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ininjaproxyvpn-blog · 7 months ago

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Dr. Gary Motykie - Premier Plastic Surgeon in Los Angeles & Beverly Hills

In the realm of plastic surgery, where excellence, artistry, and precision are paramount, Dr. Gary Motykie stands out as a leading figure. Renowned for his expertise and dedication to patient care, Dr. Motykie has built a stellar reputation in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. This blog explores the journey, skills, and contributions of Dr. Motykie, highlighting why he is considered a premier plastic surgeon in these affluent regions.

A Journey of Excellence

Dr. Gary Motykie's path to becoming a top plastic surgeon is marked by a commitment to excellence and an unwavering passion for the field. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, Dr. Motykie pursued his medical degree at Northwestern University. His rigorous training continued with a residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas, followed by a fellowship in Advanced Cosmetic Surgery.

Expertise in Comprehensive Procedures

Dr. Motykie’s expertise spans a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. His holistic approach to plastic surgery ensures that patients receive personalized care tailored to their unique needs and goals.

Facial Procedures

One of Dr. Motykie's specializations is facial surgery, where he combines technical skill with an artistic eye. Procedures such as rhinoplasty, facelift, and eyelid surgery are performed with meticulous attention to detail, aiming for natural-looking results that enhance the patient’s features.

Body Contouring

Body contouring procedures are another area where Dr. Motykie excels. From tummy tucks and liposuction to Brazilian butt lifts, he employs advanced techniques to sculpt and refine the body’s contours. His patients often praise his ability to achieve harmonious and aesthetically pleasing results.

Breast Surgery

Dr. Motykie is also a renowned expert in breast surgery, offering a range of procedures including augmentation, lift, reduction, and reconstruction. His approach is characterized by a deep understanding of the anatomy and a commitment to achieving balanced, proportionate outcomes that complement the patient's body.

Innovative Techniques and Technologies

Staying at the forefront of the industry, Dr. Motykie is dedicated to integrating the latest advancements in plastic surgery into his practice. He continuously updates his skills and knowledge, ensuring that his patients benefit from the safest and most effective techniques available.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

In recent years, there has been a significant shift towards minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Motykie offers a variety of non-surgical treatments, including injectables like Botox and dermal fillers, laser therapies, and skin rejuvenation treatments. These procedures provide patients with effective results and minimal downtime.

State-of-the-Art Facility

Dr. Motykie’s practice is housed in a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest medical technologies. The clinic's modern amenities and serene environment contribute to a positive patient experience, ensuring comfort and safety throughout the surgical journey.

Patient-Centered Care

What truly sets Dr. Motykie apart is his patient-centered approach. He believes in building strong relationships with his patients, founded on trust, communication, and empathy. From the initial consultation to post-operative care, Dr. Motykie and his team are committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment.

Personalized Consultations

During consultations, Dr. Motykie takes the time to understand each patient’s desires and concerns. He provides detailed explanations of potential procedures, expected outcomes, and recovery processes. This personalized approach ensures that patients are well-informed and confident in their decisions.

Comprehensive Post-Operative Care

The journey with Dr. Motykie does not end after surgery. He offers comprehensive post-operative care, including follow-up appointments and recovery support. This ongoing care is crucial for optimal healing and long-term satisfaction with the results.

Contributions to the Community

Beyond his surgical practice, Dr. Motykie is dedicated to giving back to the community. He is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors, using his skills to help those in need.

Charitable Work

Dr. Motykie has participated in numerous medical missions, providing free surgical care to underprivileged communities around the world. His charitable efforts reflect his commitment to making a positive impact beyond his practice.

Education and Advocacy

As an advocate for patient education, Dr. Motykie frequently shares his knowledge through public speaking engagements, webinars, and media appearances. He strives to raise awareness about the benefits and risks of plastic surgery, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health and appearance.

Recognition and Accolades

Dr. Motykie’s contributions to the field of plastic surgery have not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards and accolades, recognizing his expertise, innovation, and dedication to patient care.

Industry Awards

Over the years, Dr. Motykie has been honored with several prestigious industry awards. These accolades serve as a testament to his skill, professionalism, and commitment to excellence in plastic surgery.

Media Features

Dr. Motykie’s work has been featured in various media outlets, including television shows, magazines, and online platforms. His expert opinions are sought after by the media, further establishing him as a trusted authority in the field.

Testimonials from Satisfied Patients

The true measure of a surgeon’s success lies in the satisfaction of their patients. Dr. Motykie’s practice is adorned with testimonials from individuals whose lives have been transformed by his expertise and care.

Transformative Results

Patients consistently commend Dr. Motykie for his ability to deliver transformative results. Whether it’s enhancing facial features, sculpting the body, or reconstructing after trauma, his work has helped countless individuals achieve their aesthetic goals and boost their self-confidence.

Exceptional Care

Beyond the physical transformations, patients appreciate the exceptional care they receive from Dr. Motykie and his team. The supportive and compassionate approach ensures that every patient feels valued and understood throughout their journey.

Conclusion

In the competitive world of plastic surgery, Dr. Gary Motykie stands out as a premier plastic surgeon in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. His journey of excellence, comprehensive expertise, innovative techniques, and patient-centered care have earned him a stellar reputation. With a commitment to giving back to the community and a passion for education, Dr. Motykie continues to make significant contributions to the field. For those seeking outstanding results and a compassionate approach, Dr. Motykie is the surgeon of choice.

#DrGaryMotykie #GaryMotykie #DrGary

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skineticshtx · 8 months ago

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Discovering Advanced Body Sculpting and Botox Treatments in Houston, TX

Body Sculpting Treatments in Houston, TX

The landscape of body sculpting has been revolutionized by innovative approaches to fat reduction and contouring. Employing advanced technologies such as laser liposuction, CoolSculpting, and ultrasound therapy, these treatments effectively target stubborn fat deposits resistant to traditional diet and exercise. Houston residents benefit from state-of-the-art clinics equipped with the latest advancements in both non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques. Whether your aim is to sculpt arms, tone thighs, or trim your waistline, these procedures offer precise and efficient solutions to reshape your body.

Houston clinics prioritize personalized consultations to tailor treatment plans to individual goals and concerns. Whether addressing localized fat deposits or achieving comprehensive body sculpting, these treatments offer customizable paths to attaining your desired aesthetic.

Botox and Fillers in Houston, TX

For those seeking facial rejuvenation and anti-aging solutions, Botox and fillers remain popular choices in Houston, TX. These non-surgical treatments effectively smooth fine lines, soften wrinkles, and restore youthful volume to areas like cheeks and lips. Botox injections work by temporarily relaxing muscles responsible for wrinkles, resulting in a visibly smoother, more youthful appearance. Meanwhile, dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane enhance facial contours and replenish lost volume, delivering natural-looking results.

In Houston, skilled injectors and cosmetic dermatologists specialize in administering Botox and fillers with precision and artistry. Whether refining forehead lines, lifting sagging cheeks, or enhancing lip volume, these treatments enhance facial features while preserving individual expression.

Choosing Your Provider

Selecting a qualified provider is pivotal to achieving safe and satisfying outcomes with body sculpting and Botox treatments texas. Seek board-certified plastic surgeons, dermatologists, or licensed aesthetic specialists renowned for their expertise and proven track records. During initial consultations, discuss aesthetic objectives, medical history, and any concerns to develop a personalized treatment plan prioritizing safety and fulfillment.

Conclusion

Houston, TX, stands as a premier destination for individuals pursuing body sculpting and Botox treatments texas to enhance their appearance and bolster self-confidence. Whether pursuing advanced body contouring techniques or facial rejuvenation with Botox and fillers, the city’s dynamic aesthetic community ensures access to top-notch clinics and experienced practitioners. Take the first step toward realizing your ideal appearance by scheduling a consultation with a reputable provider dedicated to guiding you on your journey toward a more confident, revitalized you.

#body sculpting treatments in houston tx #botox treatments texas #botox and fillers in houston tx

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mediforcehomemedicalequipment · 1 year ago

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Maintaining your home medical equipment is crucial for its longevity and reliability. As a trustworthy name for home medical supplies in McAllen, Texas, we at MEDIForce Home Medical Equipment & Supplies Foot Pain Relief Store share tips to help ensure your equipment remains in optimal condition.

#Proactive Repair #Regular Inspection #Storage Consideration

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greaterconceptsbydesign · 1 year ago

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Texas Medical Supply: Nurturing Health and Well-Being

In the vast landscape of healthcare, one aspect that often goes unnoticed but is undeniably essential is the supply of medical equipment and resources. Texas Medical Supply, a trusted name in the Lone Star State, understands this significance and is committed to nurturing health and well-being through their unwavering dedication.

At the heart of Texas Medical Supply's mission is the belief that quality healthcare starts with access to the right resources. They offer a wide range of medical supplies, from mobility aids to home care equipment, designed to empower individuals in their journey to recovery and well-being.

A Partnership with a Vision

Behind Texas Medical Supply's commitment to health and well-being is a partnership with Greater Concepts By Design, a leading business consulting service company. This collaboration has played a pivotal role in ensuring that Texas Medical Supply's mission aligns seamlessly with their operations.

Greater Concepts By Design, with its expertise in business strategy and operational efficiency, has been instrumental in streamlining Texas Medical Supply's supply chain, ensuring that vital medical equipment reaches those who need it promptly.

Empowering Independence and Recovery

One of the standout features of Texas Medical Supply is their commitment to empowering independence and recovery. Their extensive range of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, scooters, and walking aids, is designed to give individuals the freedom to move and engage in life to the fullest.

For those requiring home care, Texas Medical Supply offers a variety of home medical equipment that ensures comfort and safety. From hospital beds to patient lifts, their products are meticulously selected to meet the highest standards of quality.

The Human Touch

What truly sets Texas Medical Supply apart is their dedication to personalized care. Their team of experienced professionals understands that each patient's needs are unique. They take the time to listen, educate, and provide guidance, ensuring that individuals and their caregivers have the support they need.

Conclusion

Texas Medical Supply's commitment to nurturing health and well-being is not just about providing medical equipment; it's about enriching lives. Their partnership with Greater Concepts By Design has strengthened their ability to deliver on this promise, making quality healthcare resources more accessible to Texans than ever before. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, Texas Medical Supply remains at the forefront, tirelessly working to enhance the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

#Texas Medical Supply

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lifemedicalsupply1 · 2 years ago

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Home Health Equipment Rental: Enhancing Comfort and Independence

In McAllen, Texas, individuals recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, or seeking to age in place can benefit greatly from the convenience and accessibility of home health equipment rentals. Home health equipment rentals provide individuals with the necessary tools to maintain their independence and receive quality care within the comfort of their own homes. This article explores the benefits of home health equipment rental in McAllen and highlights the importance of such services in promoting well-being and enhancing the overall quality of life for individuals in need.

