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ibroughtyoumybullets · 4 years ago

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You said not to ask so please ignore this if you don't want to explain, but could you elaborate on your March 19th / May 1st theory? thanks!

ahfkafhksfh yeah no problem. its not a theory its just ... brain worms that have taken a specific shape but thats not new this is just the latest form. under a cut because i hate like. getting peoples hopes up over something ive entirely made up

greentext format but make it wordy

> i think frank has been like. suspicious lately. i dont know how to explain it beyond that. he’s done a LOT of press-but-not-press in the last month or so. sure, he’s definitely bored and stuck in his house like the rest of us, and he had a new EP come out, and the EP is technically the reason for the press. but it also ... isnt. like the bulk of it has been AFTER the EP came out, and none of it has been wholly focused on the EP. and to me, at least, it feels like, i dont know, easing the band back into public consciousness thru a press circuit without the band ACTUALLY doing a press circuit because MCR been pretty hard and fast about the ‘we dont need or want ur press’ when it comes to the reunion.

> continuing off the last one, in the ... jim ward interview he did, i think? one of the more recent ones, at least - he got asked about his writing process and mentioned working with gerard in present tense. very very likely it meant nothing at all, but also like ... i dont trust him LOL part of me thinks it was on purpose. Im just suspicious of him after the broken clock thing.

> not only did frank mention working with gerard in the present tense, for Months now, but especially during his recent mini press tour, frank has been really vague but consistent in talking about working with people on music remotely. id have to go looking for it and i dont feel like it, but it’s been something along the lines of ‘working with new people And people you know’. suspitcheous.

> ONTO GERARD. Gerard like never uses social media. but then a couple days ago he pops up to mention franks EP (which is sweet) and makes sure to sign it so its like, obviously not something his social media manager wrote up for him. and in that post he mentions being down in the lab. and LORD KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK THAT MEANS besides the fact that he’s working on something. but hey, its gerard, when isnt he.

> But Gerard’s also doing that charity stream on the 2nd. and we havent seen gerard in MONTHS. since august, maybe? and he’s not just speaking, hes PERFORMING. besides the shrine show, the last time he performed was for the muppet charity thing with ray in 2016, and before that, it was the last hes alien leg in 2015. None of us even expected him to perform when it got announced - it had to be confirmed by the event organizers. and that just ... pings something in my brain, same as franks little press tour. It’s gerard emerging from his cave, Being A Musician, you know?

> SPEAKING of the last time we saw gerard, he teased us back in the summer by mentioning that he has something he’s been working on thats not comic book related that he cant talk about. maybe its a fucking line of hot sauces or a tripp collaboration.

> Or maybe its music.

> this is where we depart from reality a little bit more:

> this has been trotted out again and again on here as a talking point, and i dither between agreeing with it or not, but: MCR spent two years planning their return. they had a plan, for whatever the fuck was supposed to happen - even if all that was supposed to happen was the tour.

> and their plan got pissed on, doused in gasoline, set on fire, extinguished, and thrown into the mouth of a lion. But They Had A Plan. And theyve been fucking radio silent except the hipdot collab, and before that, rescheduling shows. I ASSUME their almost-year of silence has been them, in part, reformulating their plan. Changing whatever it was going to be to fit the new timeline, or making a back up plan in case things get worse.

> But the original plan had them all free - as far as we know - after november of 2020. so they wouldnt have had active MCR stuff happening for the national anthem comic book release, the electric century album + comic release, the you look like death tua comic release. But those things still happened, because they didnt require having to be in the real world where the plague is.

> so, what the worms hinge on, is that whatever the New Plan Is, Whatever They Are Doing Now, it involves waiting until all their obligations and projects that SHOULDNT have interfered with MCR stuff - but had to the potential to because of covid - ended.

> and thats now. thats the next couple weeks. you look like death just finished up, mikeys album and comic are out, and national anthem finishes up in like a week in a half.

> and then theres nothing (that we know of) until the rescheduled shows happen, or *knocks thrice on wood* they have to reschedule again.

> and this is where we really enter crazy town:

> so i was thinking about all of these things, and the imagery / themeing for the return (what little we got of it) and how a year ago everybody was pulling out the wheel of the year trying to figure out what they would do next, and when.

> and March 20th (i know i said march 19th originally, i’ll get into that) is Ostara.

> if youre not vaguely witchy, its basically a festival for the spring equinox. light and dark are in balance, yadda yadda yadda. and i could go into full on insane depth about the black and white aspects of the return, the witchiness of an offering + a summoning but i wont. it boils down to: its the closest festival to when all of MCR’s calendars are clear as far as we know, and its almost a year to date of when they had to reschedule the shows.

> and March 19th is a Friday. which is new music release day. Ostara / the equinox are technically on saturday, but its at 5am on saturday morning so ... technicalities.

> so the worms in my brain say new single on march 19th. or Something on march 19th. or 20th. one of those days.

> and the worms in my brain also say MCR are a bunch of cruel little shits, and theyre gonna make us wait before they give us anything substantial.

> so we move to May 1st.

> May 1st is also known as May Day, also known as Beltane. (We’re back to the wheel of the year for this one) Its the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. And its a Saturday. which is NOT new music release day - but hey, its close enough.

> may day is also like, similar to halloween / samhain in that the veil is supposed to be thinner on those days, and i think theres a connection the imagery and over-all plan wise between coming back on halloween, and possibly doing something on mayday. i dont think they just came back on halloween as a birthday present to frank.

> so second single on may day, or album? or announcement that theres gonna BE an album? maybe they wont give us a single on ostara but just tease us with something. i dont know. but i think theres something here.

> im aware this was a lot of words and i basically gave you nothing, but i can only give you what the worms give to me.

> sorry for being the way i am. hope this helped.

#Anonymous #asks #anon

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hereliesbitches--me · 4 years ago

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Full name: Toruga ( Winchester ) Nicknamed: The Good Doctor, Father, Doc, Purple Pimp

Gender: Male Species: Demon Age: Immortal, appears to be in his late 30s, early 40s Sexuality: If its a shade of royal purple, its within that field of interest. Otherwise, he couldnt care less Nationality: Travels about, German based design. Dude is a demon imitating human design City or town of birth: The Enigma , The realm of Neikan and the Emotions Currently lives: Moves where there is work, primarily between Europe and the United States, where is assets are located Languages spoken: English, Spanish, German, Russian, Korean, Japanese, variations of the chinese dialect (fluent in Mandarin) , Hindi -- basically a workable understanding of many mainstream languages of varying countries. He’s old, he’s been around, and he is able to retain and learn easily Native language: prefers English and German Accent/diction: Speaks with refined annunciation with his English, but in a more relaxed state he has a slight German accent. Relationship Status: A widower still obsessed with his monsters and his creator but she just wont see him in such a way rip the man

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Height: 6’6 Weight: 160 pounds in human form, his dark form varies in weight Figure/build: Tall, stocky built. His muscle is primarily in his arms, legs, and chest, with a faintly noticeable gut (lowkey dad bod) Hair color: Black, peppered with grey strands Hairstyle: keeps it medium length but professional, Eye color: A deep orange Skin/fur colour: His skin is a sandy beige complexion littered by dark discolored scars. Having tiger features, he has inverted colors with black fur and white stripes. Tattoos: Neikan’s branding is on his left inner forearm. Tends to stroke it absentmindedly Scars/distinguishing marks: Toruga is littered by minor discolored scars all over his arms and chest, but his iconic scar is the 3 clawed slashing going down his face. Preferred style of clothing: In a button up collared shirt and black dress pants, coupled with his lap coat, He never really goes anywhere without his labcoat. He has no real sense of.. Dressing casual. If not his lab coat, he still wears a kind of trenchcoat in some way. And suspenders for a touch of extra class

HEALTH

Bad Habits: -Cant form real human connection - sees everything as object variables to dissect ,explore, and use for experimentation. - Regularly abuses the fuck out of the other negatives because they are inferior idiots - Sociopathic murderer (“for Science”). -Obsessed with Neikan, the demon who created him, and will turn on anyone in her defense, friend or foe. -Views any personal connection to a person like having a pet you're fond for, but nothing is above Neikan. -Stress smoker.

Addictions: -Sexually infatuated by the color purple, - Takes Sadistic pleasure in watching the bold break down, - Gets off on taking control and causing pain in the act of intimacy.

PERSONALITY

Personality: Toruga is a deceptive man by nature, a demon conjured up and hand made by Neikan herself, inspired by Josef Mengele which she had seen in the lives of one of her vessels. Being based on the mad doctor, Toruga himself is brilliant in the fields of genetics, biology, and the anatomy of anything he can get his hands on. Despite the basis, Toruga is simply a being that never was a child, thus has formed a persona that imitates human emotion and relations to get his way. He doesn't feel true connection, he doesn't feel empathy, sympathy, or guilt for what he does, as long as it feeds into the goal of appeasing his mistress and furthering her goals. Which makes lying and altering his persona to the liking of his associates quite easy. Toruga presents himself like a fatherly figure -- even tempered, soft but confidently spoken, and constantly utilizing praise and interest in another when he’s looking to make nice. He’s a master of manipulation and will not hesitate to research a person’s history, or gauge a weakness from conversation alone, and exploit it if it makes them more agreeable or himself more appealing. He doesnt respond to insults or physical attacks, not a single thing in the world bothers him, save for the failure of the negatives to complete a task, or if the insult is directed at his mistress. Or if it is impeding his work, because that would make him unappealing to Neikan. Only then will he react. And he will do so swiftly and violently to make his point known. He is not afraid of death threats, or to be beaten or dismembered or tortured, because of his inability to die (Thanks to his connection to Neikan. For as long as she lives, he can) He finds those sorts of threats mildly amusing, because he has been here for centuries, and he will continue to be well after humanity is nothing more than bones and Ash beneath their feet. His personality can swivel on a dime, but overall he is a fairly pleasant person to interact and talk with. He;s had plenty of time to master human expression. Toruga also tends to be very physical when he shows interest, with subtle touches, unbroken eye contact, and closeness. Its simply the spider tossing the silk of his webs to capture the poor fly that has no idea the fate to come. He can be incredibly jealous and spiteful when it comes to what diverts the attention of his mistress

Strengths: Determined, Even tempered, charming personality. Incredibly intelligent and gifted with holding conversations. A great asset if you need a doctor to work on any sort of viral or bacterial bioweapon, or if ya need a guy that likes to alter and play with mortal genetics. His inability to stay permanently dead makes him quite the threat in theory, and with that demonic origin he does have supernatural strength compared to the average mortal. He has no real blood, just inky mass of dark matter that makes up his form and drips in imitation blood.

Weaknesses: Neikan. Divine weaponry and magic also hurt like a bitch and would require he directly return to neikan to get fixed up.

Fears/phobias: Failing Neikan to the point she abandons him or makes another negative to replace him.

Favourite color:

P U R P L E

Did I say purple? Very important to know. And any shade that compliments it.

Hobbies: - Kidnapping subjects indiscriminately based on their viability and their chance of being pursued, disfiguring them, wiping their memory, and then using them as test subjects for his viral bioweapon projects. - Making handmade clothing for his test subject children. He’s quite the skilled tailor. He especially loves dressing up his daughter before she ran away - Traveling about to meet with and work closely with assorted allies towards an end goal of toppling human society and shifting power - Taking out his anger and frustration on the negatives because they dont die - Talking to his dead husband he keeps perfectly preserved in a case down in his lab

Theme Song: - “Pet” by perfect circle - “Trust me” from the Devil’s Carnival

SKILLS

Talents/skills: - Tailoring clothing of all materials - Extensive knowledge of the medical field - skilled virologist and biochemist - Manipulative - Skillful liar

Education: Multiple lifetimes of trial and error through multiple dimensions and a variety of different levels of technology he’s explored with. Lacking any formal training, being an extension of his mistress means he also inherits the knowledge of her vessels. Coupled with his own experimentation and studied through multiple worlds.

Abilities: Being a demon made of dark matter means he’s endowed with an assortment of natural abilities, however unlike the more well known hell spawn demons, the negatives and their abilities from Neikan are typically only physical based. Those abilities include: - Enhanced Strength and Endurance (built up after years of handling monsters, and the lack of human limitations/strains on the body) - Complete Regeneration (as long as the weapon is not enchanted or by divine means) - Minor shapeshifting, limited to his true forms. From human, to the black mass in the shape of a man, to a beastial tiger form - A photographic and auditory memory that retains just about any information he finds worthy of withholding. It also allows him to learn any language with ease after being exposed to it for a period of time

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FOES

Personal history: Created around the time period of Pride’s((The Vessel) lifetime, 6 vessels prior to Nikki, Toruga was formed at first out of curious reasons and the need for a friend, but her intent with him became malicious shortly after her grief in the following life which split her soul into two halves. Left with nothing but malice and hatred for humanity, with the worst aspect of her being, Neikan utilized all her negativity to create a figure that would help speed up the process of ending the lives of the future vessels. Toruga was based on Josef Mengele, which Neikan had been exposed to as a child through the eyes of her second vessel, Hate. The demon was never a child, born as a perfectly capable adult to keep this young grieving woman company, it was at the start of his existence which paved the way to his obsessive love for his Creator. Toruga was her friend, her pet project that she left responsible with overseeing any of her new creations were given a job and set in order. While not active at first, Toruga observed humanity from the distance and learned the art of imitating them perfectly to blend in and manipulate what he understood. He studied their texts, he studied their culture, the array of species, their anatomies, their science and their technologies, absorbed it all until he could put it to use at the very end. Toruga is in love with his mistress, but with her fixation on her vengeance and the delicate heartbreak, she refuses to see him in such a way. Which, in turns, drives his unyielding determination to please her to make her see him. Coming to the existence of the last vessel, Nikki, things got complicated. Neikan assigned him a task to make a malleable beast that can infiltrate, a living machine to be the wolf in sheep's clothing, so when the last life became known, this being would be sent to kill it. Unfortunately for them, that bio weapon became the last life. Once inheriting Neikan and all the previous lives, any of the previous wiring he had instilled in the fetus were completely wiped away with the new presence of thought and free will -- the result, which would send Toruga on a wild chase to retrieve his experiment , all the way back to Earth. He spends years having to establish bases and connections on earth, all while scouring for his little project, taking well over 10 years before finally finding her. When he eventually does kidnap her and attempt to reset her mentally, Nikki retaliates and flees, leaving him with the iconic face scar he has now, but his project was now an unstable mess.

Toruga is a man who juggles many projects at once. Despite a singular failure, he is always looking to make improvements, which would have eventually led to the creation of Malakaid as a failsafe to getting rid of Nikki, then immediately lost after yet another raid by Rosie and the authorities. But there is no stopping, there is always alternatives to getting what he wants. His web is vast, his determination and will unyielding. The world will fall to his mistress, one way or another. As of now, Toruga works closely with a variety of associates, primarily the Branches of Virtues because of their plentiful assets, and acts as a kind of apostle for Neikan to gain more souls willing to join their cause. His main project is a viral mutagen called the Uxoru virus, and helping work towards a modified super soldier serum made from Angel’s blood.

