Arclund Barbecue, is a style of cooking where meats and other food items are smoked in a pit or specialized oven and then slathering in an often tangy, and occasionally spicy sauce. The thing about it is, that numerous ancestries claim to have the best recipe for barbecue, but curiously none can locate the original proving point for it, with some rather out there scholars claiming due to the numerous variations it is actually a draconic creation, that was spread to various people’s by disguised Dragons.
This is… heavily contested. I will detail four kinds of BBQ found across Arclund.
Terracuzan, stands out as it chosen meats are those that are easily accessible on the seas, and while their are some barbecued sea food dishes, much of their food is centered around poultry and pork, and they prefer dry spice rubs and thick biscuits and pickles as sides.
Korra BBQ is notable for the unique cuts that are used in the cooking, from bear to venison to mammoth, with a focus on ribs and briskets. Their smokers are a bit different as they rely on the powerful volcanic vents within the Warmlands, and outsiders have noted a slight sulfurous tang to the meat that the Shoanti burry beneath a deluge of sweet, occasionally berry favored sauce, though their preferred sweeteners are Maple Syrup and Brown Sugar, one of the main trade goods they seek from the low lands.
Daari BBQ is largely beef based, with a preference towards sausages, and is considered the spiciest, with many non-Daari needed minute medical attention after consuming more than is considered wise. One oddity is that their sauce in comparisons to other white, and is egg-based, compared to the tomato bases of most other BBQ sauces. Kumiyo, also dubbed
Kitsune by their neighbors, have a type of BBQ of their own, and while the sauces and flavoring specialities have spread across much of Eastern Umasi, many folks are a bit put off by the original dish, as Kumiyo BBQ is barely cooked, left to take on the faintest flavor of smoke, and is largely made of organ meats, particularly heart or liver.
Yesterday was National BBQ day in the states, and I was inspired to do a quick bit of lore for my own fantasy world, was wondering if any other folks had interesting cuisine takes, or hell had BBQ in their own settings. I also have city that is Mini America with Free Health Care/Housing and one of the guys there has opened a Fantasy Denny's-esque diner with burgers and milkshakes.

*disclaimer
Please give me credit when you post the audio and leave the link to your channel in the coments thank you =)
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Constructive criticism is welcome in the comments =)
You can follow the acting recommendations or give the script your own taste. Have fun!
[Noises] (Acting recommendations or pov’s so you know where in the story you’re at) {how to pronounce}
Everytime you see a space
is a new paragraph.
Remember to give time between paragraphs for the listener to respond.😊
POV of VA: it's a normal consultation day, when a pretty patient arrives for a checkup... she's healthy...or is she?
Characters personality: you're a good and kind doctor, a bit funny sometimes and with a light-hearted personality.
Begins script:
FEEL FREE TO ADD AS MANY FX AS YOU'D LIKE
(You're ending a consultation) Ok, so just take the pills, and stay off those flowers ok?
(Funny) I know, you wanted to surprise your wife, but next time.....maybe a box of chocolates? (Giggle)
Alright... Take care.
[Door closes]
[Keyboard]
(Thinking out loud) Alright.... This goes here and ...perfect, that note is done.
(Asking your assitant) Anna?................ Send in my next patient please. Thank you.
Umm..how many more do I have for today?
(Rethoric) 2 more including this one?
(Tired) Great, I'm so tired.
Thanks Anna.
[Door closes]
(Ugh mocking) (Sigh) Today's been such a slow day...I mean, who on earth buys a huge bouquet of roses when they have such a strong pollen allergy... seriously (giggle)
[Door knock]
Come in....
(Soon as your new patient arrives you're blown away by her beauty)
(Professionally nice but blown away) Hello, I'm Dr (insert asmrtist name) and you are...?
(Reverb thoughts) Wow she's so beautiful...
(Reverb pep talk) Can it (insert asmrtist name) she's a patient you can't afford to think like that. Be professional!
(End of reverb)
(Coming back to reality) Oh umm...pleased to meet you.
Take a seat please.
[For the whole interview question part you can add a soothing keyboard sound on the back if you'd like, like you're taking notes]
(Professionally nice) So...tell me, What brings you here today?
(Rethoric) Oh, so you got a new health insurance and they gave you a free checkup at this hospital?
(Nice) Ok. yeah, it's always good to get a checkup every once in a while.
Which health insurance company did you hire?
Yeah, their health plan is very complete.
Do you have any current symptoms of any kind?
(Rethoric) Small seasonal allergy?
(Giggling) Yeah, that's very common this days, tell me about it (giggle)
Any medication you're taking for it?
(Sounds logical) Oh, that's the standard.
Any other medications?
(Rethoric) Occasional aspirin for a headache?
Ok.. that's fine.
Any relevant medical history?
(Rethoric) You got your appendix out when you were 12? Ok...
And..no chronic diseases?
Glad to hear.
Diseases in the family? Cancer, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, anything relevant?
(Rethoric) Oh, your grandpa died from colon cancer 2 years ago?
(Sorry) Oh, sorry to hear.
And...how old are you?
(Giggle) I know, as a man it's never easy to ask that question, but as doctor I have to.
When was the last time you went to the doctor?
(Shocked) 2 years ago?!?!
Remember it's always good to see the doctor once a year. So I'm glad you're here now. (Seeth smile)
(Starting the physical examination) (End keyboard sounds)
(Always be calm, you want to inspire confidence to the listenepatient that there's nothing to worry about)
(Professionally nice) Alright. So I would like to start by assessing your vitals. I'm gonna check your pulse and then take your blood pressure...is that ok?
Alright... Just gonna get a feel here in your wrist...
(Wait a sec)
80... You're pulse is fine
If you would lend me your arm please, just gonna wrap the pressure cuff around.....
Alright...just relax.....you may feel some pressure while I take the measurement.
[Pressure cuff sound inflate and deflate]
75/110...
(Rethoric) Low?....
(Confident) Not really... it's said 80/120 is the standard, but it really depends on the patient, medical history, the height, the weight....so for you 75/110 is fine.
I'm gonna take a listen to your heart now. Ok?
Gonna warm up the stethoscope with my hands before I start ..
(Funny nice) You know, there's nothing meaner than a cold stethoscope (giggle). So I try to avoid that with my patients.
Alright, Just breath normally..
(Listening attentively) mmm....ok....
Could you squeeze both your hands really tight for me?, I'm gonna take another listen.
(You keep listening) mmm
Ok, relax...
Everything sounds normal.
Now I'm gonna listen to your lungs ok?
(Do not breath along you're listening) Take a deep breath for me...in ..........and out.......
Once more please...in......and out ....
Again.....in.......and out....
Last one.....in.....aaand out ....
Alright...it all sounds fine there.
Now, I'd like you lay down in the examination table so I can assess your abdomen ok?..
Alright.
There we go.
Now, I'm gonna lift up your shirt slightly, is that ok?
Ok ..
You said you haven't had any recent abdominal symptoms right?
Ok.
I'm gonna take a listen to your abdomen then..
Now, it may take some time for vowel sounds to appear, but that's normal, so you have nothing to worry about.
(Wait a few sec)
Ok, everything sounds fine.
Now I'm gonna do some percussion, this mainly requires me tapping around your abdomen to asses dullness ok?
Alright.
[You may include the abdominal percussion sounds if you'd like]
(Thinking aloud) (Something sounds a bit off but you don't wanna raise any alarms) Hmm...
Ok..
Now I'd like to palpate around your abdomen to check everything is fine...is that ok?
Ok..... Gonna start pressing here on the top center, any pain there?...people with reflux or heart burn tend to have pain around that area...
Nothing? Good.
Now pressing here on the right side...no pain?
Good.
Any pain or tenderness here on the lower area?....no?..good
Now pressing here on the left side.
(You feel a small-medium mass like 2 in big on that area and get concerned)
(Concerned) Hmmmmm.....hmmmm....
(Concerned) Any pain when I press here?
(Rethoric concerned) No?
Hmmm..
I'm gonna press a little deeper...
(Concerned) No pain when I press deeper?
Hmmmm
(Rethoric) What's wrong?
(Talking while feeling around) I'm feeling something here....
Feels like a small mass, a bit hard....
(Thinking out loud) It feels a bit irregular..hmmm
If you have any discomfort I need you to tell me please..
(She starts to stress and hyperventilate)
(Comforting) Hey hey hey, easy ok?
We don't know yet what it is... It may aswell be something simple.
Easy, I need you to calm down...
You're breathing to fast and that's gonna make you dizzy....
Deep breaths.....breath with me...in.....and out......in.....and out .....
That's it.....
(Professional) I'm gonna palpate one more time, I need you to stay calm please.
(Thinking out loud) Hmmmmm...ok.
Let's get back to the desk so we can discuss the next step.
(Wait a sec)
(Back at the desk)
(Calming her) Now I'd like to get you an ultrasound...
(She panics) Don't panic .. it's a painless procedure... And from there we'll know what's next ok?
(Rethoric) What could it be?
I don't want to jump into conclusions yet.
(Nice comforting worried) Just try to stay calm please.
Let me write you a prescription...
(Reverb thoughts concerned) I'm really worried about her...I do not like at all how that mass feels.
(Reverb feeling sorry for her) She looks so worried and no wonder....
(Reverb) Maybe I could get her that ultrasound after my last patient... I'm so tired though....I was supposed to go home and relax a bit. But poor lady..
(Rethoric) (Seeth) Curse your oversized heart (insert asmrtist name), ugh! Alright....
(End of Reverb)
(Thinking) Ummmm....
(Being nice) Look, I have only one more patient after you... If you'd like to wait... I could take you to the ultrasound room after and get the procedure done...
(Rethoric) Is it late for me?
(Lying to be nice) Nah, I was gonna do some paperwork after, but I can always do it tomorrow, so don't worry.
(Comforting) Hey, look at me....worrying is not gonna help... It could still be something benign..... so try to stay calm please?
Thanks.
(Calling your assistant) Anna?!
She's gonna wait in the waiting room until after the next patient.....
Could you please give her a tea with some honey?
Thanks.
Oh and, send in the last patient please.
(Talking to the patient again) Drink it please...the honey will prevent your pressure from falling after all that stress.
Alright.
(Voice fades away) Come in please....Hi, I'm doctor (insert asmrtist name).....

Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer, impact millions globally. Despite being common, these conditions often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to their subtle symptoms and complex causes. In today's fast-paced world, the need for effective thyroid wellness solutions is more critical than ever. This blog will explore the necessity for improved thyroid care, the available alternatives, why CureEZ stands out, and real-life examples of how CureEZ has transformed lives.

The Urgency for Thyroid Wellness Today
The Growing Prevalence of Thyroid Disorders
Thyroid disorders are increasingly prevalent, with millions of new cases diagnosed annually. For example, hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is underactive, affects approximately 5% of the population, with a higher incidence in women and the elderly. Hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid is overactive, affects about 1-2% of the population.
Several factors contribute to this growing prevalence. Environmental pollutants, dietary factors, and increased autoimmune diseases play significant roles. The impact of stress and lifestyle changes in modern society also exacerbates these conditions.
The Challenges of Diagnosis
One of the primary challenges in managing thyroid disorders is accurate diagnosis. Symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, and mood swings often overlap with other conditions, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic methods, primarily reliant on blood tests measuring thyroid hormone levels, may not always provide a comprehensive picture.
Moreover, subclinical thyroid disorders, where symptoms are present but hormone levels appear normal, complicate diagnosis further. Patients often face frustration and anxiety due to the uncertainty and inconsistency in their diagnosis and treatment plans.
The Impact on Quality of Life
Untreated or poorly managed thyroid disorders can lead to severe health complications. For instance, hypothyroidism can result in heart disease, mental health issues, and infertility. Hyperthyroidism can lead to severe complications like atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, and thyrotoxic crisis if left untreated.
The physical symptoms are only part of the story. The mental and emotional toll of thyroid disorders can be profound, leading to depression, anxiety, and cognitive issues. This multifaceted impact underscores the need for comprehensive, accurate, and accessible thyroid care.

Current Approaches to Thyroid Wellness

Conventional Medical Treatments

1. Medication: The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy, such as levothyroxine. This treatment aims to normalize hormone levels, but finding the correct dosage can be challenging and requires regular monitoring. For hyperthyroidism, antithyroid medications like methimazole or propylthiouracil are used to reduce hormone production.
   
2. Radioactive Iodine Therapy: Used primarily for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, this treatment involves taking radioactive iodine orally to destroy overactive thyroid cells. While effective, it requires careful monitoring and can lead to hypothyroidism.
   
3. Surgery: In cases of large goiters, thyroid nodules, or thyroid cancer, surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland may be necessary. This option is usually considered when other treatments fail or when there is a suspicion of malignancy.
   

Natural and Holistic Approaches

1. Dietary Changes: Incorporating foods rich in iodine, selenium, and zinc can support thyroid health. For hypothyroidism, iodine-rich foods like seaweed, fish, and dairy are beneficial. For hyperthyroidism, a balanced diet avoiding excessive iodine and goitrogenic foods like soy and cruciferous vegetables is recommended.
   
2. Supplements: Nutritional supplements, such as iodine, selenium, and vitamin D, can help address deficiencies that impact thyroid function. However, supplementation should be approached cautiously and under medical supervision to avoid adverse effects.
   
