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interestray · 4 years ago

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it’s always a good moment when I see a critical role episode with so many things happening that my adhd can’t help but develop a mind of its own, so now that my hyper-fixations have stopped beating the shit out of me theres a couple things I wanna bring up most of it theory stuff and the rest personal things. btw its a long post be warned.

SPOILER ALERT- I’m talking about ep 117 of critical role and its a doozy.

I’ve doing my recent posts in a different format and I’m liking it so I’m gonna use it here. btw I gonna mention some ship stuff I want to make clear I have no hate for any ships mentioned but unless I say I like the ship just assume I’m indifferent.

1. I gonna say I called it because even if I’m wrong about about future stuff I was right that it’s not just Lucien in that body, even if Lucien is completely right about molly as the group knew him is gone forever Molly (which I don’t believe at all) is still a fragment of lucien’s soul. now past that I do think molly as a conscious being is still in there and trying to connect with his friends. why? because theres this weird disconnect with how lucien acts communicating with the m9 from a far vs in person, in person it seems like he had his guard way up but when they scry or message him the barrier is lowered a bit I think when his guard isn’t up Molly bleeds into his actions and mind more. I personally see Lucien at being 130% whole because Molly grew into his own thing.

2. regarding my predictions for this episode I’m gonna give myself 2 points (with 1 of the points being made up of half points) I was hoping for flirting and I think we definitely got some version of flirting between Lucien and Caleb so I get a half point for that, not gonna lie I was a little freaked out (in a good way) how fast Lucien zeroed in on Caleb, I hope if things don’t go pear shaped we get to see those two interact more.

3. Personal thing I really wanted to smack Fjord and Veth for most of the episode like they both had moments of being rational (fjord more so) but for the most part i just want to slap them.

4. it was kind of hilarious to see how freaked out Lucien was of the m9, like there was a little of the bad kind of freaked out feeling I think it was mostly like how Ludinus felt meeting Jester. like poor Lucien he’s just doing his thing and suddenly this group of puppies imprints on him and follows him around poor guy. Seems like Lucien has so distrust towards the tomb takers with the whole ‘we are one’ thing, it seemed to be a recent development. I’ve seen people talk about whether the tomb takers/Cree will backstab Lucien I think it’s possible.

5. I think some members of the m9 have realized Caleb’s not doing ok, most likely from the corpse scene and him talking over Beau (bad caleb bad). what they do with this info is gonna be interesting I personally think Cad should talk with him in private maybe have yasha there as well (also hugs please someone hug the sad wizard man him and Yasha both need it).

6. personal thing I don’t understand jester x Fjord as a possible canon ship at this point in the story like i got it in early campaign but I think they’ve both grown and changed to the point where a relationship between the two would end quickly after starting (whether in tears or not). the only times I like seeing their romantic interactions is when Laura and Travis bleed through and at that point its nots really jester and fjord. again no hate you do you I just don’t understand the appeal.

7. I’ve not watched campaign 1 for a few reasons yet but I’ve done research on some of the bigger events one of which was Percy’s resurrection where Taliesin watched how everyone was acting to decide whether to come back or not. I think Cad’s whole talk about what the rest of the m9′s goals towards Molly/Lucien is first Taliesin’s way of deciding whether Molly will be a npc after this arc or if he picks up playing him again (this all of course depending on whether the m9′s stupid actions don’t get Lucien killed), second I think this is Cad’s way of deciding whether his “debt” is payed and if it’s time for him to leave. To be clear I don’t think this was the final decision I think it was the first step to see whether anyone could say they want their friend back and we had two (almost 3) say yeah they do so I think it was a good start.

8. I can totally see Lucien kidnapping some of the m9. this sounds weird but stick with me, it looks like the tomb takers as a whole have a few important spots missing in their mission like they (probably) have a blood cleric in Cree the goliath and halfing seems more strength based I’m not sure about the human and Lucien is filling spot of a little bit of everything. Lucien has already pointed out Caleb as being curious and smart so I think out of the party is Lucien steals any of them it will be Caleb, if not Caleb tho I think Yasha could also be one that gets his attention (especially if Lucien ever sees them fight) I don’t he would kidnap anyone unprompted but if they go through with their stupid plan I’m sure he’ll want payback.

9. I get a full point for crying at both the Yasha clover scene and Molly’s card about Caleb.

10. So my best friend is also a fan of critical role but he always works Thursday’s so he’s behind on actively watching the shows, but I can watch them so I take notes of all the funny, interesting, and weird shit that happens then I call when he gets off work to tell him everything that happened then we talk about what we think will happen next. why does this matter? because before the molly reveal when we first heard about them going to aore (I don’t know how to spell the ruin place) I said I had a feeling Essek would probably show up and run into the m9. well I was right so i’m supper happy, hearing floaty bois voice was awesome I hope Essek and Lucien meet at some point (hopefully not while trying to kill each other that would be sad).

11. Caleb’s eighth floor is so interesting like I hope we get to see all the rooms at some point, I think the room we saw this episode was his room at the asylum (mostly from it’s disarray and how drab it was) as for who he was talking to? I’ve seen a lot of people says its Essek or Astrid (I can smell the incoming discourse) I think it’s neither, it’s probably the simplest answer himself or more specificly Bren. I think he was talking to the Bren that spent years in that bed and chair wasting away.

12. wtf do you mean the big snow worm has a double reason for hunting the party Matt?! (I have no clue what that means).

13. the m9′s decision to try and get to A2 before Lucien and take whatever is there is such a shit idea, why did he kill Vess because she was a traitor she betrayed him what are they m9 about to do betray him even after the warning about straying from the path (which btw I think was molly warning them). If they actually go through with this plan I hope Cad is right on Lucien getting amused at them instead of fucking pissed. good news is that even if they get there before Lucien they could still salvage the thing with Lucien by saying they wanted unbiased answers. I get they’re grieving and in a bunch of pain but use the common sense I know you have and learn more about whats happening before fucking it all up. (also I get half a point from Lucien kicking Vess’s body)

14. I will say I mostly loved this episode (except for the ending) but them talking about possibly scattering Lucien to get Molly back no matter how brief did unsettle me a lot. no matter my feelings about Molly this is Lucien’s body when he was scattered molly did have the right to the body so I don't think any of his actions were wrong or bad but now that Lucien is whole again his bodily autonomy should not be violated just for a unsure chance Molly would come back. As it is Lucien seemed already uneasy and annoyed with stuff molly did (ex-tattoos).

15. I originally wasn’t gonna put this point but I think I should. when Taliesin said “he thought they would be on the other side of this” I think most people thought it was in reference to how it seems like Lucien is evil (I still don’t think he is) but what if he meant Molly’s arc. think of it wouldn’t it make sense for Molly’s arc to focus on his past coming back to meet him what if they always intended for Lucien to become whole again and it was suppose to be Lucien’s thoughts/feelings bleeding into molly’s. but Molly died so instead we’re getting the inverse Lucien has to come to terms with his past as Molly and the people Molly left behind coming into his life. I think it would be a good arc him learning that you can’t run from or ignore the past no matter how much you want to it can and will come bite you in the ass. would also make sense why Lucien and Molly both have that attitude towards their pasts (you know other than being pieces of the same person).

#critical role #Mollymauk #cr lucien #I already had an idea for Lucien kidnaps/saves Caleb story it's only grown now #I hope Yasha and Caleb get a hug soon #lets the introverts cuddle and cry together #Lucien and Caleb need a ship name #Don't look at me I'm terrible at naming things #so happy to see floaty hot boi again #he sounded happy to hear from them #Matt and Taliesin both had faces that I have deemed untrustworthy this episode #ray's interests #keep forgetting that one

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365-money-diary · 4 years ago

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DAYS 50 - 56

DAY FIFTY

6:25 AM - Up an at ‘em. It’s vaccine day! The State Farm Stadium is 30 minutes away from my house and I kind of have a history of feeling light-headed and such so I eat a piece of toast before we leave. Prep our water bottles and coffee in our respective hydroflasks and we’re out the door.

7:25 AM - We arrive to the stadium and go through a slew of checkpoints. Unfortunately because of the storms they aren’t giving out plus ones today so we will try for K again when I get my second. The process is pretty easy and we are out of there in 30 minutes. I get the Pfizer vaccine. :)

8:30 AM - K and I take a walk since I still have some time before work starts.

10:00 AM - Today is going to be super easy workwise so I just kind of take my time easing into it. I start to feel some tingles from the shot as well as arm soreness. Nothing I can’t handle though!

12:00 PM - Annual charge for my recipe plugin comes through for my blog. Heat up broccoli fried rice for lunch. $49.00

2:00 PM - My arm is starting to hurt but nothing I can’t handle. Eat pretzels.

4:00 PM - Ditch work early to take a walk to the lake. Bring wine in a hydroflask to just sit and enjoy the weather. I chat with T on the way and then FaceTime with H who says he’s moving to Philly. Super bummed honestly. DJing with him is one of my favorite things on this planet.

6:00 PM - Arrive home to find a sleepy K. My arm is really hurting at this point and we decide to take a nap.

7:30 PM - Wake up feeling groggy and in pain. Remember they advised drinking water before taking Tylenol so I down 48 ounces and actually start to feel better. Heat up a Big Sur Breakfast burrito for dinner and K and I watch the first 30 minutes of Uncut Gems. K’s brother hits him up to play RocketLeague and so he breaks away to that and I watch more of The Challenge.

11:30 PM - I am tired of being awake and would just rather be asleep.

DAY FIFTY TOTAL: $49.00

DAY FIFTY-ONE

8:30 AM - Wake up feeling like my body has been doing work to fight something, but without any external symptoms (fever, chills, fatigue) minus my sore arm. Continue hydrating and make a chemex.

9:00 AM - I can’t really work on the trim today as planned because of my arm, so I decide to work on my blog instead.

11:00 AM - Make pancakes and hashbrowns for breakfast.

2:30 PM - Post a recipe for Greek Salad. The Internet seems to be receptive which is nice… my last few recipes have flopped. Finish The Ruins. Actually bummed Sara & KellyAnne didn’t win. Evan, Kenny, and Johnny suck and needs to rot in hell. Make a giant bowl of popcorn.

5:00 PM - Drop off a ball and a tube to a friend who is starting to take Pure Barre classes again. Walk back and then K and I walk to the lake with the dog. Feels like the best thing we’ve done all day tbh. My arm still hurts too much to exercise so this is the best it’s gonna get.

7:45 PM - Arrive home and roast potatoes for buffalo chicken sandwiches. I’ll definitely be shooting this for the blog.

8:00 PM - It’s one of those nights where I already did everything and I’m tired of screens. I reached out to a friend a few days ago for book recs and I pick one from the list called The Guest List. Buy it on kindle. $16.40

9:30 PM - I’m already ready to start a new season of The Challenge. This one is Fresh Meat II. Can’t believe Darrell gets eliminated on the first episode. Dang.

10:45 PM - K and I decide we’re tired and that it’s time for beddie. My body is definitely ready for sleep.

DAY FIFTY-ONE TOTAL: $16.40

DAY FIFTY-TWO

8:30 AM - Wake up feeling pretty rested. Definitely a lot better today. Arm is mildly sore. Might be able to ride the bike or play DDR today. Maybe modify Pure Barre but probably not. Take a shower for the first time since Thursday because I usually shower after I exercise and that hasn’t happened in a while… hah.

9:00 AM - My kettle has been here for a few days but I haven’t broken it out of the shed yet. Unbox the beauty, give it a little rinse and make my first cup of coffee. I like how quiet it is and how little space it takes up. 10/10.

10:15 AM - I notice I still have a half block of tofu leftover so I make tofu/egg tacos for breakfast with Field Roast Sausage, mushrooms, onions, and jalapenos.

11:15 AM - Clean the kitchen and prep for shooting. I am feelin’ the vibes from my last post so I don’t want to lose motivation. Make miso butter pasta since it’s really all I can swing with the ingredients in my pantry.

1:15 PM - Finish shooting and import the photos into my library while watching The Challenge in the background. Decide might as well start editing. I don’t have much else going on and I’m again, feeling motivated.

4:30 PM - K goes on a drive and I decide to play DDR. My arm is not ready for barre but it can dangle a bit while I stomp on some arrows. I decide I really want to learn Afronova on heavy which is something I never was really able to pass consistently in my youth. It’ll be a good thing to work toward over the next few weeks.

5:30 PM - Pour a glass of wine and hop on zoom with K’s family. It’s nice to see them.

7:30 PM - Make buffalo chicken sandwiches for dinner with potatoes.

9:00 PM - Walk to the lake with K.

12:00 AM - Finish my entire post for miso butter noodles. I don’t think I’ve ever shot and posted something in the same day. Exhausting! Hah

DAY FIFTY-TWO TOTAL: $0

DAY FIFTY-THREE

8:00 AM - Pure barre charge. Make a chemex. And eat half a bagel with earth balance and nooch for breakfast. Also get charged for my automatic payment to Amazon for iron pills $27.93

9:00 AM - Today is my officemate’s birthday. My boss and I pitched in to get her a Lululemon gift card. $35

12:00 PM - Leftover miso butter noodles for lunch with air-fried broccoli.