Parents names: Neikan Shadou (Sheila Lunarcrest)

Siblings: The other negatives, including John, Sebura, Kura, and Joku. By technicality, anyone made by Neikan is a kind of sibling.

Relationship with siblings: Toruga is the head honcho of the show, responsible for directing and punishing the others for their failures. Their stupidity and clumsiness prove to be incredibly irritating to him, and because they cant die he has no hesitation in brutally maiming and abusing them for it. They all have a bitterness, but a respectful fear towards him, and he knows it well. None of them are his equal, for he was the first, and he intends to keep it that way.

Partner/Spouse: -Vermont (Former husband, now deceased. Murdered mistakenly by Toruga himself after Vermont questioned Neikan’s intentions and plans. )

Children:

- Nikki Ai (His first experiment, artificially created and planted within a mother. She has no recollection of him as her creator, but rather this monster that hunts her down. She never came back as she was suppose to, and thus is a nuisance he needs dead)

- Malakaid (The second improvement to Nikki’s design , made from Nikki and Jacob’s dna, spliced with his own. Malakaid was stolen as a baby by Rosie and imprinted on her. Because of this, he will not go back to Toruga.)

( From his relationship with Vermont)

- Veronica Winchester (Eldest daughter, ran away at 12 years old.)

- Toby Winchester ( A young boy, still living with him. He drags him around on his work trips when he’s able to. Because he witnessed his birth parent murdered as a toddler, Toby is practically a skittish mute of a boy that fears his father but will not dare leave the way his sister did.)

Enemies:

Basically got beef with everyone bcuz he probably fucked over your loved ones at some point and just doesn't recall it. He primarily has enemies with Rosie( A very personal vendetta) and the Angel Project, the Divine Calvary, and any enemies of the Branches of Virtues. He doesn’t try to make enemies but if people are gonna try to stop him from completing his work because its “unethical” and “Inhumane” then a bitch gonna go into the cage with the rest of the subjects. But he’s a hard man to hate because as long as you are blissfully ignorant, he seems like such a pleasant man to keep company with.

Associates:

- The Branches of Virtue

- Nathair Elerdand

- Neikan and the Negatives

Affiliated verse:

Tag: :The Good Doctor (Toruga):

- Iniquitous Essence (The info above)

- Pokeverse : Toruga is a scientist of the Aether foundation , working on a secret specialized project for Lusamine, to create a world where human and pokemon are one -- as halflings. He experiments using genetic information gathered from the ultra beast data, along with splicing human dna with that of Pokemon, varying from adults to unborn fetuses. Everyone of which failed (dying in a matter of months, if born. Dying and resulting in a stillbirth. Or death induced by the Human body rejecting the intrusive genetics and triggering a shut down response) until finally there was Rosie. He studied her for the entirety of her childhood, a secret success he dare not report until certain she would not die like the rest, only to be lost in a fire (as far as he knows) aimed at silencing her rowdy father.

Much to his dismay, Toruga continues his research on human genetics, milking the foundations of its assets to feed his curiosity, with no real loylty to anyone but himself. But those skulligans are a promising bunch of nobodies to utilize for testing. He’s on the hunt to get his pet project back

#:The Good Doctor (Toruga):#Hey I made a bio sheet so imma post it here and add it to the page later #I ended up just keeping it short bcuz who the hell cares about his little detailed affairs #Too intricate to matter buy if anyone wanted to know they can ask #The bad bad doctor man #long post #tw: long post #Sorry dash I wanted to share him

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storywriting · 5 years ago

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[ Bc yall have foolishly greenlit my Nirvash Headcanon production, here is a general discussion of who I think Nirvash is and I’ll thank you to give me excuses to be more specific. ]

First things first. The Nirvash is the first creature Eureka ever had a conversation with or considered her friend. While Eureka had to learn to speak to people, the ability to communicate with her own kind is one of the few things she was born knowing, so she took to Nirvash right away. The Nirvash is unfortunately one of the main factors that ended up landing her as an emotionally stunted military dog instead of having a normal life where she is nurtured and fully educated by humans. I honestly think if the folks in the lab hadn’t realized her piloting potential, Eureka would have been raised as a completely different person. Since science had never been able to crack the Nirvash typeZERO, she was very valuable to have. They didn’t waste their budget on anything else once they knew that.

I also think the Nirvash had never been called Nirvash by people prior to the discovery of Eureka. Nirvash was exclusively called the typeZERO until Eureka was able to communicate enough to tell humans the name.

Vaguely related, Eureka’s name is also not human given because she is named after an event experienced by the scub coral and it doesn’t make sense to me that humans in 11005 or whatever would think to name her after something that happened in like 2005. Eureka’s name comes from the very first time Scub Coral entered Earth’s atmosphere, where it crashed into a satellite and was forced to make a home in the Earth’s oceans. Based on what Sakuya says, it’s likely that the whole of the coralian system became aware when it was decided Eureka would be born. Nirvash likely told Eureka her own name if she didn’t already know it herself.

Archetypes are sexless, so as one might expect, Nirvash doesn’t have a particular concept or interest in gender identity. Eureka calls Nirvash “he” in the original series dub and “she” in all future adaptations. I suspect that using “he” might have originally been a mistake by the localization team since Nirvash isn’t voiced until the very end and the Japanese language doesn't really ever require a speaker to designate a gendered pronoun. Whether it was a mistake or on purpose, I tend to explain this by just saying that Eureka copied the words other people used whenever she would personify the Nirvash to them. That would be in line with her character.

Eureka also speaks about Nirvash like a child quite often even though Nirvash is most certainly an older life form than she is. I suspect this is to do with a difference in experience and the higher barriers of understanding for a creature like Nirvash. Put simply, Nirvash is a less developed creature than Eureka is.

In the AU movie archetypes arent the same type of creature as in the main series--they were made or evolved differently. In the film, the Larval Nirvash is somewhat intelligent. Larval Nirvash pays attention to people and tries to participate in conversations despite being unable speak. 10/10 very tiny and cute and runs around, always doing their best.

I honestly believe that main series Nirvash has a similar temperament and level of intelligence to this AU iteration. Also, the way Eureka speaks about Nirvash, like a child, in my mind supports the idea that the Nirvash is capable only of very simple thoughts and ideas early on. Nirvash isn't enlightened, per se. At least not at the beginning. Nirvash is a failed attempt at making a person. It makes sense that Nirvash would be less advanced. If we could hear Nirvash's early conversations with Eureka, I suspect Nirvash's interests and concerns would sound pretty simplistic. I hesitate to compare Nirvash to any stage of human development tbh, mostly because it seems like Nirvash is very intelligent about certain things (like in battle, Nirvash makes very strategic choices), but probably couldn't even match a toddler on other things. Emotional intelligence, for example, is probably something that takes a while for Nirvash to pick up even the tiniest shred of. Still, Nirvash's wants and feelings do seem to become slightly less simplistic over time. Still simple compared to a person, but the feedback Eureka gives originally is like "nirvash is happy" and by the end it's more like "nirvash feels x complex way because of what they did when x happened and how it turned out". Put simply, Nirvash knows what Nirvash knows, but not much else. Nirvash is maybe like Eureka in that regard. They're in their own weird stage of development where some of their stats are maxed and some of them are like...what are you even doing. I also pretty strongly headcanon that, like Eureka, Nirvash's understanding of the world and of humans is growing as the series progresses, which I think is fairly substantiated but rarely addressed directly.

As the audience we don't get to see the way Nirvash communicates very often, especially not in any direct easy-to-be-understood-by-people fashion. If you want to learn anything about Nirvash as a viewer you have to speculate based on the few times Nirvash displays some will of her own, or go by the very little information Eureka gives about what Nirvash is thinking. Eureka is somewhat private about her relationship with Nirvash at times, which I find interesting, but that’s a topic for another post.

I pretty strongly headcanon that Nirvash sort of dislikes people, or at the very least, mistrusts the ones she doesn’t know. I believe this because Nirvash outright refuses to be piloted, even by people with compac drives. Compac drives are the "keys" humans use to communicate with LFOs, but LFOs cant really communicate back. We know that Nirvash for whatever reason really didnt want to be piloted, but then Nirvash met Eureka and felt willing to activate for her because they could converse and agree on things. No compac drive required for that. Nirvash will fly for Eureka because they can have a relationship that is a two way street. It doesn’t require the kind of faith Nirvash would need to let a human do whatever they wanted.

I suspect when Eureka is piloting there is a lot of give and take. They're discussing what they should do. They compromise on a course of action by combining their understanding. The trouble any time there is something going on between the Nirvash and Eureka is that it's not a conversation the audience gets to hear. We just have to watch and do our best to interpret

I think that over time Nirvash comes to appreciate and even like some humans and seeks methods of communication with ones she vibes with. Ultimately the Nirvash does become more able to understand and commune with people because Eureka acts as a cultural bridge between them. I really like the idea that Nirvash becomes interested in communicating with humans in the limited ways available to her, but only after spending a lot of time with Eureka and taking a shine to Renton. I also know the show gives Nirvash a clear human sounding voice that makes understandable words but I honestly hc that Nirvash sounds more abstract than that in most situation. Like idk, machine noises, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites™ or something like that. I think if a human was able to hear Nirvash in any passive sort of way, it probably wouldn’t really sound like language. Eureka can always understand Nirvash but if you're Renton or maybe Ao just hanging around and are somehow catching bits and pieces of that consciousness floating in the air it's gonna feel weird and garbled in your brain unless you're able to make that more direct connection with the Nirvash somehow. It's just not natural to humans, it's not their first language.

On the subject of Nirvash getting on with humans, there is eventually a situation where Renton has to pilot the Nirvash himself. This is on the tail end of Eureka being really down and not really explaining why. Sometimes when she touches the Nirvash she starts to bleed and it becomes clear that The Girls Are Fighting™️. When Eureka sees Renton piloting she is taken aback by the fact that Nirvash would allow somebody other than her to pilot alone. Also, she comments on how that's 'not Nirvash's style'. It's left ambiguous what exactly her meaning is there, but she becomes pretty upset. There are a few ways I've interpreted it, though it's hard to pin down exactly. One possibility is that she’s upset because Renton and Nirvash Did A Violence. Alternatively it could be because the fighting Eureka saw from them was obviously more of Renton's own will than the give and take she prefers with the Nirvash. Another option is that Renton is not imposing his will, but rather bringing out something in Nirvash Eureka doesn't recognize and isn't comfortable with being a stranger to. Eureka is at this point very stressed that the Nirvash wont talk to her. She seems to go from very excited that Renton makes the Nirvash happy to very distressed that Renton is changing her relationship with the Nirvash. Nirvash is probably one of the only relationships Eureka has where she is comfortable and feels she is on the same page nearly all the time, so it's jarring for that to be challenged or changed.

A lot of the conflict with nirvash is never clarified in stone, but we know for sure that Renton causes Eureka to change and that's a big deal for everybody involved. Nirvash and Eureka don't really know change before this. In terms of Nirvash’s opinion, we know mostly about the parts Eureka reacts to, but if you think about it we dont really find out why Nirvash likes Renton in the first place or what initially caused Nirvash to becomes less open with Eureka. It's hard to place exactly what the conflict is. Just that it involves Renton and it involves this change. Despite Eureka being the best creature humanty has for communicating with Archetypes there are still certain barriers between them. They are the same creature, but theyre vastly different versions of the same creature with vastly different capabilities and experiences. Nirvash and Eureka will inevitably end up in situations where they don’t see eye to eye if for no other reason than their mental and sensory experience is vastly different from one another. I suspect that Nirvash is at times jealous of Eureka going off and having experiences and relationships with others, in the same way Eureka gets jealous when Nirvash seems to prefer Renton over her.

That all said, I do think Nirvash does have some sense of right and wrong even without Eureka’s guidance, but Eureka shows evidence of chiding or suggesting morality to the Nirvash throughout. Things like compassion and a moral compass seem to be way more pronounced for Nirvash later on in the series, after like 40 episodes of bonding and getting into and out of trouble together. Again, we can’t know all the details because the audience doesn’t get any unfiltered version of Nirvash’s perspective, but we know for sure that Eureka (and eventually Renton) is very very important to her even when the they are in conflict. In turn, Eureka regularly demonstrates that she trusts Nirvash implicitly and seems to respect Nirvash's judgement in many kinds of situations. The Nirvash is a member of the family through and through. She’s always down to help the cause, and she appreciates the great privilege involved in having a front row seat to Eureka’s experience. The Nivash has had an unprecedented opportunity to become enlightened about other creatures in ways the rest of the Scub Coral could not. In another life Nirvash could have had any number of destinies, possibly even safer ones with less strife and less change. She was never essential to the plan of putting yet another humanoid coralian into the world and could have moved for anybody else and had a completely different life. Maybe in times of conflict Nirvash thinks about that, but if there’s one thing that’s canon as hell I know that Nirvash would never trade away being loved by the Storywriter.

We stan a queen.

