Posts by Thomas Mendoza5

Betty Bennett10 said:If I’m reading this correctly, this specific test gives results much faster. (By the way, I actually stumbled upon an article describing a case where someone was infected via a blood transfusion even though the blood had undergone RNA testing.)

Look, it isn't about finding a test that is 101% foolproof... honestly, that’s just a scientific impossibility, a total utopia...

The goal is to use tests that can eliminate as many "what ifs" as possible.

Because, in my opinion, having a test that is 99% reliable is far better than chasing a mythical 101% certainty that fails to account for infections acquired just two or three weeks prior to the screening.

That tiny 0.1% margin of error is always there—it’s everywhere, and you simply can't wipe it out entirely. But we *can* find ways to minimize the incubation period gap, and that is exactly where our focus should be.

Carol Jackson45 said:And here I am, forever stuck with these scabs on my knees.🙄

😍

Personally, I’ve always been kind of drawn to things like scars and stretch marks—there's just something about them.😁

Maybe she thought you looked like some runaway addict, so she went out of her way to dose you with something that’ll ensure you can't even get high if you tried 😬

If you can get your hands on some Polar Ice, give that a shot... though if you've managed to tweak it a bit too hard, you might be feeling the sting for at least a week 😁

Bradley Fisher20 said:It reminds me of this one group back in the day. Everyone was acting so tough, acting like they were part of something big. And now? They've all just faded away. It’s like their lives never really had a purpose to begin with, and now nobody can even find the strength to pull themselves together.

That seems to be the most common pattern here in America... people who couldn't care less about their own family or the kids working hard to support them, while they spend their entire weekly allowance trying to keep some little clique afloat...

The real issue is that a lot of today's youth don't seem to have any sense of direction... whereas the slightly older generations—at least they had a reason to strive—realized by the time they were fifteen that life was going to be an uphill battle from the start...

They lost their childhood way too early. They were thrown straight into a reality where every single dollar counts for most families. You’d see those old TV shows where everything looked perfect, like milk and honey was flowing everywhere, though you never quite knew where it was going or who was getting it... well, you knew, but you tried your best not to think about it...

It’s a mess; you end up feeling like you're at the bottom of the barrel. There’s nowhere to go, and even if there is, you haven't got the means to get there. So what kind of entertainment are you supposed to find in such a stagnant existence, other than three guys pooling together every $10, just to grab something small to feel a momentary rush...

Just enough to make that miserable day pass by... and so it goes tomorrow, and the day after, and every single day... just trying to get through it... hoping it feels a little more pleasant than the rest of life...

And that's it... because you're stuck, and you're only seventeen... so what now? Nowhere to turn. You just keep doing what you've always done. You actually get support for it, though, because most of the people around you are stuck in the exact same mess, which makes it a little easier to accept your fate...

But you can't walk away from the one thing in your life that actually makes the days bearable... you need to have something worth living for, something to do "the right way"... but who actually has that nowadays? I'm asking you...

I know people whom Spain practically rescued, though mostly by brainwashing them with faith and God... because they had to. They basically forced religion down their throats because if they didn't have anything tangible to fight for, they might as well give them something intangible to hold onto...

It’s honestly quite fascinating how some people frame their posts—the ones where they claim they just want to be helpful—to sound exactly like those tacky full-page advertisements you’d see in the back of Time or scrolling through CNN...

Let me guess here: you’re offering your "help" while simultaneously pitching your services to help folks source these fish, because apparently, you've transitioned into being the primary importer for the entire US? ☕

unknown said:General practitioners really don't have a clue when it comes to this 😉

And on top of that, the guy is clearly hurting too. It’s hard to feel much sympathy for him because he’s so bogged down by his own life drama. If there was ever a genuine spark in him to actually help people, I fear that over time, it just turned into a paycheck—leaving us feeling like nothing more than just "the next patient" on a list.

At least private practice doctors are making decent money, so you'd think they'd actually put in the effort to provide good care.