3. Lifestyle Modifications: Stress reduction techniques, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are crucial for maintaining overall health and supporting thyroid function. Mindfulness practices, yoga, and other stress management strategies can be particularly beneficial.
   

Alternative Therapies

1. Acupuncture: Some studies suggest acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms associated with thyroid disorders. It is believed to balance energy flow in the body, potentially improving thyroid function and overall well-being.
   
2. Herbal Remedies: Certain herbs, like ashwagandha and guggul, are believed to support thyroid health. Ashwagandha, an adaptogen, may help regulate hormone levels and reduce stress, while guggul is thought to stimulate thyroid function. However, more research is needed to confirm their efficacy and safety.
   

Why CureEZ is the Superior Choice

Advanced Diagnostic Tools
CureEZ utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic tools that go beyond traditional methods. Our AI-powered screening technology analyzes a comprehensive array of data, including medical history, symptoms, and lab results, to provide a more accurate and timely diagnosis. This approach addresses the limitations of conventional blood tests by considering a broader spectrum of indicators.
Personalized Treatment Plans
At CureEZ, we believe that no two thyroid conditions are the same. Our approach is tailored to each patient's unique needs, ensuring that they receive the most effective treatment. This includes personalized medication regimens, dietary guidance, and holistic care strategies. Our genetic testing capabilities allow us to identify specific predispositions, enabling early intervention and more precise treatment.
Innovative Therapies
CureEZ is at the forefront of medical innovation, offering cutting-edge treatments like Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules and targeted molecular therapies for thyroid cancer. RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to shrink nodules, reducing recovery time and complications compared to surgery. Our targeted molecular therapies focus on specific genetic mutations within cancer cells, providing more effective and less toxic treatment options.
Continuous Monitoring and Support
Our commitment to patient care extends beyond the clinic. CureEZ integrates wearable technology to monitor vital signs and hormone levels in real-time, providing continuous data to adjust treatments promptly. Our telemedicine platform ensures that patients can consult with specialists conveniently, no matter where they are. This approach offers flexibility and continuity of care, crucial for managing chronic conditions like thyroid disorders.
Patient Education and Community Support
We understand the importance of informed patients and a supportive community. CureEZ offers extensive resources and support groups to help individuals understand their condition, share experiences, and stay motivated throughout their treatment journey. Educational materials, webinars, and community forums are available to empower patients with the knowledge they need to manage their health proactively.

Real-Life Transformations with CureEZ
Mamatha's Journey to Recovery
Mamatha, a 35-year-old teacher, had been struggling with unexplained fatigue, weight gain, and depression for years. Despite numerous visits to different doctors, her symptoms persisted. Frustrated and desperate for answers, Mamatha turned to CureEZ.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Using our advanced screening, we quickly identified that Mamatha had hypothyroidism. Our team developed a personalized treatment plan, including the right dosage of levothyroxine, dietary adjustments, and stress management techniques.
The Transformation
Within a few months, Mamatha's energy levels improved, and she began to lose weight. Her mood stabilized, and she felt more in control of her life. Mamatha regularly uses CureEZ's telemedicine platform to check in with her specialist, ensuring her treatment remains effective.

Dilip's Battle with Hyperthyroidism
Dilip, a 42-year-old software engineer, was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism after experiencing rapid weight loss, anxiety, and heart palpitations. Conventional treatments had only provided temporary relief, and he was concerned about the long-term effects on his health.
Diagnosis and Treatment
CureEZ's comprehensive approach included a detailed analysis of Dilip's condition. We opted for a combination of antithyroid medication and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) to target the overactive thyroid cells.
The Transformation
Mark noticed a significant improvement within weeks. His heart palpitations decreased, anxiety levels dropped, and he regained a healthy weight. Continuous monitoring through wearable technology helped fine-tune his treatment, ensuring sustained progress. Mark now enjoys a better quality of life and peace of mind.

Conclusion
CureEZ stands out in the field of thyroid care by combining advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, innovative therapies, and continuous support. Our approach ensures that patients receive the most accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life.
If you're struggling with thyroid issues, consider CureEZ for a comprehensive, patient-centered solution. We're here to help you decode your thyroid disorder and transform your life.

References

1. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/thy.2016.0457
   
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025619611623896
   
3. https://www.webmd.com/women/thyroid-disease
   
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism/symptoms-treatments-more
   
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23188-thyroid#:~:text=Your%20nervous%20system%3A%20When%20your,and%20hyperthyroidism%20can%20cause%20anxiety.
   

Dr. David Burkett has carved out a notable career in cardiology, specializing in general cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology (E.P.), echocardiography, and non-invasive cardiology. His professional expertise extends to treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias, hyperlipidemia, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary hypertension. With a patient-centered and preventative care approach, Dr. Burkett tailors treatments to effectively manage and improve his patients’ health. He practices at Cardiology Cardiovascular Associates of San Antonio in Texas and holds certifications from the Texas Medical Board and the A.B.I.M. Cardiovascular Disease Boards.

Press Release Wednesday February 28th, 2024
(Los Angeles) – This Wednesday, a coalition of four women-led non-profits will launch a multi-month, aggressive advocacy campaign to hold the music industry accountable for sexual violence. The first stage of this coordinated campaign is the release of a report detailing the sexual abuse of women by artists, executives, and other prominent figures in the music industry. This comprehensive report chronicles the scathing history of seven decades of sexual abuse and coverup, from the 1950s to the present. Survivors and allies will shed light on the pervasive culture of abuse and demand systemic change in the music industry by making five demands:
1. No more NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) that silence survivors.
2. Mandated policy protocols. If You See Something, Say Something.
3. An independent organization funded by MusiCares – The Make the Music Industry Safe Division.
4. Publication of the names of artists and executives credibly accused of sexual assault and harassment.
5. Adoption of a Survivor Bill of Rights.
Beyond releasing this report, this coalition will outline demands for reform, call for new legislative measures, demand congressional hearings, and more.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 1 pm PST
WHERE: 12011 San Vicente Blvd Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Please email [makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com](mailto:makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com) and provide press credentials.
LIVE STREAM: The press conference will be live-streamed on makemusicsafe.org
For interview requests, please contact [makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com](mailto:makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com)
Non-profit organizations co-releasing the report:
The Representation Project: The Representation Project (TRP) is the leading gender watchdog organization. Using film and media as catalysts for cultural transformation, TRP inspires individuals and communities to challenge limiting gender stereotypes and shift norms. Jennifer Siebel Newsom founded the organization in 2011 in response to the overwhelming public demand for ongoing education and social action in support of her first film, Miss Representation.
Lift Our Voices: The mission of Lift Our Voices (LOV) is simple: to transform the American workplace, making it safer and more equitable for everyone. By organizing communities to change laws and policies, advocating for survivors, and promoting awareness for a safer and more inclusive workplace environment, we are rewriting the rules to ensure every worker has a voice.
The Punk Rock Therapist: The Punk Rock Therapist is a grassroots group of women who have dedicated their time, resources, hearts + souls to supporting survivors of sexual assault in the music industry through free therapy with a professional trauma-informed therapist who has walked the same path. TPRT provides ongoing mental health support centered around survivor empowerment + liberation from all forms of gender-based oppression.
Female Composer Safety League: The Female Composer Safety League (FCSL) was conceived in 2018 and was launched shortly after. Its mission to advocate for the safety and inclusion of women composers serves a vital need in the male-dominated fields of film music, television music, concert music, video game music, and commercial composing.
"SOUND OFF" Report: https://therepproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SOUND-OFF-Make-the-Music-Industry-Safe-Report-February-2024.pdf
Report reveals over 35 musicians accused of sexual misconduct and over 18 executives accused of sexual assault, misconduct, or cover-up of crimes.
Source: https://www.thepunkrocktherapist.org/education

Hi everyone hope you all have been treating yourselves kindly and continuing to take care of you :)
I came across The Punk Rock Therapist, a non profit org ran by Kristina Sarhadi, Sarah Levy, and Samantha Maloney. Samantha being the interviewee of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCTOWPjPP_U
These are some of the ladies that co-released the “SOUND OFF: The Make the Music Industry Safe” Report from earlier. They provide free therapy sessions for survivors of predators in the music industry with people with direct experience. May this be a helpful tool to anyone who needs some support
Website: https://www.thepunkrocktherapist.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepunkrocktherapistorg/
“SOUND OFF: The Make the Music Industry Safe” Report: https://therepproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SOUND-OFF-Make-the-Music-Industry-Safe-Report-February-2024.pdf
Their Press Release from February 28th 2024:
"(Los Angeles) – This Wednesday, a coalition of four women-led non-profits will launch a multi-month, aggressive advocacy campaign to hold the music industry accountable for sexual violence. The first stage of this coordinated campaign is the release of a report detailing the sexual abuse of women by artists, executives, and other prominent figures in the music industry. This comprehensive report chronicles the scathing history of seven decades of sexual abuse and coverup, from the 1950s to the present. Survivors and allies will shed light on the pervasive culture of abuse and demand systemic change in the music industry by making five demands:
1. No more NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) that silence survivors.
2. Mandated policy protocols. If You See Something, Say Something.
3. An independent organization funded by MusiCares – The Make the Music Industry Safe Division.
4. Publication of the names of artists and executives credibly accused of sexual assault and harassment.
5. Adoption of a Survivor Bill of Rights.
Beyond releasing this report, this coalition will outline demands for reform, call for new legislative measures, demand congressional hearings, and more.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 1 pm PST
WHERE: 12011 San Vicente Blvd Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Please email [makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com](mailto:makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com) and provide press credentials.
LIVE STREAM: The press conference will be live-streamed on makemusicsafe.org
For interview requests, please contact [makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com](mailto:makethemusicindustrysafe@gmail.com)
Non-profit organizations co-releasing the report:
The Representation Project: The Representation Project (TRP) is the leading gender watchdog organization. Using film and media as catalysts for cultural transformation, TRP inspires individuals and communities to challenge limiting gender stereotypes and shift norms. Jennifer Siebel Newsom founded the organization in 2011 in response to the overwhelming public demand for ongoing education and social action in support of her first film, Miss Representation.
Lift Our Voices: The mission of Lift Our Voices (LOV) is simple: to transform the American workplace, making it safer and more equitable for everyone. By organizing communities to change laws and policies, advocating for survivors, and promoting awareness for a safer and more inclusive workplace environment, we are rewriting the rules to ensure every worker has a voice.
The Punk Rock Therapist: The Punk Rock Therapist is a grassroots group of women who have dedicated their time, resources, hearts + souls to supporting survivors of sexual assault in the music industry through free therapy with a professional trauma-informed therapist who has walked the same path. TPRT provides ongoing mental health support centered around survivor empowerment + liberation from all forms of gender-based oppression.
Female Composer Safety League: The Female Composer Safety League (FCSL) was conceived in 2018 and was launched shortly after. Its mission to advocate for the safety and inclusion of women composers serves a vital need in the male-dominated fields of film music, television music, concert music, video game music, and commercial composing.
Source: https://www.thepunkrocktherapist.org/education

I was diagnosed Long Covid with dysautonomia. I'm male, 47, no serious health issues in the summer of 2023. From late August 2023 to mid May 2024 I've had numerous symptoms:

• blackouts, lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches
• shortness of breath, spontaneous rapid inhaling
• heart palpitations, high resting heart rate, racing heart beats
• high anxiety, panic attacks
• urine leakage/seepage, swollen/aching pelvic region, urine urgency/frequency, nocturia, weak stream
• nausea, loss of appetite, constipation
• hot hands and forearms, icy cold feet
• loss fine motor control in hands
• extreme fatigue, severe exhaustion, tiredness, crashes from mild exertion
• poor concentration, memory loss, confusion
• sad thoughts, mood swings, depression
• blurry vision, watery eyes, eye strain/soreness, floating dots in vision
• swollen dry mouth, phlegm mouth, excessive saliva, bleeding gums, swollen/chapped lips
• night sweats, excessive sweating throughout day
• muscle jolts/twitches
• joint pain
• itchy/stinging skin
• hair loss

It started with heart issues and standing issues, then mood swings, then urinary problems, blurry vision, cognitive decline, extreme fatigue, muscle jolts, constipation, and so on.
By November I had terrible urinary issues never seen before, excruciating perineum pain, nocturia, leakage, the list goes on.
My ability to function was dropping so rapidly I had a "will" made because I thought I'd be dead in a year.
I went to Urgent Care, ER, Urology, GP, another GP, Therapist, to try to find solutions. Tests came up negative, or misdiagnosed, or nothing found.
Late December to mid March I was in bed nearly 24 hours/day. Routine tasks like doing laundry or brushing teeth were nearly impossible. Most days I'd only eat 1 meal, like a sandwich or cereal. I couldn't think clearly, forgot my phone number, lifting light objects was exhausting. Days that I could stay up for a few hours I'd have YouTube running in the background.
In January a Psych prescribed Duloxetine for anxiety and depression. A friend mentioned his brother had LC, that maybe I had it. I didn't think much of it. I couldn't think straight anyway and had no energy.
From mid March to mid April I could stay awake 4 to 8 hours a day, daily headaches and eye strain felt like a hangover. Some issues were subsiding or gone but others remained and new ones appeared. I could do light reading and actually comprehend what I was reading.
By mid April I could stay awake about 12 hours, sometimes more, and had strength to start investigating LC. Came to realize Long Covid often has many symptoms, and mine kept piling up and were similar experiences as others. Maybe it was LC.
Late April 2024 I started taking numerous supplements to combat symptoms, especially inflammation. Then I found a Long Covid Center that said it looks like LC with dysautonomia. I hadn't heard of dysautonomia before. I've been making progress slowly week by week, with some setbacks and recurrences.
My nutrition was never great but now it's healthier than before, eating less processed foods and more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole wheat, grainy stuff.
For supplements, it's hard to assess what helps, and where, if at all, since there are so many. I also need to watch for side effects, but so far no issues for me. Here's what I'm taking:

• Rx Duloxetine: anxiety, depression
• Curcumin/Turmeric: anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, depression
• Bromelain: anti-inflammatory, antiviral
• Pycnogenol: anti-inflammatory, blood vessels endothelium
• Quercetin: anti-inflammatory, genitourinary
• Cordyceps: anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial
• Probiotics with multiple strains: digestion, antiviral, immune, concentration, fatigue, memory
• Resveratrol: anti-inflammatory, prevent blood clots
• Nattokinase: blood clots
• Serrapeptase: anti-inflammatory
• D-mannose: genitourinary, antibacterial
• Omega 3: anti-inflammatory, anxiety, depression
• Saw palmetto: anti-inflammatory, genitourinary
• Magnesium: heart, anti-inflammatory, anxiety, depression
• Loratadine: antihistamine
• Garlic: anti-inflammatory
• Ginger: anti-inflammatory
• Biotin/Keratin: hair, skin, nails
• Zinc: immune system
• Vitamin B complex: energy
• Vitamin C: immune
• Vitamin D3: mood, immune

Anyone use any of these or others with success? Please let me know. Best wishes to everyone here.

