#serious shrinkage

[westeroswisdom]

^^^ from @Thrones_Facts

Just 6 episodes for Season 1 of Dunk & Egg?! Seasons are getting ridiculously short.

I was browsing at the Star Trek site Trekcore a couple of hours ago. The series Star Trek: The Next Generation ran from 1987 to 1994. What stands out in the scheduling is that of the seven seasons: four had 26 episodes, two had 25 episodes (if you count the two-hour premiere and finale episodes as one episode each) and one strike shortened season had only 22 episodes. And the seasons were all in consecutive years.

House of the Dragon had 10 episodes in its first season and will have just 8 in Season 2. And it’s difficult to imagine seeing S02E01 before April of 2024 at the earliest.

With all respect to HotD, it’s not the only series experiencing season shrinkage while making viewers wait longer for subsequent seasons. 

Westworld ran for four seasons. S1 and S2 were 10 episodes each while S3 and S4 each featured 8 episodes. And the seasons ran just every other year. It took from 02 October 2016 to 14 August 2022 to get from S01E01 to S04E08.

If such series are supposed to be epic narratives, the huge breaks between the shrinking clusters of episodes risk causing viewers to lose interest and writers & producers to lose concentration. Westworld, for example, showed a steady decline in viewers from season to season. Viewership for S4 was less than 20% of viewership for S1. 

I wonder if problems associated with GoT S8 had anything to do with it starting 18 months after the end of S7 and containing just 6 episodes.

Whatever the reasons for these fallow and sparse stretches (funding, studio politics, cast availability, pre- and post-production tech work, unexpected stuff like pandemics and strikes, etc.), a narrative series is going to suffer if it isn’t presented like an actual narrative.

Imagine reading a few chapters from a novel and then putting it aside for two years and then deciding to read a smaller number of chapters from that book before putting it aside once again. That’s what the current TV situation reminds me of.

Yeah, so I didn’t expect this to turn into a rant, but I hope it miraculously filters over to media companies and showrunners.

#game of thrones #house of the dragon #a knight of the seven kingdoms #dunk and egg #narratives #serious shrinkage #longer waits for seasons #star trek: the next generation #westworld #gra o tron #ród smoka #rod draka #a casa do dragão #la casa del dragón #дім дракона #gia tộc rồng #آل التنين #龙之家族 #ejderha evi #בית הדרקון #ड्रैगन का घर #하우스 오브 드래곤 #σπίτι του δράκου #হাউস অফ দ্য ড্রাগন #la maison du dragon #дом дракона #ڈریگن ہاؤس #lohikäärmeen talo #drakono namai #დრაკონის სახლი

[tomorrowusa]

Bye-bye, Kevin!

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., says he will retire from the House of Representatives at the end of this year, departing before the end of his term.

McCarthy is yet another example of how loyalty to Trump will do nothing for you. Trump demands unconditional loyalty from everybody but gives none to anybody.

McCarthy flew down to Mar-a-Lago just after Trump's departure from the White House. This public groveling did him no good when his speakership was being threatened in October by the wacko fringe of his own party. Trump did nothing to help "My Kevin".

'How Humiliating': Critics Taunt 'Groveling' Kevin McCarthy Over Trump Revelation

McCarthy's district CA-20 is regarded as Safe Republican. But his resignation does not take effect until the end of December. It will probably take a couple of months after that to fill the vacancy. Along with the Santos expulsion, the already small GOP margin in the House will become tiny in January.

#republicans #kevin mccarthy #ca-20 #mccarthy resignation #us house of representatives #serious shrinkage of the gop house majority #mccarthy groveling to trump #donald trump #election 2024

[klapollo]

lock down the fucking oranges at trader joes while we're at it God forbid some guy walks outta there with a 80 cent fruit without paying so the ceo can pocket his well deserved zillion dollar bonus

#sorry i just feel like every time i go shopping more shit is locked up #who cares the shrinkage cannot be that serious

[areyoudoingthis]

i know I'm bad with numbers but i swear elrond said 3000 years in lotr and now it's 400??

#between these movies and the rings of power middle earth is having some serious time shrinkage issues #the ages are getting alarmingly shorter

[the-soliloquies-of-sadists]

#344

“Get comfortable.  I just checked the weather; we are going to be here at least for tonight.  There is no way that a tow truck is going to make it to your car in time before the next storm hits.  No one is going to risk their own safety on these muddy roads so that you can get back to the city.  Really it was a stupid thing to do to go on a mountain drive right before a storm—on unfamiliar backwoods dirt roads to boot.  You are just lucky that I was coming back with my winter supplies when I saw you.  You are going to be here for the night, probably two or three….

“Even if I were to take you back into town, you still wouldn’t be able to get your car out in the same amount of time, and then I would be stuck in the city.  Naa.  This is the best.  Go ahead and get out of those wet clothes and throw them in the dryer behind you alongside my wet shirt and jacket.  You can leave your undies on if you want.

“Look, I grew up in a two-bedroom house with three brothers.  I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps.  I have seen hundreds if not thousands of naked men.  Nothing you have… or lack… will surprise me….

“…Jesus fuck!  I spoke too soon.  A hot pink thong?  Are you serious?  Even the fags I know wouldn’t wear something so pathetic.  Did you actually pay money for that?...  Your wife?  Figured.  I can’t fucking stand looking at them.  Take it off.  Now!

