tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68396684017448953992024-03-12T20:43:55.861-07:00Dominique Does LifeWelcome to Dominique Does Life! Where we spill all the best tea life has to offer. Our interests are many and varied, just like yours. To our readers, welcome home. To our listeners, you can catch us at www.spreaker.com/dominiquedoeslife. Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-79695427268732842302022-09-01T19:56:00.003-07:002022-09-02T12:36:35.680-07:00First Question [podcast] Belle Gunness short show notes<p><img alt="Belle Gunness poses for a picture, with a vacant look in her eye…" height="300" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=14ms0BzxrszmkPfPoiJlqUxIvbkkxSp0E" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" width="300" /></p><p><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/episode/46225786" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Listen to THIS episode of First Question here!</a></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-c37dd00d-7fff-8e36-7a85-ae8fc68c7c85" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-left: 0pt;"><table data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="500"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 39.25pt;"><td colspan="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; background-color: #d3eefe; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Born as </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth</span></p><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belle Gunness, nee Paulsen was born in Christiania, Norway, on November 11, 1859. Her father was Peter Paulsen.</span></p><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Classification: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Serial killer</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 29.5pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characteristics: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her apparent motives involved collecting life insurance, cash, and other valuables, and eliminating witnesses</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Number of victims: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13 - 42</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Date of murder: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1880's - 1908</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Date of birth: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 22, 1859</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 39.25pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Victims profile: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Men and children</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (She killed most of her suitors and boyfriends, and her two daughters, Myrtle and Lucy. She may also have killed both of her husbands and all of her children, on different occasions)</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Method of murder: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poisoning</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (strychnine) / </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bludgeoning</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 19.75pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Location: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illinois/Indiana, USA</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 49pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Status: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; background-color: #fef6dd; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On April 28, 1908, the bodies of Gunness' children were found in the home's wreckage, but the headless adult female corpse found with them was never positively identified. She was never tracked down and her death has never been confirmed.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belle was 6’ tall and was a minimum weight of 200lbs, at a minimum--some even report that she was between 220-280lbs.</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belle was a sturdy child and a sturdy woman, with dark, frizzy hair and features that sat oddly on her face.</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Belle was a child, she participated in the exhibitions by dancing on the tight-rope.</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belle grew up poor and would grow into an adult who would never feel that she had enough money.</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gunness' origins are a matter of some debate. Most of her biographers state that she was born on November 11, 1859, near the lake of Selbu, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway, and christened </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brynhild Paulsdatter Størset</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Her parents were Paul Pedersen Størset (a stonemason) and Berit Olsdatter. She was the youngest of their eight children. They lived at Størsetgjerdet, a very small cotter's farm in Innbygda, 60 km southeast of Trondheim, the largest city in central Norway (Trøndelag).</span></p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First victim: Belle’s Husband, Mads Ditlev Anton Sorenson, whom she met in 1884, married, then opened a candy shop with.</span></p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The shop doesn’t do very well</span></p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the business was not successful; within a year the shop mysteriously burned down. They collected the insurance, which paid for another home.</span></p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #3c310f; --darkreader-inline-color: #cbc7c2; background-color: #fef6dd; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though some researchers assert that the Sorenson union produced no offspring, other investigators report that the couple had four children: Caroline, Axel, Myrtle, and Lucy. Caroline and Axel died in infancy, allegedly of acute colitis. The symptoms of acute colitis — nausea, fever, diarrhea, and lower abdominal pain and cramping — are also symptoms of many forms of poisoning. Both Caroline's and Axel's lives were reportedly insured, and the insurance company paid out.</span></p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2e3132; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #d3eefe; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sources:</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Murderpedia: </span><a href="https://murderpedia.org/female.G/g/gunness-belle.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://murderpedia.org/female.G/g/gunness-belle.htm</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Biography: </span><a href="https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/belle-gunness" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/belle-gunness</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Historical Crime Detective: </span><a href="https://www.historicalcrimedetective.com/ccca/belle-gunness-story/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.historicalcrimedetective.com/ccca/belle-gunness-story/</span></a></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927025643635390219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-70446135034711257382022-09-01T19:54:00.003-07:002022-09-01T19:54:15.639-07:00The Hazard In Your Garage: Golf Carts&Other Rechargeable Items<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i>Did you know that an improperly charging golf cart can lead to asphyxiation, explosion, fire, and even death? I didn't either, until one of the residents in my building insisted on charging his in our shared garage, with improper (read NO) ventilation. </i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i> I walked into our shared garage in my mixed use apartment and condo building one evening, to take my dog outside. I noticed an odor of something like overheated plastic, and I heard a thrumming sound over by the garage door. It was storming like crazy outside that night, and I heard a high pitched whine just barely audible above the sound of thunder.</i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i> I walked over to check it out, and I found a golf cart plugged into a hydrogen battery, overcharging and having set off some sort of alarm on the gauge measuring the charge. The keys were inside the golf cart, and the cart was turned on--battery only, WHILE charging. </i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i> I found out later that my neighbor had left his golf cart on and charging in our barely ventilated garage while he went on a weekend long vacation, leaving us to slowly asphyxiate or deal with any potential fires or explosions which might occur from his plugged in, turned on golf cart.</i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i> Now, I have a decent knowledge of basic chemistry, dear reader, so I could see the writing on the wall. I knew what whispy gases like hydrogen sulfide could do, and how they would behave, once released, so I simply unplugged the hydrogen battery from the wall, and I let the neighbor know that this was a dangerous practice, and that while it might seem like not the biggest deal, it could seriously harm all of us.</i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i> Think I'm kidding? Being dramatic? Being over the top? I'm probably just being a nosey Karen, right? </i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i> Think again...</i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQgKQwapPOM" width="320" youtube-src-id="zQgKQwapPOM"></iframe></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><p></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">From an article in the Palm Beach County Post: </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></p><blockquote><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a> "DeRita recently appeared before a meeting of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations to stress how unsafe it is to walk away and charge a golf cart in a closed garage.<p></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Golf carts need to be charged in the open or in a well-ventilated area, he said.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">With hydrogen present, a problem could develop, he noted, by even touching the garage door switch or garage door light -- all of which work off electricity. DeRita said golf cart batteries need to be periodically filled with distilled water because water evaporates. If water level drops too low, hydrogen is emitted. The units before 2018 do not have safety mechanisms that shut off the charging if water levels are too low."<span></span></p><!--more--><p></p></blockquote><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> DeRita appears to have been talking about lead acid batteries, which are often the batteries that are built into golf carts, but to compound that issue, often times hydrogen portable batteries are used to charge those lead acid batteries, adding to the danger. Hydrogen batteries, in the case of golf carts at least, are external batteries which need to be plugged into a wall outlet and then plugged into the golf cart that needs to be charged.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You can see why this might lead to golf cart owners assuming that charging their carts in the garage is just fine and dandy, but it's not. This presents, as DeRita touches on above, many potential dangers that should not be ignored. Read on for more information on how and why golf carts should be stored and charged safely in OPEN areas like car ports or special charging garages, and NEVER in a residential garage.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></p><blockquote><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #b9b3ac; caret-color: rgb(195, 190, 184); color: #c3beb8; cursor: var(--default2x); font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span></span></p><!--more-->“We are talking about a double whammy here,” said Assistant Palm Beach County Fire Marshal David DeRita. “If it doesn’t suffocate you, it can kill you through a fire.”<span><!--more--></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Safety fact sheet re hydrogen batteries, golf carts, and proper charging:</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" id="docs-internal-guid-b77cb5ba-7fff-1256-6c30-0bcfe411c26f" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen batteries (and even acid batteries) that require charging should always be charged in open areas, never in garages (</span><a href="https://youtu.be/2YUca6YcM0E" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">citation</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen Batteries</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Safely Charging Your Motorized Device:</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*See this website for information on what happens while a battery using VOCs aka combustible gas: </span><a href="https://safeenvironments.com.au/hydrogen-gas/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.*</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Places like golf villas, golf resorts, golf courses, mechanic’s shops, UPS, United States Post Offices, Costco, Home Depot, and Lowes utilize safe battery charging rooms or safe battery charging garages, with:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> no enclosure, </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and with two or more garage door entrances/exits </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which are kept open during and directly after charging of said devices. </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which have high powered, industrial fans (not just vents in a closed garage), which move air outward and keep gas from building up in an enclosed space </span></p></li></ul></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IMPORTANT: Before We Move On:</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even deep cycle batteries and lead acid batteries should never be charged in an enclosed area (</span><a href="https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/gas-detection/8/gfg-gesellschaft-fur-geratebau/risks-when-charging-lead-acid-batteries/57104" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">citation</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p></li></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lead Acid Batteries</span></p></li></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dangers of a lead acid battery are most serious for pregnant people, fetuses, children, and animals</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lead acid battery properties</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lead acid batteries and hydrogen batteries have similar properties, and neither are safe to charge in an enclosed area for any amount of time) </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contain a positive charge of lead oxide at one pole,</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and contain a negative charge of sulphuric acid at the other. </span></p></li></ul></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *Sulfuric acid is deadly and dangerous, and it CAN escape the battery for a number of reasons.*</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The negatively charged sulfuric acid at the negative pole of the battery contains:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sulfur </span></p></li><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and hydrogen sulfide, </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="4" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which can both be released into the air as hydrogen sulfide while charging. </span></p></li></ul></ul></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen Sulfide Gas:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 453px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="453" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2vnY0ITAY882hkNAZNhqewvd56stTYT42cnIW6nU8JtAl8Q7KkfhzaSTCvzFs0J8JV8us9hNCrM5ccBMOCopI6BbiC8H5naiy8UEjS91RVT1NglPq3LfNzqFmFkAoKq0wryKJ4Ob9_npfjAA1YB6g4RknZMvQSKWwBF7GyBQ1LyM5CCJNA_oUa03MA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 713px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="713" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cZEGrxm7I_flVDFB23iLggCTkzzr3r97egP9FQuUyvPsSRLvwQO0iq9fK-0KEUq2Rqf-9_C-0mLvu8xEjl0MV1ty0FMM8MznXPC2pJ6Kvc4uzHU6pEy7po80Z9AJC7zB4KXF6HdpXilqi83cVyoMCWVjIwD8lAGtO9VREualXO8JacmzcBEC1e7d-w" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">***A Note About Hydrogen Sulfide Gas***⬇️</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *Hydrogen gas, like radon and, to an extent, CO2, is what is known as a whispy gas, which can get into small spaces and crevices and linger, long after any charging is done, and while it is heavier than oxygen, but still light and whispy</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><a href="https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/hydrogen_sulfide_fact.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">citation</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p></li></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Properties and Risks:*</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Only </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4-18% concentration</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of hydrogen sulfide in the air is </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dangerous/deadly</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11x more concentrated (read: more deadly) than CO2</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 1067px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="1067" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ckzBSBaN4IgdNert3AE6VAX1hFVQCfX8zBK7gm0wsB_hXOQez14PzASpp_Rbwf8SxCq1VRM_jloA2zVBrPltsGIkQEKD0bnJ_9ARSWrqUHOR57e0waY7ySPJtVTWevdaH_2h9yBap9MxWbWxj145e0c6gDuI_sDXsL2Bc-UZ-ZgjVraQ_dLqeSl0ZQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">isn’t always picked up by carbon monoxide detectors</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (because they are not built to detect hydrogen sulfide gas). </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen sulfide detectors are at least hundreds of dollars per unit. </span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pushes oxygen out of enclosed spaces </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen sulfide gas causes suffocation</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen sulfide is poisonous </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen sulfide </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gas poisoning</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or conditions which cause </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">asphyxiation</span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lack of oxygen </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in humans and animals can happen when: </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hydrogen concentrations reach between 4-18%, </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 339px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="339" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hVg20MkXYBiwJ7eXlFCUXj1GNBNcN4Eq0mSSK_i1rgvdryywdlm9r_8gsc56cRp-PzVwdMh2w0_o2JJNYm5dUqHZ-OI0bZ1T-wnIOeQO6Rw86Ez4_mWBNGsaxj6mmG6poG74ToCqee8dfEj3Omv2L35fYxctx4hGiWRPxLjTHqxZP30j7gudfTfPTw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 781px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="781" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/537-WK9HHI2phqSSbXR2h-hrC_0b52fFC9M8EPYO-JZN6XKSdCLhs8Ura5LHQgwI2kQGO7UFQrMsorpGWFRSsjQLhUDdy87q0HJyCnV_sm0cb9b85o6UXcZCAS6RfvCywed8Tywg13XgKNdAtK2Kl-x5FFdWUf8iGz1ZfURdRaN2uCn2VAA3iNVLEQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen gas can buildup extremely quickly from battery charging in an enclosed area</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the time you notice symptoms of hydrogen sulfide gas poisoning, it will be too late (</span><a href="https://www.blacklinesafety.com/blog/h2s-gas-need-know" style="text-decoration: none;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">citation</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Irreversible damage will likely have already occurred to your heart and cardiovascular system by the time you notice symptoms</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">occurs so quickly that many people do not have a chance to escape from their homes before an explosion happens, a fire starts, or poisoning or asphyxiation occur</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Starts occurring when a battery is around 95% charged, so unsupervised charging is absolutely deadly</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen gas is extremely explosive. </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pushes oxygen out</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Concentrations grow quickly</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leads to an explosive atmosphere</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></li></ul><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Symptoms of hydrogen sulfide gas poisoning:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effects range from mild: </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">headaches, </span></p></li><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to eye irritation, </span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Very Serious:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">unconsciousness,</span></p></li><li aria-level="3" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and death.</span></p></li></ul></ul><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can smell like rotten eggs (it IS the same thing as sewer gas, after all, which is created when human waste breaks down in sewers and there’s no release for the hydrogen sulfide gas)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you smell it, it may be too late</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you notice a rotten egg smell, and then that smell abates without ventilation, that doesn’t mean there is no more hydrogen sulfide gas. It could mean that there is so much gas that your sense of smell is being affected. </span></p></li></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recommendations: watch the following video from Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue on the dangers of golf cart charging in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/2YUca6YcM0E" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to watch the video </span></p></li></ul></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sources:</span></p><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Osha: </span><a href="https://www.hazmatstudent.com/article/hydrogen-sulfide-h2s-facts" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to see the OSHA training website about hydrogen sulfide and other explosive gases.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WWAY (Florida) News: </span><a href="https://www.wwaytv3.com/fire-department-warns-of-hidden-dangers-when-charging-golf-carts/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stack Exchange: The Danger Of Charging A Deep Cycle Battery Indoors: </span><a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/23409/is-it-safe-to-run-and-charge-a-deep-cycle-battery-in-an-enclosed-space-like-a-be" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dangers of charging a lead acid battery at all in an enclosed space: </span><a href="https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/gas-detection/8/gfg-gesellschaft-fur-geratebau/risks-when-charging-lead-acid-batteries/57104" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sealed lead-acid batteries and hydrogen charging vs gel charging:</span><a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/175649/are-sealed-lead-acid-batteries-safe-to-use-indoors" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battery University: How Overcharging A Lead Acid Battery Can Lead To Danger: </span><a href="https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-703-health-concerns-with-batteries" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Wikipedia Page: </span><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blackline Safety: </span><a href="https://www.blacklinesafety.com/blog/h2s-gas-need-know" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ABC Action News: Family nearly killed by golf cart: video: </span><a href="https://youtu.be/zQgKQwapPOM" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">watch here</span></a></p></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battery acid on garage floor (for lead acid batteries): </span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.golfcart101.com/golf-cart-battery-acid-on-garage-floor/" style="text-decoration: none;">read here</a></span></li><li>Firehouse.com: <a href="https://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/publications-and-media/blogs-landing-page/nfpa-today/blog-posts/2020/02/07/fore-improper-charging-of-golf-carts-can-lead-to-fumes-and-fire" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">read here</a></li></ul><p><b data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></p>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927025643635390219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-67921910597789532372022-09-01T19:18:00.007-07:002022-09-01T20:10:57.543-07:00Don't Lose Everything: Your Guide To Staying Safe Online<h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"> <span style="font-family: georgia;"></span>Don't Lose Everything: Your Guide To Staying Safe Online</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f2a824; color: #ffa400;"> By: Dominique Miller</span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;"><blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span>It's been awhile since I've written a real blog post. But I'm back, and here's
why... I've been working with many coaching clients on improving their personal
digital security.<span><!--more--></span></blockquote></span><div><i><br /></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i> In fact, so many have asked me to focus on that aspect of my
coaching work, that I haven't been doing too much else lately (and I am happy to help!). </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f24444; color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia;"><i> Look, if you use the internet...like...at all...for anything...ever...even if you only have a smart phone...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>You NEED an end-to-end encrypted password
(and private information) vault yesterday. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I know some of y'all just said or thought to yourselves, "I
don't get that tech stuff," "I don't have the time," or something similar, but
I'm here to tell you something. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk5z3Vp5Vbg8E_79V6FY-kEGOSoSIVwpERCIjx17Qo7F_CGaAHPxUz08BAMBz4VdjWFjHdAjeNuaVGvLjz08MiTeV2TBoodep3FLjZ2QqWK9f472qRkkCh8yFJoq-GrSxJoRddDOz7jQBNauzGZ1u_TM6FTmuT4iEaJAnluRlcBYKIfHsNFHMJCtS/s268/200.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="268" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk5z3Vp5Vbg8E_79V6FY-kEGOSoSIVwpERCIjx17Qo7F_CGaAHPxUz08BAMBz4VdjWFjHdAjeNuaVGvLjz08MiTeV2TBoodep3FLjZ2QqWK9f472qRkkCh8yFJoq-GrSxJoRddDOz7jQBNauzGZ1u_TM6FTmuT4iEaJAnluRlcBYKIfHsNFHMJCtS/w320-h239/200.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> You WILL have your identity stolen, and/or your sensitive information compromised. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I want to help you to avoid what almost happened to me--and what has happened to so many others--identity theft, either partial or total, including personal and financial assets, some of which may be irreplaceable.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjEFhTk3ZjkJ-mtFIAgJSURbi8f_Hg8oPpqQoyYHSWv4MiQ-FFZnF2a41RuoKvUdL88Rz3clVJKn0lc6fAeM6ZXk3PdGlLgHcObCHU9pT_EVxI7alb67UR4F9D5joj66gs5imo6ycWsnVM-PWu2M6ITH_TGwbh4X4mJA-NorvXad9zAR0l32C85nG/s268/200.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjEFhTk3ZjkJ-mtFIAgJSURbi8f_Hg8oPpqQoyYHSWv4MiQ-FFZnF2a41RuoKvUdL88Rz3clVJKn0lc6fAeM6ZXk3PdGlLgHcObCHU9pT_EVxI7alb67UR4F9D5joj66gs5imo6ycWsnVM-PWu2M6ITH_TGwbh4X4mJA-NorvXad9zAR0l32C85nG/s1600/200.webp" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Unfortunately it's not a matter of if it will happen, but WHEN it will happen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kgv1-beZrb_gIDvo1zcFbqqHzts-uoPDRecu6adb4df81Q1B-3vIEQGiU6hr9lOTNeHyI-71fNaiibMnt6l7wi4GiHXgbjI2m74-Z0wx-OXkj2yKGO5tB-s_dzdX1Q4Crh_zBBhJOcVb3Teeb8vxrZWPIH9RiLHF0nKeVytGYNvE7k904HR6yuoX/s256/200-2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jonah Hill freaking out" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="256" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kgv1-beZrb_gIDvo1zcFbqqHzts-uoPDRecu6adb4df81Q1B-3vIEQGiU6hr9lOTNeHyI-71fNaiibMnt6l7wi4GiHXgbjI2m74-Z0wx-OXkj2yKGO5tB-s_dzdX1Q4Crh_zBBhJOcVb3Teeb8vxrZWPIH9RiLHF0nKeVytGYNvE7k904HR6yuoX/w200-h156/200-2.webp" title="Jonah Hill freaking out" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span><!--more--></span>Cyber attacks have increased by a
whopping 500-700% (conservatively) globally, since 2017. Much of that cybercrime
took place--you guessed it--during the global pandemic that is SARS COV-2, or
COVID-19. And what are some of the easiest vectors for attack?<span><!--more--></span> </span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> What? I'm sorry,
what is that one of you just said? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Did someone just say 'my front door?' </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It sounds like reader Karen just said that she thinks cyber attacks are likely to happen by way
of her front door.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yeah...no, Karen. Cyber attacks happen online--that is, through your smart phone, laptop, desktop, tablet, or other internet-connected device, and/or through nearly any of the apps, services, and websites you might use on the internet connected devices I just mentioned, which most of us use.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I hope that most of you are smarter than Karen here, and to prove to yourself that you are, I'd like for you to take this simple personal digital security quiz before we begin. I have made up this quiz, based on input from friends, family members, clients, and even my own experience being self-taught in the realm of IT.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Take the quiz <a href="https://form.jotform.com/222336203990149" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a></span></div><div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #27f224; color: #04ff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #27f224; color: #04ff00; font-family: georgia;"><b data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;">👉A note about data collection from my blog, before we get started:👈</b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; --darkreader-inline-color: #f2a824; background-color: black; color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>☝*** (I have turned on the 'rel=no-follow' protocol for all links shared on this page, which means that I am disabling trackers that might attempt to follow you from THIS site. As I will mention again below, I have no control over what other trackers you may be exposed to, based on your own personal settings in the application you are using to read this blog post, and/or the security and privacy settings you have configured on your own device).***</i></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #571260; --darkreader-inline-color: #c3beb8; background-color: #670874; color: #20124d;"><!--more--></span><span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #571260; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #670874; color: black;"> Cyber threats can happen to anyone, and they can happen in many ways, from many avenues, through many vectors. </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #c4830d; background-color: #ffa400;"><!--more--></span></span></b></span></blockquote></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i><i></i></span></h4><blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> Cyber
criminals, contrary to popular belief, aren't weird, geniusy hackers, sitting
behind a computer, wearing sunglasses and a hoodie, rubbing their hands together
