Daily Archives: December 22, 2021

NC jamboree fails to give message of inclusion – The Himalayan Times

Posted: December 22, 2021 at 1:22 am

KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 21

The 14th general convention of the Nepali Congress gave mandate to Sher Bahadur Deuba to run the party for the second time, but analysts and political leaders argue that the jamboree failed to give a strong message of inclusion, as no Madhesi or Tharu is either vice-president or general secretary.

Although Bimalendra Nidhi, who has more than 40 years of association with the party and represents Madhes, contested for party presidency, he got only 250 votes in the first round of election. There was no Madhesi candidate for the post of general secretary. Even the representation of marginalised communities for posts of joint general secretary is just cluster-wise representation.

Political analyst Uddhab Pyakurel said although the NC was better than other major political parties for ensuring cluster-wise representation, Madhesi representation had gone down in recent years. "Madhesis' representation was 12.5 per cent in the party's top structure formed after the 12th general convention.

It went up to 14.11 per cent after the 13th convention. This time Madhesis' representation has come down to 8.29 per cent," Pyakurel said.

He said the NC failed to understand the legacy of legendary leader BP Koirala, who had ensured inclusion of marginalised groups back in 1960s. Pyakurel said that during the 2006 popular movement, parties had given the slogan of empowerment of marginalised groups, especially Madhesis, women, Dalits, and indigenous nationalities, but that seems to have been long forgotten. "This is also because the current constitution has diluted inclusion, other than fixing 33 per cent political representation for women," he said.

Political analyst Chandra Kishor said it was surprising that the NC, which has been in national politics for 70 years with a strong political base in Tarai, did not elect Madhesis among top office bearers. A Tharu leader, Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, who contested the election for vice-president from the Deuba faction got 1,906 votes and lost to Dhan Raj Gurung by just two votes. Another candidate for the same post, Purna Bahadur Khadka, who was also from the Deuba faction, secured 2,121 votes. This means voters who voted for Khadka did not vote for Gachhadar.

"Gachhadar's personal performance may also be one factor for his defeat, but it is clear that all Deuba loyalists who voted for Khadka did not vote for Gachhadar," Chandra Kishor added. He said there was no Madhesi among the 35 central working committee members who won election under the open category.

"As far as provincial representation is concerned, it was natural for Province 2 to elect Madhesis, as the province is dominated by Madhesi population.

But even in this election, two candidates of hill origin Ananda Prasad Dhungana and Ramesh Rijal - won the election unopposed. Jungi Lal Yadav, who was also from Deuba's team, withdrew his nomination paving the way for Dhungana and Rijal to win unopposed,"

Chandra Kishor said.

He said new election results indicated that voters of all major parties were conservative towards Madhes and Madhesis.

Another political analyst, Tula Narayan Shah, said NC convention results reconfirmed the fact that NC too was not ready to accept Madhesi leaders for top posts.

"Madhesi and Tharus or other marginalised communities might hold the post of general secretary or vice-president in near future, but they cannot win party presidency," Shah said. He added that this scenario was less likely to change at least for the next 20 years.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 22, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.

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NC jamboree fails to give message of inclusion - The Himalayan Times

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NASA’s Perseverance Rover Confirms the Presence of Organic Molecules on Mars – Why the Discovery Could Be More Important Than Ever – Optic Flux

Posted: at 1:21 am

Mars is the place of hope for many astronomers. Its very far away for us: the average distance is roughly 54 million kilometers. But the distance is nothing for the unfathomable distances that traverse the Universe.

Whats for sure is that long ago, there were floods of water on Mars, similar to how it happens on Earth. Those times are far gone, but the Red Planet still poses interest for astronomers today. The reason is that humanity might have a chance to colonize it, although its highly unrealistic to believe that it shall be possible in the near future.

However, scientists continue to take steps towards understanding in a better way how habitable or inhabitable Mars is. Its indeed great to see that astronomers keep struggling to uncover the Red Planets secrets!

According to ScienceAlert.com, scientists reveal that by using the Perseverance rover of NASA, organic molecules were discovered in rocks and dust from the Jezero Crater of Mars. A new instrument of the rover was used for the discovery: the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals (SHERLOC for short).

While were not talking about the first time when organic compounds have been found on the Red Planet, the new discovery is important because it suggests the ability of Martian rocks to preserve organic compounds well. This leads to the idea that biological organic material can also be preserved.

Luther Beegle, a planetary scientist of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA from Southern California, explained as cited by ScienceAlert.com:

What SHERLOC adds to the story is its capability to map the spatial distribution of organics inside rocks and relate those organics to minerals found there.

But celebration could still be far away, as the same scientist says as quoted by the same source:

This helps us understand the environment in which the organics formed. More analysis needs to be done to determine the method of production for the identified organics.

Therefore, organic molecules exist on Mars, but finding any complex life dwelling there is still unlikely, at least for now.

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NASA's Perseverance Rover Confirms the Presence of Organic Molecules on Mars - Why the Discovery Could Be More Important Than Ever - Optic Flux

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Prediction hits and misses for 2021 – Bangkok Post

Posted: at 1:21 am

It is time once again to look back at 2021 to see what happened and how my predictions panned out.

