#how to quit smoking in india

[hempproductsonline]

How to Quit Smoking in India

If you are searching for strategies or tips to help you overcome the challenges of quitting smoking in india. Here in this blog we are listing 10 ways to quit smoking.

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[manicpixiefelix]

head, heart, hand. {Felix Catton/Reader/Oliver Quick}

Part 5.

Summary: Reader, Oliver, and the mortifying ordeal of being known. Plus clubbing, costume parties, and Oliver being a fucking tease.

{ masterpost }

Need to Know: They/Them. Explicitly NB Reader. FWB!Reader/Felix. Reader is from a well off family but has pretty much been adopted by the Cattons.

Warnings: drinking/intoxication/drug use

A/N: 3148 words. now we're cooking with gas, folks! i might be too sleepy for a real author's note, but just know, as always, its unedited and i love you. have fun, please let me know what you think!

TAGLIST IN COMMENTS!! // TAGLIST ALWAYS OPEN ! (just message or comment to be added)

----

"Can I be bold for a minute?" On the roof of one of the dorm buildings, you and Oliver are waiting for Felix. It's twilight, the sky painted lavender by the setting sun and encroaching night, and everything feels a little dreamy.

"If anyone would appreciate boldness, Ollie, it's me," you tell him blithely around the cigarette you're trying to light. Still, he's quiet for this one moment, watching the way you cup your hand around the little flame to shield it from the wind.

"How did you and Farleigh ever get so close, considering how he treats you?"

You're pretty sure you know why he's asking you, considering what few interactions he'd witnessed between yourself and Farleigh, but it's still unexpected coming from him. For a moment, your gaze flicks to him, eyes narrowed, not quite sure what to make of the interaction. When your gaze meets his, he's looking at you with that intent, inquisitive look he got in moments like these, moments he seemed to fish for information without seeming like that was what he was doing. The silence and look that you level at him seem to throw him off guard, and immediately he drops his gaze to his feet, swinging off the edge of the building.

"That is bold," you finally settle on, watching Oliver fidget. His ankles cross, his shoulders slump; again he makes himself as small as possible. You deliberately make your tone lighter when you continue, "what's got you worried 'bout me an Farleigh?"

"I mean, all I'm saying is that he was being nasty to you, but now you're both kind of acting like he wasn't."

It's true; since his apology that Sunday morning Farleigh had been keeping his word about not being too bitter about Oliver to or even around you and Felix. You, in turn, made a special effort to spend time with him, pay him attention, made him feel like your priority on occasion. Both you and Farleigh were well aware of what you were doing, but he always enjoyed your company and attention, so it wasn't like he was going to complain.

"Farleigh and I understand each other."

"He slept with your girlfriend."

"India's not my girlfriend."

"He- he keeps calling you a dog."

That hit a nerve. You hadn't realised he was paying attention to that back at the pub. You swallow hard and look out at the horizon.

"And?" Raising the cigarette to your lips again, you don't look at him as you take a very long drag on it, "there are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," you breathe out with the smoke.

"Doesn't seem like the way friends should talk about each other is all," Oliver says quietly, notes of apology in his voice; you can see him looking at you again out of the corner of your eye.

"Best friend, actually," you finally sigh, letting the tension drop from your shoulders and the moment. As you look at him over your shoulder, you give a faint smile in the face of his confusion, "we've known each other long enough that we can say pretty much anything we want to each other. Only problem is that Farleigh knows that pushing my buttons also pushes Fi's buttons, which is why he does it so often. He's a shit-stirrer, but you haven't known us long enough to know he doesn't really mean it," you tell him with surprising fondness in your voice.

"I'm sorry for prying," Oliver says earnestly, and you smile wider.

"I'm sorry for being so defensive; I realise how it must look from the outside."

Before anything else can be said, the door to the roof bursts open, and Felix greets you both with a hundred-watt smile and a packet of fish and chips in his hands. You descend on him like a seagull, swapping your cigarette for the hot food, tearing into the paper wrapping and settling by the wall at the edge of the roof near Oliver once more.

There's a beat where Felix is watching you and Oliver, his smile soft and fond and endeared, but there's something in his eyes that's been there since that lunched they'd shared at the pub -

"I shouldn't say -" there's a lot of things Felix shouldn't do that he does anyways. Considering his wealth, he could get away with a lack of self control, "I just genuinely didn't know, I mean I might have guessed- did you know?"

"Know what, Fi?" You're still in his bed, bleary-eyed and desperately wanting to go back to sleep when he'd come back from the pub buzzing instead of tired, as he'd predicted.

He'd spent the better part of the afternoon with his head on your chest, explaining the almost Dickensian tragedy that was Oliver's life. Sure you were listening, but you didn't have much to contribute other than faint noises of interest while your fingers carded through his hair.

There's something about the way Felix recounts all this information to you, the way he finds it salacious and heart-breaking all in one. You can hear in his voice that he'd captivated, that he's endeared by the struggle that has followed Oliver throughout his life. As much as you loved him, you'd watched time and again the way he'd fall for tragic tales and the people who'd recount them; Felix had a saviour complex, and it was the only thing the two of you had ever fought about.

Last year it had been Eddie, the worst of the bunch so far. Like Oliver but in the opposite direction; too much, too loud, too confident to hide his ugly secrets and desperation to be wanted. Eddie had been Icarus, taking for granted the wax wings Felix had given him, the good life, attention, a comrade who almost understood him. But he'd played with fire, played with Venetia too many times, and the wax wings melted. Not that you'd cared; you were the one who spotted them, you were the one that told Farleigh, you were the one who listened to Felix's furious rants every few days for the rest of that Summer. You'd never liked Eddie like Felix liked Eddie.

Oliver was different. You wondered if he was different enough.

Still, as much as you liked Oliver you could see it in Felix's eyes, hear it in his voice; he was already getting himself addicted to the idea of how much better he could make Oliver's life. But Felix had hated it the last time you'd pointed something like that out.

("Then why the fuck would I keep you around? Maybe it's because I don't pick my friends based on whether they're charity cases!")

So you keep your mouth shut. Maybe it's worth it for the way Felix smiles -

"I don't -" Oliver's fidgeting when Felix asks him to tag along to a costume party, "have anything to wear, really," he admits. Immediately Felix is offering to let him borrow something. There's a flicker that looks almost hungry in Oliver's eyes amid the gratefulness, and you wonder if he knows how many people would kill to get into Felix's pants. Still, he's humble, "you don't have to do that."

"I don't have to do anything," Felix shrugs with the easiest smile in the world. Then, in the next sentence, completely glossing over the act of kindness he looks at you, "tell me you aren't still expecting Farleigh to commit to that devil costume with you."

"He told me he'd put effort in this year -"

"He tells you that every year," Felix laughs, and you lean into Oliver's shoulder to explain.

"Me and Farleigh always organise to go to one costume party per year as an angel and a devil -"

"And every year," Felix rolls his eyes with a good-natured exasperation, "Farleigh wears some vulgar t-shirt and two party hats for horns, while Y/N puts weeks of effort in and wins best dressed every time-"

"Not every time," you protested, while Oliver looked faintly impressed, leaning back against you too.

"The only times you haven't won best dressed was if there was no competition to win," Felix points out, before looking past you to Oliver with an amused smile, "so I can't promise you a Y/N-level of costume, but it'll be more than two party hats."

"If you wanna give me two party hats, I'll wear 'em," Oliver says, hands coming up as if to placate the both of you. Instead, you grin wider, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

"We'll make you all pretty, Ollie, don't worry."

Unsurprisingly, on the night of the party, Farleigh showed up to 'get ready' at your dorm, which meant him lazing on your bed, drinking and sharing his coke with you while you put arguably too much effort into your makeup. He, of course, is wearing two party hats, and t-shirt that simply says 'EASY', and though you pretend to be annoyed for all of five minutes, he gives a shit eating grin as you chew him out.

"Fool you once, shame on me, sure; fool you six times, that's on you, Y/N."

You flipped him off with a grin.

"There they are!" India cheers from the sofas where your other friends are gathered when you arrive to the party. Farleigh, on your arm, makes a show of his entrance, "not you, Farleigh, obviously." India rolls her eyes, but thankfully Farleigh wasn't too put out. Instead, he swans towards the group to claim a seat.

"Give us a spin, angel," Annabel insists with a coy smile, and you oblige her to the whistles and cheers of the rest of your friends.

"You outdo yourself," Felix told you fondly as you dropped into a beanbag by the sofa he and Oliver had been occupying.

Felix is looking at you, that kind of dangerous look when he thinks you're especially hot and there's only a thirty percent chance that the two of you will even make it to a dark corner. For just a moment, however, your gaze flicks to Oliver, by his side, and he's watching Felix too, absolutely rapt by the way your best friend looks at you.

"Only in comparison to Farleigh," you shake your head, forcing yourself to be Felix's self restraint, especially so early in the night, "besides, look at you; you've certainly grown into this since I last saw you try it on," and you leaned forward as best you could, looking across the circle of friends to the pretty, redhead in the slinky nurse outfit, "how fucking good does Felix look, Annabel?" You ask pointedly, and you can see Felix give a restrained chuckle before turning his attention to his own not-girlfriend, who seemed glad for the chance to gush about him.

Sitting back, you chance a glance once more at Oliver, and somehow aren't surprised to see him looking back at you. All you do is smirk, well aware of what you were doing.

Felix's clothes are too big on Oliver. The costume, though you're not exactly sure what he's meant to be, kind of wears him instead of the other way around. Felix, of course, looks all kinds of gorgeous as a police officer, while Oliver looked rather like he's wearing his big brother's hand-me-downs. But he's rolls up the sleeves and always looks up at Felix with these blue, doe eyes shining with gratefulness, and no-one else cares enough to comment either way.

You wonder if anyone else has noticed, the way Oliver's personality changes with his focus. It's not in large ways, perhaps others think its like a trick of the light, but the way he looks at others, the way he behaves, it seems to vary from person to person. Tactile, distant, closed off, hesitant, open, honest, warm, skittish, never truly the same with each individual. It's like he watches, figures out what people want to hear, what they want from him, and does his best to give it to them. It's almost painfully familiar.

Oliver gives Felix what he wants in a way you know you never can; Oliver gives him someone to help, someone to feel like he's saving. As long as Felix is happy, you tell yourself, that is enough, and it's easy to like Oliver in your own way. The only problem you've found is that as much as you like Oliver, as intrigued as you are by him, you can't quite get a read on him, what he wants, what your place may be in his life. He's always watching, always searching for something, but you're never sure of what.

So you decide to show him love, show him appreciation the way you know best.

More and more you choose to stay by his side when you're all out, at the pub, at clubs, either of you are not with Felix, or if you're not otherwise occupied by someone requesting your attention, you'll be with Oliver.

Tonight, at the club, a girl from town had been occupying Felix's personal space for the better part of an hour, and by the time he has her against a wall down a dark corridor, Oliver's absconded from the dance floor to get another drink, but hasn't returned. You find him skulking against a wall, half drunk pint in his hand, gazing out through the crowd. When you join him, when you follow his gaze, you can see the silhouette of Felix and the girl, his hand up her shirt through the haze.

"It doesn't bother you?" Oliver asks, loud enough to be heard over the music, but not by anyone else.

"The girls don't bother me," an easy, languid smile spreads across your face, "the girls love me," you amend, smile turning a little smug as you watch Felix and the girl whose name you can't even been be bothered to recall.

"Felix's girls?* Ever-hesitant Oliver, even here and now, sounds carefully demure amongst his curiosity, "do you -?" He makes an awkward gesture, but you read his intentions and laugh dismissively.

"No, no... well," you pause for a moment, "occasionally I have my fun, I suppose, but not like that; girls who are into Felix aren't traditionally into me like that, no," you shake your head with an an missed smile, "but that's why they like me, I'm not a threat, see?"

Even through the haze and flashing lights, you can see Felix's hands on the girl; he's warm and rough and the way he holds always feels so fucking secure -

Looking away sharply, you're surprised by how intently Oliver's watching you. Its genuinely startling, and though he seems to understand this but doesn't look away. For just a moment your breathless, caught up in the night and the jealousy and want for your best friend that you usually have much more control over - your own words echo in your head; I'm not a threat, see? A smug lie, a joke at all those poor girl's expenses since you knew they were never going to last.

