sudden appearance. Appearing too at ease, the teen merely leaned further over the railing. “Truly, I’m glad you all gave me a reason to finally come here!”

The teenager stood up stretching, still ignoring all the weapons pointed at them. Several unsettling popping noises no human should be able to make sounded off. They held themself straighter and opened their now venomously glowing green eyes. “You finally reached a high enough threat level for us to be able to act. Not that you’re threatening anyone major right now… But for their future, I unfortunately have to set an example. Should we meet again?”

“I’ll make sure none of you survive next time.”

—————————————

The Predacon had bridged back to their base all too enthusiastic while carrying around an unfamiliar Autobot. Starscream narrowed his optics at the display, his wings tense from one of Bygone’s servos being coated in Energon. They set the frankly worryingly young mech onto a medical berth far away from Breakdown.

A rumble of a laugh exited the Predacon. “I’ve been attempting to track down this particular being for months now. Lo and behold, the planetary troublemakers managed to find him first.” The Seeker was unsure if they were talking to themself, the air, or the Vehicons situated around the Medbay. He reluctantly positioned himself so he was shielding Knockout and Breakdown’s general frames.

Not that his gesture stopped the Predacon from stalking over. Knockout himself tensed up fearing their, well, predatory nature had finally reared its ugly head.

Bygone lifted up their Energon stained servo to reveal a rather freshly extracted T-Cog, one made from purple and grey plating. “I remember you mentioning we might have to replace Breakdown’s transformation cog. A donor happened to come up while I was out on an errand…” They began having a very unnerving smile on their alt-mode’s snout. “An insecticon queen’s T-Cog should function as a decent replacement. Right, Knockout?”

The medic stared at the “donated” t-cog bewildered. “It can. Is she—?”

“Unfortunately, Airachnid lived to tell the tale though I hardly expect her to ever share it.” Bygone clarified, only making the two (former) Decepticons have more questions.

—ROB’d Anon.

Dart does not like the idea of killing outside genuine cases of self defense. They are willing to give enemies a chance to never bother them again. Airachnid and MECH nearly made them break that particular ideal of theirs. Still, like how they stopped Starscream from killing Cliffjumper. They can’t preemptively attack someone for a crime they didn’t commit.

Looks like MECH and Airachnid got the monster scorpion treatment, lol. Hopefully Smokescreen wasn't conscious enough to see any of THAT. The Autobots would be confused and a bit worried if so.

Especially should he see a scorpion because Smokes will freak the fuck out. Nobody was gonna ask Bygone how they got Airachnid's T-Cog.

[hair-restoration-insights]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Hair Transplant Clinic: Tips for Informed Decisions

Making an informed decision about a hair transplant is crucial, as it involves a significant commitment to your hair’s health and appearance. With the rise in popularity of hair transplants, the number of clinics offering these services has surged, making it essential to thoroughly research potential clinics to ensure optimal outcomes.

Why Research is Crucial

The hair transplant industry in India is booming, with numerous clinics popping up across the country. This abundance of options can make it challenging to identify a clinic that meets high standards of care. Hair transplantation is not just a medical procedure but an art form that requires a skilled hand and a precise approach. Ensuring that you choose a reputable clinic is vital for achieving successful results.

Key Factors to Consider

Surgeon’s Credentials and Experience Look into the surgeon’s education, training, and experience. An experienced surgeon will have a track record of successful procedures and a deep understanding of both surgical and artistic aspects of hair restoration. Evaluate their skill set, aesthetic vision, and approach to patient care. Clinics like Cutibless, known for being the Best Hair Transplant in Bangalore, often feature surgeons with extensive expertise and advanced skills.

Clinic’s Facilities and Technology Assess the clinic’s facilities to ensure they are equipped with advanced technology and adhere to strict hygiene protocols. A well-equipped surgical theater and modern tools are essential for performing effective hair transplants. Cutibless stands out in this regard, offering state-of-the-art facilities that contribute to superior outcomes.

