Posts by briskbison28

I’ve only ever turned off two movies: 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Godfather.
I don't regret skipping the first one, but I really do regret skipping The Godfather.
Hopefully, I'll get some motivation to give it another shot soon.

wiredcanyon2 said:They're slightly elevated, but nothing major. I don't think there's any reason to worry; urates are just uric acid salts produced by purine metabolism (which you find in meat). Does anyone in your family deal with gout? If so, you might want to watch your meat intake, though I suspect this is just a random finding. If you get your blood work done again in a month, your urates will likely be back in the normal range, so don't sweat it.

No, we don't have a history of gout in the family.
We do have diabetes and kidney disease, but looking at the results, urea and creatinine are both within the normal range.
Besides, I'm not even a daily meat eater.

Alright, if it's nothing alarming, I won't worry about it.
Thanks! 🙂

My apologies, here is the follow-up info:

leukocyte 5.7 (3.4 to 9.7)
erythrocyte 4.19 (3.86 to 5.08)
hemoglobin 121 (119 to 157)
hematocrit 0.360 (0.356 to 0.47)
MCV 85 (83 to 97.2)
MCH 28.9 (27.4 to 33.9)
MCHC 338 (320 to 345)
RDW 14.0 (9 to 15)
platelets 259 (158 to 424)
MPV - mean platelet volume 9.4 (6.8 to 10.4)


segmented neutrophils 58 (44 to 72)
immature neutrophils 0 (up to 2)
lymphocytes 36 (20 to 46)
monocytes 6 (2 to 12)
eosinophils 0 (up to 7)
basophils 0 (up to 1)

AST 19 (8 to 30)
ALT 8 (10 to 36)
GGT 14 (9 to 35)
ALP 78 (54 to 119)

iron 7 (8 to 30)
TIBC 66 (49 to 75)
UIBC 59 (26 to 59)

cholesterol 6.4 (3.5 to 5)
triglycerides 0.74 (up to 1.7)

Hi there.

I'm looking over my lab results right now, specifically the metabolites and substrates, and here is what's listed:

glucose 4.7 (4.2 to 6.1)
urea 5.1 (2.8 to 8.3)
creatinine 78 (63 to 107)
urate 350 (134 to 337)
total bilirubin 11 (3 to 20)

So, I see that the urate levels are high, but I'm not entirely sure what that actually implies.

edit: if it matters, I'm 29 years old.😁

Paul Jones7 said:those are the medals; there are even fewer for individual winners...

Oops, you're right; I was counting by specific sports. 😁
(Does anyone know if the Skelins' medals were individual or team awards?) 😬

Michael Diaz said:I might be being unfair here, but he’s been screwed over twice already, so I guess that makes him one of the good ones. 🤷 🤷

How many medals does one actually need to win before hitting that magical threshold where everyone just starts talking trash?
No, you aren't being unfair; you just don't have all the facts yet.
Maybe I was a little harsh just now...

Paul Jones7 said:How many individual Olympic medalists has America produced since gaining independence?
Roughly ten?

Ten from the summer games and ten from the winter ones. 😉

slypilot12 said:On the contrary, I never understood the manufactured hype surrounding his medals in some random biathlon event. WTF???
A sport that has barely any following here in America, unless you count people obsessed with that tragicomedy of curling.

Just another person who insists on splitting Olympic medals into those won in "Sports" versus those won in sports
honestly, where do you people get the nerve?

Henry Cox78 said:Suzana, these are the kind of terms Nikolaj Pešalov could only dream of. Or the Kostelić family.

True, but those are also the kinds of conditions Jakov might have dreamed of before winning an Olympic medal. I'm not sure what you're getting at, though I agree—that's just how things work here. You have to win something first just to get decent support. It sucks, being a country with zero BND Quote.🤷

Henry Cox78 said:Personally, I don't hold anything against him; he should just go and let them give him his release papers. But trying to convince the public that the terms offered were poor is just ridiculous. A guaranteed job, a car, dedicated coaches, a guaranteed $100 per year... Give me a break. 😁

No, no, no—it's not that the offered terms were bad. They just aren't life-changing for a world-class athlete.
Essentially, what he 100% had was a stipend that covered basic living costs and a car to use.
The job is promised, but that part isn't as simple as it sounds. Believe me.

And 300,000... yeah, that's a lot of money.
But it's also just enough to cover all the expenses involved. 😉

Sean Gonzalez95 said:Since you're already throwing around such tired clichés, I might as well start drawing equally moronic parallels...
Back in the '90s, they secured their livelihoods, and everything was done strictly by the book and according to the law...
Was what they did actually moral or ethical?..