#∘⡊ ☾ ˚⊹Tabula Rasa⊹ — 「 Headcanon 」#∘⡊ ☾ ˚⊹To Be Continued⊹ — 「 OOC 」#∘⡊ ☾ ˚⊹Little One⊹ — 「 Nirvash 」#cut bc #long post

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redwoodrroad · 5 years ago

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arkus’s birthday and some background info on him

SO ive been very busy with work these past two weeks AND sick with several things SO NOW TO MAKE UP FOR MISSING ARKUS’S BIRTHDAY (WHICH WAS ON JANUARY 3RD), im gonna talk about his research

here he is hard at work in his favorite part of the Priory: the ~secret~ library

everything else is under the cut because there’s a lot of science babble, but i do hope it’s fun to read if youre into science as much as i am. i also included some sylvari-centric stuff at the end because it’s specific to arkus

so simply put: Arkus’s concentration is on a mixture among anthropology (not just human-centered either), archaeology, and geology. separately, these sciences are completely different and require different skill sets, mindsets, tools, and research tactics, but these sciences also intersect in many ways and tell a fuller and more comprehensive story when put together. consider a nomadic culture that subsists on farming and animal products: they make clear boundaries in the land between where you sleep, where you eat, where you grow the food, where you cook the food, where you prepare animal parts either for consumption in one area or the creation of materials or clothing, ETC, my point is that this group needs a specific type of landscape to settle--that type of landscape needs to be sheltered enough from weathering and predators while also close to a water source, and the land itself must contain the right nutrients to grow crops; furthermore, the general landscape must be well-liked by large animals that are high enough in quantity that the group can sustain themselves on these animals and not risk endangering the population. the geology of the earth itself, the makeup of the land, is vastly important to this culture because it deigns where they can live and how they can survive in that area

of course, when they move away, they leave behind an imprint in the land itself--these cultures are not the type to necessarily bury their dead for fear of leaving them behind, but that’s also an extrapolation on my part so i cant definitively say that, but theyre also not necessarily the type to waste or throw away animal parts--so this group might not necessarily leave the obvious archeological choice of bones behind, but bones are not the only types of fossils that exist, and they certainly arent the main focus of archaeologists on digs: archeologists are looking for everything in an area--remains of encampments, clothing, pottery, tools, etc. these are the things a nomadic group might leave behind if theyre broken or unusable or perhaps if a disaster struck, and great swaths of belongings had to be left behind. lots of things are left behind when a group like this moves away--furthermore, evidence of a large group living in a place for what we can assume is several years to decades can almost always be found in each of those locations for a culture that is nomadic. archaeologists look for that evidence, and it’s the sort of thing they can follow like a map to see the direction in which this group moved

of course, the culture of that group itself is very important and just as fascinating as the prior fields of research: consider whether this group in my example might have a hierarchy--are elders the leaders of the group? is there a matriarch or a patriarch? how are children raised, and are they raised in a manner that separates them by gender, combined with the types of work or activities these genders are expected to perform? i read about a culture where the women did the foraging and held baskets at all times, and the men did the hunting and held bows and arrows at all times, but before this makes you mad and think that this culture might have been very strict on their gender conforming, the only gender “marker” in this society was that of the baskets or the bows. regardless of sex or gender at birth--concepts this culture had no definition of beyond the gendered tasks--if you wanted to hold a basket, you are a woman; if you wanted to hold a bow, you are a man. and you’re held to that standard until you decide you want to change that. there are also cultures ive read about where food is very closely linked with the cycle of life--there are some foods you eat when you are young, there are some foods you eat when someone is pregnant, and there are items to eat when someone dies, and everything has a very specific meaning assigned to it along with when and how those items are consumed.

all of these fields coalesce in different ways, and my passion for it is also Arkus’s. i imagine he goes out several times a year to conduct field research--something that is also very particular, and no two people do field research the same way, especially when it comes to soft sciences. i will also say that Arkus’s preferred style of research is one that has a little bit of discourse in the science community, and that is that he lets himself get involved with the culture.

in the soft science world, there are two pretty big styles: Positivism and Antipositivism (also called Interpretivism but ive definitely heard it called naturalism too). positivism is clean-cut--it’s objective and empirical scientific Fact. we’re talking quantitative data analysis, objective reasoning and observation (observation ONLY), and a clear separation between Scientist and Subject.

antipositivism is the opposite--it’s not all data points and “objective” observation because to observe a culture without being part of it is not objective at all. you’re not learning about the culture if youre just watching it; you’re watching this culture from an outsider’s perspective, and from an outsider’s perspective with a completely different cultural background in mind, you will not understand the significance to any cultural action in front of you. in this way, the scientist is not separating themselves from the “subject(s);” rather, the outsider is interacting with and empathizing with the insiders. it’s a completely different mindset and one that yields results that almost cannot be measured on data points or spreadsheets.

(if you cant tell, i am an antipositivist lol)

Arkus is an antipositivist: he finds positivist thinking to be too clinical and perhaps inappropriate for his research purposes. that said, he goes out and locates groups like the vague culture i described above, and he learns about them through empathic interaction and openness. he doesnt always publish his work, but he does always ask his participants if they would like to be participants, and if not, then he helps them if they would like the interaction or leaves if they would prefer he not stick around. and that’s okay too! what he does publish is always very lengthy and involves detailed diagrams of rock formations, tools, structures, the landscape, etc, and if he’s in a position to do a dig, he may take samples of the landscape back to the Priory for further testing, especially when it comes to carbon dating or whatever the tyrian equivalent might be (the lifeforms are PROBABLY carbon based on tyria but you never know lol). at this point in the story, Arkus has been doing research for several years now--i haven’t decided when he becomes an archon, but it’s certainly his biggest career goal overall. i think it’s probably tough though because archons typically oversee really dangerous magics and sciences, so one of these days, Arkus will find a way to present his work as especially useful for that specific realm of study

i also think that with arkus’s background in a culture that is largely mysterious to other cultures is also part of why arkus has his passion for his work. to learn and discover things about culture while being simultaneously respectful and open to differences is very important to arkus, and it’s something that his culture has a particular closeness with given their history with--for EXAMPLE--the asura. no tea no shade but arkus isnt trying to be that type of way--but they also changed and got better over time; now arkus just has beef with the inquest because their research style and scientific process is the exact opposite of how arkus wants to be

i should also say--and i havent really seen really problematic evidence of this in the game--that research organizations such as the durmand priory have a tendency to be sorta...... grabby with their research. like there’s a big scientific attitude towards discovery in the modern world where the scientist(s) who discovered something feel Entitled to that discovery. it’s very western and ethnocentric, and it’s Bad. western scientists discovering x y z historic item that is important to an overseas culture’s history does not belong in a western museum or lab, i dont make the rules! unfortunately, the western scientists make the rules so like thems the brakes but let the record show i hate that

arkus is very aware of this scientific tendency to want to hold on to discoveries and sort of keep them close--safe even, in priory custody--but he also recognizes that it’s wrong to do that, so he specifically finds ways to work around that so the culture in mind gets to keep their history. sharing history and culture is really good and healthy for all cultures, but ONLY if that sharing isn’t forced or pressured onto the culture in question. arkus lives by that rule!

anyway, this was obviously just a way for me to gush about science under the guise of my character’s belated birthday, but i hope it was informative! i had fun with it ;u; and i’ll start drawing my characters again too dhfgadjfhg soon i hope

thank you for reading!

#guild wars 2 #sylvari #redwoods words #arkus tag

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kittenn1011 · 6 years ago

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So I watched the new Live Action Kim Possible Disney Channel movie...

... and it was both worse and better than I thought it would be at the same time.

Warning: spoilers. For what it’s worth.

Pros:

- Some of the voices are on point. If I closed my eyes, Ron could really be Ron on occasion. I actually had to go check to see if Shego and Drakken might’ve been the voice actors actually, they were that close at times. It’s a bit inconsistent though, and tends to depend on how well each line was written. Special shoutout to Mr. Dr. Possible who had probably 10 lines and they were all exactly right. In the first five minutes, Dr. Dementor was really good too.

- Some lines are perfectly written. Special attention goes to a lot of Ron’s lines and moments in general: Unfortunately, a lot of these perfectly Kim-Possible lines are the sort of lines I didn’t find the strongest part of Kim Possible (Ron’s comic relief moments) but they made me smile nonetheless. Kim’s got a few great lines, too.

- The opening. It’s a bit weird in live action, but the music is the original opening and they do minick some of the most distinctive memorable moments in it: Ron losing his pants, Ron stealing the pom-poms, Kim on the phone, Kim’s power pose...

- The CGI establishing shots. The CGI is weird but the perfect replication of the Possible Home and the very close replication of Middleton High with ever-changing pun sign included was a nice touch. (”Procrastonator’s Club meeting postponed” haha 100% Middleton High there).

- I kind of enjoyed Kimmy and Nan and Mrs. Dr. Possible on a mission together, though the changes required to get there was a bit pointed making it predictable.

- Meta jokes. They stand out a bit in the context of a live-action movie but Kim Possible has always had meta jokes so I see them as a pro.

Cons:

- Another Mary-Sue synthodrone artificial lifeform sent by Drakken to destory KP’s KPness with the power of high school. Predictable from the first moment she stepped on screen, and even with a reason for it the Mary-Sueness was plain annoying. She even had a purple mission suit like Kim’s S4 mission suit wtf guys. I get the Mary-Sueness was the point but could you like not make a point that’s actively painful to watch for anvilicious lesson???

- Why did they not do the cheerleading thing? It was kind of KP’s thing, and replacing it with soccer for no reason was just pointless and dumb.

- They really fucked with the KP lore. Some of it wasn’t fully detrimental and helped with the translation to live action-- I don’t mind Rufus the hyperintelligent test subject found in lab because it explains him in a way his backstory wouldn’t and willing suspension of disbelief would not get past in a live action show. Others made sense for the short form but were just a pain to hear because like... there’s a whole backstory to KP which we’ve seen and it just isn’t as impactful to just gloss over it all when the story literally takes place during what the show considered backstory (KP entering highschool-- seriously, we couldn’t get her epic cheer tryout???)

- With the budget for effects and the translation from the cartoon, some things just didn’t work. Ron’s physical humour was at least discarded pretty quick because it didn’t really work in live action as well, but there are other things too that were weird.

- KIM. Let me give this chick credit where it’s due, she didn’t do horribly. She just wasn’t quite right. Part of it is that she’s in-universe younger than Kim ever was in the show and the actress is younger than Kim’s voice actress-- Kim moved and spoke with a confidence this girl can’t/doesn’t emulate. It stands out when almost everyone else is on point voice-wise. The original opening theme makes the voice difference stand out more too, so despite my general enjoyment of it, it really did make the movie feel weaker by reminding me of the so much better show this is based on.

- It ends with a deagged Drakken entering Middleton High and the not-synthodrone Mary-Sue joining the team permanently. Like, really guys? I was getting movie pilot vibes, yeah, but if you want to reboot it as a whole show can you at least be more true to the lore so you can use it? Anyways, deaged Drakken is the worst part of this though. I could deal with an un-Sued Sue... but the actor playing Drakken was perfect don’t replace him!!!

- That one meta joke about one outfit being cartoony. Bitch you wore the same mission outfit through the whole movie too. And Kim was notable for animation of its time for its rotating consistent wardrobe, and to be honest I think it’s notably more realistic than most live action Disney’s infinite wardrobe that clearly carried over here. Kim always had lots of outfits, but you also saw some outfits or pieces repeat like a real person’s limited wardrobe causes. Did you guys even look at the source material?

Anyways:

Overall, I was honestly not expecting nearly as much as I got in the areas there were positives, but I was expecting more when it came to lore and Kim herself than we got. Worth a watch if you have a spare few hours but not going to blow you away. The good moments are worth it, but the bad moments drag it down a lot.

#kim possible #kim possible reboot #kim possible 2019 #spoilers i guess

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ixiomdraws · 6 years ago

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[CLOSED SPECIES]

I would like to officially introduce a creature species I've made. They arent really new since I've had them for years and posted them several times on a couple different blogs, but they were originally just one, not really a species, but I love them and i just wanted to expand on them and what they were, so here we go.

Please read under the cut for full info on budbugs.

BUDBUG is the species name, named after the original, Pillbug.

(this is Pillbug^)

Pillbug was the only of their kind, created in a lab for testing purposes, and not good ones. They were practically tortured, cut open countless times, experimented on, ect. They were made to be docile and obedient, no aggressiveness at all, to the point of almost being just a living stuffed animal.

Pillbug is quiet, and pretty much completely incapable of choosing to do anything. They will wait for someone to tell them to do something, sitting in the same spot till they starve to death. Think of the sims with free will option turned off. This is specifically Pillbug, the first and original, and does not apply to the whole species. All budbugs come from Pillbugs DNA, so, in a way, Pillbug is the mother/father to all of the others.

now onto the species:

BUDBUGS

Scientific name:Vitula mollisparva

CLOSED species

Lifespan: unknown. Oldest living budbug is 36 (human) years old.

Average height: on all fours:around 1 foot. Standing: 2 feet(bitty versions also available)

Average weight:15 pounds

Sex: Budbugs are a genderless species, and cannot reproduce. if you adopt one, you can choose any pronouns youd like to call them, they don’t care.

DIET: they can pretty much eat anything. Their diet is whatever is offered to them or available, including things like bark. They have no specific needs, but there was a recorded overall preference of fruit and sweet things. Sweet milk is the number one way to attract them. It seems to be their absolute favorite, warm or cold. They have some semi-sharp molar like teeth in the back of their mouth that they use for crushing/chewing harder materials.

YOUNG: a hatchling(called pups) will not have vision, or be able to walk. they have feeling and scent to go on, much like a puppy. they have slight hearing that comes through to them as muffled sound. they are bottle fed milk like substance and sugar water(or a mix of both) for 3-4 months.

since budbugs dont have the ability to reproduce, nor a gender, there is no mother to nurse them and is done by bottle. there is the possibility of an adult budbug attempting to nurse young, but it’s unlikely theyll produce milk in time before the young starves.(we of course have the ability to make ‘nursemaid’ parents, bottle feeding the hatchlings until their milk comes in from stimulation((e.g pups attempting to nurse on them for prolonged times))

It's best to feed them mushy like food up to 6 or 7 months old. eyes open around 2-3 weeks old, along with better hearing. they start walking shortly after, 4-6 weeks. they will follow after people or animals in a fashion similar to ducklings, seeking a bigger ‘parental�� figure to protect them and make small chirp noises.

PLANT GROWTH:

Typically has any type of plant matter growing on their head, sometimes it can trail down their back and tail or even have random patches of plant matter elsewhere. the plants that grow on them are a part of them, for instance- cutting off a flower will cause a pinkish blood drop to emerge. They don’t seem to feel the pain of cut flowers/plant matter, nor does it need to be bandaged or treated, its fairly similar to regular plants in that aspect. [note:please do NOT use a mower or weedeater on your budbug]

The plants that grow on them are similar to regular plants, but often are more 'sturdy' and a little tougher to break/cut. This can vary somewhat by the individual, some will have more fragile type plant matter that easily comes off, others may have plant matter that is thicker, rooted and more connected to them. Usually youll know depending on plant type, thicker looking stems and such are most likely more rooted and a part of them and we highly recommended not trying to pull any plant matter out/off of them.

its best to let the plant naturally die/fall off, and typically the plant doesnt overgrow to a point of causing difficulty to the budbug.

BEHAVIOR:

a common site is seeing the budbug grooming itself; licking like a cat and patting or somewhat 'pulling' on leaves or whatever plant matter they have, to shed the dead leaves, ect. If left with water, they might bathe themself, somewhat like a hamster or cat, except they dip their arms in the water instead of licking them.(if water is available)

They have horn-like nubs on their head covered in fur/felt, the horns stop growing at a certain point and then remain that way for life. Their horns have no use other than for hatching out of an egg at birth. Its extremely rare for them to be aggressive toward anything, including others of their species. They’re very sharing, and around their own kind, they will often groom each other, make soft calls, and sleep in piles.

The few aggressive ones only did some mild growl like sounds and avoid the others, most of which stopped within an hour and joined in the regular activities.

There have been no cases of any attacks or biting, whether to their own species or other animals/people.

Meeting other species, they wont typically make the same call noises as they do to each other, but will still act friendly and try to sit next to or sleep with, and even try to groom them.

