Another Superpower
Nov. 13th, 2020 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithWhile researching something else, I stumbled across a new superpower, and they actually know the originator. That one is super useful in modern society!
A unique mutation is found in people in a small town in Italy. The mutation protects them from developing atherosclerosis, which is the dangerous buildup of fatty materials in blood vessels. The individual in which the mutation first appeared has even been identified.
A unique mutation is found in people in a small town in Italy. The mutation protects them from developing atherosclerosis, which is the dangerous buildup of fatty materials in blood vessels. The individual in which the mutation first appeared has even been identified.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-11-14 02:11 am (UTC)I've been meaning to tell you -- I found a cat with what's effectively a superdisempower: epilepsy that only causes seizures if he's understimulated or bored, and he's very smart for a cat. His owners have resorted to taking him on long drives so he can see a variety of things, which helps a lot, but it's also resulted in him having approximately the same interests as Edison: cool cars, new people, and cuddling. (He's also very cute, which helps.) He and his sister are nearly identical, which is even more stunning. https://www.instagram.com/revel_and_galavant/
Well ...
Date: 2020-11-14 03:38 am (UTC)Basically, if a brain doesn't get enough input then it shuts down or malfunctions. This can actually happen at any intellect level, as seen in cases of isolation abuse or sensory deprivation torture, unless people know how to circumvent the problem with self-stimulation. It's just that the threshold is different, so it rarely happens except to genii. The more powerful the brain, the more likely it is to cross that line and have problems.
On the bright side, this opens up many more avenues for addressing the problem. The owners might benefit for looking at advice for raising gifted children. However, there are several items designed especially for cats that would suit:
https://catamazing.com/blogs/cat-amazing-blog/top-interactive-cat-puzzle-toys-compared
http://benjaminmillam.com/cat-geek/monkey-the-cat-hunts-for-dinner/
Useful when inclement weather prevents driving:
https://pdxpetdesign.com/cat-toys/the-best-videos-around-for-cats-that-love-watching-tv-and-why-they-do-it/
(no subject)
Date: 2020-11-14 02:57 am (UTC)Um... I'm not sure where you meant that link to go, but while that page has some interesting info, I fail to see what you were referring to. Unless you mean the hairless rats or the ghost redwoods?
Well ...
Date: 2020-11-14 03:19 am (UTC)Though I admit, the redwoods found an excellent workaround for lack of chlorophyll, which I have already written about elsewhere.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2020-11-14 03:22 am (UTC)Not sure if that's a workaround of a harmful mutation, or adaptation to growing in a soil that's naturally contaminated with heavy metals, given the 'ghot-woods' tendency to remove heavy metals from the soils making them less toxic.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2020-11-14 03:48 am (UTC)The mutation itself is likely a response to polluted environment. No accident it happened in redwoods on the Ring of Fire! Volcanoes, like humans, dig up some awful shit.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-11-14 04:45 am (UTC)One of the things discussed is how traditional lifestyles (hunter-gatherer) vs large givernment civilization-states (US, Japan) place different demands on human metabolism.
More specifically, a population exposed to frequent famines will tend to accumulate genetic traits that become disadvantageous in societies that (via government and trade) avert frequent famines.
The other interesting thing I learned in that chapter:
- Famine in a traditional society is because there isn't enough.
- Famine in a modern nation-state is because the system isn't working - the transportation network broke, someone very powerful is hoarding etc. But the food (or whatever) still /exists/.
Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-14 05:54 am (UTC)It's strongest in polar societies (fat = insulation) and Polynesian ones (fat = surviving voyages).
>> - Famine in a modern nation-state is because the system isn't working - the transportation network broke, someone very powerful is hoarding etc. But the food (or whatever) still /exists/.<<
In fact, capitalism is a terrible system for meeting people's needs. It's not about making sure citizens survive; it's about making sure a few people get filthy rich. You have no rights. You don't have a right to food, clothing, shelter -- you literally do not have a right to exist unless you can pay for a place to do it in. That is evil.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 02:31 am (UTC)Stores dont want homeless folks using their bathrooms a primary option, shelters might be full or have restrictions, and we dont have in-public on-the-street toilets or showers.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 02:59 am (UTC)I feel that society is obligated to provide for members, and if it does not, members are not obligated to support society. The sensible thing to do is ensure that there are public toilets. Places that are open long hours or all hours, like gas stations, are ideal; but if those aren't available, freestanding toilets like most parks have are certainly acceptable.