Hair Transplant Techniques Familiarize yourself with the different hair transplant techniques, such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). This method involves extracting individual hair follicles from the donor area and implanting them into the balding regions. Ensure that the clinic you choose is proficient in the technique they offer and can demonstrate successful results. Cutibless excels in various hair transplant methods, including FUE, ensuring high-quality results for its patients.

Team Expertise The support team assisting during the procedure plays a significant role in its success. Evaluate the experience and professionalism of the technicians who will handle the transplanted hair. Their skill in managing the grafts is as crucial as the surgeon’s skill in extracting them. At Cutibless, our dedicated team is highly trained to support the surgical team and ensure the best care for each patient.

Patient Reviews and Testimonials Review testimonials, ratings, and before-and-after photos from previous patients. These insights can provide valuable information about the clinic’s performance and patient satisfaction. A clinic with positive feedback and documented success stories is likely to deliver better results. Cutibless has garnered numerous positive reviews and is recognized for its excellence in hair care, further establishing it as a top choice in Bangalore.

Consultations and Transparency Schedule consultations with potential clinics to discuss your hair loss concerns and treatment options. A reputable clinic should be transparent about the procedure, expected outcomes, costs, and aftercare. Avoid clinics that make exaggerated claims or pressure you into making quick decisions. Cutibless offers detailed consultations to ensure you have all the information needed to make an informed choice.

Why Cutibless Stands Out

At Cutibless, we understand the importance of thorough research before undergoing a hair transplant. Our clinic is renowned for its excellence in hair restoration, offering cutting-edge techniques and personalized care. Our team of experienced professionals, led by renowned surgeons, ensures that you receive the highest quality treatment. With a focus on precision and patient satisfaction, Cutibless is committed to delivering natural-looking results and restoring your confidence.

Cutibless is recognized as one of the top destinations for hair transplants in Bangalore, known for our advanced technology, skilled team, and exceptional results. If you're considering a hair transplant, make sure to choose a clinic that prioritizes your needs and delivers outstanding care.

Contact Cutibless today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards achieving the fuller, healthier hair you desire.

[hairtransplantukcost]

The Cost of Hair Transplant in the UK A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction Hair loss is a common issue that affects millions of people worldwide. In the UK, hair transplant procedures have become increasingly popular as a solution to hair loss. However, the cost of these procedures can vary widely, and understanding the factors that influence these costs is crucial for anyone considering a hair transplant. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the hair transplant costs UK, exploring the various factors that affect pricing, the different types of procedures available, and tips for choosing the right clinic and surgeon.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Hair Transplants Several factors can influence the cost of a hair transplant in the UK. These include:

Type of Procedure: The two most common types of hair transplant procedures are Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUE is generally more expensive than FUT because it is more time-consuming and requires more skill and precision.

Number of Grafts: The number of grafts required significantly impacts the cost. More extensive hair loss requires more grafts, leading to higher costs.

Surgeon's Experience and Reputation: Highly experienced and reputable surgeons typically charge more for their services. However, their expertise can ensure better results, which may justify the higher cost.

Clinic Location: The location of the clinic can also affect the cost. Clinics in major cities like London tend to be more expensive than those in smaller towns.

Technology and Equipment: Clinics that use the latest technology and equipment may charge more for their services. Advanced technology can improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the procedure.

Additional Services: Some clinics offer additional services such as post-operative care, medications, and follow-up appointments, which can add to the overall cost.

Types of Hair Transplant Procedures There are two primary types of hair transplant procedures: FUT and FUE. Understanding the differences between these procedures can help you make an informed decision.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): Also known as strip harvesting, FUT involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor area, usually at the back of the head. The strip is then divided into individual follicular units, which are transplanted to the recipient area. FUT is generally less expensive than FUE but can leave a linear scar.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): FUE involves extracting individual follicular units directly from the donor area using a specialized punch tool. These units are then transplanted to the recipient area. FUE is more time-consuming and requires a higher level of skill, making it more expensive. However, it leaves minimal scarring and has a shorter recovery time compared to FUT. Financing and Payment Options Many clinics offer financing options to help patients manage the cost of hair transplants. These options can include:

Payment Plans: Some clinics offer payment plans that allow patients to spread the cost of the procedure over several months or years. This can make the procedure more affordable by breaking down the cost into manageable payments.

