#Doug Tract

[airchexx]

Greaseman on DC-101 WWDC Washington | August 1987

 WWDC DC101 Washington – Greaseman – August 1987 Doug Tract, better known as The Greaseman. He is truly a one of a kind radio personality. In an era of 3, 4, & 5 person morning shows, Grease would make radio comedy gold, all by himself. The Greaseman pseudonym originated while he was in college. Grease has said in an interiview, “In those days of top 40, everybody who was on the…

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#101.1 #DC101 #Doug Tract #FM #greaseman #Washington #WWDC

[horizon-verizon]

Fire and Blood: Aegon II

[revised, from the older 2022 version]

This is a Headcanon and are subject to change (except the part about him being a rapist). You are welcome to disagree with them.

Before the Dance

Aegon was born to Viserys I (29-30) and Alicent Hightower (18-19) a year after they married. Despite being a boy and Alicent's/Otto’s pressing, he did not replace Rhaenyra as Viserys’ official heir and Viserys even dismissed Otto for "hectoring" him [definition: talk to (someone) in a bullying way.; browbeat; intimidate]:

And unlike Rhaenyra (ten years his senior), aka “The Realm’s Delight”, he never had the blatant or apparent admiration of the courtiers, peasants, etc. Rhaenyra also was definitely Viserys' favorite child (Aegon may or may not have known this, but I think it's primarily bc she came from was the first and only child he ever had during a slew of lost children with Aemma, so Rhaenyra could have been a sort of "miracle" child) and all their lives, they heard and saw Viserys protect Rhaenyra's rights over what they saw as theirs, esp Aegon's.

Early on, he and his brothers developed resentment, then hatred, for Rhaenyra and her first three sons: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon.

The enmity between Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra was passed on to their sons, and the queen’s three boys, the Princes Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron, grew to be bitter rivals of their Velaryon nephews, resentful of them for having stolen what they regarded as their birthright: the Iron Throne itself. Though all six boys attended the same feasts, balls, and revels, and sometimes trained together in the yard under the same master-at-arms and studied under the same maesters, this enforced closeness only served to feed their mutual mislike, rather than binding them together as brothers. (F & B; “A Question of Succession”)

Image Credit: doug wheatley from Fire and Blood

Imagining how Aegon’s Childhood/Development (God, why....)

In a feudal society, individualism (or the way we conceptualize it) as a priority is not a substantial concept shared amongst the different populaces like it is for some societies today. You may come from a noble house with a distinctive history, image and notable deeds that shaped the customs of the land ruled. Or you are the ruled--the peasant that are told to work for the nobles. Of course, it’s way more complicated when put into action and in real life, with rich merchants, illegitimate children, etc. having sometimes influence enough to present an economic and political opposer and negotiations done. But generally, a feudal society is shaped by what role you play in maintaining the hereditary cultural order above most else, with the militant lords owning multiple tracts of k[land the serfs and peasants worked on their entire lives.

Here this kid is learning from a young age that men customarily inherit the final and nearly absolute authority and power over the House and the household, much less an entire country and its inhabitants. He knows about male-preference primogeniture. Sees that aristocratic and royal children learned about their own house’s history--that it is tradition or a precedent for sons to inherit power, and traditions usually define the identity of a house and its members as well as the relations to each other (Brackens vs Blackwoods; “Winter is Coming”).

But aside from a girl being chosen over him, he also learns that his father, Viserys, was able to ascend despite being the son of a second son because the lords were allowed to vote for him based on the principle that a man and those of the male line are the “best” and preferred leaders. Troubling the precedents of both undemocratic succession and male primogeniture. If he even thought about this deeply at all, we don't know.

If we’re going by firstborn male only-primogeniture, Viserys would be undisputed as heir. If by equal primogeniture, it should have been Rhaenys Targaryen who ruled, and then Laena Velayron after her. Viserys’s whole line, in another world, would have been mere secondary princes/princesses, then lords/ladies.

Yet, he was not chosen by the former king, but chosen by his own future subjects. Yeah there were EU elective monarchies, but that this is not a society where you did that to have a new monarch and it reduces the power of a monarch. Neither Jaehaerys nor any Westerosi monarch--Targ or not--wanted that.

So: But isn’t a king supposed to be made by the last king? Even with Jaehaerys' choosing and allowing the lords to choose, they still were those he decided to be the "final" deciders of who would lead them. There is this contradiction or paradox of monarchial leadership and succession: what the king desires then rules and what his subjects want from him and in a king. Even with Jaehaerys' choosing and allowing the lords to choose, they still were those he decided to be the "final" deciders of who would lead them. As if this were some sort of Spartan oligarchy. there is this contradiction or paradox of monarchial leadership and succession: what the king desires then rules and what his subjects want from him and in a king. 

Once again, the bit abt the GC of 101 is all more IF he actually spends time thinking this deep abt Viserys' ascension outside of how it should have made him also Viserys' heir and how it instead made Rhaenyra Viserys's seemingly biggest pride & joy. If he does or has at all thought about this, he's repressed its implications for him if he were to ever rule: that his own claim is vulnerable to circumstance of others’ various and changing desires, that he is vulnerable to others.

He also would have heard the courtiers, Alicent, her ladies-in-waiting, his wet nurse and other nurses, her brother Gwayne and father Otto, and even other servants talk about Rhaenyra, Viserys, the TArgs' state, etc. in whispers or aloud as he went his way around the Red Keep, constantly talking about the succession. Some would say how Rhaenyra is so cool, so beautiful, so precocious (not Alicent or Otto). Others that she doesn’t deserve the crown for her gender or her character, being so hostile to Alicent (his mother).  

Whatever the truth of these allegations, there was never any doubt that King Viserys still meant for his daughter to follow him upon the Iron Throne, and her sons to follow her in turn. By royal decree, each of the Velaryon boys was presented with a dragon’s egg whilst in the cradle. Those who doubted the paternity of Rhaenyra’s sons whispered that the eggs would never hatch, but the birth in turn of three young dragons gave the lie to their words. The hatchlings were named Vermax, Arrax, and Tyraxes. And Septon Eustace tells us that His Grace sat Jace upon his knee atop the Iron Throne as he was holding court, and was heard to say, “One day this will be your seat, lad.” (Fire and Blood; “A Question of Succession”)

Alicent and Otto could have felt that to convince Viserys to change his mind, Aegon will have to be presented as the better option or the "perfect" prince while play at Viserys’ heartstrings or desire for family and harmony. And they'd likely be doing this from babyhood until his more resistant teen years. So they may dress him from the moment he can be in group gatherings to create images suited to the persons they anticipate will see him at particular setting. Parties? Dress him up in intricate colors reminiscent of a king. Alone with the king at breakfast? Dress him up in subdued colors and simple stitching, maybe even have him just wear white to connote innocence and make him that much more attractive to engage with. Let everyone else also see how “bright” and “comely” Aegon seems. (Of course, he never manages to get a moniker like Rhaenyra celebrating his personality, so that would have quickly failed.) Not only with dress him, but instruct his behavior from as early as when he only begins to understand to obey so he may receive positive attention.

You can go into abuse territory like what was hinted at the episode 7 when Otto dragged him & Alicent slapped his face because Aegon, seeing how nothing he does or they do convinces Viserys will get him to change his mind, will just give up and "enjoy" the things that being a prince does entitle on: brothels, drink, food, and in his case, a beautiful dragon that he could rationalize also exudes, in its beauty, what he feels could be or otherwise already in him. It all also speaks to his sense of masculinity, and the SA and rapes he commits could be how he takes back control from his father and Rhaenyra though he may not always consciously think of them. Again, different directions. The more he doesn't allow Alicent or Otto to prince him up, the more profligate and uncaring he will be, and the more abuse they can both try to enforce onto him. He could have felt he was playing a game he never asked for, become a sort of trapped puppet, which in turn will feed into his feeling of victimhood and rage when Rhaenyra doesn't submit to his ascension (as us bk readers know).

Effect

So in all, Aegon, being a child and not being around his father 24/7 (partially also since kings aren’t like other noblemen and peasants, having separate apartments and doing several duties apart form their children), Aegon likely didn’t feel that Viserys truly saw him as worthy to inherit the crown as Rhaenyra, . So Aegon may have felt that his father thought him “worse” than a girl (which is sexist thinking). In spite of the importance that a lot of people around him place on custom, tradition, and precedent. Being a king--or being seen as deserving of it and conflating that with a father's love--speaks to his gender identity as a a trueborn firstborn man in this society because Alicent and Otto both would have impressed on him that it was so both indirectly and verbally. And everything in this world is valued through its given gendered properties: male (active; hard; fast; strong) vs female (passive; soft; slow; weak). Which brings us right back to how he self affirms/distracts himself: his dragon Sunfyre, alcohol, and sex/sexual assault.  

Sexual assaulters and rapists are losers. They rape and SA because it makes them feel more powerful than those they feel should not have power yet they see sometimes do or think they do. Often, when they can’t confront the real contender, they go after those that they can hurt with less consequences to themselves.

So, it’s easy to see that Aegon develops an "interesting" (not a positive connotation) inferiority complex. Everything that he is, it would be compared to Rhaenyra as well as all the other kings that have existed. Even by his mother and Otto. He is not the center of his world, Rhaenyra is.

In other words, he also still enables his own loser-dom.

Ironically, his dependency on only what pleasures his body can give him would not have likely endeared him to others around him (even his own siblings), because he is so emotionally stunted, resentful, and impatient--even with the statues he had commissioned later after his brothers’ deaths.  But I don’t think he was especially close to Aemond, Helaena, or Daeron because of the dissociation and because he himself is a way for Alicent to protect the others, creating another heavy obligation--which is one feature of ASoIaF. His family would have been together more for duty than love.

Duty vs Love

The statues were meant to "pay back" his dead brothers, reduce some of that guilt, and show his subjects how generous to those loyal to him will be treated & paint himself as a good king. It's a claim on the land, that he and his family can do what they want with it, because he is king.

Being made to feel like a device of duty and ambition perhaps wouldn’t encourage his already compromised ego into intimacy, creating an emotional void. Alcoholics are not commonly free with their affection either, especially when they are men. His siblings also might have looked at him as their future, or as an assignment. A duty. Someone to support for the kingship more than a friend. And the emotional voids each of them have would accentuate and affirm this.

The Dance

And what about his coronation? Runicter, Septon Eustace and Mushroom all refer to Aegon being away from the keep when Viserys died and Alicent brought the council members together in the green council. Two of these sources say that he was having sex--Mushroom with a more scandalous claim than Eustace, but actually correct as Eustace. confirms the garlic the girl (12-13) and tries to make it sound better by saying she was a merchant's daughter. (Class rather than the fact that he, a grown man, is fucking a preteen without it "even" being a forced arranged marriage, which just makes it so much the worse!)

Aegon even protested being crowned at first, one of them being that he shouldn’t “steal” from his older sibling--if we were to believe Eustace when he says that he eventually gives in when Criston Cole mentioned how Rhaenyra would not spare him or his family if she wanted her own illegitimate sons to sit safely on the throne.

However, Aegon did a quick switch up after he got his crown, and I think this just shows that he always wanted it (or the validation, really, from it) and didn't actually need much persuading bc it was his time to shine and show how great he could be to his dead father and all those who witnessed his profligacy. Prove how how great he is by showing how well he could protect his family by defeating his enemies.