They’re quiet, almost mute. They can make soft call noises and various other light toned sounds, they cant bark/moo, and even in distress or extreme pain, they typically only make soft whine noises or stay silent. they also make rumbling like sounds similar to a purr. They have a very high pain tolerance, some people might even claim they cant feel pain, but trust me, they do.

heres some similar noises they can make(budbugs sound a bit more soft though, kind of like cooing? if that makes sense)

[1][2][3][4]

urgent call/trying to get attention(rare)

young/baby chirps

distress/pain call(rare)

Their arms are flipper like, though still usable as paws if needed, they prefer walking upright. their eyesight differs greatly, some excellent, some poor. If you don’t like things staring at you, this isnt the pet for you. They are very observant, watching others is probably like tv to them. smell is their best sensory, along with hearing. their fur type can vary from otter-like(waterproof) to very fine silky soft fur and many others.

Personality:

trusting, obedient, friendly, happy, quiet, patient. They will spend the majority of their time observing their surroundings or others.(some are 'lazier' than others, falling asleep instead)

Intelligence:

varies. They can learn a lot, but they typically have low functioning free will and require commands or encouragement to act on things.

As an example, we set a waterer that works similar to a fountain, needing a button to be pressed to release water for drinking. The creature sees us operate it and with mild encouragement, will press the button and drink. We leave them alone for days, and while they know how to operate the device, they do not, simply waiting.

It took several days of being completely alone before they finally activated the water by pressing the button. By their straightforward action, we could tell they knew how to operate it and it wasn't an accident. This test was ran on several others, all similar reactions. On average, only 3 out of 10 would react sooner, within 24 hours, 5 took about 3-5 days before reacting, and 2 passed out from dehydration and had to be taken to medical. (test was ran on 5 groups of 10)

Many other tests provide similar information: they typically wait for something to encourage or command them to act, even on simple survival such as food and water. If it isnt offered to them, they seem to get confused and wait for an offering, even if theyre next to a stream.

In some tests conducted, when in groups, they will follow suit after others, even of different species. e.g, one walks to a stream to drink, they follow suit to drink as well. It’s possible this is a faulty instinct of survival, watching others to drink or eat something to make sure its safe for themself, the faulty part being that even once they know a source is safe, they’ll still often wait for encouragement to engage.

thankfully, about 74% of them will get over this faulty instinct over time and regular encouragement towards a water/food spot. moving their dish or having a non-regular feeding area can cause this faulty instinct to return or worsen. it’s recommend to have a designated water and feeding spot set up for them to help them overcome that behavior.

other than that, they are extremely adept at learning commands and copying (to the best of their ability). they learn tricks incredibly easily. (e.g, roll over, sit, fetch, ect)

again, this is a CLOSED species. you do not have permission to make one of these without my consent. below are permissions if you get one- RETURNS: If you decide you do not want your budbug anymore, you can message me and I’ll take it back, either keeping it or putting it back up for adoption. but i can not and will not refund you. Which should be obvious, but just in case, i’m stating it here. PERMISSIONS: -you have complete permission to draw/write/ect of them. harm/violence/gore is allowed. I dont mind gore or sad angst stories, so whatever you want to do with them once bought, you can. However, you do not have permission to include them in anything sexual. if they’re just being the pet that watches their owners do it, like how cats sometimes do, then that’s fine. But absolutely no fucking the budbugs or other sexual activities with them. -You do not have permission to resell them or sell merchandise with them on it.

This post will be updated as needed if anything changes to their species info. Last update: 10/18/2018

#creature #species #closed species #animal #fantasty #budbugs #budbug #adoptable #adopts #in a soon future post

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drferox · 7 years ago

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20 Questions with Dr Ferox #12

I am beyond tired folks, struggling to set by body clock back after a night shift again. It’s a peculiar mix of grunge and headache without having done anything super fun to deserve it, so my apologies if I’m a little slow on the uptake.

But here I have 20 more questions and comments you’ve sent me, so lets get into them. I have tried to tag the question askers, but if you asked on Anon then you’ll have to look through yourself to see if you’ve been answered yet.

Anonymous said: How is Lucifer doing? Are you still seeing him? I checked the archives, but I didn't see any updates past a point and I was curious about the bunbun.

Lucifer isn’t my rabbit, he’s a client’s rabbit. I last saw him several months ago, and if he’s not unwell there’s no reason why I should need to see him more than once a year. This is how it works for most of our patients.

Anonymous said: Has a cat actually swatted at your braid like in your icon?

Yes, younger cats mostly. Trash Bag did it a lot. Dogs go for it too, but they’re more snatching than swatting and that isn’t as cute.

@anonymousautonomousavatar said: in your photos, Trash Bag always looks like you've just caught him doing something naughty and he's trying to think of a way to get out of trouble, and i think that's beautiful

Is he? You know there’s probably a reason for that.

@ ske-lee-ton said: I remember a while ago you mentioned a mewly discovered, rare colouring in domestic cats, like "inverted colourpoint", being darker with white faces and ears, etc. I can't remember the name of it though. I've been looking all over but I can't find it again, but it was interesting and I wanted to show my friend. Do you remember what I'm on about?

I finally found it again. It’s the Karpati colour.

Anonymous said: We have a 17 year old, very lazy, rescue chihuahua mix. She has always been lazy, and she started slowing down even more, and so were like oh shes just old as balls. She wound up getting 5 teeth pulled, and since shes just been as perky as ever, and she even kinda jumps again when excited. This made my mom realize that we really DO need to get our dogs teeth cleaned regularly. Without abscessed teeth, we think our dog may be imortal. Story to encourage owners to clean doggos teeth!

Best of luck to you and your little dog. Dental health is important, but because it degrades so gradually it is often mistaken for just getting older.

@unicorndoggo asked: Is there any nail polish you would recommend that's non-Toxic and dries fast? I might give my puppy a spa day 😜

I’m sorry but I’m not familiar with any nail polishes, I don’t use any makeup even on myself so can’t make any recommendations.

Anonymous asked: Why do some dogs like to chase cars?

Because they move and make a noise.

Also they learn that if they bark and run after the thing, the thing leaves, and they think they have done that so they continue to do it to make the cars leave.

@fossore said: Hi, that question about the ethics of horse riding made me think about the horse post and the part about galloping horses damaging their internal organs, and if I remember correctly that study was done on thoroughbreds. Since thoroughbreds have been bred for a long time to go fast, is it reasonable to assume that a horse without that breeding wouldn't put the same kind of stresses on its internal systems even when going full bore? Or is it more integral to the biomechanics than I'm realizing?

The study I know was done on thoroughbreds, because they’re very common, easily accessible and there’s lots of money behind them. It’s literally just these are the research subjects available. While we may not be able to extrapolate for smaller, pony type horses, we probably can still extrapolate that information for larger breeds. It may also explain why even with modern planed breeding there hasn’t been significant improvement in the racing speed of these horses, they may be approaching their physical limit. It’s interesting to speculate though, and a wild horse will not spend any more time than it absolutely has to running at its top speed. It will only push itself that far if it has to.

Anonymous said: One very important point many don't consider about ethical horsemanship is the age at which the horse is broken in. Most breeds aren't done growing until at least four or five, and in the US especially, many, many horses are started out, especially in high impact sports like racing, when they are under two years old and their skeletons aren't in the least bit mature. It's no wonder so many racehorses wind up wrecked. Look at poor Eight Belles. Dressage tends to start much later!

I would say that hose working within animal industries are aware of this, but there is little motivation from the industry itself to change this. A horse is an expensive animal to keep, and years spent doing nothing with it are ‘wasted’.

Dressage may start training horses later, but it’s not free of issues either.

@bettsplendens asked: I have a can of freeze-dried shrimp, meant to be used as fish treats, that one of our cats really likes. I let her have a few of them, there's no other ingredients than some sort of small, freeze-dried river shrimp. Would they be a safe treat for her now and then?

If they’re like brine shrimp they’re probably fine, probably very salty though. They’re be too small for the exoskeleton to get stuck anywhere. My cats like fishfood too.

@rxadkill said: im just wondering what you're opinion on this is, but one of my cats loves to rhythmically bat her paws against the railing of the stairs. we've caught her a few times and she doesnt use her claws at all just the pads of her feet. we say shes "playing the bongos" because of the sound it makes and we were all wondering could she be doing it because she likes the sound? is that even a thing cats do? question tax thing?: came cause im a prevet major stayed for funny stories and great advice

There is probably something in the activity that she finds novel or interesting, whether it’s a sound or texture. Batting is a normal behavior, she’s just doing it to an odd thing.

@terrychuu said: years ago, when i was still very young, my cat had a very bad case of bladder stones, and both my mom and me failed to notice.. until, eventually, his bladder burst. we took him to the vet, and they said they could only put him down at this point, but to this day i cant help but wonder.. was that really the only option? i mean, if a human bladder were to burst, you dont just "put them down" either.. do you? :/

No you don’t put humans down for a ruptured bladder, but we have ore resources available for humans than we do pets and I don’t know what was available ‘years ago’ in your location.

Bladder rupture is very rare, and while a tear is repairable surgery it’s not a cheap surgery especially if ureters are involved in any way. And the cat still requires lifelong care to manage their predisposition towards developing bladder stones.

More common is a urethral blockage, which can happen very suddenly, ad this can cause serious life threatening complications in a short amount of time.

Anonymous said: Would you say that terrier breeds are a group of dogs that are prone to skin allergies than other grouped breeds? I'm a vet nurse and while I see allergies in breeds like pointers and sharpeis, the more common groups are terriers of all sorts. From maltese, WHW, Staffies etc. Could this be put down to genetics of how the breeds came to be through breeding or would you say just purely a dietary reason?

Dietary reasons for allergies are relatively rare, they’re thought to be a component in only about 20% of allergy cases. There is likely to be a genetic component within each breed, but this may well be a different component for each, as many of these breeds don’t share common ancestry. It may also be worsened by increased exposure of allergens to the less hairy skin of their abdomen, which is typically lower to the ground for dogs in this group.

@thehighwayphantom asked: I have a question about Rottweilers. From your experience, have you noticed that they are prone to cancer more than other breeds? I only ask because I have a friend whose 31 and his family have had rotties all his life (five dogs) and three of those have been PTS with cancer/cancer related issues. They swear its the breed but they also own a welding/metal working business and the dogs are allowed in the shed which makes me wonder if its environmental?

It’s highly likely to be genetic. We don’t see as many environmental causes for cancer identified in dogs and cats because their lives are relatively short compared to ours, they are exposed to these things for a shorter period of time. Different types of cancers are common causes of death for rottweilers.

Anonymous said: Hey Doc, I wanted to say how much I appreciate your breed writeups. Something about the degree to which humans have bred and inbred and specialized dogs (and other "breed"-possessing domestic animals) really unnerves me, and its good to see medical proof, in a way, that the degree of inbreeding is and has been quite harmful to the animals.

I’m glad some people find them useful and don’t take offense because I’m not strongly ‘pro’ enough for their particular breed.

Anonymous said: My lab mix is terrified of thunderstorms and fireworks. Whenever he gets scared we take him into the basement and to the laundry room and turn on the washer and dryer. We lay there with him till it stops. Me and my dad have spent many nights sleeping on the floor with him. Question tax: came for the vet advice and stayed for the breed analysis and fantasy biology. Love your blog!

If that’s the coping mechanisms your family have developed with your lab to manage his noise phobia, and it’s manageable, then that is one way to help him.

@ surskitty said: I've been harness training my cat, and today she learned grass is fun to chew on. She also walked on the sidewalk outside my house. Now she's napping on my lap.

I’m glad the training’s going well and is enjoyable for you both.

@ipreferpencil said: Thankful for your blog because I have learned that vets don't mind if I call with a concern and that I can question the treatment plan if I think it's not working. My kitty was put on prescription z/d food for protein allergies I guess? I have always thought it seasonal allergies. Anyway, she hates the food, is still itchy, and keeps losing weight (went from 8.5 pounds in March to 6.4 pounds just now) and so I called today and asked the vet to call me back regarding switching her off this food.

If I could get the whole world to learn one thing from this blog, it’s that it’s ok, even encouraged, to call your own vet to ask questions. Thank you. I hope everything goes well for her.

Anonymous said: You're so knowledgeable and responsible. I really enjoy your blog!!!

Thanks. Cheers for the extra exclamation marks!!!

@bobthejob said: I just wanted to say that my dog wont take her carsickness pills unless you make peanut butter toast and then eat a little bit of it yourself and hide the pill casually in another piece out of sight. She thinks shes really getting a big treat bc normally she only gets veggies or sometimes meat off people plates XD

Also youre glorious. I love vets. Yall are like gods/godesses. Youre great and while now i know more bc im a bio student when i was little the vet was basically a sorcerer in my mind. I wanted to be a vet for a long time and then i was like "thats a lot of school and my brain isnt suited to it" but THEN last year i realized that it was the husbandry of animals i really was interested in and i was like oh too bad that isnt a career and THEN i was like wait isnt that just a zookeeper and yeah. Now im going to school and im going to be a zookeeper and im SO PUMPED IM SO READY

I’m always happy to hear Vetlings are finding their way in life. I wish well to all of you, even if veterinary medicine isn’t where you ultimately end up.

I used to think the vet was magic too when I was little.

Good luck on your zookeeper journey!

#20 questions #trash bag the cat

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healthcasa-blog · 6 years ago

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Orthotics vs Insoles...what’s the difference?

Orthotics, insoles, arch support, shoe inserts, custom orthotics. All these terms get thrown around quite loosely, and there are no rules governing the use of these terms, which doesn’t make it any easier for consumers to understand. You’ll see these products sold at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, sporting goods stores, and shoe stores and it’s difficult to know which one to choose. What’s the difference? Which product is right for you and your feet? Which option will provide you with the best results?

Let’s take a moment to clarify the terminology. Insoles, arch support and shoe inserts, and orthotics are often used interchangeably. The main difference is who makes them, how they are made, and where you get them. The products that are available to purchase from most retail stores do not need to be prescribed by a doctor or foot specialist and are NOT custom made. They may offer some mild, temporary help but they won’t specifically address your individual foot conditions nor will they perfectly fit your feet because they’re mass produced. Orthotics, or custom made orthotics, are a more specialized product. They are made specifically for a patient, based on a prescription and hopefully a foot specialist’s Biomechanical Assessment (how your foot and ankle moves when manually manipulated) and Gait Analysis (how your foot moves while walking).

Can off-the-shelf orthotics (insoles/inserts) help?

If you have mild, occasional foot pain, off-the-shelf insoles can be helpful as a short-term solution. These off-the-shelf insoles will offer some temporary relief and won’t cause any harm, however, most only provide extra cushioning and don’t address the underlying causes of your foot-related pain or discomfort.

If you have chronic or serious foot conditions, insoles made of gel or other soft materials can potentially do more harm than good because the soft, flexible material creates an unstable surface underneath your feet. In these cases, custom orthotics are a better option, especially considering that they would be made specifically for your feet according to the specifications of a Chiropodist or Podiatrist.

Pros: These off-the-shelf insoles are mass produced which means they are inexpensive and readily available to anyone.

