#Disability Market Trends

[ezlivingconcepts]

Elderly Disability and Accessibility: A Data-Driven Overview

Navigating the world with limited mobility can be daunting—especially for elderly individuals with disabilities. This blog brings together vital statistics and fresh insights to paint a clear picture of the challenges they face, the market trends shaping their support, and the economic ripple effects of mobility-focused services and technologies.

https://ezlivingconcepts.com/elderly-disability-and-accessibility-a-data-driven-overview/

[trendtrackershq]

Strategic Analysis of the Disabled & Elderly Assistive Device Market

Download FREE Sample: https://www.nextmsc.com/elderly-disabled-assistive-devices-market/request-sample

The Disabled & Elderly Assistive Device Market is experiencing dynamic growth, driven by the increasing aging population and advancements in technology. As we approach a more inclusive society, the demand for assistive devices designed to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and the elderly is on the rise.

Key Trends:

Technological Advancements: Innovations such as smart home technology, wearable health monitors, and AI-driven mobility aids are revolutionizing the market. These advancements not only improve functionality but also ensure better user experience and integration into daily life.

Personalization and Customization: There is a growing emphasis on personalized solutions. Devices are being tailored to meet individual needs, from customizable wheelchair features to adaptive communication aids.

Integration with Digital Health: The intersection of assistive devices with digital health platforms is enhancing patient monitoring and management. Remote monitoring tools and telehealth integration are becoming more common, offering real-time support and data collection.

Focus on Accessibility and Design: Manufacturers are prioritizing user-friendly designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The focus is on creating devices that not only assist but also fit seamlessly into users' lifestyles.

Increased Investment and Research: Investment in research and development is driving innovation in this sector. New materials, advanced robotics, and improved ergonomic designs are making assistive devices more effective and comfortable.

Market Insights:

Market Size & Growth: The market is expanding rapidly due to the rising prevalence of chronic conditions and the aging global population. Forecasts suggest significant growth in the coming years, presenting opportunities for new entrants and existing players alike.

Regional Variations: While North America and Europe are leading in market share, there is increasing growth in Asia-Pacific regions. This is attributed to rising healthcare awareness and improving healthcare infrastructure.

Key Players: Major companies in the market include Invacare Corporation, Ottobock, Sunrise Medical, and Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, among others. These players are focusing on strategic partnerships and innovations to maintain a competitive edge.

Looking Ahead:

The future of the Disabled & Elderly Assistive Device Market looks promising with continued technological advancements and a strong focus on user-centered design. As we move towards a more inclusive world, the role of assistive devices in enhancing independence and quality of life cannot be overstated.

[hislop3]

Friday Feature: The Economic Impact in Aging Countries

TGIF! The U.S. is aging. Its median age is 37.7, just behind China’s median age of 37.9. Comparatively, the U.S. would be considered young in relationship to Japan where the median age is 48.4. While it is true that the Japanese have a longer life expectancy than the average American (84.6 years vs. 77.29 years), the growth in the Japanese median population age is largely attributable to an…

[syrinq]

sick of this shit

[hotwaterandmilk]

On accepting the usefulness of digital manga and light novels in the English language fandom from a disability perspective

This is an expansion of a thought that gripped me on Bsky earlier today. I will state outright these are just my personal musings as someone with disability trapped in a capitalist hellscape, not my ideal as a reader or member of society. Hopefully that makes sense.

I will always advocate for physical media. As you can likely tell from the content of this Tumblr, my media collection is my absolute pride and joy. However, as someone living with disability, I have to acknowledge that digital media options have made my life easier in some ways. While I generally prefer to purchase physical copies of books or discs, I’ve found myself increasingly turning to digital formats when I want to read manga or novels as they offer a better reading experience for my specific disabilities.

One issue that has really stood out to me lately is the trend among English-language publishers to release more 3-in-1 or other larger-format/omnibus manga volumes. These editions are generally more cost effective than single volume releases and help improve access to out-of-print (OOP) titles, but they can also present real accessibility challenges. A good example for me personally is Red River from Viz Media, a beloved series that’s been OOP physically for years but is now available again in 3-in-1 volumes. While this is great news for many fans, I personally can’t manage reading these print editions due to their size and weight. Thankfully, I already own the original single volumes but for those who don't have that privilege this is where digital options make a real difference.