Who is Gary Renard:
Gary is a famous ACIM author. He has written “The Disappearance of the Universe”. He claims to be the reincarnation of the disciple Thomas and he claims his book came to him by inflesh ascended masters. He calls these Arten and Pursah. Purshah is supposedly a future incarnation of Thomas, and Arten a future incarnation of Saint Thaddeus.
Who is Bruce MacDonald:
Following a NDE, Bruce had some mystical experiences. He claims after this he was able to talk to God, Jesus, and in a past life he was the disciple Thomas. He wrote two books about this including “The Thomas Book Near Death, a Quest and a New Gospel by the Twin Brother of Jesus”. There he recounts his adventures as a disciple in Jesus’s inner circle and relays supposedly new teachings about Jesus.
Tragically it appears he died somewhat recently and his website went offline. That had a ton of interesting information about Gary Renard, Thomas, and even the Course in Miracles. But…the good news is much of it is still available from archive.org. Here is an archived sitemap.
The Thomas Conflict:
They both claim to be Thomas! This is extra funny when you consider the original meaning of the word Thomas means twin.
Let’s start with Gary Renard’s claims:

• Supposedly there is a famous past life channeler “Kevin Ryserson”. He was able to interview the incorporeal entity known as Ahtun Re. And Ahtun Re in turn provides many detailed and interesting celebrity past life details. You can read them here (some are jaw dropping…eg Trump = Nero, Putin = Caesar, Biden = Emperor Theodosius). He was friends with Gary and claimed publicly that Gary Renard is the reincarnation of Thomas.
• Gary claims that Pursah is the reincarnation of Saint Thomas and Arten is the reincarnation of St. Thaddaeus…but per Bruce Thaddeaeus is an alias for Didymos Judas Thomas the disciple, so are Arten and Pursah (and Gary) the same person?

Let’s go now to Bruce’s side:

• Kevin Ryserson/Ahtun Re publicly proclaimed that Bruce was not the disciple Thomas, but rather a later scribe who wrote down the Gospel of Thomas.
• But Bruce claimed that Kevin privately told him he was indeed the reincarnation of Thomas, but didn’t want to go public to jeopardize his friendship with Gary.
• Bruce also proclaims his private guides and and Ahtun Re himself confirmed he was the real Thomas
• Bruce claims that Gary is unaware that St. Thomas and Didymos Judas Thomas were separate people, yet impossibly Gary claims to be both. Bruce says a separate person wrote the gospel of Thomas (not Thomas himself) which he claims Gary doesn’t realize.

Did Gary Renard Plagiarize Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer
In 1945 the Gospel of Thomas was discovered. Scholars Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer translated this into English (http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html).
Renard claimed the ascended master Pursah (future Thomas from the past) dictated to him a new and corrected version of the Gospel of Thomas. This was put into the book “Pursah’s Gospel of Thomas”.
However it appears Bruce did differential analysis on this and the Patterson/Meyer version and discovered they often were identical.
That can’t be. The Gospel of Thomas was written in coptic, but was likely seeded from Greek or Aramic sources. An ascended master like Pursah should be able to go straight to the source to explain what these teachings meant. Yet these are too similar to existing English translations. For translation work this is just too coincidental. Anybody familiar with language translations knows there is a fair degree of subjectivity that happens in the process. A lack of variance between two translations is suspicious.
Now there are differences…but many are minor and perhaps “token”. What’s even stranger is the location of the “token differences”. They are mostly placed in the early verses and gradually tapered off. As if Gary (or a source for Gary) got tired of “improving” the verses and got lazy in the end and just copy/pasted.
Greg Mackie Chimes in:
https://circleofa.org/library/gary-renard/
Some of Greg’s claims are unfair (like his criticism of the ascended master concept)...but some of his critiques are well done and raise legit questions about the audacity of Gary’s “ascended masters”. Examples:

• Arten: An issue of Time Magazine in the 1970s had the words “God is dead” on the cover (121). (He doesn’t say “on the cover,” but it is clear that he is referring to the famous Time Magazine cover.) Actually, the issue came out in 1966 and had “Is God dead?” on the cover.
• Arten: The Jefferson Bible “will be made available soon for those who want to see it” (218). It has been available at least since 1904 (some sources say 1903), when it was first published.
• Pursah: Pursah implies that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan occurs around the same time as Christmas (297). Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar and therefore can occur any time of year.
• Pursah: “Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire…by law any other religions or spiritual ideas were outlawed” (50). Constantine legalized and supported Christianity, but he did not make it the only legal religion of the Roman Empire. This was done by a later emperor, Theodosius (who reigned from 379 to 395 C.E.).
• Arten: “The United States…has much more of a responsibility when it comes to diffusing situations than anybody else does” (337). This one is worthy of George W. Bush; the correct word is not “diffusing” but “defusing.”

Robert Perry Chimes in:
https://circleofa.org/library/why-dont-the-masters-have-an-original-thought/
Robert observes that many of Purah’s channeled teachings sound coincidentally VERY similar to the teachings of Wapnick and use Ken’s unique language. He goes into great detail on this. An example:

Pursah: “You romanticize the South American rainforest by thinking it’s one of the holiest spots on earth. If you could observe in accelerated motion what goes on underneath the ground there, you would see that the roots of trees actually compete with each other for the water”
Wapnick: “We admire the beauties and wondrous delicacies of nature. Yet within this same world we perceive competition and destructiveness….Trees’ roots strangle neighboring roots seeking their rightful soil.”

If Gary were using ascended masters as a literary device this would make sense. Gary was a HUGE fan of Ken’s. It would be logical if some of his mannerisms rubbed off on Gary. But for an ascended master to plagiarize Ken seems a bit odd.
Gary Reacts to Robert Perry and Bruce MacDonald:
https://www.garyrenard.com/FraudAccusations.html
Gary very angrily defends himself against both complaints. Examples:

This latest, ludicrous controversy is being championed and promoted by Robert Perry and the so-called "Circle of Atonement." Robert has a long track record of attacking other A Course in Miracles teachers, including Ken Wapnick and myself. For 15 years, Robert has been the most divisive force in the A Course in Miracles community. His actions over this long period of time are an insult to everything that A Course in Miracles stands for.
…
As for Robert Perry, his jealousy of me is so severe I think at this point the only thing that would stop him from trying to attack me would be if someone drove a wooden stake through his heart.
…
Robert Perry will try to tell you this isn't personal with him. Don't believe him. He'll try to tell you that he's a "scholar." A scholar? That's odd. I don't see a PhD next to his name. How honest is that?

Jesus Twin Theory
Bruce MacDonald believes that Jesus had relatives who were his disciples…and this included his twin brother Didymos Judas Thomas. The words Didymos and Thomas actually mean twin. Judas was a common name and note this wasn’t the same Judas that sold Jesus. All that said though, I don’t believe this part of the story. Twin is more likely to be symbolic (more on this below).
Kim MIchaels Chimes In:
Jesus (per Kim) explains that the disciples did not write any of the gospels directly. Also he didn’t dictate them, but there was some inspiration: https://ascendedmasteranswers.com/gospel-of-thomas/
Jesus (per Kim) when asked if any disciples (specifically Thomas) were fallen beings, admits some were. On Thomas he says he has moved on and made his ascension: https://ascendedmasteranswers.com/gospel-of-thomas/
Jesus (per Kim) is asked if Judas Thomas is the biological twin brother of Jesus. Jesus indicates no. Rather family terms were used for spirit ranks. First there was brother, then bride, then twin (these were figurative not literal terms). Thomas reached twin status, which allowed Jesus to communicate with him more effectively. This seems to contradict Bruce’s testimony. https://ascendedmasteranswers.com/judas-thomas/ & https://ascendedmasteranswers.com/becoming-a-twin-of-jesus/
Mother Mary (per Kim) responds to a question about the “The Disappearance of the Universe”. She claims this is not a legit book. Masters don’t travel back in time to teach to themselves. The true messagers for DU are actually coming from a lower mental realm and not the ascended realm. She is generally dismissive of DU: https://ascendedmasteranswers.com/ideas-from-the-disappearance-of-the-universe-by-gary-renard/
Gary’s Weird Connections:
Gary claims he found a girl who was the reincarnation of Helen Schucman. Apparently Ken agreed. Gary even posted a picture of him and the girl on Facebook.
Included in the photo is his wife Cindy who Gary claims is the reincarnation of Thaddeus. Bruce MacDonald claims that Thaddeus was not a separate person in the bible but was actually an alias for Thomas. So did Gary marry himself?
Even more confusing….on top of this there is actually a woman on this Reddit forum (I won’t dox her) who claims David Hoffmeister said she was the incarnation of Helen. But when David told Gary this, Gary said he already found his reincarnated Helen.
Reddit User Predicts Content for Gary’s 3rd Book
https://www.reddit.com/ACIM/comments/ecxr3b/comment/fbgc40k/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
This is odd…how could a Reddit user predict what content an ascended master would dictate to Gary for a future yet unwritten book?
Simon Magus Connection
https://web.archive.org/web/20210411093059/http://thomastwin.com/20%20A%20ACIM,%20Simon%20and%20Trinity.html
Simon per the bible was a magician and trickster. He’s considered a somewhat malevolent entity. Bruce MacDonald claims he was shown a vision in which it was revealed that th Gary was the reincarnation of Simon Magus and he is tricking people now as he did previously.

I have heard of at least two people who have had the experience of Simon Magus trying to “possess” their bodies since they were children, even trying to push them out of the body to take over. It would seem that, instead of withdrawing into the spiritual realms between lives, Simon Magus has remained as a “ghost,” a kind of psychic vampire who maintains his life in the astral realms by feeding on the lives of the living through the centuries. The people I have communicated with or heard of have had the strong sense of a negative male presence trying to take over their lives, draining their energy, alienating other people and claiming to be Simon Magus. In one case, this Simon actually insisted that the person who was the victim of this kind of “psychic vampirism” should read A Course in Miracles, in order to make the person more aware of the philosophy of Simon Magus and the Simonians. There was also a female presence which seemed to be Helen. I heard this from someone who was so traumatized by the disembodied Simon Magus since childhood that they searched on Google for anything to do with Simon and found my website, which confirmed for them all they had been experiencing. Fortunately, I have been able to help through The Prayer of Silence and The Thomas Book.