Enhancing Independence and Mobility

One of the key advantages of home health equipment rental in McAllen is the ability to enhance independence and mobility for individuals with mobility limitations. Whether recovering from surgery or managing a chronic condition, mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches can significantly improve an individual's ability to move around their home, perform daily activities, and engage in social interactions. Home health equipment rentals offer a cost-effective and temporary solution, allowing individuals to regain their independence without the need for a long-term investment in equipment.

Comfort and Convenience

Renting home health equipment provides comfort and convenience, as individuals can access a wide range of specialized equipment tailored to their unique needs. From adjustable hospital beds and lift chairs to assistive devices for personal care, the availability of rental options ensures that individuals can find the most suitable equipment for their specific requirements. This personalized approach enhances both the physical comfort and emotional well-being of the individuals, contributing to a more positive recovery experience.

Flexible Rental Periods

Another advantage of home health equipment rental is the flexibility it offers in terms of rental periods. Whether an individual needs equipment for a few days, weeks, or months, rental services can accommodate their varying needs. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for individuals who may only require equipment temporarily during a rehabilitation period or after a hospital stay. Renting also eliminates the hassle of storage and maintenance associated with owning equipment, allowing individuals to focus solely on their recovery or health management.

Professional Guidance and Support

Home health equipment rental services often provide professional guidance and support to ensure individuals are equipped with the right tools and understand how to use them safely. Knowledgeable staff members can offer advice on the appropriate equipment for specific conditions or situations, demonstrate proper usage techniques, and provide instructions for maintenance and care. This personalized assistance ensures that individuals can confidently utilize the rented equipment, promoting safety and optimizing the benefits derived from its use.

Affordability and Cost Savings

Renting home health equipment can be a cost-effective alternative to purchasing expensive medical equipment outright. For individuals who require equipment for a short duration, the rental option eliminates the need for a substantial upfront investment. Additionally, rental services often include maintenance, repairs, and replacements, saving individuals from incurring additional costs associated with equipment upkeep. By offering affordable access to necessary equipment, rental services in McAllen contribute to reducing the financial burden often associated with healthcare needs.

#home health equipment rental mcallen

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mysteryfleshpit · 3 years ago

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2007 Disaster Report - Text Version

Final Incident Investigation Report

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Commission on Geobiological Resources & Public Safety

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior

National Park Service

The U.S. Commission on Geobiological Resources & Public Safety (CGR) is an independent Federal agency whose mission is to ensure the safety of workers, the public, and the environment by investigating and preventing accidents relating to the Permian Basin Superorganism. The CGR is a scientific investigative organization; it is not an enforcement or regulatory body. Established by the Special Resources Development Act of 1980, the CGR is responsible for determining the root and contributing causes of accidents, issuing safety recommendations, studying geobiological safety issues, and evaluating the effectiveness of other government agencies and private enterprises involved with the Permian Basin Superorganism.

No part of the conclusions, findings, or recommendations of the CGR relating to any accident may be admitted as evidence or used in any action or suit for damages. See 42U.S.C. 7412(r)(6)(G). The CGR makes public its actions and decisions through investigation reports, summary reports, safety bulletins, safety recommendations, case studies, incident digests, special technical publications, and statistical reviews.

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

U.S. Commission on Geobiological Resources & Public Safety

Office of Congressional, Public, and Board Affairs

2175 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20037-1848

[1.0.0] Executive Summary

At 9:41 PM CST on July 4th, 2007, the Permian Basin Superorganism Natural Preserve (known colloquially as the “Mystery Flesh Pit National Park”) experienced a catastrophic disaster which resulted in over 750 fatalities, and over 1,800 major injuries. In the weeks following the incident, approximately 18,000 individuals from the surrounding communities sought medical and psychological treatment for ailments including breathing problems, chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, birth defects, hallucinations, depression, anxiety, internal bleeding, sore throat, and headaches as a direct result of contact with gastric ejecta which had been introduced to the atmosphere.

Investigators have concluded that this disaster was chiefly characterized by a premature geobiological consumption event caused by the catastrophic failure of critical park infrastructure to constrain and limit the gastric, motor and neurological actions of the Permian Basin Superorganism. Investigators have concluded that the failure of these critical safety measures are the direct result of negligent practices by the primary site operations contractor Anodyne Deep Earth Mining, a subsidiary of Anodyne, Inc. The U.S. Commission on Geobiological Resources & Public Safety (CGR) released its first report on the Permian Basin Superorganism Disaster in August 2007 (“the Interim Report”), which highlighted technical findings and safety system deficiencies. The report issued recommendations to Anodyne, Inc.; the city of Gumption, Texas; the State of Texas; the U.S. Department of the Interior; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the U.S. Food & Drug Administration; and the U.S. Department of Energy. As of April 2008, these groups have made progress in implementing the recommendations to improve the regulatory requirements for geobiological resource extraction, geobiological resource containment, and general public safety as it relates to the Permian Basin Superorganism.

[2.1.0] Anodyne Background

Anodyne was originally founded as the Anchor Mineral Co. in 1923. In 1958, the Anchor Mineral Co. merged with Dynamic Equipment, LLC. to form a new company known as Anodyne Deep Earth Mining, later changed to Anodyne. Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, and prior to it’s 2008 restructuring, Anodyne Corporation was the twenty-third largest American company by revenue. Globally, Anodyne employed over 28,000 people. It operated seven major research, development and production facilities around the world, six of which were in the United States.

Anodyne filed for bankruptcy in late 2008, but ended it’s bankruptcy in February 2009 pursuant to a court-approved plan of reorganization. A new board of directors changed the name of Anodyne to the Permian Basin Recovery & Superorganism Containment Corporation, and emphasized reorganizing and liquidating certain operations and assets of the pre-bankruptcy Anodyne.

[2.2.0] Permian Basin Superorganism Background

The Permian Basin Superorganism (Immanis Colosseus, also known by the popular nomenclature of “Mystery Flesh Pit”) is a subterranean organism unique to modern biology, being the sole occupant of the Phylum Immanemqa. The organism was discovered by a pilot well drilling crew in 1973; later efforts were made to expose more of the organism through drilling and surface mining explosives.

The superorganism is chiefly characterized by its immense size, which is still a matter of geobiological debate. Surveys suggest that the organism may span many hundreds of miles beneath the permian basin horizontally, with scientists speculating that the organism may extend vertically into the upper mantle of the earth’s interior.

The complete anatomical layout and internal organization of the organism is unknown. Tissue samples suggest that the organism contains gastrointestinal, vascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, nervous, limbic and integumentary systems with remarkable similarity to mammal life, while also containing a variety of systems which have no direct analog and are not fully understood. The feeding cycle of the organism is poorly understood and believed to occur on a complex and long-term schedule of dormancy and feeding activity. It has been hypothesized that the superorganism derives caloric energy from subterranean hydrocarbon deposits, though the organism has been observed to digest and absorb organic matter.

The depth at which the organism extends into the surrounding rock strata indicates that the organism is several hundred thousand years old. It is unknown what the natural lifespan of the species is, or if the Permian Basin Superorganism represents a mature or developing example of the species.

[3.0.0] Incident Timeline

Start of relevant timeline.

10:29 AM July 4th – Unseasonably high rains force park administrators to cancel a July 4th Concert and Fireworks display scheduled to take place on the surface park grounds. Many visitors who had already purchased tickets to the event become upset, and a decision is made to extend the park hours until midnight for those who had purchased event tickets.

8:00 PM July 4th – Normal closing time for the national park. A typical shift change of reduced night staff in the control room takes place.

9:16 PM July 4th – Harvesting crews working in the western extremities of the organism set a new extraction record to meet a quota for bonuses in time for the holiday weekend.

9:30 PM July 4th – Control room operators initiate a routine system self-test and discover a relay fault error resulting from increased electrical demand from mining equipment and tourist infrastructure. A control room operator logs the fault and notifies an on-duty engineer.

9:41 PM July 4th – Water drainage from surface rain into the Entry Orifice begins to collect in the sand gullet. Drainage pumps are automatically activated by a sensor system but fail to initialize due to the relay fault. An emergency back-up pump running on a separate emergency circuit is automatically activated.

9:42 PM July 4th – A critical alarm in the control room alerts operators that the emergency water pump has seized and is inoperative. Under-lubrication of the pump’s impeller bushings resulted in corrosion due to the moist interior of the flesh pit environment.

9:48 PM July 4th – Technicians arrive at the primary pump station to discover the sand gullet almost completely submerged. Water begins to pour over the dorsal respiratory ridge and into bronchial bulbules. Control room operators divert power to hydraulic stent rams to brace for expected choke response.

9:51 PM July 4th – Technicians a repair the relay fault as control staff reset the park’s electrical grid. The grid is offline for 45 seconds. The automatic PA system does not notify guests as the system is scheduled to automatically shut down at the normal 8:00PM closing time. The temporary lapse of lighting causes many guests to become panicked and return to the main gantry lift at the lower visitor center.

9:52 PM July 4th – A choking action from the organism begins 31 seconds into the electrical reset. The main dorsal trunk violently flexes. Lack of power to hydraulic arming rams causes irreparable damage to several sections of internal infrastructure.

9:53 PM July 4th – As the electrical system finishes the reboot cycle, the dynamic hydraulic actuators supporting the lower visitor center overcorrect for stability, not accounting for the shift in the wall lining of the nexial cavity in which the visitor center facility is anchored. Two of the six structural supports are torn from their foundations which causes the facility to list 20deg off vertical. The base joint of the vertical entry gantry is bent beyond its design limit angle.

9:54 PM July 4th – The Master Alarm is tripped automatically. Surface facilities are notified as response teams are given the order to mobilize.

9:56 PM July 4th – Park rangers are dispatched to rescue groups of visitors trapped in partially collapsed tunnels and trails.

10:03 PM July 4th – Continued movement of the organism, combined with rainwater, causes one of the upper entry gantry supports to slip. An outbound elevator conducts an emergency stop stranding over two dozen visitors.

10:05 PM July 4th - Tremors registered as far away as the DFW metroplex.

10:06 PM July 4th - Soil liquefaction destabilizes surface facilities in and around the organism. Dilation anchors begin retracting to keep the entry orifice open.

10:12 PM July 4th - A master fail-safe is activated by the automated park management system. Twenty thousand liters of aconitine compound are injected into the superorganism via a distributed network of relay stations located throughout it’s known internal anatomy.

10:12 PM July 4th - Tremors and convulsions intensify as the entry gantry connection to the lower visitor center detaches completely. The lower visitor center begins to collapse downward into the nexial cavity.

10:12 PM July 4th - Peristaltic muscle action of the nexial cavity begins to exert substantial pressure on the outer structure of the lower visitor center facility. 10:15 PM July 4th - The prime labiod junction just west of the Septum Falls geobiological feature flexes into an open position, releasing a torrent of lactogastric chyma into the dorsal trunk. It is likely that this was a reaction to the aconitine injection.

10:16 PM July 4th - Peristaltic spasms force the caustic chyma slurry through the nexial cavity and up through the lower and upper moisture crops towards the surface orifice.

