#big thickett

[pineyw00dsshesquatch]

My sweet baby lizard friends in my garden are SO CUTE

[lithyena]

Bog Thickett

bog 🌾 - where would you most like to live?

Anywhere that's close to a forest and / or mountains! Living in a house far away from other houses where we have deer in the backyard and have a fireplace n stuff. I think that would be pretty neat 🙌

thicket 🌳 - how close do you live to a forest? have you ever explored it?

The city I live in is pretty densely grown with trees and other greenery, so smaller foresty areas are between 5-15 min bikeride away and I explore that a lot. As for a big forest I'd have to cycle for about 30 min! I've only ever cycled through that one and I'd still really like to wander around there one of these days!

I've explored lots of forests through the years though! I've always lived close to them and they are always super lovely!

[art-in-pure-heart-valley]

Okay, so I came up with this AU where Mao Mao is still a little kid while his sisters are the main characters and heroes of Pure Heart Valley. Here, Mao Mao’s family is attacked, forcing the sisters to flee and take little Mao Mao with them. (still debating on the fate of Shin Mao - dead or missing?) 

They are travelling and on the run for some time, going from place to place while doing hero things for money and gifts along the way in order to take care of Mao Mao (get him clothes, keep him fed, find him a place to sleep, occasionally give him a toy, etc…). They do get Mao Mao a pet dog along the way, who names him Bao Bao. They all eventually come across Pure Heart Valley the same way as in the show: damaging the Ruby Pure Heart, fighting off a monster, and the Sky Pirates, all on their first day. They are rewarded with getting to live in Pure Heart Valley. In addition to that, the sisters end up forming a professional relationship with King Snugglemagne, who is more than happy to be their “platonic” sugar daddy benefactor (whatever that means), since he’s more often than not behaved rather eccentrically whenever he’s in their presence.

The sisters are introduced to Adorabat, who still wants to learn how to be a hero. They are unsure about granting that request, but they allow her to be near them because they thought she’d be a suitable first friend and playmate for Mao Mao. However, since Mao Mao’s and Adorabat’s aspirations to become legendary heroes were what they both have in common, their idea of playing together gets them both in all sorts of trouble. The sisters are unsure if Adorabat’s being a bad influence, but Adorabat does care for Mao Mao in her own way. Over time, she could either be like another sister to Mao Mao, or perhaps something more…

Later on, the sisters learn of trouble from bandits calling themselves the Thickett Thieves who rob the homes of Sweetypies at night. They wait one night and catch the Thickett Thieves in the middle of a burglary. Upon driving them away, only one member is left behind, one who admits to having personal issues of self-acceptance which led to him sacrificing his moral standards to appear cool: Badgerclops. The sisters mull it over for a moment and decide to spare him and invite him to join them in order to restore his moral standards. Mao Mao takes a liking to him right away, deeming him his ‘big’ big brother.

The sisters and Badgerclops, along with Mao Mao and Adorabat, now form a co-sheriff-deputy team that protects Pure Heart Valley, all fighting together like one new big family. Additionally, both Adorabat and Badgerclops live with the Mao siblings and their dog in the Sheriff Department HQ, meaning that this hero family is now a family of nine!

---

I love the idea of Mao Mao playing around with Adorabat ;w; thats so cute, and together training to become legendary heroes! Pure Heart Valley would be a super safe place to live.

[mrsarnasdelicious]

Seladon and Freckles - Wedding

The most magical wedding in quite a few thrine!

Naturally Seladon wishes it could be in Ha’rar, but allas

It is held in Stone-in-the-Wood

Seladon wears a beautiful dark blue gown that she made together with Brea and Deet

Maurix wears a white tunic with a deep V neck and silver scrollwork

For the occation all other Maudra’s traveled from their homes to Stone-in-the-Wood

Because she is the oldest of the Maudra’s, Maudra Argot officiates the marriage

Stone-in-the-Wood is decorated with the Sifan reds and the Vapran purples

A Dousan team outshone themselves in cooking an amazing meal

And a group of Spriton musicians has come over from Sami Thickett to keep the ambiance going

They play tunes from every clan

The ceremony is more Vapran

But the party is of course more Sifan

After the ceremony there is first a congratulation line

The Maudra’s and close friends/family give gifts

And then the festivities begin

Of course bride and groom open with a Vapran dance

Which soon devolves into something more Sifan

Soon enough everyone’s joined in

And they dance until deep in the night

Of course there is a big feast, but every gelfling can choose their own time to sit down for a bite of a sip

Around midnight Maurix spirits Seladon away for the wedding night

But that is a tale for another post

[fo4ghost-diary]

Entry 5 - October 31st - Sanctuary (a-fucking-gain)

Haven't had a chance to update this the last few days, been too busy helping Preston's crew get settled. They're good people, which is annoying as fuck. Makes me want to help them. Still, anything to avoid thinking about my life, right?

So, I've spent the last few days cobbling together some houses and working on a water purifier with Sturges. If I can get the parts I might build them a few more. They're going to get established here they're going to need something to trade. They've got the river, best make use of it.

The Longs were working on establishing a farm while we were getting the purifier and generator built. Marcy asked me to go buy some more seeds for planting from a nearby settlement, Abernathy Farm. Well, by asked, I mean "angrily demanded". I like her - I gave her that minigun from the vertibied, and as I left she was already mowing down two headed deer while screaming at them furiously. Least they won't suffer from a lack of protein.

Finding the Abernathy's was easy enough - they've got a large farm beneath a power pylon, lit up like Times Square. No defences either, and apparently raiders have noticed. They agreed to give me some seeds if I got their dead daughter's locket back from the raider bastards who murdered. Let's be fucking honest here - I would have done that for free.

Jun and Marcy lost their son. This new world is full of dead children. Why the fuck are any of us still here?

How many kids died when the bombs fell? Oh, G-d.

