#Ineffective Supplements

[mdsabir12]

TotalControl-24: My Experience with the Natural Supplement.

**TotalControl-24**, the 100% natural remedy supplement, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, my experience was not as positive as I had hoped.

While it may work well for some, I found several aspects that left me underwhelmed. Here's my honest review:-

1: Minimal Noticeable BenefitsOne of the biggest disappointments with TotalControl-24 was the lack of noticeable improvement in my overall health. I

followed the recommended dosage and gave it ample time to show results, but I didn’t experience the promised energy boost or enhanced immunity. For a supplement marketed as a game-changer, it failed to deliver on its claims in my case.-

2: High Expectations, Low ResultsGiven the claims of being 100% natural and highly effective, my expectations were understandably high.

However, TotalControl-24 fell short of these expectations.

While it’s good to know that the product uses natural ingredients, the actual benefits seemed mild and not significantly different from other supplements I’ve tried before.

3: Lack of Individualized ResultsHealth supplements can often vary in effectiveness based on individual needs and conditions.

Unfortunately, TotalControl-24 did not seem to address my specific concerns, like boosting energy or improving focus. While it might work well for others, the lack of tailored effectiveness made it feel like a generic product rather than one that could truly transform my health.

4: Price vs. Value ConcernsWhile I appreciate the effort to create a natural product, the cost of TotalControl-24 seemed high for the limited benefits I experienced.

Considering the price, I expected more noticeable improvements in my health. It’s hard to justify continued use when there are similar supplements on the market that deliver better results for less money.-

5: Limited Scientific BackingOne of the aspects that concerned me was the limited amount of scientific evidence provided to support the claims made by TotalControl-24.

While the use of natural ingredients is appealing, I would have appreciated more transparency about the specific studies or clinical trials backing its effectiveness.Final ThoughtsAlthough TotalControl-24 may work well for some individuals, my experience did not live up to the promises.

The minimal benefits, coupled with the high cost, make it difficult for me to recommend this supplement wholeheartedly. I believe it’s important to approach any health product with realistic expectations, and in my case, TotalControl-24 did not meet them. If you’re considering this product, I suggest researching thoroughly and exploring other options that may align better with your needs.

[whereispearlescentmoon]

Hermit-A-Day Day 24: JoeHillsTSD

A reminder that these are both individual bits of writing that can be read on their own and supplemental material for my fic Glitch.

@hermitadaymay

Notes on the Player Known as JoeHillsTSD, Taken by the Admin.

Name: Joe Hills Tag: JoeHillsTSD Age: 38 Species: Human Ghost Currently Puppet Season of Arrival: 1 Method of Arrival: Invited to join near the beginning of the season. Species Traits: Joe was, at first, a perfectly normal human. However, it would seem, at some point a few years ago, Joe died. He showed up one day to a meeting as a ghost, with seemingly no memory of how he had become one. It is possible that his close connection to Cleo, a necromancer, is what allowed him to retain some form, though they have been cagey about giving any clear answer as to how Joe came to be a ghost. Miraculously, Joe retained the ability to become solid for long periods of time despite this, making him indistinguishable from a human most of the time. When he is not using this ability, Joe appears blue and translucent. His abilities as a ghost are the following- Moving through solid objects, creating cold spots, throwing his voice from random location, and possession. While the last one sounds terrifying, Joe rarely uses it as he seems to not find it pleasant himself*. *Additional Notes: As of season 10, Joe seems to have found a target for his possession that he enjoys. Which is to say, Joe is a puppet. Visually, he looks like a hand puppet being handled by a translucent handler. The puppet, however, can move independently and Joe's voice comes from it's mouth. The "handler" is largely visual and cannot be touched. Admin Notes: Of any Hermit, Joe has some of the oddest variety in his builds. It makes sense, for the kind of guy Joe is. The very first season of Hermitcraft, Joe spent the season creating a sort of ship of Theseus of his base so that by the end of the season he had the same shape made of different blocks. A lot of his builds are based on films, games, or TV shows. He's made a bar based on Cheers, a farmhouse from Field of Dreams,and in two separate seasons made builds from Dungeons and Dragons. He has also created replicas of a variety of buildings, like the Tower of Hercules and Hohenzollern Castle, and this season, Bell Labs. Joe's personality is really something to experience. There's a reason people talk about the "Joe Hills Difference". Joe isn't chaotic or crazy in a loud way. This does not stop him from being incredibly gregarious. He uses explosive fireworks to fly with despite them being both ineffective and causing damage. He sings randomly. His favorite color appears to be neon green which he wears constantly. It's hard to distill the sheer weirdness of how Joe moves about the world. It often leaves people unused to him speechless. And he does it all with a complete earnestness.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

🩺 Sepsis Emergency Response (SER)

Is your sick Gallifreyan displaying signs of Sepsis? Here's a handy guide on how to respond to this medical emergency, because 'Sepsis is SER-ious'.