10:16 PM July 4th - Many guests attempting to flee the stalled elevator near the entry orifice attempt climbing out the upper moisture crop but are ultimately unsuccessful due to torrential rains causing the surfaces to become very slippery. Many end up falling back into the maw.

10:17 PM July 4th - The chyma slurry erupts from the surface orifice in a geyser several hundred meters in height. Large pieces of undigested organic matter crush several vehicles and damage windows.

10:19 PM July 4th - Following the several minute long ejecta event, a deep and incredibly loud roar erupts from the entry orifice as ground tremors intensify further. Large extremities begin surfacing through bedrock and soil approx. 30km-120km from the entry orifice.

10:25 PM July 4th - The acrid smell of the gastric ejecta can be detected as far as Odessa, TX.

10:26 PM July 4th - Two park service vehicles and a tour vehicle containing park service employees and several guests attempt to ascend through the entry orifice tube.

10:27 PM July 4th - Peristaltic action crushes one of the tour vehicles and sucks the other two vehicles back into the nexial cavity and down into a digestive organ. These vehicles are presumed destroyed. 10:58 PM July 4th - The pentagon is given authorization from the whitehouse to use nuclear force if necessary to prevent the organism from entering an active and/or ambulatory state.

11:02 PM July 4th - The on-site operations director within the lower visitor center control room initiates a final fail-safe measure in the form of the [CONTINGENCY MEASURE].

11:02 PM July 4th - Master Event Log records successful spin-up of the [CONTINGENCY MEASURE].

11:05 PM July 4th - Lower visitor center structural integrity is critically compromised resulting in total collapse. 11:05 PM July 4th - Data connection with lower visitor center is severed.

11:13 PM July 4th - Spasms and motor action of the superorganism begins to noticeably subside. Response teams begin to descend into the surface orifice to attempt rescue operations. 11:19 PM July 4th - Response team encounters visitor group which had attempted escape from stalled elevator. Most are dead, the remainder are mortally wounded and partially digested due to caustic gastric ejecta.

11:42 PM July 4th - Radio contact established with ranger vehicle trapped within “Oyster’s Shame”. Due to ventricle closure, no feasible rescue strategy can be developed before complete mastication occurs.

11:56 PM July 4th - Response team confirms that [CONTINGENCY MEASURE] and associated facility are still intact and operating.

11:58 PM July 4th - Texas Gov. Rick Perry formally declares a state of emergency for Gumption county.

12:22 AM July 5th - Response teams route data/power umbilical to new basecamp in [CONTINGENCY MEASURE] facility.

12:35 AM July 5th - Three inter-pit lifeforms are identified as having been ejected onto the surface. Fifteen visitors are injured and seven are hunted by inter-pit lifeforms during panicked evacuation of surface resort.

12:41 AM July 5th - Park staff manage to kill the three large lifeforms.

1:02 AM July 5th - National Guard helicopters begin delivering supplies and personnel to aid in site containment. 1:58 AM July 5th - Field hospital is constructed to care for wounded visitors and staff.

2:37 AM July 5th - Initial damage surveys report catastrophic destruction of internal park infrastructure. Pit geobiology has dramatically changed in hazard level.

3:00 AM July 5th - Emergency teleconference of Anodyne executive leadership. National parks director and Secretary of the Interior are present.

3:12 AM July 5th - Executive decision is made to initiate FEMA response and assemble a task force for containing superorganism.

4:00 AM July 5th - Media helicopters and vehicles begin to report on the scope of disaster. 4:39 AM July 5th - Base camp technicians begin to spin-down [CONTINGENCY MEASURE]. Large fractures due to inertial stress have appeared on mineral components. Engineers advise against re-initializing [CONTINGENCY MEASURE] until mineral components can be replaced or repaired.

6:08 AM July 5th - Ground personnel begin assembling a pump system to inject industrial sedatives into the superorganism. Transport trucks containing industrial sedative arrive.

9:45 AM July 5th - Emergency teleconference of Anodyne shareholders.

11:20 AM July 5th - Several injured visitors inexplicably leave field hospital and begin walking towards open pit orifice. Approx. 38 individuals are able to crawl back into the orifice over the course of 8 hours. None are recovered.

3:51 PM July 5th - Radio transmission from trapped ranger vehicle ceases. Many speculate that other small groups of visitors and staff are still trapped.

End of relevant timeline.

[4.0.0] Final Investigation Report

The following Final Investigation Report addresses additional investigation findings not covered in the previous report, including analysis of (1) the Anodyne organization, emergency response, and safety culture; (2) industry disaster response standards; (3) structural integrity standards; and (4) effective performance of “mystic” contingency measures.

[4.1.0] Technical findings

This report highlights the following technical findings. (An in-depth discussion appears in the Interim Report)

[4.1.1] The electrical distribution scheme for the interior operations of the Permian Basin Superorganism Nature Preserve was modeled on a typical supply/load grid layout often found in mines, with power provided by a gas-fired plant located within the surface support compound. Unlike typical mining power distribution networks, the power load was split with the facilities involved in the tourism and natural preservation operations within the organism. This split-demand yielded a load fluctuating from 33kV to 60kV depending on a range of factors from resource extraction output, visitor throughput, hydrostatic and barometric fluctuations within the organism, and the ambient blood pressure of the organism. This unorthodox load distribution scheme required careful demand oversight and was subject to failure if operated outside of design load specifications. Such a failure occurred on July 4th, 2007 when operators increased electrical demand beyond design load specifications by both extending resource extraction operations while simultaneously increasing visitor throughput loads on trail infrastructures.

[4.1.2] Hydrochloric corrosion is common in geobiological resource extraction, where naturally occurring hydrochloric compounds react with steel equipment. Process variables that affect corrosion rates include the total hydrochloric content of the enzyme secretions, flow conditions, application of TUMS industrial organic corrosion inhibitor salve, and the system temperature and humidity. Virtually all geobiological operations equipment is subject to this type of corrosion, and requires routine inspections and preventative maintenance to ensure that metallic and non-metallic corrosion prone surfaces are operating at design strength. The investigation has concluded that the corrosion found within the primary impeller bushings within the Emergency Drainage Pumps was caused by Hydrochloric corrosion due to poor maintenance.

[4.1.3] Foundations and other anchor support structures within the Permian Basin Superorganism are critical components of park infrastructure which require careful planning and construction oversight. Under nominal conditions, anchor sites are selected by engineers to meet design load specifications with consultation from venteriobiologists for minimum anatomical disturbance. Rigid geobiological strata such as bone and dense cartilage are most often selected for load-bearing anchor points for their relative stability and similarity to conventional load-bearing strata such as rock. However, many locations within the Permian Basin Superorganism are primarily characterised by dense compositions of soft tissues requiring novel anchoring solutions. Several anchors within the primary entry tube utilize a cleat-based stent system which engages the entry tube muscle walls. These forces are equalized by the use of circular retention trusses which, when combined with vibration dampening actuators, form a rigid support assembly upon which fixed components such as the entry gantry may be affixed. Peristaltic action of a muscle tube has the potential to rotate a circular cleat sent frame by up to 90deg, eliminating the retaining capabilities of the frame. It is for this reason that design specification standards call for the installation of either rigid or tensile support members between consecutive retaining frames. In cases such as within the entry tube, tensile cables were selected to provide this support. These cables are subject to corrosion and must be routinely inspected in order to ensure that they meet minimum design load specifications. The investigation has concluded that the cables installed on the entry tube retaining frame system were improperly maintained and failed due to corrosive weakening of the cable members.

[4.1.4] The use of a previously-untested contingency measure by operators, while not the primary inciting incident of the disaster, is a prime contributor to the outstanding collateral damage. A network of sensor stations embedded throughout the Permian Basin Superorganism had acted as a distributed sensory system, intended by park planners to provide a method for observing large-scale changes to the organisms condition. As an experimental contingency measure, each station was outfitted with a mechanism capable of injecting up to 15L of a concentrated aconitine solution. Aconitine is commonly used as an acute toxin for large mammals such as whales and was chosen for its theoretical effectiveness on key muscle groups within the organism. Park planners were under the assumption that a rapid injection of large volumes of aconitine would act as a sedative agent without inducing tissue death beyond the immediate injection sites. The investigation has concluded that this injection failsafe was directly responsible for escalating the motor response of the organism to levels beyond the design load strength of critical park infrastructure. The investigation has also concluded that the aconotine injection failsafe was directly responsible for causing the toxic “shock” response within the organism which resulted in a Gastric Ejecta Event.

[4.1.5] The [CONTINGENCY MEASURE] is hypothesized to function by utilizing a series of standing harmonic and ultrasonic wavelengths which have been observed to affect the overall behavior of the Permian Basin Superorganism. These waves are created by applying a 15MHz mechanical percussion to the face of an excavated large quartz crystal (also known as “Mystic Artifacts #15, #21 and #22”). Once struck, the unique properties of the relic propagate the wave outward and into the surrounding anatomy of the Permian Basin Organism. When placed upon a rapidly rotating turntable, the effect can be multiplied and oriented allowing a high degree of theoretical influence over the organism. This contingency measure was activated only once and demonstrated the potential application this technology may have in future containment measures. However, at the time of this investigation, no additional relics have been located intact. Without this key assembly component, the CGR does not recommend additional experimental uses of the [CONTINGENCY MEASURE].

[4.2.0] Organizational Findings

[4.2.1] Anodyne did not effectively implement internal recommendations to help prevent structural failures to hydrochloric corrosion. In the 8 years prior to the incident, a small number of Anodyne personnel with knowledge and understanding of venteriobiology recommended on several occasions either a one-time inspection of every component within the primary inter-park infrastructure system - known as a 100 percent component inspection - or an upgrade of the material of construction of these key infrastructure components. The recommendations were not implemented effectively, and many key structural and mechanical components remained in service until failure on July 4th, 2007. [4.2.2] Anodyne failed to perform internally recommended 100 percent component inspections. Anodyne metallurgists released a formal report dated September 30, 2004 (nearly 3 years before the incident), titled Updated Inspection Strategies for Preventing Hydrochloric Corrosion Failures in Critical Systems. The investigation has concluded that these recommendations were not properly implemented.

[4.2.3] The CGR identified several contributing causes of the July 5th, 2007, incident relating to the safety culture at Anodyne:

Decision making that encourages continued operation of tourism and resource extraction operations despite hazardous working conditions.

Reluctance among employees to use their Stop Work Authority. Recent safety culture surveys performed within resource extraction sites indicate that employees had become less willing to use their Stop Work Authority between 2003 and 2006; and

Substandard equipment maintenance practices. Those same surveys indicate that Anodyne employees saw increased problems in how the internal operations infrastructure maintained its equipment between 2003 and 2006.

