Posts by velvetmoose9

In the spirit of this whole "democracy" thing and our recent big move into the Schengen Area, I figured we might as well open up our own borders to all sorts of... let's call them delicacies and wild ideas. 🍿

Anyway, people have been circling around this topic for a while now, so I went ahead and attached this to the right section.

Feel free to throw whatever you want onto the pile. ☕

Larry Walker24 said:Hey

Is the administration seriously thinking about moving the Adobe COVID-19 files down to where the earthquake zones are, just so they can bump the economy back up to number two?

I’ve gotta say, I’m fully on board with what my buddy Larry Walker24 is putting down here.

We really ought to be shifting our focus toward those economic shifts... ☕

A lot of people complain that pantoprazole "messes up" their digestion, which honestly isn't a huge shocker—once you start tweaking your stomach's pH levels, things are bound to shift. Some folks are super sensitive to that change, while others don't feel a thing at all.

I see some people trying to play defense by taking probiotics alongside their PPIs, but even that can be a bit of a rollercoaster. Since you're essentially introducing new players into the gut microbiome, you're basically waiting for a "new world order" to establish itself. Until everything settles down, you might deal with some annoying stuff like bloating, loud stomach growling, gas, or even those sudden, explosive bouts of diarrhea. Most of the time, though, it’s just a temporary phase while your system recalibrates.

At the end of the day, pantoprazole is a total game-changer. It’s been a literal lifesaver for so many people, whether they're dealing with an acute flare-up or just trying to manage chronic issues on a daily basis.

Elizabeth Palmer14 said:All I remember from childhood are those tea biscuits, maybe in some orange wrapper, and cookies that had something like "North American" printed on them, if I recall correctly.
I actually got my first taste of Plazma a few years ago when someone gifted it to me from Mexico. Back in the day, whenever we had guests over, we’d grab a box of wafer cookies 😁

That one frustrating moment from childhood... you know the one. It’s like a tiny, sharp splinter stuck in your brain that just won't come out, no matter how much you try to ignore it. For me, it was always about those specific treats that felt like they were promised by the universe and then snatched away at the last second. Remember when you'd be staring at the candy aisle in a grocery store—maybe a local Walmart or something—and you'd have your heart set on one specific thing? Like, you've been thinking about getting a pack of Hershey's or maybe some Kinder Bueno all afternoon, and you finally get there, only to find the shelf looking completely desolate. Just empty cardboard staring back at you. It feels personal, honestly. Like the universe specifically decided today wasn't your day for chocolate. I remember being a kid and begging my mom for those little Hershey's Cakes, and we'd spend ten minutes circling the aisles, only to realize they were sold out. It sounds so trivial now, sitting here as an adult, but back then? It felt like a genuine injustice. You’d stand there, probably sulking a bit, feeling like the world was just unfair for no reason. Now, I'll be driving through a suburb in a big city like Chicago or Houston, see a snack I used to love, and that weirdly specific sense of nostalgia hits me—mixed with a tiny, lingering ghost of that childhood frustration. It's funny how the smallest things stick with you, isn't it?

🙂 🙂

🤣

Man, thanks for everything!

Anyway, I was just thinking about this wild connection between heart attacks and handball.

The goalkeeper for the Portugal national handball team just suffered a heart attack.
He's only about 32 years old.
I mean, Sarač was definitely on the older side when he was playing, and he was smoking a pack a day back then...

steelotter20 said:It all kind of started back when I began taking that poison called Leponeks. I’d be waking up in the middle of the night, maybe around 3 AM, and just peeing constantly—I'm talking for like five minutes straight...
That didn't last forever, and then I’d have this heavy flow in the morning right after I woke up.
But lately, things have flipped, and now I’m having trouble actually going at all.
The stream is totally broken; it takes me a minute or two just to get things moving.
There's no stinging, but I've got this weird sensation under my testicles, and this pain—not excruciating, but it feels like someone is slicing through me from the side, just above the hips.
I went for a standard urine test, and it showed a few bacteria, some cloudy urine, and some ketones.
Everything else looked fine, though; no glucose.
My blood sugar is totally normal, too.
So, what's the deal? Is it my prostate?
Why am I getting woken up just to run to the bathroom? Is there any way out of this?
As if dealing with chronic insomnia wasn't enough, now I've got this on top of it.
I'm seeing a urologist today, but if it turns out to be my prostate, I am seriously screwed...

One of the pretty common side effects, especially for guys on clozapine (which is one of the brand names for Leponex), is exactly what you're describing—that struggle to get the flow started and difficulty emptying your bladder.
Basically, it "mimics" the classic symptoms of prostate issues.