Thomas Book per Bruce MacDonald
Bruce claims this was dictated to him from Thomas…but it was also an experiential event. He believes he was there as Thomas in a previous life.
The contents of the book are interesting. This includes some unique takes. Eg He goes into detail on the background of Mary Magdalene and Jesus and how they were married early, but he left her early on to focus on his spiritual work.
The most extraordinary claim is of the crucifixion. Thomas claims that the disciples knew that Jesus would be executed. But they didn’t have photographs back then and knew the Romans could have difficulty identifying Jesus. So they hatched a plan to have “Saul” impersonate Jesus. He would be executed in the place of Jesus. The three ring leaders of this plan were Judas, Thomas and Peter (the three hot heads). They actually kidnapped Jesus and hid him away during the trial. Thomas believed a fake Jesus was crucified (hence the doubting Thomas meme), but Peter is irate and claims the real Jesus ended up on the cross which Thomas doesn’t believe because he was in charge of guarding the kidnapped Jesus. It is possible Jesus bi-located (masters can do this) to throw off this plan. Certainly both Mary’s saw Jesus on the cross…they would have recognized a fake Jesus.
What’s also interesting is the contempt that Thomas has for Peter in much of this book. To Thomas Peter is very dogmatic and overly critical of sex. Thomas was also not a fan of the essenes (which Peter was among), and was upset that apparently Joseph and Mary were kicked out of the essene community for minor rule violations.
Bruce MacDonald on the dictation of ACIM
https://web.archive.org/web/20210411093059/http://thomastwin.com/20%20A%20ACIM,%20Simon%20and%20Trinity.html

My Inner Guide tells me that A Course in Miracles was dictated by Simon Magus.
I dreamed I was in a house with many rooms. In them were people who had been turned into wooden statues, struggling to get out of their wooden confines. I knew immediately that they were living under a spell, so I went from room to room removing the spell “in the name of Jesus and of God.” Once the spell was removed, the people jumped up, looked around in a frightened way, realized they had been trapped in this house, and fled.
I then found the area in which the wizard put spells on people, his “workshop,” complete with intricately tangled paraphernalia hanging from the walls and ceiling. I cleansed the area of all psychic power and sealed it “in the name of Jesus and of God” so that the wizard would never again be able to entrap the unwary.
After I had completed this cleansing process, the wizard came into the entrance hallway where I stood. His face seemed familiar. I had thought this wizard would be frightening, but he was very friendly, with a round, smiling, jovial and pink face. He attempted, laughingly and in great good humour, to put a spell on me as well. I looked directly at him and, “in the name of Jesus and of God,” removed his power to cast spells.
That was the end of the dream. I have not met Gary Renard in the flesh but, when I woke, I realized the smiling man looked exactly like the pictures I had seen on his website.
The basic premise of the Course is that the world we experience is an illusion. This is similar to what Simon taught while alive. Simon Magus taught that Helen was an incarnation of the "thought of God," through which the angels were created. However, the angels, not God, then created the world. Since God did not create the world, it is an illusion. Simon taught that, to achieve salvation and union with God, it was necessary to realize that the world was not created by God but was an illusion created by the angels. Once his converts realized that, then the universe would disappear and they would experience oneness with God.

The Bruce MacDonald Jesus provides detailed insight into ACIM
https://web.archive.org/web/20190718234659/http://thomastwin.com/21%20A%20Jesus,%20God%20and%20ACIM.html (scroll all the way down to “Yeshua said it would be best for him to start”)
Robert Perry asks Bruce to ask Jesus about the Course. He does and the answers are very interesting.
It’s too long to repost here, but this Jesus is largely critical of the Course. He states the real author was impersonating him (something other sources have said) and its teachings are mostly incorrect (eg the Course indicates God is very far away when he isn’t). This Jesus also cites some examples of the Course changing between third person, “we”, and “I” when referring to Jesus as evidence something is up. This Jesus also says that Gary was not Thomas, and that Pursah and Arten are not ascended masters. This Jesus also says Simon Magus was the real author of the Course.

This brings us back to the actual authors of ACIM. I have asserted through Bruce MacDonald elsewhere on this website that the book was written by a first century magician by the name of Simon Magus.
That is only partly accurate, of course. In the same way as Judas Thomas was the ego centre of a particular Individuality (Spiritual Centre of Consciousness) in the first century, and Bruce MacDonald is the incarnation of that same Individuality in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, so Simon Magus and Gary Renard are the incarnations of a particular Individuality who is exploring the potential and the limits of the Docetic philosophy.
Individualities, Spirits, those centers of spiritual consciousness which are manifestations of the Divine Source, can choose to explore anything they wish – God has given them freedom to explore what they will.
It is technically this Individuality which is exploring Doceticism. It is this Spirit who developed the philosophy, partly in the incarnate state and partly between lives. The shorthand version of that is to say that Simon Magus developed the philosophy, since a major part of any of these explorations must take place in the body, and then, after developing and refining the philosophy further in the discarnate state, dictated it through Helen Schucman as A Course in Miracles.
Simon Magus was not the only one involved, but he was the primary focus of the Soul Group exploring the philosophy. And Gary Renard is not the only one involved in ACIM now, although he is the direct incarnation of what we can call the "Simon Magus Individuality." Ken Wapnick and a larger group of souls are also involved, although Renard is the present focus who will ultimately lead to its demise.

Robert Perry did write a response to these critiques of the Course. In general he was dismissive: https://circleofa.org/library/response-bruce-macdonalds-views/
Bruce then responds to the response: https://web.archive.org/web/20210618175625/http://thomastwin.com/22%20A%20Reaction%20to%20ACIM.html
Conclusions:
All these crazy stories are enough to make one suspect of ANY divine revelation or channeled source. My personal opinion is that Gary Renard is not consciously deceiving his followers. But, he is getting guidance from incorporeal life forms who are NOT ascended masters and ARE interested in deception. In this sense Gary is more of a victim, but he does he deserves blame for not showing discernment. I’m sure there are many instances by which these “ascended masters” behaved strangely and showed red flags to Gary who I suspect is loath to reveal these publicly.
As for Bruce, I don’t know what to think. He came from a more orthodox christian background and this may have jaded his view on the Course. He does make mistakes. But some of what he says rings true.
I don’t think either was the real Thomas. Although I think the disciple Thomas might have been one of the entities that was communicating to Bruce.

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I have advice for new plasma donors who may be considering to try it out and earn extra money:

• Plasma is 92% water and the rest is mostly protein elements.
• The plasma is separated from your blood and your red blood cells are returned to you in cycles.
• Per FDA regulations, you're only allowed to donate plasma twice in a 7 day period, with a 48 hour wait inbetween those two times. Don't risk your health by hopping around to different plasma donation centers to circumvent these regulations, and you may get caught if you do.

1. Eat a meal high in protein 2-3 hours before donating, but your plasma protein levels depend on what you ate the day before.
2. Drink plenty of water and/or non-caffeinated juice before donating to stay hydrated.
3. Avoid caffeine such as in coffee or soda before donating or you may get nauseous and vomit or faint during your donation.
4. No alcohol 24 hours before, and for a little while after donating.
5. No exercising for at least 6 hours after donating as it can put too much stress on the vein.
6. Some people get away with smoking or vaping nicotine before and after donating, but it's recommended not to for 2 hours before and after. The nicotine can raise your heart's pulse rate.
7. If your pulse rate is 100 or above, you'll be able to do a vitals retake after a 15 minute wait. But if it's 100 or higher again you'll be deferred for the day. If your pulse rate is an issue, listen to "Pink Noise" or "Green Noise" at a low volume before donating which may help reduce your pulse rate, along with its effect on lowering your blood pressure.
8. There is a risk of getting a blown vein if the worker is having a hard time finding your vein when they're sticking you with the needle or if you have small veins. You may get deferred until your vein heals if that happens. But it's ok, your body is able to regenerate your veins with a process called Angiogenesis.
9. There is a risk of blood clots, but when your blood is constantly moving through the machine it prevents that from happening.
10. You may be subject to drug screening. The drug screening tests for methamphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. Certain pharma prescription meds may show up as a false positive so you'll want to let the plasma center know what meds you're taking. Testing positive for these drugs can result in a permanent deferral from donating plasma.
11. A sample of your blood will be drawn periodically to test for certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A positive test will result in either a temporary or permanent deferral from donating plasma. If you've ever been diagnosed or received treatment for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B (HBV) or Hepatitis C (HCV) you will be permanently deferred from donating plasma.

Donating Plasma with Managed Diabetes
Individuals with well-controlled diabetes can contribute to plasma donation, but certain criteria need to be met:
Absence of Complications: This means no existing diabetic complications affecting your kidneys, heart, blood vessels, or eyes.
Insulin Independence: If you rely on insulin for diabetes management, a three-month waiting period is required after using needles for non-prescribed medications. Additionally, you must be free of symptoms or treatment needs related to blood sugar fluctuations (high or low) for the past three months.

1. Healthy Feet: Active foot ulcers requiring medical attention will disqualify you from donation.
2. Steady Balance: You shouldn't experience dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing.
3. Type 1 Consideration: For Type 1 diabetics, eating within two hours of donation is mandatory.

• Wait a few hours before taking the bandage wrap off of your arm after donating.
• It's recommended to use Vitamin E oil/Mineral oil on the needle site for the puncture area to heal better. A Q-tip can be used to apply it easier. I simply dip the Q-Tip in the bottle, but never dip the used cotton back into the bottle.
• Frequently donating over a prolonged period of time may lead to your body having decreased vitamin D levels.
  
• Red meats are particularly high in the protein vitamins and minerals found in plasma.
  
• Personally, I take a Now brand Vitamin D supplement that contains vitamin D3, Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc. But I only take a half a dose, 1 gel capsule instead of 2, since I get these from eating meats and other foods as well. It's bad for your health if you take too much of these vitamins and minerals over time. I also take an Iron supplement. I also drink a protein shake before donating. Just to be safe.
  

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Just needed to get this out somewhere.
Father called me, and at the end of the convo suddenly and very seriously says he hopes I'm not eating a lot of processed food. On and on about how bad it is for my health. I told him I'm doing the best I can (given my pain and total lack of energy). When I told him to tell me how easy it is after he cooks for himself for awhile, he said eating healthy doesn't have to involve cooking.
The man hasn't gone grocery shopping or cooked anything more involved than heating a hot dog in 40 years. Meanwhile, I'm not eating enough because I don't have the energy to make anything, nevermind ordering healthy groceries. Some nights I'm ready for bed before I even get around to dinner.
It happens that today my work accommodations were approved, and I started pain management this week, so my health is especially front and center right now.
I sobbed my heart out for 15 minutes after hanging up. Full body sobs so deep they hurt. Until recently, I'd been upset that my parents seem to forget that I'm physically struggling, and expecting me to feel up to visiting them, doing things around their house for them, being social, up late, etc. I had about 2 weeks of them actually being somewhat helpful and appropriate, now this. I get that my dad was saying this out of concern and love, but damn it's not helpful nor very realistic. Unless he wants to pay for a full time chef who will also take care of keeping the pantry supplied with wholesome food for me, just stop. Accept it when I say that I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances, and let it go. Don't tell me how easy it is for a sick person to do something you don't even do as a healthy person.
end rant

Demographics: Male, Asian, Public School
Intended Major(s): Biology
ACT/SAT/SAT II: 1570
UW/W GPA and Rank: 3.6, no rank
Coursework: 8 APS/3 DE/2 Honors (All 5s)
Awards:

• 1st in HOSA States (1/40) -> sent to internationals
• 2nd in HOSA internationals (2/150), (2/1800 overall)
• AP Scholar w/ Distinction
• National Merit Semifinalist
• Honor Roll
• NHS
• School Award for 5s on both AP Econ Tests

Extracurriculars:
Biotechnology and Research Sequencing at the University of Michigan (501c3 research organization) - Explored Nucleotide Hybridization, and led group research linking it to a real-world disease. Analyzed related Thermodynamics, PCR, Advanced Linux, and mapping genomes. Presented a business plan on Biotechnology and Next Generation Sequencing Technology (showing how genetic variation could lead to disease).
11th and 12th grade, 12hrs/wk, 4wk/yr
Medical Student Shadowing and Cardiac Medicine Exploration at the University of Brown Alpert Medical School - Completed a Medical Interview, a Cardiopulmonary Physical Exam with a patient, reviewed different medical careers, learned about the pathophysiology of the heart, and completed an ethics course on heart transplants.
11th and 12th grade, 10hrs/wk, 4wk/yr
Shadowed Primary Care Physician - Pediatrician has experience for 20+ years and ranked the #1 Care Physician out of 45 in my city. Worked in the Biomedical Lab analyzing samples and results for patients (in real-time). I shadowed the actual checkups as well
11th and 12th grade, 10hrs/wk, 3wk/yr
HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Competitor (all 50 states + 11 countries competed) (2yrs) - State Champion (1st out of 40 teams) in my 1st year, Only three teams are sent to ILC from Michigan, Qualified for ILC (International Leadership Conference), and placed Top 3 at ILC. Posted on 10+ nationwide news sites, as well as covered by the media. 260,000 members nationwide.
11th and 12th grade, 10hrs/wk, 30wk/yr
Co-Founder of Biomed Club (Only Student-Made Medical Club @ School) (4yrs) - Led in-school Biomedical-Based Medical Club focused on healthcare careers, connecting with licensed doctors and current medical students to inspire youth and teach them about the experience through the medical process. Expanded membership from 4 to 150 in 4 years by organizing talks for younger classmen about life as a doctor.
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grade, 8hrs/wk, 35wk/yr
Joined SAT/Tutoring Help - Helps students increase their chances for college applications, as well as earn significant amounts of scholarship money. Was able to empower high school students through hackathons, college seminars, and a Cranbrook HUB Program which helped struggling students increase their SAT scores.
10th, 11th, 12th grade, 6hrs/wk, 10wk/yr
Swim Instructor (paid) - Worked for ~1 year, over 400 hours of work, about 8-10 hours weekly on school weeks, and closer to 15 hours during summer, CPR and Lifeguard Certified. Had several classes, weekly, with kids with disabilities, such as Down Syndrome, Autism, and ADHD.
11th, 12th grade, 8-10hrs/wk, 40wk/yr
Swim Instructor Summer Volunteer connected w/Hospital's Children’s Care Center (most vulnerable kids) - Instructed and taught children who have been impaired with neurological, social, and developmental challenges, as well as kids that have dealt with major trauma at a very young age to swim. Participated in a 3-week long program teaching them the basics of swimming.
11th, 12th grade, 8-10hrs/wk, 4wk/yr
Michigan Ref Certified - Participated in overall 50+ hours of ref-related activities, played soccer for 13 years and competed in competitive/travel soccer for 10 years.
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grade, 2hrs/wk, 13wk/yr (for reffing)
9th, 10th grade, 8hrs/wk, 50wk/yr (for soccer)
VolunteeTutor Work - Volunteer Monthly at an Indian Cultural Program (10hrs/month), Math Tutor for struggling students (3hrs/week), Volunteer Monthly for Key Club (3hrs/month)
Essays/LORs/Other:
APES (7/10)
STEM Teacher (9/10)
Schools (in state for MSU/UMich):
MSU
UMich (EA)
Rice
JHU
BU
Brown
Cornell
Columbia (ED + Legacy)