“I’ve seen naked men before.  If you weren’t here, I would be walking around this place and my property naked.  In fact, let me get out of these overalls right here.  I don’t wear stupid ass thongs like that.  I don’t wear underwear at all.  Two clips undone and… you get to see Tank here. 

“Now off with that stupid thong. 

“Look I’m 6 foot 7 inches and weigh three hundred fifty pounds.  I have over a foot on your height, and I am way more than double your weight.  You are no fucking match for me.  That’s it.  You look terrified.  Good….

“I don’t know what you were worried about.  You got a decent body.  Your dick is all shriveled up.  It can’t be from the cold outside or most likely from being terrified.

“Tank here never experiences shrinkage.  That’s because he’s fucking huge.  It may look normal size, but hanging here on a big guy like me, but trust me when he gets hard, angry hard, he can push over nine inches long and seven and a half around.  Wanna feel a real man’s cock?...  I know you do.  I can see you thinking….

“…No no no.  Get the fuck back here….  You ain’t going anywhere little man.  You are so easy to throw around or down to the floor in this case.  Pathetic.  All I have to do is shift my weight to my right foot on your chest and I will crush you like a bug.

“Let me fill you in on your situation.  You are 30 minutes from town in the middle of nowhere, there’s a cold storm coming in which might even bring us snow, and my nearest neighbor is Deputy Schmidt one mile away. 

“Look up at me!  If you run, you will get lost, you will freeze, and you will die.  And if you think of running to Schmidt, know this, he’s one mile away by way of an obscure snowmobile trail.  But don’t worry, he’ll be by in a few minutes.  When you went back to your car to get some things, I texted him that I have a night guest he might want to meet.  And if you think I’m intense, there’s nothing like a thirty-two-year veteran of the police force with anger issues and a dick to match….

“…No before you think I have reception, no I don’t.  I did near your car though.  Up here, there’s no reception, no internet, no telephone lines.  We are out in the middle of nowhere detached from humanity.  Just you, me,… and Tank here. 

“Good ol’ Tank.  He’s happy to see a helpless you on the floor looking up at him.  He’s really excited to see you.  Look at his pre-cum.  Tank likes to leak when he sees a new faggot.

“Aw shut the fuck up.  I don’t care that you have a wife or a girlfriend,… or even both…. 100% straight?  Hunh.  Really?  I think we both know that when you finally leave here, you won’t be able to say that.  Tank here is going to smash your cherry. 

“Don’t fucking move.  I want to see if the drop from Tank’s leak will land on your face…. Right on your upper lip!  Go ahead and lick it!...  I said ‘Lick it bitch.’  Fuck yeah!

“You ready to give Tank your pussy?  ‘Cause he’s ready to turn that puss into a cunt.  I’m going to lift my foot up.  Then I want you to stand up and take a moment to catch your breath.  Then I want to bend over this kitchen table and present your pussy for me.

“…Bend over.  Ahh, there it is, that moment you accept the inevitable and just give up….  Now pull apart those cheeks….  That’s one pretty pussy.  Too bad I have to ruin it.  Now beg me to fuck you.  I want to hear your depraved hunger for me to destroy your pussy.  Beg!

“You can do better than that.  If you convince me you want me to take your cherry with your pathetic begging, I’ll put some lube on my dick.  Otherwise Tank is going in dry.  Trust me, you don’t want Tank to rip up your dry pussy, and I don’t want your cherry blood all over my kitchen floor.  Now beg.

“…That’s better.  I don’t know if you ever stuck something up your cooch, but you want to push out as I go in.  Don’t worry.  I’m slathering Tank up with some Crisco.  Tank is ready to shoot and he ain’t even in yet.

“Keep pushing out.  Here comes Tank.  Scream mother fucker.  No one will hear you.  Oh man, does your cherry feel good strangling my cock.  Your second sphincter is massaging Tank’s tip in all the right ways.  It’s not going to take me long.

“Struggle all you want; you ain’t going anywhere.  Keep screaming.  You should find it more difficult with me laying on your back pounding your cunt’s insides.  It’s hard to get a breath in, hunh?  Hell, with my arm sliding under your neck, it’s easy to cut off your air by applying pressure to both sides with my bicep and forearm.  It’s going to get very difficult to breathe very fast. 

“You fight back on instinct, but you won’t win.  I can feel your struggle as your cunt tightens up and spasms uncontrollably.  That’s so fucking hot.  Tank is close.  Oh fuck.  Oh fuck I’m gonna cum.  I’m gonna fucking cum.  Fuck!  Fuck! Fuck!...  Jesus!

“No, I know you are struggling to breathe.  That’s what I want., what I still want.  I plan on going all night.  When you lose consciousness, then I will take Tank out of you.  Don’t worry.  My arm will replace it.  Fisting is a lot easier on an unconscious cunt than one that is fully aware.

“This is only the beginning.  Oh there you go.  Good night.  Sleep, not so tight.

“Fuck.  Where did that Crisco go?”

[noelcowards-addressbook]

"Men, today we're going to discuss the serious issue of shrinkage."

