#what is in vitro fertilization

[plusbaby30]

Maca Root for Fertility & Libido – Boost Reproductive Health

Boost fertility and libido naturally with Maca Root! This vegan supplement supports hormonal balance, regular ovulation, better sperm quality, and increased libido for men and women. Perfect for those planning to conceive or preparing for IVF. 60 capsules, 1-month supply!

[yashodaivffertilitycentre]

Understanding Menopause: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Introduction

Menopause marks the natural end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, representing a significant transition in her life. This phase, defined as the absence of menstrual periods for twelve consecutive months, occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs due to aging, leading to a hormonal imbalance. Though it is a normal biological process, menopause can present emotional challenges, especially for those who have not completed their families. Thankfully, modern Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) offers hope for parenthood even after menopause (Menopause meaning in Marathi), providing a ray of light to those wishing to experience the joys of parenthood. Additionally, understanding PCOD is crucial as it is associated with various physical and emotional problems requiring treatment.

What Happens During Menopause?

Menopause signifies a decline in the primary reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone, leading to irregular ovulation and eventually the cessation of egg release from the ovaries. This hormonal imbalance triggers physical and emotional changes, affecting a woman’s overall health.(Menopause meaning in Hindi)

When Does Menopause Begin?

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, though the onset can vary for each woman. Some may experience early menopause, known as premature menopause, which can begin between the ages of 35 and 40.

Types and Stages of Menopause

Menopause can be classified into natural and induced categories. Natural menopause occurs when the ovaries naturally stop producing follicles, while induced menopause results from medical interventions.

Menopausal transition unfolds gradually in three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.

Perimenopause: Eight to 10 years before menopause, the initial stage of menopause begins. The ovaries produce less oestrogen during this time. This stage typically starts in a woman’s 40s and lasts until menopause, when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. At the end of perimenopause, estrogen levels drop significantly, though menstruation continues, and pregnancy is still possible.

Menopause: Menopause is marked by the cessation of menstrual periods. At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Significant hormonal changes occur during this time.

Postmenopause: This stage begins a year after the last menstrual period and continues for the rest of a woman’s life. While symptoms may lessen, some women might still face issues. Reduced estrogen levels increase the risk of health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease during postmenopause.

Fertility During and After Menopause

Pregnancy during perimenopause is possible due to irregular ovulation, but it may require medical assistance. Women wishing to conceive during menopause should seek advice from reproductive doctors and consider lifestyle changes such as stress management and a healthy diet. Despite the common belief that pregnancy is impossible after menopause, advanced ART techniques offered by top IVF centers, such as the best IVF centre in Mumbai, can make parenthood achievable through methods like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Menopause Symptoms and Effects

During perimenopause, a variety of symptoms may appear, including:

-Irregular periods -Vaginal dryness -Hot flashes -Chills -Night sweats -Sleep problems -Mood changes -Weight gain and slowed metabolism -Thinning hair and dry skin -Loss of breast fullness You may notice some irregularities in your menstrual cycle before it ends completely. Periods might return after several months and then stop again. The cycle may become shorter. Even during perimenopause, you should check for pregnancy if you miss a period.

Menopause symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and fatigue. It also impacts reproductive health by reducing the number of follicles, lowering reproductive hormone levels, and causing vaginal dryness and decreased libido. Early menopause, occurring before age 40, presents additional challenges, but options like egg donor programs and ovarian tissue transplants provide paths to conception.

Early Menopause

Early menopause, also known as premature ovarian failure, occurs before age 40. This early onset of menopause means the end of reproductive capability at a younger age, posing significant challenges for women.

Causes of Early Menopause: -Genetics -Lifestyle factors -Autoimmune disorders -Chemotherapy or radiation therapy -Smoking or alcohol consumption -Ovarian surgery -Removal of ovaries -Impact of Menopause on Reproductive Health

Menopause significantly affects a woman's fertility:

Decreased number of follicles Lowered levels of reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone Irregular periods followed by cessation Reduced quality of eggs suitable for conception due to decreased reproductive hormone levels Pain during intercourse, vaginal dryness, and thinning of vaginal tissues

Treatment Options for Menopausal Pregnancy

Although menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years, modern medical advancements provide various options for conception. Hormone replacement therapy, IVF, egg donor programs, ovarian tissue transplantation, and other advanced reproductive technologies can help women fulfill their parenthood dreams even after menopause. Among the numerous IVF treatment options in Navi Mumbai, Yashoda IVF Fertility & IVF Centre has emerged as a leading choice. Our team of infertility specialists, with over 15 years of experience, offers a wide range of services tailored to your specific needs, making us the best IVF centre in Mumbai.

Conclusion

Menopause is a significant turning point in a woman's life, involving physical changes and mood swings. However, seeking medical assistance to manage its signs and symptoms during this period is crucial. Advanced reproductive technologies have made parenthood possible even after menopause. Prioritizing health and proactive management during menopause brings out a woman’s strength, opening doors to a bright and dynamic life. Trust Yashoda IVF Fertility and IVF Centre on your journey to parenthood, and receive the compassionate care and expertise you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about our IVF centre in Navi Mumbai.