BIGGER - Google Drive: PDF / Image JPG / Image PNG

This guide is for use on Gallifreyans and Time Lords only. Always seek your human advice from human health providers.

✨ What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is a very rare but very serious condition in Gallifreyans that requires immediate action. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection, leading to widespread inflammation and potentially life-threatening complications like hearts failure or regeneration.

While Gallifreyan immune systems are extremely resilient, sepsis can develop unexpectedly, especially after trauma or severe infections, requiring immediate attention.

Just remember, sepsis is SER-ious.

📈 What's New in SER?

This updated version of SER adds a few key details previously not addressed, including the use of vasopressors and fluid bolus administration. It also introduces a few new visuals to highlight the importance of GASS, and better notes on oxygen administration.

📝 How to Use SER

📈 Step 1: Recognising Sepsis

Use the GASS system to assess vital signs and determine if sepsis is indicated:

Scores ≥9 or 3 in any category require immediate activation of the sepsis protocol.

Symptoms such as persistent abnormal breathing, synchronous hearts rhythm, or a significant Heart Rate Differential (HRD ≥50 bpm) are present.

If sepsis is identified, start regular routine monitoring using GASS, either continuously or every 15 minutes.

If the patient's vitals indicate a healing coma, cease active intervention and monitor in a secure environment.

🫁 Step 2: Secure the Airway

Check and clear any obstructions using ABCDE protocols before introducing supplemental oxygen.

Ensure the patient is not using their respiratory bypass system, as introducing oxygen during respiratory bypass activation may cause oxygen toxicity.

Administer oxygen cautiously. Start at 10L/min and titrate to the lowest effective flow rate to maintain respiratory function.

If oxygen equipment is unavailable, focus on positioning the patient to optimise natural airflow, ensuring the head and neck remain elevated.

If using human equipment, use oxygen cautiously and rely on clinical observation rather than human oximeters, as these are ineffective on Gallifreyans.

🧪 Step 3: Take Bloods

Establish an IV line and collect blood samples for analysis.

Test for lactate levels (≥1 mmol/L indicates significant infection).

If possible, test for artron (≥5000 mcL) and lindos (≥250 mcL) levels. Elevated markers confirm severe immune response or systemic distress.

Gallifreyan blood samples can be challenging to analyse with human equipment—if Gallifreyan equipment is not available, rely on lactate levels and visible symptoms like pallor, sweating, or poor capillary refill time.

💉 Step 4: Introduce Intravenous Antibiotics

Administer antibiotics immediately via IV.

Gallifreyan dosages are double human normals.

If the infection is unknown, administer broad-spectrum antibiotics according to your local policy (eg. Amoxicillin/Doxycycline)

Adjust to targeted antibiotics if the infection source is identified.

Timing matters: Administer antibiotics within the first hour of sepsis identification to maximise effectiveness and reduce complications.

💧 Step 5: Administer Fluids

Administer fluid bolus through an IV line. Glalifreyans preferelectrolyte-rich solutions (e.g., Hartmann’s or 0.9% Sodium Chloride).

Administer a 500ml bolus over 15–30 minutes if systolic BP ≤90 mmHg or lactate ≥1 mmol/L.

Reassess after each bolus and repeat up to four times as needed.

Monitor for signs of fluid overload, such as jugular vein distension or rising respiratory distress.

Reduce bolus volume to 250ml if heart/s failure is suspected to prevent fluid overload.

🩸 Step 6: Consider a Blood Transfusion

If the patient fails to stabilise after antibiotics and fluids or has had significant blood loss, consider a transfusion:

Efficacy:

Human blood: 50%.

Gallifreyan (same House): 70%.

Own blood: 90%.

⚠️USE ONLY COMPATIBLE BLOOD. Gallifreyans are unable to receive blood transfusions from other Gallifreyans who are not in their House, which will cause severe complications.

⚠️DO NOT USE VASOPRESSORS. Gallifreyan physiology is sometimes susceptible to blood clots from human drugs that affect vascular tone, leading to severe complications.

🔁 Step 7: Reassess and Monitor

Use the ABCDE approach alongside GASS to monitor the patient’s condition every 15 minutes.

Escalate care if:

GASS score remains ≥9.

Severe symptoms like synchronised hearts rhythm persist.

The GASS score worsens by more than 3 points across consecutive assessments.

Always consult a Gallifreyan hospitaller for advanced treatment.

📌 Key Points to Remember

Early Action Saves Lives: Use GASS to identify sepsis early and act fast.

Monitor and Reassess: Frequent reassessment is critical to adapt care as needed.

Tailored Interventions: Adjust fluids, antibiotics, and oxygen based on the patient's unique physiology.

Escalate When Needed: Always involve a Gallifreyan medic or hospitaller if symptoms persist or worsen.

Caregiver Vigilance: Gallifreyan physiology can mask symptoms until sepsis is advanced, so remain alert.