One could say he accepted becoming king out of fear of Rhaenyra, esp after Alicent & Criston both told him what they did AND they never got along or spent time together. He likely has no idea or real knowledge of this older sister who lives apart from the rest of them for almost his entire life and only comes by for parties or the odd viist to their father, sitting on the table and rarely speaking ot each other. Like a distant aunt rather than a missed sibling. To this argument, Aegon might have felt he had to become king so as to be the King/the military commander before she can become Queen notably so she can't take him off guard and seek to kill or punish him and when Alicent has already the council and imprisoned the courtiers. But what drives me to think Aegon actually welcomed the crown even when he refused at first is because he still had the chance to keep refusing and lock his mother, Otto, & Criston in a protracted stalemate. They'd have to knock him out to really get him to appear before an entire crowd to be crowned, you can't crown a kicking-and-screaming or unconscious person, like they probably did for Daemon to marry Rhea Royce. So, I think he likely bent bc, again, hit was the final temptation, the opportunity to make himself worthy.

Thus Aegon II would have likely felt a strange euphoria after being crowned and “officially” becoming King. The final thing that stands in his way from completely consolidating power, validating himself, fully realizing his role, and affirming his manhood...is his more popular sister. again, they never got along or spent time together, so in this state of him feeling himself he’d be eager to get rid of her and his nephews through violence and dragons. 

Yes, it’s kinslaying, but:

he likely doesn’t feel her to be real kin and he is a character who depends on his sensual experiences as well as those things that symbolize power for self worth--Rhaenyra’s emotional and physical distance is too constant for him to see her as a true sibling

Rhaenyra is openly against Alicent, his mother

Rhaenyra is both a woman and the person keeping him from getting what he’s been owed for all his life

he marries his other sister, Helaena, and wives are not really the type of equal that we modern folks and non Targs would consider our spouse to be--royal siblings are not just siblings -> they are his subjects and if they are women they are also his sexual partner -> he has learned to see more as devices to show power or that which is mostly under his authority---Targaryens do not usually regard their siblings as just siblings. Quite literally, a sibling could be or become everything and anything: lover, enemy, peer/friend, child/dependent, superior, subject, etc. Depends on circumstances. How adaptable 👀.

So with every pushback like how Rhaenyra’s supporters coming out the woodwork, her supporter’s military wins...it’s no wonder he was ecstatic at Lucerys’ death at the hands of Aemond and the claws of Vhagar. Targaryen might seems on his side.

Aemond Targaryen...who would henceforth be known as Aemond the Kinslayer to his foes...returned to King’s Landing, having won the support of Storm’s End for his brother Aegon, and the undying enmity of Queen Rhaenyra. If he thought to receive a hero’s welcome, he was disappointed. Queen Alicent went pale when she heard what he had done, crying, “Mother have mercy on us all.” Nor was Ser Otto pleased. “You only lost one eye,” he is reported to have said. “How could you be so blind?” The king himself did not share their concerns, however. Aegon II welcomed Prince Aemond home with a great feast, hailed him as “the true blood of the dragon,” and announced that he had made “a good beginning.” (F&B; “A Son for a Son”)

Perhaps this is one of the only moments that he actually felt close or obtained intimacy with Aemond. Or feels like he has. Aemond helped him out, so he's praising Aemond for being what Daemon is to Rhaenyra. An enforcer of his own will. Aemond proved himself to be an agent that will “prove” him and his strength and kingly authority. Aegon sees Aemond apart from being this guy who’s better than him in the physical stuff, like a warrior. And with Aemond and seemingly the entire kingdom at his side, Aegon felt he could take on anything.

It's when Dameon takes Harrenhal with barely a scratch and when more people declare for Rhaenyra against him, with the green's total surprise, that this arrogant euphoria starts to diminish and morph into something like the doubt and helplessness he's felt before being crowned. So when he’s butting heads against Otto for what he thinks is inaction, he is showing frustration at Rhaenyra display a seeming competency or luck over him that he can't handle or help to compare to before Viserys died:

AND

"The Red Dragon and the Gold"

With Criston’s encouragement to show his strength and his son Jaehaerys’ murder, it gets to a point where he flagrantly dismisses Otto’s bids at less violent attempts to cow Rhaenyra, and it definitely leads into his decision to put himself in danger and fight with Aemond against Rhaenys and Meleys.

That was the first time he ever used Sunfyre for battle and it came with grevious self harm and harm to his dragon: he got many burns, broke bones and Sunfyre’s wing was incapacitated enough that he had to be left behind for a time in the field to be fed and recover, while Aegon also stayed in bed for the rest of that year. He had to be carried around in a litter when he wasn’t sleeping.

And later, when he finally escapes King’s Landing and reunites with Sunfyre at Dragonstone to recover, he must have generated enough sick anticipation and rage to kill Rhaenyra through his dragon in front of his legitimate nephew’s face. Before then, he had flown Sunfyre again only to be attacked by Baela and her dragon Moondancer. In that altercation, he got even more injuries, shattering both of his legs. 

Both were mistakes that began as him, again, trying to prove himself AS WELL AS revenge after years of being pushed into a more “feminine” passive position. The Rook's Rest fight was also him trying to make Jaehaerys' death mean something, a new motivator of that long, deep desire for affirmation, even though he probably loved his kids...in his way.

Broken and burned both those times, but specifically talking about the first for now--now he’s in an even worse passive position than he had ever been in, where he has to stay put and still be carried in a chair. Now that his body is actually broken, he feels a "crippledom" & uselessness worse than before. Worse and similar to how he’s been told to depend on those he felt in his way and worse/similar to when he was just a prince. When his life meant being a comparison to Rhaenyra.

In his second time getting burnt and broken by Baela & Moondancer, he attempts to mimic his coronation flight on Sunfyre but that affirmation is also denied to him. He is not allowed to land on Dragonstone as its master, or as a dragon (since he'd been hiding and recuperating in the caves on the island...dragons "live" in caves naturally) but a sort of mangled alien.

In all this time, he has, maybe in his eyes, been “disproven” and flouted as the rightful Targaryen heir. But like Rhaenyra with her position as heir for many years and others denying her, he is not going to just give up after having been king and been crowned for some time. Not after gotten the injuries that would have stayed with him for all his life if he had been allowed to continue. He probably felt that he had to hold onto his claim more and give meaning to his losses, despite also feeling like a cripple. Maybe he felt that his father’s dismissal of him came from a real place and he wanted to banish that feeling through cruelty. 

After Rhaenyra’s Death

Image Credit: doug wheatley from Fire and Blood

I believe that by this time, Aegon was so desperate to hold onto the power he had finally “assured” through Rhaenyra’s death. But as proven later, people still fought against him.

He refused to grant clemency to those who had supported Rhaenyra (as Jaehaerys I did w/Maegor's followers) and to even cut off pieces of his nephews to intimidate those still fighting. He wanted all these people, those who will not accept him, dead and when some actually appeared to be close enough to threaten him, he took Alicent’s suggestion to mutilate Aegon III/the Tounger. That, his open distrust of Corlys, AND the plan to later kill Corlys when he's no longer of use to them--divulged by Larys Strong-prompt Corlys and Larys to put their plan to assassinate him in action (“The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II”):

“Your Grace,” the Sea Snake said, when the rump of the once proud green council had assembled, “you must surrender. The city cannot endure another sack. Save your people and save yourself. If you abdicate in favor of Prince Aegon, he will allow you to take the black and live out your life with honor on the Wall.”

“Will he?” King Aegon said. Munkun tells us he sounded hopeful. His mother entertained no such hope.

“You fed his mother to your dragon,” she reminded her son. “The boy saw it all.”

The king turned to her desperately. “What would you have me do?” 

“You have hostages,” the Queen Dowager replied. “Cut off one of the boy’s ears and send it to Lord Tully. Warn them he will lose another part for every mile they advance.”

“Yes,” Aegon II said. “Good. It shall be done.” He summoned Ser Alfred Broome, who had served him so well on Dragonstone. “Go and see to it, ser.” As the knight took his leave, the king turned to Corlys Velaryon. “Tell your bastard to fight bravely, my lord. If he fails me, if any of these Braavosi pass the Gullet, your precious Lady Baela shall lose some parts as well.”

Yeah, he’s a charmer, this one.

Lastly.

None of this is to say that he deserves the throne and it should be given to him or Rhaenyra should just give it to him (fuck that!), that he is a good person, or that he deserves to be allowed to do what he wants--it is to say that he is a perfect example of feudal patriarchal purity and thus a terrible human being who chose to use women’s bodies as if they are toys. 

Going by the trailer alone AND by his given character behavior/traits in F&B, I think Aegon is one of the better adapted and acted characters of the show. Let's hope they will at least continue that with him.

#aegon ii's characterization #aegon ii #fire and blood characters #fire and blood #asoiaf #the greens' characterizations #my headcanon

[rise-tv]

The Crop Circle Mystery | Crop Circles in England Controversy

Let's explore how the crop circles or crop circles in England are man-made landscape art, debunking the myth of alien involvement.

Explanation - The Crop Circle Mystery:-

Crop circles are a simple phenomenon: they are landscape art created by people.

Despite proof to the contrary, certain individuals still think that aliens transported by UFOs created crop circles.

But how did mysterious flying objects become associated with flattened swaths of cereal grains? And why are these styles historically connected to southern England?

The answers to these questions are straightforward: Doug Bower and Dave Chorley. Chorley and Bower were buddies who resided near Winchester in England. In 1978, both of them were sitting in a bar, "thinking about what they could do for something of a laugh," Chorley recalled in Time magazine in 1991. Inspired by earlier reports of UFO landings — the UFO craze was growing in the late 1970s, having gained traction shortly after a retired military officer gave an interview regarding the Roswell event, stating a mysterious alien had fallen in the New Mexico desert in 1947 — Chorley and Bower decided to build their own fictitious UFO landing site.

Bower and Chorley went into a field, armed with some boards, rope, and a twist of wire affixed to the brim of a baseball hat to sit their patterns and began working on their masterpiece. Nobody noticed. The two needed to make repeated trips to the southern English area over a few years before the global media picked up their newly constructed crop circles in England. When the tale went viral and UFO enthusiasts showed them in droves, the painters stepped forward and admitted to the fake.

Since then, crop circles have become both an outdoor art form and a visitor attraction. Their credibility as otherworldly artefacts have faded, but devout believers, known as "croppies," continue to believe aliens have been accountable for at least some crop circles. Marketers are now more likely to be to blame, with crop circles being used to promote games and chips for computers. 

What is a crop circle?

Crop circles are massive designs created by flattening crops like wheat, barley, and canola. Crop circle artists continue to stomp out patterns with boards of wood, as a National Geographic movie made in 2004 showed. The painters cover their tracks in current tractor-tire ruts, giving the impression that the pattern fell from the sky.

Crop circles can be easy or complex. England remains a hotbed for crop circle creators, with masterpieces featuring triangles, spinner forms, and crescents. They've also appeared elsewhere in the world, with one story in the Illinois daily Courier & Press describing them as a "plague" in the state during the 1990s. "We feel it's possibly just kids," Rock Island County Sheriff Tod VanWolvelaere told the publication decades later.

A Reference to The Edge of Wonder TV:-

Join Edge of Wonder TV for a detailed video on how crop circles are man-made landscape art, debunking the myth of alien involvement. Doug Bower and Dave Chorley were the individuals behind the creation of these mysterious formations in southern England. Find out the weirdest news in history, hidden facts and mysteries, and much more only on the Rise TV Show.