in glee, and waiting for their next target to roll in. </i></span></h4></blockquote><div><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote><span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f2ca4c; color: #bf9000;"><b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qKxEH2yZ991oz_TxVzGQlVFpmux41TYINtzgCM04UHLhyG85gIWI7UDpatyD9Rb_qAa7JfuJ1k966_rr_nzolEmJ05KOV7mdiiLdwaChmLIXVQAkJTQ94oslXpy0MM8h--jt-QrmyElvXNcchoUJIQp1ZS-5hZ5Aih9vx_hY2DqBOv1xXTJpEOsW/s480/giphy-2.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qKxEH2yZ991oz_TxVzGQlVFpmux41TYINtzgCM04UHLhyG85gIWI7UDpatyD9Rb_qAa7JfuJ1k966_rr_nzolEmJ05KOV7mdiiLdwaChmLIXVQAkJTQ94oslXpy0MM8h--jt-QrmyElvXNcchoUJIQp1ZS-5hZ5Aih9vx_hY2DqBOv1xXTJpEOsW/w200-h200/giphy-2.gif" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span><!--more--></span>Cyber criminals are
usually just laypeople taking the opportunity to do some dishonest work for a
living...<span><!--more--></span></b></span></span></blockquote></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> ...and to hopefully catch one of you lovely readers out there on the
interwebs with your metaphorical pants down. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But back to those potential attack
vectors, yeah? Popular attack vectors i.e. inviting places for cyber criminals
to launch an attack on you, are:</span></div><div></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"><b> <span></span></b></span></p><!--more--><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"><b>While some of the bullet points below are, and should be by definition, areas of concern for all of us, I want you to remember while reading over them that I will be providing you with some great solutions below, to help prevent them from ever being an issue for you.</b></span></h4><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"><b><span><!--more--></span></b></span><p></p><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></blockquote><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #222425; --darkreader-inline-color: #f2a824; background-color: white; color: #ffa400; font-family: times;"> Read on for some of the biggest attack vectors that you need to lookout for, in order to protect your own digital security.</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 1. <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;"> </span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;">Compromised (or poorly managed) credentials</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaUGPHB7jxlFCf_cBt5D_Vj6BI5XipXxQpLV85ZagoGFQ8MOp5QcoEpnQScyIt5ptV6VxVGG3saAKHl1NHTYoPy0AYniigZJT85PnMdGg8v-thHEYPkGndjEe_tYUFklgOsebKglaL62r4p43um-jzECb222qh2KfoUY93BF8MaxUP4ILnIXaO4Tx/s200/200w-3.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaUGPHB7jxlFCf_cBt5D_Vj6BI5XipXxQpLV85ZagoGFQ8MOp5QcoEpnQScyIt5ptV6VxVGG3saAKHl1NHTYoPy0AYniigZJT85PnMdGg8v-thHEYPkGndjEe_tYUFklgOsebKglaL62r4p43um-jzECb222qh2KfoUY93BF8MaxUP4ILnIXaO4Tx/s1600/200w-3.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><p></p><p></p></ol><ol style="text-align: left;"><p></p><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Logins, passwords, and personal information must be stored in a safe, secure (encrypted) manner. Not doing this leaves everyone using a particular app, site, service, or business open to personal attack.</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></ol><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>2. Imagine those of us who don't know better, who reuse passwords, use <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> passwords with unaltered dictionary words, consecutive numbers, and the </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> like, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">having their data exposed in even ONE data breach with a company, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>website,</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> or app they have login credentials stored with. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4ttTV0xGCp_csIUSBUHqEK9I4w6jyXeQ7k1nuDptfeDFeNcAIhHa6rfoGw2DM3Uid7eq3Fp6890vrC5shvHKdTTL5lKjPJFBJ_rQj-KufzGa_nAX3EtshyXRPbIbE994Ri9-Zu83JFdjnfkFrvuDy9fTuyTsP2DCAi7JO6tFNZOx9t596V97ecmf/s200/200w-4.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4ttTV0xGCp_csIUSBUHqEK9I4w6jyXeQ7k1nuDptfeDFeNcAIhHa6rfoGw2DM3Uid7eq3Fp6890vrC5shvHKdTTL5lKjPJFBJ_rQj-KufzGa_nAX3EtshyXRPbIbE994Ri9-Zu83JFdjnfkFrvuDy9fTuyTsP2DCAi7JO6tFNZOx9t596V97ecmf/s1600/200w-4.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> <span> </span>3. Imagine that data being shared on the darkweb or otherwise bought, sold, or </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>traded between malicious entities and/or actors.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>4. <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Now, imagine that person using the same login credentials across multiple <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>platforms--maybe even on their banking and investment websites. That <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span></span></span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>person could wind up in real trouble, really fast!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmGBvoL4zPkmuHJAx0lF1LbKMt0hTv8JToSPjw9vIkzYaESC25jAfDJisYCGLplHexQI8u4HUsenoTCxDLuCHTGoyLq7BRqnLCxsIIgyXwoqqPDdiYijHRMNQKlHyXNM-tGFWE7e78KVwPibpMCeXriMyAqeIsXu2XlX7xNI0eLJKHTHfwEyXzDc5/s280/giphy-3.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="280" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmGBvoL4zPkmuHJAx0lF1LbKMt0hTv8JToSPjw9vIkzYaESC25jAfDJisYCGLplHexQI8u4HUsenoTCxDLuCHTGoyLq7BRqnLCxsIIgyXwoqqPDdiYijHRMNQKlHyXNM-tGFWE7e78KVwPibpMCeXriMyAqeIsXu2XlX7xNI0eLJKHTHfwEyXzDc5/s1600/giphy-3.gif" width="280" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>5. <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Data breaches happen all the time. What's stopping you from losing <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span></span></span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>everything when one finally happens at YOUR financial institution, or on </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>your crypto platform, or your investment platform?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> 6. </span></span></span></span></span>If you're one of my clients, readers, or listeners, I'll tell you what's stopping </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>you from losing everything: your free, secure, open source, end-to-end </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>encrypted password and personal data vault that you took the time to </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>download from your App Store or your Google Play store. One of the best </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>such apps out there is Bitwarden.<span style="font-family: georgia;"><!--more--></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><p></p></ol><u style="font-family: georgia;"><u><h4><ol style="display: inline; text-align: left;"><li style="display: inline;"><u><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;">2. Malware</u></u></li></ol></h4><ol style="display: inline; text-align: left;"><li style="display: inline;"><u><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHYnRsKpyc077tUwq2TwLMmN4Lr-TnXygr_xKMROZXhrrnJnWsqtCe3rxC0Mqol-7h3ZQ_Toq-1oMVxdrYQGjM8rJTe3BGU9JwDdO1DPHR-wfkiR9sjTTgbe9i0MThiRz56mFHZOPgBxsCOq_NUrHptByYC6wxThanpFulauoPRoAHJCPh20RURpQ/s200/200w.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHYnRsKpyc077tUwq2TwLMmN4Lr-TnXygr_xKMROZXhrrnJnWsqtCe3rxC0Mqol-7h3ZQ_Toq-1oMVxdrYQGjM8rJTe3BGU9JwDdO1DPHR-wfkiR9sjTTgbe9i0MThiRz56mFHZOPgBxsCOq_NUrHptByYC6wxThanpFulauoPRoAHJCPh20RURpQ/w320-h320/200w.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></u></li></ol></u></u><ol style="text-align: left;"><p></p><p></p><ol><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Malware is, essentially, malicious code or software, which corrupts and may even scrape for certain data. For example, you may have been infected by malware if you clicked a link from a Facebook friend in Messenger that looked a little funny, and noticed maybe a day or so later--maybe more, maybe less--that you could no longer get into your Facebook account. That is one of the most popular malware delivery vectors for scammers to employ, and if your password and login information are just sitting around, unprotected, because you haven't taken an opportunity just yet to download Bitwarden, or something similar in terms of end-to-end encrypted security for all of your personal and private information, including login information and passwords, you could wind up not only having a tough time getting your Facebook account back, but also losing much, much more (see above, re compromised credentials).<span><!--more--></span></span></li></ol></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> 2. <span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>While apps like Bitwarden can't totally offset the potential cost of such <span style="font-family: georgia;">serious <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>user error, it CAN inform you when a password or login credentials have been <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span><span></span></span></span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>compromised, and it CAN help you to take immediate steps to re-secure your <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>data.<span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzyHe_c-xuz_jhJXEKZwmzHWbcI3m3Yg9Rp2fNfqZFPXnYFxShy9X1cUJFjEdXKDJ13Jflr6HsSQSIkViBjNA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><!--more--></span><span> <span> </span></span> 3. <span> </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;">Phishing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWSV3J7K-PDXRWB93HWJfj7uKEdRv0XbbY41MPL4uvw4FL2WMAbKTSs-KEwcTCx4VpBRVZO_npjPb2iayjBZ3jdtgYUNLwaE50ApqPk3hZgxlh7MnPmoNONZPLSVhfpja_snyLiDVFQCLJvj8KORGoOybg5jF6w1TGJxJN9TlV6C-vnjl-uXs5jH8/s200/200w-6.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWSV3J7K-PDXRWB93HWJfj7uKEdRv0XbbY41MPL4uvw4FL2WMAbKTSs-KEwcTCx4VpBRVZO_npjPb2iayjBZ3jdtgYUNLwaE50ApqPk3hZgxlh7MnPmoNONZPLSVhfpja_snyLiDVFQCLJvj8KORGoOybg5jF6w1TGJxJN9TlV6C-vnjl-uXs5jH8/w320-h179/200w-6.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></h4><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">An attack based on social engineering, where a malicious actor attempts to get someone to click a particular link, download a particular app, etc., with the intention of getting access to their target 's device, login credentials, and other personal and/or financial information.</span></li></ol></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>2. Malware is often delivered via phishing attacks.<span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsCFM5ICrUTPXXI6FKddRox79WWVhI5Q8J3c-r7bdOv9rIljtf-wKuXW1fYj0Yv3UJw1wsTj3O4_EXrs_1LX6uo_58N_9U3ts7awZXMbULbfgGaKVNqh0J1mjWwlfOPw4bt8GhPW1TxfXaYUJ4NUGY8pXndg9VVk9bFTDeXcFFdqPcsR42LkMZUY_/s200/200w-5.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsCFM5ICrUTPXXI6FKddRox79WWVhI5Q8J3c-r7bdOv9rIljtf-wKuXW1fYj0Yv3UJw1wsTj3O4_EXrs_1LX6uo_58N_9U3ts7awZXMbULbfgGaKVNqh0J1mjWwlfOPw4bt8GhPW1TxfXaYUJ4NUGY8pXndg9VVk9bFTDeXcFFdqPcsR42LkMZUY_/s1600/200w-5.webp" width="200" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>4. </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black; font-family: georgia;">Ransomware<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe1GFIOzuPtCSXXApESkEbIWVuR9eqWFEAjl3TH2PUeraPrqSRDaOpyr_78nl4-ycQ4yhhn9EwDkz5kGr1zzZBIZC4nfqt7_lTLLABrLFEajeiGRIIaC8LAVyRd3fc-Intw7rJN5ae612WmgpX-KmRbWaNyHEfBH3gt7UWsJ5RAn1T0s8xLgSITPv/s480/giphy-5.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="480" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe1GFIOzuPtCSXXApESkEbIWVuR9eqWFEAjl3TH2PUeraPrqSRDaOpyr_78nl4-ycQ4yhhn9EwDkz5kGr1zzZBIZC4nfqt7_lTLLABrLFEajeiGRIIaC8LAVyRd3fc-Intw7rJN5ae612WmgpX-KmRbWaNyHEfBH3gt7UWsJ5RAn1T0s8xLgSITPv/s320/giphy-5.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ransomeware CAN be linked to weak credentials or poor encryption, and is often used to lock a user out of their accounts, or even their devices, and can be used on a much larger scale when companies are targeted, rather than individuals.</span></li></ol></ol><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 5. <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;">Missing or poor encryption</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT4lLskbPmJ8BamvMmb-HnW5LOT2HF9vuoag5f3UJqS7vh3cGl6AOpQed1Qth3Da4XjPOvBCveaJrD2mnj1O0bVusy2Lwx_3n2W24djdhETxZd9DutVXzSeDU8nCwN74LO5PgFB7Wfe7CFMDOlCOixekEvH9Y9Y6sC_q-xI_BqHft-GIBsjCq1Byl/s480/giphy-4.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT4lLskbPmJ8BamvMmb-HnW5LOT2HF9vuoag5f3UJqS7vh3cGl6AOpQed1Qth3Da4XjPOvBCveaJrD2mnj1O0bVusy2Lwx_3n2W24djdhETxZd9DutVXzSeDU8nCwN74LO5PgFB7Wfe7CFMDOlCOixekEvH9Y9Y6sC_q-xI_BqHft-GIBsjCq1Byl/s320/giphy-4.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></h4><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hopefully this one is self explanatory. When an individual or company neglects to make sure that their information is protected by encrypted means, it is that much easier for a malicious actor to exploit.</span></li></ol></ol><span><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> </span><span><span> </span><span><!--more--><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;"> </span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;"> 6. Insider attack (more for organizations, though this is applicable to individuals too, depending on their level of basic personal digital security and tech literacy)</span></span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsKz8-veuvGK8I4TiChrkyTM1v65pKafWlSkiDRMKSUeEStRxTwOEDCH-jvtiVjF8h4hOOo7sBQEo0PnKd7wnx3_wbMUdFQUOC6UnOszkD3ax7pD6PX-O8X93nH50C3ZONi1VXie7XWgOaor3upnlhcfik_aLRMp8mUYBGbXWoOqg7E1Xanl9pFiu/s500/giphy-6.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsKz8-veuvGK8I4TiChrkyTM1v65pKafWlSkiDRMKSUeEStRxTwOEDCH-jvtiVjF8h4hOOo7sBQEo0PnKd7wnx3_wbMUdFQUOC6UnOszkD3ax7pD6PX-O8X93nH50C3ZONi1VXie7XWgOaor3upnlhcfik_aLRMp8mUYBGbXWoOqg7E1Xanl9pFiu/s320/giphy-6.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></h4><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">For organizations, a malicious insider with an axe to grind might attempt to sabotage networks, servers, applications, platforms, or even individual devices from within.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">When it comes to individual privacy and protection, this could simply look like a friend of yours on Facebook innocently clicking a link sent to them by another friend, on Messenger, and winding up losing their account, at which point your friend's account, which you may not realize is even compromised at this point, sends you some phishing links, hoping that you'll click on them.<span><!--more--></span></span></li></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span> <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;"><!--more--> </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;"> <span> </span>7. Old, out of date, or un-updated devices</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oy10o0eB1QMnn2pPkr3sR3kL3fQqBdLum7tFBds-t-k6AT8Oz3v5pZxP3fKLSa10dtrcIrDWgfIUk_flbO87G78LBl4pM05Ay_-m3mdt-H0Uhibk3uji4mF5-_--ZHlU5Zv828nGOxbp-y4Gs8BAgZ1pL_-lsFcL493WF3cgJzvZE8Q1aDR3b_ED/s480/giphy-7.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="480" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oy10o0eB1QMnn2pPkr3sR3kL3fQqBdLum7tFBds-t-k6AT8Oz3v5pZxP3fKLSa10dtrcIrDWgfIUk_flbO87G78LBl4pM05Ay_-m3mdt-H0Uhibk3uji4mF5-_--ZHlU5Zv828nGOxbp-y4Gs8BAgZ1pL_-lsFcL493WF3cgJzvZE8Q1aDR3b_ED/s320/giphy-7.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></h4></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">When we update our phones, laptops, desktops, and tablets, our security settings are impacted positively.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">For example, someone whose device has been infected with malware who allows for automatic device updates, by enabling that option in their device' settings will allow said updates to remove that malware from their device, or otherwise render it useless.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Not updating your device regularly, in addition to not removing any potential spyware or other malware or malicious trackers from your device, leaves major holes in your security. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Eventually, if you go long enough without updating, your device will simply cease to function.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByMosVHr4dqUOsjgdxySJm3MjBpQfKxrMwAl0mlx0pwyzK7-UJ1ljOes2D0Lq5dpH9jyM2jsMLVhDWQFtGdplPvySNrysnGCovsfzljfB5lDteyNGpfo97vtnu6XwCQuuXdwgnhQl5tMu3onuFy09mUp7e2KeW7CD8ZbdUIP3jqcJlrTieruo9lVO/s480/giphy-8.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="480" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByMosVHr4dqUOsjgdxySJm3MjBpQfKxrMwAl0mlx0pwyzK7-UJ1ljOes2D0Lq5dpH9jyM2jsMLVhDWQFtGdplPvySNrysnGCovsfzljfB5lDteyNGpfo97vtnu6XwCQuuXdwgnhQl5tMu3onuFy09mUp7e2KeW7CD8ZbdUIP3jqcJlrTieruo9lVO/s320/giphy-8.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Please note that as technology for the hardware that we use (smart phones, laptops, desktops, and tablets) improves, companies must continue to improve the software that hardware runs on. Given enough years, a device may simply become incompatible with the software available through the company that manufactures your hardware and software, and you will, like it or not, have to upgrade your device (i.e. get a new model of phone, of laptop, of desktop, or of tablet).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb8Q-Uy8REcISr9gUbFS7JGEQylBWUz3gNvPcFWRy6eWXmSKuQ8wA2NJgRxL7miLMOrcqy2nMeuzvhQRWaTEGHS4ngRL8StxHzGlStl3ZwsfO5XbuWqA3RX55iGneBGybNPwePbPmQ7afw-yKmffeaobrEc7k8W7QR0_QnzXRdyWNsU90lXrUL-V5/s213/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="213" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb8Q-Uy8REcISr9gUbFS7JGEQylBWUz3gNvPcFWRy6eWXmSKuQ8wA2NJgRxL7miLMOrcqy2nMeuzvhQRWaTEGHS4ngRL8StxHzGlStl3ZwsfO5XbuWqA3RX55iGneBGybNPwePbPmQ7afw-yKmffeaobrEc7k8W7QR0_QnzXRdyWNsU90lXrUL-V5/s1600/images.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpXO42yr6c4Si7-4zpwHRnWSmiETyWZuQ7DcBlLT_7h9ztmQZb9YdAY_HdhnacwvMAsVgQDgwaYFgoxx2N8vSr3tZ8ryQhF5E4SjZo-y6epXMGK3OEqEw2emyfpsZR7FetJUZr7cg_GyWMX1UcRIkRrCu22iVX3FrQiLTueuAivoI2MW8X-k8Yj-b/s200/200w-8.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpXO42yr6c4Si7-4zpwHRnWSmiETyWZuQ7DcBlLT_7h9ztmQZb9YdAY_HdhnacwvMAsVgQDgwaYFgoxx2N8vSr3tZ8ryQhF5E4SjZo-y6epXMGK3OEqEw2emyfpsZR7FetJUZr7cg_GyWMX1UcRIkRrCu22iVX3FrQiLTueuAivoI2MW8X-k8Yj-b/s1600/200w-8.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Phone, laptops, desktops, and tablets are, essentially, just a silicon motherboard (or, more likely today, a silicon chip) with as many functional semiconductors jammed onto it as is spatially possible. So let's say you're still running on the iPhone 4. That hardware is not only going to be incompatible with newer software, it will be utterly foreign to it. Your device is unlikely to run at all, so as technology improves, and we have faster and faster software, your old iPhone 4, which may have worked great for you in 2014, will cease to work well, and then, eventually, cease to work at all. DO NOT WAIT until it stops working at all. Long before it does, you'll be working with severely downgraded security, which makes you a soft target for cybercriminals.</span></li></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;">\<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN94wFJqk25Z3y5oc-PSW-GjkWtmZ3DRlettUKL1RI9pVc0i7OOqQH2pvE5KH2qIMCxmyAtzY9DGl9X9aQ-YjX93lhurgsQitsGN4hOnHLgicjBHQrGv-FHe5H1WfjKeJ_vdo2JX88TgcG5mwXxn76i74F-1lgpejkqC7VHUYkLC7bdTSN84zgl6MH/s400/giphy-9.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN94wFJqk25Z3y5oc-PSW-GjkWtmZ3DRlettUKL1RI9pVc0i7OOqQH2pvE5KH2qIMCxmyAtzY9DGl9X9aQ-YjX93lhurgsQitsGN4hOnHLgicjBHQrGv-FHe5H1WfjKeJ_vdo2JX88TgcG5mwXxn76i74F-1lgpejkqC7VHUYkLC7bdTSN84zgl6MH/s320/giphy-9.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><!--more--></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4></h4></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color);"><span> <span> <span> <span><!--more--></span> 8. </span></span></span></span></span>Unpatched servers (for organizations)</h4><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Similar to un-updated devices for individuals, unmatched servers will leave your organization's platforms, devices, employees, and sensitive information open to attack. Respect your organization and its hard working employees more than this.<span><!--more--></span></span></li></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #452734; background-color: #ead1dc;">DDOS attacks (for organizations)</span></li></ol></h4></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">DDOS, or denial of service attacks essentially ping your organization's servers so frequently, that it is overloaded with traffic, and ceases to function until such an attack is over.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">One way for your organization to prevent possible DDOS attacks is to keep your organization's servers patched and updated.</span></li></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color);"><span> <span> <span> <span><!--more--></span> 9. </span></span></span></span></span>Misconfigured or poorly configured information on behalf of a website, app, or organization you use</h3><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Often times, data breaches occur due to misconfigured clouds. When organizations are not careful to update software and hardware, be vigilant about settings and data storage, AND make sure that their servers are patched, they may either knowingly or unknowingly be exposing their customer base to potential cyber attack.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was once attacked by way of a sim swapping scam, which may have occurred due to a data breach with my phone service provider. Fortunately because my personal digital security was decent (it's even better now), the cyber criminals weren't able to get away with even one red cent, and I was able to scrape some sensitive information from their data trail, verify it, organize and collate it, and deliver it right to the FBI. RIP to my scammers. They messed with the wrong person, but often times this isn't the case. Too often, scammers mess with the exact 'right' person, and I am here to help to ensure that person isn't you.<span><!--more--></span></span></li></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color);"><span> <span> <span> 10. </span></span></span>Application attacks (by way of malicious or poorly configured apps)</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6AivleunjF7qH-BetaAk5UAWmi6cGzgYQLd2wftAALw2v0BQXRYLe2ou-X99oLQxj9Be185-kutTXa5Pa2k2HfBkZD3dXS5S8F8CkbpGfhKfvpBkuXGHqed8nIt3ljAF7nsQjiSKSgnh0WkhTekc5znWlmytEdu4ZKRpTopvexHiKZaqUuEjEha0/s200/200w-9.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6AivleunjF7qH-BetaAk5UAWmi6cGzgYQLd2wftAALw2v0BQXRYLe2ou-X99oLQxj9Be185-kutTXa5Pa2k2HfBkZD3dXS5S8F8CkbpGfhKfvpBkuXGHqed8nIt3ljAF7nsQjiSKSgnh0WkhTekc5znWlmytEdu4ZKRpTopvexHiKZaqUuEjEha0/s1600/200w-9.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></h4></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Apps that: a) don't respect user privacy, or b ) don't update regularly are a no-go. If you notice that you have an account with an app that doesn't seem to have patched or updated itself in awhile, delete your account. If you can't, try contacting the developers of the app, or the hosting service of the app if it is a web application. Usually a network admin, systems admin, developer, or hosting site admin will be able to help you out with something like that, if all else fails.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Some applications that look fun, interesting, or informative are flat out spyware. Download judiciously and always, ALWAYS do your own research, using methodologically clean search criteria and platforms. <span><!--more--></span></span></li></ol></ol><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color);"><span> <span> <span> 11. </span></span></span>Algorithms, AI&Trackers That Encourage You To Click Before You Think</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4fws84AMpZvtnvgC2fKgDUJ_9SMhBi4UH57NlRfK_54MYeGbm3p3tf9dure3WtoJGtaqM7GIsNr88WD3zSn5VZKxPb2THLsMLcwv0BtvDfC_j6oqlA5F6XP0EKMaYDt2Dtk2K4AOflNbNSkqzX1fB7M_pU-giQM-FSm7iV5yKHtEpNOUCApk_swV/s200/200w-10.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4fws84AMpZvtnvgC2fKgDUJ_9SMhBi4UH57NlRfK_54MYeGbm3p3tf9dure3WtoJGtaqM7GIsNr88WD3zSn5VZKxPb2THLsMLcwv0BtvDfC_j6oqlA5F6XP0EKMaYDt2Dtk2K4AOflNbNSkqzX1fB7M_pU-giQM-FSm7iV5yKHtEpNOUCApk_swV/s1600/200w-10.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></h4></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you've read something on a blog somewhere, perhaps this one, or on a Facebook post, for example, do not take that information as fact. Search for information from trusted sources, and act accordingly. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remember, apps like Facebook use algorithms to direct you to posts, links (that they then track), and opinions that they think you'll like, whether or not said posts, links, or opinions turn out to be even remotely fact-based. THEY. DON'T. CARE. THEY JUST WANT YOUR CLICKS.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sites and apps like Facebook, again, using Facebook just as an example here, because unfortunately it's a good one, are in it for the clicks, not because they care WHAT you're clicking ON. </span></li><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every time you click on a link, share a post, etc. they stand to make money, and one of the ways they do this is by collecting your data as you click along through their app or website, and then tracking you and selling your data to other websites, apps, groups, political organizations, stores, and more--some more scrupulous, some...well...not so much.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXENVZhMAgfLakeqwX9NkHNFfKNTU6jaghoOFCQalzZJtofjB4zh-sjB41A81dsyJkPxM_GE1OokiEG1SFqhM4nLNEzfvrVpTrFzOy0IM7g9efBycTnjgEbbd7Z0_brLeOxmn4YuZ0tpUUF3tJuOIHZ44iVX8kawE1-ZPCD8tEwuZ3TEYOZVhFlUR/s200/200w-11.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXENVZhMAgfLakeqwX9NkHNFfKNTU6jaghoOFCQalzZJtofjB4zh-sjB41A81dsyJkPxM_GE1OokiEG1SFqhM4nLNEzfvrVpTrFzOy0IM7g9efBycTnjgEbbd7Z0_brLeOxmn4YuZ0tpUUF3tJuOIHZ44iVX8kawE1-ZPCD8tEwuZ3TEYOZVhFlUR/s1600/200w-11.webp" width="200" /></a></div> </span></li></ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Platforms and apps like Facebook (not JUST Facebook, of course) also drive people down extremist rabbit holes, where, in addition to...well...extremism, more malicious trackers, spyware, and cybersecurity threats lurk. </span></li><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">In fact, the January 6th insurrection at the United States Capitol was planned, after fears and anger about the election of President Biden were stoked on social media sites and apps like Facebook. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">We can talk more about Facebook and similar data mining platforms more in a future post, because I believe it does warrant more discussion.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsPy2xdSzE-bTMhCbr4TypgU6EaNwPxfH100glcG1oKr280rg83JB14t5nlkS-ySD8uDcrkrhjbJa_UhhFKgqHEhONArDJAQRWxi-aVU7gXs-tPrKGuKDaaRvjYbK2-Lj3mN0MNnUDXLNV-CjATLl4NFlywtA9qgHa-fF8wDi1YsmtOQfd13KKn-q/s200/200w.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsPy2xdSzE-bTMhCbr4TypgU6EaNwPxfH100glcG1oKr280rg83JB14t5nlkS-ySD8uDcrkrhjbJa_UhhFKgqHEhONArDJAQRWxi-aVU7gXs-tPrKGuKDaaRvjYbK2-Lj3mN0MNnUDXLNV-CjATLl4NFlywtA9qgHa-fF8wDi1YsmtOQfd13KKn-q/s1600/200w.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Suffice it to say that unless you are highly technologically literate, and have your settings configured appropriately (I suppose that not having your security settings on an app or web application like Facebook could be considered app misconfiguration creating a vector for possible attack, only on a more personal level, rather than on an organizational level), Facebook is tracking your every move, and selling your data, hell, even information about things like when you sleep, what's likely to engage you (spoiler alert: "engagement" often means 'what's likely to make a particular user or group of users--say liberals or conservatives, for example, angry,' so that they'll share and get more people to click, click, click, leading those unsuspecting users to inadvertently spread not only mis and disinformation, but to spread trackers to others, whose data they scrape, sell, and even use for non-consensual research). Being an informed web surfer matters now more than ever. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyf1AkPY5dajwHWqWG4gCDYNFBU9-VuhMjCUKzXnBwgoNsGPn02_NwHYWNe1FEhgDXGsdmBFAE0_p0BC5c4NTsKvHrC-__n_fWHaNZR3Je30WYGralBPMgHAtrR66dUaC-G0bscxVeg906Y8hSPRpmHm6Yv-_MvxXc5kMCxDBB0eASZRmxXDZWKIG/s200/200w-12.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyf1AkPY5dajwHWqWG4gCDYNFBU9-VuhMjCUKzXnBwgoNsGPn02_NwHYWNe1FEhgDXGsdmBFAE0_p0BC5c4NTsKvHrC-__n_fWHaNZR3Je30WYGralBPMgHAtrR66dUaC-G0bscxVeg906Y8hSPRpmHm6Yv-_MvxXc5kMCxDBB0eASZRmxXDZWKIG/s1600/200w-12.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">The online group Cybersecurity For Democracy found, in a study which they self-published in December of 2021, that far right, factually inaccurate, emotionally driven content creators and similar platforms on Facebook got so much more traction than any other type of 'viral' media, Facebook accounts, or Facebook pages, that they weren't even playing in the same metaphorical social media ballpark as the rest of us. </span><a href="https://medium.com/cybersecurity-for-democracy/far-right-news-sources-on-facebook-more-engaging-e04a01efae90" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Read the study here</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (I have added the 'rel-no follow' attribute to this link, so that you will not be tracked or followed by me, or my blog--though I obviously cannot guarantee that you will not be followed by any other trackers that are not under my control).<span><!--more--></span></span></li></ol></ol></ol><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><blockquote style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><blockquote><span></span><blockquote><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jmVFsQ1Jyyc2qh_XaiCckNSEUsqaDCQnFdhKHQ53cmdn05aEeVYIuaChfyqG1YKS-8K6hbBEU5I3oStoc60cB2IzkroU3ADS56FPvL-haJMAsLoW-CIteIf6Wzk5qz9NmgacSTQXfw9XsC9eizeFHZsj9odKkaxU9TqbX4fijRu6g86XLS5G4-YE/s1400/1*ZHIHIthFgcuAmpIIS1-ebw.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1400" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jmVFsQ1Jyyc2qh_XaiCckNSEUsqaDCQnFdhKHQ53cmdn05aEeVYIuaChfyqG1YKS-8K6hbBEU5I3oStoc60cB2IzkroU3ADS56FPvL-haJMAsLoW-CIteIf6Wzk5qz9NmgacSTQXfw9XsC9eizeFHZsj9odKkaxU9TqbX4fijRu6g86XLS5G4-YE/s320/1*ZHIHIthFgcuAmpIIS1-ebw.png" width="320" /><br /></a></blockquote><blockquote><span style="text-align: left;"><span></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span> </span></blockquote></blockquote></span></blockquote><p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"> <span><!--more--></span> 12. <span style="font-family: georgia;">Working remotely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcO--DeLtahnT_9YgOb9FRQcFrGgMXX5QgETQLb-PSy6K255Ea3OfKSUPRPoxaQA7XeFrQplJpHdlXsMBLzj81axs_PLsxxez_4XgNJqdj7K5Mr4iaZjZGBYDngIyvssdj1uVwlxGoFH1sdEZnrrGSVAZlJ3HrsD6m44FqA7vu6PZsZnzS6OvbBYl/s286/200-3.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="286" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcO--DeLtahnT_9YgOb9FRQcFrGgMXX5QgETQLb-PSy6K255Ea3OfKSUPRPoxaQA7XeFrQplJpHdlXsMBLzj81axs_PLsxxez_4XgNJqdj7K5Mr4iaZjZGBYDngIyvssdj1uVwlxGoFH1sdEZnrrGSVAZlJ3HrsD6m44FqA7vu6PZsZnzS6OvbBYl/w320-h224/200-3.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></h4><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #c99bb1; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: georgia;">Remember when the pandemic--or "Plandemic," as you might have been led to believe by conspiracist pages, websites, and posts on platforms like Facebook and YouTube (which is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc., which owns Google) , through no fault of your own, (at least if you are like many internet users out there)? Remember how workers and companies alike were put into a position of having to implement tons of Zoom calls? And do you remember how popular a cyber criminal practice called "Zoom bombing" was, where trolls and cyber criminals would join zoom meetings, hoping to glean sensitive information?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoX55CKkJ99Y7GTtjSG5vvrNl9HLlZ2fCj4NYUB8T4AU0u64Qlmm70ViPXo9-44Bri-Lj_8ZprKht4LpnLqNq4AaUQY20PGQnhrnaVNjOf2IZ0apOcufDBzofTu9kcIsNQGyuVGe9u4AZM10lFDJHT9nCaBb3ORwSOHqspADn6Iv4w8izQEEZJknm/s282/200-4.