[sunny44]

I would love you either way

Pairing: Carlos Sainz x girlfriend!reader

Warnings: pregnancy talk, infertility etc…

Summary: Carlos notices that you’ve been acting weird and he decides to ask you why.

Y/n had been acting strangely lately, and it didn't go unnoticed by me and I couldn't help but worry about her.

We’ve have been together for a few years, and our relationship was filled with love and happiness but something had been bothering Y/n and I was determined to find out what it was.

So today was the day, as I sat on her side I took her hand in mine and she looked at me.

“Y/n." he began. "You've been very distant lately and it's been worrying me. Is there something you're not telling me?"

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with tears. She took a deep breath and started to talk.

"Carlos, I went to see a doctor a few days ago and she told me something that's been weighing on my mind.”

I was very concerned when she said she went to see the doctor and bad things started to cross my mind.

“Tell me, love. What did the doctor say?"

Y/n took another deep breath before revealing.

“The doctor told me that the chances of me getting pregnant are very low, almost non-existent. It's been bothering me because I've always dreamed of having children one day and I know you wanted too and I was scared that when I told you about this you would leave me for someone that can give you this.”

I was silent for a moment, processing the news.

I could see the pain in her eyes and he knew I needed to choose my words carefully.

“Babe, I love you so much and I would never leave you for something like this. This isn’t the only way we could have kids.” She cried more. “I know that it’s not the same that having the full experience of having a baby but this doesn’t mean we can’t give a child a new home and parents that would love them so much.”

“It’s just that I feel so useless.”

“Don’t say that, you’re not useless.” I hold her face. “I know you want to be a mom and we can think about this when were both ready to have a baby. You don’t need to worry about this now, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Did the doctor said that you can’t get pregnant in any way or in the normal way?”

“What do you mean?”

“Because it has the In vitro fertilization, we can try that if the doctor thinks that it could work.”

“We didn’t talk further about it, I was so shocked and sad that I just wanted to get out of there.”

“Okay, so we can discuss the options when we’re ready for it.”

“Okay.” I hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Are we okay?”

“Of course we are, I love you so much and when the time comes, I can’t wait to be the father of your children.” She laughed a little.

“And I can’t wait to be the mother of your children.”

Bonus scene!

Yourusername Instagram stories

“Some days off with my lover.”

[bitchapalooza]

This might be wild to say but seeing as he's like a scientist, Vinsmoke Judge and Sora never had sex. It was straight up In vitro fertilization—IVF—which if you don't know what that is to simply put it; an egg is extracted from the woman and is then fertilized in a lab by the man's sperm. The embryo is then returned to the womb to grow. And that's basically how I think all the Vinsmoke children were made. Because it's far more efficient, and provides the desired results, than conceiving naturally and not only that but for the quadruplets IVF definitely would guarantee them being, well, quadruplets. Because they definitely weren't a mistake, natural quadruplets are VERY rare.

Anyway, all this to say uuuuuuh Vinsmoke Judge can't and has never gotten pussy, he's a loser, he has a tiny brain, I hate him, he smells, his dick is rotten, he—

[kvetchlandia]

<Sigh>

It looks like absolutely the worst has come to pass in the United States. It appears Trump will be re-elected and that his cult will control both houses of Congresses. A bigger nightmare is hard to imagine. This result speaks very badly of the American people. I'm not a Democrat, I'm not particularly fond of Harris and her boring, status quo politics. But Trump, the venal, racist, misogynistic, corrupt, multiply convicted felon and serial liar, was known to everyone. His racism is no secret, nor is his sexism. His crudeness is everywhere and his self-interest should really have been apparent to all, since it's been in the press and online constantly for years. Yet in spite of this, it looks like he and his lackeys, toadies and lickspittles will be running this country for the foreseeable future, much to the detriment of everyone on the planet, because the voting majority of the American people chose to either reward those things or to ignore them. And the result? I don't have a crystal ball, but I know what's been promised. Women's right to control their own body? It's gone. Hell, there are members of the Trump Cult who even want to move against birth control and in vitro fertilization. Project 2025? Much of it will be enacted, if not all of it. The courts will be filled with fundamentalists and fanatics who will gut social and consumer protections and force Christian dogma down all of our throats. The environment will be destroyed. And everyone who voted for Trump and for his cult members knew this and chose to vote for them anyway. This is just too much to take.

I'm too depressed to say anything else. When I calm down I'll come back and engage in my usual posting silliness. Well, either that or I'll fucking stick my head in the oven. Oh, don't worry. My oven is electric. All that'll happen is I'll scorch my eyebrows.

[theonion]

Kangaroo Embryo Produced Through IVF For First Time

Researchers in Australia said that they have for the first time successfully produced kangaroo embryos through in-vitro fertilization, a breakthrough that may help save endangered species from extinction. What do you think?

[fearfulfertility]

SURROGATE PROCESSING WORKFLOW

DRC, Facility Operations Command, Compound Oversight Unit

Date: [REDACTED]

Subject: Surrogate Management Protocols

Location: Paternity Compound 131, [REDACTED], Oregon

Objective

This document provides a detailed overview of the surrogate processing workflow employed at Paternity Compound 131. It highlights the efficiency-focused methodologies implemented throughout the process, from intake to post-delivery. Personal letters from Surrogate ID S131-279-P are included, documenting his journey from arrival to delivery to help illustrate the overall operations.