Anyway, the raiders were holed up in that old satellite station, and I tore through there like their own personal monster in the shadows. Found the locket. Found another minigun too, and a bunch more ammo for Marcy....not counting the bullets that I had to dig out of my torso that is. Thank fuck for stimpacks and superhuman abilities.

On my way back to the Abernathy's I came across a guy trying to drain Thickett Quarry and helped him out fixing up the pump. He seemed kinda sketchy but if he starts the place working again then maybe we could get a wall up round Sanctuary and the Abernathy place. Also, I thought insects had got big? Crabs are worse. Much, much worse. Can't even stab them in the back because of the fucking shell. I hate crabs. Mirelurks. Need to start using the new words.

Got the locket back to the Abernathy's and got the seeds. Blake also told me I could use their workshop, so I did. Fixed up a few automatic gun turrets for them. Yeah, yeah, I'm going soft, what-fucking-ever.

[dxsole]

✨House of Fioré

✨ ——— character question sheet.

▌real name: Francesca Fioré ▌/real/ name: Sara-Jean Thickett ▌single or taken: Single & Searching ▌abilities or powers: Can sew you into any article of clothing at the drop of a hat, can cry on cue, looks amazing in any hair color, can max out a credit card in one shopping trip. ▌eye colour: Dark Brown ▌hair colour: Naturally auburn but dyes it a lot. ▌family members: None that she still keeps in contact with. ▌pets: None, she’s allergic to dogs and cats. ▌something they don’t like: Taxes, tabloid magazines, insects, actually being married. ▌hobbies/activities: Shopping, spending other people’s money, flirting, sketching, putting on copious amounts of mascara and then crying so that she looks dramatic as possible. ▌ever hurt anyone before: Emotionally? Yes. Physically? No. ▌ever killed anyone before: Of course not! ▌animal that represents them: A very expensive fur coat that also judges your appearance. ▌worst habits: Alcoholism, overspending & compulsive shopping ▌role models: Vivienne Westwood and Debbie from Addam’s Family Values ▌sexual orientation: Heterosexual. ▌thoughts on marriage/kids: She does not want kids nor is she the right age for it. Francesca always loves the idea of marriage and continues to seek out rich husbands but it’s definitely more for the perks and less out of love.  ▌fears: The IRS catching up to her, being broke, losing her fame. ▌style preferences:  Her own personal preferences changes from day to day but it seems like she cycles through a few very notable looks: all black + cape + diamonds + red lipstick, big curls + fur + turban + pantsuits, nude makeup + wavy, romantic curls + menswear + rings on every finger, blonde hair + wide brim hats + pastels + pumps ▌someone they love:  Herself. ▌approach to friendships: The only thing she cares about from other people is whether or not they like her designs tbh ▌thoughts on pie: Acceptable. ▌favourite drink: Bourbon ▌favourite place to spend time at: Her studio ▌swim in the lake or in the ocean: Neither. She needs chlorine and a pool boy or else she’s not going in. ▌their type: Young, Dumb, with very sharp jawlines and abs for days. ▌camping or indoors: c...camping??? She doesn’t even breathe fresh air-- only canned air???

✨ TAGGED BY: @90smagicalboy // thankies~!!! ^^ ✨ TAGGING: @bigidiotenergytm, @a-kitten-with-claws, @dirkgentle, @gothamfright, @usethespoon, and anyone else that wants it~!!!

[missingrache]

Feeling bad about myself after a Thickett session, big oof.

[thesnootyushers]

As season 11 of Trailer Park Boys lands on Netflix, here’s my attempt at launching at a British version.

Trailer Park Boys returns for it’s 11th season today on Netflix. It is hugely popular around the world despite its very humble beginnings. It starts out as a documentary following Julian and Ricky as they get out of prison and attempt to go straight. They move back to the trailer park they have lived their whole lives, and the wacky characters of the park have made for a great comedy series eer since. After coming to an end on traditional TV, the three main actors (JP Tremblay, Robb Wells, and Mike Smith) kept the show going through a series of films, before launching Swearnet, their own produciton company and online network. They bought the rights to the Trailer Park Boys and have gone about making the franchise bigger than ever, having teamed up with Netflix to produce live specials, and even recently did a series with their characters touring Europe, which featured Noel Fielding in the first episode. They also regularly appear in character on chat shows, and there is a whole bunch of content on Swearnet featuring various cast members of TPB.

And with their international success, why not try to produce a British version?

Bear with me Bubbles, I think it would look a little something like this…

Julian (John Paul Tremblay ) to be played by …. ANDREW LINCOLN

Julian takes the lead in most of the boys schemes, and at times he is even moderately successful, before his loyalty to his friends and trailer park, the law, or sheer bad luck usually end up with him back at square one. He has gone legit a few times, running a bar/club/casino, and also various illegal plans such as a clean urine business. He is also the one who invited the cameras into the trailer park for the first time. As nominally the straight man in the trio, there were a few names that came to mind in a British version, including Martin Freeman, Ben Miller, and of course Idris Elba, because he should be in everything. None of them had the greasy edge that Julian has, until I thought of Andrew Lincoln. Although now a superstar due to The Walking Dead, his role in Teachers showed that he can do comedy drama, and obviously Egg in This Life wasn’t a totally straight role. And look at that picture of him in a black T-short and jeans – a bit more tricep meat and he’s perfect!

Ricky (Robb Wells) to be played by …. NICK FROST

Ricky is, simply put, an idiot. Rickyisms are one of the highlights of the show (“Make like a tree and f*** off”, “Looks like we need two turnips and heat” and “Don’t judge a cover of a book by its look” are some of my favourites), and I just think Nick Frost would be great at delivering them. He would also be brilliant with the physical comedy, as Ricky is constantly falling over:

  A natural Ricky!