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="282" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoX55CKkJ99Y7GTtjSG5vvrNl9HLlZ2fCj4NYUB8T4AU0u64Qlmm70ViPXo9-44Bri-Lj_8ZprKht4LpnLqNq4AaUQY20PGQnhrnaVNjOf2IZ0apOcufDBzofTu9kcIsNQGyuVGe9u4AZM10lFDJHT9nCaBb3ORwSOHqspADn6Iv4w8izQEEZJknm/s1600/200-4.webp" width="282" /></a></div><br /> Not gonna lie, folks, I baited trolls a few times by starting zoom meetings, leaving them open, and then sharing them on social media sites, so that I could trap a few trolls and perhaps some online scammers (I promised not to hack them in return, or to use OSINT--open source intelligence protocol to pull personal data, and I kept my word to them), in order to interview them and get to know why it was that they did what they did--scamming people, ruining zoom meetings, etc... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAA66AWYedquU5dFCk9JEN3lYSWT7gXpraIIRfhTeXqelM_-dlNRotTjR0td8yjpzwPNAyMdCfn--rlqBvx02qUlse83wNQPUDyuiLkfwz7B1ZBuz01yOpvvxU_KquqLUSadSw_9aF7BlccZnZ70LlNHStKrFEabJS39fHbQi43SQEMnaWWGAUJqX/s200/200w-13.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="200" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAA66AWYedquU5dFCk9JEN3lYSWT7gXpraIIRfhTeXqelM_-dlNRotTjR0td8yjpzwPNAyMdCfn--rlqBvx02qUlse83wNQPUDyuiLkfwz7B1ZBuz01yOpvvxU_KquqLUSadSw_9aF7BlccZnZ70LlNHStKrFEabJS39fHbQi43SQEMnaWWGAUJqX/w400-h208/200w-13.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br />Maybe one day I'll actually get around to releasing the damn interview, when I have five minutes of time during the day when I'm not working. The answers I got were truly honest, and ranged from "I'm bored and wanted to see what I could shake up in this meeting" to "I'm scared, and I'm honestly taking my aggression out in an inappropriate way," to "I just wanted to see what would happen," to "I'm looking for personal information to sell, or to blackmail someone with.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_0lpVVdYWm_sEf_8ME2N3PYWgL9o2g0-WOH5acz0ov_n-NYI4uzwDg4AP3vkkf-NpCB-k8sDc4jGNTVcnR5Tz7pmYZWMSpKNucEdiOaIoya_NwVh-Fj2HXG4MOOh4PMevaSYOG_SnRD-vYwQQ7OLQoCv1SmJhB5rR-hiSiox92ApvmLjCxRVlM0O/s272/200-5.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="272" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_0lpVVdYWm_sEf_8ME2N3PYWgL9o2g0-WOH5acz0ov_n-NYI4uzwDg4AP3vkkf-NpCB-k8sDc4jGNTVcnR5Tz7pmYZWMSpKNucEdiOaIoya_NwVh-Fj2HXG4MOOh4PMevaSYOG_SnRD-vYwQQ7OLQoCv1SmJhB5rR-hiSiox92ApvmLjCxRVlM0O/s1600/200-5.webp" width="272" /></a></div><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remote work leaves people and companies alike open to all of the dangers of misconfiguration, un-updated devices, ransomware, malware, phishing attacks, malicious insider attacks, unpatched server issues, and so much more, on a much, MUCH larger scale.</span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #d884ae; color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;">It should go without saying that in order to work remotely, companies and employees both have to work via web applications and chat programs, some of which may be mandatory for employees to use, and which may or may not be secure.</span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #d884ae; color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;">Businesses leave themselves, their employees, and their customers open to theft, loss, and data breaches when they do not implement ssl encryption when working with payment providing platforms. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Some of the ways businesses, employees, and customers alike can suffer from the burden of remote work is when businesses or individuals start using payment, banking, and retail apps for the first time, and when they use reused or insecure passwords or login credentials</span></li></ol></ol></div><span><!--more--></span><span></span><span><!--more--></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #94bf81; color: #93c47d;"><!--more--></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: black;"> <span>While I've touched on a few attack vectors for organizations, I've tried to focus on individual digital security. <br /></span></span></span></i><span><span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: black;"><i><span> What do you think your weak areas might be? Discuss among yourselves and DO NOT comment down below 😂</span><br /></i><i> <br /></i></span><i><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f24444; color: #cc0000;"> Here are a few of the best things you can do for yourself, to dramatically improve your own personal digital security:</span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #c3beb8; color: #20124d;"><!--more--></span></i></span></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i></i><br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f2a824; color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #570d0d; background-color: #660000;"> Use an end-to-end encrypted password locker, like:</span></b></span></li><ol><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #a89cca; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: georgia;"><i data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;">Bitwarden</i></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f28484; color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><i data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #52575a; background-color: #666666;">KeePass</i></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; --darkreader-inline-color: #f2ca4c; background-color: black; color: #bf9000; font-family: georgia;">PadLoc</span></li></ol><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f28484; color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #222425; background-color: white;">Do not reuse passwords</span></b></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;">Change old passwords</b></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #d884ae; color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;"><b>Use an encrypted, or at least secure email service, like:</b></span></li><ol><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f2a824; color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #4e1b1b; background-color: #f4cccc;"><b>Proton Mail</b></i></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: black; font-family: georgia;"><i><b data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #c40d0d; background-color: red;">Prevail</b></i></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f2a824; color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i><b data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #123454; background-color: #073763;">Skiff</b></i></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #de964c; color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><i><b data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;">CounterMail</b></i></span></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #24f2f2; color: #01ffff; font-family: georgia;"><i data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #4e1b1b; background-color: #f4cccc;"><b>Hushmail</b></i></span></li></ol></ol><div><br /></div><blockquote><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span><!--more--></span>*There are many more encrypted email services, but many of them regularly track IP addresses, or are run by services located in a 5-eyes or 14-eyes country, whose laws forbid complete privacy online (more on that in a future post). For that reason, I've chosen not to include them. Know another that I forgot to list here? Let us know in the comments section!<span><!--more--></span><br /></i></blockquote><p><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #c0d6b8; color: #d9ead3;"> If you'd like to use Bitwarden as your end-to-end encrypted login and password storage locker, I have a tutorial I've done for several clients, friends, and family members right here, on the <a href="https://youtu.be/9cjnHi0emNg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dominique Does Life Podcast Network's YouTube Pag</a>e. "rel=no-follow" protocol applies here. And while this tutorial was done on an iPhone, and refers often to the iCloud Keychain, which is the default login and password storage apparatus for devices that run on Apple software, like iPhones, iPads, iPods, iMacs, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros, these steps should work just fine even if you're not using an Apple device. All you'll need to do, in that case, is to search for the term "passwords," and you should be given a link to click on, that will take you to your device's default login and password storage area.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #c0d6b8; color: #d9ead3;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2o4OcoeR_k46_6HHUYB-Sy5o1wcPW_vkHCtUQDjbq9t_RSyrqHWtxmXRP0wQoYjm883TEXSTI2Pj_UgiFMWFtLH_dIaJLSSuNCxgNeDBWCrCqRA2ltRDt46SGXML-KZpdI19Uuif--glj0dIsKpneCS1VXsE_2E1eUM-OkyfB4jXpsulMkc4-OyC/s200/200w-16.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2o4OcoeR_k46_6HHUYB-Sy5o1wcPW_vkHCtUQDjbq9t_RSyrqHWtxmXRP0wQoYjm883TEXSTI2Pj_UgiFMWFtLH_dIaJLSSuNCxgNeDBWCrCqRA2ltRDt46SGXML-KZpdI19Uuif--glj0dIsKpneCS1VXsE_2E1eUM-OkyfB4jXpsulMkc4-OyC/s1600/200w-16.webp" width="200" /></a></span></div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #c0d6b8; color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span><!--more--></span>Just taking the simple steps of downloading a free, (open source is always good), end-to-end encrypted email application, and a free, open source, end-to-end encrypted password locker will drastically improve your personal security.<span><!--more--></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #e3acac; color: #f4cccc;"> When all is said and done, while it is *possible* that you <i>personally</i> could have drawn the ire of a cyber criminal, that isn't <i>terribly </i>likely. Most cyber criminals and scammers fish (or phish) in big pools. They comb eBay, Facebook, Facebook Marketplace, Messenger, Words With Friends, Instagram, leaked email addresses, and similar sites and applications, as well as looking through other customer data besides the email addresses I mentioned just now, that has been exposed in data breaches. </span></p><p> They look for soft targets--or those whom they THINK are soft targets, like elderly folks, those who use less secure email platforms, those who reuse passwords, and those who answer identity theft posts on social media <i>('wHo WaS tHe PrEsIdEnT wHeN yOu WeRe BoRn...WhEn DiD YoU gRaDuAtE hIgH sChOoL, wHaT wAs ThE fIrSt TyPe Of CaR yOu OwNeD?' and other posts and comments that could telegraph a potential lack of technological literacy). </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wDAdJr-0Vsg1Fciw_j_3F5vF1A6nWfSco-gWWUbDKRy4Rs_xoA1_HOiIZDLDtepgLtlIDy4YlvYj68U8nhn1hZaF5avD1EQu_9OBB2EHILVKkVQkQ3MR8eJOyTq6DDqogwrNllAbSTCnhSGeF3E-WbqYeQpoUJwkUMnxOrApbPj472g_Khl62iB_/s200/200w-15.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="200" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wDAdJr-0Vsg1Fciw_j_3F5vF1A6nWfSco-gWWUbDKRy4Rs_xoA1_HOiIZDLDtepgLtlIDy4YlvYj68U8nhn1hZaF5avD1EQu_9OBB2EHILVKkVQkQ3MR8eJOyTq6DDqogwrNllAbSTCnhSGeF3E-WbqYeQpoUJwkUMnxOrApbPj472g_Khl62iB_/w400-h224/200w-15.webp" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span><!--more--></span> So what are some of the best ways that you can present a harder target?</i></b></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9EPqiaU4m_vXM21ZXOkbEf9AuG7CcYyVrVEMfkzJ7c2vmRu_GZtnrY401JyPMCE2boVEE3AbgUhx_uL4O7El9qODLloCIZIvlGzhYnHH8-bIymPmBZoseIZI8Lru08bomhHQ6bNOpgRygOamQOk_GLpNLyAW1LxT8_G_qfqo2XZnUzekJD2qk-eU/s200/200w-17.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="200" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9EPqiaU4m_vXM21ZXOkbEf9AuG7CcYyVrVEMfkzJ7c2vmRu_GZtnrY401JyPMCE2boVEE3AbgUhx_uL4O7El9qODLloCIZIvlGzhYnHH8-bIymPmBZoseIZI8Lru08bomhHQ6bNOpgRygOamQOk_GLpNLyAW1LxT8_G_qfqo2XZnUzekJD2qk-eU/w320-h176/200w-17.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></i></b></h4><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f22424; color: red;"> Having secure, end-to-end encrypted data, and using an end-to-end encrypted password manager/locker app that alerts you if/when a password or login information has been exposed will shore up major potential vectors for attack, and having some tech savvy online "street smarts" will go a long way toward protecting you against any attempted attacks, and may well take you out of the running for appearing to be a soft target to begin with!</span></li><li>Not keeping important personal data like logins, passwords, banking information, or other personal information in places in your phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet that aren't secure. The ONLY place such sensitive data should be stored is within your end-to-end encrypted password locker. I've listed a few of the end-to-end encrypted password lockers/vaults that I would recommend above.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIbuF0VVT48q4xj-oBkG6oXqQNehjfT8oSrPrTT4psrjQh92wXl_kHXJIq_8dbRLXCMFWJa3C5Y70w7CRotdyMWvCqJSlrziLW8L2izNc1YY-iK5A8AktW7BwGHxluqdc5uW4GaxKFUc5gGGz1Np3aMMUxx1YKpBvfYm11Pfl8dyLSRN3BcZSvXH3/s267/200-6.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIbuF0VVT48q4xj-oBkG6oXqQNehjfT8oSrPrTT4psrjQh92wXl_kHXJIq_8dbRLXCMFWJa3C5Y70w7CRotdyMWvCqJSlrziLW8L2izNc1YY-iK5A8AktW7BwGHxluqdc5uW4GaxKFUc5gGGz1Np3aMMUxx1YKpBvfYm11Pfl8dyLSRN3BcZSvXH3/s1600/200-6.webp" width="267" /></a></div><br /></li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #d884ae; color: #741b47;">NEVER answer those ridiculous social media posts that ask for personal information. While it's true that some of the information these types of posts ask for is less than sensitive on its own, it is absolutely sensitive when coupled with other information that could be scraped or searched for 'by hand' from various government, land record databases, tax record databases, various licensing databases (driver's licenses, FOID card databases, professional databases, and other databases online) with a simple internet search. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHI1-QFAY0-xtzZR8Ll0ofIOnC7qwfIX5fMH1MsARHpmZANbQQ2KZyQncdGMWfD3suURDpfnK6i2NBZdXGBoUvnzc5AEvAPhoL_LqXyc3UYgmz33AHhle-4xETzPPapz76NvvWXXWnl5OuEK97WTDhMirAGjk40783yi9L0LQb9bf5V_0SS3eg9tb/s550/1524579073815-Screen-Shot-2018-04-24-at-95135-AM-redacted.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Data Pulling Facebook Post Example via Engadget" border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="550" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHI1-QFAY0-xtzZR8Ll0ofIOnC7qwfIX5fMH1MsARHpmZANbQQ2KZyQncdGMWfD3suURDpfnK6i2NBZdXGBoUvnzc5AEvAPhoL_LqXyc3UYgmz33AHhle-4xETzPPapz76NvvWXXWnl5OuEK97WTDhMirAGjk40783yi9L0LQb9bf5V_0SS3eg9tb/w320-h264/1524579073815-Screen-Shot-2018-04-24-at-95135-AM-redacted.png" title="Data Pulling Facebook Post Example via Engadget" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2018-04-24-facebook-bulletin-board-identity-theft-sales.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Engadget</a> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></li><li>Vet potential online buyers and sellers on any online marketplaces you might use for buying and/or selling items. While some such marketplaces--like etsy, Amazon,or poshmark, for example, might already vet buyers AND sellers, and may keep things like home addresses private, unfortunately relatively large platforms like Facebook Marketplace do not, which leaves both buyers and sellers open to extreme risk. Same goes for Facebook and other social media garage sale groups. Approach these types of groups with extreme caution, and if you're not certain that you're able to cover your tracks and vet your potential buyers and/or sellers, I would advise not using these sites. Gather some information, come back around, and if you still need to use a site that does not take important precautions regarding personal data, revisit the possibility of using such a site AFTER you've gone through some basic IT (information technology) literacy and online safety courses.</li><li><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #de964c; color: #e69138;">For an added layer of security, use a REPUTABLE VPN--a virtual protected network--when you browse. Some of the better VPNs out there, according to Redditors (that is: users of the social media site, "Reddit"), according to the site <a href="https://vpnpro.com/best-vpn/reddit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vpnpro</a> for 2022 are: </span></li><ol><li>NordVPN</li><li>Surfshark</li><li>PrivateVPN</li><li>Proton</li><li>TORgard<span></span></li></ol></ol><blockquote><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f24444; color: #cc0000;"><span><!--more--></span><blockquote><i> Happy browsing and stay safe out there, my friends!</i></blockquote></span></blockquote><p></p></div><span><!--more--></span><div><br /></div><div><i>Questions? Leave any questions without sensitive information in them in the comments section. If you feel you need more help than blog posts or videos can provide, consider hiring someone to assist you in getting started with better personal digital security. I do coaching and consulting work that includes getting folks setup with basic security, and educating them about best practices. You can reach me at trinitysswellnessandconsulting@gmail.com if you'd like to work with me. Normally, I get folks setup and ready to take it from there without further help within one to two meetings with me. My aim is to get you feeling confident in your own knowledge base and abilities, so that you don't need further help. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sources: </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Credit to Mule Yong, via giphy for the amazing gif art! View Mule Yong's giphy page <a href="https://giphy.com/MuleYong" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> (rel=no-follow attribute enabled; see above and below for more information)</li><li>Wizcase (re: end-to-end encrypted password and login storage lockers):<a href="https://www.wizcase.com/blog/most-secure-open-source-password-managers/" target="_blank"> read here</a> (rel=no-follow attribute enabled, which, again, means that I personally am not allowing normal trackers to track you when you click this link. I do not have any control, however, over which other trackers may be able to, as that is something you will need to address by taking a look at your device and application settings)</li><li>NPR (re: how Facebook influences conspiracies and American politics and elections):<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/03/06/974394783/far-right-misinformation-is-thriving-on-facebook-a-new-study-shows-just-how-much" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> read here</a> (see above re 'rel=no-follow')</li><li>Medium (re: documentation of Facebook's policies, algorithms, and platform, and how it has impacted the rise of conspiracies, encouraged the sharing, digestion, and personal integration of mis and disinformation on a personal scale for many individuals, and on a group scale for many groups of people, and how it has given birth to a tribalist attitude within the bounds of the United States, and across the world, and, lastly, how it housed and gave quarter to those who planned and participated in the January 6th insurrection of the United States Capitol): <a href="https://medium.com/cybersecurity-for-democracy/far-right-news-sources-on-facebook-more-engaging-e04a01efae90" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">read here</a> (see above, re: 'rel=no-follow')</li><li>Github (facebook.tracking.exposed, re: the mechanisms Facebook uses to track you): <a href="https://github.com/tracking-exposed/facebook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">read here</a> (see above, re: 'rel=no-follow')</li><li>VPNPro: browse<a href="https://vpnpro.com/best-vpn/reddit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here,</a> without tracking from my blog </li></ul></div><span><!--more--></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927025643635390219noreply@blogger.com0Chicago, IL, USA41.8781136 -87.629798238.687916439169115 -92.02432945 45.068310760830883 -83.23526695tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-14699698435937255112022-07-04T15:36:00.007-07:002022-09-02T12:38:17.921-07:00First Question Episode Show Notes: QAnon and the Satanic Panic<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #69520d; background-color: #7f6000;"></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #69520d; background-color: #7f6000;"><br /></u></b></span></div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #69520d; background-color: #7f6000;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRiGxpfynbVMPkl-yL4x0XGO4eTI_oDXAnc4FlS48Mq1PE6r3D1KSH9xcXgyp_C_UvM5C-5QcJBy-mmaGM-SZLKUpuuHjw9u2GA_OJezL8lClrv0q8VUbzcEohx16i7WsmIAzQ2ysg0E91ce9tnsHEj24F4aa3M5Yy5SVpyVrQDDEFjJcO4N7F_2BZw/s1080/pinboard%20copy%201%20First%20Question%20Glittery%20Red%20Insta%20Story%20PROFILE%20SIMPLE%20NO%20FRAME%20copy%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRiGxpfynbVMPkl-yL4x0XGO4eTI_oDXAnc4FlS48Mq1PE6r3D1KSH9xcXgyp_C_UvM5C-5QcJBy-mmaGM-SZLKUpuuHjw9u2GA_OJezL8lClrv0q8VUbzcEohx16i7WsmIAzQ2ysg0E91ce9tnsHEj24F4aa3M5Yy5SVpyVrQDDEFjJcO4N7F_2BZw/s320/pinboard%20copy%201%20First%20Question%20Glittery%20Red%20Insta%20Story%20PROFILE%20SIMPLE%20NO%20FRAME%20copy%202.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM7LK7czd5xKDIEApjx-TogmErwRuUEk12QSGsM10c2T89q0-NBG_bD4LtGGBbs_AiGn94gwwTsmwwwY7veZ36aLE7-5R1jYGDbA9SNjJwh7V53ndhY128ry8dvTRzwRhlb4CTK3XZD32l9V3fxOv7k0vayMH6zIkuolZxtyD6yGJo78a_XEg329PFg/s1640/First%20Question%20Glittery%20Background%20copy%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dominique Does Life Podcast Network" border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="1640" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM7LK7czd5xKDIEApjx-TogmErwRuUEk12QSGsM10c2T89q0-NBG_bD4LtGGBbs_AiGn94gwwTsmwwwY7veZ36aLE7-5R1jYGDbA9SNjJwh7V53ndhY128ry8dvTRzwRhlb4CTK3XZD32l9V3fxOv7k0vayMH6zIkuolZxtyD6yGJo78a_XEg329PFg/w320-h122/First%20Question%20Glittery%20Background%20copy%20(1).png" title="Dominique Does Life Podcast Network" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/episode/48435257" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Listen here to this episode of First Question!</a><br /></u></b></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #69520d; background-color: #7f6000;">Welcome to Dominique Does Life Podcast Network's Show Notes</u></b></span></h2><p></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #222425; background-color: white; white-space: pre;"><i> </i></span></span>
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<h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b>Dominique Does Life podcast, <br /></b></i></span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b>First Question podcast, <br /></b></i></span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b>and all other subsequent podcasts on our network <br /></b></i></span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b>will be publishing episode notes and resarch sources here, <br /></b></i></span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b>from now on, <br /></b></i></span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b>in an effort to share with and grow our audiences and to promote<br /></b></i></span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #7b0d0d; background-color: #990000; white-space: pre;"><i><b> transparency.</b></i></span></span></h3>
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<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><a data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" href="https://www.spreaker.com/user/6886980/moral-panics-finished-with-ad" rel="nofollow" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #44360d; background-color: #fff2cc;" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></span>
</p>
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<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><a data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" href="https://www.spreaker.com/user/6886980/moral-panics-finished-with-ad" rel="nofollow" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #44360d; background-color: #fff2cc;" target="_blank">QAnon and the Satanic Panic</a>
(⬅️<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;">Click to listen to the full episode</span></b></span>
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<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tuDjC9-xJF6RqYGZ-W5HSbYj82LZZWRBJ6J_Cu3khcSQcj0OlKTPZA54SXfH-hJju1tRB2ewbV03CwDhU61TbRDhuoAPuWPgNRf4WFoF5q22ugFavA6klsHNjGhSRwEprLOcseTtPhrtlOc7sm28XCbtc9A0K8CfPKfyTqPR2ibrbsHks6xu8LzZ8Q/s1080/pinboard%20copy%201%20First%20Question%20Glittery%20Red%20Insta%20Story%20PROFILE%20SIMPLE%20NO%20FRAME%20copy%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tuDjC9-xJF6RqYGZ-W5HSbYj82LZZWRBJ6J_Cu3khcSQcj0OlKTPZA54SXfH-hJju1tRB2ewbV03CwDhU61TbRDhuoAPuWPgNRf4WFoF5q22ugFavA6klsHNjGhSRwEprLOcseTtPhrtlOc7sm28XCbtc9A0K8CfPKfyTqPR2ibrbsHks6xu8LzZ8Q/s320/pinboard%20copy%201%20First%20Question%20Glittery%20Red%20Insta%20Story%20PROFILE%20SIMPLE%20NO%20FRAME%20copy%202.png" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><i>“The idea of the cabal persisted above all: the Jews of England taking
part in these ritual mutilations of children’s bodies, the secret
meeting of rabbis, a shadowy group of elders. The blood was distributed
among Jews; it was eaten in bread; it was drunk in a demonic inversion
of the sacrament. The children—found in wells, in fields—were victims
and, post mortem, were given the crown of sainthood, as the Jews were
given the stain of devilry.”</i></b></span>
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<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><i>--Source: The New Republic</i></b></span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sounds a lot like something that might have been posted on 4Chan a couple
of years ago, right? Well, it's not. This text is an example of blood libel
mythos from over a thousand years ago, and it's religious propaganda meant
to keep curious people from practicing the Jewish faith or “consorting” with
Jews. This clear and clearly false propaganda has become known to historians
as “Blood Libel,” and it didn't stop then and it won't stop now. <br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: times; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i> Cut to today:</i></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Whispers of secret nighttime rituals, clandestine meetings where
“elites” (read: anyone whom the reactive group du jour doesn't agree with)
drink the blood of children, extracting some sort of magical essence from
them as they cower in fear, waiting to be devoured. </span>
</span></p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU6rgcK7exVgHSVochLS5t3FOwjYCIm0hMsrTssZljQOSaP0ZRbISCW-zzQJm95BoOv7Rg--WoNackRlznYoF9v-QaIDlGDxVitUFFIZvSHT8vkuTT_ZEOZt1Htr8dJ8ODtJ9LveEvsOJYkc9BkyhUjcGVisMUgpjDhx4Tiar98us1w-w7yCB3TBELw/s1200/First%20Question%20Glittery%20Background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1200" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU6rgcK7exVgHSVochLS5t3FOwjYCIm0hMsrTssZljQOSaP0ZRbISCW-zzQJm95BoOv7Rg--WoNackRlznYoF9v-QaIDlGDxVitUFFIZvSHT8vkuTT_ZEOZt1Htr8dJ8ODtJ9LveEvsOJYkc9BkyhUjcGVisMUgpjDhx4Tiar98us1w-w7yCB3TBELw/s320/First%20Question%20Glittery%20Background.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i> But back to the 1980s. </i></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In a small town in Canada, an RCMP officer’s life is upended when
</span></p><p><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> accusations arise that seem to pit him and other “elites” against the<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> innocent children in their community. Charges arise. Parents begin coaching<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> their children as court dates are scheduled. Meanwhile the officer in<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> question worries that he will lose his kids and his family, and eventually<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> collapses in panic in the courtroom while the children testifying recount<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> wild tales of him and other adults flying, dressing up in horrific costumes<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> and abusing them. Nobody lends a hand to help. Nobody so much as leaves<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> their chair. Heads turn back to the courtroom proceedings. The suffering man<br /></span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> is left to lie on the floor without aid. </span></p><p></p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Now let's take another trip through time, back to February of 1692, when my
ancestor, 81 year old George Jacobs, a wealthy, crotchety older man, full of
personality and owner of much land and one of the finest homes in his town
of Salem, Massachusetts lived with his wife Mary, on their sizeable farm,
Northfields. Mary and George took in their 17 year old granddaughter and
lived comfortably...until…</span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0dc4c4; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> During what became a village-wide panic, later documented in the only
partly fictional 1953 Arthur Miller play, where children accused adults of
wild and imaginative abuses and the accused adults in turn pointed the
finger at others in order to divert blame, the Jacobs’ fell prey to the
spreading wildfire of panic, when their 25 year old maid, Sarah Churchill
accused George Jacobs, his grandson and granddaughter of witchcraft, in
order to avoid harsh punishments herself. </span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> To give you an idea of how ridiculous the whole thing was and how
wild the group paranoia had become, I’ll share with you this excerpt from
the Salem Witch Museum: “Thomas Putnam’s servant Mercy Lewis accused Jacobs
Sr.’s specter of beating her with his sticks and Mary Warren, who worked for
the Proctors, said she’d witnessed Jacobs Sr.’s specter beating Churchill at
Ingersoll’s ordinary. Neighbor Mary Walcott also claimed she’d been beaten
by Jacobs’s specter.”</span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Because yeah. Of course an old man literally climbed out of his body to
beat young women with his walking stick. Makes perfect sense. </span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But like it or not, our laws and our culture here in the United States
evolved from puritanical, religious “morals” of the day. We struggle with
this as a country, and if we’re not vigilant and if we don't learn from
history, it might just prove to be our undoing. </span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #806615; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: #f1c232; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As for George Jacobs, well, he was killed horribly and painfully. This 81
year old man who kept to himself, took care of his family, and managed his
land was pressed to death. </span>
</p>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #de8c8c; color: #ea9999; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #0d0d0d; background-color: black;"><b><u>Now let’s flash forward again to the 1980’s, this time right here in
the United States.</u></b></i></span>
</p>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i>McMartin Preschool: Manhattan Beach, California:</i></span>
</p>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li aria-level="2" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From Investigation Discovery: MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — In 1983, the
mother of a two-year-old student at the McMartin Preschool alleged
that a teacher there had sodomized her son. Eventually, hundreds of
children reportedly described being abused, often in fantastical
situations involving human sacrifice, child pornography, and Satanic
rituals. As news of the McMartin case spread, a multitude of similarly
bizarre ritual abuse claims reportedly arose against other teachers,
childcare workers, and parents nationwide. Since then, many analysts
have attributed a number of those incidents to a cultural phenomenon
that’s come to be called the “1980s Satanic Panic.” More than three
years of pretrial investigations into the McMartin Preschool
allegations were followed by multiple trials between 1987 and 1990,
reportedly at a cost of $15 million — the most expensive such process
in American history at that point. Ultimately, no criminal convictions
were obtained and, in 1990, the state dropped all charges against the
defendants.</span>
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But as the satanic panic took off in full force across the United
States, there were many other charges against many other people, which
weren't dropped. </span>
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><i><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #c40d0d; background-color: red;">The beginnings of the Satanic Panic in the 1980’s: </u></i></b></span>
</p>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From NPR: “One of the earliest bellwethers of the Satanic Panic came in
1980 with the publication of Michelle Remembers, a memoir co-written by
Canadian psychologist Lawrence Pazder and his patient Michelle Smith.