Oliver's gaze burns when you finally look him squarely in the eyes; he knows.

"I get the impression people assume a great many things about our Felix," he wets his lips, casting his gaze to darkened hallway, to where you had seen Felix with his mouth on the neck of his girl of the night, but you can't look away from him. Our Felix. "And about you."

"And you?" Your tongue darts out, wetting you lips as you draw Oliver's attention back to you, tone flirty. There's something exhilarating about this man that you can't help but want to tease out.

"Not much to assume," he gives a faint smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes, "I'm more the observant type than one whose observed."

"You make the assumptions."

"I make the assumptions," he actually smirks, a bit of that usual gentle hesitation that he approached the world with slipping for just a moment.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Do you have a lot of assumptions about Our Felix?" You tease his earlier wording, but once again his gaze drifts to your best friend, if he still is in the crowd. Them, quieter, almost as if you don't mean to you murmur, "or me?"

"Had."

"Had?"

"Had a lot of assumptions," there's a kind of mischief in his eyes as his tone takes on an air of nonchalance, "'bout him, 'bout you too." As he speaks, you step towards him, hand on his arm, moving steadily higher. He can feel it, you know he can, but all he does is smile wider, refusing to break your gaze.

"Like what, Oliver Quick?"

Leaning in, Oliver takes your face in his hands, bringing you close, sharing breath, lips inches from his.

"Like how they write Odysseys about your kind of loyalty," he mumbled, and you feel like his gaze alone could swallow you whole. There's a aching, yearning that you feel in this moment, when you crush your lips to his. It's quick and desperate, and he pulls back, "like how you show love with every fuckin' bit of that body of yours," this time he pulls you in and it's rougher, it's needy, he bites at your lip and you whimper against his mouth, press yourself against him, "like-" he kisses you quickly, "like- like-" but as you find yourself trailing rough kisses down his jaw, he seems to lose his train of thought.

"Yes?" You prompt with a laugh.

"Like how you're desperate to feel needed."

"Observant," you tell him softly, raising your head, arms still around him. In this moment, his expression is open, watching you, waiting for you to react, "more observant than anyone else."

"You wear it on your sleeve, sweetheart," he says bluntly, but something about being seen, about his unwavering honesty, that sets your heart beating, burning in your chest. Or perhaps it's that he called you sweetheart; it's rare that someone is so sweet to you.

"Then need me, want me."

"I do," this time when he kisses you, it's gentle, full of warmth and unexpected love, and the way he holds you close makes you feel so precious and desired at once, "but not like this, not now." And he's letting you go, despite the way your lips tingle and the damn butterflies in your stomach. You desperately want to cling to him, to ask him what the fuck he means, but he kisses you on the forehead and tells you to get back safe, wearing an almost smug, knowing smile, disappearing into the crowd. You can't even go after him, he's made you damn weak in the knees and all you can do is lean against the wall for support.

Felix and his girl have disappeared.

Your friends are still living it up on the dance floor, you're sure, but you have only one thought on your mind.

Oliver Quick is a fucking tease.

[sixlane]

so sweet

Bartylily microfic | 1.4k words | NSFW

for india @certifiedl0verboy because they said the world needed barty and lily getting high and sharing a costco cheesecake, and also han @honeybcj because the image of barty and lily shotgunning hasn't left my head in days <33

Lily opens her fridge and stares. The cool air and soft light leaks out into the empty kitchen as she contemplates how she became this person. The type who, completely unprompted and for no good reason, buys a whole Costco cheesecake for herself. 

The soft, round monstrosity sits on the bottom shelf of her fridge, taking up so much space she was forced to shove her yogurt into the vegetable drawer. The thing stares back at her, mocking, taunting, begging to be left to mold when she inevitably fails to eat it all. 

The sound of a key in the door snaps her out of the silent stand off.

Fuck, Barty’s home.

She can already imagine his confused smile and snarky comments when he opens the fridge for his nightly Red Bull just to come face to face with Lily’s unexplainable decision. It’s not like they’ve been roommates for long, or friends for that matter. They keep it cordial, stay out of each other's way, smoke the occasional bowl and watch old seasons of America’s Next Top Model, but this seems a little too close to soul-baring for comfort. 

Lily sits down at the table with a glass of water, tries to act casual, tries not to look at the fridge. 

“Hey,” Barty says, dropping his keys on the counter.

Lily nods her head, taking a sip from her glass. For a minute she thinks she’s in the clear because he’s already started to leave the room, but he doubles back at the last minute, realizing he’s forgotten something. 

He pulls the fridge open, reaches down, and stops, just for a second, before grabbing his energy drink and letting the door fall shut. 

Lily pretends she hasn’t been watching him this whole time.

He pops the top on his can, takes a sip and gives Lily a once over. “You having a party or something?”

“Will you leave me alone if I say yes?” Lily deadpans, though she can feel her face heating up. 

“Nope. Then I’d probably have to ask why I wasn’t invited.” He walks over to lean against the island, just a few feet between them, and looks down at her. He takes another sip.

“Ok look I needed more laundry detergent so I went to Costco and obviously I had to look in the bakery section and it was just sitting there. So. I bought it.” Barty’s smile widens as she explains until he’s just grinning at her. “What?” she asks, defensive.

“So you just bought the whole thing for yourself?” He says it curiously. He’s not judging, but she can hear the ulterior motive in his tone. 

She raises an eyebrow at him. “Spit it out.”

Barty huffs a laugh. “One second.” He sets his drink down and heads toward his room, leaving Lily to wonder what his plans are. She can never quite read him. He likes to play up this persona of his, effortlessly carefree and nonchalant, but she has always sensed something just below the surface. She notices it in the way he remembers her work schedule, the way he seems to have eyes in the back of his head. 

When Barty comes back, he’s got a bag of weed in one hand and his grinder and bowl in the other. He holds them up, mouth quirked in a dangerous way, waiting for her response.

Lily reflects the smile back at him. “I like the way you think, Crouch.”

So, Lily grabs the cheesecake, two forks, and some napkins, while Barty packs the first bowl of the night. They light up next to an open window in the living room, inhaling as the warm breeze kisses their cheeks and slides through their hair.

They wait until they’re properly high before digging in, and as Lily brings that first bite to her lips, allows it to settle on her tongue, she swears it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted. 

“Fuuuuuck,” she moans. “This was the best decision I’ve ever made.” She licks the back of the fork, wanting to savor the tangy goodness, and she doesn’t miss how Barty watches before he huffs a laugh and shifts his focus to take a bite of his own.

“God,” he says around a mouthful. “What does Costco put in this shit?” 

“It’s fucking amazing right?” 

It’s at that point that she notices a bit of cake smeared across Barty’s lower lip, so she leans over and wipes her thumb across it. It happens before she can even register she’s done it, but she fully commits, sticking her thumb in her mouth after, tasting sweet and something else.

“You use Aquaphor?” She asks.

Barty stares at her. Red eyes slightly widened. “You can identify Aquaphor by taste?”

Lily smiles with all her teeth and reaches into her back pocket to produce the tube she takes with her everywhere. 

“Put some on,” he says before picking up the bowl for another hit.

She looks at him suspiciously. “Why?”

“Just do it.” He sparks the lighter and breathes in deeply. 

She brings the tube to her lips and smears some on, watching his chest expand behind his t-shirt.

He holds the smoke in his lungs but motions for her to come closer and oh. She sees where this is going. 

The realization doesn’t stop her from leaning in anyway.

Barty’s lips ghost over hers and he breathes the smoke into her open mouth. She inhales in turn, taking the air from his lungs into her own. 

It’s intimate, she thinks, in a way that not many things are. To hold a vital piece of someone else inside yourself. To pass it back and forth with such care, not letting anything slip through the cracks. 

And that thought is what causes Lily to close the barely-there distance. To allow their lips to push together. To allow herself to fully taste the leftover sweetness and Aquaphor and Red Bull on Barty’s tongue, which he doesn’t waste a minute before sliding into her mouth.

It’s sloppy and uncoordinated where they lean over the half-eaten cheesecake between them, and Lily pulls back before her arms give out underneath her. 

They stare at each other for a moment, both smiling and laughing like idiots. 

It’s so easy between them, always has been.

“One more?” Barty asks.

“One more what?” Lily volleys back, eyebrow raised.

“Bite,” He says motioning toward the cake, sly smile across his face.

She rolls her eyes affectionately but nods, leans forward as he scoops another piece, sure to get some of the buttery crust on his fork. He holds it out for her to take but before she can, the pile of cake and graham cracker falls right onto her left tit.

Lily stares down at it, mouth agape for a second before she starts giggling again. Because it’s funny. Everything is so funny she can’t help herself.

That is until Barty’s tongue is dragging itself along the skin there, collecting the cake and making way for his teeth, which bite hard enough to leave a mark. 

He stares up at her as he does it, gauging her reaction. He gets the all clear when Lily fails to stop the needy whine that leaves her throat.

Barty trails his mouth upward, leaving open-mouth kisses along her neck until he reaches her ear.

“You taste so good,” he whispers. Voicing out loud the thoughts she’s been having all night.

Lily lets the corner of her mouth tug up. “You have no idea.”

“Fuck.” He reattaches to her neck and his hands find the button of her pants, dexterous as they undo it and work the zipper down. He reaches beneath her underwear, letting his long fingers slide through her wetness, collecting some before he brings them to his mouth, sucks sinfully and stares her down the whole time.

The haze around Lily’s thoughts sharpens to want, and Barty must see the change in her eyes because he smiles devilishly around the digits before replacing them where she needs them most. 

“So fuckin’ sweet,” he says, circling her clit lazily, not enough pressure to really get her there.

“Please…” she begs, arching into him, trying to push harder against his fingers. She’s too far gone not to act as desperate for it as she is. She wants his fingers inside of her, wants him to lick every inch of her, put his mouth in places it probably doesn’t belong.

“Shhh princess,” he coos. “Just enjoy the ride.”

Once they finish, Lily twice and Barty all over her stomach before licking her clean, Lily will realize they left the cheesecake in the living room under the open window.

Oh well, she was never really going to finish it anyway.

[youremyheaven]

Momagers, Stage Mom's & Mama's Boys: The Dysfunctional Moon Child

Moon influenced people often come from households where they had a very dysfunctional relationship with their parents. Both parents are usually toxic but the Moon person forms a close, overly sympathetic and anxiously attached bond with one parent who they perceive as the victim or martyr in some way. (Dad's abusive or neglectful and mom's the one trying her best, for example).

WHY does this happen?

Moon is said to be the most Yin of the planets. It's passive, feminine and emotional.

Most of the time, these bonds are toxic because its overly protective, overly nurturing, controlling, overly caring as opposed to say Sun influence which will create bonds that are too independent and unattached (aka female friendships vs male friendships lol). Moon influenced parent-child bonds become toxic because there's TOO MUCH love, care and attachment and neither party can have a separate independent existence.

Moon influence is prominent in the charts of momagers/stage moms AND the kids who are under their control.

Priyanka Chopra, Rohini Moon

Pri and her mom are attached at the hip and they're literally ALWAYS together. She has managed Pri's career since she was a teenager. And since she's not a nepo kid, it's known that she's had affairs with several married men in the industry, especially when she was starting out, to secure work :((

And I think its fucked up to have a parent basically pimp you out to make money. Be it PC getting a nose job or her army doctor mother quitting her job to open a cosmetic surgery clinic or her family running a pub?? PC is the golden goose and her family has just been living off of her money and encouraging her to basically do anything to make it. I think its a bit fcked to be smoking with your mom and its not bc I'm Indian lol

Alia Bhatt, Shravana Rising

Now Alia's dad is a pretty well known asshole who is infamous for being abusive. And Alia had a pretty rough upbringing, so its no wonder that Alia is as attached to her mom as she is. Alia's own marriage is pretty fucked up and toxic.

