#but that’s a gradual development that was made possible by the structure of the team allowing the Hulk to leave whenever he’s overwhelmed

[daydreamerdrew]

The Incredible Hulk (1968) #253

#please I would love to see Samson trying to test the Hulk’s analytical thinking capabilities #one therapy issues wasn’t enough for me I need to see the Hulk’s mind explored more #one bummer about the rehabilitation storyline inevitably ending quickly and in tragedy #was that I didn’t get to see Samson attempt to actually teach the Hulk #and so have to figure out how he learns best #I think the Hulk’s done his best learning with the Defenders #but that’s a gradual development that was made possible by the structure of the team allowing the Hulk to leave whenever he’s overwhelmed #and that was specific about how to navigate relationships #and deal with upset feelings with people you don’t want to physically lash out at because they’re your friends #I want to see more of someone trying to teach the Hulk something specific during a set period of time #there was the issue where the Hulk learned the alphabet and from that how to write his own name #but he still can’t read #let’s see someone try to teach him how to read #and let’s get this guy in a proper diagnostic analysis session for his intellectual disability #marvel #bruce banner #leonard samson #my posts #comic panels

[fragile-gods]

[ID: my discord status, reading "whoops i accidentally made iterator puppets in my headcanon into the perfect organism". end ID]

-

i'm going to post my extremely baseless headcanons/rambles/whatever about iterator puppets from yesterday. right here. right now. peep below the cut.

sidenote: ancients are referred to as creators here. and cw for body horror & gross biomechanical stuff i guess

First-generation Iterators typically have heads consisting of a biometal-cast skull (of a Creator or slugcat, depending on the company’s design choices), an artificially grown muscular structure, and a layer of bioplastic skin typically visibly divided into sections. The skin covers any possible mouth opening, giving the strange look of something wriggling through the iterator’s flesh whenever they speak. First-gens also have a fully formed throat and vocal chords cloned from that of one of their architects or someone (often ascended) that the project’s leader holds dear.

Second and third generation Iterators most often completely lack a lower jawbone and instead have a thick, firm, but somewhat squishy part that gives their heads their signature spherical shape. Some companies might still use the same methods that were used in the first generation due to personal preference, as the puppet’s design is meant to appeal to those living atop the iterator and the iterator’s designers, but the practice of casting skulls gradually dies out.

Earlier units have a portion of their processing strata contained in their puppet’s head and lining the outer walls of the general systems bus, in place of the barely-developed brain completely lacking the ability to form memories contained in the skulls of second- and third-generation Iterators’ puppets. If a first-gen puppet’s umbilicals are severed, one can see byproducts of the processing strata be visibly excreted from pores in the skin or the frayed ends of the umbilical cables. A puppet is generally capable of surviving an extremely long time without a supply of nutrients, even if in an essentially lobotomized state.

Puppets are, however, weirdly capable of undergoing rapid and extreme changes in stressful scenarios. One such case saw a third-generation Iterator’s puppet developing a jawbone over the course of 27 cycles, ripping open the skin covering its mouth with its bare hands, and attempting to kill and eat the inspectors entering its chamber after repeated cases of abuse from the team of administrators watching over it.

Some companies attempted to discard the need for a puppet in a hypothetical fourth generation, but this caused the projects in question to immediately fail, and all companies reverted back to the mass-produced third generation.

The sudden changes may be a result of the puppet organism being intentionally underdeveloped and then being put into growth stasis so that the creators can have it serve exactly the purpose it needs to. Intense adrenaline rushes are capable of disregarding this growth stasis and jumpstarting a puppet organism to continue developing.

#rain world #rain world downpour #rw #rw downpour #iterator #rw iterator #rain world iterator #rainworld #iterators #rw fanfic #rain world fanfic #(technically) #rw headcanons #headcanon

[sonic-wildfire]

Sonic Icebound: a mock write-up for a psychological survival horror game.

Developer: Sonic Team

Publisher: SEGA

Genre(s): Survival horror, psychological horror

Platforms: Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Mode(s): Single-player

ESRB Rating: T

Release Date: TBD

Synopsis: A secret expedition to Antarctica goes catastrophic after the Tornado 1 wrecks near the South Pole during polar winter with Sonic aboard. Woefully unprepared and equipped with little more than a flashlight, a map and a radio transceiver (where Tails is the only one on the other end back home — and the only one aware of Sonic’s whereabouts), poor visibility and unpredictable terrain stifles Sonic’s running ability. With rescue unavailable for 72 hours and the evacuation site over 2,000 kilometers away, Sonic must arrive in time for the Tornado 2 to retrieve him. En route, Sonic must combat his own fears of isolation and paranoia of being trapped in such a remote place while keeping his mind sound in order to survive.

(Full information can be seen within this document or below the cut in plaintext. The document and this post may be updated at any time.)

Gameplay: Sonic Icebound is a psychological survival horror game with action and platforming elements. It is played from the first-person perspective. At the beginning of the game, Sonic’s map is only marked with his location at the South Pole and the location of the evacuation site. He has 72 in-game hours (roughly four hours in real time) to reach the site before Tails arrives there. A small circular zone surrounding Sonic’s initial spawn point serves as a tutorial for the player to get used to the controls and mechanics.

Unlike other Sonic games, rings are not used as health or energy. Instead, Sonic has a fixed health meter; he can heal himself passively over time but the rate of replenishing is slow. Alternatively, first-aid kits can be found in some man-made structural remains and heal Sonic faster. There is an increased chance of injury when some actions (e.g. sprinting) are performed. Sonic dies if the health meter reaches zero, resulting in a game over; the player is sent back to their most recent save point (or to the start of the game if no save point had been reached prior to death).

Throughout the game, Sonic’s intense survival mentality makes him an unreliable narrator; among other things, he often hears sounds which have no traceable source and are of an indiscernible nature, and the pitch-black night gradually increases his anxiety, thinking he sees hostile entities in his peripheral vision. No such entities truly exist, but there are other dangers that threaten Sonic. They are mainly geological hazards, such as deep sub-glacial lakes covered with snow and/or thin sheets of ice or tall mountains with unforgiving terrain. Some hazards are meteorological or biological.

Basic Controls: (PC controls shown only)

WASD = movement

Move Mouse = look around

Left Click = interact

Right Click = zoom vision

F = toggle flashlight

Space = jump

Space (while jumping) = homing attack

Q = toggle sprint

Left Shift = crouch

C = go prone

M = view map

R = use radio transceiver (if possible)

Enter = pause game

ESC = close prompt

Items & Mechanics:

Flashlight: Sonic will use this almost constantly as the sun does not rise. Best used for finding paths, major landmarks, and remains of manmade structures.

Radio transceiver: Sonic’s only lifeline; Tails can give Sonic concise directions to the evacuation site, but time constraints force Sonic to ration his own use of the device.

Map: Empty at the start of the game, Sonic will gradually begin marking major geographical features on it as he encounters them; these features also serve as save points for the player.

Homing attack: Sonic can attack in rapid succession to climb obstacles, reach hidden paths, or break through thin ice and snow.

Sprinting: Can be useful for getting Sonic across large chunks of relatively flat terrain. Sprinting increases the probability of getting injured.

Crouching: Sonic can crouch and then walk to move through spaces he wouldn’t be able to pass while standing up. This is occasionally required at certain points in order to keep Sonic warm.

