Blu cigs vaporizer kentwood
Space and Time Collide in First Trailer For JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 3
2024.05.10 00:17 pbx1123 Space and Time Collide in First Trailer For JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 3
 | The trailer features a ton of characters and fun cameos. Some of those include Joker from Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and one of the coolest surprises come when it takes us to the world of the Super Friends! submitted by pbx1123 to WB_DC_news [link] [comments] In the film, “Now fully revealed as the ultimate threat to existence, the Anti-Monitor wages an unrelenting attack on the surviving Earths that struggle for survival in a pocket universe. “One by one, these worlds and all their inhabitants are vaporized! On the planets that remain, even time itself is shattered, and heroes from the past join the Justice League and their rag-tag allies against the epitome of evil. “But as they make their last stand, will the sacrifice of the superheroes be enough to save us all?” The movie will be released on Digital on July 16 before arriving on 4K UHD in limited edition SteelBook packaging and Blu-ray on July 23. |
2024.05.06 15:24 SpecialistRaisin1261 Junk complete junk
I have smoked cigs for a number of years before I got into vaping, I vaped for about 3-5 years. I finally decided to quit. I originally planned to quit using just the patch. I seen a FUM add and thought this might help so I ordered one with express delivery 2 days before quitting. The express delivery stated it would arrive 2-4 days after order. FUM did not process my order until 3 days after my order then it took another 5 business days in the mail. I waited over a week and a half for the package. After the first day of waiting I tried to contact FUM via email asking what's going on with my order ? No answer from FUM. Two days later I contact them again saying I no longer want the FUM as I have not been vaping for 3 days and the hard part was over and done with. I simply just want my money back. I stopped emailing them at this point until finally on the day of arrival I get a email. They ignored my response for refund and simply said their stupid catch phase and some journey bull shit and my package had been delivered. When I received the package later that day it was ripped open and taped back together looking like Frankenstein (quite professional packing). I tried the device and it was just reminded me of vaping minus the vapor it just made me want to vape again. This product is junk the flavor was so mild I could barely taste it and just the flavors were not for me. All in all I wanted my money back again. They state on the website it has 30 day money back program. Back to emailing them I thought, so I emailed them again saying I want a refund and this product is just junk. I'm on week number 3 of waiting for a email.... I doubt I'll get even get one. So take me advice and don't buy this shit. If your Canadian you can get nicotine patches for free from the government if you really want to quit. Good luck everyone you don't need a FUM they just want you to drip money into their wallet every week just like vaping/smoking. Best just to quit it all together. Something that really helped me was mentally preparing for it a week in advance that I'm done and the patches helped me not be bitchy chewing gum helped too.
submitted by SpecialistRaisin1261 to FUM [link] [comments]
2024.05.06 14:07 damascus444 First playthrough and decided to go Team Galactic and steal some NPC Pokemon
 | submitted by damascus444 to pokemonplatinum [link] [comments] |
2024.05.02 18:42 EyeDewDude How does one go about not smelling like cigarettes?
I am a smoker conscious of the fact that walking back indoors after smoking means that I'm going to smell, but I try my best to mitigate it as much as possible. I can't stand the smell of smokers either so I try to keep myself as "clean" as possible but I would love to hear any advice that I could get to be as minimally offensive in my habit as possible.
That being said, here are the things I'm already doing-
I only smoke outdoors
When I am outdoors I play a game of "don't let the cig smoke touch you" since I assume that's where the stench comes from primarily. While it's in my hand I try to maneuver myself to not let the smoke touch me, which is a dance but hey, worth it if it works.
When I exhale I blow it upwards and/or in the opposite direction of the wind to ensure that it's still going away from me as much as possible. Play keep away with the vapors.
I roll my smoking hand long sleeve up because I don't want it stuck in my clothes if I can avoid it. That goes into the next point.
I wash my hands and take a drink of water once I'm done. I doubt the water drinking does much, but, my fingers are exempted from nose blindness to the point it's distracting.
I also have a hat and hoody at home I switch in and out of specific to this.
What do you fellow smokers do to not announce your status as one? What can I do out and about to be a generous cigarette smoker (like some sort of thing exists)?
submitted by EyeDewDude to NoStupidQuestions [link] [comments]
That being said, here are the things I'm already doing-
I only smoke outdoors
When I am outdoors I play a game of "don't let the cig smoke touch you" since I assume that's where the stench comes from primarily. While it's in my hand I try to maneuver myself to not let the smoke touch me, which is a dance but hey, worth it if it works.
When I exhale I blow it upwards and/or in the opposite direction of the wind to ensure that it's still going away from me as much as possible. Play keep away with the vapors.
I roll my smoking hand long sleeve up because I don't want it stuck in my clothes if I can avoid it. That goes into the next point.
I wash my hands and take a drink of water once I'm done. I doubt the water drinking does much, but, my fingers are exempted from nose blindness to the point it's distracting.
I also have a hat and hoody at home I switch in and out of specific to this.
What do you fellow smokers do to not announce your status as one? What can I do out and about to be a generous cigarette smoker (like some sort of thing exists)?
2024.04.22 05:14 popcltrcorn bg3 characters: nicotine addiction edition
here is what i know in my soul is true
astarion: chainsmoker. tried quitting by switching to vaping but accidentally just got addicted to that instead and now is constantly surrounded by clouds of sweet vapor. he is distraught about it because he can't stop (his nic addiction is strong and he loves the taste of his bubblegum cherry blast explosion juul) but he knows in his soul that at least when he was smoking that was hot while this? this is just pathetic. anyway the plan failed on all fronts because he still smokes as well
lae'zell: a chainsmoker and isn't ashamed of it one bit. her favorite pasttime is standing outside scowling with her cig
shadowheart: the "I only smoke when I drink" girl. she downs a glass of red and SUDDENLY astarion's pack becomes COMMUNAL
gale: doesn't smoke, mostly because he doesn't get the point. WEED, ON THE OTHER HAND...
karlach: first ever woman immune to nicotine. like she is the only person that isn't lying when she says she could quit any time. like it really is just a social thing to her. she is the only person allowed to take hits off astarion's fruity monstrosities
wyll: used to smoke a lot as a teenager (he thought it made him cool), then painstakingly quit. now he only smokes when he is having the worst day of his fucking life.
halsin: cigs are way too basic for him. it's always hookah for him. and it's always some special blend of hell knows what. hounds astarion down for buying non-recyclable vape pens
gortash: vapes. has learned to do vape tricks because he thinks it's cool.
submitted by popcltrcorn to okbuddybaldur [link] [comments]
astarion: chainsmoker. tried quitting by switching to vaping but accidentally just got addicted to that instead and now is constantly surrounded by clouds of sweet vapor. he is distraught about it because he can't stop (his nic addiction is strong and he loves the taste of his bubblegum cherry blast explosion juul) but he knows in his soul that at least when he was smoking that was hot while this? this is just pathetic. anyway the plan failed on all fronts because he still smokes as well
lae'zell: a chainsmoker and isn't ashamed of it one bit. her favorite pasttime is standing outside scowling with her cig
shadowheart: the "I only smoke when I drink" girl. she downs a glass of red and SUDDENLY astarion's pack becomes COMMUNAL
gale: doesn't smoke, mostly because he doesn't get the point. WEED, ON THE OTHER HAND...
karlach: first ever woman immune to nicotine. like she is the only person that isn't lying when she says she could quit any time. like it really is just a social thing to her. she is the only person allowed to take hits off astarion's fruity monstrosities
wyll: used to smoke a lot as a teenager (he thought it made him cool), then painstakingly quit. now he only smokes when he is having the worst day of his fucking life.
halsin: cigs are way too basic for him. it's always hookah for him. and it's always some special blend of hell knows what. hounds astarion down for buying non-recyclable vape pens
gortash: vapes. has learned to do vape tricks because he thinks it's cool.
2024.04.20 21:14 AyPlusEM My Journey From Cigarettes to Vaping to now, going to quit & the reason(s) why.
Hello,
This is my first post on here and I thought I'd give some takeaways from someone who has been vaping for quiet a long time for those who might experience, or can experience, some things I have during my journey. I'm deciding to post this because I'm experiencing new side effects from Vaping that I cannot find people talking about online anywhere really.
I'll start by explaining my journey as a smoker turned vape user to give an idea where I'm coming from with all this.
I smoked cigarettes on and off, then consistently, from the age of 13 and finally was able to quit them at around 32-33.
I loved cigarettes, smoked them in my room ( don't ever do this ) and my daily routine would consist of a cup of coffee, taking a sip to get that taste, then smoke a cigarette ( I would have about 5 cigarettes per cup of coffee ) and I'd smoke about a pack and half a day for all these years.
Then one day I got to a point of getting tired of it. I didn't like how I was feeling and what not, came across those gas station electronic cigarettes that are a 1 time use ( I forget the brand now but its the one that looks just like a cigarette ) and was completely blown away how it gave me the fix of a cigarette without the smell and the other thousands of chemicals from the cigarette.
So begins my Vaping journey. Started from 24mg for a while then came down to 12mg ( this is my sweet spot ) and have been there ever since ( for years ) I don't sub-ohm, I do the normal kind of vaping with a mod ( MTL )
At first it was an adjustment, I still wanted to smoke a cigarette but, when I got that urge, I just vaped more ( still using those disposable vapes ) and ended up coming to a point where I hated even the smell of cigarettes...I was officially a Vapor.
Then discovered that you can buy and refill your own and, you get the idea.
The idea behind vaping is to ultimately get you to quit right? Didn't happen for me. I love vaping even as I type this and here is the reason for this post.
Side effects that I noticed from vaping:
I have this neck issue on the left side of my neck that I'm linking to vaping because I have stopped before and it went away.
Also a front of the neck issue, left side, where it has this discomfort feeling ( no pain, just feels like it's being aggravated and I have to massage it ) and this has existed for a good while.
Lightheaded and dizziness:
This I noticed here and there and I assume from vaping too much. It's nothing serious but, can be a little unsettling because you feel like your head moves sometimes when its not.
Clearing Throat:
I find myself having to do this at times and I have heard its can be from the type of juice used, again, nothing serious here but, can be annoying.
Weird Heart Palpitations:
Now this isn't always but, when it does happen, is very unsettling for the moment and I get it, nicotine, and the level I use , can cause that to happen.
Lastly, and this is something more recent, which is the final nail in the coffin for me to finally give up vaping:
Elevated Blood Pressure
Now at 43 years ( Vaping for 10 years or so and smoked for 20 before that ) I had my blood pressure increase at times when I eat some heavy foods, vape the way I do ( I definitely vape a lot more than I used to smoke a cigarette...so maybe I'd be considered a chain vapor? ) and my blood pressure has been going high in the evenings where it's noticeable ( One night it was 170+ over 90+ and another night 157 over 88 ) around those numbers and, it's not a good feeling at all. The same way I noticed what cigarettes were doing to me eventually ( feeling lethargic, appetite off, sleep off ) these are the signs for me now to ultimately end this journey after these experiences.
And keep in mind, I don't have any health issues. I'm 5'10 approx 180lbs so I don't have any weight issues either.
And I have had people suggest to lower or use 0 nic, I've tried that, it doesn't give the same hit and fix as the 12, hence why It is my sweet spot. I tried sub-ohming but, ended up vaping even more than I'm currently vaping, especially with the flavors lol ( I like Tobacco flavor like a cigarette ) so that won't work for me.
Ultimately, I'm super grateful to become a vapor to get me off the thing I needed to stop, cigarettes, so I will never say don't vape if you're a smoker looking to get off them.
But, if you never smoked and are looking to get into Vaping for whatever reason, don't, it really isn't worth it. It begins with a pre-made thing ( like an e-cig or pod ) then you will move into filling it yourself and so forth. Just wasting money to only get these side effects in one way or another.
So with all this said, thought I'd put this out there for others to keep in mind in the event they come across these kinds of scenario's to know that, this may be your sign to call it quits as well and start on the new journey of being completely free of all these things.
Thanks for your attention.
submitted by AyPlusEM to QuitVaping [link] [comments]
This is my first post on here and I thought I'd give some takeaways from someone who has been vaping for quiet a long time for those who might experience, or can experience, some things I have during my journey. I'm deciding to post this because I'm experiencing new side effects from Vaping that I cannot find people talking about online anywhere really.
I'll start by explaining my journey as a smoker turned vape user to give an idea where I'm coming from with all this.
I smoked cigarettes on and off, then consistently, from the age of 13 and finally was able to quit them at around 32-33.
I loved cigarettes, smoked them in my room ( don't ever do this ) and my daily routine would consist of a cup of coffee, taking a sip to get that taste, then smoke a cigarette ( I would have about 5 cigarettes per cup of coffee ) and I'd smoke about a pack and half a day for all these years.
Then one day I got to a point of getting tired of it. I didn't like how I was feeling and what not, came across those gas station electronic cigarettes that are a 1 time use ( I forget the brand now but its the one that looks just like a cigarette ) and was completely blown away how it gave me the fix of a cigarette without the smell and the other thousands of chemicals from the cigarette.
So begins my Vaping journey. Started from 24mg for a while then came down to 12mg ( this is my sweet spot ) and have been there ever since ( for years ) I don't sub-ohm, I do the normal kind of vaping with a mod ( MTL )
At first it was an adjustment, I still wanted to smoke a cigarette but, when I got that urge, I just vaped more ( still using those disposable vapes ) and ended up coming to a point where I hated even the smell of cigarettes...I was officially a Vapor.
Then discovered that you can buy and refill your own and, you get the idea.
The idea behind vaping is to ultimately get you to quit right? Didn't happen for me. I love vaping even as I type this and here is the reason for this post.
Side effects that I noticed from vaping:
I have this neck issue on the left side of my neck that I'm linking to vaping because I have stopped before and it went away.
Also a front of the neck issue, left side, where it has this discomfort feeling ( no pain, just feels like it's being aggravated and I have to massage it ) and this has existed for a good while.
Lightheaded and dizziness:
This I noticed here and there and I assume from vaping too much. It's nothing serious but, can be a little unsettling because you feel like your head moves sometimes when its not.
Clearing Throat:
I find myself having to do this at times and I have heard its can be from the type of juice used, again, nothing serious here but, can be annoying.
Weird Heart Palpitations:
Now this isn't always but, when it does happen, is very unsettling for the moment and I get it, nicotine, and the level I use , can cause that to happen.
Lastly, and this is something more recent, which is the final nail in the coffin for me to finally give up vaping:
Elevated Blood Pressure
Now at 43 years ( Vaping for 10 years or so and smoked for 20 before that ) I had my blood pressure increase at times when I eat some heavy foods, vape the way I do ( I definitely vape a lot more than I used to smoke a cigarette...so maybe I'd be considered a chain vapor? ) and my blood pressure has been going high in the evenings where it's noticeable ( One night it was 170+ over 90+ and another night 157 over 88 ) around those numbers and, it's not a good feeling at all. The same way I noticed what cigarettes were doing to me eventually ( feeling lethargic, appetite off, sleep off ) these are the signs for me now to ultimately end this journey after these experiences.
And keep in mind, I don't have any health issues. I'm 5'10 approx 180lbs so I don't have any weight issues either.
And I have had people suggest to lower or use 0 nic, I've tried that, it doesn't give the same hit and fix as the 12, hence why It is my sweet spot. I tried sub-ohming but, ended up vaping even more than I'm currently vaping, especially with the flavors lol ( I like Tobacco flavor like a cigarette ) so that won't work for me.
Ultimately, I'm super grateful to become a vapor to get me off the thing I needed to stop, cigarettes, so I will never say don't vape if you're a smoker looking to get off them.
But, if you never smoked and are looking to get into Vaping for whatever reason, don't, it really isn't worth it. It begins with a pre-made thing ( like an e-cig or pod ) then you will move into filling it yourself and so forth. Just wasting money to only get these side effects in one way or another.
So with all this said, thought I'd put this out there for others to keep in mind in the event they come across these kinds of scenario's to know that, this may be your sign to call it quits as well and start on the new journey of being completely free of all these things.
Thanks for your attention.
2024.04.19 19:26 YatraTeaCo PPIs stopped working abruplty
A little background. 44M that has been on Omeprazole 20 mg twice a day for years now. Dont drink but have smoked most of my adult life. Plus daily marijuana user (small amount, vaporized). Have cut smoking down to 2 cigs a day for the last 5 years. Had an endoscopy 3 years back that was normal. GI specialist debunked theory that long term use of PPI is problematic.
One fine day a couple of months back my PPI stopped working. After two weeks of near constant reflux, I eliminated coffee, carbonated beverages and spicy/acidic food. Definitely noticed a slight improvement. Added a wedge pillow to the equation. Doc asked me take 20 mg Omeprazole 30 mins before breakfast and dinner, and take Famotidine before sleep. Have another endoscopy scheduled for early July.
Symptoms are a heat like sensation in the eosophagus ending in the throat, regurgitation, a TON of burping even after small alkaline meals. Poor quality of life at this point.
Will quit the 2 cigarettes a day because whats the benefit? Not to mention its a poor habit to begin with and clearly worsens GI issues. I am ok with a restrictive diet. But my fear is this may not be enough.
Any words of advice is appreciated. I am generally a stressed individual and naturally am more stressed now, so its a bad negative cycle.
submitted by YatraTeaCo to GERD [link] [comments]
One fine day a couple of months back my PPI stopped working. After two weeks of near constant reflux, I eliminated coffee, carbonated beverages and spicy/acidic food. Definitely noticed a slight improvement. Added a wedge pillow to the equation. Doc asked me take 20 mg Omeprazole 30 mins before breakfast and dinner, and take Famotidine before sleep. Have another endoscopy scheduled for early July.
Symptoms are a heat like sensation in the eosophagus ending in the throat, regurgitation, a TON of burping even after small alkaline meals. Poor quality of life at this point.
Will quit the 2 cigarettes a day because whats the benefit? Not to mention its a poor habit to begin with and clearly worsens GI issues. I am ok with a restrictive diet. But my fear is this may not be enough.
Any words of advice is appreciated. I am generally a stressed individual and naturally am more stressed now, so its a bad negative cycle.
2024.04.19 17:36 lbabinz [Best Buy] Power Up Sale at Best Buy: Apr 19 - 25 (Power Up Sale, Xbox Controllers / Console, Sony Games, 1st Party Nintendo Games, Ubisoft, more)
Power Up Sale
Top Deals Video Games
All Video Game Deals
Top Deals PC Gaming
Top Deals TVs and Home Theatre
Outlet Sale
submitted by lbabinz to VideoGameDealsCanada [link] [comments]
Top Deals Video Games
All Video Game Deals
Top Deals PC Gaming
Top Deals TVs and Home Theatre
Outlet Sale
Video Game Top Deals
Video Game Deals
Top Deals PC Gaming
Top Deals TVs and Home Theatre
Power Up Sale
2024.04.01 20:57 I_AintGoinWithWindas The Thing (1982): An Infection Timeline
This is a copy from my original post that was created nearly 7 years ago now (May 17, 2017) in the horror subreddit. I logged into Reddit today, 4/1/2024, and found that a moderator (or automod) had removed this post due to rule updates that have occurred over the last 8 years that require a user to have greater than 100 karma.. There were nearly 150 comments of fantastic discussion that is now lost due to this.
I have not found a way to petition and try and restore the original post, so I am creating it again here to share my enthusiasm for the film, my careful research and time invested into the subject of who was infected and when during the movie. The original post text follows below:
"I have recently renewed my obsession with this masterpiece - specifically, figuring out the chronological order of who is infected among the crew in order to better understand, and ultimately come up with as close to a valid understanding of who is ‘who’ at the end of the movie.I am putting forth my research efforts of watching the movie numerous times over the last few weeks with a theory I have devised about who is infected and at what point during the movie. Doing this can open up a discussion among other like-minded fans in order to fine tune this theory into as close to sound and valid as the ambiguity of the movie will allow. We are going to rule out in this timeline discussion every crew member that is cleared during the blood test until we reach that point in the time line. OBVIOUSLY, SPOILERS TO FOLLOW!
Timeline:
Day 1:
At ~ 17:00 minutes into the story, we see Doc Copper and MacReady leave the camp via the helicopter for their first trek out to the Norwegian camp ruins. The shot then cuts to Nauls and Palmer watching out the window, and then Palmer leaves the room. Take note of the dirty long johns that Palmer is wearing under his denim jacket (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/c7hf1Q/palmerdirtyljs.png). This will be important to remember when it comes up later for the time line of him being assimilated.
A few scenes later, The Dog Thing then appears after from the door in the center from the far end of us and after pausing at a room that looks like the one Bennings ran out from earlier, decides to not go into the wounded Bennings' room, and instead looks over and continues downwards to the southernmost room on our right, revealing a silhouette.
Examining the initial silhouette of this person (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/nB5do5/Sil_1.png), there are only a couple of the crew that match the shape of this hair - Norris, Windows and Palmer. Yes, I know that cinematographer Dean Cundey has revealed that it was a stuntman, Dick Warlock, and neither of the actors, but strangely enough, the silhouette looks like a specific member of the research crew, and Carpenter would obviously notice this during filming and place somebody else in there if he truly wanted to throw the audience off the scent.
Digression aside, however, we know that Windows is exonerated via the blood test later on. Note the protruding collar from the back of the shirt that the shadow is wearing. Now compare that to this shot of Norris before Doc Cooper and MacReady left for the Norwegian camp - he is wearing a mock turtle neck with a collared shirt underneath that protrudes out from the top (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/nGnGQk/Norris_Turtleneck.png).
When the silhouette turns to look at the dog entering the room, we see the hair shape change to reveal an unkempt head of wavy, thick, afro-like hair (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/b7etMQ/Sil_2.png). Now compare that previous image to this image of Norris in a well-lit area just a little ahead in the story (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/dy1185/Sil_Match_2.png).
Now there are some that are going to say that it was Palmer that was infected first, however, I do not think this is possible for a couple of reasons. One, we know that Childs was cleared in the blood test. Much earlier in the movie, Palmer lights up and shares a joint with Childs. From what is revealed later on in the movie, Fuchs (and Blair while running the simulation in the lab) finds out that it's not just physical assimilation via an attack that can infect someone, but even just one particle of The Thing's genetic makeup gets into someone via bodily secretions (i.e. blood, saliva, etc.) that they become infected as well. Fuchs then tells Mac to have everyone prepare their own meals and only eat out of cans for this very reason. Notice how later on in the movie Blair is also only eating from canned foods. He just didn't tell anyone like Fuchs did.
With the aforementioned evidence, there is no question that Norris was the first to be assimilated in the camp via infection, most likely from the Dog Thing licking his face, or Norris putting his fingers in his mouth or rubbing his eyes after petting the dog and/or the Dog Thing licking his fingers. It couldn't have been a physical attack, as his clothing pre-infection is intact throughout the rest of the movie.
Moving ahead, let's talk about the part where the Dog Thing is revealed. During that scene, when Mac finishes pumping shotgun shells into the creature, at ~34:57 the creature sprouts two arms with 'hands' and part of the creature splits off from the rest and crashes through the wooden roof and escapes. Childs then burns the remaining portion of the creature. So we know that at least Norris is infected at this point, and also there is a Thing in monster form at large.
Day 2:
The next day, 3 crew members leave again for the Norwegian camp to investigate what the Norwegian team dug up. When they return and gather in the lounge room later that night to speak about what they found with the rest of the crew, Nauls interrupts and reveals that someone put their "dirty drawers" in the kitchen trash can; someone was physically assimilated. This attack was carried out by the portion of the Dog Thing that escaped through the roof the previous night. That begs the question, whom did it attack?
I put forth that this is when Palmer was assimilated, and I will explain with what evidence is available, and the rest being through a combination of inductive/deductive reasoning.Earlier in this post I mentioned to remember an important screenshot regarding Palmer and his dirty long johns. So, we know that Palmer wears the same color long johns under his clothing as the ripped pair that Nauls found (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/hoY4d5/NaulsLJ.png).
You might be thinking, "So what? Other crew members wear long johns under their clothing." You're absolutely correct, in fact, we can see in the same very scene where Mac is talking to the crew in the lounge room about the ship they found at the Norwegian camp, that Doc Copper, MacReady, Nauls, and Blair wear a whitish, long-sleeved article of clothing underneath what they are wearing on the outside.
Here is where we knock out everyone just mentioned except for Palmer and Blair. Everyone else mentioned above was cleared via the blood test, except Palmer and Blair. Palmer, as we all know, failed miserably, and Blair was never able to be tested (but at that point in the story where they go out to test him we already know he is infected anyway).
I assert that Palmer was the one assimilated second, and not Blair, via physical assimilation by the portion of the Dog Thing that escaped through the wooden roof earlier, and for a few reasons.In the very next scene, Blair begins running his probability scenarios in the lab to gauge how critical the situation really has become. When he observes the results, he is hit with a terrifying moment of clarity (revealed by the dismal, dark expression on his face) on not only just the brutal physical nature of the creature, which he already witnessed, but how intelligent it really is. He knows in that moment exactly that they are no longer dealing with just a physically dangerous creature, but after hearing Mac’s recount of the giant aircraft from another world - one with the intelligence that is superior to that of humanity.
Blair then locks himself away in his room – most likely drinking his fear away and scheming about what, if anything, can be done to stop this creature from getting to civilization. We all know what he decided to do and why he did it. Nobody was coming to help before this got out of control; communications had been down for weeks and they were now in the winter cycle with a major storm approaching and nowhere that they can go to put distance between who is infected and who isn’t.Now, if Blair was infected during this, there is no reason for his imitation to do any of this - it knows what it is, what it is capable of, and what it wants to do. It would not smash communications equipment that has the ability to lure out rescue teams that could get it to civilization, nor destroy transportation equipment it could use also achieve those means.