I can load a title onto a lightweight reading device and still enjoy that “book in hand” feeling. Or I can use a screen reader on a larger device for even better accessibility. Of course, not all digital options are created equal, their usefulness depends on the decisions made by publishers and platforms regarding formatting, pricing, and features. For example, Amazon’s recent removal of the “Download & Transfer via USB” option on Kindle highlights how little control consumers actually have over the digital media they purchase. You're often locked into a single platform, with no simple or affordable way to move your purchases elsewhere. There are digital rights restrictions, not everything is available everywhere and prices can vary significantly even when a book is offered in your territory vs. the one next door.

Unlike a physical book that sits on your shelf, digital books are only available at the discretion of platforms or rights-holders, much like how streaming services control access to video or music compared to owning a Blu-ray or vinyl record. And when digital becomes the only option for certain titles deemed unworthy of a print release for whatever reason, it understandably alienates many readers. The English-language market has shown its love for physical media time and time again: series without a print option have a limited reach with these consumers. This is why terms like “digital jail” have become common, though I’m not a fan of that phrase myself. While digital-only releases can restrict access in some ways, they also provide opportunities for access in other ways, especially for readers with disabilities or those outside North America who face high costs and logistical hurdles when trying to import print editions.

If we must continue to live under capitalism (and I long for the day when we do not) then digital and print access for media must both be available wherever possible. I feel particularly when used in conjunction with print there are significant positives to having digital formats available for manga and light novels in English for those living with disability (based on my personal experience and those of my peers). Digital access also supports language diversity and enables the important work of archivists who strive to preserve media from official platforms for future generations. Anyone who has ever attempted to scan a book for archival purposes knows that starting from a digital file is far more efficient and accessible.

In this sense, I’m coming to terms with being an advocate for physical media who also recognises the advantages digital formats can offer. At the same time, I’m not naive about the limitations of digital book sales. While digital formats meet many of my specific needs, they don't meet them all and they won’t suit everyone. There are also serious limitations with how these materials are delivered through digital platforms that must be addressed moving forward.

[notjustjavierpena]

can you write something silly with hubby? just a drabble is fine 🤗 i loooved them in lovey-dovey!

Honey (Drabble)

Series Masterpost | Main Masterpost | Support a disabled creator

A/N: I'm silly and inspired by a tiktok trend.

Summary: Javier Peña, husband and honey connoisseur.

Pairing: Javier Peña x f!reader (no y/n)

Tags: Fluff, love and kisses!

Word count: 744

Link to this work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52937182/chapters/137384134

Honey

Javier opens a window to let out some of the warm air caused by the oven being on. He has placed Inés on the counter, watching her closely as she dangles her legs in the air. He is leaning against the edge of the kitchen table beside her while you cook dinner. You’re making a marinade for wings, mixing a few things together that you need to use now before they surpass their expiration date. 

It gives you an opportunity to use the tub of honey that you bought at the town square market a few months ago. As it looks now, you’ve only used it for your tea and some warm milk for Lucas’ sore throat a few weeks ago. So when you pull it out of the cabinet and start spooning the thick golden substance into the mixing bowl, Javier raises a brow. 

“That honey’s fake, mi amor (my love),” he says casually but you know better, looking up to find the familiar mischievous glint in his eyes that he thinks he is so talented at hiding. 

“Oh, here we go,” you suppress a roll of your eyes, but you cannot control the fond grin that you have on your face, “You a honey expert now, sheriff?” 

“Papá?” Inés pipes up from beside the both of you. She reaches out for him, tugging on his shirt to get his attention, “What’s fake?”

“Fake means not real, mija (my daughter). Like this honey,” Javier explains and scoops up his daughter, settling her on his hip and reaching into the drawer with cutlery. He gets out a spoon to let her taste it. She grabs the spoon from him as he guides it into her mouth. 

“But it’s yummy!” She exclaims excitedly at the sweetness that you usually find overwhelming. 

“See? Inés likes it,” you tease him. 

“Betrayal of the highest order,” he says theatrically to make his toddler giggle, grabbing the spoon from her again before she hugs him close. She rests her head on his shoulder. 

“You’re silly,” she lets him know. 

“Mamá’s silly for thinking this is honey,” he continues and you narrow your eyes, pausing mid-stir and giving him a look that tells him to elaborate. He blows a raspberry on Inés’ cheek, “I’ve spent my fair share of time around real honey and it doesn’t look like that. It looks like Mamá.” 

