#I like dissecting Zev's personality | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wild-houseplant · 1 year

Note

Hello my wonderful and lovely friend!!! I come, as I am wont to do, with questions for splendidissima Rhodri from the OC Codex prompts:

2. a letter written by your OC’s family member

3. a report written by your OC’s teacher or mentor

4. a letter from your OC to their love interest

Now, I don't know if you will spend these days celebrating or not, but they seem to be busy days for anybody regardless. Please take as much time as you like and pick whichever tickle your fancy. And have some lovely, lovely days. Off I go!

OH HI HEY ! 8D 8D Good to see you and thank you for sending in the prompts!! I had such a great time with these, both of my braincells were working overtime and it was a joy!

Owing to spacing and the sheer volume of the answers I'm sticking all this under the cut. I'd apologise but we both know I don't mean it x) x) x)

so o o o 2. A letter written by your OC's family member Here's one from Rhod's younger brother, Owen. Heirs aren't allowed to have favourites, but suffice it to say she and Owen had easy and natural compatibility. He was nine-ish and Rhodri would've been twelve.

The paper is bleached, high-quality Tevinter vellum, bearing a template header in red ink, reading in Tevene rune script, EX SCRIBIO CALLISTANI SPIRI (“From the desk of Spiro Callistanus”). At the top right of the page, the date 13 Justinian, 9:22 Era Drakonis is added in the same wobbly runic script in the rest of the letter. The language of writing is Tevene.

I love you Sēvē,

My birthday was good but sad without you, and thank you for my greenhouse. Mazarin and Evander aren’t allowed inside because they break everything now. Bethann sits with me in there sometimes but not for long.

School is hard but Tata says it gets easier with time. When you come back we can go together. I think that would make it better. Mazarin and Evander are too loud and they don’t sit with me any more. Do you know any plant spells? Please write all of them down so I can learn them when my magic comes. And please tell me your favourite three plants. Mine are ivy, snake kiss, and butterleaf.

Please write lots more soon.

And I love you, from Owen your brother.

Author's notes:

Callistanus- ‘of’ House Callistus, the name given to non-heir family members. An heir is the house, the non-heirs are the members of said house. ‘Callistani is Callistanus in genitive (possessive- I know you know this; clarifying for other potential readers) case. Owen's Tevene name is Spiro, Spiri in genitive form.

The Callistanus/Amell kids did not cope well with Rhodri being taken to the Circle. Not least because they were an arm’s length away when the Kirkwall Templars were beating her to a pulp. Mazarin and Evander, who already tended to be loud and demanding, became destructive and disruptive, and both of them developed explosive tempers that proved hard to pacify. Bethann, the youngest and most sensitive sibling, suffered frequent meltdowns that required many years to identify causes for and address. Owen, the middle child, was always quiet and courteous. The adults in his life, amid attending to his louder, needier siblings, frequently ‘checked in’ on him, and they would have used all the resources they had to attend to any need he might have, but if he said he was doing fine (he always did), they left it at that and assumed he was content to keep to himself. Rhodri had always made a point of keeping him by her side and giving him plenty of one-on-one attention even if he was ‘fine,’ and he soaked that up like a sponge. After she was taken away, though, and the other siblings proved to be very squeaky wheels, there was nobody to fill the gap in those childhood to early teen years. Owen ended up rather neglected, and horribly lonely, and hid it, even lied about it, to everyone but Rhodri for years. Consequently, Owen tends to have a low opinion of himself, and is disinclined to seek out something, however badly he might want it. He does a lot better once Rhodri's back, and certainly once his folks found out (to their unrestricted horror) how neglected he had felt, they did their darnedest to make it up to him as well. But Rhod's return was really what cemented that improvement.

On to 3. a report written by your OC's teacher and mentor

I liked this question because I like the idea of there being a very specific, Chantry-determined format to a progress report, filled with formalities that ostensibly show some level of "civility" between the Templars and the mages. Plus, grading system? How do the mages measure success? So many questions!! Thank you for making me think of the answers!! -

The paper is bleached, blank vellum of middle to high quality, with the standard Circle progress report template already written in with black ink. Irving’s handwriting is a neat cursive that is no longer taught in the Circles. -

Date: 7 Eluviesta, 9:21 Dragon

Tutor name and rank: Irving, F.E.

