Great night so far cashed #1 top play, and cashed 3 umpire overs tonight, lost one (Philly game) by 1 run. Now 15-2 on Umpire Overs. Congrats to all those who tailed.
Anyone tailed these tonight and cashed big? Let me know!
Thank you in advance to those who say thanks and tip when they hit.
MLB=8-2 (Cash #1 top play/6-1 Top plays)
NBA=
MLB=7-9 Mon/13-6 Sun/11-9 Sat/13-8 Sat (Cash#1/7 Top) Thurs/(Cash #1)/12-10 Wed (6-5 top)/11-10 Tues (Cash #1)/9-8 Mon/11-12 Sun (Cash #!)/11-11 Sat (Cash top 2)/12-11 Fri (7-4 Top)/4-7 Thurs/11-10 Wed/11-9 Tues (Cash Top 5)/12-5 Mon (7-1 Top)/10-12 Sun/13-8 Sat (7-3 Top)/5-14 Fri/5-4 Thurs/13-8 Wed (Cash top 6 straight/12-10 Tues (Cash #1)/8-8 Mon (6-3 Top)/7-12 Sun (6-4 Top)/13-9 Sat (6-4 Top)/9-9 Fri (5-4 Top)/7-5 Thurs/14-6 Wed (9-2 TOP)/15-8 Sun (9-3 Top plays)/
533-451 YTD/ (283-216 Top plays)
*All plays are standard bets unless adorned with a star. Those adorned with a star are TOP Plays.*Top plays are listed in order of strength.
⭐️️Brewers-130-W
⭐️Orioles-134
⭐️Dodgers-1-115
⭐️Tampa-130-L
⭐️Royals-106-W
⭐️Cubs+115
⭐️Phillies-1-109-W
⭐️Rockies+122
⭐️Yanks-145
⭐️Minnesota/Washington Over 8-120 (See writeup)-W
⭐️Mutts/Guardians Over 9-115 (See writeup)-W
⭐️San Fran/Pitts Over 8-120 (See Writeup)-W
⭐️Chicago/Toronto Over 7-114
Guardians-117-W
Padres-112
Giants-125
Toronto-1-110
Astros-1-140
Nationals+2-130
Rangers/Phils Over 8-115-L (lose by a run)
Yanks/Mariners Over 7.5-115-W
Orioles/Cards Over 8.5-120
Braves/Cubs over 11-115
NBA=1-2 Sun/0-2 Sat/2-0 Fri/0-3 Thurs/2-3 Wed/3-1 Tues (2-0 top plays)/1-3 Mon (1-1 Top)/2-2 Sun/2-3 Sat/1-4 Fri (1-1 Top)/1-2 Thurs/1-1 Wed/3-1 Tues (2-0 Top)/2-2mon (2-0 Top)/2-0 Sun/1-1 Sat(Cash #1 top)/3-0 Fri/3-1 Thurs/2-2 Wed/1-4 Tues/3-3 Mon (Cash #1)/5-3 Sun (4-1 Top)/5-2 Sat (3-0 Top)/4-2 Fri/5-0 Thurs/2-3 Wed/2-4 Tues/3-5 Mon/2-4 Sun/3-3 Sat (Cash top 2)/6-3 Wed/10-5 Tues (4-2 Top)/7-7 Sun (Cash top 2)/5-2 Sat (3-0 Top)/7-2 Mon (5-0 Top)/7-4 Sun (Cash 3/4 Top))/6-3 Sun (Cash 2 top)/6-5 Sat (Cash 3/4 Top)/7-3 Tues (Cash 3/4 Top)/9-4 Wed (Cash 3/4 Top)/7-3 Thurs (Cash 3/4 top)/10-2 Wed/6-2 Mon/7-1 mon/5-2 Wed (Cash 2/3 top plays)/4-1 Mon (cash 3/4 top plays)/796-714 YTD
⭐️Indiana/Boston Over 220.5-115
Boston-9.5-115
NHL=1-0 Mon/1-0 Sat/2-1 Fri (2-0 Top)/2-2 (Cash #1)/0-1 Wed/1-3 Tues (1-1 Top)/0-3-1 Mon/0-2-1 Sun/1-2 Sat/2-1 Fri/1-2 Thurs (Cash #1)/2-1 Wed/1-2 Tues/0-1 Mon/2-1 Sun/1-0 Sat/0-3 Fri/0-1 Thurs/2-1 Wed/2-4 Tues/2-1 Mon/4-2 Sun (2-1 Top)/1-4 Sat (Cash #1)/3-3 Fri (2-1 Top)/4-1 Sun (Cash top 2)/3-0 Sat/4-3 Thurs/5-1 Sun/4-2 Friday (2-1 Top)/6-1 Fri/6-3 Thurs (3-1 Top)/4-2 Wed (2/3 Top)/5-3 Tues (Cash #1)/6-0 SUN/8-4 Sat/2-0 Fri/5-1 Sun (Cash 2/2 Top)/7-4 Sat (Cash 3 Top)/7-4 Thurs (Cash 3/4 Top plays)/4-1 Wed (3-0 Top)/6-3 Tues (Cash top 2 plays)/7-2 Sat/4-0 Fri/7-5 Sat/4-2 Friday/6-0 Sun/6-5 Sat/3-1 Fri/3-1 Wed/4-2 Tues/2-1 Sun/11-0 Sat/670-645 YTD
My picks/analysis/answering questions is and will remain free- but if you’ve been crushing the books with me, would you consider a tip for my time and effort? (and keep wife off back ha!)
As always Tips are NEVER expected but GREATLY appreciated to the newborn diaper fund/medical bills for wife.
Venmo=@ECU03 (LAST 4 DIGITS IF IT ASKS=5029)
PayPal=@superbae
Cashapp=$Alew1980

Great night so far cashed #1 top play, and cashed 3 umpire overs tonight, lost one (Philly game) by 1 run. Now 15-2 on Umpire Overs. Congrats to all those who tailed.
Anyone tailed these tonight and cashed big? Let me know!
Thank you in advance to those who say thanks and tip when they hit.
MLB=8-2 (Cash #1 top play/6-1 Top plays)
NBA=
MLB=7-9 Mon/13-6 Sun/11-9 Sat/13-8 Sat (Cash#1/7 Top) Thurs/(Cash #1)/12-10 Wed (6-5 top)/11-10 Tues (Cash #1)/9-8 Mon/11-12 Sun (Cash #!)/11-11 Sat (Cash top 2)/12-11 Fri (7-4 Top)/4-7 Thurs/11-10 Wed/11-9 Tues (Cash Top 5)/12-5 Mon (7-1 Top)/10-12 Sun/13-8 Sat (7-3 Top)/5-14 Fri/5-4 Thurs/13-8 Wed (Cash top 6 straight/12-10 Tues (Cash #1)/8-8 Mon (6-3 Top)/7-12 Sun (6-4 Top)/13-9 Sat (6-4 Top)/9-9 Fri (5-4 Top)/7-5 Thurs/14-6 Wed (9-2 TOP)/15-8 Sun (9-3 Top plays)/
533-451 YTD/ (283-216 Top plays)
*All plays are standard bets unless adorned with a star. Those adorned with a star are TOP Plays.*Top plays are listed in order of strength.
⭐️️Brewers-130-W
⭐️Orioles-134
⭐️Dodgers-1-115
⭐️Tampa-130-L
⭐️Royals-106-W
⭐️Cubs+115
⭐️Phillies-1-109-W
⭐️Rockies+122
⭐️Yanks-145
⭐️Minnesota/Washington Over 8-120 (See writeup)-W
⭐️Mutts/Guardians Over 9-115 (See writeup)-W
⭐️San Fran/Pitts Over 8-120 (See Writeup)-W
⭐️Chicago/Toronto Over 7-114
Guardians-117-W
Padres-112
Giants-125
Toronto-1-110
Astros-1-140
Nationals+2-130
Rangers/Phils Over 8-115-L (lose by a run)
Yanks/Mariners Over 7.5-115-W
Orioles/Cards Over 8.5-120
Braves/Cubs over 11-115
NBA=1-2 Sun/0-2 Sat/2-0 Fri/0-3 Thurs/2-3 Wed/3-1 Tues (2-0 top plays)/1-3 Mon (1-1 Top)/2-2 Sun/2-3 Sat/1-4 Fri (1-1 Top)/1-2 Thurs/1-1 Wed/3-1 Tues (2-0 Top)/2-2mon (2-0 Top)/2-0 Sun/1-1 Sat(Cash #1 top)/3-0 Fri/3-1 Thurs/2-2 Wed/1-4 Tues/3-3 Mon (Cash #1)/5-3 Sun (4-1 Top)/5-2 Sat (3-0 Top)/4-2 Fri/5-0 Thurs/2-3 Wed/2-4 Tues/3-5 Mon/2-4 Sun/3-3 Sat (Cash top 2)/6-3 Wed/10-5 Tues (4-2 Top)/7-7 Sun (Cash top 2)/5-2 Sat (3-0 Top)/7-2 Mon (5-0 Top)/7-4 Sun (Cash 3/4 Top))/6-3 Sun (Cash 2 top)/6-5 Sat (Cash 3/4 Top)/7-3 Tues (Cash 3/4 Top)/9-4 Wed (Cash 3/4 Top)/7-3 Thurs (Cash 3/4 top)/10-2 Wed/6-2 Mon/7-1 mon/5-2 Wed (Cash 2/3 top plays)/4-1 Mon (cash 3/4 top plays)/796-714 YTD
⭐️Indiana/Boston Over 220.5-115
Boston-9.5-115
NHL=1-0 Mon/1-0 Sat/2-1 Fri (2-0 Top)/2-2 (Cash #1)/0-1 Wed/1-3 Tues (1-1 Top)/0-3-1 Mon/0-2-1 Sun/1-2 Sat/2-1 Fri/1-2 Thurs (Cash #1)/2-1 Wed/1-2 Tues/0-1 Mon/2-1 Sun/1-0 Sat/0-3 Fri/0-1 Thurs/2-1 Wed/2-4 Tues/2-1 Mon/4-2 Sun (2-1 Top)/1-4 Sat (Cash #1)/3-3 Fri (2-1 Top)/4-1 Sun (Cash top 2)/3-0 Sat/4-3 Thurs/5-1 Sun/4-2 Friday (2-1 Top)/6-1 Fri/6-3 Thurs (3-1 Top)/4-2 Wed (2/3 Top)/5-3 Tues (Cash #1)/6-0 SUN/8-4 Sat/2-0 Fri/5-1 Sun (Cash 2/2 Top)/7-4 Sat (Cash 3 Top)/7-4 Thurs (Cash 3/4 Top plays)/4-1 Wed (3-0 Top)/6-3 Tues (Cash top 2 plays)/7-2 Sat/4-0 Fri/7-5 Sat/4-2 Friday/6-0 Sun/6-5 Sat/3-1 Fri/3-1 Wed/4-2 Tues/2-1 Sun/11-0 Sat/670-645 YTD
My picks/analysis/answering questions is and will remain free- but if you’ve been crushing the books with me, would you consider a tip for my time and effort? (and keep wife off back ha!)
As always Tips are NEVER expected but GREATLY appreciated to the newborn diaper fund/medical bills for wife.
Venmo=@ECU03 (LAST 4 DIGITS IF IT ASKS=5029)
PayPal=@superbae
Cashapp=$Alew1980