#gay humor #gay ads #gay kitsch

[tieflingkisser]

COVID Linked to Lower IQ, Poor Memory and Other Negative Impacts on Brain Health

"COVID-19 poses a serious risk to brain health, even in mild cases, and the effects are now being revealed at the population level," clinical epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Aly said

Mounting scientific evidence suggests that being infected with SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID — profoundly impacts brain health in many ways. Ziyad Al-Aly, a physician and clinical epidemiologist, wrote an essay for The Conversation — which was later republished by Scientific American — detailing the numerous studies that highlight what he describes as the "indelible mark" that COVID leaves on the brain and its functioning. Al-Aly, who is director of the Clinical Epidemiology Center at the VA Saint Louis Health Care System in Missouri, wrote that he has been studying long COVID since early reports of the disease and before the term was even coined by the medical community. He explained in his essay that "large epidemiological analyses" showed that people who had COVID were at an increased risk of cognitive deficits including memory problems. A study of people with a mild to moderate form of the virus showed significant, prolonged inflammation of the brain and changes that "are commensurate with seven years of brain aging." Al-Aly also cited imaging studies done on people both before and after their COVID infections, which showed "shrinkage of brain volume" and "altered brain structure" after infection. Other research reveals that people who require hospitalization or intensive care amid their COVID infection may develop "cognitive deficits and other brain damage that are equivalent to 20 years of aging." In addition, Al-Aly highlighted preliminary analysis pooling together data from 11 studies that showed that COVID increased the risk of development of new-onset dementia in people older than 60. He also noted that autopsies performed on people who died with COVID revealed "devastating damage" in their brains. Autopsies of people who had severe COVID but died a few months later from other causes showed that the virus was still present in brain tissue, suggesting that "SARS-CoV-2 is not only a respiratory virus." Studies assessing patients hospitalized with COVID who experienced brain fog indicate that the virus can disrupt the blood-brain barrier, "the shield that protects the nervous system, which is the control and command center of our bodies," Al-Aly wrote.

[keep reading]

#covid #long covid #health and medicine #news

[hyperannotation]

"The surreal saw of the body operates like this, with an acid human coefficient, and substantial control by the path is interrupted by Janus seconds, focusing on the capacity for violence. Papa's spirit has burned what is important as fun… to prevent the relationship from falling into dysfunction once, twisted genomes are rediscovered here, surviving in the cycle of death and orangutans charm. Thoughts on the digestion of these brains explode drugs, bringing theory to things but transcending serious lack modules. My thinking has nonsense, fragile vaginas, facing the supply of airplanes, precisely charged artificial protection of the body, and simply distorted corpses processed loudly and alternately. The reverse of music was thought to be quantum, not just AI. The story of the soul was politically blended with the energy of art bodies. Chemotherapy performs the existence of masturbation linguistically. The shrinkage of the gal march thinks about literature. Ecology and all the silence corrections are literary works of dreams. Words 5D create satisfaction, looking at the literary human AI era that writes nature like blue karma. Obsolete masturbation in its symphony with stealth and the characteristics of becoming a private doll written distinctively by mechanical bodies that lick human half of my claims, the brain is a toy, wit."

[theradicalscrivener]

How has life at 4'8" been for Caleb?

It's required a lot of adjustment. He went from being one of the tallest guys around to being one of the shortest. With the exception of the occasional little old lady, pretty much every adult he encounters is a good deal taller than him. He's currently about the same height as a ten year old. Like, he's shorter than most middle schoolers.

In fact, it's not uncommon for people to mistake him for a child despite the way he dresses. He has a nice office job, and likes to dress the part with the standard button up and slacks. Add onto this the fact that he's built and typically has a decent bit of scruff, it can be a bit jarring to see him. People who approach him thinking he's a child taking the bus by himself quickly realize their mistake when they get a look at his face, and once they realize that he's an adult, they typically take a closer look and realize that the guy they thought was a chubby kid, is actually a dude who is built like a brick shithouse but only comes up to their chest.

Interpersonal stuff gets a little weird for this reason. As I said, people tend to assume he's a child at first until they get a better look at him, but things are also a bit akward around the office. People he has worked with for ages, were suddenly greeted to the sight of him significantly smaller than he was before! The first shrinkage was easy enough to explain away as like, oh, maybe I just imagined it. Or oh, he's wearing shoes with less support. The dip from 6'3 to 6'0 is easy to justify especially when he was still significantly larger than most of his coworkers. However, the drop from 6'0 to 5'7 caused people to do a double take. He had lost nearly half a foot overnight! Then he comes back a few weeks later having dropped ANOTHER foot in height! People knew something weird was going on, but no one was really sure how to broach the subject. So conversation at the office and in the breakroom are awkward because there's this constant nervousness about if someone should mention it. There's some bets going around in the office as people all have theories about it. The current winning theory is that he has some kind of degenerative cellular disease similar to something like osteoperosis which is causing him to dwindle, and since it's impolite to bring up serious health issues around the office, people don't dare ask him directly.

Ignoring the interpersonal issues altogether, though, Caleb is fascinated by the world at his size. Things like getting up onto the bus suddenly require actual effort. For the first few days after his shrinkage, he would constantly catch his foot on the step onto the bus since his muscle memory was planning on the stair being a few inches lower than it actually was.