Going prone: In some places, Sonic must go prone to crawl through extremely tight, narrow spaces. No tools can be used while Sonic is prone, including his flashlight.

Map: (Sonic’s path marked)

Legend:

O = starting point

X = evacuation site

#sth #sonic the hedgehog #sonic icebound #edits #my edits

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

The moon is shrinking, causing landslides and instability in lunar south pole

Earth’s moon shrank more than 150 feet in circumference as its core gradually cooled over the last few hundred million years. In much the same way a grape wrinkles when it shrinks down to a raisin, the moon also develops creases as it shrinks. But unlike the flexible skin on a grape, the moon’s surface is brittle, causing faults to form where sections of crust push against one another.

A team of scientists discovered evidence that this continuing shrinkage of the moon led to notable surface warping in its south polar region—including areas that NASA proposed for crewed Artemis III landings. Because fault formation caused by the moon’s shrinking is often accompanied by seismic activity like moonquakes, locations near or within such fault zones could pose dangers to future human exploration efforts.

In a new paper published in The Planetary Science Journal, the team linked a group of faults located in the moon’s south polar region to one of the most powerful moonquakes recorded by Apollo seismometers over 50 years ago. Using models to simulate the stability of surface slopes in the region, the team found that some areas were particularly vulnerable to landslides from seismic shaking.

“Our modeling suggests that shallow moonquakes capable of producing strong ground shaking in the south polar region are possible from slip events on existing faults or the formation of new thrust faults,” said the study’s lead author Thomas R. Watters, a senior scientist emeritus in the National Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. “The global distribution of young thrust faults, their potential to be active and the potential to form new thrust faults from ongoing global contraction should be considered when planning the location and stability of permanent outposts on the moon.”

Shallow moonquakes occur near the surface of the moon, just a hundred or so miles deep into the crust. Similar to earthquakes, shallow moonquakes are caused by faults in the moon’s interior and can be strong enough to damage buildings, equipment and other human-made structures. But unlike earthquakes, which tend to last only a few seconds or minutes, shallow moonquakes can last for hours and even a whole afternoon—like the magnitude 5 moonquake recorded by the Apollo Passive Seismic Network in the 1970s, which the research team connected to a group of faults detected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter more recently.  

According to Nicholas Schmerr, a co-author of the paper and an associate professor of geology at the University of Maryland, this means that shallow moonquakes can devastate hypothetical human settlements on the moon.

“You can think of the moon’s surface as being dry, grounded gravel and dust. Over billions of years, the surface has been hit by asteroids and comets, with the resulting angular fragments constantly getting ejected from the impacts,” Schmerr explained. “As a result, the reworked surface material can be micron-sized to boulder-sized, but all very loosely consolidated. Loose sediments make it very possible for shaking and landslides to occur.”

The researchers continue to map out the moon and its seismic activity, hoping to identify more locations that may be dangerous for human exploration. NASA’s Artemis missions, which are set to launch their first crewed flight in late 2024, ultimately hope to establish a long-term presence on the moon and eventually learn to live and work on another world through moon-based observatories, outposts and settlements.

“As we get closer to the crewed Artemis mission’s launch date, it’s important to keep our astronauts, our equipment and infrastructure as safe as possible,” Schmerr said. “This work is helping us prepare for what awaits us on the moon—whether that’s engineering structures that can better withstand lunar seismic activity or protecting people from really dangerous zones.”

TOP IMAGE....Simulated ground motion generated by a shallow moonquake located by the lunar South Pole. Strong to moderate ground shaking is predicted at a distance of at least ~40km from the source. Credit Nicholas Schmerr, University of Maryland

LOWER IMAGE....The epicenter of one of the strongest moonquakes recorded by the Apollo Passive Seismic Experiment was located in the lunar south polar region. However, the exact location of the epicenter could not be accurately determined. A cloud of possible locations (magenta dots and light blue polygon) of the strong shallow moonquake using a relocation algorithm specifically adapted for very sparse seismic networks are distributed near the pole. Blue boxes show the locations of proposed Artemis III landing regions. Lobate thrust fault scarps are shown by small red lines. The cloud of epicenter locations encompasses a number of lobate scarps and many of the Artemis III landing regions. Credit: NASA/LRO/LROC/ASU/Smithsonian Institution

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics

[sultanaislammow]

Some preface (say a few more words)

We must learn to consciously HE Tuber systematize our cognition

Note: If you can consciously, proactively and rationally systematize all knowledge and experience in your daily work, I believe this is the best training method for product thinking. I hope everyone can have this awareness and review it regularly. The habit of summarizing.

I remember that when I first entered the industry, product design was confusing. How to place buttons, which pages are related to which pages,...

I don't understand this at all...

The behavioral result of this disordered way of thinking is that the products produced will be substandard after just a few clicks.

Back to the key point of this article: In terms of product design, product managers must first have a consensus:

When a user sees a product, no element is redundant; these elements may include colors, text, numbers, controls (such as buttons, pop-up windows), pages, function points, and even an icon. They can never be piled up randomly. and placed.

These elements are not only related and carry information, but also carry a certain business orientation in the details, which can directly or indirectly affect the customer group retention, conversion and commercial value of the product; for example, if station B has one click and three links, the button should be placed on the left or Whether the right side is still hidden, whether to like with a heart or with a thumb, many product designs are different... Have you ever thought about why?

As a product manager, you must reasonably consider the relationship between these elements from the beginning of design; it is not only necessary to make TOC products, but also TOB products.

Next, let’s take a closer look at these general principles for improving UX design details:

2. General principles of UX

Follow the method from outside to inside, from the whole to the part:

1. Surface layer

To understand a product, first look at the surface (equivalent to a person’s appearance)

In the product, we call it the UI interface layer.

Design principles: consistent with user groups and product positioning style; clear and concise structure.

The main requirements will be divided into:

A. Aesthetic unity:

1. A color scheme that is in line with product positioning, such as unification of fonts and icon design styles; technology (blue), medical (green)...

2. Different terminals must also meet responsive design (adapting to different resolutions and screen sizes)

B. Unification of controls: Use standard control sets as much as possible; it can form stable cognition for users and improve operating efficiency.

Note: Regarding the standard control set, there are many ready-made and mature UI frameworks that can be used directly:

For example, Alibaba's enterprise-level Ant Design is suitable for mid- and back-end applications; open source front-end framework Bootstrap, Google's Material Design, Vue.js, etc. Product managers can refer to Duokan to cultivate their own sense of product structure and improve their aesthetic appreciation of UI design. and judgment, and applying it to development can also save a lot of team time and energy.

Specific unified requirements for controls include:

The alignment should be consistent, and the spacing between adjacent controls should be equal; the size, color, and style of pages of the same type should be consistent.

It should be easy to identify and understand, the location should be reasonable, and the information conveyed should match the functions carried; when necessary, there should be guiding prompts, and the interaction method should be as consistent as possible

For example, the tab filter control used in lists is very confusing. Control A pops up on the left, control B pops up on the right, and control C pops up.

The above is mostly done by the UI, and the product manager has to check it, and gradually form a mature and reusable set of standard controls in the team.

#HETuber #Music #Gaming #Entertainment #Science And Technology

[prismpages]

Stem Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Natural Approach to Healing Back Pain

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease, also known as DDD, refers to the gradual breakdown of the discs located between the vertebrae in the spine. The discs act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to flex and bend. Over time, daily wear and tear can cause the discs to break down and lose their cushioning effect. This leads to pain, stiffness, and a loss of mobility in the lower back area.