Join Chronicles of Psychic Spy on The Rise TV Show to watch the full episode on the crop circle mystery that is uncovered by remote viewing of many different crop circles to understand if they come from the same source.

Famous crop circles:-

The first mention of a crop-related enigma currently associated with crop circles was a woodcut chapbook, or tiny book containing ballads, songs, and tracts, titled "The Mowing Devil," which dates back to 1678. As stated by Oxford Reference, this chapbook depicts the story of a low-wage farmer who declined to pay a labourer to chop his oats. The devil accomplished the job overnight, "shaving them in rounds." Though the oats in the narrative were mowed rather than flattened, crop circle proponents used this anecdote to support their claims about crop circles' long-standing origins.

In 1996, a spectacular crop circle named the "Julia Set" emerged near Stonehenge. Following the Skeptical Inquirer, a local pilot claimed to have flown over the area for an hour before the crop circle formed and seen nothing, before returning to witness a spiral of ever larger circles. The crop circle's purported abrupt appearance fueled speculation that it was of otherworldly origin. However, according to the Skeptical Inquirer, these testimonies from witnesses were dubious — and the regional creator claimed to know who created the Julia set and that it was done the night before the crop circle was discovered, rather than in broad daylight.

Final Thoughts:-

Crop circles are large designs made by flattening crops, often created by artists using wood boards. They can be found in various shapes and have been reported in different parts of the world, including England and Illinois. Some believe that kids make them.

Bower and Chorley created crop circles in a field in England using simple tools, but it took years before their work gained attention. Once the media picked up the story and UFO enthusiasts flocked to see the circles, the artists revealed that they were responsible for the hoax.

The story of "The Mowing Devil," a woodcut chapbook from 1678, is often cited by crop circle proponents as evidence of the long-standing origins of crop circles, even though the oats in the story were mowed rather than flattened.

#mystery #strange #documentary #risetv #wonderous #aliens #crop circles

[byneddiedingo]

Crimson Peak (Guillermo del Toro, 2015)

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver, Burn Gorman, Leslie Hope, Doug Jones. Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins. Cinematography: Dan Laustsen. Production design: Thomas E. Sanders. Film editing: Bernat Vilaplana. Music: Fernando Velázquez.

In Crimson Peak, Guillermo del Toro takes all the elements of the Gothic romance and turns them up to 11, which is the best thing he could have done with such familiar, not to say cheesy, material. There's the dewy heroine who makes a dubious marriage, the sinister rival female, the doughty but dull spurned suitor, and of course the Old Dark House. This one makes Thornfield Hall, Manderley, and even the Castle of Otranto look like a suburban tract house: It's a great malevolent beetle of a mansion, squatting on a bleak landscape, decaying steadily and grossly while sinking into the mine above which it sits. It's inhabited by the cash-poor aristocrats Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and his sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain), along with a sizable contingent of ghosts. To it, Thomas brings his bride, Edith (Mia Wasikowska), whose father has recently died (rather violently, as we have seen), leaving her the family fortune. Edith is spunky and imaginative, an aspiring writer of ghost fiction, having had her own encounters with ghosts who warned her to "beware Crimson Peak." She doesn't know, of course, that the place to which her husband has brought her is called Crimson Peak, for its blood-red clay, by the locals. Anyway, the truth will out, and in a variety of gruesome ways. What makes the movie work is that del Toro is willing to go over the top entertainingly, stretching credibility to (and sometimes beyond) the breaking point, without smirking about it and camping it up. So we have, for example, a duel between Edith and Lucille, with both wearing flimsy, flowing nightwear. (Kate Hawley's costume designs are splendidly excessive.) We have apparitions in various states of decay and a plethora of insect life. The ghost of Edith's mother appears in a form that looks something like a cross between a tarantula and a woman with dreadlocks. There are vats of disgusting red murk in the cellar in which things are submerged. It's all a bit much, but the actors know how to take it in their stride. Having played Loki in the Marvel movies and the vampire Adam in Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Hiddleston in particular knows how to make a character both attractive and disquieting at the same time. Del Toro isn't up to anything of great moment in this movie, but it's good to see the material handled with a distinct sensibility and an avoidance of the tried and true.

#Crimson Peak #Guillermo de Toro

[mystlnewsonline]

Protect Employees from Hazards Associated - Poor Air Quality

The U.S. Department of Labor urges employers to have a plan to protect outdoor workers from hazards associated with poor air quality. WASHINGTON, DC (STL.News) As Canadian wildfires continue to produce unhealthy air pollution in parts of the country, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is offering employers important information to help protect outdoor workers from exposure to wildfire health hazards. OSHA has a comprehensive website with safety tips and resources to help employers and workers reduce their exposure to smoke during wildfires.  At the same time, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health offers resources for outdoor workers exposed to wildfire smoke. “Wildfire smoke exposure can create major health hazards for outdoor workers.  These hazards can be reduced with knowledge, safe work practices, and appropriate personal protective equipment,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker.  “I urge all employers to have plans and preparations in place to protect workers by preventing or minimizing exposure to hazardous air quality.” The most significant hazard from wildfire smoke is exposure to particulate matter, tiny particles of partially burned material less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream and is linked to serious health problems, including lung, heart, and kidney disease.  Workers exposed to smoke-polluted air may experience heat stress and eye and respiratory tract irritation and suffer from exposure to other respiratory hazards caused by hazardous substances such as heavy metals entering the atmosphere.  Employers should prepare for and plan to implement procedures to reduce exposure to smoke when necessary. Protective measures to reduce smoke exposure for outdoor workers can include: - Frequent monitoring of air quality conditions using a source such as the EPA’s AirNow. - Relocating or rescheduling work tasks to smoke-free areas. - Reducing levels of physical activity, especially strenuous and heavy work. - Requiring and encouraging workers to take breaks in smoke-free places when possible. - When possible, make accommodations for employees to work inside with proper HVAC systems and high-efficiency air filters. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor Read the full article

[thecreaturecodex]

Zaarg

Image accessed at Club Des Monstres here

[I have not seen Warlords of Atlantis, but it looks very strange. It’s basically a bootleg version of the Doug McClure Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptations, like At the Earth’s Core or Land that Time Forgot. Different studio, no source novel, but similar lost-world-with-monsters vibe. And Warlords of Atlantis has got lots of monsters! A plesiosaur, a giant octopus, killer coelocanths, and two wholly original critters, of which the zaargs are one.]

Zaarg CR 10 N Magical Beast This wide, heavy set creature looks like an immense turtle made of stone. It has a tail ending in a spiked ball, and has large tusks protruding from the corners of its mouth.

Zaargs are enormous creatures bearing a resemblance to great, rock-shelled turtles. They are slow and steady, and difficult to deter once they have made up their mind on a course of attack. A zaarg can climb even sheer surfaces with ease, and they use this ability to scale vertical cliffs and walls in pursuit of prey. Zaargs are nomadic creatures, and may visit the same castle as a part of its foraging route, climbing up to eat a defender or two like a bear raiding a beehive. Zaargs do not bother with stealth, and can be surprisingly noisy. They yowl like wild cats.

A zaarg is an omnivore, but they prefer meat if they can get it. They often grind up rocks and swallow them, incorporating bits of stone into their shells, claws, teeth and even digestive tract. They are irritable between each other, but have difficulty in actually doing any permanent physical damage; thus fights between zaargs are more prolonged wrestling contests that end with one party retreating rather than battles to the death.

Zaarg     CR 10 XP 9,600 N Gargantuan magical beast (earth) Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +9 Defense AC 26, touch 5, flat-footed 26 (-4 size, -1 Dex, +21 natural) hp 125 (10d10+70) Fort +14, Ref +6, Will +6 DR 10/adamantine; Resist cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20 Defensive Abilities stalwart Offense Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. Melee bite +12 (2d6+6 plus grab), 2 claws +12 (1d8+6), tail slap +10 (2d8+9 plus stun) Space 20 ft.; Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks powerful blows (tail slap), swallow whole (AC 25, 24 hp, 2d6+9 bludgeoning) Statistics Str 23, Dex 8, Con 25, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 9 Base Atk +10; CMB +20 (+22 bull rush, +24 grapple); CMD 29 (31 vs. bull rush) Feats Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Multiattack, Power Attack Skills Climb +30, Perception +9; Racial Modifiers +16 Climb SQ armored stomach, spider climb Ecology Environment any mountains and underground Organization solitary, pair or dole (3-6) Treasure none Special Abilities Armored Stomach (Ex) A zaarg’s stomach gains a +4 bonus to its AC and has double the normal hit points when determining the success of a creature trying to cut its way free. Spider Climb (Su) A zaarg is treated as being under the effects of a spider climb spell as a supernatural ability. Stalwart (Ex) If a zaarg makes a Fortitude or Will saving throw against a spell or effect that has a reduced effect on a successful save, it instead avoids the effect entirely. A helpless zaarg cannot use this ability. Stun (Ex) A creature struck by a zarrg’s tail slap must succeed a DC 21 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. The save DC is Strength based.

#zaarg #b-movies #warlords of atlantis #pathfinder 1e

[almostpleasantrebel]

Mark Greene is arguably the main character of ER for the first 3 I mean 8 seasons.And with that comes.The responsibility of having something terrible happening to you.In every single one of them.In this essay I will explain how and why Mark Greene deserves the oh poor me trope.

In season 1 Mark and Jen aren't going through a great time in their marriage.Mark is working too much and for too little while Jen gets a job in Milwaukee that she's always wanted. So they basically separate.Now Mark can't see his little girl because she lives in Milwaukee while he lives in Chicago. And then there's loves labours lost. AKA why the fuck didn't Anthony Edwards win an award for this episode. Basically, Mark misdiagnosed a pregnant lady with I think it's a urinary tract infection. Where in reality she has preeclampsia.Which isn't very good so he has to deliver the baby which Isn't really working out and OB isn't doing anything.They save the baby, but the mother dies.So he gets slapped with a lawsuit.Keep track of how many 'cause he gets a good amount.

In season 2 Jen basically leaves Mark because she's cheating on him and this does not do any good for poor baby Rachel. And he has to settle that malpractice suit, which I don't remember what happens with that they probably explained it, I just don't remember. He is also having to potentially fire Doug Ross, his best friend. This is the first of a few more times where he almost has to fire him. But Doug. As he always does, has a Deus Ex machina where he gets to stay but this isn't about Doug, that's another essay. And I think that season two I probably missed something. I don't remember this season.

Way too quickly. Mark falls in love with Susan. And she decides to leave so she can be with her niece in Arizona, so you know She leaves and he's all alone.And then he gets attacked.In the ER. This does not do any good for our Marky boy Because he becomes a bit of a dick for a while. I also think he has another lawsuit or two, although remember that I think it's in this season. There's that one guy who dresses up as a doctor.And gets to play Doctor to help Mark get rid of a lawsuit.Which was really strange.

Season 4 is when we really see Mark being a dick because he refuses to get therapy. He goes with Doug to settle some affairs for Doug's father. Which Doug then drops him off at his parents house and just kind of leaves him. And he has a very strained relationship with his father and his mother is very sick and apparently. We find out that marks Mom viewed his birth as a mistake. Which.I don't remember that but that would destroy anyone. He fights with his dad about how his mother should be treated. Sadly she eventually passes away which the death of your mother wouldn't help If you were already going through a lot. He eventually reconciles with his father a bit Which is good. He also starts dating Cynthia for a while, which I'm not even going to get into.