Alia started her career when she was 17 and to this day, her mom manages her finances. She was recently in the news for being scammed out of 1 crore rupees (119,000 dollars) so like I guess her mom's not exactly brilliant at what she does lol

Katrina Kaif, Hasta Moon

Katrina Kaif who is British, came to India when she was 17 and met and started dating the violent, toxic abusive Salman Khan, who was 20 years older than her. He helped her establish herself as a huge star but she went through a lot including physical abuse.

Kat endured all that because she had 7 siblings to support and her mom was a single mom. She's extremely close to her mom but I still think its fcked up that a literal teenager had to become the breadwinner of a family of 8 and endure all kinds of abuse in a toxic industry and in a country where she knew nobody just to break even.

Bella Hadid, Hasta Moon

Yolanda is a toxic mom in general but she has a particularly toxic bond with Bella for sure

Britney Spears, Shravana Moon

She's probably the most notorious example of being controlled by her toxic , abusive family :(((

Brooke Shields, Rohini Sun/Jupiter/Rahu

Her mom made her pose naked for playboy when she was 10. That should say enough about how fcked up her momager was. She has spoken about how her mom was an alcoholic and she felt like she had to do everything she could do to keep her mom alive :((

Ranbir Kapoor, Shravana Moon

He grew up in a toxic home where his dad cheated on his mom and was an alcoholic. He's KNOWN to be a mama's boy and his mother lowkey influenced all his previous relationships until he finally tied the knot with someone his mom approved of ://

Today his wife dresses and emulates his mom lmao

Leonardo DiCaprio, Hasta Moon

He's another infamous mama's boy

It's interesting to me how in most of these cases, the fathers were either absent or neglectful. These people grew up under the sole care of their mothers and it created an overly possessive, toxic, codependent bond. All of these people have spoken about how hard their mom's lives were and how they're grateful for everything their mothers did for them. This tendency of the Moon to make its natives be entirely sheltered from Yang or male influence or in some ways find Yang influence repulsive is very telling.

Similar to how Sun influenced people find it difficult to relate to or connect with Yin themes (like being clingy, attached, being nurturing in a traditional way, being openly loving etc) Moon influenced people struggle the most with detachment, letting go, independence etc. The extremes of both these can be unhealthy. It's important to learn how to be balanced and not give in to the tendencies that can harm both us and the people in our lives.

That's all for this post<3

[gemsofgreece]

Hey quick question princess andromeda from the myth with Persus is from Ethiopia ? But then how come in paintings she is white ?

Quick question, long answer. Yes and no. It’s a little confusing. There are several parameters to this.

Aethiopia, an etymologically Greek name, is the name different Greeks gave to different places of the world. In the classical era (440 BCE), Herodotus called all the area south of the Sahara and the Nile as Aethiopia, making thus the most relevant description. Pindar however, a contemporary of his (~450 BCE), calls Aethiopia the region around Elam (Southwest Iran). Same as Hesiod, who did that in 700 BCE already. In ~500 BCE, both Scylax of Caryanda and Hecataeus of Miletus seem to agree Aethiopia is east of the Nile and expands throughout the Arabian peninsula all the way to the Indus Valley and the Indian Ocean. The first mention of Aethiopians is by Homer (~800 BC) who vaguely says that they lived in the extremities of the world, in the far east and west.

So as you see, the earlier back in time, the more generic and distant the term’s meaning is. Herodotus is likely the one who seals the association of Aethiopia with only sub-Saharan Africa and the country south of Egypt in particular.

The origins of Greek mythology precede all these writers. In general many historians suggest that the Aethiopia of the myth of Perseus and Andromeda was supposed to be in west Asia and perhaps somewhere around Israel and Palestine. Some believe it is Jaffa, Tel Aviv in particular. I am not totally sold on the explanations why. The point is however that Aethiopia’s geographical definition especially before Herodotus and even more before Hesiod was very vague and fluid. It seems it described places that in general were too hard for Greeks to reach, exotic.

The name itself can help us understand. Aethiopian means the one who looks burnt, smoked. From αίθω (aétho - burn) and όψη (ópsi - look, face). Now, this sounds low-key horrible in English but in Greek it’s not derogatory, but I have no better way to explain it. Ancient Greeks had written quite a few times about the attractiveness of the Aethiopians (whoever they were) so they didn’t associate the term with a repulsiveness like that of burnt flesh but just as the effect of the sun on their complexion.

In short, at least prior to Herodotus, Aethiopia was all the land inhabited by POC, even if that included large parts of Africa and Asia all the way to India. It did not include Libya (North Africa) and Egypt. This was not so much due to skintone (although it could be too - as North Africans can be way more white passing than people far from here believe) but because Greeks were well aware of these regions. Aethiopia was associated with exotic, distant places with darker people. This could be black people and brown people and all their various tones. Perhaps simply anyone who was noticeably darker than a Greek.

Now if we compare Jaffa (Andromeda’s Aethiopia) with modern day Israel or Palestine, then Andromeda and her parents could be medium brown or light brown or white / white passing.

However, I seriously doubt Ancient Greek art was concerned about skintone accuracy, simply because it was art made by Greeks and viewed by other Greeks. Everyone depicted usually followed the Greek standards of beauty. Besides, it’s a Greek myth, right? If we wonder about Andromeda’s complexion, then we should also wonder about her name! And her mother’s name! Why are they Greek? Well, simply, because it’s Greek mythology, which provides a genealogy where all progenitors are kin to Greek progenitors. Cepheus, Andromeda’s father, is brother of Danaus and has Argive ancestry (since this is a myth from Argos!). So if that’s true, Andromeda has Greek ancestry and might be white-passing because of that. But these is just exhaustive and in my opinion unnecessary nitpicking.

In Ancient Greek art complexion is almost always not depicted accurately but men are usually depicted as dark and women as fair because this was the beauty standard.

No this doesn’t mean Perseus was black and Andromeda white! It only shows the beauty standards of the time. Corinthian vase. Archaic period.

Andromeda, Perseus and Cepheus. Apulian vase, Classical Period. All look white or white passing.

Here although the skintone is the same, the artist makes Perseus blonde in order to stress Andromeda’s darkness through the haircolour. Zeugma, Roman period.

And… look at that!

In this ‘mildly’ racist art, Andromeda is depicted as a dude as the tall white-passing person in the middle and she is getting tied for the beast by fellow Aethiopians who however look nothing like her. They are shorter and clearly African. Andromeda wears Phrygian, thus non-African clothing, but also nothing like the Greek clothing. This artist wanted to provide some diversity but apparently not for the beautiful princess lol Attic vase, probably Classical period.

Anyway so, Andromeda was either brown or black or white passing at most, because of Jaffa and the argive ancestry. Once Aethiopia - Ethiopia’s location had become more specific though, western artists depicting Andromeda as pretty fair of skin or blonde is misrepresentation with questionable motives. My opinion is that there is a wide range of looks Andromeda can be depicted to have, but not something that makes her look whiter or even just as white as Perseus.

[ceofjohnlennon]

"Eventually I learned to distinguish the differences in temperament. John's granny glasses and pale skin, milk-white like the tigers in the Delhi zoo, suggested the persona of a studious intellectual, high-strung and enigmatic, carefully sifting the text of the Maharishi's wisdom for the grains of something that he could recognize as the truth. Like a lot of other people west of Suez, in Europe and America, he'd been expecting a guru to turn up, and suddenly, 'There he was in the Hilton hotel.' Yes, he said, it was great to be rich, great to be famous, but 'we're not the eternal rich men,' and money isn't what makes or sings the songs. One evening when Harrison said that 'nobody can be one hundred percent without the inner life,' Lennon told the other students at the table that the band's records served as diaries of its developing consciousness. In the photographs seen on the covers of their recent albums, he hoped and assumed that people might notice 'something going on behind the eyes other than guitar boogie.' He wasn't sure that the Maharishi was wiser than Lewis Carroll, but he knew that if a person could find within himself an inner wonderland impervious to the pressures of space and time, 'then nothing's going to shake my world.' Ringo and Paul didn't talk as much about the meditation. Yes, they had results with it. No, it wasn't a put-on, but their attitude implied that it was George's thing, and if he wanted to go to India, okay, fine, everybody went to India. Ringo missed his children and his nine cats, and he figured that he could assume the lotus position just as successfully in Liverpool. Maureen hated the flies — to the point that if there was only one fly in the room she would know exactly where it was, how it got there, and why it must be destroyed. She and Ringo had consulted the Maharishi on the subject, but the Maharishi told them that for people traveling in the realm of pure consciousness, flies no longer matter very much. 'Yes,' Ringo said, 'but that doesn't zap the flies, does it?' McCartney objected to the Maharishi's excessive adulation of the band and all its works ('the bit about being the sons of God and the saviors of mankind'), nor did he much care for the abstractions that sustained the yogi's grandiose metaphysics. 'I get a bit lost in the upper reaches of it,' he said. He also wished that the Maharishi would avoid talking to the Beatles about subjects that he, McCartney, knew something about. He found the Maharishi's support of the draft laws disillusioning; his girlfriend, Jane Asher, often wondered aloud what it would be like to see the moonlight on the Taj Mahal. Talking to Paul was easier than talking to George or to Ringo — his accent not as strong, more willing to exchange meaningless pleasantries, still fond of smoking cigarettes, his sense of humor affable and tolerant. When he showed up one day at lunch to say that he'd had a dream about being trapped in a leaking submarine of indeterminate color, it was Anneliese Braun who provided the interpretation. She clapped her hands in the enthusiastic way of a child seeing its first snowfall. 'How very nice,'x she said, wondering if McCartney appreciated the great truth with which he had been blessed. Paul smiled and said he didn't think he quite got all of it. 'Why it's the perfect meditation dream,' Anneliese said. The voyage in the submarine represented the descent into pure consciousness in the vehicle of the mantra; the leaks represented anxiety, and the surfacing of the submarine in a London street signified a happy return to society and one’s fellow men (like Ulysses coming back to Penelope), which was the purpose of all good meditation. The other people at the table applauded, and Geoffrey drew a comparison to the paintings of Hieronymous Bosch."

The Beatles in India. ㅡ From the book "With The Beatles" by Lewis Lapham.

[cyber-corp]

A review of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 3

By a guy who initially had no interest in this series whatsoever

For the longest time, I had absolutely zero interest in watching, reading, or even engaging with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The tone seemed too bombastic, the humour too out of leftfield and the fanbase too obnoxious. But after watching the anime adaptations of parts 1 and 2 and becoming interested in the rest of the series (and reading a bit of Steel Ball Run, which I quite enjoyed), I decided to read part 3 of JoJo, Stardust Crusaders, out of a morbid curiosity.

What I didn’t expect was a full-on and astounding journey across the world that never lets up and never slows itself down to think. And I felt mesmerised by every single page, every line of dialogue, and every illustration.

Stardust Crusaders’ main JoJo is Jotaro Kujo, a stoic Eastwood-esque high school (?!?) delinquent who likes telling women to piss off and has a special ability known as a Stand called Star Platinum, able to release a flurry of brutal punches at will and do with absolute precision.

All six of the Crusaders themselves (which does include the dog. don’t worry about it) have their own unique Stand and abilities, each of them named after a different Tarot card. Joseph Joestar, (who has skipped DILF birth and went straight to GILF birth), is easily my favourite of the six, as even though he’s gracefully aged and matured, he’s still the same old silly goober from all those years ago. Polnareff is my second favourite, I initially felt indifferent towards him, but soon began to adore this comical Frenchman and his entire arc.

The plot of the story follows the Crusaders on an eventful journey to Cairo, as the number one hater from Phantom Blood, DIO, has returned after 100 years, leeching off of Jonathan Joestar’s body. We don’t get to see much of him until the final confrontation, where he nearly convinces Polnareff to join him, kills Kakyoin by stopping time with his stand THE WORLD, takes Joseph’s soul, and squashes Jotaro with a ROADOROLLA. The only reason he loses is that Jotaro is so unreasonably buffed that he can move while DIO’s stand is active, giving him the opportunity to ORAORAORA him into next Tuesday.