But honestly, sometimes it feels like they're just trying to ensure you keep coming back through the door as often as possible... just to pad their bottom line.

Man, when you really stop to think about it, fear is what drives most of our lives...

The only thing that keeps me afloat is the fact that I’ve been through the wringer so many times. Life has kicked me around enough that I’m perpetually annoyed at something, and believe it or not—when I’m angry, the fear just vanishes...

I honestly don't know how I'd function if I wasn't venting my frustrations half the time... I probably wouldn't even be able to step out the front door.😁

I think it works well for me; it probably doesn't impact me as heavily as it does certain other people, but still... I know how it can grip me, though I often manage to trick my own brain with little mental maneuvers like this...

It isn't just that anger ignites something in me; it’s also about those little boosts to my self-esteem from small things. You know, dressing up so I look decent, or picturing some "cool guy" from a classic movie and forcing myself to carry myself with that same swagger. I lean into that persona, and my anxiety often settles down... It takes a lot of focus and a bit of a wrestling match with my own mind, but I just close my eyes, grit my teeth, give myself a little internal shake, and it feels as if an invisible cloak of anxiety is just sliding right off me...

Sometimes, it even helps to just look up at the sky—at the clouds, the sun, something massive and natural—and realize how tiny and insignificant I actually am, along with everyone else and everything around me... It helps me balance out whatever situation is triggering the anxiety...
I convince myself that I, all my problems, and the people around me are truly just drops in the ocean compared to the vast universe surrounding us. It makes it feel almost ridiculous to feel any fear or anxiety because, well, they're ultimately... insignificant.

And I’ll even find myself laughing internally at the people around me, thinking, "Oh man, you guys are so small and unimportant, you fools. Who are you even kidding? You're so obsessed with your tiny, trivial existences that you don't even notice what I see: this entire, massive, freaking universe."
In my head, I'm belittling them just to diminish that sense of inadequacy that is so directly tied to those fears.

I start viewing them as "enemies," and slowly, defiance begins to overtake the fear... I just bite my lip and think, "So what? Bring it on."

At least it works for me, though I realize we're all wired differently... but hey, what do I know? Maybe this gives someone here an idea on how to fight back in their own way... and besides, it feels good to just let some of it out.

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:The standard approach for depression involves antidepressants paired with psychotherapy, while sedatives are typically used on an as-needed basis.

The thing is, depression frequently comes bundled with psychosis, anxiety attacks, or bouts of aggression—things that antidepressants often fail to keep in check. In fact, since they act as stimulants, they can sometimes actually ramp up those symptoms or make them happen more often...

And honestly, psychotherapy can be pretty ineffective quite a bit of the time because it only focuses on what’s going on inside a person's head. Depression almost never stems from purely chemical reactions in the brain; rather, it's driven by external circumstances that therapy simply cannot change...

It mostly just helps with acceptance, helping you deal with those outside factors, which feels like the medical version of "resigning to fate." Personally, I don't really view that as medicine so much as a mild version of euthanasia...

Truth be told, sedatives follow that same logic. These kinds of medications are essentially more of a "I'll teach you how to endure this, and then we'll just pray the situation improves before these same drugs make everything five times worse" type of solution...

Though, I suppose, they do make daily existence a little easier... and at higher doses, they might even give someone a tiny bit of false hope in life. 🙄

lust... you seem a little bit cranky today 😁

Well, man... even Hitler was clearly intelligent... but what does that actually change?

Honestly, I never thought I’d find myself quoting the Bible, but there's some truth to it—"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

And it's true... it really is...

hmmm...

To be honest, I really don't get why everyone makes such a huge deal about people mocking those struggling with bulimia...

I mean, it’s almost like watching someone cut themselves and then complaining that they’re bleeding...

Sorry, guys, but life is already messy enough as it is. We don't need to spend our energy crying over people who are being foolish enough to sabotage their own lives...