- There were two major items influencing the IT world in 2021. One was the chip shortage and the other was of course Covid-19. My prediction about the need for a Covid passport for travel came true and for many countries is still very relevant. The Omicron variant may change that, but for the moment vaccine passports will remain.

- I was correct about the increasing collection of all types of personal data but wrong about any of the social media giants being broken up. If anything, they seemed to have gained even more power across the globe. As for the usual assortment of hardware, there was nothing other than incremental upgrades. Hard drives did hit 20TB, but only 18TB in the regular consumer market, so I'll give myself half points. Standalone monitors via Bluetooth or wireless also became quite affordable this year. As predicted the 1TB microSD became affordable and still the biggest easily available size. While 2-4TB thumb drives did appear, there were also a lot of fake ones in that range on eBay and elsewhere. Hint, a 2 or 4TB thumb drive does not cost 500 baht.

- Despite some crazy assertions of it affecting people's brains, 5G technology spread more widely this year but not as much as I expected. New smartphones from the mid-range and up support this technology for faster data transfers, but I didn't get a 5G connection all that often. I did see some general connectivity issues working from home but not as many as I thought. The main letdown was from applications like Outlook and Teams having multiple problems throughout the year. As expected, we did see many companies finding the work from home model works well enough to share time in the office with some at home. This helped many with office accommodation requirements and costs.

- Also as expected many small to medium companies did not survive a year of Covid, while many of the larger companies thrived. Social media giants and others doubled their revenues in 2021. The travel industry took a big hit and some airlines have either collapsed or are in trouble. I made some predictions about the Amazon Halo Band. This did not spread as widely as I expected so that prediction failed.

- Finally, as far as my predictions, the vaccine rollout ended up causing more problems than it solved and we have had more than my predicted single variant in the past year. Vaccine manufacturers had a year of stellar profits and they are unwilling to see that money train slow down. So, all in all I did about usual, a bit above 50% but not all that well, particularly with the chip shortages.

- In a trial at Brown University using a transmitter in a human brain, a patient was connected to a computer to control robotic limbs with thought alone, ie, by imagining their movements. This is very promising for those with spinal cord injuries. A private citizen, Richard Branson became the first to reach space in his own spaceship. Others followed throughout the year but that was a great achievement. So was the Mars rover Perseverance using Moxie, or the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, to convert some of the Mars atmosphere into oxygen. This is a first step in the colonisation of Mars.

- Proving yet again that Einstein was right, light was observed for the first time coming from behind a black hole. El Salvador was the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, alongside the US dollar. Other countries have announced their own cryptocurrency initiatives to add one to their current banking system but not necessarily Bitcoin, rather a country controlled one. China was one of the first to announce this. The industry seems to have some concerns about this direction so we will see where we are in a few years.

- A piece of digital artwork named Everydays: The First 5000 Days by the artist Mike Winkelmann was sold by the auction house Christie's for US$69.3 million (about 2.3 billion baht). This also marked the first time that cryptocurrency was accepted as a form of payment. Since we also need to include the not-so-nice uses of technology, according to a UN report the first autonomous drone was used to hunt down and kill human targets in Libya. This would be the first example of the forerunner of Skynet-like technology where an AI based system was given control to hunt humans. Plarium's RAID: Shadow Legends won worst mobile game for the year.

- Before you do any travel, you may want to turn off Google's tracking. Login to your google.com account, click on your icon letter top right and then on Manage your Google account. Now click on Privacy & personalization then Things you've done and places you've been. Now inside the History Settings box click on Location History opening Activity Controls. Under Location History, click the button on the right that reads Turn off and in the pop-up windows scroll down and click Pause. This prevents Google from storing location markets linked to specific actions and the storing of information collected from searches or other activities. See how easy they make it? Happy New Year.

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Prediction hits and misses for 2021 - Bangkok Post

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The Monster of We : Throughline – NPR

Posted: at 1:20 am

Ayn Rand, Russian-born American novelist, is shown in Manhattan with the Grand Central Terminal building in background in 1962. ASSOCIATED PRESS hide caption

Ayn Rand, Russian-born American novelist, is shown in Manhattan with the Grand Central Terminal building in background in 1962.

Are most modern problems caused by selfishness or a lack of it? Ayn Rand, a Russian American philosopher and writer, would say it's the latter that selfishness is not a vice but a virtue and that capitalism is the ideal system. Everyone from Donald Trump, to Alan Greenspan, to Brad Pitt have sung Ayn Rand's praises. The Library of Congress named her novel Atlas Shrugged the second most influential book in the U.S. after the Bible. Ayn Rand wasn't politically correct, she was belligerent and liked going against the grain. And although she lived by the doctrine of her own greatness, she was driven by the fear that she would never be good enough.

In this episode, historian Jennifer Burns will guide us through Rand's evolution and how she eventually reshaped American politics, becoming what Burns calls "a gateway drug to life on the right."

If you want to read more:

Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right, by Jennifer Burns

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

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The Monster of We : Throughline - NPR

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Whats New on Netflix & Top 10s: December 17th, 2021 – What’s on Netflix

Posted: at 1:20 am

Although 9 new releases hit Netflix US today the majority of them are companion titles for the big new release of the day in the form of The Witcher season 2. That doesnt mean theres nothing else new to watch so lets dive into whats new and whats trending on Netflix for December 17th, 2021.