We all see that Bennings is grabbed, tries to escape, and is ultimately confronted/destroyed. Take note that during this sequence, "Windas" leaves to go get the set of keys from Garry for Bennings that open the secured places in the compound, and when he returns, spots Bennings being assimilated and runs. When he does, you can hear the set of keys that he brought in hit the floor from being dropped.
So, in the scene where Bennings is confronted and destroyed, every member of the crew is present except Blair, Clark, and the portion of the Dog Thing that escaped through the kennel roof earlier in the story. In this next image, I believe it is Palmer who is in the bottom left corner, as Clark always wears a hat. If I am wrong, however, that lends more credence to Palmer being the one to sabotage the blood supply (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/czni5k/Palmer_BLCorner.png).
An undetermined period of time passes while the crew cleans out the storerooms and labs, bringing all of the remaining specimens of the creature along with Bennings, fully burning and subsequently burying them with the snow plow. Note that everyone is present here as well – except Blair and Clark (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/bsvxWQ/Present_Crewat_Bennings_Burning.png)
Now this is where my theory gets even more interesting and isn’t so cut and dry (for myself at least). Clark is not present for a very long time, yet we find later that he was human. It could be an error of logic to just completely brush him aside as the suspect who opened the blood storage and sabotaged the clean blood samples simply because he is a human? We do know that Palmer, Norris and the other Dog Thing (if it hasn’t taken a more ‘normal’ appearing form at this point) were free to move about the compound while the crew retrieved the creature specimens to burn everything along with Bennings, so I am going to state it is safe to assume that the probability of Clark sabotaging the blood supply are very slim, comparatively speaking, and that any combination of Norris, Palmer and the other Thing got the keys and sabotaged the blood bank. We just don’t know what Clark was doing..
Day 3:
We are going to fast forward past the Blair blow up (previous night) and locking him in the shed the next day, the blood bank confrontation, Garry relinquishing command to MacReady, and the burning of the bags of blood where MacReady gives his speech (in which everyone is present but Blair obviously – (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/f7QpBQ/bloodbagburning.png) because I don’t think anyone else has been infected during these events.
Day 4:
Not shown in the movie, however, here is the point in the timeline where we need to introduce another infected member of the crew: Blair. We know he is infected at this point because he is missing when the crew goes to give him his blood test – it’s just a matter of who assimilated him and how.As stated and explained on day 6 coming up, 55 hours at the very least pass between locking Blair into the shed and MacReady speaking into the tape recorder (it is definitely longer than 55 hours because who knows how much time passed between locking Blair in the shed and then the speech MacReady gave that night after burning the bags of blood where we are able to establish that 54 hours have passed since then and MacReady speaking into the tape recorder).My thoughts on this are that since the shed is locked from the outside, Norris, Palmer or Dog Thing (probably not in that gruesome form any longer), went into the shed through the entrance under the guise of ‘letting him come back inside the main compound’ or to give him supplies and then assimilated Blair that way.
This is because as we find out later when the crew goes out to give Blair his blood test to find him missing the front door is open, and there is also no visible destruction to the boarded up windows, nor the wooden floor boards, suggesting that this was done carefully and deliberately from inside the shed and not an explosion of force from below the shed floor.
With the assimilation of Blair happening in this manner, imitation Blair can carefully remove the floor boards and dig underneath the shed, freely scavenge for parts from the helicopter, tractor, and communications room that Blair destroyed to thwart the creature (ironic) to build the small ship located there because the crew thinks he is securely locked in his shed with no way out.The rest of the group are awaiting Fuchs to devise a new blood serum test to reveal who is infected, and the crew that are not suspected of being infected are watching Garry, Doc Copper and Clark while drugging them with morphine periodically. It’s not likely that anyone human visited Blair once they had him drugged during the night of his blowup and once they drugged him initially the next day in the toolshed. It locks from the outside and is boarded up from the outside, and as MacReady states in day 6, a major winter storm has been going on for 48 hours.
Day 5:
Presumably, the same and/or similar events to day 4 have occurred.
Day 6:
It has been ~54 hours since the burning of the bags of blood, as evidenced by MacReady stating during his speech after burning the bags that in “6 hours” a huge storm is going to hit, and the next scene shown in the story he is speaking into the tape recorder stating it has been 48 hours since the storm first hit.
Mac also reveals during the tape recorder scene that additional shredded long johns were found by “Windas”. Now, we know that everyone still inside the main compound except for Norris and Palmer are human at this point, as evidenced by the soon upcoming blood test. Therefore, it is safe to assume here that those are the pair of long johns belonging to Palmer when he was physically assimilated on day 2.
During the ~55 hours that are not shown during the story, I pose that Blair has been out and about while the crew have been inside sheltering from the storm. He scavenged parts, and seeing as everyone other than Mac, Fuchs, and Blair have been holed up in the rec room watching over the 3 suspected crew members, it had to have been Blair that also went up into Mac’s shack and gathered his clothing and planted evidence suggesting that Mac was assimilated.He also then went over to the lab area where Fuchs was devising a test with the intention of leading Fuchs to the sabotaged clothing. Take notice of the sound effect at around the 1:08:47 mark that appears when the shadowed figure walks past Fuchs. This will be interesting and important to recall coming up later.
The crew trusts Fuchs’ medical and scientific intelligence, and seeing as the other two medical personnel on the team are both under suspicion of infection, if Fuchs were to tell the rest of the crew what he found, they would take Mac out of command – thereby making it much easier for the assimilated to pick off the rest of the disorganized, paranoid, and now leaderless group. Mac is the only person holding any type of order together, shown earlier by Garry relinquishing command and the group accepting Mac as the leader.
It is likely then, that Fuchs torched himself at this point due to an overwhelming sense of despair and defeat; if Mac was one of them, it is over for the rest of the team. It is also quite possible Fuchs was about to be attacked and infected by Blair once Fuchs found the planted clothing evidence.Fast forwarding past the blood test scene, we have two infected (Blair and Dog Thing), and four uninfected team members alive. We now arrive at a pivotal scene for the conclusion of if Mac and/or Childs are infected at the end of the movie.
This scene shows Childs standing guard at the seemingly only non-barricaded entrance left into the main compound. Notice the royal blue color of the jacket he is wearing, as well as the nearly identical color jacket right next to him (image link here: http://image.ibb.co/fVjdRQ/Childs_and_the_Coats.png). This will be important to recall soon.
After Garry, Mac and Nauls discover Blair is infected and scavenging parts to build an escape vessel, Nauls is standing guard at the entrance to the tool shed when he spots Childs exiting the main compound. As shown in the next 3 images, he is wearing a jacket that is blue in color. Be sure to turn the brightness of your monitor to 100% to see this clearly! Image links here:
Notice during this cut scene that there is a room to the right just off the staircase from the generator room? It's open (image link here: http://image.ibb.co/e9R6fk/Roombehind_Childs1.png). If you look along the right wall in the room Childs was guarding, there is a semi visible door BEHIND him that is also open (image link here: http://image.ibb.co/cjb6fk/Roombehind_Childs2.png).
Therefore, it is highly probable that Blair quietly moved up the staircase, slipped into the room on the side, and ambushed a visibly fatigued Childs from behind while he was busy staring out the window. Coupled with Childs behavior afterwards - running out into a massive winter storm to chase after what he thought was Blair, instead of walking over to the nearby crew to tell them that he thinks he saw Blair, as well as the fact that the very similar blue jacket mentioned earlier was missing in the cut scene showing the stair case to the generator room (meaning he could've put that on to match his old destroyed jacket and not raise suspicion), AND the fact that the generator was shut off 5 seconds into Childs running out of the main compound - the evidence suggests that this occurred.
So we know what happens following that scene regarding Gary, Mac and Nauls in the generator room, but I want to point out and also clear up the speculation revolving around the fate of Nauls. Take a look at this short video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiN1ctz9l8c) who provides solid proof that Nauls was attacked and assimilated – the scene just didn’t make it into the movie due to run time and budget concerns.
Also, I want to point out here that when Blair attacks Garry, notice he is not wearing the light brown jacket he has been wearing the entire film. For example, he is wearing it every time he is exposed to the elements. Image links here:
And now we get to the ending scene between Mac and Childs. It is apparent that at least some time has passed between the giant explosion destroying the camp, and Mac shambling to the spot where he sits down and Childs appears. This can be proven by the following, in where we see a wide shot of the camp exploding, but Mac’s shack is still intact (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/nzudAk/Mac_Shack_Intact.png). He most likely went up into his shack to grab the bottle of whiskey he is holding, as well as the blanket wrapped over his shoulders.
When Childs arrives, notice that he is not wearing the original royal blue coat that he has the entire film. In fact, it appears similar in color to the jacket that Blair wore throughout the film and suspiciously did not have on when Blair attacked Garry. Image links here:
With all of this evidence, Childs is infected. I am not going to give credence to the “no breath” theory as proof that Childs is infected because we can clearly see when closely watching the scene, that Childs is breathing and his breath vapor does appear at around the 1:44:37 mark – it is just the lighting that makes it less visible than Mac’s breath because Mac is more well-lit due to facing the light produced by the flames from the camp.
Also, the “eye gleam” theory revealed and stated by the cinematographer, Dean Cundey, on the commentary track for the Scream Factory! Blu-ray collector’s edition of The Thing that the lighting trick was agreed upon by he and Carpenter and used for the blood test scene, but did not apply to the ending.
And the final point and to wrap this infection timeline up, Mac hands the bottle of whiskey over to Childs, and as soon as Childs puts the bottle up to his mouth, that brooding, foreboding and ominous music track kicks in the door. Childs has no fear, or paranoia about accepting the bottle and drinking from it. Mac chuckles and realizes what he already suspected and knew from Fuchs, that he is the only human left and going to die there, even if he is able to torch the Childs imitation with the flamethrower hidden under his blanket.
So there you have it; I have spent a decent amount of time putting this piece together and I hope (if you have read this far!) that you enjoyed this and it answered some questions regarding the ambiguity of the movie. Or perhaps it created more questions than answers! Either way, let me know your thoughts.In the meantime, I’ll just wait a while… and see what happens."
Proof of my original post removal, and my 2017 notes and publish date (done mostly for me, admittedly ;)
https://ibb.co/5LLfb0yhttps://ibb.co/bb3pWVXhttps://ibb.co/nPrkTxD
submitted by I_AintGoinWithWindas to movies [link] [comments]
I have not found a way to petition and try and restore the original post, so I am creating it again here to share my enthusiasm for the film, my careful research and time invested into the subject of who was infected and when during the movie. The original post text follows below:
"I have recently renewed my obsession with this masterpiece - specifically, figuring out the chronological order of who is infected among the crew in order to better understand, and ultimately come up with as close to a valid understanding of who is ‘who’ at the end of the movie.I am putting forth my research efforts of watching the movie numerous times over the last few weeks with a theory I have devised about who is infected and at what point during the movie. Doing this can open up a discussion among other like-minded fans in order to fine tune this theory into as close to sound and valid as the ambiguity of the movie will allow. We are going to rule out in this timeline discussion every crew member that is cleared during the blood test until we reach that point in the time line. OBVIOUSLY, SPOILERS TO FOLLOW!
Timeline:
Day 1:
At ~ 17:00 minutes into the story, we see Doc Copper and MacReady leave the camp via the helicopter for their first trek out to the Norwegian camp ruins. The shot then cuts to Nauls and Palmer watching out the window, and then Palmer leaves the room. Take note of the dirty long johns that Palmer is wearing under his denim jacket (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/c7hf1Q/palmerdirtyljs.png). This will be important to remember when it comes up later for the time line of him being assimilated.
A few scenes later, The Dog Thing then appears after from the door in the center from the far end of us and after pausing at a room that looks like the one Bennings ran out from earlier, decides to not go into the wounded Bennings' room, and instead looks over and continues downwards to the southernmost room on our right, revealing a silhouette.
Examining the initial silhouette of this person (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/nB5do5/Sil_1.png), there are only a couple of the crew that match the shape of this hair - Norris, Windows and Palmer. Yes, I know that cinematographer Dean Cundey has revealed that it was a stuntman, Dick Warlock, and neither of the actors, but strangely enough, the silhouette looks like a specific member of the research crew, and Carpenter would obviously notice this during filming and place somebody else in there if he truly wanted to throw the audience off the scent.
Digression aside, however, we know that Windows is exonerated via the blood test later on. Note the protruding collar from the back of the shirt that the shadow is wearing. Now compare that to this shot of Norris before Doc Cooper and MacReady left for the Norwegian camp - he is wearing a mock turtle neck with a collared shirt underneath that protrudes out from the top (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/nGnGQk/Norris_Turtleneck.png).
When the silhouette turns to look at the dog entering the room, we see the hair shape change to reveal an unkempt head of wavy, thick, afro-like hair (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/b7etMQ/Sil_2.png). Now compare that previous image to this image of Norris in a well-lit area just a little ahead in the story (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/dy1185/Sil_Match_2.png).
Now there are some that are going to say that it was Palmer that was infected first, however, I do not think this is possible for a couple of reasons. One, we know that Childs was cleared in the blood test. Much earlier in the movie, Palmer lights up and shares a joint with Childs. From what is revealed later on in the movie, Fuchs (and Blair while running the simulation in the lab) finds out that it's not just physical assimilation via an attack that can infect someone, but even just one particle of The Thing's genetic makeup gets into someone via bodily secretions (i.e. blood, saliva, etc.) that they become infected as well. Fuchs then tells Mac to have everyone prepare their own meals and only eat out of cans for this very reason. Notice how later on in the movie Blair is also only eating from canned foods. He just didn't tell anyone like Fuchs did.
With the aforementioned evidence, there is no question that Norris was the first to be assimilated in the camp via infection, most likely from the Dog Thing licking his face, or Norris putting his fingers in his mouth or rubbing his eyes after petting the dog and/or the Dog Thing licking his fingers. It couldn't have been a physical attack, as his clothing pre-infection is intact throughout the rest of the movie.
Moving ahead, let's talk about the part where the Dog Thing is revealed. During that scene, when Mac finishes pumping shotgun shells into the creature, at ~34:57 the creature sprouts two arms with 'hands' and part of the creature splits off from the rest and crashes through the wooden roof and escapes. Childs then burns the remaining portion of the creature. So we know that at least Norris is infected at this point, and also there is a Thing in monster form at large.
Day 2:
The next day, 3 crew members leave again for the Norwegian camp to investigate what the Norwegian team dug up. When they return and gather in the lounge room later that night to speak about what they found with the rest of the crew, Nauls interrupts and reveals that someone put their "dirty drawers" in the kitchen trash can; someone was physically assimilated. This attack was carried out by the portion of the Dog Thing that escaped through the roof the previous night. That begs the question, whom did it attack?
I put forth that this is when Palmer was assimilated, and I will explain with what evidence is available, and the rest being through a combination of inductive/deductive reasoning.Earlier in this post I mentioned to remember an important screenshot regarding Palmer and his dirty long johns. So, we know that Palmer wears the same color long johns under his clothing as the ripped pair that Nauls found (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/hoY4d5/NaulsLJ.png).
You might be thinking, "So what? Other crew members wear long johns under their clothing." You're absolutely correct, in fact, we can see in the same very scene where Mac is talking to the crew in the lounge room about the ship they found at the Norwegian camp, that Doc Copper, MacReady, Nauls, and Blair wear a whitish, long-sleeved article of clothing underneath what they are wearing on the outside.
Here is where we knock out everyone just mentioned except for Palmer and Blair. Everyone else mentioned above was cleared via the blood test, except Palmer and Blair. Palmer, as we all know, failed miserably, and Blair was never able to be tested (but at that point in the story where they go out to test him we already know he is infected anyway).
I assert that Palmer was the one assimilated second, and not Blair, via physical assimilation by the portion of the Dog Thing that escaped through the wooden roof earlier, and for a few reasons.In the very next scene, Blair begins running his probability scenarios in the lab to gauge how critical the situation really has become. When he observes the results, he is hit with a terrifying moment of clarity (revealed by the dismal, dark expression on his face) on not only just the brutal physical nature of the creature, which he already witnessed, but how intelligent it really is. He knows in that moment exactly that they are no longer dealing with just a physically dangerous creature, but after hearing Mac’s recount of the giant aircraft from another world - one with the intelligence that is superior to that of humanity.
Blair then locks himself away in his room – most likely drinking his fear away and scheming about what, if anything, can be done to stop this creature from getting to civilization. We all know what he decided to do and why he did it. Nobody was coming to help before this got out of control; communications had been down for weeks and they were now in the winter cycle with a major storm approaching and nowhere that they can go to put distance between who is infected and who isn’t.Now, if Blair was infected during this, there is no reason for his imitation to do any of this - it knows what it is, what it is capable of, and what it wants to do. It would not smash communications equipment that has the ability to lure out rescue teams that could get it to civilization, nor destroy transportation equipment it could use also achieve those means.
We all see that Bennings is grabbed, tries to escape, and is ultimately confronted/destroyed. Take note that during this sequence, "Windas" leaves to go get the set of keys from Garry for Bennings that open the secured places in the compound, and when he returns, spots Bennings being assimilated and runs. When he does, you can hear the set of keys that he brought in hit the floor from being dropped.
So, in the scene where Bennings is confronted and destroyed, every member of the crew is present except Blair, Clark, and the portion of the Dog Thing that escaped through the kennel roof earlier in the story. In this next image, I believe it is Palmer who is in the bottom left corner, as Clark always wears a hat. If I am wrong, however, that lends more credence to Palmer being the one to sabotage the blood supply (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/czni5k/Palmer_BLCorner.png).
An undetermined period of time passes while the crew cleans out the storerooms and labs, bringing all of the remaining specimens of the creature along with Bennings, fully burning and subsequently burying them with the snow plow. Note that everyone is present here as well – except Blair and Clark (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/bsvxWQ/Present_Crewat_Bennings_Burning.png)
Now this is where my theory gets even more interesting and isn’t so cut and dry (for myself at least). Clark is not present for a very long time, yet we find later that he was human. It could be an error of logic to just completely brush him aside as the suspect who opened the blood storage and sabotaged the clean blood samples simply because he is a human? We do know that Palmer, Norris and the other Dog Thing (if it hasn’t taken a more ‘normal’ appearing form at this point) were free to move about the compound while the crew retrieved the creature specimens to burn everything along with Bennings, so I am going to state it is safe to assume that the probability of Clark sabotaging the blood supply are very slim, comparatively speaking, and that any combination of Norris, Palmer and the other Thing got the keys and sabotaged the blood bank. We just don’t know what Clark was doing..
Day 3:
We are going to fast forward past the Blair blow up (previous night) and locking him in the shed the next day, the blood bank confrontation, Garry relinquishing command to MacReady, and the burning of the bags of blood where MacReady gives his speech (in which everyone is present but Blair obviously – (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/f7QpBQ/bloodbagburning.png) because I don’t think anyone else has been infected during these events.
Day 4:
Not shown in the movie, however, here is the point in the timeline where we need to introduce another infected member of the crew: Blair. We know he is infected at this point because he is missing when the crew goes to give him his blood test – it’s just a matter of who assimilated him and how.As stated and explained on day 6 coming up, 55 hours at the very least pass between locking Blair into the shed and MacReady speaking into the tape recorder (it is definitely longer than 55 hours because who knows how much time passed between locking Blair in the shed and then the speech MacReady gave that night after burning the bags of blood where we are able to establish that 54 hours have passed since then and MacReady speaking into the tape recorder).My thoughts on this are that since the shed is locked from the outside, Norris, Palmer or Dog Thing (probably not in that gruesome form any longer), went into the shed through the entrance under the guise of ‘letting him come back inside the main compound’ or to give him supplies and then assimilated Blair that way.
This is because as we find out later when the crew goes out to give Blair his blood test to find him missing the front door is open, and there is also no visible destruction to the boarded up windows, nor the wooden floor boards, suggesting that this was done carefully and deliberately from inside the shed and not an explosion of force from below the shed floor.
With the assimilation of Blair happening in this manner, imitation Blair can carefully remove the floor boards and dig underneath the shed, freely scavenge for parts from the helicopter, tractor, and communications room that Blair destroyed to thwart the creature (ironic) to build the small ship located there because the crew thinks he is securely locked in his shed with no way out.The rest of the group are awaiting Fuchs to devise a new blood serum test to reveal who is infected, and the crew that are not suspected of being infected are watching Garry, Doc Copper and Clark while drugging them with morphine periodically. It’s not likely that anyone human visited Blair once they had him drugged during the night of his blowup and once they drugged him initially the next day in the toolshed. It locks from the outside and is boarded up from the outside, and as MacReady states in day 6, a major winter storm has been going on for 48 hours.
Day 5:
Presumably, the same and/or similar events to day 4 have occurred.
Day 6:
It has been ~54 hours since the burning of the bags of blood, as evidenced by MacReady stating during his speech after burning the bags that in “6 hours” a huge storm is going to hit, and the next scene shown in the story he is speaking into the tape recorder stating it has been 48 hours since the storm first hit.
Mac also reveals during the tape recorder scene that additional shredded long johns were found by “Windas”. Now, we know that everyone still inside the main compound except for Norris and Palmer are human at this point, as evidenced by the soon upcoming blood test. Therefore, it is safe to assume here that those are the pair of long johns belonging to Palmer when he was physically assimilated on day 2.
During the ~55 hours that are not shown during the story, I pose that Blair has been out and about while the crew have been inside sheltering from the storm. He scavenged parts, and seeing as everyone other than Mac, Fuchs, and Blair have been holed up in the rec room watching over the 3 suspected crew members, it had to have been Blair that also went up into Mac’s shack and gathered his clothing and planted evidence suggesting that Mac was assimilated.He also then went over to the lab area where Fuchs was devising a test with the intention of leading Fuchs to the sabotaged clothing. Take notice of the sound effect at around the 1:08:47 mark that appears when the shadowed figure walks past Fuchs. This will be interesting and important to recall coming up later.
The crew trusts Fuchs’ medical and scientific intelligence, and seeing as the other two medical personnel on the team are both under suspicion of infection, if Fuchs were to tell the rest of the crew what he found, they would take Mac out of command – thereby making it much easier for the assimilated to pick off the rest of the disorganized, paranoid, and now leaderless group. Mac is the only person holding any type of order together, shown earlier by Garry relinquishing command and the group accepting Mac as the leader.
It is likely then, that Fuchs torched himself at this point due to an overwhelming sense of despair and defeat; if Mac was one of them, it is over for the rest of the team. It is also quite possible Fuchs was about to be attacked and infected by Blair once Fuchs found the planted clothing evidence.Fast forwarding past the blood test scene, we have two infected (Blair and Dog Thing), and four uninfected team members alive. We now arrive at a pivotal scene for the conclusion of if Mac and/or Childs are infected at the end of the movie.
This scene shows Childs standing guard at the seemingly only non-barricaded entrance left into the main compound. Notice the royal blue color of the jacket he is wearing, as well as the nearly identical color jacket right next to him (image link here: http://image.ibb.co/fVjdRQ/Childs_and_the_Coats.png). This will be important to recall soon.
After Garry, Mac and Nauls discover Blair is infected and scavenging parts to build an escape vessel, Nauls is standing guard at the entrance to the tool shed when he spots Childs exiting the main compound. As shown in the next 3 images, he is wearing a jacket that is blue in color. Be sure to turn the brightness of your monitor to 100% to see this clearly! Image links here:
- https://image.ibb.co/j1HZGQ/Blue_Coat_Childs1.png
- https://image.ibb.co/cyguGQ/Blue_Coat_Childs.png
- https://image.ibb.co/jv7C35/Blue_Coat_Childs2.png
Notice during this cut scene that there is a room to the right just off the staircase from the generator room? It's open (image link here: http://image.ibb.co/e9R6fk/Roombehind_Childs1.png). If you look along the right wall in the room Childs was guarding, there is a semi visible door BEHIND him that is also open (image link here: http://image.ibb.co/cjb6fk/Roombehind_Childs2.png).
Therefore, it is highly probable that Blair quietly moved up the staircase, slipped into the room on the side, and ambushed a visibly fatigued Childs from behind while he was busy staring out the window. Coupled with Childs behavior afterwards - running out into a massive winter storm to chase after what he thought was Blair, instead of walking over to the nearby crew to tell them that he thinks he saw Blair, as well as the fact that the very similar blue jacket mentioned earlier was missing in the cut scene showing the stair case to the generator room (meaning he could've put that on to match his old destroyed jacket and not raise suspicion), AND the fact that the generator was shut off 5 seconds into Childs running out of the main compound - the evidence suggests that this occurred.
So we know what happens following that scene regarding Gary, Mac and Nauls in the generator room, but I want to point out and also clear up the speculation revolving around the fate of Nauls. Take a look at this short video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiN1ctz9l8c) who provides solid proof that Nauls was attacked and assimilated – the scene just didn’t make it into the movie due to run time and budget concerns.