I. Arrival & Intake

Transport

"Dear Dad,

I’m not sure where to start. They brought me here in this big, quiet van, and as soon as we got off, they started running all these tests. They gave me a number and tattooed it on my stomach like livestock. They keep saying I’m doing something important for the greater good, but I'm just confused." - S131-279

Candidates are transported to the facility in climate-controlled vehicles, ensuring they arrive in stable physical condition. They are processed in batches of [REDACTED] at a time for efficiency.

Initial Assessment

Upon arrival, surrogates undergo physical and psychological evaluations to assess readiness for the program. This includes fertility screening and compatibility testing for high-multiparity potential.

Registration

Each surrogate is tattooed with a unique ID number for tracking and monitoring throughout their conscription period, imprinted just above their navel.

Compound ID: The facility they will be housed in for gestation.

Arrival ID: The order number in which they arrived at the facility. 

Fetal Count: A letter to indicate the number of viable fetuses they carry:

A (1) - B (2) - C (3) - D (4) - E (5) - F (6) - G (7) - H (8) - I (9) - J (10) - K (11) - L (12) - M (13) - N (14) - O (15) - P (16) - Q (17) - R (18) - S (19) - T (20) - U (21) - V (22) - W (23) - X (24) - Y (25) - Z (26)  Example: Paternity Compound 127 + 437th Surrogate to Arrive + Carrying Quattuordecuplets (14) = S127-437-N

II. Rest & Preparation

Induction & Crowd Control

"Hey Dad,

Things are getting weirder by the day. Yesterday, they gave me a shot that burned like hell and made me feel woozy. It must have knocked me out cause I woke up, and it was tomorrow morning. I don’t know what happened, but I was so sore. I just want to go home." - S131-279, Arrival Weight 170 lbs

Entry areas are designed to funnel a group of surrogates into a single file line. Short but sweeping corridors are employed so that each candidate is prevented from seeing what lies ahead and concentrates on the individual in front of it.

Hygiene Protocols

Surrogates are directed to communal hygiene zones where they undergo full-body cleansing, enemas, and sterilization procedures.

Hormonal Optimization

Subjects are administered hormonal injections and supplements to ensure optimal uterine receptivity and increase the likelihood of successful embryo implantation.

Tranquilization (Optional)

Depending on the subject’s stress levels, mild to full sedation may be administered to maintain compliance and calm.

Note: [REDACTED]% of surrogates require some form of sedative before insemination.

III. Insemination Process

Surrogates can be assigned one of three insemination methods, depending on operational efficiency, donor availability, and strategic objectives:

"Dad,

I don’t even know who I am anymore. My body feels like it’s not mine. It’s only been a week since I arrived, and my stomach is growing so fast it scares me. I can’t stop eating, and it’s like my hunger gets worse the more I eat, but I can't stop. They keep telling me this is normal, that 16 is a "good number"?! They said it was a badge of honor. Sixteen! I feel like I’m being turned into something I don’t understand, and I can’t stop it." - S131-279-P, Day 6, Weight 192 lbs (+22 lbs)

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):

Procedure: Embryos fertilized in a laboratory are implanted directly into the surrogate's uterus. 

Benefits: High precision, maximum control over embryo count, and genetic compatibility.

Usage: Preferred for surrogates assigned to carry high-volume fetuses or when multiple donors are involved.

Traditional Method (Sexual Intercourse):

Procedure: Selected donors engage in physical intercourse with surrogates under closely monitored conditions.

Benefits: Natural conception methods reduce laboratory overhead and offer efficient insemination for surrogates with high natural fertility markers.

Usage: Typically used donor compatibility is exceptionally high.

Fluids Infusion (Turkey Baster Method):

Procedure: Donor samples are introduced directly into the surrogate's reproductive tract using a sterile infusion device.

Benefits: Combines simplicity with minimal intervention—a cost and time-effective alternative to IVF and traditional methods.

Usage: Often employed in high-volume batches where rapid insemination is required or transportation to the nearest compound is infeasible.

Post-Procedure Monitoring: Surrogates remain in observation units for [REDACTED] hours to confirm successful implantation and address any immediate complications.

IV. Monitoring & Maintenance

Ward Assignment

"Dad,

I don’t think I can do this anymore. My belly is enormous—I can barely move, and I’m out of breath all the time. They keep saying I’m ‘thriving,’ but how can they call this thriving? I heard one of the staff joking about how I’m ‘one of the biggest ones yet.’ They think it’s funny. I don’t. I can feel them—16 of them—moving inside me, taking over everything I used to be. I’m not me anymore." - S131-279-P, Day 13, Weight 254 lbs (+84 lbs)

Surrogates are transferred to gestational wards, where they will reside for their pregnancies. These wards have medical monitoring stations, communal feeding areas, and resting zones.

Nutrition Protocols

Diets are adjusted to high-calorie "one-size-fits-all" solutions, such as nutrient-dense puddings designed to promote fetal growth while maintaining surrogate docility. Hormonal treatments are incorporated into meals to reduce the need for frequent medical interventions.