Bubbles (Mike Smith) to be played by …. MACKENZIE CROOK

And so onto the breakout, and most difficult to cast, character. Bubbles started out as an odd neighbour, but over time has grown into being the heart of the show. He lives in a small shed and is devoted to his kitties, as well as being a budding singer. In turn, actor Mike Smith seems to be the most natural performer when it comes to the live shows. Although I toyed with the idea of Peter Kay or Steve Coogan doing a comedy character similar to a young Leonard the paper boy or Duncan Thickett. Or Marek Larwood from We Are Klang, to try and match Bubbles heer weirdness. But when it comes to oddball characters, giving it a British twist is what we do best, and I can’t think of anyone who would capture Bubbles’ nervous, naive nature than Mackenzie Crook. And in the same way that Gareth Keenan was originally a totally different character before Crook auditioned and won the role, Bubbles would be slightly tweaked by retain the spirit of the original character. Plus Crook is sublime in BBC Four’s The Detectorists, alongside the great Toby Jones.

Jim Lahey (John Dunsworth) to be played by …. JIM BROADBENT

The supporting characters in Trailer Park Boys are much more complex than in most comedy shows. Jim Fahey is the Trailer Park supervisor, an ex-police officer, with a serious drink problem. At the beginning of the series he is a comedic foil for the boys, almost like Officer Dibble in Top Cat, but later he goes on the offensive to try and get rid of Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles. He has season long arcs, and a love story for the ages with Randy. There were a whole bunch of slightly older British actors I considered. Paul Whitehous, Timothy Spall or Mark Heap. But there’s a underlying tragedy to Mr Lahey, and I think that Jim Broadbent would be fantastic in this role. He has a background in comedy, and one of his most recent roles, as James McAvoy’s therapist in Filth, shows that he isn’t afraid to get weird when required.

Randy (Patrick Roach) to be played by …. JOHNNY VEGAS

Randy is the Assistant Supervisor at the Trailer Park for most of the show, occasionally holding different positions depending on the whims of the owners. At one time in their younger days he was friendly with Julian, Bubbles, and especially Ricky, but now he is on the side of law and order, helping Lahey to thwart the boys. He is also truly in love with Mr Lahey. There was only really one choice for the role of the shirtless, cheeseburger-eating, rotund Randy – Johnny Vegas.

Sarah (Sarah Dunsmore) to be played by… JESSICA HYNES

Onto the female characters. Sarah has got the measure of the boys, never taking any of their nonsense and with almost no romantic entanglement to cloud her judgement. She is also far more successful than Julian when it comes to planning and executing schemes – Trailer Park Girls would be a much different show! Jessica Hynes is a comedy great – she was one of the highlights of my Christmas countdown with her star turn in Nativity 2 – and as a smart woman trapped by her circumstances, she would be perfect. She’s also grown beyond her role as Daisy in Spaced, but I reckon we could work in one reference with her and Nick Frost, and someone else later on…

Lucy (Lucy Decoutere) to be played by… SHARON HORGAN

Another smart, confident woman who is held back by one thing – although with Lucy it is her love of Ricky that keeps dragging her back to him. She knows that she deserves better than him, but she loves him so they always end up back together. Although Horgan has made her name with starring roles in comedies like BBC Three’s Pulling and more recently Catastrophe which has been picked up by Netflix. This has led to her new show Divorce getting picked up on HBO, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church.  This would be a great role for her to just be a comedy actor though, a bit like when Chris Morris was in the first series of The IT Crowd.

Barb Lahey (Shelley Thompson) to be played by… JULIA DAVIS

Barb is the owner of the Trailer Park, and the wife of Jim. She also has a bit of a dark edge to her, being ready to act in her own self-interest and sell the park to anyone with the money. Julia Davis would be great to be involved, stuff like Nighty Night and Hunterby more than shows her comedy chops. I also see Barb as a young woman being impressed by dashing police officer Jim Lahey before he lost his job and fell into his spiral of self destruction, so that is why she is so much younger than Jim Broadbent. This would also help her bond with Lucy and Sarah, who I’ve always thought more of as an older sister rather than a mother figure.

J-Roc (Jonathan Torrens) to be played by …. SIMON PEGG

J Roc is the trailer parks’ resident wannabe rapper. He has a million and one catchphrases that have evolved over the course of the show,“maafk”. For the equivalent version in Britain I needed a very British comedian with a love of hip hop – so why not Simon Pegg? I reckon we could shoehorn in ONE Spaced reference with the Tim, Daisy, and Mike reunion.

Cyrus (Bernard Robichaud) to be played by …. JASON STATHAM

You didn’t think I could get through this without The Stath, did you? Cyrus is the inept faux gangster/pimp/tough guy who is the Boys main criminal antagonist. I’ve not recast everyone in the series, but Cyrus would be the big bad over the course of the first season of my British version of Trailer Park Boys.

Sebastian Bach (Sebastian Bach) to be played by …. BRUCE DICKINSON

Rockstar Sebastian Bach plays a recurring role in Trailer Park Boys, and a British reboot would need someone of a similar stature. Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson could get involved with a drug distribution scheme either with his band on tour or with his own jet (he’s got a pilot’s licence).

Cory and Trevor (Cory Bowles and Michael Jackson) to be played by… DANIEL RADCLIFFE and RUPERT GRINT

Cory and Trevor are basically used by Ricky and Julian as a supply of cheap labour and free cigarettes. They are basically included in the plans to be ready-made scapegoats and take the rap when things naturally go wrong. So why not get the boys from Harry Potter back together?

But where is it set?

Sunnyvale, Nova Scotia to be replace by… BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE!

In this country, we don’t really have “trailer parks” on the same scale of North America, so it has to be a seaside resort. Bridlington it is!

And that’s it for my British version of Trailer Park Boys. I’d like to thank our Senior Wrestling Correspondent Jonny Hogarth for his help as a sounding board to bounce my ideas off with this article, as I mentioned throughout there really were a a lot of names in the mix. What other shows would you like to see remade in a British setting?

So, what do you think now, Bubbles?

That’s all I ever wanted to hear.

Until next time, stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold. See you soonish.