As someone with DDD myself, I know how debilitating chronic back pain can be. For years, I relied on pain medications just to function day-to-day. Simple movements like putting on socks or getting out of a chair caused intense flare-ups. The doctors I saw told me surgery was my best option, but I wanted to avoid going under the knife if possible. That's what led me to research alternative treatments like stem cell therapy.

How Can Stem Cell Therapy Help DDD?

Stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising new approach for treating degenerative disc disease in a natural, non-invasive way. Here's a brief overview of how it works:

Extracting Your Own Stem Cells: Stem cells are taken from the patient's own bone marrow or fat tissue through a minimally invasive procedure. These adult stem cells have the ability to develop into different types of cells.

Injecting Into the Problem Area: The harvested stem cells are purified and injected directly into the damaged discs through a small needle. Their natural anti-inflammatory and healing properties help resolve issues at the source of the pain.

Reducing Inflammation: Stem cells release growth factors and cytokines that reduce inflammation in the spine. This addresses the root cause of discomfort from DDD.

Promoting disc regeneration: The stem cells transform into new cartilage and fibrous tissues that help repair cracks and tears in the discs. Over time, the treated area regains normal structure and flexibility.

Improved mobility and quality of life: As the discs heal, patients often notice less back pain, increased range of motion, and an ability to participate in everyday activities without limitations.

When physical therapy and medicinal options provided little relief for my DDD, I decided to look into stem cell therapy clinics providing regenerative treatments. That's when I discovered stemcelltreatmentclinic, a website promoting a stem cell treatment clinic in Mexico that specializes in DDD and other spinal conditions.

Considering Stem Cell Therapy for DDD with Stem cell treatment clinic

Finding Affordable Treatment Options

A major draw for me was the clinic's competitive pricing - they offer stem cell therapy for DDD starting at just $3750. That's significantly less than what treatment would cost at facilities in the U.S. The all-inclusive package also takes care of transportation, accommodation, and follow-up consultations - making it affordable and convenient overall.

Experienced Team of Regenerative Doctors

Browsing the stemcell treatment clinic website, I learned the clinic has over 10 years of experience performing regenerative procedures. Their team of physicians is highly trained in stem cell therapy and oversees every step of the process. This gave me peace of mind that I'd be in good, knowledgeable hands.

Proven Record of Helping Patients

Reading real patient testimonials and success stories really sold me on giving their treatment a try. Many people just like me found relief from chronic back pain that had lasted years. Improvements included reduced inflammation, restored mobility, less need for painkillers, and getting their pre-injury activities back. This level of transformation is what I was hoping for.

Thorough Explanation of the Process

The website provides a clear rundown of what to expect before, during, and after stem cell therapy for DDD. It made the overall experience very transparent. I liked how they address common concerns through an extensive FAQ section too. This level of information helped me feel comfortable with their services and methods.

My Personal Experience with Stem Cell Therapy for DDD

After consulting with one of the clinic's physicians over the phone, I was cleared as a candidate for treatment. A month later I found myself traveling to their Mexico clinic, nervous but optimistic. The entire process went smoothly just as outlined on the stemcell treatment clinic website.

The minor extraction and injection procedures were quick and nearly painless. Within a few days, the inflammation had started to reduce noticeably. At my one-month follow-up visit, I was amazed by the dramatic improvement. Over 75% of my back pain was gone. Simple activities were no longer triggers for flare-ups. Encouraged by my early results, I'm continuing therapy and expect my symptoms to fully resolve over the next 3-6 months as my discs continue healing.

Overall, I'm so glad I took a chance on stem cell therapy for DDD rather than undergo surgery right away as recommended. My quality of life has greatly increased. I'd highly recommend stemcelltreatmentclinic to anyone else struggling with chronic back pain from damaged discs. The affordable cost and experienced staff make it well worth looking into as a natural alternative or supplement to traditional treatments. My life has been transformed for the better thanks to regenerative medicine.

Other Areas Stem Cell Therapy Can Help

While stem cell therapy shows promise for degenerative disc disease, its regenerative properties make it applicable to various other musculoskeletal conditions as well:

Tendonitis: Chronic inflammation and micro tears in tendons like the Achilles, shoulder, or elbow can be reduced.

Arthritis: The debilitating breakdown of joint cartilage from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may be slowed.

Fractures: Non-union bone fractures have been shown to heal more completely with stem cell injections.

Nerve injury: Damage to peripheral nerves from conditions like diabetes could recover faster.

Cosmetic uses: Wrinkles, scarring and hair loss are beginning to be treated with regenerative dermatology methods.

The list of applications for stem cell therapy continues expanding as more clinical research emerges. It's creating hope for patients coping with injuries or diseases once considered untreatable. I'm glad I learned about this option that has improved my own health so dramatically already.

#degenerative disc disease #stem cell therapy #regenerative medicine #stemcell treatment clinic #Chronic

[aarc2017]

About treibgut_20240111

treibgut 

Implementation of a material cycle: treibgut material initiative in Munich

treibgut organizes a material cycle in Munich for which the initiative collects used materials from cultural institutions (e.g. theaters, opera, exhibition and performance venues), processes them if necessary and makes them available to local cultural workers at low cost. After use, the materials are ideally returned and reused. The initiative is therefore a hub in Munich for consciously and responsible material handling.

Sustainable material offering 

treibgut has existed since 2015; Since the end of 2022, treibgut has been officially founded as treibgut Material Initiative gUG. From the individual contacts with Munich cultural institutions and the further distribution on a small scale, a broad network of cooperation partners and users has grown within eight years. This includes over 35 renowned institutions and well over 300 freelance cultural workers in Munich. In 2022, around 50 tons of materials, destined for waste, have been reused.

A sister organization has also emerged from the voluntary commitment: treibstoff - a costume fund for Munich's independent scene in the immediate vicinity. Both initiatives are closely linked in terms of personnel and ideals.

Currently, 250 square meters are being made available rent-free as storage and operating space by the Munich Cultural Department. However, the material cycle model developed by treibgut can be scaled up significantly. In the long term, the team assumes a business area of at least 1500 square meters. Permanent financial support from the Department for Climate and Environment (RKU) was approved by the Munich City Council in mid-2023 and will enable treibgut to set up its first employments. Further financing must be covered from own income and other funding sources. There are currently 14 people working constantly for treibgut, who will gradually be employed properly. As a Munich lighthouse project, treibgut is constantly testing and developing the embedding of a material cycle system in the form of a material initiative into the urban infrastructure.

Cultural promotion

In addition to organizing the sustainable material offering, treibgut explicitly but not exclusively supports artistic and cultural projects from the independent scene. treibgut counteracts the persistently precarious budget situation of independent artists and cultural workers with a socially variable pricing system and thus contributes to reduce the financial pressure on the cultural scene. A work made entirely from treibgut inventory can mean savings of up to 75% on conventional material costs.