The book graphically details abuse that Smith claimed to have suffered
as a child at the hands of a satanic cult — abuse that she had allegedly
forgotten but eventually recovered through her work with Pazder. The
book was a bestseller, and Pazder became the leading academic voice
warning about the dangers of "ritual abuse." He also began to consult
with prosecutors in criminal trials, including the case that would
spread fears of satanic abuse even farther around the country: the
McMartin Pre-School trial.”</span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">People all over the world started reporting cases of supposed recovered
memories of ritual satanic abuse. This was shortly thereafter found to
be false. </span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Re the McMartin Case, courtesy of NPR: “I thought it was the case of
our times," says Danny Davis, attorney for defendant Ray Buckey. Buckey,
a teacher at Virginia McMartin's preschool in Manhattan Beach, Calif.,
was accused of abusing one of his students in 1983. By the following
spring, the accusations had grown to include hundreds of children, and
rumors swirled that the students had been abused in satanic rituals at
cemeteries and in tunnels underneath the school. "Whatever it was that
happened was social contagion, and it's that simple," says Davis. Davis
decided to study historical examples of witch hunts and allegations of
satanic behavior in order to prepare his defense. "I saw clearly there's
a process on a timeline that starts with some sort of scandal or change
in the society that develops a very forceful, agreed-upon accusation
against a target or scapegoat. And the scapegoat is then quickly
destroyed," he says.”</span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">At the time, the McMartin preschool case was the longest in history and
one of the most expensive. </span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But it didn't end there. In May of 1993, three boys went missing in
West Memphis, Arkansas. When their bodies were found, three young men
who favored a goth lifestyle and style of dress were immediately charged
with their murders and left in jail until 2010, when they were released
only after having entered Alford pleas and being sentenced to time
served. </span>
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2b0dc3; --darkreader-inline-color: #f0f224; background-color: #2b00fe; color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #f0f224; color: #fcff01; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><u><i data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #2b0dc3; background-color: #2b00fe;">November 2017: conspiracies posted by 4Chan anons give birth to
QAnon</i></u></b></span>
</p>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Q” ‘moves’ to 8Chan, and the rest is history</span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">QAnon is now a broad disinformation conspiracy movement, which
influences millions of people and US elections</span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">QAnon more or less focuses on Hillary Clinton, citing dubious claims
about emails exchanged on the wrong server, interpreting the content of
those emails to be more nefarious than they were, and giving rise to
conspiracies like pizzagate--a debunked urban myth revolving around
popular local pizza joint Comet Ping Pong having a secret child
torturing dungeon in their nonexistent basement. Q adherent Edgar
Maddison Welch found this out the hard way when we went to “storm” comet
ping pong with guns a blazing, and found out that it indeed did not have
a basement, and that the only closed door on the premises was a disused
storage closet. </span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But QAnon didn't stop there, nor did it's adherents stop believing in
the mis and disinformation being spread through Q. Since then, offshoots
of QAnon have cropped up left right and center, including alleged death
cult, Negative48, which centers its beliefs around the idea that, among
other things, John F. Kennedy, Sr. and John F. Kennedy, Jr. are both
alive and will soon show up at Dealey Plaza, this site of JFK’s
assassination, to usher in a new era, with Donald J Trump as forever
President of the United States Of America. </span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" dir="ltr" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You can see the similarities here between the various ideological
movements which make up the broader qanon conspiracy theory, and the
fear based ideas which got innocent folks prosecuted locked up, and
killed in the 80’s and early 90’s. In fact, I believe that QAnon is just
another manifestation of the same moral panic that caused Christians to
spread the myth of blood libel a thousand years ago, and that which
caused the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600’s (and the witch trials across
England and Europe), and the satanic panic in the 80’s. </span>
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i><b><u data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: #95960d; background-color: #fcff01;">Sources:</u></b></i></span>
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;">
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: courier; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">npr: America’s Satanic Panic Returns:<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/997559036/americas-satanic-panic-returns-this-time-through-qanon">
click here to read</a></span>
</div>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: courier; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">New Republic September 28, 2020:
<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; color: #1155cc;"><u><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/159529/qanon-blood-libel-satanic-panic">click here to read</a></u></span></span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: courier;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Satanic Panic: a CBC podcast: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><u><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3hdJdLLIumpBATFBq0QkAo?si=FphDzWlIR56Uvo1921UJOw">click here to read</a></u></span></span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: courier;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Salem Witch Trials: </span><a href="https://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/george-jacobs-sr-home-site-of/"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">c</span>lick here to read</a></span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: courier; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ID website piece on McMartin:<a href=" https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/5-facts-you-need-to-know-about-the-mcmartin-preschool-satanic-sex-abuse-trial">click here to read</a></span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: courier;"><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Vox: The Satanic Panic and Why It Never Really Ended: </span><span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #5a9fe6; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><u><a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/22358153/satanic-panic-ritual-abuse-history-conspiracy-theories-explained">click here to read</a></u></span></span>
</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
<p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-bgcolor: transparent; --darkreader-inline-color: #dedcd9; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: courier; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">NPR:
<a href=" https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/997559036/americas-satanic-panic-returns-this-time-through-qanon">click here to read</a></span>
</p>
</li>
</ul>
Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927025643635390219noreply@blogger.com0Chicago, IL, USA41.8781136 -87.629798213.567879763821153 -122.7860482 70.188347436178844 -52.473548199999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-32089216874250385522021-04-29T11:46:00.006-07:002021-05-05T15:51:33.603-07:0012 Simple Tips For Dealing With Sociopaths and Narcissists When Avoidance Isn't An Option<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 31px; font-weight: bold; text-size-adjust: auto;">12 Simple Tips For Dealing With Sociopaths and Narcissists When Avoidance Isn't An Option</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoP8PI9PzzeKHYFFmL_ED61Qqs2vrp00dMFmAAkB7vRytpdnbeF4EzTK17u0g1Y2Ip3SErl8MjTj2-A65USX3to5Kyb8hfFns3P7EAfoAg2TWqUHk64Suu0yypSBuQh-7R4HpV_0y0h3s/s512/IMG_2151.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoP8PI9PzzeKHYFFmL_ED61Qqs2vrp00dMFmAAkB7vRytpdnbeF4EzTK17u0g1Y2Ip3SErl8MjTj2-A65USX3to5Kyb8hfFns3P7EAfoAg2TWqUHk64Suu0yypSBuQh-7R4HpV_0y0h3s/s320/IMG_2151.GIF" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></p><ol class="ol1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Operate with an eventual goal in mind</b>. If you don't set one, they will. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Flip your human switch</b> (shameless TVD reference). Emotions in this case will not be an asset. Put them away for later examination. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gifer.com/7gTA.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="245" src="https://i.gifer.com/7gTA.gif" /></a></div><br /><span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Have a smile on your face</b>. Narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths, and the occasional person with untreated or insufficiently treated BPD hate not being able to control your emotions. They also have a tough time gauging sarcasm, despite their propensity for using it. Having a sardonic smile on your face now and again, as the interaction continues is a great way to throw them off. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media0.giphy.com/media/xT9DPyZoehj4diXIOc/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/xT9DPyZoehj4diXIOc/giphy.gif" /></a></div><br /><span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Dominate your space!</b> If you're physically there with them, the best thing you can do is to look effortlessly comfortable. Manspread if you must. Kick back and relax. Their egotism will not allow them not to see this as a subtle attack. Oftentimes after utilizing steps3&4 you'll start to notice the power dynamic shifting in your favor. <span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Seem uninterested</b>. Appearing distracted and like you have other, more important things to do will absolutely drive these people nuts. Look at your phone or your watch, or smile and glance at your phone as if you've just received a funny text message. While doing this might be rude when dealing with someone who is not toxic, it will serve you quite well when you are forced to deal with someone who is. The key is to make them aware that they are not in control of you or the situation. To most people, this wouldn't be a big deal, but to a toxic cluster b, it will grate on them and will throw them off-kilter.</span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><span class="s2"><span><!--more--></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdIwxq9Ui38XpE3OTP0sE941VKeX_A6Z59M7zoEpPRGbQMoDPPwbQhAIGjN-zVsBbCzdxLyqR1yY6G0QePw4K_u4d5PVFRWjHJjBtE7zsznu9SUZhKcC-2ihOxZM1ngIowR7CAl190sq_/s500/IMG_2152.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdIwxq9Ui38XpE3OTP0sE941VKeX_A6Z59M7zoEpPRGbQMoDPPwbQhAIGjN-zVsBbCzdxLyqR1yY6G0QePw4K_u4d5PVFRWjHJjBtE7zsznu9SUZhKcC-2ihOxZM1ngIowR7CAl190sq_/s320/IMG_2152.GIF" width="320" /></a></div><br /></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Don't let them set the parameters</b>. When interacting with a toxic cluster b person, you must do everything you can to make it absolutely apparent to them that they have no control over you. If they ask you to come back later or to call you back, insist on talking now. If they let you go and expect you to pick up the second they return your call or message, make them wait. If they want you to sit in a specific chair in their office, don't sit there. Again, these might seem like trivial suggestions, but they will make or break your interaction with a toxic cluster b. <span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>When they inevitably complain about having to actually do their job, fish for compliments, or let you know how much trouble you've put them through, make it clear to them that you don't care</b>. A simple statement like "oh no," "interesting" or "it sounds like you're really struggling here" will go a long way to shifting the power dynamic in your favor. While a well and balanced individual would likel simply acknowledge that yes, they are having a hard time now that you mention it, and might ask you for advice or appreciate you trying to commiserate and empathize with them, a toxic cluster b will absolutely take umbrage with even the most benign of observations, assuming that you are challenging their perceived superiority (which you absolutely are, because they are in no way superior). This will lead them to feel off-balance, and they will likely do whatever they can to end the interaction. <span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>RECORD EVERYTHING! </b>Toxic cluster b people will almost never admit to having done or said anything incorrect. Make sure that you're writing down what they say and keeping track of what they do and when. I don't care if you have to bring an entire ass notebook to your meetings. Do it. It will absolutely pay off in dividends. Anytime you can document conversations with a cluster b, you should. This will drive them up the wall. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media2.giphy.com/media/l2SpYjeBtLDs2nL0s/source.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/l2SpYjeBtLDs2nL0s/source.gif" /></a></div><br /><span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>Use the documentation you're putting together against them</b>. When they try to tell you that they never said/did x, y, and z, whip out your emails or that notebook I just referenced, and look up exactly what they said and when. Let them know that you're happy to share your documentation with them if it might help them to remember. This will encourage them to do what it is they were supposed to do in the first place, just so that they no longer have to deal with you. <span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>We just talked about using their words and actions to your advantage. Now let's talk about two other factors which can also be used to your advantage: <i>silence</i> and <i>awkwardness</i></b>. When they've said or done something inappropriate or disrespectful, they're trying to shift the emphasis from them to you, by getting you to become emotional. Don't do it. If they've said something absolutely heinous, make them sit in silence afterward. Maintain eye contact, maybe shake your head a bit like huh...I guess you just said something really stupid. Maybe squint your eyes a tad or frown slightly. After making them sit silently in the awkwardness they've created, go back to step 7. Throw in an "interesting" or a "huh," before glancing at your watch or phone, and then getting them back on task. Adding something like"so back to x, y, and z," or "huh...well, since we have a limited time here and would both like to move on with our respective days..." before calmly returning the discussion to the topic at hand. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.giphy.com/media/14Owlr5TGRTQVvfLRX/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="480" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/14Owlr5TGRTQVvfLRX/giphy.gif" /></a></div><br /><span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b>If the person in question is especially obtuse, calmly call out their behaviors as they happen</b>. If you're dealing with a particularly overt narcissist, for example, who gets into your face and tries to dominate your space, you might calmly say something like "I notice that you're moving into my space right now and that you're tensing your muscles. It seems like you're struggling. I'll give you a moment to get ahold of yourself so that we can have a productive conversation." Make sure that you calmly maintain eye contact and don't back down (unless you genuinely believe that this person is an imminent threat, which normally they aren't--they're much more likely to try to seem intimidating than to actually do anything harmful without the benefit of you escalating the situation the way they want you to). If you can give them the sense that not only is their behavior not having the desired effect, but that you can in fact predict their behavior before it happens, this will gut them completely. You now have a toxic cluster b ready to eat out of the palm of your hand, just to get rid of you. They may actually go to great lengths in the future, to avoid having to deal with you again. <span><!--more--></span></span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/2b7019c307a985184eb583aed579414e/tenor.gif?itemid=15016487" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="640" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/2b7019c307a985184eb583aed579414e/tenor.gif?itemid=15016487" /></a></div><br />Give yourself a pat on the back</b>. Being authentic and self-actualized can be a difficult path, but working toward that is so important. Toxic cluster b's cannot stand and in fact, are quite afraid of anyone who can stand their ground calmly and authentically with them. They may even end up respecting you, though my advice would be not to trust them even so. I hope these twelve tips and tricks for dealing with toxic cluster b people have helped you! Tell us your experiences with toxic people in the comments section, and let us know what has and what hasn't worked for you. </span></li></ol>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927025643635390219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-10894054797499149192020-07-12T11:41:00.012-07:002020-07-28T22:43:30.633-07:00Coronavirus: Is It Just An Overblown Cold?Hey you!<br />
<br />
Yes...<br />
<br />
You...<br />
<br />
The person I just shared this link with.<br />
<br /><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9QKnC3gX_1ZmLSOHXoNOhYq7phRF_YdBjic9FyoUVhJY3IMpGXcwmvUJgGQ3MI5W-LRiH-Zl1dEZiDjg-wXjCIll2fcwvDraHMsn1AWGi79XliQb6IiyD8n0cVwPXszGS_eT7nJjsCw/s498/61D52ABF-4EA0-4636-90F0-4FA143827E85.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9QKnC3gX_1ZmLSOHXoNOhYq7phRF_YdBjic9FyoUVhJY3IMpGXcwmvUJgGQ3MI5W-LRiH-Zl1dEZiDjg-wXjCIll2fcwvDraHMsn1AWGi79XliQb6IiyD8n0cVwPXszGS_eT7nJjsCw/s320/61D52ABF-4EA0-4636-90F0-4FA143827E85.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
That’s right.<br />
<br />
I wrote this entire blog post for you, in the hopes that perhaps you’d take a gander.<br />
<br />
If I sent this link to you, it’s because I care about you, and, because I care about you, I am going to try and address some of the misinformation I may have seen you post, heard you say, or seen you “like,” share, or retweet on social media.<br />
<br />
Firstly, I’d like to start by saying thank you.<br />
<br /><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUsvB023dkwmC1ghLGP1ns_v7u4vY_GAVJzFmpLr7zZpe-hJbang0LaTHcIEBVriVQLyLK_pwXXwbdxS0Iqw79E7aL5QE08Fie8kY0aBcB1jPDB73CotTiXzoKRDr3Q4Kfq5dfnlValw/s498/0585B10F-B562-4577-B284-703E30090FEE.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUsvB023dkwmC1ghLGP1ns_v7u4vY_GAVJzFmpLr7zZpe-hJbang0LaTHcIEBVriVQLyLK_pwXXwbdxS0Iqw79E7aL5QE08Fie8kY0aBcB1jPDB73CotTiXzoKRDr3Q4Kfq5dfnlValw/s320/0585B10F-B562-4577-B284-703E30090FEE.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
Thank you for taking the time to read this.<br />
<br />
Thank you for understanding that I genuinely care about you as a human being, and, thank you for being the type of person who considers points of view which, let’s be honest, are probably different than your own.<br />
<br />
You’re the type of person I know cares—about yourself, and about others.<br />
<br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother to reach out to you.</div><div>
<br /></div><div> I took the time to write this, because I do care about you, I do respect you, and I probably like you.</div><div>
<br />
Heck, I may love you.<br />
<br />
You may even be someone close to me—a friend, a family member, or a colleague.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbBvQIoYypFX8x47l-eBMwwIb3gF0Bg5WIawytUQOvsfIpiiMHpujeCB8aIaLD6zTNMMow0RDDK5M0_jzRE9j9c6wdXT9CTPNVI4mRFUbVaQg0INCPheV_YdX1RBPB75KJ2MWghdGcKI/s480/ABBEC281-320E-4132-8ADC-B4CA44A2461C.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbBvQIoYypFX8x47l-eBMwwIb3gF0Bg5WIawytUQOvsfIpiiMHpujeCB8aIaLD6zTNMMow0RDDK5M0_jzRE9j9c6wdXT9CTPNVI4mRFUbVaQg0INCPheV_YdX1RBPB75KJ2MWghdGcKI/s320/ABBEC281-320E-4132-8ADC-B4CA44A2461C.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Sharin<br />
That’s why I’m sharing this data with you.<br />
<br />
That’s why I’ve taken the time to put this together in a way I hope you’ll understand.<br />
<br />
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first.<br />
<br />
You may not even bother to read this.<br />
<br />
You may read a sentence or two, and then discard<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7Nzf82Ca7n69fPJgO0ATQjwGtMPD68jO0Pmfd5tZjYwDSUg6CacmYnr239GXzX5OCjwuaUObbGtNfoiAAAKDlipif4uWI5IPYODm7Okm5LS2zu6AEVADkATaM79xhe9gclkP2FDmqZE/s480/D96514BB-1AC5-433D-9CA0-3B7D5861B0D1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7Nzf82Ca7n69fPJgO0ATQjwGtMPD68jO0Pmfd5tZjYwDSUg6CacmYnr239GXzX5OCjwuaUObbGtNfoiAAAKDlipif4uWI5IPYODm7Okm5LS2zu6AEVADkATaM79xhe9gclkP2FDmqZE/s320/D96514BB-1AC5-433D-9CA0-3B7D5861B0D1.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div>The sad fact is, that I can’t make you look at it.</div><div>
<br />
But, and here comes the hopefulness—the potential for some real positivity here...<br />
<br />
I hope that you will.<br />
<br />
I hope that you will look over the data I’m sharing. I hope that you will look at the original source material I have painstakingly researched and shared, right here.<br />
<br />
Okay...<br />
<br />
<b><i><u> Let’s talk. </u></i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
Let’s start with what COVID-19 isn’t.<br />
<br />
COVID-19 is not a “bad cold.” It’s not “a flu.” It’s not fake. It’s not planned. And it’s not overblown.<br />
<br />
I know, I know. This is exactly what you THOUGHT I’d say.<br />
<br />
Typical, right?<br />
<br />
What else can you expect from a stubborn know it all with a science degree? Ugh.<br />
<br />
And I agree. I can be very stubborn. And it would be 100% understandable if, given the sheer volume of data and information I’ve been sharing on COVID-19, and on science in general, you called me a know-it-all.<br />
<br />
Point taken.<br />
<br />
But that doesn’t make it wrong...<br />
<br />
While colds are DIFFERENT coronaviruses, this coronavirus is SARS COV-2, which is nothing like the common cold, and the various and ever-changing strains of seasonal influenza are not caused by coronaviruses at all.<br />
<br />
COVID-19, which is caused by a virus called SARS COV-2, is something totally different.<br />
<br />
SARS COV-2 is an rna transcription virus, which causes lifelong complications in those who have it, and kills many outright.<br />
<br />
It weakens the lungs and the immune system. We haven’t seen anything like it before.<br />
<br />
It spreads via respiratory droplets, which can spread up to 6 feet and hang around for up to three days, on surfaces and in the air.<br />
<br />
Its most common means of transmission is through talking—the louder you talk and the closer you stand, the more likely the disease is to be spread.<br />
<br />
The spike proteins bond with the ASE-2 proteins within the cells inside of your body, which triggers mutations in your cells, which causes your body to signal your own immune system to have an extreme reaction, causing the tissue in the lower part of the lungs to become inflamed and prevent oxygen from entering your lungs and reaching your bloodstream and brain properly.<br />
<br />
This, coupled with the severe inflammation and constriction of blood vessels often causes strokes and heart attacks, and if you’re lucky when you get it (oxymoron, right?), and it doesn’t cause either of those potentially fatal complications, it often causes pneumonia, which has killed many COVID-19 patients, and has been directly brought on by COVID-19 ie those who get secondary pneumonia weren’t just going to get pneumonia anyway.<br />
<br />
They didn’t pick it up from a secondary source. It developed directly because they had COVID-19.<br />
<br />
The inflammation in the lungs often causes this characteristic secondary pneumonia infection, which often ends up being the cause of death in COVID-19 patients.<br />
<br />
The origination of this particular mutation of the SARS virus happens to be bats.<br />
<br />
SARS COV-2 mutated from this reservoir species to be able to be transmitted to humans.<br />
<br />
This is what viruses do.<br />
<br />
SARS and MERS are NOT the common cold. They are not the flu.<br />
<br />
They are extremely contagious, horrifically painful, deadly diseases.<br />
<br />
After initial infection with this virus, scar tissue forms in the lungs, often times reducing lung capacity and efficacious transmission of necessary oxygen to the blood and brain for the rest of your life, causing complications you may not even be aware of until later on—though if you’re like many COVID-19 patients, you may find out upfront when you experience hypoxia, and pneumonia.<br />
<br />
Because it is transmitted so easily, it is IMPERATIVE that you wear a mask when and where appropriate.<br />
<br />
Who should we trust for information?<br />
<br />
I totally understand the urge to not trust government, but in this case, we really must trust our governors, who are making decisions which are in our best interests, based on the input they are getting from scientists who study the spread of viruses.<br />
<br />
These folks are known as virologists or epidemiologists, and they follow the scientific method, to gain important knowledge and insight into viruses, and their effects on humans and animals.<br />
<br />
They specifically work on laboratory studies, including rigorous peer reviews (duplicating and attempting to disprove the research of other scientists, which is what the scientific method is about—attempting to disprove, so that what we’re left with is the truth, and continuing that process ad infinitum), as well as and initial research. These folks then publish their findings in scientific journals and journals of medicine.<br />
<br />
Contact tracers and data aggregators also play an important role in public health, sharing up to the minute data with open source data platforms like the two I’ve linked here, and assisting government officials in making decisions which will benefit their constituents (us).<br />
<br />
What can we do to protect ourselves and others?<br />
<br />
Well, we can listen to the experts, and check out firsthand data sources.<br />
<br />
We can also wear masks, wash our hands, and use hand sanitizer in between washings. We can generally up our hygiene game, so as to protect ourselves and others.<br />
<br />
We can consider what trips are really essential during a pandemic. Do we need to go to the bar? The clothing store (I shop online right now)? To parties where appropriate personal protection and social distancing may not be observed? On vacation?<br />
<br />
In short, the social and societal aspects of this pandemic will show us what kinds of people we really are, and whether we’re capable of working together for the good of all, or if we will end up acting selfishly and impulsively. For the most part, I’m seeing people acting like decent human beings, and that gives me some hope, but when I see people clinging to misinformation, in order to support their own comfort and privilege, it concerns me, because, like it or not, we truly are all in this together (no hate—that’s how the human brain is designed to work, and, thankfully, we happen to be capable of overcoming that, with some good old higher thought and executive function).<br />
<br />
But back to protection. I know there has been a lot of concern about wearing masks. So, why masks? Are they really that important?<br />
<br />
Masks prevent against ingress AND egress. In other words, they protect you from picking up or spreading the illness. Asymptomatic spread is an issue, and even picking up and transmitting the virus without actually becoming ill yourself is an issue. There is no herd immunity against SARS COV-2. None. SARS-COV-2 evolves and changes so fast, that even if there were herd immunity, it wouldn’t last for long.<br />
<br />
But aren’t there treatments?<br />
<br />
What we really need, and are currently working toward, is a vaccine.<br />
<br />
A vaccine will be the best way to eradicate SARS-COV-2, and the subsequent COVID-19 illness, that it causes.<br />
<br />
But what about some of the medications we’re hearing about?<br />
<br />
Hydroxychloroquinine and zinc, two of the much hyped supposed preventative/treatment options for COVID-19, have been found, after PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH, not only not to be effective treatments or cures for COVID-19, but hydroxychloroquinine has been found to be dangerous, and even fatal to those who take it.<br />
<br />
Zinc, on the other hand, while not an effective means of treatment or prevention of SARS COV-2 (again, that’s the name of the virus which causes the illness known as COVID-19), although it *MAY* help to prevent you getting COVID-19, if you come into contact with SARS COV-2 viral particles.<br />
<br />
It does not in any way prevent you, however, from spreading the illness to others. Incubation period is between 5-14 days, so even if someone is infected with the SARS COV-2 virus, they may not develop any symptoms until 5-14 days have passed. Please—if this is difficult to understand or seems confusing, ask an expert, or heck, ask me.<br />
<br />
I’ll point you toward www.gisaid.org, https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data or any of the other trustworthy open source data platforms, where up to the minute statistical and scientific data can be found.<br />
<br />
This is very serious.<br />
<br />
Normally, when a pandemic strikes, there are three waves. The first hits quickly, the second is larger, numbers wise, and the third is sort of the dying gasp of the pandemic. But if we do not take appropriate action, this pandemic will last for longer, sicken more people, and kill more people. I know it’s hard to consider that a simple virus could hurt of kill or permanently damage you or someone you love, and I know that because of how it’s wired, the human brain will automatically turn to emotional defensive like confirmation bias (I haven’t died yet; this must be blown out of proportion; it couldn’t REALLY be this bad; the media must just be trying to scare us; law of attraction will keep this illness away; but I eat right, but I exercise; but I take supplements, and so on and so forth), but I assure you that this virus doesn’t discriminate.<br />
<br />
It doesn’t care if you don’t believe it could hurt or kill you or someone you love. It doesn’t care if you practice law of attraction. It doesn’t care if you’ve never been faced with something like this before and you don’t know how to handle it. Viruses are equalizers. They don’t care who you are or what you believe. They just enact the programming they are designed to enact, and do so in a deadly efficient fashion. Please—me disagreeing with you about this is NOT a personal attack. It’s the opposite. I don’t want you to die, to become ill, or to inadvertently cause harm to someone else. I hope you’ll choose to turn a critical eye toward the data I am sharing here. It may save your life.<br />
<br />
Still don’t believe me?<br />
<br />
Please feel free to leave any questions below, and I will do my best to research them and provide answers to them, in as analytical a manner as is possible.<br />
<br />
I would respectfully ask anyone who has read the verifiable, firsthand data and subsequent information that I, and others, have shared, whether, after weighing the facts and the actual data, outside of the personal feelings and positions of those who may be sharing it with you, and outside of their and your own personal biases (which we all have), if your disagreement is truly with the data, or whether it is at least POSSIBLE that your brain is simply doing what human brains are built to do, and protecting you from information which could leave you feeling vulnerable.<br />
<br />
If you’ve asked yourself that question, and your answer is no, then your brain is doing it’s job, and enacting one of it’s many defense mechanisms.<br />
<br />
It’s so tough to step outside that, especially when your brain is telling you not to, but that’s what critical thinking is. I’d like to invite you to engage in some critical thinking with me.<br />
<br />
What specific data points do you disagree with, and why?<br />
<br />
Is there any possibility that you may WANT what you’ve read/heard/watched to be true? If so, is it at least possible that you may want the things you’ve read, heard or watched to be true, because it seems kind of big, frightening, and unfathomable that the data and scientific interpretations of same which I am sharing with you to be true?<br />
<br />
I get it. It’s so scary. It’s unfathomable to some, that something like this could happen in today’s world, and believing that it’s a hoax, a conspiracy, or not really all that bad is super comforting, and is a super convenient and emotionally satisfying explanation, that your mind may literally beg you not to do any further consideration on the matter, because if you did, you might have to consider that some of the things you’ve been living your life believing—wanting—BEING might not be true, and that would be too much.<br />
<br />
Again, that’s what human brains do. They protect our emotions, our sense of safety, and our sense of self, at the risk of causing us physical, mental and emotional harm later. They protect our worldview and our privilege (yes—we all have it) at the expense of ours and others’ safety. This becomes more prominent when we actively seek forms of mental and emotional refuge, in order to keep from accepting shared reality.<br />
<br />
A gap like this between personal and shared reality, however, is both harmful and unsustainable.<br />
<br />
It’s harmful to ourselves and to others. Gaps between our personal reality and shared reality are often tied up in things like privilege, the instinct to either fight or run away from uncomfortable or i convenient truths. Gaps like these, between personal and shared reality are responsible for all manner of wrongs in this world—from racism, to sexism, to classism, to various and sundry forms of tyranny and oppression, both systemic and individual.<br />
<br />
These gaps are responsible for conspiracy theories, whitewashing, gaslighting and avoidance. I would like to invite you to step outside of that paradigm with me. If I can do it, so can you. We are all capable of that. It’s a daily struggle for myself and for everyone else, and it won’t be easy, but it WILL do you and those you love, and pretty much everyone else good on a level so large-scale, it is almost impossible to consider—just as staying in these comfortable mental shackles will cause irreparable harm—even death to many, possibly us—possibly right now.<br />
<br />
If what you’re taking away from this is “Dominique thinks she is better than me, smarter than me, or superior to me,” I want to assure you that, flawed and entirely imperfect individual that I am, that is not my intent. My only intention is to try and help in some small way, by enumerating processes taking place in our brains and in our bodies on a daily basis, that some people may not be aware of. I am far from the final authority on this, or any other matter.<br />
<br />
The beauty of the scientific method is that you don’t have to trust me. You don’t even have to like or respect me. It’s not about the source; it’s about the information.<br />
<br />
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Be well.<br />
<br />
Source material: here you will find data, with no bias and no spin:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.gisaid.org/">https://www.gisaid.org/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data">https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://weather.com/health/coronavirus">https://weather.com/health/coronavirus</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://datascience.nih.gov/covid-19-open-access-resources">https://datascience.nih.gov/covid-19-open-access-resources</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://github.blog/2020-03-23-open-collaboration-on-covid-19/">https://github.blog/2020-03-23-open-collaboration-on-covid-19/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://data.humdata.org/m/dataset/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-cases">https://data.humdata.org/m/dataset/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-cases</a><br />
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927025643635390219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-78977643333363040802020-05-10T17:46:00.018-07:002020-05-10T18:15:56.866-07:00COVID-19: What To Believe In Times Of Crisis<div>What to believe about coronavirus and what to discard:</div><div><br /></div><div> There has been so much new information coming in on COVID-19, and SARS COV2, the virus which causes it. </div><div><br /></div><div> I know it can be confusing to try and make heads or tails of a situation which is developing at the speed of science itself. </div><div><br /></div><div> But here are a few good tips on how to remain sane while engaging your critical thinking. </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b> Let's get right to it! </b></i></div><div><br /></div><div> There have been several folks who have come forward lately, submitting COVID-19 conspiracy theories. </div><div><br /></div><div> Shiva Ayyadurai, Donald Trump, and Plandemic lady are just a few of those who have submitted conspiracy theories to the general public, which were pretty much immediately debunked.</div><div><br /></div><div>I know it's comforting to believe things that make us feel a sense of power, but what good is a sense of power when it isn't connected to actual...ya know...power? </div><div><br /></div><div> What good is a sense of power when all it does is give us confidence to boldly forge ahead down the wrong path with misinformation, as we strut along it, inadvertently harming ourselves and others?</div><div><br /></div><div> It's okay not to know things. </div><div><br /></div><div> It is. </div><div><br /></div><div> In cases like this, if a pandemic could be solved by the ruminations and speculations of everyday people, it would already be behind us. </div><div><br /></div><div> This is why we have experts. </div><div><br /></div><div> People who have gone to school for many years to study specific aspects of specific scientific fields are uniquely equipped to advise us and our leaders on what to do during situations related to their fields of expertise. </div><div><br /></div><div> I get it. Admitting that we don't know something can be scary. </div><div><br /></div><div> There's a lot about science that I know, but science is a huge field, and there is much more that I do not know. </div><div><br /></div><div> I'm okay admitting that. </div><div><br /></div><div> To that important point...</div><div><br /></div><div> If you don't know what's happening or why and you're having trouble figuring out what to believe, use firsthand sources. </div><div><br /></div><div> Source your information from .gov .edu .org websites. </div><div><br /></div><div> Use clean thinking and tools to help preserve your critical thinking skills (I'll list a few below, for good measure).</div><div><br /></div><div> And if you still don't understand what's happening, or only feel that you have reached an amateurush level of understanding about this brand new illness that's been developing so fast that even scientists have to work to keep up, that's OKAY.</div><div><br /></div><div> Even if you'e struggling with the specifics, you can still follow the instructions being put out there for all of our protection.</div><div><br /></div><div> You can read up on suggested precautionary steps at www.cdc.gov </div><div><br /></div><div>It's okay not to know the ins and outs. </div><div><br /></div><div> What's not okay is pretending we have expertise because we're scared, and harming not only ourselves, but others. </div><div><br /></div><div> You don't have to understand virology in order to be able to trust experts who do.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i> But who are the experts?</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div> If you need help distinguishing sources or basic information in terms of what to consider, versus what to discard, use <i><b>Occam's Razor,</b></i> and remember to keep in mind the fact that <i>science</i> seeks to find truth by way of disproving things that aren't true, so that we can be certain that what we're left with is the truth. </div><div><br /></div><div> <i>Pseudoscience</i> actually cherry picks facts after having come to a conclusion, which is why it can and should be discarded.</div><div><br /></div><div> That's why conspiracy theories come off as convoluted. </div><div><br /></div><div> They are. </div><div><br /></div><div> True experts in their field will never promote any ‘information’ which fits the parameters for the description of pseudoscience . An expert will always admit not only to knowing what they know and being willing and able to show their work to their peers and the public to scrutinize, and duplicate, but a true expert in any field will be the first one to cop to what they don’t know. </div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b> But what IS the truth and what isn’t, and how do we figure that out?</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div> The truth is always going to be arrived at by way of letting the facts lead us. Conspiracy theories include characteristic twists and turns (ie convoluted explanations that usually end in some shadowy group of people--"they" don't want you to know, "they" want you to think thing a, when the answer is really bscjdluo and z), whereas the truth will only take a few short points to reach, starting from the beginning. </div><div><br /></div><div> So use your critical thinking skills, watch out for logical fallacies (ie flaws in your reasoning), use helpful ethical tools, such as Occam's Razor, and if you still don't personally understand after all of that, it's generally okay to trust science and to trust experts--especially in a situation like this, where we all need to work together, based on a common understanding of a particular situation and a shared goal.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>**For those who may be wondering why I didn't share a bunch of links debunking conspiracy theories, two things: **</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div> <i>Firstly</i>, that just isn't how the scientific method, or reasoned argument, or even debates are supposed to work. The scientific method posits that the burden of proof lies with those making claims, not those arguing against those claims. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Secondly, </i>extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Claiming for instance that this virus was callously released on the unwitting public (why? by who? what would make this the best method to accomplish whatever goals were in mind? Etc...) is extraordinary. Without irrefutable proof, there is no reason for us to discard the most likely assumption, which is simply the one science backs up—that this is an unfortunate global pandemic which was bound to happen.</div><div><br /></div><div> Clean thinking and following the scientific method always win the day. And if you’re still confused, or you have some more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to firsthand sources (see above) for information. </div><div><br /></div><div> I’m just an everyday person, and if I can wrap my brain around this, I promise that you can too. It just takes some practice. But even if that’s tough to do, you can and should trust the experts who are here to lead us during this critical time. </div><div><br /></div><div> An expert isn’t an expert by self pronunciation, but because of their actions.</div><div><br /></div><div> Let’s recap. </div><div><br /></div><div>•Experts in their field let the facts lead them</div><div>•Experts in their field don’t make extraordinary claims</div><div>•Experts in their field allow their work to be scrutinized by their peers</div><div>•They follow the scientific method and they submit their work for publishing in scientific journals </div><div>•Experts in their field don’t pull you in with clickbait titles like “the things they don’t want you to know about coronavirus” or “why the media is blowing covid19 out of proportion. </div><div>•Experts in their field do share their work. When they come to a conclusion, they want their peers, and you, to be able to get there too. </div><div><br /></div><div> I see folks out there doing great work, buckling down and doing their part. That’s amazing. The choices you make which impact the lives of others in a positive way matter. You matter. And you’re appreciated and loved. You are. Believe that. </div><div><br /></div><div> Let’s work together to get through this in a way that benefits the overall health and wellness of us all. </div><div><br /></div><div> Any questions? Ask me below, and if I can’t answer them for you, I’ll pass you over to someone who can.</div>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-41307011767155245922020-04-24T06:06:00.000-07:002020-04-24T15:04:37.822-07:00COVID-19: What You Need To KnowLet’s talk briefly about COVID-19.<br />
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I recently did an episode of my podcast on the subject of coronavirus (this is contextually relevant. I’m not trying to baldly self-promote). I’ve been researching the data since this pandemic started, and I MAY be able to shed some light here.<br />
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While I can’t encapsulate the entirety of months worth of research here and now, I will say this. As a research, data, and biology wonk, I happen to know (as many of us do) that it is of grave importance that we get over this curve (which IS currently happening! As long as we follow this directive to stay at home for just a little while longer, we’ll be golden).<br />
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This is not the common cold, nor is it the flu, though, fun fact, the common cold is another coronavirus, which happens to mutate and return regularly to invade our bodies, seasonally, in a normally much less serious manner.<br />
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What we are experiencing now is a coronavirus called SARS COV-2, which bonds to the ASE-2 proteins within human cells, via the spike proteins which stick off of the SARS COV-2 cells, and the cells of all coronaviruses, for that matter (this is why it is called a “coronavirus.” The spike proteins sticking off of it give it the look of having a halo or a crown, when looked at via a microscope.).<br />
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The way that this virus, which happens to be what is called an RNA transcription virus, bonds to the human body via the ASE2 proteins inside our cells and the RNA information which is transcribed therein, upon first contact between the virus and the cells within our bodies, before they self-destructs and send out information, telling other cells inside of us to reproduce, based on the information received upon first contact with those coronavirus cells (SARS COV2), ends up sending the virus, and, consequently a later immune response it to a specific area of our bodies—the lower lung.<br />
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This is what makes this particular coronavirus—SARS COV2, which, again, for posterity, causes the illness known as COVID-19, to settle in the lower lung. That’s not all it does, though.<br />
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As I touched on a moment ago, the real one-two punch this virus gives to our bodies is that it kicks our immune reactions into high gear.<br />
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While this might sound good, it isn’t, because just like humans who hadn’t experienced novel influenza viruses when the Spanish Flu hit, our population has no established experience with, and therefore no frame of reference for, and no immunity to SARS COV2 (aka the icky virus which causes COVID-19), which means that our immune systems often fight the virus off inappropriately, causing inflammation in the lower lung, rather than efficiently and effectively fighting off the virus before things get to that point.<br />
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Then, the third act of this story begins. Due to the inflammation and the ham fisted way our bodies, caught unaware, are trying to fight off the virus, and the inflammation in the lower lung and fluid leakage and build-up caused, we often develop secondary pneumonia infections, which can be deadly.<br />
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If that sounds good to you, and you’re willing to risk the lives of yourselves, your family whom you could end up carrying the virus home to, and others, then go for it. Go on out there without masks.<br />
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If we don’t blunt this curve before we reopen businesses, then those I mentioned (seniors, babies, immunocompromised folks—even some healthy folks) and untold others will be put at risk as a direct result of your actions. If that doesn’t sound so hot to you, and you’d like to act as a if you’re a decent and caring person, then your path is clear. Wear your personal protective equipment. It makes a substantial difference in transmission rates and contagiousness of the virus.<br />
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SARS COV-2 (the virus which causes the illness we call COVID-19), while not a strictly airborne pathogen, CAN be aerosolized briefly when we talk, walk past each other, cough, sneeze, and even when we breathe. Masks help to prevent us from both passing on and receiving SARS COV-2 (i.e. they seriously restrict our chances of giving or getting COVID-19).<br />
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I feel like this information gives us an opportunity to help ourselves and each other.<br />
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While it’s no fun to have to do things we don’t like, it feels like a no-brainer to follow life-saving measures and to think beyond our own noses right now.<br />
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In the long term, doing things like staying mostly at home and wearing masks won’t be a necessity, but right now, it’s the most important thing we can do. Blunting the curve is the most important first step measure we can possibly take, while we are working on vaccines, improved testing, and treatments for the SARS COV-2 virus.<br />
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The great news is that we are doing it! We’re effectively turning the corner. We need to hold on a little longer, and we’ll all have gotten through this.<br />
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In the long term, there are two possibilities, regarding our relationship with SARS COV-2 (the cause of the COVID-19 illness).<br />
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The first is that we will end up living with this virus, and that it will become seasonal and much less life-threatening, which would mean that RT-PCR testing (what we’re doing now to see if people are currently ill with COVID-19), and serology testing (immune testing, which happens to be something we’re starting to do, to see how people’s immune systems are fighting this off, and, essentially, what works, vs what doesn’t within the human body, which will help us to advance our research toward a vaccine AND treatment options) will be key components in moving forward with a solid seasonal treatment and prevention plan. This will include the possibility of symptom treatment which we are currently in the process of working on R&D for, and seasonal vaccines like those upon which we currently rely to prevent us from falling ill with the seasonal flu.<br />
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The second future possibility is a complete vaccine which eradicates this illness in it’s entirety. To get there, however, we must first blunt the curve, before we do anything else, and it will take awhile to see whether this will end up being a seasonal and less harmful visitor (scenario #1), or something we can eradicate and put behind us (scenario #2).<br />
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Let’s touch briefly on vaccines. No matter what sort of vaccine we develop, whether it ends up completely eradicating this virus, or whether we need to develop a new vaccine on a seasonal basis, vaccines are extremely important.<br />
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Vaccines establish herd immunity and disease eradication, and are a major reason why human life has been extended and improved in quality and quantity in modern times. This, combined with the fact that they help to reduce the effective R factor (i.e. make the virus less contagious over time) means that vaccines are crucial in this case, no matter which of the two possible scenarios I’ve described above plays out.<br />
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I hope that this has helped answer any questions that folks may have on the subject. I’d be happy to answer any further relevant questions or at least to direct anyone who is concerned to the appropriate data sources.<br />
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It may sound hokey, but we truly are all on this together, and we’ve got to get on the same page here, in order to save lives. I know—staying at home and being afraid sucks. It’s stressful. It’s upsetting. It frays our collective nerves. But this isn’t just about our own egos or personal wishes. This is about what’s best for all of us. So, as I said, we really are all in this together, like it or not. Let’s all educate ourselves and let’s do our best to be decent people.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-53265849359729717422020-02-04T00:34:00.001-08:002020-02-04T01:10:54.469-08:00“John Adams” by David McCullough #BookReportSunday [review]<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"><i><b> It’s been a long week, and I’ve decided to reward myself by focusing my next #BookReportSunday book review on my Dominique Does Life blog and podcast on my all time favorite book, “John Adams” by David McCullough, which, incidentally, just so happens to have given birth to my favorite HBO miniseries of the same name, based on the McCullough biography. Below is my review of “John Adams.” Please feel free to let me know what you think about the book and the series below. </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"><i>“Our obligations to our country never cease.”</i></span><br />
-John Adams (“John Adams,” David McCullough)<br />
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“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”</blockquote>