Also, I want to point out here that when Blair attacks Garry, notice he is not wearing the light brown jacket he has been wearing the entire film. For example, he is wearing it every time he is exposed to the elements. Image links here:
- https://image.ibb.co/bx9TAk/Blair_Coat1.png
- https://image.ibb.co/nsF1Vk/Blair_Coat2.png
- https://image.ibb.co/mOwmwQ/Blair_Coat3_Toolshed.png
- https://image.ibb.co/kNyMVk/Blair_No_Coat4.png
And now we get to the ending scene between Mac and Childs. It is apparent that at least some time has passed between the giant explosion destroying the camp, and Mac shambling to the spot where he sits down and Childs appears. This can be proven by the following, in where we see a wide shot of the camp exploding, but Mac’s shack is still intact (image link here: https://image.ibb.co/nzudAk/Mac_Shack_Intact.png). He most likely went up into his shack to grab the bottle of whiskey he is holding, as well as the blanket wrapped over his shoulders.
When Childs arrives, notice that he is not wearing the original royal blue coat that he has the entire film. In fact, it appears similar in color to the jacket that Blair wore throughout the film and suspiciously did not have on when Blair attacked Garry. Image links here:
- https://image.ibb.co/fpzBVk/Childs_Different_Coat1.png
- https://image.ibb.co/kL0JAk/Childs_Different_Coat2.png
- https://image.ibb.co/iANWVk/Childs_Different_Coat3.png
With all of this evidence, Childs is infected. I am not going to give credence to the “no breath” theory as proof that Childs is infected because we can clearly see when closely watching the scene, that Childs is breathing and his breath vapor does appear at around the 1:44:37 mark – it is just the lighting that makes it less visible than Mac’s breath because Mac is more well-lit due to facing the light produced by the flames from the camp.
Also, the “eye gleam” theory revealed and stated by the cinematographer, Dean Cundey, on the commentary track for the Scream Factory! Blu-ray collector’s edition of The Thing that the lighting trick was agreed upon by he and Carpenter and used for the blood test scene, but did not apply to the ending.
And the final point and to wrap this infection timeline up, Mac hands the bottle of whiskey over to Childs, and as soon as Childs puts the bottle up to his mouth, that brooding, foreboding and ominous music track kicks in the door. Childs has no fear, or paranoia about accepting the bottle and drinking from it. Mac chuckles and realizes what he already suspected and knew from Fuchs, that he is the only human left and going to die there, even if he is able to torch the Childs imitation with the flamethrower hidden under his blanket.
So there you have it; I have spent a decent amount of time putting this piece together and I hope (if you have read this far!) that you enjoyed this and it answered some questions regarding the ambiguity of the movie. Or perhaps it created more questions than answers! Either way, let me know your thoughts.In the meantime, I’ll just wait a while… and see what happens."
Proof of my original post removal, and my 2017 notes and publish date (done mostly for me, admittedly ;)
https://ibb.co/5LLfb0yhttps://ibb.co/bb3pWVXhttps://ibb.co/nPrkTxD
2024.03.18 01:15 brainwarts From a lifetime on and off again smoker (32mtf), how bad is vaping?
My parents smoked. I was a delinquent in high school and started smoking there. I'm not proud of that, but I kicked the habit for a couple years. Then I moved to China for a while, where it felt like everyone smokes, and it turned into a regular habit again.
The thing is I would quit for a while and then I'd be out having some drinks with friends and I would feel so much of a temptation that I would smoke again. One or two cigs would start happening more and more often until I was going through a pack a week. This on and off again smoking has been consistent for about ten years.
I got a flavorless nicotine vaporizer about a month ago. On those nights out for drinks with friends, when I get hit by the temptation, I can grab it from my purse and puff it a few times and after a few minutes the craving goes away. It seems like it does a really good job of stopping me from getting cigarettes.
So the question is, how bad is it in comparison with smoking? Is it the lesser of two evils? Or is it just as bad?
submitted by brainwarts to AskDocs [link] [comments]
The thing is I would quit for a while and then I'd be out having some drinks with friends and I would feel so much of a temptation that I would smoke again. One or two cigs would start happening more and more often until I was going through a pack a week. This on and off again smoking has been consistent for about ten years.
I got a flavorless nicotine vaporizer about a month ago. On those nights out for drinks with friends, when I get hit by the temptation, I can grab it from my purse and puff it a few times and after a few minutes the craving goes away. It seems like it does a really good job of stopping me from getting cigarettes.
So the question is, how bad is it in comparison with smoking? Is it the lesser of two evils? Or is it just as bad?
2024.03.15 16:02 Normal-Goose-2914 Where the heck did Noah live before the flood!?!?
 | Where did Noah live before the Flooding of the Earth? submitted by Normal-Goose-2914 to u/Normal-Goose-2914 [link] [comments] I find myself this morning trying to distract myself from having a cigarette since I have quite smoking. In doing so I find myself asking a question, "Where did Noah live before the Flooding of the Earth?". I started by looking at websites, looking in the Bible itself. But the thing that bothers me is there are a few different answers. There are even many names for Noah across different cultures. SO! What the heck! Now, investigating ancient history, symbolism, plate tectonics and geology I feel as though I have a theory that answers this question. VICTORY CIG! no... no... just kidding... Alright so hear it is! The United States of America! Yes... How? You may ask. Well, I have some answers for you pilgrim! The United States houses one of the largest Volcanos in the world. Yes, the main stream scientists will say something like, "Well, this Volcano is very safe because its been dormant for 600,000 to 800,000 years!" Wow, so we really have nothing to worry about? Although the comfort of knowing it wont erupt in my life time is comforting, I don't believe it is true as well as others who don't quite believe that. It is my belief just by my limited life and observation of nature and erosion that I think our time scale of Earth and the frequency in which it changes is off. This may be to give the world a false sense of security while the super rich do their best to try and survive it. But I think judging from the Bible as well, that these frequencies happen so often and predictably that it is what makes the Bible valuable. As it is people who have survived this flood and devastation to write about it. Yes, I will even go conspiracy theorist on you. But lets start with Science. If you would observe the United states on google earth. You will see the Center line going north to south of the USA is what we call "the Great Plains". Its mostly sand and grass. On either side you have the appellation mountains and the rocky mountains. Washington State is on the edge of a tectonic plate in which it is riding on top of the oceanic tectonic plate. This oceanic plate go underneath the Washington Plate. "Yeah so" you may ask. Well, this friction and pressure creates heat. This heat will turn the tectonic plate into "Magma". BUT! what about the water? The Water will be GAS. with the combination of these two elements at work creates a huge amount of pressure. This pressure would cause the norther tectonic plate to raise kind of like pressure behind a pimple causes the skin to raise. So lets say Noah lived in the great plains of the USA and god said build a boat, and caused the oceans to swell which leads to a flooding of the river. Well, if you go to https://www.floodmap.net/ and set the water level to be 400 meters above sea level you will see how a boat from Iowa could rise to the ocean. Now go to 1000 meters as assumed by the bible. there is still dry ground but there is no way your getting to it with this new current. Now if Yellow stone erupts, it will be insane. But the water vapor and ash will create a 40 day 40 night rain storm, reacting with other volcanos doing the same thing, the whole world will be flooded. So that would make sense. Now the ocean current takes our Noah's ark and takes him across the now flooded norther part of Africa, passed Egypt, only to run into the Mountains of Arat! That makes the most sense to me. But it doesn't end there... If you don't want the conspiracy part of this. Then you don't have to read further. Everything before now was basically my answer. But... This is where it gets.... Crazy. The governments or shadow government.... Knows... and they know it will happen again because. It has before. Now you may say, "prove it to me". Okay. The Mayan Calendar is a symbol of a seal. the boarder of this seal is the Chines version of Son Wukongs crown (Monkey King, Goku, Super man.... yes they all come from this one story). Now If you look at the center symbol of the Mayan Calendar you see a face inside of a specific pattern, at the 2 o'clock position you see the same symbol. Then the more you look you see a "Compass". Now... Look at the Washington monument from google earth. You see the sun dial that is the monument. Then you see two ovals showing how the masons make everything mathematical and as perfectly symmetrical as possible. Then you see that the entrance of the area is in the 2 o'clock position from center. Showing the same time! But wait you may say, where is the compass!? Zoom out and the street is a the compass and where the pencil would be at the end of the hinged arms, is THE MOTHER EFFEN WHITE HOUSE! But wait. that street was built before the Mayan Calendar was discovered... Oh it gets better. Have a look at your dollar bill! On the back where you see the pyramid. Around that pyramid is a Circle, at the bottom it says "the one great seal" Which is a reference to the Bible and the 7 Seals. (we are in the 7th chapter of the bible, this is why there are 7 stars and angels in all the government paintings.) Now the base of the Pyramid is not sand, its water! On the outside of the Seal is what looks like a sea shell (symbol of the kind of Atlantis, and there are sea shells above the oval office book shelves). Water is over coming the "great seal" AKA the flood. Now turn the dollar over. You see all the 1's in each corner have a different boarder. Lets start with the top left. The "one seal" is drown in water. Bottom Right: Water at the top, and bottom of a perfect circle, "Water begins to withdraw revealing solid ground. (ONE DOLLAR) with George Washington, The base shows water on both sides of the solid foundation. They establish their first president when the waters are now on both sides of the continent. Bottom Right: They establish themselves as Kings of the world. But! it is the Chinese Crown! same as the Mayan Calendar and the Monkey King. (Interesting). Then the olive branch in the boarder becomes ripe and ready for harvest before the final stamp to start over in the top right. Please take this information and prove me wrong so I can stop thinking about it! https://preview.redd.it/9b2afu1akioc1.jpg?width=1216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9a4acc42b32912ceffccf8ea7a4afc94a68898a |
2024.03.14 21:05 SamueleDelPapa Purtroppo la scienza è in mano alle strutture sovranazionale e molta gente crede ai fufa guru ......
L'uomo dal polmone d'acciaio L'estate del 1952 fu calda, anche per gli standard del Texas: 25 giorni sopra i 100°F (38°C), i giorni "freschi" non molto più freschi. Ma in tutto lo Stato le piscine erano chiuse. Anche i cinema, i bar e le piste da bowling. Le funzioni religiose sono state sospese. Le città hanno cosparso le loro strade di insetticida DDT; ormai i funzionari sanitari sapevano che le zanzare non diffondevano la malattia, ma bisognava vedere che facevano qualcosa. Niente sembrava funzionare. Con il passare dell’estate, il numero dei casi di poliomielite è cresciuto. Un giorno di luglio, in un tranquillo sobborgo di Dallas, un bambino di sei anni di nome Paul Alexander stava giocando fuori sotto la pioggia estiva. Non si sentiva bene: gli faceva male il collo, gli pulsava la testa. Lasciando le scarpe infangate nel cortile, entrò a piedi nudi in cucina, lasciando che la zanzariera sbattesse dietro di lui. Quando sua madre alzò lo sguardo verso il suo volto febbrile, rimase senza fiato. Lo fece correre fuori a prendergli le scarpe, poi gli ordinò di andare a letto. La badante e amica Kathy Gaines fa radere Paul R. Alexander, 72 anni, giovedì 12 settembre 2019, nel suo appartamento a Dallas, in Texas. Alexander è una delle poche persone rimaste che usa un polmone d'acciaio per aiutare a respirare. Alexander soffrì di poliomielite all'età di 6 anni. L'uomo dal polmone d'acciaio – podcast Leggi di più
Paul trascorse il primo giorno nel letto dei suoi genitori, compilando i libri da colorare di Roy Rogers. Ma anche se la febbre era salita alle stelle e dolori lancinanti si erano manifestati alle sue membra, il medico di famiglia ha consigliato ai suoi genitori di non portarlo in ospedale. Era chiaro che aveva la poliomielite, ma c'erano troppi pazienti lì, ha detto il medico. Paul aveva maggiori possibilità di riprendersi a casa. Nei giorni successivi le condizioni del ragazzo peggiorarono. Cinque giorni dopo essere entrato in cucina a piedi nudi, Paul non riusciva più a tenere in mano un pastello, a parlare, a deglutire o a tossire. I suoi genitori lo portarono d'urgenza all'ospedale di Parkland. Sebbene il personale fosse ben addestrato e ci fosse un reparto dedicato alla poliomielite, l’ospedale era sopraffatto. C’erano bambini malati ovunque e nessun posto dove curarli tutti. La madre di Paul lo tenne tra le braccia e attese. Quando il ragazzo fu finalmente visitato da un medico, a sua madre fu detto che non c'era niente da fare per lui. Paul fu lasciato su una barella in un corridoio, respirando a malapena. Sarebbe morto se un altro medico non avesse deciso di esaminarlo nuovamente. Questo secondo medico lo prese in braccio, corse con lui in sala operatoria e gli eseguì una tracheotomia d'urgenza per aspirare la congestione nei suoi polmoni che il suo corpo paralizzato non riusciva a spostare. Tre giorni dopo, Paul si svegliò. Il suo corpo era racchiuso in una macchina che ansimava e sospirava. Non poteva muoversi. Non poteva parlare. Non poteva tossire. Non riusciva a vedere attraverso le finestre appannate della tenda a vapore: un cappuccio di vinile che manteneva umida l'aria intorno alla sua testa e il muco nei suoi polmoni sciolto. Pensava che fosse morto. Quando alla fine la tenda fu rimossa, tutto ciò che riuscì a vedere furono le teste di altri bambini, i loro corpi racchiusi in contenitori di metallo, infermiere in uniformi bianche inamidate e berretti che fluttuavano tra loro. “Per quanto puoi vedere, file e file di polmoni di ferro. Pieno di bambini”, ha ricordato di recente. Bambini con polmoni d'acciaio durante un'epidemia di poliomielite negli Stati Uniti negli anni '50. Bambini con polmoni d'acciaio durante un'epidemia di poliomielite negli Stati Uniti negli anni '50. Fotografia: Immagini di storia della scienza/Alamy Stock Photo I successivi 18 mesi furono torture. Sebbene non potesse parlare a causa della tracheotomia, poteva sentire le grida di dolore degli altri bambini. Rimase sdraiato per ore nei suoi rifiuti perché non poteva dire al personale che aveva bisogno di essere pulito. È quasi annegato nel suo stesso muco. I suoi genitori venivano a trovarlo quasi ogni giorno, ma la sua esistenza era inesorabilmente noiosa. Lui e gli altri bambini cercarono di comunicare, facendosi delle smorfie, ma, Paul disse: “Ogni volta che mi facevo un amico, loro morivano”. Paul si riprese dall'infezione iniziale, ma la poliomielite lo lasciò quasi completamente paralizzato dal collo in giù. Ciò che il suo diaframma non poteva più fare per lui, lo fece il polmone d'acciaio. Paul era disteso sulla schiena, con la testa appoggiata su un cuscino e il corpo racchiuso nel cilindro di metallo dal collo in giù. L'aria veniva aspirata dal cilindro da una serie di soffietti in pelle azionati da un motore; la pressione negativa creata dal vuoto costringeva i suoi polmoni ad espandersi. Quando l'aria fu reimmessa, il cambiamento di pressione sgonfiò delicatamente i suoi polmoni. Questo era il sibilo e il sospiro regolari che manteneva in vita Paul. Non poteva lasciare il polmone. Quando il personale medico l’ha aperto per lavarlo o gestire le sue funzioni corporee, ha dovuto trattenere il respiro. Ciò che Paul ricorda più vividamente del reparto è sentire i medici parlare di lui durante i loro giri. “Morirà oggi”, hanno detto. "Non dovrebbe essere vivo." Lo rendeva furioso. Gli faceva venire voglia di vivere. Nel 1954, quando Paul aveva otto anni, sua madre ricevette una telefonata da un fisioterapista che lavorava con la March of Dimes, un ente di beneficenza statunitense dedito all'eradicazione della poliomielite. I mesi trascorsi nel reparto antipolio di Paul gli avevano lasciato la paura dei medici e degli infermieri, ma sua madre lo rassicurò e così la terapista, la signora Sullivan, iniziò a visitarlo due volte a settimana. Paul raccontò al terapeuta delle volte in cui era stato costretto dai medici a provare a respirare senza i polmoni, di come era diventato blu ed era svenuto. Le raccontò anche di quella volta in cui aveva inghiottito e “inghiottito” un po' d'aria, quasi come se respirasse. La tecnica aveva un nome tecnico, “respirazione glossofaringea”. Intrappoli l'aria nella bocca e nella cavità della gola appiattendo la lingua e aprendo la gola, come se stessi dicendo "ahh" per il dottore. Con la bocca chiusa, il muscolo della gola spinge l'aria oltre le corde vocali e nei polmoni. Paolo lo chiamava “respiro di rana”. Paul Alexander nel suo polmone d'acciaio a casa a Dallas Texas, 12 settembre 2019, Paul Alexander nel suo polmone d'acciaio. Fotografia: Allison Smith/The Guardian Sullivan ha fatto un patto con il suo paziente. Se fosse riuscito a respirare come una rana senza il polmone d'acciaio per tre minuti, gli avrebbe dato un cucciolo. Paul ha impiegato un anno per imparare a farlo, ma ha preso il suo cucciolo; la chiamava Ginger. E anche se doveva pensare a ogni respiro, è diventato più bravo. Una volta che riusciva a respirare in modo affidabile per un tempo sufficientemente lungo, poteva uscire dai polmoni per brevi periodi di tempo, prima fuori in veranda e poi in cortile. Sebbene avesse ancora bisogno di dormire nel polmone d’acciaio ogni notte – non riusciva a respirare quando era privo di sensi – Paul non si fermò al cortile. A 21 anni, è diventato la prima persona a diplomarsi in una scuola superiore di Dallas senza frequentare fisicamente una lezione. Dopo ripetuti rifiuti da parte dell'amministrazione universitaria, entrò alla Southern Methodist University di Dallas, poi alla facoltà di giurisprudenza presso l'Università del Texas ad Austin. Per decenni, Paul ha lavorato come avvocato a Dallas e Fort Worth, rappresentando i clienti in tribunale indossando un abito a tre pezzi e una sedia a rotelle modificata che teneva in posizione verticale il suo corpo paralizzato. In un’epoca in cui le persone disabili erano viste meno spesso in pubblico – l’Americans With Disabilities Act, che vietava la discriminazione, non sarebbe stato approvato fino al 1990 – Paul era visibile. Nel corso della sua vita è stato sugli aerei e negli strip club, ha visto l'oceano, ha pregato in chiesa, si è innamorato, ha vissuto da solo e ha organizzato un sit-in per i diritti dei disabili. È affascinante, amichevole, loquace, pronto ad arrabbiarsi e pronto a fare battute. A 74 anni è di nuovo confinato nel polmone a tempo pieno. Solo un'altra persona negli Stati Uniti ne usa ancora uno. L’ultima persona ad utilizzare un polmone d’acciaio nel Regno Unito è morta nel dicembre 2017, all’età di 75 anni. Nessuno si aspettava che qualcuno che aveva bisogno di un polmone d’acciaio vivesse così a lungo. E dopo essere sopravvissuto a un’epidemia mortale, Paul non si aspettava di trovarsi minacciato da un’altra. La poliomielite uccide per soffocamento, non danneggiando i polmoni, come fa il Covid-19, ma attaccando i motoneuroni nel midollo spinale, indebolendo o interrompendo la comunicazione tra il sistema nervoso centrale e i muscoli. La conseguente paralisi fa sì che i muscoli che permettono di respirare non funzionino più. La poliomielite è esistita in epidemie isolate in tutto il mondo per millenni, ma non è diventata un’epidemia fino al 20° secolo – aiutata, ironicamente, dai miglioramenti nei servizi igienico-sanitari. Il poliovirus entra nel corpo attraverso la bocca, il cibo o l'acqua, o le mani non lavate, contaminate da materiale fecale infetto. Fino al 19° secolo, quasi tutti i bambini sarebbero entrati in contatto con il poliovirus prima dell’età di un anno, mentre godevano ancora della protezione dagli anticorpi materni trasferiti dalla madre al bambino durante la gravidanza. Tuttavia, con il miglioramento delle condizioni igienico-sanitarie, i bambini avevano meno probabilità di entrare in contatto con il poliovirus da neonati; quando l’hanno incontrata da bambini più grandi, il loro sistema immunitario era impreparato. Negli Stati Uniti, dal 1916 in poi, ogni estate portò un’epidemia di poliomielite in qualche parte del paese. Al suo apice negli anni ’40 e ’50, il virus era responsabile di oltre 15.000 casi di paralisi ogni anno negli Stati Uniti. Nello stesso periodo uccise o paralizzò almeno 600.000 persone ogni anno in tutto il mondo. L’anno in cui Paul contrasse il virus, il 1952, vide la più grande epidemia di poliomielite nella storia degli Stati Uniti: quasi 58.000 casi in tutta la nazione. Di questi, più di 21.000 persone – per lo più bambini – rimasero con vari gradi di disabilità e 3.145 morirono. Un assistente regola il poggiatesta di Paul mentre giace in un polmone d'acciaio nel suo appartamento a Dallas, in Texas. Un assistente regola il poggiatesta di Paul. Fotografia: Allison Smith/The Guardian Sebbene la poliomielite non fosse la più letale delle malattie epidemiche, si trasformava ovunque la toccasse. "Era come la peste, faceva impazzire tutti", mi ha detto Paul quando gli ho parlato per la prima volta l'anno scorso. Nei luoghi in cui si sono verificati i focolai, le famiglie si sono rifugiate nella paura nelle case con le finestre chiuse. Chiusi tutti i tipi di luoghi di ritrovo pubblici. Le interazioni umane erano intrise di incertezza. Secondo lo storico David Oshinsky, alcune persone si rifiutavano di parlare al telefono perché temevano che il virus potesse trasmettersi attraverso la linea telefonica. Durante la prima grande epidemia a New York nel 1916, 72.000 gatti e 8.000 cani furono uccisi in un mese dopo che si sparse la voce che gli animali trasmettessero la malattia (non è così). Negli anni ’40, i genitori facevano eseguire ai propri figli “test antipolio” ogni giorno durante l’estate – toccandogli le dita dei piedi, abbassando il mento sul petto, controllando dolore o debolezza – mentre le compagnie di assicurazione vendevano “assicurazione antipolio” ai genitori di neonati. Prima dell’arrivo di un vaccino nel 1955, ciò che rendeva la poliomielite così terrificante era che non c’era modo di prevedere chi sarebbe uscito da un’infezione con mal di testa e chi non avrebbe mai più camminato. Nella maggior parte dei casi, la malattia non ha avuto effetti visibili. Del 30% circa che ha mostrato sintomi, la maggior parte ha manifestato solo malattie minori. Ma una piccola percentuale, il 4-5%, ha mostrato sintomi gravi, tra cui forti dolori muscolari, febbre alta e delirio. Mentre il virus si faceva strada attraverso il tessuto neurale del midollo spinale, alcune delle persone infette rimasero paralizzate; questa progressione del virus era nota come poliomielite paralitica. Circa il 5-10% dei pazienti che contraevano la poliomielite paralitica morivano, sebbene questo numero fosse molto più alto nei giorni precedenti all’uso diffuso del polmone d’acciaio. Se avevamo dimenticato il terrore delle epidemie, ora ce lo viene ricordato con la forza. L'ultima volta che ho parlato con Paul, ad aprile, è stato tramite Skype, dai nostri rispettivi lockdown – lui nel suo polmone d'acciaio in un appartamento a Dallas, con uno staff a rotazione di assistenti a tempo pieno e un Amazon Echo accanto alla sua testa, e io nella mia casa nel Surrey, in Inghilterra. Come la poliomielite, il Covid-19 può essere trasmesso da portatori silenziosi che non sanno di averlo. Come la poliomielite, ha sospeso la vita normale. E proprio come nel caso della polio, stiamo riponendo le nostre speranze in un vaccino. Si parla addirittura di ripristinare il polmone d’acciaio: un’iniziativa con sede nel Regno Unito sta cercando di portare un nuovo ventilatore a pressione negativa chiamato Exovent negli ospedali per i pazienti affetti da Covid-19. A differenza dei ventilatori a pressione positiva, questo polmone di ferro più piccolo si adatterebbe al torace del paziente, consentendogli di rimanere cosciente, parlare, mangiare e assumere farmaci per via orale mentre una macchina respira per lui. “È esattamente così che era, per me è quasi strano”, ha detto Paul riferendosi al parallelismo tra poliomielite e Covid-19. "Mi spaventa." Anche se questo virus, se lo contrarrà, probabilmente lo ucciderà, la vita di Paul non è cambiata radicalmente dall’inizio della pandemia. Sono anni che non riesce ad avventurarsi fuori dai suoi polmoni per più di cinque minuti. Come mi ha detto uno dei suoi amici: “Non è uno sforzo per lui, è la sua vita. Questo è il signor Shelter-in-Place. Ho chiesto a Paul se è preoccupato per il Covid-19. "Certo, certo", disse. Poi ha aggiunto: “Beh, non mi siedo e mi preoccupo. Sto morendo molto. Non fa alcuna differenza. La salute di Paul è sempre stata precaria, ma negli ultimi anni è peggiorata. Quando l'ho incontrato per la prima volta nel maggio 2019, era ricoverato a lungo termine al Clements Hospital, nel nord di Dallas. Più di quattro mesi prima aveva sviluppato un'infezione respiratoria persistente, che lo aveva mandato in ospedale. Soffre anche dolore alle gambe ogni volta che viene spostato. Sperava che i medici potessero aiutarlo a gestire quel dolore, ma, mi ha detto, "non se ne andrà", alzando lo sguardo da un cuscino su un'ampia tavola attaccata a un'estremità del polmone. La sua voce è lenta, roca e talvolta punteggiata da sussulti. Ascoltare Paul sopra i continui sospiri della macchina richiede che l'ascoltatore si concentri su di lui e disattivi il polmone; di conseguenza, è abituato a essere ascoltato. Accanto alla testa di Paul c’era un bastoncino di plastica trasparente, piatto e lungo circa trenta centimetri, con una penna