Weekly Checkups

Surrogates undergo routine ultrasound exams, weight measurements, and health assessments to ensure all embryos develop within target parameters.

Behavioral Observations

Any signs of distress or resistance are addressed promptly through psychological support or, if necessary, isolation protocols.

V. Delivery Process

"This will probably be my last letter. I don’t think I’ll make it much longer. My body’s breaking under the weight—literally. I'm too big, no one was ever meant to be this big. They’re moving me to the birthing wing tomorrow, and I know what that means. I’m terrified, but I don’t have a choice. I just want you to know I didn’t have a choice." - S131-279-P, Day 28, Weight 490 lbs (+320 lbs)

Pre-Labor Preparation

As surrogates approach full term (29-35 days), they are moved to birthing wings equipped with specialized delivery equipment and staff trained for high-multiparity births. Diets are radically adjusted to promote greater weight gain.

Labor Management & Delivery

Surrogates are monitored continuously, and medical staff is on hand to manage complications. Multiple babies are delivered in succession. This process may last several hours or more, depending on the number of fetuses.

Post-Delivery Processing:

Fetuses are immediately evaluated for health and viability.

Surrogates are provided palliative care as necessary.

VI. Post-Delivery Workflow

"Surrogate S131-279-P demonstrated remarkable endurance and successfully delivered 16 fetuses, average weight 14 lbs, in 30-45 minute intervals, after a 34-hour labor. The surrogate's abdomen showed extreme distension, with clear evidence of significant internal [REDACTED]. Full natural delivery was achieved, but the surrogate succumbed to irreversible [REDACTED] failure minutes after the final baby was delivered." - Dr. [REDACTED], Chief OBGYN, Paternity Compound 131

Vital Cessation Verification

Medical staff confirm the cessation of all vital signs immediately following delivery to ensure compliance with humane protocols. Time and cause of expiration are noted for record-keeping and research purposes.

Surrogate Decommissioning & Disposal

[REDACTED]

Note: As standard protocol, all personal items of Surrogate S131-279-P were recycled following his decommissioning, including the destruction of [REDACTED] paper letters addressed to a Mr. [REDACTED] Collazo.

Surrogate Output Metrics

Each surrogate’s performance is evaluated against pre-delivery projections. The Prenatal Division records key performance indicators for review, including total fetal weight, fetal viability, and gestational efficiency. Personal details related to the surrogate are then purged to save computer storage space and maintain confidentiality.

Key Metrics and Efficiency Goals

Average Per Surrogate: 8–14 Embryos

Delivery Survival Rate (Fetuses): [REDACTED]%

Surrogate Survival Rate: 0%

Cost per Surrogate: $[REDACTED]

This structured process ensures that surrogate output meets national population growth goals while maintaining operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

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

Click Here to return to DRC Report Archives

[glitteraffe-art]

This is a pretty simple explanation of the topic, and does not cover every detail, but hopefully it is a nice overview!

Slide text in text form, and reference and image source URLs under the cut:

Title Card: Cloning Mercenaries 101: How Real-Life Cloning Works

CW: Mentions of animal death (in a research context)

Slide 1: Foreword

If you're into TF2, chances are you've come across fanworks depicting the "clone theory" to explain why there's more than one of each mercenary.

Clone theories generally fall into the categories of either respawn/teleportation cloning, or biological cloning. Today, we'll focus on real-life biological cloning.

"But TF2 is a Looney-Tunes comedy! Why bother with the science of a fairly common, but minimally supported headcanon?"

It's always worth understanding how the real-life version of something really works!

Slide 2: What is Cloning?

"Cloning" broadly refers to the process of producing individuals who are genetically identical to another individual. It can include single- and multi-cellular organisms.

Cloning includes both natural cloning (like plant cuttings, asexual reproduction) and artificial cloning (like cloning DNA fragments, cells, and organisms).

"Reproductive cloning", is the cloning of a multicellular organism to create a new genetically identical individual.

Engie speech bubble: Natural cloning is more common than you may think: for example, plants grown from cuttings are clones of their "parent"!

Slide 3: Reproductive Cloning

There are 2 methods of reproductive cloning for mammals:

Embryo Splitting

- Used to create identical twins from 1 egg and 1 sperm cell after in-vitro fertilization (IVF)

- Not really for cloning an existing adult so we won't focus on it.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)

- Used to create a number of clones of an individual organism from 1 body cell (somatic cell) from the organism and 1 donor egg cell

Engie speech bubble: We’ll be focusing on SCNT here!

Slide 4: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (Diagram)

1. Nucleus removed from body (somatic) cell of individual to be cloned (by pipette)

2. Nucleus removed from donor egg cell

3. Somatic nucleus placed into empty donor egg cell

4. Resulting egg stimulated and begins to divide

5. Resulting embryo transferred to uterus of a surrogate mother to develop.

Slide 5: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

The resulting clone embryo is not 100% identical to that of the individual to be cloned.

- The body (somatic) cell's nucleus may have contained mutations

- The mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell) of the resulting clone embryo will be the donor egg's mitochondria

That's right! If the donor egg is NOT from the individual or their matenal line (mitochondria are passed down maternally) the resulting clone embryo will NOT be 100% identical.