Medical Guides These are all practical guides to assessing and treating a Gallifreyan in an emergency or medical setting.

⚕️💕Gallifreyan CPR

⚕️👽Gallifreyan Assessment Scoring System (GASS)

⚕️👽ABCDE Assessment

⚕️⚠️Sepsis Emergency Response (SER)

⚕️⚠️Severe Trauma Protocol

⚕️🌡️Gallifreyan Thermoregulation and Emergency Response

⚕️🔮Psionic Emergency Pathways

⚕️✨Post-Regeneration Management

⚕️💤Gallifreyan Healing Coma Management

⚕️🩸Interpreting Gallifreyan Bloodwork

⚕️👶Gallifreyan Paediatric Emergencies

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features:⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[thatdiabolicalfeminist]

Noah Sheidlower, John L. Dorman

Medicaid may be on the chopping block as the Trump administration prepares its budget blueprint.

The House Budget Committee's budget draft included a goal of about $2 trillion in spending cuts and allowed for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.

The blueprint draft called for at least $880 billion in spending cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee over the next decade. This would likely mean large Medicaid cuts, potentially leading many Americans to lose their benefits. A Ways and Means Committee document outlining reconciliation options reveals over $2 trillion in potential Medicaid cuts, though some could overlap.

President Donald Trump has said Social Security and Medicare, which are the largest federal government programs, wouldn't be cut. Elon Musk has also accused "federal entitlements" such as Social Security of fraud.

The draft directed the Committee on Agriculture to reduce the deficit by $230 billion, which would mean cutting nutritional programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. [Food stamps/EBT]

The most recent Medicaid enrollment data from October 2024 revealed over 72 million people were enrolled in Medicaid, while 7.25 million were enrolled in Children's Health Insurance Programs. Medicaid provides healthcare and long-term services coverage for lower-income Americans and is financed by both the federal government and states. In some states, over 30% of the population is covered by Medicaid. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicaid spending in 2023 was nearly $872 billion.

Some GOP leaders have proposed reducing Federal Medical Assistance Percentages, the amount the federal government pays to states based on factors such as a state's per-capita income. Others have proposed Medicaid per-capita caps, which an early House Budget Committee proposal said could save up to $900 billion. This shift would lead states to either cut back on Medicaid services or identify other methods for funding potentially billions in losses.

Figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have argued that Medicaid is ineffective, and some question whether it has improved people's health. Critics of the program have also said people relying on Medicaid could get insurance from other sources, such as their workplace. However, Medicaid expansions have been shown to improve care access, reduce mortality rates, and spark economic growth.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina in recent days had already moved ahead with his border security, military, and energy package, as Republicans in the upper chamber had been waiting for their House counterparts to offer their budget proposal.

Graham is aiming to pass a second budget resolution extending the 2017 tax cuts later this year.

Senate Republicans can pass a budget reconciliation bill with a simple majority, or 51 votes, as they wouldn't have to meet the normal 60-vote filibuster threshold. The party currently holds a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber.

House GOP leaders see their budget framework as one that could pave the way for passing a reconciliation bill through Congress with the priorities of Trump and top conservatives in mind. Republicans have a razor-thin 218-215 majority in the House, so every vote will be critical, and they're looking to pass one bill with Trump's signature policy desires.

Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday told reporters that Graham's plan was a "nonstarter."

"We all are trying to get to the same achievable objectives," the Louisiana Republican said. "And there's just, you know, different ideas on how to get there."

GOP leaders have recently pushed for Medicaid cuts, leading to debates over how much to cut services many Americans rely on.

Other major points from the House blueprint included increasing the debt limit by $4 trillion, reductions in education totaling $330 billion, and allocating up to $300 billion in additional border and defense spending.

The Senate's plan calls for $150 billion in additional defense spending and a $175 billion boost for border security.

[scientia-rex]

Good morning! I have a question. When I look up info about vitamin D, I come across many claims that people generally don't get enough of it. In a recent episode of Maintenance Phase, however, the hosts called it a "scam" or overblown, at least (I don't remember the exact wording). So, like, what's the deal with vitamin D? Do Americans get enough of it?

Probably, mostly. At the very least, people should be tested before starting repletion. It probably has a role in osteoporosis treatment and prevention, BUT how much to take and what form and when is HOTLY debated and frequently conclusions are changing.