Listing a bunch of stuff for sale with more to come potentially. Selling as I either haven't used it much or at all. Looking at local meetups in the GTA for most. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Gear overview: https://imgur.com/a/R87uWYH

1. Eagle Industries Yote Hydration Pack and bladder in Ranger Green - $325 https://imgur.com/a/yuL83v2

• New, never worn but missing tags - A incredible and iconic pack with a built in helmet carrier but ended up not doing what I needed it to. Never worn to a game or training and comes with stock unused hydration bladder. Retails new for 267USD/350CAD and requires taxes, shipping, and import totaling about 475CAD.

1. ATS Tactical War Belt Medium $95 https://imgur.com/a/8hoL0ed

• New, never worn with tags - Made up of an inner and outer belt this is the best war belt you will ever wear. Ever. ATS produces some of the best gear me and others have laid hands on. Its so good I've had others adopt one themselves after trying it out. This is by far the comfiest and best performing belt system I've used hands down. Selling as I ordered the wrong size for me. Retails for 22+55USD/105CAD plus shipping, tax, and import fees totaling about 140CAD.

1. ATS Tactical Tear Away Med Pouch - $60 https://imgur.com/a/ats-med-pouches-akTEDoF

• New, never used with tags - An incredible Medical pouch that can tear away from its Mollee attachment system to be brought around or handed off to whomever needs it. Adaptable and durable I have one in RG on my current rig. Selling as got away from using multicam for the most part. Retails for 50USD/68CAD plus taxes, import, and shipping totaling around 90CAD.

1. ATS Tactical EDC Belt Large - $75 https://imgur.com/a/Ta1LPLz

• New, never used without tags - An incredible EDC or airsoft belt. Semi rigged (hard enough to hold mags and a pistol holster but not hard enough to jam into you or cause discomfort. Honestly and incredible belt and the only one I wear airsofting even under my belt setup. Could be used as a standalone mag and pistol belt too. Selling as I ordered the wrong size for me Retails for $66USD/90CAD plus shipping, tax, and import totaling around 120CAD.

1. OneTigris Single Pistol Mag Pouch in Multicam - $10 https://imgur.com/a/0nYYHpR

• New never used with tags - Typical pistol mag retention pouch. Selling as I got away from multicam for the most part. Retails 15CAD plus tax.

1. Taco Mag Pouches (unkown brand) in tan - $30 https://imgur.com/a/BoCUxAN

• New unused without tags - 2 Taco shell mag pouches one with a pistol mag holder as well. Selling as I got away from mulitcam for the most part. Retails for $20-30CAD each - selling as a pair.

1. Desert Camouflage Combat pants Med Regular - $25 https://imgur.com/a/z4xffxr

• Unworn with tags desert camouflage combat pants. Was going to use them as a substitute for multicam as they blend well but never got around to it. Retails $30CAD plus tax.

1. Eagle Industries Double Mag Pouch in Tan - $20 https://imgur.com/a/xzpLluc

• New unused without tags - Great pouch issued to US Marines, authentic and reliable. Selling as I got it in a pack of 3 and only needed 2. Retails between 20-25CAD per pouch plus tax and shipping.

Guns and stuff overview https://imgur.com/a/cqbDUqO

1. TM MWS M4A1 GBB (Repaired) + 5 Mags + Barrel and rail alternate. -$1450 https://imgur.com/a/hGp1q4m

• Used - The Ferrari of gas blow backs this is 2019 model has been gamed used and repaired and comes with 5 mags. Its a beast of a gun which can compete with the best of them. A few years back it had a crack appear in the lower receiver and was therefore repaired by a tech using JB weld. Crack was located at the ring where it connects to the buffer tube. Is repaired and works at this time. It has 5 mags that go with it which when tested today don't leak and also comes with the original M4 outer barrel, sight, and rails. Currently has a MK18 conversion done to it. Selling as I ended up swapping to a different gas M4 brand for mag compatibility with other guns. Retails for 1050CAD & 90CAD per mag plus taxes totally approximately 1850CAD with140cad conversion kit plus taxes for a total of ~2000CAD

1. G&P M203 Grenade Launcher (LMT Quick Lock) - $180 https://imgur.com/a/g-p-C89gdAz

• Used - Amazing grenade launcher from an outstanding company. Solid and feels good to hold made of metal. Sometimes slides back slightly when opened fully but with still enough room to chamber a round. Selling as I moved away from longer railed rifles and use smaller grenade launchers now. Retails for 250CAD plus tax.

1. CYMA MP5 Aluminum RAS hand guard conversion kit - $60 https://imgur.com/a/8L8JmuD

• Used with box - This kit allows for a standard MP5 to have attachments and a front rail. Solid metal and feels good to hold. Includes both the outer barrel and rail. Slightly used and does not include the plastic turn grip initially included. Retails for 80CAD plus tax new totaling 90CAD.

Demographics
White dude
Iowa resident
First gen, rural (population of 700), and underserved background. Likely low income as well, not entirely sure.
Academics
cGPA (with dual enrollment included): 3.3
cGPA (only undergrad): 3.47, upward trend, 3.6-3.7 GPA in last 3 semesters with REALLY rigorous course load
sGPA (everything included): 3.32
MCAT: 508, even distribution, nothing below 126
Registered for Preview, will do casper as well
1 gap year, starting a 1 year master's program at my state school in the fall that is basically the first year of medical school. That is why this is kind of a fuck it we ball cycle, if I dont get accepted this year and dont fuck up, my chances at my state school are genuinely REALLY good next year.
Extracurriculars:
Hours are approximate but very close, I havent gotten to doing the exact math yet, but I did track hours for most things.
Research: 1500+hrs, 1000 in organic chem and 500 in Orthopedic surgery. One first author pub submitted for the ortho research
Clinical Volunteering: ~350hrs as coordinator for free mobile clinic for unserved communities, managed all of the supplies and lab equipment, trained over 300 student volunteers in lab tests and vitals. Clinics legit could not run without me, and that will be included in a rec letter
Leadership: ~100 hours as a fraternity VP and standards chair
Work experience:
2000+ total in a bunch of stuff
~500 hours as a peer mentor for first-generation college students
~100 hours as a private tutor, biology and chem at all levels
Other weird jobs I have had, mostly manual labor: Farm Hand, DNR State Park groundskeeper, tour guide for local architecture attraction, and working in warehouses.
About to get a patient care tech position
Other Misc ECs:
SHPEP Scholar
~30hrs working with a physician on a men's health initiative, targeted school's frats and athletic teams to educate young men on men's health
~30hrs social media manager for a Instagram page educating HS and younger prehealth students on the realities of healthcare and the opportunities at all levels
Hobbies: backpacking, photography, cooking and baking, computers, fitness, and reading
Other relevant info:

• Most of my extracurriculars, personal statement, etc., revolve around my rural, first-generation, and blue-collar background
• Really trying to leverage the fact that I am from a rural area, and would probably do rural health
• My lower GPA can also be explained by my extreme over-involvement in my earlier years and slower-than-average adaptation to college.
• My rec letters are pretty solid

School list so far:
Note: You're gonna notice I'm not applying DO. I know everyone's gonna lose their shit over this. 3 reasons why:

1. Im broke, I can't afford 30+ schools.
2. DO schools financially exploit the fuck out applicants even more so than AAMC already does, and I just don't wanna deal with that.
3. Like I said, I'm getting a master's; if I get straight rejected this cycle, I'll be in a much better position to apply across the board in the next one and will apply for DO then.

In no particular order

1. Iowa Carver (please god just let me in)
2. Nebraska (where I did SHPEP)
3. U of Minnesota
4. UW Madison
5. Michigan State
6. Mayo Alix (No shot but I'm still a strong mission fit)
7. Medical College of Wisconsin
8. Yale (my one absolutely fuck it why not app, I really like new haven and pizza)
9. Ohio State (considering removing, outside 10th percentile)
10. U of Cincinnati (considering removing, outside 10th percentile)
11. U of Miami Leonard (Consitering removing, outside 10th percentile)
12. Oregon health and science
13. Indiana (considering removing, regional bias and outside 10th percentile)
14. Rutgers, Robert wood johnson (SHPEP is RWJ sponsored, again just trying to leverage anything I can)
15. Geisel at Dartmouth
16. Robert Larner at Vermont
17. University of Missouri - Kansas City
18. Virgina Tech
19. West Virginia
20. University of South Carolina Columbia
21. Toledo

I really did try to pick schools where my stats were at least on the bell curve and OOS acceptance was above 25%. My concerns overall are that I generally have no idea how to put a school list together and that many of these schools might be super low-yield for OOS. I am also worried that I might have skipped over a lot of schools that I'd be a good mission fit at.
I have had pretty much zero guidance on applying outside of this subreddit, so I really appreciate any and all advice. Be harsh if you have to, I get it.