Engie speech bubble: With different mitochondria, a clone may have differences in body parts with high energy demand, like muscles, heart, eyes, or brain.

Slide 6: Dolly the Sheep

Some methods using the principles of SCNT were used as early as the 1950s (based on earlier work in the 1920s) to clone amphibians.

The first successful mammalian clone using SCNT was Dolly, a cloned sheep born in 1996 in Scotland, and announced to the public in 1997.

Dolly eventually developed severe arthritis and a progressive lung disease and was

euthanized at age 6 despite sheep's average lifespan being 11-12 years.

Engie speech bubble: Dolly was named after Dolly Parton!

Slide 7: Some Downsides

Inefficiency & Failure Rate:

SCNT has a high failure rate - many clones die during gestation, and newborn clones may die of abnormalities. For example, for Dolly, 277 fertilized eggs -> 29 embryos -> 3 lambs born -> only Dolly survived.

Advanced Aging(?):

Due to Dolly's age-related diseases it was speculated her DNA was already genetically "old". Later studies of further clones found no evidence of having age-related diseases, but the idea of "advanced" or "accelerated" aging of clones made its way into pop culture.

Engie speech bubble: More recent cloning using SCNT have reported higher success rates, but still have many failures.

Slide 8: What Does this Mean in TF2?

A resulting baby born from SCNT will, in fact, be a baby. The baby will NOT have the memories, experiences, muscle mass, or, well... anything past genetics, of the individual they were cloned from.

In terms of TF2, a lot of time and money would need to be spent raising, feeding, and teaching the resulting baby for the next 18 or so years to get anywhere close to a useful mercenary. Not very efficient...

Engie speech bubble: In short, you'd need to look beyond realistic cloning

and take some sci-fi shortcuts to get already-adult clones as often portrayed in fandom.

REFERENCE URLs

(Removed the hyper links since Tumblr likes to hide posts with hyperlinks)

Image of Dolly is from here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/22/newsid_4245000/4245877.stm

I mainly referenced these while writing (Yes, Wikipedia unreliable, I know, but this slideshow is a for-funsies TF2-themed general explanation and not an academic essay):

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223960/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_(sheep)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_cell_nuclear_transfer

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloning

I also looked at these when trying to determine if the Wikipedia information was reliable:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223969/

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/General_Biology_(Boundless)/17%3A_Biotechnology_and_Genomics/17.01%3A_Biotechnology/17.1D%3A_Reproductive_Cloning

https://www.britannica.com/science/cloning/Reproductive-cloning

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3790123/

[docgold13]

Cartoon Heroes Paper Cut-Outs

Hank and Dean Venture

Created by Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, The Venture Bros. is an action/comedy animated series chronicling the various misadventures of the Venture Family.  The Venture clan is composed of Dr. Thaddeus ‘Rusty' Venture, a former boy adventurer who runs what remains of Venture Industries, a once-leading global corporation established by his super-scientist adventurer father Jonas; Rusty’s twin sons, Hank and Dean, and the family’s bodyguard, the super secret agent and trained killer, Bock Samson.  

Hank and Dean often wind up in perilous situations, and (as revealed in the second season) have been killed over a dozen times, only to be replaced with exact clones who have no memory of their own deaths.  The true origins of the brothers remained a mystery up until the series finale where it was revealed that Hank and Dean were created by via in-vitro fertilization, a combination of the genetic materials of Jonas Venture and actress Bobbi St. Simone; carried to term in an artificial womb attached to Rusty Venture (!).       

Initially a parody of the Johnny Quest Show, the Venture Bros. would expand to lampoon all sorts of action and adventure icons, from Doc Savage, to the Fantastic Four, James Bond and G.I. Joe.  A very silly yet smart show that was huge fun and offered up one of the greatest cartoon villains of all time: The Menacing Monarch!

Actors Chris McCulloch and Michael Sinterniklaas provided the voices for Hank and Dean Venture respectively.  Venture Bros. debuted in February of 2003 and on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block.  The series ran for seven seasons with a feature film finale.  

Go Team Venture!

[trexalicious]

For all the morons who wailed that Trump would stop in vitro fertilization procedures if elected...Wonder what else you got wrong about him?

[yashodaivffertilitycentre]

Whats difference between PCOD and PCOS. if you want to know more about, visit our best ivf centre in navi mumbai.

[mariacallous]

Hi mariacallous! Some of my friends have started spouting the 'abortion is a class issue because rich women always have access to abortion' BS, and I was wondering if you had any resources/articles etc that might be helpful in convincing them. Sorry to barge into your inbox!

The notion that rich women will be fine, regardless of what the law says, is probably comforting to some. But it is simply not true.

Yes, abortion bans will disproportionately affect poor women and women of color in a country that already has appallingly high maternal mortality rates, no federal paid family leave and little support for parents who struggle to provide for their children financially. As Rebecca Traister pointed out in New York magazine, this is nothing new: The Hyde Amendment and state restrictions have already made abortion effectively inaccessible to many women without means or mobility.

But we should not lose sight of the reality that the Supreme Court decision has created a crisis for all American women. Even the richest Americans — the one-percenters and the upper middle class — will not escape the effects.