Just to take you on a spin through the most recent Cochrane reviews (THESE ARE NOT SINGLE STUDIES, in case any of the research-naive out there want to get pissy about them; look up what a Cochrane review actually is before trying to shit on it; also note that I did NOT say this will cover every fucking person and every hypothetical they can come up with, jesus CHRIST):

No role for vitamin D in asthma

Insufficient evidence to recommend it in sickle cell

Raising vitamin D levels in cystic fibrosis patients is not beneficial

No evidence of benefit of vitamin D in MS

Supplementing vitamin D in pregnancy may have small benefits but also risk of harms

No clinically significant benefit from vitamin D supplementation in chronic pain

Insufficient data on vitamin D in inflammatory bowel disease, but no evidence of benefit

No evidence of benefit of vitamin D supplementation in liver disease

Vitamin D does not appear to prevent cancer in general population

No evidence for benefit in supplementation of vitamin D in premenopausal women to prevent bone density loss

Possible small mortality benefit of D3, but not D2, in elderly patients, but also increased risk of kidney stones and hypercalcemia

Vitamin D alone ineffective, but combined with calcium may be effective, in preventing bone fractures in older adults

Insufficient evidence for vitamin D improving COVID-19 outcomes

Now, vitamin D plus calcium in people who have post-menopausal bone density loss does seem to prevent fractures. This is why doctors routinely recommend it. However, dosage and formulation are still debated as data are insufficient, and uncertainty still large.

So, do you need to supplement? Probably not. There is some fairly weak evidence that vitamin D supplementation may help with depression, but I would argue that it's going to be most relevant in people with pre-existing deficiencies, which Medicare is just hellbent on not letting me test for anymore. They've narrowed the coverage codes for testing so now even know vitamin D deficiency isn't considered a good enough reason to test. So Medicare has very clearly decided it's not relevant, for whatever that's worth, I spit on their graves, etc. Of course, then you get into the question of what counts as a deficiency, which we also really don't know.

And to be clear, I wasn't looking through the Cochrane review results with an angle--those are most of the first page of search results on their site, with the only one skipped being similar to another one I mentioned, and I stopped when I got bored. These should not be paywalled, as I am not logged into anything and I can read it all, so try clicking the side menu on the right if you have trouble getting into the weeds.

If anything, running through this little exercise has made me less likely to recommend vitamin D supplementation, so do with that what you will.

[solidrockistand]

Growing in the Knowledge of God Part 1

2nd Peter 1:3-11- His divine power was granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind having forgotten that he has cleansed from his former sins. Therefor brothers be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In reference to 2nd Peter 1:3: His divine power was granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence

1st Peter 1:5- Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1st Thessalonians 2:12- And so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth be delighted in wickedness.

The power to grow does not come from within us but from God. Because we don't have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to participate in the divine nature. When we are born again, God by his spirit empowers us with his own moral goodness.

In reference to 2nd Peter 1:4- by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2nd Corinthians 7:1- Since we have these promises dear friends to let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates us body and spirit. Perfecting holiness out of reverence for God

We will never be perfect not even close. There has and always will be one perfect human being that has walked on this earth and that is Jesus Christ. Ask for forgiveness - repent of your sins - Do the footwork - ask God to guide your path - stay in his word.

Being a Christian isn't so cut and dry a lot of these religious people make you think. They are so confident to tell you what to do, how to pray, how many times you should be in church. All of that from wise counsel is good and is very important but one thing they fail to mention is how does one handle the dark moments, when you have moments when all you can think about is the very thing you're trying not to do. Being a Christian is tough; it takes a lot of self-control, and that self-control comes from Jesus. Find other people that you can be completely honest with, not only with what you are struggling with but also with your walk with the Lord.

1st Thessalonians 4:7- For God did not call us to be impure but to live a holy life.

Leviticus 11:44- I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about the ground.

God is so interesting, and the creator wants the created to know about him. He wants us to gain a better understanding of him. The more we know and understand God the closer we are to him.

2nd Peter 1:5- So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life, then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of oral excellence leads to knowing God better. (New Living Translation)

In reference to 2nd Peter1:5

Colossians 2:3-4 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you so that no one may deceive you by fine sounding arguments.

-Pray for Understanding-

God has given us minds for learning. Never quit using yours. Center your learning around Christ.

Paul was combating in the Colossian church which was similar to Gnosticism from the Greek word knowledge. This heresy undermined Christianity in several basic ways.

Romans 16:18- Such people are not serving Christ as Lord they are serving their own personal interest by smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people

When reading books and/or listening to sermons check the content of what you are reading (even with what you are reading right now) or listening to. Don't be fooled by smooth style, Christians who study God's word cannot be fooled. Superficial listeners may easily be taken in.

Acts 17:10-11: The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

2nd Peter 1:6- Knowing God leads to self-control, self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness.

In reference to 2nd Peter 1:6

God wants to produce his character in us. To do this He demands our discipline and effort. False teachers may teach that self-control isnt needed because deeds don't help believers anyways. Deeds cannot save us, that is true BUT! to say that they're not important is completely false.

We are saved so that way we can grow to resemble Christ and so that we can serve others.

2nd Peter 2:19- They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity for a man is a slave to whatever masters him.

No body is truly free, if people fail to follow God, they follow their own sinful desires and then become enslaved to whatever the body wants. Submitting our life to Christ free's us from slavery to sin. We are free to serve him a freedom that results in our ultimate good.