If we’re going to play games, let’s follow your logic to its conclusion... they weren't just average guys; they were elite. But the second those big-shot tycoons dared to secure their future, suddenly they're all thieves, thugs, and killers😂..

I'm simply using your own reasoning against you, just so you can see the level of basement-tier arguments you're relying on. Honestly, try coming up with some new platitudes; these ones are completely worn out.👍

I would ask who exactly you are referring to, but I never mix politics with sports, nor do I compare them. Ever.

Jose White18 said:But for the average American, this is the ultimate dream.
Join the US Army, get a job where you work in the shade, and just wait for retirement without having to stress or think too hard.
The issue here is that Jacob Fak isn't your average American.

Agreed.
And he doesn't need to be average. Honestly, that’s one of the reasons—among many others—why he’s actually good at what he does.

But apparently, in this country, looking out for your own future isn't considered a good thing.
The second someone dares to secure their own interests, they're instantly branded a traitor, labeled as greedy, or worse.

swiftwalker43 said:That's simply not true. Both during and after his career, he held an instructor position and an officer rank for training within the US Army. On top of that, they would pay him coaching fees and cover training costs abroad if those jerks didn't block him from working with them. And let's not forget the sponsors, starting with Chevrolet, who gave him free use of a large vehicle.

Which specific part is untrue?

By the way, regarding 1) the instructor job, 2) the military rank, and 3) the coaching services:
1) and 2) are true; they promised him the instructor role, but then things stalled.
Sometimes what our local "armchair experts" blather about isn't actually feasible. Especially regarding military ranks and jobs, considering our Department of Defense isn't exactly ap for it when it comes to hiring athletes into the service.
Actually, maybe something could change now. One can hope.

3) To act as a coach and train others elsewhere, you really need some level of credibility. In sports, that means results.
Yes, Jacob has them (though not a massive haul just yet, but he's young), but being a successful athlete doesn't automatically make someone a successful coach.
And then what? 🤷

As for the car: he got a big Chevrolet to use? Great, but what happens when the lease is up?
He either buys it or returns it.
And let's not kid ourselves; he wouldn't have gotten it for a bargain. Trust me. 😉

Henry Cox78 said:I read it. If it’s actually true that they offered him $50,000, then honestly, everything is fine. I don't know if you realize just how much money that is.😁

You might have read it, but clearly you didn't grasp it. 😉
So, here's the deal: that $300,000 $0.00 is intended to cover all his expenses—everything I mentioned above. It's a specific allocation for training, gear, supplements, and so on. You aren't allowed to just repurpose those funds.

There is also a set amount allocated for his stipend.
Jacob receives $4,000 $33 per month. Not a single cent more, at least not from HOO.
And he should be receiving that until the next Olympic Games.
After that, he either wins another medal (in which case the stipend continues) or, once the Olympics are over, the funding stops entirely.

That is the standard formula used to fund all Olympic athletes—medal winners.
Are we clear now?

Paul Jones7 said:They didn't actually offer him any real conditions; all they offered was cash and some vague promises that things might eventually be fixed someday down the road. He wasn't guaranteed immediate support, a clear path, or even a dedicated coach. There was no mention of a professional team including mechanics or physiotherapists, nor were there funds provided for the fifty or so pairs of skis required to achieve top-tier results. All they put on the table was money for him and his coach.

Just to add my two cents here:
That figure the HOO promised him (300,000) is supposed to cover everything. That means his actual stipend, travel expenses if the federation doesn't foot the bill, gear, supplements, strength training, and all those other necessities.
Based on how much people were talking before he was out, you'd think they promised to hand him 300 million in cash. 🤷

rapiddriver14 said:Honestly, I never thought I’d be the one starting a thread like this.
I'm 25, weigh about 110 pounds, and even though I'm thin, I have cellulite. It’s definitely not in my genetics—I didn't have any of this until I started taking Yasmin.
But now, it's showing up on my butt and legs. I wasn't really sweating the small stuff until my boyfriend mentioned it out of nowhere the other day (he claimed he was just joking afterward, though). It's especially noticeable on the outer part of my thighs, and it's really getting to me.
GIRLS, ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS NONSENSE, how do I get rid of it? Will it go away if I stop taking Yasmin?
Would swimming during the summer help? (I'm not really an athlete or anything)
Are there any effective creams you've actually used? Pills? Anything at all?
Just to be clear, I don't want to lose weight...
But seeing this is just awful and it's driving me crazy...
Help!!!!