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<span class="quoteAuthor" style="box-sizing: border-box;">David McCullough, </span><span class="quoteBook" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="gr-hyperlink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5578021-john-adams" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00635d; text-decoration: none;">John Adams</a></span></div>
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<i>If that quote doesn’t sum up the animus of John Adams, I can’t imagine what does, or what ever could. </i></div>
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An intimate portrait of possibly our most influential founding father, “John Adams” portrays the life of a dutiful, studious lawyer, a man of spiritual and educational excellence, a dedicated husband, a formidable debater and an effective, if unpopular (at the time) U.S. President.<br />
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John Adams, son of the well respected family of Adams—the Adams’ of Braintree [Massachusetts], to be exact—early settlers of the nation we now know as the United States, future member of both continental congresses, future president, and father to United States president John Quincy Adams, is first presented in this epic biography in large part when he successfully defends the British soldiers accused of igniting the Boston Massacre.<br />
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“You've got to marinate your head, in that time and culture.<br />
You've got to become them."<br />
(Speaking about researching, and reading, and immersing yourself in History)</blockquote>
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<span class="quoteAuthor" style="box-sizing: border-box;">David McCullough, </span><span class="quoteBook" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="gr-hyperlink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2203.John_Adams" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00635d; text-decoration: none;">John Adams</a></span></div>
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Adams, it soon becomes clear, is an expert orator, a cantankerous genius, a straight shooter and an ever-devoted and loving husband to wife Abigail and father to children Abigail “Nabby,” Susannah, John Quincy, Thomas and Charles. While John Adams is the main character in this eponymous biography, one might go so far as to say that Abigail is as much of a main character in this book, and in contemporary American History, as is Adams.<br />
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This book covers John Adams’ job as a lawyer, the American Revolution (though of course not as extensively as David McCullough’s “1776”), the continental congresses, Adams’ jobs as ambassador to several countries in Europe for the newly formed United States, Adams’ time as vice president, president and then father of yet another president of the United States of America in John Quincy Adams, through the lens of his friends, enemies, loved ones and other contemporaries, ending, obviously, with Jefferson’s and Adams’ deaths on July 4, 1826 (with a mention of Madison’s simultaneous passing).<br />
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“So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American colonies declared independence. If not all thirteen clocks had struck as one, twelve had, and with the other silent, the effect was the same.<br />
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It was John Adams, more than anyone, who had made it happen. Further, he seems to have understood more clearly than any what a momentous day it was and in the privacy of two long letters to Abigail, he poured out his feelings as did no one else:<br />
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The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”</blockquote>
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<span class="quoteAuthor" style="box-sizing: border-box;">David McCullough, </span><span class="quoteBook" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="gr-hyperlink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2203.John_Adams" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00635d; text-decoration: none;">John Adams</a></span></div>
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If you enjoy this book, which I believe you will—I couldn’t put it down—I would also highly recommend checking out the HBO miniseries “John Adams,” which was based on this book, featuring career making performances by already beloved actors. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney head the all-star cast of performers in this miniseries, which is produced by Tom Hanks and Brian Grazier, with David McCullough acting as consulting producer.<br />
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I can pretty much guarantee you that if you watch the miniseries based on this book, you will basically always see John Adams as Paul Giamatti—that’s how good the series is. I enjoyed seeing the companion HBO series very much, in addition to reading the book (about a million times), and I’d love to recommend that everyone who has the chance to do both does just that!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;">“The source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have been afraid to think....Let us dare to read, think, speak, write.“</span><br />
—John Adams (“John Adams,” David McCullough)<br />
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In this book, you will find an intimate portrait not simply of a United States founding father and it’s first vice president and second president, but of a man caught up in a revolution, striving to make his world a better, more just, fair and kind place for all to live in. I award this book a hearty and enthusiastic five stars, both as a whole, and in all pertinent categories of review!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MaqmBOyNCuE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MaqmBOyNCuE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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“<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"> According to Adams, Jefferson proposed that he, Adams, do the writing [pf the Declaration of Independence], but that he declined, telling Jefferson he must do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;">Why?" Jefferson asked, as Adams would recount.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;">Reasons enough," Adams said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;">What can be your reasons?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;">Reason first: you are a Virginian and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second: I am obnoxious, suspected and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third: You can write ten times better than I can.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"> —John Adams (“John Adams,” David McCullough)</span><br />
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“John Adams” moves along at quite a clip, especially for such a hefty volume! I am always surprised all over again when, upon rereading it, I finish “John Adams” in just a day or two.<br />
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“John Adams” has the tense, import laden suspense of an action movie, the drama of a period piece, and the pace of a Hitchcock movie. It is an easy volume to read, and all of the situations and relationships which play out in this book, as well as the personalities of the characters are both perfectly historically accurate and eminently relatable. After reading “John Adams,” one can easily see why even the likes of King George III of England came to respect Mr. Adams, and, once you have finished with this book, you will too!<br />
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“<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"> Our obligations to our country never cease”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"> —John Adams (“John Adams,” David McCullough)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;">While you’re here, I’d also love for your to check out this fantastic piece on why “John Adams” was the precursor to “Hamilton,” and why both “John Adams” and “Hamilton” should be looked at as seminal biographical historical pieces. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -30px;"><a href="https://ew.com/tv/2018/03/16/john-adams-anniversary-hamilton-essay/amp/">https://ew.com/tv/2018/03/16/john-adams-anniversary-hamilton-essay/amp/</a></span><br />
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Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-61592688057454662522020-02-03T21:30:00.000-08:002020-02-21T18:58:10.761-08:00Iowa Caucus Live Tweets: Updated Information Minute By Minute<h3>
<u><i><span style="color: red;">***UPDATES ARE BEING ISSUED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST:***</span></i></u></h3>
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While I tend to like to keep my blog and podcast free from too much political commentary, I figured I might release a bit of a photoblog on the subject of the absolute cluster fuck that is the Iowa Caucuses.<br />
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Below is some pertinent information (sources are included in the images themselves, so feel free to follow these folks on Twitter if you like), AND some much needed snark.<br />
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You’re welcome, America!<br />
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Precinct captains weigh in with consternation and concern...<br />
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While results are in their hands, they seem to be having a tough time reporting to the state democratic party...</div>
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Even caucus officials are feeling the frustration</div>
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Awarding delegates based on a coin toss...?</div>
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Apps, phone calls and middle schools gyms ftw! Paper ballots are so passé...</div>
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Ah, the good ol’ US of A, where grown adults sit around arguing past midnight in a middle school gym, in order to determine who will get the keys to the nuclear football...</div>
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Even the politically savvy have a tough time when it comes to caucuses...</div>
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I think we can all agree that this is nerve-racking.</div>
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Can anyone relate? </div>
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Shadow, Inc...</div>
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Tuesday morning updates: </div>
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Suggestion: we find the cylon resurrection ship and destroy it!</div>
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Still no news on who actually won the Iowa Caucus...</div>
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**Update:**</div>
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12:22pm 2/4/2020: </div>
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Apparently Jeff Weaver of the Bernie Sanders campaign (the only campaign to release numbers just yet) has stated the following: </div>
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Via the CBC:</div>
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Curiouser and curiouser...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shana East, local Chicago celebrity and avid Bernie supporter weighs in from Iowa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly a day after the Iowa Caucus debacle, Shadow, Inc. weigh in on the havoc they have apparently helped to create.</td></tr>
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FINAL RESULTS:</div>
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Pete Buttigieg wins by narrow margin</div>
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-82380897960877156462020-01-28T18:16:00.000-08:002020-02-02T12:00:59.803-08:00Bill Murray Comes Back To Woodstock: A Photo Blog<h2>
The Residents Of Woodstock, IL. Were Stoked This Past Weekend, When They Received A Follow-Up Visit From Local Hero And International Comedian And Dramatic Actor Bill Murray!</h2>
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*Update: the commercial Mr. Murray was filming in Woodstock is linked below*</div>
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*Below is a photoblog of some of the up-close and personal action, credit to my best friend and candid photographer, Carrie Callery.*</h3>
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Why all the fanfare, you might ask (particularly if you’re not from Woodstock)?<br />
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<a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/this-looks-familiar-bill-murray-spotted-in-woodstock-where-groundhog-day-filmed/2208228/">https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/this-looks-familiar-bill-murray-spotted-in-woodstock-where-groundhog-day-filmed/2208228/</a><br />
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Well, it appears that Mr. Murray made an impression on the locals with his kindness, his attitude of gratitude toward the town of Woodstock, Il., and his folksy and down-to-earth ways.<br />
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I’m sure his killer sense of humor didn’t hurt, either.<br />
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Coupled with the fact that Bill Murray is an absolute icon, AND with the box office numbers and critical acclaim “Groundhog Day” was met with, it’s easy to see why residents of Woodstock fell for Bill Murray while he was in the area, filming.<br />
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Mr. Murray, a local hero, and legend to the residents of Woodstock Il., since Groundhog Day started filming in 1992.<br />
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While he was [apparently] going through a fair few personal struggles at the time, that didn’t stop Bill Murray from showing his kindness to the residents of Woodstock, and, because of that, throughout the passing years, Woodstock hasn’t forgotten!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaer_r4ZyfP2NdkGQRn27FKE_lhGZe1isgqXdsHNXg5WQmm7Q0UHRUCub6-kYPM3CbRrMDN8nym6tm3C6cXBfg4RZ5oapMsL1jsyHRP-5jU3EpfmsEOvHqGHMx5Xgrvf5E_xXutEA3iey/s1600/20F934A6-20A1-400E-90EE-1F549A3E12A2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="636" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaer_r4ZyfP2NdkGQRn27FKE_lhGZe1isgqXdsHNXg5WQmm7Q0UHRUCub6-kYPM3CbRrMDN8nym6tm3C6cXBfg4RZ5oapMsL1jsyHRP-5jU3EpfmsEOvHqGHMx5Xgrvf5E_xXutEA3iey/s320/20F934A6-20A1-400E-90EE-1F549A3E12A2.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every year since, from the beginning of the holiday season to just after Groundhog Day in February, Woodstock, Il. shows it’s appreciation by opening up the iconic Woodstock Theater for free showings of the classic movie.<br />
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Observant viewers may notice some of their most beloved features from the historic Woodstock Square featured prominently in a variety of scenes throughout the movie.<br />
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It appears that Mr. Murray was back on the Woodstock Square not for sentimental reasons, but to shoot a very special Superbowl Jeep commercial, that Woodstock area viewers might like to keep their eyes peeled for, this Superbowl Sunday.<br />
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Woodstock, Il., and McHenry County, within which Woodstock resides, is pleased to be able to work once again with Mr. Murray.<br />
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As a Chicagoland native, myself, I too am stoked that Bill Murray came back to Woodstock for this project.<br />
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Having Mr. Murray back in Woodstock, Il. has not only bolstered the local economy but has created an absolutely bustling atmosphere at some of the Woodstock Square’s most popular sustainable local businesses, including Mixin Mingle, Double Yolk Cafe, and Ethereal Confections!<br />
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(Local event hall/party space rental business, Mixin Mingle)<br />
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Visit Mixin Mingle at: <a href="https://www.mixinmingle.com/">https://www.mixinmingle.com/</a></div>
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Local chocolatiers and artisan coffee shop, Ethereal Confections:</div>
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Visit Ethereal Confections on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EtherealConfections">https://www.facebook.com/EtherealConfections</a></div>
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<a class="r-track att-track" data-attt="lt:6" data-rapid_p="8" data-ylk="t1:url;slk:Profile Website;" href="http://www.thedoubleyolkcafe.com/" id="yui_3_18_1_1_1580264534457_370" style="background-color: white; color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.99px; outline: none 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">thedoubleyolkcafe.com</a></div>
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With the way folks respond to Mr. Murray’s presence, it would be understandable if those who live elsewhere thought this was the only significant event in Woodstock’s long history, but history savvy Chicagolanders know that’s not the case!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AbpYUql9xgaSHJuLukq_HM4nvLqaGG6ytvCIJjvd-mDa1OeMZHAHKeRsfg8ZhBYuGgLG4RgAOUqlLx2cDv9iTh1YnwqXc-4SWIPjQ4MAEhMEAvlycz_z9NQWaTOeu026aVTE9f9UT-C8/s1600/debs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AbpYUql9xgaSHJuLukq_HM4nvLqaGG6ytvCIJjvd-mDa1OeMZHAHKeRsfg8ZhBYuGgLG4RgAOUqlLx2cDv9iTh1YnwqXc-4SWIPjQ4MAEhMEAvlycz_z9NQWaTOeu026aVTE9f9UT-C8/s320/debs.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div>
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Woodstock is an important historical landmark in United States history. That’s right! Sleepy little Woodstock, Il. was home, for awhile (to be exact), to Eugene V Debs.<br />
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Woodstock is the seat of McHenry County.<br />
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It has hosted actors of renown at it’s historic opera house, including local actors and transplants alike. Geraldine Page, locally born actors Orson Welles and a young Paul Newman are just a few of the actors who got their start on the Woodstock stage. Welles formed and continued throughout the years to support the Woodstock Players, which allowed students of the Goodman School some much needed professional experience. Dick Tracy's creator, Chester Gould, also moved to the Chicago area, making Woodstock his home for a time.<br />
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Woodstock, Il. is also iconic for its labor organization history, particularly since the old Woodstock Courthouse and jail was home, for a time, to early railroad organizer, Eugene V Debs, who was sentenced to jail time in 1894 for inciting a large-scale strike of all union railroad workers working on any trains in which there were Pullman cars present. This strike was mainly in solidarity with workers who demanded a living wage and were being denied that by George Pullman himself after Pullman cut their wages by one-third.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-BBIc4CieSiyPN75TgZu0cSJvCpOiQWM1c7CEQJXmnvdhfplE4aHNCPViSjQ6QfNXF6XDOdMqbKqwuIdB4HP13UBIV_l7gGhW0TrX6jEJTW0YHDKYEZA_HJSOwdGLNxLbiXxsw0nme31/s1600/Debs_Releas_fr__Woodstock_Jail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="680" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-BBIc4CieSiyPN75TgZu0cSJvCpOiQWM1c7CEQJXmnvdhfplE4aHNCPViSjQ6QfNXF6XDOdMqbKqwuIdB4HP13UBIV_l7gGhW0TrX6jEJTW0YHDKYEZA_HJSOwdGLNxLbiXxsw0nme31/s320/Debs_Releas_fr__Woodstock_Jail.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Visit Patrick Murfin's (Heretic, Rebel, A Thing To Flout) blog post on the subject at the link below: <a href="https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrExdzV5TBeD3IABpijzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/RV=2/RE=1580291669/RO=11/RU=http%3a%2f%2fpatrickmurfin.blogspot.com%2f2017%2f10%2feugene-v-debs-honored-in-woodstock.html%3fspref%3dpi/RK=2/RS=qQpOrfzI3mk7iEGIH1VQJ2OQiek-">https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrExdzV5TBeD3IABpijzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/RV=2/RE=1580291669/RO=11/RU=http%3a%2f%2fpatrickmurfin.blogspot.com%2f2017%2f10%2feugene-v-debs-honored-in-woodstock.html%3fspref%3dpi/RK=2/RS=qQpOrfzI3mk7iEGIH1VQJ2OQiek-</a><br />
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At the time, and mainly due to Mr. Debs’ involvement in the matter, President Cleveland’s hands were tied. Since the railroad was the main impetus for mail delivery and the postal service had been all but shut down during this broad railroad strike to ensure workers’ rights, the president declared that all trains MUST run, and he sent federal troops to ensure that they did.<br />
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During Mr. Debs’ trial, Clarence Darrow acted as his attorney. Woodstock Sheriff George Eckert, however, moved as he was to follow the letter of the law, agreed with Mr. Debs and offered him comfortable accommodations, even allowing him to dine with his own family upon occasion.<br />
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During his...er...extended stay in Woodstock, Mr. Debs received distinguished guests, like the chancellor of Germany and the governor of Colorado, and other well-known labor leaders, including Victor Berger, who, during his visit, offered Eugene Debs a copy of the book “Das Kapital,” by Karl Marx. Acclaimed journalist Nellie Bly (around the world in 80 days) also visited Woodstock to see Mr. Debs during his six-month jail sentence.<br />
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Eugene V. Debs was beloved by the hard-working citizens of Woodstock, and was, it is said, carried all the way to the train station by its people, once his sentence was served. Whether this was, strictly speaking, factually true, we may never know, but the story is quite powerful.<br />
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(Credit: Heretic, Rebel, A Thing To Flout)<br />
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Eugene Debs credits his stay in the Woodstock jail as the reason why he became a democratic socialist (or, strictly speaking, at that time, a “social democrat”). Sadly, this wasn’t Debs’ last visit to the Woodstock [McHenry County] Courthouse and jail, as, in 1919, Debs’ outspoken criticism of WWI landed him back in the courthouse to serve out yet another jail sentence.<br />
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With Woodstock’s history of hard-working residents and their love for those who they felt represented them, it makes perfect sense that they would embrace Bill Murray for his art, his down-to-earth sensibilities, and his contributions to Woodstock’s local economy.<br />
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Photos of Bill Murray during his Woodstock, Il. visit, photo credit: Carrie Callery:<br />
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*The full commercial: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1242624643/posts/10216001689015371/?d=n">https://www.facebook.com/1242624643/posts/10216001689015371/?d=n</a><br />
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If you’ve enjoyed the photography in this blog post, I’d love for you to visit local photographer Carrie Callery on Facebook (Carrie Callery) and Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/carriecallery?igshid=11vm594l56av8">https://instagram.com/carriecallery?igshid=11vm594l56av8</a><br />
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If you’ve enjoyed the historical information in this article, I’d like to recommend that you check out “The Historic Woodstock Square: An Illustrated History Of The Woodstock Square.” You can download this beautiful and interesting historical record of Woodstock, Il. for free at <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Historic_Woodstock_Square_Sesquicent.html?id=fF5VQwAACAAJ">https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Historic_Woodstock_Square_Sesquicent.html?id=fF5VQwAACAAJ</a><br />
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I also used the following historical piece on Woodstock, Il. as well, to help fill in the blanks in my personal information: <a href="https://www.realwoodstock.com/whats-real-1/2018/1/3/the-legacy-of-dick-tracy">https://www.realwoodstock.com/whats-real-1/2018/1/3/the-legacy-of-dick-tracy</a><br />
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Woodstock Public Library: <a href="https://www.woodstockpubliclibrary.org/library/page/library-history-timeline">https://www.woodstockpubliclibrary.org/library/page/library-history-timeline</a><br />
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McHenry County Historical Society:<br />
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<a href="https://mchenrycountyhistory.org/">https://mchenrycountyhistory.org/</a><br />
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I also highly recommend taking a gander at Mr. Patrick Murfin’s blog: “Heretic, Rebel, A Thing To Flout,” at <a href="https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrExdzV5TBeD3IABpijzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/RV=2/RE=1580291669/RO=11/RU=http%3a%2f%2fpatrickmurfin.blogspot.com%2f2017%2f10%2feugene-v-debs-honored-in-woodstock.html%3fspref%3dpi/RK=2/RS=qQpOrfzI3mk7iEGIH1VQJ2OQiek-">https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrExdzV5TBeD3IABpijzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/RV=2/RE=1580291669/RO=11/RU=http%3a%2f%2fpatrickmurfin.blogspot.com%2f2017%2f10%2feugene-v-debs-honored-in-woodstock.html%3fspref%3dpi/RK=2/RS=qQpOrfzI3mk7iEGIH1VQJ2OQiek-</a><br />
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Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0Woodstock, IL 60098, USA42.3147436 -88.44870209999999142.2208096 -88.610063599999989 42.4086776 -88.2873406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-89214469198947677712019-12-29T21:05:00.001-08:002020-01-03T23:25:45.605-08:00So You Have A Dollar: How To Start Saving, Building And Repairing Your Credit Like A Boss<style type="text/css">
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<span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><i>Well, it's that time of year again...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The time to start getting our finances together, preparing for taxes, and recovering from the financial black hole that was the holiday season!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN-OQqnSMRD_kypcMSQBDDHufq9b9PrY1F79EMSdScYTMJg18ve1W3qBBVTjeq5_GurIE2fdg23r3m9NK_7AhLuHGceRApX_4lNhMzUFsibOZulOMeVw8I5NX4HfwRXVeWnLEgbjgpGGA/s1600/ronald+mcdonald.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="256" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN-OQqnSMRD_kypcMSQBDDHufq9b9PrY1F79EMSdScYTMJg18ve1W3qBBVTjeq5_GurIE2fdg23r3m9NK_7AhLuHGceRApX_4lNhMzUFsibOZulOMeVw8I5NX4HfwRXVeWnLEgbjgpGGA/s320/ronald+mcdonald.webp" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: white;"> But don't fear. Your girl is here to keep you in top of the line makeup, gorgeous shoes, and rolling in dough (er...well...at least to help you to feel more confident about your finances and to allow you to buy whatever you need in life and retire in comfort and style, but that just doesn't sound as fun, now, does it?)!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Before we get started, I want to make sure that you have an opportunity to listen to the corresponding podcast episode, which features all of the information we are about to discuss. You can find it at: </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/dominique-does-life">https://www.spreaker.com/show/dominique-does-life</a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">There are several apps and platforms which I use and recommend to my coaching and lifestyle consultation clients via my nudge coach platform (yeah, yeah, shameless plug, but I do this to help folks to realize their ambitions and meet their needs, and it's free, anyway), I would encourage you to sign up for today, at: </span></div>
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<a href="https://my.nudgecoach.com/TRINITY19">https://my.nudgecoach.com/TRINITY19</a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I'll talk more about actual investing and the strategies, platforms, and purchases I recommend in a later podcast episode and blog post, because for now, I want to focus on starting with a dollar in your pocket (or in the cushions of your couch, cause let's be real, y'all know that's where your dollar is sitting right now. Check. I'll wait.) and building a lifechanging savings, along with excellent credit, with minimal time and energy output.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Below are the platforms I recommend. If you like free money, I have included my links to each platform I recommend, which, if you use them, will earn you free money upon sign up. It's as simple as that. </b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="color: white;"> <b>Acorns:</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Acorns is a wonderful app that allows you to [safely, securely, quickly, and easily] connect your checking account, and whatever credit and debit cards you use most (I suggest connecting all of them) so that you can save money every single time you make a purchase.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Acorn allows you easy access to all of your information if you need to withdraw money or make a change to the status of your account. They even have a good customer service team to help you out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Acorns basically takes money from your checking account every time you make a purchase, and puts it in either a conservative, moderately conservative, moderate, moderately aggressive or aggressive fund of fractional investment shares, according to your personal needs (it’s a breeze to set up!) and preferences. You have access to that money at any time and can withdraw it whenever you like (allowing for several days for the selling of your fractional shares, and bank transfer time, according to your bank’s policies). If you leave it in, it will mature and you will start seeing growth. Obviously, the more money you put in and the more money you leave in, the more growth you’ll see.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*The money that is taken from your checking account each time you make a p</span><span style="color: white;">urchase with a linked credit or debit card is called “Round-Ups.” You can take a break from adding money to your acorns account at any time (though I don’t recommend it), and you can even decide whether you’d like to increase your roundups or leave them as is. I normally set my roundups to 10x. That means that if I have bought a coffee at the corner coffee shop with a linked credit or debit card, and that coffee costs me $2.69, my roundup would be $.31 initially, but when I increase it to a 10x roundup, I’m putting $3.10 into my acorns savings, which is then invested by the acorns app, which makes money from said investment. Whether you’re interested in putting $3.31 away each time you buy a coffee, or whether you’d like to stick with $.31, it adds up! I’ve saved around $14,000 doing that, over the past five—almost six years. That money has gone to medical costs and to paying bills I need to pay off, and it has helped me to improve my credit immensely!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*In addition to roundups, you have the option of opening up an Acorns Spend account, which essentially allows you to move money from your checking account to your acorns spend account to budget for expenses. This is an added extra that you get to decide whether you’d like, of course, as nothing on the Acorns platform is mandatory, and all of your options can be changed by you at any time, according to your needs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*As if that wasn’t enough, you can also (and I highly recommend that you do!) open up a Roth IRA through Acorns. For those of you who aren’t familiar, a Roth IRA is a tax-free savings account that you add to on a regular basis. I add at least a few dollars per month to my Roth IRA through Acorns. It’s simple and painless to set up and maintain. The money stored in that Roth IRA becomes available for you to use, after many years of savings. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"> *Once you reach<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>59.5 years of age, as long as your Roth IRA has been held for over five years, you will have access to that money without taxation, and by that time, you’ll have saved up a substantial amount of money that will really help you out since, by then, you’re likely to be thinking about retirement. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"> *Now, you CAN withdraw money from your Roth IRA at any time up until that point, but if you are not yet 59.5, and/or you have not held your Roth IRA for at least five years, you will be required to pay taxes on the amount that you withdraw, so while it is there for your use should you need it, it’s always best to wait until you reach the age of requirement to go ahead and use that money.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Roth IRAs have a yearly contribution limit of $6,000 if you are under the age of 50, and $7,000 if you are 50 or older. The beauty of Roth IRAs is that you CAN have more than one!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Another feature of Acorns that I’d like to discuss is the found money feature. Many companies want to reinvest in you, and they do that through the found money program, which, in essence, is similar to the affiliate programs I share with all of you on a regular basis. If you sign up with them and/or make purchases with them through acorns, they will invest either a set amount or a certain percentage of what you spend back into your acorns account.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*And the BEST feature of all that really sets acorns head and shoulder above the crowd, in terms of investment and savings apps, is that YOU don’t have to know most of what I just told you in order to make and save money! Acorns does it all for you! Just set it and forget it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Remember when I said that if you have a dollar to your name right now, you’re already well on your way to investing? Well, that’s true! Use my acorns link here in the description of this show, and in the description of this Facebook event today to receive $5 when you sign up, using my link! If you don’t use my link, you will not have access to that free $5, so please use my acorns (below) if $5 free sounds good to you! I will also receive $5 when you use my sign-up link.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Acorns sign-up link:</span></div>
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<a href="https://acorns.com/invite/9HX6Y4">https://acorns.com/invite/9HX6Y4</a></div>
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<b><span style="color: white;">Stash:</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: white;">*Stash does nearly the same things that Acorns does, with some notable differences. I highly recommend that you diversify and increase your savings by way of signing up for Stash as well. Use my link (below) for $5 free, just for signing up!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*You can set your deposits and forget them, with stash. While it doesn’t work on a roundups system like Acorns, you do get to invest in a portfolio that the Stash app maintains for you, based on your preferences and financial ability.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*You can also get a Stash spend debit card, which will, similarly to the acorns Spend Smart card, help you to budget more effectively for expenses and leave you with some extra spending money</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*I also highly recommend that you set up another Roth IRA with Stash, which you can contribute to the same way you do with Acorns.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white;">Self:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Self, previously known as Self Lender, is a mechanism for savings AND credit improvement.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*<span class="s1"><a href="http://self.inc/">Self.inc</a></span> allows you to open up a self lender loan. The amount, and the period over which you make payments is totally up to you, based on your personal preferences and finances (to yourself—the money is saved for you by <span class="s1"><a href="http://self.com/">self.</a>inc</span> in a maturing CD account, until the future date at which you finish making payments into the account, and then the money is given back to you in a lump sum, for you to do with as you please).</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*I pay $25/month for two years into my account with Self. You can set up your monthly payment as a direct deposit, or you can log into <span class="s1"><a href="http://self.inc/">Self.inc</a></span> every month and make your payment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*<span class="s1"><a href="http://self.inc/">Self.inc</a></span> reports to all major credit bureaus because this savings strategy essentially acts as a loan to yourself, to which you are making monthly payments, through the Self company. Your credit score can improve massively. Mine went up something like 83 points so far, and I’ve only had my <span class="s1"><a href="http://self.inc/">Self.inc</a></span> account for about 8 months.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*It’s also great to know that by the time that you’re done making payments, you will receive a direct deposit (or a check, based on your preference) of the entire lump sum of the money in the account you’ve been paying into. That’s why I believe that Self is a critical savings and credit-building strategy, which I recommend to all of my clients. Use my link below, to sign up for Self today!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Get $10 when you use this link to sign up:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_385705546"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://self.inc/refer/13151620"><span style="color: white;">https://self.inc/refer/13151620</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Robinhood:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">*I want to focus on savings today, rather than investing, but I highly recommend that you use my Robinhood link for a free share of stock today when you sign up for Robinhood! I also recommend that you start out your portfolio with 3xETFs, which we will talk more about in just a minute.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">*Robinhood is an optimal investment platform (low charges for those who want to buy single stocks, do smaller transactions, etc).</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">*Robinhood is an investment platform, for new and experienced investors alike. It features a full capability website, and a really comprehensive app for your phone, tablet, and smartwatch</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">*Benefits of 3xETFs in Robinhood portfolio:</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*3xETFs are wonderful tools. They allow you to not have to constantly track your portfolio. You’re almost guaranteed a substantial gain, and you’re not going to incur the fees and guesswork that go along with investing directly in companies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*With ETFs, you’re investing in a sector, which contains multiple companies, and your money isn’t tied to the success or failure of just one company.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*The rewards in a 3xETF are threefold. That means more bang for your buck and a bigger return on your initial investment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*If you don’t like one 3xETF, it’s really simple to decide which of the other 3xETFs you’d like to buy instead, as most sectors have just two possible 3xETFs to invest in: a 3x Bull ETF and a 3x Bear ETF.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*3xETFs are easy to understand and track, and often come with high yields.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*You can fund Robinhood with your checking account. The money you make and the money you transfer to Robinhood arrives reasonably quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>*Robinhood is a secure, highly rated platform.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Additional Life-Saving Credit Building MUST-DO:</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">*I’d also highly recommend checking out the following blog post below, which will guide you through the process of disputing items on your credit report. Sadly, one-quarter of all Americans report inaccurate dings on their credit reports, which negatively impact their credit scores (this is likely to be happening to many more of us than just 1/4 of the US population, though the 1/4 statistic reflects the people who have found out that there is an incorrect mark against their credit on their credit report and decided to take action. This data comes directly from the FCC). Here is the 411 on how to take a look at your credit report and see what incorrect information within may be negatively impacting your credit score. This happens one of two ways: either said incorrect information is added to your credit report because of simple human error, or, more likely, said information is incorrect because debts are sold off to multiple debt collection companies, from the company that the debt originated with, which often time makes for multiple strikes showing up on your credit report when there is just one strike that should be reflected. This is why it is extremely important that we are all diligent about checking our credit scores and disputing any false or incorrect charges.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="color: white;"><a href="https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/i/dispute-error-credit-report/">https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/i/dispute-error-credit-report/</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>My Robinhood Link (for a free stock upon sign-up): </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://share.robinhood.com/dominim1300"><span style="color: white;">https://share.robinhood.com/dominim1300</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Okay! Phew! That was a lot! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">If you've got questions, I understand and I am happy to answer them below, or when you connect with me through my free Nudge platform (see above). Please don't hesitate to ask!</span></div>
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-58305762197436150052019-12-09T17:48:00.002-08:002020-01-21T21:47:32.250-08:00How To Work Productively With A Toxic Person<br />
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<span style="color: rgb(59.610000% , 0.000000% , 0.000000%); font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">How To Deal With A Toxic Person In
Your Professional Sphere
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15.000000pt; font-style: italic;">By: Dominique Miller
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">(Trinity SS Wellness/Dominique Does Life Podcast&Blog)
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">http://www.dominiquedoeslife.com
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://my.nudgecoach.com/trinity19" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">For a personalized coaching plan, please reach out at @be_well_trinity on Facebook, or simply join my coaching platform for free at: </span><span style="color: #673000; font-family: "arialmt";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">https://my.nudgecoach.com/trinity19</span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">When I studied martial arts</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I learned a key piece of information, which has really assisted me in building a platform of </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">successful action against toxic people and narcissists.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">The guiding principle of </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Hapkido</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">is to </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">never use your power to start fights</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">but to </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">end them
decisively,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">while </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">conserving energy</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">for a prolonged conflict, yet planning for a short victory
(i.e. expect the best, but plan for the worst).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">In essence, we </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">use the other party's strength, size, skill and expertise against them</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">. The good
thing about doing this with a </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">narcissist</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">or other </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">toxic person</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">is that:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* they </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">think</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">they have way more expertise than they actually have,<br />
* they </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">do not possess empathy or compassion, while</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> we do,<br />
* they </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">cannot</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">correctly </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">engage</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">their </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">critical thinking</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">if they even have those skills to begin
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">with.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* We will </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">use their</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> perceived strengths</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">which really </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">only exist in their own minds,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">and </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">our own
ability to think critically </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">against them</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">.<br />
* We deflect </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">the effort and energy they expend</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">and reroute it right back at them, to get them
winded and back them into a corner without seeming in any way aggressive (see: </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">the law of
threefold return</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">* This isn't to spare their feelings,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">this is to </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">allow them enough rope to hang themselves. </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arialmt";">talk about the</span></span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">3P's</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">ka</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Ned Flanders Approach, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">in </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">my podcast, Dominique Does Life, on
the free Spreaker podcast app (you can weigh in live, via the live “chat” section of the free
Spreaker app), Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean, iHeartRadio, iTunes Podcasts, and
wherever else podcasts are available.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* You </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">NEVER</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">publicly accuse </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">toxic folks, narcissists, sociopaths or other cluster b’s</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">or potential
cluster b’s of anything. It's </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">always</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">best to use the </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">3P's</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">. I personally have made many of these
mistakes myself, in addition to witnessing clients who have inadvertently committed them. In so
doing, I have, personally, epically fouled things up, by making </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">public accusations, threats, and
talking about how things the toxic person has done and/or said have affected me</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">; I have </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">never, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">however,</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">fouled things up while engaging</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">3 P's/The Ned Flanders Approach</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">--same goes for my clients.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Present facts, never feelings<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Always</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">(</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">publicly</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">) give the toxic person the </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">benefit of the doubt</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">even if, privately, you
know—or strongly suspect that they are absolutely full of it.<br />
* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Never</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">engage in a back and forth with the toxic person<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Always</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">allow them to explain themselves and talk themselves into a corner</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">to those who are
listening, and then meet them with </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">inquisitiveness</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">.<br />
* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Never</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">allow the </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">toxic person</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">to </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">initiate a victim role</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">, or to </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">save face<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Never</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">bring up a </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">personal impact their behavior has had on you.</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">They will turn it back around
to </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">them being the <b>victim</b></span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">, and you will get </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">nowhere</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">with that.<br />
* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">They have already been building up a narrative behind your back--don't give them the
opportunity to do so to your face.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* Oftentimes, </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">this narrative has to do with discrediting what you say by bringing up your
supposedly unstable emotional state.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">They </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">WANT</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">you to appear angry, a bully, and emotional. You can </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">never</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">let emotions come into play. S</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">ave those for later on at home, when you’re alone or with your very closest, most
trusted loved ones who will support you.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">If </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">you have to bring up </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">something they've done wrong, please</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">keep in mind that they are
already ten steps ahead of you</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">with their "</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><i>I'm the real victim here/</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">so and so [insert name here, possibly your own, possibly somebody else's, possibly several names--what matters is that things are never the toxic person's fault] is crazy, lazy, or
abusive" narrative.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">*</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">This is <b>i</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">mportant</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">because </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">people you need on your side (ie people you're trying to save
from harm from that narcissist or toxic person) are listening, </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">and no matter how much you tell
those people flat out that ‘Ed the narcissist is a fraud,’ you will always look like </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">chicken
little, saying</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> the sky is falling, until they see things for themselves, due to the </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">groupthink</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">that </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">even people on the fringes of the toxic
person's network are likely a part of.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Public shaming <b>NEVER</b></span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">works</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">on a </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">narcissist</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">or toxic person. </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">It will only backfire on you.