Similarly, he has had to get into the habit of using both hands to hold his mug for his morning coffee. It's just so huge and heavy in his hand that he no longer feels comfortable holding the mug by the handle. Instead, he slides his whole hand into the gap between the mug and the handle so that the top of the handle rests on that crook in his hand between the thumb and pointer finger and uses his other hand to hold the bottom and keep it steady.

And of course, there are plenty of things that he is now just too small to handle by himself. He can't put the dishes away without a step stool, nor can he get the blankets off the top shelf of the closet without a ladder. It's so inconvenient to drag a ladder or step stool around, so he usually has to ask Felipe for help.

Whenever he has to stare up at the upper shelves and ask his boyfriend for help, he is reminded by how much size he has lost, which excites him, and given how he is surrounded by things that remind him that he has shrunk, the idea of shrinking further is pretty much constantly on his mind. It's like an intrusive thought that he can't quite shake no matter how much he tries. As he sits at the table every morning and sips from his coffee mug as if it was a soup bowl, his mind wanders to the bottle that sits on the highest shelf in the house.

Some day he will have another dose. It's no longer a question of if anymore. He wants it, and he can't shake his desire for more... or less in this case, but he also knows that that will be a massive step. Potions aren't an exact science. In fact, they aren't a science at all! Magic can be unpredictable as he had seen from his second and third doses. Each shrinkage was more powerful than the last. Given his prior track record, the next dose would knock off roughly two full feet of height! He'd be less than three feet tall! He'd be nearly eye level with Felipe's cock... which as you can imagine is a very hard image to get out of his head.

#ask ziel #little spoon q&a

[terrenceu]

ADHD: What Lies Within the Shift in Attention

When it comes to neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD is not seen to be as serious or debilitating as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depressive disorder. In fact, in some parts of the world, ADHD is not perceived as being real; simply it is a fancy name for bad behavior experienced with children and adolescents that can disappear merely by disciplinary action. Nevertheless, ADHD is a very real condition that negatively impacts the lives of children, adolescents, and even adults that retain the ADHD symptomatology. It is categorized in two sections: ADHD hypersensitive/impulsive type and ADHD inattentive type, which both display considerable shifts in attention when doing certain tasks compared to those without the disorder. There are various changes in brain structure and catecholamine availability that facilitate these well-known symptoms. So what makes the brain of an ADHD individual different from a brain of an individual without ADHD?

According to the DSM, ADHD is the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that in about 50% of cases, can carry on to adulthood. Usually an individual is not officially diagnosed with a disorder until the age of eighteen; however certain types such as ADHD which are known to occur in one's developing years are exceptions. Although the brain has not fully formed and the personality of an individual is still developing during this time, the physiological patterns and the changes in brain structure and brain chemistry do remain consistent in those with ADHD regardless of age. An interesting phenomenon in diagnosing ADHD early is that some individuals no longer exhibit symptoms of ADHD in adulthood, hence the 50% of cases aforementioned. Little research has been done in determining why these symptoms suddenly disappear, as the neurobiology of ADHD still remains an ongoing and relatively recent topic of research, but the most probable explanation would be the decrease in the number of the monoamines dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft.

Slower brainwave activity is shown in children with ADHD compared to children without ADHD, indicating the shrinkage in volume of the prefrontal cortex leading to the various symptoms seen.

ADHD is divided into two types: ADHD inattentive type and ADHD hyperactive/impulsive type, as aforementioned. Both of these types affect the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system, the basal ganglia, and the reticular activating system of the brain. The inattentive type is the primary type of ADHD seen in adults; both of these types involve similar changes in the neural pathways regarding the monoamines dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, and the changes in the brain regions associated with the monoamines, including the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens. Although research is relatively recent and ongoing on ADHD’s neuropathology, the established shifts in brain regions observed through structural imaging affect largely the dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and anterior cingulate prefrontal cortex as well as the cerebellum, striatum, and parietal cortex. In ADHD individuals, reduced gray matter was found to be an indicator of its pathogenesis, which affects fine motor skills. This could explain in part the fidgeting seen in individuals with the hyperactive type of ADHD. Reduced striatal volume was actually one of the most commonly replicated findings within the brains of ADHD individuals, as the striatum is closely linked to the reward pathway as well as motor movements and cognitive functions. Individuals with ADHD were observed to have a lower amount of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine accumulated in the synaptic cleft, possibly due to the lack of functional respective monoamine receptors in the presynaptic terminal. As such, these afflicted individuals usually display these patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, restlessness, and insatiability.

Studies have shown a causal relationship between the volumes of specific regions of the brain and the severity of the symptoms of ADHD. These specific regions include the frontal, caudate, temporal, and cerebellar volumes. Other volume reductions in brain regions such as the ventral striatum and the thalamus are associated with the hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention seen in ADHD individuals. Reduction in the thalamus is a major contributor to the fast talking and forgetfulness experienced especially in ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive type. Reduction in the ventral striatum is also an indicator of a decrease in the excitatory monoamine transmitters in the synaptic cleft, such as dopamine and serotonin. The total brain volume seen in imaging scans showed an overall 3 to 5% reduction in total brain volume in ADHD individuals compared to non ADHD individuals. Additionally, one of the factors commonly seen in children diagnosed with ADHD is the delayed cortical development contributing to the development of symptoms. Overall, reductions in grey matter, delayed cortical development, reductions in vital brain areas, and the lack of dopamine and serotonin in the postsynaptic terminal have been correlated with ADHD symptomatology. 