The whole reason public toilets were invented is because, without them, people will pee in the streets and that was figured out within a few years after cities were invented. Much better to have flushies than a communal hole in the ground! (I'm not kidding, there are archaeological examples of ancient public toilets that are appalling by modern standards.)
For the same reason, better civilizations added public bathhouses for general hygiene, something L-American can't be arsed to do. Society makes it impossible for people to stay clean unless they can pay for it, then condemns them for being dirty.
I note that my supervillains have more sense than this, given that one of Boss Blaster's first acts in Lincoln was to install a flophouse and a showerhouse in an empty lot.
While it is not necessarily required to offer a solution for every problem pointed out, it should certainly be done that way when there are lots of obvious solutions. Pick one and back it, or figure out a new one.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 05:08 am (UTC)- public toilets and showers
- also public water fountains
- put a small bin in the bathroom stall (decreases...certain messes)
- have a "Service, Please" sign (like in hotels) to hang on clogged/damaged/dirty stalls/bathrooms (people who clog a toilet will be embarrassed to tell you)
- make parks/street gardens edible and dont use pesticides; alternately do this with a church's landscaping (free food)
- make HAZMAT/crime scene cleanup easily accessible and more affordable (most people can't drop a couple thousand on cleaners, especially after a death in the family; many businesses will try to make their minimum wage-ers do it)
- subsidize childcare, eldercare caregiving...
- set up more programs for people currently in between 'I can wait two months' and 'Dude, I /really/ think I should call an ambulance.' This includes physical and mental health, ability to obtain necessities (including meds) and help to interface with the world
I'm also wondering if perhaps religious institutions should be encouraged (in a society-moving-forward way) to do more 'good works,' instead of just donating money. (Monastaries and nunneries were originally the first hotels and hospitals; incidentally this is why English nurses are still called 'Sister' in modern times.)
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 05:41 am (UTC)- public toilets and showers
- also public water fountains <<
Agreed. Many places have public water fountains, but showers are almost unheard of. Not only would those help homeless people, they'd also help:
* daytrippers
* people who walk/bike places
* parents of young children
* people with disabilities
* everyone standing at the bus stop when the bus hits a mudhole
>> - put a small bin in the bathroom stall (decreases...certain messes) <<
Every women's toilet is supposed to have those so people don't flush tampons and clog the lines. Which means, if body shape no longer determines toilet use, now every toilet needs a bin.
>> - have a "Service, Please" sign (like in hotels) to hang on clogged/damaged/dirty stalls/bathrooms (people who clog a toilet will be embarrassed to tell you) <<
Good idea.
>> - make parks/street gardens edible and dont use pesticides; alternately do this with a church's landscaping (free food) <<
There are a few places that do this. More would be better. It's good for wildlife too.
>> - make HAZMAT/crime scene cleanup easily accessible and more affordable (most people can't drop a couple thousand on cleaners, especially after a death in the family; many businesses will try to make their minimum wage-ers do it) <<
I feel that police should pay for crime scene cleanup. After all, they failed to prevent the crime, and the victim's family shouldn't be hit with extra expenses adding insult to injury.
>> - subsidize childcare, eldercare caregiving... <<
Those should be free. At this point, so many people can't afford to have kids -- or don't consider it safe -- that America has dropped below replacement level. While it's nice for the Earth that humanity is starting to go into remission, it's ruinous to society.
>> - set up more programs for people currently in between 'I can wait two months' and 'Dude, I /really/ think I should call an ambulance.' This includes physical and mental health, ability to obtain necessities (including meds) and help to interface with the world <<
T-America has a staged health care system. General practice and community clinics handle routine care and minor to moderate urgent care. The community clinic is a step up since most of them have a procedure room that can serve as an emergency room. Local hospitals handle worse things through the urgent care and emergency room. Anything that can't be fixed there gets transferred to specialty hospital. This way, the ER is not clogged with people who have sniffles or just need 3 stitches when someone comes in with a heart attack. If something turns out to be worse than expected, it's easily transferred up the chain: "Sorry, we can set simple breaks here but your ulna is in splinters. We'll take you to the ER."