Looking ahead to the weekend, weve got the new Netflix Original Norweigen thriller What Happened in Olso coming on Sunday. Were also going to see the 2013 Josh Brolin movie Oldboy hit Netflix US tomorrow.

On the removals front, today is your last chance to watch Guest House and People Just Do Nothing. Atlas Shrugged: Part II (2012) departs on Sunday.

Now lets get into whats new on Netflix for weekend!

Genre:Action, Adventure, FantasyDirector:Tomek BaginskiCast:Henry Cavill, Anna Shaffer, Freya AllanWriter:Lauren SchmidtRuntime:60 min

Naturally, The Witcher is the big new Netflix Original release of the day with the second season now streaming in full.

The second season builds on the first season in every conceivable way. In season 2, youll follow Ciri and Geralt who united with each other at the end of season 1 and Yennefer who has been captured.

Alongside the release of the main series, Netflix added a bunch of companion pieces including:

Genre:Animation, Action, CrimeCast:Tyler Posey, Charlet Takahashi Chung, Jorge DiazWriter:Bret Haaland, Tim HedrickRuntime:23 min

Its been an odd trek for Fast & Furiouss animated adventure on Netflix. While reviews started off poorly, the show has really gained momentum over the months with today marking the release of the sixth and as we now know, final season.

Heres what you can expect:

In the epic final season, the Spy Racers meet their match in a mysterious villain who always seems to be one step ahead!

Genre:Comedy, DramaCast:Raaj Vishwakarma, Dilnaz Irani, Atul KumarWriter:Manu JosephRuntime:28 mins

Originating out of India is this new comedy series that follows a misanthropic writer and his startup-founder wife who are juggling their impending divorce with the absurdities and annoyances of life in their affluent world.

Early user reviews have been strong for this new comedy-drama so perhaps Decoupled can buck Netflixs rather underwhelming Hindi TV slate with this one. Lets wait and see.

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Whats New on Netflix & Top 10s: December 17th, 2021 - What's on Netflix

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John Dutton, the Future First Spite-Governor in U.S. History – The Ringer

Posted: at 1:20 am

There are many stone-cold humiliating moments from Keep the Wolves Close but two stick out in my brainand somehow, Jimmy jerking off a horse is only the second worst of them. Well get to the gold medalist of the Embarrassing Olympics in due time, but first lets take stock of where we are as this season strolls to the finish line. Beth starts her new job at the evil company that is trying to destroy her family and is surprised to discover they are still evil and still trying to destroy her family. John Dutton tells a crowd of people that he will do anything to stop progress because progress is inherently bad. Lloyd gives up a prized belt buckle to acquire either a guitar or a gun from a pawn shop. (OK, its a guitar, and he and Walker bury the hatchet, which is normal, since its been an entire episode since the whole stabbing incident.) Rip and Beth are coerced into moving back in with John, who thinks it is proper for his adult children to be down the hall from him at any given moment. And as mentioned previously, Jimmy directs a horse penis into a pouch with a mixture of panic and moxie.

Much of the usual absurdity of this show has been relegated to the opening 15 minutes of this seasons first episode. But this is Yellowstone! We are clearly being lulled into a false sense of security. Thomas Rainwater has got to have something up his sleeve!

Its almost a certainty that the various parts of this frayed, couscous-hating tapestry are about to slam together in a legendarily loud and nonsensical bonkers climax. It may well conclude with fewer bullets than the previous finale, but perhaps with bigger, less reversible consequences. YesI am saying that [redacted] Dutton is a goner.

We begin this episode with a cold open sans dialogue or plot set to a Tim McGraw ballad. Its just multiple stirring angles of cowboys herding cattle into a pen. This has to be metacommentary signaling Yellowstones awareness that life on most ranches is not centered on gunfights, sleazy land deals, and bunkhouse stabbings, but rather on actual work. The proposed spinoff about this serious ranch, 6666, will need to quickly manufacture some patented Taylor Sheridanstyle drama because viewers expecting the violently kooky world of the Yellowstone wont be tuning in week after week to watch B-roll of wrangling calves or competent cowboys with no personality other than waking up really early.

Here is the direct counterpoint to the above paragraph, as the Yellowstone ranch hands take a break from their usual drama-filled lives to do a bit of actual work. Its a less-than-raucous sequence of various hands moving heifers and steers from one point to anotherthe sort of stuff we stay up late for.

The recently dismissed Teeter (Jen Landon) forces her way into an audience with John Dutton and Rip after they both agree there were indeed 81 cows on the ranch. Teeter makes an impassioned plea not to be banished from the bunkhouse for the horrendous crime of being a woman. John is shocked when Teeter reveals that she wears the brand, as he never signed off on that particular bit of mutilation. Teeters relatively cogent argument forces John to rethink his knee-jerk anti-lady position and he grumbles and grunts his way to relative wokeness. In appreciation for (belatedly) speaking up on her behalf, Teeter hugs Rip. Its a very sweet moment. No jokes here, just a nice little hug between two people who dont mind being indentured servants on a cultish ranch.