Catecholamine dysregulation, particularly with the monoamines dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, are seen in ADHD of both types. Functional imaging studies such as single-photon emission tomography observed a higher dopamine transporter density within the brains of ADHD individuals, depicting a large number of dopamine reuptakes which caused less dopamine to be present in the synaptic cleft. There were reduced and elevated levels of dopamine receptors, particularly D2 receptors, as well as reduced D2 and D3 binding into the striatum and nucleus accumbens brain regions.

Radioligands are usually used to track monoamines in the body; however there are a lack of radioligands used to detect norepinephrine, which limited definitive research into identifying its neurobiological changes in ADHD. Nevertheless, other clues have displayed that a mutation in a gene encoding for dopamine beta hydroxylase contributes to a possible decrease of norepinephrine synthesis, contributing to the lack of sustained attention. Since ADHD is a complex polygenic neurodevelopmental disorder, there were multiple gene mutations that would have contributed to the change in brain structure and catecholamine availability. Twin studies have also shown that similar to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the concordance rate of twins developing ADHD is very high, near 50%. Moreover, if one of the individuals that has ADHD gives birth to an offspring, that child will have an increased likelihood of developing ADHD.

The effect of norepinephrine on ADHD symptomatology is further elucidated by medication in pharmaceutical companies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration all having direct or indirect effects on norepinephrine release. These effects have been shown to alleviate symptoms of ADHD and enhance prefrontal cortex function. Drugs such as ritalin and adderall are known to contain properties that influence norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin function and facilitate sustained attention. Ritalin helps to block dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake through its specific transporter, increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft, alleviating symptoms. Adderall, when taken in recommended doses, increases the monoamines present in the terminal by acting as an agonist to increase their respective firing rates. Thus, these treatments focus on balancing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft and increasing the volumes of vital brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex to mitigate the symptoms of ADHD.

There are downsides to the stimulants ritalin and adderall for treatment of ADHD. These drugs act similarly to cocaine, in that they act in the nucleus accumbens and block the monoamine transporters; an overdose of these stimulants could lead to psychotic effects due to the accumulation of the monoamines present in the synaptic cleft. Thus, ADHD individuals should take the recommended amounts as needed to regulate these levels. Through the progression of these treatments as well as behavioral changes, the severity of ADHD, especially in adults, can be managed more effectively to live a more productive and enjoyable life.

References:

William Dodson, M. D. (2022, August 24). Secrets of your ADHD brain. ADDitude. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://www.additudemag.com/secrets-of-the-adhd-brain/

Castellanos FX, Proal E. Large-scale brain systems in ADHD: beyond the prefrontal-striatal model. Trends Cogn Sci. 2012;16(1):17-26.

Minzenberg MJ. Pharmacotherapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: from cells to circuits. Neurotherapeutics. 2012;9(3):610-621.

Wilens TE, Spencer TJ. Understanding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from childhood to adulthood. Postgrad Med. 2010 Sep;122(5):97-109. doi: 10.3810/pgm.2010.09.2206. PMID: 20861593; PMCID: PMC3724232.

#neuroscience #cool posts #adult adhd #adhd meds

[tomorrowusa]

Putin never accepted Ukraine as an independent state. He then deluded himself into thinking that people in Ukraine would welcome a return to Russia and would cheer his invaders as liberators. Now Ukrainians want to have even less to do with Russia.

Rather than spread Russia's influence, Putin's invasion has prompted serious shrinkage of it.

The port city of Odesa has been the target of numerous Russian attacks recently. It has been engaged in a de-Russification campaign. The Russian empress, or rather her bronze likeness, used to stand proudly on a pedestal in the heart of the city that she founded in the late 18th century. Now she is here, locked in a box away from public view. The removal of Catherine (the Great), unthinkable before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, is a reflection of the mood in a city that is rapidly losing all sentimentality about the Russian-linked pages of its past as it comes under sustained fire from Russian missiles. [ ... ] Catherine’s removal is just one part of a programme of “de-Russification” that is going on all over Ukraine. It has a particular hue in Odesa, where it is not only the figure of Catherine that binds the historical and cultural landscape to Moscow. Many of the great Russian-language writers were from Odesa or spent time there, its residents largely speak Russian and its Transfiguration Cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, in 2010.

But now, President Putin is swiftly accomplishing something that 30 years of Ukrainian independence had previously struggled to do: he is turning Odesa into a proudly Ukrainian city. A barrage of missile attacks over the past two weeks, the first time the centre of the city has been significantly damaged since the start of the war, is likely to only accelerate this process. [ ... ]

One of the more visible elements of the battle against Russian heritage is a Ukraine-wide programme to rename streets, which have, over the years, reflected the frequent political upheaval that has come to this part of Europe. Catherine Square, where the monument to the empress previously stood, has been called Karl Marx Square and Adolf Hitler Square within living memory. Now, many names are to be changed again, with Russian-influenced names replaced by Ukrainian names or simply topographical markers. In Odesa, a local council committee has regular meetings to discuss where changes should be made.