Look, sorry if that sounds harsh, but if someone tries to dig a hole for me to fall into, I’ll gladly give them a piece of my mind—or maybe just a punch to the shoulder...
but when I'm the one digging my own grave? Well, despite all the other pitfalls people throw my way, damn... I can't exactly expect anyone to come over and offer me sympathy then...

Man... I haven't been treated like a pushover in over two years... but I’m certainly not going to go out, buy some ridiculous designer sneakers, dump three pounds of hair gel in my hair, and act like a complete moron just to get some attention...

I've been an outsider to the opposite sex for as long as I can remember... but even so, I refuse to act like an idiot just to make someone want me. If someone chooses to lower themselves to that level, well, that's their choice—and they shouldn't complain about the consequences later...

Personally, I wouldn't have anything to complain about if I got humiliated in the middle of downtown at 2 AM while wearing tacky shoes and ridiculous clothes... because deep down, I’d know I was asking for it...

I'm thin, I'm soft, and I'm a bit of a wreck... and that's just who I am. I live with it. And if I can hold myself back from all the hair gel and flashy footwear, then surely some girl can hold herself back from purging her lunch in a bathroom stall...

At the end of the day, no matter how much she struggles, she'll probably still find it easier to get attention than I will... ☕

Maria Kelly6 said:What's the fastest way to drop 3 pounds?

Maybe try washing off your makeup first ☕

boldsailor32 said:Basically, if you're going to play with fire, you'd better be ready for the burn... 😁

...or at least know how to cry about it? 😁

Honestly... Pepsi (and all those other energy drinks) mixed with alcohol isn't exactly toxic or lethal, despite all the media sensationalism and scary headlines we've seen over the years...

BUT, just because it isn't "poison" doesn't mean it’s safe... The "secret" behind a cocktail like that is really quite simple: the Pepsi gives your body a massive surge of energy, lifting you up and masking both the fatigue and the actual feeling of being drunk. It essentially tricks you into thinking you're fine, which allows you to keep drinking through the entire night...

And that's exactly where things get dangerous—you can end up with serious alcohol poisoning. Basically, you consume a volume of alcohol that your body would normally signal you to stop at before it became too much...

That’s the real danger lurking within those energy drinks if you don't know your own limits... At the end of the day, it's the alcohol itself that gets you.

Carl Bennett78, that’s actually one of the points I wanted to bring up... Honestly, it feels like the law is designed to protect the big-time crooks while squeezing the little guys (myself included)...

So, in my book, I definitely don't feel even a shred of guilt for bypassing a law like that... as long as they aren't coming after me in my own backyard, I'm good.😁

As for Hollywood, they can take a hike... they'll do just about anything as long as they're raking in the cash... so I'll happily stick to DivX just to save a few bucks... and at the end of the day, they're Americans anyway, so why shouldn't we take our cut?

Regarding movie theaters... well, the person who goes to the cinema is there for the theater experience; they'll show up whether they use DivX or not... but then there's the person who just loves movies—they'd much rather head to a video rental shop than sit in a packed theater where you can't light a cigarette, pause the film when you need a bathroom break, or enjoy your own drink and things like that...

And the distributors... man, I've got nothing but contempt for half of them because they can't even bother to get the subtitles right... whereas the other half who actually do their jobs properly aren't losing anything anyway... they'll sell their stock to every local video store regardless.

Speaking of video stores—they basically support piracy themselves. I don't think I've ever seen a rental shop that doesn't keep a few copies under the counter for "special members"... so really, they have nothing to complain about.

coastalorca3 said:The fact that you’re backing the arrest of pirates just because their service isn't up to par shows you really don't grasp what the law actually is or what its purpose serves.

Your stance is just as rude as the attitude of those pirates themselves. Honestly, you are a hypocrite.

Why am I a hypocrite?

The man clearly doesn't have an issue with piracy itself, he just has an issue with how subpar their service is...