Hi,
I was renting a car for about two weeks. Due to a weird amount of miscommunication* the host was instructed to retrieve the car and apparently was authorized by turo to take my belongings out of his car and into his house. The car was packed to go on a trip in a few hours so the items included one of my documents, a backup banking card, some medication I take regularly and regular stuff you take on family trips.
When we found out what happened - literally hours after the host retrieved the car, i couldn’t get a hold of him. Eventually he replied and he said he would send the items by post. As I live just a few blocks away from him, I walked over to his house (with his permission).
The host was very aggressive towards me - he shouted at me and called me names both face to face and in the turo chat. I was crying and shaking for the remainder of the day.
I managed to get most of my stuff back (a few items are missing and a few were damaged as he put everything in a box including a day-old a half-drank coffee over an expensive jacket and a sleeping bag that was ready for my kid in the backseat). Also in the time he was in possession of my baking card, it got mysteriously suspended by my bank. Could be a coincidence - although it’s a backup card that has no money on it and I never use it 🤷🏻‍♀️
Now, I reported this entire situation to turo support team right away and they went from „we will call the police, you stole the car” emails (that were actually ending up in my spam) to being completely mia.
My question is - are hosts allowed to take your belongings out of the car and store them in their house? Shouldn’t the police have been called to at least secure my documents and the bank card? Is turo ok with hosts being this aggressive towards guests?
Thanks
—
*Just a big of background on the miscommunication for those interested:
I asked the host to extend it for a few days. This was the second time I was extending it and the first time went smoothly, so when I got a message or two from the host in his native language (which I don’t understand and we always communicated in English) I assumed it was just a standard notification from the app or something.
I have also let the host know several days prior that the app is glitchy and I’m not getting all of his messages.
Turns out the host didn’t extend the reservation and turo tried to contact me (although I had no missed calls and their emails ended in spam)

Finasteride, marketed under the names Propecia or Proscar, has long been prescribed to address male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate. However, a recent study conducted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that there may be some cardiovascular benefits of finasteride. Research shows that finasteride can reduce cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.

WHAT IS FINASTERIDE?

Finasteride is a medication used to treat hair loss, particularly male pattern baldness, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a condition characterized by an enlarged prostate gland. Finasteride belongs to a class of drugs known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Its primary mechanism of action involves blocking the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). By inhibiting DHT production, finasteride helps to slow down hair loss and promote hair regrowth in individuals with androgenetic alopecia. While also reducing prostate gland size and relieving symptoms associated with BPH. Finasteride is typically available in oral tablet form. It is often prescribed at a dosage of 1 milligram daily for hair loss and 5 milligrams daily for BPH. It is important for individuals considering finasteride to consult with a healthcare provider to discuss its potential benefits and risks.

HOW FINASTERIDE TREATS HAIR LOSS

Finasteride operates through a multifaceted mechanism targeting the root cause of male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Male pattern baldness is predominantly driven by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which plays a central role in shrinking hair follicles. This process shortens the hair growth phase, and eventually leads to hair thinning and loss. Finasteride functions by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, responsible for converting testosterone into DHT within the body. By blocking this enzyme, finasteride effectively reduces DHT levels in the scalp. Thereby interrupting the destructive cycle that leads to hair follicle miniaturization and eventual hair loss.
One of the primary effects of finasteride is to prolong the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair follicle cycle. With reduced levels of DHT, hair follicles can remain in the active growth phase for longer periods, resulting in thicker, healthier hair strands. Additionally, finasteride may also stimulate the proliferation of hair follicle cells and promote the development of new, stronger hair shafts. Over time, this leads to increased hair density, improved scalp coverage, and a noticeable reduction in hair loss.
Clinical studies have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of finasteride in treating male pattern baldness. In randomized controlled trials, men using finasteride showed significant improvements in hair growth compared to those receiving a placebo. Moreover, long-term observational studies have revealed sustained benefits of finasteride therapy. Many individuals experienced continued hair regrowth and maintenance of hair density over several years of treatment. Finasteride is typically administered orally, with a recommended dosage of 1 milligram per day. Overall, finasteride remains a cornerstone in the management of male pattern baldness. It offers effective and reliable results for many individuals seeking to address hair loss concerns.

FINASTERIDE LEADING TO DECREASED CHOLESTEROL

Emerging research suggests that finasteride may possess unexpected benefits beyond its primary indications. A study conducted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found intriguing associations between finasteride use and reduced cholesterol levels, potentially leading to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Published in the Journal of Lipid Research, the study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2009 and 2016, revealing significant correlations between finasteride usage and lower cholesterol levels among male participants. Moreover, experiments conducted in mice administered high doses of finasteride demonstrated reductions in total plasma cholesterol, delayed progression of atherosclerosis, and diminished liver inflammation, suggesting a potential cardioprotective effect of the medication.
While the precise mechanisms underlying finasteride’s impact on cholesterol levels remain to be fully understood, its primary mode of action provides a plausible explanation. Finasteride works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, thereby reducing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Given the established link between androgens and cardiovascular health, particularly in the context of atherosclerosis, it is conceivable that finasteride’s modulation of androgen levels may contribute to its cholesterol-lowering effects. However, further research is warranted to explore the intricate interplay between finasteride, hormonal dynamics, and cardiovascular risk factors, offering new avenues for understanding and potentially leveraging the therapeutic benefits of this widely used medication.

STUDY FINDINGS

Published in the Journal of Lipid Research, the study uncovered significant correlations between finasteride usage and decreased cholesterol levels among male participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2016. Additionally, in experiments involving mice administered high doses of finasteride, researchers observed reductions in total plasma cholesterol, delayed progression of atherosclerosis, diminished liver inflammation, and associated benefits.
Lead study author Jaume Amengual, Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at U. of I., expressed surprise at the findings. Contrary to expectations, men using finasteride exhibited cholesterol levels averaging 30 points lower than non-users, shedding light on an unforeseen aspect of the medication’s effects.
Subsequent experiments conducted by doctoral student Donald Molina Chaves involved administering varying doses of finasteride to atherosclerotic male mice fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet. Results revealed lowered cholesterol levels in mice receiving high doses of finasteride, accompanied by reduced liver lipids and inflammatory markers.
While the observed effects were significant at doses exceeding human usage, Amengual emphasizes the importance of considering species differences in drug metabolism. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that finasteride may influence cholesterol levels in humans even at standard doses. This offers a promising avenue for further investigation.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Prompted by the unexpected connection between finasteride and cholesterol levels, Amengual delved deeper into the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Given the drug’s primary role in altering hormonal dynamics by blocking a protein involved in testosterone activation, Amengual’s interest in exploring its broader effects was piqued.
Moving forward, tracking cholesterol levels in finasteride patients or conducting clinical trials may elucidate this effect further. Of particular interest is exploring potential cardiovascular benefits in transgender individuals undergoing hormonal transitions. This is a group at higher risk of both hair loss and cardiovascular disease.

CONCLUSION

Despite the potential benefits, Amengual emphasizes the importance of consulting healthcare providers before commencing finasteride treatment, given its associated risks. Nonetheless, these findings open new doors for research into the broader implications of finasteride. This offers hope to a diverse range of individuals for the cardiovascular benefits of finasteride.