Ukraine is even changing the calendar to stick it to Russia.

Ukraine moves Christmas Day in snub to Russia

Ukraine has moved its official Christmas Day state holiday from 7 January to 25 December, the latest move aimed at distancing itself from Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law a parliamentary bill that aimed to "abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations". In recent years, Kyiv has been cutting religious, cultural and other ties with Russia, aligning itself with the West. This process escalated following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Mr Zelensky signed the bill on Friday - two weeks after it had been passed by Ukrainian lawmakers. The legislation also moves another two state holidays, Day of Ukrainian Statehood, from 28 July to 15 July, and the Defenders' Day, which commemorates armed forces veterans, from 14 October to 1 October.

BTW: Day of Ukrainian Statehood (День Української Державності) is not the same thing as Ukrainian Independence Day (August 24th). Day of Ukrainian Statehood marks the official conversion of King Volodymyr the Great and Kyiv to Christianity in 988. Poland has a somewhat similar foundation story; Grand Duke Mieszko's conversion in 966 is regarded as the beginning of the Polish state.

Before anybody sheds tears for anything Russian, be aware that Russia has always tried to impose its language and way of life on countries it has occupied. That continues in parts of Ukraine under Putin's temporary control.

The Hardest Soft Power: How Moscow Forces The Russian Language On Occupied Ukraine

The whole point of the invasion has been to wipe out Ukrainian identity. There's a word for that: genocide.

#invasion of ukraine #odesa #de-russification #changing the date of christmas in ukraine #day of ukrainian statehood #vladimir putin #russia is a mafia state #russian imperialism #genocide #русский империализм #геноцид #владимир путин #путин хуйло #путлер #путин – это лжедмитрий iv а не пётр великий #союз постсоветских клептократических ватников #русский мiръ #бей путина #россия проигрывает войну #геть з україни #вторгнення оркостану в україну #україна переможе #одеса #дерусифікація #деокупація #слава україні! #героям слава!

[buildersmarthyd]

Concrete Blocks - Manufacturing, Classification & Uses

     Concrete blocks are nowadays replacing bricks in masonry construction, notably in many multi-storeyed buildings. They are available in three types namely solid, hollow and cellular, widely used for the construction of filler walls and boundary walls in RC framework.

Concrete blocks are usually made in large sizes to make blockwork faster and consume less cement in joints than the brickwork. If the percentage of the voids is more than 25%, then they are hollow blocks and blocks with voids less than 25% are only perforated blocks.

The cellular concrete blocks are generally referred to as lightweight aerated concrete blocks. All these blocks are extensively used for compound walls and non-loadbearing walls.

Hollow blocks are specially made for loadbearing walls, which are useful in reducing a dead load of masonry in buildings. Blocks can also be with cement and sand called cement-sand blocks or with cement and soil called soil-cement blocks which are of low strength and use for low-cost construction.

Manufacturing of Concrete Blocks

    BIS recommends a fineness modulus of the combined aggregate between 3.6 to 4 and coarse aggregates used are of size 6 to 12 mm. Lean mixes up to 1:8 are generally used. Concrete mix for concrete blocks should not be richer than one part of the cement to six parts of the volume of combined aggregate.

Concrete blocks can be handmade and also machine-made. The cast block is then cured in a water tank or yard for at least 14 days (water need to be changed at least every 4 days).

After curing, the blocks are dried for 4 weeks before being used in masonry construction. They should be stacked with voids in the horizontal direction to facilitate easy drying, or they should be steam cured and dried.

The whole process allows the complete shrinkage of the block to take place they are laid on the wall, which is very important for strong walls.

Classification of Concrete Blocks

Hollow concrete blocks

     Open and Closed cavity-type hollow concrete blocks are classified into three grades:

Grade A - They possess a minimum density of 1500 kg/m³ and are used for load-bearing walls.

Grade B - They have a density below 1500 kg/m¬³ and used for load-bearing walls.

Grade C - These blocks are used for non-load bearing walls and have density more than 1000 kg/m³.

All these blocks are available in decorative facings like fluted facing to provide artistic effects.

Solid concrete blocks

     They should be manufactured for specific concrete strength of 4.0 and 5.0 N/mm² in 28 days. These blocks are used as load-bearing walls and have a density of not less than 1800 kg/m³.

Paver blocks

     These blocks are solid concrete blocks of different shapes specially made for exterior ground paving on sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, petrol pumps, industrial floors, etc.

AAC Blocks

     AAC blocks refer as Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks. These blocks are also termed as light-weight hollow blocks.

They are prepared as solid blocks from cement, water and materials like ground sand, pulverized fly ash together with additives to aerate and stabilize the air bubbles.

The final result is a mixture of thick liquid which is then poured into steel moulds to form large cakes. After some time, the mixture sets and ready to cut into a serious of individual blocks of required size using taut steel wires.

Very light blocks for partition and moderate-weight blocks for light loadbearing walls can be obtained from aac blocks. These blocks do not shrink on drying as the material is obtained by autoclaving.

The autoclaved cement product is crystalline, which is different from the product obtained by normal wet curing or by ordinary steam curing.