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Your time is better spent by engaging the critical thinking of those around the toxic person or
narcissist, leaving emotion and appeals to conscience out of it completely.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">While the effect of counteracting their narrative is great, that should never be your only goal.
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Building </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">your own narrative</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">is key </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">(see above, re-engaging people's critical thinking)
* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Your goal is to build the narrative of objective truth
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The 3P’s/The Ned Flanders Approach:
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The 3 P’s:
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">* Polite,<br />
* Positive<br />
* Persistence
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">What does this look like?<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Being politely inquisitive (listen to my podcast for specific examples)
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Being positive and remaining offhand and simply inquisitive, helpful and
concerned</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">—remember, </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">we are playing to an audience and an effect—at least a portion of this audience has been exposed to brainwashing and groupthink.
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Making sure you </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">NEVER</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">answer the toxic person’s accusations
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Responding to any accusations with calm</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> inquisitiveness</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">—like a teacher to a child</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">(</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">ex:
“Gosh, it sounds like you’re very interested in talking about x. I can appreciate your enthusiasm
and would like to invite you to turn that same enthusiasm toward the meeting we’re having right
now. Moving on to agenda item b: is there any discussion?”</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">This even goes for when the </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">toxic
person</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">name calls, puts people down or begins going off on a self-aggrandizing, vaguely
related or even a totally unrelated tangent)
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Responding</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">to any name-calling or attempts at character assassination or self-aggrandizement with calm, polite, positive inquisitiveness.</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">You needn’t be smiley or act like a
suck-up—just a </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">simple “gosh, I notice you speaking when Al was speaking just now. I’d like
everyone to have a turn to speak. Al, you have the floor. Go ahead...Or...I can understand why
you might be feeling passionate. Even so, I’m going to have to insist that we speak to each
other without engaging in name-calling. Let’s turn some of that passion toward item 4 on our
agenda (then keep speaking firmly and just loudly and quickly enough to telegraph to everyone
that you won’t brook nonsense, doing so assertively, even if the toxic person continues to
attempt to speak over you. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">R</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">emaining calm and turning your eye contact and every iota of
your focus and energy off of the toxic person</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">and on to your co-workers/meeting attendees,
and showing signs of paying attention to, and being interested in what they have to
say—sometimes simply holding up one finger like you would with an errant child works in
addition to this technique, but be sure to use that little added extra </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">ONLY</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">with </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">genuinely toxic
people</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">,</span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">and only in select circumstances.)
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">What the 3 P’s or The Ned Flanders Approach is not:<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: "gautami"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Doing a touchdown dance<br />
* Getting in anyone’s face<br />
* Rubbing the fact that we are right in the toxic person’s (or anyone else’s) faces </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">* Being emotional
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">* Behaving erratically<br />
* Interrupting<br />
* Wrestling in the mud with the toxic person<br />
* Going by the toxic person’s rules/fighting on the toxic person’s home court </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">* Playing defense/defending/explaining yourself<br />
* Allowing the toxic person to dictate topics of discussion
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-53032278110873266552019-10-29T11:19:00.002-07:002019-10-29T11:19:11.153-07:00Death Incorporated: Chapter 2
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<b>Chapter Two: Sera, Sam, And The Rest Of The Fam</b></div>
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Seraphina taught Sam to walk--a moment which Nina captured in a home movie. She taught Sam how to get the most out of his Halloween costume during his first outing trick-or-treating in their upper-middle-class neighborhood. "Hit the big houses first," she said, "the ones with the lights on and the decorations up. They'll be the ones with the good stuff--you know, the full-sized snickers bars and the big bags of m&m's." Nancy warned Seraphina, with a sardonic look and a half-smile, that two-year-olds didn't need to be eating full-sized snickers bars OR large bags of m&m's, but this did not deter Seraphina in the least from leveraging Sam's cuteness and her own never-give-up entrepreneurial spirit in order to procure the best candy.</div>
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Life continued on like this for several years. Sam turned five, and Seraphina turned fifteen. The two were inseparable. They went everywhere together and seemed an unstoppable team. </div>
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When Lucas Mitchell had bullied Sam on the fifth-grade playground, Seraphina snuck out of the house one night with the intention of scaring Lucas while he was in bed, and then threatening him until he promised never ever to hurt, bother or upset Sam, either on the playground, or anywhere else, thank you very much, but to her consternation, found instead that Lucas had discovered his Dad's adult tube account, which he was watching with both zeal and ardor. The next day at lunchtime, Seraphina snuck out of her high school campus and paid a little visit to the elementary school her brother attended, which happened to be practically next door, smartphone in hand, a smug, yet determined look on her face, as she marched up to Sam and dragged him only semi-willingly up to Lucas Mitchell, who, as it turns out, was very capable of crying and wetting his pants on the playground, in addition to having a desire to bully other children for much more minor infractions of the elementary school social code. From that day on, Lucas never bothered another soul at recess, and even became friends with Sam, although Sam was slow to accept said friendship.</div>
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Life was good for the Arrington-Wu family. Balance had been achieved, and they had, in Sam's colloquial terminology "leveled up" to the point that it seemed all of the families in the surrounding houses were jealous, at most, and admiring, at least, of the Smith-Wus.</div>
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But in the fall of that year, things, as they tend to do, changed. Seraphina thought she was used to change by now, but, as it turns out, change can reach out and punch people right in the gut when they are least expecting it. Nancy, it became clear, had found a lump. It wasn't a big lump, but it was cause for concern. One Thursday morning, Nancy sat the family down at breakfast. She was going in for a biopsy. Sure everything would be fine, Nancy and Nina reassured the children.</div>
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But things were not "fine," and Seraphina, as an almost-adult, resented being told that they would be. This was a point she would bring up often with both of her parents, but especially with Nina, who had reassured her to the point of repetitiveness that Nancy would, in fact, be fine. Nina's assurances, along with her confidences, however, started to crumble, and Seraphina's anger grew, while Sam seemed to spend all of his spare time with his Mom, cheering her up, reassuring her, and sending her videos, texts, and gifs to make her smile as she proceeded from surgery to chemotherapy to surgery to radiation treatment, and then back to surgery. Seraphina avoided spending time with Nancy. Seraphina was furious that Nancy had reassured her that everything would be okay when she knew it wouldn't. Seraphina even went so far as to reach out to her father, whom she hadn't talked to in years, to see what he could do to help. She expected to be met with ignorance, disdain, even derision. After all, she hadn't seen, nor talked with the man in many years--since he had moved away on business, but that was the arrangement he and Nancy had made, and he had built his own family. Seraphina, much to her dismay, was met only with kindness and understanding, which irritated her even further. Why was it, she wondered, that adults always told the truth to each other--talked behind their kids' backs, rather than telling them the truth upfront? Keith had not only commiserated with Seraphina upon the occasion of her first phone call to him, but he had, annoyingly, been video calling her on a weekly basis. He even dared to show off his family in these calls. Seraphina began to resent the sad looks his wife and children had when they sat with him or inconspicuously in the background during these chats. As Nancy's health declined, Seraphina stopped picking up the phone. She didn't need someone else pretending to tell her the truth. She didn't need anyone pretending to love her or spending time reaching out to her that they would probably rather spend doing anything else. Seraphina was nobody's burden.</div>
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And so, the days and weeks of this continued. Sam, at Nancy's bedside, Nina trying and failing to connect with Seraphina, Grandma and Grandpa Wu phoning in from whatever Pacific Island their retirement boat, the Megumi, took them to next. </div>
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And then, one day, Nina showed up at Seraphina's school, Sam in tow, sad look on both their faces. Had something happened to Mom? Seraphina wondered. And how was it that Sam had been told about this before she had? Adult always lied. It was, in Seraphina's view, basically their job. Nina held Seraphina's and Sam's hands as she told them they were going to see Nancy in the hospital. Things weren't going well, and Nancy had been in and out of consciousness that day. The hospital staff had said to come right away.</div>
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This, as it happens, would recur and recur more times than Seraphina could count over the next few weeks, with the hospital chaplain stopping in for a visit upon occasion, and the Rabbi from Dad's old synagogue even putting in a few appearances. It was chaos--an oddly predictable chaos, that Seraphina's family had been thrown into.</div>
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As the days passed and Seraphina's friends and teachers became more and more concerned, Seraphina grew distant, signing up for any job, title or activity that would take up time. Seraphina had always been a bit of an overachiever, but these were the acts of a person drowning in heartache and sorrow. Sera had to escape. She had to have an outlet. </div>
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As the weeks wore on, Seraphina stopped going with Nina and Sam when they would visit Nancy at the hospital. If Nina was so convinced Nancy would get better, Seraphina would just see her then, and then they would have it out about lying to her own kid--her partner-in-crime about important things. Before Nina and stupid Sam, they used to talk about everything. Why should that change now, just because Nancy was sick? Nina was inconsolable--even to Sam, who spent every extra minute with her, trying to keep her spirits up. Sam was such a little sellout, Seraphina thought, always wanting to be liked--loved--always wanting everyone to be happy. Well, Seraphina wasn't happy, and she didn't need any of that. She would deal with reality, take things as they were. She wouldn't sugar coat things and pretend everything was fine when it wasn't.</div>
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One day, as luck would have it, Nina and Sam turned up at school for a second time, without notice, asking that Seraphina be excused for the day. Seraphina's stomach dropped, but that initial reaction to this news, which couldn't be good, was outrage. How dare they come in here and interrupt her life AGAIN? Didn't anyone even care that this was the day of the student council elections? Did anyone even bother to check?</div>
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Seraphina told Nina and Sam the same, after storming into the principal's office to see them. "Go!" she said. "You don't care about me! She won't even know I'm there! I'll see Mom when she gets better." Rounding on Sam, "you don't even care about Mom anymore! Why don't you go comfort your precious Nina? Clearly, she needs a hand to hold. And when Mom, dies, maybe YOU can marry her!" </div>
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Seraphina stalked out of the principal's office, taking care to slam the door on the way out. </div>
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Feeling a little bit bad, and needing somewhere to go to calm down, Seraphina pushed her way into the nearest girls bathroom. To her embarrassment, she found Gretchen Silversen and her clique of vultures nested around one of the sinks, in mid-gossip.</div>
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"I don't know who she thinks she is," one of them said before any of them realized Seraphina was in the girls room, "she has like no friends. No one even knows her. I mean...wah, wah, her Mom's dead or whatever, but really--student council? Against me? How cliche?"</div>
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Someone else wandered into the girl's room a moment later, hitting Seraphina on the back with the bathroom door. "Oh," said the perpetrator, a girl Seraphina barely knew, but who was always nice to her in French class, "I didn't see you there. I'll be voting for you in today's election. Good luck!"</div>
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"At least one person will be voting for you," said one of the girls holding court with Gretchen replied waspishly, "everyone deserves at least one vote. The other thousand, however, will be going to Gretchen."</div>
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"Um," interjected one timid, ditzy girl in Gretchen's circle, "Gretch, I don't think her Mom's...like...dead or whatever."</div>
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"And?" Said Gretchen, "that means what, exactly? My point stands. She's a loser. Literally, no one will vote for her."</div>
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"Sorry," intoned the girl, whom Seraphina thought might have been named Jennifer, as the door closed with a thud.</div>
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For a minute, Seraphina didn't know where to go next. She had a moment of panic, wondering if Nina and Sam had left yet, wanting desperately and inexplicably to go with them. Then, she shook her head, thinking to herself that if even her family had forgotten about her upcoming election, she needed to show up so that at least she could hold her head high and not be the laughing stock of the whole school.</div>
<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-77695686822223508532019-10-28T21:48:00.002-07:002019-10-28T22:11:49.647-07:00New Novel: Death, Incorporated: Chapter One<style type="text/css">
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<b>Chapter One: Two’s Company; Three’s A Crowd</b></div>
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Seraphina Smith-Wu sat, soaking up the sun in the courtyard of her Santa Clarita high school. It would later be days like this--days taken for granted--packed, yet uneventful days, which stretched on into limitless possibilities, which Seraphina missed with all of her heart--with all of her soul.</div>
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"Sera--oy! Earth to Sera!"</div>
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A voice interrupted her daydreams,</div>
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"So? What do you think?"</div>
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"About?" Asked Seraphina, hoping that the utter lack of interest in her voice would dissuade Janice from sharing anything further.</div>
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"About?!" Janice responded indignantly, "I'm only pouring my heart out here. You are way too into that zen shit, Sera. Honestly. It's not healthy."</div>
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"What about being completely at peace with myself isn't healthy? Please--explain."</div>
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"Or, on second thought, don't. Because the bell's about to ring, and we've got an English test today. Let's go."</div>
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Seraphina rose, grabbing her bag and stuffing her phone into her pocket, long legs striding, carrying her closer to the oblivion she knew English class would offer, followed by Janice.</div>
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"He's totally crushing on you," said Janice, "Sawyer says she heard it from Jenna that HE is planning to ask you to the winter dance. You know," Janice qualified, "him. Logan Anderson. I wish he'd asked ME to the winter dance," Janice continued, "the winter dance is just one step away from prom, and prom is one step away from marrying into the wealthiest family in the state! I've looked. His Dad pulls a ridiculous paycheck from CharoCorp. He makes a cool ten million annually, and that's just what he declares on tax day. Who knows what money he's making from his investments? The possibilities here are limitless."</div>
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"Sera?" Janice asked, stopping short of their English classroom, upon discovering halfway into her monologue that Seraphina wasn't paying attention.</div>
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"Yeah," Seraphina said, inviting no further conversation.</div>
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"Well," said Janice hotly, “you could show a LITTLE more interest. I AM looking out for your future."</div>
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"My future?" Seraphina asked.</div>
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"Obvs," replied Janice, "always."</div>
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"Well," Seraphina quipped, opening the door to English class and lowering her voice, "then you are doing a terrible job because my foreseeable future includes the English test which I'm now late for."</div>
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Seraphina glanced back at Janice with a smile and a wink to stave off the rage she knew Janice would later unleash. Janice's initially stony face melted into a smile and an eye roll as Janice picked up the pace, hurrying into the room, trying not to be seen by Mr. Adams.</div>
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"Ms. Smith," said Mr. Adams, without looking up from his orderly desk, using Seraphina’s more colloquial and easily digestible English name, “so glad you could join us. And you appear to have brought Ms. Watson with you. I take it that something of dire importance must've kept you from arriving on time?"</div>
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"DIRE importance, sir," said Janice, casting a knowing look at Seraphina. Seraphina winced, glad of the need to unpack her bag and ready herself for the test, which gave her an excuse to look away.</div>
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As the bell rang, Seraphina packed her things quickly and got up, ready to sit through her history class--the only one she enjoyed, and to head to cheer practice.</div>
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You see, Seraphina was a driven individual. She sat on the student council, helped with bake sales, played volleyball and had held a place on the cheerleading squad, which she had kept since middle school. Seraphina Smith was busy. She didn't have time to let the grass grow. Free time meant time made free to think--to feel--and feeling meant pain. Pain could lead to stagnancy, and stagnancy could lead to the kind of life that didn't bear thinking of. Pain was for the weak, and Seraphina didn't have time for weakness.</div>
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Seraphina knew what pain was like, and, like most kids her age, wasn't keen to feel it again. </div>
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Seraphina's mother had taught her that, in a roundabout way. Sera and Nancy had always been as close as a mother and daughter could be. They ate together, and when they ate, they made funny faces at each other, scrutinized the other diners in their vicinity and people watched, speculating at what each person's life must be like--gave them each a name, based on their most outstanding features and attributes, speculated about where they were going and why, whether they had families, what their friends were like and what kinds of cars they drove. They made silly faces at cars and school buses as they drove by, made up names for their least favorite school teachers and co-workers and would spend family vacations roasting marshmallows over the campfire and wondering what their lives would look like in ten years.</div>
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Then came Nina. Nina came along at just the right time for Nancy. Nancy needed a partner her own age, it must be said, though her close relationship with Seraphina kept her young. Sera wasn't thrilled, needless to say, at the prospect of Nancy being someone else's partner-in-crime, making faces at buses, cars and trucks alike with someone else at her side, roasting marshmallows with someone else, speculating on where their lives might go with some generic person at her side, but as the months, and then years went by and Nina became part of the family, Seraphina saw how happy her mother had become. </div>
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Rather than taking Nancy away from Seraphina, Nina seemed to be a catalyst for Nancy to spend more time with her family--more time at home streaming silly teen movies on Netflix, more time gazing at diners when they went out to restaurants, people watching and wondering what other people's lives might be like and what sort of a family each diner was going home to on their way out of the restaurant; more time going to high school basketball games and rooting fiercely for the home team's hard-working girls, more time helping Seraphina with her homework, more time styling her hair before school, and more time getting manic/pedis at their favorite spas.</div>
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Nina seemed to complete a part of Nancy that Seraphina didn't even know needed completion. She added to Nancy's happiness and Seraphina's wellbeing, rather than taking away from their close relationship. Nina had, somehow, someday, while Seraphina's guard was down, become family. Seraphina could not adequately understand how this had happened, but it had. </div>
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Now Sera's school conferences miraculously included not one, but two parents. Her take your parent to school days now included not one parent, but two whole parents with separate and equally interesting jobs to talk to her fellow students about. Seraphina was loved. And so, it seems, was Nancy. Nancy had been holding back a part of herself that perhaps even she never fully understood. Nina nourished this part of Nancy back to health, until, one day, Nina and Nancy took Seraphina out of school for the day. Happily--giddily, even, they drove her to the courthouse, where they brought in three dry cleaning bags full of freshly laundered and pressed garments. Nancy and Nina were getting married, and Seraphina was to be their one and only bridesmaid! Seraphina couldn't hold back her yelps of joy and pleasure as the three of them walked out of the courthouse, blowing paper trombones and wearing funny hats with their fancy dresses. They went for ice cream down the street, attracting what seemed to Seraphina like all the attention in the world as they went, but Seraphina didn't care. She did not have eyes for the happy smiles and well wishes the strangers on the street stopped and offered the happy family as they walked by. She only had eyes for Nancy--and for Nina, her other mother, for all intents and purposes. Seraphina joyfully skipped as she held Nina's and Nancy's hands that day.</div>
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From then on, things had become downright wonderful. Her family was finally complete, with the happy accident of a baby brother thrown in as the completely unnecessary, but greatly loved and cherished cherry on top. Nancy had heard about a young boy from her family's hometown in Japan, who needed a family, and, before Seraphina knew it, she had a new baby brother. Sam was eighteen months old when he joined her family, and, despite Sera's initial resistance to the idea that another child might take the spotlight off of her, she eventually fell in love with him--drool, goofy smile, and all. </div>
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</style>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-4212060370565301102019-10-16T17:59:00.001-07:002019-10-17T06:31:27.538-07:00#BookReportSunday Dead Reckoning: Spoiler Free&Full Synopsis, Breakdown&Response<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1"><b>Intro and Welcome:</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Hey folks! It's your girl, Dom. My #BookReportSunday series on my podcast, Dominique Does Life (available on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, iTunes Podcast, Google Play, Spotify and more!) has really taken off, so I've decided to bring it on over to my blog in written form. While this has taken some time to do, and while at this time, I don't think I'll be going back and doing this for every book I've reviewed on the Dominique Does Life podcast, I do think it'll be worth it to do a corresponding blog piece for each new book I review on Dominique Does Life's podcast. Let me know what you think, and leave your comments about what you liked, loved, disliked, hated or even what you felt a bit 'meh' about in this book in the comments below! As always, please introduce any spoilers with a spoiler alert, so that I don't have to deal with a bevy of angry readers 😂. Read on, be well and have a fabulous day!</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Dead Reckoning Spoiler-Free Synopsis</b></span></div>
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In “Dead Reckoning,” a title which happens to be a play on a mode of navigation for flying airplanes in poor weather conditions with low visibility, Charlaine Harris takes Sookie and company on the wildest ride yet, with her characteristic twists and turns, and with the clear plan to wrap up the deliciously in-depth character arcs she has created throughout the previous ten books and the many vignettes in between. Sookie explores her relationship with Eric, which is pushed to the limits as new foes loom on the horizon, improves her friendship and simultaneously tests the bond between her and Amelia, and helps Tara through her unexpected pregnancy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sookie begins to understand more about her relationship with her fae brethren and what it means to be part fae herself, while finding new allies in old friends like Mr. Cotaliades and Diantha, and drawing lines in the sand with old flames, like Alcide and Bill. Sookie finds a new depth to her unexpected friendship with her ex-boyfriend Bill Compton, after having assisted Bill in reconnecting with family who had no idea they were descended from the Comptons (in the last book in the Sookieverse, “Dead In The Family”), while finding unforeseen complications which could spell trouble and ultimate doom for her relationship with Eric Northman. Sookie’s friendship with Pam is strengthened, as Pam defies her maker’s orders in order to give her friend [Sookie] a much-needed heads up about a situation that could have grave consequences for Sookie, about which Eric would prefer to keep Sookie in the dark.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8RQS454n2MjbSQOILH4YBupc4e74_03U9YJpgcjos6hE3J9jSBFYj-pZ4H0zmr73klayddGb_MWJhTQdhb3cZn30b95nIVqGrvteJo4znbxsCX3hwTEeERkFf0vS7ETj60ePeMAazz0D/s1600/walkonwater.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8RQS454n2MjbSQOILH4YBupc4e74_03U9YJpgcjos6hE3J9jSBFYj-pZ4H0zmr73klayddGb_MWJhTQdhb3cZn30b95nIVqGrvteJo4znbxsCX3hwTEeERkFf0vS7ETj60ePeMAazz0D/s1600/walkonwater.gif" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sookie cultivates a deepened bond both with her brother, Jason, and her faerie Great Uncle, Dermot, whom she has grown to love and respect. Jason’s relationship with his girlfriend-turned-fiancee, Michele, becomes more serious, and Sookie is incredibly grateful and eminently thankful to notice that her once harebrained, immature, and…er…promiscuous (to say the least!) brother has now grown up and is taking to his life as were-panther, former widower and current fiancee with a finesse that Sookie never realized Jason had. Jason is able to prove himself to Sookie on more than one occasion, being there for her in unexpected ways.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sookie gains some new insight into who her Gran was and why she was so protective of Sookie, above and beyond Sookie’s telepathic “gift.” This window into her Gran’s soul also affects Sookie’s relationship with Niall, Claude, Dermot, Mr. Cotaliades, and her late Grandfather, Finton, as well as the rest of the fae at Hooligan’s, and those beyond the dimensional borders. Sookie’s friendship with Sam is tested, and will apparently continue to be, though she is able to help him in a major way when Merlotte’s heads into a bit of a slump, due to Victor, the new King Regent of Louisiana opening a new bar in his area, and the townsfolk being wary of Sam’s now public status as a two-natured shape-shifter. Sandra Pelt, Alcide Herveaux, and Lily Bard Leeds and her husband Jack even turn up in this book. I really enjoyed this entry into the Southern Vampire Mysteries and would highly recommend giving it a read.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Plot: 5/5</b></div>
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<b>Character Development: 5/5</b></div>
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<b>Setting: 5/5</b></div>
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<b>Narrative Flow: 4/5</b></div>
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<b>Style: 5/5</b></div>
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<b>Editing: 4/5</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Total Score: 28/30</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>I’d categorize this one as a Must Read!</b></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>AVAST YE AND DEATH TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE, FOR THERE ARE MANY SPOILERS AHEAD, YE SCURVY DOGS!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>READ NO FURTHER IF YE HAVE NOT YET READ DEAD RECKONING, OR THE ILLS OF THE CURSE OF READING SPOILERS BEFORE YE HAVE READ THE BOOK BE UPON YE! ARGH!</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>SPOILERS</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>STILL SPOILERS</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>SPOILERS ARE HAPPENING</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>I’M NOT KIDDING. THIS SHIT IS SUPER SPOILER HEAVY.</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>TURN BACK NOW IF YOU HAVEN’T YET READ DEAD RECKONING.</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>SPOILERS INCOMING IN…</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>3…</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>2…</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>1…</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>SPOILER TIME!!!!!</i></b></span></div>
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<b></b><br /></div>
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<b>Dead Reckoning Timeline Of Events: Spoilers Included</b></div>
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Sookie, Dermot, and Claude work together to clean out the attic and affect some home improvements so that Dermot has a furnished attic to live in (Dermot loves HGTV).</div>
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Sookie decides to sell her old items and old family “junk” to an antique shop called Splendide, in Shreveport.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Sam told Sookie about Splendide, where, apparently, Janalynne shops. Sam and Sookie make plans to go to Splendide to talk to the owners about selling Sookie’s stuff. Dermot, Claude and Sookie start a burn pile for the rest.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Merlotte’s is firebombed by a quickly moving supe who Sookie just barely catches sight of out of the corner of her eye before the supe throws the molotov cocktail through the window of the bar, before running away and disappearing. Jane Boathouse, the town drunk, is seated by the window when this happens. Sam gets Jane to safety and Sam and Sookie put out the blaze. Sam quickly recovers from his burnt arm and Sookie has some of the ends of her hair burnt beyond repair.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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By the time Bud Dearborn shows up to investigate the fire, Eric has already arrived, having felt Sookie’s pain and fear, having dropped everything and flown over to rescue Sookie. Bud is surprised that Eric was able to make it over so quickly. Eric tells Bud that Eric has flown over to Merlotte’s, much to Bud’s consternation. Sookie and Eric strategically avoid talking about their blood bond and the implications it has on how and why Eric showed up so quickly when Sookie was in danger.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Eric and Pam bring Emanuel, a top-notch hairdresser and the brother of Pam’s human partner, Miriam, to fix Sookie’s burnt hair. Eric is in a terrible mood and, in a towering rage, Eric attacks Pam and makes a mess out of Sookie’s kitchen in the process. Sookie ushers everyone out of her house, wondering why Eric is in such an horrible mood. Pam seems to be trying to tell Sookie something, but Sookie can’t fathom what that might be.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The faeries come home and wonder what the hell happened. Sookie is too frustrated to explain.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sam shows up at Sookie’s the next morning, despite the fire the previous night at Merlotte’s, ready to take Sookie over to Splendide. Apparently, Sam is looking to buy Janalynne a birthday present while he and Sookie are at the antique shop. Between Danny the new bouncer, Terry, Sam, and the fire marshall, Merlotte’s has been cleaned up and is ready to reopen the following evening, despite the police have as yet been unable to catch whoever firebombed Merlotte’s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITKX6-Sz15GFEEzVRGfqL01uOlBI31F_QtyJRMFaiSp5eS41eMc4RGCcaUTdOBbJwk1dYx-iAK5ogE_WeRxbZ0NcYjF9dqe3cysKTgx-qcU6aksZRs52n7bLLZvIUkFtFwJM8ru8Xd5J9/s1600/office+eye+roll.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITKX6-Sz15GFEEzVRGfqL01uOlBI31F_QtyJRMFaiSp5eS41eMc4RGCcaUTdOBbJwk1dYx-iAK5ogE_WeRxbZ0NcYjF9dqe3cysKTgx-qcU6aksZRs52n7bLLZvIUkFtFwJM8ru8Xd5J9/s1600/office+eye+roll.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cannot with Sam right now</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sam acts like a little bitch, being jealous and surly with Claude, and, after visiting Splendide with Sookie, convinces Sookie to head right on over to the strip club Claude runs and Dermot helps manage, to give all of the fae there the hard brace about why they’re really staying at Sookie’s house and what implications being fae has for Sookie on her life (which, why not just ask Claude and Dermot while you were at the house being surly with them when you picked Sookie up to go to Splendide...? Ugh, Sam. I can’t even with you.). Obviously, the fae aren’t super thrilled with this dick move, but they oblige as much as they feel comfortable. Sam then scolds Sookie about Eric needing to fix the mess he made of Sookie’s kitchen, because why not, I guess...?</div>