Purtle's Internet Lineup for May 16th, 2024 6:22pm
Pics:

• Childhood pictures of Miyamoto and his design for an elephant-shaped clothes hanger for kids, from the December 31, 1993 issue of Famitsu: https://twitter.com/kobunheat/status/1790883882990240166
  
• tom and jerry ass predicament has occured - ‘Dispute’, a quite imprssive real picture captured by Polish photographer Jacek Stankiewicz, featuring two birds embroiled in what appears to be an animated argument. https://twitter.com/Aeyga_X/status/1790944969898786948
  
• arbok is such an exceptionally cool fucking pokemon and I will forever be disappointed that we didn't keep getting new patterns with each game. incredible art https://twitter.com/Lewchube/status/1791151202823999994
  
• Sonic news
  
  • Get ready to keep on rocking with more Sonic Symphony shows through 2024! https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/1790064597535535313
• Pokemon news
  
  • we've recently discovered a LOT beta Pokemon DP music, the most notable being an unused encounter theme for fucking Cyrus [SEQ_THE_AKAGI] https://twitter.com/Lewchube/status/1790817388708958397
  • this is one of the rare instances where a song does not exist at all in the final. Team Galactic Grunts have their own encounter theme which is a variation you hear in the final but Cyrus doesn't get shit which is a shame this is a pretty sexy variation
  • Pre-order Jigglypuff, Gengar, and Lechonk supercomfy, supersoft bean bag chairs by Yogibo until July 7th from Pokémon Center: https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1791168252812693887

Clips:

• pepeday vs poongko https://twitter.com/FGPerfectShots/status/1790840621185327247
  
• The fact that someone can make a full 1 minute compilation of these is crazy https://twitter.com/WalshEnthusiast/status/1790937622342258928
  
• Cartman uses Ozempic in the first teaser for ‘SOUTH PARK: THE END OF OBESITY’ special. Releasing May 24 on Paramount+ https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1790805912753508748
  
• This police K9 bit an officer for being too aggressive toward protesters at a pro-Palestinian rally in Amsterdam. 14/10 https://twitter.com/dog_rates/status/1791138136141054251
  

Videos

• Patriots - do you like schedules? https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1790894935471751504
  
• The Solar Sermon [3:58] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF8A5rKfg-g
  
• Opioid Settlements: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) [25:08] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io0yuH1CiA0
  

Articles/News/Other

• Twitch will now allow Twerking/Shaking Butt emotes again. https://twitter.com/zachbussey/status/1790829342181724612
  
• Barge strikes bridge in Galveston, Texas, partially collapsing rail line and closing the only road to a small island [:31] https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1790795819005653213
  
• NC Senate votes to ban people from wearing masks in public for health reasons https://old.reddit.com/nottheonion/comments/1ctanwz/nc_senate_votes_to_ban_people_from_wearing_masks/
  
  • North Carolina is banning people from wearing masks for health reasons, but may absurdly exempt white supremacists from the ban. https://twitter.com/luckytran/status/1790951221278265448
• Vegetarian and vegan diets linked to lower risk of heart disease, cancer and death, large review finds https://old.reddit.com/science/comments/1ct9ihu/vegetarian_and_vegan_diets_linked_to_lower_risk/
  
• The Life and Death of a Graphics Programmer https://twitter.com/redorav/status/1791082719146836477
  

Are you ready to welcome a Siberian Husky into your home and heart? With their striking appearance, playful nature, and unwavering loyalty, Huskies make wonderful companions for individuals and families alike. If you're considering adding a Husky to your family, you'll want to ensure that you find the perfect match for your lifestyle and preferences. Here's a guide to help you discover the best available Husky dogs in India:

1. Reputable Breeders: Seek out reputable breeders who specialize in Siberian Huskies and have a proven track record of producing healthy, well-socialized puppies. Reputable breeders prioritize the health and temperament of their dogs and are committed to ethical breeding practices. They will provide you with valuable guidance and support throughout the process of selecting and caring for your new Husky companion.
2. Rescue Organizations and Adoption Centers: Consider adopting a Husky from a rescue organization or adoption center. Many wonderful Huskies are in need of loving homes, and adoption is a rewarding way to provide a second chance to a deserving dog. Rescue organizations and adoption centers often have Huskies of various ages and backgrounds available for adoption, allowing you to find the perfect match for your family.
3. Pet Shows and Expos: Attend pet shows and expos in your area to meet breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts who may have Huskies available for sale or adoption. These events provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the breed, interact with Huskies in person, and network with knowledgeable individuals who can help you find your ideal Husky companion.
4. Online Platforms and Classifieds: Utilize online platforms and classified websites to browse listings of Huskies available for sale or adoption in your area. Exercise caution when using online platforms and be sure to thoroughly research sellers or adopters to ensure they are reputable and trustworthy. Ask for references, visit the Husky in person, and request documentation of health and pedigree before making a decision.
5. Local Husky Clubs and Communities: Join local Husky clubs and online communities to connect with other Husky enthusiasts and enthusiasts. These groups often have resources and connections to help you find Huskies available for sale or adoption in your area. Additionally, engaging with fellow Husky owners allows you to learn more about the breed, share experiences, and receive valuable advice and support.

See also>> Price of a siberian husky
When searching for the best available Husky dog in India, take your time to research and explore your options thoroughly. Whether you choose to purchase from a reputable breeder, adopt from a rescue organization, or find your Husky through other means, the most important thing is to find a companion who fits seamlessly into your life and brings you joy and fulfillment for years to come. With patience, diligence, and a little luck, you'll soon find the perfect Husky to welcome into your family.

Hi,
I'm currently a rising sophomore at a mid-tier LAC. It's arguably the best college in the state, but I'm not challenged enough. I generally enjoy it, but I wish I had far more resources at my disposal, a better school spirit, and more inspiring/engaging professors with bigger class sizes. I also just generally dislike the aesthetics of the place and find myself constantly feeling isolated by its smallness + horrible weather. I was accepted to UMich and UWashington Honors in HS but couldn't afford to attend.
I'm intent on pursuing law school or at the very least grad school for sociology and/or political science. My current school has a good polisci dept., which is what I'm majoring in, but my heart really lies within sociology. The department here is just... barren, to say the very least.
Stats:
HS and college GPA both 4.0 (valedictorian); 34 ACT (35 superscore); LGBTQ+, female, Arab and white, will be turning 21 in fall 2025; 7 AP's (small HS) with all 4's and 5's
Very talented essay-writer. my essays are good, ok??? i dont wanna sound arrogant lol
Major: polisci but will likely double in sociology or switch altogether; interested in family law and women's rights law
Hook:
I have a very clear vision of what I would like to do, and my EC's reflect that. As a result of my personal experiences with various forms of abuse throughout my life, I am committed to pursuing systemic change when it comes to curtailing the effects of domestic abuse and violence especially as it pertains to families. I am incredibly passionate about women's rights as they pertain to the law and policy.
EC's (not gonna go too in detail to avoid doxxing; some of these are in-progress but will be done by the app deadline, will switch out different ones depending on school):
Resource referral / phone receptionist at women's DV shelteadvocacy nonprofit. Related to legal aid, family law, social work, mental health, and of course women's advocacy. Generally serves an underserved area of the city I live in.
Legal internship with NGO that specializes in serving DV survivors. Worked alongside current law school students to research protective orders across countless districts in order to seek a means of reform for them, hoping to help remove the barriers that exist between victims and safety. Also did research to help the org connect to ally groups/professionals in the field.
Founded SA prevention and awareness student organization for my current school campus following a string of incidents that shook the community. Held info sessions, spread awareness via poster campaigns, held fundraisers for shelters, advocated for campus security to incorporate more means of reporting SA, etc.
-- also may run an unplanned pregnancy kit drive. I did a similar one in HS for foster kid birthdays
Founded NGO - website containing a registrar of local vetted resources and plans of action for victims of DV; doubles as a list of organizations/shelters to donate to
Edited legal professor's book
Volunteered as tutor for creative writing support with underserved elementary-age students my entire freshman year
Worked at student tutoring center as an appointment coordinator my entire freshman year
Founded HS GSA chapter, successfully achieved LGBTQ+ history inclusion in school curricula in Deep South private Christian HS (!!!) during peak Don't Say Gay times
College radio DJ
College debate team member, competed at regional level (hopefully national this year! we usually go!)
Femme-inclusive, female-empowerment-oriented acapella group member (college)
College first-year orientation leader
College paper staff member with featured articles
Published in school journal for several polisci/soc oriented papers
Ran a ~40k+ member online hobby community for several years in HS across multiple websites.
Misc. other stuff: volunteering in HS, very talented in performance and visual arts (ie Scholastic award for art in HS and theater competition success), state-level English competition awards, Spanish proficiency, HS student gov't, very dedicated to personal fitness/exercise
Interested in: UPenn (I am VERY interested in their sociology concentrations), Vandy, Cornell, Brown (my former dream school......need aid tho RIP), Georgetown, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, Northwestern, Rice, UChicago, Tulane (legacy but I don't think they care)...
Suggest more if you'd like. I'm open to LAC's but I want to live in the city. My current LAC is in a city, but it's too small and bubble-y. I wanna break out of the bubble!!
I'll also apply to HYPSM just in case. I have connections to HYSP, Penn, and Tulane of varying degrees lol (from family to former classmates).
Worries:
I don't have "impressive" EC's. I don't enjoy going out for big awards or competitions. Being a militant leader type on campus also irks me. I just do good work and things I enjoy. I try to be humble, so I often under-sell myself.
Thanks in advance!!

LXRs metabolize cholesterol, lipids, & glucose, so antagonist solutions may help manage inflammation, obesity, fatty liver, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, dementia, and cancers.

As documented in a paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. “The nuclear hormone receptor liver X receptor (LXR) is induced by insulin and is a key regulator of lipid metabolism. It promotes lipogenesis and cholesterol efflux but suppresses endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation.”
More importantly, studies highlighting their potential implications for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and cancer truly caught my attention. In response, Dr Yildiz wrote this high-level story to raise awareness among scientists, clinicians, and the public.
Rather than citing hundreds of papers dating back to the 1990s, he summarized critical insights from prominent studies published in the last few years, encapsulating significant advancements in the field.
For example, yesterday, a comprehensive review was published in Frontiers’ Cell and Development Biology. It is titled “Liver X Receptors (LXRs) in cancer: An Eagle’s view on molecular insights and therapeutic opportunities” Although publicly accessible, the paper’s intricate nature calls for a summary, which Dr Mehmet Yildiz provides after briefly introducing LXRs. You can read this insightful story with my friend link on Medium
https://medium.com/illumination/lxrs-why-liver-x-receptors-take-the-center-stage-for-health-research-e52cbd2c0f40?sk=262889346a6a0c6e46a4e7d04e36f1e1

LXRs metabolize cholesterol, lipids, & glucose, so antagonist solutions may help manage inflammation, obesity, fatty liver, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, dementia, and cancers.