Like what you’ve read? LIKE us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and look us up on Instagram!

Fan Cast – Trailer Park Boys: The British Version As season 11 of Trailer Park Boys lands on Netflix, here's my attempt at launching at a British version.

[healthandfitnessrecipes-blog]

Vaping Shuts Off Protective Cells in Your Lungs

https://healthandfitnessrecipes.com/?p=9877

By Dr. Mercola

Conventional tobacco cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals released into your lungs and the surrounding air with each puff. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 calls tobacco use the "single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States," killing more than 480,000 Americans every year and 41,000 from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Additionally, smoking-related illnesses cost more than $300 billion, including direct and indirect costs. In 2016 an estimated 15.5 percent of adults — 76.1 million people — smoked daily.2 In response to these numbers, tobacco companies began marketing electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs), claiming they were a safer alternative for both the smoker and bystanders.

However, a 2016 report by the U.S. Surgeon General,3 "E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults," called the products unsafe and documented an alarming increase in use by young adults. The report also showed e-cigs are associated with use of other tobacco products as well as challenges with brain development affecting the health and mental health of young adults.

Despite the industry's claims to the contrary, a growing body of research data continues to demonstrate damage to the user and bystander from using e-cigs, also called vaping, as these devices produce vapor rather than smoke.

A recent study4 found vapor from e-cigs boosts production of inflammatory chemicals and impairs the activity of macrophages, leading researchers to conclude it may damage vital immune system cells.5

Vaping May Damage Lungs, Increasing Risk of Lung Disease

The findings prompted researchers to suggest further study is necessary as the data was acquired under laboratory conditions,6 but many of the effects were similar to those seen in people who regularly smoke and those with chronic lung disease.

Much of the previous research has concentrated on exposure to e-cig liquid prior to being heated, while this study was focused on the impact the vaporized chemicals may have on lung tissue. To accomplish this, researchers extracted alveolar macrophages from lung tissue samples provided by nonsmokers who had no history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.7 

The cells were broken up into three groups: One-third were exposed to e-cigarette fluid, one-third to different strengths of artificially vaped condensate and the rest were left unexposed for 24 hours. The data showed the macrophages exposed to condensate were harmed significantly more than those exposed to unheated e-cigarette fluid, and the effects appeared to worsen as the amount of condensate increased.

After 24 hours the total number of viable cells were significantly reduced and the researchers found condensate containing nicotine exaggerated the effect.8 However, with or without nicotine, vaporized chemicals from e-cigs increased the inflammatory response.

Researchers found the vapor also disabled the ability of the macrophages to engulf bacteria and protect pulmonary function. This damage increases the cells vulnerability to dust, bacteria and allergens, increasing the risk of triggering COPD.

Inflammatory Process May Increase Risk of Infection

The researchers also found when macrophages were exposed to doses of vapor too low to kill, the cells expelled 50 times higher amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to unexposed cells. Dr. Daniel Weimer, pediatric pulmonologist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, reviewed the results and commented:9

"[Macrophages] do a bunch of things. One thing they can do is eat up foreign things, whether they be bacteria or viruses or just particles that have drifted down into the lungs. They can act as scavengers that present these particles to the immune system to activate an immune response.

Many people think of COPD as an older person's disease. But we're seeing younger and younger kids vaping. And that may cause a loss of lung function at a more accelerated pattern because they're starting it in their teens."

Excessive production of ROS and inflammatory cytokines may induce an inflammatory state partly dependent on nicotine, inhibiting phagocytosis (the ability of the cells to clear bacteria), suggesting the user may have a higher risk of pulmonary infections.10 Lead researcher and professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham, David Thickett, commented:11

"There has been a lot of support for people to use e-cigarettes rather than traditional cigarettes because of the perceived safety of the e-cigarette process. There is an agenda to portray e-cigarettes as safe. We should have a cautious skepticism that [e-cigarettes] are as safe as we are being led to believe."

The American Lung Association (ALA)12 is concerned with the use of e-cigarettes, the unproven claims they may be used to help smokers quit and the potential they may be a gateway to smoking traditional cigarettes, especially considering the aggressive marketing tactics the industry has used to target youth.

Dr. David Hill, member of the ALA board of directors, reviewed the study findings and commented that while e-cigs might be safer than traditional cigarettes, "less harmful doesn't mean safe." He added:13

"We have to be careful when we promote these as safe. Would I encourage my patients to use these or should they be marketed as a safe alternative to smoking? Definitely not."

How E-Cigarettes Work and Came to Market

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices used to inhale aerosol, which typically contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals. Despite a variety of appearances and design, they operate in a similar manner. In many of the products, puffing activates the battery-powered heating device, which in turn vaporizes the liquid the person inhales.

The history of the development, commercialization and distribution of the product dates back to 1965 when Herbert A. Gilbert was credited with developing the first device and receiving a patent in 1965. In 1979, Phil Ray a pioneer of computers, created the first commercialized variation, which failed. Attempts to commercialize the product were restarted in the 1990s but again failed.14

The first commercially successful e-cigarette was created in Beijing in 2003. E-cigarettes were introduced to Europe in 2006, followed shortly thereafter in America. It was two years later the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed e-cigarettes were not legitimate smoking cessation aids and demanded marketers remove this information from any advertising and materials.15

In March 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed U.S. Customs to reject product entry into the U.S. as an unapproved drug delivery device. Canada also banned the sale, advertising and import, claiming they contained a known irritant, and Hong Kong banned them with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and HK$100,000 fine for possessing or selling e-cigs.16

FDA Reversed Their Opinion and Sales Skyrocketed

By 2011 the FDA had reversed their opinion and announced they would regulate the products as they do tobacco and traditional cigarettes.17 A short nine years later, the product has become ingrained into Western culture with more than 9 million American adults vaping consistently18 and having risen to epidemic proportions among high school students.19

According to Euromonitor International,20 the number vaping rose from just over 5 million in 2011 to more than 40 million in 2018, and their market research estimates usage will reach 55 million by 2021.