Apprentice name; age; specialisation: Rhodri S. C. Amell// 10 y.o.// Arcane Magic

Progress report number, AYTD: 2

Presenting compliments to the Knight-Commander and having the honour to report:

Following the discovery of lyrium affliction in early Verimensis 9:22, Rhodri Amell has completed three months of compensatory meditation and distraction management training. Spellpower has improved significantly, as has spell duration (Max. 4; 10s per HS); mana inefficiency has also decreased (less est. 2.5, now 5.5). Continuation of the program recommended indefinitely.

Despite her progress, Rhodri’s temper outbursts are increasing in frequency during lessons proper. I reiterate to the Knight-Commander my suspicion that these arise from the elemental damage and consequent pain in her hands from unsafe proximity to trained mana, particularly as her affliction prevents her from wearing the requisite enchanted safety gloves. As per my last reports, I strongly recommend that my apprentice be permitted to use a sylvan branch staff to prevent more of the same; responding to outbursts with punishment has proved manifestly unhelpful and I continue to urge its cessation to the Knight-Commander with the greatest emphasis.

I note that Rhodri continues to tutor beginner students in her free time. E. Delilah has anecdotally mentioned better performance in this cohort in comparison to Delilah’s previous cohort, and has advised willingness to allow my apprentice to shadow her for some classes. With assistance in managing the change in schedule, I anticipate further progress for all concerned.

Reiterating assurances to the Knight-Commander of my highest consideration.

Irving, F.E.

Author's notes on abbreviations and measurements - AYTD: Academic year to date - Spellpower scale is from 0 (not casting) to 10 (Destruction of a single room - HS- healing spell (in this case spell duration measures how long the intended effects persist until the spell is cut off or wears off on its own) - Mana inefficiency scale measures how much unformed mana escapes when a spell is cast, from 0 (no mana lost) to 10 (all, or almost all mana escaped). .

And 4: A letter from your OC to their love interest!

The author's notes are long so I'd better just get to it:

The paper is bleached, high-quality Tevinter vellum, bearing a template header in red ink, reading in Tevene rune script, EX SCRIBIO CALLISTI SEVERIN (“From the desk of Severin Callistus”). At the top right of the page, the date 11 Pluitanis, 9:35 Era Drakonis is written in sharp, austere letters, as is the rest of the content. The language of writing is Common, with the exception of the tercet, which is in Tevene.

Dulcis,

I pen this letter to you with all my love and, in adherence to the conditions set by your challenge:

I admit that I stand corrected: pickpocketing is very difficult and is not “something I could do as easily as blinking.” (I will say, however, that hiding grapes in the pocket you were keeping the coins was entirely unnecessary. It feels like those bastard Void fruits are hiding everywhere, now.)

With great embarrassment, I enclose a reproduction of the tercetus I so foolishly admitted to writing and frankly, my love, I am starting to think you organised this whole bet so you could get your hands on it. . In vitae finite stabit Formator ton, et querisit "A Incredule, quemisi exultum mihim offerti?" Et respondit humilite, "Ton Zevran, Sanctus amade" .

I must say, my love, I’m enjoying writing to you even though you’re right beside me. I think I’d like to do this more often– though hopefully with fewer tercetae. Maybe I could hang short missives off your Friday flowers. What do you think?

Also, please let me know if you would like to go to the Sidereal Telescopium tomorrow. Quirina is giving a speech on the upcoming New Constellations Room, and I have many questions for them.

My whole heart to you,

Severin (Rhodri). -

Author’s notes:

Tercetus- a traditional Tevene-style three-line rhyming poem.

A rough translation: At the end of life I will stand before your Maker, and he will ask me "You, Unbeliever, tell me– what worship did you ever offer me?" And I will say, simply and earnestly, "Holy Immortal, I loved Your Zevran."

Rhod’s got a complicated religious life. She started okay; the family wasn’t especially pious but they did Chantry things at the frequency considered respectable. Once she landed in Kinloch Hold, though, her prevailing question, for which never received a satisfactory answer, was: “If the Maker can do anything, and He loves us, why does he let us suffer? I wouldn’t do that, and I’m a child, nto a god.” After Broken Circle, she refused to believe the Maker existed, as a consolation to herself, and to avoid the sort of vengeful blasphemy that gets you hung, drawn, and quartered. There’s something about Zevran’s patient faith, though, and his willingness to offer thanks that he has what he has, however miserable his life has been. It’s impressively staunch, and Rhodri admires that, and treasures the comfort it brings him, enough that she slowly comes around to her idea of a compromise. Said compromise is acknowledging that if the Maker exists, He is as capable at unleashing bitter cruelty as He is at creating boundless joy. Rhod’s not one to praise bad behaviour in anyone, let alone a god who should know better, but by golly He did everyone a good turn when He made Zevran. Maybe age will bring other wisdom, but for now, she lets her love for Zevran be her tentative worship, because it’s the only praise she can offer in earnest. Though idk, what better compliment is there for a creator than someone wholeheartedly adoring their creation? I like to think it’s enough for the time being. A religious journey isn’t always straightforward but I always found that complications bring their own insights.