Awareness raising

In addition to environmental protection and cultural promotion, another objective is further training in sustainable project planning and implementation. During ongoing operations, the team offers free advice and supports the users' choice of materials with a view to ensuring the greatest possible recyclability and sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. In contact with its institutional cooperation partners, treibgut works on new perspectives for production, use and disposal or further use processes. The focus here is on raising awareness through an exchange at eye level and a gradual structural change in the entire cultural sector. By participating in discussion and exhibition formats, treibgut draws attention to the urgency of material cycles and thus the sustainable use of resources and advises a wide range of actors on their implementation. Most recently, treibgut was a guest at documenta fifteen in 2022 with the initiatives for material cycles (IfM). treibgut has been a member of the nationwide IfM network since 2021 and is in contact with comparable initiatives nationally and internationally.

treibgut as a best practice example

At the local and international level, politicians have been formulating a variety of goals for years as to how sustainable business should be made possible in the future. For example, in the Zero Waste concept, with which the Munich city council commissioned its own waste management company (AWM) in 2020, there is explicit reference to the involvement of civil society actors. treibgut is an already established best practice example for this. As the only cultural initiative in Munich that exclusively focuses on the circular economy, treibgut is also an excellent example of best practice in the culture sector for the European Green City Accord4, for the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. In this way, treibgut also contributes to achieving the UN sustainability goals in a very concrete way.

[cardiffpainclinic]

Causes, Management and Treatment of Chronic Lower Back Pain, Pt 1

The Cardiff pain & performance clinic has put together all the information you need to know, to help you understand your chronic lower back pain better. Lower back pain is commonly experienced by every 8 out of 10 people around the globe. It's one of the most common reasons why people go to their doctors. There are people who have a higher likelihood of experiencing lower back pain than others. In most cases, it's not a major issue, and it could simply stem from a muscle or ligament strain. It's advisable to continue with your normal daily activities as soon as possible and to stay active after a short rest. Even if you experience some pain and discomfort at first, being active and exercising won't make your back pain worse. Staying active is a way to improve your well-being.

The spine clinic Cardiff South Wales team at the Cardiff Bay Hospital explains about the physiology of a human spine in our body. The spine, also known as the backbone or spinal column, is a strong and flexible part of the body that allows you to have flexibility and strength. One vertebra sits on top of another, and it's made of 24 bones known as vertebrae. The bones are supported by discs between them and a network of strong ligaments and muscles surrounding them. At the end there is a set of bones simply fused together known to all of us as the tailbone. Facet joints are small joints that run from top to bottom on either side of the spine. The vertebrae act as a shield for the spinal cord as it passes inside. Through the base of the skull, the spinal cord connects to the brain. The rest of the body is connected through the nerves also called nerve roots, which pass through the spaces between the bones of the spine. The joints, discs, and ligaments in your spine age as you grow older. Even though the outer structure remains strong, it's common for your back to stiffen with age. Thus age is one big factor, but not for all.

Back pain is often a result of multiple factors. The back pain causes include occupation, age, weight, lifestyle, mental stress, physical stress, illness history, body posture and structure and overall health of a person. Though severe pain is not always a sign of a serious problem, it's important to remember that if the pain is chronic, you should consult with an expert pain medicine consultant Cardiff, Dr. Rahul Guru at the Cardiff Bay Hospital. Listed here are some of the causes, management and treatment of chronic back pain. Lower back pain symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually. Sharp or dull, achy pain can radiate to your bottom or down the back of your legs, which is known as sciatica. You may experience stiffness, muscle spasms or maintaining a posture maybe difficult for you. Lower back pain is a result of multiple injuries, conditions, and diseases. Keep a watch for the next part of the blog to know further about treatments. Visit https://cardiffpainclinic.com/  for booking and appointments.

#spine clinic cardiff south wales #pain medicine consultant cardiff #cardiff pain & performance clinic #hip pain clinic cardiff south wales #back pain clinic cardiff south wales #cardiff back and neck clinic

[mittaldentalclinic]

The Magical Transformation with Invisalign Treatment at Mittal Dental Clinic

Are you tired of hiding your smile due to misaligned teeth? Look no further than Mittal Dental Clinic, where the magic of Invisalign treatment awaits to transform your smile discreetly and comfortably. Invisalign is the modern-day orthodontic marvel that has revolutionized the way we straighten teeth, and at Mittal Dental Clinic, we take pride in offering this innovative solution to our patients.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a revolutionary teeth-straightening treatment that replaces traditional metal braces with a series of clear, custom-made aligners. These aligners are made of smooth, BPA-free plastic, which fits snugly over your teeth, making them virtually invisible. Gradually, with each new set of aligners, your teeth gently shift into their desired positions.

The Magic of Invisalign at Mittal Dental Clinic

Personalized Treatment Plan: Our experienced orthodontists start by conducting a comprehensive examination of your teeth and jaw structure. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, they develop a custom treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, ensuring the best possible results.

Discreet and Comfortable: Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are transparent, meaning you can smile confidently throughout the treatment. They are also smooth and comfortable, reducing the risk of irritation to your cheeks and gums.

Removable Convenience: One of the most significant advantages of Invisalign is its removability. You can easily take out the aligners while eating, allowing you to enjoy all your favorite foods without restrictions. Additionally, maintaining oral hygiene is a breeze as you can brush and floss your teeth as usual.

Shorter Treatment Time: Invisalign treatment at Mittal Dental Clinic is designed to be efficient without compromising on results. While treatment duration varies from case to case, many patients achieve their dream smiles in a shorter time compared to traditional braces.

Progress Monitoring: With Invisalign, you will receive a series of aligners, and at Mittal Dental Clinic, we ensure regular follow-ups to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments. Our team will guide you through every step of the process to ensure optimal outcomes.

Unlock Your New Smile Today! Embark on a magical journey to a new, confident smile with Invisalign treatment at Mittal Dental Clinic. Our dedicated team of professionals will be by your side, providing the best possible care and guidance throughout your transformational experience.

Don't let misaligned teeth hold you back any longer! Book a consultation at Mittal Dental Clinic today and discover the wonders of Invisalign – the clear path to your dream smile. Trust us; you won't stop smiling!

For More Info: Rct treatment

bridge dental services jaipur

Painless tooth extraction

[skyworxcontracting]

A City Above: The Evolution of Scaffolding in New York’s Skyscraper Era

Skyscrapers that soar over the cityscape and dominate New York City's skyline are well-known. The development of scaffolding, an essential technology that has been crucial in the building and upkeep of these enormous structures, would not have made it feasible for these architectural marvels to exist. Scaffolding services in New York have developed over time, enabling the realization of ever-more-ambitious construction projects. The intriguing history and development of scaffolding throughout the height of New York City's skyscraper industry are explored in this article, which also highlights the major inventions of scaffolding permits NYC that have influenced the skyline of the city.

The Birth of Skyscrapers in New York:

In New York City, the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a period of increasing urbanization, which sparked a rise in demand for vertical construction. Building towering buildings presented architects and engineers with previously unheard-of difficulties because the work was too complicated for conventional construction techniques. The vertical expansion was made possible by the development of steel-frame construction methods, which were pioneered by designers like Louis Sullivan and William Le Baron Jenney. However, the creation of creative scaffolding solutions was required because safe and effective access was required during the building.

Early Scaffolding Systems:

Scaffolding  in the early days of the skyscraper era in New York was mainly made out of wooden frameworks that held up laborers and building supplies. These primitive systems had a finite maximum height and lacked the stability required for the lofty heights of contemporary skyscrapers. Steel scaffolding became a more reliable and safe alternative as construction technology developed. By enabling workers to reach large heights with enhanced stability, the patented "Bilby Steel Tower Scaffolding" revolutionized construction techniques in 1885.