For a lot of people, this side effect ends up being temporary.

Sometimes, it might help to give the suprapubic area (that spot just above your pubic bone) a light touch right before you try to go—it can help you relax enough to just let it happen without the struggle.

Regarding calling Leponex (clozapine) a "poison," I think that's a bit of an overstatement.
Air is a poison if you have too much of it in your bloodstream, and water is toxic if you drink way too much of it (or if it gets into your lungs)—but we obviously can't live without air or water.
In the same vein, clozapine is often the very thing that brings people back to life, helping them function better and actually navigate the modern world.
The main thing you always have to keep in mind with Leponex is that you need those weekly KKS/DKS blood tests for at least the first 16 to 20 weeks, and even after that, you still need them checked at least once a month.
Those checks are strictly to monitor for a very rare, but definitely not fun, side effect known as agranulocytosis.

steelridge58 said:🙂

I honestly thought you were being serious for a second there. 🙂)

Mark Cruz15 isn't being malicious 🙂

He’s just being objective, 😁

William Gonzalez3 said:Since you're basically the only mod who actually bothered to look at the report, and this guy is clearly just a clone of that permanently banned Adis Šabović, any chance you could hit him with a permanent ban that prevents him from being cloned again?

We step in once we catch wind of it.

I'm not glued to my screen 24/7, and honestly, none of the other mods are either—you know how it goes with real life getting in the way.

Thanks for looking out for us, though. Seriously, feel free to flag it whenever you spot something sketchy; it actually helps us stay on top of things. 👍

Honestly, someone needs to call in the SWAT team for some serious DDD; what happened was genuinely out of line (to put it mildly). 🙄

Nathan White29 said:So, I guess someone just has the right to insult me and leave these mindless, trashy comments without any consequences, even if I decide I’m done talking to them? That makes zero sense. Do you mods actually have a way of seeing who has who on ignore? Because how am I supposed to report an abusive post if the person is blocked and I can't even see what they wrote? Or is this just the way things work here—that people get to be jerks indefinitely as long as the target doesn't realize it's happening?

Honestly, nobody has even broken character or started throwing insults in this thread yet.

There's really no need to start acting all defensive.

Just take a breath, stick to that ignore strategy if it keeps your peace of mind, and just enjoy being part of the community.

Nathan White29 said:I just noticed a post from Jack Ward82—who I recently put on ignore—popping up right after mine, so I’m assuming this is aimed at me.
Look, my honest take is that if you’re going to sign up for a forum and jump into discussions, you should at least make an effort to actually read and comprehend what’s being said. If you can't manage that, it’s just rude to keep replying. I specifically put you on ignore because talking to you had become completely pointless. In that thread about COVID conspiracy theories, I mentioned at least three times that I'm not a conspiracy theorist, yet you kept ignoring that and insisted on grouping me in with the crazies. Honestly, how much longer am I supposed to deal with that kind of disrespect? It’s nothing more than basic, childish rudeness. So, enjoy being on the ignore list and feel free to be as obnoxious as you want over there.

No need to reply, since I don't bother reading your posts anyway. Unless someone quotes you, which is clearly what happened here.

There's an old American saying for this: "You missed the entire field." 🍿

The guy actually quoted my post in his response.

So, if you felt personally called out by that... 🕺

And it's pretty funny—curiosity clearly trumps an ignore list, judging by how much our colleague here is rambling. ☕

Basically, you just proved why the thread title makes sense—you're basically bragging about your own block list. 😈

Jack Ward82 said:So you're basically saying you want to act like Trump when he decides which journalist gets to
get an interview 😬
If you ask me, if you've gone through the trouble of signing up for this forum and you're actually jumping into the debates, then you should be able to handle a counterargument, no matter how stupid it might sound to you. Your other option is to just be a lurker—read whatever catches your eye and call it a day.
The way things are going, it feels like you want to be this big influencer, pushing your own views while refusing to even give anyone else's thoughts a second glance. I get that it’s tough sometimes when you're dealing with users who aren't exactly the brightest conversationalists, but hey, that's just life.

I look at this forum like my favorite local dive bar (well, specifically the kind of place where I can hang out with my PDFs).
I come here for that rock-and-roll vibe and the music (just don't play any country!), having at least two kinds of draft beer on tap (one definitely has to be a local craft, even if it's just a standard Budweiser), plus maybe ten other varieties, at least four or five solid whiskies (Scotch, Bourbon...), some top-tier local spirits, great coffee, capable bartenders, and clean restrooms stocked with paper towels and liquid soap...