5:00 PM - Today was honestly exhausting but I am ready to move. Play a few games of DDR and then do a barre class.

7:00 PM - Rinse off and make the last of the buffalo chicken sandwiches. We’re very excited for groceries tomorrow hah.

9:30 PM - Buy a phone tripod. I suck at doing videos one-handed and I know I can grow my pages like bananas if I can actually shoot the content correctly. I apply the gift card my boss got me for building her website so this is on the house.

DAY FIFTY-THREE TOTAL: $62.93

DAY FIFTY-FOUR

7:00 PM - Long ass day. Groceries are slated to arrive. Incoming of bell peppers, tomatoes, grapes, tofu, cucumber, broccoli, red onion, limes, lemons, bananas, jalapenos, serranos, clementines, bread, chickpeas, tortilla chips, tortillas, sprouts, potatoes, baby carrots, onions, salsa, cauliflower rice, cilantro, gf mini pretzels, apples, hashbrowns, oat milk, cheese, vegan cheese, brown rice, white rice, gf pasta, spring mix, romaine, tomato paste, dark chocolate, red wine and balsamic vinegar, pineapple, scallions, oregano, shallots, mushrooms, orzo, kale, chipotle peppers, eggs, brown sugar, burger buns, corn, parsley, veggie straws, vanilla bean, asparagus, snap peas, a pound of coffee, plant sausage, plant yogurt, zucchini, radish, cabbage, seltzer, plant yogurt, pasta sauce, plant pizza, jelly, and mustard. $350.86

8:00 PM - Eat red lentil pasta for dinner.

DAY FIFTY-FOUR TOTAL: $350.86

DAY FIFTY-FIVE

1:00 PM - Done with meetings for the day. My brain hurts. Hah make salad (bbq chicken, spring mix, carrots, bell pepper, onion, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and ranch is the combo for the week), drink seltzer, tryyyy to calm down.

3:40 PM - Actually hoping no one bothers me for the rest of the day. Change into workout clothes and sneak in my last barre class for the challenge.

6:00 PM - Get charged for CBS all access. Craving a cocktail instead of wine. Pick some grapefruits from the backyard, text J to ask how to salt a rim, then make a grapefruit + mezcal drink with a chili-lime salted rim. YUM. $6.48

7:00 PM - Veggie sandwiches with potatoes is the name of dinner for the next few days. So good!

DAY FIFTY-FIVE TOTAL: $6.48

DAY FIFTY-SIX

8:30 AM - Make a chemex and “get to work.” Today is super slow. I finish the last of my outstanding tasks, make 2 batches of chex mix which I regret because K says he won’t be eating any since he’s trying to avoid salt. Snack on that and then make salad for lunch.

1:30 PM - Literally no one has pinged me so I take the opportunity to play some DDR. I play for nearly an hour before anyone bothers me and nail down the steps to this one section of Afronova at ⅕ the speed. I’ll try ⅖ tomorrow!

5:30 PM - K and I are both starving so I make us dinner early today. Drink a grapefruit + mezcal cocktail after din.

8:30 PM - K asks if I’ll walk to the lake with him and the dog. I kind of don’t want to since I played my heart out already but he asks pleeeassse and I oblige. The walk is really really nice. We even sit near the waterfront for a while watching people do this cheesy skate routine.

10:30 PM - Make it back. I work on my blog in K’s office while he edits video stuff. I have The Challenge on in the background and finish Fresh Meat II. Only 11 more seasons before I can cancel my membership! Hah.

DAY FIFTY-SIX TOTAL: $0

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juniperpublishers-oajnn-blog · 5 years ago

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Key Role of the Diagnosis in Patients Suffering from Dementia

Authored by Amalia C Bruni

Abstract

The current number of people suffering from dementia is about 35.6 million and this number is destined to seriously growth. Dementia is mostly unknown and its in-vivo diagnosis frequently remains in the field of the uncertainty and probability. An early comprehension of the disease is crucial because it determines its impact on the person and on the family. The present opinion started from the analysis of the letter written by Robin Williams' wife about his illness (the Lewy Body Dementia) before, during and after death. Several issues arouse from the commentary and deal with the difficulties involved in the diagnosis; the role of cognitive reserve and the pitfalls growing in the couple, the lack of information, the awareness of the disease; the theme of the suicide linked to dementia and the role of neuropathology. All of these themes need a reflection and must be transformed into new attitudes towards dementias. The hope of Susan, and of many family members, is that the suffering of their relatives may one day help other patients, other families and doctors and researchers to fight these terrible diseases. With them and for them we will not surrender.

Keywords: Dementia; Lewy body dementia; Diagnosis; Behavioral disorders; Robin williams

Go to

Introduction

Despite the great evolution and progression in research, dementia is still today an obscure and complex disease. Its intricate network of signs and symptoms constitutes a complicate path, difficult to understand for everyone involved: the patient, the family, the medical team. An early comprehension of the disease is crucial because it determines its impact on the person and on the family. Nowadays, to deal with dementia means to face an enemy who shows his name, face and weapons only when little or nothing can still be done. Many obstacles however to an early diagnosis are often ingrained just because of the nature of dementia. There is the person capable, more or less, consciously or not, to hide the symptoms and the first cognitive gaps. There is the resistance of family in front of unusual behaviors and a more common refusal and shame in front of the illness. There are vague symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, which not immediately, and perhaps not later, are linked to some neurodegeneration process. There is the probable diagnosis. There is a lack of support for caregivers, which are those who care for all the time. There is the neuropathology brought into play only at the end of this entire story. In 2014, the actor Robin Williams suicided in his house, his wife Susan has never accepted the word depression, which was immediately related to the extreme act of Robin. She argued that it was something more, something which was devastating his brain, a disease that she called the terrorist. In 2016, she wrote an editorial on neurology [1] to talk about what happened inside and outside the brain of his husband. It could have been the story of one of the many movies that Robin starred. Susan wrote a piece of poetry, but the aim was not writing to make a movie or a play, the aim was different. This was a prayer. Susan wrote to us, doctors and researchers, hoping to be able to understand again, even after all this time what happened, for what reason and to figure out if she could have helped him more or better. She pushed us to work, to move forward, not to give up despite failures and still to release ourselves from a deep sorrow, which consumes.

There are many Susan in the world who are unable to communicate, in such affective way, about this pain and try to get rid. Susan is all the families, all the caregivers who, next to their beloved, live similar stories, similar efforts, sometimes even worse as when, for example, there is an awareness of a genetic mutation and when, your loved one is 35-40 years-old and you have little children who do not understand why their daddy wants to play with their toys, why he gets angry and beats them if they steal the Legos or toy car. The editorial, beyond the emotions and feelings, is also an important educational piece which underlines some fundamental points about the complex issues generated by dementia. We can and must make some reflections on it and understand both strong and weak points of who suffer, who cares and who cures.

The difficulty of diagnosis

This is the big problem: today only 50% of patients with any kind of dementia receives diagnosis [2]. The others are ghosts, hidden in their houses or in nursing homes, unidentified or sweetened under shameful, non-specific, terminologies. Despite efforts in fighting the definition of "senile dementia" still today we hear and read about it. Of course, it has been profusely said, the aging phenomenon does not necessarily match with a behavioral and cognitive decline. The fact that this is, unfortunately, frequent is not necessary a physiologic consequence, it would be like saying that, during a varicella epidemic, to have the varicella is normal just because everybody has it. On the other side of the life curve there is the young patient: the one that, just because of his early age, could not suffer from dementia, the one that, because of a preeminent behavioral disorder, is relegated in the often-indistinguishable ravine of psychiatric diseases. How many diagnosis of schizophrenia in the presence of FTLD [3,4]. When symptoms invade behavior and mind they seem to sidetrack the doctor: it is not easy to recognize unspecific symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, as a possible sign of an incoming dementing disease. Although in the evaluation of a memory disorder there are neuropsychological tests, as the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FRCST) [5,6], which address to the different forms of dementia, unfortunately this is not the case of behavioral disorders and more generally of mind disorders. The idea that the mind is separate from the brain is still rooted, although the existing criteria describing various types of dementia, Alzheimer's Disease [7], frontotemporal dementia [8] or as in this case, dementia with Lewy bodies [9], accurately depict symptoms and signs. And yet, how many patients come at such advanced stage that doctors cannot identify which path the disease has followed before spreading throughout the brain. One of the more important problems is the reconstruction of patient's personal history from its family that difficultly tends to recall sad and painful episodes and, frequently, doesnot remember the timing sequence of symptoms. Still it is precisely the sequence of a series of symptoms. Still it is precisely the sequence of a series of symptoms and signs that allow us to have the Gestalt of the disease and thus to assume a probable diagnosis. Family members, however, do not know what to look out for and the weight to give to apparently trivial situations. Preliminary data [10] from a research on a set of about two thousand patients with Alzheimer's disease have shown the presence of behavioral disorders, also gender- different, even before the onset of the disease, in agreement with other literature reports [11]. But this is not enough. We should cross sensitivity and specificity measures sifting to define a peculiar behavior as a clinical biomarker. Nevertheless we know it for sure, thanks to the studies of genetic mutations carrier subjects (DIAN and GENFI) respectively in Alzheimer's disease and Frontotemporal dementia, that neurodegenerative diseases and their pathological proteins counterparts, begin to wallow in our brains from 15 to 10 years before the onset of symptoms [12,13]. But what value of "risk" can we give to our boomer’s anxiety or post retirement depression? Much must still be done in terms of study and research in this direction, and much more needs to be built in sense of dissemination of knowledge in the whole community, not just the medical one. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a treacherous disease, perhaps even worse than Alzheimer's disease, but at least as the frontotemporal dementia. The behavioral signs and, above all, the fluctuations of the clinical course are so unlikely in DLB that family members frequently tell us that the patient "looks like he is acting intentionally". We know that the DLB has a variable prevalence between 0.3 and 24.4% in the studies [14], and these so widely variable data explain the difficulty of investigation and diagnosis. The disease is clinically characterized by a progressive cognitive decline, often hallucinations and delusions, parkinsonism and a floating attention. However, the criteria which permitted to distinguish the disease from the great syndromic cauldron of dementias, are poorly specific and not perfectly able to differentiate the overlapping forms with Alzheimer's disease, although the high prevalence of hallucinations delusions, anhedonia, anxiety and apathy that occur at the DLBonset seem to be very indicative [15]. Patients with DLB usually manifest at onset very mild cognitive impairment within a framework of psychotic subacute state, predominantly characterized by hallucinations and delusions [9].

Hallucinations are predominantly visual, detailed, often nocturnal, recurrent and almost constant during the course of the disease. Less frequently, patients also have auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions. Often, depressive and anxious symptoms and behavioral disturbances associated with REM sleep (RBD) are frequently observed and they manifest as vivid and terrifying dreams associated with simple or complex motor behaviors seriously disturbing the bed partners. Less frequently, in the early stages, it may be present a rigid-akinetic extrapyramidal syndrome -no tremor-usually symmetrical, partially sensitive to dopaminergic therapy. Memory skills are relatively preserved, while attention is impaired together with visual-spatial disorders and difficulties in critic and judgment. Cognitive performances are highly fluctuating and they may occur with extreme variability (minutes or hours) over the same day. Despite Robin Williams lived in the US, the MECCA of the criteria and advanced medicine, he did not receive the diagnosis, neither early nor timely. The presence of depression, anxiety, the apparently hypochondriacs signs, tremor and the reduction of smell (typically parkinsonian latter) together with the sensitivity to antipsychotics (which worsen the clinical picture and is an important sign to suspect the disease) have not been pigeonholed temporally in the right direction and evaluated as pieces of a single puzzle that was in building.

Cognitive reserve

Robin Williams' story testifies how the onset of cognitive symptoms of a dementia disease can be postponed over time and altered by events and life experiences. The cognitive reserve model [16] tries to explain the discrepancy between brain damage and its function. High level of education, learning, skills and knowledge acquired during the whole life could explain the possibility for some individuals to resist as long as the neurodegeneration occurs, showing, at the beginning of the disease, only mild symptoms. In particular, and this is the case of Robin, an actor accustomed to exercise and strain memory, cognitive activity during adulthood could have an even more important role in the construction of this reserve [17]. In front of an atypical onset of the disease, this of course can put people and doctors off track, making difficult the choice for a diagnostic label.