So season 5 nothing really bad happens. I mean he almost has to fire Doug, again. But then they calm that down and then Doug does something even more stupid, which causes him to leave because he would have to be fired. So really Mark kinda loses his best friend. But he starts dating Elizabeth. Which Is like my OTP of the show.

Season six is where it starts to get really heavy. Mark's father develops advanced lung cancer.So he moves to Chicago to be with him and he passes away. So you know, losing both parents fairly close to each other isn't fun.

Season 7…….Is a season. Mark gets a brain tumor. And that's not a good thing, because he's also dealing with the fact that his fiance at the time is pregnant. They just moved in together. And she is facing a malpractice suit. Because they can't let these two be happy. Mark also, kind of kills a man I mean. Yeah, the guy was kind of going around. Killing innocent people and almost killed his wife and newborn baby. But like let him go to jail instead of not doing the defibrillator is that what it's called? He also falsified the records, which is HIGHLY illegal.

OH BOY OH BOY This is the most emotionally draining season AKA season 8. So Rachel shows up unannounced in Chicago citing arguments with her mother and moves in with Mark. Now Elizabeth never really agreed to this and he is having problems with Rachel being a rebellious teenager which i have never met a teenager this rebellious and that is being said by a teenager. So you know he's dealing with that. And fighting with Elizabeth because of it when Rachel having ecstasy in her backpack his newborn daughter Ella overdoses Mark refuses to kick Rachel out, so Elizabeth moves out with Ella so. They're looking like they're going to be separated, which you know, Isn't good. When his tumor comes back. He doesn't tell Elizabeth for a while. He tells Susan who came back earlier in the season. When Elizabeth does find out, she moves back in and puts her differences aside with Rachel to be with the man she loves. Eventually, Mark realizes that he wants to have at least a few good months instead of more months where he's just doped up on medication Elizabeth begs him to stay For her and Ella. He has one last meeting with Jen where they reconcile. He spends his last few days, weeks or whatever in Hawaii with his family. Where he dies. Leaving. Elizabeth and Ella, and Ella who probably won't ever remember him and Rachel who kind of needs her father.

The reason I destroyed my mental health tonight and wrote all this out was because Mark throughout all this really bad stuff and I probably missed a lot. He never went poor me. He stuck through it. And. Never had any self pity. Maybe once or twice, but I don't remember so it doesn't count. But The thing is, he deserved it. He deserved to do that, from getting at least three lawsuits. A divorce and not seeing his daughter that often. Accidentally killing a pregnant woman because he didn't catch what she had.Getting assaulted in a bathroom.Getting sick. Almost getting another divorce after his other daughter was born because Of justice, a whole lot of complicated family stuff. He never did that.You never see him go through a pity party. He always cared about his work. And family which.This is the most important things to him. But he deserved it. He deserved to go, oh poor me. And he never did. It's odd I admire that in a way. I don't know why I just do.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Sizing Up How Agriculture Connects to Deforestation Every year, scientists at the University of Maryland publish new data about the state of Earth’s forests based on observations from Landsat satellites. As has often been the case in recent years, the update for 2020 painted a bleak picture. In that one year, Earth lost nearly 26 million hectares of tree cover—an area larger than the United Kingdom. The raw numbers can tell us how much and where forests were lost, but they do not explain what was driving those losses. How much deforestation was due to wildfires? Food production? Forestry management? An ongoing effort by researchers from The Sustainability Consortium and the World Resources Institute (WRI) attempts to answer such questions with maps and datasets that categorize and quantify the major drivers of annual forest losses. In doing so, the researchers have put a spotlight on the impact that food production has on forests, particularly in the tropics. In 2020, for instance, Earth lost about 4.2 million hectares (16,000 square miles) of humid tropical primary forest—an area about the size of the Netherlands. Nearly half of that, their analysis shows, was due to food production, and half of that was due to commodity crops. In recent years, commodity crop production has pushed rates of forest loss to record levels. The map above, based on an analysis of Landsat data by The Sustainability Consortium and WRI, highlights several key drivers of forest loss. Shifting agriculture (yellow) typically involves the clearing of small plots within forests in Africa, Central America, and parts of South America. The clearing is done by subsistence farmers, often families, who raise a mixture of vegetables, fruits, grains, and small livestock herds for a few years and then let fields go fallow and move on as soil loses its fertility. The practice is especially common in Africa, and has become more so since 2000 due to increasing human populations. In South America and Southeast Asia, commodity crops (tan on the top map) have become the dominant driver of forest loss. Common commodity crops include beef, soybeans, palm oil, corn, and cotton. They are typically grown on an industrial scale and traded internationally. Unlike the temporary forest clearings associated with small-scale agriculture, commodity-scale production often involves clear-cutting and results in significant impacts on forests (like the Indonesian palm oil plantation shown in the bottom image). “In many cases, commodity-driven deforestation is essentially a permanent change compared to shifting agriculture,” explained Christy Slay, a conservation ecologist and the senior director of science and research applications at The Sustainability Consortium. “These areas will likely never be forests again.” In contrast, forests cleared for forestry management or by wildfires generally grow back over time. In the U.S. Southeast, for instance, managers maintain certain ecosystems and animal habitats by periodically burning and planting forests to mimic natural cycles of burning and regrowth. Likewise, forests in the Pacific Northwest and Europe are often managed for timber in ways that cycle between periods of forest clearing and periods of regrowth. Note that food production was once a major driver of deforestation in North America and Europe, but much of the clearing happened a hundred or more years ago. Since many forests in these areas were already gone by 2000, their absence does not register as forest loss. Nor does the map capture the impact of large-scale conversion of natural grasslands to agriculture, a common practice in both North and South America. With tropical forest cover dwindling and the effect of climate change becoming more acute, some companies and consumers are trying to ensure that food production does not lead to new deforestation. In recent years, hundreds of companies have committed to eliminating or reducing products in their supply chains that cause deforestation. But ensuring that is often challenging. “Global supply chains can be complicated and opaque,” said Slay. “You often have companies buying commodities off the spot market, such that the source regions change frequently or even daily. Retailers and food manufacturers often don't know the source of their ingredients down to the individual farm and field scale.” By regularly collecting data on the health of forests, satellites are making it easier for scientists to untangle which commodities and regions are the biggest contributors to deforestation. Doug Morton, a forest ecologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, has witnessed a shift in the dominant drivers of deforestation. “Forty years ago, we often saw small-scale deforestation creating roads that look like fishbone patterns,” said Morton, who monitors agricultural frontiers in the Amazon. At the time, many people were moving into the Amazon to escape drought and hunger in eastern Brazil. “By the middle of the Landsat record, we see large-scale commodity production taking hold. Today’s deforestation isn’t about individual families. It’s often tractors and bulldozers clearing large tracts of forest for industrial scale cattle ranching and crops.” For companies trying to keep their supply chains free of deforestation, knowing which commodity crops are being grown where is critical. “If we know where deforestation is common and what crops are involved, we can go to companies and say: ‘Be careful if you’re working with suppliers that are sourcing this particular product from this particular part of the world,’ ” said Slay. “Satellite data of forest change and loss is the first step in the process.” One recent WRI analysis combined Landsat imagery with economic and land-use data to parse the impact of seven different commodities on forests around the world. “One of the big things you notice in the data is the outsized role of cattle pastures in driving deforestation,” said Mikaela Weisse, one of the report’s authors. “Cattle pastures caused about five times more deforestation than any of the other commodities we analyzed.” The lower map shows forests being cleared for cattle all over the world, but particularly in Brazil, where deforestation has been on the rise. Large tracts of forest have also been cleared in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru according to WRI data. In Southeast Asia, where deforestation rates have dropped recently, most forest losses are associated with palm oil, which is used in many types of processed foods and various health and beauty products like deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, and lipstick. Deforestation for cocoa production had a sizable impact in certain countries—notably Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire—but only represented 3 percent of total forests losses. Other commodities with similarly modest effects on global forests included rubber, coffee, and wood fiber. While new tools are making it easier to understand where food production is intersecting with new deforestation, huge challenges remain. “Deforestation rates are going up instead of down,” said Elizabeth Goldman of WRI. “There’s a lot of work left to do.” NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using data from Curtis, P.G., et al. (2018), data from Goldman, Elizabeth, et al. (2020), and Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland.

#space #science #earth observatory #nasa #news

[hkipgtd]

If that sounds way too serious for HKIPGTD, don’t worry! It’s still got jokes in it!! Look at the title!!!

For your visual reference: The Haldimand Tract

For your homework: Alanis Obomsawin – Trick or Treaty?

To donate to the legal defense fund: Paypal or etransfer to [email protected]

#episodes #podcasts

[therebelwrites]

The City, the County and the State each add a tax to the sale of most items. The City will retain its portion of those revenues as usual. New in FY20 will be a 3% tax on the sales of recreational marijuana, and revenues from that tax only will go into the Reparations Fund.  

Projected revenues for 2020 from the tax on sales of recreational marijuana are $250,000. All such tax revenues will go to the Reparations Fund until the City has contributed $10 million to the fund.

Reparations 2019

Several speakers during public comment voiced support for the measure.

Evanston resident and local historian Morris “Dino” Robinson recounted the history of discrimination in Illinois and Evanston, where, he said, “residents had to abide by ‘Black Codes.’” He added that Edwin Jourdain [Evanston’s first black alderman] ran for office for the sole purpose of defeating the Jim Crow laws and attitudes here.

Doug Sharp of Reclaim Evanston said, “We are pleased with and support the City’s intention to begin to address the longstanding theft of wealth and opportunity that has been committed against the African American residents of Evanston.

“We feel that the use of the cannabis tax as a funding source for reparations is a proper and fitting first step in righting the wrongs of past decades, especially when we consider how the arrests for possession of marijuana have been disproportionately used to incarcerate young African Americans.

Fifth Ward Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, along with Eighth Ward Alderman Ann Rainey have been the drivers of this move.

Ald. Simmons reported at the Nov. 25 City Council meeting that she had attended the National League of Cities convention earlier this month and found that many representatives of other municipalities were “in awe” of Evanston’s move toward reparations.

She also said there would be a community town hall meeting – the date as yet unscheduled – co-hosted by the National African American Reparations Commission, at which the “extensive feedback” from reparations meetings held over the summer would be incorporated.

Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward, recalled that his predecessor, Lionel Jean-Baptiste “had wanted to get this thing going. This is a good thing. I want to acknowledge Judge Jean-Baptiste and many other people who attempted to do this. Judge Jean-Baptiste said he’d like to support it now.”

Ald. Braithwaite added, “I think it’s going to be very special for Evanston, and I think it’s going to have one of those ripple effects that create a change in our nation. This is a special moment in the City of Evanston and in the country.”

Ald. Rainey said, “Judge Jean-Baptiste began this in 2002.” She added, “We’ve had offers of counsel as late as Saturday [Nov. 23] from national leaders of the ACLU.”

Ald. Rue Simmons read a statement about the damage done to the black community by institutional racism. “We acknowledge history wrongs in our City are directly responsible for our segregation, wealth divide and overall lesser quality of life. On June 10, we passed a resolution to end structural racism and achieve racial equality.”

She said racist practices have excluded black residents from housing, employment and education, and she noted that the black population of Evanston has “declined to a historical low of 16%.”