Suspended Scaffolding:

A Game-Changer: In the development of skyscraper construction, the invention of suspended scaffolding was a key turning point. This ground-breaking method comprised suspending a platform from the top of the building, which allowed workers to gradually descend as construction progressed. It was originally utilized in New York in the 1920s. By removing the need for ground-based scaffolding and speeding up construction, suspended scaffolding offered an effective way to reach the facade for upkeep and repairs. The construction of famous buildings like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building was greatly influenced by this innovation.

Modern Scaffolding Technologies:

Scaffolding permits NYC systems developed throughout the 20th century in response to the introduction of new materials and technology. Due to its adaptability and sturdiness, tubular steel scaffolding gained popularity. It was made up of lightweight components that were simple to install and disassemble. Construction teams had more mobility and flexibility because of mobile scaffolding systems that had wheels and movable platforms. Additionally, modular scaffolding systems became a viable alternative that allowed for simple customization to match intricate architectural designs. These developments made it possible to carry out building tasks efficiently while also protecting personnel.

Swing Stages and Suspended Scaffolding:

Traveling by Air The ability to attain extremely high heights was hampered by the rise in building height. The idea of swing stages and suspended scaffolding resulted from this. These ground-breaking devices, sometimes known as "window-washing platforms," gave employees access to every square inch of the outside of skyscrapers by allowing them to descend and ascend up the sides of the buildings. Swing stages increased productivity while also speeding up and saving money on construction.

Innovations in Scaffolding Safety:

The safety of construction workers became a top priority as skyscrapers grew to unprecedented heights. Safety rules were put in place and scaffolding designs were continually updated to solve this. Workers at great heights received additional protection with the advent of safety harnesses and guardrails. The "cocoon" system, an innovative solution that completely encloses a building's exterior while allowing employees to roam around freely, significantly improved safety while performing maintenance and restoration work. The area of scaffolding has also changed as a result of advances in digital technologies. Engineers are now able to generate intricate models of scaffolding systems using virtual reality (VR) simulations, which facilitates effective planning and helps to identify potential safety issues before installation.

Conclusion 

The development of scaffolding during the skyscraper period in New York City is evidence of human creativity and perseverance. Scaffolding methods have advanced to match the increasingly ambitious heights of New York's renowned buildings, moving from simple timber structures to complex steel and modular systems. Skyscrapers can now be built and maintained thanks to the invention of suspended scaffolding and the ongoing emphasis on worker safety. Scaffolding will undoubtedly continue to be a vital element in the constantly expanding high-rise building industry as the city's skyline changes and expands, ensuring that New York's architectural goals reach new heights while giving employees' safety and wellbeing a top priority.

#scaffolding #construction #realestate #new york

[mitchalleninterior]

Affordable Home Improvement Tips to Upgrade Your Interior Design

The house's interior should be one of the main things you consider if you are beginning to build your own home or already have one but want to make some changes. Home interiors shop, our full-service home interior business, offers consultations with our designer, who will help you develop the appearance you want for your space. We specialize in custom-made furniture and accessories. You may be confident that we'll discover something perfectly matching your style because our staff is informed about recent trends and fashions. There are various interior design trends for homes that you can strive to emulate, as well as a few simple rules you can follow. While some can be completed without considerably changing the property's structure, others call for extensive alterations.

Mitch Allen Interiors is dedicated to giving our clients the best customer service and artistry possible so they may enjoy their homes for many years. We provide interior design services for domestic, business, and industrial settings. While maintaining within your financial constraints, our design team will collaborate with you to create a room that reflects your unique tastes and sense of style. We'll also assist you in locating the ideal furnishings to improve the appearance of your house or place of business. We take pride in our dedication to excellence, which extends to everything from our team members who hold professional certifications in their areas of expertise to our cutting-edge tools and facilities. Making an easy-to-follow plan, which we specialize in at Mitch Allen Interiors, facilitates progressing to the next phase. You can select what needs to be done to the remaining components of your home with the help of preliminary planning.

It's time to start the change when the preliminary steps, such as planning, budgeting, research, and many others, have been completed. Now that you know where to obtain the furniture, you may buy it with confidence. Also, you can purchase furniture or equipment locally online. There can be a requirement for numerous alterations in each critical part of your home. For example, using necessary furnishings like a modern bathroom cabinet is best. But you may also use bathroom vanity furnishings and other accessories if your budget allows. By employing furniture sets, you might be modest in the living room because a more prominent space would be ideal for this area. 

 It is not necessary, specifically, if you are short on the budget, yet it could aid a lot if you need a basic understanding of house alterations. If you wish to do everything yourself, it is wise to obtain recommendations from your family, friends, or neighbours. You may be stunned that you can do a lot if you collect various viewpoints of various individuals. Adjustments you will make in your own house are most likely to be long-term, so beware of each decision you make. You require not to hurry points and can accomplish your objectives gradually.

[mystlnewsonline]

Top 5 reasons to sell a business

(STL.News) There is a strong argument that opponents of buying a ready-made business give.  It sounds like this: "Why would someone sell a profitable business?  It's like voluntarily giving away a hen that lays golden eggs.  Strange and suspicious.  This means that the company being sold is most likely working in the red".  But the unprofitability of the business is only one of the possible reasons for the sale.  So what are the reasons for selling an existing business?  Let's discuss this in this article. Reasons to sell my business 1.  Money One of the good reasons for selling a business is an urgent need for money.  This happens when you need money for the expensive treatment of someone close to you, repayment of debts, and penalties. 2.  Retirement The second reason why sell your business is age and the desire to retire, to rest.  If the owner cannot find a successor among close people, he sells his business. 3.  Competition Some types of business have emerged with the advent of new technologies.  For example, when the equipment for large-format printing appeared, the first businessmen who relied on this type of printing, of course, succeeded.  Over time, large format printing enterprises became more and more.  Not all owners managed to choose the right tactics in the struggle for the clientele.  Some preferred to sell the business.  At the same time, many buyers of this business for sale, as WebSite Closers said, managed to keep their leading positions and are still successfully working.  The same happens in other spheres of entrepreneurial activity. 4.  Burnout People who have never been engaged in business represent the life of an entrepreneur as a carefree existence, saturated with money, luxury, and travel.  Few people have seen the downside of this "endless holiday". At the same time, the phrase "paying the price" is not figurative, quite often, you have to really pay fines or make concessions on the price of the contract.  Nights without sleep, and days in doubt at those moments when the prospects of the business idea are not yet clear.  Inability to relax even on vacation, when the phone is bursting with calls in the style of "boss, we have problems, what to do?".  Even calm people have the desire to quit everything and live in peace. 5.  Changes in the industry Entrepreneurs sometimes open several different businesses.  However, there comes a time when it is necessary to reach a new level and invest additional funds to purchase new equipment and technologies.  At this point, you have to choose which areas are priorities, and which enterprises should be sold to get free funds for development. Other reasons for selling a business Economic reasons for selling: - For a long time, the business gives less return than can be obtained without risk and effort (for example, by investing the same amount of money in foreign currency, gold, etc;) - chronic lack of working capital, as a result, the company works at full capacity and gradually eats itself. Selling a failing business would be the best solution. Organizational reasons: - it is not possible to choose a good team, establish a decent management system, a system of payment that stimulates results, etc.; - failure to find and close the loopholes of significant leakage of funds, information, clientele, etc. Production and commercial reasons: - Failure to effectively promote goods, withstand competition, and update equipment, and product range; - the sales system is vulnerable and weak; - the firm itself is losing positions and is close to losing the market; - significant structural shifts of consumers (for example, due to the crisis). Psychological reasons: - the business owner himself switches to a new business, and is busy with other problems that distract him from the business; - in the character of the owner - dislike of routine, pedantic monotonous maintenance of business efficiency. Of course, it is impossible to list all possible reasons, but one way or another, they indicate that the business is subject to any restrictions. "Is it time to sell the business now?" This is the first question that the owner must answer.  In general, why sell a successful business?  Is it a good time to sell?  How will the price of the business change?  What steps can be taken to increase the value of the company?  Are there any necessary documents, certificates, for example, an auditor's report, an expert assessment of the company, market surveys, indicating the position and reputation of the company being sold, and other attributes that may interest a potential buyer and affect the selling price? Not knowing and not feeling the intricacies of the business sale market, many do not find a buyer, and if they manage to sell their business, the proceeds are more likely to hurt their ego than to reward them adequately. Selling a business is a very delicate matter, and it is better to entrust it to professionals who are able to justify a decent price, find an interested buyer, and not make many mistakes. Read the full article