The couple and the disease

A disruptive event such as a dementia not only affects the person but also "infects" emotionally whoever is around [18]. Both in a long-standing relationship and in a relatively recent love story, who joins the affected person takes the role of the "stronger": Susan takes care of Robin, she helps and supports him, supervising him and his symptoms. She gets stronger to brave one of the most difficult and intense moments in a relationship that paradoxically seems to strengthen thanks to the sharing of the disease. She is indulgent towards Robin's aggressive behavior, his fears and discomfort, his concern and his pleas for help. The role of the family caregiver in the containment of the disease is fundamental: an empathic environment is able for an adequate managing of behavioral disorders, and also to understand and analyze symptoms [19]. The acceptance of the disease is the difficult task for caregivers because they need to decode inexplicable attitudes, analyze behaviors and also discover the loved "nothing else or not different" from what he/she was before, but just different for the inability to express feelings.This should always be the correct management of behavioral problems: the "ecological" analysis and the acronym DICE (Describe, Investigate, Create, Evaluate) described by Kales [20] should be the guideline to be followed not only by the caregiver but also by all the nursing team. However, so complex and aggressive symptoms, the confusing diagnoses and the ambiguity, inevitably cause distresses even in strong relationships [21]. Recent studies report that the rate of separation and divorce in the presence of a serious illness of one of the spouses is lower when it is the man to be sick, emphasizing the greater "resilience" of women in providing care to the partner [22]. Susan clashes with the loss of identity of Robin, which only occasionally resurfaces during the fluctuations and, at one point, she seems to become almost an helpless spectator of the disease.

The lack of information

It is evident that the assistance to the patient becomes much more difficult because of the lack of information and training that caregivers should receive from the health personnel; caregiver NEEDS correct help and support in order to continue his/her existence alongside the loved one who becomes more and more a stranger [23]. Loneliness, confusion, feelings of inadequacy and of loss are the feelings most often expressed by family members, which start their journey of hope among various doctors, groping in the dark, also searching for a better diagnostic definition [24,25].

Awareness of the disease

Robin was aware and this has certainly increased pain and sufferings. However, the insight is also a powerful tool, if well directed, to the empowerment of the patient and for the doctor-patient relationship. If he had received a diagnosis (and treatment, however modest [26]) it could have been possible to reduce his anxiety. How many patients are convinced of "being wrong, mad or bad" when it is the behavioral disorder of the disease speaking for them. Maybe he would not commit suicide or may be yes....impossible to say. Insight is poorly tolerated by patients and not at all by the family however, the increasing pain linked with the insight sometimes gives to the patient one vital impulse (I am aware of what is happening to me and therefore I suffer but I am still alive). When it turns off with the worsening of the disease, a merciful oblivion and perhaps a greater serenity come.

Full insight is usually present in Alzheimer’s patients for a long time [27] and in many other forms of dementia. It is completely absent in patients with frontotemporal dementia-behavioral type [28]. How many times to the classical request: "What is the reason for this visit?" we hear answers like: "What do I know? They have brought me here, I’m fine". Robin, instead, asked the physician to make a more detailed diagnosis; Parkinson's diagnosis did not convince him, "Do I have Alzheimer's? Am I schizophrenic?" He asked, but they reassured him unnecessarily.

The theme of suicide

The depressive symptoms that occur in DLB are, like the cognitive symptoms, fluctuating, with alternating periods of relative comfort and periods of deep frustration able to cause, especially in the early stages, suicide attempts. This is probably related to the awareness of the disease and to the fear for future. Studies on the issue of suicide in patients with dementia are few, but the risk of suicide appears to be higher immediately after the communication of the diagnosis. This happens especially in young people having insight, who do not have depression, and severe cognitive impairment [29]. However, the risk of suicide remains high even after years from the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the importance of paying attention to any signal that might suggest a suicidal intention [30]. We reflect on Robin’s bewilderment about the impotence and chilling fear of becoming like one of the characters in his "Awakening", or even on the possibility of experimenting terrifying hallucinations. However, because of his full awareness we could not exclude that his gesture might be interpreted as a final act of love for Susan, to free her from the burden of the disease.

The importance of neuropathology

In Susan's letter it strikes her need to know the diagnosis of the disease that took away her husband, this knowledge came only after his death, with the autopsy. Thus, finally, it reveals the origin of all the symptoms of the disease seemingly unrelated to each other. Neuropathology explains how the disruption of amygdala and medial nucleus of the thalamus, not specific but also present in DLB, is responsible for behavioral disorders for the close links with the prefrontal network, unfortunately, without any possibility of objectification [31]. The certitude of the diagnosis of dementia, given by the neuropathological examination, seems to be no longer useful for the family of the affected person [23], nor for the doctor. This misconception has led over the years to neglect almost entirely the neuropathological study and relegate it, exclusively in research settings. Susan’s reaction shows us how the diagnosis is important and the awareness of who has been the "demon" can only increase the acceptance of the disease and the loss of one's dear, in addition to the scientific implications that neuropathological diagnosis brings with it [32].

Go to

Conclusion

Today, only the half of patients with any kind of dementia receives diagnosis. The narration of the personal pain of Robin Williams suffering from LBD, through his wife's pen, was the starter point to reflect on the complexity of these diseases. The reflections must be transformed into new attitudes towards dementias. The hope of Susan, and of many family members, is that the suffering of their relatives may one day help other patients, other families and doctors and researchers to fight these terrible diseases. Her commitment in supporting research through the Brain Foundation is, again, a way to sublimate the pain and emptiness of loss. How many Susan we encountered in our clinics, in our associations and at our side in our work of assistance and research, full of hope, pleading and willing to do everything, the ultimate, and the impossible to go on and fight on behalf of their loved ones. With them and for them we will not surrender.

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365-money-diary · 4 years ago

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DAYS 36-42

DAY THIRTY-SIX [FEB 6]

8:30 AM - Make a chemex and get to work.

10:00 AM - Pineapple!

12:45 PM - Heat up cheesy red lentil soup for lunch with a La Croix.

4:00 PM - Do a 10-minute Peloton ride and a barre class. Barre class gets interrupted as I get text updates for the grocery order. I kind of end up half-assing it toward the end but I’m glad I got it done.

5:45 PM - Prep the kitchen for the grocery order – incoming of bread, greens, tomatoes, onions, garlic, tempeh, tofu, tortillas, tortilla chips, pretzels, apples, jalapenos, lemons, limes, cabbage, cilantro, vegan sour cream, rice, chickpeas, pinto beans, frozen burritos, bell peppers, eggs, parsley, ginger, BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, grapes, sprouts, brussels sprouts, green beans, miso, cloves, frozen pizzas, hamburger buns, plant yogurt, cucumber, carrots, chipotle seitan sausages, tomato paste, broccoli, bananas, celery, potatoes, clementines, hashbrowns, red lentil pasta, dijon, seltzer, pineapple, dark chocolate, strawberry jam, vegetable bouillon, zucchini, mushrooms, dried oregano, radish, & snap peas. $342.39

7:00 PM - roast potatoes and make veggie sandwiches. Drink a hibiscus mezcal cocktail too. MAX RELAX for the rest of the eve. It’s Friday baby!

DAY THIRTY-SIX: $342.39

DAY THIRTY-SEVEN

9:30 AM - Slept in weird vibes. Feel tingly when I stand which means blood pressure is bad. We are seeing friends today and I don’t want to power through it so I just drink some soy sauce. It does wonders and I’m feeling better within 30 minutes. Make a Chemex and watch an episode of dessert person.

10:30 AM - Head out to our pals’ house (If you read my last diary series, they’re the people we used to go to Suns games with) in uptown Phoenix for an outside hang. We meet their new baby and he is super cute. Hang out 10 feet apart and it feels so normal and chill. I also find out that I apparently qualify for the vaccine because I work to facilitate education, so I need to look into that.

2:45 PM - K and I haven’t eaten today and we’re starving. We split a Daiya pizza and eat snack on chips and salsa while we wait. I also eat a clementine.

5:30 PM - Feel my body starting to fade and I’m kind of barred out. Decide to walk to the lake. I do a bad job of getting my HR up but I still enjoy my time outside.

8:00 PM - I’m not hungry at all from all the salt. Decide to eat a small bowl of cheesy lentil soup for dinner but mostly just pound the water while working on a post for oil-free Greek dressing.

8:30 PM - I notice someone posts a sample sale for Splits 59 which is one of my favorite workout brands. I’m hitting 250 Pure Barre classes this week and use it as an excuse to celebrate. Buy 2 pairs of leggings and a cute tank. $70

10:00 PM - Definitely at that point in the day where I feel like I’m just passing time.

DAY THIRTY-SEVEN TOTAL: $70.00

DAY THIRTY-EIGHT

8:45 AM - Spend some time in bed adjusting my fantasy bball team. Still set to be undefeated in the more competitive league. Eventually make a chemex and post my oil-free greek dressing around the web.

10:30 AM - I listen to a session on Mined, cook brunch (tofu/egg tacos with soyrizo) and and frantically get ready for M’s baby’s 1st bday.

1:05 PM - Arrive at the party… what I thought was going to be just me, M, his wife, his mom, and his kid is actually them plus 6 other people hanging in the backyard. Not my favorite thing I’ve had to deal with this pandemic. Everyone is outside/masked. I learn that 2-3 of them have already been vaxxed but it’s still kind of a weird situation for me. I know if K was with me it would be bad news, so I am grateful he stayed behind today.

2:00 PM - Hightail it outta there once 4 more people show up. Listen to music really loud in the car and scream some lyrics on my way home. Feels good man.

2:45 PM - Continue listening to tunes at home, digging thru my Spotify discover weekly for the first time in a while and building a set that I want to record sometime next week.

3:15 PM - K’s brother and wife stop by and we do an outside masked hang with them for about an hour and a half. We haven’t seen them since December of 2019 so this is really really great.

6:00 PM - K and I keep talking about getting takeout but nothing sounds good so we just decide to do veggie sandwiches and potatoes. Drink wine.

7:00 PM - I decide to work on my tax stuff all evening instead of exercising. It takes 2 hours but I get all of my stuff together and send it to the guy. Pour myself a celebratory glass of wine after.

10:00 PM - K and I watch Beverly Hills Ninja in bed. I’d never seen it before and it was so good.

DAY THIRTY-EIGHT TOTAL: $0

DAY THIRTY-NINE

8:00 AM - Chemex. Pure barre weekly charge. $15

10:00 AM - A local bar down the street has been closed since March and a pal posts a GFM on their behalf. I donate to it. Eat a banana and a clementine $50

11:30 AM - Prep salad for the week - greens, gochujang tempeh, miso dressing, soba noodles, snap peas, carrots, and cucumber. Finish about 2 minutes before a call and I’m scrambling to appear composed.

5:30 PM - Do a pure barre livestream while K runs to go pick up dinner from a local vegan spot. K gets a fried chicken seitan sandwich and I get a burger. It’s really really delicious and I’m super stuffed after.

DAY THIRTY-NINE TOTAL: $65

DAY FORTY

8:30 AM - Chemex. Work is still kind of wild but I make a lot of progress on my report this AM so I’m feelin’ good there.

9:30 AM - Banana and clementine.

12:00 PM - Salad.

4:30 PM - Try to do a PB live stream (my 250th class) but Zoom’s server is being weird so I do a 30 min Peloton ride instead with a 5 min stretch.

6:00 PM - Veggie sandwiches with potatoes for din again.

8:00 PM - A friend from highschool, N, and I chat and it’s really really great. I drink 2 glasses of wine while we catch up.

DAY FORTY TOTAL: $0

DAY FORTY-ONE

8:30 AM - Oof my quads are sore. Make a chemex.

10:00 AM - Eat a banana.

11:00 AM - We’ve been dragging on the KN95 thing but decide to go for it today. Buy a pack of 50 in assorted colors, some Healthy Blood iron from Garden of Life, and poop bags for the dog. (Counting this expense as “home”) $98.04

12:00 PM - Spend time doing an analysis that doesn’t really tell me much but it was worth looking into. Eat gochujang tempeh salad

2:00 PM - I have a zoom scheduled with a work pal who I haven’t seen in forever. She tells me (much like the few others) that we qualify for the vaccine. I decide to make the appointment based on her feedback and after 40 minutes of messing with the system was able to get in on Feb 19.

5:00 PM - Take my 250th Pure Barre class! I am sweaty and it’s great.

6:45 PM - K isn’t really hungry so I eat the last of the red lentil soup.

7:30 PM - We have plans to see a friend in town from Ohio. Meet up with him at his hotel and sit on the front patio masked up for a while. I am mostly cold and have to pee.

9:45 PM - We arrive back home. I snack on a few pretzels, drink a glass of wine, eat some grapes and some dark chocolate.

DAY FORTY-ONE TOTAL: $98.04

DAY FORTY-TWO

8:30 AM - Chemex. My allergies are bad this AM. Send emails out - looks like my tax return is going to give me $1200 but then I owe $200 on my state. I always owe on state. One day… Also send a note to the loan guy who says I’m definitely going to close tomorrow at 8AM so we shall see.

10:30 AM - Tax invoice comes in. $220

11:00 AM - Boil some more soba noodles for salads. I’m basically going to be in meetings until 4:30 PM today so I’m trying to get ahead of all my stuff. Also do a check for all of the house painting things that came over the past week. Looks like it’s all here and I can start painting this weekend!