As documented in a paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. “The nuclear hormone receptor liver X receptor (LXR) is induced by insulin and is a key regulator of lipid metabolism. It promotes lipogenesis and cholesterol efflux but suppresses endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation.”
More importantly, studies highlighting their potential implications for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and cancer truly caught my attention. In response, Dr Yildiz wrote this high-level story to raise awareness among scientists, clinicians, and the public.
Rather than citing hundreds of papers dating back to the 1990s, he summarized critical insights from prominent studies published in the last few years, encapsulating significant advancements in the field.
For example, yesterday, a comprehensive review was published in Frontiers’ Cell and Development Biology. It is titled “Liver X Receptors (LXRs) in cancer: An Eagle’s view on molecular insights and therapeutic opportunities” Although publicly accessible, the paper’s intricate nature calls for a summary, which Dr Mehmet Yildiz provides after briefly introducing LXRs. You can read this insightful story with my friend link on Medium
https://medium.com/illumination/lxrs-why-liver-x-receptors-take-the-center-stage-for-health-research-e52cbd2c0f40?sk=262889346a6a0c6e46a4e7d04e36f1e1

Campus: The University straddles the old and the new. It turns 150 next year and it has a traditional, collegiate, brick and ivy campus. Classical architecture, a sprawling Jeffersonian quad, and designated a state arboretum. Pair that with almost $1 billion in construction in the last 15 years. New library, residence halls, math and science building, engineering building, business building under construction. Also recently acquired Sierra Nevada University which is now a satellite campus called the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe.
Why underrated? 1. National brand hasn’t caught up with the enormous growth in recent years and 2. Perceptions of campus are tied to perceptions of the city of Reno.
Location: Reno, Nevada is probably most known for casinos, desert, and Reno 911. Less known is that Reno is situated in a beautiful valley on the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 4 seasons, 300+ days of sunshine and unparalleled access to the outdoors. 35 minutes from campus to the chairlift at Mt. Rose ski resort and less than an hour to 10 different ski and snowboard resorts including Palisades, home of the 1960 winter Olympics. 45 minutes from campus to the beaches of Lake Tahoe and everything the Tahoe basin has to offer. Hiking, mountain biking, snow shoeing, you name it. The city itself is transforming its local economy to include a huge range of engineering firms, tech startups, government contractors, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. It’s also driving distance to major NorCal population centers. 2 hours to Sac, 4 hours to SF and Silicon Valley.
Why underrated? Reno NV is known more for being the butt of jokes and less known for its incredible access to the outdoors and growing tech-focused economy.
Academics: 145 undergraduate programs, each with their own unique bright spots. The most prominent programs right now are probably within the College of Engineering because of the huge investment in facilities and faculty. There are the big, popular standbys like CS with great connections to Silicon Valley that send a lot of students to the bay area for summer internships. But there’s also great niche programs like batteries and energy storage systems. Nursing attracts a lot of students because of our partnership with local hospitals and recent ranking as the top nursing program in the country. Pre-med programs are always popular with well-established pathway programs like Biochem and Molecular Bio, Biomed engineering, Public Health, etc. These are also strengthened by close ties to the University of Nevada Medical School on the north end of campus with many faculty teaching at both the undergrad and MD level. And for those that just want to make lots of money right out of college we’ve got some incredibly in-demand earth science programs (Geophysics, Mining Engineering, Hydrogeology, etc.) that supply Nevada’s hugely important mining industry.
Why underrated? Universities that admit elite high school students should be expected to produce elite college graduates. But that’s not necessarily indicative of institutional quality, it’s just indicative of how well the admissions office curated a class of high achievers. What’s impressive is admitting a wide swath of the population and then transforming that diverse group of students in to capable graduates who are ready to go off and live happy, healthy, productive lives.
Student Life: NCAA Division 1 sports, Greek Life, 200+ clubs and orgs, award winning student newspaper, and incredible study abroad program. No matter how you want to spend your time outside of the classroom you’ll find your people. There’s always something happening on or around campus and one thing you’ll notice when you visit is how much school pride everyone has.
Why underrated? Maybe if our athletics office had more success it would be better known but I think our students can take pride in the fact that their tuition doesn’t supplement a huge bloated athletics office. But you’ll still regularly catch Nevada on the national stage in NCAA tournaments or bowl games.
Cost/Financial aid: This is a big one for me. Full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, and books) for an out of state student is about $40,000. Most of our out of state students come from western states and qualify for WUE which drops it to $27,000. In state students pay $23,000. Most R1 schools in the west aren’t as generous with WUE and so for many students looking at our peers they can expect to pay closer to UC Davis’ (next geographically closest R1) whopping $72,000.
Why underrated? The way I like to frame it to prospective students is this: Let’s say you’d pay $45k more per year (Davis 72k minus our WUE 27k) to go to a different R1 research university. That’s $180k more for a bachelor’s degree. The list of schools and programs where it makes sense to spend that extra $180k is very, very short.

I just completed act 5 and I've focuesd on fire-related skills & passives. I took the Elementalist Ascendancy. Where should I focus next? I'm considering ES + Zealot's Oath, but RF seems interesting to have another fire buff. I have 3 skill points and 13 refund points available.
Notable Passives taken are:

• Arcanist Dominion (left starting Witch path)
• Fire Walker
• Deep Thoughts (Mana on way to Breath of Flames)
• Cruel Preparation (Health on way to Breath of Flames)
• Heart of Flame
• Breath of Flames
• Acrimony (to get reduction to DoT on self)
• Elemental Overload
• 1 Jewel Socket in center of Witch tree
• Holy Fire
• Explosive Impact
• Shaper of Flames (Elementalist Ascendancy)
• Searing Heat (not taken yet, but it's something I can work towards)
• Snow Forged (not taken yet, but it's something I can work towards)

My equipped skills are:

• Firestorm (main damage)
• Fire Surge (extra damage)
• Flammability (lower Fire Res)
• Flame Dash (escape)
• Anger (dmg boost)
• Summon Fire Golem (dmg boost)
• Herald of Ash (dmg boost)
• Righteous Fire (I don't have the stats to support it yet... Fire Res is at 75% currently)

Link to currently allocated skills:
https://poeplanner.com/AwAAAwAfAAMCATMA24Njna6drlXYNh_QsCEcF2WHsN8IpxCCt695ccU2q0QqX3eG9zRIVuZ6BwQk2EaPcmVVdLNMVeyFl-vvK5EUHWzxlC6NKqaPWDoEX-TrG0nGVVgQNDJ1A5wsaRJQFfa7Ah-YrGUYAAACAIPPwjEGAG-ISBhdL8KFxM9r_QwLAS3xLAzYJPd0XgQAAP______________________AAADAAABEgADAP__________NQAeAAAAABQAH4sIAAAAAAAAAwMAAAAAAAAAAAA=

Total embarassment of a public hospital Butuan Medical Center. No proper system in place. No basic courtesy nor any semblance of public service. Everything relies on whenever the fucking doctor feels like it.
Waited 7 hrs at the ER just to be told they're gonna get us the bed at 9:30 am when they said it was vacant right after we arrived around 8 pm. After 6-7 hrs of waiting I finally fucking had it and made a scene. They gave the bed at 4 am but I demanded a transfer and then they still want to delay us more with the doctor referral BS - which like I said depends upon WHENEVER the fucking doctor feels likes it or whenver the doctor decides to wake up from their coddly eternal slumber WHILE THE PATIENTS ARE NEGLECTED AND LEFT TO FIND THEIR OWN BENCH TO USE AS A MAKESHIFT BED TO SLEEP ON.
Some staff were just busy reading the forex trading chart while on duty and doing it on the public hospital's peripherals. Total professionals.
If you value your family's health, time and peace of mind, stay the fuck out of this glorified clinic on training wheels called BMC. Not fucking worth it.

Understanding inflammation and its impact on health

Before we delve into the specific effects of red meat on inflammation, it's important to understand the broader context of inflammation and its implications for our health.
Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps the body defend against infection, injury, and other threats. However, when inflammation becomes chronic or excessive, it can lead to a range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
The facts of our modern diets and lifestyles, characterized by inflammatory grains, sugars, and seed “vegetable” oils, keep our inflammation simmering at a chronic level. Our bodies experience these substances as harmful “antigens.” And it responds by constantly producing antibodies that damage healthy tissues and organs.
The importance of reducing inflammation cannot be overstated.
And at least 60% of the American population have at least one chronic inflammatory condition.
Understanding inflammation and its impact on health
Before we delve into the specific effects of red meat on inflammation, it's important to understand the broader context of inflammation and its implications for our health.
Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps the body defend against infection, injury, and other threats. However, when inflammation becomes chronic or excessive, it can lead to a range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
The facts of our modern diets and lifestyles, characterized by inflammatory grains, sugars, and seed “vegetable” oils, keep our inflammation simmering at a chronic level. Our bodies experience these substances as harmful “antigens.” And it responds by constantly producing antibodies that damage healthy tissues and organs.
The importance of reducing inflammation cannot be overstated.
And at least 60% of the American population have at least one chronic inflammatory condition.

The role of nutrients in red meat and their impact on inflammation

One of the key factors in understanding the relationship between red meat and inflammation is the nutrient profile of red meat.
Red meat is an excellent source of high-quality protein, as well as a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. These nutrients play a crucial role in supporting the body's immune function and reducing inflammatory processes.
There is one other survey study that may provide a more reliable insight into the effects of meat on inflammation. It was conducted by Harvard researchers in 2021 and collected responses from 2029 people on the carnivore diet.
This more restrictive version of the ketogenic diet calls for consuming only animal products, is centered around fatty red meat, and eliminates all plant foods. The researchers found that 89% improved or resolved autoimmune conditions.
Taken together, the preponderance of evidence tells us that red meat is not more inflammatory than non-red meat and oily fish. And that it is likely less inflammatory than carbs.

Fresh red meat is also no longer believed to cause cancer, stroke, or heart disease. Our modern diets and lifestyles, characterized by inflammatory grains, sugars, and seed "vegetable" oils, keep our inflammation simmering at a chronic level. A study from 2007 where participants replaced carbohydrates with red meat showed significant reductions in inflammatory markers.

Cheers Carnivores !

(continuation of part 5)
Post-OG Cloud ruminates on what he could have done to save Aerith. Had he not been so lost in his own mind —distracted by Sephiroth and Jenova, consumed by his need to fulfill the emptiness at the core of his identity—, would he have paid more attention to Aerith’s sadness and anticipated her plan to go to the Forgotten Capital alone? Could she have survived if not for his obsession with what tormented him at the time? Could he have figured it out and kept her by his side? He’s angry with himself in retrospect, drowning in guilt, just like in Advent Children.
Here are the choruses, which usually contain the thesis main message of a song:

“Shine bright once more
Guide me to you
Smile bright once more
This time I will never let you go”

&

“Hear me once more
Show me your smile
This time for sure
I'll see the truth hidden inside your tears
But I, I know
That you're long gone
But I, I will
Go on, howling and hollow”

In these choruses, Cloud asserts that he will get it right this time (“this time” referring to the second chance that is the Remake trilogy). He will make sure he saves Aerith and never lets her go. He knows she’s gone, but he will fight against time to get her back. He longs for her smile and her light again, and he cannot bear the guilt: so he doesn’t. Post-OG Cloud embarks on a new adventure: ”I want to go to a place where everything is new,” said Cloud to Wol and Echo in Eclipse Contact before facing his past and being launched into Remake. “Hollow” makes far more sense now, doesn’t it? It’s a song not only about Cloud’s loss, but also about his determination to save Aerith this time. Given that it’s the theme song of Remake, the fact that “Hollow” fits with our theory perfectly is a very good sign: a theme song is meant to reflect the main plot of a story, indicating as our theory states that Remake is principally, albeit secretly, about Cloud saving Aerith. Because of this hope being set up, I’m confident that they will be together in the end, reunited for good. My dear Clerith friends, this is the hidden purpose of the Remake trilogy. Cloud and Aerith will be reunited.
VI. e) ii. “No Promises to Keep” Lyrics
This is quite obvious. Aerith is resigned to her fate, but still harbors hope that she will meet Cloud again in a permanent reunion:

“Till the day that we meet again
Where or when?
I wish I could say
But believe, know that you'll find me
[…]
Till the day that we meet again
On our street, I want to believe
[…]
Till the day that we meet again
At our place, just let me believe
In the chance that you'll come
Take my hand and never let me go
Take my hand
And believe
We can be
Together evermore
[…]
Still I hope someday you'll come and find me
Still I know someday you'll come and find me”.

VI. f) The Theme of Reunion Explained?
The last point I want to hit on is the concept of reunion. In OG, this theme was pretty much dominated by the Jenova Reunion. To an OG fan back in 1997, “reunion” meant “Sephiroth and Jenova’s evil plan”. However, in the Remake trilogy, the theme is expanded into something more. The first time Cloud meets Aerith in Remake, she gives him a flower and tells him something she didn’t in OG:

“Lovers used to give these when they were reunited...”

In addition, we’ve already talked about how part 5 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” from the Remake OST tells the story of Cloud and Aerith’s reunion (see section “V. b) ii. 2)”).
Many moments exclusive to the Remake trilogy serve the same purpose: linking the theme of reunion to Aerith. This expansion of the theme is highly significant. Our theory is that the Remake trilogy exists to reunite Cloud and Aerith, so the fact that the trilogy would implement so many Clerith-centric references to reunion is great support for our theory.
VI. g) i. The Leslie-Cloud Parallel
Let’s consider another instance involving the reunion flower in Remake, more precisely, the chapter 14 subplot surrounding Leslie’s lost lover. In case you need a refresher, Leslie is one of Corneo’s lackeys, although he secretly plans to betray him. He once had a fiancée and things were looking up until she was selected as one of Corneo’s brides. The day before she disappeared (presumably taken by Corneo), his fiancée broke up with him with no explanation. It was confusing and left Leslie perplex. As she broke up with him, she returned a necklace to him, one with a flower pendant. Of course, that flower is the very same reunion flower Aerith gives Cloud in chapter 2.
Evidently, Leslie and Cloud are going through parallel situations. At this point in time, Aerith was just kidnapped by Shinra, and Cloud is on his way to get her back. Both their loved ones have been taken by tyrant rulers, one being slumlord Corneo and the other being the Shinra government. In fact, even Leslie and Cloud’s attitudes share similar disillusioned, cold and stoic qualities. Leslie’s fiancée would evidently be paralleled by Aerith.
The most obvious proof of the Leslie-Cloud parallel is written plainly on the list of Remake’s chapter 14 main scenario objectives. Objective 7, called “For the Reunion”, consists of receiving the grappling guns needed to reach topside and save Aerith. The description of the objective reads as follows:

“Leslie gives them grappling guns, and they wish each other luck in reuniting with their respective loved ones. Leslie walks off, and the three prepare to climb the wall.”