At the world’s top college of magic and technology, every day brings a new discovery -and a new disaster. The advanced experiments of the college students tend to be both ambitious and apocalyptic, with the end of the world only prevented by a mysterious time loop, and a small handful of students who retain their memories.
Surviving the loops was hard enough, but now, in his senior year, Vell Harlan must take charge of them, and deal with the fact that the whole world now knows his secrets. Everyone knows about Vell’s death and resurrection, along with the divine game he is a part of. Now Vell must contend with overly curious scientists and evil billionaires hungry for divine power while the daily doomsday cycle bombards him with terrorists, talking elephants, and the Grim Reaper himself -but if he can endure it all, the Last Goddess’s game promises the ultimate prize: power over life itself.
[Previous Chapter][Patreon][Cover Art]
“Should I be worried?”
Why would you be worried?” Kim said. “Dean Lichman loves us.”
Dean Lichman had asked the two of them to stop by his office, though his brief message had not said what for. That left Vell to concoct nightmare scenarios in his head.
“He doesn’t love all of us.”
“Alex doesn’t count as ‘us’,” Kim said. She was a looper in purely a technical sense, mostly due to her own refusal to be a team player. “Besides, she’s been behaving lately. She’s only been an asshole, not an active liability.”
“That we know of.”
“If we don’t know about it, Dean probably doesn’t either,” Kim said. “It’s fine, Vell, he probably just wants to ask us for advice or deal with some problem he has.”
“That’s not much better,” Vell said. “How weird would things have to be that the Dean is asking us for help personally?”
“Only one way to find out,” Kim said. She gestured to the door to the Dean’s office.
Kim entered first, and found it in much the same state as it always was. The desk piled high with paperwork, a small bowl of assorted candies shoved into the corner of the desk, and Dean Lichman behind it, frantically tapping away on a laptop. Vell had not been in this office for several years, and it was vastly different than the last time he’d been here.
“Ah, there you are, come in, have a seat,” Dean Lichman said. “Unless you’d rather we have our conversation elsewhere, Vell.”
“Why would I want that?”
“Well, it’s my understanding you haven’t been in this office since my, uh, predecessor,” Dean Lichman said.
“Oh, right, the kidnapping,” Vell said. “No, I’m good, I don’t really get traumatized by things anymore.”
Vell had been killed too many different ways in too many different places to have a functional trauma response. A few days ago he’d gotten his legs chewed off by a vending machine, and still stopped by it to pick up a soda on his way to the office.
“That’s a very concerning response, Mr. Harlan.”
“Yeah. Anyway, what did you need?”
Dean Lichman gestured for the duo to take a seat, and both did so. He folded desiccated hands in front of himself before beginning to speak.
“I would like to ask you two to take a look at an experiment that will be occurring later this week,” Dean Lichman said. “I don’t have any reason to believe it poses a threat, but I would like to be assured it is a safe and ethical environment, and, well, you two have a knack for identifying trouble spots.”
“You could say that,” Kim said. It was more accurate to say that trouble had a way of identifying them -and then leaping at them and ripping their heads off.
“I’d appreciate it if the two of you could simply examine the laboratory and give it your approval, or disapproval, as the case may be,” Dean Lichman said. “Though if you’re too busy, I fully understand.”
“If you don’t think this is dangerous, why are you asking for our help anyway?”
“Simply for my own peace of mind, frankly,” Dean Lichman said. “The school’s policies on animal experimentation are...satisfactory, I suppose, but I do want to take extra precautions when the subject is a creature as smart as an elephant.”
“An elephant?”
“Yes, a resident of a reserve in Thailand,” Dean Lichman said. “An older elephant by the name of Mae Noi. She has cancer, apparently, and she is submitting to experimental treatment in the hopes it will be useful for younger elephants.”
Kim’s digital face briefly flashed with a facial expression of concerned skepticism.
“‘She’ is submitting to treatment? As in the elephant?”
“Yes. Apparently the elephant can talk,” Dean Lichman said. “No, I don’t know how it works, they said it was ‘more impressive in person’.”
“Well now I kind of want to go just to see the talking elephant,” Vell said.
“Same.”
“Well, do try to take a few glances at the experiment’s safety while you’re there,” Dean Lichman said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Vell said. “Thanks for the heads up.”
“I’ll be there too,” Kim said.
“Excellent. Thank you both, and I’ll try not to take up too much of your time,” the Dean said. He then bid them both a polite goodbye and returned to his mountains of paperwork. Vell took a step out of the office and then took a sip from the soda he’d recently retrieved from the evil vending machine.
“So, what do you think?”
“I think I really do want to see the talking elephant,” Kim said.
“Obviously, yeah, we all want to see the talking elephant,” Vell said. “I mean the whole situation. You think the elephant thing is going to be the daily apocalypse for that day?”
“Well, on the one hand, an elephant seems like the kind of thing that would kill us,” Kim said. “But on the other, I feel like the fact we have advance warning means it’s not going to happen.”
“True. The universe probably wouldn’t make it that easy for us.”
“Yeah, but the elephant thing still feels pretty threatening,” Kim said. “Only way to find out is to wait a few days, I guess.”
A FEW DAYS LATER
“Hello you two,” Dean Lichman said. “And Hawke.”
“Hey,” Hawke said.
“He also wanted to see the talking elephant,” Kim explained.
“Well, that’s not a problem, it was an open invitation,” Dean Lichman said.
“Thanks. Still, sorry for not saying I was going to show up in advance,” Hawke said. “It took me a long time to make up my mind whether I was more interested in or afraid of a talking elephant.”
“They are rather large, aren’t they? I suppose that could be intimidating.”
“I’m okay with elephants on their own, it’s the talking part that doesn’t sit right with me,” Hawke said. “What if the elephant doesn’t like me? What if I’m the first person to ever get insulted by an elephant?”
“You’re less afraid of getting trampled by an elephant than insulted by one?”
“I’m a little afraid of trampling, but elephants are chill,” Hawke explained. “They wouldn’t attack unless provoked. I kind of feel like one might call me a dipshit unprovoked, though.”
“You have oddly specifics fears, Mr. Hughes,” Dean Lichman said.
“Yeah.”
In spite of those fears, Hawke happily stepped through the door to the zoology lab. It did not take a long time to locate the elephant in the room, as it was a literal elephant. The towering pachyderm was in a makeshift pen in the center of the lab, with an ample supply of food and a strange pedestal in front of her.
“Dr. Chanthara,” Dean Lichman said, with a polite wave to one of the researchers in the room. “Good to see you. These are the students I told you about.”
“Hm. Nice to meet you,” Dr. Chanthara said. He was, perhaps not unreasonably, skeptical of why three seemingly random students were in charge of a safety inspection. The fact that one of the three was a robot made him even more skeptical.
“Hi, nice to meet you too, and, uh, don’t mind us,” Vell said. “We just have an eye for weird things other people might miss.”
“Sure. I- wait. Aren’t you that kid who got chosen by a god?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” Vell said. “And her too, technically.”
Kim shrugged. She didn’t care for any extra attention on that point.
“Right,” Chanthara said. He was beginning to see why these students might know their stuff. “I suppose we should start by introducing you to Mae Noi. Say hello, Mae.”
The elephant shifted on her feet and poked her trunk at the wide pedestal in front of her twice.
“Hello. Friends,” a synthesized voice droned. Vell stepped a little closer to the pedestal, just enough to see that there were an array of buttons on the side facing Mae Noi.
“Oh, it’s kind of like a keyboard,” Vell said. He’d seen similar things used with dogs, though usually in a much simpler fashion. Mae Noi seemed to have a few dozen buttons at her disposal.
“Smart,” Mae Noi said, with another prod of her trunk.
“We initially put it into our sanctuary as a bit of a novelty, something elephants could choose to interact with,” Dr. Chanthara explained. “Mae Noi took to it a bit better than most. Especially once she found out she could use it to ask for food.”
“Food. Pumpkin. Pumpkin. Pumpkin.”
“No, Mae, no food until after experiment,” Dr. Chanthara scolded.
“Experiment,” Mae Niko said with a prod. “Pumpkin.”
“Yes, experiment then pumpkin,” Dr. Chanthara said.
“That’s not really a talking elephant, is it?” Hawke said.
“It’s more talking than most elephants,” Dr. Chanthara said.
“Elephant. Smart,” Mae Niko said. “Smart.”
“Yes, uh, right, elephant smart,” Hawke said. He took a step back, to avoid any further offense and any further risk of being insulted by Mae Noi.
“You’re very impressive, Mae, don’t mind him,” Kim said. “How many words does she know?”
“Our platform back home has around three hundred words, though she’s still learning some of them,” Dr. Chanthara said. “The ‘travel’ version we put together only has a hundred, just enough to make sure she can get her basic needs met and communicate about the experiment.”
“Right, speaking of, I do believe we should put some time into our reason for being here,” Dean Lichman interjected. “You’re welcome to stick around afterwards, at Dr. Chanthara and Mae Noi’s discretion, of course, but we should get underway.”
“We probably should get to business, yeah,” Kim said. She tapped the side of her metal head. “I’m going to scan the lab. Vell, you talk to the elephant and make sure everything’s above-board.”
“Abov- oh, right,” Vell said. “Sorry, not exactly used to being able to ask animals if they agree to animal experimentation.”
“Experiment,” Mae said.
“Yeah, experiment,” Vell said, as he turned to Mae. “So, Mae Noi, this experiment might hurt, do you know that?”
“Experiment. Hurt. Elephant,” Mae Noi prodded. “Experiment. Help. Elephant. Help. Baby.”
“Help baby?”
“Baby. Baby. Elephant. Sick. Baby. Sick.”
“We’ve explained the nature of her condition to Mae Noi as best we can,” Dr. Chanthara said. “She has several children, and is concerned they might be similarly affected.”
“Help. Baby,” Mae Noi said. “Experiment. Help.”
The way Mae Noi frantically tapped the buttons tugged at Vell’s heartstrings, but he choked those emotions down.
“So you want to do this experiment to help baby, got it,” Vell said. “Even if it hurts you?”
“Elephant. Old,” Mae Noi said. “Hurt. Okay. Help. Baby.”
“Huh. Well, that does sound like informed consent to me,” Vell said. “Passes ethical muster, at least.”
The campus rules allowed students to be experimented on, with their consent, so Vell saw no reason not to apply the same standard to an elephant.
“You speak up if you change your mind about the experiment, okay?”
“Stop. Stop. Stop,” Mae said, mashing the same button a few times. “Yes.”
“You got it. I’m going to go help my friends check things out,” Vell said. “Good talking to you, Mae.”
“Good. Talk. Friend,” Mae said. She waved goodbye with her trunk, and Vell waved back. He wandered away from Mae Noi’s pedestal and found Kim and Hawke carefully examining rows of beakers and various other supplies.
“Nothing sus yet, boss,” Hawke said.
“Nothing caustic, mutagenic, or explosive?”
“Well, something mutagenic, but it’s supposed to be,” Kim said. She had scanners built into her body much like those that had once been in Vell’s glasses, allowing her to analyze the complex chemical formulas at a glance. “They’re going for some gene editing similar to what we’ve tried to do on human cancer patients. Low success rate, but not harmful. Some adaptations to work on elephants, of course.”
“Run it by any of our chemistry and biology student friends yet?”
“A few,” Kim said. “Haven’t gotten anything back yet, though.”
“Maybe run it by Skye, too,” Vell said. “She’d recognize anything that’d mutate an animal.”
“She does love to mutate things,” Kim said.
“Benevolently,” Vell insisted. “Just show her. I’m going to check for any stray equipment.”
The presence of an unusually large test subject had resulted in the lab being rearranged and reshuffled, so Vell did a quick scan for any misplaced equipment that might pose a threat. He found, to his surprise, a tidy and well-organized environment, with any and all extraneous materials securely locked away. There wasn’t so much as a shrink ray out of place. Vell did another loop just to be sure, but returned to his friends empty-handed.
“This place has less safety hazards than my lab,” Vell said. Hawke stared at him for a while.
“Why does your lab have safety hazards?’
“I do runecarving, there’s like, hammers and chisels,” Vell said. “Those can hurt people.”
“Mm, true,” Hawke said. “So you really didn’t find anything?”
“Nothing,” Vell said. “This place is secure as I’ve ever seen a lab be.”
“It’s like I said,” Kim began. “We got an actual warning about it, so obviously nothing’s going to go wrong. That’d be too easy.”
“Maybe,” Vell said. “Things can get teleported in, or someone could cast a spell, or something.”
“Yeah, but that applies to anywhere, at any time,” Kim said.
“Kim’s right,” Hawke said. “I say we go business as usual.”
“I guess,” Vell said. “We have to branch out a little, at least. Can’t keep an eye on one room all day.”
The trio stopped sulking around the outskirts of the lab and returned to Dean Lichman and Dr. Chanthara.
“Everything looks good,” Kim said. “Probably the safest lab I’ve ever seen.”
“I’ll choose to take that as a compliment,” Dr. Chanthara said.
“We have very high safety standards here at the Einstein-Odinson,” Dean Lichman said, defensively. “Relatively speaking. Innovation requires some risk.”
“I understand perfectly. So does Mae.”
“Hurt. Okay,” Mae said.
“Not that okay,” Vell said. “Nice meeting you, Dr. Chanthara. You too, Mae.”
“Wait.”
Mae prodded one of the buttons on her pedestal and then pointed her trunk at the three of them. Hawke looked deeply concerned, but stepped forward alongside Vell and Kim. Mae Noi appraised them with massive brown eyes, and then moved her trunk back towards the pedestal. Vell noticed a distinctive scar on the bridge of her long nose just as Mae Noi pressed another button.
“Joke.”
“...Joke?”
Dr. Chanthara sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Just go along with it,” he said. “She likes to tell her joke.”
“Uh, okay,” Vell said. “Let’s hear it.”
“What. Elephant. Favorite. Part. Tree.”
“Umm...I don’t know, Mae,” Vell lied. He’d heard this joke from a kid, once. “What part?”
“Trunk,” Mae said. She gave a loud bray of amusement and then slammed her trunk down a few more times to emphasize the punchline. “Trunk. Trunk.”
“Oh, ha, I get it,” Kim said, hoping her feigned laugh was convincing. She’d never tried to lie to an elephant before. “Good one, Mae.”
Mae Noi shifted from side to side, looking pleased with herself, while the trio took a step back and stopped their feigned laughter.
“Did you give her buttons just to tell that joke with?”
“She gets upset,” Dr. Chanthara said. “I’m not even sure she understands the pun, she just likes people’s reactions.”
“As long as she’s having fun,” Hawke said.
“We’ll get out of your hair now,” Vell said. “Good luck with the experiment, feel free to let us know if you need a hand with anything.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” Dr. Chanthara said. Some of his earlier skepticism seemed to have softened, but he did not seem entirely onboard with three strangers mucking about with his experiment. Vell and his friends left before they stretched what little goodwill they had any further. Mae Noi waved her trunk goodbye as the three left the lab and stepped back onto the quad.
“I’m going to try and sneak some classes in,” Hawke said. “Later.”
“I’ll check some of our usual hot spots,” Kim said, before she too left. Once again alone, Vell headed to one of his own classes, and called up Samson.
“Hey, Samson,” Vell began. “See anything interesting while we were playing with the elephant?”
“Well, I thought I clocked someone acting suspicious, but it turns out he was only sneaking around to go see his boyfriend,” Samson said. “Nothing apocalyptic, but I did get called a homophobe, which is pretty emotionally devastating.”
“I’m sure you’ll recover someday,” Vell said. “Keep an eye out. Usually the safer things look, the more dangerous things end up being.”
“Will do,” Samson said, before saying goodbye and hanging up.
***
Vell got increasingly nervous the longer the day went without its daily disaster. He thought about checking in on Mae Noi again, but then recalled Kim’s warning about it being too obvious, but then remembered that nobody had seen anything suspicious anywhere else, but then remember that Mae Noi’s lab had looked perfectly safe-
“Vell.”
“Huh?”
“You’re spiraling,” Kim said.
“I’m not spiraling, I’m just,” Vell said, with a pause for contemplation. “Considering multiple options.”
“In a spiral fashion,” Kim said. “Eat the damn french fries. Honestly, what’s the point of ordering so many if you’re just going to let them get cold?”
“It’s not like they’re going to go to waste,” Vell said. The same time loop that allowed him to eat massive amounts of french fries without fear of gaining weight also allowed him to avoid food waste. One of the upsides of life in a time loop.
“Just eat, Vell,” Kim said. “You worry too much about all this shit.”
“I’m in charge, it’s my job to worry about it,” Vell said.
“It’s your job to handle it,” Kim said. “There’s no point thinking about this shit before it happens, you spend all day thinking about an elephant and then the universe drops, like, a bat with tentacles on your head. Just deal with as it comes, Vell.”
Vell leaned on the table and managed to chomp down on a french fry or two.
“You know, next year, when I’m not running the show anymore, I’m going to call and see if you still think it’s that easy.”
“I sure hope so,” Kim said. “I’m saying all this shit trying to make myself believe it too.”
“Oh good, you’re lying to both of us,” Vell said. “That’s cool.”
“Fake it ‘til you make it, Vell, that’s how it goes,” Kim said. “Eat your damn french fries.”
Vell rolled his eyes and returned to his fries, which were now starting to cool. Thankfully he would not have to worry about finishing them. A loud crash from across campus interrupted him mid-bite and nearly made Vell choke on his fries. He painfully swallowed the half-chewed food and then looked over his shoulder.
“Son of a bitch, finally,” Vell said. A few years ago he’d found it weird whenever he was relieved about a disaster, but now he was just genuinely glad to get it over with. The waiting was as killer as the apocalypse. He tossed his fries in the trash and headed toward the sound of chaos, with Kim right behind him.
“Already told everybody?”
“Well, I may or may not have left Alex and Helena out of the loop…”
“Kim.”
“They’d find out anyway,” Kim said. “I got to use my brain parts to get in touch with them, even over wi-fi that shit feels dirty.”
“Just get in- stop.”
Vell held out his hand. Kim froze in place and did not move. Not intentionally, at least. There was a small amount of unintentional movement. The ground was vibrating.
“Always love a good earthquake,” Kim said.
“That’s not a quake,” Vell said. “That’s...footsteps!”
Vell grabbed Kim and dove out of the way just in time for something to barrel through the walls of the dining hall and stampede across the room. Tables, chairs, and more than a few students were crushed under the feet of a hulking, brown-furred behemoth as it charged. Kim picked herself and Vell up off the floor and tried to trail its progress.
“That’s a- oh fuck me,” Kim said. “Please don’t say you told me so.”
Vell got his bearings and looked across the room at the titanic form of a woolly mammoth. Though it was definitely recognizable as an archaic mammoth, the ancient creature was also heavily mutated, unnaturally large even by mammoth standards, and with multiple curled, jagged tusks protruding from a slobbering maw.
“Well that could be unrelated,” Vell said. “Mammoths can come from a lot of places, cloning accidents, time machines…”
The mammoth reached a wall, and rather than barreling through, turned around, facing directly towards Vell. A prominent scar covered the bridge of its broad trunk.
“Oh, nope, that’s definitely Mae,” Vell said. The scar was in the same place and at the same angle. Even a clone wouldn’t have an identical scar.
Once the revelation had struck, Mae took her turn. Vell found himself staring straight down the barrel of a very angry mammoth coming right at him at Vell-squishing velocity. Luckily he’d been charged at by a lot of creatures over four years of looping.
Vell jumped up and to the side, and latched on to one of the curled tusks, which made for very convenient handlebars. Kim did the same on the opposite side of Mae, and punched her in the head.
“Wait, wait, hold off on the violence for a second,” Vell shouted. He tried to wave at Kim to stop, but Mae was thrashing so violently he had to grip the tusks with both hands.
“Good plan,” Kim shouted. “Can you get Mae on board?”
Another set of tables got crushed underfoot. Thankfully the other students were out of trampling range by now, but Mae Noi’s feet were still coated in the blood of earlier victims.
“Mae’s smart, maybe we can calm her down,” Vell said. He then ducked to dodge a swat from Mae’s mutated trunk.
“Call me crazy, Vell, but I think this is more than just a bad mood,” Kim said, as she climbed up Mae’s seven jagged tusks like a ladder.
“We have to try,” Vell said. The loopers rule against hurting other intelligent life forms had some flexibility for blood-crazed mutants on violent rampages, but they had to at least try to reason first. Vell climbed up on of Mae’s tusks and looked into one of her bloodshot eyes for any sign of recognition. “Mae! It’s Vell, do you remember?”
The only response Vell got was an enraged trumpet, which he didn’t think was a “yes”.
“Come on, bud,” Vell said. “What’s an elephant’s favorite part of a tree, right? The trunk?”
The massive brown eye staring at Vell blinked, and he felt a brief glimmer of hope. He then felt a brief glimmer of his lungs being crushed as Mae swung her head and slammed her tusks into the wall, and Vell along with them. Kim punched Mae in the throat and then jumped across the tusks to grab Vell and carry him to safety.
“You okay, Vell?”
He opened his mouth to respond, and a pint or two of blood came out instead.
“Apparently not,” he mumbled. “I might be down a few ribs. And a lung. Or two.”
Kim carried Vell a safe distance from the fight and set him down on the ground, where he promptly spat out another mouthful of blood.
“Okay, uh, you just lie there and try to die peacefully, I guess,” Kim said.
“Way ahead of you.”
***
“Was that last bit as funny as I thought it was?” Vell asked. “I think the blood loss was affecting my sense of humor.”
“It was kind of hard to appreciate in the moment,” Kim said. “But as far as dying jokes go, it was pretty good.”
Vell and Kim walked into the lair for their morning meeting and joined the loopers that had already gathered.
“Okay, what’d I miss while I was dead?”
“Well, after Alex was done getting herself killed,” Samson began.
“You’re saying that as if it’s something to be ashamed of,” Alex said. “Vell also died.”
“Yeah, but he got killed trying to do something good. You got killed trying to do something stupid.”
“Trying to eliminate a threat is not stupid,” Alex said.
“We don’t kill intelligent creatures,” Hawke said. “Sometimes we punch them into a coma, but we don’t kill them.”
“When a dog bites, you put it down, I don’t see why the same principle doesn’t apply to a mammoth that’s crushed seventy people.”
“That wasn’t Mae’s fault,” Vell said. “She got mutated, or something. On that note: did you guys figure out what happened to Mae Noi?”
“Nothing,” Hawke said. “Looked like Mae smashed up the entire lab, trampled everyone involved in the experiment too. Nothing left to investigate, and nobody left alive to interrogate.”
“Typical,” Vell sighed. “At least we have an easy out. Dean Lichman was really concerned about the ethics of that whole experiment. We raise some kind of complaint, we could probably get the whole thing shut down.”
“The problem is getting the complaint,” Hawke said. “That lab was airtight, Vell.”
“Apparently not completely airtight,” Kim said. “I can camp out in the lab and raise an entirely justifiable stink whenever something capable of making a murder-mammoth shows up.”
“And what if it happens so suddenly you can’t complain about it?” Samson asked. “For all we know that could’ve been some kind of dimensional rift, or time anomaly, or something. It might not be as simple as somebody just putting in the wrong syringe at the wrong time.”
“He’s got a point,” Vell said. “We might want to shut this down before it gets there.”
“Seems like our best option is to plant evidence, then,” Alex said.
Everyone else at the table spent a few seconds brainstorming ways to prove her wrong, and much to their frustration, could not.
“Okay, fine,” Vell said. “But it needs to be something incidental, not something anyone would get blamed for. We want to cancel the experiment, not get anyone in trouble.”
“I could have a seizure on some sensitive equipment,” Helena offered. “It’ll break something and nobody would dare get mad at me.”
“Can you fake a seizure?”
“No, but I’m allergic to elephants, so I’d probably have one anyway the moment I stepped in the lab,” Helena said.
“I don’t feel entirely comfortable sending you into anaphylactic shock for a bit,” Vell said.
“Offer’s on the table,” Helena said. “I’ll live. Wouldn’t have made it through that trip to the zoo otherwise.”
“Anybody have any non-medical emergency suggestions?”
“Seagull in the air vents,” Kim said.
“Will that work?”
“It happens now and then,” Kim said. “Seagull gets in, and Dean has to close down the whole lab for potential material damage and biohazard risks if they shit in the vents.”
“Really? We’ve never had to deal with anything like that,” Hawke said.
“It may shock you to learn that sometimes minor, tedious bullshit happens that we have nothing to do with,” Kim said.
“That is kind of surprising, actually.”
“Enough. Kim, can you grab a seagull?” Vell asked. He shouldered his bookbag, and stuck a hand into the extradimensional pocket that existed within it. “I can probably smuggle it in with my bag.”
“Yeah, I can get you a seagull,” Kim said. Since she did not need to sleep, she had to find ways to keep herself entertained at night, seagull-grabbing being among them.
“Alright, we’ll go grab one and put it in the bag,” Vell said. “The rest of you, be ready to meet us when I call.”
***
Roughly three minutes later, Vell put out the call and they reconvened in front of the biology lab.
“Yeah, that was much faster than I thought it would be,” Vell said.
“I’m great at grabbin’ birds,” Kim said. Seagulls were among the easier birds to snatch, even. They were suckers for food, and many of them were attracted to her shiny metallic body anyway.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Vell said. “I want this thing out of my bag ASAP.”
Even though the seagull was safely within a pocket dimension, Vell would swear he could still feel the bird thrashing and squawking inside his bag. He tightened his grip on the shoulder strap and led the way towards the zoology lab entrance. He grabbed the handle and held it as he froze for a second.
“Vell, what’s up? Is this bird escaping?”
“No, the handle’s vibrating,” Vell said. It was shaking the same way a wall near an incredibly loud speaker might. He pressed his ear to the door and listened closely. He opened the door immediately, and let all his friends hear the frantic trumpeting of a panicked elephant.
Inside the lab, Mae Noi was stomping her feet and trumpeting as loud as he long trunk would allow. She swayed from side to side in her pen, bumping against the walls not quite hard enough to damage them, but hard enough that it was clear she was doing it on purpose.
“What the heck is happening here?”
“Ah, Vell,” Dean Lichman said. He hustled over to Vell’s side and gestured to the entire room. “Maybe you can figure out what’s going on.”
Mae Noi stopped braying long enough to start mashing her trunk against her pedestal, mashing out the word “Bad” over and over again.
“Our test subject, Mae Noi, has been throwing an absolute fit ever since she got here,” Dean Lichman said. “Dr. Chanthara, these are the students I was telling you about earlier.”
While Vell reintroduced himself to Dr. Chanthara, Kim and Hawke stepped up to examine Mae Noi and her enclosure. It was a far cry from the peaceful, orderly scene they had examined on the first loop. They were half an hour earlier this time than before, but Kim found it unlikely that they had been able to calm Mae Noi down, clean everything up, and get back to work in such a short amount of time. They hadn’t mentioned any of this panic on the first loop either. They were soon joined in their confusion by Chanthara and Vell.
“We’ve tried everything; food, water, her favorite toys, even videos of her children,” Dr. Chanthara said. “We’ve even offered to call off the experiment, but she won’t listen.”
“She is an animal,” Alex said. “Sometimes they do things arbitrarily.”
“Not Mae,” Dr. Chanthara said. “Some of our sanctuaries residents from traumatic backgrounds can have outbursts, but Mae was injured in the wild. She’s never been like this.”
“Maybe some experiment on the island is upsetting her,” Vell said. “A sonic experiment only she can hear, or something…”
Vell stopped and thought about it. If there had been such an irritant, it would’ve been there on the first loop too. Everything always repeated exactly the same, except for-
“Could you, uh, take a step back for a second?” Vell mumbled. “I want to try talking to her.”
“Don’t get close,” Chanthara warned him.
“I’m not, I’m not,” Vell said. He didn’t need to get very close to tell a joke.
The massive brown eyes of Mae Noi stayed locked on Vell as he approached, and she continued to mash the “Bad” button on her pedestal.
“I know, I know, bad,” Vell said. “But, uh, do you want to hear a joke?”
Mae Noi stopped. She locked eyes with Vell for a few seconds, and then cautiously tapped a button on her pedestal.
“Joke.”
“Right, joke,” Vell said. He tried to recall the exact sequence of words Mae had used on the first loop. “What elephant favorite part tree?”
Mae didn’t blink.
“Trunk,” Vell said.
After a moment of contemplation, Mae Noi let out one final, fervent, trumpet, and then started mashing buttons on her pedestal again.
“Bad. Help. Help. Experiment. Bad. Help. Bad. Help.”
“Yeah, bad help, one second,” Vell said. He turned away from Mae Noi to look at Dean Lichman. “Hey, uh, excuse me, Dean? Hey, uh, if I remember correctly there are some pretty complicated rules on having intelligent animals on campus, yes?”
“Well, yes,” Dean Lichman said. After hearing of some questionable ethical practices involving an octopus back in first year, he had instituted a few clauses into the school’s ethical code of conduct regarding intelligent animals like elephants, octopuses, and dolphins. “Mae’s presence here is a bit of an outlier, but there were workaround, given her apparent consent to the experiment.”
“Yeah, about that, is she, uh,” Vell began. “Is she registered as a student?”
“Yes.”
Vell pursed his lips. It took a few seconds for his friends to catch on.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Samson snapped. He turned his back on the crowd and leaned against a wall while Hawke put his head in his hands.
“The first rule of looping,” Alex said quietly. “Loopers are randomly selected-”
She looked up and locked eyes with Mae Noi.
“From all registered students.”