I have no idea why Rhodri signs off her letters to Zevvo as ‘Severin (Rhodri).’ They agreed early on never to use the Tevene name to avoid the ridiculousness that comes with similar-sounding names (it gets especially bad when the siblings give him the Tevene-ised nickname Zēvē when they’re already calling Rhodri Sēvē. Agony!) Same deal with Owen signing off letters to her as “Owen your brother”. Must be hereditary.

Also I'm not sure about how ok it is to use Artbreeder generated images what with the art theft things going around now (I'm not sure where it stands on that sort of thing) so I'll leave out the artbreeder portrait I have of Owen. For a face claim, though, this feller here is pretty close (though I grant you Simon Wood is unlikely to be 9yo in this gif). Token ginger of the Amell-Callistus brood, what's up!

#Thank you again for indulging meeeee <3 <3 <3 <3 I had a ball with this!!#God but I feel so awful for Owen ToT He is such a sweet boy and he was Rhod's little shadow #(and is planning to stock his greenhouse full of Rhodri's favourite plants which is Not Directly giving presents right? Right??)#find yourself a sibling who looks for ways to skirt around Tata's Restrictive Gift Policy #he'd be a dangerous little bastard with his manipulations skills if he had even one bad bone in his body but he doesn't!#parenting is fraught with mistakes and it's a shame he copped some of that but he turns out fine thank god. Rhodri makes sure of that #I honestly don't know what Zevran ends up making of that tercet either #He's a pious fellow at heart and I can't decide if he'd find it well-meant but indisputably blasphemous #or take it as a compliment and not dwell on the other side of it #some part of me feels like he'd overlook any reservations bc there IS a lot of love for him in there and certainly no animosity #idk really- opinions welcome #I like dissecting Zev's personality #Rhodri Amell #Askin' games #Dragon Age: Origins #also in the circle Rhod's father has been buying birthday gifts on her behalf- hence the greenhouse. Rhodri DOES know what he bought #and organises the gift well in advance via letter but it's a complex affair x)#also yes Rhodri absolutely was having meltdowns from magic damaging her hands and the Templars punishments were Not helpful #and Irving is entirely sick of their shit

6 notes · View notes

jobsearchtips02 · 4 years

Text

FDA opens door to rapid, at-home screening for COVID-19

SportsPulse: There’s one major reason a fall without football is a genuine possibility: absence of robust COVID-19 screening. We dissect why.

U.S.A. TODAY

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday opened the door to COVID-19 screening that could be quick, cheap, and handled entirely in your home– if companies don’t discover the rules too difficult.

Regular screening of people who do not know they have COVID-19 might change the battle versus the disease.

” These kinds of tests will be a game-changer in our battle versus COVID-19 and will be essential as the nation looks toward reopening,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn stated in a declaration revealing how the agency will authorize at-home tests.

Up until now, the FDA hasn’t enabled anyone to offer tests for at-home use.

Laboratory tests to find the coronavirus are accurate, but they’re typically limited to individuals who have COVID-19 signs. It typically takes days to get results– by which point the person might have currently contaminated others.

Other tests are fast, but so expensive they’re not likely to be used routinely. A clinic in Massachusetts, for instance, charges $160 per quick test; it’s not covered by insurance.

With COVID-19, people are most infectious in the few days before they establish symptoms and as signs first develop.

Evaluating in your home, possibly one or two times a week, would allow individuals to evaluate themselves prior to going to work or school, getting on an airplane, going to an occasion, or visiting an elderly relative. Letting people know they are transmittable in real-time would enable them to self-quarantine, and it would allow others to set about everyday life without danger of contaminating others.

Checking space: A fast, cheap test would assist stop COVID-19 Why do not we have one?

Daily coronavirus updates: Register For our newsletter now.

Will FDA guidelines motivate or dissuade business to produce at-home tests?

A number of testing experts, including Dan Larremore of the University of Colorado, stated the FDA’s move is an action in the ideal direction and could motivate companies to pursue inexpensive, fast, at-home tests.