Attenuating the rights of half of the population will have systemic effects akin to climate change. Just as no amount of investment in Mars-bound space colonization, air-conditioned bunkers and private firefighting services will save the rich from terrible outcomes if the planet becomes uninhabitable, the rich cannot avoid the effects of the overturning of Roe. Residents of blue states won’t be exempt. And men who think the ban won’t affect them are mistaken; it will affect women they know and love, and it will change the political economy in which they live and operate.

The persistent myth that the wealthy will be unaffected is predicated on the vague notion that they’ll be able to find and purchase abortion pills by mail, travel to places where abortion is legal or get abortions from local providers willing to break the law.

And sure, it’s easy to imagine a scenario in which a red state one-percenter has his daughter or wife airlifted to another state for an abortion — or, potentially, for in vitro fertilization, if it becomes illegal to terminate embryos. We are accustomed to different rules and privileges for the wealthy, and witness these injustices daily. People with more money and privilege conferred by race and class — people who have access to better lawyers — experience our justice system differently. They also get better health care and pay less in taxes as a share of income. We hold the rich to a lower, not higher, standard and tacitly accept that they will get away with cheating various systems.

But the wealthiest are in for some unpleasant surprises when it comes to abortion. The scenarios in which a woman needs an abortion include medical emergencies in which any delay in treatment can have severe, even fatal, consequences — and in those circumstances abortion pills obtained by mail won’t help.

One in 50 pregnancies in the United States is ectopic, for example, in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. The embryo must be removed, and delaying that treatment can result in sepsis, internal bleeding and death. Placental abruptions must be addressed immediately to avoid extensive bleeding, renal failure and even, in some instances, death.

Any woman who finds herself in either of these scenarios is not going to be able to pack her bags and go for a long drive. Even for someone with the means, an airlift to a medical facility in another state may not be quick enough to save her. She will need to be treated locally and immediately. Some of the bans going into effect around the country include medical exceptions for these situations, but if there’s any ambiguity about what the law allows, the time it takes a medical professional to consult a lawyer may be the difference between life and death.

Some states are expected to try to ban interstate travel for abortions. Bans in Texas and Oklahoma leave room for that possibility. Planned Parenthood’s Montana branch has reportedly decided that it will no longer provide medication abortions for patients from certain states where bans are in effect or in the works, citing the “rapidly changing” legal landscape. It’s also clear that many Republicans view the Roe reversal as an inroad to a total federal ban. If they gain electoral victories in 2024, this is a very likely outcome, and in that case there will be no blue state abortion clinics to travel to. Even now, the lines and waiting times at abortion clinics in safe haven states are likely to get very long.

Many people also assume the wealthy can always find a local doctor willing to perform an abortion, even in a state where it has become illegal. This seems unlikely. While some providers did flout the law and provide women with abortions before Roe in 1973, the ubiquity of digital surveillance and other mechanisms for violating the privacy of women seeking abortions have made it far more difficult for them to do so privately and safely. Trigger laws are already forcing medical professionals to consult lawyers before they provide care, and laws that criminalize abortion leave health care workers with little incentive to violate them. When faced with the prospect of prosecution or losing a medical license, how many doctors will take this risk, even when money is offered? Meanwhile, anti-choice conservatives are already working to make it harder to obtain abortion pills.

Some believe abortion bans won’t affect them because they’ll never find themselves in need of an abortion. Conservatives might imagine the typical woman who needs one fits an archetype: poor, single, liberal, promiscuous, anti-family and irresponsible. But most women who get abortions are already mothers (60 percent). Nearly half of abortion seekers live below the poverty line, but a significant portion are not poor. (Women with higher incomes have more access to contraception, but that dynamic might change if the Supreme Court follows through on Justice Clarence Thomas’s suggestion to revisit earlier rulings, including the right to contraception.) Conservative families also include teenagers and young women whose privacy, autonomy and ability to seek medical care, regardless of whether their parents approve, will be severely compromised by abortion bans.

The reality is that women from every demographic need abortions. Well-off conservative women are not immune to contraception failures, gynecological emergencies, miscarriages, incest or rape. Many women find that despite their beliefs, carrying a pregnancy to term is just not something they can go through with, for a range of reasons. Pregnancy itself can be life-threatening for women with certain existing medical conditions, and even for women who don’t have those risks, it is life-altering. The kind of person who might need or want an abortion is, put simply, any person capable of getting pregnant.

Women will die because of this — disproportionately poor and middle-class women but not just poor and middle-class women. Rich women could just as easily suffer and die, too, even those who think that they would never need an abortion or that they would never be denied essential medical care in the United States of America in 2022.

There will be other effects: Roe is a privacy law, and there are implications for the ruling outside of the issue of abortion. Forced birth will take women out of the work force in an already tight labor market. Women could be treated like criminals for having miscarriages, which are incredibly common. And women who are pregnant when their partners don’t want them to be will be more at risk for domestic violence and homicide. Individual wealth won’t prevent these outcomes, either.