Comparing one of the wealthiest census tracts in the City with one of the poorest, she said there is a disparity of about $46,000 in median income and a lowered life expectancy of 13 years between the two.

“It is important that the income from marijuana sales be used toward repairing the community it unfairly policed and damaged,” she said.

Sixth Ward Alderman Thomas Suffredin was the sole “No” vote on creating the Reparations Fund. Although he did not explain his vote at the meeting, he did so in a newsletter to his constituents the next day: “Any revenue that the City of Evanston realizes from recreational cannabis sales will go to the City of Evanston Reparations Fund until funding from that source has reached $10 million. The Reparations Subcommittee is currently working to determine how the Reparations Fund dollars will be utilized in the future.

“I voted no on this, because in a town full of financial needs and obligations, I believe it is bad policy to dedicate tax revenue from a particular source, in unknown annual amounts, to a purpose that has yet to be determined.  

“Individuals and institutions who wish to make contributions to the City of Evanston Reparations Fund may do so. I voted no to funding reparations with recreational cannabis revenue not because I don’t support the City taking responsibility for the role it played in disadvantaging our African American residents, but because it is bad policy.”

Larry Gavin’s article “Developing a Segregated Town, 1900-1960,” which was published in the RoundTable’s November magazine, will soon be posted on this website.

Reparations 2002

The idea of reparations is not a new one to the City Council. The minutes of the May 20, 2002, City Council meeting reflect that during the Call of the Wards, “Alderman Jean-Baptiste reported that on June 3 and June 10, he intended to put before Council a resolution on reparations. He would first go through the Human Services Committee and then come before the Council. He hoped to get information to them in the short term, did not want them to be surprised and that they would approach it with an open mind. He referred to the UN Conference Against Racism, which he had attended in South Africa, where the slave trade and colonialism were declared as crimes against humanity. He noted that the declaration stated as well that it should always have been so. He reported that the declaration further stated that former slave-owning states ought to take up reparations and that it would be on the agenda.”

Ald. Jean-Baptiste brought a resolution, 43-R-02, to the June 10, 2002, City Council meeting, supporting U.S. House of Representatives 40, proposed by Representative John Conyers of Michigan. That resolution called for the establishment of a federal commission to study slavery and its consequences and make recommendations for compensation to black people.

Rep. Conyers first introduced that resolution in the House of Representatives in 1989. On June 19 of this year – Juneteenth – Congress held hearings on reparations for the first time in a decade.

The Evanston City Council unanimously approved Ald. Jean-Baptiste’s resolution, 7-0; the two aldermen who were absent from the meeting had indicated their support for the measure.

RoundTable reporter Mark Berry wrote in the June 19, 2002, edition that Northwestern University Professor Martha Biondi spoke at the Council meeting. She said the failure of civil rights remedies has resulted in greater socio-economic disparities between African Americans and the majority of the population. She said, Mr. Berry wrote, “Eighty percent of African American males will be arrested in their lifetimes, and 13% of African American men have lost the right to vote.

Prof. Biondi attributed the increased push for reconciliation and compensation to the treatment of other groups that sought reparations. “In 1988, Congress apologized and paid $1.2 billion to the relatives of Japanese Americans detained in camps in World War II. The German government and private corporations have paid $65.2 billion to Israel in reparations. In September, 2001, the United Nations World Conference declared slavery a crime against humanity and that reparations be made,” Mr. Berry quoted Prof. Biondi as saying.

Mr. Berry also reported comments from three of the aldermen. He wrote, “Alderman Stephen Engelman, 7th Ward, stated his support of the resolution but hoped that it was not ‘solely about money.’ … I do not believe a social compact can be founded on collective guilt or collective entitlement.’

Alderman Edmund Moran, 6th Ward, reportedly said the “aim of the resolution is to achieve reconciliation and that to some extent it can be accomplished through the means of government, but ultimately it will rest with each of us – individually and collectively – to answer the question, ‘Will we be friends?’”

Fifth Ward Alderman Joseph Kent said, according to Mr. Berry’s article, “The best thing that can happen out of this is education, so we can change some of the old curriculum. Children can’t really achieve if they don’t know who they are.”

During public comment at that June 10, 2002, meeting, several speakers said they supported then- Alderman Jean-Baptiste’s resolution on reparations, which Council approved on the consent agenda that evening.

Below are excerpts of some of the comments from the public, as reflected in the minutes of that meeting.

“Rev. Mark Adams, Hillside Free Methodist Church pastor, spoke on behalf of the Evanston Ecumenical Action Council in support of Resolution 43-R-02; said that support of House Resolution 40 allows the nation to ask questions about reparations. The recommendation is that the U.S. government begin to investigate the issue of reparations by asking the question nationally and getting the facts. He did not know what reparations would look like. ... He suggested they would never know or do the right thing until the nation no longer prohibits them from asking the question. He said if reparations were ever adopted, all would pay. Reparations are not an individual concept, rather national restitution and would be dealt with nationally. He could imagine a nation where brotherhood is a reality. He said it was time to ask the question and engage in the debate that can bring about the American dream for everyone. He hoped Evanston could help encourage the nation to ask questions to start healing.

“Neta Jackson and her husband are authors and recently wrote ‘No Random Act: Behind the Murder of Ricky Byrdsong.’ She stated it was important to stand up and be counted on the issue of reparations. In trying to understand racism, one stumbling block stands out. As a white person she does not have to face the consequences of racism daily, but black people do. She is not always aware of lingering racism because it does not directly affect her choices, but African Americans who are descendants of slaves don’t have that choice. She said the racism that lingers, affects attitudes and practices and, in spite of strides of civil rights laws, is the legacy that affects their lives. She noted that some will say their ancestors were not slave owners so why should they make reparations for something they had nothing to do with. She said the opposite is true and that all living in this country reap the benefit of living in the greatest democracy in the world with benefits provided by people who lived, worked, died and fought for freedom built on the backs of people enslaved for over 246 years.

“Ra Joy, suburban director for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and lifelong resident, read a letter from Congresswoman Schakowsky on Resolution 43-R-02 to Alderman Jean-Baptiste: ‘I was pleased to learn about the resolution you introduced at the City of Evanston Human Services Committee on Monday June 3. The proposed City Council resolution would call attention to the injustice of slavery and urge our federal government to investigate its negative effects. It has always been difficult for our country to come to grips with the unspeakable cruelty and massive human suffering resulting from slavery. It is estimated that more than four million Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and its colonies from 1619 to 1865. I believe we must acknowledge this terrible chapter in American history and, where possible, make amends. I am proud to co-sponsor H.R. 40, a bill introduced by Representative John Conyers of Michigan. This bill would establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery and subsequent discrimination against African-Americans, study the impact of these forces on living African-Americans and make recommendations on appropriate remedies to Congress. I believe this study will help stimulate public dialogue of significant importance and assist our nation in coming to terms with this unprecedented tragedy. … I wish you much success in moving this resolution forward.”  

“Ayinde Jean-Baptiste, stated that Resolution 43-R-02 represents all movements for social justice in world history. Universally, it will send a message to state and federal governments and communities throughout the nation, including Evanston. Evanston is an inclusive, diverse and welcoming community committed to equity in America and the world. He said in communities such as Evanston, that real people are concerned about justice in America and making amends for the pitfalls of the past.

“Mary Goering said that while reparations may deal with monetary reparations, she thought equally important was the development of a good understanding of the effects of slavery on American society. … Her ancestors are the people who shaped the nation and that means ancestors who were slave traders and slave owners. She suggested that whole history needs to be dealt with. … She suggested this resolution calls national attention to focus on that to come to a fuller understanding.

“Bennett Johnson, president, Evanston branch NAACP, stated national NAACP has a policy supporting reparations. … He stated that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Harold Washington, Elijah Mohammed and Mohammed Ali among others supported reparations in principle. He did not think it was a matter of guilt. He stated there is a social dysfunction in this nation – a cancer on the body politic. Reparations will help heal that wound, help everybody because this is one people and one country. If there is a problem in one section it needs to be taken care of. “

***************

#Of course I gotta LOT to say about this but no time lol #$10 million aint enuf #Not even CLOSE #I say this as a person who worked in Evanston for a few years -- doing what you ask? #Teaching tutoring and mentoring Black and Latinx kids in the hood of course #I can tell you that on my way to teach in the HOOD part of this unrealistically wealthy suburb that houses Northwestern University I passed #blocks where the combined net value of HOUSES on a single block were worth more than $10 million! #That Evanston is just a white and just as racist as you would imagine #That this is a STEP in the right direction--BUT the fact that majority of city officials agreed to this without a FIGHT shows you that it w #was a LOWBALL for BLACKS #Mere COINS off their BACKS #Always remember that the white power structure will NEVER give up anything substantial without a FIGHT #And the fact that so many are ok with this does NOT indicate progress--but that we are deserving of SO MUCH MORE! #Evanston Illinois reparations to Black residents #Not only descendants of enslaved Africans but all Blacks #Did you catch that part?? #ALWAYS THINK CRITICALLY!

[b-grademoviemonsters]

The Velocipastor

Premise according to IMDB: After losing his parents, a priest travels to China, where he inherits a mysterious ability that allows him to turn into a dinosaur. At first horrified by this new power, a hooker convinces him to use it to fight crime. And ninjas.

Premise according to us: Every so often, in an otherwise ordinary life, a movie comes along that is so visionary, so transformative and so ahead of its time that your life is never quite the same afterwards. It probably goes without saying that this is not that film. But damned if we didn’t enjoy the heck out of it anyway.

Wow, that’s high praise there. Honestly, coming across this gem after some of the dross we’ve sat through of late was like going to sleep beside the Trumpster (you nestled in your comfy bed, him prostate and unblinking in his cryovac chamber) and waking up to see a shirtless Justin Trudeau standing over you holding a breakfast tray piled high with croissants and a huge bowl of Nutella.

Mmmm, Nutella. That’s so good smeared across croissants! Right... yes... croissants. Because that would definitely not be the only place we would be smearing Nutella in this scenario. But moving right along…

Ah yes, back to The Velocipastor. Now, where were we? Well, I was about to share my general rule of thumb about this kind of movie. Which is that if the words ‘WTF’ come out of my mouth within the first five minutes, followed by vigorous thrashing of the rewind button, then we’re onto a winner. And these guys managed it with the below shot. *cue supermassive spoiler alert*

You see, during the film’s first few minutes or so, a horrific car bomb kills the family of the film’s hero priest right before his very eyes. But instead of a glorious explosion of sound, violence, body parts and middle aged parental polyester across the big screen, the director merely added a descriptive tile in a font I think came standard with Windows Office 98. I mean, have you ever seen a more excellent manifestation of having no budget than this?

Wait, so there was no explosion, no body parts and no gore...  and that’s a good thing? YES! A very good thing. Because it shows they get the essence of B-grade monster movie making, which is that the budget may be small, but the tongue-in-cheek ideas don’t have to be. Talk about happy days!

Still, exploding parents is a pretty awful thing to happen to someone so young, right? Totally. But luckily our hero priest Fr Doug has the wise words of mentor Fr Stuart to ponder as he mourns his loss while sipping - nay sculling - the blood of Jesus Christ in a way we’re fairly certain the Vatican would not be keen on. “Your parents died Doug. That’s what parents do. They die on you.” Dibs putting that on a commemorative T-shirt.