The running joke of the season seems to be that Tates new dog is referred to as Dog. This fun tidbit comes up three times this episodethe second of which occurs at the breakfast table, where Monica is still simmering in uncharacteristic jealous rage about Kayces nonexistent suitor Avery, whom she refers to as Ms. Pouty Lips despite Averys basically normal, non-pouty lips. This all feels like an assault on Monicas core. Shes supposed to be a confident and intelligent woman, but her bitterness about Kayce talking very briefly and very politely to another woman while doing his job has pushed her into an uncomfortable place as the stereotypical nagging wife. Tate has to save the day by distracting Monica from her quiet fury by mentioning how the dog has no name but Dog! Shortly thereafter, Monica takes Tates breakfast away before hes finished for the crime of saying this cool sentence: I think that sucks pickled ass.

This episode proves the old adage: Jerk off a horse and an attractive woman standing nearby will offer to buy you dinner. Maybe thats more of a regional expression, but it bears fruit here, as Jimmys pluck and can-do attitude when it comes to letting horses get their rocks off in his proximity earns him the tentative affection of Emily (Kathryn Kelly), a vet tech at the 6666 Ranch. Jimmy is at first reluctant to betray Mia, but in the final analysis, not that reluctant. Hes lonely, its Texas, everyone constantly tells him he sucks at his job. He needs a silver lining. In any case, if you take one thing away from this episode, it should be that Jimmy masturbates a total of 16 horses, though 15 are unfortunately pleasured off-camera.

Beth stomps into her new place of employment, Market Equities, with the boredom and coiled resentment of a person who has worked at Market Equities for more than zero hours. First, shes rude and dismissive to the helpful receptionist, then downright sadistic to her assistant, whom she fires for the sin of being from Palo Alto? Perhaps shes saving him from a violent endas she accurately mentions, her assistants tend to perish violently. Yellowstone is largely a show about people treating other people like absolute shit and getting cheered on for it. But hey, thats just Beth being Beth!

As predicted, Jamie has exactly one scene interacting with his new child, a little peek-a-boo session on some grass as Christina, his baby mama, and Garrett Randall, his biological father, watch with a mixture of bemusement and boredom. Garrett then unleashes the next bit of his byzantine plan: He wants Christina to help Jamie become the next governor of Montana. He looks like a governor, Christina allows, mulling over the abrupt proposal of this supremely creepy man. And while, sure, maybe he does look like a governordoes he look like a governor of Montana? I dont know about that. Governor of Vermont, maybe.

Speaking of governors, Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz), John Duttons occasional lover and erstwhile ally, is planning for some reason to run for the United States Senate. She takes a walk with John and tries to convince him that D.C. is where she needs to be. She bemoans that Washington has lost the art of negotiation and the art of compromise (yes, these are both arts) and how a level-headed Montanan such as herself might change all that. In other words, her ambition is to become the next Kyrsten Sinema or Joe Manchin. She also mentions her willingness to endorse Jamie as governor, at which point John throws a taciturn fit, revealing once again his deep dislike and distrust for all things Jamie-related. He has a plan to stop this, a plan that amounts to being a Bad Dad.

Carter, the miserable street urchin conscripted to shovel horse shit and learn the intricacies of saddles, seeks forgiveness from Beth. He even brings her flowers, which Beth scoffs at disdainfully. But that abject rejection is probably still not the cruelest thing she manages to do in this episode. Beth, as youll recall, spurned Carter for half of this season because he thought the person who brought him into town to buy him things (Beth) wouldnt freak out and cause a scene if he asked her to buy him things. Turns out he didnt count on Beths vengeful, fickle, Nietzschean nature. Carter pleads with Beth for a ride into town so he can take his chances in foster care, concluding that life on the Yellowstone is unpleasant and depressing and not healthy for his soul. Beth doesnt even mildly reconsider her tough love until Carter admits he doesnt have any dreams or ambitions beyond staying alive.

Beth has a deeply cynical takedown of the pointlessness of caring about things that segues into a bro-down moment with vegan environmental activist Summer Higgins. Youll recall that their last interaction began with Beth pulling a knife on her because, well, none of us are really sure why. At this point in the episode, Beth has realized it was a mistake to put any trust in Market Equities, thus she is already scheming for ways to destroy them. She looks at Summer with fresh eyesno longer a random woman who had a sordid night with her dad, but now a potential weapon to use against her enemies. Beth divulges some semi-confidential development gossip about the artificial destination town Market Equities is planning to create in the most fragile ecosystem of North America. So, now we see why Piper Perabo is here: to become a pawn in Beths unending struggle to watch the world burn. Girl power, baby.

Avery, the object of Monicas irrational jealousy is, as it turns out, actually very into Kayce. So, OK, kudos to Monica for the unrequited horniness intuition. After Kayce and various others return the stolen horses to Avery and her family, Kayce is cornered by the lovelorn former ranch hand. Avery, in so many words, confesses her love-at-first-sight, thunderbolt moment. Its a strangely vulnerable and sort of sad scene. Avery is well aware that Kayce is married, even before Kayce mentions how much he loves his wife like nine times during their short conversation. In his own stoic way, he tries to reassure her with the words, Cant be love. God wouldnt let you love something that cant love you back. But Avery, already in a doomed mood, retorts Yeah he would.

I implore Taylor Sheridan to not let this be the end of this plotline, this Monica was right to be jealous scenario. This is a soap opera, right? Let Avery have a pop at the champ. The people demand it.