[4.2.4] Anodyne did not effectively identify in the Incident Command structure the damage mechanisms that could have caused the failures on the night of the incident. The OSHA Hazardous Operations and Emergency Response (HAZOPER) standard states that the Incident Commander “Shall identify, to the extent possible, all hazardous conditions present.” in an emergency response situation. However, the appropriate technical expertise necessary for identification was not effectively consulted in the Incident Command Structure on July 5th, 2007. This lack of knowledge of all potential causes of the incident led the Incident Commander to direct emergency responders to take actions that may have ultimately exacerbated the hazard condition and put many Park Service personnel, Anodyne personnel, as well as civilian visitors, in harm’s way. It also led the Incident Commander to limit the “hazard zone” to a small area that did not consider the possibility of a Gastric Ejecta Event. When the Gastric Ejecta Event occurred, personnel and emergency equipment positioned in the “safe zone” were engulfed in the volume of caustic ejecta.

[5.1.0] Incident Conclusions

[5.1.1] The CGR found that the failure of this incident is indicative of a fragmented hazard management approach that placed the responsibility to implement safety recommendations on stakeholders which stood to benefit from decreased oversight while also incurring financial loss for any safety oversight restrictions placed. Consequences of this cultural attitude surrounding the tourism and resource extraction operations within the Permian Basin Superorganism led to the severe underestimation of the capabilities of the organism as well as the capabilities of the systems designed to limit the hazards posed by the organism. [5.1.2] The use of concentrated aconitine, without prior study or approval, as a fail-safe directly triggered a reactionary response from the organism which led to the deaths of over 750 individuals.

[5.1.3] The use of the [CONTINGENCY MEASURE], while effective at “pacifying” the organism, was similarly employed without prior substantial testing or approval. This lack of communication from Anodyne regarding the specifics, theory of operation, and even existence of the artifacts , which are essential components within the [CONTINGENCY MEASURE], directly led to the unsafe, high-RPM operation which fractured the mineral components of the [CONTINGENCY MEASURE].

[5.2.0] General Recommendations

[5.2.1] The CGR, with full support from the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Park Service, has made the discretionary recommendation to not pursue additional commercial development within or adjacent to the boundaries of the Permian Basin Superorganism.

[5.2.2] In the interest of continuing the present containment operations while also ensuring readiness in the event of a future geobiological action event, the CGR has developed a comprehensive program of monitoring and containment. This program is divided into a series of objectives, intended to better mitigate the hazard presented by the existence of the Permian Basin Superorganism. [5.2.3] Improve the communication of geobiological-hazard science for use in decision and policy making.

Support the use of geobiological-hazard science in risk reduction with engineering, environmental science, spiritual and social sciences.

Improve understanding among venteriobiologists, engineers, and others of numerical simulation of organism ground activity as opposed to the use of empirical ground-motion-prediction equations.

Improve understanding of the benefits of early warning systems.

Educate about organism movement patterns and operational activity forecasts.

[5.2.4] Advance basic knowledge of geobiological action event hazards and inform actions to reduce the risk of the organism becoming non-dormant

Develop a new method to estimate stimulus-response outcomes in interactions with the Permian Basin Superorganism without reliance on expert opinion, proprietary computer models, or wholly “mystic” ritual methods without demonstrated patterns of reliability.

Educate and facilitate local containment capabilities to deal with fauna and other life forms which are native to the organism’s interior anatomy.

Develop methods for production and administration of appropriate sedative measures to chemically induce a comatose state of inactivity in the organism.

Where it is absolutely necessary for personnel to descend into the organism, develop methods to reduce the possibility of individuals becoming trapped.

Establish a perimeter area surrounding the Incident Site to protect the health and safety of the public from additional fauna incursions or ejecta events.

[5.3.0] Containment Recommendations

[5.3.1] A thorough plan for containment of the organism has been devised by a joint containment task force comprised of geobiologists, venteriobiologists, seismologists, medical experts, engineers from various disciplines, land management specialists, ecclesiastical personnel, as well as representatives from private industry. This proposed containment procedure integrates a variety of strategies intended to prolong the dormancy of the Permian Basin Superorganism while simultaneously reducing the likelihood of a future geobiological action event.

The taskforce has recommended the establishment of a >3km restricted access zone surrounding the Entry Orifice defined by a reinforced and patrolled barrier. Signs and other warning devices should be installed to clearly inform the public of the hazard(s) presented by the containment operations and the Superorganism itself. Where possible, the taskforce has recommended that any material necessary for the containment operations be produced on-site so as to minimize logistic dependency on remote facilities.

The recommended multi-strategy containment plan is outlined as follows:

All efforts should be made to maintain a steady introduction of high-potency anesthetic to the uppermost dermal anatomy of the organism. This is the foremost measure for reducing the capability of the Superorganism to sense and perceive human activity.

At a similar volume to high-potency anesthetics, the introduction of inorganic phosphates directly into the muscles of the Superorganism is an essential strategy designed to delay and fatigue the motor response of the organism.

Where possible, the introduction of acidic compounds into bone structures will further weaken the overall response capability of the Superorganism in the event that other containment precautions fail. Special care should be taken to ensure that primary structural members of the organism’s skeletal system are not weakened, however, as such a measure could potentially damage critical infrastructure. NOTE: As of rev. 18.3 of this document, the Permian Basin Recovery & Superorganism Containment Corporation has been granted a temporary permit for the continued extraction of bone material and amniotic fluid ballast for research and limited commercial purposes.

The taskforce has recommended measures which would induce a state of mild hypoxia in the Superorganism through the replacement of oxygen-rich air with carbon dioxide-rich air within the respiratory systems of the organism. In addition, by venting plant exhaust from the surface containment facility directly into the organism, this plan remains in compliance with standing EPA regulations on emissions within natural preserves.

The extraction of nutrient-rich material from within the Superorganism’s gastric systems is an additional preventative step recommended by the task force to weaken the response capability of the organism. In order to prevent a hunger response, the task force has recommended displacing the volume of nutrient-rich material with that of an inert material such as gravel or rock. NOTE: As of rev. 2.5 of this document, materials and objects harvested from the Retrocognitive Material Gestation Organs (A.K.A. “Gift Gardens”) will continue at a greatly reduced capacity for the exclusive purpose of research. All such objects shall be stored in a designated and secure off-site facility.

[6.0.0] Conclusion

The CGR concludes its recommendations and report with broad advocacy for any such program(s) which aim to better prepare physical as well as social and spiritual infrastructure for the inevitability of the Permian Basin Superorganism emerging from dormancy and becoming completely active and ambulatory. The measures and methods described within these recommendations are temporary in their effectiveness while representing the fullest extent of human capability to impact the Permian Basin Superorganism. Future studies and capabilities may yield a greater degree of readiness in matters concerning the survivability of a societal encounter with an active and ambulatory Immanis Colosseus, but it is unrealistic to believe that mankind will be able to seriously damage or eliminate such an organism.

Inhabitants of the western hemisphere, within the U.S. and Abroad, must come to understand the losses each and every one of us will face, and how those impacts will harm the quality of life we enjoy in this unique part of the world.

[End of Document]

This document represents an executive overview of the now-infamous July 2007 disaster which permanently closed the Mystery Flesh Pit National Park. Though the initial hazard and containment response was praised by many for it’s quick and decisive action, many have criticized the government for continuing to allow the Permian Basin Recovery & Superorganism Containment Corporation (Formerly Anodyne, Inc.) a commercial stake in the containment efforts.

More info about this project can be found at the subreddit /r/FleshPitNationalPark, the official Discord, or at the blog mysteryfleshpit.tumblr.com

#mystery flesh pit #mystery flesh pit national park #permian basin superorganism #cosmic horror #cosmic horror writing #horror writing #horror fiction #unreality #rational fiction #worldbuilding #disaster report #engineering distaster #eldritch abomination #lore #writing #science fiction

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rapeculturerealities · 4 years ago

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The Supreme Court handed a victory to advocates of abortion rights Monday, wiping off the books lower court rulings that had upheld a Texas order banning nearly all abortions in the state during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a halt to nonessential medical procedures in late March to conserve hospital resources and personal protective equipment. Attorney General Ken Paxton then said the order applied to "any type of abortions," including medication abortions that do not involve surgery.

A federal judge in Texas declared the order too broad and lifted the ban. But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans restored it. In public health emergencies, the appeals court said, a state can restrict constitutional rights, including "one's right to peaceably assemble, to publicly worship, to travel, and even to leave one's home," adding: "The right to abortion is no exception."

Abbott issued a new order a short time later that allowed abortions in Texas to resume, but the state asked the Supreme Court to keep the appeals court rulings on the books. The decisions "have been cited hundreds of times in courts across the country" in legal disputes over Covid-19 restrictions, lawyers for the state told the court.

But Planned Parenthood said Abbott's change in the rule ended the opportunity to pursue the issue in court. Unless the appeals court decisions were also vacated, leaving them on the books "may tie petitioners' hands in future cases," the group said.

#supreme court #reproductive justice #reproductive rights #abortion #health care #texas #planned parenthood

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katehuntington · 4 years ago

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Title: In Bad Waters - part fourteen Word count: ±4360 words Episode summary: Still in possession of the Winchesters’ belongings, Zoë meets up with the hunters on her next case. When it turns out to be a little more complicated than anticipated, she accepts their help in order to make an important deadline. Part fourteen summary: Laura needs to come to the surface in order to move on, but come hell or high water, she will fight the hunters. Episode warnings: Dark! NSFW, 18+ only! Descriptions of domestic violence/child abuse. Drug use/addiction. Angst, gore, violence, character death. Description of blood, injury and medical procedures/resuscitation. Swearing, alcoholism. Supernatural creatures/entities, mentions of demon possession. Descriptions of torture and murder, drowning. Illegal/criminal practices. Mentions of nightmares and flashbacks. Author’s note: Beta’d by @winchest09 and @deanwanddamons. Also a deep bow to @fangirl-and-medstudent-help who was very patient with me when I asked about a hundred medical questions. Thanks, girls!

Supernatural: The Sullivan Series Masterlist

S1E02 “In Bad Waters” Masterlist

The moon is full and shines a mystical light upon the lake. Rippling water reflects the shimmer, playfully and silent. Silhouettes of trees mark the slightly hilly horizon under a clear sky. The only thing to break the sound of silence in this calm area just out of town are some geese, bobbing on the surface, their heads under their wings. But those who observe closely, will spot movement on one of the docks. Three figures do what they do best in the still of the night.

“I could be hunting wolf in Texas right now,” Dean complains, as he drops a bag on the end of the dock, staring up at the moon. “Could you stop whining? If we hurry it up a bit, you can still make it in time for your heart-removing-beasty.” Zoë gets down on one knee next to the duffle and starts rummaging through their gear. She feels the wooden planks of the dock vibrate and looks up; Sam is walking towards them. “The Shire family locked themselves in the house. All the windows and doors are salted and the water has been shut off. There’s no way Laura will be able to enter,” he informs them. “Good, enough have died over this.” Without further consultation Zoë takes out a pair of goggles and a snorkel in order to fit them.