So how exactly does a shattered soul such as Doug then rebuild from there? Well it’s simple. You go to the place where, in the words of Fr Stu, “you think God will not follow.” In this case, China*. And we know it’s China because, despite its resemblance to an everyday tract of north American wilderness, we are offered a few subtle clues. Namely the word ‘China’ appearing on screen in massive type and the sudden arrival of a warrior chick in a white martial arts suit and a vaguely racist bamboo peasant hat. Mind you, we don’t get too much of a look at her since she’s busy copping an arrow straight through the chest from a random ninja in the forest. Then comes the indignity of spending her final moments with our hero priest, who takes one look at the gushing bloody wound and arrowhead embedded prominently in her torso and reaches for the obvious question only a man anyone would ask in the circumstances: “Are you hurt?” Honestly, in her shoes, we would have passed him the cursed dinosaur tooth of the Dragon Warrior too.  *note this film predates the arrival of the coronavirus.

By the way, just rewinding matters for a second, I couldn’t help but notice that Doug somehow managed to drive to China ... from the US: Yes, we clocked that too. But rather than get bogged down in logical exploration, let’s just assume Sarah Palin was the film’s geography consultant and move on.

OK, done. Next minute, we’re suddenly back in the US, where Doug is having some bad dreams and feeling hungry* and a prostitute called Carol is being roughed up by her pimp Frankie Mermaid, whose subtle moniker refers to the fact he’s “swimming in bitches”. Frankie old mate, you are so going to die. But not, apparently, before sending Carol out into a dark forest to drum up some business. *if you get what we mean

Wait, is that really where hookers hang out these days? #askingforafriend Well not if they want to make any money, no. But hey, no sacrifice is too great in the pursuit of #plotdevelopment. And just as we type that here it comes, in the form of an armed offender keen to separate Carol from her cash. If only there was someone, anyone, who could just randomly stumble into the forest and rescue our damsel in distress. Oh wait. Is that Fr Doug? Boy, he looks kind of hungry* *if you get what we mean

Next minute: It’s the next morning and a surprisingly buff Fr Doug is in the hooker’s bed. But not like *that*. Because she just wants to chat. Or at least to engage in some very unsophisticated single entendres about how “last night was amazing” even though “it all happened so quickly”. Fortunately her blow by blow* account sets Doug’s mind at ease, except for the bit where he turned into a dinosaur and ate someone. Which he does not believe. Because, and say it with me here religious zealots, “Dinosaurs never existed.” * Wash your mind out with soap - this is a common expression, not a sexual euphenism... yet.

Of course they didn’t. Well I assume she eventually convinces him he’s part velociraptor and that they should use his powers to rid the world of evil. But we don’t want to give away the rest of the movie do we? No, we most certainly do not want to spoil the sure-to-be-hugely-unexpected plot twists of a movie called The Velocipastor. And honestly, half the fun is in the surprises. So instead, let’s just share a few of the queries we asked each other along the way: * Did that guy really just say he’s going to survive the Vietnam War without taking a single hit? I mean, has he ever seen a war movie? * Really? You bought nunchakus to a fight with ninjas? Really? * Wait, does that exorcist have goblin ears?  * Are they honestly going to boink for the first time under a chenille duvet?  * No, I mean seriously, under a chenille duvet????

Wait, if our hero is a priest, then who is the prostitute boinking? Sorry, can’t answer that. But *cough* The Thorn Birds *cough*.

Well at least tell us Frankie Mermaid bites it bad: Again, mum’s the word. But let’s just say confession isn’t always good for the soul, especially when you may or may not be confessing to a certain earlier car bomb murder.

Intriguing. Well to something you can tell us, did the film get good reviews? To answer this let’s turn to our beloved critics over at the IMDB: “This movie cured my cancer and my acne, my asthma is gone and I don't need my glasses anymore.” Nuff said. Final verdict? Yep! And that’s without even mentioning the best ninjas versus dinosaur fight scene EVER committed to film. EVER. Which I really wanted to film and post here but #respectforcopyright.

Vanilla vodkas needed to sit through it (out of 10): None. And that would be true even if we hadn’t just drunk our own body weight in sugar-free soft drink.

[airchexx]

Greaseman on DC101 WWDC Washington | September 1982

 WWDC DC101 Washington – Greaseman – September 1982 Doug Tract, better known as The Greaseman. He is truly a one of a kind radio personality. In an era of 3, 4, & 5 person morning shows, Grease would make radio comedy gold, all by himself. The Greaseman pseudonym originated while he was in college. Grease has said in an interview, “In those days of top 40, everybody who was on the…

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#DC101 #greaseman #Washington #WWDC

[eddycurrents]

For the week of 10 June 2019

Quick Bits:

Age of Conan: Bêlit #4 sets up a rivalry with a high priest from Stygia in this penultimate issue. Tini Howard, Kate Niemczyk, Scott Hanna, Jason Keith, and Travis Lanham guide us through more of Bêlit’s family history and hints of madness.

| Published by Marvel

Age of X-Man: Marvelous X-Men #5 is the first of these minis to reach their end, but it’s far from a conclusion. While the team and Psylocke find out the nature of reality as everything starts unravelling, much still remains hanging, and the conclusion is set for Age of X-Man: Omega. Great art from Marco Failla and Matt Milla.

| Published by Marvel

Amber Blake #4 concludes what has been an entertaining thriller from Jade Lagardère, Butch Guice, Mike Perkins, Dan Brown, and Robbie Robbins. Some nice twists and surprises as this story ends.

| Published by IDW

Archie #705 is part one of “Archie & Sabrina”. I quite like the change to the trade dress to reflect that, giving the appearance of a limited series for the arc, while maintaining the ongoing numbering. Nice Spencer, Sandy Jarrell, Matt Herms, and Jack Morelli do a great job moving through Cheryl’s “Bachelor” plans to hints of things to come, along with impending conflict between Betty and Veronica.

| Published by Archie Comics

Batman & The Outsiders #2 spotlights the battle between Ishmael and the team as he goes for Sofia. Great art from Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini. The little bits of occult belief and practice Bryan Hill gives to Ishmael are interesting.

| Published by DC Comics

Bronze Age Boogie #3 is another fun issue, pitting Li against Lynda for the Martians’ amusement. The pieces are all coming together nicely. Also, the “Major Ursa” back-up is just about the best thing ever.

| Published by Ahoy

By Night #12 is a bit of a weird one for the conclusion to this series, focusing almost solely on our side of the rift and what happens down the line for everyone. Still, this has been an entertaining series from John Allison, Christine Larsen, Sarah Stern, and Jim Campbell. 

| Published by Boom Entertainment / BOOM! Box

Calamity Kate #4 brings this series from Magdalene Visaggio, Corin Howell, Valentina Pinto, and Zakk Saam to a close. It’s still a bit of a head-scratcher, wondering how much is real and how much is a manifestation of Kate’s issues with her break-up, but it’s entertaining.

| Published by Dark Horse

Detective Comics #1005 concludes the Arkham Knight’s “Medieval” arc from Peter J. Tomasi, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, Nathan Fairbairn, and Rob Leigh. It’s really weird seeing Anton Arcane as anyone’s lackey, but that aside this is still a decent conclusion. The art from Walker, Hennessy, and Fairbairn is incredible.

| Published by DC Comics

The Empty Man #8 is the end of the series. For now at least. It’s a satisfying conclusion for this horror story from Cullen Bunn, Jesús Hervás, Niko Guardia, and Ed Dukeshire, even as it leaves hooks for the possibility of more. Very interesting bits of body horror and ideas about infection.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

The Flash #72 continues “Year One” from Joshua Williamson, Howard Porter, Hi-Fi, and Steve Wands. Once again, the artwork from Porter and Hi-Fi is phenomenal. The layouts, the action, the sheer visual storytelling is incredible.

| Published by DC Comics

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #7 is the first part of “Feast or Famine” from Tom Taylor, Ken Lashley, Nolan Woodard, and Travis Lanham. It’s May’s grand reopening of the FEAST shelter and it appears as though people are angry that it’s happening.

| Published by Marvel

Gogor #2 is possibly even better than the first issue, giving more focus to the tale even as Ken Garing does more world-building. This is a very interesting fantasy story, with fascinating characters and regions, and beautiful artwork.

| Published by Image

Hawkman #13 gives us a single-issue story from Robert Venditti, Will Conrad, Jeremiah Skipper, and Richard Starkings & Comicraft on the endless cycle of war. It’s a good bit of decompression following “Cataclysm” and Bryan Hitch’s run, using Carter’s endless resurrection to show the toll of battle on one planet.

| Published by DC Comics

Immortal Hulk #19 is another incredible issue in this amazing run, with Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, Ruy José, Belardino Brabo, Paul Mounts, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Cory Petit delivering hard on the new Abomination and Harpy. The body horror aspect of this story is ratcheted up even higher.

| Published by Marvel

Infinite Dark #7 looks like it’s building for a catastrophe for the end of this arc at a magnitude even greater than losing the outer ring in the first arc, as the remaining portion of the station gets plunged into the dark here. The level of tension that Ryan Cady, Andrea Mutti, K. Michael Russell, and Troy Peteri are creating here is about to explode.

| Published by Image / Top Cow

Joe Golem: Occult Detective - Conjurors #2 sees Joe brought back to life by Simon Church, against the objections of Simon’s ghost friends, and sets up the road to what looks like might be a new status quo, bringing forth an old direction. Great art from Peter Bergting and Michelle Madsen. I really quite like the murky appearance of the underwater scenes.

| Published by Dark Horse

Justice League Odyssey #10 gets a new logo while the team continues their search for relics for Darkseid. Also, more intrigue as they still don’t exactly know whether they can trust one another. Dan Abnett, Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, FCO Plascencia, and AndWorld Design are telling an interesting story here.

| Published by DC Comics

The Life & Death of Toyo Harada #4 enacts Angela’s plan on the rest of the team with explosive results. It’s interesting to see everything burnt to ash along the way. The flashbacks into Harada’s life this issue are illustrated by Diego Yapur and they’re worth it on their own, but you also get the present day material beautifully rendered by CAFU.

| Published by Valiant

Outer Darkness #7 begins the second arc from John Layman, Afu Chan, and Pat Brosseau. We get a little bit of Rigg’s past, more of the crew’s aggressive behaviour towards one another, and a rescue mission as an 18th century mansion tries to swallow another ship. This is the good, weird stuff.

| Published by Image / Skybound

The Punisher #12 begins Frank’s trek back to New York in the first part of “War on the Streets” from Matthew Rosenberg, Szymon Kudranski, Antonio Fabela, and Cory Petit. Great art from Kudranski and Fabela as Frank fights off a squad of Hydra goons on a remote island.

| Published by Marvel

The Ride: Burning Desire #1 returns for The Ride’s 15th anniversary, with a lead story from Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard, Laura Martin, and Ed Dukeshire, and a back-up illustrated by Adam Hughes. Nice set-up picking up on where Vega is now fifteen years later. And more depraved cops.

| Published by Image

Silver Surfer: Black #1 is another leg in Donny Cates’ redefinition of the Marvel Cosmic, joined here by Tradd Moore, Dave Stewart, and Clayton Cowles. This reminds me a bit of the George Perez/Tom Grindberg run from ages ago, with some incredible artwork from Moore and Stewart.