“Mamá’s honey!” Inés connects the dots even if she isn’t aware of the joke. 

It takes half a second for you to burst into happy laughter at his stupid line. You wipe your hands in your apron, only slightly flustered at the charming line that he has just thrown your way. You finally roll your eyes, looking exasperated, “You’re an idiot.”

“Yet I was clever enough to land myself the sweetest thing in this life,” he charms and grins, takes a step toward you, his free arm sliding around your waist, “And let’s not forget that you’re the one who married me.”

“Clearly,” you stress with a fond smile and move in closer to the two of them, Inés’ eyes lighting up at having your attention, “My judgment is questionable.”

Javier sneaks himself a kiss, a warm and lingering touch of your lips, the kind that says those three little words without making a sound. When you finally pull back, his smirk has softened into something more affectionate, his forehead resting against yours.

“See? Real honey,” he whispers. 

“Ew!” Inés squeaks but it seems more out of jealousy. 

“You’re full of it,” you tell him while planting a few kisses on Inés’ cheek, letting her know she isn’t forgotten. She reaches out for you but you can’t take her with your hands full, so instead she starts squirming to be let down. 

“Nooo, Papá!” She giggles, her laughter filling the kitchen as he pretends to fumble with the task for a moment, starting his usual routine of pretending to put her down headfirst which always causes her to squeal and kick her legs. 

“Alright, alright,” he finally says, giving in and planting her on her feet properly. She runs off into the living room, you realize, after a whole spoonful of sugary honey. 

Javier doesn’t seem bothered, instead turns back to you with the playful grin never leaving his face. He winks, finally having you to himself, “Worked though, didn’t it?” 

You shake your head, laughing softly as he envelops you in his arms, “It always does.”

.

.

If you would like to follow my writing then go follow @notjustjavierpena-fics and turn on notifications 💖❤️

[spacerockfloater]

hi! i noticed you learnt about what ryan condal said regarding blood and cheese. it was…something. i would like to know your thoughts on the matter. though it would be completely understandable if you need sometime to gather them together or if you would rather not at all! thank you and bye!

Hello beloved, thank you so much for asking me! I’d love to share my opinion!

If anyone’s wondering, @rhaenelle is referring to this interview where Ryan Condal essentially says he believes that Blood & Cheese’s brutality and heinousness was exaggerated by the Greens in a propagandistic attempt to convince their subjects that Rhaenyra and Daemon are the worst villains ever born, hence why he toned the event down; to show us what he thinks is the accurate version of Jaehaerys’ murder.

Now, I am aware that Condal had already warned us that HOTD was going to be a feminist retelling of the events of F&B, which practically means that his plan has always been to whitewash the everlasting fuck out of Rhaenyra. So what do I think about this?

Well, for starters, I think that Ryan Condal is an excellent businessman. He knows what kind of tropes are going to make the audience engage with his show. He understands that people need a hero to cheer for and a villain to hate, therefore he removed the moral ambiguity from all of the characters and divided them into two categories: the Blacks, enlightened revolutionaries full of passion, deserving of admiration and correct in everything they do, and the Greens, pious fools with a moral superiority complex who are stack in the ways of the past and commit despicable crimes. The average viewer does not possess the intelligence to comprehend that both parties have their good and bad moments, and that they’re both correct in fighting for what each believes is rightfully theirs. Simultaneously, he benefits from the modern trends that want women in media to take revenge when they are wronged and emerge as triumphant girlbosses, because of course a white upper class woman’s suffering in a western world (or Westeros) society has everything to do with her gender and nothing to do with her personality or decisions (even if this works solely for Rhaenyra, because Alicent seems to be held accountable for every single one of her actions). Finally, it is obvious that Condal is trying to appease disgruntled Daenerys fans, so he has rebuilt Rhaenyra into this tortured martyr that wishes to change the world for the better in an attempt to make her resemble her great granddaughter six times removed.

