Posts by Jacob Stewart2

I've been feeling increasingly uneasy about how easy it is to build a rapport with someone behind a screen lately. It feels like the "vibe check" is becoming a thing of the past because the digital personas we interact with are getting way too convincing. Do you guys think we're reaching a point where digital intuition just won't work anymore?

I was listening to some old live recordings the other day and it got me thinking about how much the "vibe" of live music has changed. It feels like everything is becoming so perfectly produced and polished now. Don't get me wrong, studio quality is great, but there was something special about those spontaneous, grit-and-soul performances where it felt like the artist was just standing there, breathing the same air as the crowd.

I remember seeing a street performer a few years back who just had this incredible, raw connection with everyone passing by. No fancy lighting, no massive sound systems, just pure talent and a bit of grit. It felt more "real" than anything I've seen at a major stadium tour lately. It’s like the soul of the performance was in the imperfection.

Lately, it feels like the industry is moving toward perfectionism, and I worry we're losing that magic that happens when music is just shared in a moment of pure, unscripted passion.

Do you guys think we're losing that "soulful" connection in modern music, or am I just being nostalgic?

And honestly, who knows? Maybe my father doesn't even have anything serious going on.

If they haven't performed a bronchoscopy yet, I'm assuming they haven't done a biopsy either. If all they did was a chest X-ray, the results could mean anything—it might be something significant, or it might be nothing at all.

Starting treatment isn't necessarily a requirement right away, especially since he's getting older, but he really should finish the diagnostic process. He needs to know exactly what kind of opponent he's facing. 😉

Keep a very close eye on his weight. If it starts dropping, you might want to look into Pulmocare. Also, if you can get an oxygen concentrator ready or have one on standby, it helps immensely. Good luck!

Linda Price5 said:So, is there really no way to argue that during a standardized exam, students shouldn't be getting up, whispering to neighbors, or passing notes back and forth? If you don't have a pencil, you should just sit there and stare at the ceiling until the bell rings. And if they break the rules, we should deal with them swiftly and decisively.

If that's the case, why even bother with testing at all? 😁 Just hand out the answer keys to everyone, give the whole class an A, and let them play solitaire until the period ends.

THIS is the most accurate summary of this entire thread.

It’s also the saddest way to describe our entire American education system.

But it’s the most realistic view, too. I mean, once they actually make it to college... they'll be adults. No more mommy and daddy holding their hands. If parents try to intervene then, they're going to get shut down immediately.

That’s how you separate the wheat from the chaff.

It really just comes down to how we raise kids in school. It's pretty depressing.

Carol Reed19 said:We actually managed to pull off some things...If you have any medications that haven't been opened, please return them to the pharmacy. In Chicago, there’s this thing similar to how Catholic Charities runs their pharmacy. If you don't hear back from anyone else, maybe look into whether there's something like that in your area—I can't quite remember exactly where you're located right now, sorry about that! But if they have something similar, it might be worth looking into.

Look, let's be clear about one thing: medication isn't something you can just pack up and return like a pair of shoes from Amazon. Once it leaves the pharmacy, that's it.
Once a pharmacist hands over a prescription, they’re essentially out of the loop. They have absolutely no way of knowing how that medication is being stored at home, whether the packaging has been tampered with, or if it's even being handled properly. Once it leaves the pharmacy counter, the responsibility shifts entirely.
I have no clue which pharmacy picked that up, but honestly, maybe it's for the better.

I know this might feel a bit out of place for this thread, and it probably doesn't seem like the most "charitable" way to look at things—even though helping others is exactly what we're all about here—but when you follow the professional guidelines and legal standards, there’s a hard rule in place. You just can't return medications.

For me, applying Linaria was one of those rare things that actually worked.

The Eagles absolutely crushed it. 🙂

Boots was totally in his element. Finally, some actual hard rock—my ears needed the break after listening to all that pop garbage they’ve been booking this year.

bluegardener4 said:I’ve been taking Culturelle (the 14-strain version) along with Centrum for about two months now. Cheers.

You could have done better than that.

Centrum is honestly useless.
From the dosage to the actual ingredients—it’s all off. They use calcium hydrogen phosphate at 160mg, which is a joke; you can get more elemental calcium from a leaf of Swiss chard.
And using ascorbic acid for vitamin C? Total waste.
I won't even get into the weeds with the rest of the details... but hey, at least you'll feel better just knowing you actually started doing something for your health.

steelwalker26 said:Well, that’s the first real answer in this thread. You're reacting to what other people said without even bothering to read their posts. And honestly, looking at it now, it doesn't seem like the OP actually read them either.