They stage their ambulances too. A common setup is one Advanced Life Support, two Basic Life Support, and three Medical Transport. ALS is for things like strokes and car wrecks. BLS is for things like bike wrecks and fainting that probably aren't life-threatening but you want expert help. MT is for taking frail people to/from appointments, picking up drunks, or other cases that are mostly about transport but someone should know first aid just in case. Big city hospitals further iterate with pediatric, geriatric, mass-casualty, or other specialty trucks.
Mental care is similar and overlapping. Most community centers and general practice offices have a counselor in case of unexpected upset. Hell, most malls have an Emotional First Aide to deal with relationship mayhem and the like. Mental clinics handle wellness, personal growth, and short-to-long-term care of many conditions. Typically the municipal fund will cover a short module for common problems like self-esteem or breakup, though bigger stuff usually costs. Most hospitals have a Shock Room for mental injuries, and lots of people get referred from the ER to the SR because getting hurt or seeing a family member sick is distressing. Better to address that before it festers.
>> I'm also wondering if perhaps religious institutions should be encouraged (in a society-moving-forward way) to do more 'good works,' instead of just donating money. (Monastaries and nunneries were originally the first hotels and hospitals; incidentally this is why English nurses are still called 'Sister' in modern times.) <<
This is fine if and only if there is a secular alternative. Otherwise people get cheated of complete health care due to someone else's religious hangups, which is sometimes lethal.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 06:55 am (UTC)Usually the bins are stuck to the wall. A floor can could be used as a bucket and/or dumped out (instead of 'remove items by hand,' as we occasionally had to do at my last retail job.) Plus,easier to sanitize.
>>I feel that police...<<
Our case was a (non-criminal) death that wasn't discovered for a few days. In summer. And the house was a mess* /before/ the person died.
*To put it very mildly; we were clearing trash with a snow shovel.
I've also heard of businesses making employees clean up after sewage, violently ill guests, etc.
Oh, and dead, rabid, or dead-and-rabid animals, infestations, and droppings. (Our neighbor had a mummified /something/ in her shed, and it wasn't worth a couple hundred bucks for the professionals to come out /during an economic crash/.)
None of these would be covered by cops, but somebody's gotta do it.
>>...America has dropped below replacement level.<<
Immigration.
Alternately, laugh at the rich hypocrites who can't afford the help for their McMansions anymore...
>>This is fine if and only if there is a secular alternative. <<
I consider it rude to impose my religion on people, though I would consider 'No guns on church grounds, please,' or 'You dont have to approve of the other guests, but please be civil,' to be reasonable. (I'm sure some people would disagree.)
The other issue - what if the church is the only one doing, say, EFA or public showers? Ideally there's a non-religious option, but if not removing the service makes thing worse.
I have volunteered with a religious group that helps clients of many different religions, and I think the only religious issue we ever had was when a /client/ was aggresivly trying to get us all to pray together. (Usually we can all get along, though we will have polite religious discussions sometimes, so respectful co-operation /can/ be done.)
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 08:08 am (UTC)Disadvantages of floor bins:
* can be knocked over
* can be stolen or lost
* gets in the way of adaptive equipment
I once had to rescue a wheeler who had gotten trapped in a bathroom by a garbage can. The damn thing was too tall to fit under the sink. It was possible to get into the room, because the door opened inward, but once inside the can made it impossible to maneuver back to where you could open the door to leave. Between the two of us, we managed to wrestle the damn thing out of the way and the door open. I gave the manager a reaming and said they better get a shorter can that would fit under the sink. 0_o
>>None of these would be covered by cops, but somebody's gotta do it.<<
For non-crime scene issues, I think there should be some way to cover it if people can't. Major messes may well need professional care, but not everyone can afford that or even knows how to find it.
>> Immigration. <<
I see that as a solution, but most people see it as an attack. Hence Rutledge.
>> Alternately, laugh at the rich hypocrites who can't afford the help for their McMansions anymore... <<
LOL yes.
>>The other issue - what if the church is the only one doing, say, EFA or public showers? Ideally there's a non-religious option, but if not removing the service makes thing worse.<<
If a religion is the only provider, and they are not making people endure religious abuse to gain access to resources, then it's fine. It is not fine to abuse people just because they need things.