For all of these reasons, I find it very logical that he is going out of his way to minimise the tragedy the Greens experience. It just doesn’t make Rhaenyra look good and honestly, who wants that? The producers saw how unhappy Danny’s stans were when they made her lose her shit; they’re not going to make the same mistake twice. They don’t want their show to tank like the last season of GOT did, so they’ll do everything in their power to keep the audience happy. And it’s working! What’s the last thing Condal says in this clip? “You kinda start rooting for [Blood and Cheese]!” and boy oh boy, the TB stans sure do! Literally hundreds of memes that rejoiced at Jaehaerys’ death were posted on X this week, with tens of thousands of likes. But when Lucerys died, it was presented as the most foul thing to ever happen in the ASOIAF universe. It is the TB supporters that dictate which child murder is good and which is bad, and that decision usually depends on which child came out Rhaenyra’s womb, not let’s say, the fact that one kid was a toddler that could barely walk, while the other was a teenager that laughed at the disabled person he mutilated himself.

It’s all just marketing

That being said, I want to clarify that I understand why Condal and the HOTD producers do what they do, but being a good entrepreneur does not necessarily make you a literary genius. Now, I’m not gonna explain why stripping Rhaenyra off of every character trait that made her interesting is a bad decision and that in their attempt to remove the blame from her so that they can elevate her as this righteous patron of feminism, they’re accidentally removing all of her agency and turning her simply into a victim, because I have a whole blog dedicated to that. But let’s just say that presenting Rhaenyra as this sexually liberated idol that’s incapable of evil, when in fact she’s an entitled aristocrat who’s completely at the mercy of men around her, from her father to her husbuncle, is the most performative activism move ever pulled in recent TV history, as well as pushing the narrative that Alicent suffers from internalised misogyny because duh, a woman can only be good and a feminist if she supports Rhaenyra, not when she pursues her own interests.

Ultimately, I think we just have to accept that this show is not meant for TG fans. We are not going to find any satisfaction in it. Everything that was unique and admirable about the Greens in the book has vanished. Their family dynamic is fucked up, Alicent’s children hate her, Aegon and Halaena cannot stand one another, Alicent is constantly a victim and never someone that chases her own ambitions, Halaena is very vague, Aemond appears to be more angsty than angry, Aegon is a stupid rapist, Jaehaerys’ death was turned into a mockery, Alicole was weaponised in order to make us shit on Alicent and Criston even more and so on. This show barely caters to us because we’re not making them any money.

The reason that there are more TB than TG stans is because (I’m gonna get so much fucking hate for this) most people who watch TV are fucking morons. I swear, when F&B came out 6 years ago, no one gave a flying fuck about Rhaenyra, because we all understood that everyone involved in the Dance of the Dragons was fucked up in their own way and that the message of this story, just like the general message of ASOIAF, is that nobody deserves to sit on that fucking throne. We were all in agreement about that. But then this fucking show came along and all the oblivious simpletons that swallowed whatever the producers shoved down their throats, grabbed the book and decided that “Woah, this book is obviously a critique on patriarchy and Rhaenyra is obviously the victim of the story”! As if GRRM, the man who said that he doesn’t sit down and think “Oh, I’m going to write a woman now” but instead he believes women to be people just like men, with complex personalities, would ever do that. And they just can’t believe that it is possible for book!Rhaenyra to be an evil racist classist full of entitlement! Surely it must be because the Greens are rewriting history! There’s no way GRRM, the man that created Cersei fucking Lannister, would ever make a female character that’s vicious and crazy just because she feels like it! Y’all need to sit down for a moment. I say this as a radical feminist that supports the 4B movement: you’re projecting your own ideas onto George’s work. Not all the media we consume has to reflect our ideologies, but if you think that it has to, then this book isn’t the anti misogynistic masterpiece you wish it was.

Like, when it comes to F&B, I am firmly anti Targaryen and did not wish for any side to win. I wanted them all wiped out to be honest. But when it comes to HOTD, I’m TG basically out of spite at this point.

All in all, I just think that things are going to go downhill for us from this point on. They’ll just keep glorifying the Blacks until the very end.