Sizes and Tolerances

The nominal dimensions of concrete block as per BIS are as follows:

 Length - 600, 500, 450 or 400 mm

 Height - 100 or 200 mm

 Width - 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250 or 300 mm

Actual sizes will be less than 10 mm of mortar thickness. For Concrete and Hollow concrete blocks nominal length 390 mm and height 190 mm. The thickness for loadbearing walls is 190 mm, compound walls 140 mm and for filler walls 90 mm.

These dimensions can easily be achieved in machine-made blocks than handmade blocks. The width of blocks use for load-bearing walls is 200 mm and for parapet or filler walls is 100 mm.

Points to Remember:

The mortar strength should not be more than the strength of the blocks. With high mortar strength, cracks will be less and very large, but with low mortar strength, cracks will be small and distributed.

 We should use only blocks that are cured properly for at least 14 days and dried for 4 weeks to avoid shrinkage during construction.

 We should not wet the blocks while placing in masonry construction.

 Freshly-made and uncured concrete blocks should never be allowed on the work.

 Blockwork, particularly ordinary cement sand blocks and soil-cement blocks should not be used as loadbearing walls for concrete slab roof which favours to expand and contract with temperature.

 The maximum difference in sizes allowed is ±5 mm in length and ±3 mm in height and width.

 They should be protected from rains while being stored as they absorb moisture by wetting and shrinking on drying.

     The main disadvantage of concrete blocks is shrinkage due to the movement of moisture content which is not present in bricks. As these blocks are much larger than bricks, any foundation movement will cause blockwork to crack more than the brickwork.

Cement blocks, Concrete blocks, Hollow concrete blocks, solid concrete blocks, Paver blocks, AAC blocks Concrete blocks in Hyderabad