I personally feel that DIO might just be the best villain not just in JoJo, but one of the best entirely. His ability to get his own way and his burning desire to end the Joestar bloodline from Part 1 has been amped up to 11, and it makes him, along with his Stand, THE WORLD, nearly unstoppable. He’s a blunt force with no humanity, and does whatever suits his needs. People either fall against him and perish, or fall with him and submit themselves to his grace. He’s become quite the behemoth when you compare him to what he was doing in Part 1. From kicking dogs to forcing someone he doesn’t know to drive after Jotaro and psychologically torturing them. How far the haters go…

If I could use one word to sum up Stardust Crusaders, it would be “ambitious”. It’s nearly double the length of the first two parts combined, and nearly thrice as varied in setting and tone. From Japan, to the gleaming cities of Singapore to the slums of India and the sandy deserts of Arabia, it nearly stops to sit in one place. Hirohiko Araki has stated that he was less inspired by the other shonen comics of the time and more into road movies like Around The World in 80 Days, which gives this part such a unique international flair. There’s also 2 dozen enemies the guys have to face along their way to Egypt, some of which provide interesting looks into the main characters’ inner machinations, and some are monkeys who smoke and commit sexual assault.

The overall theming of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is humanity’s insane ability to overcome seemingly impossible odds in order to become greater, and this couldn’t be more prevalent than in Stardust Crusaders. DIO is a cruel, unrelenting beast who has already sacrificed his own humanity in order to further achieve his goal of ending the Joestar bloodline once and for all. This makes him a perfect mirror to the Crusaders, who plan to stop DIO in order to prevent Jotaro’s mother, Holly, from dying. This motivation based in love of course triumphs over all, and also leads to one of the greatest spurs within the entire medium of manga.

Stardust Crusaders is full of genuine heart, wit, and genuinely kicks ass all the way through. Reading it is truly unlike anything else. It’s a pastiche of shonen tropes, gothic literature, westerns, 80s action flicks and so much more. I can truly see now why JoJo has the reputation it does. If this was the only part of JoJo ever written, it would still be fantastic.

A true celebration of humanity from beginning to end. Go read it if you can.

[rookwurmwood]

The Den

It had been five or six years since I laid on the deck of the Joyeuse in a puddle of my own blood. The ship’s doctor, a Swiss gentleman named Max, leaning low over me so that the cannon fire which flew over us did not hit him; all while trying to put my guts back in my abdomen after it had been unzipped by the cutlass of a pirate. The din of the fighting slowly fading to a piercing drone as a foggy veil slipped over my eyes.

I was no fighting man and fell first when they had boarded us but fate would have it that I was the only of the wounded who would survive the long journey when we limped our way to Hong Kong where I had first taken up that poison to ease the pain as my stitches healed. I would sail with the crew of the Joyeuse for two additional voyages before the captain discharged me after several incidents when the tendrils of withdrawal wrapped 'round my mind whilst underway which deprived me of the sweet milk of the poppy. Coming to a head when I had been seized by a particularly violent episode of delirium which saw me attacking the first mate. After my relinquishment from the East India Company, I returned back to my native Paris to wallow in shameful self-exile. I consider that to be the darkest period of my life as I lived in the most squalid slums of the Left Bank; a maze of narrow boulevards and high, crumbling buildings. There I dwelt with my fellow low-lives and destitutes amidst shadowed alleys which conceal the darkest of doings. Though with all the back-stabbing common in such circles, I had no friends and was well and truly alone.

I made a meager living as a worker on the river-boats which congest the Seine and spent the few Francs I got from slinging crates and tying bowlines on whatever sins of the flesh I could afford. I do not dare to ponder just how many nights I spent traversing the unsavory underbelly of Paris though my face was a familiar one to the proprietors of the brothels and opium dens of the slums. I, of course, frequented those hazy burrows of degeneracy quite often as they had ample supply of opium which was smuggled 'cross the deserts from the Ottoman Empire. I was very much privy to the lengths others who dwell on the lowest realms of society will go to in a bid to see another day, so I dared not leave my hovel without my effects whenever I was off to my preferred lair of corruption and degeneracy. Those two items being: a short cutlass which was given to me as a morbidly ironic parting gift from one of my friends aboard the Joyeuse and concealable percussion cap pistol I won in a game of cards. Desperation and drug-fueled paranoia had greatly sharpened my ability to fend for myself as if I were to let someone get the drop on me again, I would not have another Max who would save my life.

I would tuck both weapons into my sash, wait until sun-down, and skulk down the filthy avenues and gutters to whichever place had not been raided by the police. One night, I had gone out on my usual routine of pursuing vice with additional fervor as I had been paid extra that week. I had found a reputable (as reputable as such a place can be) locale which I had heard of by word of mouth from other untouchables. I soon found myself reclined upon a mound of oriental silk cushions, my limbs heavy, body numb, and mind swathed in ignorant euphoria as I watched the smoke dance about the flame of the candle which sat on a stool in front of me. I sunk deeper and deeper into lethargy until my eyes felt impossible to keep open until I succumbed to the baneful yet caressing hands of my master. I felt that familiar sensation of death yet again; but this time, I resisted not the embrace of Azrael for if this is what it felt like to pass through the curtain of death by the kiss of opium, then I would go willingly. The darkness seemed to swallow the darkness as I found myself amidst endless black gulfs of nethermost confusion.

Yet, I awoke. I was still surrounded by darkness, yet I could feel cold stone beneath me. I then became aware of the funerary silence around me, my ragged breathing and clumsy stirring produced no echo which indicated I must have been in a very small room. I blindly groped around my surroundings and was met with a uniform surface of damp stone and the stale air was thick with the odor of mold. I reached into my pockets and felt for my book of matches and stuck one against the side which bathed the chamber in a dim light. I was at the end of a narrow tunnel with a very low ceiling. I looked above to see if there was a trap door above me but saw only the yawning darkness of the shaft which stretched above and beyond the light of my measly flame. I had heard of this happening before, patrons of opium dens overdosing and the owner dumping their bodies into the catacombs beneath the city to dispose of the evidence. Someone must have taken me for dead in my fugue state and I was dropped down some shaft into one of the fringe tunnels of that subterranean labyrinth.

Panic washed over me. I had been aware of the catacombs since I was a boy and had known that people would always go in and never come out as they practically ran the width and breadth of the entire city of Paris. Eventually, I had gathered my wits and resolved to find a way out and pressed forward into the dark tunnel ahead. I had assumed a strange, stooping posture to walk or crawl down the tunnel; as I progressed, the floor became covered in frigid, stagnant water which gently rippled beneath the soles of my boots which pried the iron doors of silence just a tad farther open as I continued. Eventually, the tunnel grew wider and taller and I could stand erect yet again. I had burned out most of my matches by this point but by chance, my hand brushed upon the rusty torch-sconce on the wall which still held its load aloft. I seized the handle of desiccated, worm-eaten wood, and saw that the head still had a bit of moldy canvas or linen bandings on the top which I set alight with my final match. This increased the reach of my vision and provided a good deal of warmth and comfort which eased my addled nerves as I roamed the Hadean darkness.

The tunnel I was in soon gave way to a larger chamber. The flame which clung to the end of my torch struggled to part the tenebrous curtains which obscured what appeared to be the undercroft of a cathedral with a gothic vaulted ceiling held aloft by many stone pillars which further obstructed my view of chamber and threw dancing, wraith-like shadows on the moist stone walls. The water was still present, shimmering in the light of my torch and a distant dripping could be heard. The walls that made up the perimeter of the room were lined with several alcoves which were elevated above the floor by at least a foot though what was noteworthy about these recesses were their contents as every single one of them had bones neatly stacked into them. Creating a morbid wall, almost cyclopean in appearance, from which the hollow eyes of many skulls peered out from. I had heard that many had used parts of the catacombs as ossuaries but had never seen them first-hand. I trembled as I walked about the room, the shallow water on the floor splashing with my every step as I was silently observed by my sightless spectators. At the far end of the room as a doorway in the shape of an arch and bordered by two ossuaries which held their skeletal sentinels. Beyond this threshold was a flight of stairs, choked by thick sheets of cobwebs, which lead up into a lugubrious void and with that: a potential path to the surface.

I know not how long I climbed but I had to rest at frequent intervals to catch my breath. The height of the climb was uncannily tall and called into question how exactly I had gotten down here. If I had been dropped down some chute like I had initially assumed, then the fall would have certainly killed me. Near the top of the stairs I was assailed with a sickening odor, far worse than the mold, a charnel and metallic stench like that of putrefied blood and I was met by a heavy wooden door. Strength had not yet fully returned to my limbs as a side effect of my binge and it took tremendous effort to push the door open, the hinges creaking and groaning while the timbers scraped the stone floor.

I was met with a wide passage, the walls of which looked as if they were entirely composed of yet more skeletons which had been meticulously arranged into patterns like some macabre mosaic which stretched from the smooth stone floor to the low-hanging ceiling. The horrible miasma was so thick in the tomb-air that I had to untie the sash from my waist and wrap it around my nose and mouth like a scarf, though this helped little. It was only then did I realize that whoever had hauled me down here had taken the liberty of relinquishing my cutlass from my custody, yet neglected to rid me of my pistol which I resigned to carry in my off hand. Traversing these tunnels proved quite difficult as they twisted and turned and intersected, all while I was scrutinized by the empty sockets which mockingly leered out at me. I began to panic and started to run through the halls, hoping that I'd chance across some hatch to the surface. My footfalls broke the sacred silence as I frantically searched for a point of egress until I stumbled on an uneven patch of floor and dropped my torch which was promptly snuffed out. I tried in vain to rekindle the dying embers yet no amount of blowing would revive it and I found myself plunged into blind darkness yet again.

I resorted to steadily walking with my hands outstretched, pawing at the intangible void to ensure I did not run head-long into a wall. I went on like this for some time, my hands occasionally meeting the dry surface of the tomb-dweller or cold, rough-hewn stone.

As I progressed, I found myself conscious that I could actually see my surroundings in some dim radiance. I had at first assumed that fancy had overtaken my vision until I realized that it was the faint glow of candles. The light grew brighter until I rounded a corner to be met with a wrought-iron gate, beyond which was another sepulcher quite similar to the one I had seen earlier. This one was free of water and lit by hundreds of candles which sat upon whichever surface could hold them, many where perched atop mountains of layered wax which had indicated continual use. I took this as a sign that I was nearing the surface and opened the gate, stepping into the warmly illuminated chamber. It was here where I also discovered the source of the malodor. There were no ossuaries in this undercroft but the parallel walls to my left and my right were lined with stone slabs, upon them were white shrouds, stained and moth-eaten, beneath which I could make out ghastly profiles of anthropoid forms. I dared not remove these grave-cloths as I was all too aware of what they were concealing. At the far end of the room was yet another archway which led to a short vestibule which was terminated with another door of heavy wooden planks. Above the doorway was an inscription which I could decipher as it was written in a curiously archaic hand which I had first thought to have been Hebrew yet with closer examination revealed certain characters and runes which looked out of place. My next assumption was Greek yet I still failed to see any familiar letters.

As I drew closer to the door, I grew conscious of an indistinct sound just beyond the hatch. It sounded first like soft weeping, gently echoing off the stone walls but as I reached for the great iron ring on the side of the door I began to make out syllables. As I pulled the door open, I could hear the sound more clearly as the stifled resonations of prayer. The room past the door was bereft of any ghoulish contents yet it still greatly unnerved me. Upon the floor in the center of this square room was a circular tile or slab set onto the floor, engraved upon its face was a seal or sigil made up by a seven-pointed star. At each point of the heptagram was a black candle, the flames of which did not react to the breeze generated by my movements. On the left and right side of the room each had a doorway. One had a short flight of stairs heading upwards whilst the other led to a dark room, barely illuminated by the shaft of light which spilled in from the chamber I was currently in and from which drifted the soft sounds of supplication.