Cons: You get what you pay for. A cheaper insole is a result of cheaper materials, mass production, and a generic design. The cheaper the insole, the faster it tends to breakdown, and the more often it will need to be replaced.

What if you don’t wear a standard shoe size, or if your feet differ in size (feet often differ in size by as much as ½ a shoe size!)? What if you have a specific foot condition that requires additional modifications? In these cases, orthotics that are custom-made for your feet are the better option.

What’s the difference between orthotics vs custom orthotics?

Not all orthotics are created equally. As mentioned above, the term ‘orthotics’ can be used by anyone to describe something that is inserted into your shoe for pain relief or added comfort. A custom orthotic is one that is made from scratch, specifically for your feet, foot conditions, activities, lifestyle, and footwear based on the findings of the assessment done by a Chiropodist or Podiatrist. These are often made of more robust, technical materials, so they tend to last longer. Because they are custom made for your foot, they can provide proper arch support and alignment. There are a variety of different types of orthotics available, to suit your footwear and activities. Custom orthotics can only be prescribed by a healthcare practitioner, ideally by a foot specialist such as a Podiatrist or Chiropodist.

What about the ‘orthotics’ we see in retail stores, pharmacies, and even infomercials? The short answer is this: if they weren’t constructed based on a 3D cast of each of your feet in a neutral, non-weight bearing position, they are NOT custom made!

Remember, two dimensional measurements such as digital pressure maps can NOT be used to create accurate, three-dimensional orthotics … think about it, where is the measurement data coming from for the 3rddimension (arch height/depth/shape)?

How do I know if my orthotics are REALLY custom-made?

A lot goes into a pair of truly custom-made orthotics, and the more steps and more people involved, the greater the chance of something not going according to plan.

When you’re looking at being assessed for custom-made orthotics you’ll need to ask your clinic some important questions:

1. Who is doing the assessment and taking the cast?

2. What casting method are they using?

3. What lab are the casts being sent to for fabrication?

4. Does that lab make a new positive mold for each cast received?

1. Who is doing the assessment and taking the orthotics cast?

All HealthCasa practitioners are fully vetted, certified, licensed and insured Chiropodists and Podiatrists. We take great care in training our practitioners on the proper casting techniques and they use only HealthCasa-provided materials, so we can maintain consistency of quality. There are a few different methods of taking 3D casts, but the tool is only as good as the person using it. You want to be sure you are working with a foot specialist such as a Chiropodist or Podiatrist who has had extensive training in the assessment, casting and design of custom orthotics.

While many Chiropractors and Physiotherapists also sell orthotics, Chiropodists and Podiatrists are the only regulated healthcare professionals that can prescribe custom orthotics. They are foot specialists that are trained specifically in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect your feet and ankles. For the same reason that you would see a dentist if you had tooth ache, seeing a Chiropodist or Podiatrist is the logical choice for your feet.

2. What casting method are they using?

The basis for a truly custom-made orthotic starts with a properly made 3D cast, with the patient’s foot in a neutral (not moving) and non-weight-bearing (not standing, pushing, etc.) position. This is the natural position of your foot where you don’t experience any sort of pain or discomfort, and the position that custom orthotics attempt to maintain for the patient. The primary preferred casting methods that maintain the proper position of the patient’s foot are plaster of Paris and some 3D digital scanners.

There are many other methods of taking a cast for orthotics such as foam boxes, digital pressure mapping, digital walking mats, and more. Unfortunately, these methods don’t keep your feet in a neutral, non-weight bearing position. This means that your feet will be casted in the same position they’re in when you’re experiencing pain … so if your orthotics are made according to a cast in THAT position, at most all they’re going to do is prevent your feet from getting any worse.Basically, those orthotics will be a waste of your time and money with little health benefit. This is why most insurance companies require proof that your orthotics were made based on a 3D cast of your feet in a neutral and non-weight-bearing position in order for you to qualify for reimbursement.

3. What lab are the casts being sent to for fabrication?

We spent a couple months speaking with, interviewing, vetting, and doing other due diligence on most of the orthotic manufacturing labs across Canada. We insisted on using a lab that could prove to us that they only made custom-made orthotics, had great communication and customer service protocols, used high quality materials and whose technicians are highly trained. We’ve personally visited many of these labs and have actually seen first-hand what their orthotic manufacturing processes look like.

4. Does that lab make a new positive mold for each cast received?

Unfortunately, some labs use pre-fabricated orthotic shells and choose the ones whose shape and size are the closest match to the casts they receive. Close enough IS NOT good enough for HealthCasa.

These labs will often call these orthotics “custom”, but in essence, what you’re getting is an orthotic that is only slightly better than one of the cheaper off-the-shelf options you can buy online or in a store. And you’ll probably be paying a price that is comparable to a really custom-made orthotic. Insurance companies will not accept claims where pre-fabricated orthotics have been used, however those labs are not exactly forthcoming with their dishonest practices. Insurance companies are trying to crack down on this practice, but it’s also important for you as the patient to choose practitioners and clinics that can demonstrate where their orthotics will be manufactured and how.

If your foot clinic can’t readily answer these questions to your satisfaction, ask yourself why they don’t know this vital information or why they won’t tell you. If the casts aren’t taken correctly by a certified foot specialist such as a Podiatrist or Chiropodist, if they are using substandard casting methods, if they have not thoroughly vetted their lab, and/or the lab is not making a new positive mold for each cast received, then chances are your orthotics will NOT be fully custom made.

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centuryassociates · 6 years ago

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ICYMI: The BCC Drops its Final Regulations

On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (“BCC”)—the agency that licenses distributors, retailers, testing labs, and event organizers—dropped its final regulations. Until then, BCC licensed commercial cannabis operators or applicants for BCC licenses had been in no man’s land, complying with emergency regulations while trying to divine what the final regulations would look like, what they would need to change, and when they would need to change it. While the final regulations are by no means perfect, they are at least here (alongside the CDPH permanent regulations, which we covered on Monday). While these final regulations from BCC appear to mirror the proposed regulations submitted back in early December, they depart from the emergency regulations in some pretty significant ways. Below are a few of the more key areas.

Owner Changes. One of the more significant final regulatory expansions comes in the disclosures that must be made to the BCC when a licensed entity is owned by another entity. The BCC previously required that some of the people who own or run entity owners of licensees be disclosed in BCC applications, but the new regulation greatly expands those requirements. For example, in the readopted emergency regulations, entity owners needed to disclose their CEOs and/or board members if those entities were considered owners based on 20 percent or more equity in the licensee.

Now, entity ownership requirements kick in in any situation in which a company owns a licensee—not only where the ownership is based in equity (remember that ownership can also be based on direction, management, or control of a licensee or other grounds). If an entity is considered an owner, then anyone with a financial interest in that entity must be disclosed to the BCC and may be considered an owner.

This is a tremendously significant requirement and means that virtually everyone in the corporate chain must be disclosed (and probably must provide all of the many significant and burdensome disclosures). For example, if John Smith directly owns 1% of the BCC licensee ABC Retailer and does not exercise any control over ABC Retailer, he will be considered a financial interest holder as opposed to an owner. But if he owns 1% of XYX Holdings, which has a 20% stake in ABC Retailer, he will need to be disclosed to the BCC and may be considered an owner.

What is less clear is how the BCC will evaluate whether persons like John Smith in the above example are owners. The rule isn’t very clear on this point, but does give examples such as “all entities in a multilayer business structure, as well as the chief executive officer, members of the board of directors, partners, trustees and all persons who have control of a trust, and managing members or nonmember managers of the entity.” Persons like John Smith, who really have no say over the company and have just a small monetary interest, probably won’t be considered owners even under these new rules. But again, they probably will need to make full ownership disclosures before the BCC makes that determination.

One other significant point in the final regulations is that the BCC now expressly considers persons who expect 20% or more of the profits of a licensee to be owners. This means that various kinds of contracts (subject to the discussion below) between a licensee and third party could turn the third party into an owner depending on the compensation—even if that third party otherwise would not be an owner.

Interest Holder Changes: Similar to the owner regulations, the financial interest holder rules (regulation 5004) were also enlarged. Unlike in the readopted emergency regulations, the interest holder regulations provide a non-exhaustive list of persons or entities who must be disclosed as interest holders:

An employee who has entered into a profit share plan with the commercial cannabis business.

A landlord who has entered into a lease agreement with the commercial cannabis business for a share of the profits.

A consultant who is providing services to the commercial cannabis business for a share of the profits.

A person acting as an agent, such as an accountant or attorney, for the commercial cannabis business for a share of the profits.

A broker who is engaging in activities for the commercial cannabis business for a share of the profits.

A salesperson who earns a commission.

The ownership changes discussed above may seem at first glance to be one of the more onerous changes in the regulations. And to some extent—especially for licensees in corporate families or which are owned by other companies—this is true. But these interest holder disclosure requirements are equally, if not more complex because they require disclosure of virtually anyone with any sort of stake in a cannabis company—small or large. This will require companies to take stock of all third-party agreements to which they are a party and spend serious effort analyzing whether the disclosure obligations apply.

Not only are there likely to be larger disclosures of financial interest holders than of owners, but licensees are also now obligated to make similar disclosures where their financial interest holders are entities. Now, anyone who is an “owner” of a financial interest holder will need to be disclosed to the BCC. This rule is admittedly narrower than the ownership disclosure requirement in that it is limited to just owners of the financial interest holder and that the categories of information that must be submitted are much narrower, but it is significant nonetheless and will require a lot of work and evaluation.

IP Licenses and Other Third-Party Agreements: Back in October, we wrote about how changes to BCC regulation 5032(b) could prohibit IP licenses and other transactions with non-licensed entities. This is obviously significant as there are many such transactions in this industry (and any). The October version of rule 5032(b) was subsequently scaled back to remove examples of unlawful third-party agreements, but now we are left with a regulation which is ambiguous as to its scope: “Licensees shall not conduct commercial cannabis activities on behalf of, at the request of, or pursuant to a contract with any person who is not licensed under the Act.” In the final statement of rules that accompanied the December 2018 proposed final regulations (which have been removed from the BCC’s website), the BCC suggested in response to comments that third-party license agreements could be permissible if an unlicensed entity were disclosed as an owner or interest holder. But whether the BCC maintains this position remains to be seen.

Packaging and Labeling: A few weeks ago, I wrote about the packaging and labeling mess that was likely to ensue if the December proposed regulations became the final regulations. It looks like that’s happened, so I won’t repeat that article verbatim. But what bears repeating is that, except for child-resistant packaging, there doesn’t appear to be any sort of grace period for compliance with the new labeling regulations. To compound matters, while distributors can re-label cannabis and pre-rolls, they apparently can no longer re-label manufactured goods—and retailers can’t do any sort of labeling. We therefore expect that there will be a good deal of chaos over packaging that was compliant but now suddenly is not, and confusion over what to do about it.

Delivery Expansion (or Not?): As I highlighted back in the October when the BCC’s modified proposed regulations were issued, one of the bigger changes to the regulations was to section 5416(d), which allows deliveries into any jurisdiction in the state so long as they comply with the BCC regulations. This change stuck in the final regulations. While it would seem that licensed cannabis retailers can deliver anywhere in the state, there are a number of jurisdictions that still forbid it. This thus creates a conflict between local laws and statewide regulations that is not so clear as one may think.

For example, Malibu recently passed a measure that permits adult use cannabis sales and deliveries, but forbids deliveries into Malibu for entities that don’t have Malibu permits. Pasadena, which is currently undergoing a massive licensing competition, prohibits its permittees from delivering into cities or counties that prohibit deliveries. And of course there are numerous other California cities which are even more restrictive and prohibit all commercial cannabis sales or deliveries.

While not very clear, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”) provides: “A local jurisdiction shall not prevent delivery of cannabis or cannabis products on public roads by a licensee acting in compliance with [MAUCRSA] . . . .” Arguments could therefore be made on either side of the spectrum about whether MAUCRSA permits cities to preclude deliveries: cities could argue that MAUCRSA permits them to ban deliveries off of public roads (i.e., on private property); others could argue that deliveries made using public roads and to residences or other private properties adjacent to public roads cannot be prohibited. We expect that there may be future litigation here.

These are just some of the significant changes in the regulations. Compliance with the regulations is critical, and it’s always recommended to consult with experienced regulatory cannabis counsel in doing so. Stay tuned to the Canna Law Blog to see how the BCC regulations shake out and for other California cannabis developments.

ICYMI: The BCC Drops its Final Regulations posted first on https://centuryassociates.blogspot.com/

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iamthebarefootone · 6 years ago

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Nopixgo wards off mosquitos by simulating thunderstorm ...

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When you think of the dangerous animals that we share the earth with, your mind typically springs to sharks, then to lions, and then all the innocent-but-deadly, cartoon-looking creatures you've seen on Planet Earth.

What you don't think of, probably, are mosquitos. But with the insects so often the carriers of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, the Zika virus and Lyme disease, they cause over a million deaths each year, according to WHO data.

Read this: 10 wearables that could save your life

Nopixgo buzzes on to Kickstarter

The need for a solution has never been greater, and one Swiss startup is taking aim at the mosquitos not through traditional methods, like chemical sprays, or even ultrasound, but using a wrist-worn wearable. Nopixglobal's device draws from scientific testing in order to improve protection against mosquitos, leveraging the insect's own survival instinct against it by recreating the same atmospheric conditions produced by thunderstorms. By doing so, the mosquito's instinct to feed is overridden and the rate at which it bites is said to vastly reduce.

The unorthodox technology is currently on Kickstarter and available from roughly £55, with the company looking for backers to help propel its wearable mosquito protector into the world and help fund further testing of its method on the more than 3,000-strong variants of the insect.

"Usually, a mosquito will follow the exhalation of a human or animal from above before flying down and looking for blood vessels to attack. But when the band is on, we find that the electromagnetic signal helps activity to slowly subside, and the mosquitos instead begin to fly towards the floor and wait out what it thinks is a thunderstorm," Nopixglobal's Johan Niklasson told us.

"We don’t want people to think this offers 100% protection - it doesn’t do that just yet - but we do often see a very significant reduction in bites. For example, if I’m in a controlled testing room that's filled with mosquitos for 30 or 40 minutes, I could come out with just five or six bites, and that’s unheard of."

The reason why Niklasson indicates that further testing is vital is due to the amount of variance between different species of mosquitos. For example, while the Nopixglobal team has been able to tune the frequencies of its wearable to insects typically found in Africa, where mosquitos have the innate quality to try to survive thunderstorm-like conditions or heavy winds, others aren't programmed in quite the same way, and therefore require a higher frequency. Why not ramp up the signal's frequency universally? Well, doing so risks killing mosquitos in a wearer's path and therefore harming the ecological balance.