I feel like i’ve really been thrust into the deep end immediately. I don’t really even know where to start but i think context is Import so i’ll begin with that:
My family are socially and emotionally “tolerant” but financially supportive. They more or less refuse to call me my chosen name or refer to me as he but fund my transition and idly allow me to do whatever i need to do. I’m grateful for what I have but it doesn’t help in how alone I feel in pursuing it. I don’t have any trans friends medically transitioning at this moment either so there’s nobody to actually discuss this with in depth besides some offhand complaints i make to certain close cis friends.
I’m in the UK so I’m in private care for HRT + surgeries (fucking extortionate) and the onus is completely on me to align every single appointment appropriately with 3 different providers who are all seemingly being as obtuse as possible. I just turned 18 earlier this year and started on T almost immediately, I had 3 appointments with a private gender clinic in another city prior to starting HRT and am expected to see this clinic every 3 months for checkups + prescriptions which is standard enough. My NHS GP however refused shared care and are now refusing to do bloodtests after initially being willing to cooperate on that front. Even then i ended up missing the 3 month window between my first checkup with the gender clinic to have my bloodtest results ready because my NHS GP only does appointments on the day and I have to spend hours in the morning on hold which is annoying at best and exhausting at worst.
As soon as I started T I looked into top surgery surgeons as I want to have that out of the way as soon as possible and ideally I’d have it done before starting uni in September. Fortunately I did book a date in July so I’ll be able to have a lot of the rudimentary aftercare out of the way before uni as well but the surgeon is on the other side of the country (400 miles away) so I’m having to fly down.
For my consultation I took an 8 hour train and stayed with a friend who lives in the same city as the practice which was a massive help but i realised it would be a dogshit idea to stick myself in a shitey train for 8 hours after major surgery in the summer heat so i opted for the 1 hour plane trip but that comes with its own issues. I wanted to wait until i had my deed poll done to actually decide to get my ID but again im realising that I’m probably just going to have to get an ID as soon as possible for the flight and tank it having my deadname etc. It isn’t the end of the world but on top of everything else it feels like another massive pain in the arse.
Another issue was my gender clinic didn’t inform me they wanted me to have an appointment specifically for a top surgery referral. I understood that they’d want that if I was going through them to find a surgeon but because I did the research on my own I thought they’d be happy to just write it. This means that i’m having the referral appointment a week before i travel for surgery which I’m trying to force to the back of my mind because I know it’s something that i can’t control anymore but it just feels like more mounting stress.
There are many more smaller issues such as the the gender clinic where I’m receiving my HRT being 2 hours away but I think my main problem is just how isolating the experience is. Nobody around me understands how frustrating it is to stitch together all these different appointments in a way that aligns reasonably but at the same time i dont feel like i have any right to complain. I’m getting treatment at an ideal point while most other young trans people in the UK are being shafted and i’ve been out of school/work for a year at this point.
I just don’t know what to make of it. I’m juggling all this shit but I also feel completely stunted and behind people my age but hopefully that issue will resolve itself once I’m in uni and am at least a bit stealth. I think as well now that I’m on T and know i’m 2 months away from this surgery I’ve desperately wanted since i was 11 my resolve is starting to wear thin and I just want to live as a normal guy who can go to the gym comfortably or just fucking leave the house without stressing about how my chest is sitting etc.
Thanks for reading, sorry if this comes off as needless whinging. Any advice or anecdotes would be nice to hear at least