[thetraditionalvalueswitch]

Ways to prepare for motherhood years before

Research childcare and child physiology

Read children's books and about how those books would benefit or harm a child

Study nutrition

Watch children's shows/movies and learn about how those would benefit or harm them

Work on your communication skills

Learn and perfect how to cook and bake

Keep up to date on the toy market and how those toys would benefit or harm them

Work to be the most loving and caring version of yourself

Spend time with and or babysit children

Take a class in something related (early childhood development, childhood nutrition, teaching, etc)

Work on how to handle your anger

Learn about the education system and alternatives

Keep up to date on what is going on with today's youth (trends, interests, reading rates, news, etc)

Learn about all sorts of children and their needs. This includes disabled children, queer children, children of all sorts of interests, girls, boys, etc

Find a partner who will make a great father

Do not get too preoccupied with a job or hobby that it will cause you to stay away from your children too much

[intergalacticsouvenirs]

From Romans to Rectums: Thoughts on the Naming Convention in Mad Max

I think it’s fascinating how that meme about how often men think about the roman empire is materialized in the mad max world in different forms, but especially in their bastardized-latin naming convention. In my mind, it appears that post apocalyptic warlords were aware that modern society looked up to the roman empire, but they didn’t quite understand how the romans influenced us exactly. Nevertheless, the warlords (or their history men) did have access to niche knowledge such as ancient roman military strategy, enough to inspire the imperator and praetorian warrior position names. It’s as if the first history men did not keep any pre modern history on their skins, so they had to reduce the entire roman empire into fragments of ideals (for oral tradition). Such fragments of ideals would combine in weird ways to inspire these war-men to write the most beautifully grotesque poems that are their names.

In a world where words have more power, names are more than just biographical micro-poems, they are multi-used as tools as well. They could be guns pointed to your face like “People Eater” and “Toe-Cutter”, a quality seal of approval on a product like “Capable” and “Splendid”, an aggressive dog warning sign like “Furiosa” and “Mad Max”, and even a prayer amulet as in “Corpus Colossus”.

As a trend among warlords, a wacky wrestling stage name is a must for a strong branding. After all, the ferocious marketing of late capitalism and show business did not die with the atomic bomb, but rather thrived, mutated, and embraced nature, believe it or not. Darwin’s nature, not you tree-huggers’ nature.

The names of the two capable immortan brothers Rictus Erectus and Scabrous Scrotus reveal the real underlying obsession of all men: the penis. The penis is the axis mundi around which all revolves in the (mad max) world. But more than just about sex, the penis cult is about finding strength and courage in a hypermasculine god to mentally survive in a hypermasculine hell. In this context, the names of Immortan Joe's sons take on a deeper significance. Firstly, Rictus Erectus translates to something like grin and erection, as if Immortan Joe had hopped for a future full of pleasures for his son. It is also a very verbal wish for an offspring who can physically stand up by himself and for himself. Unlike his disabled brother Corpus Colossus, who received a magnificent name meaning body like a giant greek god statue, in fruitless hopes that his imperfections would also grow away. Scabrous Scrotus more explicitly describes a unique physical attribute, namely some scabby nuts. Scrotus could very well be a nickname, which would parallel ancient romans who would choose a cognomen (nickname) to be known by, like Caligula meaning “little boot”, Oedipus (greek) meaning “swollen foot”, and Verrucosus meaning “warty”, for example. Better would be if Joe had named his son after his own beat-up ballsack, in which case this ode to biological reproduction against the environment would be very on brand. I bet Darwin is grinning wide, in his coffin.

It is interesting to note that most people in the recent mad max world appear to be illiterate and uncultured, so most don’t even understand the meaning of these stupid Latin names, but just that they sound as important as they say they are. That means these men who have access to nuance are really “dressing up” for each other, like an internal joke with the bois. Three brothers named to sound like roman emperors, to rule over all the erected men, by his mighty phallus.

It goes to show how colossal and monumental… the roman empire was, that it would outlast even the best of modernity. And its shadow would still loom over humans like the mysterious milky way in the night sky.

It’s a shame that Miller’s hyper-poetry is not that accessible.

[trendtrackershq]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒅 & 𝑬𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕

𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆: https://www.nextmsc.com/elderly-disabled-assistive-devices-market/request-sample

In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology is not just about innovation; it's about inclusivity and empowerment. The 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒅 & 𝑬𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 is a testament to this, revolutionizing how we care for and support some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:

𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉:  With an increasing aging population and rising awareness about disability rights, this market is witnessing substantial growth, projected to reach new heights in the coming years.

𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔: From smart home systems and advanced mobility aids to state-of-the-art hearing and vision devices, technology is making life easier and more dignified for the elderly and disabled.

𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆: These devices are not just about assistance; they are about enhancing the quality of life, fostering independence, and promoting active participation in society.