“Whoa, what do you think you’re doing?” Sam questions, disapproving. “That body isn’t gonna come floating up to the surface by itself, is it?” she returns smartly, while adjusting the rubber headband. “You’re not going down there,” Dean states as he grabs the goggles from her. “Yes, I am.” Zoë yanks them from his grip again. “You’re hurt,” Sam argues. “Oh, would you two fucking stop that already? I’m fine!” Zoë cries out as she shrugs off her leather jacket, not wanting to ruin it when she takes a swim. “Shhh!” Sam hushes, annoyed, not wanting to wake the entire neighborhood. “Don’t you ‘shhh’ me. I have to go down there, don’t you see? And so do you,” she says, nodding at the older one of the brothers. “Me?” he returns, surprised, pointing a finger at himself with a puzzled expression on his face.

“Sam said it himself; you and I have to stick together, or we’re dead meat. One in the water, two on the dock sounds like a certain death to me, with a vengeful spirit watching our every move. So unless either of you knuckleheads has thought of a plan B...”

Awaiting a reaction from the boys, her focus bounces from one to the other, her hands placed on her waist. They both keep quiet; there simply isn’t a second option. “That’s what I thought,” she responds somewhat victoriously, and glances at Dean. “Get into your Hawaii shorts.” “Wouldn’t you like to see that,” Dean smirks, shedding his leather coat as well. “But, sweetheart, I don’t do shorts.” Zoë tilts her head and eyes him, but cannot help but to imagine it for a brief moment and suppresses a grin. Then she turns to Sam, addressing the job again. “Make sure that you’re ready to torch whatever we bring to the surface. Laura might have changed tactics now that we’re closing in on her.” She looks deep into his eyes to make sure he gets her point. “Fuel, salt and fire standing by. Got it.” He holds up the jerry can, the bag of seasoning and his lighter, which he just got out of his backpack.

She tosses Dean another pair of goggles and a snorkel. “Good, now let’s get this over with.” “Ah, come on. Do I have to?” he sighs, dangling the equipment in front of his face. “If you don’t use them, you’ll be up at the surface more than you are down searching the bottom,” she counters while putting hers on. “Charming,” Dean grins and hints at the goggles. “Are you gonna get in the water, or are you afraid to get wet?” Her eyebrow perks up, challenging, before she walks over to the edge and jumps in, coming up again a second later. The hunter smirks widely, mischief reaching his ears. “Oh no, I’m not afraid. Getting something wet is kinda my specialty.” Zoë rolls her eyes skyward. “Grow up already and get a move on.” Grinning, Dean puts his equipment on and glances over his shoulder at his brother for a moment, who can’t help to chortle as soon as he does. Immediately, the older one’s initially gentle gaze turns into an annoyed glare. “Dude, not funny,” he makes clear. Sam thinks otherwise. “It’s kind of funny.” “Let’s see if you still have that smile on your face when you have to burn the smelly swamp kid,” Dean brings to mind.

With those words he plunges into the water and surfaces next to Zoë. The water feels cold, causing their movements to be slow and heavy. Dean doesn’t like it, never did; he’s out of his element. Zoë on the other hand, seems to feel like a fish in the water. She floats around, the weightlessness more comfortable for her battered body. “Here, you’ll need this,” Sam tosses them two waterproof flashlights. Skillfully, they both catch the torches before they sink to the bottom, and Zoë puts her snorkel on her mouth. Sam looks down on them from the dock. He seems worried. “Be careful, okay? Stay together--” “Yeah yeah yeah, and be home before five,” Dean intervenes, both dismissing his brother’s concern and reassuring him that it’s going to be fine. “I’m serious.” He takes a rope out of the duffel as well and throws it in. “Tie yourself together so that you don’t lose each other, this water is turbid.”

With a sigh, Dean wraps the rope around his waist as Zoë does the same. Then she glares up at the youngest brother on the wharf again, not amused with the precautions. “Satisfied?” “I feel bonded already,” Dean comments sarcastically. “Let’s bring her up.” He bites down on the mouthpiece, takes a deep breath and disappears in the dark waters, followed by the huntress. Apprehensive, Sam slowly paces up and down the dock while keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings. Everything seems quiet. Lights are on in the several houses which surround the lake, but no one notices them during these dark hours. It feels like ages before his brother and Zoë surface again, but when they do, they’re further away from where they started out. After getting some air they almost instantly go under again, continuing the search. This routine repeats several times, as they comb out the bottom of the lake. Sometimes they are so far off that Sam doesn’t even see them, he just hears the swell of the water in the distance.

Impatiently, he tests his lighter as he scans the surface. Then both come up again, but this time they don’t dive under. The sound of splashes carries over the flawless water and soon he sees the two figures swimming towards the dock, dragging something behind them. “One smelly swamp kid coming right up,” Dean comments, after he removes the snorkel from his mouth.

Sam is relieved to see that Laura’s remains are still packed in the black body bag. Gracefully, Zoë lifts herself out of the water and sits on the edge of the dock, facing Dean, who’s still in the water. With a sigh she removes her goggles and snorkels as the water runs down her face. Long lashes cling together, her brown hair stuck to her skin as droplets down from her nose and lips. A little out of breath, her chest heaves, the black tank top airtight against her slender body. Even though her cheek is blue, now that her make-up has washed off, she still looks smoking hot and Dean can’t help to notice that. “What?” she comments when she picks up on the ogling. “Nothin’,” he recovers quickly. “Let’s fire it up, I thought you were in a hurry.” “Pass me the bag.” She reaches out, beckoning him to hand over Laura.

Dean swims to the wharf and grabs the edge while he holds up the heavy body bag, which Zoë pulls ashore. Even through the fabric, they can smell death. She gets up as Sam helps her drag Laura’s body further on the dock, as Dean hoists himself on the dry surface. He slowly approaches them, walking like a bow legged cat who just got home after a heavy rainstorm, while the look on his face can be compared to one of a baby who just ate a slice of lemon. “You’re so dramatic, know that?” Zoë scoffs. “What can I say. I adjust to my company,” he bites back.

Sam shakes his head and doesn’t bother to comment; those two won’t ever stop. He unscrews the cap of the jerry can when suddenly the geese, who were fast asleep on their nests a minute ago, fly up as they honk a warning. The warm night turns cold in a matter of seconds, noticeably dropping several degrees. Dean is confound when he notices his humid breath lingering in the air visibly; Laura is here.

Alert, he scans the area and then turns to Sam. “Step to it.” Just as Sam is about to pour the gasoline over the body bag, the jerry can flings from his hand. It flies through the air and lands in the water, several yards from the dock and drifts there, the fluid spreading oil rings on the surface. “What the hell?” he stammers. Quickly, Zoë looks over at Dean, but it’s something in the water behind him that catches her attention. Two hauntingly dark eyes stare straight into hers, just over the edge of the dock, right behind where the hunter is standing.

“Dean, WATCH OUT!” she shouts.

But it’s too late. As soon as Zoë lets out those words, a pale child’s hand grabs Dean’s ankle and pulls with a strength that wouldn’t be possible even if she was still human. With a loud bang he slams on the dock face first. Staggered by the ambush, he does his best to get a grip on the planks. “Son of a bitch!” he curses, fighting the strong pull. “Dean!” Sam hollers.

Instinctively, Sam rushes towards his brother as Zoë tightens the rope that still connects her to Dean. Deep down she realizes she can’t outdo the spirit’s powers, but she has to try. As fast as she can she tries to reinforce herself by wrapping the rope around an iron bollard, which is normally used to tie boats to.

In the meantime, Sam reaches the end of the dock and skids across the slippery wood towards his brother. Desperately, the youngest Winchester grabs both his arms, locking his big hand around them. The oldest peers into Sam's eyes as he grinds his teeth, using every bit of strength he possesses to hold on. “Don’t let go,” Sam presses as he tries to pull his brother out of the water. “Outstanding advice, Sammy!” Dean comments, frustrated. The incredible force that’s trying to haul him under the surface seems to build, and it feels like it’s about to dislocate every joint in his leg. Sam’s grip slips from Dean’s lower arm to his wrist and it only takes seconds before all that the hunter is hanging from is Sam’s fingertips. Unlike others in this situation, Dean doesn’t seem scared whatsoever. His piercing green eyes focus on his brother, before he lets go.

“Burn her,” he tells him bravely. It’s the last thing Dean can say before he slips from Sam’s hold completely and is dragged into the depths of Reynolds Park Lake. “Dean!!!” Sam exclaims, struck by terror.

The rope still connected to Zoë unwinds rapidly, one end shoots down after Dean. For a very short second of time Zoë stares at the bundle, and realizes that he’s going to drag her right down with him. “Fuck,” she curses.

Then the rope tightens and with one single blow the bollard is ripped from the dock. Both the bollard and Zoë slide across the wooden planks, pulled towards the edge at tremendous speed. Zoë has to act fast to save herself and draws a knife from her belt. In one quick streak she cuts herself loose and comes to a stop right before the end of the dock. There’s not much time to be relieved, though, because Sam is about to dive in after his brother. “Sam, don’t!” she warns. “Burn Laura!” he orders.

Staggered, she watches him disappear into the dark abyss, then snaps her head to the side to the jerry can, floating on the surface. She needs to find gas, right now. As fast as she can she gets up and makes a run for land, adrenaline pushing down the pain that her broken ribs would have normally sent through her body. Her footsteps bounce off the water under the landing until she reaches solid ground, making a break for the Impala. Frustrated, she tries to open the trunk, but the man who is currently drowning locked it. Stupid son of a bitch! She glances back at the wharf, spotting Dean’s leather jacket, assuming the keys to the Impala are in his pocket. But running back would cost her a valuable minute, a minute she doesn’t have. “Fuck, fuck, FUCK!” she curses, looking around her for something to open the trunk with.

Then she spots a shovel, leaning against the boathouse. She bolts to the tool, grabs it, and heads back to the Impala. Forcefully, she jams the shovel right between the small opening where the lock is positioned. With one skillful twist she turns the iron plate and the lid breaks open. Dead or alive, he’s gonna haunt me for this, Zoë realizes as she searches the trunk.

It contains an entire arsenal of weaponry, enough for a small army, but she has to dig deep until she finally finds a jerrycan. As fast as her legs can carry her, she heads back for Laura’s remains on the dock and pours the gasoline and salt over the body bag. As a last ingredient to the ritual she hurriedly picks up her leather jacket, takes out her zippo, flips it and throws it on the remains. Within moments the canvas catches fire, and so does the body inside.

Out of breath, she watches the rustling flames for a second, then turns around in time to watch a pulse coming from the depths of the lake to ripple the surface, pressure hitting her eardrums. The temperature noticeably rises again, the bad vibes passing; she knows Laura has moved on now. The silence remains eerie, however. All she hears is her own respiration, the thumping of her heart, and the water dripping onto the wood.