12:00 PM - Make salad in between calls and crack open a La Croix.

4:30 PM - My calls are done, do a 10 minute Peloton climb ride and then do a Pure Barre stream.

8:00 PM - Eat the last of the veggie sandwiches for dinner. Drink 2 glasses of wine and some dark chocolate. Something about tonight is off in my brain. I don’t have the capacity to be productive so I just watch episodes of The Challenge on my laptop while K plays Rocket League.

DAY FORTY-TWO TOTAL: $220

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tomsevenstrings · 7 years ago

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answer 30 questions and tag 20 10 blogs you would like to get to know better.

tagged by @sweetorganza, thanks a lot!

1. nicknames: oddly enough I don’t think I’ve ever had one 2. gender: male 3. star sign: cancer 4. height: 5′11 5. time: 21:36 6. birthday: june 30th 7. favourite bands: a bit of everything. my spotify playlist has reached an insanely random level 8. favourite solo artists: couldn’t even begin. it spans from 21 Savage to Ramin Djwadi 9. song stuck in my head: war pigs 10. last movie I watched: Dunkirk 11. last show I watched: that great episode 4 of GoT 12. when did I create this blog: made it in late 2015 13. what do I post: more or less all asoiaf and GoT, though sometimes I’ll throw another post from a different fandom in the ol Q 14. last thing I googled: ramin djwadi [for his surname ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ] 15. do you have any other blogs: none at all 16. do you get asks: very rarely 17. why did you choose your url: tomsevenstrings for Tom of Sevenstreams from asos, I mean come on. “If a song makes a maid want to slip off her clothes and feel the good warm sun kiss her skin, why, is that the singer's fault?” 18. following: 392 19. followers: 262 21: average hours of sleep: around 7 hours 22. lucky number: 7 23. instruments: mingled with guitar when I was younger, never got anywhere 24. what am I wearing right now: wow at least take me out to dinner first 26. dream job: doing whatever I like on a good, sustainable income 27. dream trip: iceland 28. favorite food: chicken 29. nationality: english 30. favorite song: its all over now, baby blue - was from bob dylan but I prefer the animals version

I really can’t think of anyone to tag who might not have already been tagged! thanks again @sweetorganza

#meme

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deyseemerollindeyhatin143 · 6 years ago

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Life update in no particular order

1. So my mental health and life fell apart.

2. Lost my job! & scholarship! Whoo!

3. Quit the show(s) so LESS income

4. Lost my agent

5. Somehow managed not to OD again but almost gave myself a heart attack

6. HAD A COMPLETE NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AND WALKED OUT OF WESTMINSTER

7. Lost friends. Lot of good ones. But you know, it's fine just confirming my attachment issues

8. Men using me for sex and retraumatization!! WHOO!! WE LOVE (no we don't, we hate sobbing on bathroom floors)

9. Urgent care 3x in 5 days

10. Friend/person/whatever inadvertently gave me a really bad episode that lasted 32 hours on shit I forgot happened.

11. BREAKDOWN ROUND 5 THIS TIME WITH FEELING

12. I'm medicated now. Like hard-core to the point where I cannot physically be sad or anxious and I'm giggly all the time. I'm happy. So damn happy I shake and forget words and I haven't had an episode in almost 2 weeks but they wanted happy so this is me - happy.

12. My friends say that I'm not me, and I think they've got a point. But I'm here, so that's good. Old Melissa is officially dead ✌️

12. Nothing feels real. But at least I can smile again. Breathe. That's. Good.

12. I realize how much I self sabatoged, but also how much people fucking pushed me here. I was happy. I was asking for boundaries. I was saying no. But then people...just didn't get it. And I felt like I had no control.

12. Apparently it is a coping behavior when coping behaviors fail, is to do everything to feel like you have control. This can but is not limited to - Deleting your social media, impulsive behavior. Sex. Panic attacks. Giving things away. Drinking. self harm. Self destruction. Suicide attempt.

12. So uhh now I'm medicated after being dragged into the hospital. I'm in control again. Like real control and it's weird. I'm not "coping" but I am actually coping and my therapist gives me blue tissues when I talk.

13. I want to apologize. I really do. Because you deserve that. But to others? I wish I made you bleed out with me. Fuck you for hurting me, fuck you for making me sick, and honestly? Should have known when you stayed friends with his crew.

14. We're alive and slowly fixing things. Officially diagnosed with severe anxiety, major depressive disorder, and Complex PTSD. acceptance is...hard. Healing is hard. But I'm getting there. Or trying to.

15. Thank you for reading, I'm really thankful for all the support I've received so far. sorry this post is dramatic. Been a WEIRD few months and Yay for weird coping behaviors that make this my way of sharing feelings. Now back to your regular scheduled programs!

#mimi talks #personal

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twasonceahuman · 7 years ago

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Tagged by @redsurge220 :D

Rules: List 20 facts about yourself and tag 10 other blogs you’d like to get to know better.

1. I’m left handed when it comes to writing and eating, but for most other things, I use my right hand

2. My dream job was to be a singer, but now I would really like to become a concert film director for music/comedy shows- but I think nowadays I would just be happy working on them, even if it’s just editing them together. Other jobs that I thought I would be good at when I was younger were Hairdressing, Carpentry or Archaeology.

3. I was kept down in preschool because my parents thought I was too young to enter school when I was supposed to because I was born later in the year- never really understood that, but it meant I was always 1-3 years older then everyone in my classes.

4. I had braces from the time I was 14 until just before I turned 16, but started suffering from severe psuedo-vertigo attacks after I had them removed, likely from the release of pressure when they got taken off.

5. Due to my addictive personality and depression, I’ve kept away from drinking altogether. I honestly have enough fun without it, and I just feel like I don’t need it to be able to appreciate a good time.

6. I don’t think I’ve ever had any crushes on guys my own age- they are usually at least twice my age or older which is kinda disconcerting xD It’s probably to do with how immature most boys my own age are and how there is no such thing as traditional dating anymore, so I get drawn to people who seem to have their shit together without being completely uptight. Usually if they can sing and/or have a sense of humour, I’m usually gone- and cuban heels. god damn get me a man with a pair of cuban heels XD

7. Currently I am studying a Diploma of Screen and Media which is basically film and television and I just moved out of home into my own flat in a student complex.

8. My best friend Kate lives all the way in Russia, and we have spoken to each other every day since we first messaged each other 2 years ago this month :3

9. My favourite drink is chocolate milk, favourite food is a toss between burritos, burgers and spagetti, and my favourite dessert is choc mint icecream with skittles and gummi bears (if you haven’t tried frozen gummi bears you’re missing out!).

10. Both of my parents are technically homeless atm. My dad hasn’t got a stable income to support paying rent for a home so he’s living with my older brother in a studio apartment until he can repay some of his debts and hopefully get a better job; and my mum’s just coming out of a troubled relationship where she’s having to apply for government payments to try and find a small place for herself, but it’s been tough as it takes a fair while for paperwork to be filed. I really wish I could help them we’re all pretty much in a bunch of financial hardship

(way to kill the mood xD let’s bring it back up!)

11. Last Saturday I got to meet some of my idols, the Doug Anthony All Stars, again when they came to the theatre I used to usher at. Kate and I run a fan blog @daas-yass that has gifs and all sorts of shit posts on there, and the first time I met them, I gave them a comic book about them that we spent 4 months making last year. I feel like meeting them the second time round was more intimate cause it was a smaller crowd and I was the very last in the signing line so I got to talk to them without being hurried- I’ll reblog a post about my experience later from our side blog but it’s a new set of wonderful memories I now have :3

12. I got a helix piercing on my left ear when I was 17, but had to take it out when I was 18 because it just never healed properly and had really bad keloid scars covering it, so it didn’t look all that nice. I would like to get it redone properly this time so that I don’t scar, but it’ll have to wait til I have some random money and courage xD

13. I have never been able to buy expensive clothes.The most expensive item I’ve bought was a $35 concert shirt!

14. On a normal school day, I take 3 buses and 2 trains :3

15. I don’t have a drivers license because I wouldn’t be able to afford a car afterwards xD

16. My favourite YouTube channel is the SacconeJoly’s. I’ve been watching them since the beginning of 2014 everyday and watching their vlogs is part of my morning routine

17. My current favourite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy. I’ve been a big fan for years but I feel like it keeps getting better and better, and I definitely burst into tears multiple times this new season- especially the episode that Ellen Pompeo aka Meredith directed- it was SO SAD Dx

18. The top draw of my desk is constantly filling up with receipts, no matter how many times I organise them XD

19. I would really like to learn how to animate before the end of this year so I could attempt to do animated music videos for our side blog

20. I’ve run out of fucking facts- who thought 20 was a good idea?!

I’m gonna tag @zolturates and @geggidys ;D

#tag i'm it #shit about me

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tialovestelevision · 8 years ago

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Flooded

Back to going it alone on Buffy. Thank you again to Dragon for wonderful help with that last episode! Now we have Flooded, in which the Slayer navigates the treachery of the loan industry. Will she find a competitive APR? Will she be safe from the dark powers of subprime lending? How will she handle the wickedness of the sale of complex additional credit products? High drama on Buffy!

Oh… also, apparently there’s “three sorcerers,” but that’s much less interesting, isn’t it?

1. Previously On, then Buffy in a basement. Pipes are creaking. She has found Mr. Drippy, which is a drippy pipe. She is trying to fix it. Dawn wants to call a plumber.. Buffy says she can fix it. Then everything sprays water everywhere. That’s a lot of damage. Opening credits, no Tara.

2. There is no possible way the fluid dynamics of that scene made any sense.

3. Buffy is staring at the kitchen sink while it runs water, and telling Dawn to eat breakfast three times a day while Tara eats her first breakfast. I guess elevensies counts as a third breakfast. Willow turned off the tap. Xander and Tito come upstairs; Tito says the pipes are shot and the whole system needs to be replaced. That’s a lot of money. If I were them, I’d look into dark magic - for tightening that pipe to lead to that much water from that many places indicates curses, not plumbing. Tito is out of his depths. The price looks like a phone number. They’re also short on money in general. Buffy is bothered by the fact that she didn’t spend any money but is out of money. Hospital bills ate all of Joyce’s money. The house is costing them money. Buffy suggests burning the house down for insurance money and aesthetic purposes. Given how miserable her time in this house has been, I suspect a perfectly understandable ulterior motive. They think she’s serious; she says she’s kidding. Buffy says that money isn’t the end of the world, then rethinks that because she’s bad at money and good at the end of the world. She says she’ll take care of it. She doesn’t know how. Anya suggests charging for Slaying, which… isn’t a bad idea, come to think of it. Buffy doesn’t like it, though. Xander does not want to get in the middle of an argument between Anya and Dawn about Spider-Man. Anya and Xander leave. Anya is angry with him for not telling his friends about the engagement. She can’t even wear her ring in public. Xander knows his fiancee very well. But not well enough to keep her from stomping off.

4. Buffy is in a suit, either interviewing for a loan or practicing to interview for a loan. Practicing. But she’s at the bank. They don’t need her report cards. Buffy has no income and the house isn’t worth much money because Sunnydale property values keep going down, so she can’t get a loan, it looks like. And now a demon is attacking the bank… it threw someone through the window.

5. Buffy is snarking at the demon. She can’t kick in the skirt. She takes a letter opener from the loan officer and cuts a slit in the skirt. Someone’s robbing the teller drawers while Buffy fights the demon. Security guard shoots at the demon; Buffy takes his gun before chasing the demon out the door. Buffy goes right back to negotiating the loan.

6. Buffy is training. She still got turned down for the loan. Willow and Buffy don’t understand the loan system. Willow is glad Buffy is mad. The anger is gone. Willow is trying to make her mad again. And Willow’s putting pressure on Buffy to emote the wrong way again. Willow realizes she’s doing the wrong thing, but realizes it too late. Buffy goes back to hitting the bag.

7. Tara and Dawn are doing research on the bank demon while Anya tells Xander to tell them about the engagement. Xander says he’ll do so when Buffy and Willow come in. Anya calls him a chicken. Dawn thinks she’s old enough for research; Tara thinks she’s still 15. Dawn points out that if they don’t teach her, she’s going to learn about demons on the street, which is a wonderful line. Dawn opens the book Tara gave her. “That’s a weird place for a horn.” Pause. “That’s not a horn.” Ha-ha! Demon penis joke. Dawn is done with the book. Dawn found the demon. It’s M’Fashnik. Buffy and Willow come in. Dawn shows her the demon; Buffy asks her if she wants a cappuccino and a pack of cigarettes now. Maybe the demon turned down the loan application. The chimes at the door ring. Giles is there. Buffy and Giles are staring at each other. Her face. Just… her face. His face, too. She’s hugging him too hard. I’m giggling and crying. Giles: “But… you’re…” Buffy: “A miracle?” Giles: “Yes. But then, I always thought so.”