attaccata all’estremità. Suo padre ha realizzato un bastone come questo quando Paul era bambino, e da allora ne usa diverse versioni. Tiene in bocca l'estremità del bastoncino e maneggia la penna per scrivere, digitare e premere i pulsanti del telefono; l'ha usato per firmare la liberatoria dell'ospedale che gli permetteva di parlare con me, anche se si è irritato all'idea di dover firmare qualsiasi cosa per raccontarmi la sua storia. "Questa è la cosa più ridicola", borbottò. I denti di Paul sono appiattiti e consumati da anni di utilizzo del bastone. Anche se il suo corpo all'interno del polmone è appena più grande di quando era bambino e i suoi muscoli si sono atrofizzati, il suo collo misura 18 pollici di circonferenza e i muscoli della mascella sono sporgenti. Il polmone d’acciaio di Paul – il suo fedele “vecchio cavallo di ferro”, come lo chiama lui – è il colore giallo burro degli elettrodomestici da cucina degli anni ’50. Le sue gambe in metallo, che terminano con ruote in gomma nera, lo sollevano ad un'altezza adatta a un assistente, mentre le finestre nella parte superiore permettono di vedere l'interno, e quattro oblò sui lati permettono di entrare. Per aprire la macchina, che pesa quasi 300 kg, gli assistenti devono rilasciare i sigilli sulla testata e far scivolare l'utente sul letto interno. Gli oblò, le valvole di pressione, la forma cilindrica e il colore danno l'impressione di un robusto sottomarino in miniatura. Paul Alexander, paralizzato dalla poliomielite nel 1952, dipingeva con la bocca dentro un polmone di ferro, anni '60 circa Paul nel suo polmone d'acciaio da bambino. Fotografia: per gentile concessione di Paul Alexander I polmoni di ferro sono stati costruiti per durare, anche se nessuno pensava che le persone al loro interno sarebbero durate. Il dispositivo fu inventato nel 1928 da Philip Drinker, un ingegnere medico, e Louis Shaw, un fisiologo, ad Harvard. Bevitore aveva visitato il Boston Children's Hospital per indagare su un malfunzionamento dell'aria condizionata nel reparto per bambini prematuri, ma ne tornò turbato da ciò che vide nel reparto polio: "le piccole facce blu, il terribile respiro affannoso", come sua sorella e biografa , Catherine Bevitrice Bowen,scrisse più tardi. La sua invenzione era un meccanismo semplice, che svolgeva il lavoro dei muscoli impoveriti, e significava che migliaia di bambini che sarebbero morti non lo avrebbero fatto. Il polmone d'acciaio doveva essere utilizzato per un massimo di due settimane, per dare al corpo la possibilità di riprendersi. Nel corso del tempo, il claustrofobico polmone d’acciaio è diventato l’emblema degli effetti devastanti della poliomielite. Solo i pazienti più malati finivano in uno; se ce l'avessero fatta, probabilmente sarebbe seguita una vita di disabilità. Ma una volta che il vaccino fu somministrato ai bambini negli Stati Uniti a partire dal 1955, l’incidenza della malattia precipitò. Coloro che necessitavano di assistenza respiratoria a breve termine venivano curati con ventilatori a pressione positiva più invasivi ma molto più piccoli, inventati nel 1952 da un anestesista durante un’epidemia di poliomielite a Copenaghen. Questi spingono l'aria direttamente dentro e fuori i polmoni attraverso la bocca, tramite un tubo che viene fatto scorrere lungo la gola mentre il paziente è sedato, o attraverso un foro praticato nella trachea. Questi, come il polmone d'acciaio, erano destinati solo a un uso a breve termine; quelle poche persone che avevano bisogno di aiuto per respirare per il resto della loro vita vedevano un buco in gola come un prezzo accettabile da pagare per la maggiore mobilità offerta dalla pressione positiva. Gli ultimi polmoni in ferro furono prodotti alla fine degli anni '60. Quando i ventilatori a pressione positiva furono ampiamente utilizzati, tuttavia, Paul era abituato a vivere nel suo polmone e aveva già imparato a respirare per parte del tempo senza di esso. Inoltre non avrebbe mai più voluto avere un buco in gola. Quindi ha mantenuto il suo polmone d'acciaio. Con il declino della malattia e i suoi ricordi visivi nascosti in una manciata di case e strutture di cura, in gran parte del mondo occidentale il terrore della poliomielite è svanito dalla memoria collettiva. "Non puoi credere a quante persone sono entrate nel mio studio legale", ha detto Paul, "e hanno visto il mio polmone d'acciaio e hanno detto: 'Cos'è quello?' E io dicevo loro: 'È un polmone d'acciaio'. 'Cosa funziona?" "Respira per me." "Perché?" "Ho preso la poliomielite quando ero piccolo." "Cos'è la poliomielite?" Uh oh." David Oshinsky, l'autore diPolio: An American Story, ritiene che il successo dei vaccini nell’eradicazione di così tante malattie mortali sia proprio il motivo per cui il movimento anti-vaxx ha guadagnato terreno negli ultimi anni. “Questi vaccini hanno eliminato le prove di quanto fossero spaventose queste malattie”, mi ha detto. Quando andai a trovarlo al Clements Hospital, Paul sembrava una sorta di celebrità medica: nessuno del personale ospedaliero aveva mai visto prima un polmone d'acciaio. Mentre parlavamo, sono entrate due donne in camice da infermiere. Erano di un’altra unità, ma volevano solo incontrare l’uomo con il polmone d’acciaio, hanno detto. Paul disse loro che era nel bel mezzo di un'intervista. “Va tutto bene, signore”, disse l’infermiera più anziana, “ascolteremo solo per un po’”. Dopo che se ne sono andati, Paul mi ha detto che succede sempre. “È così, è come vivere in uno zoo”, ha detto. Le persone spesso escono dall'incontro con Paul con umiltà. Norman Brown, un infermiere in pensione che è un buon amico di Paul dal 1971, ha detto: "Quel ragazzo è un personaggio davvero impressionante... la maggior parte delle persone rimane in soggezione quando lo incontra per la prima volta". A Paul non dispiace rispondere alle domande della gente: “Sono un avvocato, sono pagato per parlare!” Gli piace parlare di poliomielite e di... polmone, e sulla sua vita, perché ciò che lo terrorizza, ancor più della possibilità del Covid-19, è che il mondo dimenticherà com’era la poliomielite e cosa ha ottenuto nonostante essa. La vigilia di Natale del 1953, un anno e mezzo dopo il ricovero di Paul al Parkland Hospital, i suoi genitori noleggiarono un generatore portatile e un camion per riportare a casa lui e il suo polmone d'acciaio. Fu un viaggio breve e snervante: "Da un momento all'altro sembrava che quel vecchio generatore si sarebbe spento", raccontò in seguito suo padre Gus a un giornale del Texas. “Continuava a scoppiare. Non sapevo se saremmo tornati a casa oppure no. Parte del motivo per cui Paul fu autorizzato a lasciare l'ospedale era che nessuno si aspettava che vivesse a lungo. Ma Paolo non è morto. Ha guadagnato peso; il giorno in cui tornò a casa, suo fratello maggiore gli preparò un piatto di bacon – il migliore che avesse mai assaggiato, disse. I suoi genitori dormivano con lui nello stesso soggiorno al pianterreno, sempre mezzo svegli nel caso in cui il fruscio della macchina si fermasse. Lo faceva durante le interruzioni di corrente – anche oggi, le tempeste e i tornado texani a volte abbattono le linee elettriche – e i suoi genitori dovevano pompare la macchina a mano, chiamando i vicini per aiutare. Dopo tre anni, Paul poteva lasciare il suo polmone per alcune ore alla volta. Il suo respiro da rana era diventato una memoria muscolare – come andare in bicicletta, mi disse. La sua istruzione era stata lasciata al naufragio durante i suoi 18 mesi in reparto. Un giorno sua madre entrò con una pila di libri presi in prestito dalla scuola elementare locale: gli avrebbe insegnato a leggere. Paul Alexander, paralizzato dalla poliomielite nel 1952, su una sedia a rotelle mentre si prendeva una pausa fuori dal suo polmone d'acciaio, intorno agli anni '60 Paul da giovane, fuori dal suo polmone d'acciaio. Fotografia: per gentile concessione di Paul Alexander “Avevo tutte queste ambizioni. Sarei diventato presidente", ha detto. Ma i suoi genitori, insieme a quelli di molti altri bambini disabili, hanno impiegato più di un anno per convincere il sistema scolastico di Dallas a permettergli di seguire le lezioni da casa. Nel 1959, quando aveva 13 anni, Paul fu uno dei primi studenti a iscriversi al nuovo programma distrettuale per i bambini a casa. “Sapevo che se avessi fatto qualcosa nella mia vita, sarebbe dovuta essere una cosa mentale. Non sarei diventato un giocatore di basket", mi ha detto. La maggior parte dei giorni lasciava il polmone nel momento in cui gli altri bambini uscivano da scuola e si sedeva davanti alla sua sedia a rotelle. Gli amici lo spingevano per le strade; poi, una volta cresciuto, gli stessi amici lo portarono nelle tavole calde e nei cinema, poi nei ristoranti e nei bar. E andò in chiesa. La Chiesa pentecostale, alla quale appartengono gli Alessandri, è una denominazione caratterizzata da un'esperienza personale e appassionata di Dio. Alla fine di ogni servizio, i fedeli sono invitati a venire davanti alla chiesa e pregare. "Mio padre mi portava laggiù a volte per pregare con lui, e allora lasciava uscire tutte le sue emozioni", mi ha detto il fratello minore di Paul, Phil. "Piangeva e piangeva e basta." Paul ha affrontato le sue emozioni in un modo diverso. La poliomielite lo aveva privato della sua indipendenza. “Ha lasciato sfogare molto la sua rabbia. Aveva una bocca", ha ricordato Phil. “Lo capisco perfettamente. Avrebbe urlato, urlato, imprecato e tirato fuori tutto, e i miei genitori avrebbero lasciato che accadesse, perché ovviamente Paul avrebbe avuto bisogno di una liberazione... era normale. Fa male a Paul pensarci adesso. “Ci sono stati momenti frustranti, momenti in cui mi arrabbiavo davvero, urlavo. Ma mamma e papà erano così tolleranti che sembravano semplicemente capire”, ha detto. Mentre parlava, le lacrime gli scorrevano lungo la tempia fino al cuscino. Nel 1967, Paul, che ora ha 21 anni, si diplomò al liceo con un punteggio quasi etero. La sua unica B era in biologia, perché non era in grado di sezionare un topo. "Ero così arrabbiato", ha detto. (Lo è ancora.) Fece domanda alla Southern Methodist University di Dallas, ma nonostante il suo curriculum accademico, fu rifiutato. "Ero troppo paralizzato", disse con amarezza. "Ha rotto il mio cuore. Ho combattuto per due anni, li ho chiamati ripetutamente. “‘Bene, aspetta un attimo’, dicevo, ‘voglio che tu ci riconsideri, pensi a questo. Vengo da te, voglio parlarti!’” I suoi insegnanti delle scuole superiori lo appoggiavano. Alla fine, il preside delle ammissioni cedette, a due condizioni: che trovasse qualcuno che lo aiutasse ad andare a lezione e che facesse il vaccino antipolio. Paul Alexander, riflesso in uno specchio attaccato al suo polmone d'acciaio, giovedì 12 settembre 2019, nel suo appartamento a Dallas, in Texas. Paul si rifletteva in uno specchio attaccato al suo polmone d'acciaio. Fotografia: Allison Smith/The Guardian Paul era “spaventato a morte” mentre entrava nella sua prima classe. “Devi capire che allora non c'erano storpi. Non ce n'era nessuno nel campus, ero l'unico. Ovunque andassi, ero l'unico. Ristorante, cinema – ho pensato: ‘Wow, non c’è nessun altro qui fuori. Aprirò semplicemente la strada’”, ha detto. “In un certo senso pensavo a me stesso come a rappresentare un gruppo. Ho combattuto per questo motivo. «Cosa vuol dire che non posso tornare lì?» Voglio tornare lì!’… ‘Non puoi farlo’. ‘Oh sì, posso!’ Litigavo sempre”. Paul incontrò una donna, Claire, e se ne innamorò. Si sono fidanzati. Ma un giorno, quando lui chiamò, sua madre – che da tempo si opponeva alla relazione – rispose, rifiutandosi di lasciarlo parlare con lei e dicendogli di non parlare mai più con sua figlia. "Ci sono voluti anni per guarire da questo", ha detto. Si è trasferito all'Università del Texas ad Austin. Alla Southern Methodist University viveva a casa, ma ora era da solo. I suoi genitori erano terrorizzati. All'UT, la badante che Paul aveva assunto non si è mai presentata, quindi per un mese i ragazzi del suo dormitorio si sono presi cura di lui - anche "delle cose più intime", ha detto - finché non è stato in grado di assumerne una nuova. Paul si laureò nel 1978 e successivamente iniziò a studiare per una specializzazione in giurisprudenza. Nel novembre 1980 fece nuovamente notizia: "L'uomo dalla volontà di ferro lascia il polmone d'acciaio per votare", dichiarava un articolo sul quotidiano Austin American Statesman. Paul ha lottato per cercare di pagare un'assistente a tempo pieno e allo stesso tempo la sua istruzione, ma nel 1984 si è laureato in giurisprudenza presso l'Università di Austin e ha trovato lavoro come insegnante di terminologia legale agli stenografi del tribunale presso un Austin scuola commerciale. Quando un giornalista gli chiese se i suoi studenti trovassero a disagio la presenza nella sua classe, lui rispose: “Non permetto che le persone si sentano a disagio per molto tempo”. Superò gli esami di avvocato e il 19 maggio 1986 alzò leggermente il pollice destro mentre prestava giuramento promettendo di comportarsi con integrità come avvocato davanti al giudice capo della corte suprema del Texas. Aveva 40 anni, indossava un elegante abito a tre pezzi, viveva da solo e poteva trascorrere gran parte della giornata fuori dalla macchina che ancora lo teneva in vita. La storia di come Paul ha imparato a respirare è fondamentale per il modo in cui pensa a se stesso. Rappresenta la determinazione che ha reso possibile tutto il resto – l’accesso all’università, la laurea in giurisprudenza, la vita di relativa indipendenza. Ha anche ispirato il titolo del libro di memorie, Tre minuti per un cane, che ha autopubblicato ad aprile. Gli ci sono voluti più di otto anni per scriverlo, usando il bastoncino di plastica e una penna per scrivere la sua storia sulla tastiera, o dettando le parole al suo amico, l'ex infermiere Norman Brown. Ma il titolo del libro è stata un’idea di Kathy Gaines. Kathy, 62 anni, è stata la badante di Alexander da quando si è laureato in giurisprudenza e si è trasferito nella zona di Dallas-Fort Worth, anche se nessuno dei due ricorda esattamente quando ha trovato la sua pubblicità sul giornale ed è diventata le sue "braccia e gambe". Kathy è diabetica di tipo 1 e, a causa della malattia, è legalmente cieca da anni, quindi non può guidare. Durante i cinque mesi di degenza di Paul in ospedale, l’anno scorso, lei prendeva l’autobus o un passaggio ogni giorno. Ha insegnato al personale infermieristico come gestire la macchina e, in una certa misura, a Paul. Mentre parlavamo, Kathy ci portò tazze di schiuma di caffè ospedaliero e una cannuccia di plastica flessibile per Paul. Lo lasciò abbastanza vicino perché lui potesse raggiungerlo con la lingua e la bocca, ma non così vicino da essere d'intralcio. Kathy sa come radere il viso di Paul, cambiargli i vestiti e le lenzuola, tagliargli i capelli e le unghie, passargli lo spazzolino da denti, sbrigare le sue scartoffie, prendere i suoi appuntamenti, fare la spesa, e quando dice "biscotto" di solito intende dire "Muffin inglese". A volte, se vede la sua testa in una posizione che pensa sarà scomoda per lui, la muoverà senza chiedere. (Non sempre lo apprezza.) Kathy sa tutto di lui, dice Paul. "Kathy e io siamo cresciuti insieme... lei si è impegnata in tutte le cose di cui avevo bisogno", ha detto. Per la maggior parte della loro relazione, Kathy ha vissuto con Paul o quasi nella porta accanto. Si sono spostati molto: la sua carriera legale non è stata redditizia e ha avuto difficoltà finanziarie. Oggi Kathy vive al piano di sopra nel loro condominio comune. Lo vede tutti i giorni, che lavori o no. Sebbene Kathy e Paul non siano mai stati coinvolti sentimentalmente, suo fratello Phil descrive la loro relazione come un matrimonio. "Paul è sempre stato aggressivo riguardo alle cose che vuole e di cui ha bisogno intorno alle altre persone", ha detto. “È piuttosto esigente. Ma Kathy è più esigente di lui. Hanno avuto i loro momenti, ma riescono sempre a risolverli. Paul ha sempre desiderato l'indipendenza. Ma la sua vita dipende dal fatto che i suoi badanti si presentino al lavoro, dal fatto che il suo polmone d'acciaio non salti una guarnizione, dall'elettricità che rimane accesa. “È dipeso al 100% dalla gentilezza degli altri da quando aveva sei anni – al 100%. E lo ha fatto in virtù della sua voce, del suo comportamento e della sua capacità di comunicare", ha detto Norman Brown. “Farei cose per lui che non farei per le persone. Ad esempio, è stato sfrattato da un appartamento e dice: "Voglio sfondare la porta di quell'amministratore". E quando dice "Voglio fare qualcosa", significa che lo farai. Quindi abbiamo preso un mucchio di uova e siamo andati all’appartamento di quel manager”, ha detto Brown ridendo. Ciò che Paul odia è essere invisibile. Ricorda di essere andato nei ristoranti in cui il cameriere chiedeva al suo compagno: "Cosa mangerà?" La sua voce tremava di rabbia al ricordo. "Penso che sia il motivo per cui combatto così duramente, perché ci sono persone che stanno lì con il coraggio di dirmi cosa farò della mia vita... Non hai il diritto di dirmi cosa fare", ha detto. "Dovresti inginocchiarti e ringraziare Dio che non sei stato tu." Paul ora è sopravvissuto sia ai suoi genitori che a suo fratello maggiore, Nick. È sopravvissuto ai suoi vecchi amici. È addirittura sopravvissuto al suo polmone d'acciaio originale. Nel 2015, le guarnizioni stavano cedendo e perdeva aria. Non sorprende che i pezzi di ricambio per i polmoni d'acciaio e i meccanici che sanno cosa stanno guardando siano difficili da trovare, ma dopo che un amico ha pubblicato un video di Paul su YouTube chiedendo aiuto, un ingegnere locale di Dallas gli ha sistemato un motore rinnovato uno. Paul ha ancora grandi progetti – spera che le sue memorie “facciano il giro del mondo” – ma il Covid-19 è un nuovo pericolo. Paul è, ha detto Phil, “probabilmente la persona più vulnerabile” a un virus come questo. “Rimane positivo, ma abbiamo anche avuto conversazioni sul fatto che probabilmente questo ce la farà. È molto probabile.» Paul ha sempre pensato che la poliomielite, il “demone” che aveva cercato di distruggerlo, sarebbe tornata. “Vedo di nuovo gli ospedali inondati dalle vittime della poliomielite, un’epidemia, lo vedo così facilmente. Dico ai dottori che succederà. Non mi credono”, mi ha detto quando era in ospedale l’anno scorso. immagine composita delle scene in Scozia durante la pandemia di coronavirus "Le ultime sei settimane sono state diverse da qualsiasi cosa avessi mai conosciuto": un medico di base su come la pandemia ha cambiato il suo lavoro Leggi di più È solo grazie agli sforzi concertati di vaccinazione che non si è verificato un nuovo caso di poliomielite negli Stati Uniti dal 1979, o nel Regno Unito dal 1984. Nel 2000, l’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità aveva dichiarato che tutte le Americhe e la regione del Pacifico occidentale erano senza polio. L’India, che negli anni ’90 aveva registrato 200.000 casi di poliomielite all’anno, è stata dichiarata libera dalla poliomielite nel 2014 dopo una serie di aggressive campagne di vaccinazione. Il virus è ora endemico solo in tre paesi al mondo – Afghanistan, Nigeria e Pakistan – e i casi di poliomielite si contano a dozzine. Ma Paul aveva ragione nel dire che la maggior parte delle persone ha in gran parte dimenticato il terrore della poliomielite, proprio come noi abbiamo dimenticato il terrore di altre malattie contro le quali ora vacciniamo abitualmente: difterite, tifo, morbillo e parotite. E questo potrebbe essere un terreno fertile per il loro ritorno se non rimaniamo vigili. È difficile immaginare, nel mezzo di questa pandemia, che dimenticheremo anche il Covid-19. Ma potremmo. È difficile ricordare i nostri incubi il giorno dopo. La lezione della poliomielite – e di ogni volta che ci confrontiamo con la nostra terribile fragilità e sopravviviamo – è che a volte abbiamo bisogno di ricordare. Segui la lunga lettura su Twitter all'indirizzo @gdnlongread e iscriviti all'e-mail settimanale di lunga lettura qui. Esplora di più su questi argomenti
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Paul trascorse il primo giorno nel letto dei suoi genitori, compilando i libri da colorare di Roy Rogers. Ma anche se la febbre era salita alle stelle e dolori lancinanti si erano manifestati alle sue membra, il medico di famiglia ha consigliato ai suoi genitori di non portarlo in ospedale. Era chiaro che aveva la poliomielite, ma c'erano troppi pazienti lì, ha detto il medico. Paul aveva maggiori possibilità di riprendersi a casa. Nei giorni successivi le condizioni del ragazzo peggiorarono. Cinque giorni dopo essere entrato in cucina a piedi nudi, Paul non riusciva più a tenere in mano un pastello, a parlare, a deglutire o a tossire. I suoi genitori lo portarono d'urgenza all'ospedale di Parkland. Sebbene il personale fosse ben addestrato e ci fosse un reparto dedicato alla poliomielite, l’ospedale era sopraffatto. C’erano bambini malati ovunque e nessun posto dove curarli tutti. La madre di Paul lo tenne tra le braccia e attese. Quando il ragazzo fu finalmente visitato da un medico, a sua madre fu detto che non c'era niente da fare per lui. Paul fu lasciato su una barella in un corridoio, respirando a malapena. Sarebbe morto se un altro medico non avesse deciso di esaminarlo nuovamente. Questo secondo medico lo prese in braccio, corse con lui in sala operatoria e gli eseguì una tracheotomia d'urgenza per aspirare la congestione nei suoi polmoni che il suo corpo paralizzato non riusciva a spostare. Tre giorni dopo, Paul si svegliò. Il suo corpo era racchiuso in una macchina che ansimava e sospirava. Non poteva muoversi. Non poteva parlare. Non poteva tossire. Non riusciva a vedere attraverso le finestre appannate della tenda a vapore: un cappuccio di vinile che manteneva umida l'aria intorno alla sua testa e il muco nei suoi polmoni sciolto. Pensava che fosse morto. Quando alla fine la tenda fu rimossa, tutto ciò che riuscì a vedere furono le teste di altri bambini, i loro corpi racchiusi in contenitori di metallo, infermiere in uniformi bianche inamidate e berretti che fluttuavano tra loro. “Per quanto puoi vedere, file e file di polmoni di ferro. Pieno di bambini”, ha ricordato di recente. Bambini con polmoni d'acciaio durante un'epidemia di poliomielite negli Stati Uniti negli anni '50. Bambini con polmoni d'acciaio durante un'epidemia di poliomielite negli Stati Uniti negli anni '50. Fotografia: Immagini di storia della scienza/Alamy Stock Photo I successivi 18 mesi furono torture. Sebbene non potesse parlare a causa della tracheotomia, poteva sentire le grida di dolore degli altri bambini. Rimase sdraiato per ore nei suoi rifiuti perché non poteva dire al personale che aveva bisogno di essere pulito. È quasi annegato nel suo stesso muco. I suoi genitori venivano a trovarlo quasi ogni giorno, ma la sua esistenza era inesorabilmente noiosa. Lui e gli altri bambini cercarono di comunicare, facendosi delle smorfie, ma, Paul disse: “Ogni volta che mi facevo un amico, loro morivano”. Paul si riprese dall'infezione iniziale, ma la poliomielite lo lasciò quasi completamente paralizzato dal collo in giù. Ciò che il suo diaframma non poteva più fare per lui, lo fece il polmone d'acciaio. Paul era disteso sulla schiena, con la testa appoggiata su un cuscino e il corpo racchiuso nel cilindro di metallo dal collo in giù. L'aria veniva aspirata dal cilindro da una serie di soffietti in pelle azionati da un motore; la pressione negativa creata dal vuoto costringeva i suoi polmoni ad espandersi. Quando l'aria fu reimmessa, il cambiamento di pressione sgonfiò delicatamente i suoi polmoni. Questo era il sibilo e il sospiro regolari che manteneva in vita Paul. Non poteva lasciare il polmone. Quando il personale medico l’ha aperto per lavarlo o gestire le sue funzioni corporee, ha dovuto trattenere il respiro. Ciò che Paul ricorda più vividamente del reparto è sentire i medici parlare di lui durante i loro giri. “Morirà oggi”, hanno detto. "Non dovrebbe essere vivo." Lo rendeva furioso. Gli faceva venire voglia di vivere. Nel 1954, quando Paul aveva otto anni, sua madre ricevette una telefonata da un fisioterapista che lavorava con la March of Dimes, un ente di beneficenza statunitense dedito all'eradicazione della poliomielite. I mesi trascorsi nel reparto antipolio di Paul gli avevano lasciato la paura dei medici e degli infermieri, ma sua madre lo rassicurò e così la terapista, la signora Sullivan, iniziò a visitarlo due volte a settimana. Paul raccontò al terapeuta delle volte in cui era stato costretto dai medici a provare a respirare senza i polmoni, di come era diventato blu ed era svenuto. Le raccontò anche di quella volta in cui aveva inghiottito e “inghiottito” un po' d'aria, quasi come se respirasse. La tecnica aveva un nome tecnico, “respirazione glossofaringea”. Intrappoli l'aria nella bocca e nella cavità della gola appiattendo la lingua e aprendo la gola, come se stessi dicendo "ahh" per il dottore. Con la bocca chiusa, il muscolo della gola spinge l'aria oltre le corde vocali e nei polmoni. Paolo lo chiamava “respiro di rana”. Paul Alexander nel suo polmone d'acciaio a casa a Dallas Texas, 12 settembre 2019, Paul Alexander nel suo polmone d'acciaio. Fotografia: Allison Smith/The Guardian Sullivan ha fatto un patto con il suo paziente. Se fosse riuscito a respirare come una rana senza il polmone d'acciaio per tre minuti, gli avrebbe dato un cucciolo. Paul ha impiegato un anno per imparare a farlo, ma ha preso il suo cucciolo; la chiamava Ginger. E anche se doveva pensare a ogni respiro, è diventato più bravo. Una volta che riusciva a respirare in modo affidabile per un tempo sufficientemente lungo, poteva uscire dai polmoni per brevi periodi di tempo, prima fuori in veranda e poi in cortile. Sebbene avesse ancora bisogno di dormire nel polmone d’acciaio ogni notte – non riusciva a respirare quando era privo di sensi – Paul non si fermò al cortile. A 21 anni, è diventato la prima persona a diplomarsi in una scuola superiore di Dallas senza frequentare fisicamente una lezione. Dopo ripetuti rifiuti da parte dell'amministrazione universitaria, entrò alla Southern Methodist University di Dallas, poi alla facoltà di giurisprudenza presso l'Università del Texas ad Austin. Per decenni, Paul ha lavorato come avvocato a Dallas e Fort Worth, rappresentando i clienti in tribunale indossando un abito a tre pezzi e una sedia a rotelle modificata che teneva in posizione verticale il suo corpo paralizzato. In un’epoca in cui le persone disabili erano viste meno spesso in pubblico – l’Americans With Disabilities Act, che vietava la discriminazione, non sarebbe stato approvato fino al 1990 – Paul era visibile. Nel corso della sua vita è stato sugli aerei e negli strip club, ha visto l'oceano, ha pregato in chiesa, si è innamorato, ha vissuto da solo e ha organizzato un sit-in per i diritti dei disabili. È affascinante, amichevole, loquace, pronto ad arrabbiarsi e pronto a fare battute. A 74 anni è di nuovo confinato nel polmone a tempo pieno. Solo un'altra persona negli Stati Uniti ne usa ancora uno. L’ultima