Bite or flight

In Niklasson's apartment hangs a map of the globe, with scores of pins all across the continents of South America, Asia, Europe and Africa - though none for Antarctica, of course - indicating where the Nopixgo device has been tested by real-world users over the past two years. He says that this, as well as continued testing in the lab, will help the company forge its path to eventually creating an affordable mosquito repellant that can last for several years at a time. But there are also other factors in play that could affect its mission to tackle the mosquito problem.

Read next: Stories of lifesaving wearable tech

"There is a bit of a conflict between us and the other guys — these people who work within chemical aids, or ultrasound," says Niklasson. "I think we're considered disruptive, because the pharmaceutical and chemical industries are very strong in Switzerland, and the World Health Organisation is in collusion with these very large companies because an enormous amount of money is changing hands.

"At least from what we can see, these organisations don’t want any competition. We’ve basically been ignored by the World Health Organisation, and so for this to reach people we’ve realised we’re going to have to do it ourselves."

Niklasson says the team was initially naive to the forces it believes now work against it, with money instead more routinely ploughed into potential vaccinations and testing for its own technology facing harsh stipulations.

"The crucial thing to consider about mosquito protection is that you can’t actually make a mosquito fly away entirely, and things like ultrasound work for a time before they realise it’s not actually harmful. The World Health Organisation, though, stipulates that a device doesn’t technically work unless a mosquito is repelled, and flies away from whatever is protecting you. It doesn't make sense."

Crowdfund this?

At first glance, it's natural to question the need for a dedicated mosquito wearable, but there's a far-reaching and long-term plan in place for the Nopixglobal team that's not typical of every project.

By Niklasson's own admission, this isn't a one-off device that will conquer the mosquito issue once devices are shipped. In fact, it's quite the opposite, with this representing the first step on a path that includes reducing the cost of its device and improving its battery life to last years, not days.

Different types of devices harbouring the same technology are also being planned, including modular tags that can clip onto a backpack, solar-powered wearables and even hubs that sit within a home.

Essential reading: Wearables vs killer diseases - who's winning?

As with any new technology, it's always sensible to exercise some caution before backing, but this does represent an intriguing way to to combat a problem that is felt, to varying degrees, across the globe.

The immediate target here is the people who find the chemical-based mosquito repellants a bugbear during the summer and want a new way to reduce bites, but the bigger picture of this is something that could grow into something much meaningful.

We'll be testing out the wearable over the coming months to get a gauge on just whether it's able to do what it claims, so stay tuned for our full take.

Hot smartwatch deals

Wareable may get a commission

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https://excellentsmartwatches.com/nopixgo-wards-off-mosquitos-by-simulating-thunderstorm/

#articles

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captainalwayslazycollectort-blog · 6 years ago

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I have a car that I seldom use now, can I keep the plates on the car with no insurance policy. And if I need to use this car, reactivate my auto policy for those specific days. Is this legal? I know in some states it is and in some not. If I do suspend insurance and I do have to surrender the plates, how long do I have till the MVC penalizes me?""

Changing motorcycles and insurance question?

Long story short I have got a new bike. The bike I am Insured on has about 2 months left before I gather another year no claims. However, I was wondering would/do Insurance companies offer a way for me to transfer the next/last 2 months to my new bike (At a possible cost) then charge me a full year when its due (In 2 months) Any help will be appreciated. I don't want to phone my insurance up cause every time I phone someone like that and tell them I have a new bike I want to insure they go crazy and keep phoning me! I have 1 years NCB and i'll be 18 in 2 months (when I will get 2 year NCB) Cheers Geoff""

Trying to get cheaper auto insurance?

I live in NYC where auto insurance is extremely high. I wanted to know if mom and pop auto insurance companies are cheaper than top named auto insurance companies like Allstate, state farm, etc. The top auto insurance companies are giving me really high quotes. I see a lot of small business insurance companies in the neighborhood. I wonder if they will give me a lower quote and are they just as good as allstate or state farm, etc.? Thanks.""

I was wondering if Doctors pay for health insurance?

Since they are doctors, do they need insurance?""

What do i do if I have breast cancer and no insurance?

I am 42 and won't go to the doctor because I have no insurance, I can't pay the $250 for a check up, plus lab fees, just to find out, not to mention the other tests and the referrals I'd get if there was an issue...I'm scared to go to the doctor, and scared not to go. any advice?""

How to get the cheapest insurance for a 17 year old?

Does anybody know any tips that would lower my insurance? I was looking at prices of insurance for a 1L peugeot 107, which cost around 2000, and the prices were 4000+. My girlfriend was looking at prices for herself and the prices were around 1500 for a 5000 Vauxhall Corsa. Any help is appreciated.""

Do you have to get car insurance?

I live in England, i am not getting an car yet. I don't want to pay a lot of money & i am in my teens and i heard it is quite a bit of money for insurance, so i don't want to ...show more""

How much will insurance go up with with a speeding ticket and now I rear ended someone on the freeway?

I have Allstate Insurance in California. I got a speeding ticket in Nevada. And it was either hit a semi or rear end a car on the freeway.

Will my insurance cover this?

I recently traded my phone and i called radioshack and they said my insurance should be transferable. is this true?

What is the cheapest motorcycle insurance in California or Los Angeles?

Is it more affordable to use a car or motorcycle in terms of gas saving and insurance? I am new to US. I want a reliable answer please.

Motorcycle or Scooter Insurance in London?

How much would the insurance be for a motorcycle or scooter worth less than 4,000GBP in London? I'm hoping that it would be a lot less than a 50cc scooter in Dublin worth about 400GBP costing 200GBP for insurance per year.""

How much would i expect to pay insurance on a chevy nova?

I might be getting chevy nova from a guy in town but i need to know how much insurance will b or else i cant get it.... i know there are a lot of variables it is rwd(obviously lol) and has 350cid engine.... i believe we have nationwide insurance so ya... i would use it as a an everyday car too...

""Are most companies going to switch to Obamacare, for their insurance coverage plans.?""

Are most companies going to switch to Obamacare, for their insurance coverage plans.?""

Average motorcycle insurance rate?

I'm 16 and living in Ontario i wanted to know how much insurance rate it is do you pay monthly? yearly? i don't know submit what you know and estimate if you don't know

First time car insurance?

I passed my driving test on the 6th of December 2011 and got a car yesterday. It is a 1.0 litre peugeot 107 56 plate and I'm 22. Wondering where the cheapest place to go for car insurance would be or the cheapest way to do it? I've heard some people go on their Mum's, but you shouldn't do that as it's illegal to say they are the main driver when you are (not sure how this would be proved). I've looked on price comparison sites but they are all still so expensive and I still feel I can get a better quote. The best one has been from an independent insurer called Ingenie at 1300, so I know I can get cheaper on sites that aren't on price comparison ones, if that makes sense! The thing is there's so many was just wondering if anyone knew the cheapest?? Getting bored of typing my details in over and over :) Thankyou x""

""Should I get Jaguar car, which one, and how much will I pay to maintain it?""

I want a cool car. I totally fall in love with Jaguar. But, I also dont want to spend a lot on gas and insurance. So, should I get it? I'm 19 years old, male. How much do I have to pay the insurance probably? And what if it's a Volt? Is that better? And how much will I have to pay to maintain it? I'm California.""

I got into a car accident like 2 weeks ago and i havent recieved a rent a car from the insurance company??????

I havent recieved a rentacar from the insurance company i didnt have insurance since the car was no more that 3 hours new to me i had just bought it. It was cansidered a total lose from the insurance what should i do.

California state medical insurance?

I have to have my gallbladder removed and i want to know how long did you have to wait to have the surgery done? I am in Merced, County if that helps.""

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Good and affordable health insurance for an entry level job person?

8 live in pennsylvania, but so... U can give me details also if u live in other state. Anyway. .. i just wanna know which are goods""

Learners permit insurance?

My parents are divorced and my mom took me to get my permit and signed for it. In order to drive with my dad do I have to have a card of her insurance in the car?

Cheaper on insurance 1980 lincoln or a 1995 blazer?

i have a 1980 lincoln mark VI it has a 351 (5.8 liter engine) and a 1995 chevy blazer im 16 and im trying to decide which one to drive they both get the same gas mialage about cause the blazer is an suv so im deciding which would be cheaper on insurance for a 16 year old i think the blazer but im sure hoping not cause the lincolns prettier lol

Salvage title car insurance claim settlement?

I purchased the car with a salvage title over a year ago. I have full coverage with Progressive on my 2003 honda accord ex with 64k, in a recent ice storm my wife totaled the car. The ...show more""

Car accident and no licence or insurance?

So i got into a car accident this morning on the way to school, and the lady driving the other car was pulling out of her drive way and i hit her while she was pulled out on to the road, reason being she lived on a corner kinda tucked away and as i turned i didnt see her and i hit her car.. the police took both our statements and lets us both go even thou i dont have insurance or a license What will my fine and punishments be?""

What's an affordable health insurance?

I'm working part time but my company doesn't provide health insurance. Just looking for some ideas i'm young and healthy but would like a physical now and then.

Behind the wheel test insurance question?

I'm taking my behind the wheel test soon and my best friend is going to be my licensed driver and we were thinking if taking my moms car its insured and everything but its In my moms name only. Can I still use it for the test even though she's not going to be there? I checked the dmv website for California and it just says the car needs to be insured with valid registration.

Would motorcycle insurance be cheaper if I get an M1 now and not drive?

Should I get motorcycle insurance under my parents name? Or should I just get the license and wait? Anyone know a good/cheap company for insurance? I'm 21 and live in Toronto. Thinking of getting a 2007 CBR1000RR.

How much do you pay for car insurance and on what company?

Im tryign to find the cheapest.

HELP!!!! Insurance company saying I owe money after a car accident that happened 2 years ago! What do I do?

2 years ago I got into a 4 car pile up accident. The accident was my fault. After the wreck happened, my insurance company took care of all the people who were involved in the wreck but me because I had only liability. No one was hurt in the wreck. I recieved a letter from my insurance company that I owed them $700.00. I paid it and they told me everything was taken care of and never heard anything about the accident. Now 2 years later I get a letter from the Credit Collection company saying I owe them $82,000 dollars!!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!? How do I find out what they want me to pay so much money for??? and what do I do if i cant pay this!? there is NO WAY I can afford to pay that much $$!!! How do I keep my credit from messing up or is it already messed up since the collectio company sent me a letter??? PLEASE HELP! anyone who knows anything about this or has been through this...""

Do I have to have car insurance in wis?

I have a car that is old, ( a VW Fox to be exact) and i was wondering if i need to have car insurance for it? i use the car for nothing more than to drive to work and back, because of the amazing gas milage, but i was woundering if im going to get into trouble if im ever pulled over and dont have insurance. I live in WIS so keep that in mind. Any help would be welcome. thx ahead of time.""

Does color of car affect insurance rates?

In the market for brand new car. Does color matter with insurance? I've heard red is most expensive.

How is charging insurance based on age and gender NOT discrimination?

Car insurance and health insurance always use your age and gender for a basis on how much your charged along with other factors. How is this not discrimination?

Good insurance companies..I want to switch my car insurance..I need advice?

I have my auto insurance with Allstate and they're just ripping me off. They're always bringing up the prices yearly and I want to know where I can get a better offer. My car is a 2004 Elantra and they want to charge me 1 369 $ from March 4th to January 24th and that's just too much. I know there must be a better insurance company out there. Which ones and can I get a quote online ?

HELP!! IM 19 i need a very cheap car insurance?

hi i recieved a BMW compact 02 plate car as a gift, and i was really happy but now im really upset because i cannot find any cheap car insurance, i quote all the time and the lowest price i get is 5200 for a year and monthly instalments of 468, i wonder where in their brain do they they think i can pay that every month, i work and pay my rent, sky, internet, gas, tax, credit card etc. what must i do i cant afford to pay 468 more on bills. can you please give me websites which can help, and please dont leave any rude comments because i really cant be bothered for u wasting your time , THANK YOU""

I need cheap car insurance?

Can my car be registered in Arizona but have Cali insurance?

I'm in the military, stationed in San Diego, and I recently purchased CA car insurance. I got a letter from the AZ DMV saying that I couldn't do that. I went down to the CA DMV today with the intent to switch my registration to CA. The lady helping me told me that I didn't have to switch states because I am in the military. I don't what state to believe now...""

Who has the cheapest renters insurance in california?

Car crash damage my insurance rights?

my 2009 vauxhall insignia was hit from behind sitting at a car park space in a supermarket,there is substantial amount of damage to the right hand arch right above the back wheel,the back bumper is also broken,it was hit that hard it was pushed onto the car park space in front of it,i believe what saved it from any further damage was the driver of the other car hit the wheel of my car which i guess cushioned the blow.i have went today and got estimates for the repair which is in the region of 2500 pounds though could be more as they have to put it on some sort of machine to see if the wheel alignment is of,the repair shops say what they will do is cut the arch out and put a new arch in and spray it but no matter what its never going to be the same.the reason they do it like this is because the whole back of my car runs to the front without any splits. Im not happy about this being done like this as this car today is worth around 10,000 pounds which i pay for and dont want it patched up,i would prefer if the other guys insurance wrote it off so that i can get an original car which i first had,is there anyway i can get this to be wrote of and claim it of the guys insurance,i have heard of depreciation money if my car has been hit but this is still not going to compensate me for my car being patched up. thanks""

How can I get lower car insurance for my old car?

I have a 1999 Hyundai Tiburon and it has 150,000 miles. It's paid for now and I'm paying about $700 6 months full coverage. Is there certain things I should lower the coverage cost?""

Does this sound like a Fair price for Obamacare insurance in California?

Monthly Premium $321 Deductible $2000 Co-pay $45 Specialty care Copay $65 Generic Med $25 Max out of Pocket $6400 FYI my brother has his own general practice, he said on average he charges people without insurance abot $60-70 for an office visit (cash,check,credit card or invoice)""

Health insurance question for college student?

I'm a dependent college student under my parents health insurance plan and I was wondering if I take a semester off does the college notify the health insurance agency of my absence or do I have to notify them? health insurance provider is CSEA.

What is the cheapest ADD/ADHD medication for the uninsured?

I take 20mg Vyvanse now, but they cost so much money (300 plus for 60 pills). I am working but wont get health insurance for another 2 months... Is there a substitute drug that is a bit cheaper? Ritalin? Aderol? Concerta? Does anyone know where I could see a pricing chart.""

Is it your own fault if you are in the USA and have no health insurance?

I am in the UK, and the impression I get is that many people in the USA blame the 46 million or so people in the USA who have no insurance for not having any. Is it your own fault if you have no health insurance?""

Insurance for a 2003 escort zx2?

So I finally got my 5 speed. My mom is saying it is 700$ a month JUST for liability! It's a red 2003 ford escort zx2 5 speed. It has a sunroof and power locks and windows and alloy wheels. I am a 17 year old girl with good grades and I'm accident free. Is there any way my insurance would the that high or is she just scamming me?

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Question about car insurance for a Honda Civic Si?