As we obey Christ who guides us by the spirit, we develop self-control not only with respect to food and drink but also with respect to our emotions.

Faith must be more than beliefs in certain facts it must result in action, Growth in Christian Character and the practice of moral discipline or it will die away.

James 2:14-17: What good is it, my brothers if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food If one of you say to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical need, what good is it? In the same way faith by itself it is not accompanied by action is dead.

Seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have.

Matthew 7:26- But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish like a person who builds a house on sand.

Many people are headed to destruction not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. As believers we think about the bigger picture some may say we think about life's purpose. We as believers pay attention to other people as well and help shine the light of Jesus and sharing the gospel and the consequences when ignoring Christ's message.

[doshmanziari]

Two (relatively) recent and worthwhile considerations of FromSoftware soundtracks

As I mentioned a few months ago, I supplemented and republished an older essay on the music of Demon's Souls, the Dark Souls series, and Elden Ring, which you can read here. And I figure it's worth bringing up again, since I'm recommending two videos on the same general subject for a mini-post here.

To begin: Loopine, one of whose videos I've linked before, came out with a video, entitled "How Elden Ring Surpassed the Dark Souls OST", arguing that Elden Ring's clearer and deeper sound design puts it above Dark Souls 3's score. I find Loopine's analysis according to production unusual, appreciable, and clearly articulated; and, contrary to most media criticism solely being the self expelling thoughts, Loopine also conducts a small-scale experiment with other people regarding musical recognition — an experiment that, were it to be applied on a large scale, could yield very interesting results. Even so, the final thought I continue to have here is that the scores to Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3 are so comparable in their aggressive roteness (or rote aggressiveness?) that sound design can't possibly make that large of a difference.

Let me kinda diverge for a moment to remark on the trend Loopine mentions of "REAL CLASSICAL GAME COMPOSER CONDUCTOR REACTS TO DARK SOULS/ELDEN RING MUSIC" videos, just to say: first, how weird that videogame culture at large continues to suffer from this sort of media envy, awaiting the representatives of "real" art-forms to recognize an Undertale theme, or whatever. There seems to be the presumption that a certain kind of professional occupation necessarily yields novel insights; and that such professional appreciation somehow enforces an objective qualitative status upon the art. Did Bach admire the work of Vivaldi? Sure. Does that mean that I have to "admit" that Vivaldi's music is great? Uh... no. But, more than that, I find these videos confusing, given their emphasis on the quality of effectiveness — because a large part of my critical argument is that most tracks for the Dark Souls sequels and Elden Ring are highly ineffective.

A possible reason for this stark divergence of opinion is that, perhaps, most of the people featured on these videos haven't spent much time with the games, and so they miss the more particular details; and they also do not examine the soundtracks as a whole, both internally and according to FromSoftware's relevant catalogue, and lose sight of a bigger picture which reveals the tracks' interchangeable identities. On its own, Yuka Kitamura's theme for Lady Maria might seem extraordinary, and specially suited to that confrontation; when played right after the two-dozen others like it from Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring... well.

From here, then, I'm going to recommend Crunchy's comparison of the original Demon's Souls soundtrack to the remake's. Being almost 3.5 hours long, and having no script prepared, it is, in a sense, the opposite to Loopine's. The length is not necessarily to the comparison's benefit. I think the video's maker would admit that, eventually, it becomes difficult to sustain the fresh particularities of criticisms made earlier on, because the offenses are fairly consistent. Since I left a comment on the video, I'm going to just quote that comment here:

This is a good musical analysis. Most of the comparative critiques I've come across couch the difference in terms of "taste", meaning that they tend to miss the contextual dimension. I think that it can be argued that the remake's music even fails on its own terms: the elaborateness of the reimaginings suggests that you're battling highly complex bosses with multiple phases, and that's not the case at all. With some of these tracks, I feel like half of the respective boss fight might have gone by during the intro. Given the general orchestral approach, I have the impression that the composer was probably drawing on Bloodborne's OST as the standard, since that was the last FromSoftware title prior to the remake which utilized an actual orchestra for pretty much its entire score; but, of course, Bloodborne's OST is communicating something very different from the world of Demon's Souls. Shrieking, slamming, grotesquely dark horror is definitively out of line, just as the needless graphical elaborations turn a brutal and austere world into a series of decked-out theme parks. I continue to be confused by most of FromSoftware's musical decisions for these games. For instance: why hire Motoi Sakuraba as your composer for Dark Souls? Nothing about Sakuraba's résumé recommends him as a composer of any sort of orchestral music. Was he just an affordable, "reliable" option? [Crunchy provided his own response to this: "I think Sakuraba was hired mainly because he had a relationship with Bandai, who published DS1."] How so much of a game like Elden Ring can be particularly crafted, while 85% of the music is a bundle of atmospheric non-events and "epic" slop, is baffling. Miyazaki's role here seems strangely incompetent, and out of line with the image of the man who pushes these teams to exceed aesthetically generic impulses.