Hello!
My name is Taaha Adamji, and I am a third-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix. I am conducting a research study on the correlation between sensory deprivation tank usage and various psychological and physiological variables, including health, stress, and mindfulness.
If you have ever used a sensory deprivation tank, I would greatly appreciate your participation in my survey. This study is approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Arizona, ensuring that all ethical standards are met.
Here are a few important details about the study:
Purpose: To explore the effects of sensory deprivation tank usage on health, stress, and mindfulness. Participation: Open to anyone who has used a sensory deprivation tank, regardless of frequency. Duration: The survey takes approximately 7 minutes to complete. Anonymity: Your responses are anonymous, and no personally identifying information will be collected. This ensures that your participation is confidential. The survey includes a variety of questions about your experiences with sensory deprivation tanks, your health, and your mindfulness practices. Your insights will help broaden our understanding of the benefits and potential applications of sensory deprivation in health and wellness.
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Contribute to Research: Your participation will help us gather valuable data that can inform future studies and therapeutic practices. Unique Perspective: As a member of the floatation community, your experiences are particularly valuable to our research, which aims to include diverse perspectives. Important Information:
Participation is voluntary, and you can stop at any time. Since the survey is anonymous, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses once submitted. To participate in the survey, please click the following link: https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VYRXm26OR7kHFc?Q_CHL=qr
If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to email me at tadamji2@arizona.edu
TL;DR: Participate in a 7-minute research survey about your floatation experiences. Your insights will help advance scientific understanding of sensory deprivation tanks.
Thank you for your time and contribution to this important research!