Sorry, but I personally subscribe to the idea of "if you're going to steal, at least do it right."

And I don't see myself as a hypocrite for thinking that way one bit...

Everything in this world can be approached in two ways—honestly or dishonestly. You can even conduct criminal activity in an "honest" manner, while laws themselves can be applied dishonestly. In fact, the law has always been inherently unfair...

AND ANYONE WHO BLINDLY FOLLOWS THE LETTER OF THE LAW, LIKE YOU ALL DO, IS A COMPLETE FOOL...

YOU FORGET THAT THE LAW WAS THE VERY THING THAT ALLOWED THE TOTAL AND IRREVERSIBLE PLUNDERING OF AMERICA, DRIVING THE COUNTRY TO ITS KNEES WITHOUT ANYONE PAYING THE PRICE—EXCEPT FOR US AMERICANS OURSELVES.

UNDER THE STRICT LETTER OF THE LAW, EVERY AMERICAN WHO SUPPORTED THE BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAVIA, EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO PICKED UP A WEAPON TO DEFEND US—WAS CONSIDERED A TERRORIST BY THE LAWS AT THE TIME...

WOULDN'T YOU HAVE AN ISSUE IF WE WERE ALL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TREASON AND TERRORISM BECAUSE OF THAT???

BECAUSE, MY DEAR coastalorca3, if you aren't okay with all Americans being wiped out, then you truly have no clue what the law is or what it's meant for... and you are a hypocrite.

Richard Hernandez13 said:The sheer fact that people are renting out pirated DivX copies of movies is just plain rude and shows a total lack of respect for cinematic art—and especially for the film industry itself.

But really, which "film industry" are we talking about here? That American machine that rakes in billions upon billions of dollars every single year selling nothing but hype and overpriced fluff?

If anyone is being disrespectful, it’s them... personally, I feel like stealing from them is about the same as stealing from an insurance company, Chase Bank, the mob, or whatever else... it’s like watching cable without paying your subscription fee...

At the end of the day, you're just taking from thieves...

ART should be for everyone, much like knowledge... and I have absolutely nothing against artists making a killing, provided their work remains accessible to the public... unfortunately, most modern movies can hardly be called art, with a few rare exceptions, of course...

And if I want to own just ten movies—genuine, original copies—I have to cough up roughly $333... maybe $150 or $200... now, that might not seem like much to some of you, and I know it certainly isn't a drop in the bucket for those greedy Hollywood actors, but for me, it’s quite a lot... IT'S UNBELIEVABLY EXPENSIVE AND A TOTAL DISRESPECT TO PEOPLE—to borrow your phrasing there...

If I wanted a copy of the Mona Lisa at home and didn't care if it was 100% perfect quality, I'd just head down to a street market and grab a print for my wall...
So, why should movies be any different?

Anyone who wants (and can actually afford) a replica that is perfectly faithful to the original should go ahead and shell out the cash for it... whereas someone who just wants a decent, lower-quality picture can just buy a cheap print for their wall.

It's the same deal with movies—DO YOU WANT THE FULL EXPERIENCE? Pay for the theater... DO YOU WANT A HIGH-QUALITY ORIGINAL ON DVD? Pay the premium price... DO YOU JUST WANT TO OWN THE MOVIE, REGARDLESS OF QUALITY? Buy a cheap version for your collection...

If Hollywood is still going to insist that the junk they churn out is considered ART, then they shouldn't try to monopolize it.

Coffee 🙂

That’s pretty much my biggest connection to reality... my morning coffee.

Jason Morgan2 said:I'm down two bucks—Bradley Fisher20 has them. Maybe he'll actually pay me back. 🙂

Well, he isn't crazy, 😁

but if you're sitting there expecting to see that money again, then you might be the crazy one. 😁

However, if he's actually wild enough to give them back to you, and you end up with your cash, then it turns out you weren't crazy after all. 😁

See how madness is just a matter of relativity? 🙄