| Published by Marvel

Sonata #1 is a fairly imaginative sci-fi/fantasy debut from David Hine, Brian Haberlin, Geirrod van Dyke, and Francis Takenaga. It introduces us to to races of colonizers in the Ran and the Tayans, bringing conflict with them as they try to carve out new lives on Perdita. Beautiful artwork from Haberlin and van Dyke.

| Published by Image / Shadowline

Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions #5 closes out this series of takes on different perspectives on Darth Vader with a barkeep suffering hallucinations as he tries to flee from Vader’s wrath, from Dennis Hallum, Geraldo Borges, Marcio Menyz, and Joe Caramagna.

| Published by Marvel

Supergirl #31 is pretty much concurrent with Superman #12, though you should probably read Superman first if you’re reading both of them. There’s no need to read both, though, as it stands well enough on its own. This one presents the reunion of the House of El from Kara’s perspective and then continues on the battle against Gandelo.

| Published by DC Comics

Superman #12 reunites the entire House of El amidst the battle with Rogol Zaar and the fleets trying to kill Jor-El. There’s foreshadowing of more “everything you know is wrong!” about Krypton’s destruction and Superman’s origin, which may or may not rub you the wrong way, but I find it entertaining. Especially with the beautiful artwork from Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, and Alex Sinclair.

| Published by DC Comics

Transformers #7 is part one of “The Cracks Beneath Your Feet”, with Brian Ruckley, Angel Hernandez, Andrew Griffith, Anna Malkova, Joana Lafuente, Josh Burcham, and Tom B. Long picking up again in the present, following up on the second recent murder on Cybertron. It’s fairly morose, as you’d expect, as Bumblebee laments the loss of the new spark, Rubble.

| Published by IDW

Trust Fall #1 is a great debut from the Dead Letters team of Christopher Sebela and Chris Visions, with Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou providing his usual outstanding lettering to round out the team. It’s another crime drama, with the interesting twist of a family member with teleportation powers. Visions’ art is amazing and the hook of the family being set-up to fall right as they’re ready to move on to bigger and better waters is enticing.

| Published by AfterShock

V-Wars: God of Death feels more like a tease than a discrete story. The good news is that you don’t need to have read any of the previous V-Wars stories, as this fills you in on what you need to know, the bad news is that there’s no indication as to anything else coming next. Still, great art from Alex Milne and Brittany Peer.

| Published by IDW

Other Highlights: Accell #21, Age of X-Man: Apocalypse & The X-Tracts #4, Amazing Spider-Man #23, Asgardians of the Galaxy #10, Catwoman #12, Champions #6, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark #6, Event Leviathan #1, Five Years #2, GI Joe: A Real American Hero #263, GLOW #2, The Grave, Grumble #7, Gunning for Hits #6, House of Whispers #10, Invaders #6, Ironheart #7, James Bond: Origin #10, Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Sirens #3, Jughead’s Time Police #1, Major X #5, Marvel Action: Spider-Man #5, Morning in America #4, Oblivion Song #16, Orphan Age #3, Penny Nichols, Princeless - Book 8: Princesses #4, Prodigy #6, Red Sonja: Birth of the She-Devil #1, Rick & Morty Presents Mr. Meeseeks #1, She Could Fly: The Lost Pilot #3, Spider-Man: Life Story #4, Star Trek: The Q Conflict #5, Superior Spider-Man #7, Symbiote Spider-Man #3, The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #7, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #45, Unnatural #10, Venom #15, War of the Realms: Giant-Man #3, Wonder Twins #5, Wonder Woman #72, Xena: Warrior Princess #3, X-Force #9

Recommended Collections: Avengers: No Road Home, Dark Souls: Age of Fire, Hawkman - Volume 1: Awakening, Hulkverines, Ice Cream Man - Volume 3: Hopscotch Melange, Lollipop Kids - Volume 1, Road of the Dead: Highway to Hell, Moonshadow, Star Trek vs. Transformers, Swamp Monsters, United States vs. Murder Inc. - Volume 1

d. emerson eddy likes pie.

#This Week in Comics

[daddyslittlejuliet]

The Best Dog Food for Itchy Skin

The post The Best Dog Food for Itchy Skin by Elizabeth Anderson Lopez appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

You’re watching TV and hear it again — scratch, scratch, chew, chew. Yes, that sound can be annoying, but that’s nothing compared to how your dog feels trying to get relief from itchy skin or related ailments. So, how do you relieve itchy skin on dogs? One of the best ways to do it is through diet. Let’s look at the best dog food for itchy skin.

First, why do dogs get itchy skin?

Why do dogs get itchy skin in the first place? Photography ©Christian Buch | Getty Images.

Before we break down the best dog food for itchy skin, let’s look at why dogs get itchy. Just like when people get an itch, there are multiple possible reasons for dogs — a major one being allergies. But how to tell? Signs of allergies include itching, rash and hair loss, according to Doug Knueven, DVM, a holistic vet with Beaver Animal Clinic in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Jean Dodds, DVM, founder of Hemopet, based in Garden Grove, California, says crusty sores with intermittent healing and acute breakouts can be signs of chronic skin infections.

“The most common cause of itchiness and skin self-trauma are allergic reactions to flea bites, environmental allergens and food allergy,” adds Sean J. Delaney, DVM, MS, DACVN (board certified Veterinary Nutritionist of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition), who operates Davis Veterinary Medical Consulting in Davis, California. “Collectively, these allergens work together to cause pruritus, the fancy word used for itchiness, in allergic dogs. Often eliminating or controlling even one of these allergens can lead to a reduction or elimination of signs.”

Dr. Dodds also cites Malassezia yeast infections, dry flaky skin and dandruff as causes of chronic itching, as well as chewing and licking feet.

Whether your dog has all-over itching or hot spots, which Dr. Knueven defines as “just an area of intensely itchy skin,” not treating the cause of your dog’s itching can make things worse, including pyoderma — another fancy word, this time for skin infections.

“Ignoring frequent or aggressive scratching can lead to inflammation and self-trauma and subsequent infection with bacteria and yeast present on the body or in the environment that normally is kept at bay by intact and healthy skin,” Dr. Delaney says.

And those problems can go beyond the physical: “Painful sores can lead to serious stress and behavioral issues with the constant skin irritation and itching,” Dr. Dodds says.

The best dog food for itchy skin

What is the best dog food for itchy skin? Photography ©ra3rn | Getty Images

While topical treatments may provide relief (or even a toy to get your dog’s mind temporarily focused elsewhere), don’t overlook the benefits that come from the inside-out approach. Namely, using food and supplements to help heal the skin while nourishing the body.

“Typically once flea bite preventive strategies are used (e.g., topical flea adulticide), one will try and see if addressing any underlying food allergies will help reduce scratching,” Dr. Delaney says. “This is done — as environmental allergens often cannot be completely avoided — and treatment is more challenging.”

But where to begin when it comes to the best dog food for itchy skin? Veterinarians describe multiple approaches. “Grain- and gluten- free foods are wise to start with, plus limiting meats and fowl to grass-fed rather than grain-fed,” according to Dr. Dodds.

“If skin issues are just a poor-quality coat or skin flakiness, a change to another commercial food slightly richer in essential nutrients that support skin health may be indicated,” Dr. Delaney says. “Key essential nutrients supporting skin health include protein, amino acids (especially an often limiting one, methionine), linoleic acid (the essential fatty acid), vitamin A, some B vitamins and trace minerals like zinc.”

When it comes to foods used to heal that itch, a discussion with your vet about your dog is likely in order because there is clearly no one answer — or cause. “It is important to realize that the protein from animal meats, poultry and fish, as well as from plants such as legumes, tubers and grains can all cause an allergic reaction,” Dr. Delaney says.

And finding what works may not be a case of one and done. “Rotate food sources every four to six weeks but not more often than every two weeks to help induce immune tolerance,” recommends Dr. Dodds.

How to switch your dog to find the best dog food for itchy skin

What is the best way to switch your dog’s diet? Photography ©mediaphotos | Getty Images.

When you change your dog’s diet in order to find the best dog food for itchy skin, avoid going cold turkey. “A switch to a raw diet, or any food change, should be done gradually,” Dr. Knueven says. “Start by adding ¼ the amount of the recommended daily amount of the new food and ¾ of the current diet. After a week, increase it to 50/50. After another week, go to ¾ new food and ¼ previous food. After a week, give just the new food.”

Dr. Delaney has another tip for transitioning to the best dog food for itchy skin. “The effects on the GI tract of a sudden diet change can be minimized by ensuring the new food truly is novel for the pet, and the fat, fiber and moisture levels are kept somewhat similar to the previous diet.”

What not to feed a dog with itchy skin

What should you avoid feeding a dog with itchy skin? Photography © GlobalP | iStock / Getty Images Plus.

Then there’s the flip side of determining what to feed a dog plagued by dermatological issues — what not to feed. Again, this can vary. Dr. Dodds recommends an Eastern medicine approach. “Avoid pro-inflammatory ‘hot’ foods in Chinese medicine like chicken and venison, plus related fats, oils and flavorings. Calming foods are turkey and white-colored fish. Avoid shellfish generally.”

Dr. Delaney recommends the above-mentioned novel approach when it comes to determining what food types to avoid. “Even if feeding an uncommonly fed allergen like venison works in many dogs, if a specific allergic dog has always been fed venison, a diet that uses a common food like chicken may be a better choice if the chicken is ‘novel’ or new to them.

“A food that has never been fed to a dog or that is novel to them is often fed in a limited-ingredient diet when food allergy is suspected or needs to be treated,” Dr. Delaney adds. “The ingredients are limited to reduce the potential number of allergens the dog is exposed to.

Finally, Dr. Knueven likes the DIY approach, preferring a balanced raw diet. “I think the benefit is especially apparent for dogs with allergies,” he says.

Should you supplement?

Will supplements help your dog’s itchy skin? Photography ©alphaspirit | Getty Images.

Along with changing the diet, you can also look into supplements that may help. “Fish oil supplementation can help decrease the inflammation of allergies, and probiotics can help rebalance the immune system,” Dr. Knueven says.

However, Dr. Delaney says, “At times, fatty acid supplements may be suggested, but it is best to select a food that already has an appropriate fatty acid profile than try to supplement a food that doesn’t.”

Dr. Dodds suggests oral supplements, as well as a topical one to help Scooby stop scratching. “Dogs must have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids plus some omega-6 fatty acids; coconut oil in moderation (as it’s high in fat) and apple cider vinegar in the food.” Topically, Dr. Dodds recommends green tea on sores and for foot soaks.

Dr. Delaney cautions that some human foods intended to help might actually hurt. “It is important to remember that any enjoyed treats should be cautiously used in case they introduce food allergens that are not novel or tolerated in a food-allergic dog.”

When to expect results

How soon after switching to a diet to combat itchy skin should you expect to see results? Photography ©ThamKC | Getty Images

Just as people want to see pounds lost on the scale the second day of a diet, when it comes to the best dog food for itchy skin, we often want immediate results after making a change in diet or adding a supplement. Veterinarians cited as little as a few days up to several months, depending on your dog’s condition.

“If there is an underlying food allergy, then response can take up to 12 weeks in some cases, with 8 weeks being more common,” Dr. Delaney says. “If the skin issue is solely related to poor skin or coat quality due to a diet that isn’t meeting a pet’s specific needs for an essential nutrient like a fatty acid, improvement may be noticed in as early as several weeks.”