[shantevitrano]

Getting Employed For House Cleaner Jobs

The need for housemaid jobs is gradually boosting every year. This is mainly due to the reality that the basic working environment is becoming more requiring, leaving little time for residential job. A house cleaner task includes different points in addition to doing domestic cleaning such as commercial and also medical cleansing. If you are making an application for a housekeeper task, there are a couple of points that you can do to raise your possibilities of getting the task. Although experience and capacity are the primary finishing touches, things that are described listed below can aid you stand out to name a few applicants for the job.

Practice in the house. Also if you do not have experience cleaning up a resort space or a healthcare facility area, you can obtain a great deal of method from cleaning your own home. As you go by maintaining your home neat, you will certainly learn organization skills as well as techniques that can help you cleanse a particular area of your home such as the kitchen or the washroom efficiently. There are likewise other lessons you can discover by exercising in the house such as knowing which area of your home to clean initial and what commercial or self-made cleaner can get rid of specific dirt and also spots. In the interview, you can state that you have a neat house and that you are the one doing the cleaning.

Benefit From Referral Letters. To have proof of experience, always request for a recommendation letter to any type of house cleaning job you have done regardless of if it is simply a little cleansing job or a significant one. Keep a collection of these referral letters and also ensure you have it with you during the meeting. Program the ones that are most pertaining to the work you are looking for to the interviewer.

Develop a Network. Sign up with an internet site or an organization for housekeepers. In this manner you can have good friends and also calls in the industry. Not only can your network point you to the ideal direction when searching for a housekeeping task, it can likewise develop your online reputation as a certified and professional maid.

Market Yourself. In a professional yet friendly fashion, inform the recruiter your proficiency and also experience. If you have taken care of an apparently impossible cleansing task, discuss how you had the ability to achieve the job. This will more than likely impress the recruiter and also will make them think that you are a resourceful person.

Ask Inquiries. By inquiring about what type of cleaning jobs you will certainly more than likely be needed to do, the expectations, as well as the cleansing routines, the job interviewer will understand that you are severe about the work. Keeping silent all throughout the interview will not help you obtain the task.

At Dawn Senior Citizen Living, we've devoted more than 30 years to improving our resident-centered elderly treatment as well as structure passionate and also proficient treatment teams that learn more about our homeowners. We have actually discovered that also the little points that make our elderly living areas seem like residence can make a big distinction in the lives of elders. We are constantly trying to find qualified individuals for housekeeping tasks.

Searching for a capable caretaker that can become a welcome and functioning part of your household may seem like an overwhelming job, yet there are several techniques that can make the procedure a lot easier. Initially, you require to determine in between hiring an agency as well as paying its higher charges or browsing for yourself. Word of mouth is constantly beneficial because your friend can often also offer a reference for the person being mentioned. The Yellow Pages checklist cleaning company as do online sites. You can additionally attempt the classifieds, both in the neighborhood documents as well as online. A regional college might have students seeking part time work that will certainly fit your needs and also schedule.

Once you have a name, a telephone interview will assist you determined whether he or she deserves pursuing. At this time, established a check out to your residence as well as prepare on your own for a serious, comprehensive meeting. Because misconceptions are most proper to happen over lapses in interaction, it is important to be very thorough about your expectations. You could intend to develop a task summary that you can make use of as a tool throughout the meeting process. It ought to consist of the timetable, certain duties, house rules and also criteria, https://zavashiavhod.com and of course, income and also benefits. A walk-through of your residence as well as conversation of your expectations will certainly be useful. Keep a notepad to take down response to your inquiries to aid your memory and also avoid further confusion or misunderstanding later.

Because you will certainly be giving a virtual complete stranger accessibility to your household as well as your residential property, it is very important to be extensive in inspecting referrals. Request for 3-5 both individual as well as professional and from non-relatives. When you go over the work background, now is the moment to inquire about work gaps or unexplained circumstances. Because your security and also safety and security are paramount, you might intend to likewise do a debt and also criminal background check. A housemaid who hesitates to share details is certainly a red flag, having said that the interview should not feel like an inquisition. Be friendly and also considerate or you might drive a potentially great house cleaner right back out your front door.

[tybarious-ii]

"Codename Wyvern" by Jetfreak-7: link

"By all accounts, the Constitution Class remains as one of the most distinguished starship designs in Starfleet history. With a fifty year production run, several refits and derivative classes, its reputation in the service was legendary. However, the type’s eventual retirement was finally brought about by shifting trends and the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties that followed the Khitomer Accords in 2293. Which ironically, was made possible by a prominent member of the class, the USS Enterprise-A. These changing times for the Federation Starfleet caused a paradigm shift in its core structuring, principles and foreign policy. The prevalent emphasis on military expansion was gradually reduced in favor of exploratory and diplomatic endeavours. The mutual assured destruction of a Federation-Klingon war was no longer a threat to Galactic peace.

Despite its merits, the Constitution Class was now viewed as a 'Cold War' relic, akin to its equally famous Klingon D7/K’tinga counterpart. The reduction of military arms mandated the retirement of prominent capital ships in both interstellar states. The Klingons would retire its aging portion of combat vessels and Starfleet was expected to follow. As such, the bulk of the Constitution fleet, which included the Enterprise-A, were formally retired and mothballed in successive batches. The examples chosen were at least twenty to forty years old. The remaining new-builds would be retained and refitted for exploratory purposes. Starfleet's military oriented designs also suffered the same fate as the Constitution. Numerous destroyers, battleships and other designs were eventually sent to storage, reassigned to reserves or dismantled altogether. Classes like the agile Phobos and imposing Yamato Class saw their days as numbered. Meanwhile, prominent stablemates like the Miranda, Constellation, and Excelsior were unimpeded in active production and service. They were excellent platforms in the scientific area and continued development for many years.

The remaining newer models of the Constitution Class were sent to various shipyards for their respective refits. Equipped with new research labs and refined exploration equipment, these 2280's and 2290's 'Connie' models would serve well into 2330's. Charting unexplored sectors of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, serving in diplomatic endeavours and maintaining a familiar face for the Federation. A century after the first Constitution left drydock in 2244, the class would see its illustrious career finally end in the late 2340's. With the exception of several one-offs, the bulk of the surviving Constitutions would be sent to reserve fleets or dismantled. A few would even make it into the private sector, becoming expensive collector items or personal yachts for the wealthy.