I turned to the doorway on the left, hoping to ask whoever was speaking if they knew a way out of catacombs. I lowered my improvised bandana to make myself appear less suspicious and hid the pistol by my side. I approached the threshold and saw a figure resting upon its knees just beyond the light which issued forth from the doorway. I called out to the worshipper, yet they ignored me, simply continuing to whimper and pray under its breath in a harsh, gibbering voice. I made out the invocations were being spoken in a very archaic dialect of French which I had only heard men of the cloth us to speak to one another, assuming this was the sexton who oversaw the catacombs and called out again only for the caretaker to disregard me yet again. I had become frustrated at this point and began to enter the dark room.

I approached the kneeling figure just as my eyes began to adjust to the darkness and stopped. As my vision began to acclimate, I could see the worshipper in more detail. They were nearly nude, save for what appeared to be a pair of fur trousers, the skin on its back was saggy and wrinkled, accentuated by the bumps of the spine which ran down the middle. It did not kneel as much as it squatted upon the floor like the gargoyles atop the buttresses of Notre Dame. I reached out a hand to tap them on the shoulder and quickly drew it away in shock.

My heart nearly leapt from my chest as it turned to face me. As it did not turn its body to look around, rather its head swiveled over its shoulder at a freakish angle atop a neck which was far too long than should be natural. Its head was topped with greasy strands of black hair which hung in-front of its face, parted by a protuberant set of jaws which extended out from the rest of its gaunt face in a grotesque snout-like fashion. Without moving its head, it turned its body towards me and stood. Its skin hung loosely about its frame and closer inspection showed a mutated upper body like a man yet what I had initially assumed to be a set of pants were, in actuality, a pair of crooked legs covered in matted fur which ended in feet that were neither wholly hooves nor claws. The whole thing was horribly fantastical, like the mythical faun rendered in nightmarish clarity.

The thing then dropped low, like an animal stalking its prey and it outstretched its long arms which terminated in great taloned hands. I then saw something behind it from between its bestial legs. A twisted something which gleamed red in the light which could barely reach into the room. It slowly advanced towards me and I could hear more whispering in the darkness around me. I soon broke free of the restraints of terror and lifted my pistol to fire upon the thing, there was a thunderous crash followed immediately by high ringing which drowned out all other noises around me. The shot had hit its mark and the thing reeled back in agony, it must have screamed a great deal for its jaws parted wide to reveal rows of yellow teeth as it brought its had to its chest where the lead ball had pierced its abdomen and shattered its ribs.

However the crowning horror came when the flash from the muzzle illuminated the room for the briefest of instances which revealed several more of the tomb-fiends slowly creeping towards me, previously obscured by shadow, all issuing forth from a cavernous opening on the far wall.

I promptly turned tail and ran, screaming and wailing as I clambered up the stairs to be met with an iron door which I heaved open. Hope swelled as I felt the cool night air and saw the moon between the growing gap between the doorway and the plate of rusted metal but as hearing returned I could hear the creature's cloven feet clacking upon the steps behind me. With a tremendous effort I threw the door open and made my escape. I was greeted with dirt paths and moss-covered headstones as I realized I was in the Calvaire Cemetery in the Montmartre district. I looked back to see if my pursuers still followed and saw only a mausoleum with the door ajar and stair leading down into a yawning chasm with many sets of yellow eyes staring back at me.

I don't remember what happened after that, save that I woke up in a gutter somewhere in the Left Bank to a vagrant trying to steal my boots. It took me a while to rationalize what had happened that night, eventually coming to the conclusion that I must have overdosed and had been lying in that ditched all night, deep in a state of delusion as I frothed and spasmed. I took the whole fiasco as a sign to stop pursuing vice and I've since turned my life around after a stint at a sanatorium. After a long and grueling effort, I had broken the chains of dependency and freed me from my slavery to opium. I still work on the riverboats of the Seine but have since left the red-light district behind and eventually managed to get an apartment away from the Left Bank.

I still have nightmares of those apparitions and illusion conjured by opium and can still swear I see yellow eyes peering out at me from the storm drains. Yet the detail that haunts me the most is when I awoke in that ditch, my sash was still loosely tied around my neck and my pistol, which I had always kept primed and loaded was empty and the percussion cap was spent.

[monkeyandelf]

I am Death, the Destroyer of Worlds, bringing death to all living things: Chronicles of a prehistoric nuclear apocalypse

A few people doubt that at the turn of the XXV-XXX millennia BC, a war with the use of nuclear weapons raged on our planet. This is confirmed both in the ancient Indian texts "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata", and scars in the form of funnels from explosions of nuclear warheads on the surface of the Earth.

There are more than a hundred craters with a diameter of 2 to 3 kilometers, whose age is 25-35 thousand years, as well as two huge craters, the age of which also fits into this time interval.

The first is located in South America and its diameter is 40 kilometers, the second is found in South Africa with a diameter of 120 kilometers. One of the largest battles of that war with the use of nuclear weapons took place in the territories of today's India and Pakistan.

Then this was part of the Rama empire. As a result of archaeological excavations at the site of the capital of the vanished empire, Mohenjo-Daro, human skeletons were found with traces of radioactive damage and sand baked to glass, exactly like that found in modern nuclear test sites.

There are two versions of the nuclear apocalypse that happened in the Earth's past. In the first case, the Asuras and reptilians, aliens from outer space, fought. Asuras lost the war and tried to hide in their underground shelters.

However, earthquakes and floods caused by a nuclear cataclysm on a planetary scale destroyed their underground cities and forced them to rise to the surface again. There, the invaders who colonized the Earth were already waiting for them, and the Asura race practically ceased to exist.

In the second case, the conflict allegedly took place between the Atlanteans (Aswins) and the Lemurians, representatives of the Rama empire. As a result of nuclear bombardments by the Atlanteans, which they carried out from their aircraft - vimanas, the Rama empire was almost completely wiped off the face of the Earth.

This is how it is described in the Mahabharata epic: “In all its splendor, red-hot columns of smoke rose and flames brighter than ten thousand suns ... the corpses burned beyond recognition. The survivors lost their nails and hair. The birds are gray. All food became unusable. The soldiers who escaped the fire rushed into the water to wash away the ashes ... ".

On the face are all signs of radiation sickness in survivors and radiation contamination of animals and food. Given that the surviving soldiers rushed to wash off the radioactive ash, the Lemurians were well aware of the concept of "radiation". Also, do not forget that traces of nuclear bombings were found on different continents of our planet.

This is explained quite simply. The Lemurians also had their own air fleet, consisting of vimanas. It can also be assumed that they also possessed nuclear weapons and nothing could prevent them from using it on the territory of the Atlantean empire as a weapon of retaliation.

And what happened in the end? According to the ancient texts, after the completion of the bombing, the whole planet was raining radioactive rain for three days and three nights. This event is mentioned by almost all the peoples of the world, including in the legends of the Maya, the people of the Far North and the Australian Aborigines. And a little later, the Great Flood happened. The earth, as best it could, washes away traces of radiation contamination.

It is possible to treat this kind of information in different ways, but there are definitely all the prerequisites for the fact that the Earth was already once subjected to the destructive effects of nuclear weapons. 

And it seems that it is no longer so important who and with whom then fought, given that at present we do not see either Asuras, or Reptilians, or Atlanteans with Lemurians on the streets of our cities. Apparently, in the end, it is impossible to win a nuclear war. Read the full article

[drgyana]

The Financial Burden of Heart Disease and How Prevention Saves Money

Heart disease isn’t just a health crisis—it’s a financial one, too. While the immediate risks to physical well-being are clear, the economic strain on patients and families often goes unnoticed. From mounting medical bills to lost income, the costs can spiral out of control. But here’s the good news: prioritizing prevention doesn’t just protect your heart—it protects your wallet. Let’s break down how heart disease impacts finances and what we can do to ease this burden.

The Hidden Costs of Heart Disease

When we think of heart disease, we often imagine emergency room visits or surgeries. But the financial toll runs deeper. Studies show that patients with heart conditions face three major challenges:

Medical expenses: Treatments like angioplasty, bypass surgery, or lifelong medications add up quickly. For example, a single hospital stay for heart failure can cost thousands 5.

Lost income: Recovery often means time off work, and chronic conditions may limit earning potential.

Long-term care: Ongoing check-ups, rehabilitation, and lifestyle adjustments create recurring costs.

In India, where out-of-pocket healthcare expenses are high, many families sacrifice basic needs to cover these bills. Research highlights that nearly 1 in 10 patients skip medications or delay care due to costs, worsening their health and increasing long-term expenses.

How Prevention Cuts Costs—and Saves Lives

Preventing heart disease isn’t just about eating better or exercising (though those help!). It’s about smart, sustainable choices that reduce risks and expenses. Here’s how prevention makes a difference:

1. Lifestyle Changes = Long-Term Savings

Simple habits like quitting smoking, reducing salt intake, and staying active can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. For instance, cutting salt consumption by 30% could prevent millions of heart-related deaths globally—and save billions in healthcare costs. These changes cost little but yield huge returns.

2. Early Detection Matters

Regular check-ups catch problems before they escalate. A routine ECG or cholesterol test might cost ₹1,000–₹2,000, but catching a blocked artery early can avoid a ₹5 lakh surgery later. In Bhubaneswar, specialists emphasize the importance of screenings, especially for those with diabetes or a family history of heart issues.

3. Community and Policy Efforts

Public health initiatives, like tobacco taxes or subsidized gym memberships, make healthy living accessible. Countries that invest in prevention see fewer hospitalizations and lower overall spending on heart disease.

The Role of Healthcare Providers

Doctors aren’t just healers—they’re financial allies. By focusing on personalized care and cost-effective treatments, they help patients avoid unnecessary expenses. For example, in Bhubaneswar, clinics like IMS SUM Hospitals offer comprehensive heart health packages that combine tests and consultations at reasonable rates.

Consulting experienced specialists also makes a difference. Take Dr. Gyana Ranjan Nayak, a cardiologist with over 8+ years of experience. His approach combines advanced treatments with clear communication, helping patients avoid redundant tests or procedures. Working with trusted professionals ensures you get quality care without overspending.

Steps You Can Take Today

Know Your Risks: Schedule a heart health check-up if you’re over 40, smoke, or have high blood pressure.

Ask About Costs: Discuss affordable medication options or payment plans with your doctor.

Lean on Support: Community programs and online resources can guide diet and exercise plans.

Stay Informed: Follow updates from local hospitals. 

Final Thoughts

Heart disease doesn’t have to drain your savings. By focusing on prevention, we can reduce both health risks and financial stress. Whether it’s choosing a walk over a sugary snack or consulting a trusted specialist like the best cardiologist in Bhubaneswar, small steps add up. Remember, investing in your heart today means saving money—and peace of mind—for tomorrow.

Let’s make heart health a priority, one beat at a time. 💙For expert care, consider reaching out to the best cardiologist in Bhubaneswar, Dr Gyana Ranjan Nayak offers tailored plans to keep your heart—and budget—healthy

[sohanahospital]

10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

With the fast-paced lifestyle of the modern world, the incidences of heart disease have been rising all across the world. However, especially in India, the country is overburdened with one of the highest cases of Cardiovascular Disease in the entire world. The statistics supported by the reports are so alarming, that it has become an absolute need of the hour to take strict and active measures to prevent heart disease, in order to make sure that one can lead a healthy life with a healthy heart. It is not a matter of panic, but it surely requires a series of appropriate steps to be taken. The good news is that with the proper precautions and certain positive lifestyle changes, it is completely possible not only to slow the progression of heart disease and heart disease symptoms but also to prevent it from occurring in the first place. In this article, we discuss in detail about the ways in which you can reduce your risk of heart disease through some simple lifestyle changes.

Is it really possible to reduce or prevent heart disease?

Yes, it is possible to prevent heart disease through certain changes that you can make in your daily life. In certain cases, you might need medications too.  You can manage your heart health effectively by eating a healthy diet, making normal lifestyle changes, and managing stress. Some of the steps you can undertake are given below:

Avoid Smoking and tobacco products

If you have a habit of smoking, you are putting your heart to a great risk. Even one or two cigarettes a day can raise your risk of getting a heart attack twice as compared to people who don’t smoke. Tobacco is also the most preventable cause of heart disease. We understand that quitting can be difficult, but this is what you need to do in order to maintain a healthy heart. If you are a smoker, talk to your cardiology doctor near me so as to get proper guidance and counselling that can help you quit smoking and tobacco.