However Dr. Michael Mina, a contagious disease epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, stated the way the FDA’s assistance design template is written makes it less most likely that such important tests will reach the public.

The design template spells out how a sample is to be collected and examined and how outcomes are to be revealed to a user without the requirement to send a sample to a lab for analysis.

The design template also outlines how accurate the tests must be, with somewhat lower requirements than lab-based tests.

” The [required] software alone will position an extremely large obstacle for many,” Mina said by means of email. “Regrettably the template does not use this type of ‘brand-new’ opportunity that I think is going to be needed if we wish to see truly $1 everyday tests become a reality.”

Mina stated the standards should be decreased even more. People are contagious only when there’s an extremely high virus level in their body, which can be detected by a less sensitive test. An infection that goes undetected by a less-sensitive test would be captured a couple of days later on when the individual is tested once again, he said. Or the person would currently be on the method to healing and probably would not be contagious.

Similar quick tests utilized to detect strep throat miss out on as numerous as one in five people who are contaminated, so doctors typically send out a throat culture to a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis, stated Dr. Emily Volk, president-elect of the College of American Pathologists. Such confirmatory testing generally takes a number of days.

If that were done with COVID-19, it could add to the hold-ups of conventional testing rather than relieve them.

A race to develop a quick, cheap COVID-19 test

There are numerous tests near to market that are quick and reasonably cheap, however none satisfies Mina’s vision: A fast test that costs as low as $1 and can supply an answer prior to someone leaves the house in the morning.

The XPRIZE, a not-for-profit that designs and hosts public competitions, announced Tuesday it would split a $5 million prize amongst 5 winners who can produce a test that delivers results in just 15 minutes and expenses less than $15 The winners will also divide $50 million intended for fast production scale-up, said Jeff Huber, president and cofounder of OpenCovidScreen, whose company is launching the competitors in collaboration with XPRIZE.

The competitors is open until completion of August. About 200 semifinalists will be chosen. They’ll be winnowed to 20 finalists and after that five winners.

Competitors will have to fulfill requirements that will accelerate FDA approval. They’ll get professional advice from large-scale testing companies, Huber stated. The five winners will be all set to scale up production by the end of the year, he said.

Fertility doctors establish test for coronavirus

In another method to ingenious screening, Sorrento Therapies of San Diego has licensed technology developed at Columbia University in New York City City.

Dr. Zev Williams, director of the Columbia University Fertility Center, has spent years establishing tests to help couples with hereditary diseases or repeat miscarriages have healthy infants. Early in the pandemic, Williams stated his group concluded that finding the hereditary signature of the virus that causes COVID-19 wasn’t all that various.

The innovation they’ve developed basically tries to find that hereditary signature in a saliva sample. The sample is taken into a container with enzymes that, when warmed, turn the liquid red to indicate no infection present or yellow to show an infection. The test is as accurate as the present requirement, called a PCR test, which relies on pricey, lab-based devices, stated Henry Ji, Sorrento’s CEO and cofounder.

The company expects the test, which has not yet gotten FDA approval, to cost around $10, stated Mark Brunswick, the company’s senior vice president of regulative affairs.

Test company official: FDA has ‘moved the goalposts’

In a third approach, Intrivo Diagnostics of Santa Monica, California, and Gain Access To Bio of Somerset, New Jersey, are collaborating to style and distribute a quick at-home test. Dr. Michael Harbour, primary medical officer of Intrivo, said he anticipates to finish the FDA approval process in the next 90 days.

Their test offers a finger-pricking gadget and examines a drop of blood. A blue line would suggest a positive for the virus; no line would be an all-clear.

The test need to be accurate adequate to fulfill the FDA standards, Harbour said. The business are prepared to conduct trials, as required by the FDA, to make sure the test is easy enough for most people to use. He said he did not understand just how much it would cost.

The FDA, Harbour stated, has “moved the goalposts” several times, requiring screening business to follow one procedure and then another. But he’s enthusiastic that it’s now clear how essential this kind of test will be to keep the virus under control.

” If the FDA is clever,” he said, ” they are going to work quickly to make these readily available.”

Contact Karen Weintraub at [email protected]

Health and client security coverage at U.S.A. TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Development and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not supply editorial input.

Check Out or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/07/29/ fda-opens-door-rapid-home-covid-19- tests/5536528002/

Discover New & Used Automobiles

New Automobiles Used Automobiles

Find Out More

from Job Search Tips https://jobsearchtips.net/fda-opens-door-to-rapid-at-home-screening-for-covid-19/

0 notes