However, a new lease on life was on the horizon. During the opening months of the Dominion War, Starfleet's Corps of Engineers, at the time headed by time displaced Montgomery Scott, was tasked to evaluate certain types to be brought out from mothballs to fill up the fleet's ranks. Chief among them were several preserved Constitution hulls stored in Starbase 34. Scott's team discerned that they were ideal candidates to be upgraded to 2370's era technology. First among the ships to be refitted and re-commissioned would be the USS Wyvern NCC-2848. The modifications were extensive but managed to stay fairly manageable in terms of cost and manpower. This was due to the reliance on "off the shelf" refitting techniques. The entire shipboard systems were updated to 2370's standards and the outboard hull layout was patterned over the 2310's era Sparrow Class, saving costs even further. The end result was a balanced light cruiser capable of basic fleet defense missions. She was promptly re-added back to Starfleet service and given the brand new registry NCC-78702 as a personal touch by Scott. This would give the illusion of a revived Constitution line, a helpful psychological tactic in wartime. Her engineers would later give it the moniker 'Wyvern Subclass'.

Several ships followed suit and were assigned to core systems to augment their defenses. In mock combat assessments, Wyverns handled fairly well and were comparable to a Sabre destroyer in mobility. However, they were still limited ships with relatively basic capabilities. The Wyvern was indeed born out of the need to fill missing gaps in the UFP's defensive line. Still, it also gave the old Constitution a new lease on life for the foreseeable future. The sixteen vessels currently in service are expected to serve well into 2400. A legend is reborn.

Model by Rick Knox

BG by freelancah, Burning Liquid and CE"

#Star Trek #Constitution Class #Wyvern Class #USS Wyvern NCC-2848 #USS Wyvern NCC-78702 #USS Wyvern #fan design

[southeastasianists]

According to the World Health Organisation, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Philippines on 20 January 2020. More than a year after, there are now more than 600,000 confirmed cases, nearly 13,000 deaths and a surge of 5000 new cases in one day. Approximately 41 percent of the total number of confirmed cases are from the National Capital Region (NCR), where Manila is located. The death toll from Duterte’s Drug War since July 2016 ranges from a conservative estimate of 8,663 people according to the UN Human Rights Council, to possibly thrice as high based on statements from the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. The official record from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the agency implementing Duterte’s Drug War, is at 6,011 deaths from July 2016 to December 2020.

Alarmingly, the national pandemic response is even being harnessed in the service of the Drug War with extrajudicial killings registering a 50 percent increase between April and July 2020. Both COVID-19 related deaths and extrajudicial killings linked with the War on Drugs have been popularly represented by the Duterte government as disconnected from, or outside of, all the range and repertoires of repression at the state’s disposal.

Yet prior to the pandemic, Filipinos were already primed for and inoculated to mass loss of life and human rights violations, precisely because of the militarism that has been the logic of security under Duterte’s rule. We can understand everyday life in the Philippines as part of an ongoing continuum of violence, from the first day that Duterte launched his war on drugs, to the present militarised response to the health crisis. The Philippines was already suffering a ‘murderous plague’ which made death paradoxically both an abstract and visceral reality for many Filipinos, even before the disease outbreak.

It matters, therefore, that we constantly articulate how tragedy and mass loss of life are routine and logical outcomes under Duterte and why this government must be made accountable for the murderous plague it has authored. Filipinos must maintain their demands for better leadership, crisis response and management despite the persistent gaslighting by the President, his spokespersons, and enabling members of his regime. The forthcoming May 2022 national elections have prompted discussions on the importance of leadership among specific sectors mobilised by the question, ‘pangulo’ or ‘pang-gulo’ (‘president’ or ‘nuisance’)? At the highest level of power, does the Philippines have someone who leads, or someone who self-servingly obstructs recovery and fuels division?

Drug war and the limits of militarised security

Duterte’s default approach has been to wield the military and police at every crisis. However, this approach generates its own crises because the truncated lens of militarism comes up inadequate in addressing the multidimensional root causes and consequences to much of the global security challenges we are facing today. Based on the best available science, and what COVID-19 is demonstrating globally, state leaders must be able to address a drastically changed security landscape where the heightened intensity and frequency of extreme events will threaten all areas of human life and ecosystems. What has been undeniable is that leaders disastrously fall short of managing crises—whether in the context of armed conflicts, disasters and climate change, or health pandemics—when they do not incorporate a range of perspectives and expertise.

Duterte’s military and police-driven approach to every national decision-making process is exclusionary. He has sought to frame Filipinos, especially frontline health workers who express their discontent, as ‘enemies’ who do nothing but complain. Because he reproduces and invests in militarising crises, he cannot but interpret differing views as an existential threat to his power. The Philippines therefore has a leader that forecloses spaces for civic deliberation and participation at a time when these are most needed.

The drug war has gradually created the institutional and rhetorical foundations that enable other forms of violence: the use of Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and ‘red-tagging’ to silence opposition; the compounded suffering of internally displaced communities as resources are diverted away from the forgotten crises in Marawi and Tacloban; and ongoing violence and development aggression against Indigenous peoples and environmental activists. Duterte’s war on drugs has been argued to satisfice the stages of genocide.

Death and disinformation due to ‘infodemic’

The pandemic is also mediated by a pervasive climate of disinformation in the Philippines. The deadly combination of militarism and disinformation has been effective in fragmenting and eliminating political opposition, and in state repression more generally. Over the past years, Philippine democracy has been constantly threatened and undermined by the rapid and increased production and dissemination of misinformation and disinformation. A study has shown how insidious, partisan and curated content is produced and circulated by “architects of networked disinformation”, including influencers, online celebrities, politicians in-house team’s, and marketing companies. These players have weaponized the internet to support and bolster the operations of Duterte’s administration in designing and implementing a political and militarist agenda.

An evident outcome of weaponizing social media platforms is the silencing of dissent. Paid trolls, bot armies and a range of fake news websites run by supporters of Duterte have targeted and harassed individuals and institutions. For instance, in 2018, Maria Ressa, the chief executive of Rappler, was the target of state-sponsored “patriotic trolling”, misogynistic comments and hate speech. Meanwhile, the Philippine government attempted to revoke Rappler’s license in 2018. Notably in 2020, Philippine lawmakers rejected the franchise renewal for ABS-CBN, a Philippine’s broadcasting company also critical of Duterte’s governance.

Misinformation and disinformation also impact the lives of ordinary Filipinos in national and transnational contexts. A report shows that Filipinos spend an average of 4 hours and 15 minutes each day on different social media channels. These online platforms have also been used to sustain ties among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. For the ten million Filipinos spread across the world, social media and mobile applications have become valuable tools to remain connected to home. However, these channels serve as key sites for producing and disseminating fake information. For example, a study on the 2019 Philippine election shows how OFWs are targeted by online communities that disseminate falsehoods and manipulative content.

More recently, an ‘infodemic’ has emerged in tandem with the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of hoaxes and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and attacks on the credibility of the World Health Organization (WHO) re-victimises all those who have died in the pandemic and the families they have left behind. In a digital environment muddled by falsehoods and inaccuracies, people are afforded narratives that only validate their own pre-existing beliefs and affirm experiences that reflect their immediate or narrow environment. This makes it all the more possible for those in positions of power and privilege to detach (and stay out of touch) from the harsh realities millions of Filipinos are facing.