However, the worse problem is when a religion takes over a secular service and drops vital coverage. Catholics routinely mistreat women because they refuse to treat certain medical problems. This is bad enough when they do it to Catholic women who choose to go there, worse when they do it to girls who may not know better options exist, and downright evil when they do it to people of different beliefs.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 09:29 am (UTC)Maybe a removable bin that attaches to the wall/door somehow?
Easy to dump out/sanitize and can be used as a puke bucket if needed, but still off the floor?
>>For non-crime scene issues, I think there should be some way to cover it if people can't.
Major messes may well need professional care, but not everyone can afford that or even knows how to find it.
<<
Yeah, and this issue /keeps happening/. I'm sick of people telling me I need a specialist that will take 2 weeks to a years' pay to fix something and no substitutes will do. I don't have that much money to spend at any given moment. Most of the people I hang out with don't have that much money, and that's before this year!
At the very least official DIY instructions for protective gear and cleaning processes would be better than jury rigging a system out of from-memory hospital sanitization tricks, while rigging hazmat gear out of facemasks/bandannas/herbs/medical gloves/ratty old shoes you can throw out.
Honestly, come up with a protocol, then make sure the ambulances or cops have a few pamphlets in their vehicle. (And easily accessible on 211 and the 'net.) Maybe mark the person down for a follow up call, if they want it. And if you have to argue for it with the guv'ment, point out that these things are a /public health hazard/.
(Why yes, I AM still annoyed about cleaning that house...)
>>LOL yes.<<
Well, the only reason flush toilets caught on is bc it got too expensive to pay servants to empty chamber pots. (At least having immigrants clean your house isn't seen as emasculating... [rolls eyes])
>>If a religion is the only provider, and they are not making people endure religious abuse to gain access to resources,...<<
So no discriminatory rules [must apply equally to everyone], or forced participation. Hmmm...might be good to have a 'client advisor' or suggestion box or something...
I wonder if a good test would be 'are there multifaith rescources on site' [i.e. Bible and Torah and Koran] and 'how often do people fuss about the not-my-religion things.'
Alternately, do something obviously (but not disruptively) 'outsiderish,' and see if you get judginess or polite queries.
>>However, the worse problem is when a religion takes over a secular service and drops vital coverage.<<
It seems like that would be more possible with a locally-powerful religion...
>>...vital coverage...<<
I'm willing to /refrain from asking/ about certain restrictions, and have a Loophole Abuse argument ready for /technically/ not violating them. :)
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 11:04 am (UTC)Not a bad idea, and those exist. Usually there's a bracket on the wall, and the bin has a plate that attaches to the bracket.
>> Yeah, and this issue /keeps happening/. I'm sick of people telling me I need a specialist that will take 2 weeks to a years' pay to fix something and no substitutes will do. I don't have that much money to spend at any given moment. Most of the people I hang out with don't have that much money, and that's before this year! <<
I agree, it's a serious and widespread problem across various fields. But the people who charge that kind of money? They seem incapable of understanding that the money is not available. I usually have to resort to: "Do you want to get paid for that?" "Of course!" "Well, that's not going to happen. It's more money than I make in a year. Think of something else." Usually they can't or won't, so I wind up doing nothing, doing it myself, or trying to find someone less stupid. It's a key factor why I rarely ask for help from strangers: the success rate is quite low, and it's a hassle just trying.
>>At the very least official DIY instructions for protective gear and cleaning processes would be better than jury rigging a system out of from-memory hospital sanitization tricks, while rigging hazmat gear out of facemasks/bandannas/herbs/medical gloves/ratty old shoes you can throw out.<<
Good idea.
Fortunately, the internet is now a thing and it contains instructions for almost everything. Finding ideal ones might be hard, but if you read a bunch of sources you can usually splice together something that works.
>> Honestly, come up with a protocol, then make sure the ambulances or cops have a few pamphlets in their vehicle. (And easily accessible on 211 and the 'net.) Maybe mark the person down for a follow up call, if they want it. And if you have to argue for it with the guv'ment, point out that these things are a /public health hazard/. <<
Yeah, Terramagne does that. All first responders have assorted resources to hand out, including referrals. Suppose somebody falls through a coffeetable so the living room is now covered in blood and broken glass.
* Do you need EFA? Do you already have a therapist we could call for you? Do you have support people among friends or family?
* Would you like help cleaning up the mess? We have a list of bonded cleaners who specialize in this sort of thing, and there's a few charities if money is an issue. There's also a safety sheet of instructions if you prefer to do it yourself.