(Parenthetically, I'd call readers' attention to Crunchy's videos on Elden Ring. I've explored just a few, but each stands among the most interesting and informed analyses of the game's esoterica I've come across so far) — OK. That's all for now. Bye!

[oblivionbladetd]

So Lily really used the Scar's duo to talk about how sharing beds without being in a relationship isn't weird.

Now, where Saige and Assana are not dating, we have chapter 2 confirmation and supplemental materials to know they have a very active sex life. Though, in the case of lorchian reading comprehension I do really want to focus on that plan B scene. Here's a refresher for those that may have forgot.

Now ignoring all logistics, there's implications Sai does not cover, the fact that the mom had plan B ready and that Assana had zero hesitation means one of three things. One, the mother just knew her kid, and her weird sorta son are that irresponsible. Two, they were at it for so long that it would render standard stuff ineffective. Or three, Audible confirmation that uhh... yeah.

Keep that in mind with all the bed sharing happening in her fics. They don’t do anything Saige and buttox-ana wouldn't do. It's clear Saige plows her like a field in dire need of tilling.

[dailycharacteroption]

Book Review: Dragons Revisited

And we’re back with another of my favorite Pathfinder supplement series, the Revisited series, in which ten related subjects are given a deep dive and an analysis, as well as perhaps an update to their lore based on the Pathfinder paradigm rather than D&D and other sources.

In particular today we’re looking at Dragons Revisited, which covers the classic chromatic and metallic dragons we’ve all become very familiar with… and honestly, this is perhaps the least exciting of the Revisited series. You see, the classic dragon types of D&D have not changed much in the transition to Pathfinder, with many of their traits being the same between editions (black dragons being cruel sadists, white dragons being only a few steps above being animals, red dragons being greedy).

However, that isn’t to say there are no changes whatsoever, so while I’m somewhat disappointed overall with this book as a revisited entry, it still has it’s merits for those tidbits in addition to the specific setting lore as well.

Each article delves into the typical nature of the dragon species in question, and then goes on to explore how they fit into their local environment and with other dragons, as well as what sort of living situation they set up for their lairs. From there, we get information and sidebars talking about how the dragons fit into the Lost Omens setting and even stats on a particularly powerful specimen to round things off.

Starting off we have black dragons, who are still the same cruel and vicious sadists as they always are, prone to torturing captives and destroying those that fail to provide any amusement.

Blue dragons, meanwhile, got their orderly ways and big families expanded upon to make them master manipulators of the desert, working through proxies and the like to control regions as they see fit.

Brass dragons are very much the same as they were in previous systems, being chatty gossips, but they are also emotional and passionate, able to display the wide depths of emotion and be swayed by appeals to the same.

Meanwhile, Bronze dragons excel as keepers of lore and stewards of great relics in addition to their wistful solitude and ascetism.

Known as jokesters and pranksters in D&D, copper dragons are expanded in Pathfinder to have earnest interest in heroic good works, such as overthrowing tyranny or missions of mercy… If only they could stay focused on such tasks for long.

Gold dragons remain the perfect poster children of goodly draconic kind, more interested in guiding than leading or acting directly except when the former has proven ineffective, and often see themselves as the responsible older kin to other dragons, even their chromatic kin.

While green dragons remain belligerent and territorial, they received perhaps one of the most drastic additions in that they too like to hoard and collect knowledge like their bronze kin, though getting them to share it may prove more costly.

Reds are greedy, true, but they are primarily defined by draconic arrogance and a strength-based worldview, viewing nearly every creature as beneath them. They may deride their fellows that are brought low by mere mortals, but will then happily avenge them with a terrible fury to re-establish what they believe to be the natural order.

If gold dragons seek to bring order and enlightenment through indirect guidance, silver dragons seek to achieve it through direct action. They are courageous and saddled by an ingrained sense of duty, and often accept oath after oath to bind their own actions in their goal to master themselves and become a beacon against evil. That pressure, however, makes some at risk of cracking, and perhaps because of that, silver dragons are the most likely to tarnish of all the metallic dragons.

Finally, white dragons remain mostly the same, being relatively dim-witted and shortsighted for dragons (which is still a fair shake better than your average human) but they also have passionate souls and surprisingly social dynamics among their own kind despite acting in a more feral manner than most other dragons.

The book sports an even mix of art drawn from the Bestiary, as well as article openers of adventurers facing down these dragons or otherwise encountering them, which is very fun stuff. However, like I said in the bestiary entry earlier this week, it can be hard for D&D fans to reconcile the differences in appearance between the D&D and Pathfinder versions of these familiar dragons. (especially when, by all appearances, brass dragons and copper dragons seem to have opposite colorations.)

Overall, this book does give the ten classic dragon species more depth than they usually get in the games, and through the links to the setting and the statblocks, it works to fully integrate them into the world of Golarion. It even points out in the foreward that these dragons can change alignment albeit rarely, giving you carte blanche to flip the script and have goodly chromatic or villainous metallic dragons as needed.