Reduce Alcohol Intake 

Drinking too much alcohol can cause a number of heart and vessel-related ailments including Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, and much more. Hence try to reduce, or if possible, avoid alcohol intake. If you're drinking, make sure it is not more than two drinks per day for males and one drink per day for females.

Eat foods that facilitate a healthy heart 

Incorporate foods that make sure that the heart is healthy. These include foods rich in healthy fats such as Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds, almonds, and walnuts. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy oils, whole grains etc. Try to limit or avoid processed fats, refined foods and grains, and unhealthy oils such as palm oil.

Try to keep your LDL Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels in check

Make sure that your LDL Cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels are in control.  You can take regular blood tests to check their levels once or twice a year, and talk to cardiologist near me if the numbers are not healthy, and what needs to be done to normalize them.

Raise your HDL Cholesterol levels 

Cholesterol is not always bad! HDL cholesterol, known as good cholesterol, helps you fight off and remove bad cholesterol from your body. It helps the body get rid of the extra LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood. While high levels of HDL cholesterol protect you from heart disease and heart disease symptoms, lower levels may put you at risk.

Manage blood pressure

This is one of the most important things that you need to keep in mind in order to ensure a healthy heart. To keep your blood pressure in check, you can eat a diet low in sodium, limit your alcohol intake, maintain a healthy weight, and take your medications timely if prescribed by Cardiologist in Chandigarh.

Keep  diabetes in control 

People who have diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease over time. To prevent this, make sure you talk to cardiologist in Mohali and understand what the ideal blood sugar levels are, and how you can maintain them.

Manage your stress level

Manage your stress levels, as stress can adversely affect your heart health. Do practices like exercise, yoga, meditation, or listening to music, anything which helps you cope with stress better. Even taking a 5-minute break from your work and doing breathing exercises can help manage stress.

Get proper sleep

Don’t ignore your sleep! In order to stay healthy, every human needs seven to eight hours of sleep per day. Make sure that you complete your daily share of sleep, no matter how busy you are. 

Get regular check-ups

To keep your heart health in check, it is very important to pay regular visits to heart specialist hospital in Chandigarh. Make sure you get checked up for all the vital signs such as blood tests at least once or twice a year. 

Heart disease once it happens, can’t be reversed. However, these simple lifestyle changes can not only delay it but completely stop their progression. If you are looking for best cardiologist in chandigarh or heart specialist hospital near me, you are at the right place. Sohana Hospital Mohali boasts of the most advanced technology, along with North India’s most reputed cardiologists who provide one of the most comprehensive and holistic care for all your cardiological ailments. Contact our experts today and take your first step towards a healthy heart.

[siiorasurgicals]

Dos and Don'ts After Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgery is the one that is performed to treat injuries or conditions that affect our musculoskeletal system, especially bones. These types of surgeries are performed by skilled and experienced surgeons having specialization in this field. 

Orthopedic surgeries might also require the application of orthopedic implants like Locking Plates for Hand Surgery, Ortho External Fixator, Titanium Nails, and more. The type of implant chosen will depend upon the location of the injury and its severity. 

Only surgery cannot help improve the condition right away but, post-surgical care is also important. Even after successful surgery, if you do not follow post-surgical guidelines, your surgery could fail. In this guide, we are going to discuss what you should do and what you shouldn’t do after orthopedic surgery. 

What You Should Do?

Listen Carefully and Follow Doctor’s Instruction

After surgery, the doctor guides every patient on how to care for the operated area. You are required to carefully listen to the doctor and follow what he/she says. Ignoring doctors’ guidelines can lead to infection and critical care might be on the cards. In certain cases, severe complications may be experienced. 

Take Medicines as Suggested

This is most important. Some people keep increasing or decreasing the dose of medicines on their own. Doing this could be harmful. It is always advised to take the prescribed dose of all medicines as said by the doctor. While taking medicines, if you feel any kind of side effect or other complication, take an appointment and consult with the doctor. Don’t try to become a doctor on your own.

Monitor Abnormal Signs Carefully

Infection is one of the most common complications experienced by people after orthopedic surgery. In such cases, pus may start to form on the surgical wound, excessive bleeding or persistent pain may be experienced, or swelling and redness may be seen on the surgical site. If you experience any of these signs, consult the doctor immediately. 

Take a Proper Balanced Diet

The healthcare service provider also suggests the diet one should take after the surgery for improved and faster recovery. The diet often contains a variety of foods that meet all the nutritional requirements of the body. This helps with the recovery as well as the overall health of the body. So, take a proper diet as suggested and avoid having fast food.

What You Shouldn’t Do?

Do Not Miss Doctor’s Appointment?

Missing a doctor’s appointment will only abstain you from having proper treatment, and the doctor won’t be able to see the progress of the operated area. Sometimes, this could be severe. Thus, it is always advised not to miss a doctor’s appointment. 

Do Not Perform Rigorous Activities?

Watch out for activities that you shouldn’t perform after orthopedic surgery. Activities that are rigorous or put a lot of stress on your body must be avoided. Getting engaged in such activities could damage the implant or displace it from its position. To correct that, repeat surgery might be required.

Do Not Smoke?

Smoking delays recovery. Yes, you’ve read that right and it has been confirmed in many studies. This could reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the surgical wound, and it will take more than expected time to heal. Thus, it is advised not to smoke after orthopedic surgery or any type of surgery. Quitting smoking could be the best decision one could take.  To get international standard quality orthopedic devices, contact Siora Surgicals Pvt. Ltd., a renowned orthopedic implant manufacturer in India. With hundreds of national and international clients, the company is admired for producing a CE-certified range of trauma implants and instruments. Siora also never fails to showcase its product range and new additions to the medical fraternity, and for that, it keeps participating in national and international conferences that take place across the globe. This year, the company is participating in Arab Health 2025 which is taking place in Florida from January 27 to 30, 2025. 

[morethanmonotonous]

2024

I can’t quite believe that I’m starting this entry in this way but I as I always do, I’ll start with where I am as I write this. I’m sitting cross legged on the lounge with my husband to my left playing with the house settings (tech guys - am I right?) in my Manhattan apartment. I can’t believe I’m living in New York and reflecting back on 2024 is wild because it’s probably been one of the most interesting years on my life.

We started the year with 12 of the best friends we could ever ask for, playing a murder mystery, skinny dipping in the pool, and seeing just how high we could get around a classic Australian air bnb backyard. I treasure the memories of this but honestly can’t write a huge amount about it right now because I miss them all a lot and feel some very deep nostalgia for that period of our lives and those people. 

Another majority of the year spent technically homeless, or technically living in Greystanes if you ask the ATO. After some brief time in Australia we left for India. India was an incredible and almost impossible to describe in an entry like this. It’ll need its own, but it was the most remarkable experience to live among such a different culture, to eat indescribable things at restaurants that were all vegetarian by default, to see bodies being burnt in mass cremation sites, or to ride a camel through the desert and camp under the stars (even when it started raining and you have to hide with your husband under the blankets while you hear the pitter patter of the rain above you and you can’t stop giggling like you’re on school camp).

We came back to Australia to go to the Blink 182 concert I’d gotten tickets to years prior, then to go to Taylor Swift with Jami. We ended up doing a weekend with my family. Ritchie started his portfolio, we had a trip to Jervis bay with my Family, I went to Newcastle, it was Pat Warnes’ birthday, then we flew to Bali. It was literally the space of 2 weeks but it was some of the most chaotic. 

Then there was Bali. Some of the most extreme few weeks of my life for better and for worse. Being drunk and dancing with my best friends at Frankensteins while Ritchie and 

We flew to Taiwan after Bali, we didn’t have anything to go back to Australia for. This was the moment we had spoken about for so long. After India and Bali, we will really try to move to New York. We would have been in Taiwan for a few months but it was fun and it was boring and it was free and it was full of going to the gym, photos of cute dogs, really enjoying going to the convenience stores, going to the love hotel, eating weird and amazing and unknown things. There was the saga of waiting to start work, waiting to hear from Asher. 

The next part is the wild time that we ended up in Malaysia with Ritchie’s parents. The first week we were in KL. In classic us style we wanted some time to unwind there before his parents arrived. I was working by this point. The Nasi Lemak was nourishing for the soul in ways I can’t even explain, the undercooked eggs were so good with the sos cili, words were spelled cool. It’s so hard to explain what it was like to be in a warm country surrounded by warm people. Maybe that’s just because as I write this I’m curled up where it’s like 4 degrees F. I cut my hair super short because it was really unhealthy and damaged.

Then Ritchie’s parents arrived and it was so weird. They bought weird food to eat on the first day, they were open minded, fun loving, and the kind of people who were actually really fun to travel with. We went to Batu caves, fed monkeys in a parking lot, got rained out of a Wednesday night street food market. His parents smoked shisha at a rooftop bar where a bill for all we could eat and drink was only $200 USD. We spent time in KL and showed them around and then we went to Penang. I made a lot of videos at this time and was getting a lot out of it and growing subscribers. We went to the movies for my Birthday and we watched Planet of the Apes. Ritchie finished his portfolio at the end of this time which would have been around early June. 

Then we went to Osaka. I was working all of this time and had been interviewing for jobs in New York. I was becoming set on moving with Circana as I had limited other options at this time. Ritchie started interviewing. I was still interviewing and emailing Romee. We drank convenience store alcohol, played emulators of pimp my ride and Jeopardy. It was a really tumultuous time. We were applying and interviewing but it was near impossible to truly enjoy it because of this massive cloud of uncertainty. But it was really fun getting drunk and smoking cigarettes on that balcony. I was working the whole time, going to that same cafe every day and I was working for Woolworths and Asher. I had met Jo and the team briefly when I was back but I was hardcore into that work and it was pretty fun. For all of the uncertainty, crying on the phone to dad, smoking too much, it was actually full of awesome days. Going to the aquarium, eating incredible food, spending not even that much money at arcades, wandering around exploring Osaka on the phone, eating those fish filled with custard. 

We returned to Australia in mid July, the first night I got so drunk on Superdry I threw up in Jami’s mum’s boyfriend’s sink. We were so excited to go to storage the first day and start bringing stuff back. We were so wriggly and excited as Celia arrived to help us clear stuff out. We saw Matt, we got the bus to Canberra. We went to the football and even my mum came, I gave dad the state of origin thing that I won with Celia in the pub in Newcastle, mum and dad got truly, we went to the movies, we hung out a bunch, I kept working. We were doing the DS160 in Canberra, organising things into folders. 

Mum and dad came back with us to Sydney. It was totally the hone stretch, we were so close to the end of the spreadsheet. To where our plan ended and we just straight up living in New York. We saw Ritchie’s parents, we had to sell all kinds of shit on marketplace, put a bunch of stuff out the front, piles of clothes all over the floor in that Campsie house. So many piles of things to sort. So many trips to storage. And the olympics were on. I signed up to save bears, we had to get photos done, organise paperwork, we dropped bags and bags off at donation bins in that weird long giant van. We tidied up out final things, did our final trip to storage, then we went down to Canberra. 

We stored one suitcase and took only out most needed things down there for one last hurrah. Never forget that fucking pink bag from Taiwan with the elephants on it. We did triple jump on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, it was Ritchie’s birthday, we were doing Ray Gun shit on the grass. There was a leak in the shower and it was the best $3 ever. It really was a wild time to be Australian. We got the new tram, went to the consulate for our interview, got our visa. 

Then we were fucking back for one last time. It was the farewell. We were at Crow bar and there was literally like 50 of our favourite acquaintances. We were leaving imminently was it was crazy. The night before we left we saw Bradley, Jake, and and Pat - the Sydney crew with Jordan and Jami having left too. August 28th we got our passports, we knew we were going. Celia was on the lounge when I got my job offer I think, I can’t exactly remember. I knew it wasn’t going to light my world on fire but I was grateful to have a job and be earning money when we got here. My parents arrived and came for the night before we left. It was beautiful, it was sad, so fucking sad, it felt long. We picked up our visa and flew out the next day. We were so desperate to be here, Ritchie was trying to push back playground by the week because they were so excited to have him finally (even if just for a 3 month contract). 