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑰𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔: Investing in and supporting the development of assistive devices is crucial. It’s not just about market trends; it’s about creating a world where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can live their life to the fullest.

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔:

Drive Medical

Gn Resound

Invacare Corporation

Sunrise Medical

Sonova Group

Starkey Hearing

AI Squared

WSAudiology

𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕: https://www.nextmsc.com/report/elderly-disabled-assistive-devices-market

𝑮𝒆𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅: Join us in exploring and supporting innovations in the Disabled & Elderly Assistive Device Market. Together, we can make a significant impact!

[maybe-boys-do-love]

Finished Last Twilight, and I'm not adding to the ableism discourse, because most things have already been said and with a lot of beautiful nuance that I agree with. But I do want to talk about how that ending arrived because of Aof Noppharnach's consistent symbolic commentary on the experience of living with HIV in much of his work, with an approach that's unique among all queer content. Imma skip Gay OK Bangkok since its not even a metaphor there, but I'll explain my rationale for the others, and we can just appreciate the foundation Gay OK Bangkok lays for us to think about the rest of his stuff.

The motif of life-saving medical intervention comes up in all but one of the works he takes screenwriting credit on. He's Coming To Me: P'Med dies originally because of a lack of medical intervention. 1000 Stars: Tian gets a heart transplant. Moonlight Chicken: this one's more subtle, but the whole series is explicitly established in the context of reopening following the COVID pandemic, and Wen will later say to Jim, "we are survivors." It was this line upon rewatch that made me start considering how thorough this theme is. Survivors of what? The meaning is three-fold: hard lessons in love, COVID, and, for gay men of their age, the HIV epidemic. The hope of medical intervention for Day's condition takes on a secondary meaning, with this trend in mind, even if the mixed disability politics between visual impairment and being HIV positive really fails.

His comparisons are more intricate though. Pills and daily regimens are a consistent motif. Day has his daily eye-drops, Tian his pills (which are presumably immune-suppressants to help accept the transplant but I'm not going to Viki right now and watching every ep to find out so someone feel free to correct me). 'But people take medicine for lots of things,' you say. 'Just because its gay doesn't mean its an HIV metaphor!' You have a fair point! But here's where Aof gets real fun and sneaky. P'Med dies from lack of pills the same year Torfun, whose heart will save Tian's life, is born, 1997. I'm mentioned once before 1997 as important for the class-conscious Aof because of the Asian financial crisis that Thailand set off that year. However, 1997 is also important because its the year HAART, or Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy was first used in Thailand (it had hit the market only one year earlier). HAART, a multi-drug regimen, boosted someone's life-expectancy with HIV up by 15 years, and its side-effects were significantly milder than previous approaches. The medical conditions of P'Med and Torfun's heart point us directly to HAART, and what it could offer.

Now we're moving out of the medical and into the experiential connections because, while Dark Blue Kiss is the only work Aof chose to take credit for screen-writing without incorporating medical references, it is by far the most dense with references to the issue of concealment. Its in the narrative as people closet identities and hide relationships, yes, but its in SO much of the visuals, too, most obviously the Pete & Kao mug hidden inside its coozie. It's easy to see the surface story about gay visibility and the closet, but there's a more specific subtext here about the associated condition that intensified the stigma of being gay and how that impacts your sense of self. Bad Buddy explores this issue less, but even in the BL Bubble, its haunted by the stigma of homophobia--it just shuffles it over onto rivalry so the audience can experience it without reproducing it.

However, the grief and shame of surviving when others haven't haunts Aof's other works much more intensely. Jim and Tian both are hung up on guilt for someone's death that they did not actually cause, continuing to pursue the goals for those that passed rather than their own. Then, there's Thun and P'Med, which is the best allegory for living and dating with HIV, bar none. It goes into the feelings of stigma and the limits of physical intimacy with partners that living with HIV caused, especially prior to Truvada's introduction in 2004. Even then, the show depicts how a HIV negative partner maintains the choice to participate in their own regimens, as Thun's desires for physical intimacy with P'Med manage their relationship and never the other way around.