The most savage moment of the season! Imagine being Jamie Dutton. You are the attorney general of Montana. You think youre about to announce your campaign for the governorship. The sitting governor herself is going to introduce and endorse you. You descend the stairs to find your father, whose approval youve always sought but never managed to completely collect. He must be there to support you, despite your differences. Your sister, who hates you, is also there. But perhaps this is the beginning of a rapprochement. Jamie literally begins walking down the stairs all proud and full of purpose when Lynelle Perry announces she is endorsing John Dutton as the next governor of Montana. This scene is so brutal! Needlessly so! Why not politely warn Jamie of what is about to happen? Why the evil subterfuge?

Because they just want to humiliate Jamie! They want to tear him down, to put him in his place for not being an upstanding war criminal like Kayce or a brazen sociopath like Beth. Thats why, even in an episode when Jimmy is forced to handle the penises of 16 horses, Jamie Dutton wins the award of Biggest Loser. Its a damn good thing he lives with a creepy guy who is determined to kill his family!

Jimmy and Emily will have a nice dinner at Applebees before moving to a dimly lit bar famous for its mechanical bull. Jimmy will definitely drink more than he should but somehow his Montana-style Cousin Greg charm will only endear him to Emily. The evening will end on the verge of their first kiss, at which point Mia will miraculously turn up with an engagement ring. A bar fight will break out between soldiers and sailors and Jimmy will end it by being the last man thrown off the mechanical bull. No kiss goodnight.

Things will get a little hot and heavy between Rip and Beth, but John Dutton will angrily pound on the door before they really get going and say something like, My daddy didnt storm the beaches of Normandy so you two could do the horizontal polka under my roof. Goodnight. Rip and Beth will go to bed unfulfilled, both falling asleep to Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead respectively.

Hey, its been a while, and Rip did mention an abundance of bear tracks and also warned Beth to drive to the lodge to avoid bears. Thats what we in the world of television call Chekhovs Bear. As Ive long (two episodes now) suspected, something grim is going to go down at Casa Kayce/Monica/Tate/Sunka the Dog. Its too idyllic, and in lieu of a Parasite revelation of a basement dweller, a home invasion via bear is looking pretty good.

Walker, feeling a bit guilty about how the bloody feud all went down, will trade in his brand-new guitar to retrieve Lloyds special belt buckle. This will go on for several episodes and become a sort of violent, eternal, Gift of the Magi scenario.

It seems highly unlikely that Beth will get through an entire episode without forcing her new subordinates to gaze into the abyss after they get her lunch order slightly wrong or take too many bathroom breaks. To Beth, any minuscule blunder or slight character flaw is an excuse to unload the full weight of her Existentialism CliffsNotes upon the hapless city-slickers who are forced to serve her.

Sadly, there will almost definitely be no televised debate between John and Jamie Dutton. Well truly be missing out on some vividly clumsy Shakespearean estranged father and son dialogue. Jamie would easily skewer his father over policy and vision as an indifferent crowd looks on. John Duttons response would be to keep repeating his refrain of Damn right I did it! to thundering applause. Sorry, Jamie. You have to be popular or likable to win anything. Also, you did kill an innocent woman a couple of seasons ago, so whatever. The smart move is to just run to the mountains and atone for your sins, dude.

Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) is, for all intents and purposes, the true big bad of the show. Thats not to say hes bad! Hes obviously less bad than the Dutton Mafia, but hes diametrically opposed to John Dutton in a primal, essential sense. And yet, this season hes been mostly relegated to sidekick duty, passing on documents, giving the occasional pep talk, and having a laugh with Kayce about Avery wanting to jump his earnest bones. Hes both a schemer and a dreamer and a worthy adversary to this completely mangled family at the heart of the show. But, and Ive been harping on this for weeks now, I believe hes being kept in reserve until the end of the season. Hell make his next big move in the wake of the predestined failure of Garrett Randall.

Alex Siquig lives in Baltimore, drinks MD 20/20, and writes about things like Game of Thrones, the Willennium, and the life of Doug Funnie.

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John Dutton, the Future First Spite-Governor in U.S. History - The Ringer

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Atypical depression: Definition, symptoms, and treatment – Medical News Today

Posted: at 1:17 am

Atypical depression is a subtype of major depressive disorder. It is distinct from melancholic depression, which primarily causes sadness even in the face of hopeful circumstances and positive events. Atypical depression, by contrast, means that a persons mood may improve when circumstances change.

Atypical depression also causes additional physical symptoms, such as feeling exhausted, increased appetite and sleep. This subtype of depression may also make a person very sensitive to rejection.

Some people may use the term atypical depression to refer to depression that is inconsistent with depression stereotypes, or common manifestations of depression. This is a misuse of the term. Atypical depression is a specific subtype of depression with specific diagnostic criteria.

Treatment is similar to other forms of depression, but atypical depression may sometimes respond better to a group of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).

Keep reading to learn more about atypical depression, including the symptoms, causes, and tips on living with this condition.

Atypical depression is distinct from melancholic depression. Melancholic depression is the form of depression that most people might identify as depression. It includes a very sad mood and trouble finding pleasure.

Atypical depression can also make people deeply sad. But unlike with melancholic depression, symptoms may improve in response to positive life events or hope for the future. In this regard, atypical depression is more tied to a persons situation and environment.