However, disproportionate numbers of people are vaping in the U.S. compared to other countries, spending more than six times more on vaping than Japan, the next closest country. Vaping products continue to be illegal in Brazil and Thailand.

The most common reason people give for using e-cigs is they are "less harmful than regular cigarettes," and 49 percent claim they are being used to stop smoking traditional cigarettes. The percent of other reasons are not far behind, including that the use is not banned in public and the vapor doesn't bother other people.21

Vaping May Lead to Smoking Traditional Cigarettes and Addictive Behavior

Although Big Tobacco would like you to believe vaping is harmless to you and your companions, research data does not support their claims. Data from the featured study demonstrates chemicals found in the vapor shuts down cells designed to protect your lung tissue, and other research shows e-cigs carry further risks.

From a general look, e-cigarettes appear to be a positive step in the right direction — away from combustible tobacco. However, it is critical to look deeper anytime you add something into or on your body. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse,22 in addition to the known health effects, early evidence suggests e-cigarettes serve as an introduction to use of other tobacco products.

In one study, students who had vaped by the time they reached ninth grade were more likely than others to start smoking combustible cigarettes within the following year.23 Interestingly, the reverse was not true. In other words, students who said they smoked cigarettes were not likely to report using e-cigarettes in the following six months.

In previous studies, results suggested teenagers who vape are at an increased risk for smoking combustible cigarettes, which may actually encourage cigarette smoking in adolescents. Another study from the University of Pennsylvania,24 using an animal model, determined rats exposed to nicotine during adolescence grew up to drink more alcohol than those who were not exposed.

The exposure at a young age changed neurological circuitry in the brain within the reward center, explaining how the exposure increased the potential for addictive behavior later in life.25 Nicotine exposure during adulthood did not appear to alter the function of the midbrain circuitry as it does during adolescence.

E-Cigarettes Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Many e-cigarette liquids use flavor, found to induce early signs of cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack, stroke and even death. Researchers found changes appear almost immediately on the cellular level.

According to the lead author, Jessica Fetterman, Ph.D., the measures evaluated during data collection were some of the first changes seen in the development of heart disease.26 Using endothelial cells that line blood vessels, researchers exposed one group to menthol flavored traditional tobacco cigarettes and the other to unflavored tobacco cigarettes.

They compared these against nonsmoking volunteers. The cells from both types of smokers were unable to perform a key function — the production of nitric oxide used to dilate blood vessels. This gave the researchers a baseline against which they compared flavoring additives commonly used in e-cigarettes.27

At the highest level of exposure, the chemicals triggered outright cell death. At lower levels, researchers noted impaired nitric oxide production and inflammation. Fetterman commented on the importance of the study:28

"Increased inflammation and a loss of nitric oxide are some of the first changes to occur leading up to cardiovascular disease and events like heart attacks and stroke, so they are considered early predictors of heart disease. Our findings suggest that these flavoring additives may have serious health consequences."

Bystanders Inhale as Much Nicotine From Vape as Traditional Cigarettes

Vapor from e-cigarettes also include flavor chemicals, giving the user an experience similar to traditional cigarettes without high levels of offensive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. However, while there is no offensive odor, the vapor does pollute the air with nicotine and fine particulate matter that is easily inhaled by bystanders.29

Despite lower levels of nicotine pollution from vaping, data demonstrates bystanders exposed to the vapor have similar levels of cotinine, a measure of the amount of nicotine taken into the body, as those exposed to traditional secondhand cigarette smoke.30 The reason for this discrepancy is unclear.

Vapor also contains know carcinogens acetaldehyde and formaldehyde,31 and the FDA32 has detected antifreeze chemical diethylene glycol, also linked to cancer.

According to the Americans for Nonsmokers Rights,33 secondhand vapor may contain at least 10 chemicals identified on California's Proposition 65 list of reproductive toxins and carcinogens. Likely the most well-known is diacetyl, an artificial flavor used to add a buttery taste and linked to respiratory damage and permanent scarring of the airway.34

How to Make Quitting Smoking Easier

Although some claim vaping helps increase the potential to quit smoking, Dr. Michael Blaha, a professor of medicine and director of clinical research at Johns Hopkins Medicine, believes:35 

"When the field was originally thinking of these as cessation devices, then some toxicity could be tolerated. But now we're looking probably at a couple million users in the United States who are being exposed to e-cigarette vapors who potentially wouldn't have been exposed to any tobacco product."

I believe quitting smoking is an important step to taking control of your health and it is a significant challenge. However, I also believe the "secret" to quitting smoking is to get healthy first, making quitting mentally and physically easier.

Exercise is an important part of this plan, as research shows people who engage in regular strength training double their success rate at quitting smoking compared to those who don't exercise.36 Healthy eating is another crucial factor. If you want to quit, here are three basic tips to get started:

Read through my comprehensive free nutrition plan to get started eating right.

Develop a well-rounded exercise regimen. This is your ally to fighting disease and to quitting smoking. Strength training is an important part, but also remember to incorporate high-intensity interval exercises such as the Nitric Oxide Dump, core-strengthening exercises, stretching and regular nonexercise movement (like walking and cutting back on sitting).

Find a healthy emotional outlet. Many use exercise, meditation or relaxation techniques for this, and these are all great. I also recommend incorporating the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) into your new health plan. This can help clear out emotional blockages from your system (some of which you might not even realize are there), thus restoring your mind and body's balance and helping you break the addiction and avoid cravings.

Once you are regularly doing these three things, then think about quitting smoking as you have developed a foundational core on which to rely during the process. At this point many are ready to quit "cold turkey."

If you need a distraction, these six things to do instead of smoking may help. Finally, if you're a parent, talk with your children about the risks of smoking combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and of the dangers of smokeless tobacco. The easiest path to not smoking is to avoid starting in the first place.

Source link

[jollysharkcoffee-blog]

Why you too will be working two jobs by 2030 (and probably loving it)

We know about the standard 9-5; the full-time job we head out to, enjoy or dislike, take the regular, reliable income from (hopefully) and come home from. But startling new figures suggest one in four people are running at least one other business project alongside their main day job – contributing £72bn to the UK economy in the process. These so-called “side hustles” are expected to become so common over the next decade or so that by 2030 half the population is likely to be running a business as well as working elsewhere. But fears are growing that a significant shift in working life could be met by hostility among the UK’s employers. Transatlantic trend An import from New York and Silicon Valley, the growth of the UK side hustle is “unprecedented”, according to the Henley Business School. Boosting the average “hustler’s” income by 20 per cent, a quarter of them are working 50 hours a week or more – 13 hours longer than the average UK worker. “Taking on a side hustle isn’t always easy,” says musician, documentary maker and business owner Professor Green, who warns would be hustlers to prepare for mistakes and rejection. “It takes preparation, thick skin, ideas and commitment enough to execute them. If I stopped at the first ‘no’ I got or gave up after making the many mistakes I have along the way, I’d be nowhere now.” But despite the growing trend, personal failure is not the only problem facing entrepreneurs. Those business leaders which are supportive of the trend believe there are some big benefits. Around half feel that allowing the practice helps to retain their best people, half also said that allowing the practice actually helps them attract top talent. And more than half feel that it makes their staff more productive and happier. Which means half of UK business leaders remain ambivalent at best. Trust or tussle However, for most second jobbers, this isn’t about creating an escape route from their day job. In fact, the majority of side hustlers say it made them happier in their main role. “Since graduating with a degree in music, I’ve been working as a brand strategist at an advertising group in London,” says Peter Thickett, aged 24. “It was never really an option sacrificing my passion for music once I left university but, equally, I wanted to explore a career in the world of marketing and advertising. So I set up Ante Terminum Productions with a friend from university – a newly established theatre company based in London. We aim to create vivid and immersive performances that explore the dramatic potential of music. “I have no intention of leaving my job to pursue the business full time, but likewise I have no intention of sacrificing the company for my work in the advertising industry. It shouldn’t be a case of having to choose and I think this is becoming more and more apparent for my generation. “If employers wish to attract a new generation of creative minds, it’s their prerogative to become more flexible. First and foremost, they need to acknowledge that side hustles are the very things that make these employees valuable – giving them a richness of experience and perspective that can only be an asset to a company.” Job for life “A side hustle gives people a sense of control over their own careers, rather than giving all the power of a career to a company,” adds Naeema Pasha, director of careers, Henley Business School. “One reason that people are more at ease with a side hustle is the increase in uncertainty in the workplace, which makes people create their own path rather than relying on a workplace to give regular income and career growth. Companies that used to offer steady ‘life-long’ careers are no longer offering a security that previous generations experienced.” Those that don’t embrace and support the growing trend could find their top talent moving on – at a cost to business of around £340m – the business school claims. “What must develop alongside this movement is the infrastructure to deliver business support to this group of fledgling entrepreneurs, such as access to 24/7 trusted advice, and multiple evening and weekend events so part-time business owners can access the skills and support they need to go full time, if that’s the aim,” warns Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation. “The economy will benefit as a result.” For the basics on starting a business, including deciding the best legal and financial structure for your needs, the government offers information here. Read the full article

[rubyianews-blog]

Why you too will be working two jobs by 2030 (and probably loving it)

We know about the standard 9-5; the full-time job we head out to, enjoy or dislike, take the regular, reliable income from (hopefully) and come home from. But startling new figures suggest one in four people are running at least one other business project alongside their main day job – contributing £72bn to the UK economy in the process. These so-called “side hustles” are expected to become so common over the next decade or so that by 2030 half the population is likely to be running a business as well as working elsewhere. But fears are growing that a significant shift in working life could be met by hostility among the UK’s employers. Transatlantic trend An import from New York and Silicon Valley, the growth of the UK side hustle is “unprecedented”, according to the Henley Business School. Boosting the average “hustler’s” income by 20 per cent, a quarter of them are working 50 hours a week or more – 13 hours longer than the average UK worker. “Taking on a side hustle isn’t always easy,” says musician, documentary maker and business owner Professor Green, who warns would be hustlers to prepare for mistakes and rejection. “It takes preparation, thick skin, ideas and commitment enough to execute them. If I stopped at the first ‘no’ I got or gave up after making the many mistakes I have along the way, I’d be nowhere now.” But despite the growing trend, personal failure is not the only problem facing entrepreneurs. Those business leaders which are supportive of the trend believe there are some big benefits. Around half feel that allowing the practice helps to retain their best people, half also said that allowing the practice actually helps them attract top talent. And more than half feel that it makes their staff more productive and happier. Which means half of UK business leaders remain ambivalent at best. Trust or tussle However, for most second jobbers, this isn’t about creating an escape route from their day job. In fact, the majority of side hustlers say it made them happier in their main role. “Since graduating with a degree in music, I’ve been working as a brand strategist at an advertising group in London,” says Peter Thickett, aged 24. “It was never really an option sacrificing my passion for music once I left university but, equally, I wanted to explore a career in the world of marketing and advertising. So I set up Ante Terminum Productions with a friend from university – a newly established theatre company based in London. We aim to create vivid and immersive performances that explore the dramatic potential of music. “I have no intention of leaving my job to pursue the business full time, but likewise I have no intention of sacrificing the company for my work in the advertising industry. It shouldn’t be a case of having to choose and I think this is becoming more and more apparent for my generation. “If employers wish to attract a new generation of creative minds, it’s their prerogative to become more flexible. First and foremost, they need to acknowledge that side hustles are the very things that make these employees valuable – giving them a richness of experience and perspective that can only be an asset to a company.” Job for life “A side hustle gives people a sense of control over their own careers, rather than giving all the power of a career to a company,” adds Naeema Pasha, director of careers, Henley Business School. “One reason that people are more at ease with a side hustle is the increase in uncertainty in the workplace, which makes people create their own path rather than relying on a workplace to give regular income and career growth. Companies that used to offer steady ‘life-long’ careers are no longer offering a security that previous generations experienced.” Those that don’t embrace and support the growing trend could find their top talent moving on – at a cost to business of around £340m – the business school claims. “What must develop alongside this movement is the infrastructure to deliver business support to this group of fledgling entrepreneurs, such as access to 24/7 trusted advice, and multiple evening and weekend events so part-time business owners can access the skills and support they need to go full time, if that’s the aim,” warns Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation. “The economy will benefit as a result.” For the basics on starting a business, including deciding the best legal and financial structure for your needs, the government offers information here. Read the full article

[pineyw00dsshesquatch]

My deep East TX Piney woods garden. I started it really late, so I only have tomatillos trellised on the left of the last pic and the rest is peppers to cope with the heat. The little red one is my first Chile de Arbol I just strung up to dry. Other types I have are jalapeño, serrano, Chile de Arbol, pasilla, and cayenne. My containers are upcycled from thrift stores with spray paint and dollar store sequins.

I made the edging out of wattle fencing using yaupon which ARE a holly, so they work perfectly. That was only my second time making wattle fencing, so it's not amazing, but I still really like it. I see a lot of turorials about wattle fencing online, but none of it really explores what other trees to use besides regular holly and willow. Yaupon is PROLIFIC out here, so it makes for excellent free material. I just mulched the bed with pine needles because we're in the no rain part of summer and they'll block the weeds.

Even though it's late, I want to start sweet potatoes in another bed. It stays hot here so long, I'm gonna roll the dice on em. I have another bed of good forest dirt, but it prolly needs sand or perlite to be loose enough for them. There's a lot of clay in the soil here, it's what keeps these woods clinging on through droughts, but it SUCKS to dig thu.

February was month of the septic tank war and the clay pit that almost sucked in He-squatch like 5 times.

[rubyiaofficial-blog]

Why you too will be working two jobs by 2030 (and probably loving it)

We know about the standard 9-5; the full-time job we head out to, enjoy or dislike, take the regular, reliable income from (hopefully) and come home from. But startling new figures suggest one in four people are running at least one other business project alongside their main day job – contributing £72bn to the UK economy in the process. These so-called “side hustles” are expected to become so common over the next decade or so that by 2030 half the population is likely to be running a business as well as working elsewhere. But fears are growing that a significant shift in working life could be met by hostility among the UK’s employers. Transatlantic trend An import from New York and Silicon Valley, the growth of the UK side hustle is “unprecedented”, according to the Henley Business School. Boosting the average “hustler’s” income by 20 per cent, a quarter of them are working 50 hours a week or more – 13 hours longer than the average UK worker. “Taking on a side hustle isn’t always easy,” says musician, documentary maker and business owner Professor Green, who warns would be hustlers to prepare for mistakes and rejection. “It takes preparation, thick skin, ideas and commitment enough to execute them. If I stopped at the first ‘no’ I got or gave up after making the many mistakes I have along the way, I’d be nowhere now.” But despite the growing trend, personal failure is not the only problem facing entrepreneurs. Those business leaders which are supportive of the trend believe there are some big benefits. Around half feel that allowing the practice helps to retain their best people, half also said that allowing the practice actually helps them attract top talent. And more than half feel that it makes their staff more productive and happier. Which means half of UK business leaders remain ambivalent at best. Trust or tussle However, for most second jobbers, this isn’t about creating an escape route from their day job. In fact, the majority of side hustlers say it made them happier in their main role. “Since graduating with a degree in music, I’ve been working as a brand strategist at an advertising group in London,” says Peter Thickett, aged 24. “It was never really an option sacrificing my passion for music once I left university but, equally, I wanted to explore a career in the world of marketing and advertising. So I set up Ante Terminum Productions with a friend from university – a newly established theatre company based in London. We aim to create vivid and immersive performances that explore the dramatic potential of music. “I have no intention of leaving my job to pursue the business full time, but likewise I have no intention of sacrificing the company for my work in the advertising industry. It shouldn’t be a case of having to choose and I think this is becoming more and more apparent for my generation. “If employers wish to attract a new generation of creative minds, it’s their prerogative to become more flexible. First and foremost, they need to acknowledge that side hustles are the very things that make these employees valuable – giving them a richness of experience and perspective that can only be an asset to a company.” Job for life “A side hustle gives people a sense of control over their own careers, rather than giving all the power of a career to a company,” adds Naeema Pasha, director of careers, Henley Business School. “One reason that people are more at ease with a side hustle is the increase in uncertainty in the workplace, which makes people create their own path rather than relying on a workplace to give regular income and career growth. Companies that used to offer steady ‘life-long’ careers are no longer offering a security that previous generations experienced.” Those that don’t embrace and support the growing trend could find their top talent moving on – at a cost to business of around £340m – the business school claims. “What must develop alongside this movement is the infrastructure to deliver business support to this group of fledgling entrepreneurs, such as access to 24/7 trusted advice, and multiple evening and weekend events so part-time business owners can access the skills and support they need to go full time, if that’s the aim,” warns Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation. “The economy will benefit as a result.” For the basics on starting a business, including deciding the best legal and financial structure for your needs, the government offers information here. Read the full article

[cameragirlcreations-blog]

Two boys... big dreams.... one day... #cameragirlcreations #contemplation #canwedoit #yougofirst #beachbuddies #bigdreams (at Tim's Thickett Beach)

[mrsarnasdelicious]

NPC’s in my fic:

urSem

Urling

Biological hermaphrodite

Male identifying

But also has a skekling and an urling with SkekMal

They are called SkekNur and urVeh

Mostly attracted to other urRu

Mostly nomadic, exploring Thra

Son of urAc and urSol

High Key crushes on urVa and UrSa

Still very slender

Comes to Stone-in-the-Wood to see what the fuss is all about

Acts as a healer during the war

Passes defending Gelfling children from the Garthim shortly before Jen and Kira are born

His urling and skekling are spirited away with a group of gelfling

Which return a good while after the OG Film

Djesid

Drenchen

Male

Bisexual

A leader among Drenchen warriors

Traveled from the Sog to Stone-in-the-Wood to help strip Ha’rar

When in the Sog, he usually body guards Gurjin’s young sisters

Has a lot of tattoos

First impression: Big Grouch

True nature: Big softy

Gurjin tasks him with guarding Brea while in Ha’rar

Which he mostly succeeds at

Ends up bedding Eeryn one night

Has a bit of a falling out with her after that

But they eventually make up

Get wed

And have a couple of kids

They are both in the group of gelfling that are spirited away

Eeryn

Spriton

Female

Hetrosexual

A stealth fighter

Traveled from the Sog to Stone-in-the-Wood to help strip Ha’rar

Very good with her blow pipe

Little blow dart assassin

Rather bitchy

Needs quite a while to warm up

Settles down with Djesid near Sami Thickett

Fights in a few battles during the early years of the war

Doesn’t want to leave the mainland

But in the end a Sifan ship takes her and small family away

Dell’M

Grottan

Female

Only four thrine old

Has a mommy and a daddy

Lives at Stone-in-the-Wood, since Grot was abandoned

Clings! To! Gurjin!

Soft thin voiced baby

Has a disease in her vocal cords

Really eager to dreamfast with everyone around her

A cuddly little grub

Loves taking naps in Gurjin’s arms

Is learning the Dousan sign language to make up for her voice

She will be one of the leaders of the group that is spirited away

Koora

Drenchen

Female

Lesbian

A Drenchen warrior

Traveled from the Sog to Stone-in-the-Wood to help strip Ha’rar

A no nonesense ffing birch

Factually there to keep all the Drenchen men in line

Rather flat chested

No dreads, only braids

A lot of rings in her ears

Also has multiple nicks out of them

If she didn’t have her wings, she would easily be mistaken for a gelling

She sure as fuck talks like one

Doesn’t have a mate

But instead beds down with many women over time

Has lovers in every clan

Has no children

Bc she really doesn’t have patience with childlings

Dies in the Garthim wars

Meho

Drenchen

Male

Asexual

A Drenchen warrior

Traveled from the Sog to Stone-in-the-Wood to help strip Ha’rar

Is an outstanding singer

Has a wonderful baritone voice that just inspires people to listen

Rather short for a Drenchen

All dreads, no braids

Misses half of his right ear

This is not a battle scar, he was a very clumsy teenling and lost half his ear pissing off a Nebrie bull. 

More husky than muscular

A very happy fellow

WHO LOVES TO EAT

He is a very hard worker, though

Dies very late in the Garthim wars [like Jen was already born] defending a Podling village

Tirzan

Drenchen

Male

Hetrosexual

A Drenchen warrior

Traveled from the Sog to Stone-in-the-Wood to help strip Ha’rar

Has rings in his lips and wears feathers on rings in his ears

Has a scar on the right side of his browridge

And several small chips out of his ears

Good as woodcutting

More braids than dreads

Dyes a bigger part of his hair blue and purple

A specialist at yeeting himself out of trees, onto his foe

A spear fighting expert

Once he is back at Stone-in-the-Wood he falls in love with a Vapran ex-Castle Guard

She used to be Tolyn’s patrol partner

She resists him for a while at first

But in the end they get wed

They have three daughters and one son

They fall very late into the Garthim wars, when their children already start having families of their own

Ola

Drenchen

Male

Has birthed one daughter

His partner is much slighter than him, but also much more dominant

Homosexual

A Drenchen warrior

Traveled from the Sog to Stone-in-the-Wood to help strip Ha’rar

His mate remains at the Great Smerth

Is a bit more slender than the average Drenchen

An awesome dancer

Is very good at hand to hand combat

And very fast

Is definitely more the wife than his mate

After the stripping of Ha’rar, he does back to the Sog

His fate ,though, is unknown

[mrsarnasdelicious]

A Little Tale of a Drenchen and a Spriton

Djesid and Eeryn

Djesid is a pretty big Drenchen

He was recruited from Great Smerth to help the harvest in Ha’rar

He is only a little under Gurjin’s height

But a teensy older than him

A strong warrior

A very skilled spearman and not too shabby with a bow

A head full of dreads, mainly black and dark green

He has got some grey and brown braids in there too

His eyes are poisenous green

Amazing! Long! Lashes!

His ears are pierced and chipped

He has a lot of tattoo’s

He comes off as a big grouch

But is actually easy going and pretty fun

He is assigned to guard Brea while she gather from Ha’rar what she thinks is needed

Eeryn is a pretty small Spriton

She decides to tack along when the Drenchen warriors pass through Sami Thickett on their way Stone-in-the-Wood

She is about Deet’s height

She is about Seladon’s age

She is a poisons expert and a sharp shooter

Blowdarts are her trademark

She has chestnut hair

And soft copper eyes

She is a bitchy little thing until she becomes very comfortable with those around her

But once she is attached to someone, she is loyal as can be

She decides to tag along on the mission to Ha’rar

Djesid doesn’t mind Eeryn from the start on

But Eeryn is very intimidated by this huge swamp dude

It takes her a while to open up to him 

They have a shack up the last night in Ha’rar

Both are sorta tipsy

They don’t talk after that for a while

Both stay in Stone-in-the-Wood

They get together after a while tough

They are wed after a year

They both fight in the war 

Until Eeryn falls pregnant

They are in the group of gelfling spirited away by Sifan ship

Ya know, to make sure Jen and Kira don’t carry the repopulating on their own

Bc that would result in a lot of genetic misshaps.