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Eric and Sookie are asked to go to Victor's new bar, Vampire's Kiss, to pay tribute to the King Regent of Louisiana (holding the state for King Filipé de Castro, who is the first vampire king to rule more than one state at a time, or possibly the first vampire king to hold more than one state ever). Pam arrives first, being Eric’s second and lieutenant, and asks to check the premises to ensure Eric’s safety when he arrives. Victor takes offense to this and has his minions beat the ever-loving crap out of Pam.</div>
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When Eric and Sookie arrive, Victor acts as offensively and disrespectfully as possible to Sookie and Eric, hoping to make them snap and start a fight, so he has an excuse for Felipe to sanction the killing of Eric, Pam and Sookie. Victor has also kidnapped Pam’s sick human partner, Miriam, Emanuel’s sister, and holds her hostage at the bar, pretending that she came of her own volition. Pam must go through the night pretending that she doesn’t care about Miriam so that Victor doesn’t harm her further. Eric, Pam, and Sookie don’t bite, and maintain their best behavior, and so Victor moves to his backup plan and tries to serve Pam and Eric True Blood that has been laced with faerie blood, which is intoxicating to vampires, again, in the hopes that they’ll lose their minds and go nuts in his club, allowing him license to kill them and not get in trouble with Felipe for killing Eric, who is one of Felipe’s top earners, due to his ownership of Fangtasia. Victor has even primed two of his vampire minions to approach Eric and company in the bar parking lot, pretending to want to overthrow Victor. Back inside of the club, when Victor attempts to spike Eric’s and Pam’s blood, one of the servers, a man named Colton, sends Sookie a message telepathically, in order to warn her that there was faerie blood in their glasses. Sookie sends her concern through her blood bond with Eric and, while she is unable to give him specifics, intimates to him that he and Pam should not drink from the glasses Victor has offered them. Eric then tells Victor that he and Pam have nothing against American packaging and that he would prefer to drink from the bottle. This confounds Victor, but his hands are tied, and he serves them bottled True Blood instead of True Blood from the glasses Victor initially provided.</div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pam is able to escort Miriam off the premises and get her safely home. Pam, knowing that Miriam is ill (she has leukemia), has petitioned Victor to turn Miriam into a vampire. Victor has delayed the process, knowing that when Miriam eventually dies, Pam will be enraged, and hoping that she will attack and give Victor an excuse to put Pam and Eric down and take over Fangtasia himself. While Pam escorts Miriam home, Eric and Sookie follow Colton, the helpful server home to talk to him. Once Colton and his girlfriend Audrina realize that Eric and Sookie are not a threat, they set up a time to meet at Sookie’s house to discuss how they might all go about killing Victor, as Victor has become too big of a threat and too unpredictable to allow him to live. Felipe won’t take any action against Victor, because he doesn’t want his other lieutenants thinking that’s how he normally deals with the vampires who have sworn loyalty to him and rebelling against him. Victor is a pain in Felipe’s behind too, because of his thirst for power and unpredictability, and Sookie, Eric and Pam know that if they do kill Victor, Felipe will need to make a show of imposing some sort of consequence on them, even if it is just for optics.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I realize this is Debbie, but we work with what we've got</td></tr>
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Because one attack wasn’t enough, Sandra Pelt sends some blood heads (vampire blood users) to Merlotte’s AFTER Janalynne walks in and becomes jealous of Sookie and Sam, because they are closeted together in his office working on tax paperwork. Janalynne, Sam, Sookie, and visitors Lily [nee Bard] and Jack Leeds who have visited the bar to finish up their involvement with the Debbie Pelt case, and Terry Bellefleur subdue the attackers. Andy happens to be in the bar at the time and he hauls said thugs off to jail. Apparently, Mr. Cotaliades has sent Lily and Jack to Merlotte’s, knowing that Sandra was planning yet another attack on the bar. Mr. Cotaliades is the executor of the Pelt family’s will, and, as we find out later on in this book, Sookie’s sponsor, which essentially means that as Sookie’s Grandfather Finton’s best friend, in addition to keeping an eye on Sookie and keeping Sookie safe, he gave Sookie her gift of telepathy (and Hunter’s too) by giving her Gran some of his blood in some wine, which allowed Sookie and any other descendants of Gran to have the ability of telepathy, an ability which Finton and Desmond Cotaliades both thought would be a boon, and would offer any descendants with the essential spark (a basic ability to empathize with and understand those who were supernatural, an ability which Gran apparently had and passed on to some of her descendants) in an effort to offer them a leg up on their human peers. But Desmond Cotaliades isn’t the only one looking out for Sookie. Terry admits to Sookie, in a state of PTSD shock, that Niall and Eric have coerced him into looking after Sookie and keeping an eye on her when they’re not around. Sookie is displeased at this news but isn’t too terribly surprised. Jack Leeds is shot for his trouble to come out to Merlotte’s and finish his job working for the Pelt estate, warning Sookie of Sandra’s intentions in so doing. Thankfully Lily was able to get Jack to the hospital emergency room and all was well with them after that. Apparently the bar patrons, Andy included, mistook the thugs’ comment about being there for “the blonde” to mean that they had followed Lily Leeds, who also has blonde hair, to Merlotte’s, which allowed Sookie to go home without further questioning from local law enforcement.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie again, but close enough</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sookie knows now that not only does Sandra Pelt dislike her—even hate her, but that she’s gunning for her, and not only is she gunning for her, but she isn’t willing to let any grass grow under her feet; she wants Sookie dead like yesterday. For those who need a primer on why Sandra Pelt hates Sookie Stackhouse so, Sookie was forced to kill Sandra’s adopted sister, Debbie, after Debbie broke into Sookie’s house with a gun, in an angry, jealous rage, after Alcide Herveaux abjured her. This wasn’t the first time Debbie Pelt had tried to kill Sookie. She attacked her hours before she broke into Sookie’s house during the witch war, and before that, Debbie threw Sookie into a car trunk with a blood deprived Bill, who eventually raped Sookie and nearly drained her before he regained his senses. Debbie did all of this because she was jealous of Sookie and Alcide, despite the fact that her relationship with Alcide was on-again-off-again, and despite the fact that Debbie was engaged for a portion of these attacks on Sookie. When Debbie showed up at Sookie’s house after the witch war, wielding a gun, Eric jumped in front of Sookie and took the bullet for her, giving Sookie time to grab the rifle she borrowed from Jason’s house and shoot Debbie in the head. Eric then buried Debbie’s body on the outskirts of Sookie’s property and hid her car somewhere else. Debbie and Sandra’s parents promised Sookie, Quinn, and Eric that they would keep Sandra in check, and told them that they accepted [albeit grudgingly] that Sookie had shot and killed Debbie Pelt justifiably, being that Debbie had attacked Sookie first, with the intent of killing her. Unfortunately, not long afterward, the Pelts died in a car accident, leaving Sandra to go about trying to kill Sookie.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Meanwhile, at home, Sookie is given a bag and a piece of paper which were hidden in a hidden compartment in a desk she had sold to Splendide. Sookie reads the letter which is from Gran, which describes the item inside of the drawstring bag, which is called a cluvial dor. It is a mystical item that gives the one receiving it as a gift [of love] one wish. The wish can be as big or as small as the receiver wishes—the only stipulation being that it MUST be used in love i.e. in the service of or to otherwise benefit someone the receiver loves. Gran may or may not have fully believed in this magic and never told Sookie, either out of shame or because she never thought Sookie was ready to hear about it—and her affair with Finton, but Sookie, being more familiar with magic, knows it’s for real and immediately enlists Amelia’s help in figuring out more about the cluvial dor. Sookie ruminates on the possibility that Gran could’ve used the cluvial for to save herself when Rene Leniere murdered her. Sookie hides the cluvial dor in her vanity, disguising it as a powder compact and telling no one about it—least of all her fae roommates.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Donald Calloway (the co-owner of Splendide) ends up finding out that the cluvial dor is valuable and wants to steal it back from Sookie. Sookie ends up killing Donald Calloway in self-defense, and Mr. Cotaliades and Diantha help her to cover it up and dispose of his body, giving her an alibi.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Sookie wonders why Eric has been in such a mood and ends up finding out, through Pam’s insistence, that Eric’s maker, Apius Livius Ocala, had made up a binding contract to pair Eric with Frida, the queen of Oklahoma. Eric has been covering up the fact that he’s been talking to Frida, and that this is basically a done deal. Sookie is hurt, and in the meantime, she enlists Amelia and Bob’s help in breaking the magical blood bond between her and Eric, which enrages Eric, since she didn’t consult him before doing so. Apparently, the blood bond was the thing which was offering Sookie the most protection—even more so than their marriage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sandra then ends up coming to Merlotte’s herself and freaks tf out on Sookie and is promptly arrested by Bud Dearborne, who can frequently be found at Merlotte’s, holding court and having dinner. Terry subdues Sandra with a baseball bat to the head and his PTSD goes hog wild. Terry is taken to the ER.</div>
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Sookie finds her door hanging open when she gets home from work one day not too much later. A were then downs a tree behind her car to trap her, so she gets out of her car, flings her milk jug at the were and runs over to Bills, where she doffs her clothes and shoes, shakes the rain off of her, grabs Bill’s spare key and enters his house. Despite the rain and darkness, it isn’t nightfall yet, and Bill is still dead for the day. Sookie finds his sleeping area and enters it to hide with him. Bill wakes up and falls back to sleep a few times and Sookie hushes him. Once Bill wakes up and sees Sookie naked, he jokes that he wonders whether she concocted this scenario just to be naked around Bill and potentially have sex with him. Sookie isn’t pleased about this and she puts on what she thinks is a table cloth, only to find out that it’s Bill’s late Aunt Edwina’s favorite shawl. Sookie and Bill finally head back to Sookie’s house and they find Dermot injured and bleeding from a head wound, having been attacked by the weres who came looking for Sookie (three guesses as to who hired them). Bill almost eats Dermot and Sookie but is able to leave her house before he does anything too crazy. Sookie calls one of the fae from Hooligans, an elf named Bellanos, who comes to help Dermot. Apparently, the best medicine for Dermot is the blood of the men who attacked him. That pretty much spells the end for them, and Dermot and Bellanos bring the severed head of one of the weres back to Sookie’s house to show her that they took care of the weres who attacked Dermot and tried to attack Sookie. Sookie vomits, but tries to be positive with Dermot and is, of course, glad that he has recovered. Sookie cuts Dermot a little bit of a break on having taken down Amelia’s protection spell (in order to put up an apparently stronger one of his own) since he was attacked and injured because of it.</div>
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Sookie lends Sam money to keep Merlotte’s afloat, since it is in a bit of a slump, due to Sam coming out as a shifter and Victor opening Vic’s Redneck Roadhouse. Sam balks at first, but then graciously accepts it. At a later surprise birthday party for Sookie at Merlotte’s, Sam presents Sookie with a certificate stating that she is 1/3 owner of Merlotte’s. Sookie then takes over managerial and ownership duties alongside Sam.</div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sookie plans a baby shower for Tara (apparently in addition to Halle and Tara being pregnant, Porsche is pregnant too) for the day after Eric, Sookie and Pam plan to kill Victor. Mr. Cotaliades shows up afterward, having been chased by some hellhounds, and explains his relationship to Sookie, as well as what it means that he’s her sponsor. Sookie is both thankful for this and a little miffed that he waited until now to tell her all of this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Sookie and Eric go through with their plan to kill Victor, which involves Sookie’s brilliant idea of Bill convincing Bubba to perform for Victor at an exclusive concert just for Victor at Fangtasia, being that Victor is a huge Elvis fan. Sadly, by the time the night of the concert rolls around, Miriam has died. Emanuel attends in honor of his sister Miriam, as do Audrina and Colton. Eric, Pam, Sookie and team succeed in killing Victor, despite the fact that he has replaced the two vampires he sent to kill Pam and Sookie (who Pam and Sookie ended up killing in self-defense, instead) in the last book with a notorious fighter called Akiro. This makes it even more difficult to kill Victor, and ends up causing the goofy, narcissistic human couple Victor swings with and drags around everywhere to become casualties. Sadly, Audrina is killed by Jock the bartender, a Victor loyalist and newly hired Fangtasia bartender, who was hired to replace Felicia, the sweet bartender who was dating Bobby Burnham, Eric’s old daytime man, who were both killed by Alexei killed in the previous book. Thankfully Indira kills Jock.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sandra Pelt makes another gambit at freedom and at killing Sookie, when she escapes from jail (Bud Dearborn calls Sookie to let her know that Sandra has escaped from the Bon Temps holding cell she was taken to after the second fiasco at Merlotte’s), holding Sam and Janalynne (does anyone else absolutely HATE Janalynne’s name, by the way? Because holy cow, I have a major bias against that monstrosity of a name!) hostage and coaching Sam to spin a story that someone has dropped off a package at the bar and that Sookie should come out and get it. Sookie, knowing by Sam’s voice and general phone presence that something is not right, casually suggests to Sam that he and Janalynne bring the “package” out to her house, so she can open it there. Sam relays this information to Sandra, who is handicapped by her own stupid plan into acquiescing to Sookie’s request, has no choice but to haul her useless behind out to Sookie’s, with Sam and Janalynne in tow, where Sookie is waiting for them with her shotgun. Sookie, who should at this point be simultaneously kissing the boots of AND investing in Binelli stock, shoots Sandra, winging her so that Janalynne can take her out. Janalynne incapacitates Sandra long enough for the three of them to decide if they should kill her. Sookie decides that they should, and Sam agrees, citing the fact that she simply will not stop coming for Sookie if they don’t. Janalynne kills Sandra with hands interlaced and fisted brought down with force onto Sandra’s head, and they dispose of the body somewhat jovially (I mean, who wouldn’t? Sandra and the Pelt sisters have been a thorn in Sookie’s side for years!) in the faerie hole, where the two dimensions still connect in Sookie’s woods, where they immediately hear creatures fighting overeating the corpse (yuck!). Farewell, Sandra!</div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One character I feel the need to touch on before we say adieu to this week’s #bookreportsunday episode is Mustafa Khan. Mustafa is Eric’s new daytime man and a lone werewolf, wary of joining Alcide’s pack because of bad experiences he’s had in the past. Mustafa Khan has had his name changed to reflect personal growth after a stint in prison. His name was originally Keshawn Johnson, which for some reason makes Sookie and Eric keen to muse on whether or not he was related to/descended from Rashawn, the vampire lieutenant who was beheaded by either Ciabert or Waybert, fighting for the King of Kentucky in his doomed bid for power against Sophie Ann LeClair in the sixth entry in the franchise.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Another notable mention with regard to the plot of this book is Alcide Herveaux, who has, it is worth noting, turned into a complete jackwad. Alcide, at the behest and coaxing of Amelia, who can’t keep her damned mouth shut sometimes, who HATES Eric, Janalynne, who HATES Sookie and would do anything to see her in an uncomfortable or even potentially life-threatening situation, and Claude, who is a total frenemy to just about everyone he knows, turns up in Sookie’s bed the morning after she spent the night at Eric’s, looking “all sexy and rumpled” (that’s a direct quote from the book)” to entice Sookie into a relationship with him, AND, it is worth noting, to entice Sookie into a relationship with the pack, probably as their Shaman. Sookie is nonplussed and a little bit disappointed, as she had hoped that Alcide was a better person than that. Alcide finally listens to Sookie’s many valid complaints and concerns after she has stated and restated them several times, and leaves in a bit of a huff, leaving Sookie to tell her houseguests Amelia, Bob (who is apparently a complete wuss) and Claude, but not Dermot, as he was not involved, to leave.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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This book was super jam-packed with information, plot development, and character development, but I feel like I’ve covered the lion’s share of what happened in this entry into the Sookieverse. Let me know if you feel I’ve forgotten anything or if you have any opinions or nuggets you’d like to add.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> If not, have an amazing day, take care of yourself and be well.</span></div>
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-54264220981257314612019-07-31T19:32:00.000-07:002020-01-23T13:55:13.969-08:00Is Being Privileged A Bad Thing?<b><i> So many of my clients, listeners, and readers are horrified to discover something I have known about myself for a long, long time--that they, like me, are...gasp...PRIVILEGED!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>The common response to such a charged bit of information is often "what do you mean I'm privileged?</i></b><br />
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<b><i></i></b> <i>I have struggled too, after all</i>. I grew up poor/had an abusive relationship/abusive parent/etc." followed by "how dare anyone say I'm privileged?!" followed by the stages of grief, as laid out to such wonderful effect by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, to describe the grief of a loved one after someone important to them has died. </div>
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The stages of grief are as follows: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, and, this tends to be the program that privileged folks follow when they've come nose to nose with an unpleasant fact. First, it's "I can't be privileged," then it's "but I've struggled! How dare anyone call me privileged?" then it's "but I donate my time to charities/volunteer/help the needy, so how can I possibly be privileged?" oft followed by "I guess I'll just go away since no one wants to hear from me," and then, finally, "well maybe I'm privileged, but..."</div>
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Anyone who has been through these stages of grief themselves can identify them in someone else, and certainly, those of us who fall into the non-cis, non-hetero, non-white, non-male, non-wealthy categories can see these stages from miles away when folks who have never been forced to confront their own privileges start experiencing them firsthand. </div>
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The natural tendency when someone is incredibly privileged and this privilege is not something they are comfortable having pointed out is to simply get snarky, deflect or even deny their privilege altogether. But that in and of itself IS a form of privilege!</div>
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And you know what? It's okay to be privileged.</div>
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Did you hear that?</div>
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I said it's okay.</div>
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No one is telling you you're not deserving of love, affection, attention, an opinion, a vote, a choice, a voice, or anything else humans are entitled to via human rights. </div>
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Are you with me?</div>
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Okay, now that that's settled, let's talk about the nuances of what IS in fact being said when someone has pointed out to you that you are privileged.</div>
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Firstly, let's acknowledge something. That pain you're feeling; that anger; that resentment; that guilt; that rage...that IS privilege rearing its head. That's your entitlement telling you that you're entitled to have your privilege go unnoticed--to go without being called out. That's your ego telling you that having an advantage doesn't matter--that having a performance-enhancing edge doesn't change the game at all, and that rather than looking at the performance enhancement you've been using (even if you've thus far been using it without being fully conscious of it--without owning it) shouldn't matter, and that people should JUST look at your performance, without looking at the fact that you've been given performance enhancements. But that argument is fallacious. Having been given a performance enhancement of any kind, while not negating any good you have done or are doing, does matter, and it should be looked at. Lance Armstrong didn't win the Tour de France on his own, right? He did it using performance-enhancing drugs. And if you agree that that isn't fair and that it should be looked at, then maybe, just maybe, you also agree that a frank acknowledgment of game-changing privilege (and, in case you were wondering, all privilege is game-changing) is in order. </div>
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Secondly, let's take a look at the emotional component of being called out on your privilege. So often, we look at being called out as a bad thing, when really it's an opportunity--an opportunity for learning, for building relationships, for acknowledging something important that may aid us and others in our development as human beings. And that emotion you're feeling--that feeling of righteous indignation--of anger--of hurt? Well, that's a good jumping-off point to start the aforementioned learning and growing. That reaction is the best way that I know for others to be able to identify with you, and for you to be able to, in turn, identify with others. That reaction is something that lgbtqi+ folks, black folks, brown folks, other non-white and mixed people feel every time a white person, cis person, wealthy person, or a man cuts in front of us in line, takes our seat on the bus, explains something to us that we already know as if we were slow, developmentally deficient kindergartners--every time someone gets a raise or a promotion we were on track for, every time our pain is shrugged off at the doctor's office, every time we get a higher bill for education or medical care than a white person or a man gets, every time we are pulled over and harassed while driving, stopped while walking, every time the police are called on us because we dared to exist in a public space. When you feel those feelings of anger and outrage, you begin to have a small window of opportunity to feel a portion of what we feel on a daily basis. You have an opportunity here. That is a good thing.</div>
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I realize that it can be upsetting and jarring to learn that you may be privileged, with all of the connotations which go along with that loaded term, and I'm sure that takes some time and space to process--some allowance for the engagement of critical thought. We can't expect you to have the reaction that suits us, right off the bat, but not learning--not self-correcting--well that's a real loss. It's not a loss for us. We of the black and brown and mixed skin, of the textured hair, of the gender which doesn't fit your norms--we of the lgbtqi+ persuasion--we already know your privilege. We get it. We just hope you will too because that's when we can really start working together to do some good.</div>
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Privilege is, as I mentioned before, not inherently bad. Nobody is asking you to hate yourself because you happen to be privileged. After all, we all exist within some sort of a paradigm of privilege--a personal reality affected by things we were born into. Nobody wants you to publicly whip yourself in the town square. We do not expect your personal apology for the existence of racism, sexism, bigotry, misogyny or hate. What we do want is for you--for us--for everyone to acknowledge our own inherent privileges--those things we were born with which give us a leg up on those who were born without them. We want you, the white man, to stop explaining our jobs and our collective place in society to us, we want you, the white woman to stop speaking for us rather than using your white voice to allow us to step up and use ours. We, the people with privilege and without, want to encourage everyone to do what those of us who have long acknowledged our personal privilege have been doing, and to signal boost for those who do not have the platform you have because of your privilege. We don't need financially privileged cis, hetero, white folks to tell us to think differently or to just be positive and things will change. We also don't need those same people standing in for us to tell others how important our rights and our causes are. We don't want you to acknowledge your privilege to save face--we want you to acknowledge your privilege to save soul--yours, to be exact. </div>
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The uncomfortable but nonetheless true fact is that those of us with privilege (and I include myself, broadly at least, in that statement) owe it to ourselves and to those without the privilege we have to actively work against that privilege and the damage it has done (and yes, my friend, it has done and does continue to do damage, no matter what good works you do, particularly when your privilege goes unacknowledged), and the damage it continues to do. Doing good things is important, but doing them mindfully is better by far.</div>
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But how? You might ask.<br />
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Well, next time you come off of your plane stressed and ready to do nothing but check into your hotel, go to the pool and relax with a drink, yet you are faced with the choice of checking into that hotel before the black or brown person or the gay or lesbian couple ahead of you who have clearly been waiting a longer time to be served because the white hospitality agent recognizes you first, you can speak up and politely let that hospitality service worker know that you notice that the people ahead of you in line have been waiting for quite some time. Better yet, you could even simply ask the people in front of you if they'd like to go ahead and check-in first. </div>
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Next time you're in line behind that disabled person in a wheelchair at Starbucks and the barista notices you first and calls you to the register, you can ask the person in the wheelchair if they'd like to go ahead.</div>
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Next time you're out with a group of friends and someone makes a joke that's racist in front of your black, brown, or mixed friends, you can let them know that you'd like to make sure they're comfortable in this discussion and ask them whether they are. </div>
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Next time that guy at work (you know the guy, so I'll spare you the description) sounds off on building "the wall," you can speak up, or, better yet, if one of your black or brown or mixed ethnicity colleagues happens to speak on the subject, you can support them and make sure they have an opportunity to make the point they need to make.<br />
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A good rule of thumb to use when considering whether you might bear the burden of privilege personally is the following checklist, which is eloquently laid out in the 1986 piece "White Privilege: Unpacking The Invisible Napsack," written by Peggy McIntosh, which I'll enumerate below:<br />
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Per Ms. McIntosh:<br />
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"I decided to try to work on myself at least by identifying some of the daily effects of white privilege in my life. I have chosen those conditions which I think in my case <em style="color: inherit;">attach somewhat more to skin-color privilege </em>than to class, religion, ethnic status, or geographic location, though of course all these other factors are intricately intertwined. As far as I can see, my African American co-workers, friends, and acquaintances with whom I come into daily or frequent contact in this particular time, place and line of work cannot count on most of these conditions.</div>
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<li style="line-height: 20px;">I can if I wish [to] arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privilege.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods that fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser’s shop and find someone who can cut my hair.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can swear, or dress in second-hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world’s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge,” I will be facing a person of my race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can choose public accommodations without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones.</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 12px;">I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color and have them more [or] less match my skin.</li>
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I repeatedly forgot each of the realizations on this list until I wrote it down. For me, white privilege has turned out to be an elusive and fugitive subject. The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one’s life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own."</div>
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Do any of these checklist items apply to you? Some of them apply to me. And that's okay. What we must realize, however, is that those unearned privileges with which we are born also come with a high cost and an added level of responsibility to boot. We weren't selected for those privileges based on merit, they were awarded to us through luck and chance. The responsibility we hold includes acknowledgment--but not JUST acknowledgment. Self-hate on behalf of the privileged is, on the other hand, neither required, nor wished for, nor is it helpful. </div>
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The sum of all parts of this particular social equation is simple. A rising tide lifts all boats. All humans deserve basic human rights. The fact that groups of people who are marginalized culturally, societally and systemically who are rightfully looking for their own rights and freedoms to be supported and upheld is not a challenge to those whose rights are not under attack. However, the shadow side of this equation is that while we acknowledge that certain groups of people are marginalized, we must also acknowledge that other groups of people are, conversely, overly privileged. There are people in our society who are, due solely to inborn, unearned privilege (see the checklist above), granted MORE rights. This is the very definition of privileges that are unearned. Acknowledgment of this fact is essential to moving forward on the path toward equality. </div>
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I recognize that equality won't happen overnight. Complete equality may never happen, but that doesn't mean that we should stop working toward it, and step one on that path is radical honesty and radical self-knowledge.</div>
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Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-54241848631042336382019-07-31T14:36:00.002-07:002019-08-09T17:53:58.524-07:00The 9/11 Series: Part 1: My 9/11 Story <i>On the morning of September 11th, 2001,</i> I was a new college student. I had just graduated high school that spring and had had my 19th birthday five days prior to the morning in question. I remember 2001 acutely and specifically, due to the life-changing importance of the events which occurred in and after September of that year.<br />
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Let me start you off by introducing myself--no, I don't mean introducing myself to you as a fully grown adult, author, radio personality and accomplished musician--I mean me at 18-19 years of age--me as a mess of a human being--someone who was cookies; still baking--or cookie dough, in the immortal words of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.<br />
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At 18, I had barely graduated high school--not because I lacked intelligence or motivation, but because I was a confused, emotionally and physically abused teenager with some serious and painful health issues who had to fight tooth and nail through my years as a student to graduate. I had to fight illness, fatigue and extreme pain, it's true, but I also had to fight other-ism, sexism, and bigotry like the dickens just to keep my head above water, despite having an off the charts IQ and being a beautiful and talented young woman, albeit a troubled one.<br />
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When I finally graduated high school, I was unbelievably proud. I was relieved. I looked forward to limitless possibilities with my name hovering on a stamp just above them, waiting to be pressed. I knew that, in the words of the famous song, "happy days [were] here again, the skies were blue and clear again." I finally felt like I could focus on being the person I had always known I was but had been unable to make pop on paper. I could do anything--nothing--whatever I needed, and I'd have no one but time, myself and natural consequences to answer to. To me, this was a feeling I always knew I would have. I figured, in my still so childlike mind, that all adults felt this all the time--even adults who were wedged into societal corners by things like poverty, racism, abuse or lack of healthcare--and finally, I was able to join the ranks of such adults. I was able to be the person I knew I was on the inside with no fear of judgment.<br />