This sense of required separation and gay identities that are less sex-focused also play into oft-maligned motifs in Aof's work. He's talked explicitly about people's criticisms of the limited physical intimacy in his earlier works that led to the more prominent stuff in Bad Buddy, but I hope given the above context, we can appreciate why physical intimacy is less of a priority than other kinds (and I'd add that 1000 Stars, which got the most sh*t about it, is actually one of the most erotically-charged BLs out there because of it's restraint). Then, you have the finales where characters separate for periods of time, and while I don't see this as explicitly tied to HIV experiences (Aof is literally following the book of romcom beats there, even if everyone whines about it), I can't help but appreciate a tangential connection to loving beyond time and distance that was required for those who lived with or lost loved ones to HIV.

I would've loved to see a version of Last Twilight that didn't absolutely bungle its metaphor, because it had every element to be something great (except, I'm sorry to the fans, lead actors with the necessary queer romantic chemistry). Watching the last episode, when the show seemed to finally rediscover plot and pacing, all the other pieces that had been drowned out by the disability conversation peeked their heads out, and I saw what the show wanted to be. The topics related to living with HIV of stigma, survivor's guilt, and assistive technologies: they were all right there, not just for Day but for everyone, if only they had been given the proper time to marinate to develop more complexity. It's the rare instance of a show where I'll choose to spend time imagining what could have been rather than obsessing over what was or just moving on. Even a misstep from Aof, like this, is overflowing with so many more layers than most series. The failures of Last Twilight, in relationship to his other works, even let you see how much food for thought he's providing.

[thesweetnessofspring]

While we're on topic about the lack of passion and physical attraction coming from Katniss and Peeta in the movies, can I just say how unfortunate that is, not just from an Everlark fan perspective, but culture as a whole?

Portrayal of popular m/f romance has often had an edge of abuse to it, if not outright abuse (and unfortunately that trend is still going on). I'm not saying books/movies with abusive or dark material should be banned or shouldn't even be enjoyed; however, there is something to only seeing unhealthy relationships. Also for these unhealthy relationships to be looked at without acknowledging that in real life, these dynamics are unfavorable at best and abusive at worst.

So with the release of The Hunger Games in 2008, we get a different relationship for the YA market. While yeah there were Gale girlies, most of the fans adored Peeta. Peeta who was kind, compassionate, funny without being mean, protective, and strong. And not only that, in an era of vampires and werewolves being inhumanly beautiful, Peeta was not only "some guy" in terms of looks, he ends the first book as an amputee. Still throughout the series Katniss describes him as "beautiful." And in a time when all these paranormal romances had the main character feeling a thrill of danger with her supernatural love interest, Katniss's main attraction to Peeta is that she felt safe with him. That he would never hurt her. That he would protect her. That with him, she could heal and feel hope.

Katniss describes physical attraction to Peeta as well as sexual attraction ("wanting more" of a kiss in THG, kissing Peeta and feeling a "hunger" in CF, imagining kissing Peeta like she did on the beach in MJ, and finally feeling "that hunger" again in MJ). But she also is highly traumatized and is in the middle of her greatest trauma during the series. This makes her uncertain and frightened, and so it isn't until Peeta comes back to Twelve at the end of Mockingjay that she's able to fully acknowledge that she loves Peeta romantically, because he helps her hope that "life will be good again." The "hunger" she felt was for more than hugs and short kisses. She found Peeta Mellark--baker, painter, wrestler, amputee--sexy. We close out Mockingjay with Katniss choosing Peeta, becoming physically intimate with him, and confirming her love to him.

Now what we get from the book is that you can have been abused, have chronic mental illness, be objectively less attractive than your "competition", and be physically disabled; but one's personality, humor, kindness, resilience, and care for others will make you sexy to the right person. That you can enjoy a safe and healthy relationship with good sex.

But by cutting out the intimacy that Katniss and Peeta share at the end of Mockingjay, the message is...if you're lucky the other guy will shoot himself in the foot and you'll win by default. Only don't expect the person you love to be physically attracted to you--you're still broken and not good enough. Just suck it up and accept what you got. Or, if you identify more with Katniss, that if you choose the "safe" person, just be prepared for a really dry sex life. Safe can't be sexy, so you have to choose one.

What an incredible miss for the movies. What a miss to tell boys you can be kind and sensitive and average-looking and the right person will want you. What a miss to tell girls that if a person is thoughtful and caring and giving, that is attractive and honestly, arousing. What a miss to share these messages with any person, however they identify. It's not just meaningful to Katniss and Peeta that they gain the safety and healing to enjoy physical intimacy together, it's meaningful for the reader to see that, too.