Anxiously, she scans the calm surface, waiting for a sign of life from either one of the boys. Splashing of water has her snap her head in the direction of the sound, but it’s only Sam who surfaces, taking a deep breath before he submerges again. For the first time in quite a while a deep fear comes to her; is it too late?

Not wasting another second, she takes two determined steps towards the edge of the dock, launches herself off and dives into the treacherous waters. The cool reservoir swallows her whole, darkness engulfing the huntress. With steady strokes she navigates to the bottom, unable to see, but trying to find Dean by touch. After a minute and a half she comes up for air, frantically looking around over the mirror of the sky. She’s about to go under again, when Sam breaks through the surface, and thankfully, he’s not alone. But when Zoë notices the lifeless body in his brother’s hold, her own breath is stolen away from her. Sam gasps for air, but Dean doesn’t. “Zo!” The younger Winchester desperately calls out, very much aware that his brother is unconscious, and quite possibly even worse.

She swims back to the dock, hastily climbing the ladder, and reaching for Dean when Sam brings him to the landing. After hooking her arms under Dean’s, she tries to pull him out of the lake with all the strength that she has, but water has added to the weight of the brawny hunter’s clothing, and Sam still needs to assist. “Is he breathing?” he asks, petrified for the answer, while he hoists himself out of the water. Zoë has laid Dean down on his back, her hand on his chest, waiting for it to rise while hovering over him, listening for a breath. Then she shakes her head. “He’s not.”

Every second counts now, and the instincts of the former med student kick into gear. She tilts his head back, opening his airway, pinches Dean’s nose shut and seals her mouth over his, giving him four breaths. When he doesn’t breathe on his own, Zoë then places the heel of her left hand over the center of his chest and covers it with her other, lacing her fingers together, before she positions herself above him. With her arms straight and shoulders directly over her hands, she starts chest compressions.

“Oh my God…” Sam stammers helplessly, unnoticeable tears brimming in his eyes and joining the drops of water that come down from his brown hair. “Sam, listen to me,” Zoë says, strictly, not stopping the CPR. “Get my phone, it’s in my jacket. Call 9-1-1 and go to the boy scouts,” she nods at the camping facility across the lake. “They will probably have an AED there. Go!” The younger Winchester springs into action, pulling the Nokia from the pocket of the Harley Davidson jacket left on the docks next to the burning remains, before he dashes to land.

Zoë returns her focus to his brother, who remains unresponsive, despite the first aid. Her knees are painfully bruising against the hard wooden surface as she uses her entire body weight, her ribs and abdomen aching every time she pushes his chest hard and fast. Keeping a steady hundred beats a minute pace, she counts, making sure to allow his chest to rise completely before she follows through with another one. Wishing she hadn’t, Zoë glances at the young man’s handsome face, his expression slack, skin pale, and green eyes hooded. “C’mon, Dean. Not on my fucking case,” she mumbles, more to herself than to him.

After thirty compressions, Zoë pauses her actions and gives him air again, two breaths this time. She knows that even though time is limited, as long as she keeps the blood flow going, he might still have a chance. The huntress continues to give him CPR, but when she has pressed down on his chest again, something happens. He stirs only slightly, water spilling from his mouth. For a second Zoë thinks he’s gasping, a spasm reaction of the body in its final fight to live, but when she quickly turns Dean on his side, more liquid begins to flow out of his lungs, followed by a weak gurgle. After putting him in recovery position, she takes his wrist and feels for a pulse. A thready thump beats against her fingertips and she exhales relieved; he’s alive.

Water runs down his cheek, and with every amount he throws up, he has more room to breathe. Her grip leaves his wrist and slides into his palm. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me,” she says, her request answered by him with a slight increase of strength on their hold. Somewhat at ease now that Dean is conscious, she rights herself, spotting the younger Winchester running up the street towards the boy scout cabins, phone to his ear. “Sam!” she calls out, catching his attention.

The younger Winchester stops dead in his tracks, listening to the steady tone coming from Zoë’s Nokia, telling him he’s being put through to the dispatch emergency center. When he detects movement on the dock, his brother now rolled over on his side, he dares to hope that Dean came to, but it’s only when their hunting partner confirms it, that he lets out a shuddering breath and lowers the phone. “I got him back,” she states, beckoning Sam to return. “He’s okay.”

Meanwhile, Dean begins to cough, fighting to get the water out and air back in. “That’s it, clear your lungs,” Zoë encourages, rubbing his back comfortingly. “Spit it out. You’re alright.” Motivating him helps, because he hacks violently now that he regains his strength, throwing up more water than one could ever imagine. Thankfully, this isn’t the first drowning the former med student has experienced. She spent most of her life by the beach back home in California, where swimmers and surfers would get in trouble all the time.

After Dean settles, she reaches for her jacket and folds it into a ball, carefully lifting his head and placing the clothing under his head to serve as a pillow. “Show off,” Zoë jokes, lightening the mood. “You just had to hold your breath longer than I did, didn’t you?” “Shut up,” he returns, his voice raspy and barely audible, a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. She rubs his shoulder, monitoring him while giving the hunter who was inches from death the time to catch his breath. Her hand slips to his neck, checking his pulse again; it’s a lot stronger now.

“Dean?” Sam runs up the landing, his last steps slowing before he reaches them. “You okay, man?” Zoë’s patient nods, giving him a thumbs up. “Aces.” His brother crouches down, a concerned frown knitted between his eyebrows. “Dude, you scared the shit out of me.” “What took you guys so long?” Dean replies hoarse, the words triggering another coughing fit.

The huntress scoffs. Typical, he was well on his way to the afterlife only moments ago, and he’s already smart-talking them. “Hey, I went through a lot of trouble to get fuel to fire up that little brat. Next time, don’t lock up your car, moron.” He grins with his eyes closed, but then tries to sit up. “Whoa whoa, stay down, Dean. For fuck’s sake, take a minute,” Zoë orders sternly, gently pushing him back into recovery position.

Reluctantly, Dean listens, laying his head back on the makeshift pillow. His breathing is still fast and shallow, his body quivering, fighting off the cold. Zoë knows his core temperature has dropped during his near death experience. It’s unethical, but Zoë is glad that Laura’s remains are still burning, offering him some warmth at least. Dean might be breathing again, but he’s not out of the woods just yet.

“Give me his coat,” Zoë tells Sam, nodding at the heap of leather that lays on the dock a few feet away from them. Without question, the younger brother rises to his feet and picks up what used to be his father’s jacket, and hands it to the huntress. She lays it over the man who it belongs to now. “Do I still need to call that ambulance?” Sam wonders, worriedly glancing down at the two. “Wouldn’t be a luxury,” Zoë admits. “No,” Dean objects, his eyes a lot less hazy than they were a minute ago. “C’mon, guys. I’m fine.” “You need to get yourself looked after, dumbshit,” she bounces back, not impressed with the tough guy attitude. Sam agrees with their female colleague. “You almost died, Dean.” “I’m gonna correct you here.” She turns from the younger sibling to the older one. “You didn’t almost die. You were clinically dead for a good minute.” “I’m not going. If you wanna give me a check up, fine. But we have a case in Texas and I can’t afford to be admitted in a hospital,” the hunter decides, hard-headed, carefully sitting up again.

His brother sighs, while Zoë sits back on her heels and shakes her head, gazing into the distance. Stubborn asshole, she thinks to herself, but agrees to his terms nonetheless. She has a couple of hours left on the clock anyway, and although she doesn’t have the equipment or the knowledge of an actual doctor, it’s better than sending him off without any form of evaluation. “Fine. But we need to get you back to the hotel. Staying here in those wet clothes is only gonna bring down your temperature further,” the huntress compromises. “Sam? Can you start the car and crank up the heat?”

The youngest Winchester nods, but reaches out and helps Dean on his feet first. A little unsteady, Dean steps forward, testing his legs. He puts on his leather jacket and hands his brother the keys that he digs up from his pocket. Not even asking if he needs a hand, Zoë wraps her arm around his back and pulls his over her shoulder, letting him lean on her might he need to. “You good?” she checks. “Yeah.” He nods, even though the drowsiness in his speech and his movements give him away.

Before they make their way down the wharf, they halt by the fire. Flames flicker in their eyes and shimmer an orange glow on their features. “Rest in peace, Laura Shire,” Zoë comments with a soft voice.

Although the little girl tried to kill them, the huntress never felt that the ten year old was truly evil. All she became, was an angry and frustrated spirit, fighting for the truth to come out, longing for rest and redemption. It’s strange how this case wasn’t just about the good and the bad. It wasn’t black and white, it was one grey mess. What Ronald Shire did was wrong, what everyone involved didn’t do was wrong, but did they deserve to die for it? Some may think that they got what they deserved, others might think differently. Zoë's certain about one thing though; Laura was just a victim of her own environment. The child was right when she spoke to her this afternoon; she knows what that feels like. And unlike the poltergeist they put down today, those memories will haunt Zoë for the rest of her life.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate every single one of you, but if you do want to give me some extra love, you are free to like or reblog my work, shoot me a message or buy me coffee (Link to Kofi in bio at the top of the page).

Read chapter fifteen here

#Supernatural: the Sullivan Series #Dean Winchester fanfiction #Sam Winchester fanfiction #Supernatural series #Supernatural OFC

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newstfionline · 4 years ago

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Sunday, December 27, 2020

Millions of Americans lose jobless benefits as Trump refuses to sign aid bill (Reuters) Millions of Americans saw their jobless benefits expire on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump refused to sign into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, protesting that it did not do enough to help everyday people. Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike when he said this week he was unhappy with the massive bill, which provides $892 billion in badly needed coronavirus relief, including extending special unemployment benefits expiring on Dec. 26, and $1.4 trillion for normal government spending. Without Trump’s signature, about 14 million people could lose those extra benefits, according to Labor Department data. A partial government shutdown will begin on Tuesday unless Congress can agree a stop-gap government funding bill before then.

Downtown Nashville explosion knocks some communications offline (AP) A recreational vehicle parked in the deserted streets of downtown Nashville exploded early Christmas morning, causing widespread communications outages that took down police emergency systems and grounded holiday travel at the city’s airport. Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said. Police evacuated nearby buildings and called in the bomb squad. The RV exploded shortly afterward, Drake said. The blast sent black smoke and flames billowing from the heart of downtown Nashville’s tourist scene, an area packed with honky-tonks, restaurants and shops. Buildings shook and windows shattered streets away from the explosion near a building owned by AT&T that lies one block from the company’s office tower, a landmark in downtown. AT&T said the affected building is the central office of a telephone exchange, with network equipment in it. The blast interrupted service, but the company declined to say how widespread outages were.