On the other hand, I maintain that this is still probably the most disappointing entry in the Revisited series, if only because it retreads territory that most everyone already knows. However, perhaps that’s partially my own familiarity with D&D coloring my viewpoint there.

In any case, that will do for now. Tomorrow we’ll be looking at something tied to the deities of the setting!

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

Psychology can help with certain Long Covid symptoms, but Long Covid is not a psychological condition.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a program of physical and mental rehabilitation probably improve symptoms of long COVID, but the effects are modest, finds a review of the latest evidence published in The BMJ.

Intermittent aerobic exercise also probably improves physical function compared with continuous aerobic exercise. But the researchers found no compelling evidence to support the effectiveness of other interventions, including certain drugs, dietary supplements, inspiratory muscle training, transcranial direct current stimulation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or mobile education apps.

Although most patients recover from COVID-19, up to 15% (an estimated 65 million people globally) might experience long term health effects, including fatigue, muscle pain (myalgia), and impaired cognitive function.

Health care providers are increasingly seeing patients with long COVID, and in the absence of trustworthy and up-to-date summaries of the evidence, patients may receive unproven, costly, and ineffective or harmful treatments.

To address this, researchers trawled databases for trials randomizing adults with long COVID to drug or non-drug interventions, placebo or sham, or usual care.

They found 24 relevant trials involving 3,695 patients investigating drugs, physical activity or rehabilitation, behavioral interventions, dietary interventions, medical devices and technologies, and combinations of physical exercise and mental health rehabilitation.

The trials were of varying quality, but the researchers were able to assess their risk of bias and the certainty of evidence using established tools.

Evidence of moderate certainty suggests that compared with usual care, an online program of CBT probably reduces fatigue and improves concentration, and an online, supervised combined physical and mental health rehabilitation program probably increases the proportion of patients that experience meaningful improvement or recovery, reduces symptoms of depression and improves quality of life.

Moderate certainty evidence also suggests that intermittent aerobic exercise 3-5 times a week for 4-6 weeks probably improves physical function compared with continuous aerobic exercise.

However, no compelling evidence was found to support the effectiveness of other interventions, including the antidepressant vortioxetine, the antibody leronlimab, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, brain retraining, transcranial direct current stimulation, inspiratory muscle training, hyperbaric oxygen, and a mobile education app on long COVID.

Despite their rigorous search of the literature, the authors acknowledge that it is possible they missed eligible trials. Furthermore, most of the evidence supporting other interventions was low to very low certainty, and new trials may affect results.

However, this was a rigorous review, designed with input from people with lived and living experience of long COVID, and with a focus on outcomes that are important to patients.

As such, the researchers conclude, "Our findings suggest that offering patients with long COVID a program of CBT or a program of physical and mental rehabilitation will probably improve symptoms."

These results will be updated as new evidence becomes available, they add.

More information: Interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition): living systematic review, The BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-081318

Study link: www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj-2024-081318

[pandorias-box]

What do you mean people will attempt to battle you if you want a meal within the food court.

What if you are inexperienced and simply just want to have a meal without having to engage in combat with your Pokémon? Honestly, this system is extremely ineffective.

I suppose I will have to stick to my nutritional supplements instead of trying local delicacies today…

[pangeasoftware]

Do you consider yourself more weird or normal than most people?

I live in the pacific northwest, and am a barrel-chested 6'2 white man with a shitty beard and blonde hair down to my nipples. I have a septum piercing and wear clear horn-rimmed glasses. I drive a used manual subaru outback. I wear ironic trucker hats and pullover sweaters and carhartt et. al.. I like retro 90s anime aesthetic. I have what many would say is probably too much screen time in a day, but am working on it in fits and starts. I like craft beer, but mostly local ones only - i've also worked through my IPA phase already. I'm entering my late twenties, and I work part time for a non-profit while going back to school for software engineering. I have a dog, Wrigley, and a cat, Domino, who live with me and my partner who I met on the internet as well as my highschool friend from my hometown. We've been trying out the whole "polyamory" thing with a little white lady from the botany program at my state college. I lift weights maybe 3 times a week when i'm on top of my life, but it's been more like a couple times a month since I went back to school. At times, I would describe myself as a "bedroom producer", and those in my life say that i am a bit of a music snob. I'm addicted to alcohol, pornography, and binge eating. I have adult ADHD and anxiety, and was in the gifted program in school before my academics went south in middle and high school. I'm self conscious about my hairline, and have considered taking supplements for it however have weighed the pros and cons and decided it's not worth the risk. I've got really bad sciatica from working in a warehouse in my teens and early twenties and getting in a car accident a few years back. People in my life would describe me as very kind and caring at the best, or well-intentioned but ineffective at the worst. I tend to steamroll people in conversations or other social situations and don't do well in large groups, because i have a lot of attention and self-esteem issues.