The grappling guns are “For the Reunion”, because evidently, the loved one Cloud wants to reunite with is Aerith.
All this is simple and apparent enough. Just the fact that the theme of reunion is linked to Clerith in this way is proof enough, but there’s another layer to the Leslie-Cloud parallel. Not only does Leslie’s situation reinforce the concept of a Clerith reunion, it also mirrors the specifics of our theory: namely that Cloud will save Aerith from specifically Sephiroth (represented in Leslie’s scenario by Corneo) and that Cloud will take the initiative to accomplish this reunion. These two specific aspects of our theory are reflected by Leslie’s circumstances, meaning the Leslie-Cloud parallel not only pushes the theme of reunion, but also supports our specific theory.
VI. g) i. 1) The Separators: Corneo and Sephiroth
I’ll first prove that Leslie’s scenario is not meant to echo Cloud’s separation from Aerith at the hands of Shinra —or at least not exclusively—, but rather Cloud’s separation from Aerith at the hands of Sephiroth. Corneo would therefore be paralleled by Sephiroth rather than the tyrannical Shinra government.
The first piece of proof for the Corneo-Seohiroth parallel lies within the way in which Leslie’s fiancée broke things off: by lying. Aerith also lies to Cloud to create distance between them, but not pertaining to her kidnapping— rather, pertaining to her fated death. Since Sephiroth is Aerith’s killer and not Shinra, Corneo’s role in the Leslie-Cloud parallel is analogous to Sephiroth’s rather than Shinra’s.
There are two pieces of evidence that the Corneo-Sephiroth comparison makes more sense than the Corneo-Shinra one. The first lies in the fact that Leslie’s breakup resembles Cloud’s resolution scene: the topic of Cloud’s resolution scene is Aerith’s fate at the hands of Sephiroth rather than her kidnapping by Shinra, meaning Corneo and Sephiroth are the antagonists of both heartbreaks.
Let’s examine Leslie’s breakup. Here is how his fiancée broke things off, taken from the English script of Remake’s chapter 14, with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Fiancée: It was all just a dream, wasn't it[?]
Fiancée: (Hopefully) But one day…
(She trails off, then shakes her head and stops herself.)
Fiancée: (Sadly, hopelessly) — no. Time to wake up. And forget.
(She walks away.)”

Now, here is a more literal translation of this quote from the original Japanese (verified by me via DeepL), with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Fiancée: It was only just a dream we had / We were only dreaming...
Fiancée: (Hopefully, as though as a hail Mary) In the language of the flowers...
(She trails off, then shakes her head and stops herself.)
Fiancée: (Sadly, hopelessly) — no. You should forget about me.
(She walks away.)”

Leslie’s fiancée is clearly breaking up with him to spare him the pain of blaming himself for not being able to protect her from Corneo, as she knows it’s too late for her to escape from the slumlord’s clutches. We know this because we understand that the pendant she gave back to him symbolizes a reunion (especially between lovers, as Aerith told Cloud in chapter 2). In fact, the Japanese version of the script reveals that the fiancée was about to reveal the meaning of the flower, perhaps in the hopes that they would find each other once more, but she lost her nerve at the last second. Notice that she tells Leslie two specific things. One: their love or their future together was only a dream, meaning that it wasn’t real. Two: he should forget about her, because the dream is over now and it’s time to wake up from it.
If you’re finding this familiar, then you might be ahead of me. Let’s take a look at what Aerith says to Cloud in his resolution scene, also in the English script of Remake’s chapter 14, with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Aerith: […] you can’t fall in love with me. [It]’s not real […]. (With a sigh, as though from sadness or difficulty, but resolutely) It’s almost morning. Time to go.”

Now, here is a more literal translation of this quote from the original Japanese (verified by me via DeepL), with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Aerith: You can’t let yourself fall in love with me. [It]’s only your imagination […]. (With a sigh, as though from sadness or difficulty, but resolutely) Looks like it’s already morning. Time for me to go.”

Just like Leslie’s fiancée, Aerith is rejecting or denying Cloud’s love for her in order to spare him from the pain of not having been able to be with her before her death, as she believes it is inevitable. Just like the fiancée, Aerith also tells Cloud two things. One: their love is imaginary or isn’t real. Two: it’s morning, and she has to go (she says this right before Cloud wakes from the pseudo-dream).
In both cases, the women know something about their fate that the men don’t and are hiding this impending tragedy from them. Just like Leslie’s fiancée, Aerith uses well-intentioned deception to protect her loved one from the pain that will come from her fate— the lie, of course, is that their love isn’t real. Both women are hopeless, and both men are initially clueless. Aerith’s resolution can’t be about her kidnapping, because Aerith thinks her rescue is anything but hopeless— she’s sure Cloud will come save her from Shinra. She says so herself in OG’s disk 1, chapter 8:

“Cloud: Aeris!? You safe?
Aeris: Yeah, I'm all right. I knew that [you] would come for me.”

What Aerith is so resigned about in Cloud’s resolution scene isn’t her kidnapping, but instead her fated death at the hands of Sephiroth. Nojima hints at this in FFVII Remake Ultimania:

“If you know Aerith’s fate, then this line would really pull at your heart strings […]” (section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 744).

Here is what codirector Toriyama had to say on Aerith’s words:

“[While] these words are intended for Cloud, I think Aerith is partly speaking them to herself. The contents of her request may be at odds with how she truly feels inside” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA Script Notes, “A Dream Shown by Aerith”, “Scenario Staff Q&A - Answered by Motomu Toriyama”).

These two quotes by the devs show that Aerith is trying to protect Cloud from her death. Therefore, the Corneo-Sephiroth parallel is far more apt than the Corneo-Shinra parallel.
The second piece of evidence supporting my belief that Corneo mirrors Sephiroth and not Shinra in the Leslie-Cloud parallel is the inclusion of the theme of revenge that crops up in the following piece of dialogue:

“Tifa: Why did you wanna come down here?
Leslie: Revenge. I know I need to let go, but I can't. I need closure, 'cause without it... I'll never be able to move on” (Remake, chapter 14).

Leslie’s sentiment toward Corneo resembles Cloud’s feelings toward Sephiroth after Aerith’s death. Revenge links Cloud to Sephiroth, not to Shinra. Corneo and Sephiroth reflect each other in that, as a consequence of their actions toward a woman, the man who loves her desires revenge.
Additionally, it looks like Leslie’s obsession with revenge as a means to closure is the reason he didn’t bother trying to understand the message his fiancée left him with: he’s focused on his hate rather than his love, and it’s hindering him. He doesn’t succeed in killing Corneo either: his focus and energy are misplaced. Cloud’s desire for vengeance against Sephiroth is also depicted as an obstacle to accomplishing his goals (see how in section “III. c)” of my previous literary analysis). Once more, the Corneo-Sephiroth parallel fits far better than a Corneo-Shinra perspective.
VI. g) i. 2) The Reunion Seekers: Leslie and Cloud
The other aspect of the Leslie-Cloud parallel that supports our theory is that in both scenarios, they both take charge of the situation and decide to actively seek reunion with their respective lovers. The following dialogue excerpt, supplemented by the VA script notes, shows Leslie’s initiative:

“Tifa: [Your fiancée] could still be out there.
Barret: Can never be sure how much someone means to ya till they're gone. Don't give up on her yet.
Leslie: (Looks at the flower pendant, [recalling his lover’s words) A message in the language of flowers… I wonder what she meant by it.
[…]
Tifa: Reunion.
Leslie: Huh?
Tifa: In the language of flowers, it means ‘reunion.’
(Leslie shifts his gaze from Tifa to the pendant and stares at it for some time. At last he understands the words his lover left him. With that, as if his mind has been made up, he clutches the pendant and hangs it around his neck.)
Leslie: Then I guess I’ll just have to find her first” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA Script Notes, “Other Notable Stage Directions - Chapters 14-16”).

Take note of Leslie’s final response and the determination with which he speaks: “Then I guess I’ll just have to find her first”. Remember that we’re searching for evidence that Cloud is going to be the one reaching out to Aerith in the Remake trilogy, and that it’s his turn to take his future into his hands. He must be more attentive, more active this time. And Leslie’s words of determination reflect this perfectly. Leslie must find his fiancée first, just like Cloud has to be the one to offer his hand to Aerith in the Remake trilogy and fight for her. This is exactly what our theory is all about.
VI. g) i. 3) Delayed Realizations
Interestingly, not only does Leslie’s determination mirror Cloud’s, but both men are depicted as realizing the truth too late. Just like Leslie only began searching for his fiancée six months after her disappearance, Cloud only realizes he loves Aerith in OG once she’s died. It took him this long to actually get somewhere in his mission to reunite with her— “somewhere” being the Remake trilogy.
Even Barret’s words highlight the lovers’ delay: “Can never be sure how much someone means to ya till they're gone”. Barret would know: he lost his wife Myrna, whom he loved dearly. The devs have Barret comment on the situation as a man whose lover died, mirroring Cloud’s situation in OG. Just as Barret says, Cloud only truly realized the strength of how he felt for Aerith in OG once she was gone. The gunman’s words apply to both Leslie and Cloud’s tardy initiatives. Regardless of this delay, both men are now determined to see their respective reunions through.
The degree to which the Leslie-Cloud parallel fits our theory is a great sign of its validity: even the details are lining up!
VI. g) ii. Reunion in the Theme Songs
Too easy: in our analysis of the lyrics of the theme songs, we covered how both texts include the theme of reunion. “No Promises to Keep” is especially relevant (see section “VI. e) ii.”), as the entire song is Aerith hoping against fate for a reunion with Cloud (even if you believe the song is about all her companions, that still includes Cloud).
On top of these reunion-themed lyrics, during Aerith’s in-game performance of “No Promises to Keep” at the Gold Saucer production of Loveless, her yellow blossoms signifying reunion bloom all around her as Cloud watches her, captivated.
Another great sign for our theory: the highly significant theme songs are on our side!
VI. g) iii. Waking Up Reunited
The thing I want to juxtapose to our theory is a small yet special moment in chapter 2 of Rebirth that stuck out to me like a sore thumb and got me really excited about sharing it with you. This moment occurs after the battle against the Midgardsormr. We’ll be comparing it to two other clips, describing all three in chronological order, and making deductions based on their similarities.
The first clip I want to address occurs in chapter 8 of Remake (1:32-2:12). There are a couple of things I want to point out in this scene. First, Aerith wakes Cloud from unconsciousness with a cute call of “Hello~?”. Second, despite pretending that he doesn’t, he immediately recognizes her. The VA script notes prove it:

“Aerith: Nice to meet you again.
Cloud actually remembers Aerith, but he pretends not to, perhaps wishing to make himself look cool.
Cloud: Again, huh?
Aerith: What? You don’t remember? How about…the flowers?
Cloud looks at the flowers at his feet and pretends as if he’s only just remembered.
Cloud: Oh, the flower seller” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA script notes, “Reuniting with Aerith”).