Ok so I'm 16, I just got a job and I have my permit and as soon as I get my license I'm going to be buying a car. I have already chosen my car. A 2006-2010 Honda Civic Si. The question is should I get the Honda Civic Si Coupe or the Sedan? Will the insurance be any different between the two or will it be very close if not the same? Thanks for all information.""

Cheap car insurance companies?

i've just passed my test and own a renault clio sport 1.4 w reg all insurance quotes have been over 3000 pound does any one know where to go for cheap car insurance

Cheapest insurance companies for 17 year old in the UK?

Got my cheapest quote from AdrianFlux so far. Anyone know any really cheap companies that would cover a 17 year old in Northern Ireland. Thanks

""Young Driver on Mitsubishi L200, what's the insurance like?""

Hey, I want to buy myself a pickup truck as I've wanted one since I was little. I'm currently driving a little 1.2 Corsa and it's WAY too small. Anyway I passed my test over a year ago and have now got a years no claims bonus, I also have done my Pass Plus, I'm wondering, if I were to buy a truck, I'm 18 at the moment and will still be 18 when I have it, what will the insurance be like if i'm the named driver? also how does this compare to if my parents are named drivers and i'm on their insurance? thankyou""

How much does jay Leno pay monthly in auto insurance?

Since he has a ton of sports cars

Motorcycle Insurance?

Ive been trying to find online quotes but am unable to (don't know why, but they cant give me a quote online). Anyways I was just wondering what insurance company would you recommend for motorcycle insurance? I want to buy a bike, I don't have my M1 (because I don't want to take the test before getting the bike), and obviously I've never taken the motorcycle course. Yea I know it would be hard to get a quote given that I have zero riding experience or licensing but cmon do you really expect me to get my license only to have it expire in 90 days without even having a bike yet? Anyways when you started out what kind of insurance were you paying and with who? Also is 600cc pushing it? will that screw me over for insurance? I was looking into getting a honda 600. Thanks!""

Does car insurance cost more money for Asian people?

Cost to insure a scion tc?

20 year old male, 1 ticket in last 3 years (oct. 2011). 2005-2006 automatic transmission, 2 door. What would insurance be on one of these? Thanks!!! :)""

Life insurance for the elderly 83 years old?

life insurance for woman. i dont want quotes

Full coverage Auto Insurance? ?

Is comprehensive and collision all you need to have full coverage ? I pay 250 a month for my car's insurance and decided to look around . I came across a progressive quote after I put down all my information , and it asked if I wanted to pay already. It came out to be 70 a month . It has a collision and comprehensive coverage included along with roadside assistance and a few other things on the side . Should I just get progressive or do you think there may be something they're not telling me ? I just don't want to get it , and it turns out my cars not as covered as my current insurance . 250 a month just seems like a waste for a car that's not even my daily driver .""

How much was your high risk car insurance?

i was charged with a DUI about a month ago... my first one. I was parked at a gas station. I'm a 20 year old male.. how much do you think my car insurance will be? I've also got about 5 speeding tickets in the past if that goes against me.

Do I pay the excess on my car insurance when a claim is made against me?

I know that I have to pay when I make a claim on my car insurance, but im not sure if when someone makes a claim against me if I have to pay the excess in that instance?""

Are there any insurance companies that will cover Suboxone?

My girlfriend takes Suboxone strips twice a day and the Suboxone cost was covered by a program she was in. That program recently expired and we are trying to find out which insurance companies would cover the drug because she simply can't afford to buy the strips out of pocket. She only makes about $200-$250 a week so we were trying to find a low income solution. Are there any companies that we could potentially look into? AETNA is one that we are considering but we wanted to see what options were out there.

What are the average costs on registering a new vehicle and buying a title & tag?

I'm thinking about buying a 2008 Honda Fit, and I've already recieved quotes from financing and insurance salespersons, but I still need to figure out the costs of the ...show more""

How can I lower my insurance on a 2000 zx3 ford focus?

Right now, with the good student discount and drivers training class discount, I'm playing $164 a month to drive around a stupid ford focus. I'm on my parents plan so we get the multiple car discount too. this seems rather high for insurance. what insurance companies might be cheaper? I have full coverage. how can I get lower insurance?""

Should I get student health insurance or health insurance through my job?

I'm a fulltime student and I also have a fulltime job. Which would benefit me the most? Health insurance for students or health insurance that my job offers? Also, If I take 1 semester off from school would I still be eligible for student health insurance?""

Would my car insurance covers if paint is sprayed on my car by family member accidentally?

My uncle was spray painting his deck (toner - penetrating oiling formula) and didn't pay attention and it was quite windy that day it got all over my car. Now would my insurance cover this claim or not? What you guys think what should I do? I think it will cost me around $7000 to $8000 and I have full insurance. Thanks for your replies

Need health insurance?

my husbands job has health insurance, but it is very expensive and not that great. does anyone know where to get good affordable health/ dental insurance for a family of 4?""

What home insurance company insures homes with knob and tube wiring?

I am looking to purchase homeowners insurance on my home. It has knob and tube wiring and a circuit breaker. I was told that the knob and tube is a more recent version or wiring and not as bad as the older kind. I am having difficulty finding an insurance company with reasonable rates, under $600.00.The home is valued at $90,000.""

How much will car insurance cost me a month?

Maine, 16 years old, 11 (almost 12) year old car, 4.33 g.p.a.,female, driver's ed course taken. About how much will my car insurance cost me a month? Thanks.""

Car Insurance Question? Price?

I'm going to be turning 18 on July 14th 2009, and I was wondering what the cost of insurance would be if I got a used 2003 or 2004 Nissan 350z. I got my license April 08, and have had no crashes or anything. I plan on going to college, but a community college for the first 2 years then going to a 4 year college. Any ideas? I mean the price for this one is only 13,000 and it's a good deal.""

Best bank for student insurance?

Hi, Which bank in the UK do you think has the best offer for student insurance? Thanks.""

How much would the insurance be on a 1969 Camaro Z28 or a 1969 Dodge Charger?

I'm looking at buying a 1969 Camaro Z28 or a 1969 Dodge Charger. Would there be a difference in the insurance? I'm 17 but by the time I find my car I'll probably be around 18 or even 19 considering that the car may need some work. I live in Ontario and I want full coverage.

Car insurance problem?

as i pulled into the disabled parking space at my local asda,i turn into space and slow down to line the car into space as you do then as i stopped the car wiggled at the back with a bang so i looked in my drivers door mirror to see a pick up truck up against my car.so it turned out he had reversed back to pick up his wife and not seen me pull into one of the double spaces that he was about to park across and i must add that there was no pick up in view as i pulled into space so he must have reversed from behind the opposite row of cars as i would have stopped if i had seen a pick up going backwards towards the spaces,anyway words where exchanged along with insurance details and we did nothing as we where getting a new car a week later.now the guy who hit me has put in a claim which i have refused and left it With the insurance company.we have a car on insurance and they have received a letter about the claim which did not go through and no money was paid out but they have put another 130 on my insurance how can they do that.I get hit and no claim was paid out but it still cost me an extra 130 and they were going to cancel my insurance can anyone tell me if this is legal what they have done thanks""

First car 350z insurance cost?

Im getting a 350z for my birthday , and im just curious on how much insurance would cost on it . And dont give me crap about its not a good idea because my parents and i already talked about it. Just name the price u think it is . For me cheap is $500-1000 a year. Average $1000-1500 a year and Expensive $1500-2000. i know my parents have insurance and pay $500 a year for their 2 cars. And my dad pays $750 on his commercial trucks, 7 of them. And i live in Pa if that helps? And i will take driver corses. thats when u ride around the city with a teacher. THANKS Bros""

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Do you need motorcycle insurance when you just have a motorcycles learners permit?

in MN. I already have car insurance but is motorcycle insurance nessisary when i just have a permit? I know I did not need it with my car permit but is it different with a motorcycle?

Where to find cheap insurance in ontario?

I'm turning 22 had a Kawasaki Ninja 250R as a starter bike and looking to upgrade to something bigger. I have a clean record but any online quote I get for a bike 600cc or higher results in $10,000/year or higher in insurance. I see guys my age riding around all the time on R6s and CBR600RRs and I don't understand it. Am I missing something? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.""

Economics // Health Insurance?

Becky works for a large grocery store that provides a health insurance program to all workers . This is an example of: a. Medicaid b. Employment-based health insurance c. Government health insurance d. A single-payer health care system

Why do insurance rates vary so much between states?

Sometimes states that are right next to each other have totally different insurance rates from the same company for the same car and driver. It's not like driving magically becomes more dangerous when you cross the state line, so why does this happen?""

Scooter Insurance Cost.?

I drive a 50cc scooter on my car licence. Been driving for 47 years. I was surprised when my insurance with Rampdale Insurance cost me 170 Full No claims etc. Im in the South Midlands. This is as much as I pay for a car. Is this the going rate for a small 50cc scooter.?

Health Insurance Company in Ohio?

Affordable Health Insurance Company in Ohio

Backtack on medical insurance for newborn?

Is it Normal for my job to backtrak and charge me premiums for my newborn if I didn't enroll her until about a month after she was born? She was on my wifes insurance up until I enrolled her but they took a lot out of one check. Spoke with the head of finance dept and tells me they still backtrack from when she's born even though she was on my wifes insurance

Good used sports car that won't jack up my insurance?

I am 17 and getting my license in november and I want to buy sports car (ex:mustang) that won't jack up my insurance, and won't break down all the time, my budget is about 12,000. Any recommendations?""

""I only have liability insurance, how much would my car repair bill come out to be?""

I have a 2004 Nissan maxima and was in an accident this morning. Long story short, it was my fault and fortunately there were no injuries on either side. However, my insurance covers plenty for the other party, but none for me. The damages are in the front right side which includes, the headlight, part of the hood, front bumper, the side panel(but not the door) to be smashed in a bit. Further damages include windshield wiper fluid is leaking, for it was hit too. But the tire and allignment is completely fine, allowing the cop to let me drive it home. Any help?""

Can my mom carry me on her car insurance?

My mom lives in GA and has transfered her car insurance over to GA, but I live in SC and am getting my permit in SC. Can she still put me on her insurance even though I live in SC and am getting my permit in SC.""

What is the cost of insurance for a bugatti?

Cost to insure?

04 - 06 sti used in illinois for a 16yr old male. Is it true that males pay more for insurance then females?

Health insurance?

Dear friends, I was an international student in the past spring semester and my health insurance is still valid until the end of this summer. Thankfully I have not used my insurance at all and I was wondering if you my friends could give me any smart ideas on how I may be able to get the most out of my health insurance before it expires? I assume there would be no refund to me from the insurance company even if I have not had a single claim on it. I paid almost 500$ for it and that kinda hurts to see it is going to expire soon and you have not benefited from it at all! Hope you understand and thank you very much in advance for your smart ideas and any advice or information you could give, warm regards, Rojin""

Does anyone know where I can buy affordable motorcycle insurance online?

I prefer one that will provide same day proof of coverage. My hubby was stopped on Friday after work and we need this as soon as possible. Thanks!!

How much would insurance cost for a Toyota Celica GT?

Ok so I have asked this question a couple of times now and I guess I should be more specific. I am getting my license soon and will probably be getting a Toyota Celica GT 2000 or 2001 and I was wondering the insurance price for a new driver (who is a girl) for this type of car. Not like what the price is based on but an actual estimated price. I am not expecting anything to be exacted just a guess. Plz help, thank.""

""Fast Cheap car, cheap to insure for 18 year old any ideas?

I am trying to find a fast used car (0-60 in less then 6.3 seconds w/ a manual tranny ) i would like it to be around $6k and cheap to insure (i am 18) I have thought about 1993-1997 ...show more

Where to find affordable auto insurance?

I have a 2002 Mi Gallant ES , I have had my full coverage insurance for over a year now but its currently 160$ a month and I would like to find something more affordable , any ideas? all comments and suggestions are appreciated BTW: Ive never had any tickets or accidents or a lapse in coverage I am 22 years old Thanks in advance!""

""Just had a car crash, but worried insurance won't pay out..?""

Just had a car crash on the 02/03/2014 at 8:20am crashing into a central reservoir fence accidentally, judging by the aftermath of the accident it's definitely an insurance write off. A week before this incident I had recently got my rear windows tinted (only light smoke) plus got alloy wheels put on but i didn't let my insurance aware of this (i planned on letting them know eventually but i didn't know i was going to crash so soon) Apart from this everything else is legit.. I am currently insured with Zurich just wondering will Zurich insurance still pay me out the value of my car or will I not get a penny ?""

Insurance Forum?

Are there any good forums that discuss insurance products without trying to sell you something?

Whats car insurance are good and cheap for a 25 year old male?

Looking for a good insurance that has reasonable prices with good service

""Compare Car Insurance for mazda 3, Where?

how much would car insurance be for a 2009 mazda 3.

Home Owners Insurance?

My husband and I are looking for the best home owners insurance in California one that includes earthquake coverage and other stuff like fire and theft can you give me places to check out? We will be living in Culver City, California in the USA""

Does anyone know if Nationwide insurance will raise your rates if you have a red car/suv?

I'm looking for a new car and wanted to call them this morning but it's a little late now. Does anyone know if Nationwide insurance will raise your rates if you have a red car/suv?

Health insurance for visitor from india?

Where can I get health insurance for a parent who is undergoing dialysis in India and wants to Visit the USA for a short term. Of course they will need to continue there treatments here while visiting. But we need some kind of assistance while they are here.

Where can i find the cheapest car insurance?

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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/homeowners-insurance-florida-33037-mia-sharp/"

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trendingnewsb · 7 years ago

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The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life: the new sleep science

Leading neuroscientist Matthew Walker on why sleep deprivation is increasing our risk of cancer, heart attack and Alzheimers and what you can do about it

Matthew Walker has learned to dread the question What do you do? At parties, it signals the end of his evening; thereafter, his new acquaintance will inevitably cling to him like ivy. On an aeroplane, it usually means that while everyone else watches movies or reads a thriller, he will find himself running an hours-long salon for the benefit of passengers and crew alike. Ive begun to lie, he says. Seriously. I just tell people Im a dolphin trainer. Its better for everyone.

Walker is a sleep scientist. To be specific, he is the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, a research institute whose goal possibly unachievable is to understand everything about sleeps impact on us, from birth to death, in sickness and health. No wonder, then, that people long for his counsel. As the line between work and leisure grows ever more blurred, rare is the person who doesnt worry about their sleep. But even as we contemplate the shadows beneath our eyes, most of us dont know the half of it and perhaps this is the real reason he has stopped telling strangers how he makes his living. When Walker talks about sleep he cant, in all conscience, limit himself to whispering comforting nothings about camomile tea and warm baths. Its his conviction that we are in the midst of a catastrophic sleep-loss epidemic, the consequences of which are far graver than any of us could imagine. This situation, he believes, is only likely to change if government gets involved.