My bad. I totally skimmed through the replies too fast.

The longer, the better.

Go for something with as many different strains as possible—ideally, you want a combo that includes both probiotics and prebiotics.
Ferzym, Biokult, Lactibiane... just pick one.

Taking antibiotics seven times a year? Yeah, no wonder your immune system is basically non-existent right now.

Plus, if you aren't following the dosage perfectly—like cutting the course short or stretching it out—you're making a massive mistake.

And don't even get me started on how certain types of antibiotics interact with what you eat. Take protein synthesis inhibitors, like doxycycline, for example; if you’re sipping on milk while taking those, you're asking for trouble.

Look, a common cold isn't something you fix with antibiotics.
Getting an antibiogram or a swab test—those are the absolute fundamentals of modern American medicine.

Out of all the advice you've received from everyone else on this forum, nobody has mentioned the most critical part, especially given your situation. With that many rounds of antibiotics, you've essentially wiped out all the good bacteria living inside you. You need probiotics. Seriously, go get some immediately.

A healthy microbiota is the foundation everything else is built upon.

Angela Wright said:Don't you find it a bit strange to assume a woman might have skipped over her detailed medical history before a procedure? What exactly was she supposed to report—every single cyst or fibroadenoma she’s ever had? How would she even begin to calculate her own statistical probability? These risk factors aren't just pulled out of thin air because one person had a bad experience; they are derived from decades of rigorous longitudinal studies that establish these benchmarks and data points. If you actually bother to search PubMed, you'll find an absolute goldmine of information on just about anything.

When things go sideways within your own family, that whole "I wouldn't do that if I were in their shoes" attitude just doesn't fly. It’s easy to play judge from the sidelines, but once you're actually in the thick of it, those judgments lose their teeth. You watch the agony unfold, feeling that crushing sense of despair because you’re completely powerless to do anything about it. And then, in the end, you find yourself sincerely wishing for the suffering to stop—even for the person you love most in this world, the one you can't imagine living without.And that absolutely changes everything when you look at it from a different perspective.
God forbid I ever end up like that, but honestly, screw that nonsense. That thing is a pure slab of meat, and thank God Glumičić and his crew can work absolute miracles. 😉 This is deeply personal territory, and it’s the kind of decision that requires serious, sober reflection before anyone makes a move. If you're working with a top-tier physician you can actually trust, there’s really no room for impulsive choices or those shady lobbyist schemes you see where companies just push silicone breast implants on people.

Since you asked, I actually think it was totally unnecessary for her to go public with it in the first place.
One could argue whether she did it out of some "higher" calling, like trying to raise awareness among women—suggesting that if Angelin Jolie did it, then it must be some sort of standard.
Or maybe she did it because she's a total ego maniac who craves the spotlight, all while handing over her private life and simultaneously judging the media for digging into her privacy.

I don't know, and frankly, I don't care.

However, since she went ahead and shared that famous percentage with the public, now I am curious about the basis her doctors used to reach that conclusion.
If she was going to make it public knowledge, she could have provided the full picture. A complete report.

Personally, I would have survived just fine if I hadn't heard that info, but since she published it herself and the media keeps bombarding me with it, I have every right to keep looking for more details.

I don't see why people are attacking me. I'm just interested because that percentage is extremely high. That's it.

And regarding the "I wouldn't do it..." part—listen, everyone is entitled to their own choice. I'm not the type to judge anyone's stance, even if I happen to think they're wrong.

🙏 Thanks for such a detailed response.

Basically, isn't it just standard procedure for them to tell her, with pretty high certainty, that if she doesn't go through with the surgery, she's looking at breast cancer?

Those DNA testing companies are actually pretty interesting; I definitely need to do a bit of digging on them. If you have a link, shoot it over.

Ronald Morales51 said:It isn't actually that complicated; you can pinpoint the exact risk through more detailed genetic testing. Depending on the specific type of BRCA1 mutation, the risk could be as high as "80%." Of course, that’s a bit of a simplification since many variables come into play—firstly age, and then the individual's unique genetic landscape, because there are other loci involved that contribute to the overall risk level.
We are discussing an incredibly well-defined and thoroughly researched gene here. Since we're dealing with hereditary cancer, it's almost a textbook example of "one gene, one effect"—though I'm using those terms loosely. Other general risks, where you typically see lower percentages, depend heavily on how they are expressed or measured; they usually lack such a strong genetic component and direct correlation.