I ordered Stronghold for cats specifically to treat ear mites as he is indoor cat with no flea issue. I was told that Stronghold is in fact Revolution under a different name for the UK market. There are several different brands (including generic) that offer selamectin.
My cat was on prescription Selarid before and it eradicated it immediately. I had him on this for only 6 months as he seemed to be cured but unbeknownst to me the colonies were slowly growing back once I took him off the medication
I purchased a topical that was giving him some relief in the meantime.
So I ordered this instead which also had positive reviews on their site but I noticed there are no negative reviews at all.
I thought I would save some money by ordering what seems to be the same medication (selamectin) off petbucket and it did absolutely nothing to eradicate ear mites, reduce ear mites or my cat's scratching.
I then thought maybe the dose was too low since my cat had grown so I gave him a second dose a couple weeks later to amp it up and still no improvement. It was as if I was applying water to his skin. It should be working since the expiration date is still 10/2025.
I then contacted Petbucket and they gave a lame excuse that my cat must be immune to selamectin so as not to offer a refund. That is not the case.
I then contacted Zoetis and they said they cannot help as UK does not have the same efficacy standards as U.S. based products even if they are still under the same company.
I am out money for 2 (6 month supply) boxes of Stronghold that was supposed to take care of my cat for a year with zero recourse.
I noticed the tracking indicated that it was coming from Singapore so I inquired to Zoetis if it might have been a counterfeit but they checked the batch numbers and it checked out as being one of their legitimate products.
Anyone else have any shady or questionable experience with Petbucket?

I've suffered over a year and a half of progress being undone in the wake of this relapse & in my experience both before and after recovery, one of the most vicious and difficult parts of this ED is the inherent gaslight of just how invisible the very nature of this fkn ED.
Now before anyone jumps on me about the rules, I'm not comparing or invalidating other ED's. I'm ranting on my own experiences from my personal perspective on my individual struggles from two opposing ED's. I apologize if any statements come across as inflammatory, I just want to make this clear bc even tho ik no one is likely to give this the time of day I'm only seeking an outlet for my pain, and in case anyone does scroll past this, I want this context so nothing I say risks being received in a damaging way.
I was in a medical magnet program throughout the entirety of high school + summer courses and despite all the classes, units, lessons, and a whole year of school - all focused specifically on health, diet, and nutrition - it took me YEARS and a stroke of blind luck and chance to stumble across something & then later realize not only did non restrictive ED's exist but I myself had one.
I was failed by my education AND my doctors bc even though I was far from healthy and overweight, restriction was the only concern anyone ever had - & likely only as a precaution bc my medication has a known side affect suppressing appetite.
And despite all the results I could pull up with a Google search, I've only ever experienced Binge ED as feeling invisible, dismissed, and invalidated.
I distinctly remember breaking down in frustration over discovering that nothing relating to binge ED would trigger the same content warning/concern pop ups on different platforms that tags and keywords pertaining to restriction & other EDs/mental health struggles are flagged by.
I'd grown so bitter and resentful bc the experiences I had just seem to compound this feeling that my struggle and pain was only ever seen, validated, cared about, etc if it fit some pre-constructed narrative. Like even tho it existed, it wasn't acknowledged or important enough to be on anyone's radar like other issues are. Dealing with an ED sucks, but an ED so seemingly forgotten and dismissed felt like rubbing salt in a wound the world gaslight you about and does it so well you feel like can't even be upset you're being gaslit.
It took me two years to overcome my ED, and I still felt a flicker of resentment when my history in my relationship with food couldn't be avoided bc where before I'd be met with platitudes about body positivity, at a smaller size people would immediately jump to conclusions about the nature of my past struggle with food.
And don't get me started on boundary pushing even after point of recovery. Holidays, celebrations, special occasions. No one tells a recovered alcoholic "oh treat yourself, you can afford it, it's just one glass." And it seems the smaller you are, the more conscious everyone else is about your boundaries with food & more easy it is to disregard your comfort. And like the social awareness of restrictive disorders makes people feel more comfortable in encouraging you to indulge and cross that boundary, especially in cases where you're confronted with someone who weaponizes "body positivity" as a vehicle for their own toxicity.
Being in a smaller body when struggling with a relapse just inflames these sensitivities to an exponential magnitude and I'm now dealing with the vicious whiplash of not just my ED, but the old wounds from before my recovery, the pressures after recovering, and now being met with assumptions trying to seek support and dismissal if I try to get ahead of the assumptions when I just want to reach out and feel seen.
I slipped up some thanks to boundary pushing over the holidays, but it's my medication that tipped me over into a full blown relapse and despite raising concerns with my doctor, seeing my weight increase steadily over time with episodes becoming more and more frequent, my concern has been brushed aside and I've now been left with the devastating impact of facing a year and a half of recovery undone and stuck taking a medication that is triggering my ED and an overall feeling of suffering for things entirely out of my control.
It took years finding what meds worked for me, and unfortunately mine carry a stigma and have a well known side effect of suppressing appetite. There's also a nationwide shortage and each prescription that gets filled feels weaker and weaker. Prior to my recovery, I was quite sedentary and while I've finally gotten to a place where I'm invested in my quality of life and am thriving pursuing a demanding lifestyle that's kept me active and engaged in my day to day, managing my disability requires a higher threshold than my current dose can meet and while my prior dose was most effective and is one I had for years, it's higher than standard and my doctors are reluctant to help me.
So I face having to overcome the stigma my meds carry, trying to build trust with my medical providers to gain back the Healthcare I lost to depression (& losing my Prior insurance/coverage - too $$$), am working gradually towards increasing my dose amidst a shortage where others with my disability are universally reporting weakened-totally ineffective prescription, and because my meds were adjusted (increased for one, decreased proportionally for the other) my doctor dismissed my concerns citing the lowered dose when I stated my new meds trigger my appetite even tho I could have eaten and be full shortly before they take effect.
I can't stop these meds but keeping them makes me feel insatiable and is inflaming binge episodes but it's effect on my appetite is dismissed as a change of dose and if not being able to manage my disability well enough with this lower dose isn't enough to advocate for my meds, raising a weight concern with a medication that is reputed to be an appetite suppressant is going to work against me even more.
The end result has me now at the point of calling out of work on bad days to spare the mental distress of having to tie an apron around my waist and be a constant trigger the entirety of my shift, and feeling like my only options are to choose between managing my disability or my ED -
All because no one takes binge eating seriously and so stubbornly clings onto the societal view of restrictive disorders as the default and if you're small your struggles with eating aren't valid outside those parameters.
I just want to pursue health, happiness, and mental & physical wellness and not let my disability or disorders be a barrier to my pursuit in sustaining quality of life.
I've never felt so powerless, unseen, or alone.

7 CMBG is the oldest Canadian ARMA unit to date, we formed in 2007. We pride ourselves on our attempts to create an ARMA experience based on the Canadian Armed Forces. Many of our command staff are current or former serving members of the CAF, we can ensure realistic training and operations for prospective members based on the weapons and standards of the CAF.
The 7CMBG currently has many roles open that you can work towards. You begin your career in the infantry but can work your way up to being part of our air detachment, medical (KAT medical, with actual medical professionals providing training) weapons, or artillery teams. We also offer ways to learn to become the mission maker and create operations for the unit. Our primary focus right now is building up our Infantry forces due to many of our members being deployed or in training for the Summer.
Task Force Canada is our in-house mod that features fully modeled and functioning uniforms, weapons, vehicles, and gear. Our team of developers works hard to ensure we have the most realistic-looking and functioning equipment for our operations. 7CMBG deploys and trains with the same weapons systems as the CAF.
We currently host operations on Saturday nights at 1730 EST. Members should attempt to show up at least twice per month to remain active members of the unit. Once you become a member, you will gain access to our operations and training calendar where you can mark attendance and see other planned activities for the group.
To apply, go to our website at 7cmbg.ca and click on APPLY NOW. Your application will be sent to our J1 staff who will handle your interview and onboarding process. From there, you'll be placed in a squad and begin your career at 7CMBG. When you join our discord after applying, please ping a member of @J-1 to get together and have an interview.
Any questions? Join us on Discord by clicking here
We look forward to having you join our ranks!

This happend almost 5 years ago, and unfortunately I am only now asking about. I had employer provided health insurance in 2019, but had to be put on medical leave. Because of that I was required to manually pay the company the amount for insurance via money order to upkeep the insurance. Once of the months (May?) I missed the due date by a few days, but they money was taken and after returning to work money continued to be taken from my paycheck.
Months later (October?) I find out that because I was late on that payment, the company/ insurance rolled back the valid coverage date to earlier in may. And a month later I was refunded the money taken put of my checks. Because of that roll back, the dr I was seeing sent me numerous bills of the time from may until that point.
The seperate bills were confusing and I should've questioned them more. But between not being in a good spot mentally and in life, plus the stress of playing phone tag with the billing department and their voicemail and never being able to contact them easily I didn't follow up like I should have.
The following year that office ended up selling the listed debt to a collections company. And now I'm wondering if anything can be done, or if it's been so long there's no point? Im not sure if what happend is standard practice, or if its just something really shady/unfortunate that happened. I was a much younger adult back then with a lot less experience/backbone. I'm trying to tie up loose ends and make a plan to my future that I didn't have before.
I live in Florida and work in florida, but the work headquarters/insurance was based in Idaho at the time if that effects anything?