Powerful mobile phone surveillance tool (The Intercept) UNTIL NOW, the Bartonville, Texas, company Hawk Analytics and its product CellHawk have largely escaped public scrutiny. CellHawk has been in wide use by law enforcement; the software is helping police departments, the FBI, and private investigators around the United States convert information collected by cellular providers into maps of people’s locations, movements, and relationships. Police records obtained by The Intercept reveal a troublingly powerful surveillance tool operated in obscurity, with scant oversight. CellHawk’s maker says it can process a year’s worth of cellphone records in 20 minutes, automating a process that used to require painstaking work by investigators, including hand-drawn paper plots. According to the company’s website, CellHawk uses GPS records in its “unique animation analysis tool,” which, according to company promotional materials, plots a target’s calls and locations over time. “Watch data come to life as it moves around town or the entire county,” the site states. The company has touted features that make CellHawk sound more like a tool for automated, continuous surveillance than for just processing the occasional spreadsheet from a cellular company. CellHawk’s website touts the ability to send email and text alerts “to surveillance teams” when a target moves, or enters or exits a particular “location or Geozone (e.g. your entire county border).”

In other white Christmas news, 74 pounds of cocaine found floating off the Florida Keys (Miami Herald) The Keys sheriff’s office came across some white stuff Christmas week. But it wasn’t the usual kind of snow. About 74 pounds of cocaine were spotted floating off the Lower Keys by a fisherman Wednesday afternoon. The packages were put in a Monroe County sheriff’s patrol boat and turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. Lost shipments are trending in South Florida and the Keys. In August and September, almost 150 pounds of marijuana were found floating off the island chain or washed up on the shore. In July, more than 50 pounds of cocaine washed up near Grassy Key. Earlier that month, 29 bricks of cocaine came ashore in the Middle Keys city of Marathon, according to federal agents.

Brexit Deal Done, Britain Now Scrambles to See How It Will Work (NYT) For weary Brexit negotiators on both sides of the English Channel, a Christmas Eve trade agreement sealed 11 months of painstaking deliberations over Britain’s departure from the European Union, encompassing details as arcane as what species of fish could be caught by each side’s boats in British waters. But for many others—among them bankers, traders, truckers, architects and millions of migrants—Christmas was only the beginning, Day 1 of a high-stakes and unpredictable experiment in how to unstitch a tight web of commercial relations across Europe. The deal, far from closing the book on Britain’s tumultuous partnership with Europe, has opened a new one, beginning on its first pages with what analysts say will be the biggest overnight change in modern commercial relations. Britain’s services sector—encompassing not only London’s powerful financial industry, but also lawyers, architects, consultants and others—was largely left out of the 1,246-page deal, despite the sector accounting for 80 percent of British economic activity. Negotiators have not formally published the voluminous trade deal, though both sides have offered summaries, leaving analysts and ordinary citizens uncertain about some details even as lawmakers in Britain and Europe prepare to vote on it in a matter of days.

Virus besets Belarus prisons filled with president’s critics (AP) A wave of COVID-19 has engulfed prisons in Belarus that are packed with people in custody for demonstrating against the nation’s authoritarian president, and some of the protesters who contracted the coronavirus while incarcerated accuse authorities of neglecting or even encouraging infections. Activists who spoke to The Associated Press after their release described massively overcrowded cells without proper ventilation or basic amenities and a lack of medical treatment. Kastus Lisetsky, 35, a musician who received a 15-day sentence for attending a protest, said that before he entered prison, he and three bandmates were held in a Minsk jail and had to sleep on the floor of a cell intended for only two people. All four have contracted the virus. Lisetsky must return to prison to serve the remaining seven days of his sentence after he’s discharged from the hospital. He accused the government of allowing the virus to run wild among those jailed for political reasons. “The guards say openly that they do it deliberately on orders,” Lisetsky said. More than 30,000 people have been detained for taking part in protests against the August reelection of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in a vote that opposition activists and some election workers say was rigged to give Lukashenko a sixth term.

Japan bans new entries of foreigners after virus variant arrives (Reuters) Japan on Saturday said it would temporarily ban non-resident foreign nationals from entering the country as it tightens its borders following the detection of a new, highly infectious variant of the coronavirus. The ban will take effect from Dec. 28 and will run through January, the government said in an emailed statement. Japanese citizens and foreign residents will be allowed to enter but must show proof of a negative coronavirus test 72 hours before departing for Japan and must quarantine for two weeks after arrival, the statement said.

As Virus Resurges in Africa, Doctors Fear the Worst Is Yet to Come (NYT) When the pandemic began, global public health officials raised grave concerns about the vulnerabilities of Africa. But its countries overall appeared to fare far better than those in Europe or the Americas, upending scientists’ expectations. Now, the coronavirus is on the rise again in swaths of the continent, posing a new, possibly deadlier threat. In South Africa, a crush of new cases that spread from Port Elizabeth is growing exponentially across the nation, with deaths mounting. Eight countries, including Nigeria, Uganda and Mali, recently recorded their highest daily case counts all year. “The second wave is here,” John N. Nkengasong, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has declared. In South Africa, the continent’s leader by far in coronavirus cases and deaths, the growing devastation in its medical system has led to the rationing of care for older adults. Last week, officials announced that a new variant of the virus that may be associated with faster transmission has become dominant. With stricter control measures lifted and many people no longer seeing the virus as a threat, public health officials fear that Africa’s second wave could be far worse than its first.

Syria’s bread lines are so long that children have to skip school to wait in them (Washington Post) Every morning, Abu Mohammed and his two eldest sons wake up for dawn prayer in Damascus, then take turns heading to the bakery. They wait for at least three hours, barely making it to work or school on time, he said. Often, the boys miss their first few classes. Sometimes they miss the whole day. Abu Mohammed, who declined to give his full name for fear of harassment by the security services, is among a rapidly growing number of Syrians languishing in seemingly endless lines. The bread crisis is perhaps the most visible and painful manifestation of Syria’s economic meltdown. It has seen the amount of subsidized bread most families can buy reduced by half or even more. Subsidized prices have doubled since October. Outside major cities, the deprivation may be even worse. “The poor man living in the village no longer has gas; he has wood. He’s out of bread; he makes his own,” said a resident of the coastal city Tartous, interviewed over Facebook.

Our Digital Lives Drive a Brick-and-Mortar Boom in Data Centers (NYT) The shift to digital work and play from home, hastened by the pandemic, has wreaked havoc on commercial real estate. But experts say it has also generated one surprising bright spot for the industry: data centers. The growing reliance on cloud-based technology—and the big, blocky buildings that house its hardware—has created greater opportunities for developers and investors as businesses and consumers gobble up more data in a world that has become increasingly connected. “Our houses are connected, our cars are connected, our streetlights and parking meters are connected, and every single one of those connections is passing data back and forth,” said Sean O’Hara, president of the exchange-traded funds division at Pacer Financial, an investment advisory firm in Malvern, Pa. And companies that provide data storage are preparing for even greater demand as new technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence become more widely used.

The Secret to Longevity? 4-Minute Bursts of Intense Exercise May Help (NYT) If you increase your heart rate, will your life span follow? That possibility is at the heart of an ambitious new study of exercise and mortality. The study, one of the largest and longest-term experimental examinations to date of exercise and mortality, shows that older men and women who exercise in almost any fashion are relatively unlikely to die prematurely. But if some of that exercise is intense, the study also finds, the risk of early mortality declines even more, and the quality of people’s lives climbs. In essence, says Dorthe Stensvold, a researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology who led the new study, intense training—which was part of the routines of both the interval and control groups—provided slightly better protection against premature death than moderate workouts alone.

#headlines #news

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trylonandperisphere · 5 years ago

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Article text:

How Much Do We Need The Police?

June 3, 20207:59 AM ET

LEAH DONNELLA

One effect of the widespread protests across U.S. cities this week has been to renew discussions of what role the police should play in society.

For many Americans, it goes without saying that the police are critical in maintaining public safety. Have an emergency? Call the police. But many others — especially black people and poor people — have long countered that the police pose more of a threat to their safety than a boon. See a police officer? Walk in the other direction.

So it seems like a good moment to talk to Alex S. Vitale. He's the author of the 2017 book The End of Policing. In it, he argues that rather than focus on police reform or officer retraining, the country needs to reconsider fundamentally what it is the police should be doing at all.

I spoke with Vitale about what roles police should and shouldn't play, what he makes of the current protests and what actual change in the way police in this country do their jobs might look like. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

One of the arguments you make in The End of Policing is that police are being asked to do too much. They're basically being tasked with addressing every social problem that we have. So what are police asked to do? And what should they be asked to do?

One of the problems that we're encountering here is this massive expansion in the scope of policing over the last 40 years or so. Policing is now happening in our schools. It's happening in relation to the problems of homelessness, untreated mental illness, youth violence and some things that we historically associate police with.

But the policing has become more intensive, more invasive, more aggressive. So what I'm calling for is a rethink on why we've turned all of these social problems over to the police to manage. And as we dial those things back, then we can think more concretely about what the rest of policing should look like and how that could be reformed.

You brought up homelessness. In many cities police are tasked with dealing with people experiencing homelessness — but they don't have many options besides basically moving people or arresting them.

Well, we've created this situation where our political leaders have basically abandoned the possibility of actually housing people. Which, of course, is the real solution, supportive housing for those who need extra support. But basically, we have a massive failure in housing markets that is unable to provide basic shelter for millions of Americans.

So instead of actually addressing that fundamental problem, we have relabeled it as a problem that is the fault of the disorderly people who we label as morally deficient. And then we use police to criminalize them, to control their behavior and to reduce their disorderly impact on the rest of us. And this is perverse and unjust. So then it places police in this completely untenable situation, because they completely lack the tools to make this problem any better. And yet we've told them it's their problem to manage.

Part of our misunderstanding about the nature of policing is we keep imagining that we can turn police into social workers. That we can make them nice, friendly community outreach workers. But police are violence workers. That's what distinguishes them from all other government functions. ... They have the legal capacity to use violence in situations where the average citizen would be arrested.

So when we turn a problem over to the police to manage, there will be violence, because those are ultimately the tools that they are most equipped to utilize: handcuffs, threats, guns, arrests. That's what really is at the root of policing. So if we don't want violence, we should try to figure out how to not get the police involved.

There are obviously a lot of people who agree broadly with the notion that the way that policing happens in this country is a problem and that there needs to be some sort of change. But they're pretty invested in the idea that police are needed to maintain public safety. People ask the question, without police, what do you do when someone gets murdered? What do you do when someone's house gets robbed? What do you say to those people who have those concerns?

Well, I'm certainly not talking about any kind of scenario where tomorrow someone just flips a switch and there are no police. What I'm talking about is the systematic questioning of the specific roles that police currently undertake, and attempting to develop evidence-based alternatives so that we can dial back our reliance on them. And my feeling is that this encompasses actually the vast majority of what police do. We have better alternatives for them.

Even if you take something like burglary — a huge amount of burglary activity is driven by drug use. And we need to completely rethink our approach to drugs so that property crime isn't the primary way that people access drugs. We don't have any part of this country that has high-quality medical drug treatment on demand. But we have policing on demand everywhere. And it's not working.