* May we have someone call you a few days later for followup to make sure that you're coping okay?
>> (Why yes, I AM still annoyed about cleaning that house...) <<
Well, now you know one of the more common reasons why Cleaners wind up working for the black hats. You know, the mousy little folks who make dead bodies conveniently go away.
>> I wonder if a good test would be 'are there multifaith rescources on site' [i.e. Bible and Torah and Koran] and 'how often do people fuss about the not-my-religion things.' <<
While there are interfaith charities and such, most religious organizations are singular -- and quite often, they're doing it to proselytize, not because they want people to have food or health care or whatever. Meanwhile over in Terramagne...
Pastafarians: "The food is the sermon! Come on, everybody, this spaghetti won't eat itself."
Christians: "Meals without sermon: 7 AM, 12 PM, 6 PM. Meals with sermon: 8 AM, 1 PM, 7 PM. For I was hungry and you gave me food. Matthew 25:35-40"
Interfaith neighborhood clinic:
"Do you wish to disclose your religion(s)? _____" "Please mark the type(s) of care you seek: ( ) Ayurveda, ( ) Conventional medicine, ( ) Dietary advice, ( ) Emotional First Aid, ( ) Healthy Touch, ( ) Herbalism, ( ) Midwifery, ( ) Naturopathy, ( ) Pastoral counseling in _____, ( ) Traditional Chinese Medicine"
"Would you like prayer with that? If yes, give prayer request and religion(s) desired: _____"
>> It seems like that would be more possible with a locally-powerful religion... <<
It is a serious problem with Christian facilities in L-America. Some other countries make similar mistakes with that or other religions.
https://www.aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/religion-and-reproductive-rights/federal-government-must-stop-catholic
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/10/25/20929539/catholic-hospitals-religious-refusal-rural-health-care-evan-minton
I have nothing against people of faith who want a matching facility that will not, say, destroy their fertility without consent (credible threat). I also don't feel that pressuring people to violate their ethics is in any way okay. It's when they harm outsiders by fobbing off their beliefs on nonparticipants that I object.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-11-15 06:12 pm (UTC)I got the idea of stuffing herbs into a folded bandanna over the mouth/nose from plague doctor suits. :) (Morticians apparently have other tricks, but I needed a mask too.)
I was also the one who thought to bring along gloves. (The other person brought a water -plumbing unusable-, and later figured out water-bleach ratios.)
Why must people be annoyed by crazy-preparedness anxiety unless it suits them? (People never turn down my stash in a crisis...but a lot of them just whine about my maintaining it when nothing's going down...)
Kudos to my ex-coworkers and my volunteering clients, who don't hassle me and are nice to me outside of my being a vending machine... (Granted, I'm still assumed to do Item Drops occasionally, but it's nice to get please and thank you and friendly diologue instead of accepting the goodies as tribute.)
>>While there are interfaith charities and such, most religious organizations are singular -- and quite often, they're doing it to proselytize...<<
Well, pooh to them! Being run by a specific religion doesn't/shouldn't preclude you from having /good manners/.
In fact, people are more likely to want to hang out/join you if you are nice and respect them - you've gotta meet people where they are, rather than get all preachy.
(We had a guy begging outside our church for change, and invited him in for refreshments; then he was coming in routinely, eventually he got 'adopted' as someone's chosen sibling.)
I've also occasionally discussed religiously-based morality with conservatives, and it only seems to work if you are both being respectful.
FYI: I'm religious, but my religion are bleeding-edge religious weirdos, promoting prophet-like radical-for-the-time ideas for the last 400 years. And while we have made mistakes, we don't have to /keep/ making them.
It is possible to be devoted to your faith (whatever it is) without using it to hurt people.
>>I have nothing against people of faith who want a matching facility that will not, say, destroy their fertility without consent (credible threat). I also don't feel that pressuring people to violate their ethics is in any way okay. It's when they harm outsiders by fobbing off their beliefs on nonparticipants that I object.<<
One Law and Order SVU episode I still remember was when a pro-life nurse testified that she felt bad about a doctor tricking the pregnant girl into not being able to get an abortion until it was too late.
Also, the nuns on Call the Midwife learn to not be judgy very quickly - it causes big problems Every. Single. Time.