Looking for some critics of my upcoming med school application. Ill do the numbers first and then the explanation. IP in Ontario + BC.
cGPA OMSAS: 3.44 cGPA School: 3.47
Western: 3.72 Dal: 3.78 uOttawa: 3.40
uSask: 87.55 uManitoba: 3.96 UBC OGPA: 80.22
Hooks: Black, Northern and Rural (for NOSM), Disabled
Education: BA from an Ivy (not that Canada cares :/). Currently doing a course based MSc, completion by June 30th.
MCAT: unwritten but I expect to perform well. Purely on vibes but also I have scored 99% at every standardized test I have taken (ACT, SAT IIs, APs etc.)
Explanation: Basically had the onset of a serious illness (that caused physical disability) at the first part of undergrad. Took a medical leave, got myself sorted and then returned. My pre-LOA GPA is: 3.24 (OMSAS 3.24). post-LOA GPA is 4.01 (OMSAS 3.91). I also technically wasn’t a full-time student for some of this time due to that, so I do have to appeal to a bunch of schools for exceptions to the Sep-June FT rules. post-LOA I completed full-time. I plan on appealing to every school for GPA adjustments/considerations regardless of whether or not they have official mechanisms.
ECs: 1000s of hours of research: panel presenter at major conference, multiple pubs, multiple posters (every year of undergrad + summers + 1 year FT)
1000s of hours of clinical care: tech @ doctor’s office for 2 years FT
almost 500 hours at health tech startups
1000s of other misc. stuff that spans: local policy, school stuff (MUN, campus leadership etc.), DEI stuff
LoRs: 3 strong (1 academic, 1 research, 1 work)
A lot of this depends on what my MCAT score breaks down on being, but just wanted some feedback going into the summer. Also, if anyone has done any of the GPA appeals for disability (or other reasons) at any Ontario school, UBC, uManitoba, uSask, or Dal let me know.
I’m applying widely because cost isn’t a big factor unless my MCAT (once I write)+ GPA are out of the accepted range for previously admitted students.
I know that some schools are a reach, but I’ve a friend with a low GPA (3.5ish) + high MCAT (520+) with a MSc with great ECs (but in a different way) that got into all schools she applied to (5 including uoft). So I know it’s doable.
any tips? advice? constructive feedback?
thanks!

I’m new to the area and just started seeing a local dentist. Yesterday the dentist gave me an estimated amount due after the dental work was completed.
Like I usually do, I said I’d pay my amount due after getting my EOB, since the EOB states exactly what I owe and is not an estimate. This is typical when you have good insurance through your employer and I’ve never had an issue doing things this way before.
However, this dentist (NEW ENGLAND DENTAL DANBURY) told me that they can’t let me leave until I pay “something”.
After going back and forth I was told by the office staff that they have to call their manager before they can let me leave. I was totally freaked out at this point and just walked the hell out of there after I told them they can’t stop me from leaving and to just send me the damn bill.
Today I get a call from their manager, some idiot named Nomi and I tell him how rude and unprofessional the staff was to try and hold me hostage over $120 bucks after the work was already done and I had follow up work to be completed.
He told me that although the process I explained to him was the law and standard in most medical cases under $5000, the guy said his office doesn’t have to follow the law ….wtf?!?
Then he started threatening me saying he will call the cops on me, send my information to the “credit companies” and that his office will let my employer know that I’m stealing because they have my employers info through my insurance (his exact words).
I’m gonna follow up with the BBB and Deartment of Public Health but I’m also curious, has anyone had a similar experience with this dental office or in CT in general?
I’m still in shock over the whole thing and I’m honestly ready to just go back to driving over an hour each way to my old dentist in Yonkers, NY.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep checking my insurance online to see when the claim gets processed and make a payment then. Sheesh what a crazy experience.
Fuck New England dental in danbury!

Have had 2 nanny experiences only
1 was good, she was with us for about a year during covid. She had been laid off from her "real" job and was a family friend. Made my life easier, stayed off her phone, limited screen time, etc. Left us when her job rehired her
The second nanny search was in 2020 and insane. Put me off nannies. I put my kids back in daycare as soon as they opened after covid closures and ended up working while pregnant and watching my kids myself (absolutely not possible long term and only ok during covid when people understood the childcare issue). One nanny was so entitled, judgemental, and rude. Absolutely 1000% the type to post on here where you might think she is a troll. She gave me parenting suggestions all the time and commented on the dog hair in my house (like yeah, we have a fucking dog). She also flipped out because I asked her to dress like she was a prek teacher because I was tired of seeing her tits every time she bent over. She was paid 4x what prek teachers in my area make and I don't feel bad about having standards. We also agreed to 2 weeks off the books as a sort of trial. She refused to go on the books though! Because she was on unemployment...real slick one
Anyway, are there red flags for this kind of behavior? I have a medically fragile child who can't attend daycare for about a year. Need to hire someone. I'm obviously not too keen and need some reassurance/advice

Species:

• Canine

Age:

• Almost 2 years old

Sex/Neuter Status:

• neutered

Breed:

• English Cocker Spaniel

Body Weight:

• Current weight: 12 kg
• Ideal weight: Approximately 16 kg (based on his build and breed standards)

History:

• Initial Symptoms: Started around 6 months old; not gaining weight as expected.
• Severe Symptoms: Extremely bloody stool observed, leading to immediate veterinary consultation.
• Dietary Changes: Initial recommendation to feed scrambled eggs for 6 weeks to reduce gut inflammation, followed by an elimination diet using hydrolyzed dog food or a single-source protein.
• Diet Attempts:
  • Purina Hypoallergenic dog food (rejected by dog, continued weight loss)
  • Hill's z/d food (rejected by dog, continued weight loss)
  • Yora (initially accepted, but now being refused

Clinical Signs:

• Significant weight loss and inability to gain weight.
• Prominent hips and ribs indicating underweight condition.
• Refusal to eat even previously accepted "safe foods".
• Increased grass eating and water consumption.
• being sick
• extreamly anxious
• Recent injection given by vet with unclear diagnosis or long-term plan.
• enviromental allergies - itchy paws, swollen eyes, sneezing, watery eyes

Duration:

• Symptoms ongoing for approximately 1.5 years, with varying degrees of severity.

General Location:

• cornwall, england
  
• Fecal Test: Results indicated no issues.
  
• 1. Detailed Food Trials

precribed medicin

• Probiotics
• Anti-inflammatory Medications
• anti itch stuff
• eaeye drop

Hi everyone,
I'm turning to Reddit because I haven't been able to get straight answers from my vet about my dog's health issues.
A bit of background: my dog is an almost 2-year-old English Cocker Spaniel. He started showing symptoms around 6 months old when I noticed he wasn't gaining weight as expected. At first, I thought he just needed more food since he's very active, but after a few months, he had an extremely bloody stool, basically entirely blood. I rushed him to the vet, and we were told he might be allergic to meats and chicken (since this is common and what he was being fed). The vet recommended putting him on scrambled eggs for 6 weeks to reduce inflammation and allow his gut to heal, along with using Cobalaplex. After this, we were to start an elimination diet using hydrolyzed dog food or a single-source protein he’d never had before.
We started him on Purina Hypoallergenic dog food, which he hated, and he continued to lose weight. We then switched to Hill's z/d food, which he also hated and still didn't gain weight. More recently, we changed to Yora, which was great for a while, and he slowly started eating more. But now, he's refusing to eat even the "safe foods" we've identified.
I took him back to the vet, but they were not helpful. They just said, "Ahh maybe he feels sick," gave him an injection, and sent us on our way. Nothing I do seems to help him. He weighs 12kg and has never weighed more than 13kg. He is very tall for a Cocker Spaniel, so I would expect him to be around 16kg. More importantly, his hips and ribs are far too prominent, indicating he is underweight. We had some tests done (fecal test - all good), but I don't feel the vets are taking my concerns about his weight and eating seriously. I'm lost as to what to do to help him. He has also started eating a lot of grass recently and drinking more, which I attributed to the heat.
So, am I overreacting, or do I need to go and shout at some people?

As summer approaches, understanding the effectiveness of sunscreens from different regions can be a valuable guide for travelers. Are there differences between the products, and if so, how can we protect the best from harmful rays? We compared sunscreens in the US and EU, two big and popular summer travel destinations ✈️
Regulatory Differences
Sunscreens vary by country due to differing regulatory standards, consumer preferences, and available ingredients.
US: The FDA classifies sunscreens as over-the-counter medications. This stringent framework limits the number of allowable ingredients. The FDA focuses primarily on UVB filters, which means that a US sunscreen offering "broad protection" might predominantly protect against UVB rays.
EU: Regulation requires sunscreens to provide effective protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, the EU has streamlined processes for approving new ingredients—significantly faster than in the US. Therefore, EU sunscreens often use more advanced and recent ingredients for UV protection.
The last new UV ingredient approved in the US dates back to 1999. In contrast, EU allows more recent ingredients. Manufacturers can utilize up 26 ingredients (US only 17) and seven chemicals that protect against cancer-causing rays are available in the EU and only three are permitted in the US.
Types of Sunscreens
There are two main types of sunscreen protection: mineral and chemical.

• Mineral Sunscreens: Typically contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which act as physical barriers that reflect UV rays. They work immediately and are suitable for sensitive skin but can leave a thick, whitish layer on the skin.
• Chemical Sunscreens: Include ingredients like avobenzone or oxybenzone, which absorb UV rays and convert them into harmless heat. These sunscreens are lighter and less visible on the skin but might contain potentially harmful chemicals still under FDA review.

Some chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that may be harmful. PABA (Para-Aminobenzoic Acid): An older UV filter known to cause skin irritation and is less commonly used now. Oxybenzone: Linked to endocrine disruption and skin allergies. Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate): Associated with endocrine disruption.
If you're cautious about chemical ingredients, opt for mineral-based sunscreens despite their heavier texture, as they offer superior and safer long-term protection.
Universal Sunscreen Tips
Regardless of where you are, here are essential tips for choosing sunscreen:

• Broad-Spectrum Protection: Ensure the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
• SPF Level: Choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 for adequate protection.
• Mineral-Based Formulas: Preferable if concerned about chemical ingredients or environmental impact.

Making the Right Choice
Protecting your skin from the sun is key to maintaining both health and beauty. No matter where you travel, the best sunscreen is one you will use consistently. Happy sun-safe adventures!
For a thoughtful holiday present for those who stayed at home, consider bringing back a sunscreen with advanced UVA/UVB filters and the newest cancer protection technology. 🌞🏖️😎
For more detailed information, see the links below:

• EWG's Guide to Sunscreens
• Consumer Reports Sunscreen Ratings
• Mayo Clinic: Sunscreen FAQs

sunscreen #sunscreenquality #skinprotection