persona ad utilizzare un polmone d’acciaio nel Regno Unito è morta nel dicembre 2017, all’età di 75 anni. Nessuno si aspettava che qualcuno che aveva bisogno di un polmone d’acciaio vivesse così a lungo. E dopo essere sopravvissuto a un’epidemia mortale, Paul non si aspettava di trovarsi minacciato da un’altra. La poliomielite uccide per soffocamento, non danneggiando i polmoni, come fa il Covid-19, ma attaccando i motoneuroni nel midollo spinale, indebolendo o interrompendo la comunicazione tra il sistema nervoso centrale e i muscoli. La conseguente paralisi fa sì che i muscoli che permettono di respirare non funzionino più. La poliomielite è esistita in epidemie isolate in tutto il mondo per millenni, ma non è diventata un’epidemia fino al 20° secolo – aiutata, ironicamente, dai miglioramenti nei servizi igienico-sanitari. Il poliovirus entra nel corpo attraverso la bocca, il cibo o l'acqua, o le mani non lavate, contaminate da materiale fecale infetto. Fino al 19° secolo, quasi tutti i bambini sarebbero entrati in contatto con il poliovirus prima dell’età di un anno, mentre godevano ancora della protezione dagli anticorpi materni trasferiti dalla madre al bambino durante la gravidanza. Tuttavia, con il miglioramento delle condizioni igienico-sanitarie, i bambini avevano meno probabilità di entrare in contatto con il poliovirus da neonati; quando l’hanno incontrata da bambini più grandi, il loro sistema immunitario era impreparato. Negli Stati Uniti, dal 1916 in poi, ogni estate portò un’epidemia di poliomielite in qualche parte del paese. Al suo apice negli anni ’40 e ’50, il virus era responsabile di oltre 15.000 casi di paralisi ogni anno negli Stati Uniti. Nello stesso periodo uccise o paralizzò almeno 600.000 persone ogni anno in tutto il mondo. L’anno in cui Paul contrasse il virus, il 1952, vide la più grande epidemia di poliomielite nella storia degli Stati Uniti: quasi 58.000 casi in tutta la nazione. Di questi, più di 21.000 persone – per lo più bambini – rimasero con vari gradi di disabilità e 3.145 morirono. Un assistente regola il poggiatesta di Paul mentre giace in un polmone d'acciaio nel suo appartamento a Dallas, in Texas. Un assistente regola il poggiatesta di Paul. Fotografia: Allison Smith/The Guardian Sebbene la poliomielite non fosse la più letale delle malattie epidemiche, si trasformava ovunque la toccasse. "Era come la peste, faceva impazzire tutti", mi ha detto Paul quando gli ho parlato per la prima volta l'anno scorso. Nei luoghi in cui si sono verificati i focolai, le famiglie si sono rifugiate nella paura nelle case con le finestre chiuse. Chiusi tutti i tipi di luoghi di ritrovo pubblici. Le interazioni umane erano intrise di incertezza. Secondo lo storico David Oshinsky, alcune persone si rifiutavano di parlare al telefono perché temevano che il virus potesse trasmettersi attraverso la linea telefonica. Durante la prima grande epidemia a New York nel 1916, 72.000 gatti e 8.000 cani furono uccisi in un mese dopo che si sparse la voce che gli animali trasmettessero la malattia (non è così). Negli anni ’40, i genitori facevano eseguire ai propri figli “test antipolio” ogni giorno durante l’estate – toccandogli le dita dei piedi, abbassando il mento sul petto, controllando dolore o debolezza – mentre le compagnie di assicurazione vendevano “assicurazione antipolio” ai genitori di neonati. Prima dell’arrivo di un vaccino nel 1955, ciò che rendeva la poliomielite così terrificante era che non c’era modo di prevedere chi sarebbe uscito da un’infezione con mal di testa e chi non avrebbe mai più camminato. Nella maggior parte dei casi, la malattia non ha avuto effetti visibili. Del 30% circa che ha mostrato sintomi, la maggior parte ha manifestato solo malattie minori. Ma una piccola percentuale, il 4-5%, ha mostrato sintomi gravi, tra cui forti dolori muscolari, febbre alta e delirio. Mentre il virus si faceva strada attraverso il tessuto neurale del midollo spinale, alcune delle persone infette rimasero paralizzate; questa progressione del virus era nota come poliomielite paralitica. Circa il 5-10% dei pazienti che contraevano la poliomielite paralitica morivano, sebbene questo numero fosse molto più alto nei giorni precedenti all’uso diffuso del polmone d’acciaio. Se avevamo dimenticato il terrore delle epidemie, ora ce lo viene ricordato con la forza. L'ultima volta che ho parlato con Paul, ad aprile, è stato tramite Skype, dai nostri rispettivi lockdown – lui nel suo polmone d'acciaio in un appartamento a Dallas, con uno staff a rotazione di assistenti a tempo pieno e un Amazon Echo accanto alla sua testa, e io nella mia casa nel Surrey, in Inghilterra. Come la poliomielite, il Covid-19 può essere trasmesso da portatori silenziosi che non sanno di averlo. Come la poliomielite, ha sospeso la vita normale. E proprio come nel caso della polio, stiamo riponendo le nostre speranze in un vaccino. Si parla addirittura di ripristinare il polmone d’acciaio: un’iniziativa con sede nel Regno Unito sta cercando di portare un nuovo ventilatore a pressione negativa chiamato Exovent negli ospedali per i pazienti affetti da Covid-19. A differenza dei ventilatori a pressione positiva, questo polmone di ferro più piccolo si adatterebbe al torace del paziente, consentendogli di rimanere cosciente, parlare, mangiare e assumere farmaci per via orale mentre una macchina respira per lui. “È esattamente così che era, per me è quasi strano”, ha detto Paul riferendosi al parallelismo tra poliomielite e Covid-19. "Mi spaventa." Anche se questo virus, se lo contrarrà, probabilmente lo ucciderà, la vita di Paul non è cambiata radicalmente dall’inizio della pandemia. Sono anni che non riesce ad avventurarsi fuori dai suoi polmoni per più di cinque minuti. Come mi ha detto uno dei suoi amici: “Non è uno sforzo per lui, è la sua vita. Questo è il signor Shelter-in-Place. Ho chiesto a Paul se è preoccupato per il Covid-19. "Certo, certo", disse. Poi ha aggiunto: “Beh, non mi siedo e mi preoccupo. Sto morendo molto. Non fa alcuna differenza. La salute di Paul è sempre stata precaria, ma negli ultimi anni è peggiorata. Quando l'ho incontrato per la prima volta nel maggio 2019, era ricoverato a lungo termine al Clements Hospital, nel nord di Dallas. Più di quattro mesi prima aveva sviluppato un'infezione respiratoria persistente, che lo aveva mandato in ospedale. Soffre anche dolore alle gambe ogni volta che viene spostato. Sperava che i medici potessero aiutarlo a gestire quel dolore, ma, mi ha detto, "non se ne andrà", alzando lo sguardo da un cuscino su un'ampia tavola attaccata a un'estremità del polmone. La sua voce è lenta, roca e talvolta punteggiata da sussulti. Ascoltare Paul sopra i continui sospiri della macchina richiede che l'ascoltatore si concentri su di lui e disattivi il polmone; di conseguenza, è abituato a essere ascoltato. Accanto alla testa di Paul c’era un bastoncino di plastica trasparente, piatto e lungo circa trenta centimetri, con una penna attaccata all’estremità. Suo padre ha realizzato un bastone come questo quando Paul era bambino, e da allora ne usa diverse versioni. Tiene in bocca l'estremità del bastoncino e maneggia la penna per scrivere, digitare e premere i pulsanti del telefono; l'ha usato per firmare la liberatoria dell'ospedale che gli permetteva di parlare con me, anche se si è irritato all'idea di dover firmare qualsiasi cosa per raccontarmi la sua storia. "Questa è la cosa più ridicola", borbottò. I denti di Paul sono appiattiti e consumati da anni di utilizzo del bastone. Anche se il suo corpo all'interno del polmone è appena più grande di quando era bambino e i suoi muscoli si sono atrofizzati, il suo collo misura 18 pollici di circonferenza e i muscoli della mascella sono sporgenti. Il polmone d’acciaio di Paul – il suo fedele “vecchio cavallo di ferro”, come lo chiama lui – è il colore giallo burro degli elettrodomestici da cucina degli anni ’50. Le sue gambe in metallo, che terminano con ruote in gomma nera, lo sollevano ad un'altezza adatta a un assistente, mentre le finestre nella parte superiore permettono di vedere l'interno, e quattro oblò sui lati permettono di entrare. Per aprire la macchina, che pesa quasi 300 kg, gli assistenti devono rilasciare i sigilli sulla testata e far scivolare l'utente sul letto interno. Gli oblò, le valvole di pressione, la forma cilindrica e il colore danno l'impressione di un robusto sottomarino in miniatura. Paul Alexander, paralizzato dalla poliomielite nel 1952, dipingeva con la bocca dentro un polmone di ferro, anni '60 circa Paul nel suo polmone d'acciaio da bambino. Fotografia: per gentile concessione di Paul Alexander I polmoni di ferro sono stati costruiti per durare, anche se nessuno pensava che le persone al loro interno sarebbero durate. Il dispositivo fu inventato nel 1928 da Philip Drinker, un ingegnere medico, e Louis Shaw, un fisiologo, ad Harvard. Bevitore aveva visitato il Boston Children's Hospital per indagare su un malfunzionamento dell'aria condizionata nel reparto per bambini prematuri, ma ne tornò turbato da ciò che vide nel reparto polio: "le piccole facce blu, il terribile respiro affannoso", come sua sorella e biografa , Catherine Bevitrice Bowen,scrisse più tardi. La sua invenzione era un meccanismo semplice, che svolgeva il lavoro dei muscoli impoveriti, e significava che migliaia di bambini che sarebbero morti non lo avrebbero fatto. Il polmone d'acciaio doveva essere utilizzato per un massimo di due settimane, per dare al corpo la possibilità di riprendersi. Nel corso del tempo, il claustrofobico polmone d’acciaio è diventato l’emblema degli effetti devastanti della poliomielite. Solo i pazienti più malati finivano in uno; se ce l'avessero fatta, probabilmente sarebbe seguita una vita di disabilità. Ma una volta che il vaccino fu somministrato ai bambini negli Stati Uniti a partire dal 1955, l’incidenza della malattia precipitò. Coloro che necessitavano di assistenza respiratoria a breve termine venivano curati con ventilatori a pressione positiva più invasivi ma molto più piccoli, inventati nel 1952 da un anestesista durante un’epidemia di poliomielite a Copenaghen. Questi spingono l'aria direttamente dentro e fuori i polmoni attraverso la bocca, tramite un tubo che viene fatto scorrere lungo la gola mentre il paziente è sedato, o attraverso un foro praticato nella trachea. Questi, come il polmone d'acciaio, erano destinati solo a un uso a breve termine; quelle poche persone che avevano bisogno di aiuto per respirare per il resto della loro vita vedevano un buco in gola come un prezzo accettabile da pagare per la maggiore mobilità offerta dalla pressione positiva. Gli ultimi polmoni in ferro furono prodotti alla fine degli anni '60. Quando i ventilatori a pressione positiva furono ampiamente utilizzati, tuttavia, Paul era abituato a vivere nel suo polmone e aveva già imparato a respirare per parte del tempo senza di esso. Inoltre non avrebbe mai più voluto avere un buco in gola. Quindi ha mantenuto il suo polmone d'acciaio. Con il declino della malattia e i suoi ricordi visivi nascosti in una manciata di case e strutture di cura, in gran parte del mondo occidentale il terrore della poliomielite è svanito dalla memoria collettiva. "Non puoi credere a quante persone sono entrate nel mio studio legale", ha detto Paul, "e hanno visto il mio polmone d'acciaio e hanno detto: 'Cos'è quello?' E io dicevo loro: 'È un polmone d'acciaio'. 'Cosa funziona?" "Respira per me." "Perché?" "Ho preso la poliomielite quando ero piccolo." "Cos'è la poliomielite?" Uh oh." David Oshinsky, l'autore diPolio: An American Story, ritiene che il successo dei vaccini nell’eradicazione di così tante malattie mortali sia proprio il motivo per cui il movimento anti-vaxx ha guadagnato terreno negli ultimi anni. “Questi vaccini hanno eliminato le prove di quanto fossero spaventose queste malattie”, mi ha detto. Quando andai a trovarlo al Clements Hospital, Paul sembrava una sorta di celebrità medica: nessuno del personale ospedaliero aveva mai visto prima un polmone d'acciaio. Mentre parlavamo, sono entrate due donne in camice da infermiere. Erano di un’altra unità, ma volevano solo incontrare l’uomo con il polmone d’acciaio, hanno detto. Paul disse loro che era nel bel mezzo di un'intervista. “Va tutto bene, signore”, disse l’infermiera più anziana, “ascolteremo solo per un po’”. Dopo che se ne sono andati, Paul mi ha detto che succede sempre. “È così, è come vivere in uno zoo”, ha detto. Le persone spesso escono dall'incontro con Paul con umiltà. Norman Brown, un infermiere in pensione che è un buon amico di Paul dal 1971, ha detto: "Quel ragazzo è un personaggio davvero impressionante... la maggior parte delle persone rimane in soggezione quando lo incontra per la prima volta". A Paul non dispiace rispondere alle domande della gente: “Sono un avvocato, sono pagato per parlare!” Gli piace parlare di poliomielite e di... polmone, e sulla sua vita, perché ciò che lo terrorizza, ancor più della possibilità del Covid-19, è che il mondo dimenticherà com’era la poliomielite e cosa ha ottenuto nonostante essa. La vigilia di Natale del 1953, un anno e mezzo dopo il ricovero di Paul al Parkland Hospital, i suoi genitori noleggiarono un generatore portatile e un camion per riportare a casa lui e il suo polmone d'acciaio. Fu un viaggio breve e snervante: "Da un momento all'altro sembrava che quel vecchio generatore si sarebbe spento", raccontò in seguito suo padre Gus a un giornale del Texas. “Continuava a scoppiare. Non sapevo se saremmo tornati a casa oppure no. Parte del motivo per cui Paul fu autorizzato a lasciare l'ospedale era che nessuno si aspettava che vivesse a lungo. Ma Paolo non è morto. Ha guadagnato peso; il giorno in cui tornò a casa, suo fratello maggiore gli preparò un piatto di bacon – il migliore che avesse mai assaggiato, disse. I suoi genitori dormivano con lui nello stesso soggiorno al pianterreno, sempre mezzo svegli nel caso in cui il fruscio della macchina si fermasse. Lo faceva durante le interruzioni di corrente – anche oggi, le tempeste e i tornado texani a volte abbattono le linee elettriche – e i suoi genitori dovevano pompare la macchina a mano, chiamando i vicini per aiutare. Dopo tre anni, Paul poteva lasciare il suo polmone per alcune ore alla volta. Il suo respiro da rana era diventato una memoria muscolare – come andare in bicicletta, mi disse. La sua istruzione era stata lasciata al naufragio durante i suoi 18 mesi in reparto. Un giorno sua madre entrò con una pila di libri presi in prestito dalla scuola elementare locale: gli avrebbe insegnato a leggere. Paul Alexander, paralizzato dalla poliomielite nel 1952, su una sedia a rotelle mentre si prendeva una pausa fuori dal suo polmone d'acciaio, intorno agli anni '60 Paul da giovane, fuori dal suo polmone d'acciaio. Fotografia: per gentile concessione di Paul Alexander “Avevo tutte queste ambizioni. Sarei diventato presidente", ha detto. Ma i suoi genitori, insieme a quelli di molti altri bambini disabili, hanno impiegato più di un anno per convincere il sistema scolastico di Dallas a permettergli di seguire le lezioni da casa. Nel 1959, quando aveva 13 anni, Paul fu uno dei primi studenti a iscriversi al nuovo programma distrettuale per i bambini a casa. “Sapevo che se avessi fatto qualcosa nella mia vita, sarebbe dovuta essere una cosa mentale. Non sarei diventato un giocatore di basket", mi ha detto. La maggior parte dei giorni lasciava il polmone nel momento in cui gli altri bambini uscivano da scuola e si sedeva davanti alla sua sedia a rotelle. Gli amici lo spingevano per le strade; poi, una volta cresciuto, gli stessi amici lo portarono nelle tavole calde e nei cinema, poi nei ristoranti e nei bar. E andò in chiesa. La Chiesa pentecostale, alla quale appartengono gli Alessandri, è una denominazione caratterizzata da un'esperienza personale e appassionata di Dio. Alla fine di ogni servizio, i fedeli sono invitati a venire davanti alla chiesa e pregare. "Mio padre mi portava laggiù a volte per pregare con lui, e allora lasciava uscire tutte le sue emozioni", mi ha detto il fratello minore di Paul, Phil. "Piangeva e piangeva e basta." Paul ha affrontato le sue emozioni in un modo diverso. La poliomielite lo aveva privato della sua indipendenza. “Ha lasciato sfogare molto la sua rabbia. Aveva una bocca", ha ricordato Phil. “Lo capisco perfettamente. Avrebbe urlato, urlato, imprecato e tirato fuori tutto, e i miei genitori avrebbero lasciato che accadesse, perché ovviamente Paul avrebbe avuto bisogno di una liberazione... era normale. Fa male a Paul pensarci adesso. “Ci sono stati momenti frustranti, momenti in cui mi arrabbiavo davvero, urlavo. Ma mamma e papà erano così tolleranti che sembravano semplicemente capire”, ha detto. Mentre parlava, le lacrime gli scorrevano lungo la tempia fino al cuscino. Nel 1967, Paul, che ora ha 21 anni, si diplomò al liceo con un punteggio quasi etero. La sua unica B era in biologia, perché non era in grado di sezionare un topo. "Ero così arrabbiato", ha detto. (Lo è ancora.) Fece domanda alla Southern Methodist University di Dallas, ma nonostante il suo curriculum accademico, fu rifiutato. "Ero troppo paralizzato", disse con amarezza. "Ha rotto il mio cuore. Ho combattuto per due anni, li ho chiamati ripetutamente. “‘Bene, aspetta un attimo’, dicevo, ‘voglio che tu ci riconsideri, pensi a questo. Vengo da te, voglio parlarti!’” I suoi insegnanti delle scuole superiori lo appoggiavano. Alla fine, il preside delle ammissioni cedette, a due condizioni: che trovasse qualcuno che lo aiutasse ad andare a lezione e che facesse il vaccino antipolio. Paul Alexander, riflesso in uno specchio attaccato al suo polmone d'acciaio, giovedì 12 settembre 2019, nel suo appartamento a Dallas, in Texas. Paul si rifletteva in uno specchio attaccato al suo polmone d'acciaio. Fotografia: Allison Smith/The Guardian Paul era “spaventato a morte” mentre entrava nella sua prima classe. “Devi capire che allora non c'erano storpi. Non ce n'era nessuno nel campus, ero l'unico. Ovunque andassi, ero l'unico. Ristorante, cinema – ho pensato: ‘Wow, non c’è nessun altro qui fuori. Aprirò semplicemente la strada’”, ha detto. “In un certo senso pensavo a me stesso come a rappresentare un gruppo. Ho combattuto per questo motivo. «Cosa vuol dire che non posso tornare lì?» Voglio tornare lì!’… ‘Non puoi farlo’. ‘Oh sì, posso!’ Litigavo sempre”. Paul incontrò una donna, Claire, e se ne innamorò. Si sono fidanzati. Ma un giorno, quando lui chiamò, sua madre – che da tempo si opponeva alla relazione – rispose, rifiutandosi di lasciarlo parlare con lei e dicendogli di non parlare mai più con sua figlia. "Ci sono voluti anni per guarire da questo", ha detto. Si è trasferito all'Università del Texas ad Austin. Alla Southern Methodist University viveva a casa, ma ora era da solo. I suoi genitori erano terrorizzati. All'UT, la badante che Paul aveva assunto non si è mai presentata, quindi per un mese i ragazzi del suo dormitorio si sono presi cura di lui - anche "delle cose più intime", ha detto - finché non è stato in grado di assumerne una nuova. Paul si laureò nel 1978 e successivamente iniziò a studiare per una specializzazione in giurisprudenza. Nel novembre 1980 fece nuovamente notizia: "L'uomo dalla volontà di ferro lascia il polmone d'acciaio per votare", dichiarava un articolo sul quotidiano Austin American Statesman. Paul ha lottato per cercare di pagare un'assistente a tempo pieno e allo stesso tempo la sua istruzione, ma nel 1984 si è laureato in giurisprudenza presso l'Università di Austin e ha trovato lavoro come insegnante di terminologia legale agli stenografi del tribunale presso un Austin scuola commerciale. Quando un giornalista gli chiese se i suoi studenti trovassero a disagio la presenza nella sua classe, lui rispose: “Non permetto che le persone si sentano a disagio per molto tempo”. Superò gli esami di avvocato e il 19 maggio 1986 alzò leggermente il pollice destro mentre prestava giuramento promettendo di comportarsi con integrità come avvocato davanti al giudice capo della corte suprema del Texas. Aveva 40 anni, indossava un elegante abito a tre pezzi, viveva da solo e poteva trascorrere gran parte della giornata fuori dalla macchina che ancora lo teneva in vita. La storia di come Paul ha imparato a respirare è fondamentale per il modo in cui pensa a se stesso. Rappresenta la determinazione che ha reso possibile tutto il resto – l’accesso all’università, la laurea in giurisprudenza, la vita di relativa indipendenza. Ha anche ispirato il titolo del libro di memorie, Tre minuti per un cane, che ha autopubblicato ad aprile. Gli ci sono voluti più di otto anni per scriverlo, usando il bastoncino di plastica e una penna per scrivere la sua storia sulla tastiera, o dettando le parole al suo amico, l'ex infermiere Norman Brown. Ma il titolo del libro è stata un’idea di Kathy Gaines. Kathy, 62 anni, è stata la badante di Alexander da quando si è laureato in giurisprudenza e si è trasferito nella zona di Dallas-Fort Worth, anche se nessuno dei due ricorda esattamente quando ha trovato la sua pubblicità sul giornale ed è diventata le sue "braccia e gambe". Kathy è diabetica di tipo 1 e, a causa della malattia, è legalmente cieca da anni, quindi non può guidare. Durante i cinque mesi di degenza di Paul in ospedale, l’anno scorso, lei prendeva l’autobus o un passaggio ogni giorno. Ha insegnato al personale infermieristico come gestire la macchina e, in una certa misura, a Paul. Mentre parlavamo, Kathy ci portò tazze di schiuma di caffè ospedaliero e una cannuccia di plastica flessibile per Paul. Lo lasciò abbastanza vicino perché lui potesse raggiungerlo con la lingua e la bocca, ma non così vicino da essere d'intralcio. Kathy sa come radere il viso di Paul, cambiargli i vestiti e le lenzuola, tagliargli i capelli e le unghie, passargli lo spazzolino da denti, sbrigare le sue scartoffie, prendere i suoi appuntamenti, fare la spesa, e quando dice "biscotto" di solito intende dire "Muffin inglese". A volte, se vede la sua testa in una posizione che pensa sarà scomoda per lui, la muoverà senza chiedere. (Non sempre lo apprezza.) Kathy sa tutto di lui, dice Paul. "Kathy e io siamo cresciuti insieme... lei si è impegnata in tutte le cose di cui avevo bisogno", ha detto. Per la maggior parte della loro relazione, Kathy ha vissuto con Paul o quasi nella porta accanto. Si sono spostati molto: la sua carriera legale non è stata redditizia e ha avuto difficoltà finanziarie. Oggi Kathy vive al piano di sopra nel loro condominio comune. Lo vede tutti i giorni, che lavori o no. Sebbene Kathy e Paul non siano mai stati coinvolti sentimentalmente, suo fratello Phil descrive la loro relazione come un matrimonio. "Paul è sempre stato aggressivo riguardo alle cose che vuole e di cui ha bisogno intorno alle altre persone", ha detto. “È piuttosto esigente. Ma Kathy è più esigente di lui. Hanno avuto i loro momenti, ma riescono sempre a risolverli. Paul ha sempre desiderato l'indipendenza. Ma la sua vita dipende dal fatto che i suoi badanti si presentino al lavoro, dal fatto che il suo polmone d'acciaio non salti una guarnizione, dall'elettricità che rimane accesa. “È dipeso al 100% dalla gentilezza degli altri da quando aveva sei anni – al 100%. E lo ha fatto in virtù della sua voce, del suo comportamento e della sua capacità di comunicare", ha detto Norman Brown. “Farei cose per lui che non farei per le persone. Ad esempio, è stato sfrattato da un appartamento e dice: "Voglio sfondare la porta di quell'amministratore". E quando dice "Voglio fare qualcosa", significa che lo farai. Quindi abbiamo preso un mucchio di uova e siamo andati all’appartamento di quel manager”, ha detto Brown ridendo. Ciò che Paul odia è essere invisibile. Ricorda di essere andato nei ristoranti in cui il cameriere chiedeva al suo compagno: "Cosa mangerà?" La sua voce tremava di rabbia al ricordo. "Penso che sia il motivo per cui combatto così duramente, perché ci sono persone che stanno lì con il coraggio di dirmi cosa farò della mia vita... Non hai il diritto di dirmi cosa fare", ha detto. "Dovresti inginocchiarti e ringraziare Dio che non sei stato tu." Paul ora è sopravvissuto sia ai suoi genitori che a suo fratello maggiore, Nick. È sopravvissuto ai suoi vecchi amici. È addirittura sopravvissuto al suo polmone d'acciaio originale. Nel 2015, le guarnizioni stavano cedendo e perdeva aria. Non sorprende che i pezzi di ricambio per i polmoni d'acciaio e i meccanici che sanno cosa stanno guardando siano difficili da trovare, ma dopo che un amico ha pubblicato un video di Paul su YouTube chiedendo aiuto, un ingegnere locale di Dallas gli ha sistemato un motore rinnovato uno. Paul ha ancora grandi progetti – spera che le sue memorie “facciano il giro del mondo” – ma il Covid-19 è un nuovo pericolo. Paul è, ha detto Phil, “probabilmente la persona più vulnerabile” a un virus come questo. “Rimane positivo, ma abbiamo anche avuto conversazioni sul fatto che probabilmente questo ce la farà. È molto probabile.» Paul ha sempre pensato che la poliomielite, il “demone” che aveva cercato di distruggerlo, sarebbe tornata. “Vedo di nuovo gli ospedali inondati dalle vittime della poliomielite, un’epidemia, lo vedo così facilmente. Dico ai dottori che succederà. Non mi credono”, mi ha detto quando era in ospedale l’anno scorso. immagine composita delle scene in Scozia durante la pandemia di coronavirus "Le ultime sei settimane sono state diverse da qualsiasi cosa avessi mai conosciuto": un medico di base su come la pandemia ha cambiato il suo lavoro Leggi di più È solo grazie agli sforzi concertati di vaccinazione che non si è verificato un nuovo caso di poliomielite negli Stati Uniti dal 1979, o nel Regno Unito dal 1984. Nel 2000, l’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità aveva dichiarato che tutte le Americhe e la regione del Pacifico occidentale erano senza polio. L’India, che negli anni ’90 aveva registrato 200.000 casi di poliomielite all’anno, è stata dichiarata libera dalla poliomielite nel 2014 dopo una serie di aggressive campagne di vaccinazione. Il virus è ora endemico solo in tre paesi al mondo – Afghanistan, Nigeria e Pakistan – e i casi di poliomielite si contano a dozzine. Ma Paul aveva ragione nel dire che la maggior parte delle persone ha in gran parte dimenticato il terrore della poliomielite, proprio come noi abbiamo dimenticato il terrore di altre malattie contro le quali ora vacciniamo abitualmente: difterite, tifo, morbillo e parotite. E questo potrebbe essere un terreno fertile per il loro ritorno se non rimaniamo vigili. È difficile immaginare, nel mezzo di questa pandemia, che dimenticheremo anche il Covid-19. Ma potremmo. È difficile ricordare i nostri incubi il giorno dopo. La lezione della poliomielite – e di ogni volta che ci confrontiamo con la nostra terribile fragilità e sopravviviamo – è che a volte abbiamo bisogno di ricordare. Segui la lunga lettura su Twitter all'indirizzo @gdnlongread e iscriviti all'e-mail settimanale di lunga lettura qui. Esplora di più su questi argomenti
Copia
2024.03.13 02:27 Brastafarian 2003 Gaggia Conversion to Classic Help!