The thing is, the same crowd I love hanging out with comes to this bar too—people from all walks of life, different jobs, different backgrounds, and different beliefs, but we all get along fine. We exchange ideas, or sometimes we just sit there in silence, enjoying a beer with a thick head of foam.

But, here's the kicker: because of those exact reasons, certain other groups also show up to this same bar—groups that, for whatever reason, I find totally unpleasant or undesirable to spend time with. It doesn't really matter why.

With people like that, I'm not sitting at their table, and I'm not even grabbing a spot at the bar next to them.
I don't want to look at them, and I certainly don't want to listen to them.
And they probably don't want anything to do with me either.

But, because of the good drinks, the atmosphere, and the soul that this pub has—we all end up in the same place.
We tolerate one another thanks to that one common denominator (the bar).
Sometimes, staying silent is its own way of communicating.
And honestly, sometimes it's the best way.

Makes sense.

It’s honestly a pretty smart way to signal to someone that you aren't interested in getting into a back-and-forth with them, mostly just to dodge the drama and keep your own sanity intact.

I’m gonna reach out to the mods and see what the deal is with this.

Adam Collins4 said:No, you're a real genius—especially if he already has a vineyard somewhere else, he'll probably have a couple of vines at home too...

You aren't going to make much ethanol out of wine; there's just not enough alcohol in it... it wouldn't be any good quality...

To make ethanol, you need something else that's grape-related...

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy A70

Reddit Off-topic.

Given the whole state of emergency situation we're dealing with, I've been indulging in some pretty extraordinary spirits myself.

I've got this one guy who makes both a traditional brandy and something he calls "grape brandy."

The first one is a bit of a sharper, more acidic spirit (proper brandy, really), while the second one has a much heavier grape profile and is definitely sweeter.

They both sit right around the 36-38% range.

Next time I catch up with him, I'll have to ask how he manages to pull off that second one.

Back On-Topic.

I honestly think the government is going to have to loosen the reins on all these movement restrictions for Americans pretty soon.

I totally get your writing style.

I know you're not the kind of guy who’d ever go around preaching violence.

But, the way this post is phrased just has that certain vibe that hits a much wider audience.

If we were living in a different era, I doubt anyone would even blink at it.

Things are just a bit more touchy these days; I think we're all collectively on edge when it comes to this stuff.

Still, I hear what you're saying.

We'll just sit tight and wait for the mods to weigh in with a correction.

Paul Anderson7 said:So, on the thread How is this pandemic going to change your life?, I’ve already had two posts wiped where I mentioned that I’m thinking about picking up a firearm since people's behavior isn't exactly sane right now and it would be good to have something to protect myself and my family.

Why were my posts deleted? Is the topic "how will this pandemic change my life" off-limits? If it’s changed how I think, why am I not allowed to say so? Besides, I didn't even mention that I live in the States, so there's no reason to interpret my post as some kind of call for illegal activity, given that we live in a country where owning a gun is perfectly legal.
If we're being real, you can do it here too; my old man legally owns a few pieces, and I could easily get a permit myself.

Seriously, why the deletion? I've made other similar posts and they got scrubbed too.
Is the reason because it looks like fear-mongering to some people? Because if that's the case, it's total nonsense, considering there are plenty of users here spreading way more panic than this, yet their posts stay up.

I've been on this forum for 13 years and I can't remember the last time one of my posts was pulled. I don't get what the deal is and I want some clarification.

Shooting at anyone whose behavior seems off doesn't lead us to the Wild West—it leads straight to anarchy.
Pure savagery.

This doesn't sound like you.

I get it, though. How uncertainty and a lack of trust in our institutions—whether that's justified or not, which is a whole other conversation—can trigger anxiety and fear during a crisis like this, potentially pushing someone toward unnecessary aggression.

But, I think as a society, we're better than that.

Despite everything, I still have faith in most people that we'll all navigate this crisis with dignity, composure, and responsibility.

And I feel like the policy of this forum should be focused on de-escalating tension, panic, and any other inappropriate or uncivilized behavior.

Once they get around to it, the mods will give their verdict; there are tons of posts to go through, so we just have to be patient...

I’m actually pretty happy to see that the conversation here has finally shifted toward something a bit more constructive and peaceful; most of the posts—aside from the inevitable outliers—are actually making sense for once.

Looking at the sheer volume of posts on this thread (which, let’s be honest, is still just titled Messages, Complaints, and Comments and isn't, nor will it ever be, some kind of sanctuary for debates that really belong in other corners of the internet), it’s obvious you guys are all incredibly fascinated by the current Corona situation happening across the world. So, I’m going to point you back toward following the updates from Dr. Igor Rudan..