Obviously, a big part of what is on people's minds right now is the role that police have in dealing with protesters, dealing with different types of political unrest. In your book, you talk a lot about the history of how police have been used to quell social unrest. Can you talk about that history a little bit?

Well, I think that one of the myths we have about policing is that it is politically neutral, and that it is always here to sort of create order in a way that benefits everyone. But the reality is that America's social order has never been entirely equitable. We have a long history of exploitation of the Indigenous population, of African Americans through slavery, Jim Crow and today.

And while we're not using police to manage slavery or colonialism today, we are using police to manage the problems that our very unequal system has produced. We're invested in this kind of austerity politics that says the government can't afford to really do anything to lift people up. We have to put all our resources into subsidizing the already most successful parts of the economy. But those parts of the economy are producing this huge group of people who are homeless, unemployed, have untreated mental health and substance abuse problems. And then we ask the police to put a lid on those problems — to manage them so they don't interfere with the "order" that we're supposedly all benefiting from.

But if you're one of those poor people, one of those folks with a mental health problem, someone who's involved in black market activities to survive, then you experience this as constant criminalization.

And would you say the same goes for people who are political protesters?

Political protest has always been a part of this dynamic, right? Political protests are a threat to the order of this system. And so policing has always been the primary tool for managing those threats to the public order. Just as we understand the use of police to deal with homelessness as a political failure, every time we turn a political order problem over to the police to manage, that's also a political failure. I think the mayor of Minneapolis, for instance: Jacob Frey. He has consistently tried to frame this as a problem of a few bad apples. And he says, "Why are you protesting? We fired them." But this completely misunderstands the nature of the grievances. And instead of actually addressing those grievances, he's throwing police at the problem.

Are the interactions that are happening right now between police and protesters something that you think is predictable? Or is this something new that we haven't seen before?

It's not completely new; it's just the intensity of it compared [with], let's say, five years ago during the Eric Garner and the Mike Brown protests. What we're seeing is really an immediate escalation to very high levels of force, a high degree of confrontation.

And I think part of it is driven by deep frustration within policing, which is that police feel under assault, and they have no answer. They trotted out all the possible solutions: police-community dialogue sessions, implicit bias training, community policing, body cameras. And it just didn't work. It didn't make any difference. And so they ran out of excuses.

So the protests today are a much more kind of existential threat to the police. And the police are overreacting as a result.

If we were to take serious steps toward moving in the direction of having police address fewer of our social problems and putting those problems in the hands of people who are actually more equipped to deal with them, what would be the next step? What is the next thing that we as a country have to push for?

I think this will look like a series of local budget battles. And that's really what's going on across the country, is when we have these divest campaigns in places like Los Angeles and Minneapolis and New York and Durham, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn., and Dallas, Texas. These are folks who are saying concretely: "We don't want police in our schools. We want that money spent in ways that help our children, not criminalize them. We don't want more money for overtime for narcotics officers. We want actual drug treatment programs, safe injection facilities, things that will help people." So that's what this looks like. It's about rallying city council members and mayors around a new vision of creating healthier communities.

When you're looking around at what's happening right now, what are the things that you think people need to understand to really process what is going on around the country?

Well, I think the police are making the argument for us, right? People started this conversation by saying policing is out of control; they're not making the situation better. They have not been reformed. Well, now all you have to do is turn on the nightly news and see how true that is.

The level of aggression and unnecessary escalation is stark evidence of how unreformed policing is, and I argue how unreformable it is. The question is whether or not people will take it to the next step and ask the tough political questions. Why are our mayors turning this over to the police to manage? Why are we using curfews instead of having conversations? Why are we throwing protesters in prison instead of trying to figure out what's driving all of this anger?

#policing #police #police brutality #police violence #protests #peaceful protest #activism #racism #alex s. vitale #police reform #abolish the police #u.s. culture #u.s. politics #law enforcement #interviews #code switch #npr #leah donnella

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stinkybogboi · 5 years ago

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PLEASE HELP AMERICA

Shit has hit the fan. We have a government that cares more about the economy then us.

A Texas Governor told members of a NURSING HOME that “There are worse things then death” and that “thing” that was worse then death was the economy crashing.

The Bastard we have in office is buying all the medical supplies before the hospitals even have a chance to bid on them, then sell the BACK to the hospitals at a HUGE MARKED UP PRICE to make a profit.

Harassment and Violence is rampant.

People are blocking streets to hospitals so AMBULANCES cant get through to protest THE STATE GOVERNMENTS ASKING US TO CARE ABOUT OTHERS

PEOPLE ARE COMPARING THE STAY AT HOME ORDER TO NAZI”S LAWS LEADING UP TO THE HOLOCAUST.

AGAIN: PEOPLE ARE COMPARING CARING ABOUT OTHERS, TO THE HOLOCAUST.

I COULD NOT MAKE THIS SHIT UP IF I TRIED

And that’s just barely scraping the SURFACE.

There are rumors that Donald Trump is bribing state governors with essential equipment if they lift the bans.

We are constantly being told we don’t matter.

That our lives are worth less then oil. Less then dirt. Less then nothing.

Please. Tell people whats happening. Share the Injustice and the corruption that is our system. Spread this shit like a wild fire. Please. Help us. Help America.

#covid-19 #coronavirus #send help #america #bnha #mha #fyp #supernatural #worldpolitics #klaus hargreeves #illustrators on tumblr #writers on tumblr #artists on tumblr #spread this

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freelancesumandas · 5 years ago

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Divorce with a disabled child in Texas

Houston Divorce Lawyers: From my experiences working for the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, I have come to realize and appreciate that marriages can end even after both spouses have put in a lot of effort to maintain the relationship. It can be an extremely emotional time for parents like you who need to separate themselves from their spouse. If you are a parent of a child with a disability then it can be even more of a challenge.

There are so many factors to consider for a person in your position compared to a parent going through a divorce in most circumstances. With monthly, weekly or even daily medical attention needed for your child you may be concerned with whether or not you will be able to have any say-so in the decision making surrounding this subject.

On a practical level, is your child able to travel safely between your home and wherever your spouse ends up living? Is it going to be a difficult logistical situation to allow your child to get into a vehicle to make the drive? Sometimes the exertional requirement of getting up out of the house and into a vehicle can be too much on certain days. The last thing you want to do is put your child through any undue stress or hardship.

Finally- related to the medical treatment that we discussed earlier- are you going to be able to afford all of the necessary medical expenses associated with caring for your child now that you will be in a single income household? What if your spouse is not as willing as he or she has always been to this point as far as paying medical bills and providing transportation? How will this work out once your divorce has completed?

I can tell you that while your concerns are certainly heartfelt and legitimate, you are not the only parent who is worrying about these things right now. Today’s blog post will discuss some concepts for you to think about as you move toward divorce. Worrying is one thing- but to worry and not plan is another. My hope is to assist you in planning for life after your divorce bearing in mind the specific needs of your child.

Getting a divorce means getting orders from a judge regarding custody and other subjects

The end result of a divorce is that you and your spouse will both sign a Final Decree of Divorce that contains all of the provisions associated with your children and your property. These are the marching orders that you and your spouse will abide by once your divorce has become finalized. Visitation, a possession schedule, orders regarding child support as well as specific provisions for your disabled child will need to be included in the decree.

Child Support needs to be considered as especially important when it comes to your disabled child

Let’s assume that you are named as the primary conservator of your child during the divorce. This means that you are to be awarded the right to designate the primary residence of your child and able to receive child support payments from your ex-spouse. While this is a common set up for parents after a divorce you should start to think now about what you would like your final decree to read in terms of your ability to care for your disabled child.

For instance, most child support orders stop once your child graduates from high school or turns 18, whichever occurs later in time. However, your child may need financial assistance and support for the entirety of their adult life or at least for a period of time after the age of 18. As a result you need to negotiate for and obtain an order that allows you to receive child support for whatever period of time you believe is necessary to meet your child’s minimum basic needs. In a perfect world your ex-spouse would readily agree to this based on a mutual understanding that your child needs it and is in their best interests. Unfortunately this is not always the case you need to be prepared to push for this and negotiate for it in mediation.

Additional costs that your child will incur due to their disability will need to be factored into the specific amount of child support that you receive. In most situations, 20% of your ex-spouse’s net monthly income will be paid as child support. However, this may not take into consideration the sum total of your child’s needs and continued care. If you cannot negotiate for a higher than guidelines level of support then you should know that if you present sufficient evidence to warrant it a judge can award this in a trial. This is something that you and your attorney determine is worth going to trial over.

Handling custody agreements with a disabled child

Divorce Attorney Houston: The word “custody” as we commonly know it is actually not utilized once in our Texas Family Code. What custody refers to, generally speaking, is a combination of visitation and possession of your child. A custody agreement discusses where your child will live primarily. Also, and this is just as important, the agreement will dictate which parent will be able to make decisions for your child in terms of their medical care and education.

Typically, parents like yourself will share in the decision making responsibilities. This is relevant to you because your child will likely require changes and updates to their treatment regimen with regularity. Some of these changes can only be arrived at after thoughtful discussion. Are you going to have as much say-so as you believe is necessary to protect your child’s best interests? If your child were to be diagnosed with a new condition you would likely want to make sure that you are able to select their care schedule and physician. This portion of your divorce decree concerns those topics.

Finally, many custody agreements place restrictions on where your child can live. For example, if your divorce is in Harris County then it is common to have a geographic restriction that limits your child to being able to live in Harris and its contiguous counties (counties that border Harris). That geographic restriction is lifted if you choose to live outside the area after your ex-spouse has moved. The restriction is important for your family in that caring for your child will likely be a team effort rather than something that you do on your own.

What is a parenting plan?

A parenting plan details what is necessary for your child’s daily care and goes into some detail on how you and your ex-spouse will “co-parent” your child after the divorce. For many parents this is a section that is included in the decree and not given much thought to after that. For you, as the parent of a child with a disability, this section should have special meaning since you will want to ensure that your child receives consistent and reliable care no matter which parent he or she is with.

You can be as detailed as you would like and I recommend that you do so. If you are more comfortable including special instructions on how medical equipment works, how often a particular medication needs to be administered, or how to utilize a particular assistive device like a walker then it is your prerogative to include that in the parenting plan. Your divorce decree should not be cookie cutter. It should take into account your specific circumstances. Remember that all of your efforts are being undertaken in order to help your child live their best life.

Spousal maintenance and other tips for handling a divorce with a disabled child will be posted tomorrow

Divorce Lawyer in Houston: We will continue to discuss important attributes of a divorce involving a disabled child in tomorrow’s blog post. In the meantime if you have any questions regarding this subject or any other in family law please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. We offer free of charge consultations six days a week with one of our licensed family law attorneys ... Continue Reading

#divorce #Divorce Attorney #divorce lawyer #family #Family Law #Family Law Attorney #fagan #attorney #attorneys #attorney lawyer #law #lawyer #Houston #houston texas #Houston law #Houston lawyers #Houston family law #texas lawyer #Texas

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