 | I got this old gaggia off a friend, it's a 2003 coffee deluxe. Since he gave it to me for free I decided to upgrade it to the specifications of a gaggia classic. I like to tinker and restore stuff. I figured I could walk away with a nice machine for about 200 bucks, pretty close. I changed out the group head, added an opv set to 9bar, and a solenoid. I have my solenoid powered by the pump and the brew on button. The original classic wiring diagram has it wired to the pump, power on, steam on. It works pretty good the way I have it set up, the group leaks a little when I steam. My question is if I should wire it like in the classic diagram or keep it the way it is. I added a few shit sketches. I'm hoping someone knows a little more about it than I do, any advice would be appreciated! submitted by Brastafarian to espresso [link] [comments] |
2024.03.11 17:57 Substantial_Dot4426 Feel like crap
I can't feel like this anymore. I was a 25+ year pack a day smoker and switched to vaping last February. I've mostly vaped Mr. Vapor Flex disposables. I initially felt so much better after quitting the cigs, but gradually I started to feel awful. Heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, anxiety and generally just feeling like crap all the time. I blamed all of it on perimenopause as all of those could be caused by hormonal imbalances. It wasn't until recently that I I found this sub and started digging. I truly think I'm directly causing all of these things with the stupid vape! As much as I know I need to quit, it terrifies me as nicotine has been a part of my life for over 25 years. All of my adult life... How did you all quit? I have nicotine patches, but it feels like that would just be moving along to another substitute. I guess I'm just looking for tips and solidarity.
submitted by Substantial_Dot4426 to QuitVaping [link] [comments]
2024.03.08 02:24 Street_Onion CMV: Anti tobacco organizations such as Truth are shady and negatively impact the public
I’d like to preface this by saying I’m not pro smoking or pro big tobacco, and fully recognize and denounce the behavior of the big tobacco companies in the 20th century.
Most of us here are old enough to have witnessed the drastic shift of attitude towards tobacco in the late 20th century. Following the tobacco trials, several groups such as the Truth Initiative sprung up with seemingly endless PR budgets and damning claims about the effects of tobacco consumption and the behavior of tobacco companies. These groups are almost entirely funded by the tobacco companies themselves, albeit against their will. This was part of the penalty agreed upon after the tobacco trials. So what’s so bad about them?
Firstly, these groups consistently use hateful language and imagery to describe people who choose to partake in the consumption of tobacco products. These groups often characterize tobacco users as gross, ugly, or stupid. The specific ad I linked both utilizes ageist rhetoric and pushes shallow values to denounce smoking. While these are primarily intended to serve as warnings to nonsmokers, they convey it in a way that demonizes tobacco users, many of which are victims themselves. This demonization evokes a sense of shame in tobacco users, which is proven to only worsen the problem. There are much more effective ways to discourage tobacco use without ostracizing those who choose to partake.
Additionally, these organizations often resort to misconstruing information or blatantly lying in order to push their narrative. When these organizations first began, they primarily focused on traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes or chewing tobacco. These products contain numerous carcinogens with plenty of studies to prove it, so it wasn’t difficult for anti tobacco groups to convince us they were bad. However, when tobacco free alternatives such as e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches emerged onto the market, anti tobacco groups had to resort to misrepresentation.
As professor Michael Russell famously stated: “People smoke for nicotine but they die from the tar”. Nicotine, by itself, has rather benign health impacts. The harm from nicotine consumption mainly comes from the method of administration- not the molecule itself. The biggest risk nicotine itself poses is addiction, which is a characteristic of almost any psychoactive compound. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and nasal spray are all addictive, but you don't see addiction warnings plastered all over their packaging. After the popularization of eCigarettes, anti tobacco groups didn't yet have the necessary studies to "prove" they were harmful. However, they didn't let that stop them.
With the low hanging fruit (cigarettes) mostly out of the way, anti tobacco groups directed their focus onto tobacco alternatives, such as vapes or nicotine pouches. Due to the aforementioned lack of studies regarding these products, Anti tobacco organizations (I'm just going to call them ATOs) were forced to get creative. This led to a series of scare tactics that shifted ATO rhetoric from fact based harm reduction to outright misinformation.
As far as vaping is concerned, ATOs began focusing on nicotine and diacetyl. Common anti vaping slogans included "One JUUL pod is equal to 20 cigarettes" or other statements to that effect equating e-cigarette use to traditional cigarettes. The studies they cite for these claims are only looking at total nicotine content, rather than actual health impacts. This was a blatant attempt to misconstrue vaping as 'just as bad' as cigarettes. While vaping is undoubtedly harmful, there are countless cases of cigarette users noticing significant improvement in lung function shortly after transitioning to vaping. This is known as harm reduction, and it should not be discouraged. Attempting to frame vaping as an equal or even worse harm than traditional cigarettes eliminates a potential route for harm reduction or even cessation for cigarette users exposed to this rhetoric. Diacetyl is another molecule found in e-vapor that ATOs has focused their efforts on. Back when JUUL first became a household name, headlines were full of fear mongering about an elusive disease- "Popcorn Lung"- attributed to a chemical called diacetyl detected in some e-liquid flavors. Despite a lack of evidence or cases of popcorn lung solely attributed to vaping, ATOs took this and ran with it. They cited popcorn lung as a major risk factor for vaping, despite traditional cigarettes containing hundreds of times more diacetyl than e-vapor and ZERO cases of popcorn lung attributed to smoking.
Following the theme of mysterious illnesses haphazardly attributed to vaping, the EVALI "epidemic" is perhaps one of the biggest lies purported by these ATOs. You might notice that despite the fact that more and more people pick up vaping every year, you've entirely stopped hearing about EVALI. While EVALI was still dominating the headlines, ATOs immediately blamed nicotine vapes and used it as a talking point for years. Nowadays, the CDC doesn't even track EVALI cases anymore. The culprit, as it turns out, was not nicotine vaping, but rather black market THC products that share no ingredients with nicotine e-cigarettes. Regardless, ATOs never issued an apology for the misinformation they spread, and many continue to falsely list EVALI as a danger of vaping nicotine.
Recently, tobacco-free nicotine pouches have gained popularity in the US. These pouches eliminate most of the risk factors posed by other routes of administration: They are not inhaled, contain no carcinogens, and use only food grade ingredients and nicotine salt. These are an obvious method of harm reduction for tobacco users. Despite this, ATOs have already begun their smear campaign regarding these products. Due to the lack of actual risk factors, ATOs are forced to direct their efforts exclusively towards nicotine when it comes to pouches. The demonization of nicotine as a molecule actively dissuades people from seeking Nicotine Replacement Therapy such as gum, patches, or lozenges, under the logic that 'its still nicotine'.
But what about our kids? ATOs tend to use children as ammunition to convey scare tactics. Yes, minors should not have access to nicotine, and yes, big tobacco did market to kids in the 20th century. However, the majority of current underage nicotine use is not the fault of big tobacco. Tobacco ads are all but nonexistent. The portrayal of it being 'cool' in movies has long been outlawed. Social media is littered with anti vaping ads. Kids know its bad for them. If you went home and found your kid drinking underage, you wouldn't blame the alcohol companies (who do many of the things big tobacco got in trouble for). But what about the flavors that entice kids? Adults like flavor too. Your bubble gum cotton candy hard seltzer is definitely designed for adults... right? You get my point.
Overall, there is definitely a need for anti tobacco education, however it needs to be just that: education. Instead, we have ATOs that would rather misrepresent studies and utilize scare tactics under the guise that the ends justify the means. The remaining tobacco trial money would be much better used on the actual victims: the American people.
submitted by Street_Onion to changemyview [link] [comments]
Most of us here are old enough to have witnessed the drastic shift of attitude towards tobacco in the late 20th century. Following the tobacco trials, several groups such as the Truth Initiative sprung up with seemingly endless PR budgets and damning claims about the effects of tobacco consumption and the behavior of tobacco companies. These groups are almost entirely funded by the tobacco companies themselves, albeit against their will. This was part of the penalty agreed upon after the tobacco trials. So what’s so bad about them?
Firstly, these groups consistently use hateful language and imagery to describe people who choose to partake in the consumption of tobacco products. These groups often characterize tobacco users as gross, ugly, or stupid. The specific ad I linked both utilizes ageist rhetoric and pushes shallow values to denounce smoking. While these are primarily intended to serve as warnings to nonsmokers, they convey it in a way that demonizes tobacco users, many of which are victims themselves. This demonization evokes a sense of shame in tobacco users, which is proven to only worsen the problem. There are much more effective ways to discourage tobacco use without ostracizing those who choose to partake.
Additionally, these organizations often resort to misconstruing information or blatantly lying in order to push their narrative. When these organizations first began, they primarily focused on traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes or chewing tobacco. These products contain numerous carcinogens with plenty of studies to prove it, so it wasn’t difficult for anti tobacco groups to convince us they were bad. However, when tobacco free alternatives such as e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches emerged onto the market, anti tobacco groups had to resort to misrepresentation.
As professor Michael Russell famously stated: “People smoke for nicotine but they die from the tar”. Nicotine, by itself, has rather benign health impacts. The harm from nicotine consumption mainly comes from the method of administration- not the molecule itself. The biggest risk nicotine itself poses is addiction, which is a characteristic of almost any psychoactive compound. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and nasal spray are all addictive, but you don't see addiction warnings plastered all over their packaging. After the popularization of eCigarettes, anti tobacco groups didn't yet have the necessary studies to "prove" they were harmful. However, they didn't let that stop them.
With the low hanging fruit (cigarettes) mostly out of the way, anti tobacco groups directed their focus onto tobacco alternatives, such as vapes or nicotine pouches. Due to the aforementioned lack of studies regarding these products, Anti tobacco organizations (I'm just going to call them ATOs) were forced to get creative. This led to a series of scare tactics that shifted ATO rhetoric from fact based harm reduction to outright misinformation.
As far as vaping is concerned, ATOs began focusing on nicotine and diacetyl. Common anti vaping slogans included "One JUUL pod is equal to 20 cigarettes" or other statements to that effect equating e-cigarette use to traditional cigarettes. The studies they cite for these claims are only looking at total nicotine content, rather than actual health impacts. This was a blatant attempt to misconstrue vaping as 'just as bad' as cigarettes. While vaping is undoubtedly harmful, there are countless cases of cigarette users noticing significant improvement in lung function shortly after transitioning to vaping. This is known as harm reduction, and it should not be discouraged. Attempting to frame vaping as an equal or even worse harm than traditional cigarettes eliminates a potential route for harm reduction or even cessation for cigarette users exposed to this rhetoric. Diacetyl is another molecule found in e-vapor that ATOs has focused their efforts on. Back when JUUL first became a household name, headlines were full of fear mongering about an elusive disease- "Popcorn Lung"- attributed to a chemical called diacetyl detected in some e-liquid flavors. Despite a lack of evidence or cases of popcorn lung solely attributed to vaping, ATOs took this and ran with it. They cited popcorn lung as a major risk factor for vaping, despite traditional cigarettes containing hundreds of times more diacetyl than e-vapor and ZERO cases of popcorn lung attributed to smoking.
Following the theme of mysterious illnesses haphazardly attributed to vaping, the EVALI "epidemic" is perhaps one of the biggest lies purported by these ATOs. You might notice that despite the fact that more and more people pick up vaping every year, you've entirely stopped hearing about EVALI. While EVALI was still dominating the headlines, ATOs immediately blamed nicotine vapes and used it as a talking point for years. Nowadays, the CDC doesn't even track EVALI cases anymore. The culprit, as it turns out, was not nicotine vaping, but rather black market THC products that share no ingredients with nicotine e-cigarettes. Regardless, ATOs never issued an apology for the misinformation they spread, and many continue to falsely list EVALI as a danger of vaping nicotine.
Recently, tobacco-free nicotine pouches have gained popularity in the US. These pouches eliminate most of the risk factors posed by other routes of administration: They are not inhaled, contain no carcinogens, and use only food grade ingredients and nicotine salt. These are an obvious method of harm reduction for tobacco users. Despite this, ATOs have already begun their smear campaign regarding these products. Due to the lack of actual risk factors, ATOs are forced to direct their efforts exclusively towards nicotine when it comes to pouches. The demonization of nicotine as a molecule actively dissuades people from seeking Nicotine Replacement Therapy such as gum, patches, or lozenges, under the logic that 'its still nicotine'.
But what about our kids? ATOs tend to use children as ammunition to convey scare tactics. Yes, minors should not have access to nicotine, and yes, big tobacco did market to kids in the 20th century. However, the majority of current underage nicotine use is not the fault of big tobacco. Tobacco ads are all but nonexistent. The portrayal of it being 'cool' in movies has long been outlawed. Social media is littered with anti vaping ads. Kids know its bad for them. If you went home and found your kid drinking underage, you wouldn't blame the alcohol companies (who do many of the things big tobacco got in trouble for). But what about the flavors that entice kids? Adults like flavor too. Your bubble gum cotton candy hard seltzer is definitely designed for adults... right? You get my point.
Overall, there is definitely a need for anti tobacco education, however it needs to be just that: education. Instead, we have ATOs that would rather misrepresent studies and utilize scare tactics under the guise that the ends justify the means. The remaining tobacco trial money would be much better used on the actual victims: the American people.
2024.03.04 04:37 Count-Daring243 Best Center Console Gun Holsters
 | Are you a proud gun owner seeking a secure and convenient way to store your firearm while on the go? Look no further! This article delves into a variety of center console gun holsters that cater to your needs. In our comprehensive review, we explore stylish and functional options to help keep your weapon within reach and securely out of sight. Stay tuned for our top picks and expert advice to enhance your driving experience and ensure your safety on the road. submitted by Count-Daring243 to u/Count-Daring243 [link] [comments] The Top 5 Best Center Console Gun Holsters
ReviewsBlackhawk Serpa CQC P365-P365XL Conceal Carry Holsterhttps://preview.redd.it/q9ca0mtqm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9264f06a1c599310df2b2502ce05a7ec89b5e2e4 As a daily concealed carrier, I have been using the Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster Sig P365-p365xl RH for quite some time now. It's my go-to holster for its exceptional performance and innovative features. What I truly appreciate about this holster is its patented SERPA Technology lock. This locking mechanism securely engages the trigger guard when the weapon is tucked in, providing an unmatched level of safety. Moreover, the natural drawing motion is quite impressive, making it incredibly easy to draw and re-holster. The durability of this holster is another standout feature. Built from a robust composite material, it's able to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Additionally, the adjustable cant and the compatibility with both CQC belt loops and paddle platforms make it incredibly adaptable to various carrying styles. However, there's one caveat. The holster's hard material may potentially cause friction and could potentially wear down the bluing on the face of the weapon. Despite this, it's a minor setback in the overall superiority of the holster. In conclusion, as a daily concealed carrier, I have found the Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster Sig P365-p365xl RH to be an exceptional choice. Its innovative Lock technology, durability, and adjustability make it a top-notch choice for any gun user. As for the minor issue with potential friction, it's a small price to pay for the outstanding performance this holster provides. IWB Holster Mount Single for Gun Storage and Carryhttps://preview.redd.it/3amtuf4rm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc6884b3a271f45de47068a22d0982e0d7bccbdb IWB Holster Mount Single is a game-changer for me. I used to worry about having my firearm accessible while in my car, but not anymore. The lightweight and dual locking design make it super easy to carry my holster with me at all times. Thanks to this mount, I no longer have to worry about exposed triggers or unsecured firearms. Plus, the fact that it can be attached to any flat surface using two unique mounting methods is absolutely amazing! " "In terms of pros, the IWB Holster Mount Single is incredibly secure, allowing me to confidently carry my firearm in my vehicle. The ease of installation is also a major plus, as it took me mere minutes to set everything up. However, there is one minor con - the clip that comes with the holster could be a bit more snug, as it sometimes wobbles when attached. Nonetheless, this mount has significantly improved my firearm carrying experience. Modular Holster for Glock 19 - 4 Versatile Carrying Positionshttps://preview.redd.it/c4cy7bprm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3919a9249a8f7d21d3f60e9b01419f0756bcd863 I recently got my hands on the Alien Gear ShapeShift Holster D Core Carry Pack for my Glock 19, and I must say, it's been quite an adventure. What's impressed me most about this holster is its ability to transform into so many different carrying positions in just a few quick steps. It really is like having four holsters in one, giving me the flexibility to carry my firearm in an IWB, appendix carry, OWB belt slide, or OWB paddle holster, depending on my needs for that day. The Holster Mount that comes with the set is another nifty feature that sets this product apart from others. It allows me to securely attach my ShapeShift to a variety of surfaces in seconds, providing me with even more options for carrying my Glock. However, one downside I've noticed is how bulky some of the holsters feel, especially the OWB setup. It feels like they're designed more for professionals who are carrying for the job, like security or police, rather than a civilian like me. Additionally, the thumb release on the holster can be a bit wobbly and difficult to push down, making it a tad frustrating to use at times. Overall, I'm pleased with the versatility and quality of the Alien Gear ShapeShift Holster D Core Carry Pack, but the bulky design and challenging thumb release could use some improvements. Tactical Ambidextrous Gun Holsterhttps://preview.redd.it/k876r8csm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f5c965d30341f2f5737b5e236b228f34c7a811f This holster is a game-changer for any 1911-style auto owner. Made from 1200 Denier heavy-duty nylon, it's water-resistant and tough, but also comfortable and versatile. The inner wall has a vinyl vapor barrier, deluxe padding, and a soft, scratch-resistant fabric, ensuring your pistol is safe and secure. It's also ambidextrous, with a clip and belt loop that can be switched to either side. Plus, the extra magazine pouch is a nice touch. In the past, I've had issues with holsters that lacked proper padding or didn't fit my gun perfectly. But with this Bulldog model, I haven't had any problems at all. It's a perfect fit for my 1911, and the strap keeps it securely in place. The padded compartment also provides some peace of mind, knowing that my gun will be protected from scratches and wear. However, there are a few cons that are worth mentioning. Some users have reported issues with the snap holding the gun in place, so it's something to keep an eye on. Additionally, the magazine holder might be a bit tight for some users. But overall, this holster is incredibly well-made and a great value for the price. In summary, if you're in the market for a new holster for your 1911, I would definitely recommend giving this model a try. It's comfortable, versatile, and provides excellent protection for your firearm. Just make sure to keep an eye on that snap! Galco Combat Master Belt Holster for Sig P365 in Tanhttps://preview.redd.it/9pyz16ssm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76c673db9f0f8e01e10724dcc2ea6b2bd56ed75a I've been using the Galco Combat Master Belt Holster for my Sig P365, and let me tell you, it's been a game-changer. The moment this premium steerhide beauty arrived, I knew it was going to be special. Galco has crafted a holster that not only looks good but also ensures my pistol is secure and ready for action. The full slide/barrel coverage gives me peace of mind, knowing that my firearm is protected from any potential damage. I also appreciate the "butt-forward cant" design, which allows me to effectively conceal even a large defensive handgun, perfect for my carrying needs. The traditional pancake design also helps in distributing the weight of the gun more evenly, making it comfortable to wear all day long. One thing I noticed right away was how well-built this holster is. The double-stitched seams and hand-molded fit add an extra layer of durability and confidence when I'm out and about. The open-top design allows for a swift draw and presentation, while still providing secure retention for my weapon. On the downside, the limited leather holster options available for the Sig P365 can be frustrating. But apart from that, the Galco Combat Master has been an exceptional addition to my collection of concealed carry accessories. In summary, if you're looking for a high-quality leather holster specifically designed for the Sig P365, the Galco Combat Master Belt Holster is definitely worth considering. Its exceptional build quality, comfort, and concealment capabilities make it a must-have for any responsible firearm owner. Buyer's Guidehttps://preview.redd.it/ezjebfgtm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e90b3e74edaa1454eac6176f192560e5be9c8283 Important Features to Consider in Center Console Gun HolstersWhen shopping for a center console gun holster, there are several key features that you should keep in mind to ensure the best possible fit, safety, and ease of access.