It is, of course, true that the wealthy are the least vulnerable in the new post-Roe world, and this is not a requiem for them on a tiny violin. But it is important for all parties to understand that all people are going to participate in this nightmare, whether they realize it now or not. The wealthy unfortunately have an outsize influence on politics, so how much the bans harm them, inconvenience them or enrage them will most likely affect the will of politicians to vote for and maintain abortion bans.

The overturning of Roe will affect all of us. And if you are lucky enough to be wealthy, your money probably won’t shield you.

The Persistent Myth That Restricting Abortion Rights Won’t Affect the Rich

the problem is that it's a class issue, but not only in the way they think, and the point is that all women are impacted by it, but obviously some way more than others

[respocked]

ok... but like what do you guys think the Founder means when she says "that was Weyoun's last clone" after Garak kills Weyoun 8?

Because like, he's a clone, right? And he's lying right there, it's not like he dematerialized. So you can, well, clone him. That seems to be the entire point of cloning. So like, what is that about?

My theories so far are:

1. There is a predetermined amount of clones, waiting, because they're made in a batch of eight and kept in stasis. That's why they can dispatch them immediately and don't have to wait for them to grow - because 7 is already ready to defrost once 6 is walking about. In this case I suppose she could still make another, but she would have to wait for him to finish maturing and she's just annoyed he won't be done cooking by the time the next season of Keeping Up With The Cardassians is out. Unless:

2. They don't/can't clone from the deceased, but only from some genetic material they already have in a lab somewhere, and that facility was destroyed by the Federation in a war. So they lost the genetic code to Weyoun and can't make another because the dead body lying right there full of genes can't actually be used.

3. Some vague science thing about not being able to clone too many times bc the material degrades overtime? But I don't think that fits - like if the clones are premade or cloned from something they have in a lab, (and they have to he otherwise they wouldn't be able to make 7) - so every clone would be first cloning in that line anyway, and not a clone of a clone.

4. They only clone Vorta 8 times because the number has religious significance or it's some sort of a cultural taboo. The Founders don't seem inclined to mythology or religion, the one taboo they have is one Changeling never hurting another, but the Jem'Hadar are shown having like an ideology or a belief system at least. Perhaps the Founder doesn't think it's worth breaking the taboo or making other Vorta mad about it? (Especially that I think it would be logical for the Vorta to do the cloning, I just don't see a Founder leaving the link for months at a time to make little homunculuses in a vial.) This is a completely blind theory, bc the writers weren't very inrerested in fleshing out the Dominion society at all, so we have close to zero data here.

5. I always thought Vorta are like, 3-D printed, basically - with like sophisticated enough technology that they can just put into a computer "loyalty up 100%, fear of Founders up 89%" and a Vorta comes out of the other side. But it could be that they're just made using in-vitro, they fertilize a Vorta egg cell and then they clone the embryos - making identical twins, basically - and then let them grow in a vat and keep them in statis or a freezer. So it was Weyoun's last clone because they make 8 embryos, and the egg and sperm donors are dead already and the Founder knows this.

6. But it's interesting taking this from a philosophical perspective, because they have memory transfers, so can't they just make a very similar Vorta and put 8's memory in him? Like if their genetic engineering is good enough to make the Vorta in the first place, they can reverse-engineer Weyoun's genes to make one that has his exact looks and specs. Is that not enough? I mean, what makes Weyoun a Weyoun? If 8 was "Weyoun's clone", then who is Weyoun? Weyoun himself doesn't call his progenitors himself, he calls them his progenitors.

7. I personally think this one is most likely - Founder knows the Dominion lost and she is anticipating them not being allowed to run cloning facilities under the Federation. The Dominion picked up faster cloning during the war, to meet up with the demands, so rationally during peacetime they have to roll it back. I wish we got to read the treaty they signed. I mean Federation might demand the Dominion to stop cloning, but that seems overly harsh! Because:

1) I don't think there are Vortas outside of cloning? I mean unless it is in-vitro, but I feel like logically Vortas cannot have sexual functions - if an aesthetic sense is too much of a distraction then being able to he seduced/have offspring would be even worse. So having them stop the cloning would be adjacent to genociding the whole Jem'Hadar and Vorta races.

(this is why I think theory nr 5 is unlikely. Although the possibility might be that the Vorta make sperm/eggs but aren't able to conceive naturally (lack of genitals, only ovarier or testes), or that the little pro-monkeys Vorta come from still exist, and the process is:

little monkey egg + little monkey sperm -> embryo who is genetically enhanced and modified to be infertile and Loyal and whatever -> and that's a Vorta who can then be cloned (but then why does Weyoun speak about the protomonkeys like ancient history?)

2) I don't think the Founders actually do anything by themselves, and the Dominion builds ships, and has trades, and buys/sells weapons and so forth - and it doesn't seem canon-compliant for the Federation to completely wipe out the Dominion, like I think they still would be allow to exist as an union/empire/country/whatever. (Also a Vorta is present at the signing of the treaty, which could imply different things.)

Actually banning producing or collecting weapons is a common clause in peace treaties - which does bring forth an interesting question - are the Jem'Hadar weapons? Like on one hand yeah, pretty much, and on other, they're people and forbiding the production of them is genocide-adjacent.

So like, regardless of what the Federation actually made them do, the Founder assumes they won't be able to clone (because that's what she would do) and therefore mourns Weyoun? Could be true but I'm not 100% convinced.