Welcome to the United States. We arrived in Vegas. We deserved to Get Medieval. We got so fucking drunk and high and Ritchie had a mullet. It was so exciting, we were so excited. We were so fucking full of joy, we even got drunk on the flight. We went to a timeshare presentation, we started getting silly and talking to the guy about his food truck because we were more interested in that than the timeshare. We were just in a fucking good mood and talking more and being more American. It was the transition to being the people we ended up starting to become. We went on the New York roller coaster and Ritchie offered the bird seat a weed. We went to the blue man group and it was awesome and we actually won money because we are pretty lucky. 

We moved into the first home we have had since we moved our lives in Jan 2022. Our apartment was small but cute and bright and airy. It was early September and it was starting to be fall. I was walking Ritchie to work wondering when I could start work. I started to nest, frequenting target because I was trying to work out where to buy things from which was surprisingly hard. I was dazzled by the city, by the perfectly lined streets of buildings. I’d been here a couple of times before but it’s different now and it was then. We could go back to all of our favourite restaurants and places but they were just our restaurants and places now. Our museums to visit. So many good dogs, so many days in the park watching squirrels, the trees were so green and the sky was so blue. I was wearing crop tops and shorts, I learnt a lot about September 11. I went into the office and met Noel on that weird lunch day in the office. We got really into art, we saw salt bae enjoying a cigar, I walked hundreds of hundreds of thousands of steps around here, we got social security cards, we started going to shows. I started work and had my first day there except it was just an empty office with no one there. I met Hana really early in the first week. We got into the baseball, I started prepping for Furnace Festival. 

We went to Michigan to see La Dispute and it was cool. I was amazed to be seeing one of my favourite bands in their home town but I was bummed that the Bright Eyes show was cancelled. Pat arrived, we couldn’t get him to love New York as much as we did but he sure did love Roosavelt island and busses. Then it was Furnace Fest! A whole day of emo, two whole days of all kinds of awesome music. Chipping my tooth, seeing Jesse, meeting Katie, Ritchie probably having mono, going to the Misery Signals show, watching the sun set with heaps of new friends. Good for the soul. 

I got sick shortly after this but there was still some good days, it was around late October. We saw the dogs dressed up at the Halloween parade, we started trying to make friends, we were playing Pokemon cards on our phone. We discovered Mighty Lucky as our third place, we went to more shows. I got a weird bout of depression and cried for like 2 weeks. I lost my hearing for over a week and it was honestly so hard. Emergency room, multiple ENT, being able to take 34 Ibuprofens a day, a literal white board with all of my medication on it. It was fucking hard, I was really going through it. Seeing Touche Amore helped with the depression but there was only blips of time where I wasn’t sick of sad. I think I was sick, then sad for a bit, then really sick for ages. Then we had to go to London for the week and saw Jami and we really didn’t think much of London. It was so good to see Tash and Marge that I think it pulled me out of depression. Ritchie was impatiently waiting for his visa, I tried to make the best of it. I started getting terrified of getting sicker. I could barely hear still and there were places I couldn’t go to. I still wasn’t drinking because I was so scared of getting sick. We were so lucky to get our visa back within the week and come back to New York so quickly. 

It was Thanksgiving and it was so great to be able to experience more Americanisms. Pumpkin Pie, vegan turkey, Bean Casserole. It was really fall, watching the parade, walking about Central Park as the leaves changed to deep red and yellow, spending time chatting to Hana. I am trying to get better for August burns red in mid December. It was months I was sick for, to varying degrees. We starting worrying it could be some kind of cancer or immune system issue, it didn’t make sense. 

Going to that show was amazing, seeing Lancaster, actually feeling slightly better, being able to have a few beers, falling back in love with The Ghost Inside. Those shows were awesome, shoo-fly-pie, amish people, driving around buggies, discovering what diners are. Having the Christmas party for Ritchie’s work and being the first time I was able to properly drink in the city. It started snowing, I started feeling better only a few days before Christmas. Things started looking up. 

After thanksgiving the city started changing towards Christmas. The park was void of leaves and snow blanketed the city, the Rockafeller tree is lit up. Ccelia arrived on the 26th. I can’t go all about that because most of the trip was after New Years but it was amazing to see her and share with her what I love so much about this city. I love her for so much for coming all the way over here and it was beautiful to end the year with the two people I love most in this world. 

[shantilalhospital]

How to Control Blood Pressure: Tips by Shantilal Hospital

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a silent yet serious condition that affects millions of people worldwide. At Shantilal Hospital, we understand the importance of managing blood pressure effectively to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide on managing blood pressure for long-term health:

1. Reduce Salt Intake

Excessive salt consumption is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure. To maintain optimal blood pressure levels, reduce your daily salt intake to less than 5 grams per day. Avoid processed and packaged foods as they often contain high levels of sodium. Use natural herbs and spices as alternatives to enhance the flavor of your meals.

2. Engage in Regular Exercise

Physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health. Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. Activities such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or yoga can significantly help in reducing blood pressure levels.

3. Manage Stress Effectively

Stress can lead to elevated blood pressure if not managed properly. Incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily routine, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindfulness practices. Additionally, hobbies and spending time with loved ones can help reduce stress.

4. Adopt a Healthy Diet

A balanced diet plays a crucial role in controlling blood pressure. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products in your meals. Avoid foods rich in saturated fats, trans fats, and added sugars.

5. Limit Alcohol and Quit Smoking

Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can have a detrimental effect on blood pressure. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. If you smoke, seek support to quit as it will greatly benefit your overall health.

6. Get Regular Check-Ups

Regular monitoring of your blood pressure is key to managing the condition. Schedule routine check-ups with your healthcare provider to track your progress and get professional advice tailored to your needs.

7. Stay Hydrated and Maintain a Healthy Weight

Drinking plenty of water and maintaining a healthy weight can also help in controlling blood pressure. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) within the normal range and follow a consistent hydration routine.

Live a Healthy Life with Controlled Blood Pressure

By incorporating these lifestyle changes, you can effectively manage your blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney issues. Early intervention and consistent efforts are the keys to long-term health.

If you have concerns or need professional guidance, Shantilal Hospital is here to assist you with comprehensive healthcare services.

Contact Us for More Information: Location: Shivam Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Phone: 073610 89108 Email: shsocial24@gmail.com Website: https://shantilalhospital.com/

[docganeshnagaranjan]

Who Is the Leading Cancer Surgeon in Mumbai?

Finding the best cancer surgeon in Mumbai is crucial for effective and personalized cancer treatment. Mumbai, known for its advanced healthcare facilities, boasts several highly skilled oncologists and surgeons specializing in various types of cancer, including breast, lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. The best cancer surgeons are renowned for their expertise, years of experience, and success rates in performing complex surgical procedures.

Mumbai is home to some of the most skilled cancer surgeons in India, offering exceptional care with advanced treatment options. Renowned surgeons like Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan specialize in gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer surgeries, earning their reputation through expertise, experience, and high success rates.

Top cancer surgeons in Mumbai utilize cutting-edge technologies such as minimally invasive procedures, robotic-assisted surgeries, and precision diagnostics to ensure effective treatments with quicker recovery. These professionals often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists, to provide personalized care tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Precautions Suggested by Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan

Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan emphasizes the importance of early detection, proper planning, and post-surgical care. Here’s a quick overview:

Before Surgery

Timely Screening: Regular check-ups are crucial, especially for those with a family history of cancer.

Healthy Lifestyle: Quit smoking, limit alcohol, and maintain a balanced diet for better recovery.

Mental Readiness: Engage in counseling or support groups to reduce anxiety before surgery.

After Surgery

Follow-Up Care: Adhere to wound care instructions and attend regular check-ups.

Symptom Awareness: Report unusual symptoms like pain or swelling promptly.

Lifestyle Changes: Eat a nutrient-dense diet and stay active to aid recovery.

Location of Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan’s Clinic

Location of the Clinic

Sanskruti by Sugee202, 2nd Floor, Lady Jamshedji Rd, Opposite Kohinoor Tower, Dadar West, Shivaji Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028

How to Reach the Clinic

For Patients Using the Western Line

Nearest Station: Dadar (Western Line).

From Dadar (West) exit, the clinic is a 10-minute walk. Alternatively, you can take a rickshaw, which takes about 5 minutes.

For Patients Using the Central Line

Nearest Station: Dadar (Central Line).

Exit on the west side and walk towards Shivaji Park. The clinic is about a 12–15 minute walk. You can also opt for a rickshaw for a quicker commute (5–7 minutes).

For Patients Coming from Outside Mumbai

By Train:

Arrive at Dadar Station, one of the most connected hubs in Mumbai. Follow the instructions above depending on your train line.

If you arrive at Mumbai Central or Bandra Terminus, take a local train or cab to Dadar Station.

By Air:

Land at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. From the airport, the clinic is about 30–40 minutes by taxi, depending on traffic.

The clinic’s central location near Shivaji Park and prominent landmarks like Kohinoor Tower makes it easily accessible for patients from across Mumbai and beyond.

[cleverhottubmiracle]