Some other features of atypical depression include:

A 2017 study suggests atypical depression may correlate with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This emphasizes that depression is both a physical and mental health condition.

People with atypical depression have major depressive disorder (depression). A hallmark of major depressive disorder is feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed. The more traditional presentation of major depressive disorder is melancholic, which causes a person to struggle to feel joy or pleasure, even in pleasurable circumstances.

With atypical depression, the course of the disease is more likely to change and shift. Symptoms may improve with improved circumstances, or worsen with worsening life circumstances. That said, people with atypical depression are more likely to have recurring bouts of the disease. So even once a person feels better for a period, their symptoms may return.

Some hallmarks of atypical depression include:

Atypical depression is not a different diagnosis from melancholic depression. Rather, both are subtypes of major depression, and share many symptoms. Some other symptoms a person might notice in both types of depression include:

Researchers frequently apply a biopsychosocial model to depression, which means that there is no single cause. Instead, a complex interaction of environment, genetics, social factors, interpersonal factors, health, and more interact to cause depression.

Some risk factors for depression include:

A 2019 study of atypical depression found the following characteristics were more prevalent in people with this form of depression:

No single test can determine depression. Doctors diagnose depression based on symptoms.

In some cases, a doctor may want to exclude other potential causes of symptoms, especially in people who are at high risk for other diseases. For example, hypothyroidism can mimic symptoms of depression.

If a doctor suspects a person may have another condition, they may recommend bloodwork or other tests. In most cases, however, a professional will diagnose depression based solely on symptoms. To get an accurate diagnosis, it is important for a person to tell their doctor or mental health specialist about all symptoms they experience.

The diagnostic criteria for atypical depression include:

The mainstay of treatment for depression is a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants. Psychotherapy can help a person process their emotions, feel less isolated, and develop strategies for dealing with depressing thoughts. For example, in cognitive behavioral therapy, a person will learn how their thoughts influence their emotions and behavior.

Learn more about types of therapy here.

A range of antidepressants may help with atypical depression. However, most research suggests that a group of drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may be more effective than newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Consider asking a doctor about trying an MAOI first.

MAOIs can cause side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches. They can also interact harmfully with many other drugs, so it is important to tell a doctor about all drugs a person takes.

MAOIs make it difficult for the body to break down a substance called tyramine. Rarely, this failure to break down tyramine can cause brain damage and death. Ask a doctor about which foods to avoid. In general, fish, meat, liver, and salami have higher levels of tyramine, especially when they are not fresh.

Atypical depression tends to relapse. This means that a person may need to undergo treatment throughout their life, and develop a depression relapse plan. Some strategies for living with atypical depression are below:

Some natural supplements may also help. Learn more here.

Depression is a complex illness that can manifest in many different ways. Symptoms may change over time even in the same person in the same circumstances.

Atypical depression is highly situational, which means a persons symptoms may improve in the right environment, or temporarily appear to be better when their external circumstances are happy. As circumstances change, so too may depression symptoms.

Depression is not something a person can think their way out of. It is a medical diagnosis that causes changes in the brain. The right treatment can help counteract these changes, reducing symptoms and improving overall quality of life.

People who think they may have depression should ask for help, and consider seeking care until they find treatment that works.

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Atypical depression: Definition, symptoms, and treatment - Medical News Today

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Mangosteen: What it is, benefits, how to eat it – Medical News Today

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Mangosteen is a small purple fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. In recent years, news reports and internet influencers have said the fruit has a range of health benefits. It now has a reputation as a superfood.

This article will outline what a mangosteen is, look at the science behind the health benefit claims, and explain how to eat mangosteen.

Mangosteen is a small, purple fruit from Southeast Asia. It has a hard outer skin and sweet, white, juicy flesh. People have described its taste as a mix of lychee, peach, strawberry, and pineapple.

Farmers tend to grow mangosteen in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Thailand. In these countries, people consume it as:

Fresh mangosteen is hard to find in the United States for two reasons.

First, mangosteen trees need a fully tropical climate and lots of time to grow. Small farms in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, started in the 1990s, are only now starting to bear fruit.

Second, fresh mangosteen can harbor quarantine pests or non-U.S. native bugs that could threaten the ecosystem. It means mangosteen importers must sterilize the fruit before it enters the country. This sometimes affects the quality, taste, or shelf life.

Mangosteen has many benefits. It contains a range of compounds and substances that are good for human health.

The benefits of mangosteen include:

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all fruits provide nutrients that are vital for good health.

One cup of drained, canned mangosteen contains:

Most fruits, including mangosteen, are low in fat, sodium, and calories, helping people maintain a moderate weight. They are also free from cholesterol, which can contribute to chronic conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Fruit is also a good source of nutrients that people in the U.S. often lack, such as:

Antioxidants fight free radicals or harmful substances that can build up inside the body. Free radicals can contribute to health problems including:

Studies have suggested that mangosteen contains antioxidants. One study from 2015 asked 30 people to drink a mangosteen-based beverage every day for 30 days. Researchers compared their blood to that of 30 people who had consumed a non-mangosteen-based drink or placebo.

At the end of the 30 days, the mangosteen group had 15% more antioxidants in their bloodstream than the placebo group.