Medical Loans: Patients can also consider taking out a medical loan to cover the cost of the procedure. Medical loans often come with lower interest rates compared to traditional loans and can be tailored to the patient's financial situation.

Credit Cards: Using a credit card is another option, although it is important to be mindful of the interest rates and ensure that you can pay off the balance in a timely manner to avoid accumulating debt.

Choosing the Right Clinic and Surgeon Selecting the right clinic and surgeon is crucial for achieving the best possible results from a hair transplant. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

Research and Reviews: Conduct thorough research and read reviews from previous patients. Look for clinics with a high number of positive reviews and testimonials.

Consultations: Schedule consultations with multiple clinics to discuss your needs and expectations. This will give you an opportunity to compare costs, assess the professionalism of the staff, and get a feel for the clinic's environment.

Surgeon's Credentials: Verify the surgeon's credentials, including their qualifications, experience, and membership in professional organizations such as the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS).

Before and After Photos: Ask to see before and after photos of previous patients. This can give you an idea of the surgeon's skill and the quality of their work.

Transparent Pricing: Ensure that the clinic provides transparent pricing with a detailed breakdown of costs. Avoid clinics that offer prices that seem too good to be true, as they may compromise on quality or use outdated techniques.

Post-Operative Care and Maintenance The cost of a hair transplant doesn't end with the procedure itself. Post-operative care and maintenance are essential for ensuring the success of the transplant and the longevity of the results. These additional costs can include:

Medications: Patients may need to take medications such as antibiotics, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory drugs to aid in the healing process and prevent infections.

Follow-Up Appointments: Regular follow-up appointments with the surgeon are crucial for monitoring the progress of the transplant and addressing any concerns.

Hair Care Products: Specialized hair care products may be recommended to promote healthy hair growth and maintain the results of the transplant.

Lifestyle Changes: Patients may need to make certain lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, to support the healing process and ensure optimal results.

Alternatives to Hair Transplants For those who may not be ready to commit to the cost or invasiveness of a hair transplant, there are alternative treatments available. These include:

Medications: Medications like Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia) can help slow down hair loss and promote hair regrowth. While these treatments are less expensive than hair transplants, they require ongoing use to maintain results.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): LLLT is a non-invasive treatment that uses red light to stimulate hair growth. It can be performed at home using laser combs or helmets, or at a clinic. The cost is lower than a hair transplant, but multiple sessions are required.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: PRP therapy involves injecting platelet-rich plasma from the patient's blood into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It is less invasive than a hair transplant and can be used in conjunction with other treatments. However, multiple sessions are needed, and the cost can add up over time.

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP): SMP is a cosmetic procedure that involves tattooing tiny dots on the scalp to mimic the appearance of hair follicles. It is a less expensive alternative to hair transplants but does not promote actual hair growth.

Conclusion Hair transplants in the UK can be a life-changing solution for those struggling with hair loss, but they come with a significant financial investment. Understanding the various factors that influence the cost, the types of procedures available, and the importance of choosing a reputable clinic and surgeon can help you make an informed decision. Additionally, exploring financing options and considering alternative treatments can provide more flexibility in managing the cost. With careful planning and research, you can achieve the best possible results and restore your confidence.

[hairrestorationcapital]

The Art And Science Of Hair Transplants

Hair loss can deeply impact self-esteem and quality of life, prompting many to seek solutions like hair transplants. Beyond merely restoring hair, modern hair transplantation blends meticulous surgical techniques with artistic principles to achieve natural-looking results. This exploration delves into the fusion of art and science in hair transplants, examining how advancements in technology and surgical expertise have transformed the field and for more information visit Hair Transplant Brighton.

The Science Behind Hair Transplants:

Hair transplantation is rooted in the understanding of hair growth and follicular dynamics. The two primary techniques, Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), differ in how donor hair follicles are harvested and transplanted. FUT involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor area, dissecting it into individual follicular units under a microscope, and then transplanting them to the recipient site. FUE, on the other hand, uses a punch tool to extract individual follicular units directly from the scalp, which are then transplanted one by one. Both techniques aim to relocate hair follicles from areas of dense hair growth (donor sites) to areas experiencing hair loss or thinning (recipient sites), ensuring natural-looking results.