The use of digital technologies at a time of crisis can stir heightened ambivalence among Filipinos. On the one hand, greater online connectivity affords the maintenance of intimate ties transnationally. However, it is the same connectivity that can potentially be used to distort understanding of social welfare, human rights, and personal and familial futures through the lens of fear. Akin to the pandemic, widespread disinformation is slowly but effectively killing mutual trust and civic participation in Philippine society. It does this by eroding Filipinos’ access to reliable information and their right to thrive in democratic spaces. Crucially, disinformation hinders Filipinos from seeing the structural inequalities, marginalisation and exploitation that implicates us all.  There is neither one person nor a “silver bullet” that can magically vanquish—in six months—what has been built over decades by political and economic systems in the Philippines. It will take care, collective action and mutual responsibility.

Stop the killings; stop the strongman

Crises can provide windows of opportunity to overhaul ossified harms done by this government, and repair what good is left. Deaths and killings may be mundane now but they do not have to be acceptable: not now and not in the future. There is a need to develop antidotes that can reclaim, secure and protect democracy. As the COVID-19 pandemic intersects with Duterte’s murderous plague, Filipinos are faced with clear lessons that can be brought to bear in the next election.

First, there is no path to “rapid” recovery and it takes inclusive governance and leadership to realise long-lasting and “crisis-proof” reconstruction. Moving forward, Filipinos might be more sceptical and suspicious of leaders promising to do everything without demanding shared responsibilities and recognising diverse expertise from the Filipino public. Globally, we are also seeing youth-led protests both from afar such as in the US, and closer in neighbouring Thailand and Myanmar, against police and military violence as well as outdated styles and systems of militarised authority. While their rule may seem inescapable at present, young people are taking the lead in sending a clear message: the myth of the ‘strongman’ is no more.

Second, the killings were indirectly enabled by the political fragmentation and societal division accelerated by digital technologies. What proved most effective in stifling collective action was the framing of political engagements in terms of “camp” politics and loyalties—us versus them / DDS versus Dilawan—instead of under a unifying identity of “the Filipino people.” Duterte’s success in fulfilling an initial populist desire for a ‘strongman leader’ is an outcome of previous failures in crisis response under the Aquino government. Rather than see Duterte and Aquino as oppositional, we need to see the violent continuity between the two different models of leadership.

Third, the rise and resilience of Duterte’s strongman rule is connected with his leveraging of underlying sexism, misogyny, class and regional prejudices in Philippine society. Clearly, Duterte’s misogyny is no laughing matter. Rape jokes are neither humorous nor harmless. His speeches form part of, and feed, societal violence. Finally, the path to stopping the killings will be long and difficult, but necessary. The governance challenges ahead will be more complex and difficult. An indispensable step in this direction is recognising and healing from collective grief on a transnational scale. Then the task of refocusing energies toward building new leaders and political agendas can begin.

#Southeast Asia #Philippines #Covid-19 #Politics #Rodrigo Duterte

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

A gigantic lane made of raw material for new stars Astronomers discover a huge filament of atomic hydrogen, a possible precursor to star-forming clouds A group of astronomers, led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), have identified one of the longest known structures in the Milky Way. It stretches some 3900 light-years and consists almost entirely of atomic hydrogen gas. This filament, called “Maggie”, could represent a link in the matter cycle of the stars. Analysing the measurements suggests that the atomic gas in this lane converges locally to form molecular hydrogen. When compressed in large clouds, this is the material from which stars eventually form. Hydrogen is the most widespread substance in the Universe and the main ingredient in the formation of stars. Unfortunately, detecting individual clouds of hydrogen gas is a demanding task, which makes research into the early phases of star formation challenging. That is why the recent discovery of a surprisingly long structure, a filament, of atomic hydrogen gas by an international research group led by astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg is all the more exciting. “The location of this filament has contributed to this success,” says Jonas Syed, a PhD student at MPIA and first author of the paper published today in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. “We don’t yet know exactly how it got there. But the filament extends about 1600 light-years below the Milky Way plane.” As a result, the radiation from the hydrogen, which is at a wavelength of 21 centimetres, stands out clearly against the background, making the filament visible. “The observations also allowed us to determine the velocity of the hydrogen gas,” explains Henrik Beuther. He is a co-author of the study and heads the THOR (The HI/OH/Recombination line survey of the Milky Way) observing programme at MPIA, on which the data are based. “This allowed us to show that the velocities along the filament barely differ.” Therefore, the researchers conclude, it is indeed a coherent structure. Its mean velocity is determined mainly by the rotation of the Milky Way disk. “With this information and a new method for analysing data, we managed to determine the size and distance of the filament,” says Sümeyye Suri. She is another co-author and former MPIA astronomer who now works at the University of Vienna. “It is about 3900 light-years long and 130 light-years wide.” At a distance of around 55,000 light-years, it is on the far side of the Milky Way. In contrast, the largest known clouds of molecular gas typically extend “only” about 800 light-years across. Hydrogen occurs in the Universe in various states. Astronomers find it in the form of atoms and molecules, in which two atoms are joined together. Only molecular gas condenses to relatively compact clouds, which develop frosty regions where new stars finally emerge. But exactly how the transition from atomic to molecular hydrogen happens is still largely unknown. That makes the opportunity to study this extraordinarily long filament all the more exciting. Co-author Juan D. Soler already found the first clue to this object a year ago. He named the filament “Maggie” after the longest river in his home country of Colombia, called the Río Magdalena. “Maggie was already recognizable in earlier evaluations of the data. But only the current study proves beyond doubt that it is a coherent structure,” explains Soler, who recently moved from MPIA to the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) in Rome. On closer inspection, the team noticed that the gas converges at some points along the filament. They conclude that the hydrogen gas accumulates at those locations and condenses into large clouds. The researchers also suspect that those are the environments where the atomic gas gradually changes into a molecular form. In previously published data, they indeed found evidence of Maggie containing molecular hydrogen at a mass fraction of about 8 %. We may be looking at a region in the Milky Way where the immediate raw material for new stars is being produced. Hence, new stars could form here in the distant future. “However, many questions remain unanswered,” Syed points out. “Additional data, which we hope will give us more clues about the fraction of molecular gas, are already waiting to be analysed.” TOP IMAGE....This image shows a section of the side view of the Milky Way as measured by ESA’s Gaia satellite. The dark band consists of gas and dust, which dims the light from the embedded stars. The Galactic Centre of the Milky Way is indicated on the right of the image, shining brightly below the dark zone. The box to the left of the middle marks the location of the “Maggie” filament. It shows the distribution of atomic hydrogen. The colours indicate different velocities of the gas. Image: ESA/Gaia/DPAC, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO & T. Müller/J. Syed/MPIA CENTRE IMAGE....This false-colour image shows the distribution of atomic hydrogen measured at a wavelength of 21 cm. The red dashed line traces the “Maggie” filament. Image: J. Syed/MPIA LOWER IMAGE....This image corresponds to the box in the figure with the overview of the Milky Way. In addition to the distribution of atomic hydrogen, the colours indicate different velocity ranges of the gas as measured by the observations of the THOR survey. The “Maggie” filament is visible in the lower area. Image: T. Müller/J. Syed/MPIA

#space #science #Astronomy #physics #news #galaxy #milky way