Inflammation is a normal part of the immune system. It is the bodys way of removing foreign substances, like bacteria, viruses, or chemicals.

Sometimes, inflammation happens unnecessarily. Other times, it continues after the body has removed the threat. Doctors call this chronic inflammation. It can contribute to health problems including:

In the 2015 study outlined above, scientists found that mangosteen may also act as an anti-inflammatory. They concluded this by measuring the C-reactive protein, a substance that signals inflammation levels. Over the 30 days of the study, levels of this protein in the mangosteen group reduced by an average of 46%.

Some medicines include mangosteen as an ingredient, including:

It is important to note that studies on the health benefits of mangosteen have been small so far. Scientists need more research before they can be sure.

The National Library of Medicine says that there is not enough evidence to say that mangosteen can help with:

It also advises against using mangosteen medicines in the following situations:

Mangosteen and other herbal supplements may also interact with some medications, such as liraglutide (Saxenda).

People can peel the outer skin of the mangosteen and eat the wedges of fruit inside raw.

However, fresh mangosteen is hard to find in the U.S. Lots of mangosteen-based products, including supplements and juices, are available for people who would like to gain the health benefits of mangosteen but have difficulty finding fresh fruit.

Things to bear in mind with these products include the following:

Mangosteen is a small purple fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. It is difficult to grow and import into the U.S.

Studies have suggested that the fruit has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is not yet enough evidence to conclusively prove this.

Some medicines include mangosteen as an ingredient. These include drugs for obesity and gum disease. People who are pregnant, nursing, have a blood disorder, or are about to have an operation should avoid mangosteen-based medicines.

Mangosteen: What it is, benefits, how to eat it - Medical News Today

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1 in 5 Cancer Survivors Believe Taking Supplements Will Prevent Recurrence; Dont Rely on Alternative Medicine – SurvivorNet

Posted: at 1:14 am

Supplements & False Information

The thought of cancer returning is something that most cancer survivors fear after going into remission. Thanks to modern day research advancements, there are plenty of options for those facing a recurrence. However, a recent study found that 1 in 5 cancer survivors believe that taking dietary supplements will reduce the risk of recurrence. When it comes to your health, its important not to turn to alternative therapies and instead trust your physician.

In a study published by the journalCancer, researchers surveyed more than 1,000 survivors of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer about the measures they take to prioritize their health. One in 5 (around 40%) of the surveyed survivors stated that they believe taking dietary supplements will help prevent the cancer from returning. Among the participants, 13% admitted that they take fish oil pills while 15% regularly take calcium supplements with or without Vitamin D.

Related: Your Fish Oil Supplements Arent Actually Reducing Your Cancer Risk, New Studies Find

We found one in five people who had been treated for cancer mistakenly thought that taking vitamins or other supplements would help reduce the risk of their cancer coming back, says Rana Conway, a co-author in the study. Those who believed supplements were important for reducing their risk of cancer recurrence were three times more likely to take them.

Dr. Ann Partridge explains how supplements are selling cancer patients and survivors false hope

Supplements do serve their purpose in other matters of health, but not in cancer prevention. The main purpose of taking supplements is to make up for the lack of nutrition certain people may have in their diet, such as fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, supplements such as fish oil have strong benefits in strengthening hair and nails.

The trend of holistic medicine has gained significant ground over recent years, with millions of Americans turning to alternative treatments rather than standard treatment. However, this can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening. A Yale study, published by JAMA Oncology,found thatpeople who pursue alternative therapy are more likely to die. Since this has become a popular route, more oncologists are incorporating integrative medicine into their practiceswithout replacing standard treatment such as chemotherapy.

Unlike alternative medicine, which claims cancer can be cured or completely prevented, integrative medicine blends both standard treatment as well as emphasizing lifestyle behavior. This can include diet, exercise, and a persons overall well-being.

Related:Fake Cancer Cures Still Running Rampant On The Internet Google, Facebook Monitoring Efforts Fall Short

Integrative medicineis an approach to care that puts the patientin the center of care and everything flows from that,Dr. Brian Berman, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet. It emphasizes lifestyle behavior, like diet, stress management, nutrition, and it also blends the best of conventional medicine and complementary therapiesIt very much believes in the power of conventional medicine, but its trying to bring in other evidence-based approaches, and to optimize peoples health and well-being.

Dr. Jason Westins message to cancer patients: dont believe everything you read on the internet

While supplements can be beneficial in regulated doses, and under certain circumstances, its important to note that they are not a substitute for cancer treatment, prevention, or reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. In order to have the most successful outcomes, its key to follow your physicians advice and stick to evidence-based treatment options.

Related: Some Dietary Supplements May Be Harmful to People Getting Chemo for Breast Cancer

The ones that people often think about [integrative medicine] are the pills people can pop and what you get from the herbalist and so when someones putting something into their body I have two major concerns, Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, previously toldSurvivorNet.One is that it might interact with something that Im recommending as an oncologist to treat the cancer and might get in the way of that working or might increase the side effects they have from treatmentThe second big thing is that, understandably, some of these therapies are much more appealing than some of our standard therapies in the general medical world, like chemotherapy or surgery. Wouldnt it be much nicer to take a vitamin and treat your cancer? So the studies have not been done in the rigorous way that we do cancer treatment trials to tell us for sure that thats not harmful.