8. The demon is in an alley. It growls. It stalks. Buffy and Giles are in the training room. Buffy says she can start. She asks how England and life were. He met the Council, and says there’s not much to say. He has a flat in Bath, met with old friends, almost made a new friend. Buffy asks if Giles is miserable about being back, or just really British. Giles says leaving Sunnydale was difficult, and being back is bewildering. He asks how she is, really. He says she looks tired. She says she’s fine. Sleeping’s hard because of the waking up in a box thing, but that it might be that waking up is a problem, but just for a second. She sleeps okay, except the dreams. Giles says she’s doing well under extreme circumstances. Buffy engages in some post-postmortem comedy. She says she needs to start prepping for the slayage. Giles leaves the room. Anya hugs Giles and says she missed him. Anya finds the new demon interesting. Giles knows M’fashnik. They perform mayhem for the highest bidder. Then the demon comes into a room. Not the Magic Box. Another room. Yells that it had a deal with somebody, and somebody got what somebody wanted, now he wants the head of the Slayer. Oh god. It’s Warren. Remember Warren? With the robots and the super-creepiness and the me not ever wanting to see him again? And Jonathan. Remember Jonathan? With the suicide attempt and the rewriting everyone’s perception of reality and the me being done with him entirely? And… some other guy. Don’t know him. Wait. Since when is Warren a sorcerer? He builds robots and is creepy. Is creepy robot-building sorcery now? They tell the demon they’ll get him the head of the Slayer.

9. After the commercial, back in the basement with Warren, Jonathan, the other guy, and M’Fashnik. M’Fashnik thought they were powerful men with machines and magic and the demon realm below. Warren and the other guy say yeah; Jonathan says they’re like supervillains. Then they do a terrible evil laugh. M’Fashnik asks who the leader is; they all say they are. He says he will kill the leader; they all say they’re not. He will kill them all. Jonathan gets up and offers M’Fashnik money. Says they’re going to pay him. Warren says Jonathan is the wisest of them all. So now M’Fashnik thinks he’s the leader, and says he has to kill him for pitting him against the Slayer. And suck dry his bones. Yuck. And use them to beat the others to death. Warren offers him anything. So the other guy is Andrew. His brother, Tucker, was the guy who summoned the hellhounds on Prom Night. Andrew trained flying demon monkeys to attack the school play. M’Fashnik is out of patience, and doesn’t want anything they offer. He wants the Slayer dead. They offer to do that; he wants it to involve pain.

10. Giles is apparently staying at the Summers house. Buffy is giving him whimsical bedding. He’ll be sleeping on the sofa. Buffy says that they’re having money problems. She’s trying not to think about it. Giles says she’s putting too much pressure on herself. Talks about how hard things must be. She says she’s scaring people; Giles is understanding. He says life can be overwhelming even for people who haven’t been where she has. He offers to help her with the bills in the morning. She’s glad he’s back; he’s glad she’s back too. Buffy leaves the room, and Giles looks… worried, but too happy to be all that worried, but too worried to be all that happy.

11. Jonathan, Andrew, and Creepmeister are in the basement. Jonathan and Andrew don’t want to kill Buffy. Creepmeister says they have to kill her, and they’re working in his mom’s house, so he makes the rules. They’ve been working together for a month to take over Sunnydale. They just voted not to kill Buffy. Warren has an idea for M’Fashnik. Warren gives M’Fashnik the address to Buffy’s house. He then lies to his friends using a Star Wars reference.

12. Giles walks into the kitchen where Willow is. She asks if he had a great talk with Buffy, he is very terse with her. Repeatedly. He asks about the spell. Willow describes it in really dismissive, flighty terms; Giles says she’s a very stupid girl. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The forces you’ve harnessed, the lines you’ve crossed?” “I thought you’d be impressed or something.” “Oh, don’t worry. You’ve… made a very deep impression. Of everyone here, you were the one I trusted the most, to respect the forces of nature.” “Are you saying you don’t trust me?” “Think what you’ve done to Buffy.” “I brought her back!” “At incredible risk!” “Risk? Of what? Making her deader?” “Of killing us all. Unleashing Hell on Earth. I mean, shall I go on?” Willow says that she did what nobody else could do. Giles says there are others who could do it; she just doesn’t want to meet them. Giles delivers a well-deserved chewing out to Willow; Willow… does not respond well. She threatens him. Then she seems to snap out of the moment when she threatened him. Giles points out that they still don’t know where Buffy was, or what happened to her. He’s far from convinced she’s come out of all this undamaged.

13. Buffy is outside. On the porch. Spike throws a cigarette at the porch. She overheard their conversation, because they are still terrible at information security. So she feels worse. Spike is actually covering for Giles. Buffy says people’s caring makes it harder; Spike doesn’t understand. Buffy is spending all her time being okay so her friends don’t worry, and it’s exhausting her. Then they see she’s exhausted and things are worse. Spike offers to kill her friends for her. That makes her smile a bit. They sit on the steps. She asks why he’s around when she’s miserable; he says that’s when she’s alone. Neither of them likes crowds. She asks him about money.

14. Dawn meets Giles in the living room. He was reading a book. She suggests mixing all the cereals in a bowl. He offers to be the control group. And someone’s playing with the doorknob. It’s M’Fashnik, who bursts in and throws both of them across the room. Buffy grabs M’Fashnik by the shirt and tells him he’s paying for the door. And the table. He breaks a lamp. They’re both very angry with each other over finances. Buffy’s saving her vase and kicking M’Fashnik around. She puts him in the kitchen. Buffy’s taking him to the basement. They tumble into the basement. Now they’re fighting in the flooded basement. He broke one of the pipes; she’s done with him. She beats him to death with a pipe while ranting about full copper repipes. Spike pokes his head down and asks if they knew the place was flooded.

15. It looks like Jonathan, Andrew, and Creepmeister spent the bank robbery money on a lair. And a flamethrower. And swag. And a periscope. And action figures. But they’re still in Creepmeister’s mom’s basement. They talk about hypnotizing Buffy into a sex bunny. God, I hate them. They are glad they didn’t have to earn anything. Crime is their wormhole.

16. Summers house. Everything is broken. Anya is going through their finances. Buffy is rethinking the charging people thing. Giles knows he’s back because he was knocked out. Buffy wants to know who hired the demon. Willow wants to do a locator spell; Giles stops that with a glance. Xander declares the coffee table dead. Dawn declares the lamp dead. Giles is going to check on Buffy. Buffy doesn’t think she can do this; Giles says she can. He refers to Joyce, who I will note had a successful business, connections in the art world, and didn’t have to spend her nights fighting demons and vampires or start with a huge amount of debt before making things work. He’s positive she can make things work. Buffy goes to answer the phone. Dawn asks if it’s creditors and if she’ll have to quit school and work in a poorly ventilated sweatshop. Giles wants to know what Dawn’s been reading, but it was Angel on the phone. He knows that Buffy’s back. He needs to see her. They’re meeting between LA and Sunnydale. Giles says they should square the bills away; she says she has to go now and thanks him for taking care of the bills for her. Episode end.

Overall: Okay, so, starting at the end: We’re supposed to take Buffy’s inability to deal with her financial trouble as some sign of her poor mental health. Honestly, to me, that - and her forceful delegation of it to the people most able to handle it - is the best thing she’s done for herself since her resurrection. The reality is that she CAN’T handle her financial problems, not just psychologically but practically. She has no job, her house is worth basically nothing (and it’s implied there’s still debt on it), she’s a college dropout with no work experience, a teenager to feed, and three tenants living rent-free, and her personal paperwork can’t possibly be anything but a mess on account of the three months she’s spent dead. A mess that will cost money to straighten out. Money she doesn’t have. She was dead, for months, after giving her own life to save the world, and she’s now getting used to being back in the world. Taking an impossible situation off her own plate is smart, and if nobody’s volunteering to handle it for her, well, she didn’t volunteer for either Slayerdom or resurrection. She really ought to just get a big leather book and write, “To every generation, one is born. She will be called… The Accountant,” give that to Anya, and call it a day on financial worries. Or inform the Council that she’s going to keep saving the world but they have to save her house and keep her afloat financially. Charging PEOPLE to save them is probably morally wrong, yes, but charging the Council instead of providing services for free? Or the government, by way of the military? That seems reasonable to me, and those are things she can likely pull off.

“You are responsible for your own mental health after a traumatic resurrection, the safety of the world and everyone around you, and your own finances” is the unreasonable expectation.

On the topic of the rest of the episode… I actually really liked it. It wasn’t “Amends” or “Hush,” but it was very good. M’Fashnik was a fun villain with interesting motivation (demon wants to be paid, but not in money) and made for good action scenes, getting Buffy up and snarking again was great, Giles’s moments with Buffy and Dawn and even Anya were really heartbreaking/heartwarming, and his moment with Willow did more to sell me the whole “Willow’s magic use is becoming A Problem” thing than any number of oral squamadectomies. The momentary jarring expression and tone of Willow’s threat followed by her immediate terror and inability to recognize what she’d just done was a well-done bit of acting on Alyson Hannigan’s part, and Anthony Stewart Head is just always wonderful.

This is a solid B-tier episode. It’s not one of the best in the series, but it’s good. I just wish the central message of it had worked better.

#buffy the vampire slayer #buffy season 6 #flooded #season 6

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fuckleknuckle · 8 years ago

Note

for the unique questions- all of them!!! :)

OKAY so i accidentally closed the tab?? and i was halfway done?? sorry if the first 50 seemed half-assed i was pissed

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

i open them just a crack

2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?

hell yeah

3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?

tucked out since i roll around a lot to get comfortable

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

how do people do that

5: Do you like to use post-it notes?

yes (even though they’re overpriced as hell) !! they make me feel organized. i’ll pay extra for the pop-up ones too

6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?

yeah i like cutting stuff

7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?

a bear since it’s only one bear and bees will fuck you up

8: Do you have freckles?

kind of?? i have those pale east asian freckles

9: Do you always smile for pictures?

yeah but i have the worst smile

10: What is your biggest pet peeve?

when people chew with their mouth open or when neurotypicals try to tell me that i can cure my depression with yoga, healthy eating, and the right mindset!!

11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

i do when i’m bored and i don’t have earbuds

12: Have you ever peed in the woods?

13: What about pooped in the woods?

14: Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?

sometimes but i won’t admit it

15: Do you chew your pens and pencils?

a l l o f t h e m

16: How many people have you slept with this week?

zero zip zilch nada

17: What size is your bed?

twin

18: What is your Song of the week?

smile by mikky ekko

19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink?

of course!! color has no gender

20: Do you still watch cartoons?

yup

21: Whats your least favorite movie?

percy jackson and the sea of monsters because i PAID for that

22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?

in a graveyard duh

23: If you’re a girl, bra size? If you’re a guy, pants size?

34A

24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in?

barbeque sauce

25: What is your favorite food?

sushi or chicken pad thai

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

anastasia and the original star wars trilogy

27: Last person you kissed/kissed you?

my baby cousin

28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

no and thank god

29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

probably not too much gender dysmorphia

30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

like two years ago? lmao

31: Can you change the oil on a car?

fuck no

32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

can’t drive

33: Ever ran out of gas?

can’t drive

34: Favorite kind of sandwich?

turkey idk i’m chinese

35: Best thing to eat for breakfast?

congee with salted duck eggs because i’m chinese

36: What is your usual bedtime?

one am on a good day

37: Are you lazy?

seeing how i’m answering this instead of doing homework, yes

38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

i dressed up as a cop once, a witch a few times, and some other ones

39: What is your Chinese astrological sign?

the horse

40: Are you horny?

no next question please

41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

no but i read the new york times online when i have the chance

42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs?

legos fuck lincoln logs

43: Are you stubborn?

not really

44: Who is better…Leno or Letterman?

what

45: Ever watch soap operas?

no but my mom does and it gets annoying since they keep killing each other and crying

46: Are you afraid of heights?

YESS fUCK HEIGHTS

47: Do you sing in the car?

nope

48: Do you sing in the shower?

on rare occasions yes

49: Do you dance in the car?

no because someone can look out their window and see me

50: Ever used a gun?

yeah a watergun

51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

if you’re not counting school photos then when i was 4 months old

52: Do you think musicals are cheesy?

fuck no they’re the shit

53: Is Christmas stressful?

y e s i hate having everyone over and everything’s too busy and jkfad

54: Ever eat a pierogi?

no but they look good

55: Favorite type of fruit pie?

does pumpkin count

56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

a teacher then a lawyer and now a forensic scientist

57: Do you believe in ghosts?

kind of? i believe in recarnation though

58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?

all the time because the days blur together

59: Take a vitamin daily?

no but i probably should

60: Wear slippers?

nope

61: Wear a bath robe?

nope

62: What do you wear to bed?

a loose shirt and underwear, sometimes socks

63: First concert?

never been to one ;-;

64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?

wal-mart

65: Nike or Adidas?

adidas

66: Cheetos Or Fritos?

cheetos

67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

peanuts

68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?

what’s that

69: Ever take dance lessons?

ballet when i was five

70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

something that they love

71: Can you curl your tongue?

yeah and flip it over too

72: Ever won a spelling bee?

fuck no i can’t even spell necessary correctly half the time

73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

yes - citation: yuri on ice episode 12

74: Own any record albums?

nope but i kind of want to for aesthetic value

75: Own a record player?