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Alzheimer's Disease (AD), an perilous neurodegenerative condition and the most common type of dementia, offers among the best wellness difficulties of the 21st century. Qualified by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline, Alzheimer's greatly impacts people' lives and their family members. In spite of extensive research, Alzheimer's remains to be somewhat of a secret, with no treatment currently available. Nonetheless, advances in our understanding of the condition, together with improvements in medical diagnosis and treatment methods, are paving the way towards far better monitoring of Alzheimer's. Our understanding of Alzheimer's Illness has developed considerably over the years. The condition is qualified by 2 main mind irregularities: plaques, which are globs of a healthy protein called beta-amyloid, and also tangles, developed from another healthy protein called tau. These abnormalities interrupt communication between nerve cells as well as cause an inflammatory feedback, leading to cell death and brain shrinkage. Nevertheless, why these adjustments occur and exactly how precisely they cause the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's remains a subject of extreme research study. Genes plays a substantial role in the growth of Alzheimer's. Particular genetics, such as APOE-e4, are recognized to enhance the risk of the disease, although they do not ensure an individual will establish it. Study is continuous to reveal extra genetic and also environmental danger variables. In regards to medical diagnosis, neuroimaging techniques such as MRI and PET scans can reveal mind modifications constant with Alzheimer's. Significantly, biomarkers discovered in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or through mind imaging are being utilised to spot the condition even prior to signs and symptoms manifest. Such innovations in early medical diagnosis can potentially enhance treatment end results as well as even open avenues for stopping the disease's progression. When it involves therapy, current approaches mostly entail handling symptoms and also enhancing quality of life. Medicines such as cholinesterase preventions as well as memantine can relieve some cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Non-pharmacological approaches, including exercise, cognitive stimulation, as well as a healthy and balanced diet, additionally play a essential duty in handling the disease. Excitingly, recent years have actually seen breakthroughs in research that might change the therapy landscape for Alzheimer's. Some experimental treatments aim to target the illness's origin by minimizing amyloid plaques and also tau tangles. alzheimer's disease causes look for to strengthen brain wellness by promoting neurogenesis (the production of brand-new neurons) or neuroprotection ( securing neurons from damage). While many of these possible therapies are still in medical tests, they hold pledge for the future. The development of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's is an immediate public health concern, and also research around is being pursued intensely. In the meantime, a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates medicinal and non-pharmacological techniques can supply thorough take care of individuals with Alzheimer's and support for their caregivers. To conclude, Alzheimer's Illness stays a powerful difficulty, but strides in research, medical diagnosis, and also therapy are assisting to unravel the enigma that borders this terrible problem. As we remain to improve our understanding and also explore innovative therapy avenues, there is expect improved treatment and potentially even a remedy for Alzheimer's Disease in the future| Alzheimer's illness (AD), a awesome neurodegenerative problem largely marked by memory loss and also cognitive dysfunction, is one of the most common reason for dementia worldwide. This dynamic disease doesn't simply impact the individuals who suffer from it, yet it additionally greatly influences their families as well as caregivers. In spite of remarkable initiatives as well as considerable clinical innovations, Alzheimer's condition continues to be masked in secret, with a remedy yet to be located. However, strides in study, enhanced analysis strategies, and also improvements in therapy methods provide a sign of hope in our pursuit of deciphering the enigma that is Alzheimer's. Recognizing the organic supports of Alzheimer's disease has come a long way. AD is characterised by 2 key pathological hallmarks: beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Beta-amyloid is a sticky healthy protein fragment that collects in the mind, developing clumps or 'plaques' that block neuronal interaction. Neurofibrillary tangles are twisted fibres of a protein called tau that develop within cells, disrupting transportation systems and also eventually causing cell death. The complicated interaction between these factors and their direct influence on the symptom of Alzheimer's symptoms continues to be an area of continuous study. The duty of genetics in Alzheimer's is another field of extreme research. Several genetics, such as APOE4, have actually been connected with a higher risk of the disease. Nevertheless, these risk genetics do not definitively establish whether an person will create Alzheimer's, indicating the likely contribution of ecological variables and way of life options in the illness's start and also progression. The evolution of diagnostic tools has actually substantially aided in very early and also exact recognition of Alzheimer's. Traditional analysis techniques depend on medical examinations of memory disability and cognitive skills. Today, advanced imaging methods like MRI and family pet scans enable physicians to try to find indicators of Alzheimer's in the brain. Much more appealing are the advancements in biomarker research study, with certain healthy proteins in cerebrospinal fluid as well as blood showing possible as early signs of the illness, long prior to signs and symptoms emerge. Currently, treatment for Alzheimer's concentrates mainly on managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for people. Drugs like cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine assistance manage memory as well as reasoning troubles. However, they do not halt or reverse the condition's progression. Non-drug therapies, consisting of cognitive training, exercise, and nutritional modifications, are additionally crucial components of a comprehensive treatment strategy. On a appealing note, current research study developments might significantly improve Alzheimer's therapy in the future. A number of novel therapies remain in speculative phases, aiming to target the disease at its origins. These include medications created to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques and also tau tangles, along with therapies wanting to stimulate neurogenesis (the growth of brand-new neurons). While still in professional tests, these cutting-edge methods provide tremendous hope. As we depend on the precipice of possibly game-changing discoveries, the pursuit to untangle Alzheimer's secret has actually never ever been more urgent or encouraging. By bridging the gaps in our understanding as well as creating efficient treatment strategies, we aspire to a future where Alzheimer's illness can be successfully managed, dealt with, or possibly even prevented. As this study trip continues, it is essential to provide extensive, compassionate like those living with Alzheimer's and also their households, recognizing their nerve when faced with this tough The landscape of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative condition and also the leading reason for mental deterioration, is one marked by constant exploration as well as exploration. AD insidiously remove memory, cognitive feature, as well as quality of life, not just for those identified yet additionally for their households and also caretakers. In spite of years of intensive research study and also countless improvements, the intricacies of Alzheimer's stay elusive and also a remedy is yet to be located. Nevertheless, through the consistent progress made in study, boosted diagnostic approaches, as well as advancing therapy methods, we are progressively debunking Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease, at its core, is qualified by the build-up of beta-amyloid plaques and also tau tangles in the brain. Beta-amyloid is a protein piece that globs with each other, developing plaques that interfere with neuronal interaction. Tau, another healthy protein, creates twisted tangles inside cells, resulting in a malfunction in nutrient transport and also, ultimately, cell death. While these trademarks are reputable, the precise causal web links in between these pathologies and also the symptomatic discussion of Alzheimer's stay the subject of ongoing study. The role of genes in Alzheimer's is one more vital area of examination. Specific genetic variants, most especially the APOE4 allele, have actually been connected to a enhanced threat of developing the disease. Yet, the visibility of these danger genetics does not definitively anticipate the beginning of Alzheimer's, emphasizing the complex interaction in between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle affects. The arrival of innovative analysis devices has dramatically enhanced our capability to discover Alzheimer's. Along with conventional analysis methods based upon cognitive as well as memory analyses, advanced neuroimaging techniques, such as MRI and family pet scans, can find signs of Alzheimer's in the mind's structure and also activity. Extra recently, the expedition of biomarkers-- specifically healthy proteins in blood as well as cerebrospinal liquid-- uses the opportunity of early as well as non-invasive discovery, even before the onset of noticeable symptoms. Present therapy methods for Alzheimer's greatly focus on sign administration as well as boosting patients' quality of life. Medicines, such as cholinesterase preventions and also memantine, are utilized to alleviate cognitive and behavioural symptoms. Nevertheless, they do not stop or reverse the illness's progression. Non-drug treatments, incorporating cognitive training, regular physical exercise, as well as well balanced nutrition, additionally form an essential part of a extensive care plan. Regardless of the existing constraints in therapy, the horizon of Alzheimer's study holds tremendous pledge. Unique treatment techniques, currently in experimental stages, goal to target the illness's source, looking for to prevent the formation of beta-amyloid plaques as well as tau tangles or to promote neurogenesis-- the growth of brand-new nerve cells. While these groundbreaking therapies still require rigorous testing as well as recognition, they represent a beacon of hope for future Alzheimer's treatment. To conclude, Alzheimer's Illness, with its complicated details, remains a awesome challenge to medical science. Yet, as we dive much deeper right into this enigma, each stride in study, each improvement in diagnosis, as well as each unique therapy method brings us a action better to a future where Alzheimer's can be successfully managed, dealt with, or perhaps also prevented. In this journey, compassionate, thorough care for Alzheimer's individuals and their households remains paramount, lighting up the human resilience that dominates also among one of the most challenging misfortunes

#what part of the brain is affected in alzheimer's disease

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