Dr. Geoffrey Sonn, assistant professor of urology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, has a similar strategy with his patients.

So when I counsel patients, I will typically tell them just the basics. Exercise, maintaining a normal weight, plenty of sleep, eating fruits and vegetables. Those are the most important things, he says. Supplements, dietary supplements are probably not necessary. But likely not harmful. I discourage patients from seeking out things that they may read on the internet that are very expensive that, that promise cures or treatments to many different types of disease. Those are more likely marketing ploys rather than something that actually has a solid evidence base.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Ann Partridge explains how supplements are selling cancer patients and survivors false hope

Related:Fake Cancer Cures Still Running Rampant On The Internet Google, Facebook Monitoring Efforts Fall Short

Dr. Jason Westins message to cancer patients: dont believe everything you read on the internet

Related: Some Dietary Supplements May Be Harmful to People Getting Chemo for Breast Cancer

Dr. Geoffrey Sonn, assistant professor of urology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, has a similar strategy with his patients.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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1 in 5 Cancer Survivors Believe Taking Supplements Will Prevent Recurrence; Dont Rely on Alternative Medicine - SurvivorNet

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Ditch the medications and consider alternatives to manage pain – CapeGazette.com

Posted: at 1:14 am

Living with pain is an unfortunate reality for many people. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates one in five Americans has chronic pain which often limits their ability to work or do daily activities.

Increasing awareness about alternative therapies that can help control pain, aside from pain medications, is vital, said Ganesh Balu, MD, a Bayhealth doctor who specializes in pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and opiate dependence and addiction. This is particularly true given that reliance on prescription painkillers is a contributing factor in the opioid problem that continues to worsen in Delaware and nationwide.

Balu and his team members recommend a multidisciplinary treatment approach for people who have chronic pain or are struggling with opioid use disorder. Their integrated, comprehensive pain therapy practice was selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as a Value in Treatment program geared toward improving healthcare access and outcomes for individuals with OUD, and reducing the strain of this medical condition on healthcare systems on a nationwide basis. They also are part of Delawares Office-Based Opioid Treatment Fellowship Program, which supports the safe use of medications to treat opioid use disorder in outpatient settings.

Its important to look at all the pieces of the puzzle when treating patients with OUD or chronic pain, said Balu. Care that is integrated and holistic is very beneficial, and there are many types of therapies that can help and improve your quality of life.

There are number of non-medication methods to lessen pain through minimally or non-invasive treatments, said Balu. These include timely use of various injection therapies like epidurals and nerve blocks, and neuromodulation procedures such as spinal cord stimulation. These interventions also work to reduce opiate dependency.

Physical therapy and therapeutic exercise have long been recommended by doctors to help treat the sources of many kinds of pain as well as improve mobility and function. Balu noted that other types of therapies play equally important roles in pain management chiropractic care, acupuncture, laser and massage are just a few. While each has unique methodologies and is tailored to a persons individual needs, they all help reduce tension in the body and stimulate healing.

Balu emphasized that the mind-body connection is important in addressing ones awareness of pain and the bodys responses. Yoga is considered a type of therapy that positively impacts both physical and mental health. Along with gentle stretching that is good for the body, yoga uses breathing and meditation, which encourage relaxation, help release negative energy, and teach mindfulness, which in turn may reduce ones perception of pain. Its helpful for someone whos had an injury or suffers from chronic pain. Since it reduces stress and enhances overall well-being, it is a lifestyle-enhancing practice for anyone.

Counseling is another therapeutic way to manage pain. The same parts of the brain are stimulated by emotional and physical pain, so it makes sense that treating both aspects is beneficial.

For anyone dealing with substance abuse or addiction, counseling is a critical step, Balu said. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one specific approach, and transcranial magnetic stimulation is another. TMS is an FDA-approved treatment for major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that has also been shown to be effective in reducing pain in some patients who suffer from depression secondary to chronic pain.

Any of these interventions, often used in combination with one another, can benefit patients while avoiding the risks of opioid addiction, he said. When we take a humanistic and compassionate approach to pain management, and patients keep an open mind, there is hope toward keeping pain under control and living a healthier life.

Community members who are looking for specialists to meet their needs may go to Bayhealth.org/Find-A-Doc or call Bayhealths physician referral line available 24/7 at 1-866-BAY-DOCS (229-3627).

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Ditch the medications and consider alternatives to manage pain - CapeGazette.com

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Daily Archives: December 22, 2021

NC jamboree fails to give message of inclusion – The Himalayan Times

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Confirms the Presence of Organic Molecules on Mars – Why the Discovery Could Be More Important Than Ever – Optic Flux

Prediction hits and misses for 2021 – Bangkok Post

The Monster of We : Throughline – NPR

Whats New on Netflix & Top 10s: December 17th, 2021 – What’s on Netflix

John Dutton, the Future First Spite-Governor in U.S. History – The Ringer

Atypical depression: Definition, symptoms, and treatment – Medical News Today

Mangosteen: What it is, benefits, how to eat it – Medical News Today

1 in 5 Cancer Survivors Believe Taking Supplements Will Prevent Recurrence; Dont Rely on Alternative Medicine – SurvivorNet

Ditch the medications and consider alternatives to manage pain – CapeGazette.com

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