When I am in not in India, I'm usually in NYC, and over the past year, most of my beloved bodegas have converted into smoke shops. For now, they are just selling CBD, but they are ready for the final laws to change that will allow them to start selling the good stuff legally. Walking my dog through a neighborhood, I hardly recognize anymore, and seeing how one plant could completely change a city got me thinking about hemp fabric in the textile industry. And, why it has been such a struggle for so many fashion brands to be able to use this sustainable cannabis plant for apparel. So today, I am going to teach you all about the history of hemp, why it’s been so slow to adopt into the fashion industry despite it being quite sustainable, and how you can source hemp for your own conscious fashion collections.   BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED... I love helping startup brand founders succeed, so I created a bunch of free guides that will help you with your business. They won’t be free forever, so make sure to grab them while you can.   WHAT YOU WILL LEARN NO TIME TO READ? CHECK OUT THIS 60 SECOND SLIDE SHOW...    HISTORY OF HEMP FABRIC Hemp has always played a huge role in civilizations, dating as far back as the pyramids. From helping ancient Egyptians split boulders to forming ropes that hoisted materials, it was crucial to society's progress. Hemp fabric is also one of the oldest known textiles fibers dating back to China in 10,000 BC. It has been around THAT long. And, hemp wasn’t just used for ropes and textiles - the list continues and is long. Anything from sails for ships, army outfits, medicine, and European cooking (today we have the omega-rich hemp hearts sold at Whole Foods and health stores) – you get the idea. Hemp is extremely versatile, and this hasn’t changed. Its long staple fiber length allows it to remain tough, hence its historic use on boats that would permit sailing across the seas. And yet, at the end of its (usually long) life, this eco fibre can biodegrade right back into the soil. This use of hemp spread from East Asia to Europe, eventually making its way to South America via Spanish settlers. There was an attempt for the plant to continue being cultivated upwards into North America, and for a while, it was thriving. But, this was halted in the United States once a tax on cannabis was enacted. Many theories exist, including that of competing industries potentially being negatively affected by hemp production. Those industries may have had an influence on its demise, but we’ll never really know the whole story.  Even after the removal of the tax, hemp cultivation was never the same. Because by the time hemp finally became legal, the emergence of synthetic fibres had taken over.   LEGALITIES THAT CREATE HEMP PRODUCTION BARRIERS You might be wondering what could possibly make a textile illegal. Especially one that is so sustainable.  Well, hemp does come from the Cannabis sativa plant. Yup, that’s the same plant that also produces marijuana cigarettes (yes, that’s a Sublime reference - click here to listen to my hemp playlist while you read the rest of this article).  And, as you probably already know, anything cannabis automatically carries along with it a big no-no warning sign, that could even land you in jail, in some countries.  But, here is the thing - all cannabis plants are not the same. There are actually different strains for fashion vs. plants for recreational drugs. The industrial hemp strain that creates textiles has very low levels of THC, (read, not good for smoking), and it actually results in much stronger material than other cannabis varieties, that might be favored by, say, Snoop Dog. Unfortunately though, at the end of the day, in the eyes of many countries' governments, these alternative textile strains of cannabis are still cannabis, and they are banned just like the variety that is used to make drugs. Lame, I know. But there is hope. The biggest focus surrounding the debate for the legalization of at least the textile variety of cannabis plant is the level of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, aka the stuff that gets you high). The argument is if the THC is so low, there is technically no drug in the plant. So why can’t it be legal for fabric production? Well, depending on where you are, this low level of THC is not so clear cut, and its number varies tremendously.    WHERE IS HEMP LEGAL? When importing hemp, you’ll need to be diligent because the rules for every country are different.  That being said, this article does not serve as any type of legal advice. It is just a head start to your hemp research.  This 137 page report is a great guide to the legalities of hemp production in countries including - Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, the European Union, Great Britain, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Russia.  While there are nuances to legalities around the world, the report provides specifics of where industrial hemp (i.e., hemp used for manufacturing clothing) is legal. This includes specifics on the % of legal THC and other key details.  China is, above all, the #1 producer of hemp, with over two thirds of the world’s hemp originating from this part of the globe.  What you might notice quickly is that the United States is not in these reports. That’s because we are new to the hemp game, even though the US is currently one of the top 3 hemp producers.  It wasn’t until 2014 that hemp for industrial use was federally allowed in the states! And believe it or not, until 2018, hemp was still on the Controlled Substances Act. To this day, there are states that ban the cultivation of hemp, despite federal laws that have given it a pardon.   PROPERTIES OF HEMP FABRIC Let’s say we overcome all legal obstacles and finally get our hands on some hemp fabrics. What does it actually feel like, and what are its properties? The feeling of hemp fabric most closely resembles cotton. But, the performance properties of hemp often exceed cotton and synthetic materials.   Here are some common questions I get about using hemp fabric.   IS HEMP FABRIC STRONG? Hemp fabric is actually about 2-4 times stronger than cotton. This means that clothing made out of hemp will last longer than cotton garments.  In the textile industry, we measure how strong a fiber is with tensile strength. Cotton has a tensile strength of about 330-580 MPa (the max megapascals required to pull a fiber apart), while hemp clocks in around 690-1000 MPa.    CAN YOU DYE HEMP FABRIC? Yes! Hemp is actually great for dying. Colors tend to come out vibrant and saturated. The best type of dye to use for hemp are fiber reactive dyes. These are the same dyes that are preferable for fibers like cotton, linen, and even rayon. Hemp is also a great textile for natural plant dying. Again colors tend to absorb well, and have good longevity (won’t fade and wash out).   DOES HEMP FABRIC WRINKLE? This is one of the few downsides to using fabric hemp. Just like linen, it does tend to wrinkle a lot. One of the ways to naturally cut down wrinkling is to use knits instead of woven.   IS HEMP FABRIC GOOD FOR HOT WEATHER? Yes. Hemp is very good at moisture management. Not only does it absorb moisture well, but it also wicks it (wicking refers to how well a fabric can disperse the moisture helping it to evaporate quickly). The slower moisture evaporates, the heavier and more uncomfortable the garment will feel.   DOES HEMP FABRIC STRETCH AND SHRINK? Have you ever gotten a cotton t-shirt wet, and the whole thing kind of just stretched out? This experience won’t happen with hemp because hemp is actually stronger when wet. Because of this, hemp garments tend to hold their shape well, no matter the conditions.   DOES HEMP FABRIC SMELL? Not really. That is because hemp fibre tends to be antimicrobial and antifungal by nature.   CAN HEMP FABRIC BE RECYCLED? At the moment, there are not a lot of hemp recycling facilities. Most of the fashion industry’s recycling efforts have been focused on polyester and cotton.  But, it is very easy for hemp fabric to biodegrade and return back to the earth. And, depending on the type of dyes used (hopefully nontoxic, because you don’t want to put chemicals into the earth’s soil), many people have had success composting their old hemp clothes.   IS HEMP FABRIC COMFORTABLE? I saved this one for last for a reason. And, that is because this question requires its own section. Keep reading to find out how to source the most comfortable hemp fabrics.   HOW IS HEMP FABRIC MADE Hemp fabric uses a 6-step process. It’s not super interesting (I know you are probably here to learn more about how to incorporate hemp into your garments - so I’ll go over it really quickly). Harvesting - Picking the plants by hand or with a special tractor Retting - Hemp materials are made from the inner portion of the hemp plant stalk. So, to make this separation process easier, the stalks are simply left in the field to rett (loosen up) for 4-6 weeks.  Breaking or Scutching - A literal beating that separates the last little bits of rough stalk parts that might have been left behind.  Carding or Hackling - In this process, the finest, most luxurious hemp fibers are separated out for textiles, and the thicker and coarser fibers are put in a separate area to make other materials like rope. Spinning, Weaving, Knitting - the rest of the process is the same, like any other textile.   IS HEMP FABRIC SUSTAINABLE? Yes, very much so. There are SO many reasons behind the positive impact hemp can have – which makes it that more frustrating that it has yet to flourish in the mainstream market. Here are 12 key ways hemp can help reduce the negative impacts of the fashion industry.    1. LESS LAND USE Hemp doesn’t take much land to grow. And plants are able to mature in only 3-4 months, meaning we can quickly harvest them and plant more. While other fabrics require the destruction of forests to then plant more trees which can take decades to grow back (not to name any names, but rayon), hemp lends a helping hand when it comes to land rescue. This ties into the next point, because the less land we use for growing crops, the more space will be available for life’s beautiful biodiversity.   2. BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE FRIENDLY Not only does hemp leave more room for other environments due to less land use, but hemp crops actually go as far as providing a safe ecosystem for multiple species! In North Carolina, at least 40 different species were living among hemp plants, including birds, rabbits, bees, and deer.   3. STRONG Hemp is durable and long-lasting (the opposite of fast fashion fibers). It is so strong, that clothing made out of hemp materials tends to last longer than cotton (as I mentioned earlier, hemp is 2-4 times stronger than cotton), and other fibers options.    4. CHEMICAL FREE Herbicides, pesticides, insecticides? Bugs and other invasive plants generally stay away from cannabis plants. So, no need for chemicals.  And this chemical free ethos carries on into fabric production as well. Did you know that many UV textiles need to be treated with chemicals? Hemp does not, the fibers provide natural UV protections. And, hemp is naturally antimicrobial. Again, other fibers require chemical finishes for these antibacterial properties that are natural to hemp. Because of this clothes end up smelling less, and need to be washed less often (read, saves water).    5. REGENERATES SOIL Hemp plants are Girl Scouts (did you know my mom made me stay a Girl Scout until I was a senior in High School, while everyone else got to quit when they were 10? Embarrassing, I know. Anyway…) The land that hemp does need to grow is left better than hemp found it. Once harvested, you are left with more fertile, toxin-free soil that is ready to grow other crops. This makes it a perfect option for those using crop rotation strategies, often yielding more harvest than without it.   6. WORLDWIDE While hemp prefers a warmer climate, it can grow in cooler places as well. This means that hemp production can be local, cutting down on fabric carbon footprints.   7. ABSORBS CO2 Speaking of carbon. Studies have shown that hemp is able to absorb up to 15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare grown. For perspective, a typical forest of the same size will sequester less than half this amount.   8. USES LESS WATER Hemp uses significantly less water than most other textiles – 300-500 L per 1 kg produced as opposed to 10,000 L for cotton fabric!   9. GROWS QUICKLY Hemp takes about four months to grow, making it one of the most efficient options out there. That means that we can quickly plant, grow, use, and plant more. This rapid growth is part of the reason hemp requires so little land.   10. ZERO WASTE Hemp is not one bit wasteful. You know I love textiles. But, get this, there is a purpose for every part of the plant, whether for furniture, rugs paper, and of course - hemp for clothing. In fact, the USDA has determined that hemp can create up to four times more paper than trees can!   11. IS BIODEGRADABLE Isn’t that a relief? So much of what we produce these days is not. Hemp will break down in soil, leaving no trace creating a completely cradle-to-cradle product.   12. MULTIPURPOSE Medicinal uses, and food like hemp hearts, milk, flour, and oil (what’s not to love?)   CONS OF HEMP FIBER PRODUCTION While there are so many amazing benefits to using hemp, there are few negatives… CONS Manufacturing hemp is labour-intensive (aka expensive) Is sometimes dyed with synthetics or blended with sub-par materials (some brands do this to say they are using eco-friendly hemp, while being able to cut costs. Hemp textiles dyed with toxic chemicals is a great example of greenwashing) Currently pretty expensive (because it’s so labour intensive) Despite its resistance to pests, it’s critical to look for supply chain transparency to ensure that it is truly organic (sadly, more and more cannabis suppliers are using chemicals on their crops today) Fabrics and be stiff and ruff and require some time to break in Personally, I think the pros way outweigh the cons. Not only when used for clothing, but also for its incredibly positive impact on the environment.   HOW MANUFACTURING ENHANCEMENTS HAVE MADE HEMP COMFIER I told you I would get to this… Originally, one of the biggest problems with hemp was that it wasn’t that comfortable. Fabrics felt stiff, and scratchy. That is because hemp, like a new pair of raw selvedge denim jeans, needs a bit of effort to be broken in.  Buying hemp goes against every instinct a consumer has. Generally, when we buy clothes, we think that washing them will make them worse. They will lose their color, shrink, or start to fall apart. But, with hemp, washing them actually makes them better. Because the physical abrasion in the washer and dryer helps break down the fibers a bit which ends up making them more comfortable. Clothing brands realized this, so today, we in the industry do some of the wearing-in work for you. Advanced processing techniques include: Refined combing technologies - these break down the fibers even more during manufacturing to create more comfortable fabrics Natural softening - environmentally friendly enzymes can be used to further soften the fabrics. Enzymes gently eat away at the fibers, weakening them but also making them more cozy in the process Blending - hemp blends well with softer fibers like cotton, which help to make the overall feel of the fabric less stiff Beyond softening techniques, there is a lot to keep in mind when choosing to work with hemp. As always, there are those looking to take advantage of its rising popularity, so it’s important to be diligent.   MY FAVORITE HEMP SUPPLIERS (also great for hemp blended fabrics).   ENVIROTEXTILES - HEMP FABRIC BY THE YARD United States “Woman-owned for more than two decades, EnviroTextiles is a pioneer in natural Hemp fiber that has expanded into other proprietary non-chemical processes, that combines a passion for quality and transparency.”   HEMP TRADERS - GREAT PRICES United States “Hemp Traders was founded on the idea that hemp can guide us towards a sustainable future. We have been supplying hemp fabric and products since 1994. Today we have inventory in stock and require no minimum order to make hemp accessible to all.” They even have hard to find hemp knit fabric!   HEMP BASICS - HUGE SELECTION United States “Since 1991, and better than 75,000 customers later, Hemp Basics is still here bringing the best quality Hemp and Hemp products to market.”   BULK HEMP WAREHOUSE - MORE THAN JUST TEXTILES United States  Literally everything hemp, from fabrics to food. More than just jersey fabrics, they even have hard-to-find hemp textiles like fleece, rib knit, and canvas fabric. And, make sure to check out their hemp education section!   NATURELLEMENT CHANVRE France By the yard fabrics. Seller of European hemp and organic hemp fabrics since 2005.   HEMP SHOP United Kingdom UK hemp supplier. “We believe that every single person has the ability to make a difference to the health of our planet and the wellbeing of humankind. Through every choice that we make in life, we are influencing the world around us, and these decisions should, as far as possible, be consciously ethical, sustainable, and eco friendly.”   HEMPWA Australia “Hemp Wholesale Australia supplies the largest range of hemp fabrics in Australia, as well as some other natural fiber fabrics. Our huge range of sustainable, eco-friendly, natural fabrics includes organic hemp blend fabrics combined with silk, organic cotton, bamboo, yak Hair, and more. In addition to 100% Hemp fabrics - we now have organic linen fabric, organic cotton, and more.”   WHAT DO YOU THINK? Are you going to use hemp in your next collection? If you go the sustainable route always make sure it's GOTS certified. Let me know in the comments!  Source link