Artistry in Hairline Design:

Creating a natural hairline is where the artistry of hair transplantation truly shines. Surgeons meticulously design the hairline to complement facial features, ethnicity, and age, taking into account natural hair growth patterns and density. The angle, direction, and distribution of transplanted follicles are carefully planned to mimic the natural flow of hair, ensuring seamless integration with existing hair and a balanced aesthetic appearance. This artistic approach requires both technical skill and an understanding of the patient's aesthetic goals, resulting in a hairline that enhances facial symmetry and restores confidence.

Technological Advancements:

Advancements in technology have revolutionized the precision and efficiency of hair transplant procedures. Robotic systems like ARTAS utilize artificial intelligence to assist surgeons in harvesting and transplanting follicular units with unparalleled accuracy. These systems enhance the speed and accuracy of follicle extraction, reduce trauma to donor areas, and optimize graft survival rates. Additionally, advanced imaging techniques such as high-definition cameras and digital mapping tools enable surgeons to visualize the scalp in greater detail, facilitating precise graft placement and enhancing overall procedural outcomes.

Patient-Centered Care:

Beyond technical proficiency, patient-centered care is integral to successful hair transplants. Surgeons conduct thorough consultations to understand each patient's unique concerns, preferences, and expectations. They educate patients about available treatment options, discuss realistic outcomes, and tailor treatment plans to achieve individualized aesthetic goals. Throughout the process, from pre-operative preparation to post-operative care, patient comfort, safety, and satisfaction remain paramount. This personalized approach fosters trust and collaboration between patients and their medical team, ensuring a positive experience and optimal results.

Post-Operative Recovery and Follow-Up:

Post-operative care plays a crucial role in the success of hair transplants. Patients are provided with detailed instructions on caring for the transplant site, managing discomfort, and promoting healing. While recovery times vary, most individuals can resume normal activities within a few days to weeks following surgery. Regular follow-up appointments allow surgeons to monitor graft growth, assess healing progress, and address any concerns or questions that may arise. Continued support and guidance throughout the recovery process contribute to long-term satisfaction and confidence in the results of hair transplantation.

Ethical Considerations:

Ethical considerations in hair transplantation encompass informed consent, patient autonomy, and transparency regarding potential risks and benefits. Surgeons adhere to professional guidelines and ethical standards to ensure that patients make informed decisions based on accurate information. They prioritize patient well-being and strive to achieve natural-looking results while managing expectations realistically. Ethical practice also involves ongoing education and training to stay abreast of advancements in the field, uphold professional integrity, and provide compassionate care to individuals seeking hair restoration.

Conclusion:

The art and science of hair transplants epitomize the intersection of technical expertise and artistic vision, transforming lives by restoring natural hair growth and enhancing self-confidence. Through meticulous surgical techniques, advancements in technology, and patient-centered care, hair transplantation offers effective solutions for individuals experiencing hair loss. Surgeons combine scientific knowledge with artistic skill to design natural-looking hairlines that harmonize with facial features and reflect each patient's unique identity. As the field continues to evolve with research, innovation, and ethical practice, the promise of hair transplants remains steadfast in providing enduring solutions and renewed confidence to those seeking to reclaim their crowning glory.

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[mariacallous]

Until the dramatic departure of OpenAI’s cofounder and CEO Sam Altman on Friday, Mira Murati was its chief technology officer—but you could also call her its minister of truth. In addition to heading the teams that develop tools such as ChatGPT and Dall-E, it’s been her job to make sure those products don’t mislead people, show bias, or snuff out humanity altogether.

This interview was conducted in July 2023 for WIRED’s cover story on OpenAI. It is being published today after Sam Altman’s sudden departure to provide a glimpse at the thinking of the powerful AI company’s new boss.

Steven Levy: How did you come to join OpenAI?