76: Regularly burn incense?

no? get a candle

77: Ever been in love?

naw i’m still a kid

78: Who would you like to see in concert?

brendon urie or beyonce

79: What was the last concert you saw?

again, i never been to one

80: Hot tea or cold tea?

i don’t like leaf water

81: Tea or coffee?

neither hot chocolate all the way

82: Sugar or snickerdoodles?

snickerdoodles! holy crap i love snickerdoodles

83: Can you swim well?

i wish

84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?

yeah..? can people not do that

85: Are you patient?

sometimes. it really depends on the situation

86: DJ or band, at a wedding?

a band, i’m in it for the class

87: Ever won a contest?

i won a drawing one once

88: Ever have plastic surgery?

no but i want top surgery one day (if that counts as plastic surgery)

89: Which are better black or green olives?

i don’t like olives they’re like grapes that tried

90: Can you knit or crochet?

nope but i want to learn

91: Best room for a fireplace?

the living room so everyone can be cozy together

92: Do you want to get married?

sure

93: If married, how long have you been married?

not married

94: Who was your HS crush?

well there’s this really cute girl but i’ll spare you the details

95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?

no?? i mean i used to but i’m not 3 anymore???

96: Do you have kids?

not yet and i hope not until i have a secure income and a house

97: Do you want kids?

one day!! i would love to adopt

98: Whats your favorite color?

mint green

99: Do you miss anyone right now?

carrie fisher

#ty so much anon !!#opalask #long post

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ethicsustinvest · 4 years ago

Text

PODCAST: ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

ESG stock and fund picks for July include blue-chip names, alternative and renewable energy companies, yieldcos, a money market fund, and more. Top analysts from InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool, Forbes, and wallst.com, offer their recommendations. With stock market optimism near new highs, ESG and sustainable investing analysts are increasingly focused on finding tomorrow’s winners today

PODCAST: ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

Transcript & Links, Episode 36, July 17, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 36 published on July 17 titled “ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts.

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

-------------------------------------------------------------

1. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

The first article is by David Moadel on InvestorPlace. It’s titled 5 ESG Stocks to Buy for Conscientious Investment Gains. I’ll first mention a company he recommends then follow with some relevant quotes from him.

1) Cola-Cola (KO). Since 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded over $1 billion in grants to support sustainable-community endeavors worldwide…. Each year, the company strives to give back 1% of the previous year’s operating income… it sports a tasty forward annual dividend yield of 3.65% as well as a very reasonable trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 18.78.

2) Salesforce (CRM). Long-term stakeholders of customer relationship management (CRM) platform Salesforce have done well financially… Salesforce wants to achieve 100% renewable energy use by the year 2022. (It’s stock] trajectory is clearly to the upside.

3) 3M (MMM). 3M sends its best and brightest to cities in various global localities to work alongside organizations, nonprofits and local municipalities… Currently, 3M delivers a forward annual dividend yield of 3.8%. Plus, the stock features a trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 17.9. These metrics highlight a strong profile that any ESG investor can feel good about.

4) NextEra Energy (NEE). [Is] currently the world’s biggest solar and wind energy producer… ‘NextEra has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions rate by 52 percent since 2001 and is targeting a reduction of more than 65 percent by 2021, relative to a 2001 baseline,’ according to analysts at RBC Capital… NextEra Energy stock should keep investors satisfied with a forward annual dividend yield of 2.34%.

5) McDonald’s (MCD). McDonald’s has a goal of procuring 100% of the company’s ‘guest’ (i.e., customer) packaging from recycled, renewable or certified sources… Turning our attention to McDonald’s stock, we can observe that it offers a tasty forward annual dividend yield of 2.74%.” End quotes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

2. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

A new analyst to this podcast is Paul Ausick who has penned an article titled 7 Alternative Energy Stocks With Massive Market Growth in the Coming Years. He writes about some familiar companies to the listeners of this podcast. His article was found on the walllst.com site.

Here are some quotes and recommendations from him.

Alternative Energy Producers

“1) Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) [Plug Power] offers hydrogen fuel cell solutions for electric vehicles and electricity markets in North America and Europe. The company announced two acquisitions… and the stock price shot up 20% following the announcement… The consensus price target is $9.34 and the high target is $14.00 from H.C. Wainwright. At the high target price, the stock has an implied upside of 71.2%.

2) Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) designs, manufactures and sells solid-oxide fuel cells for on-site power generation… the consensus price target is $11.00. At the high price target of $21.00, the implied upside on the stock is 67.6%.

3) First Solar Inc. (NYSE: FSLR) designs and manufactures its own modules, and the company’s systems segment designs and builds solar energy systems… The consensus 12-month price target on the stock is $53.57, with the high target set at $75.00 per share. At that price, the implied upside to Wednesday’s closing price is 29.2%.

4) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) is a Bermuda-based yieldco that owns and operates some 19 GW of renewable generating in all parts of the world… the consensus price target is $35.63… Brookfield is significantly overvalued, but the firm’s dividend yield is 4.4% and the implied upside to the high target is 28.3%.

5) Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ: RUN) designs, develops, installs, owns and maintains residential solar energy systems in the United States. The company recently acquired rival Vivint Solar Inc. (NYSE: VSLR) for $3.2 billion in stock… The consensus price target is $24.43, and the high target was set Monday at $31.00. At that high target price, the implied upside is 9.7%.” End quotes.

Yieldcos

6) NextEra Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: NEP) is a yieldco that buys, owns and manages contracted clean energy projects and natural gas pipelines in the United States… At the high price target of $65.00, the implied upside on the stock is 18.3%. NextEra Energy Partners pays a dividend yield of 4.17%.

7) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure PLC (NASDAQ: AY) is a U.K.-based yieldco that owns and manages renewable energy and other assets (including natural gas) in several countries in the Western Hemisphere and in Spain, Algeria and South Africa… The high price target of $34.00 implies an upside of 13.9%. The company also pays a dividend yield of 5.57%.

-------------------------------------------------------------

3. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

Travis Hoium has again written about his favourite renewable energy stocks that mirror some of the comments made by the previous analysts. Mr. Hoium’s article is titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in July and as usual, appeared on the Motley Fool site.

Once more, I’ll mention the companies followed by his relevant quotes.

“1) NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP). [Yes this is obviously a favourite of these analysts! Now getting back to the quote…] NextEra Energy Partners owns and operates wind- and solar-power generating assets, paying up front for the projects and then collecting revenue over the course of decades as they produce electricity… Management says that it expects to boost the dividend by 12% to 15% annually through 2024, so even with the payout yielding 4.1% today, this dividend stock has a lot of upside ahead.

2) SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR). SunPower is about to spin off its high-efficiency solar manufacturing business as Maxeon Solar Technologies… The new SunPower will still use Maxeon solar panels… Today with the SunPower Design Studio, you can have a solar installation designed for your house and get a price quote online in a matter of minutes… Over the next few years it may even become the biggest residential solar company in the U.S., a title it already holds in commercial solar.

3) Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ). The solar industry is booming worldwide, and Canadian Solar is one of the industry's biggest manufacturers and project developers… Canadian Solar is one of the few manufacturers that is still building and selling large solar projects, and with a backlog and pipeline of 15.7 gigawatts of new projects, this business could generate billions of dollars of future revenue.” End quotes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

4. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

Forbes MoneyShow posted an article by Jim Woods titled 3 Socially Responsible ETFs For Impact Investing. These ETFs have been covered here several times before but it’s always interesting to see analysts providing their unique perspectives.

As usual, I’ll mention each one followed by quotes from Mr. Woods.

“1) The iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF (ESGU) tracks an index composed of U.S. companies that have been selected and weighted for positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics… Portfolio optimization software is used to maximize the fund’s stake in highly rated companies, while also staying true to market-like exposure… The iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF seeks similar risk and return to the MSCI USA Index, while achieving a more sustainable outcome.

2) Goldman Sachs GS +1% JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (JUST) has been created to specifically reflect the importance of corporate social responsibility. The ETF tracks an index of U.S.-listed large-cap stocks that are selected through the use of a survey that ranks companies for their practices…

According to JUST Capital… companies [in the index are] more likely to pay their workers a living wage, create jobs in the United States at a greater rate, produce less greenhouse gas emissions, give more to charity and pay less in fines for unethical behavior. This ETF’s launch also was a stunning success.

3) PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT). As an actively managed exchange-traded fund, compared to a money market fund, the PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF seeks greater income and total return potential by investing in short-term debt securities with an environmental, social and governance (ESG) screen…

Investors will not solely be exposed to U.S.-based debt… For socially conscious investors… Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF may be worth consideration.” End quotes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

End Comment

Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: “ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July.”

And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on July 31. Bye for now.

Click here to download the episode

#water #burger #Unilever #Nestlé #investing #ethical #ESG #sustainable #Morningstar #investors #bonds #stock #ETF #fund #vegan #vegetarian

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ukimmigrationmatters · 4 years ago

Video

youtube

Home owners trapped in rip-off high rate mortgages, MP's call for government action

British MPs are urging the government to intervene and help 170,000 "prisoners" who are trapped it mortgages with high interest rates.

Many of the borrowers are lower paid frontline workers, like nurses and hospital workers, who have no choice but to pay up to double the interest they would be charged on a normal competitive mortgage.

They cannot re-mortgage to a cheaper deal offered by other lenders due to stricter affordability rules brought in by the Bank of England after they borrowed the money.

MPs are now calling on the government to order regulators to investigate the profits firms make from the borrowers.

They want the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to consult and introduce a cap on so-called “standard variable rates”, which will help all borrowers coming out of fixed or discount rate mortgage deals.

Hundreds of thousands of borrowers are unable switch mortgages because their loan is too high against the value of their home or because they are now too old to re-mortgage. This leaves them at the mercy of their lender which can legally charge whatever rate they like.

The FCA reformed the affordability rules last October to allow lenders to help mortgage prisoners with cheaper home loans, but no lenders have changed their criteria.

Borrowers with bankrupt lenders, such as the Northern Rock, are prisoners to the new owners who are neither offering competitive products or looking after their borrowers.

Some borrowers have been paying between 6% and 9%pa after coming off initial fixed rates several years ago.

Self-employed have only days left to apply for government grant phase 1.

If you’re eligible and your business has been adversely affected you must make your claim for the first grant on or before 13 July 2020.

This scheme is being extended. If you’re eligible for the second and final grant, and your business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020 you’ll be able to make a claim from 17 August 2020. You can make a claim for the second grant if you’re eligible, even if you did not make a claim for the first grant. Find out more about the extension to the scheme.

Apply here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme#extension

In this Money Tips Podcast episode:

1. Nationwide starts lending again to riskier home buyers

2. Travellers arriving in the UK from dozens of countries no longer need to self-isolate

3. Rules relaxed for arrivals from more than 70 countries and British overseas territories

4. Beauty salons and “open air gyms” allowed to reopen with more reopening to follow

5. Eat out to help out meal deal scheme launches in August to help hospitality sector

6. Stamp Duty slashed until 31 March 2021 by raising the threshold to 500,000

7. Chancellor Rishi Sunak keen to boost the property market and “build build build”

8. New planning rules will open up more opportunities to make money in property

9. Opportunity is everywhere for everyone, especially in property! But you have ACT!

10. Even the 'Secret law of attraction' requires you to get off your ass and TAKE ACTION!

11. Homeowners will get vouchers of up to £5,000 for energy-saving improvements

12. The poorest will receive up to £10,000 in £2 billion energy saving grant scheme

13. Will your job be one of millions phased out by automation, innovation and AI?

14. You don’t need your own money to create a second income in property

15. Time to your economy or Uconomy started whatever the economy is doing!

16. You can create a second income during the lockdown…and come out stronger

17. Learn how to make money from property without deposits, mortgages or cash

Millions of people face a bleak future post-Coronavirus lockdown, as businesses disappear and the job furlough scheme eventually comes to an end. However, life doesn’t have to end because of lockdown! You can join thousands of ordinary people who have increased their income and added streams of new income during this period.

Are you ready to adapt to the new economic model?

As lockdown restrictions around the world are being eased, the economic model has subtly changed forever. How will you adapt to this new way of working and running a business, what obstacles and opportunities lies ahead? Will you be a participant or spectator in this revolution?

By Charles Kelly, Property Investor, Author of Yes, Money Can Buy You Happiness and creator of Money Tips Podcast.

There are more examples and practical steps to getting rich and being happy in my book, Yes, money can buy happiness, I cover the 3 R’s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Check it out on Amazon http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook.

If you’d like further information on how to survive the crisis and even quit the rat race, email me at [email protected] or send me a message through Facebook or my Money Tips Daily community. See more articles at www.moneytipsdaily.com

E-Commerce Cashflow 19th July, 2020 7:00 PM (UK)

Learn how to... Build a profitable e-commerce business in less than 90 days. Replace your income in months. Help get the products to people that they need the most. Be able to spend more time doing what you love, with the people you love.