Hopefully, this information serves as food for thought when it comes to giving your furry friend some relief. It might just result in the only scratching is you scratching his belly or behind his ears.

Is your dog susceptible to itchy skin?

Dogs with white or lighter coats are more susceptible to skin issues. Photography ©GlobalP | Getty Images

Veterinarians point out that any breed or dog can have allergies, but some may be more prone to skin issues. There are a couple different forms of “skin deep” traits that may boost allergy propensity.

“Dogs with white or lighter coat colors can be more susceptible because of the effects of sunlight exposure,” says W. Jean Dodds, DVM.

Sean J. Delaney, DVM, MS, DACVN, Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, cited breeds with extra skin folds as more likely to have skin diseases or issues. “If a pet lover is considering a specific pure breed as a new family member, it is best to discuss this concern, as well as any others that may be more prevalent, with their veterinarian.”

Dr. Dodds adds that some underlying diseases can make some dogs more prone to skin issues, with the following as just some examples:

Endocrinological — Hypothyroidism and thyroiditis

Hyperactive adrenal function — Cushing’s disease

Systemic autoimmune diseases — Discoid lupus, systemic lupus, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Sjögren (or Sjögren’s) syndrome

Fleas or food — which is the foe?

While either cause is painful, a trip to the vet is the first step in determining whether your dog’s itching and scratching is caused by fleas or food.

“Both can lead to self-trauma and infection,” says Sean J. Delaney, DVM, MS, DACVN, Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist from the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. “The veterinarian will then treat any infection as well as address the root cause that led to the infection.”

Doug Knueven, DVM, a holistic veterinarian, starts with the “what’s most likely” approach.

“Flea allergy is the most common skin allergy,” Dr. Knueven says. “If an animal has fleas and is itching, I consider it a flea allergy until proven otherwise. The best way to rule out a food allergy is to switch the dog to a novel diet for eight weeks. If the skin clears, then he was allergic to something in the previous diet.”

Your dog can also be tested to pinpoint any allergens. W. Jean Dodds, DVM, describes the two types: “Serum-based environmental allergy screening (trees, weeds, grasses, pollens, fungi, molds, dust, fleas, etc.) and saliva-based (not serum-based) food-sensitivity testing.”

Tell us: What is the best dog food for itchy skin? What helped your dog stop itching?

Thumbnail: Photography by cmannphoto/istock.

About the author

Elizabeth Anderson Lopez is an award-winning writer based in Lake Forest, California. She and her husband have many pets, including two English Bull Terrier rescues named Dexter and Maybelene. You can contact her at fromconcepttocontent.com.

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

Read more about dog food on Dogster.com:

Using Coconut Oil for a Dog’s Itchy Skin

Can Dogs Eat Carrots? If So, Are Carrots Good for Dogs?

Dog Digestive System Basics — How Long Does it Take for a Dog to Digest Food?

The post The Best Dog Food for Itchy Skin by Elizabeth Anderson Lopez appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[raynor79oakley-blog]

Peak Fitness Exercise Conveniences

Basic to utilize and also very easy to store, a medicine ball is an essential part of your day-to-day exercise routine. This is why groups don't want electronic camera teams like hard knocks as well as nfl network shooting them all day because little points such as this takes place frequently and also it's no big deal to the group ... however after that you have analyst like Terrell Davis as well as everybody tweeting and responding like Dez started started a trouble and it makes ticks me off as a fan. John, who is the head trainer of Straight Blast Fitness center Ireland, additionally confessed that he would enjoy to trainer Conor for a feasible Floyd Mayweather bout. I believe we would agree, a Complete Football approach need to be underpinned by optimum health and fitness degrees, however just as, by sufficient training sessions to comprehend the many possible patterns of motion that such a playing philosphy demands. Hi Scootermitch, The Complete Fitness center ® 1400 Residence Fitness center System provides to 60 exercises, consisting of cardio, toughness training as well as extending, to assist strengthen as well as tone several muscle mass groups concurrently. To maintain things fascinating, you can switch up the series, swap out different terminals, as well as do it at the gym with equipment, at house with dumbbells and also resistance bands, or on a physical fitness path by rotating push-ups as well as crouches with quick walking or cycling. A lot of home fitness center systems are designed to provide a wide range of toughness training chances from visit toe. You desire your training to supply optimal advantage as well as you wish to accomplish peak efficiency when you contend, whether your objective is a Gold Medal or simply individual Full overview offers nourishment as an integrated part of a professional athlete's overall performance-enhancing bundle. Superior physical fitness training (implies not simply harder, however smarter) might give Australia the side in the following WC war the greater degree teams. Options - $50 a hr as well as under: Many fitness instructors run their own, fully geared up health and fitness studios, and charge less if you go to them. Altering your routine doesn't imply you need brand-new devices, a brand-new sport and even a brand-new gym though. Then I would progressively increase along with strength training until you observe an enhancement. July 25th is the day Andre Johnson begins paying the 30k a day ... my digestive tracts says if the texans are foolish sufficient not to trade him, he appears by week 4 of the period, and pays the $650k in fines. The FA regulation is that 8-11s have to live within 60 minutes' taking a trip time of the training school; 12-16-year- olds within 90 mins. Beginners and also skilled power-lifters alike could pick up gear syntheticed for their conditioning-- shop preferred brand names like Body-Solid ®, Health and fitness Equipment ®, Rage ® and much more. Absolutely nothing inspires you far better than seeing your physical fitness goals published out on paper! more. Expect a light-weight, inconspicuous style that is both waterproof as well as shock-proof for training in varying climate condition. So, to obtain you started, right here are the three basic health and fitness examinations that will certainly assist you identify your present level of fitness, and analyze exactly how aggressive you could need to remain in order to minimize your health and wellness threats. The lengthy kilometres and also hours of training embarked on by elite cyclists requires a high-energy diet - high in healthy protein, nutrients, as well as high in carbohydrate for muscle mass fuel shops. In longer aerobic training sets with marginal or no breaks in training, camel hydration packs may provide an useful solution in aiding athletes to meet their per hour sweat losses during training. Throughout the competitive season, elite teams will usually have 1-3 training sessions each day. Therein exists http://invaloaredecumparare.com/powerup-premium-pret-marturii-efecte-cum-functioneaza-un-supliment/ of training school away from home; the staff has 24/7 accessibility to gamers, damaging negative routines whenever possible. So standing up a lot more as well as participating in non-exercise movement as much as feasible is equally as important for optimal health as having a normal physical fitness routine. Discover young people soccer training devices that is created show young players the fundamentals and appropriate strategy. Specifically if you don't have a high degree of fitness currently, working against gravity makes the program more difficult. Sporting activity: No. Madness isn't a sport, although it does borrow techniques from sporting activities training programs. With the enhancement of adjustable dumbbells, this offers the total house fitness center experience. Love all the Only the Browns would certainly be foolish adequate to authorize this guy" type remarks, when every, last one of these people leaving these foolish comments understands that VY would certainly disappear than training school straw or 3rd/2nd string at finest. I just recently published an outstanding interview with Dr. Doug McGuff, M.D, an emergency clinic physician and an expert in high-intensity period training. Sport-specific footwears are specifically developed for the rigors of your video game, and they're a great way to get the support and also stability you need for training. Westcott suggests setting up a customized circuit at house if owning to the gym (a lot less working out in front of God and also everyone) is a deterrent.

I was an avid customer with a laser focus on healthy and balanced living far prior to it ended up being as mainstream as it is today - drinking eco-friendly juice before it became amazing, as well as going to rotate classes when waitlists weren't also component of the store health and fitness vernacular. Cech experienced the injury to his face when team-mate Tal Ben Haim struck the Czech with the studs of his boot during a training session and also he was taken to hospital for immediately for treatment. One more option: Ask a number of pals to contribute and also use to hold the session at your home fitness center. She is so ecstatic since, like Ailsa and myself (sorry, Sophie!), she has tickets for the gymnastics at the Hydro. Increase your training with the entire collection of Reebok ® CrossFit ® garments or more Reebok ® footwears. When you break your workout session into intervals similar to this - brief segments that alternating high strength with a pause between - you could significantly enhance your cardio fitness and fat-burning capabilities in a fraction of the time. Tournaments test players for steroids and also other outlawed materials, yet within the policies, they remain to go after a physical edge by experimenting with all else conceivable. Below are 5 treadmill exercises developed by Cindy Wasilewski, fitness manager at The Lodge at Woodloch, a Pennsylvania health club, and also Jeff Baird, proprietor of Chaos Conditioning in Atlanta.

[kiss-my-freckle]

People can list whoever they want as the next big bad, they’re still not gonna be able to pull all storylines together the way Scottie and Solomon can and do. 

This person killed two people in cold blood and framed Cooper for it. They had to know about Doug’s affair with Charlene to sell it, and his killer was someone he knew... as the officer stated. “Mr. Koster's body was found in the doorway. No sign of forced entry. Seemed like he knew the person that shot him." This was a storyline they dropped in S3. Literally. It was brought up while they were taking Karakurt to Doug’s cabin, then dropped when they buried Liz. We’re reminded of Doug’s cabin with a flashback. “What are you doing with a key to our neighbor's cabin?” Not even Marvin would know about Charlene’s affair with Doug. 

This person has been blackmailing Cooper via voice altered phone calls. The fact they altered their voice tells me Cooper knows his blackmailer. Their choice not to make themselves known tells me the audience knows just as much who his blackmailer is. They have Cooper framed for two murders, yet continue to alter their voice on the phone. With actual evidence, there’s no reason to hide. Unless, of course, they have to be hidden from the audience. 

That’s Cooper’s storyline, which will be connected to Red’s. You’re not gonna tell me that a congressman is trying to take over Red’s company. You’re not gonna tell me they killed Liz for the sake of fulfiilling her burn notice, then decided to take over Red’s company. On top of, Diaz’s arc didn’t sell, and for good reason. It had no emotional impact. We had absolutely no reason to care about him or his wife, and they oversold their conspiracy. The next big bad will be connected, proven in the fact they have yet to identify Cooper’s blackmailer or the person trying to take over Red’s company. Who, by the way, has a shitload of money to buy in.  

Capable of murder, capable of framing and blackmailing a government official, capable of buying into Red’s company, capable of getting a tracker into Liz’s digestive tract, and capable of hiding that fact for two years. They hid their involvement behind Vandyke. They don’t disappear this MIT grad student after Liz’s death. They don’t even disappear him after they exhume Liz’s body. They disappear him after Aram researches it on his computer. This tells me they put a flag on the tracker so their own system would get a hit when someone looked into it. You can add tech skills to this person’s resume. I’m telling you... an entire team is working against Red and the task force. Why didn’t they disappear this grad student themselves? Perhaps to avoid risking exposure. They wish to remain hidden - for now. Feels a lot like Berlin, really. 

Then you’ve got little things. So much tying to Karakurt alone. The bunny and the Fulcrum. Tied to the Cabal, as Karakurt was. Liz having colic like the woman in Karakurt’s episode. Doug’s cabin, again, where they took Karakurt. See what I mean? Red’s deal with Panabaker and her ties to Scottie. The unicorn stamped on their paperwork.  First introduced with the unicorn carousel in 6x20, which came in while Agnes was still with Scottie. They even discussed Scottie while watching over Agnes. Big things and little things, all tying to Scottie and Solomon. They’re covering a lot of ground. 

#Anti-Tom Keen #Anti-Keen2