Considerations for Vehicle Safety and ConcealityIn addition to selecting the right features for your center console gun holster, also consider the following safety and concealment aspects:
https://preview.redd.it/20y8dwutm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9a35a9520241f456fc24e1722f0ec6282aeef6c General Advice for Choosing a Center Console Gun HolsterTo make the best choice when selecting a center console gun holster, consider the following advice:
FAQhttps://preview.redd.it/0sgweybum8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a786fa5c6c7e2f7ba0b2bb4b0df44319f505ab64 What are center console gun holsters?Center console gun holsters are specifically designed to help you safely and conveniently store your firearms within the center console of your vehicle. These holsters secure your weapon and allow easy access when needed.How do center console gun holsters work?Center console gun holsters attach to the center console of your vehicle and provide a secure and concealed compartment for your firearm. They typically use a combination of Velcro or straps to attach to the console, and often include a locking mechanism for added security. https://preview.redd.it/2hwmudwum8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32bb32457456af390a6332d48160e3dbe363046e Are center console gun holsters legal to use?Legality varies by state and local jurisdiction. Always check your local laws and ensure compliance with all firearm storage regulations before installing a center console gun holster in your vehicle.How do I install a center console gun holster?Installation instructions vary by product. However, most center console gun holsters require you to clean the area where the holster will be attached, remove the adhesive backing or straps on the holster, position the holster on the center console, and secure it using the adhesive or straps. https://preview.redd.it/o8rg1rnvm8mc1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1527263017b9bc203f8d2c4df64ef0c86eb5a85 How do I know which center console gun holster is right for my vehicle?
How can I ensure the security of my firearm in a center console gun holster?Look for a holster that includes a locking mechanism, which can help prevent unauthorized access to your firearm. Additionally, always ensure your vehicle is locked when leaving it unattended, and consider using a vehicle alarm system for added security.How do I clean and maintain my center console gun holster?Clean and maintain your center console gun holster according to the manufacturer's instructions. Generally, this involves wiping down the holster with a soft cloth and mild cleaner, inspecting it for wear and tear, and ensuring all straps or Velcro attachments remain secure and functional.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.02.10 04:45 N1hility [USA][CA][Selling] Huge Blu-ray Collection Selloff! Sentai and Funimation Singles! Clannad, Ergo Proxy, Railgun, Hellsing, Yuki-chan, and more!
EDIT: Update Feb 13 @ 10:30 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update Feb 11 @ 5:20 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 2:00 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 3:25 am with everything that has been sold - Last hurrah for tonight!
EDIT: Update at 2:45 am with everything that has been sold - Extra slowly getting back to everyone
EDIT: Update at 2:28 am with everything that has been sold - Slowly getting back to everyone!
EDIT: Update at 1:12 am with everything that has been sold - Continuing to get back to everyone!
EDIT: Update at 12:25 am with everything that has been sold - Sorry I'm a little behind on chat messages guys, give me a little bit :)
Just bought a home so as much of the Blu-ray collection as I can manage must go. This post will be for all of my singles/standard edition blurays I have up for sale. To sweeten the deal - Buy 5 or more and I will cover shipping!
All items are Region A.
submitted by N1hility to AnimeDeals [link] [comments]
EDIT: Update Feb 11 @ 5:20 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 2:00 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 3:25 am with everything that has been sold - Last hurrah for tonight!
EDIT: Update at 2:45 am with everything that has been sold - Extra slowly getting back to everyone
EDIT: Update at 2:28 am with everything that has been sold - Slowly getting back to everyone!
EDIT: Update at 1:12 am with everything that has been sold - Continuing to get back to everyone!
EDIT: Update at 12:25 am with everything that has been sold - Sorry I'm a little behind on chat messages guys, give me a little bit :)
Just bought a home so as much of the Blu-ray collection as I can manage must go. This post will be for all of my singles/standard edition blurays I have up for sale. To sweeten the deal - Buy 5 or more and I will cover shipping!
- I'm located in the Toronto area, Canada but will ship to Canada and the USA.
- All prices listed in US dollars for ease of payment, and do not include shipping unless stated. Payment via Paypal G&S for your and my protection.
- Shipping will require you provide your address / postal code for a quick quote.
- For you US folks - I work with a small business parcel service so I can provide good rates, don't be scared to reach out!
- Local pickup in Vaughan, Canada can also be arranged. If you're Canadian I can work with you on CAD pricing.
All items are Region A.
| Show | Licensor | Release Type | Condition | Price | Pics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Say I Love You | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/lUU9qjO | |
| Tamako Market | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/8Q6zGcI | |
| Clannad + After Story | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/WAlYCgB | |
| Ef A Tale of Memories and Melodies | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/X54ekvN | |
| Maria Holic + Maria Holic Alive | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, Alive is still sealed | https://imgur.com/a/oXD4CYZ | |
| Just Because | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, Alive is still sealed | https://imgur.com/a/eLfYRg3 | |
| Kokoro Connect + OVA | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 8$ | https://imgur.com/a/AgoID7i |
| Maid-Sama | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/O54N671 |
| Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! S1 and S2 | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/B0BY5OQ | |
| Princess Principal | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 10$ | https://imgur.com/a/KKO0Brt |
| Den-noh Coil Complete Collection | Sentai/Maiden | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/hoNYsAu | |
| The Book of Bantorra | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 20$ | https://imgur.com/a/46wtbOt |
| The Pet Girl of Sakurasou Complete (No Dub) | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | 15$ | https://imgur.com/a/DS19joR |
| Ore Monogatari - My Love Story | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | 8$ | https://imgur.com/a/gJO1tl9 |
| Waiting In The Summer (W/ Dub) | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/k44l3w5 | |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime S1 P1 + P2 | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, Part 1 slipcover has a bit of shelf rash, P2 A+ | 40$ | https://imgur.com/a/G6qMcpF |
| No-Rin | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 35$ | https://imgur.com/a/sWYSPFP |
| My Roomate Is A Cat | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/sKEnIVE |
| Tsukigakirei as the moon, so beautiful | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/Ipou5Os | |
| The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-Chan | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcover has a bit of shelf rash | 30$ | https://imgur.com/a/CigVL36 |
| The Morose Mononokean | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/kI7vJKj |
| Sankarea Undying Love | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, this Funi release fixed the issues with earlier releases | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/1Qkc3me |
| A Certain Scientific Railgun + Railgun S | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcovers have a bit of shelf rash | https://imgur.com/a/T34wOeg | |
| Three Leaves Three Colors | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcover has a bit of shelf rash | https://imgur.com/a/kEPBPZB | |
| Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcover has a bit of shelf rash | https://imgur.com/a/a4Nz37K | |
| Kamisama Kiss S1 + S2 | Funimation | Essentials | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/AudnShj | |
| Hellsing Ultimate Complete Collection | Funimation | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/ez9Wrre | |
| Katana Maidens P1 + P2 | Funimation | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/9wpX1uZ | |
| Ergo Proxy 10th Anniversary Edition | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/8YHi9yS | |
| Selector Infected WIXOSS + Spread WIXOSS | Funimation | Standard no slip | Excellent but missing DVDs, priced accordingly | 15$ | https://imgur.com/a/tOgFKIm |
| Astra Lost In Space | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/YMOom1r | |
| Chio's School Road | Funimation | Standard no slip | Excellent | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/pPGuscp |
| Love Live Sunshine Complete S1+S2 | Funimation | Essentials | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/93hmgwU |
2024.02.10 04:31 N1hility [USA][CA][Selling] Blu-ray Collection Selloff! Sentai and Funimation Singles! Clannad, Ergo Proxy, Railgun, Hellsing, Yuki-chan, and more!
EDIT: Update Feb 13 @ 10:30 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update Feb 11 @ 5:20 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 2:00 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 9:30 am with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 2:45 am with everything that has been sold
Just bought a home so as much of the Blu-ray collection as I can manage must go. This post will be for all of my singles/standard edition blurays I have up for sale. To sweeten the deal - Buy 5 or more and I will cover shipping!
All items are Region A.
submitted by N1hility to mangaswap [link] [comments]
EDIT: Update Feb 11 @ 5:20 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 2:00 pm with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 9:30 am with everything that has been sold
EDIT: Update at 2:45 am with everything that has been sold
Just bought a home so as much of the Blu-ray collection as I can manage must go. This post will be for all of my singles/standard edition blurays I have up for sale. To sweeten the deal - Buy 5 or more and I will cover shipping!
- I'm located in the Toronto area, Canada but will ship to Canada and the USA.
- All prices listed in US dollars for ease of payment, and do not include shipping unless stated.
- Shipping will require you provide your address / postal code for a quick quote.
- For you US folks - I work with a small business parcel service so I can provide good rates, don't be scared to reach out!
- Local pickup in Vaughan, Canada can also be arranged.
All items are Region A.
| Show | Licensor | Release Type | Condition | Price | Pics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Say I Love You | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/lUU9qjO | |
| Tamako Market | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/8Q6zGcI | |
| Clannad + After Story | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/WAlYCgB | |
| Ef A Tale of Memories and Melodies | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/X54ekvN | |
| Maria Holic + Maria Holic Alive | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, Alive is still sealed | https://imgur.com/a/oXD4CYZ | |
| Just Because | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, Alive is still sealed | https://imgur.com/a/eLfYRg3 | |
| Kokoro Connect + OVA | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 8$ | https://imgur.com/a/AgoID7i |
| Maid-Sama | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/O54N671 |
| Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! S1 and S2 | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/B0BY5OQ | |
| Princess Principal | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 10$ | https://imgur.com/a/KKO0Brt |
| Den-noh Coil Complete Collection | Sentai/Maiden | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/hoNYsAu | |
| The Book of Bantorra | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 20$ | https://imgur.com/a/46wtbOt |
| The Pet Girl of Sakurasou Complete (No Dub) | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | 15$ | https://imgur.com/a/DS19joR |
| Ore Monogatari - My Love Story | Sentai | Standard | Excellent | 8$ | https://imgur.com/a/gJO1tl9 |
| Waiting In The Summer (W/ Dub) | Sentai | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/k44l3w5 | |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime S1 P1 + P2 | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, Part 1 slipcover has a bit of shelf rash, P2 A+ | 40$ | https://imgur.com/a/G6qMcpF |
| No-Rin | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 35$ | https://imgur.com/a/sWYSPFP |
| My Roomate Is A Cat | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/sKEnIVE |
| Tsukigakirei as the moon, so beautiful | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/Ipou5Os | |
| The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-Chan | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcover has a bit of shelf rash | 30$ | https://imgur.com/a/CigVL36 |
| The Morose Mononokean | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/kI7vJKj |
| Sankarea Undying Love | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, this Funi release fixed the issues with earlier releases | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/1Qkc3me |
| A Certain Scientific Railgun + Railgun S | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcovers have a bit of shelf rash | https://imgur.com/a/T34wOeg | |
| Three Leaves Three Colors | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcover has a bit of shelf rash | https://imgur.com/a/kEPBPZB | |
| Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Good, discs are sealed, slipcover has a bit of shelf rash | https://imgur.com/a/a4Nz37K | |
| Kamisama Kiss S1 + S2 | Funimation | Essentials | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/AudnShj | |
| Hellsing Ultimate Complete Collection | Funimation | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/ez9Wrre | |
| Katana Maidens P1 + P2 | Funimation | Standard | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/9wpX1uZ | |
| Ergo Proxy 10th Anniversary Edition | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/8YHi9yS | |
| Selector Infected WIXOSS + Spread WIXOSS | Funimation | Standard no slip | Excellent but missing DVDs, priced accordingly | 15$ | https://imgur.com/a/tOgFKIm |
| Astra Lost In Space | Funimation | Standard w/ Slipcover | Excellent, brand new, sealed | https://imgur.com/a/YMOom1r | |
| Chio's School Road | Funimation | Standard no slip | Excellent | 25$ | https://imgur.com/a/pPGuscp |
| Love Live Sunshine Complete S1+S2 | Funimation | Essentials | Excellent | https://imgur.com/a/93hmgwU |
2024.02.08 22:17 acmoneyboi Cutter scene that will forever be in my head
At first I loved cutter and how outrageous his character was, but then it became overwhelming and almost horror story like (which honestly I didn’t mind either). I’m definitely seeing on this sub that the majority of people hated the story arc of him and Tom, and I understand that. Regardless cutter had moments that made me LMAO. One in particular lives rent free in my head. He goes for a smoke:
“I’m sorry sir, you can’t smoke here” “No worries, it’s an e-cig, it’s just vapor” “Sir that’s a Marlboro Red” *crazy ass look “it’s an e-cig”
Idk why but I can’t stop thinking about that scene on repeat and I personally think it’s a few seconds of comedy gold. Can’t wait to watch the next 2 seasons.
submitted by acmoneyboi to Loudermilk [link] [comments]
“I’m sorry sir, you can’t smoke here” “No worries, it’s an e-cig, it’s just vapor” “Sir that’s a Marlboro Red” *crazy ass look “it’s an e-cig”
Idk why but I can’t stop thinking about that scene on repeat and I personally think it’s a few seconds of comedy gold. Can’t wait to watch the next 2 seasons.
2024.02.08 22:05 jamesspader12 Day 6
I’m new to this subreddit and Reddit in general but I’m glad I found it when I did. I’m (30M) six days into quitting Zyn cold turkey and it’s definitely more difficult than I expected it would be.
My relationship with nicotine goes back to 2012, to the summer before I started college. I was working at a lumber yard and found Blu e-cigs to be a fun way to pass the time as I liked the buzz and had no interest in smoking cigarettes. Nicotine was consumed in various forms through all four years of college, but my favored form of consumption by far was Grizzly wintergreen pouches. The caveat, however, was that I only threw them in while drinking. I never seemed to crave them or any other forms of nicotine (I finally dabbled with cigs my sophomore year) while sober. I didn’t need one in class or the library. It was all about that buzz after 3 beers or so for me.
Two months after graduating I end up in the hospital and am diagnosed with T1 diabetes. I end up quitting alcohol altogether. I decide I need to cut out nicotine as well and for the next two years or so I don’t really partake at all and didn’t experience any real withdrawal symptoms.
Fast forward to 25 and that’s when I try juul for the first time. This goes on for about a year until I decide to ween myself off by switching to Zyn in early 2020. Then covid hits and I’d rather not be sticking my fingers in my mouth all the time with all the craziness going on.
I’m off of nicotine again. I relapse once for a week in August 2020 on a cross country road trip (grizz pouches) by then am off again until December 2021. And I felt incredible that whole time up until that December (pouches again on vacation). I come back and immediately buy Zyn as a way to “ween myself” off pouches (BS).
I was using Zyn from 12/24/21 up until six days ago 2/2/24. My consumption, however, was limited to 2 3mg each night while watching TV and the same while driving anywhere over an hour. Those were my rituals. Never at work, not socially (made me too dizzy and shaky). Really not a high volume of consumption but regular like clockwork.
Since quitting it’s been tough. Feeling low mood, loss of interest in things, and a feeling of hopelessness (like ‘how am I going to ever relax again?’). All this from two pouches a day essentially.
Bottom line is it’s tough but anyone can break the cycle. Hold fast and thanks for listening to my story.
submitted by jamesspader12 to QuittingZyn [link] [comments]
My relationship with nicotine goes back to 2012, to the summer before I started college. I was working at a lumber yard and found Blu e-cigs to be a fun way to pass the time as I liked the buzz and had no interest in smoking cigarettes. Nicotine was consumed in various forms through all four years of college, but my favored form of consumption by far was Grizzly wintergreen pouches. The caveat, however, was that I only threw them in while drinking. I never seemed to crave them or any other forms of nicotine (I finally dabbled with cigs my sophomore year) while sober. I didn’t need one in class or the library. It was all about that buzz after 3 beers or so for me.
Two months after graduating I end up in the hospital and am diagnosed with T1 diabetes. I end up quitting alcohol altogether. I decide I need to cut out nicotine as well and for the next two years or so I don’t really partake at all and didn’t experience any real withdrawal symptoms.
Fast forward to 25 and that’s when I try juul for the first time. This goes on for about a year until I decide to ween myself off by switching to Zyn in early 2020. Then covid hits and I’d rather not be sticking my fingers in my mouth all the time with all the craziness going on.
I’m off of nicotine again. I relapse once for a week in August 2020 on a cross country road trip (grizz pouches) by then am off again until December 2021. And I felt incredible that whole time up until that December (pouches again on vacation). I come back and immediately buy Zyn as a way to “ween myself” off pouches (BS).
I was using Zyn from 12/24/21 up until six days ago 2/2/24. My consumption, however, was limited to 2 3mg each night while watching TV and the same while driving anywhere over an hour. Those were my rituals. Never at work, not socially (made me too dizzy and shaky). Really not a high volume of consumption but regular like clockwork.
Since quitting it’s been tough. Feeling low mood, loss of interest in things, and a feeling of hopelessness (like ‘how am I going to ever relax again?’). All this from two pouches a day essentially.
Bottom line is it’s tough but anyone can break the cycle. Hold fast and thanks for listening to my story.
2024.02.05 20:09 Frostdraken Dreams of a Stormy Past
This story is not part of my extended list of TOC(The Oblivion Cycle) related works. Instead it was written for a friend's setting to help them with their writing and as an example. They have given me full permission to share it, so here you go. I hope you enjoy it.For information on my TOC Related stories feel free to check out my subreddit at TheOblivionCycle. I should mention that this is strictly a One-Shot and has no planned continuation.
_________________________________
Darkness took her and she felt as though she were falling through some godless void. The dark pressed in on all sides, crushing her mind and heart alike as the cold of it seeped through her skin and into her very bones. She opened her mouth to scream and choked as the darkness flooded her lungs.
She jerked. She was no longer falling. She shook her long blond hair and realised with a start that she was on horseback, her arms clinging to the bright burnished steel of a huge figure that sat astride the steed in front of her.
She blinked, it couldn't be, it wasn’t possible. She felt cold and looked up towards the sky. The angry clouds pelted her with their wrathful deluge, the cold water seeping past her cloak to soak the thin brown dress she wore under it. She shivered and pulled it closer with one hand in a futile attempt to ward off the cold.
The large figure seemed to notice her shifting and spoke with a deep voice that reverberated in her head like the distant thunder of the storm that enveloped them. She smiled, the voice was rough but not at all worrying. In fact she felt safe just hearing it again.
She looked around, the rain was so heavy that she could scarcely see more than a dozen paces clearly. Part of her knew they were nearing the end of the road though, something deep inside screaming that she had been here before. She quashed the feeling and gripped the Knight’s armour harder as their mount nickered in fear.
She felt the Knight tense as the horse stopped dead in its tracks.
“What is it? Why are we stopping?” She asked the armoured man, her small voice that of a child. For some reason this struck her as odd, as if this was not her voice nor her body. She felt herself looking around the Knight’s bulk to see what was ahead, and immediately wished she hadn't.
Ahead through the mist and rain were a trio of dark figures, she felt a shiver of recognition flash through her heart even though she had never seen them before to her own recollection. They advanced, still far enough away as to not be a direct threat, or so she thought.
A sudden buzzing noise gurgled through the air and she noticed something flying towards them at great speed. Its energy so great as to turn the very rain on its path to a vaporous mist. The Knight gave a shout of alarm and jerked the horse’s reins to the side. This proved to be the correct move as the object sailed past and impacted a sturdy tree behind them with a wicked thud. Her eyes widened as splinters were thrown far and wide, when they settled she could make out a fist sized hole dug straight to the heart of the mighty tree.
But she didn’t get a chance to linger on it long as the horse took off at a dead gallop a moment later. She felt the jolts of its hooves as it left the muddy path. The animal frantic as more buzzing objects whirled past them, at times impacting the trees they dodged through and other times seeming to whip past them into empty space.
She screamed in terror and then grunted as the horse jumped. Time seemed to slow as they went airborne, the rain drop’s glittered in the dim light of the forest like tiny gemstones. Everywhere was greenery and the scent of living things, the verdant atmosphere giving an impossible contrast to their grave peril. She jerked as something grazed her shoulder and looked down to see a slightly smoking hole through her cloak. The rain quickly put out the embers but she still shivered at the closeness of the miss. Less than an inch to the right and she would likely not still be alive.
The Knight uttered an oath or perhaps a curse and pulled the reins hard making the poor creature skid to a stop. The horse panted, slavering foam leaked from its lips as its dark brown eyes rolled wildly in its head. The poor creature was in abject terror, much like she herself.
The Knight turned to look at her, their face masked by the full plate helm they wore, their magical spear now gripped in one of their gauntleted hands. “Are you alright lass?” they asked in that same gruff voice. She shook her head. “Well, get ready to hold on tight, as soon as we have a second to rest we shall continue on.”
No sooner had the steel armoured man said it then another buzzing projectile honed in straight towards them. She watched in amazement as the Knight was able to deflect the projectile using the enchanted spear. A halo of water droplets ringing its blue steeled head as it seemed to hum with potential in the Knight’s hand.
The dark trees obscured her vision of where it had come from, but she still shuddered in fear. Somewhere in that darkness the three killers were lurking, just waiting for an opportunity to strike her dead. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and threw an arm out in the direction, causing the Knight to jerk that way in response.
It was well she did so too as another of those shining metal spikes was launched at them from the dark figure’s hand. It was fast, impossibly so. There was no way the figure had thrown it by hand at such speed, that must have meant they were a magic wielder, a powerful one too if their attacks were any indication.
Once more the Knight deflected the attack, a spear of water shooting from the tip of the spear to intercept the dart. She watched wide eyed as it fell harmlessly to the ground, landing in a bed of moss and toadstools that grew from a rotten log. Her eyes widened even more as the metal spike then slowly lifted off the ground and floated lazily back towards the assassin. They must be controlling them with some sort of earth based magic, where the intuition came from she knew not. She was only minimally versed in such schools of thought after all.
Another figure moved in the woods distant, the shadow of the branches above sheltered them from the rain somewhat, but the resulting darkness made it ever more difficult to see what lay beyond the twisted gnarls and cantankerous undergrowth.
Almost as soon as she thought it she saw an amber bolt of electricity arc between the trees. It stopped far short of them, the bolt striking the bole of a tree with a sharp crack. The flash of light that escaped around the side of the trunk was near blinding, but that wasn’t her main fear. Instead she was concerned by the continuous hail of metal spikes that the Knight continued to deflect. Their strain evident even as they blocked, deflected or halted every projectile before it could reach them.
The Knight spat, “Surely they must tire of these accursed magics soon. They cannot be as powerful as that.”
She nodded, though the Knight surely didn’t see it. The horse shifted under her, it’s head tossing as it made a low noise that sounded a bit like a groan. The Knight watched as another bolt of lightning arced through the forest only to this time hit a thick bush and set it alight.
“Hah, their paltry magic tricks are no use. We shall make a clean getaway yet Lass.” The Knight spoke with a confidence that she felt bolster her own mood, the fear seeming to melt away when the imposing figure spoke. She knew in her heart that she would be safe as long as he was alive, but as she mused that another thought wormed its way into the far corner of her mind.
‘He is already dead.’
She shook her head, her blond hair soaked as it whipped water droplets through the air. She had no reason to listen to the strange nagging voice in her mind, it was just the darkness talking she told herself.
Another series of metal projectiles whistled towards them and the Knight tensed, a chuckle escaping the giant’s masked face as they prepared to defend another assault. But this time something was fundamentally different. The projectiles halted suddenly and she felt the Knight stop, their confusion evident as their spear lowered slightly. What could the dark figures be up to now, she began to wonder.
All at once a powerful surge of electricity smashed its way through the undergrowth towards them, unlike before it seemed directed. She only had time to notice the amber bolt arc between the metal spikes before it struck them. She heard the horse’s gurgling scream as she was thrown bodily through the air. Head over heels she tumbled before alighting upon the mossy ground with a solid thud that drove the air from her lungs.
She pushed herself off the ground, struggling to breathe as her paralysed lungs resisted her attempts to fill them. After another second of this she felt something in her cest shift slightly accompanied by a grinding sensation. All at once she gulped in a tremendous breath, the gasp was strangely quiet in her ears. In fact all she seemed to be able to hear was a distant ringing, as if festival bells were tolling just over the next hill.
She stood on shaky legs and took a step, winching as one of her ankles protested. She must have twisted it in her tumble as she had been thrown from the horse.
‘The horse!’ she thought. She limped back towards where she had flung and stopped in her tracks. In the place the Knight had sat atop his noble steed there remained only a blackened pile of grisly remains. The charred chunks of what she could only assume used to be the horse were strewn about the entire clearing. The charred black bones of it’s collapsed ribcage still smouldering in the downpour.
Where was the Knight? The words that had appeared unbidden in her mind echoed through them once more. ‘He is already dead’
She shook her head and screamed. He wasn’t, he couldn't be.