So: she wakes him with a cute call, and he recognizes her. Also note that these two elements also apply to the OG church reunion scene.
Now onto the Rebirth chapter 2 scene that stuck out to me. After Cloud is saved from the Midgardsormr by Sephiroth, Cloud wakes from an unconsciousness spell with Aerith calling for him (7:20-7:34).
Once more, Aerith wakes him with a cute call (this time, it’s “Wakey, wakey!”), and Cloud recognizes her. In this Midgardsormr clip, unlike their reunion in the church, Cloud verbalizes that he remembers her. This time, there’s more: next, Aerith tells Cloud “おかえり, クラウド”, or “okaeri, Cloud”, which translates to “welcome back, Cloud”. “Okaeri” is what you say in Japanese when someone has returned home. In the third clip we will analyze, Aerith says “okaeri” to Cloud once more. But first, let’s break down this second clip.
I don’t know about you, but this cutscene felt extremely weird to me when I first encountered it. That is, it would have been, if not for the theory I’d begun formulating at that time.
You see, the devs could have chosen for Aerith to ask Cloud if he remembers his own name or where they are, if he’s okay, or check if he responds to his own name. In fact, asking someone who’s been hit on the head to say their own name is a much more common reaction to them finally waking up than asking them if they remember you. Even stranger is Cloud’s reaction: he could have answered “Yeah, you’re Aerith,” or “I remember everything, I’m fine”. Instead, he says her name with this airy and wonderstruck tone. He sounds like he’s opening his eyes to something mystic rather than his comrade leaning over him, like he’s seeing someone unexpectedly for the first time in a while… or rather like he’s waking from a trance of some kind— a trance in which he did not remember Aerith, and now he does. You may see where I’m going with this.
Let’s examine the third clip, wherein Aerith tells Cloud “okaeri” again. More specifically, in chapter 14, Aerith welcomes Cloud back when he snaps out of his zombified, Sephiroth-controlled state and runs toward her. Of course, it’s the sight of her and his memories of meeting her in chapter 2 of Remake that shake him awake (2:17:43-2:18:02).
For a third time, Aerith wakes Cloud. This time, she’s pulling him out of a trance and back to himself. And for a third time, Cloud remembers her. In fact, it’s remembering her that wakes him up. Cloud calls her name and Aerith says “okaeri” in both the post-Midgardsormr cutscene and this third clip. And in both scenes, not only does Cloud return to himself the way someone returns home (recall that “okaeri” is used to welcome someone back home), but he’s also returning to her, recognizing her as his home.
Now we’ve got three scenes lined up: the church reunion scene (both in OG and Remake), the Midgardsormr scene and the hand-reach scene. All three of these recognition scenes feature Cloud being woken up by Aerith and remembering who she is. The main difference is that, in the scenes among these three that are exclusive to Rebirth, Cloud’s return to Aerith is far more meaningful, as he already knows her name, and knows more about who she is to him. Evidently, in the OG church reunion scene, Cloud only remembers being sold a flower by this girl. In the Remake version, he remembers the same thing, plus the attack of the whispers. So there’s something much more weighty about the Rebirth recognition scenes: he remembers more, and he remembers deeper. These aren’t just recognition scenes, they’re also mini-reunions. Of course, as we’ve already analyzed pertaining to the hand-reaching scene, Cloud remembering Aerith is followed by him being the one to take action and run toward her, eager to save her, because she means the world to him. When you place the Midgardsormr scene between the church reunion scene and the hand-reach scene, an evolution of Cloud waking up and remembering Aerith is formed. Each mini-reunion scene adds a piece to the story: the church scene informs us that Cloud and Aerith are meeting again, the Midgardsormr scene tips us off that something mystic is going on from Cloud’s tone when he says Aerith’s name, and the hand reach scene tells us that as a consequence of remembering who Aerith is, Cloud saves her from falling to her death and saving her. “Meeting again”, “mystic”, and “saving Aerith”: these are the keywords of the mini-reunion scenes. They are also the keywords of our theory on Cloud’s mission to save Aerith. This time around Cloud knows more and is more conscious about how he feels for Aerith, just like he feels more when in the hand-reach scene in Rebirth compared to the church reunion scene in Remake. From the latter scene to the former, Cloud gradually wakes up and remembers his love for and loss of Aerith in the OG more and more. Each mini-reunion brings him closer to saving her when he blocks the masamune. This is why I am certain that in part 3, whether Cloud comes to his full senses or not, whether he remembers the events of OG or not, he will save Aerith this time. The Remake trilogy is centered around Aerith, after all. In fact, don’t take it from me, take it from Nojima:

“Aerith's the most important character in the remake so we paid special attention to her lines” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 744).

I have full confidence in this fact: one way or another, these two will have a happy ending. This is Cloud’s second chance, and as he swore in “Hollow”, he is not losing her again. That is why I don’t think you should fret, and that our Clerith hearts will be very happy to see these two together again for good in part 3.
VI. h) Zooming In
In fact, this zooming-in method of directing players’ attention to important narrative beats is far from new.
VI. h) i. Changing Fate
Let’s divert our attention to Nanaki’s Skywheel date (2:28-3:30). The dialogue goes like this: Nanaki brings us the Whispers and suggests the party might eventually forget about their existence, and Cloud says that frankly, if it’s impossible for them to change fate either way, then it would be better for them to forget to Whispers altogether.
This is a very clear message from the devs: “There would be no point in including the Whispers in the Remaketrilogy if we did not make use of their defeat”. They’re telling us through Cloud’s dialogue that they know it would be foul play and bad writing to introduce the theme of defying fate if it didn’t eventually pay off.
As if it weren’t clear enough what the devs are referring to, Nanaki brings up Aerith’s death directly after Cloud delivers the devs’ message to us. He actually makes Cloud promise to save her. This is pretty on the nose. By promising Nanaki he will protect Aerith, the devs are promising us the same. I’m certain that part 3 will deliver on this promise.
If you still aren’t sold, I’d like to direct your attention to the framing of the shot where Cloud says “If we can’t change [fate]” (2:49-2:51). There’s a zoom-in on his mouth, which is a visual cue that translates to “what this character is saying right now is important to the plot”. It’s very indiscreet in theory: the camera literally hones in on the invisible words as though the script has them highlighted, italicized triple-underlined and in bold.
VI. h) ii. Aerith’s Knowledge
We’ve seen the Remake trilogy use this camera framing at least twice so far. The first time occurs in Remake’s chapter 8, before it becomes clear that Aerith knows things from the OG game that she wouldn’t normally know if this were just a remastered version of the same 1997 plot. I’ll let Remake Ultimania‘s description of this moment speak for itself:

“When Cloud and Aerith return the rescued children to Oates, the man in the tattered black cloak shows up again at the hideout. The moment the man grasps Cloud’s arm, he’s overcome by another violent headache and sees a vision of Sephiroth. Cloud wonders if this man who supposedly died five years ago could possibly still be alive. When he says as much to Aerith, she gives him a vague reply” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 04: “Scenario”, “Chapter 8 Main Story Digest”, page 256).

Aerith’s “vague reply” is accentuated by a very deliberate zoom-in on her mouth (1:18:05-1:18:09), and therefore her words.
The framing of this shot indicates to us that what Aerith says provides an important hint as to the plot’s direction. Sure enough, with hindsight, it’s easy to see that’s true.
VI. h) iii. Tifa’s Question
Another time this framing is used is in chapter 1 of Rebirth, after Cloud recounts the Nibelheim incident. Tifa asks the group why Sephiroth is choosing to come back now, after five years (37:55-37:58).
Once more, we are being signaled that the reason Sephiroth chose to return at the moment he did is significant to the plot, but cannot be revealed explicitly yet. The reason why Sephiroth took five years to return is because that’s how long it took for Cloud to get back on his feet after the Nibelheim incident: Sephiroth wants and/or needs to manipulate Cloud in particular rather than all the other people with Jenova cells in them. It took five years for Cloud to not only go through Hojo’s experiments but also escape Shinra and make his way to Seventh Heaven, where Tifa nursed him back to health— therefore, it took five years until Sephiroth’s favorite pawn was available to be used. There are a few reasons why Cloud is the one Sephiroth wants to use, and all of them would be spoilers at this point in Rebirth to players who don’t know the OG plot. The devs can’t reveal any of them yet, but they do indicate via a close-up shot of Tifa’s mouth that her question is important.
VI. h) iv. The Takeaway
As you can see, this framing of characters’ mouths when they speak signals a plot-significant piece of dialogue. This means Cloud’s words on his gondola date with Nanaki can’t be brushed off as a red herring or an unimportant or throwaway line: it has narrative weight.

VII. The Devs

I think it’s important to remember the devs and their commitment to the world of FFVII. They know best for this story, and they’ve proven it to be true many times over. There are many things about the devs’ intentions that the fandom don’t seem to know that I think would give you confidence to find out.
VII. a) Shifting Themes
Good storytellers don’t introduce themes as a way to pull the rug from under audiences’ feet by later rendering them completely irrelevant to the plot.
In other words, the devs would not have introduced the notion of fate as an antagonistic force in Remake, nor allowed the players to defeat it in chapter 18, had they planned for these themes not to pay off at all. Think of how good FFVII OG and FF stories in general are, how strong the writing is from a narrative point of view. Nothing is included for no reason or for a cheap reaction— especially not a central theme of a story. Fate and defeating it is a huge point of Remake, and not for no reason.
I mean, think about a storyline all about defying fate ending with a shrug and a “Oh well, we tried.” It would be ridiculous! The devs are better than that.
VII. b) What the Devs Want
The devs are well aware that fans of FFVII have been begging for Aerith’s resurrection since 1997. All those petitions, all those myths of a revival hack… SE knows about them all too well. They were even referenced by FF’s 30th anniversary expo, which partly promoted Remake:

“No one expected [Aerith’s death] in the middle of the story. Rumors of a secret way to revive Aerith spread, and it was clear players were having a hard time saying goodbye to her too. Even now, twenty years later, it still feels like a shocking turn of events” (Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exposition Pamphlet, page 36).

Hamaguchi, codirector of the Remake project, commented on these rumors:

“Interviewer: Do you have a favorite fake rumor about the original FFVII?

Hamaguchi: I hear a lot about Aerith coming back to life and that's something that's very interesting to hear” (Hamaguchi interview: “129 Rapid-Fire Questions Answered About Final Fantasy VII Rebirth”, by Game Informer).

The devs are also aware of how beloved Clerith is to the FFVII fandom, especially in Japan— in fact, the only FFVII ship name that is an official iOS search term on the Japanese Apple Store is Clerith’s (“クラエア” or “kuraea” in Japanese). Aerith herself is a widely beloved character, particularly, once more, in Japan. For instance, Famitsu and NHK’s recent polls on the best FF heroine and on the best FF character in general both resulted in Aerith ranking number 3, beaten only in the latter poll by Cloud at number 1 and FFX’s Yuna at number 2.
The devs know how well-loved both Clerith and Aerith are. And in fact, they love Aerith at least as much as we do:

“Cloud's feelings [of guilt] cannot be resolved by anyone other than Aerith. I tried to convey [that Aerith is saying to Cloud] ‘I'm still here for you’” (FFVII Reunion Files, Nojima’s note on Aerith’s character file, page 58).

&

“When I saw the finished product of [Aerith’s face in] CG, I thought, "Oh, isn’t she so cute?” (FFVII Reunion Files, Nomura’s note on Aerith’s character file, page 58).

&

"The idea of having Aeris die during the story had a great impact on all the dev staff," Toriyama explained, "and personally I decided to dedicate my efforts to depicting Aeris in as appealing a way as possible, so that she would become an irreplaceable character to the player in preparation for that moment" (Toriyama interview “Final Fantasy anniversary interview: Toriyama speaks” by VG247).

The devs care about Aerith, and they’re fully aware we do too.
I think a lot of people have it in their heads that the devs don’t want anything to change from the OG story, but there’s a lot of evidence that says otherwise. Codirector Toriyama spoke on this, stating the following about the production process of Remake:

“[…] there were times the original version became a hindrance. Specifically, staff members with a strong attachment to Final Fantasy VII would often hold themselves back for fear of deviating too much from the original. When we created the original game, we obviously didn’t feel bound in that way. We were passionate about creating a brand new Final Fantasy title, and so we dove in and embraced whatever seemed most interesting to us. We wanted to take that approach this time as well, so we made a special effort to liberate ourselves whenever we held back, remembering that it was okay to do the things we wanted to do” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 1: Motomu Toriyama, Naoki Hamaguchi, Teruki Endo”, page 737).

Codirector Nomura said the following:

“When I asked Nojima if he’d write the scenario, I was clear about my demands up front. I said, ‘If we're going to remake Final Fantasy VII, I want it to be done like this.’ At that point, I was intent on making something more than just a remake. [Similarly to how] the battle system this time incorporates elements of the original game’s ATB mechanics [while] also been reborn using a real-time approach […], I wanted to make a story that players would feel is fundamentally Final Fantasy VII but also something new” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 745).

Clearly, the devs don’t want to be bogged down by the OG, and are making efforts to do things the way they want to rather than the way they were previously done. The newer generation of developers such as codirector Hamaguchi is also involved in these story changes:

“Interviewer: There are also drastically more scenes with Sephiroth than there were in the original game.
Nojima: We weren't planning on having him appear so much at first— the idea was only to hint at his presence. But we changed our approach partway through and became more proactive with having him appear, after which the number of scenes he features in rapidly increased.
Nomura: Hamaguchi [codirector Naoki Hamaguchi] came up to me one day and said in a mysterious tone, ‘I'd like to talk to you about something.’ He asked me about having there be a battle with Sephiroth in Midgar. In the original game, Sephiroth’s true body is located elsewhere, so he didn’t think I'd give in to the idea so easily. I think he even prepared materials to persuade me. But in the end I agreed readily [laughs]” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 746).

Kitase, the producer of the Remake trilogy, even says that after working on this project for so long, and after spending almost 30 years on the FFVII project and getting to know the characters, he has realized that:

“The more [he works] on it, the more [he wants] to make all these characters happy. [He wants] to give them a happy ending. The rest of the team’s opinions [obviously] also have to be taken into consideration, so it won't be all happiness and rainbows. But [he] just [wants] to make [the characters of FFVII] happy” (Kitase and Hamaguchi’s interview “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Producer Just Wants 'the Characters to End Up Happy'”, by Vandal, translated by me).

Kitase is indeed only one developer, but he’s the producer of this project: that’s the very top position. He oversees everything and nothing goes without his approval. That counts for something. Of course, Kitase is fair and values the input of all the devs, so of course it won’t be “all happiness and rainbows”— but I sincerely believe there’s a big chance that Cloud and Aerith are heading toward their happy ending. Even if this theory is completely bogus, I want to have faith that the devs would not sacrifice good storytelling for nostalgia and a conservative attitude toward preserving the OG story, as that would be cheap of them, and we have not known them to be cheap. This game truly matters to them, so I think they deserve our faith.
(conclusion in