As Douglas Green31 put it—there isn't a way.

rapiddriver14 said:Honestly, I never thought I’d be the one starting a thread like this.
I'm 25, weigh about 110 pounds, and even though I'm thin, I have cellulite. It’s definitely not in my genetics—I didn't have any of this until I started taking Yasmin.
But now, it's showing up on my butt and legs. I wasn't really sweating the small stuff until my boyfriend mentioned it out of nowhere the other day (he claimed he was just joking afterward, though). It's especially noticeable on the outer part of my thighs, and it's really getting to me.
GIRLS, ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS NONSENSE, how do I get rid of it? Will it go away if I stop taking Yasmin?
Would swimming during the summer help? (I'm not really an athlete or anything)
Are there any effective creams you've actually used? Pills? Anything at all?
Just to be clear, I don't want to lose weight...
But seeing this is just awful and it's driving me crazy...
Help!!!!

Nope. It’s just there.

rapiddriver14 said:Honestly, I never thought I’d be the one starting a thread like this.
I'm 25, weigh about 110 pounds, and even though I'm thin, I have cellulite. It’s definitely not in my genetics—I didn't have any of this until I started taking Yasmin.
But now, it's showing up on my butt and legs. I wasn't really sweating the small stuff until my boyfriend mentioned it out of nowhere the other day (he claimed he was just joking afterward, though). It's especially noticeable on the outer part of my thighs, and it's really getting to me.
GIRLS, ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS NONSENSE, how do I get rid of it? Will it go away if I stop taking Yasmin?
Would swimming during the summer help? (I'm not really an athlete or anything)
Are there any effective creams you've actually used? Pills? Anything at all?
Just to be clear, I don't want to lose weight...
But seeing this is just awful and it's driving me crazy...
Help!!!!

Well, it won't hurt. (Maybe) it might recede slightly, but don't count on it disappearing entirely.

rapiddriver14 said:Honestly, I never thought I’d be the one starting a thread like this.
I'm 25, weigh about 110 pounds, and even though I'm thin, I have cellulite. It’s definitely not in my genetics—I didn't have any of this until I started taking Yasmin.
But now, it's showing up on my butt and legs. I wasn't really sweating the small stuff until my boyfriend mentioned it out of nowhere the other day (he claimed he was just joking afterward, though). It's especially noticeable on the outer part of my thighs, and it's really getting to me.
GIRLS, ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS NONSENSE, how do I get rid of it? Will it go away if I stop taking Yasmin?
Would swimming during the summer help? (I'm not really an athlete or anything)
Are there any effective creams you've actually used? Pills? Anything at all?
Just to be clear, I don't want to lose weight...
But seeing this is just awful and it's driving me crazy...
Help!!!!

Unfortunately, nothing works.
If a cream seems to work, it's only while you're actively using it. It just tightens the skin so the cellulite is less visible. As soon as you stop applying it, everything goes back to the way it was.
The only actual recommendation is exercise, which also won't ever fully eradicate it.

Pure evil. 🙂

Milk.
But then again, I haven't looked through everything either.
I'm missing Frost/Nixon.

crimsondriver54 said:I’ve heard this many times before, and I agree—Rade has a fantastic voice. His tone and diction are spot on. Even if he were reading mediocre poetry, it would sound incredible just because of how he delivers it.

If Rade were reading the absolute worst true crime trash, I’d still enjoy it.😁

Acting like a theater actor - 👍
Every single time, I'm left stunned for a few hours afterward
Like in the movies - well, not quite 🤷

Clint Eastwood, without a single second of hesitation 👍

The movie is actually great right up until the moment they reveal everything.
Then you get that desperate attempt to fix the ending using a typical Hollywood trope.
What a waste.

During my first few visits to the gynecologist, I actually switched doctors after the first one. She wasn't necessarily incompetent, but she just made me feel... uneasy.
The second one was a straight-up nightmare. I walk in—thankfully it was summer, so I was wearing a skirt and didn't have anything on underneath—and she just says, "Sit down," pointing at the chair in front of her desk. 😕I was like, "No way, I'm not sitting there without underwear," 😁
So, I finally get onto the actual exam chair, legs spread, and she starts. It wasn't exactly gentle, but I figured, fine, let's just get this over with quickly.
Right in the middle of everything, a nurse bursts in to tell the doctor that someone scratched her car in the parking lot. This woman starts swearing so aggressively that even the toughest construction worker in the States would be embarrassed, all while I’m lying there feeling it deep in my gut. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I actually let out a yell that made me feel self-conscious for a second. 🙄But for her? Not even a flinch. 😁
She just kept going, being incredibly aggressive and digging away, all while making vulgar comments about the sexual lives of the people who messed up her car. Meanwhile, I'm just lying there, half-frozen in pain.
Later, I went back to ask her to run some specific tests. She refused, so I just got up and walked out. Honestly, I should have just done that the very first time. 😵

Now, I see a specialist whom I affectionately call the "Wizard of the Exam Room," and I absolutely love him. He always manages to make me laugh, and I don't feel awkward at all. 🙂