He’s a highly respected scientist and intellectual on the global stage, someone who truly understands the gravity of what we're facing.

He’s constantly bringing new data to the table, but more importantly—HE ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO INTERPRET THAT DATA AND DRAW REAL CONCLUSIONS.>>

Given how massive this issue is globally, this guy is essentially donating his time and expertise for free to anyone willing to listen to reason and actual science. For those of you who grew up in strictly capitalist environments like the US, you probably realize just how rare it is for someone to gift you knowledge for absolutely nothing.

In my book, that’s an incredibly selfless and altruistic move, all aimed at giving everyone a clear picture of the reality so we can stay calm while maintaining a sensible, rational level of caution and safety.

As a moderator, I feel like it's my prerogative—and honestly, my responsibility—to follow the guidance provided by people with actual expertise and professional standing.
And I truly believe that’s the right direction for our community.

You can never overstate certain facts, so let me lay it out for the forum:

- There are NO auto mechanics here.

- There are NO plumbers.

- There are NO doctors.

- There are NO engineers.

- There are NO professors.

- There are NO chefs.

- There are NO roofers.

All we have is a group of forum members using their precious free time to chat, swap ideas, and share knowledge with one another, all while respecting the rules they agreed to when they joined.
Even the best user on this site is less helpful than the worst tire technician when you've got a flat on the highway.

Like it's been mentioned a few times already, the Corona virus has a knack for spreading into every little corner of our lives, which is why you're seeing threads about it everywhere—politics, health, travel, and apparently even on the economy threads.

This specific thread isn't the place to vent or moan about the virus.

I’ve noted your comments regarding moderation; the mods are keeping an eye on things, and I’m confident they’ll take all the constructive, well-meaning feedback into account to make these threads easier to read and much smoother to navigate.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion in a helpful and positive way.

P.S. It’s never a bad time to remind you all that we will continue to enforce our own rules of detection, isolation, and total hibernation against those carrying the virus of human rudeness, arrogance, and malice.

Catch you all later.👋

lokot ☕

ADDENDUM

Thanks to everyone for the feedback aimed at making this two-way communication "highway"—with all its intersections and bridges—a little smoother for everyone traveling in any direction.

Just like you’ve got road signs out there regulating traffic (speed limits, one-way streets, no entry, etc.), we have certain rules here on the forum set and maintained by the moderators.
Please stick to the moderator guidelines, the forum rules, and the moderator pdf politics.

Looking at everything written in this thread, the moderation team is trying to steer things toward cooling down the passions and keeping panic at bay, though they're still being pretty liberal and relaxed with how they handle things.

There’s another major point to address here.

In this open discussion, not a single person has actually commented on a single sentence I made in my previous appeal regarding the moderation of the Corona saga.
Instead, you've all just focused on commenting on the moderators as a function.
Nobody has shown even the slightest desire to touch upon the following facts I laid out (and am repeating here):
- We need to show respect and consideration toward every (especially relatively new) virus.
- It's been proven that the Corona virus can lead to fatal outcomes, primarily among the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, the malnourished, or the exhausted (for instance, medical staff in a certain Chinese province were subjected to days of grueling labor—they weren't exactly eating and drinking well, and sleep was basically non-existent).
- It has an extremely high potential for spreading.
- For a very illustrative and educational look at the actual reality of the Corona virus, check out the deep dives online—specifically the Nu2 segment with Aleksandar Stanković on March 1st, 2020, featuring guest Professor Dr. sc. Igor Rudan.
It calls for caution, but without the panic or the hysteria.
It dismantles and demystifies myths and fears.
It’s presented in a way that’s incredibly easy to understand, even for laypeople (honestly, an impressive presentation, much like a packed Dodger Stadium).

The only thing you guys did was repeatedly and biasedly twist my points.

In fact, you even had plenty of room to lament, comment, or correct things over on the PŽK.

You probably didn't even listen to—let alone comment on—one of the greatest (true) authorities on epidemiology from this part of the world; which is exactly why I recommended listening to the views of the esteemed Professor Dr. sc. Igor Rudan right here.

You’re free to read the NYT from February 28th of this year; it has a solid editorial, and you can comment on that too (though, after all this, please don't accidentally wander back onto the PŽK).

You had the chance to develop this discussion in a correct and constructive way.

But instead, many of you went (and kept going) straight for the ad hominem attacks.

The fact that you haven't received your well-deserved "red cards" yet just means that from now on, even the smallest infraction (trolling, insults, acting stupid, ad hominem attacks, playing lawyer, or critiquing the moderation) will be more seriously "rewarded."
Issuing warnings can also be retroactive.

Let's move on in a more casual tone. ☕