[musicandgallery]

Read first the Disclaimer in the pinned entry of the blog.

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

Serious Dangers of Synthetic & Unnatural Vitamins

"We should be concerned about taking synthetic vitamins and other unnatural nutrients because published research in the last few years concludes two important things:

First, synthetic and other unnatural nutrients are mostly ineffective in preventing disease.

Second, these chemicals may be dangerous to your health — some have been shown to increase the risk of death! Most of the studies show an increased incidence of cancer and heart disease, the reason for the increased risk."

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

Vitamin supplements taken by millions of people every day for their health could be increasing their risk of death a new Danish-led study suggests.

"The researchers pointed out that the studies they examined only used

synthetic supplements,

and therefore their observations and conclusions do not apply to natural antioxidants such as those found in fruit and vegetables."

[script-a-world]

Submitted via Google Form:

How would a society that has always lived in trees since the beginning go about making sure that trees can hold a lot of weight for modern amenities that are a whole lot heavier than primitive times? What needs to be done? Could it be even possible to genetically modify tree DNA to make them sturdier (but then we also get issues of trees taking a long time to grow... but I suppose they could accelerate its growth as well?) Any other ideas? Or  maybe less live in trees but building structures surrounding the base of trees instead?

Tex: Do they need those modern amenities? What would these amenities be supplementing in terms of daily habits that their current ones are ineffective for? Are these specifically electronics, or something mechanical? How much of their lives do they spend in the trees, and how much on the ground?

Did they invent these modern amenities or was it introduced to them via an outside source? If so, why? Who benefits from that? What would some of those drawbacks be, in terms of cultural adjustments and interactions with others?

Do these amenities need to be in the trees? If so, would there be a way to miniaturize or otherwise make a light-weight version of such an amenity? How well do these amenities integrate into their current culture?

[oilcolor]

Yooooou aint gonna belieeeeeeeeeve this

I can't even get into the details of this for worry of TMI or confusing or whatever the fuck but long story short: I'm on two medications, to treat two specific issues. Both of which have a significant effect on my ability to do... absolutely anything at all, ever Independently, they're both extremely effective. Together... Pill A renders Pill B completely ineffective and makes me extremely depressed beyond function! In essence, here're my options. Option 1: Stop taking Pill A (for Condition A), and deal with extreme irritability, chronic and completely disabling pain, vomiting / severe GI issues and suicidal ideation. Pill B happens to make the chronic pain worse and is still rendered ineffective about 50% the time due to Condition A. The other 50% of the time there's a chance I'll be in a functional state. Option 2: Keep taking Pill A, so I'm chronic-pain-free and my mood is stable (as in consistent), but it's consistent... paralyzing depression. And Pill B doesn't work at all ever Both conditions are just... leaving either of them go untreated is inconceivable to me. But the only things that have ever worked to treat them, don't work together. I'm either nonfunctional and depressed or nonfunctional and in pain. (and even if antidepressants were a simple option for me, I severely doubt I could afford all three things...!?) so I don't.... know what to do. at all. Lmfao. My absolute best fucking guess at what I can even try at this point is throw supplements at the problem and pray but I don't know what the odds of that doing a fucking thing are. I don't know. I do not know where I go from here

[wat3rm370n]

Supplements need regulation!

Defeat the right-wing step 2 according to It Could Happen Here podcast…

Nobody should be getting adulterated vitamins or substances that are not safe.

It Could Happen Here Podcast - How to Stop the Far Right in Three Easy Steps September 9, 2024 • 30 mins Mia and Robert discuss an unlikely electoral program to defeat the far right: an MLM crackdown, supplement regulations, and legalizing direct car sales.

Even if this doesn’t defeat the right-wing, it’s the right thing to do, because for pity’s sake I am so exhausted by overpriced products that have no standards, and might be adulterated or counterfeit. And especially the sheer volume of pseudoscience quackery involved in selling all and sundry products. It’s bonkers level, and I’m not even listening to the right-wing shows that really hammer people with ads for this stuff including bizarre dangerous stuff, like Alex Jones, or basically any streamed event involving Donald Trump. But even lefties sometimes promote these things. The sheer volume of marketing of sketchy claims and unproven covid prophylactics and long covid remedies that I hear about online is dizzying.

My letter to reps:

So many things are on the market that are not regulated but should be, such as nutritional products, herbs, botanicals, dietary supplements, and vitamins. And there’s no way to even be sure these things are what they claim to be. They can be adulterated, or ill-formulated, or even counterfeits, but we can’t know for sure what’s what. Who’s overseeing this? Nobody apparently! And I’m sick of the product cults constantly invading every social space with high pressure manipulative sales tactics. Sometimes these things are already proven ineffective, or in some cases are unsafe. Supplements are health products and they need to be regulated like it.

Feel free to use my example for your own letters to your elected representatives.

(crossposted from my substack)