Since you're "quoting" someone, why not provide a reference? That way, you might actually get a chance to read what was precisely stated. In my view, there is a massive distinction between discussing an individual who is a carrier of a germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and someone who is a non-carrier of those family-specific mutations. This specific study link focuses on that second group and actually critiques previous research that suggested increased breast cancer risk in non-carriers.
Even so, Allison and her work don't negate the reality of the risk faced by individuals with these mutations, as that has been established in countless studies. As far as I know, her research—and the work of the group she belongs to—focuses on the population diversity within the US regarding breast cancer. They have even gone so far as to challenge the misconception that mastectomies as an early-stage preventative treatment are becoming a widespread "trend"; her stance is actually the opposite.

So, using this quasi-quote doesn't do anything to support the inaccuracies you initially presented.

I have to admit, that high percentage still hasn't quite clicked for me.

I assume that includes various risk factors, like age and whatnot... but even then, it would mean if we sent ten Angelin to different corners of the galaxy, nine of them would end up with breast cancer.
That sounds absolutely wild to me.

Does this mean we already have genetic testing advanced enough to tell a newborn baby what their chances are of developing terminal illnesses?
Especially since their assessment is mostly based on whether she is a carrier of that gene.

That bolded correlation is really tripping me up.
If you feel like answering.

Where on earth did her doctors get that 87% figure from?

It’s like they think she’s some billionaire or something.

Sure, there's a genetic predisposition involved. But from what I understand, those odds usually hover somewhere around 10 to 15%.
I just can't wrap my head around this 87% number.

That sounds more like she already has breast cancer.

silenttrucker67 said:Let’s break down the gear😁. Hat, glasses. As for clothes, I’ve got a cotton t-shirt, plus another one just like it, but with long sleeves, then a sweater, and most importantly, a vest. On my bottom half, I wear long pants with sweatpants pulled over them. And obviously, gloves on the hands. When I’m dressed like that in a morning temperature of, say, 23 degrees Fahrenheit, I don't feel the cold at all🙂.

🙂

Either you're riding at 2 mph and you have some weird sweat gland issue where you don't sweat at all, or you're soaked through in three minutes flat and then you're just stuck wondering what to do next.

Why on earth would anyone choose cotton?

Arthur Ross said:What we actually need to know is where in the Brooklyn area we can park from 8 AM to 3 PM safely without having to deal with parking fees.

😕

It’s not the Bronx. You should be fine pretty much anywhere. 🤷

William Alvarez35 said:I won't even consider respecting traffic signs or stopping at a red light if I'm stuck in a massive loop around a roundabout like that. Just about 0.6 miles. It’s just a ghost town in here... absolutely nobody around. Seriously, where did everyone go? And just like that, Miškooooo Quote is cruising along!

William Alvarez35 said:Where exactly did I say I was running red lights?

Look, let’s not drag everyone else into this debate. We don't need to crowd them out with our back-and-forth. Why don't we just grab a coffee somewhere and talk this out face-to-face? No aggression, no drama. Just a normal, human conversation.

Well, if you look closely at what you said in that very first sentence, you were basically admitting that you're hitting red lights.

I mean, you could definitely look at it that way.

Whatever, honestly. I don't get why everyone is getting so worked up and taking these things so personally.

Look, you both clearly get it. You’re sensible people who understand that traffic laws aren't just suggestions—they're strict for a reason. If we don't follow the rules of the road out here, people are going to get hurt. It's that simple.

Cyclists play by a different set of rules out there. Honestly, it’s way easier to end up taking yourself out than to cause an accident for anyone else. I mean, let's be real—there isn't a single cyclist out there who hasn't wiped out at least once. It's just part of the game.

Look, breaking the rules isn't always a massive deal. If you're talking about something where you're actually looking out for your own safety, it’s just not the same kind of taboo as, say, blowing through a red light in your car. One thing is just being smart, while the other is just plain reckless.

Just stay chill. Seriously, just keep it cool. 😁

There are also those pedestrian crossings that don't have any traffic lights. ☕

Just imagine you try crossing one while driving at 30 mph. You're dead. Simple as that.

William Alvarez35 said:I always have everything within a 50-meter radius under total control. ☕

You don't even have control over the tiny details of your own life, let alone something as chaotic as highway traffic.

Just look at that horrific wreck that happened near Cherry Hill a few days ago.

But hey, it’s good that you aren't blowing through red lights and that you actually watch out for other drivers.

The real question is whether they're watching out for you.