Anywa this is driving me crazy lmao. I know this was absolutely just a throwaway line to give the audience some closure but like *shakes the writers by the shoulders* WHAT DO YOU MEANNNN LAST CLOONE??

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

The Harris campaign kicks into high gear

July 26, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

Kamala Harris has the Trump campaign on its back foot. Whatever Trump’s advisers expected from V.P. Harris, they were wrong. Although Trump and his surrogates have tried several lines of attack, each attempt backfires as Trump offends important constituencies he needs to win. In attacking Kamala Harris, Trump is offending Black Americans, successful women, mothers raising blended families, couples trying to conceive, young people, and more. The Harris campaign has responded forcefully, using a pointed sense of humor that is refreshing and attractive to younger voters who see the internet as a battlefield of ideas.

On Thursday, the Harris campaign released a powerful television ad that was a “no-holds-barred” look at the threat to democracy posed by Trump. See The Guardian, ‘We choose freedom’: Kamala Harris campaign launches first ad. The ad is embedded in The Guardian article; I urge you to watch it. If you don’t, here is The Guardian’s description of the ad:

Released on Thursday morning, the ad opens with shots of Harris’s smiling face behind a podium, the word Kamala, the word Harris, and the American flag. The soundtrack is the beginning of Beyoncé’s song Freedom, to which Harris entered and exited her first speech to campaign staffers after gaining lightning speed momentum on the road to becoming the presumptive nominee. The ad is narrated by Harris, whose first words are, “In this election we each face a question. What kind of country do we want to live in?” She continues: “There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos. Of fear. Of hate,” she says, over shots of Trump and JD Vance. “But us, we choose something different.”

On social media, the Harris campaign has been even more aggressive. The Harris campaign took a clip of Trump imitating Kamala Harris, saying, “I’m the prosecutor and he is the convicted felon.” After Trump admits that he is a convicted felon and Harris is a prosecutor, the ad immediately cuts to a picture of Kamala Harris with her voice saying, “I am Kamala Harris and I approve this message.” The Harris campaign is showing early signs of social media savvy—just as Barack Obama’s campaign did in 2008.

The Harris campaign also went after JD Vance, who described Kamala Harris in 2021 as a “childless cat lady” who should not have an equal voice in the future of America because she does not have biological children. (Harris is a stepmother to two children with Doug Emhoff.) Thursday was “In Vitro Fertilization Day.” The Harris campaign released a statement saying, “Happy World IVF Day To Everyone Except JD Vance.” See HuffPo, Harris Campaign Wishes Happy World IVF Day To Everyone Except 1 Person.

The confidence and swagger of that ad was reflected in the Harris campaign’s immediate acceptance of debate with Donald Trump, set for September 10. But as Kamala Harris demonstrated an eagerness to debate, Trump began hedging his bets, saying he “did not like the idea” of a debate on ABC. See CNBC, ‘Let’s go’: Harris agrees to debate Trump, accuses him of ‘backpedaling’ on Sept. 10 date.

The Harris campaign also used social media to troll Trump's morning appearance on Fox News, during which Trump called Kamala Harris “garbage.” The Harris campaign issued a press release entitled Statement on a 78-Year-Old Criminal’s Fox News Appearance. The press release said,

After watching Fox News this morning we only have one question, is Donald Trump ok? Trump is old and quite weird [and] this guy shouldn’t be president ever again.

For their part, Trump and his surrogates were reduced to claiming that Kamala Harris is a “DEI hire,” a “failed border czar,” and a socialist who will destroy the economy of America.

Luckily for Kamala Harris, economic growth and border security both improved in the second quarter. On Thursday, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the gross domestic product grew at a 2.8% rate in the second quarter, well above the consensus prediction of 1.9% by economists. See USA Today, US GDP report: Latest data shows economy grew 2.8% in Q2 (usatoday.com)

At the border, crossings by immigrants dropped to their lowest level since 2020 (under Donald Trump). See CBS News, Migrant crossings continue to plunge, nearing the level that would lift Biden's border crackdown. Per CBS News,

July is on track to see the fifth consecutive monthly drop in migrant apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border and the lowest level in illegal immigration there since the fall of 2020, during the Trump administration, the internal Department of Homeland Security figures show.

My point in noting the responses by the Harris campaign is not to revel in the “zingers” and “smackdowns” that are long overdue. Rather, it is to highlight the nimbleness, swagger, and professionalism of the Harris campaign. The lightning-quick responses would be exemplary for any presidential campaign; they are stunning for a presidential campaign that is four days old.

Although it is still early, it seems clear that the Harris campaign will focus on Trump's criminality, incoherence, age, and hateful agenda. And it is doing so with a satirical edge that transfers easily into internet memes—which is an effective way to create viral messaging that reaches young people. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has been caught flat-footed, trying to ignore the awkward creepiness of JD Vance and Trump's part-time approach to campaigning.

All of this should give Democrats confidence that Kamala Harris will run a strong campaign against an opponent who will wage a vile and hate-filled counter-offensive. If the first few days of the campaign are any indication, Kamala Harris is up to the task.

Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter