disease, drugs, Health, Long Covid Symptoms, Public health

Are individuals with low levels of vitamin D at an increased risk of developing long COVID?

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Recent research presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology has suggested that low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of developing long COVID. This is a condition where the symptoms of COVID-19 persist for more than 12 weeks after the initial infection. The study looked at 100 patients with and without long COVID and found that those with long COVID had lower levels of vitamin D. This correlation was particularly evident in patients who experienced symptoms like confusion, forgetfulness, and poor concentration. While more research is needed to confirm the link, scientists are exploring whether vitamin D supplements could help reduce the risk of long-term COVID and improve its symptoms.

Long-term COVID risk may increase with low levels of vitamin D. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230513/Long-COVID-risk-may-increase-with-low-levels-of-vitamin-D.aspx

The Vitamin D Society. http://vitamindsociety.org/

Post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/symptoms/post-covid-19-condition.html

LONG COVID LINKED TO VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. http://www.cachehosting.com/news/other/long-covid-linked-to-vitamin-d-deficiency/ar-AA1baMoE

Diet, education, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Are current dietary recommendations for cardiovascular health facing challenges in light of emerging evidence regarding the impact of saturated fatty acids on the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein A (Lp(a))?

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A recent perspective piece published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition delved into the current dietary recommendations aimed at reducing the intake of saturated fatty acids in order to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The article shed light on the impact of lower saturated fatty acid intake on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein A. While dietary modifications have garnered significant attention in cardiovascular disease prevention, the effectiveness of replacing saturated fatty acids with alternative options remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that while reducing saturated fatty acid intake lowers LDL-C levels, it leads to an increase in lipoprotein A levels, which is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Lipoprotein A has been identified as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease. Although genetic factors primarily regulate lipoprotein A levels, certain non-genetic factors, including dietary saturated fatty acid intake, contribute to its increase. Replacing saturated fatty acids with carbohydrates or monounsaturated fatty acids does lower LDL-C levels but also results in a concurrent increase in lipoprotein A levels. This finding calls for further research and better clinical practices to monitor the effects of dietary changes on lipoprotein A and LDL-C levels. Additionally, assessing cardiovascular disease risk accurately may require measuring LDL-C independently of lipoprotein A cholesterol content or including an evaluation of lipoprotein A cholesterol content. The study suggests that individualized dietary recommendations tailored to lipid profiles and considering additional cardiac health markers, such as lipoprotein A cholesterol content, may be necessary for effective disease prevention.

Dietary Recommendations For Cardiovascular Health Challenged By New …. https://primenewsprint.com/health/dietary-recommendations-for-cardiovascular-health-challenged-by-new-evidence-on-saturated-fatty-acids-effects-on-ldl-c-and-lpa-levels/

books, Culture, Education, human rights, Politics, Social Justice

Why did the Illinois State House pass a bill prohibiting book bans in libraries, and what are the potential implications of this legislation for libraries and their patrons?

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The Illinois State House has approved a bill to prevent public and school libraries from restricting access to books and other materials. However, the bill also grants the Illinois secretary of state the power to withhold grant funding from violators. Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic Secretary of State, started House Bill 2789. It says that libraries that want to get state grants must have a policy against book bans or follow the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. The bill gives public libraries more freedom to buy books and protects them from attempts to censor them. Republican Rep. Martin McLaughlin expressed concern about the state dictating to local library boards. Giannoulias praised the legislation as groundbreaking and vital for defending the freedom of expression against censorship. The Illinois State Senate must now approve the bill.

What would the implication of this pass do to the educational system? The Illinois State House passed a bill prohibiting book bans in libraries to combat the practice of book censorship and support the principles of freedom of expression. The bill also aims to encourage the improvement of free public libraries and promote sharing of library resources, including digital resources. The potential implications of this legislation for libraries and their patrons are significant. Libraries must adopt a policy against book bans or adhere to the Library Bill of Rights established by the American Library Association to qualify for state grants. This may lead to increased transparency and accountability for libraries but also create tension between local library boards and the state. Additionally, the legislation may help protect patrons’ right to access information and expand their reading choices while ensuring that libraries are not subject to external limitations or censorship attempts. However, the bill’s potential impact on the availability of controversial library materials and the balance between freedom of expression and public decency may be debated.

Source

Nur Ibrahim. Did Illinois State House pass a Bill Prohibiting Book Bans in Libraries?https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/illinois-house-bill-prohibiting-book-bans-libraries/.

Ancestry, Culture, genealogy, History

Who is Francisco Pizarro Gonzalez?

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Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess of the Atabillos, was a Spanish conqueror who lived from March 16, 1478, to June 26, 1541. He is best known for taking over Peru.

Pizarro, a poor Spaniard from Trujillo, sought wealth and adventure in the New World. He visited the Gulf of Urabá and crossed the Isthmus of Panama with Vasco Nez de Balboa, becoming the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. He was mayor of Panama City and led two failed Peruvian missions. Then, after getting permission from the king, Pizarro traveled on his third and most successful trip to Peru in 1529.

Pizarro created Peru’s first Spanish town, San Miguel de Piura after coastal residents fought his assault. In November 1532, Pizarro defeated Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca. In July 1533, Pizarro killed Atahualpa after demanding a fee for the emperor’s freedom. Pizarro reached Cuzco and conquered Peru the same year. He created Lima in January 1535. Pizarro died in 1541.

Pizarro appears in my genealogical chart as a 14th cousin 9x removed.

Cite Resource

Francisco Pizarro – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Pizarro

Culture, government, Politics, White House

Are Supporters worried that Trump’s call for protest is a trap?

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Even though former President Donald Trump told his followers to gather to protest his prosecution, online support for public protests is still scattered, unorganized, and quiet. Instead, notable Trump backers are pushing the story that any public event is a “trap” set by law enforcement and that attending will be unproductive and likely to result in charges. This is a typical response to radical movements: violence, a backlash from the police, and a retreat as the remaining followers get scared. The Capitol disruption on January 6, 2021, prompted by a call to action at a Trump event, led to nearly a thousand charges, showing even the most ardent fan that pro-Trump zeal can lead to jail time. Telegram, a pro-Trump channel, asked its members if they would resist if Trump were arrested on Tuesday. Most said no.
“Is the potential protest against Trump’s arrest a J6-style trap?” asked British far-right agitator Paul Joseph Watson’s 218,000 fans on Trump’s social media site, Truth Social. 95% of 1,580 respondents agreed. Ali Alexander, a famous “Stop The Steal” proponent, told his more than 1755,000 Twitter followers that rallying in New York City would put them in the most hostile territory in the US. Megan Squire, Southern Poverty Law Center deputy head of data analytics, has a study folder called “It is a trap” with screen-shots of this online messaging. Trump backers who want to resist face challenges without a primary goal. The most important facts are that tiny groups or domestic militants moved by Trump’s call for rallies are the most significant danger to public safety.
After the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and Trump attacked

Cited Resource:

Trump warns of arrest, calls for protest, but online support is muted. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/21/trump-warns-arrest-calls-protest-but-online-support-muted/11511264002/

disease, drugs, Health, Public health

What You Should Know Regarding Monkeypox?

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Thousands of people have contracted monkeypox throughout the United States. The spread has been designated as an epidemic, which naturally arouses public concern. Discover who is at danger and how we can protect ourselves, our community, and our loved ones.

How does monkeypox spread?

It is essential to realize that viruses are not selective. They want just a host. The same holds true for monkeypox as for any other virus. To help reduce the spread of monkeypox, we must first eliminate its stigma. Anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation, is vulnerable.

It is evident that monkeypox is transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact. Identifying and reducing high-risk behaviors and settings is the most effective method of disease prevention.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following behaviors enhance the likelihood of acquiring monkeypox:

  • Close contact with a person or individuals who have been diagnosed with monkeypox or with a person or persons who have a rash that resembles monkeypox.
  • Close or close personal contact with people infected with monkeypox in a social network. Social networks might include individuals met at pubs, parties, on websites or via apps.
  • Sexual contact or intimate behavior with several partners in places where monkeypox is known to occur.
  • Within 21 days after sickness start, travel outside the United States to a nation with confirmed cases of monkeypox or where monkeypox is endemic.
  • Occupational exposure to monkeypox or other orthopoxviruses, such as testing laboratory personnel or some public health personnel. In these situations, the right use of personal protective equipment will aid in reducing danger.

How can I reduce my infection risk?

As with any infectious illness, the pillars of infection prevention and control may be applied: When you are unwell, you should wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes, lips, and face, and avoid contact with others. Avoid prolonged physical contact, contact with respiratory secretions, and contact with products or textiles used by someone with monkeypox to reduce your chance of developing the disease.

Is a monkeypox vaccination available?

Kansas City has provided the University of Kansas Health System with a restricted amount of vaccination doses. The health care system administers vaccinations to people who fulfill the qualifying requirements. Currently, the CDC advises immunization against:

People who are aware that a sexual partner has been diagnosed with monkeypox during the preceding 14 days.

Individuals who have had several sexual partners in the preceding 14 days in an area where monkeypox is known to exist.

Individuals who have reported any of the following during the preceding 14 days:

  • Sex with numerous partners or multiple partners.
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue or in conjunction with an event, location, or specified geographic region where transmission of monkeypox has been recorded.
  • We are devoted to providing everyone with high-quality care. If you are a current patient of the health system and feel you fulfill any of the eligibility requirements, contact your primary care physician or provider (by phone, text message, or MyChart message) for further information.
  • We must collaborate to eliminate the stigma associated with this condition and prioritize wellness. We highly urge persons at high risk or who are worried to communicate honestly with their healthcare professionals.
Behavioral Science, books, Culture, Education, education, equal rights, Ethics, government, Politics, Social Justice

Would you like to know more about Critical Race Theory?

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The term “critical race theory” refers to an interdisciplinary intellectual and social movement that originated with civil-rights activists and academics.

Illustration by Marcus Torres

Illustration by Marcus Torres

The mission of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) is to investigate the ways in which race, society, and the law interact in the United States and to contest the liberal mainstream American approach to racial justice. Along with other critical schools of thought, such as critical legal studies, which investigates the ways in which legal procedures maintain the status quo, it emerged for the first time in the 1970s. Theorists affiliated with the Critical Race Theory (CRT) contend that the social and legal construction of race serves to further the interests of white people at the detriment of people of color. Since the year 2020, conservative legislators in the United States have been attempting to outlaw or place restrictions on the teaching of CRT and other forms of anti-racism education in elementary and secondary schools. Those who support the imposition of such prohibitions believe that CRT is not only untrue but also anti-American, promotes extreme leftism, demonizes White people, and indoctrinates youngsters. However, this is a section of my dissertation study that I have completed on this subject. It is written in a way that is easy to comprehend for the lay reader who is interested in learning more about CRT. If you would to purchase a copy of my book on Amazon this is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Race-Theory-Addressing-Prejudice/dp/B096TJMS4Y/ref=sr_1_7?crid=31E5LGF2EAXTG&keywords=Kenneth+Dantzler+Corbin&qid=1660858504&sprefix=kenneth+dantzler+corbin%2Caps%2C1501&sr=8-7

Diet, Fitness, Health, mental health, Public health

Do you think that persons who experience anxiety and depression could benefit from taking vitamin B6?

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According to recent research, vitamin B6, a popular vitamin supplement, may benefit those who suffer from anxiety and depression. However, in the UK, researchers recruited 478 participants with anxiety or depression and randomly allocated them to receive high dosages of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or a placebo. They then evaluated the subjects before and after they had taken the tablets for a month. Compared to those taking a placebo, those taking the B6 supplement reported significantly fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. They conclude that some people may be able to prevent the adverse effects of prescription drugs by taking vitamin B6 supplements. However, with your doctor first before beginning a new supplement.

disease, Health, Public health

What do you think of a meningococcal disease epidemic in the US that has claimed the lives of 25% of those affected this year?

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According to the director of the Florida Department of Health, 48 instances of meningococcal disease were reported in Florida in 2022, and 12 of those cases resulted in fatalities. Neisseria meningitidis, a bacteria that can infect the brain and spinal cord lining, is the culprit behind the sickness.

As opposed to the flu or common cold, it is less communicable. The monkeypox outbreak, which primarily harms gay males but is not a “gay disease,” is coinciding. The general populace in America needs to prepare for an impending new wave of illnesses.

Politics, White House

Why is Trump calling McConnell a “disloyal” at hearings on January 6?

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After a House committee played a clip of McConnell’s comments on the Senate floor during Trump’s impeachment trial, former President Donald Trump retaliated against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

By Jeremy Herb, CNN
Updated 5:00 AM ET, Sat July 23, 2022

The former president referred to McConnell as a “disloyal sleaze bag” and claimed that without Trump’s support, McConnell would not have won reelection. Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined a 6-3 conservative majority in overturning Roe v. Wade, thanks mainly to McConnell’s assistance in enabling Trump to appoint them as three conservative justices to the Supreme Court. So when he was the one driving the rioters who stormed the capital and did nothing, why is the former president trying to get angry with the Senate Majority Leader?

Culture, Education, education, equal rights, Ethics, government, human rights, Politics, Public health, Science, Social Justice, White House

Did you know that there will likely be further demonstrations this weekend in response to the agony and anger caused by the Supreme Court’s decision about abortion?

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According to authorities, tear gas was deployed to disperse protesters outside the Arizona State Capitol. Numerous protestors gathered in New York City’s Washington Square Park to oppose the judgment. Anti-abortion protestors were there, although they maintained a low profile. Following the demonstration, at least 20 individuals were “taken into jail with charges pending” throughout the city. In 2019, the biggest proportion of abortions performed on women requesting the procedure were performed on black women.

According to the statistics, they also had the highest abortion rate, with 23,8 abortions per 1,000 women. Black women who are pregnant or have just given birth are three to four times more likely to die than White women in the same circumstances. Friday, after the Supreme Court reverses Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion groups protest in Washington, D.C. Champagne is consumed by anti-abortion activists in front of the Supreme Court. Rachel Herring, an anti-abortion campaigner, said, “According to Judaism, life starts with the first breath, when the soul enters the body.”

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, supporters for abortion rights pound on the doors of the Arizona State Senate. On Friday, June 24, anti-abortion demonstrators celebrate in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC. An anti-abortion activist wears socks that proclaim “abortion is cruel” while arguing with an abortion rights activist. On Friday, Jill McElroy and her nine-year-old daughter Meriam joined in an abortion rights rally in front of the Supreme Court. She stated, “A lesson we have always taught our children is that they are the masters of their own bodies, and the Court’s ruling today goes against that, and as a family, we believe that’s wrong.”

Champagne is consumed by anti-abortion activists in front of the Supreme Court. I was there at the moment the decision was made. I am delighted. Earlier, I was walking on air, says pro-life activist Noah Slayter. Friday, the phrase “Our bodies, our choices” is spray-painted on a temporary wall in Washington, D.C.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, pro-choice protestors pound on the doors of the Arizona State Senate on Friday. Outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, an anti-abortion protester wears socks that proclaim “abortion is cruel.” In Arizona and Arkansas, abortion providers have began discontinuing their services. Dr. DeShawn Taylor remarked that she anticipates a period of darkness, albeit hopefully not for too long.

Approximately twenty abortion appointments originally planned for Friday through next week were canceled by Taylor’s facility. The head of Planned Parenthood said, “The majority of patients were desperate or scared” before to Friday’s Supreme Court ruling on abortion availability in certain states. A new legislation in California shields anybody conducting, helping, or receiving an abortion from any prospective civil action originating from outside the state. A clinic owner in Mississippi said that a woman should not have to leave the state to get medical treatment.

disease, drugs, Health, Public health

Did you know that women are more likely to suffer from long-term COVID, highlighting the crucial need for sex-specific research?

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A recent study published today in the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion finds that girls are “significantly” more likely than men to suffer from protracted COVID and will exhibit dramatically distinct symptoms.


Long COVID is a condition in which problems continue for more than four weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection, and in some cases for many months.


Researchers from the Johnson & Johnson Office of the Chief Medical Officer Health of Women Team analyzed data from approximately 1.3 million patients and found that females with long COVID exhibit a variety of symptoms, including ear, nose, and throat issues; mood, neurological, skin, gastrointestinal, and rheumatological disorders; and fatigue.


However, male patients were more prone to developing endocrine problems, including diabetes and renal disease.


The authors explain that understanding the fundamental sex differences underlying the clinical manifestations, disease progression, and health outcomes of COVID-19 is essential for the identification and rational design of effective therapies and public health interventions that are inclusive of and sensitive to the potential differential treatment needs of both sexes.


Differences in immune system function between men and females may be a significant factor in determining sex differences in extended COVID syndrome. Females generate more rapid and potent innate and adaptive immune responses, which may shield them from the severity of acute illness. This difference, however, may make females more vulnerable to autoimmunity-related disorders that last longer.


As part of the review, researchers limited their search for scholarly articles to those published between December 2019 and August 2020 for COVID-19 and between January 2020 and June 2021 for long-term COVID syndrome. The overall sample size for all publications evaluated was 1,393,355 distinct people.


Even though there were a lot of participants, only 35 of the 640,634 articles gave enough information about the symptoms and effects of COVID-19 illness by gender to understand how girls and boys experience the illness differently.


Findings indicate that female patients were significantly more likely to have mental problems such as sadness, ear, nose, and throat symptoms, musculoskeletal discomfort, and respiratory symptoms at the outset of COVID-19. On the other hand, men were more likely to have kidney diseases called renal diseases.


The authors remark that this literature review is one of the few that breaks down by sex the particular health issues associated with COVID-related disease. Numerous studies have investigated gender disparities in hospitalization, ICU admission, respiratory support, and death. When it comes to sex, however, studies on the exact diseases induced by the virus and its long-term harm to the body have been inadequate.


The authors note that during earlier coronavirus epidemics, sex variations in outcomes have been recorded. Therefore, disparities in SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes between men and women may have been predicted. Unfortunately, the vast majority of studies did not examine or report granular data by sex, limiting sex-specific clinical insights that may influence therapy. ” Even if it wasn’t the main goal of the researcher, sex-disaggregated data should be made public so that other researchers can use it to look into differences between the sexes that are important.


The research also identifies complicated aspects deserving of further investigation. Notably, women are more likely to be exposed to the virus in particular occupations, such as nursing and teaching. There may also be differences in who can get care based on gender, which could change how the disease naturally progresses and cause more problems and side effects.


The latter acts as a rallying cry: availability of sex-disaggregated data and deliberate analysis are necessary if we are to guarantee that unequal disease course outcomes are addressed. No study is complete until the data is made accessible to anyone who wants to answer the question, “Do sex and gender matter?”

Ethics, government, Politics, White House

Why did Trump campaign records reveal that advisors were aware that the false electoral strategy was without foundation?

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The convocation of the electoral college on December 14, 2020, was expected to herald the conclusion of that year’s tumultuous and protracted presidential election.

A rally outside the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta three weeks after the 2020 election. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post)

In seven swing states won by Joe Biden, though, Trump supporters turned out ready to proclaim victory. Internal campaign emails and memoranda indicate it was part of a larger plot to provide Vice President Mike Pence with a cause to declare the election’s conclusion uncertain. Members of the committee have said that they would provide evidence that President Trump was engaged in an attempt to submit fraudulent electoral ballots for Vice President Joe Biden that failed. The committee got a court order telling Trump’s lawyer, John Eastman, to give the committee the papers.


The Justice Department and a prosecutor in the Atlanta region are also probing the voter fraud. Emails reveal that only days after the election, some Trump aides were planning on how to make a legal justification for promoting their own electors. They pondered whether state legislatures, which in a number of critical states were controlled by the GOP, could designate electors for Trump even if the certified results indicated that Biden had won. A legal consultant for Trump contended that the strict deadline for winning the election was January 6, not December 14. He drew attention to the fact that certain state legislation may be difficult to comply with.


The bogus Michigan electors were unable to convene in the state’s Senate chamber and instead decamped to the state party headquarters. Your tasks are vital. A campaign official wrote to Georgia’s fictitious electors that their efforts would be hindered unless absolute secrecy and discretion were maintained. Robert Spindell Jr., who signed an elector certificate for Donald Trump in Wisconsin, said the general consensus among the lawyers was that if Trump won any of these cases, something had to be done. The electors didn’t have any legal standing, and vice president-elect Mike Pence didn’t recognize them. This made him a target for the crowd that burned down the Capitol.

For more information about this read: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/20/trump-documents-fake-elector-plan/?fbclid=IwAR2-lGCprzKOhWX0tgYKw5fV1YBAeI0RpQKSjLNDU7g2dqdX9P9Dw8ZvzsM

Politics, White House

The committee said on January 6 that it is working with the Department of Justice’s request for interview transcripts.

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In response to a request from the Justice Department, the committee is in the process of releasing transcripts of the witness interviews it conducted. Currently, the panel is taking part in a cooperative effort with the Department of Justice.

From left, Reps. Bennie Thompson, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger at a hearing Thursday of the House committee investigating Jan. 6.J. Scott Applewhite / AP

They have no intention of addressing the intricacies of that topic in a public setting. This week, senior DOJ officials sent a letter to the committee, increasing the amount of pressure that is being placed on the panel to comply. The letter was included as part of a document that was submitted in response to a request that was made to postpone the trial of many defendants. A piece of witness evidence that was provided to the committee earlier this week included a brief reference of the name of one of the defendants in the case.

More information may be found at the following website: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jan-6-committee-says-cooperating-doj-request-interview-transcripts-rcna34174?fbclid=IwAR2rAbeic4C6GHqHOoqrluWReo4 1cUyMIneqH9VkbKsF

disease, drugs, Health, Public health

What role did Kansas, Missouri, and prairie dogs play in the first outbreak of monkeypox in the United States?

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The symptoms of monkeypox are comparable to but less severe than those of smallpox.

he first outbreak of monkeypox in the United States in 2003 hit the Midwest and was caused by prairie dogs sold as pets that caught the virus from infected animals from Africa. The outbreak included three cases in Kansas and Missouri. CHARLIE RIEDEL Associated Press file
Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article262585992.html#storylink=cpy

Contrary to the name, rodents, not monkeys, are the primary transmission vector. The initial outbreak in the United States hit six states in the Midwest, including Kansas and Missouri. The last occurrences have been connected to foreign travel and African animal imports. In 1958, monkeypox was first detected in a Danish laboratory.

In 1970, a youngster in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was diagnosed with the first human case. In 2003, there were 70 documented cases of monkeypox in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Contact with sores and rashes caused by the infection spreads monkeypox. It is also transmissible by large respiratory droplets, though not nearly as quickly as COVID-19. In addition, in the 2003 outbreak, no one contracted the virus through person-to-person contact, unlike the current situation.

The CDC provided updated recommendations based on what physicians have observed in patients thus far. Monkeypox typically causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and headaches. In addition, some individuals exhibited dispersed or localized lesions outside the face, hands, and feet.

More information may be found by visiting the following website: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article262585992.html#storylink=cpy

Diet, disease, Fitness, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Would you like to hear that a new study links coffee consumption to a lower risk of death?

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During the trial period, individuals who had moderate quantities of coffee, even with a little sugar, were 30 percent less likely to die than those who did not consume coffee.

Aileen Son for The New York Times

Researchers analyzed coffee consumption data obtained from the U.K. Biobank, a vast medical database including health information on the whole nation’s population. Three to five cups of unsweetened coffee per day was associated with the lowest mortality risk. Inconclusive were the data for persons who consumed coffee with artificial sweeteners. Other lifestyle factors, such as a healthy diet and frequent exercise, may also contribute to a reduced risk of death.

Coffee users may pick cold brew or drip coffee over less healthy caffeine sources, such as energy drinks or soda. Coffee beans have high quantities of antioxidants, which may help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Over time, an accumulation of free radicals may induce inflammation in the body, which can contribute to the formation of plaque associated with heart disease. Those who drank more than 4.5 cups of coffee each day had diminishing benefits.

Behavioral Science, Culture, equal rights, Ethics, human rights, Humankind, Politics, Stigma

Did you know that in the face of anti-Asian prejudice, these organizations agree on the next steps to be taken?

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The United States observes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

There has been an increase in the amount of violence directed against this community. According to the survey, women reported 61.8 percent of all hate events, with verbal harassment accounting for 63% of all instances and physical assault accounting for 16.2 percent. Stop AAPI Hatred is one of the various organizations formed to assist the AANHPI community. It was founded in March 2020 to detect and react to anti-Asian hate. The San Francisco-based organization invites individuals to report any abuse they have experienced so that the data may be used to better understand what is going on throughout the nation and how to combat it.


They also provide a framework for public policy to prevent harassment and bigotry. Soar Over Hate, located in New York, is another organization that was formed in response to the violence. The organization assists victims of anti-Asian hate crimes in obtaining self-defense weapons. They also provide a grant to high school students as well as a therapeutic fund that covers up to ten free therapy sessions. AAPI Women Lead looks at how AAPI women, girls, and gender-expansive populations are represented in the United States.


The organization, based in Oakland, California, has been working to reduce hate crimes. According to Tran, violence against women and our gender nonconforming or gender expansive groups is intersectional. Racial and patriarchal violence affect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. A panel on mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness in the AANHPI community will be held during AAPI Women Lead. Acupuncturists, herbal medicine practitioners, and intuitive healers will be on the panel. As Connie Wun, co-founder and executive director, remarked, they reclaim our practices as a component of our resistance.

disease, Health, Public health

What is the unusual virus known as monkeypox that has now been verified in the United States and Europe?

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Primarily prevalent in Central and West Africa, monkeypox may be transmitted to both animals and humans.

Symptoms of the monkeypox virus are shown on a patient’s hand, from a 2003 case in the United States. In most instances, the disease causes fever and painful, pus-filled blisters. New cases in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal are spreading possibly through sexual contact, which had not previously been linked to monkeypox transmission.
CDC/Getty Images

Some illnesses confirmed in the United Kingdom have “no travel ties” to locations where monkeypox is present. An expert finds it remarkable that instances are surfacing simultaneously in many nations. The monkeypox virus is distinct from the coronavirus that shook the globe. Existing smallpox vaccines might protect the population in the event of an outbreak.

Katzourakis states: “We do not have the capability for anything to spread throughout the world at anywhere like the pace seen with covid.” The first documented monkeypox case in the United Kingdom moved to Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization. The CDC reports that six Americans are being screened for monkeypox after sitting near a British patient on an airplane. There are no evident connections between the most recent two cases and previous ones, suggesting the potential of community transmission. According to an expert, most Americans will never encounter a case of monkeypox in their lives.

Obtaining the genetic sequence of the virus responsible for recent instances will enable scientists to determine whether they are dealing with a novel strain. The 1980 elimination of smallpox has allowed residual poxviruses to circumvent dwindling defenses.

Behavioral Science, economics, Education, education, Intelligent people

Is there such a thing as having too many intelligent people around?

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Peter Turchin foresaw a decade of increasing volatility in western Europe and the United States.

Oct 22nd 2020

The ensuing rise in populism has made him somewhat famous and sparked the curiosity of economists in “cliodynamics.” His focus on the “overproduction of elites” creates unsettling problems and provides instructive policy insights. Elite civilizations create an increasing number of aspiring elites because access to education tends to increase. The benefits of being at the top are precious, and those who do not get them feel their absence strongly.

People who are articulate and educated revolt, causing a rush for political and economic dominance. Elites cease cooperating, counter-elites emerge, and order collapses. Due to the dominance of a few “superstar” companies, few prominent professions are available. Over thirty percent of British graduates are overqualified for their professions. Under Jeremy Corbyn, the British Labour Party attracted an increased number of upper-middle-class and middle-class individuals. Joe Biden’s margin over Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries was much narrower among college graduates than high school dropouts.

Culture, government, History, human rights, Politics

Do you believe that Putin may soon officially declare war on Ukraine, the US, and Western?

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Russian President Vladimir Putin may declare war on Ukraine as early as May 9, allowing Russia to fully mobilize its reserve troops if invasion plans stall. However, in Russia, May 9 is celebrated as “Victory Day” for defeating the Nazis in 1945. Officials in the West have long assumed that Putin would use the day’s symbolic and propaganda importance to proclaim a military victory in Ukraine or a massive escalation of hostilities. Officials have focused on one scenario: Putin launched a war on Ukraine on May 9. Putin refers to the months-long struggle as a “special military operation,” thereby barring terms like invasion and war. According to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, he will strive to shift from his special operation.’ “So he has been tossing the dice, preparing the groundwork for a battle against Nazis that requires more people. “More Russian artillery fodder.”” The invasion of Ukraine — a nation led by a Jewish president — has been described as “denazification” by historians and political analysts alike.

He would not be astonished if Putin said on May Day that ‘we are now at war with the world’s Nazis and need to mass organize the Russian people, Wallace continued. An official war declaration on May 9 might enhance popular support for the invasion. Officials claim Russia urgently needs conscripts due to a rising labor shortfall. Since Russia attacked a little over two months ago, authorities in the West and Ukraine believe 10,000 Russian troops have died.

disease, environmental, Fitness, Health, meditation, mental health, Public health

Did you know that15 minutes of mental health hygiene can change your whole day?

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Incorporating a daily stress-relief exercise into your routine not only helps you feel better now, but research suggests that it may also enhance your overall well-being in the future.

How to take a proactive approach towards your mental health – BelievePerform – The UK’s leading Sports Psychology WebsiteVisit
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The cleanliness is seen in the reduction of cortisol levels, which is the primary stress hormone. When you begin with a clear, peaceful mind, you have a calm reference point to which you may look back when things become tough. The goal, according to mental health consultant David Sawyer, is to establish a baseline sensation that will help you feel better while you go about your daily activities. In his words, it is only a matter of learning to handle and nourish that inner space with awareness.

Daily writing and trying various hobbies might assist you in identifying what activities make you feel the most tranquil and stress-relieved in the long run. According to psychologist Tom Sawyer, you may begin to seek to check in with your mental state at increasingly frequent intervals during the day. Sawyer recommends including some kind of low-impact physical exercise into your schedule at least three days a week, such as walking, riding, or yoga. If you can, schedule some time at the end of the day to wind down and relax, he recommends. Step away from screens and decompress, he advises.

disease, genetics, Health, medications, mental health, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

You might not have known this, but a study called “Landmark” found that people who smoke are more likely to get Alzheimer’s.

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The biggest Alzheimer’s study ever finds new genes and pathways involved in disease progression.

silhouette of a person showing internal nervous system and brain on a blue background surrounded by dna

CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

The groundbreaking study’s findings imply physicians can better anticipate whether a patient is genetically prone to Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5.8 million Americans. Researchers from France’s Université de Lille performed the study. A genetic risk score may help determine who is most likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

To better understand Alzheimer’s and create medicines that delay or prevent the disease start, the research represents a huge step forward. The next stage is for researchers to concentrate on the study’s risk genes and their influence in brain cell malfunction and death.

books, Education

Would you like to know that Florida’s prohibited, ‘problematic’ math textbooks contain a graph depicting racial bias? Or is this only another political maneuver?

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The Florida Department of Education revealed instances of questionable material that forced the state to ban hundreds of math textbooks—including one that had an algebra graph measuring racial prejudice.

The Florida Department of Education released excerpts from math textbooks they rejected that they claim were trying to indoctrinate children.

The DOE rejected 54 math textbooks—roughly 41% of publisher submissions—on the grounds that they allegedly attempted to indoctrinate students or expose them to “dangerous and contentious ideas.” In response to a deluge of requests for examples of the limits, the agency posted four photos of arithmetic problems on its website on Thursday. What? What about me? As stated in a lesson titled “Adding and Subtracting Polynomials,” add and subtract polynomials. Over 2 million people have completed an online version of the Implicit Association Test to determine their level of racial prejudice. While the majority of groups get average evaluations of “slight” to “moderate” discrimination, the issue observes that the disparities across groups by age and political affiliation are “intriguing.”

drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you know that Pfizer recalls some batches of blood pressure drugs over carcinogen presence?

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Pfizer (PFE.N) voluntarily recalled five batches of its Accupril blood pressure pills on Friday after the discovery of high amounts of a possible cancer-causing chemical in the medication.

The manufacturer said that it was unaware of any adverse event reports associated with the recalled batches, which were supplied in the United States and Puerto Rico between December 2019 and April 2022. Pfizer Canada similarly recalled all lots of three Accupril dosages on Thursday after determining that the same contaminant was present at unsafe levels. Pfizer said that there was no immediate danger to patients who were taking the drug that included the chemical, nitrosamine. While nitrosamines are naturally occurring in water and food, prolonged exposure over tolerable levels may raise the risk of cancer. Pfizer also withdrew several batches of another blood pressure medication, Accuretic, and two approved less expensive generic equivalents last month owing to the presence of a probable carcinogen.

disease, Health, Public health

Did you know that Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that high-quality Covid masks function even if others in your immediate vicinity are not wearing one?

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Although no one in the vicinity is wearing masks, Dr. Scott Gottlieb believes anyone worried about COVID may still protect themselves by donning them.

A federal court overturned the Biden administration’s COVID mask requirement for public transit, which included aircraft, only two days before he remarks. Numerous mask requirements for other settings have already been eased to some extent. Earlier this week, the Department of Justice suggested that it would likely appeal the Florida decision. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb believes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should have allowed the mask requirement to expire on Monday instead of extending it.

Supporters of the strategy argue that it provides an essential layer of protection against COVID, especially given the increasing prevalence of highly transmissible strains of the virus. However, he stated that he will still wear a mask in rare situations if he feels like he is in a small environment.

Reference

Dr. Scott Gottlieb: High-quality Covid masks work even if others around you aren’t wearing one. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/20/dr-scott-gottlieb-covid-masks-work-even-if-others-around-you-arent-wearing-one.html?fbclid=IwAR0d0Nw4TgWoMdBXmeqk6k1afGlHINf0beIA5RqNvhKxjeuVkt4HwpCAkSc

Diet, disease, environmental, Fitness, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Do you know that contaminated raw oysters was connected to the norovirus?

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Restaurants and shops are being warned not to serve or sell possibly contaminated raw oysters connected to a norovirus epidemic that has affected at least 91 people in more than a dozen states in the United States and 279 more in Canada.

Raw oysters linked to multi-state outbreak of norovirus illnesses.U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Raw oysters collected in British Columbia, Canada, were distributed in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, according to a report published Wednesday by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Raw oysters have been connected to a multi-state norovirus epidemic. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 91 norovirus cases have been recorded from those 13 states. The CDC stated that several of the ill persons admitted to eating raw oysters during interviews with state and local public health authorities. 29 Minnesota residents were sick after eating raw oysters at Travail Kitchen on March 20. Since then, the restaurant has discontinued selling Stellar Bay Gold oysters. Officials in Washington state stated Tuesday that 26 persons have reported norovirus-like symptoms after eating British Columbia oysters since March 7. The FDA notes that if these oysters were shipped to other states, they may have been transmitted to other states as well. Officials at the federal and state levels are attempting to eradicate them from the food supply. According to Canadian public health experts, 279 instances of norovirus and gastrointestinal disease have been connected to British Columbia oysters, as well as those from Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Between mid-January and late January, those affected fell ill, with no fatalities recorded. Oysters eaten raw may induce disease, particularly in persons with weakened immune systems. Norovirus-contaminated food may seem, smell, and taste normal. Norovirus infects and sickens humans 12 to 48 hours after infection, with symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach discomfort, fever, headache, and body pains. While the majority of individuals recover without treatment, norovirus infection may cause severe dehydration and even death in certain people—the very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Norovirus is the most common cause of food-borne disease in the United States, accounting for over 2,500 outbreaks each year. Apart from ingesting contaminated food or drink, individuals may get the norovirus through coming into contact with other sick individuals, touching contaminated surfaces, or putting unwashed hands in their mouths. The stomach flu is sometimes referred to as the stomach norovirus, despite the fact that the sickness has nothing to do with the flu, which is caused by the influenza virus.

Ethics, government, History, Politics, White House

Do you believe that Republican senators kept their promise toward an African American woman after their line of questioning?

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At the start of her Supreme Court confirmation hearings last week, Republican senators made a solemn promise to Ketanji Brown Jackson: They promised that they would not treat her as harshly as Democrats had treated Brett M. Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation hearings—a set of circumstances that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) described as “one of the lowest moments in the history of this [Senate Judiciary] committee.”
The reviews have been received. Americans favor Jackson’s confirmation substantially more than they support other recent candidates. Still, they also believe that Republicans handled Jackson’s confirmation roughly as severely as Democrats managed Kavanaugh, if not worse than Democrats dealt with Kavanaugh.
According to a survey conducted by Quinnipiac University last week, there is reasonably significant support for Jackson’s confirmation: 51 percent of respondents backed it, while just 30 percent opposed it. It is more popular than during the verification of Trump’s past two candidates, including Kavanaugh, whose nomination was rejected by the public. According to a CNN survey, Americans are vehemently opposed to it by as much as double digits.
However, it is also essential to consider how we arrived at that position.
Even as Americans opposed Kavanaugh’s confirmation, they were primarily dissatisfied with how Democrats handled his confirmation hearings—particularly their treatment of decades-old sexual misconduct claims, according to several. According to the CNN study, 56 percent of respondents gave unfavorable feedback, while just 36 percent gave them good reviews.
However, the Republican response to Jackson’s hearings — and, it seems, her track record on child pornography cases, which was the central line of attack — has received a mixed reception. According to polling, only 27 percent of Americans approve of their strategy, compared to 52 percent who are opposed to it, according to polling. According to the CNN survey, Democrats and Kavanaugh are separated by a 25-point margin, compared to a 20-point margin for Republicans and Kavanaugh. This time around, there are also more undecideds, which may be because Jackson’s hearings were not as well-publicized as they could have been.
Independents disapproved of the other party’s actions in both instances: on Kavanaugh, they disapproved of Democrats 58-30, and on Jackson, they disliked Republicans 54-25 in both cases, according to exit polls.
It is worth noting that, apart from the public’s support for the candidate, there was a significant difference between the two confirmations. Neither side walked away from the Kavanaugh hearings with glowing recommendations. Republicans’ handling of the situation was perceived in an unfavorable light on par with Democrats’ handling of it. When it comes to Jackson, Democrats, on the other hand, earned more favorable ratings (42 percent) than they received terrible reviews (34 percent). As a result, it is not just a case of people loathing all politicians.
The crucial issue that arises from this is: why did people express dissatisfaction with how the Republican Party handled Jackson’s hearings? After all, their negative vote margin is about 2-to-1, owing to many party members’ disapproval of their actions. Republicans are divided on the issue, with 52 percent supporting it and 26 percent opposing it.
That suggests that even Republican members of Congress felt their party went a little too far in criticizing Jackson’s record as a district judge in child pornography cases (when, in fact, her record was relatively ordinary) during the 2016 election.
The connection to the Democrats’ treatment of Kavanaugh is again illuminating. In that case, too, 26 percent of the opposing party expressed dissatisfaction with the way their side handled the situation. In contrast, approval was far higher – 67 percent. As a result, intraparty assessments of the Republican Party’s treatment of Jackson are, on the whole, more unfavorable than those of the Democratic Party’s handling of Kavanaugh.
Furthermore, Republicans supported Jackson more strongly than Democrats did Kavanaugh.
While Democrats overwhelmingly opposed Kavanaugh’s confirmation by 91-7, about 1 in 5 Republicans (21 percent) believe Jackson should be approved, with a comparatively small majority of 60 percent against. If people like Jackson over Kavanaugh, it is likely that their threshold for believing she was mistreated will be lower than it is for Kavanaugh.
However, many Republicans may wish their side had opposed Jackson even more aggressively than they did.
There are many unknowns in this set of data.
Overall, though, the American people do not believe that Republicans have elevated the level of conversation in the wake of Jackson’s hearings. As long as Republicans say they are the party of Abraham Lincoln, they would keep the principles of Lincoln’s time in office. But they would fall short of what Lincoln did,
From listening to the hearings and hearing all of the questions that were not connected to the judge’s credentials, it is clear that the Republican Party has regressed significantly. Because they treated an African-American woman who was well-qualified for the job, they show that they do not know the law.

Reference

Americans strongly disapprove of GOP pushback on Ketanji Brown Jackson. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/01/americans-disapprove-gop-jackson/?fbclid=IwAR0R1DXxA3QB5kHfs9ROkOimrD8gbkXdJl0OT9h1_xMaWwkaW6alQJW8Pwg

genetics, Humankind, Science

Would you like to know that a human genome has finally been fully decoded?

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The genome of a single sperm contains the genetic material of one pair of paternal chromosomes.

Researcher Kevin Bishop looks at zebrafish samples. Techniques used to sequence the human genome can also be applied to other species. Ernesto Del Aguila III / National Institutes of Health

Researchers are re-analyzing 92 percent of the genome to look for genetic variants that may be causing illnesses. “We identified many more, tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands” of new variants, says David Dennis. In addition, researchers can better investigate how centromere proteins assemble and what happens when they alter or lose function using the new genome. As part of his research, Evan Eichler aims to decode the genetic code on paternal and maternal chromosomes. By systematically sequencing a large number of individuals from diverse origins, he claims that it would be possible to better understand the genetic variation of the globe and identify relevant genetic variants.

Reference

A human genome has finally been fully decoded. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/human-genome-finally-fully-decoded-rcna22029?fbclid=IwAR0dGb_i9ckxLcACA777uZcg4BCAUPLDfwMJw2t65P_WNw2rxeHj_i9QU_E

Diet, disease, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Did you know that getting protein from a wide variety of sources may lower the risk of high blood pressure?

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According to a new study, getting protein from a broad range of sources may help individuals reduce their chance of developing high blood pressure.

Dinner table spread of dishes containing different types of protein: fish, shrimp, chicken and pork
CREDIT: GETTY / BRETT STEVENS

According to the results, eating a well-balanced and diverse diet may assist in maintaining good cardiovascular health. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Hypertension is one of the most critical risk factors. A study found that those who consumed four or more protein sources each week had a 66 percent decreased chance of having high blood pressure. However, people who consumed the least quantity of total protein were likewise at a higher risk of developing cancer.

This is not the first time that protein intake has been related to an increased risk of hypertension. The American Heart Association suggests consuming one to two servings (about 5.5 ounces) of protein each day to maintain a healthy weight. Plant proteins, fish or shellfish, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, and lean meats are all excellent choices for protein sources. There are a few basic actions you can take to help you increase the variety of proteins in your diet. Unfortunately, hypertension comes with a higher chance of acquiring various medical disorders like heart disease and stroke.

Incorporating new protein sources into your diet may help lower your chance of developing hypertension, but it is not the only approach to achieving this goal. Various other dietary and lifestyle adjustments have been demonstrated to effectively delay the onset of a hypertension diagnosis.

Culture, government, History, human rights, Jewish Community, Judaism, Politics, Religion, White House

Did you know that Antony Blinken often cites his family’s Holocaust history? The Russia-Ukraine war has him stuck between the personal and the political.

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When Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited his family’s Holocaust-era history in explaining a matter of U.S. foreign policy on Monday, it was far from the first time he has done so.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., March 21, 2022. (Kevin LaMarque/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

“One of my responsibilities as Secretary is determining, on behalf of the United States, whether atrocities have been committed,” Blinken, who is Jewish, said Monday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where he announced that the Biden administration had determined that the Burmese military had committed genocide against the Rohingya. “It’s an immense responsibility that I take very seriously, particularly given my family’s history.”

That family history involves his stepfather, Samuel Pisar, the Holocaust survivor who became a renowned legal scholar and philosopher. Blinken has often described the late Pisar’s recounting of his rescue by American soldiers, saying it shaped his own idea of what the United States symbolizes worldwide.

“That’s the story that I grew up with, about what our country is and what it represents, and what it means when the United States is engaged and leading,” Blinken said.

Now America’s top diplomat contends with a conflict that puts these values to the test: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has involved mass killings of civilians.

He is also dealing with appeals from Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky — who similarly cites the Holocaust as shaping his outlook — to do more to stop Russia’s attacks.

Zelensky has additionally made direct comparisons between the Russian onslaught and the Holocaust, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated his goal is to “de-Nazify” Ukraine.

Talking to American Jewish leaders, Zelensky called Putin’s actions “pure Nazism;” talking to Israelis, he likened Russian tactics to the “final solution”; and in his address to the U.S. Congress, he called the Russian invasion “the worst war since World War II.”

The Biden administration has imposed crippling sanctions on Russia. In addition, it is funneling billions of dollars in defense and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and deploying U.S. troops to NATO allies adjacent to Ukraine. But President Joe Biden will not accede to Zelensky’s top demands — including creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect it — saying they could provoke a world war.’

On Wednesday, however, Blinken formally declared that the United States’ position is that Russian forces have committed war crimes.

“Many of the sites Russia’s forces have hit have been clearly identifiable as in-use by civilians,” he said. “This includes the Mariupol maternity hospital, as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressly noted in a March 11 report. It also includes a strike that hit a Mariupol theater, clearly marked with ‘дeти’ — Russian for ‘children’ — in huge letters visible from the sky.”

Does Blinken feel the pressures of family history as he contemplates Ukraine? The State Department did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. But his speech at the Holocaust museum on Monday showed that it was on his mind.

“One of the unsettling truths of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is that there’s never a time I visit here when its lessons do not feel deeply resonant,” he said. “But I have to tell you, I can recall a few times when that history felt so urgent or the responsibility it imparts on us so pressing. As we meet, the Russian Government continues to wage its unprovoked, brutal war on Ukraine. Each day brings more brutal attacks, more innocent men, women, and children killed.”

The war’s risk to Holocaust survivors in Ukraine was especially poignant in Blinken’s telling.

“Ukraine is home to nearly 10,000 Holocaust survivors, including an 88-year-old woman, Natalia Berezhnaya of Odesa,” he said. “Here’s what she said in a recent interview, and I quote: ‘It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that in 1941, I had to hide in the basement of this building, and that I’m going to have to do that again now.'”

Blinken stopped short of accusing Putin of genocide as he did the Burmese military. Instead, he cast Russia’s predations as part of a welter of human rights disasters now proliferating.

“Even as we are working to increase international pressure on the Kremlin to end this unjustified war, we know there are many other places where horrific atrocities are being committed,” Blinken said. “Over recent weeks, as I’ve spoken with diplomats worldwide about Ukraine, I’ve also heard a constant refrain. Many of them say, ‘Yes, we stand with the people of Ukraine. But we must also stand with the people suffering atrocities in other places.'”

On Wednesday, the move to accuse Russia of war crimes is notable; noted Jewish foreign policy experts had been frustrated with Blinken’s language.

Josh Rogin, an influential foreign policy opinion columnist for The Washington Post, wrote that the hesitancy in Ukraine is reflective of a West that has allowed atrocities to be committed in China, Syria, and Burma. “The Ukraine example shows that ignoring atrocities anywhere is morally and strategically bankrupt,” he said this week before Blinken announced his war crimes designation.

Aaron David Miller, a longtime Middle East peace negotiator and a scion of one of Cleveland’s most prominent Jewish families, sounded a despairing note on Twitter.

“Never Again is Ever Ever Again,” he said. “The International Community has failed to even try to prevent any of the planet’s genocides/mass killings over past 100 years; Armenians; Holocaust; Cambodia; Rwanda; Congo; Sudan; Darfur; Myanmar; Uighurs; Syria….. Ever ask yourself why.”

Asked to expand on the tweet on CNN, Miller, now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, a foreign policy think tank, admitted that he understood Blinken’s predicament.

“A president of the United States weighing the consequences of humanitarian intervention in the case of Ukraine has more than just moral factors to take into account and the consequences of an intervention or not an intervention at least for American interests, that could affect millions of humans in the United States and in Ukraine, so it’s it’s a moral hazard,” Miller said. “It’s a complicated problem. And frankly, I think Ukraine will be another example of confirmation of the rule.”

Abe Foxman, the retired national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a Holocaust survivor, argued that Blinken’s approach made sense: One’s views on the Holocaust may shape policy but should not necessarily determine what the procedure is.

He was pleased to see Blinken knows, understands, is informed and instructed by his family history, by his Jewish experience, Foxman said in an interview. It does make a difference, but it cannot be determinative of action. This is a war. It’s not a holocaust or genocide. And it’s very, very important that if you know your history, you see the difference.

Reference

Antony Blinken often cites his family’s Holocaust history. The Russia-Ukraine war has him stuck between the personal and the political. https://www.jta.org/2022/03/24/politics/antony-blinken-often-cites-his-familys-holocaust-history-the-russia-ukraine-war-has-him-stuck-between-the-personal-and-the-political?fbclid=IwAR0vj-Q7Oys1vWBpQYcJm7Y0kjH_8dp7HgXidygq51dBq-SV2-rFeN_-4mw

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you know that Omicron BA.2 subvariant will soon dominate in the U.S., but Fauci doesn’t expect another surge?

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According to data published this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron’s more contagious subvariant, BA.2, has more than doubled in prevalence in the United States over the last two weeks and now accounts for more than 34% of Covid-19 infections that have undergone genetic sequencing. Since February 5, when it comprised roughly 1% of genetically analyzed viral samples in the United States, BA.2 has been progressively increasing as a fraction of Covid variants circulating in the country. BA.2 probably already accounts for 50% of new infections in the United States since many individuals do tests at home that are not included in official statistics, according to Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. In addition, Walgreens data indicates that BA.2 is the leading variety, accounting for 51% of all positive Covid cases for the week ending March 19.

Reference

Omicron BA.2 subvariant will soon dominate in the U.S., but Fauci doesn’t expect another surge. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/23/covid-omicron-bapoint2-subvariant-will-soon-dominate-in-us-but-fauci-doesnt-expect-another-surge.html?fbclid=IwAR1PtlOWk2ebo9dnBoKtsqyiH_wbf5mMmWMnNjPqt03RYgVyEZ2HCwcjHtY

Culture, Ethics, government, Politics, White House

Did you know that Ginni Thomas, Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, exchanged texts with Mark Meadows about efforts to overturn the 2020 election?

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Following the 2020 presidential election, Virginia Thomas, a conservative activist married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, urged White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in frantic text conversations during the crucial weeks following the vote to continue unrelenting efforts to reverse the result, according to copies of the texts obtained by CBS News top election and campaign reporter Robert Costa and Bob Woodward of The Washington Post.

This is what happens when individuals have a hidden agenda. Mrs. Thomas has not only gotten her husband into a pickle; she has gotten herself into one as well. Why would she jeopardize her status by doing such acts?

Reference

Ginni Thomas, Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, exchanged texts with Mark Meadows about efforts to overturn the 2020 election. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-ginni-thomas-clarence-wife-mark-meadows-texts-2020-election/?fbclid=IwAR0WUTrGzb_8JHYuRc3lv3J4j1d9YbL7fNyMkfos-qagSeAZOaVEt5pkf3g

Culture, equal rights, government, human rights, Politics

The United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians

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A senior administration official says that the United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and other people who have fled Russia’s aggression. There are now more than 3.5 million people who have fled Ukraine, says the UN refugee agency. They’ll also be able to get into the U.S. through other ways. Official’s words move will lessen the burden on the European countries already taking on so much of the responsibility. There have been more than 2 million refugees from Ukraine who have come to Poland from the west.

Reference

The United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians. https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/24/politics/us-to-accept-more-ukrainian-refugees/index.html?fbclid=IwAR18cf3_SgAHx7T4D1z7gaIRQ5A-QcwShtcYYwDQeKbNkMwQB43O47ZripM

Behavioral Science, Culture, equal rights, Ethics, government, History, human rights, Politics, Social Justice

Why did Mike Braun clarify his assertion that states should decide the legality of interracial marriage?

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Sen. Mike Braun, a Republican from Indiana, told reporters in his state on Tuesday that states should determine whether interracial marriage is allowed before claiming he misunderstood the questions and condemning “racism in any form.”

Mike Braun is interviewed in Bekah’s Westside Cafe in Lebanon, Ind., in April 2018.


Inquired as to whether or not he thought “interracial marriage should be left to the states, Braun said, “Yes, I believe that’s something — if you don’t want the Supreme Court to weigh in on matters like that, you’re not going to be able to have both your cake and eat it.” But, honestly, I don’t believe that’s right.” In 1967, the Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia, allowing interracial marriage in the United States.
Afterward, Braun was quizzed on his thoughts on the 1965 case Griswold v. Connecticut, which established a constitutional right to sexual privacy and made the use of contraception for married couples permissible under federal law. The states, according to Braun, should be the ones to decide.
It’s possible to mention a wide range of difficulties, Braun said. But, as far as what they’re going to be, I’m going to suggest that they aren’t going to be all going to make you happy in a particular state but that we’re better off letting forms express their points of view rather than homogenizing it throughout the nation, as Roe v. Wade did.”

“Initially limiting” Braun’s contention that the Supreme Court had seized states’ powers in 1973 with Roe v. Wade, the Times of Northwest Indiana reports. However, he maintained his position when asked about other decisions, such as the Loving v. Virginia case.
Braun afterward issued a statement indicating that he had “misunderstood” the questions asked.
“I misread a line of inquiry earlier at a virtual news conference that turned out to be about interracial marriage. To be quite clear, the Constitution forbids all forms of discrimination based on race. So the issue of racism isn’t even up for question, and I firmly oppose it at every level, from the state to the person. It was Braun’s opinion.
In a short interview on Wednesday, Braun told CNN that he doesn’t think states should decide on interracial marriage.
That’s not the case, Braun said. Even though one may be forgivable, he exposed his true identity. We learn a lot about him through his reaction. When a racist is apprehended, they immediately attempt to paint themselves as victims of their own ignorance since it would be so handy.

Reference

Mike Braun clarifies his assertion that states should decide the legality of interracial marriage. https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/23/politics/mike-braun-interracial-marriage-comments/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0jpCRaI0ml0-B9YMxOUafjGrKhdb8fxcqJcMgqxLw7BywL4207X-0bq-s

Culture, government, Jewish Community, Politics

Did you know that three Russian billionaires resigned from different boards?

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Petr Aven, Mikhail Fridman, and German Kahn, three Russian billionaires, have resigned from the board of Genesis Philanthropy Group, a Jewish grantmaking charity they formed in 2007. Sanctions on the three oligarchs were imposed by the EU and UK in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

LetterOne owns the health retail chain Holland & Barrett and a swathe of energy assets across Europe. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

From French vineyards to English football teams, sanctioned billionaires are scurrying to relocate and sell Western assets to escape confiscation. According to the release, the oligarchs’ resignations would have no effect on a $10 million payment that GPG had previously agreed to make to the Ukrainian Jewish community. Mikhail Fridman, a Ukrainian-born Jew, was one of the first Russian billionaires to speak out against the conflict in Ukraine, according to a statement addressed to LetterOne staff. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, he said that sanctioned oligarchs like him had little influence on Putin and that challenging him on Ukraine would be “death.” Despite mounting criticism from Russia’s elite, which has lost billions since the conflict began, analysts have told Insider that Putin is likely unconcerned with the oligarchs’ pushback, with just his small inner circle having his ear.

Reference


Three more Russian billionaires resign from the LetterOne board. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/07/three-more-russian-billionaires-resign-from-letterone-board

Culture, government, human rights, Politics

Did you know that a mysterious superyacht docked in Italy has a crew that may include Putin’s bodyguards, according to activists working with Putin opponent Alexei Navalny?

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According to activists working with imprisoned Putin opponent Alexei Navalny, a mystery superyacht whose owner has not been publicly identified is manned by numerous personnel of a Russian state agency entrusted with defending Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

The Scheherazade, one of the world’s biggest boats of its type, is a private superyacht, according to The New York Times. According to a personnel roster received by Pevchikh and Alburov in December 2020, all permanent crew members are Russian except for the ship’s commander. The United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Russia and confiscated several Russian billionaires’ luxury assets, including superyachts, in response to Russia’s continuing military attack on Ukraine. Navalny’s team is pleading with Italian authorities to confiscate the yacht if they discover that Putin owns it. Guy Bennett-Pearce, the superyacht’s skipper, told The Times that Italian investigators boarded the vessel early this month as part of an investigation launched by the Italian financial police. As a result, he was “forced” to turn over paperwork disclosing the owner’s name. Bennett-Pearce, a British native and the ship’s only non-Russian employee, would not rule out the possibility that the superyacht’s owner is Russian but could not comment more owing to a “watertight nondisclosure agreement” and said that the superyacht’s owner is not on any sanctions list.

Reference
Superyacht docked in Italy was outfitted by Putin’s …. https://soggros.com/index.php/2022/03/22/superyacht-docked-in-italy-was-outfitted-by-putins-protection-agency-activists-say/.

The Avalon Project: The Moscow Conference, October 1943. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/moscow.asp

Behavioral Science, disease, drugs, Health, Public health

Why would anyone start vaping?

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Some people report that they feel less anxious and more concentrated after taking their first nicotine vape. Others say they feel like they have just aced an exam after taking their first inhale.

Human brains aren’t fully developed until around age 25. Credit: Truth

As a result, if you began vaping to deal with difficulties from the outside, you now have stress from the inside: your body is screaming for nicotine, and it isn’t going away any time soon. Here’s why using nicotine vapes might cause more stress rather than less. The more you vape, the more you program your body to seek the short-lived rush of dopamine that comes from the nicotine you inhale. As a result, you develop synapses more quickly, making it easier to get hooked to nicotine.

For this reason, vape businesses have targeted you since you were at summer camp, if not before. According to research, Vaping nicotine may increase stress levels and enhance symptoms of despair and anxiety. According to t Truth Initiative poll, 93 percent of vapers said that vaping harmed their lives because it caused them to be more agitated, sad, or nervous than before they started.

Reference

Why Vaping Nicotine Can Mean More.https://mashable.com/ad/article/vaping-nicotine-myth-stress-relief?fbclid=IwAR37OnT7CRQZxs5rln-a9A8Yu6_cFXmcnqraFZ3ZPwv4isp9LLGDE6bQsMg

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you Know COVID-19 infections are increasing again in Europe?

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COVID-19 infections are increasing again in Europe after a decline over the Christmas holiday season, and scientists are warning that another wave might hit the US.

An annotated map showing subvariant distribution in the US as of March 15. CDC/Insider

COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe have historically preceded an increase in cases in the United States, and scientists have speculated that this may be the case here as well. The increase in instances, as seen below, is believed to be the consequence of a combination of the emergence of a more infectious subvariant of Omicron termed BA.2 and the recent easing of COVID-19 limitations in several European nations, according to Eric Topol, a cardiologist, and director of the Scripps Institute, in The Guardian. However, we must exercise caution since we are not yet out of the woods. This virus has not been eradicated, and we must be prepared to cope with it.

Reference

COVID-19 is surging again in Europe thanks to the BA.2 subvariant and will likely spread to the US soon. https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-europe-surge-ba2-us-wave-likely-coming-2022-3?fbclid=IwAR2iaVekoequ6Rx6blwaEpJXcrExFUS3SKDSDqLpjA3KSwHnjnli4clxYko

Culture, Health, medications, Philosophy and Religion, Religion

India International Spiritual Art Festival in Coimbatore

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At the ongoing India International Spiritual Art Festival in Coimbatore, a replica of the Nettipattam, a golden mask used to ornament elephants’ foreheads during temple celebrations in Kerala, is displayed in a sparkling and colorful version. As well as an ethnographic nettipattam created by artist Shobha Prem utilizing gold-plated fiber domes, various other exhibitions take center stage during the virtual event (https://SpiritualArtFestival.org/) that will continue for 100 days until November 8, 2021.

From glittering ‘nettipattams’ and crochet art to sculptures, this 100-day virtual exhibition has it all

The exhibition features artworks and sculptures by over 70 artists from India, Poland, South Africa, and Oman, all of whom are inspired by the themes of meditation, awakening, spirituality, knowledge, and inner calm. Vernika Singh’s beautiful sculptures, constructed of aluminum and mild steel, depict humans in Surya-namaskar poses, with the postures, motions, and gestures of the practice highlighted. The bare figures, which are more concerned with the anatomy than face features, quickly capture the viewer’s attention. In Pune, Manasa Priya creates crochet art inspired by children, and Kuppaana Kandgal’s oil paintings include peaceful textures reminiscent of nature. Ishrath Humairah produces fascinating landscapes in abstract textures based on rocks, plants, and the natural world. Her work is exhibited internationally. Finally, Mauli Shah’s kaleidoscope series, painted in watercolors, reflects the banality of everyday life.

According to Blake Willis, a professor of anthropology and education at Fielding Graduate University in California who spoke in a video message on the website, “the art show is an expression of emotions including love, compassion, enlightenment, knowledge, sisterhood, brotherhood, forgiveness, and more.” “It provides deserving artists with a worldwide platform to display their work,” says the curator. We are looking forward to taking in the artwork and learning about the people who created it.”

In addition to being the festival’s director, Kalki Subramaniam is also a transgender activist and novelist. She says the festival promotes emerging artists, with one Delhi-based artist selling five works in a week. “During a pandemic, spiritual power is something we can rely on to keep our cool,” she continues, adding that.

Gautam Jhanjee, an artist, residing in Canberra, has pieces on display at the event. His calligraphic art is inspired by the diverse cultures of his hometown and Maharashtrian and Punjabi influences from India, Oman, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, among other places. Artist Bridget Paul Shibu, who co-curated the event with Kalki, explains that the focus is on lesser-known artists and their experiments with various media in this exhibition. “Muthiah Kasi from Auroville adheres to the use of ethnic, non-toxic earth colors in his creations. Nandkumar Yashwant Kulaye, a Mumbai-based artist, creates abstract constructions out of wood, metal, fiberglass, and sandstone, among other materials. “The show has opened my eyes,” says the actor.

Reference

India International Spiritual Art Festival explores inner peace,https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/india-international-spiritual-art-festival-explores-inner-peace/article36076436.ece1/photo/1/

disease, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

The worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge

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Florida has become one of the worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge, with new cases recently surpassing their winter peak.

Following President Biden’s announcement earlier this week, the Education Department would consider taking legal action to discourage states from prohibiting universal masking in classrooms.

On Saturday, Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, announced that the state’s lockdown, which has been in effect since early August, would be expanded to cover all of the conditions after 17 new cases of Ebola were discovered in the regional hub of Sheppparton.

New South Wales, which includes Sydney, recorded 825 new cases on Saturday, the highest number of new cases reported since the pandemic began.

David Elliott, the police commissioner for the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, stated on Friday that anyone who joins the protest on Saturday would be subjected to “the full force” of the state’s police force.

Long-term-care employees and state employees working in hospitals will be required to have at least one dose of the vaccine starting on September 27, according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. All other state employees, including teachers, will be required to be vaccinated or undergo regular testing.

It is claimed that the Culver City Unified School District, a tiny school district in Los Angeles County, is the first in the state – and maybe the nation – to mandate children aged 12 and older to be immunized against the flu.

Reference

Covid Delta variant vaccine, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/21/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine

Behavioral Science, meditation, mental health, positive thinking

Making Affirmations to Improve Mental Health

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Many of us have unpleasant thoughts like this regularly. When we think in this manner, our confidence, attitude, and perspective may all deteriorate.
The issue with negative thoughts is that they become self-fulfilling. We convince ourselves that we are not good enough. These ideas have a detrimental effect on our personal life, relationships, and employment.
However, if we intentionally do the reverse and think positively about ourselves, the impact may be just as strong but considerably more beneficial.
This post will look at how affirmations may help you achieve an incredible transformation in your job and life.
What Are Affirmations, and How Effective Are They?
Affirmations are positive remarks that may assist you in confronting and eliminating self-defeating and negative ideas. When you say them often and with conviction, you might see wonderful improvements.
You may see affirmations as irrational “wishful thinking.” However, consider affirmations in this way: many of us engage in repeated workouts to enhance our physical health, and affirmations are like mental and emotional workouts. These positive mental repeats may rewire our thinking habits, causing us to think – and behave – differently.
For instance, research shows that affirmations may improve one’s performance at work. According to studies, spending a few minutes before a high-pressure meeting – such as a performance review – focusing on your greatest traits may help calm your nerves, boost your confidence, and raise your chances of a favorable result.
Self-affirmation may help minimize the consequences of stress. According to one research, a brief affirmation exercise improved the problem-solving ability of “chronically stressed” individuals to the same level as those with minimal stress.
Affirmations have been effectively used to help those who suffer from poor self-esteem, depression, and other mental health disorders. Further, they have been showing to activate the parts of our brains associated with an increased likelihood of effecting favorable changes in our health.
According to the latter research, having a more incredible feeling of self-worth increases your likelihood of improving your well-being. Thus, if you are concerned that you overeat and do not exercise enough, using affirmations to remind yourself of your beliefs might motivate you to improve your behavior.
There is evidence that affirmations are more helpful when your self-esteem is high. However, this study discovered that if you have poor self-esteem, positive affirmations might make you feel worse by creating a contradiction between the desired happy state and the present unpleasant sensations you are experiencing. If this is the case for you, begin by Boosting Your Self-Esteem before attempting to employ affirmations.
How to Effectively Utilize Positive Affirmations
Affirmations may be used in any scenario when you want to see a positive change in your life. These may involve instances when you want to:
Convince yourself before presentations or critical meetings.
I must manage negative emotions, such as frustration, rage, or impatience.
Enhance your sense of self-worth.
Complete projects that you have begun.
Increase your output.
Conquer a nasty habit.
Affirmations may be more effective when combined with other techniques for positive thinking and goal setting.
For instance, affirmations function very well with visualization. Therefore, rather than only seeing the change you want, you might write it down or speak it out using a positive affirmation.
Affirmations may also be beneficial for establishing personal objectives. Once you have identified the goals you wish to accomplish, affirmative statements can assist you in remaining motivated to achieve them.
The strength of affirmations comes from regularly repeating them to yourself. It is beneficial to repeat your affirmations many times during the day (have them flash up in your alerts!). You must repeat your affirmations immediately after engaging in the negative thought or behavior you wish to overcome.
How to Write an Acknowledgement Statement of Affirmation?
Affirmation words are often directed at a particular region, habit, or belief with which you are dealing. The following factors might assist you in crafting the affirmation statement that is most appropriate for your circumstances.
Consider the areas of your life that you want to improve. For example, do you wish you had more patience? Or do you want to develop stronger bonds with your friends and colleagues? Alternatively, would you want a more productive workday?
Make a list of many areas or habits that you want to improve. Find out that they align with your core values and the things that truly matter to you so that you will be genuinely motivated to accomplish them.
Find out that your assertion is credible and realistic. Rely on a sober assessment of the facts. For instance, suppose you are dissatisfied with your current salary. You might use affirmations to boost your confidence before approaching your boss for a raise.
However, it is not prudent to declare that you will double your pay: for most individuals and businesses, doubling one’s pay in one go is not achievable. Maintain a realistic perspective! After all, affirmations are not magical spells; if you lack faith in them, they are unlikely to affect your life.
Positively transform negatives. If you are having difficulty with negative self-talk, make a list of the persistent thoughts or beliefs causing you distress. Then choose an affirmation that is diametrically opposed to that notion or viewpoint.
For instance, if you frequently believe, “I am not talented enough to advance in my career,” replace this belief with a positive affirmation such as “I am a skilled and experienced professional.”
It would be best if you wrote your affirmation in the present tense. As if your affirmation has already occurred, write it down and speak it aloud—this aids in your belief that the statement is true at the moment. For example, “I am well-prepared and well-rehearsed, and I am capable of delivering an excellent presentation” is an excellent affirmation to employ if you are apprehensive before speaking in front of a group.
Say it with conviction. When affirmations carry emotional weight, they can be more effective. It would be best if you wanted this transformation, which is why each affirmation you repeat should be a sentence that is significant to you. For instance, if you are concerned about a new assignment, you could tell yourself, I am excited about taking on new challenges.

disease, Health

Many people with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, also have food allergies

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Many people with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, also have food allergies. Some people without diagnosed food allergies notice they experience flare-ups of their eczema after theySome patients with eczema or atopic dermatitis have food allergies, too. Any individuals without diagnosed food allergies notice their eczema flare-ups after eating such foods; this could be food intolerance rather than an allergy. It’s worth paying particular attention to how your diet impacts your eczema should it help prevent specific foods. If you have a child that seems to have allergic reactions, like eczema flare-ups, after consuming peanuts, peanut butter, or some other peanut-containing product, you might want to seek allergy tests. Soy reactions to soy are often related to eczema, and others say soy foods cause their eczema a bit worse. If you have eczema called dyshidrotic eczema, you might be susceptible to nickel. Because several producers use nickel in food storage containers, nickel may also occur in such canned goods. Eat certain foods; this may be a food sensitivity rather than an allergy. It’s worth paying careful attention to how your diet affects your eczema in case it might help to avoid specific foods. If you have a child who seems to have developed allergic symptoms, including eczema flare-ups, after eating peanuts, peanut butter, or any other food containing peanuts, you may want to consider allergy testing. Soy Allergies to soy are also linked to eczema, and some people believe foods containing soy make their eczema a little worse. If you suffer from a type of eczema called dyshidrotic eczema, you may be sensitive to nickel. Since many manufacturers use nickel in the production of cans for food preservation, nickel can also show up in those canned foods.
Reference
9 Foods to Avoid With Eczema. https://healthguides.cnn.com/finding-solutions-for-eczema/9-foods-to-avoid-with-eczema?did=t1_rss7

Behavioral Science, disease, Health, mental health, Public health

How do muscle contractions and the chemical signals they release contribute to the development of brain networks?

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The discovery that muscle contractions release chemical signals that promote brain network development provides valuable insights into the intricate link between physical activity and cognitive function. It sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed cognitive benefits of regular physical exercise, especially in the context of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The brain is a highly dynamic organ, and these findings suggest that physical activity may support its plasticity and resilience through these muscle-derived signals, thus playing a key role in preserving cognitive function as we age.

This newfound understanding of the role of muscle contractions in brain development has substantial implications for therapeutic strategies and exercise recommendations. Conditions where brain network development is compromised or slowed, such as in certain developmental disorders or following brain injuries, could potentially benefit from tailored physical activity programs designed to stimulate muscle contraction and hence, release of these beneficial chemical signals. This approach may contribute to neural repair and reorganization, aiding recovery and supporting cognitive function in these individuals.

This research not only expands our biological understanding but also underscores the potential value of physical exercise in clinical settings. It provides a strong rationale for the integration of regular physical activity into therapeutic regimes, not just for its well-known cardiovascular benefits, but also for its potential neuroprotective effects. Further research is needed to identify the most effective types and intensities of exercise for different patient groups, but the existing findings clearly highlight the role of physical activity in brain health and development.

Resource

Rodríguez‐Valentín, Rocío, Ignacio López‐González, Ramón Jorquera, Pedro Labarca, Mario Zurita, and Enrique Reynaud. “Oviduct contraction in Drosophila is modulated by a neural network that is both, octopaminergic and glutamatergic.” Journal of cellular physiology 209, no. 1 (2006): 183-198.

Fagerlund, M. J., and L. I. Eriksson. “Current concepts in neuromuscular transmission.” British journal of anaesthesia 103, no. 1 (2009): 108-114.

Woolf, Nancy J., and Larry L. Butcher. “Cholinergic systems mediate action from movement to higher consciousness.” Behavioural brain research 221, no. 2 (2011): 488-498.

disease, Health, Long Covid Symptoms, Long Covid Treatment

What is the truth about Long Covid?

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In 2020, the first wave of deaths from COVID-19 was over, but reports warned of a second wave of deaths from severe symptoms that persisted or worsened. This condition was known as long COVID, and it was projected that a significant proportion of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 would succumb to this life-threatening condition. There were articles in newspapers and magazines that told about all the different kinds of pain people suffered when their doctors couldn’t help. Paul Garner, a British epidemiologist, wrote an early and essential account in which he talked about feeling very tired, having a “muggy head,” having trouble breathing, having sore muscles, and having a “weird feeling in the skin.” Long-term COVID is an uncommon condition not only because of its kaleidoscope of symptoms but also because physicians did not initially recognize it.

So, COVID patients who couldn’t get better during the first few months of the pandemic could describe it. The early “long haulers” complaints were exacerbated by activists, whose advocacy convinced the government to allocate more than $1 billion for research. Three years later, the study has caught up with anecdotal reports and early evidence, and a clearer picture of protracted COVID has emerged. It is neither as widespread nor as severe as was initially anticipated, and the U.S. government has moved to lift the emergency declaration.

Researchers in Australia conducted phone interviews with every person in New South Wales diagnosed with COVID-19 between January and May 2020. The researchers discovered that recovery followed a parabola, with 80% of patients fully recovering after 30 days and 91% after 60 days. However, the population of symptomatic patients continued to diminish, with only 4% of the original patient population still experiencing symptoms four months after diagnosis. In addition, other research indicated that COVID could affect many people. To circumvent these issues, scientists have begun conducting retrospective cohort studies. These studies involve combing through anonymized electronic medical records to identify patients who tested positive for COVID and returned with subsequent symptoms.

The disparity in post-COVID symptoms between the two groups demonstrates the medical havoc caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A study of 150,000 patients in an Israeli health network revealed that those infected were more likely to experience prolonged specific symptoms. These symptoms included loss of taste and smell, concentration and memory issues, difficulty breathing, weakness, hair loss, palpitations, and chest pain. However, by the end of the first year, the differences between the infected and the controls had dissipated mainly. Those that remained affected were a relatively small number of patients. The researchers had anticipated discovering many chronic COVID aftereffects, but they only found a small number—researchers at Oxford University in the U.K.

The Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and the New York University Langone Medical Center found no evidence of a higher risk of any initial neurological or psychiatric diagnosis following COVID-19 than any other respiratory infection. However, 6.4% of COVID patients had a “cognitive deficit,” compared to 5.5% of patients with other respiratory infections. There is no evidence that the pandemic has triggered widespread disability, and disability claims have not increased during the pandemic. The New York State Insurance Fund has released a report analyzing long COVID claims made between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022. The report reveals that while there were several hundred successful claims after the initial wave, the number dropped to fewer than 10 per month. This number spiked to double digits only after the Alpha and Omicron waves. The most recent data from March 2022 indicates that only about five long-term COVID claims were approved per month out of approximately 3,000 disability claims in the state. This suggests that a substantial number of patients experience significant and potentially onerous symptoms for several months following a SARS-CoV-2 infection but only a minimal percentage experience symptoms for extended durations.

Cohort studies on chronic-term COVID have revealed that it is challenging to establish a causal relationship between a particular infection. Many patients suffer from a condition that differs marginally from short-term COVID. According to data from the Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, 11% of American adults who have had COVID are presently experiencing residual symptoms. Still, it is impossible to determine whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes these symptoms. There is no doubt that many people with long-term COVID struggle with their symptoms, and the medical community frequently fails to treat them properly. In February, Katherine Wu of The Atlantic wrote about a Brazilian chronic COVID patient whose ordeal resembled those of the first long-haulers. The media has continued to raise the alarm about long-term COVID, even though it is not yet known how many people have it, why, and what their chances of recovery are, let alone what the long-term consequences will be for society.

Even patients with the most debilitating form of long-term COVID can experience improvement within weeks and months, not years. Having COVID for a long time is challenging to define because patients can manifest dozens of symptoms in various combinations, none of which are specific to the disease. Post-Covid is a heterogeneous group of people who complain of prolonged COVID, with some suffering from the lingering effects of many diseases, others experiencing the onset of newly emerging symptoms or the continuation of old ones, and others affected by mood disorders and psychiatric symptoms. However, most patients do get better. According to Census Bureau survey data, the percentage of COVID-19 patients who claim they have experienced COVID decreased by 42% between June 2022 and January 2023. In addition, Dr. Knight’s clinic has seen a decrease in the number of COVID-treated patients. For those whose tiredness, insomnia, and chronic pain have been more severe and debilitating, the heightened concern about long-term COVID in recent years could turn out to be a blessing, as it may hasten the day when those with long-term COVID will be able to put their medical conditions behind them for good.

Resource:

The Truth About Long COVID Is Finally Emerging. It’s Not What We Thought.. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/the-truth-about-long-covid-is-finally-emerging-it-s-not-what-we-thought/ar-AA18P5r5

Behavioral Science, Health, mental health, positive thinking

How to live a positive life

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Introduction
Welcome to the world of positive thinking! In today’s fast-paced, frequently stressful world, becoming mired in negativity can be simple. However, with little effort and determination, anyone can learn to live a more positive life. Positive thinking is not just about being happy all the time; it is about cultivating an optimistic outlook on life that allows you to overcome challenges, build strong relationships, and achieve your goals. This article will discuss the power of positive thinking and give tips on living a happier life. So sit back, relax, and get ready to transform your mindset!

How to live positive
Living a positive life is not just about having happy thoughts all the time. It is about making a conscious effort to focus on the good in every situation. One way to do this is by practicing gratitude. Take time each day to reflect on what you are thankful for and write it down. This can be as simple as being grateful for a warm cup of coffee in the morning or having a roof over your head.

Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude is an essential component of living a fulfilling life. It is not just about being optimistic or having a happy-go-lucky outlook on life; it is also about cultivating a mindset that allows you to see the good in every situation. A positive attitude can help you overcome obstacles, build strong relationships, and achieve your goals.

Another way to live positively is by surrounding yourself with positive people who uplift and encourage you. For example, seek out friends and family members with similar outlooks on life who inspire you to be your best self. Also, care for your body by eating well, working out regularly, and getting enough sleep. When your body feels good, it is easier to maintain a positive attitude.

Lastly, remember that positivity is a choice. You have the power to choose how you react to situations and how you perceive them. Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts or events, try reframing them more positively. By choosing positivity, you can create a happier and more fulfilling life.

One way to develop a positive attitude is by practicing gratitude. Take time each day to reflect on the things in your life that you are thankful for, no matter how small they may seem. This can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and towards the positive aspects of your life. Additionally, surround yourself with people with a positive outlook on life, as their energy can be contagious and uplifting.

Another critical aspect of maintaining a positive attitude is letting go of negativity. This means acknowledging negative thoughts and emotions without dwelling on them or allowing them to consume you. Instead, focus on finding solutions and taking action toward creating positive change in your life.

Remember, having a positive attitude does not happen overnight; it takes practice and effort. However, with time and dedication, anyone can learn to live with positivity at the forefront of their mind.

Positive Living
Positive living is about cultivating a mindset that focuses on the good in life. It is about embracing positivity and letting go of negative thoughts and emotions. Positive living involves taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. This means eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and practicing self-care.

One of the keys to positive living is gratitude. Focusing on what we are grateful for helps us see the good in our lives and appreciate what we have. Another essential aspect of positive living is mindfulness. Being present and fully engaged in your work can help you feel more positive and fulfilled.

Ultimately, positive living is about seeing the world through positivity rather than negativity. It is not always easy, but with practice, it can become a habit that transforms your life for the better.

Confronting negative people
We will inevitably encounter negative people in our lives. They may be coworkers, family members, or even friends. Unfortunately, these individuals can bring us down and make us feel negative about ourselves and the world around us. However, we must remember that we can control how we react to these people.

One way to confront negative people is by setting boundaries. Let them know that their negativity is not welcome in your life and that you will not tolerate it. This can be done politely but firmly. Additionally, try to limit your interactions with these individuals as much as possible. Instead, surround yourself with positive people who uplift and inspire you.

Another approach is to practice empathy and understanding toward negative people. Often, their negativity stems from their struggles and insecurities. By showing compassion, you can help shift their perspective and bring positivity into their lives.

Remember that it can be hard to deal with negative people, but it is crucial for our mental health and well-being that we do. Do not let others bring you down or steal your joy. Instead, stay positive and surround yourself with those who uplift you.

Living a positive life when things go wrong
Life is unpredictable, and things sometimes go differently than planned. Falling into a negative mindset is easy when faced with unexpected challenges or setbacks. However, it is essential to remember that maintaining a positive outlook can help us overcome these obstacles and emerge stronger on the other side.

One way to live positively when things go wrong is to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem. Instead of getting stuck in a cycle of negativity, brainstorm potential solutions and take action toward resolving the issue. Additionally, practicing self-care and seeking support from loved ones can help us stay resilient during difficult times.

It is also important to remember that setbacks and failures are a natural part of life. Rather than viewing them as personal shortcomings, try to reframe them as opportunities for growth and learning. By thinking this way, we can approach challenges with curiosity and an open mind, which will help us grow as people in the long run.

To stay positive when things go wrong, you need to be strong, kind to yourself, and willing to see problems as chances to grow. By cultivating these qualities within ourselves, we can navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and optimism.

Conclusion
In conclusion, positive thinking is a powerful tool that can transform your life. It enables you to see the good in every situation and solve problems. Living positively requires a conscious effort to focus on the good things in life and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. It also involves surrounding yourself with positive people who encouraging and motivate you toward your goals. When faced with challenges, a positive attitude helps you to stay calm and find creative ways to overcome them. Remember that positivity is not just a state of mind but a way of life, so make it a habit to practice positivity every day. With time, you will notice significant improvements in your mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.

Behavioral Science, Culture, Social Justice

Hate Speech is Unacceptable

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Adidas is immediately severing relations with Ye, previously known as Kanye West.

In the current fiscal year, the company’s net income might be reduced by up to $246,5 million. The rapper has made controversial remarks, including social media postings that are antisemitic. Adidas is reconsidering its relationship with Kanye West’s Yeezy brand, which it deems “one of the most successful partnerships in the history of our business.” It hopes to provide further information on the review later this month. Ye has accused Adidas of stealing his ideas and mismanaging the brand, and ridiculed the company’s departing CEO. Making racist comments does not fix a situation. At any moment, hate speech is inappropriate from anybody.

Culture, Ethics, government, human rights, Politics, Social Justice, White House

What do you think of Alabama Senator Tuberville’s comparison of descendants of slaves to criminals?

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Saturday, during a rally for former President Donald Trump, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, equated descendants of enslaved people to criminals, generating severe outrage for pushing a racist narrative. Before a predominantly white audience in Minden, Nevada, Tuberville denounced Democrats as “pro-crime.” “They desire crime because they wish to seize what you have.” They seek to control your possessions. “They seek compensation because they believe the perpetrators are entitled to it,” Tuberville added. “Bull****! That is not obliged to them.” In a press release, NAACP President Derrick Johnson described Tuberville’s remarks as “flat out racist, ignorant, and utterly sickening.”

A Call For Reparations: How America Might Narrow The Racial Wealth Gap

America is notorious for racial inequality. A Call for Reparations: How the United States Could Reduce the Racial Wealth Gap
Johnson continued, “His words promote a centuries-old lie about Black people that throughout history has resulted in the most dangerous policies and violent attacks on our community.” The office of Tuberville did not reply promptly to NPR’s request for comment. As a means of addressing the enduring impacts of slavery, support for reparations for black Americans whose ancestors were slaves has increased throughout time. More than 170 Democratic co-sponsors backed a measure to examine reparations for slavery last spring. A House committee voted to advance the proposal, but the entire House of Representatives has not yet examined it. As a means of addressing the enduring impacts of slavery, support for reparations for black Americans whose ancestors were slaves has increased throughout time.

Bibliography

Kim, Juliana. “Alabama Sen. Tuberville Equates Descendants of Enslaved People to Criminals : NPR.” NPR.org, October 10, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/10/1127872936/senator-tuberville-racist-reparations-stereotype?fbclid=IwAR3H5GpsKM5XxUnWyy1jHr7hJk5xF7vs7YRvdYYE5wHIJyCiDv9QbC2bPTg.

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