As if answering her silent plea she saw him, the Knight stood to their feet slowly as if in great pain. As she rushed to their side she soon saw why. The Knight groaned as they stood, a great black scorch running down their right side, small curls of smoke issuing out from the gaps in their armoured plate.
“You are hurt!” She exclaimed, placing her tiny hands on his side. She pulled her hands back as if stung, the metal was still hot to the touch, small hisses and rising curls of steam appeared as heavy raindrops fell upon them from above.
The Knight just shook their helmeted head slightly. “It is nothing, we need to keep moving. Please, follow me. Quickly!” with that the Knight strode away from the blasted remains of their steed and she hastened to follow.
Her short legs made climbing over the rough terrain difficult but her fear hastened her steps and allowed her to keep up with her protector as they limped along through the trees. They continued in this manner for another two minutes before the Knight groaned and stopped, pressing a gauntleted hand against a nearby tree as they stopped to catch their breath.
She passed him and then stopped as well, in front of them the forest ended. The mossy ground giving way to a sheer cliff. As she glanced over the side she could just make out the white rapids of a fast flowing river down below, so far as to make her heart leap into her throat.
She heard the Knight curse again, the oath leaving his lips with a snarl. As she turned to see the source of their anxiety she noticed with a pang of dread that the three dark figures had returned. They stood not more than twenty paces away, their menacing black cloaks dripped with rain and their armour was streaked with moisture that seemed to have no effect on them.
The Knight drew his longsword, the blade made of the same enchanted blue steel as his spear. With both weapons held at the ready they entered a low guard stance, their body seeming to tense beneath the armour they wore. Though she couldn't see his face, she could well imagine the mask of determination that must have surely spread across it as they faced down the terrible dark figures that hunted her.
She waited for the hissing of the metal spikes to begin but it remained silent. The rain had intensified and the beating of the deluge upon the branches caused a dull roar that filled her ears and mind like the remembered sound of the sea. She shook her head, hazy memories that were not hers flashed through her mind unbidden. She shook them off, it wasn't the time or the place to entertain fantasies or dreams. This was real, or was it?
That voice echoed in her mind again, strangely familiar and yet impossibly different. ‘You need to wake up Diane.’
She stepped back, one foot slipping slightly as she drew close to the cliff’s edge. She put her hands to her head and tried to shut out the thoughts. They weren't hers, they were not real. ‘What is real?’ the voice asked in her mind.
Diane yelled, the Knight not seeming to notice or react as they took a step to the left. She watched as one of the assassins darted forwards, breaking ranks and drawing a long curving blade from somewhere under their dark cloak. They moved with inhuman speed, their legs a blur and their blade death incarnate as they arrowed towards her, their dark mask marked by two red slashes that crossed over their eyes.
She gasped as they skidded to a halt, the Knight moving to block their way. “What, too scared to fight me, tiny man?” The Knight boomed confidently, though she could see the stiffness in their movements she understood. They would protect her to the bitter end, no matter what.
The assassin moved like caged lightning, but the Knight was fast too. Not as fast as the dark armoured killer, but they had the advantage of being on the defensive with two weapons. The dark curved saber met the Knight’s blue steel sword head on, their contact releasing a crack of energy so potent that it forced both of them back a step and vaporised the rain in a sphere around them. She was knocked onto her rear by the energy, one arm slipping to dangle over the cliff’s edge.
Diane gasped as the sensation of falling shocked her, her vision darkening for a moment as if she were losing consciousness. With a supreme effort of will she dragged herself back and over the edge unto the moss carpeting of the forest floor once again. Her dress tore in several places as she did so but it was no longer her main concern.
As she panted and tried to catch her breath she saw the Knight fighting against the dark clad assassin again. Once.. twice.. three times the steel clad man deflected crushing blows that would have killed her a dozen times over, the power of the deflected strikes enough to shatter the bark on the surrounding trees leaving their trunks barren and scarred. The Knight sidestepped an obvious overhead slash and used their spear to shoot a blast of water directly at the red slashed figure’s head. The force was enough to knock them flat on their back and for a minute she dared to hope that they might be dead themselves.
But it wasn’t to be. She watched in horrid fascination as the assassin climbed back to their feet, their neck twisted at an heavy angle. They reached up and twisted their head with a crunch, straightening it.
“Oh, not had enough then have you?” The Knight shouted before charging the man. They dodged to the side, noticeably slower than they had been before. Clearly they were taking damage from the Knight’s powerful attacks, but that was exactly the move that the other two assassins were looking for. Once more that same awful hiss filled the air and the Knight spun towards this new attack. It was well that he did so as the first two projectiles missed him entirely, the third did not.
The shining steel poleyn of the Knight was struck at an angle, the force of the blow tearing the entire plate from the man’s knee. He yelled in pain, a bright splash of crimson staining the fat clods of moss that littered the ground. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, this couldn't be happening again. She frowned, what had she meant by again?
The question was lost amid the action as the first assassin rushed the Knight like a feral boar. The headlong charge was interrupted by the Knight’s longsword. The shimmering water that enveloped the blade splashing against the chest of the charging killer moments before he reached the Knight, slowing them for a heartbeat. It was in this moment that the Knight struck with his other hand, the blued tip of the spear punching straight through the red X on the assassin's mask as if by design. The bladed head of the weapon punched through the back of the assassin’s skull amid a shower of gore that stained the bole of the tree behind them a dark crimson.
A slow growl emitted from the third figure, apparently the death of their comrade in arms had angered them as all at once the sound of electrical discharge and hissing spines increased in intensity.
“That’s one done for. Stay behind me, I will protect you.” The Knight took a step back, putting a tree between them and the two other figures. She squeezed her eyes closed as she shakily regained her footing.
Her mouth opened and she spoke, the words coming from her sounding childish and full of fear. “Are we going to die here?”
The Knight turned and looked at her. The dark slit of their visor hid their eyes, but she knew with a shiver that they were boring into her very soul at that moment.
The Knight shook their helmeted head. “I can make no promises. But I shall do all in my power to prevent that alternative.”
She shrank back, the whipping sound of one of the metal spikes sounding dangerously close this time. The Knight deflected another two of them before she felt the hairs on her arm and neck stand on end. She smelled something metallic, like the burning of a forge or the smelting of iron on a hot dry day. She turned and screamed as the third assassin strode out to the cliff's edge not ten paces away.
The Knight turned from their defense and noticed the figure. Their arms were raised and a coruscating halo of electrical sparks surrounded their head and shoulders. It was as if they were gathering the lightning in the air to them, indeed as she watched a bolt seemed to strike them. The brilliant white hot fork alighting upon their outstretched hands and gathering into a ball that they then hurled towards her. The next few heartbeats seemed to play out in slow motion, her mind acutely aware of every tiny detail but unable to affect herself or surroundings as the horrid scene played out.
The rain hissed and flashed to steam as the lightning left the assassin’s fingertips, the roiling ball of angry light and fire aimed straight at her heart. She heard the crackle of the wind, the groan of the river far below, the rain lashed her face as the storm bellowed in rage, but it was too late. There was nothing she could do.
In a silver flash the Knight leapt in front of the bolt, the ball of destruction striking them in a flash of light so brilliant that she could see the bones of her hand as she held it up to shield her eyes. The force of it pushed her back, her feet slipping on the edge of the cliff. She gasped, her breath held as she hung in that terrible infinite moment before the drop, arms flailing for balance. Her eyes flicked to the charred husk of her protector, they were no more.
‘He is already dead’
She began to sob, but the air wouldn't come, sucked from her lungs by the air that rushed past her as she fell. She frowned, this wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair. What had she even done to deserve this? She wondered to herself. She could hear the roar of the river below growing closer with each passing instant, the cliff receding as she plummeted to her doom.
She closed her eyes.
The shock of the cold liquid caused her to sit up violently, gasping for the breath that had been ripped from her lungs. She blinked rapidly, she wasn’t dead, in fact she wasn’t submerged in roiling icy water either.
She shook her head, long blond hair flailing as she raised her hands to her face. Why was she wet? Of course, she had fallen in the river.
She opened her eyes, the surroundings resolving slowly as her awareness returned. She was covered in some manner of sticky liquid, no it wasn’t water. She raised an arm and sniffed, it was beer.
She looked around, the clearing full of sleeping figures covered in colorful shimmering leaves. No, not leaves.
A voice came from behind her, causing her to spin and grab instinctively for the sword at her hip. In front of her stood a small portly dwarf, their curly brown hair rumpled by sleep. “I feared you wouldn't wake at all like the others.”
She nodded as she glanced around once more, “What is happening Graham? What are these?” She gestured to the others scattered around the camp.
The dwarf hefted their large ale mug. “I don’t know. But from the looks of it they are some sort of bugs, maybe butterflies. And I really don't like the look of them.”
She nodded and stood, the memory of her dream fresh in her mind. “Well then, let’s wake them all up too.”
Graham nodded and hefted their weapon of choice. The empty mug was soon to be filled, the scent of the dark beer wafting through the clearing as they set about saving their friends.
END OF STORYWritten for my good friend simpkronosok(Not Reddit Username) for their 'Immortal Rulers' Setting.
submitted by Frostdraken to HFY [link] [comments]
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Darkness took her and she felt as though she were falling through some godless void. The dark pressed in on all sides, crushing her mind and heart alike as the cold of it seeped through her skin and into her very bones. She opened her mouth to scream and choked as the darkness flooded her lungs.
She jerked. She was no longer falling. She shook her long blond hair and realised with a start that she was on horseback, her arms clinging to the bright burnished steel of a huge figure that sat astride the steed in front of her.
She blinked, it couldn't be, it wasn’t possible. She felt cold and looked up towards the sky. The angry clouds pelted her with their wrathful deluge, the cold water seeping past her cloak to soak the thin brown dress she wore under it. She shivered and pulled it closer with one hand in a futile attempt to ward off the cold.
The large figure seemed to notice her shifting and spoke with a deep voice that reverberated in her head like the distant thunder of the storm that enveloped them. She smiled, the voice was rough but not at all worrying. In fact she felt safe just hearing it again.
She looked around, the rain was so heavy that she could scarcely see more than a dozen paces clearly. Part of her knew they were nearing the end of the road though, something deep inside screaming that she had been here before. She quashed the feeling and gripped the Knight’s armour harder as their mount nickered in fear.
She felt the Knight tense as the horse stopped dead in its tracks.
“What is it? Why are we stopping?” She asked the armoured man, her small voice that of a child. For some reason this struck her as odd, as if this was not her voice nor her body. She felt herself looking around the Knight’s bulk to see what was ahead, and immediately wished she hadn't.
Ahead through the mist and rain were a trio of dark figures, she felt a shiver of recognition flash through her heart even though she had never seen them before to her own recollection. They advanced, still far enough away as to not be a direct threat, or so she thought.
A sudden buzzing noise gurgled through the air and she noticed something flying towards them at great speed. Its energy so great as to turn the very rain on its path to a vaporous mist. The Knight gave a shout of alarm and jerked the horse’s reins to the side. This proved to be the correct move as the object sailed past and impacted a sturdy tree behind them with a wicked thud. Her eyes widened as splinters were thrown far and wide, when they settled she could make out a fist sized hole dug straight to the heart of the mighty tree.
But she didn’t get a chance to linger on it long as the horse took off at a dead gallop a moment later. She felt the jolts of its hooves as it left the muddy path. The animal frantic as more buzzing objects whirled past them, at times impacting the trees they dodged through and other times seeming to whip past them into empty space.
She screamed in terror and then grunted as the horse jumped. Time seemed to slow as they went airborne, the rain drop’s glittered in the dim light of the forest like tiny gemstones. Everywhere was greenery and the scent of living things, the verdant atmosphere giving an impossible contrast to their grave peril. She jerked as something grazed her shoulder and looked down to see a slightly smoking hole through her cloak. The rain quickly put out the embers but she still shivered at the closeness of the miss. Less than an inch to the right and she would likely not still be alive.
The Knight uttered an oath or perhaps a curse and pulled the reins hard making the poor creature skid to a stop. The horse panted, slavering foam leaked from its lips as its dark brown eyes rolled wildly in its head. The poor creature was in abject terror, much like she herself.
The Knight turned to look at her, their face masked by the full plate helm they wore, their magical spear now gripped in one of their gauntleted hands. “Are you alright lass?” they asked in that same gruff voice. She shook her head. “Well, get ready to hold on tight, as soon as we have a second to rest we shall continue on.”
No sooner had the steel armoured man said it then another buzzing projectile honed in straight towards them. She watched in amazement as the Knight was able to deflect the projectile using the enchanted spear. A halo of water droplets ringing its blue steeled head as it seemed to hum with potential in the Knight’s hand.
The dark trees obscured her vision of where it had come from, but she still shuddered in fear. Somewhere in that darkness the three killers were lurking, just waiting for an opportunity to strike her dead. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and threw an arm out in the direction, causing the Knight to jerk that way in response.
It was well she did so too as another of those shining metal spikes was launched at them from the dark figure’s hand. It was fast, impossibly so. There was no way the figure had thrown it by hand at such speed, that must have meant they were a magic wielder, a powerful one too if their attacks were any indication.
Once more the Knight deflected the attack, a spear of water shooting from the tip of the spear to intercept the dart. She watched wide eyed as it fell harmlessly to the ground, landing in a bed of moss and toadstools that grew from a rotten log. Her eyes widened even more as the metal spike then slowly lifted off the ground and floated lazily back towards the assassin. They must be controlling them with some sort of earth based magic, where the intuition came from she knew not. She was only minimally versed in such schools of thought after all.
Another figure moved in the woods distant, the shadow of the branches above sheltered them from the rain somewhat, but the resulting darkness made it ever more difficult to see what lay beyond the twisted gnarls and cantankerous undergrowth.
Almost as soon as she thought it she saw an amber bolt of electricity arc between the trees. It stopped far short of them, the bolt striking the bole of a tree with a sharp crack. The flash of light that escaped around the side of the trunk was near blinding, but that wasn’t her main fear. Instead she was concerned by the continuous hail of metal spikes that the Knight continued to deflect. Their strain evident even as they blocked, deflected or halted every projectile before it could reach them.
The Knight spat, “Surely they must tire of these accursed magics soon. They cannot be as powerful as that.”
She nodded, though the Knight surely didn’t see it. The horse shifted under her, it’s head tossing as it made a low noise that sounded a bit like a groan. The Knight watched as another bolt of lightning arced through the forest only to this time hit a thick bush and set it alight.
“Hah, their paltry magic tricks are no use. We shall make a clean getaway yet Lass.” The Knight spoke with a confidence that she felt bolster her own mood, the fear seeming to melt away when the imposing figure spoke. She knew in her heart that she would be safe as long as he was alive, but as she mused that another thought wormed its way into the far corner of her mind.
‘He is already dead.’
She shook her head, her blond hair soaked as it whipped water droplets through the air. She had no reason to listen to the strange nagging voice in her mind, it was just the darkness talking she told herself.
Another series of metal projectiles whistled towards them and the Knight tensed, a chuckle escaping the giant’s masked face as they prepared to defend another assault. But this time something was fundamentally different. The projectiles halted suddenly and she felt the Knight stop, their confusion evident as their spear lowered slightly. What could the dark figures be up to now, she began to wonder.
All at once a powerful surge of electricity smashed its way through the undergrowth towards them, unlike before it seemed directed. She only had time to notice the amber bolt arc between the metal spikes before it struck them. She heard the horse’s gurgling scream as she was thrown bodily through the air. Head over heels she tumbled before alighting upon the mossy ground with a solid thud that drove the air from her lungs.
She pushed herself off the ground, struggling to breathe as her paralysed lungs resisted her attempts to fill them. After another second of this she felt something in her cest shift slightly accompanied by a grinding sensation. All at once she gulped in a tremendous breath, the gasp was strangely quiet in her ears. In fact all she seemed to be able to hear was a distant ringing, as if festival bells were tolling just over the next hill.
She stood on shaky legs and took a step, winching as one of her ankles protested. She must have twisted it in her tumble as she had been thrown from the horse.
‘The horse!’ she thought. She limped back towards where she had flung and stopped in her tracks. In the place the Knight had sat atop his noble steed there remained only a blackened pile of grisly remains. The charred chunks of what she could only assume used to be the horse were strewn about the entire clearing. The charred black bones of it’s collapsed ribcage still smouldering in the downpour.
Where was the Knight? The words that had appeared unbidden in her mind echoed through them once more. ‘He is already dead’
She shook her head and screamed. He wasn’t, he couldn't be.
As if answering her silent plea she saw him, the Knight stood to their feet slowly as if in great pain. As she rushed to their side she soon saw why. The Knight groaned as they stood, a great black scorch running down their right side, small curls of smoke issuing out from the gaps in their armoured plate.
“You are hurt!” She exclaimed, placing her tiny hands on his side. She pulled her hands back as if stung, the metal was still hot to the touch, small hisses and rising curls of steam appeared as heavy raindrops fell upon them from above.
The Knight just shook their helmeted head slightly. “It is nothing, we need to keep moving. Please, follow me. Quickly!” with that the Knight strode away from the blasted remains of their steed and she hastened to follow.
Her short legs made climbing over the rough terrain difficult but her fear hastened her steps and allowed her to keep up with her protector as they limped along through the trees. They continued in this manner for another two minutes before the Knight groaned and stopped, pressing a gauntleted hand against a nearby tree as they stopped to catch their breath.
She passed him and then stopped as well, in front of them the forest ended. The mossy ground giving way to a sheer cliff. As she glanced over the side she could just make out the white rapids of a fast flowing river down below, so far as to make her heart leap into her throat.
She heard the Knight curse again, the oath leaving his lips with a snarl. As she turned to see the source of their anxiety she noticed with a pang of dread that the three dark figures had returned. They stood not more than twenty paces away, their menacing black cloaks dripped with rain and their armour was streaked with moisture that seemed to have no effect on them.
The Knight drew his longsword, the blade made of the same enchanted blue steel as his spear. With both weapons held at the ready they entered a low guard stance, their body seeming to tense beneath the armour they wore. Though she couldn't see his face, she could well imagine the mask of determination that must have surely spread across it as they faced down the terrible dark figures that hunted her.
She waited for the hissing of the metal spikes to begin but it remained silent. The rain had intensified and the beating of the deluge upon the branches caused a dull roar that filled her ears and mind like the remembered sound of the sea. She shook her head, hazy memories that were not hers flashed through her mind unbidden. She shook them off, it wasn't the time or the place to entertain fantasies or dreams. This was real, or was it?
That voice echoed in her mind again, strangely familiar and yet impossibly different. ‘You need to wake up Diane.’
She stepped back, one foot slipping slightly as she drew close to the cliff’s edge. She put her hands to her head and tried to shut out the thoughts. They weren't hers, they were not real. ‘What is real?’ the voice asked in her mind.
Diane yelled, the Knight not seeming to notice or react as they took a step to the left. She watched as one of the assassins darted forwards, breaking ranks and drawing a long curving blade from somewhere under their dark cloak. They moved with inhuman speed, their legs a blur and their blade death incarnate as they arrowed towards her, their dark mask marked by two red slashes that crossed over their eyes.
She gasped as they skidded to a halt, the Knight moving to block their way. “What, too scared to fight me, tiny man?” The Knight boomed confidently, though she could see the stiffness in their movements she understood. They would protect her to the bitter end, no matter what.
The assassin moved like caged lightning, but the Knight was fast too. Not as fast as the dark armoured killer, but they had the advantage of being on the defensive with two weapons. The dark curved saber met the Knight’s blue steel sword head on, their contact releasing a crack of energy so potent that it forced both of them back a step and vaporised the rain in a sphere around them. She was knocked onto her rear by the energy, one arm slipping to dangle over the cliff’s edge.
Diane gasped as the sensation of falling shocked her, her vision darkening for a moment as if she were losing consciousness. With a supreme effort of will she dragged herself back and over the edge unto the moss carpeting of the forest floor once again. Her dress tore in several places as she did so but it was no longer her main concern.
As she panted and tried to catch her breath she saw the Knight fighting against the dark clad assassin again. Once.. twice.. three times the steel clad man deflected crushing blows that would have killed her a dozen times over, the power of the deflected strikes enough to shatter the bark on the surrounding trees leaving their trunks barren and scarred. The Knight sidestepped an obvious overhead slash and used their spear to shoot a blast of water directly at the red slashed figure’s head. The force was enough to knock them flat on their back and for a minute she dared to hope that they might be dead themselves.
But it wasn’t to be. She watched in horrid fascination as the assassin climbed back to their feet, their neck twisted at an heavy angle. They reached up and twisted their head with a crunch, straightening it.
“Oh, not had enough then have you?” The Knight shouted before charging the man. They dodged to the side, noticeably slower than they had been before. Clearly they were taking damage from the Knight’s powerful attacks, but that was exactly the move that the other two assassins were looking for. Once more that same awful hiss filled the air and the Knight spun towards this new attack. It was well that he did so as the first two projectiles missed him entirely, the third did not.
The shining steel poleyn of the Knight was struck at an angle, the force of the blow tearing the entire plate from the man’s knee. He yelled in pain, a bright splash of crimson staining the fat clods of moss that littered the ground. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, this couldn't be happening again. She frowned, what had she meant by again?
The question was lost amid the action as the first assassin rushed the Knight like a feral boar. The headlong charge was interrupted by the Knight’s longsword. The shimmering water that enveloped the blade splashing against the chest of the charging killer moments before he reached the Knight, slowing them for a heartbeat. It was in this moment that the Knight struck with his other hand, the blued tip of the spear punching straight through the red X on the assassin's mask as if by design. The bladed head of the weapon punched through the back of the assassin’s skull amid a shower of gore that stained the bole of the tree behind them a dark crimson.
A slow growl emitted from the third figure, apparently the death of their comrade in arms had angered them as all at once the sound of electrical discharge and hissing spines increased in intensity.
“That’s one done for. Stay behind me, I will protect you.” The Knight took a step back, putting a tree between them and the two other figures. She squeezed her eyes closed as she shakily regained her footing.
Her mouth opened and she spoke, the words coming from her sounding childish and full of fear. “Are we going to die here?”
The Knight turned and looked at her. The dark slit of their visor hid their eyes, but she knew with a shiver that they were boring into her very soul at that moment.
The Knight shook their helmeted head. “I can make no promises. But I shall do all in my power to prevent that alternative.”
She shrank back, the whipping sound of one of the metal spikes sounding dangerously close this time. The Knight deflected another two of them before she felt the hairs on her arm and neck stand on end. She smelled something metallic, like the burning of a forge or the smelting of iron on a hot dry day. She turned and screamed as the third assassin strode out to the cliff's edge not ten paces away.
The Knight turned from their defense and noticed the figure. Their arms were raised and a coruscating halo of electrical sparks surrounded their head and shoulders. It was as if they were gathering the lightning in the air to them, indeed as she watched a bolt seemed to strike them. The brilliant white hot fork alighting upon their outstretched hands and gathering into a ball that they then hurled towards her. The next few heartbeats seemed to play out in slow motion, her mind acutely aware of every tiny detail but unable to affect herself or surroundings as the horrid scene played out.
The rain hissed and flashed to steam as the lightning left the assassin’s fingertips, the roiling ball of angry light and fire aimed straight at her heart. She heard the crackle of the wind, the groan of the river far below, the rain lashed her face as the storm bellowed in rage, but it was too late. There was nothing she could do.
In a silver flash the Knight leapt in front of the bolt, the ball of destruction striking them in a flash of light so brilliant that she could see the bones of her hand as she held it up to shield her eyes. The force of it pushed her back, her feet slipping on the edge of the cliff. She gasped, her breath held as she hung in that terrible infinite moment before the drop, arms flailing for balance. Her eyes flicked to the charred husk of her protector, they were no more.
‘He is already dead’
She began to sob, but the air wouldn't come, sucked from her lungs by the air that rushed past her as she fell. She frowned, this wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair. What had she even done to deserve this? She wondered to herself. She could hear the roar of the river below growing closer with each passing instant, the cliff receding as she plummeted to her doom.
She closed her eyes.
The shock of the cold liquid caused her to sit up violently, gasping for the breath that had been ripped from her lungs. She blinked rapidly, she wasn’t dead, in fact she wasn’t submerged in roiling icy water either.
She shook her head, long blond hair flailing as she raised her hands to her face. Why was she wet? Of course, she had fallen in the river.
She opened her eyes, the surroundings resolving slowly as her awareness returned. She was covered in some manner of sticky liquid, no it wasn’t water. She raised an arm and sniffed, it was beer.
She looked around, the clearing full of sleeping figures covered in colorful shimmering leaves. No, not leaves.
A voice came from behind her, causing her to spin and grab instinctively for the sword at her hip. In front of her stood a small portly dwarf, their curly brown hair rumpled by sleep. “I feared you wouldn't wake at all like the others.”
She nodded as she glanced around once more, “What is happening Graham? What are these?” She gestured to the others scattered around the camp.
The dwarf hefted their large ale mug. “I don’t know. But from the looks of it they are some sort of bugs, maybe butterflies. And I really don't like the look of them.”
She nodded and stood, the memory of her dream fresh in her mind. “Well then, let’s wake them all up too.”
Graham nodded and hefted their weapon of choice. The empty mug was soon to be filled, the scent of the dark beer wafting through the clearing as they set about saving their friends.
END OF STORYWritten for my good friend simpkronosok(Not Reddit Username) for their 'Immortal Rulers' Setting.
2024.02.05 17:39 TubeNoobed Nicotine propaganda
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