Join the free training here: https://bit.ly/3gLXaKW

#mortgage #property #make money on the internet #money

0 notes

celtfather · 5 years ago

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St Patrick's Day and Month

Greetings Gunn Runner

And farewell February. Things might've run a little behind. But I made big progress this month. Especially with the release of my Kickstarter for Selcouth. I conquered my $5000 goal just a few days after it launched. It still has two weeks to go. So I'm feeling pretty good about it so far. But before we talk more about that, let's talk about...

Show #259

0:40 - PODCASTS

The Pub Songs Podcast is back with a vengeance. I am a podcaster at heart. I figured it'd be fairly easy to knock out completely live episodes of the Pub Songs Podcast to my Kickstarter every week. And I was correct. I recorded four new episodes so far. Which is good because in addition to promoting the podcast, it also allows me to keep to my initial schedule of how many episodes I want to release this year.

Plus, I love the format. I'm fine tuning it still. But it starts with a song. I go into some news, add a stories from the road, and a couple more songs. It feels good. Like something I COULD keep up every week. Though I don't plan to at present.

Stories from the Road is not getting ahead. But I have a lot of new content. So I'm staying on top of it. That's good because this is my Patron-only podcast.

I got ahead for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. But I already feel like I'm losing that lead I got. I want to try and knock out a bunch of summer episodes. But I'm stalling for St Patrick's Day. Sooooo we shall see. The In the ‘Verse podcast is coming. I apologize for the delay. But it's been crazy.

Course, that doesn't mean I didn't go ahead and setup the Cat Music Lovers podcast. The first podcast I ever published was the Cat Lovers Podcast. I created it to promote my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. But I ran out of time and had less interest in keeping it going. But I was still proud of that show. I was happy it was still available. Until I realized it was No Longer available. So I did a bunch of maintenance on the show. It should be back up on Apple Podcasts soon.

2:54 - VIDEOS

My voice is back. Which means Coffee with the Celtfather is back as well. I feel like I've had some good shows. Though the attendance still seems a little lower than I'd like. Maybe I need to promote the show more.

That said, I am posting new videos on YouTube. And I'm working on a new strategy for the site.

My views have dropped dramatically since I deleted all of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast videos. Now each video I post gets about 50 views. That's not too good. But it allows me to start over and decide what this channel will be.

So what will it be?

Family videos set to my music. I like doing videos of my family. It's extra cool when I can add in my own music to spice up the video. I haven't figured out how to name the videos yet. But these videos help me learn a lot about shooting and editing videos.

I have a new one featuring Inara. We went for a hike the other day. It was't too bad a video. My editing still needs work though

Travel videos. I recorded a lot of video these past couple o'years going on my Celtic Invasion Vacations. These are a great way to promote my trips. So I'm gonna keep editing these videos.

The sucky thing is that as I edit them, I realize I should've done this or that... Like in the latest video from The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. I did a poor job filming. But there was enough footage that it's not too bad.

Song Performance videos. I thought I had recorded a lot of these videos. After reviewing my site, I realize I haven't. So I'm gonna keep recording me singing individual songs.

This is a great way to attract new followers of my site. So hopefully, you'll see more.

Celtic Geek Thoughts. I'm not yet sure how to do these videos or what content to put on them, aside from the Celtic Top 40 videos I wanna do. But I'll have to tell you when I figure that out.

10:26 - MERCH

My free CD offer went over GREAT last month. If you ever want to find out how many of your fans listen to physical CDs. Give one away. LOL. I had over a hundred that went out into the world. And of course, all you have to do is pay the shipping cost. You'll find a link in the shownotes if you want one.

Again the Kickstarter for Selcouth is going great. I'm $700 over my initial goal. Yes. My actual goal is to earn $7500. But at least my base expenses are covered. I CAN create a new CD. And I still have two weeks to go to hit my first stretch goal.

I ran into one interesting problem as the goal has started to stall out. That is, how do I keep up momentum. Seems like every time I post something fun or interesting, I get a spike. But I'm not the best storyteller I think. So that's making it tough.

I discussed this challenge with Andrew. He suggested that I bring people in on video to chat about it. I'm gonna try and do that the next couple o'weeks. Stay tuned...

12:06 - TRAVEL

The Celtic Invasion of Venice closed up. We have a very small group this year. And I can start planning for Scotland in 2021. But I'm excited to see what happens next...

12:56 - WEBSITES

With St Patrick's Day just around the corner, I started updating my Irish Song Lyrics website. I started this site years ago to promote my Celtic songs. Admittedly, I've done little with it the past few years, Except around St Patrick's Day.

But I decided to update it for two reasons. One, it's that time of year. And two because I want to get back to helping people learn these songs.

You see, the reason I started the site was to offer an incredible resource. How to play songs the way I learn them, by ear. There are just lyrics, chords, and music to listen to on the site. You can play along with me over and over again if you so desire. This makes it a lot easier.

I'm also trying to make it entirely about the user. I removed much of the advertising that was on the website. Now it's just the stuff you really want. It's an amazing, free resource. So go along with me.

14:15 - PROMOTION

I also had a new promotion idea I thought up recently using Facebook groups... Well, actually any online community.

I have two groups that I actively share to on Facebook: Celtic Geeks and Irish & Celtic Music Club. Most everything really goes to the Celtic Geeks group. If I find something I love, unless it's hardcore Celtic, I share it to the Celtic Geeks group.

That makes it easy. I don't use my personal profile. I share to an interactive community. It's awesome.

And that's the tip I came up with.

Instead of trying to share my music to your friends who may or may not share you interests, share to a group, where your interests definitely align.

I haven't seen many Gunn Runners doing that yet, well aside from Sarah, who sort of inspired this idea when she shared Selcouth to a Firefly fan group.

16:04 - SHOWS PLANNED FOR MARCH

I updated the gig calendar on my website. I'm using Google Calendars again. This is going GREAT for listing shows. You can see everywhere I'll be this year. And yes, it is fully up-to-date.

MAR 7: The Lost Druid, Decatur, GA @ 7:30 PM MAR 12: St Patrick's Day Internet Concert on YouTube @ 8:30 PM MAR 13: Interstellar Ginger Beer & Exploration Co, Alabaster, AL MAR 14: St Patrick’s Day at 5 Points, Birmingham, AL MAR 20-22: ConCoction, Cleveland, Ohio MAR 26: Tucker Brewing Company, Tucker, GA @ 6:30 PM

APR 4-5: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX APR 9: Internet Concert on YouTube @ 8:30 PM APR 11-12: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX APR 17-19: JordanCon, Atlanta, GA Weds 10:30 AM EDT: Coffee with The Celtfather, Facebook (Season 5!)

17:24 - STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1038 is up from 1024 Celtic Music Magazine = 3963 is up from 3859 at the beginning of the year

YouTube Subscribers = 4441 is up 53 from 4388 YouTube Watch Time = 314.8K is up from 19.0K and 32.1K min from the month before YouTube Views = 8.5K is down from 8.8K

Facebook Likes = 3667 is up from 3666 FB Page Views = 501 is up from 392 FB Reach = 9214 is up from 8839 FB Video Views = 9485 is up from 8466

Spotify Latest Single Stats: "Slainte Mhaith Christmas": 3347 is up from 3310 is up from 3238 Spotify Latest Single Stats: "The Last Jedi Drinking Song": 832 is up from 696 Spotify Latest Album Stats: I Will Not Sing Along: 1.4k streams, "One Note Concerto in G" has the most streams

Spotify followers: 1476 is up 31 from 1445 # Number of listens on Spotify: 3266 is up from 2224 Most-popular songs on Spotify: Wild Kitty (1.6K), The Widow and the Devil (1.2K), Doctor of Gallifrey (567), When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling (331), Furagone's Wake (320), Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (289), Reavers, Malcolm Reavers (264), Hero of Canton (224) Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits (162)

Top Irish & Celtic Music: 431 is up from 426 Firefly Drinking Songs: 103 is up from 101

PATREON

Patreon Subscribers: 155 is up from 151 Patreon Monthly Income: $1050 is up from $977

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Remember. You can help me create and release more music. Join the Gunn Runners Club to step behind-the-scenes with bonus podcasts, new music, videos, and live concerts. Slainte!

#CFMonthly

Check out this episode!

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surveyyyys · 6 years ago

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1. Is this the best year of your life? LOL there's really no way of knowing since it's only January and I'm not in school yet. I don't know if/think that this year is gonna be the best year of my life, but I hope it's at least gonna be better than 2018!

2. What was the first thing you did when you woke up? Snoozed LOL

3. The person you like is? I don't like anyone.

4. Is anything bothering you? My heart's been acting a lil funky. This happens sometimes... it's like excess adrenaline/anxiety that I have even when I'm not doing anything. I'm also hoping that I don't go into a downward spiral of negative emotion around now, because that tends to happen when I'm up late.

5. Does anyone annoy you? LOL lots of people

6. Would you like things to “go back to normal” with a certain someone? This doesn't really apply to anyone in my life right now

7. What was the last thing you did before you went to bed last night? I watched this self help video on Youtube. It wasn't anything special and it didn't really change my life at all. I was feeling a little low when it was over, so I texted my friend about it. I scrolled a little bit on Tumblr to get my mind off things. Then I put on an episode of a podcast that helps me go to sleep, and then I went to sleep.

8. Is life good? Right now it's pretty okay. And I have a feeling it's only going to get better.

9. Do you remember who you liked on New Years? LOL I didn't like anyone on New Year's.

10. Do you still like them? ^^

11. Do you still speak to them? ^^

12. Told your parents you were going somewhere, but went somewhere else? LOL a bunch of times. It's how you have to be with brown parents.

13. Are you dating the last person you kissed on the lips? Not anymore.

14. Do you hate the last girl you had a conversation with? Nah I love my mom LOL

15. Would you go out with someone right now if they asked? LOL nah I'm in my jammies.

16. Three days from now, will you be in a relationship? LMAO I hope not

17. If someone liked you right now, would you want them to tell you? Actually no. I think I'm doing okay right now and I don't need any of those complications. I'd want them to wait at least a couple months.

18. Have you kissed anyone in the last month? Nope.

19. What was the last reason you went to the doctor for? I think I went for a blood test.

20. Do you like being home alone, or does it freak you out? Depends. If it's been a stressful week then I like being home alone just to unwind. But if I'm home alone for an extended amount of time, I get super depressed.

21. Would you ever kiss anyone you texted today? Eh... depending on the situation, I wouldn't be opposed to it.

22. Do you have any bruises on you? Nah

23. How was 2013 for you? Oof absolutely horrendous.

24. How late did you stay up last night, and why? Probably like 1-1:30

25. Do you ever get good morning texts from anyone? From my mom!

26. Do you regret anything you’ve done lately? LOL nah, for once I've actually been doing things right.

27. What woke you up today? My alarm

28. What makes you happy? Coffee, exercise, understanding how to do something difficult, having nice makeup/eyebrows, having good conversation with good people, doing something new and refreshing, and probably a bunch of other things.

29. Ever kissed on a boat? LOL nope

30. Have you ever been told that you are amazing? Yeah probably

31. Finish this sentence: The last person I kissed is… A good guy and definitely deserves the best. But he's just not right for me so I can't be with him.

32. This time last year, can you remember who you liked? Yup

33. Do you like when people play with your hair? LOL not really... but then again, there's not much hair to play with LOL

34. Do you plan on sleeping in tomorrow? Definitely LOL there's only a couple more days that I can do that before I go back to school

35. Waiting for something? I'm waiting for school to start

36. Was last night terrible? Nah it was fine

37. Did you lose friends when you started dating someone? I actually made a lot of new friends when I did!

38. Are you the type of person to make people laugh? LOL I'm usually pretty funny when I try to be.

39. Don’t tell me lies - is the last person you texted attractive? LOL I always thought so. And I have a feeling he thinks I'm cute too. But like,,, it'll be weird to actually date him you know?

40. Is tomorrow going to be a good day? LOL I hope so!

41. Are you missing someone? I'm always subconsciously missing someone. It's my default. But consciously, no.

42. Has anyone ever tried to ruin a relationship you were in? LOL yup

43. Do you believe in karma? No I don't because I never see it work out the way it's supposed to.

44. Do you sleep with a fan on? LOL nah I get really cold when I sleep so I don't like fans being on unless it's really hot out.

45. Do you think anyone’s thinking about you right now? Probably not.

46. Is there anyone you wish you were spending time with right now? Not really.

47. Do you go to school? Yeah, college

48. Is the last person you texted single? I think so? He posted these suspicious pics with some girl lately... but he's been flirting and he's definitely not the type to be unfaithful if something were going on. So he's most likely single.