[hislop3]

Friday Feature: Senior Living Litigation Watch: Risks at CCRCs/Independent Living

Among the many topical areas I watch in health care, I pay particular attention to liability and litigation. As frequent readers/followers know, my firm, H2 Healthcare, LLC, focuses a practice area on clinical compliance and litigation support. My wife and the firm’s Senior Partner is one of the foremost experts (nationally) in litigation support and clinical compliance in senior living and…

[johannestevans]

one bonkers thing about my career and experience selling books is like. my first book, Heart of Stone, is a slowburn novel between an adhd vampire and his autistic secretary that i published in 2020

as a result pretty much of passionate word of mouth, it's regularly sold copies every month since

one or two a day much of the time, without me advertising it additionally whilst publishing new short stories on patreon or medium, without my boosting it that much on socials, without my actively advertising it all that much as an author

but through people reviewing it, and people talking about it

and part of the reason i'm really excited about having this year published powder and feathers, my massive fucked-up dark romance/cozy fantasy angel story, and also all of my shorts, novelettes, and novellas that are in the range of 99c, w new ones being $2.99, is seeing similar trends

i think largely this is a benefit of the fact that i'm like. someone who writes so much about trans and queer chars, and also writes so much disability and neurodivergence, that if someone's asking for a particular sort of rec with that flavour, i often have something that fits the bill

i've mentioned a few times that i felt silly that i hadn't taken the opportunity to publish my shorts as 99c ebooks in the past when they've received such passionate engagement, but one reason it feels so silly is that like

i think it took heart of stone about a year to reach like. that point

the point of saturation enough where enough people had heard of it, liked it, remembered it particularly, and were likely enough to recommend it - or even consider it one of their favourites! - that it was being discussed regularly in forums or subreddits or on socials or in book groups

it hasn't taken very long at all for Touch-Starved to hit a similar point of affection and engagement, and i know that as time goes on a few of my shorts will be regularly recommended and reviewed and talked about in a way that like… just creates a continuous additional marketing for them

and i say this like, as a small creator who is generally focusing on writing my next short or serial update or working on my next project, it makes such a huge difference to my income over time, and i'm unspeakably grateful for it, and obviously so like. ridiculously flattered and happy

bc as much as it of course makes me a bit of extra cash which i love as a young man generally Without Much Of It, it's also just the idea that like. your work is viewed with such affection that it lives so continuously in some people's hearts and minds and in their conversations, and you see that

and you see the evidence of it, where you see that little spike of sales that means people have been discussing it amongst themselves, and it's just so nice

and obvs like. bc i do have such a significant back catalogue, there's that delight of some readers to realise and go buy all of it

or come and subscribe to my medium or patreon and swiftly begin reading through everything there is, often with a great pleasure to have found an insane man who they like the style of and, luckily for them, has hundreds of short stories for them to taste little bits of his insanity

i just feel very lucky and very happy, that's all! i'm always so grateful to people who engage with my work in ways that are so loving and so full of like, passion and excitement, and especially when my work becomes like, something joyful they can then share with others. it's!!!! just lovely!

[centrally-unplanned]

Saw this on the dash (disabled reblogs, so I won't tag them) and its fine but just thought I would note its a bit off.

Anthropomorphized ukiyo-e predated the Tenpo Reforms, but it wasn't common and the general outline here is correct - but it wasn't a cat-specific trend (The book this quote is from is just from "What's Michael?" a cat manga). Here is Utagawa Yoshifuji's “Sumō Wrestling of Rabbits":

Here is Utagawa Kuniyoshi's "Yoshiwara Sparrow’s Temporary Nest":

And people did enjoy the parodic aspects, so it continued - you can find prints up through the 1870's - but it wasn't that popular, human depictions once they were permitted again became 99% of the market in short order.

Also the Tenpo Reforms weren't really repealed? What they are referring to is the firing & exile of Mizuno Tadakuni, the initiator of the reforms who was the only one who really cared about enforcing the artistic censorship part of the policies, so after that no one bothered with the letter of the decree. But the Tenpo Reforms were wide ranging and primarily about economics & financing; big parts of those failed by 1843, while other parts continued and were never really repealed, just built upon. Again I get it, its not like the Shogunate had a congress or a perfectly codified legal system, but I do think "after the removal of Mizuno Tadakuni the laws were no longer enforced" would be a better way of saying this.