Walker has spent the last four and a half years writing Why We Sleep, a complex but urgent book that examines the effects of this epidemic close up, the idea being that once people know of the powerful links between sleep loss and, among other things, Alzheimers disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and poor mental health, they will try harder to get the recommended eight hours a night (sleep deprivation, amazing as this may sound to Donald Trump types, constitutes anything less than seven hours). But, in the end, the individual can achieve only so much. Walker wants major institutions and law-makers to take up his ideas, too. No aspect of our biology is left unscathed by sleep deprivation, he says. It sinks down into every possible nook and cranny. And yet no one is doing anything about it. Things have to change: in the workplace and our communities, our homes and families. But when did you ever see an NHS poster urging sleep on people? When did a doctor prescribe, not sleeping pills, but sleep itself? It needs to be prioritised, even incentivised. Sleep loss costs the UK economy over 30bn a year in lost revenue, or 2% of GDP. I could double the NHS budget if only they would institute policies to mandate or powerfully encourage sleep.

Why, exactly, are we so sleep-deprived? What has happened over the course of the last 75 years? In 1942, less than 8% of the population was trying to survive on six hours or less sleep a night; in 2017, almost one in two people is. The reasons are seemingly obvious. First, we electrified the night, Walker says. Light is a profound degrader of our sleep. Second, there is the issue of work: not only the porous borders between when you start and finish, but longer commuter times, too. No one wants to give up time with their family or entertainment, so they give up sleep instead. And anxiety plays a part. Were a lonelier, more depressed society. Alcohol and caffeine are more widely available. All these are the enemies of sleep.

But Walker believes, too, that in the developed world sleep is strongly associated with weakness, even shame. We have stigmatised sleep with the label of laziness. We want to seem busy, and one way we express that is by proclaiming how little sleep were getting. Its a badge of honour. When I give lectures, people will wait behind until there is no one around and then tell me quietly: I seem to be one of those people who need eight or nine hours sleep. Its embarrassing to say it in public. They would rather wait 45 minutes for the confessional. Theyre convinced that theyre abnormal, and why wouldnt they be? We chastise people for sleeping what are, after all, only sufficient amounts. We think of them as slothful. No one would look at an infant baby asleep, and say What a lazy baby! We know sleeping is non-negotiable for a baby. But that notion is quickly abandoned [as we grow up]. Humans are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep for no apparent reason. In case youre wondering, the number of people who can survive on five hours of sleep or less without any impairment, expressed as a percent of the population and rounded to a whole number, is zero.

The world of sleep science is still relatively small. But it is growing exponentially, thanks both to demand (the multifarious and growing pressures caused by the epidemic) and to new technology (such as electrical and magnetic brain stimulators), which enables researchers to have what Walker describes as VIP access to the sleeping brain. Walker, who is 44 and was born in Liverpool, has been in the field for more than 20 years, having published his first research paper at the age of just 21. I would love to tell you that I was fascinated by conscious states from childhood, he says. But in truth, it was accidental. He started out studying for a medical degree in Nottingham. But having discovered that doctoring wasnt for him he was more enthralled by questions than by answers he switched to neuroscience, and after graduation, began a PhD in neurophysiology supported by the Medical Research Council. It was while working on this that he stumbled into the realm of sleep.

Matthew Walker photographed in his sleep lab. Photograph: Saroyan Humphrey for the Observer

I was looking at the brainwave patterns of people with different forms of dementia, but I was failing miserably at finding any difference between them, he recalls now. One night, however, he read a scientific paper that changed everything. It described which parts of the brain were being attacked by these different types of dementia: Some were attacking parts of the brain that had to do with controlled sleep, while other types left those sleep centres unaffected. I realised my mistake. I had been measuring the brainwave activity of my patients while they were awake, when I should have been doing so while they were asleep. Over the next six months, Walker taught himself how to set up a sleep laboratory and, sure enough, the recordings he made in it subsequently spoke loudly of a clear difference between patients. Sleep, it seemed, could be a new early diagnostic litmus test for different subtypes of dementia.

After this, sleep became his obsession. Only then did I ask: what is this thing called sleep, and what does it do? I was always curious, annoyingly so, but when I started to read about sleep, I would look up and hours would have gone by. No one could answer the simple question: why do we sleep? That seemed to me to be the greatest scientific mystery. I was going to attack it, and I was going to do that in two years. But I was naive. I didnt realise that some of the greatest scientific minds had been trying to do the same thing for their entire careers. That was two decades ago, and Im still cracking away. After gaining his doctorate, he moved to the US. Formerly a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, he is now professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California.

Does his obsession extend to the bedroom? Does he take his own advice when it comes to sleep? Yes. I give myself a non-negotiable eight-hour sleep opportunity every night, and I keep very regular hours: if there is one thing I tell people, its to go to bed and to wake up at the same time every day, no matter what. I take my sleep incredibly seriously because I have seen the evidence. Once you know that after just one night of only four or five hours sleep, your natural killer cells the ones that attack the cancer cells that appear in your body every day drop by 70%, or that a lack of sleep is linked to cancer of the bowel, prostate and breast, or even just that the World Health Organisation has classed any form of night-time shift work as a probable carcinogen, how could you do anything else?

There is, however, a sting in the tale. Should his eyelids fail to close, Walker admits that he can be a touch Woody Allen-neurotic. When, for instance, he came to London over the summer, he found himself jet-lagged and wide awake in his hotel room at two oclock in the morning. His problem then, as always in these situations, was that he knew too much. His brain began to race. I thought: my orexin isnt being turned off, the sensory gate of my thalamus is wedged open, my dorsolateral prefrontal cortex wont shut down, and my melatonin surge wont happen for another seven hours. What did he do? In the end, it seems, even world experts in sleep act just like the rest of us when struck by the curse of insomnia. He turned on a light and read for a while.

Will Why We Sleep have the impact its author hopes? Im not sure: the science bits, it must be said, require some concentration. But what I can tell you is that it had a powerful effect on me. After reading it, I was absolutely determined to go to bed earlier a regime to which I am sticking determinedly. In a way, I was prepared for this. I first encountered Walker some months ago, when he spoke at an event at Somerset House in London, and he struck me then as both passionate and convincing (our later interview takes place via Skype from the basement of his sleep centre, a spot which, with its bedrooms off a long corridor, apparently resembles the ward of a private hospital). But in another way, it was unexpected. I am mostly immune to health advice. Inside my head, there is always a voice that says just enjoy life while it lasts.

The evidence Walker presents, however, is enough to send anyone early to bed. Its no kind of choice at all. Without sleep, there is low energy and disease. With sleep, there is vitality and health. More than 20 large scale epidemiological studies all report the same clear relationship: the shorter your sleep, the shorter your life. To take just one example, adults aged 45 years or older who sleep less than six hours a night are 200% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke in their lifetime, as compared with those sleeping seven or eight hours a night (part of the reason for this has to do with blood pressure: even just one night of modest sleep reduction will speed the rate of a persons heart, hour upon hour, and significantly increase their blood pressure).

A lack of sleep also appears to hijack the bodys effective control of blood sugar, the cells of the sleep-deprived appearing, in experiments, to become less responsive to insulin, and thus to cause a prediabetic state of hyperglycaemia. When your sleep becomes short, moreover, you are susceptible to weight gain. Among the reasons for this are the fact that inadequate sleep decreases levels of the satiety-signalling hormone, leptin, and increases levels of the hunger-signalling hormone, ghrelin. Im not going to say that the obesity crisis is caused by the sleep-loss epidemic alone, says Walker. Its not. However, processed food and sedentary lifestyles do not adequately explain its rise. Something is missing. Its now clear that sleep is that third ingredient. Tiredness, of course, also affects motivation.

Sleep has a powerful effect on the immune system, which is why, when we have flu, our first instinct is to go to bed: our body is trying to sleep itself well. Reduce sleep even for a single night, and your resilience is drastically reduced. If you are tired, you are more likely to catch a cold. The well-rested also respond better to the flu vaccine. As Walker has already said, more gravely, studies show that short sleep can affect our cancer-fighting immune cells. A number of epidemiological studies have reported that night-time shift work and the disruption to circadian sleep and rhythms that it causes increase the odds of developing cancers including breast, prostate, endometrium and colon.

Getting too little sleep across the adult lifespan will significantly raise your risk of developing Alzheimers disease. The reasons for this are difficult to summarise, but in essence it has to do with the amyloid deposits (a toxin protein) that accumulate in the brains of those suffering from the disease, killing the surrounding cells. During deep sleep, such deposits are effectively cleaned from the brain. What occurs in an Alzheimers patient is a kind of vicious circle. Without sufficient sleep, these plaques build up, especially in the brains deep-sleep-generating regions, attacking and degrading them. The loss of deep sleep caused by this assault therefore lessens our ability to remove them from the brain at night. More amyloid, less deep sleep; less deep sleep, more amyloid, and so on. (In his book, Walker notes unscientifically that he has always found it curious that Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, both of whom were vocal about how little sleep they needed, both went on to develop the disease; it is, moreover, a myth that older adults need less sleep.) Away from dementia, sleep aids our ability to make new memories, and restores our capacity for learning.

And then there is sleeps effect on mental health. When your mother told you that everything would look better in the morning, she was wise. Walkers book includes a long section on dreams (which, says Walker, contrary to Dr Freud, cannot be analysed). Here he details the various ways in which the dream state connects to creativity. He also suggests that dreaming is a soothing balm. If we sleep to remember (see above), then we also sleep to forget. Deep sleep the part when we begin to dream is a therapeutic state during which we cast off the emotional charge of our experiences, making them easier to bear. Sleep, or a lack of it, also affects our mood more generally. Brain scans carried out by Walker revealed a 60% amplification in the reactivity of the amygdala a key spot for triggering anger and rage in those who were sleep-deprived. In children, sleeplessness has been linked to aggression and bullying; in adolescents, to suicidal thoughts. Insufficient sleep is also associated with relapse in addiction disorders. A prevailing view in psychiatry is that mental disorders cause sleep disruption. But Walker believes it is, in fact, a two-way street. Regulated sleep can improve the health of, for instance, those with bipolar disorder.

Ive mentioned deep sleep in this (too brief) summary several times. What is it, exactly? We sleep in 90-minute cycles, and its only towards the end of each one of these that we go into deep sleep. Each cycle comprises two kinds of sleep. First, there is NREM sleep (non-rapid eye movement sleep); this is then followed by REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. When Walker talks about these cycles, which still have their mysteries, his voice changes. He sounds bewitched, almost dazed.

During NREM sleep, your brain goes into this incredible synchronised pattern of rhythmic chanting, he says. Theres a remarkable unity across the surface of the brain, like a deep, slow mantra. Researchers were once fooled that this state was similar to a coma. But nothing could be further from the truth. Vast amounts of memory processing is going on. To produce these brainwaves, hundreds of thousands of cells all sing together, and then go silent, and on and on. Meanwhile, your body settles into this lovely low state of energy, the best blood-pressure medicine you could ever hope for. REM sleep, on the other hand, is sometimes known as paradoxical sleep, because the brain patterns are identical to when youre awake. Its an incredibly active brain state. Your heart and nervous system go through spurts of activity: were still not exactly sure why.

Does the 90-minute cycle mean that so-called power naps are worthless? They can take the edge off basic sleepiness. But you need 90 minutes to get to deep sleep, and one cycle isnt enough to do all the work. You need four or five cycles to get all the benefit. Is it possible to have too much sleep? This is unclear. There is no good evidence at the moment. But I do think 14 hours is too much. Too much water can kill you, and too much food, and I think ultimately the same will prove to be true for sleep. How is it possible to tell if a person is sleep-deprived? Walker thinks we should trust our instincts. Those who would sleep on if their alarm clock was turned off are simply not getting enough. Ditto those who need caffeine in the afternoon to stay awake. I see it all the time, he says. I get on a flight at 10am when people should be at peak alert, and I look around, and half of the plane has immediately fallen asleep.

So what can the individual do? First, they should avoid pulling all-nighters, at their desks or on the dancefloor. After being awake for 19 hours, youre as cognitively impaired as someone who is drunk. Second, they should start thinking about sleep as a kind of work, like going to the gym (with the key difference that it is both free and, if youre me, enjoyable). People use alarms to wake up, Walker says. So why dont we have a bedtime alarm to tell us weve got half an hour, that we should start cycling down? We should start thinking of midnight more in terms of its original meaning: as the middle of the night. Schools should consider later starts for students; such delays correlate with improved IQs. Companies should think about rewarding sleep. Productivity will rise, and motivation, creativity and even levels of honesty will be improved. Sleep can be measured using tracking devices, and some far-sighted companies in the US already give employees time off if they clock enough of it. Sleeping pills, by the way, are to be avoided. Among other things, they can have a deleterious effect on memory.

Those who are focused on so-called clean sleep are determined to outlaw mobiles and computers from the bedroom and quite right, too, given the effect of LED-emitting devices on melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. Ultimately, though, Walker believes that technology will be sleeps saviour. There is going to be a revolution in the quantified self in industrial nations, he says. We will know everything about our bodies from one day to the next in high fidelity. That will be a seismic shift, and we will then start to develop methods by which we can amplify different components of human sleep, and do that from the bedside. Sleep will come to be seen as a preventive medicine.

What questions does Walker still most want to answer? For a while, he is quiet. Its so difficult, he says, with a sigh. There are so many. I would still like to know where we go, psychologically and physiologically, when we dream. Dreaming is the second state of human consciousness, and we have only scratched the surface so far. But I would also like to find out when sleep emerged. I like to posit a ridiculous theory, which is: perhaps sleep did not evolve. Perhaps it was the thing from which wakefulness emerged. He laughs. If I could have some kind of medical Tardis and go back in time to look at that, well, I would sleep better at night.

Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreamsby Matthew Walker is published by Allen Lane (20). To order a copy for 17 go toguardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over 10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of 1.99

Sleep in numbers

Two-thirds of adults in developed nations fail to obtain the nightly eight hours of sleep recommended by the World Health Organisation.

An adult sleeping only 6.75 hours a night would be predicted to live only to their early 60s without medical intervention.

A 2013 study reported that men who slept too little had a sperm count 29% lower than those who regularly get a full and restful nights sleep.

If you drive a car when you have had less than five hours sleep, you are 4.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash. If you drive having had four hours, you are 11.5 times more likely to be involved in an accident.

A hot bath aids sleep not because it makes you warm, but because your dilated blood vessels radiate inner heat, and your core body temperature drops. To successfully initiate sleep, your core temperature needs to drop about 1C.

The time taken to reach physical exhaustion by athletes who obtain anything less than eight hours of sleep, and especially less than six hours, drops by 10-30%.

There are now more than 100 diagnosed sleep disorders, of which insomnia is the mostcommon.

Morning types, who prefer to awake at or around dawn, make up about 40% of the population. Evening types, who prefer to go to bed late and wake up late, account for about 30%. The remaining 30% lie somewhere in between.