49. Who was driving the last time you were in a car? My dad

50. Have you ever used the word “rawr” in an actual conversation? LOLOL it's been a hell of a long time

51. Are the blinds on your window open or closed? My window doesn't have blinds, it has curtains. But those are closed.

52. Did you leave milk and cookies for Santa when you were little? Yes!

53. What were you doing at eleven last night? I think I was trying to get work done

54. What could you eat any day of the week and never get tired of? Rice! Usually I eat it every day at home.

55. Is there someone you wouldn’t mind kissing right now? Ugh will you stop it with the kissing questions? I'm not gonna be getting any action for a while LOL.

56. Someone knocks on your window at 5AM; what do you say? I'd probably sleep through it. And if I didn't sleep through it, I'd probably piss my pants with fear LOL

57. Would you change yourself for the person you love? LOLOL NOPE

58. Let me guess, your last incoming call was from the opposite sex? Nope

59. What are you supposed to be doing right now? Probably sleeping

60. Would you have sex with the fifth person in your contacts? LMAOOOO nope. He's fucked up.

61. Did your last kiss take place on a bed? I don't think so.

62. Do you have someone you can be your complete self around? I don't think so actually.

63. Do you talk in your sleep? I don't think so?

64. Do you have a good relationship with your parents? It's fine.

65. What time did you wake up today? Probably around 11.

66. What were you doing at midnight? I probably just started working for real LOL

67. What song are you listening to? IDGAF by Dua Lipa

68. Has anyone put their arms around you in the past five days? I mean someone's hugged me? But no one's put their arm around me.

69. How do you feel about chocolate-covered strawberries? They're good! But I haven't had them in a while.

70. Do you have nice eyes? Not really, they're small and beady.

71. Is your current hair colour your natural hair colour? I'd say so. The gray parts are covered with henna so they're red now. But other than that my hair is mostly natural.

72. Are you texting anybody? Nope.

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jerrytackettca · 6 years ago

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Opioid Addiction and Suicides Have Caused Decline in US Life Expectancy

Two years ago, U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data revealed a sudden drop in life expectancy in the U.S. for 2015.1,2 It was the first decline in 20 years. The trend continued in 2016,3 and the latest data for 20174 show the downward trend continuing for the third year in a row, which makes it the longest downward trend since World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic.5

Overall, the average life expectancy for the total U.S. population in 2017 was 78.6 years, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 2016. Life expectancy for men also declined, from 76.2 years in 2016 to 76.1 years in 2017, while life expectancy for women remained stable at 81.1 years.

In all, life expectancy for Americans has fallen by about four months over the past three years. Robert Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the CDC, commented on the latest report:

"The idea that a developed wealthy nation like ours has declining life expectancy just doesn't seem right. If you look at the other wealthy countries of the world, they're not seeing the same thing."6

Christopher Murray, the director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, also commented, saying the data "confirms that there's a profound change in the trajectory of mortality. This should really be getting everyone's attention in a major way."7

Drug Overdoses Drive Declining Life Expectancy in US

The initial decline in 2015 was primarily attributed to a rise in several categories of preventable deaths,8 including opioid overdoses, highlighting the failure of the American health care system to properly address the root causes of chronic disease and rein in the burgeoning opioid addiction epidemic.

The decline in 2016 was again driven largely by an increased number of deaths among younger Americans, fueled by opioid and fentanyl overdoses, while the 2017 drop is being attributed to a combination of still-increasing drug overdoses — especially from fentanyl — and a 3.7 percent rise in suicides.9,10

In 2017, the suicide rate was 14 per 100,000, up from 10.5 in 1999, concentrated in rural America, with middle-aged women committing suicide at a greater rate than men. With more than 47,000 Americans committing suicide in 2017, about 2,000 more than the year before, it's the highest suicide death rate in at least 50 years.11

The rise in suicide has also demolished the old stereotype that only chronically depressed people take their own lives. In reality, more than half of those who commit suicide have no known mental health problem at the time of death.12,13

Relationship problems, substance abuse, physical health problems, work and/or financial stress, legal problems and loss of housing are all contributing factors for suicide.14 CDC principal deputy director Dr. Anne Schuchat told CBS News:15

"Our data suggests that suicide is more than a mental health issue. We think that a comprehensive approach to suicide is what's needed. If we only look at this as a mental health issue, we won't make the progress that we need."

Fentanyl-Related Deaths Nearly Double for Second Year in a Row

Overall, about 70,000 more people died in 2017 than the year before,16 a number which is incidentally nearly identical to the number of people who died from drug overdoses that year, totaling 70,237 in all.17

Disturbingly, while overdose deaths relating to prescription opioids seem to have leveled off, deaths from fentanyl (a synthetic opioid that is far stronger) are increasingly sharply. According to Joshua M. Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, "The opioid market has been completely taken over by fentanyl."18

The most recent data suggests fentanyl-related deaths rose from 19,413 in 2016 to nearly 28,466 in 201719 — a 47 percent increase. Fentanyl-related deaths also more than doubled between 2015 and 2016.

As reported by The Atlantic,20 "Three reports released by the [CDC] … paint a bleak picture of a country in which people are growing sick, using drugs and dying young — many of them by their own hand." And, as noted in The Washington Post:21

"Sharfstein said the most lamentable aspect of the crises is that policymakers know which approaches make a difference, such as medically assisted treatment for drug abusers and increased availability of mental health services in states where they are lacking.

'So the frustration that many of us feel is that there are things that could save many lives,' he said, 'and we are failing to make those services available.'"

Top 10 Leading Causes of Death in 2017

In order, the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. in 2017 were:22

Heart disease

Cancer

Unintentional injuries (which includes drug overdoses)

Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Stroke

Alzheimer's disease

Diabetes

Influenza and pneumonia

Kidney disease

Suicide

Of course, this ranking is biased and fails to integrate a more comprehensive analysis that includes medical errors. If you include medical errors in the calculation, you find that conventional medicine is the third leading cause of death.

I actually coined the term that doctors are the third leading cause of death in an article I published in 2000 after reading the print JAMA article by Dr. Barbara Starfield,23 and did the calculations based on her data. The term ended up being copied by many other sites. Ironically, Starfield, a medical doctor with a Ph.D. from Stanford, died from a medical mistake. She suffered a stroke from taking Plavix.24

What's Driving the Rises in Drug Overdoses and Suicides?

Reigning in drug overdoses and suicide rates will likely require more than improved availability of treatment. We also need to understand the underlying causes. As suggested by Dr. William Dietz, disease prevention expert at George Washington University, I agree there appears to be a sense of hopelessness beneath these self-destructive trends. CBS News reports:25

"Financial struggles, a widening income gap and divisive politics are all casting a pall over many Americans, [Dietz] suggested. 'I really do believe that people are increasingly hopeless, and that that leads to drug use, it leads potentially to suicide,' he said."

I would suggest social disconnection may also be part of the problem. While social media keeps us connected to many, it actually tends to alienate us from those closest to us, as trying to have a conversation with someone sitting with their nose glued to a screen hardly encourages intimacy. Social media also tends to be a source of stress.

Yet another important, yet frequently overlooked contributor to depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders is the electromagnetic field exposure from all of these wireless devices. In 2016, Martin Pall, Ph.D., wrote a magnificent and comprehensive review on this that is available for free online.26 In it, he reviews how regular exposure to low intensity microwaves, like those from your cellphone and Wi-Fi, impact your nervous system.

Social Media Use Linked to Stress and Feeling Disconnected From Family

According to the American Psychological Association's (APA) 2017 Stress in America survey,27 only 7 percent of American adults used social media in 2005. By 2015 that had grown to 65 percent. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, usage grew from 12 to 90 percent in that same timeframe.

A constant checker is someone who checks their email, text messages and social media accounts "constantly" throughout the day; 43 percent of Americans fit this bill, according to the APA, but they may be sacrificing their health as a result.

While non-checkers reported a stress level of 4.4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being "a great deal of stress"), constant checkers' average stress level was 5.3. This climbed to 6 among those who constantly checked their work email even during their days off.

The use of technology is in itself a source of stress for some Americans, especially when it's not working properly, and especially for constant checkers (23 percent compared to 14 percent of non-constant checkers). Meanwhile, constant checkers faced increased stress from social media, compared to non-checkers, namely due to political and cultural discussions.

Constant checkers were also more likely to report feeling disconnected from family due to technology, including when they're together, while 35 percent of this group also admitted social media made in-person meetings with family and friends less likely.

All of this makes identifying suicide risk all the more difficult, especially since about half of all suicides occur more or less without warning, triggered by an "acutely" stressful episode, such as the loss of a relationship or job, or sudden, deep feelings of alienation.

Know the 12 Warning Signs of Suicide, and How to Help

While some are better at keeping their depression and any thoughts of suicide well hidden, even from the ones they love, it's important for everyone to recognize the warning signs, and what they can do to help. According to the CDC, the 12 warning signs that someone may be contemplating or getting close to suicide are:28

Feeling like a burden

Being isolated

Increased anxiety

Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

Increased substance use

Looking for a way to access lethal means

Increased anger or rage

Extreme mood swings

Expressing hopelessness

Sleeping too little or too much

Talking or posting about wanting to die

Making plans for suicide

If you notice one or more of these signs, take the following five steps to help.

Ask how they are feeling and if they are considering ending their life, or if they have a plan to do so

Don't let them be alone and do your best to keep them safe

Make yourself available to them

Reach out to them daily and help them connect to others

Follow up

If you live in the U.S. and are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line.29 If you are in danger of acting on suicidal thoughts, call 911 for immediate assistance.

For more information about how to prevent suicide, see bethe1to.com. You can also find more information on key dietary considerations and helpful nutritional supplements in "Suicide Is on the Rise — Know the Warning Signs, and How to Help."

What Can You Do to Avoid Painkillers and Overcome Opioid Addiction?

If you're struggling with opioid addiction, please seek professional help immediately. At the same time, a major step toward health when dealing with chronic disease of any kind, including opioid addiction, is to make dramatic changes to your diet and lifestyle. Below are four areas to address as a primary strategy:

Eliminate or radically reduce your consumption of grains and sugars

Increase your intake of animal-based omega-3 fats

Optimize your production of vitamin D

Radically reduce your intake of processed foods

Beyond that, if you suffer from chronic pain of any kind, know there are many natural, safe and effective alternatives to over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, including the following:

Medical cannabis — Medical marijuana has a long history as a natural analgesic and is now legal in 33 states. You can learn more about the laws in your state on medicalmarijuana.procon.org.30

Kratom — Kratom (Mitragyna speciose) is a plant remedy that has become a popular opioid substitute.31 (In August 2016, the DEA issued a notice saying it was planning to ban kratom, listing it as Schedule 1 controlled substance. However, following massive outrage from kratom users who say opioids are their only alternative, the agency reversed its decision.32

Be aware, however, that STAT News uncovered documents33 in November 2018 showing that the FDA, HHS and National Institute on Drug Abuse formally asked the DEA in October 201734 to classify kratom as a Schedule 1 drug, so this is still a developing issue.)

Kratom is safer than an opioid for someone in serious and chronic pain. However, it's important to recognize that it is a psychoactive substance and should be used with great care. There's very little research showing how to use it safely and effectively, and it may have a very different effect from one person to the next. The other issue to address is that there are a number of different strains available with different effects.

Also, while it may be useful for weaning people off opioids, kratom is in itself addictive. So, while it appears to be a far safer alternative to opioids, it's still a powerful and potentially addictive substance. So please, do your own research before trying it.

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) — Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, originally developed in the early 1960s for the treatment of opioid addiction. When taken at very low doses (LDN, available only by prescription), it triggers endorphin production, which can boost your immune function and ease pain.

Curcumin — A primary therapeutic compound identified in the spice turmeric, curcumin has been shown in more than 50 clinical studies to have potent anti-inflammatory activity. Curcumin is hard to absorb, so best results are achieved with preparations designed to improve absorption. It is very safe and you can take two to three every hour if you need to.

Astaxanthin — One of the most effective oil-soluble antioxidants known, astaxanthin has very potent anti-inflammatory properties. Higher doses are typically required for pain relief, and you may need 8 milligrams or more per day to achieve results.

Boswellia — Also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," this herb contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which have been prized for thousands of years. This is one of my personal favorites, as it worked well for many of my former rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Bromelain — This protein-digesting enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form, but eating fresh pineapple may also be helpful. Keep in mind most of the bromelain is found within the core of the pineapple, so consider eating some of the pulpy core when you consume the fruit.

Cayenne cream — Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting your body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmit pain signals to your brain.

Cetyl myristoleate (CMO) — This oil, found in dairy butter and fish, acts as a joint lubricant and anti-inflammatory. I have used a topical preparation of CMO to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Evening primrose, black currant and borage oils — These oils contain the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, which is useful for treating arthritic pain.

Ginger — This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea, or incorporated into fresh vegetable juice.

from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/12/13/opioid-addiction-suicides-cause-of-declining-life-expectancy.aspx

source http://niapurenaturecom.weebly.com/blog/opioid-addiction-and-suicides-have-caused-decline-in-us-life-expectancy

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