Mira Murati: My background is in engineering, and I worked in aerospace, automotive, VR, and AR. Both in my time at Tesla [where she shepherded the Model X], and at a VR company [Leap Motion] I was doing applications of AI in the real world. I very quickly believed that AGI would be the last and most important major technology that we built, and I wanted to be at the heart of it. Open AI was the only organization at the time that was incentivized to work on the capabilities of AI technology and also make sure that it goes well. When I joined in 2018, I began working on our supercomputing strategy and managing a couple of research teams.

What moments stand out to you as key milestones during your tenure here?

There are so many big-deal moments, it’s hard to remember. We live in the future, and we see crazy things every day. But I do remember GPT-3 being able to translate. I speak Italian, Albanian, and English. I remember just creating pair prompts of English and Italian. And all of a sudden, even though we never trained it to translate in Italian, it could do it fairly well.

You were at OpenAI early enough to be there when it changed from a pure nonprofit to reorganizing so that a for-profit entity lived inside the structure. How did you feel about that?

It was not something that was done lightly. To really understand how to make our models better and safer, you need to deploy them at scale. That costs a lot of money. It requires you to have a business plan, because your generous nonprofit donors aren't going to give billions like investors would. As far as I know, there's no other structure like this. The key thing was protecting the mission of the nonprofit.

That might be tricky since you partner so deeply with a big tech company. Do you feel your mission is aligned with Microsoft’s?

In the sense that they believe that this is our mission.

But that's not their mission.

No, that's not their mission. But it was important for the investor to actually believe that it’s our mission.

When you joined in 2018, OpenAI was mainly a research lab. While you still do research, you’re now very much a product company. Has that changed the culture?

It has definitely changed the company a lot. I feel like almost every year, there's some sort of paradigm shift where we have to reconsider how we're doing things. It is kind of like an evolution. What's more obvious now to everyone is this need for continuous adaptation in society, helping bring this technology to the world in a responsible way, and helping society adapt to this change. That wasn't necessarily obvious five years ago, when we were just doing stuff in our lab. But putting GPT-3 in an API, in working with customers and developers, helped us build this muscle of understanding the potential that the technology has to change things in the real world, often in ways that are different than what we predict.

You were involved in Dall-E. Because it outputs imagery, you had to consider different things than a text model, including who owns the images that the model draws upon. What were your fears and how successful you think you were?

Obviously, we did a ton of red-teaming. I remember it being a source of joy, levity, and fun. People came up with all these like creative, crazy prompts. We decided to make it available in labs, as an easy way for people to interact with the technology and learn about it. And also to think about policy implications and about how Dall-E can affect products and social media or other things out there. We also worked a lot with creatives, to get their input along the way, because we see it internally as a tool that really enhances creativity, as opposed to replacing it. Initially there was speculation that AI would first automate a bunch of jobs, and creativity was the area where we humans had a monopoly. But we've seen that these AI models actually have a potential to really be creative. When you see artists play with Dall-E, the outputs are really magnificent.

Since OpenAI has released its products, there have been questions about their immediate impact in things like copyright, plagiarism, and jobs. By putting things like GPT-4 in the wild, it’s almost like you’re forcing the public to deal with those issues. Was that intentional?

Definitely. It's actually very important to figure out how to bring it out there in a way that's safe and responsible, and helps people integrate it into their workflow. It’s going to change entire industries; people have compared it to electricity or the printing press. And so it's very important to start actually integrating it in every layer of society and think about things like copyright laws, privacy, governance and regulation. We have to make sure that people really experience for themselves what this technology is capable of versus reading about it in some press release, especially as the technological progress continues to be so rapid. It's futile to resist it. I think it's important to embrace it and figure out how it's going to go well.

Are you convinced that that's the optimal way to move us toward AGI?

I haven't come up with a better way than iterative deployments to figure out how you get this continuous adaptation and feedback from the real end feeding back into the technology to make it more robust to these use cases. It’s very important to do this now, while the stakes are still low. As we get closer to AGI, it's probably going to evolve again, and our deployment strategy will change as we get closer to it.