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I had just enrolled in college, just gotten a new job at an integrated preschool program and had just received an immediate raise, promotion and some excellent feedback about what a fantastic worker I was. I was living at home and commuting to school to save money. My Dad had just taken a job downstate and I stayed at home to fill in and help around the house (though I realize now that, as any 18-19-year-old would be, I was likely more of a hindrance than an actual help) and had committed to living down there during the week, while my Mom kept her upper management job at the local library (she was head of circulation services--a very important job in its own right, and one which she ended up working until she was almost 70, because she loved it so much and was in turn so well-loved and respected by her staff and her manager alike).<br />
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My parents were very independent and thoughtful people. They didn't have time for helicopter parenting, even when I was young, and they always trusted me to act appropriately and maturely and to be an autonomous individual, and, as someone who, while being a smidge over the line into the extrovert zone in Myers-Briggs terminology, enjoyed keeping my own company, I didn't mind at all. I was always popular with my friends, but didn't have any interest in being the leader of a specific group, nor was I interested in following anyone who did, which made for rather a strange brew of being well-liked, but not particularly caring whether or not I continued to be. I had, by the time I graduated high school, sadly, been in a highly physically and emotionally abusive relationship with a young narcissistic, sociopathic man who, like me, possessed an IQ well into the genius zone, and who, unfortunately, unlike me, possessed the EQ and the emotional maturity of a cracked and poorly varnished teacup. In short, my young life was already quite full of duality--of extremes, and by the time I turned 19, just before the events of 9/11, I had been in this abusive relationship for nearly two years. I thought I could handle the worst life had to offer...then came Tuesday, September 11th, 2001.<br />
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On that morning, my alarm clock was set to go off at 10am, since I wasn't working and I only had one class that day. I remember waking up to my bedroom tv on, my Mom standing in my doorway, urgently telling me to wake up while the sun streamed in on a gorgeous summer day in Chicago, birds singing, hardly a cloud in the bright sky. After a few moments, my Mom left my TV on and went back to her room without another word, so she could turn on her bedside radio. I followed her into her room to ask her what was wrong, and she hushed me as we listened to the radio announcer on WBBM Chicago telling us that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York City.<br />
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I was startled and shaken and, at the same time, wondering how anyone could possibly think this was anything other than a tragic accident. My Mom and I returned to my bedroom to watch Good Morning America on ABC, transitioning back forth between ABC and CNN, in search of more up to date facts, while the normally consummate professionals, Diane Sawyer, and Peter Jennings struggled to digest what had just happened--what would continue to happen throughout that fateful morning--live; on air. That's when the second plane hit. We quickly got dressed and went downstairs to continue watching the news.<br />
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Reports began coming in that this was, in fact, a deliberate attack on American soil. We heard the Pentagon had been attacked and, later on, that a plane had crashed in Shanksville, PA. Then, as I was at the gym, glued to the tv with the rest of the members who had come to work out and stayed to stand, staring and crying at the tv in shock and horror, the South tower fell.<br />
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I drove to school in a haze. The entire college campus had been shut down, and, upon walking back to my car, I heard the sonic booms of fighter jets overhead. My heart dropped into my stomach. Then I heard the news--the North tower had fallen. America was under attack, and we didn't know what target would be next.<br />
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I called my abusive boyfriend, who for once had nothing negative to say. We told each other to stay away from downtown Chicago. I called my best friends, my family, I called my Dad. I called all of my loved ones. All said the same--stay out of downtown--stay away from crowded places, stay at home. I cannot overemphasize the fact that in that moment--that day, even--none of us knew what was next. The vice president had been moved to an undisclosed location, the president was stopped in the middle of reading a book to school children and eventually taken on board Airforce One. Commercial and passenger planes were grounded. Everything was quite actually up in the air. Nothing like this had ever happened on American soil before. We were under attack.<br />
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That night, we heard that Al Qaeda, a small group of terrorists in Afghanistan, led by Osama bin Laden, black sheep of the ultra-wealthy, broadly philanthropic bin Laden family was claiming responsibility. Was this true, or was this small-time terrorist with big-time ambitions simply seizing an opportunity to claim fame for his group of radicals?<br />
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As the week unfolded, I began to fear that this would lead us to an ill-advised war with a country which, while run by a psychopathic dictator, was in no way responsible for this heinous attack. Facts and figures were cast aside in favor of emotion, opinion and conjecture, all while the person who had claimed responsibility for the attack seemed to be only a secondary concern to those in charge. It felt to me like there would be no closure--no healing of the wounds which were inflicted on my soul--on the collective soul of the nation that September day.<br />
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Living through September 11th and having it come at a time in my life which was so formative and so crucial was arresting. My world changed. My sense of safety was taken away. It never returned. I doubt that it ever will...<br />
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I did, however, come to the realization that when we all grieved together--when we all acted together to respond to the worst things humanity has to offer, that we could, collectively and individually, make things just a little bit brighter, and that through concerted effort and continued action, we could rebuild and re-emerge a stronger, more empathetic, compassionate and intelligent people with a lasting bond that transcended belief, opinion or personal experience. That day, we as Americans lived through something together, and while our experiences were individual and unique in their pain, their awe and their scope, they were also collective. This sense of collective experience is what I aim to capture, both by telling my story and by reaching out to all of you to collect yours. I believe something happened that day, aside from, yet irrevocably connected to the tragedy of the attacks which took place from New York City to Washington, D.C. to Shanksville, Pennsylvania. I believe we experienced something profound together, and that we have been acting on that collective experience ever since.<br />
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I'd be honored to tell your stories in the segments of this blog post series to follow. Please feel free to reach out to me here in the comments section or privately via the Dominique Does Life Facebook page, and subscribe right here to the Dominique Does Life blog.<br />
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Together, we rise.<br />
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-59770317914272877082019-07-19T09:48:00.001-07:002019-07-31T11:20:26.326-07:00Teaching Through Improv<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Something re-occurred to me today. This thing...this elusive idea which clicked back on inside the crowded confines of my personal gray matter was about teaching--but it wasn't just about teaching, it was about comedy and improv--but it wasn't just about comedy and improv, it was about kids and how to relate to them. This is how my chaotic brain works, but I'm an adult with fully developed intelligence and sense of self, and this idea...this errant thought...well...it was about something a bit different. It was about minds less developed, less synchronistic, less cohesive, but somehow more important. You may have guessed by now that the brains I am describing are those of children. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGq8vYXIAvOsruTJqXTJ9a2Ah4M7ZP4-Ftd_gUz59FEcvTZzj6AyUzUgDuMBxc0fpMJJTRhRxF7HHC4OJ6QXXIu4UB4kqL5vyqNj0qQw5mQouWyJbwbduqvDbnoCIUavT1pBKhAys0fSB/s1600/spongebob.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="500" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGq8vYXIAvOsruTJqXTJ9a2Ah4M7ZP4-Ftd_gUz59FEcvTZzj6AyUzUgDuMBxc0fpMJJTRhRxF7HHC4OJ6QXXIu4UB4kqL5vyqNj0qQw5mQouWyJbwbduqvDbnoCIUavT1pBKhAys0fSB/s320/spongebob.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> There is an incalculably important aspect of child development which is, sadly, widely overlooked and underestimated. I am talking, of course, about humor. Humor is a touchstone--a lighthouse along the path to the development of the core concepts of empathy and compassion. Humor allows one to look at things both critically and creatively. It allows us to step back from the ego and to move away from the unfortunate and blatantly false development of our own deeply serious person mythologies, which so often handicap us and trip us up on the path to success and the pursuit of happiness. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"> Because the appreciation of humor and the ability to be funny are governed by different parts of the brain, while empathy is governed by yet another, however, humor and empathy are quite actually governed by portions of the human brain that touch. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> You see, children’s brains are malleable. New neural pathways are constantly forming and re-forming. Kids begin learning well before they ever develop a solid sense of self. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> It strikes me that during this formative period, children are incredibly empathetic. Empathy and compassion are deeply important aspects of the human condition. In fact, I would go so far as to say that they might be the single most important part of the human experience. And this ability to step outside of the subjective experience that is the “self” is somehow miraculously formed before any sense of “self” takes hold. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Children are sponges. It is to our own detriment as well as theirs when we saturate them with only the worst life has to offer. But alas, many of us do just that. It is my belief that the American school systems provide a good portion of the quantity and quality of what our kids are exposed to while their brains are in this critical stage of development. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> The formation of a solid foundation for the personality and sense of self a child will experience for the rest of their lives starts at 8 years of age. Imagine what damage—or what opportunities for beautiful, bountiful growth and a world of endless possibilities could be opened within the mind of a child at this tender age. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2KyOBxidE17PHHAhQwVdTZ2boN4P5pIJkVyU8E2XbuvzMCHCvCLx3v7EnZN7LKW-MH0cfEnaxpOyS-V8EJsE2C6P1MHlTp_LfqCIufSmbLU8Xbu8TOSODVVFpdTYdEcoEM8qUaTWj9M9/s1600/teachers.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2KyOBxidE17PHHAhQwVdTZ2boN4P5pIJkVyU8E2XbuvzMCHCvCLx3v7EnZN7LKW-MH0cfEnaxpOyS-V8EJsE2C6P1MHlTp_LfqCIufSmbLU8Xbu8TOSODVVFpdTYdEcoEM8qUaTWj9M9/s320/teachers.gif" width="320" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I am of the firm belief that while our country’s teachers absolutely and unequivocally deserve excellent pay and compensation, and while there are some truly excellent teachers out there, changing American kids’ lives for the better (shout out to Mr. Kingston over at Crystal Lake Central High School for cultivating an environment wherein a young woman with an invisible illness and the ‘wrong’ genes in her family tree felt for the first time ever like her writing voice was worthy of being heard.), we are, by and large, missing the mark. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Many countries have surpassed the United States by leaps and bounds with regard to how they are educating their kids.</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Shame on us for doing our kids the disservice of failing to follow in those countries’ progressive footsteps with regard to education. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> One of the lessons the American educational system seems to willfully refuse to learn is that quality and quantity are two utterly separate concepts. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamEw5_OKeSIzppVJkhQfH4pYW75r1R9fQloJ4Wiq9HfSpXMn06DhUhpNkNkMUh6oPFnusc_Rx9Fq7a4UL-KkcEdghjE9PjqwuVynsp9JisdZTl6myT-sSqiiLCFQZ8GjKVqb0mIbp0Gck/s1600/kids+dance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamEw5_OKeSIzppVJkhQfH4pYW75r1R9fQloJ4Wiq9HfSpXMn06DhUhpNkNkMUh6oPFnusc_Rx9Fq7a4UL-KkcEdghjE9PjqwuVynsp9JisdZTl6myT-sSqiiLCFQZ8GjKVqb0mIbp0Gck/s640/kids+dance.gif" width="640" /></a></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Kids, like adults, learn, in large part, through humor, through hands-on experience, and through play. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> If you’re beginning to wonder whether I am a student of Piaget right now, let me tell you—I am. However, I am also a fan of firm boundaries and of being (and teaching our kids to be) assertive and authoritative, rather than dominant, authoritarian, passive-aggressive or passive. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> My strategy for co-creating learning experiences with children centers largely around humor—and not just humor in the broad sense, but specifically around the art of improv. Facilitating lessons through improvisation and play allows us, as the adults, to be rather a senior partner in the 60/40 partnership of getting children off to a good head start in life. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Below I will describe an instance I recently experienced while out shopping, which reminded me of the importance of empathetic improvisation and play in developing good relationships and good foundations for future learning with our children (and make no mistake—it does take a village to show a kid what the world is like. Kids get enough bad, upsetting and scary input as is, so it is up to us as fully capable and mentally and emotionally developed adults to create opportunities for true empathetic and compassionate learning about themselves, the world around them, and those in it, for the children in out communities and in our country).</span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">My Mom and I were at Homegoods today. We saw this little kid who was using a grabber as a laser gun. No one was playing along and he looked sad, so I walked up and was like "pew-pew AHHH! You got me! I'm shot! Argh!" </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> He was SO happy someone actually played along. My Mom went to the back to use the restroom, and I was standing in one of the aisles while this kid and his family were leaving, and he legit did not want to leave the store. He kept going "but she's my friend! She's my friend!" </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> He just needed someone to act like they were hit by his invisible laser gun and play along with him. His whole face lit up. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I love doing bits and improv and yes and games. They're really great for kids' brain development, and the beautiful thing is that kids remember the adults who play along and join in the fun. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaYQmxO1rAe4s7tQCuXaSkWVCXtkoBpC4psj91NmEVyzAuKUu-FaWXvm6ETaPiKeljj0Ag4lUHnx6kn_8dFCFbFqqpsNqv7-QeDRdWG0lZRIYBq1uwtCDD0s1g9lUWgj3dyk0U2AaiX8T/s1600/gate.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="300" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaYQmxO1rAe4s7tQCuXaSkWVCXtkoBpC4psj91NmEVyzAuKUu-FaWXvm6ETaPiKeljj0Ag4lUHnx6kn_8dFCFbFqqpsNqv7-QeDRdWG0lZRIYBq1uwtCDD0s1g9lUWgj3dyk0U2AaiX8T/s640/gate.gif" width="640" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> It becomes a way for them to address problem-solving and to learn through play. Kids have an instinctive sense for comedy too. They are hilarious--and not nearly as often by accident as they are on purpose. If you don't believe me, Google the police officer who plays Barbie's with the kids on his beat. Kids learn through play. Their brains do not function the way ours do. Countries like Denmark, Iceland and Germany know this, as their school curriculums consist mainly of play and only last for a couple of hours a day. Shame on is for not following their lead. Shame on us for forgetting about the plethora of opportunities gifted to us through the simple innocence of childhood. Shame on us for trying to force our kids to be little adults or carbon copies of the idealized versions of ourselves. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Shame on us...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcG2BtuJ-sKORyMqOotfve56F8Hw9Lhe_yq9HXLbK6T0ZH0Y3jnJY5jl9UqmPa7pFwSof6QZkXYx1Nk-PUCHIF4yCWnBjsO2fu464iRh5IUhLDBnsMIQsktABjcJ-5v4hIa3gJX9uQP9i/s1600/Bernie+finger+wag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="587" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcG2BtuJ-sKORyMqOotfve56F8Hw9Lhe_yq9HXLbK6T0ZH0Y3jnJY5jl9UqmPa7pFwSof6QZkXYx1Nk-PUCHIF4yCWnBjsO2fu464iRh5IUhLDBnsMIQsktABjcJ-5v4hIa3gJX9uQP9i/s400/Bernie+finger+wag.gif" width="400" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Shame on us for forgetting to laugh at the silly things...</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I say laugh with your kids, play along, take things to their logical extreme--even for discipline. I was a teacher in a former life. I took a whole extra course load in college to supplement my psychology education so that I could become a qualified, bonafide, highly credentialed teacher of kindergarten and pre-k. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">One of the most important things you can do with kids—not just your own, but all kids you interact with—is to laugh, to play, and to facilitate lessons learned through play. For instance, when a kid in my class saw a classmate take their favorite toy or classroom pencil and throw themselves on the ground crying and wailing and howling like a dying animal, pretending to be grievously wounded both emotionally and physically, I would stop the entire class, throw down whatever I was working on and yell just as loudly as the screaming kid "OH MY GOD! IT MUST BE A COMPLETE EMERGENCY! EVERYONE STOP EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW SO WE CAN ALL FREAK OUT!" Sometimes I’d get really silly and turn in circles or roll around on the ground like Chris Farley in a particularly high energy take of an episode of Saturday Night Live. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmkhKDgIheBHPnYzesgc1fkG-ZykJnbsyEDRDOCpBZMiyT9LEK2tgXVRXUYrD-bBm6d_oIS8Sv2xmpiHSjrEMDSH5JFD6zp54PbrHs6j0_PDOufh1Ua8LCIe7yME1Z17FZ7ZRcf2AtUET/s1600/yes+and.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="480" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmkhKDgIheBHPnYzesgc1fkG-ZykJnbsyEDRDOCpBZMiyT9LEK2tgXVRXUYrD-bBm6d_oIS8Sv2xmpiHSjrEMDSH5JFD6zp54PbrHs6j0_PDOufh1Ua8LCIe7yME1Z17FZ7ZRcf2AtUET/s400/yes+and.gif" width="400" /></a></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">If this didn't do the trick and get everyone laughing, I would continue the bit and get the kid who was crying in on it (making sure that everyone held onto the understanding that we were laughing WITH and not AT one another). I'd say something like "are you okay? Do you think you'll live?!? Can you hear me?! DON’T GO INTO THE LIGHT!" At which point I'd pretend to check them over for mortal wounds and perhaps even ask if I should call for an ambulance. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> This would always get the entire class laughing--especially the kid who was so upset about the crayon, toy or pencil. The thought of their minor upset over the pencil or toy or crayon would be obliterated by my histrionics, and even if they were trying super hard to hold onto that façade of anger and not crack a smile, they could never last more than a few seconds. In fact, oftentimes, the child in question would have only to look at me before they cracked up laughing. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">To take things down a few notches, I'd start a discussion that would go something like this: </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> "Kimberley*, I wonder how you felt when Lucas* took your favorite pencil. How did that make you feel?" </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Then Kimberley would tell me how she felt. I would ask her if since the pencil meant a lot to her in this moment, she thought it might be kind to share with Lucas for a while and in the interest of fairness, to make a deal that she’ll switch with Lucas when he’s finished drawing this last picture and that if Lucas chose not to keep his word and switch up with Kimberley, I would step in. I would often allow my kids to come to these decisions on their own, simply prompting them to formulate their own solutions via trial and error and open-ended questions. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Then, all the kids would feel heard, we would all have learned a lesson and had a laugh, and I’d try to help them to establish context by asking </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">them if, while it can be so upsetting when our neighbor uses the pencil (or toy, or crayon, etc.) we planned on using and REALLY REALLY wanted to use, if there was anything else Lucas, Kimberley, and class could think of that might also be upsetting—perhaps equally or more upsetting than the pencil situation, or perhaps a reason why a friend or neighbor in our classroom might really need to use the item we originally wanted to use. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I’d have the class take turns with a talking feather or just raising their hands and I’d facilitate a discussion with them about things that hurt our own and others’ feelings, and what each student could plan on doing if such a situation occurred. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFibsiGpQr5qPpA0Tpt1hcLX4GnyZvg379gJkghe6HmN1qoqxqrPLq2Iy7rbZih-YwbgwJniUcpsxNAf3MYuiRjyb6WhiVFmYlmjzXad-1G4wXWGx9m8Ybq7Yyuh2LknLhd4cMjNwpJpLq/s1600/worst+that+could+happen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="480" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFibsiGpQr5qPpA0Tpt1hcLX4GnyZvg379gJkghe6HmN1qoqxqrPLq2Iy7rbZih-YwbgwJniUcpsxNAf3MYuiRjyb6WhiVFmYlmjzXad-1G4wXWGx9m8Ybq7Yyuh2LknLhd4cMjNwpJpLq/s400/worst+that+could+happen.gif" width="400" /></a></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Often times, our discussions would get really silly, and everyone would get to laughing (which is WAY better than crying, screaming and rolling around like we’re on fire as may have been done initially by the upset student), but I’d always try to bring things back around to acknowledging our own and each other’s feelings and boundaries, and to engaging our problem-solving skills. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I think every story should end with something silly that will cement the lesson in place. Play around with those logical extremes. Kids are great partners for that. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Do everyday improv. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhld40R5Ez79O1a2ls_pDloMyWAUh6QXaftP2BWOXmbgxT5k-wb1Z-jLo745YABUOnea5mzSY0-3YN-LdSzjckDcRpYtEFF9V7CtHmLeHTGxInZGlUd8WjH3X-94G-5QEKcffvQ_toRLzjQ/s1600/snl.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="480" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhld40R5Ez79O1a2ls_pDloMyWAUh6QXaftP2BWOXmbgxT5k-wb1Z-jLo745YABUOnea5mzSY0-3YN-LdSzjckDcRpYtEFF9V7CtHmLeHTGxInZGlUd8WjH3X-94G-5QEKcffvQ_toRLzjQ/s640/snl.gif" width="640" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I used to do this with the kids in my classroom when I was teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten. I would even challenge my kids to do over the top impressions of me when someone else in the class misbehaved (making certain that we were always learning together and laughing with one another and not at one another). </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Everyone would end up laughing, no one got angry and no one had hurt feelings--and the lessons stuck. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEBT8zLlR59iDnrMobxrHWnaaxLm7AhGzqMRk-1y2hBcj4g2CCfJyZRs4b9IBusDlc2zpi98vdLbXHAIPh3wN3S3FWrQKRPpb3kmoXGr7KAGhxwvN4mT5ZKJhm90_AHygcD49GziddPuF/s1600/bart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="480" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEBT8zLlR59iDnrMobxrHWnaaxLm7AhGzqMRk-1y2hBcj4g2CCfJyZRs4b9IBusDlc2zpi98vdLbXHAIPh3wN3S3FWrQKRPpb3kmoXGr7KAGhxwvN4mT5ZKJhm90_AHygcD49GziddPuF/s320/bart.gif" width="320" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> My kindergartners would get time toward the end of the day to do impressions of Ms. Dominique for prizes, high fives, laughs and video game time. I would start them off with something silly and then have them decide how I might react (somehow it almost always ended with a neck roll, hands on the hips and the death stare--see what I mean? Kids pick up on things--especially through humor!). And then, something happened. My classrooms began disciplining themselves. My kids began regulating their own behavior and even working together to find solutions to problems they might otherwise not have felt empowered to solve. </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">So...</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Try it. Put my expensive education in psychology, early childhood education and philosophy to work for you at no cost, today! </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: ".applecoloremojiui"; font-size: 17pt;">😂</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">And remember, we were all kids once. </span><br />
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Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-26455368963418310862019-07-10T18:11:00.003-07:002020-01-21T22:28:11.789-08:00Hating The Twilight Saga Is A Mistake: Change My Mind<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>*If you're looking for pure lust or pure action, then this might not be the series for you, but if you're looking for a coming of age story about a girl finding out where she fits in the world and how she relates to her friends and family, and how those relationships bolster or hurt her in terms of how she interacts with the outside world, then you might just find some value here.*</i></span></h4>
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<i><b><u>The Twilight Saga</u></b></i> is a coming of age story told from the unique perspective of a blank slate protagonist. It has some lovely and truly historically accurate information on the Pacific Northwest and on the Quileute Tribe (who happen to be the tribe responsible for the enduring myth of the thunderbird and whale, as well as many other allegories, which Meyer touches on really beautifully in her own imaginative way in these books). Yes, there are also highly fictionalized aspects of this story, but one would hope that readers of vampire stories would come into the reading process with an understanding of same.</div>
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To that end, to understand why Twilight is a good series, I think it is important to also understand why it is so widely disliked. The Twilight Saga movies, while some of the casting decisions were absolutely brilliant, suffered from lackluster writing and poor editing, likely from a budget which was spent mainly on hiring the acting talent. People seem to equate the Twilight Saga movies and books as interchangeable and indistinct. That, in and of itself, is quite odd since many fans of series' of books which have subsequently been made into movies seem quite happy making sure that all and sundry know which portions of which narrative are "canon" and which are not. I don't think I've ever seen this before in modern storytelling. Fans of the Southern Vampire Mysteries didn't mistake True Blood for canon. Fans of the Star Wars movies don't mistake the Star Wars-verse novels for canon. I don't know of any other series of books made into movies that seem to be discussed as interchangeably as the Twilight Saga books and the Twilight Saga movies are.<br />
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I also think that one of the reasons it's so en vogue to hate Twilight, whether we're talking about the books or the movies, is simple misogyny—and I don't just mean by men—I mean the type of internalized misogyny embraced by women. Anything "girly" (having to do with a teenaged female protagonist who is in touch with her feelings in this case) is frowned upon, culturally speaking. We're moving away from that cultural paradigm bit by bit, but the stigma from back in 2005–2013 when the Twilight Saga was at its peak still seeps into how we look back at it today. Along those same lines, I happen to believe that there's a certain r/notlikeothergirls level of foolishness at play here. Women are taught from a young age, and we begin to reinforce and teach each other, that being in deep contact with our feelings, being emotionally connected and raw are undesirable traits.<br />
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These traits are linked in an over-exaggerated, hyperbolic way to teenaged girls (see above), despite teenaged boys and teens of all genders and both sexes being equally emotional and equally without a filter at that age, due to the specific way the human brain develops. We are taught that when young women are emotional, they're being "overly dramatic" or "silly." Hence the vogue of relating to Bella in a critical way—with an eye roll and a shrug, all with that pungent and distinct odor of "well I'm not like other girls." I say there's nothing wrong with being like other girls. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with being like other people in general. Sharing the human experience is a beautiful thing. Admitting to it only shows that you are indeed human. That, to my mind, is something we can all relate to.</div>
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There is also a tendency to be hyper-critical of female characters in literature and fiction. For some reason (perhaps at least partially because of some of the reasons I've explored above) young female protagonists seem to be looked at strictly through the lens of whether they're a "good role model" or not. Folks, this is fiction. This is allegory.</div>
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This is modern myth. It isn't meant to be looked at as if everything a character says or does is a sweeping endorsement for real people to go ahead and start behaving like their fictional counterparts do. There are lots of examples of male and female characters in fiction doing really stupid things or really dangerous things on their hero journeys/journeys to self-discovery. That doesn't mean that the author wants their readers to go out and do these things.</div>
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To this day, I hear people (mainly other women, but men too, now and again) complaining about how Edward doesn't behave like a realistic, healthy boyfriend to a real young woman and that readers might be moved to begin unhealthy relationships because of this. Folks—I'm an author and I'll be the first to tell you—if you're using fictional characters and the actions they take in fictional books to base your lifestyle and decisions on, you may well have other problems which transcend the bounds of what sorts of fictional books [or movies] you enjoy. That's the way that personality disordered people behave. Real, healthy people who are complete and whole are, thankfully, quite well able to make decisions in life which are not based on what fictional characters do or don’t do.</div>
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Also, I highly doubt that real boyfriends are going around living for hundreds of years and drinking the blood of the innocent, so why we should hold such fictional characters to real-world standards is beyond me. But because this series of books [and movies] is about a young woman, the purity police and the “not like other girls” crowd tend to come out in full force, pitchforks in hand.<br />
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I happen to think that Bella is a unique and engaging character. And while Edward’s behavior isn’t what real, healthy, well adjusted human boys should or would do, it isn’t meant to be. Edward is a vampire, thus, he behaves like a vampire. I happen to think it’s interesting that Stephenie Meyer came out with such an intriguing twist on a rather dated mythological archetype.<br />
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She has created a rich and multi-textured world where ancient, diamond skinned immortals roam both the world of day and night; where ancient vampire families and clans feud both from medieval European castles and from modern, Western mansions vie against shape-shifters, half-bloods, werewolves and others for control of the supernatural world—and sometimes the humans in it.</div>
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I think that the idea that Edward’s, Billy’s, the various nomads’ and the Volturi’s dualistic worldview of black and white; good and evil; light and dark are challenged and eventually shaken up by characters like Bella, Jacob, and Carlisle who introduce some really unique and beautifully multilayered shades of gray is quite a thought-provoking narrative.</div>
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I like that love, living authentically and making the choices that are right, despite what tradition or culture mandates are the predominant themes within this series. Despite being the rarest sort of protagonist in all of literature, what we call a blank-slate protagonist--a protagonist designed for the express purpose of allowing for the presence of enough unique traits to make the character interesting and enough globally archetypal, familiar and shared traits to make the blank-slate protagonist relatable, Bella doesn’t back down. She doesn’t compromise her own integrity or her right to seek happiness and contentment by acquiescing to the wishes of those around her, as well-meaning as they may be. Bella is strong. She owns her own emotions, and she literally molds herself into the woman she wants to become, cutting a path for herself and her family that is unheard of and completely revolutionary in the world in which she lives.<br />
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I also hear a lot about Jacob being a “Nice Guy” and Edward being an abusive boyfriend. I simply don’t think that either Jacob or Edward are either of those things. Jacob is very upfront with Bella about his feelings for her as they develop. Sure he makes mistakes and is going through his own crises and his own personal development, but he’s not a Nice Guy (see: r/niceguys). And Edward agonizes over Bella’s safety, making it priority A number one, and letting Bella know upfront what’s going on, where he stands and how he feels, leaving Bella room to figure out what she thinks and how she feels about all of that.<br />
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There’s a lot of talk about how creepy it is that Edward watches Bella sleep at night. Look, folks, with all due respect, he’s a freakin’ vampire. This is a vampire novel. Did Nosferatu or Angel or Spike or Stefan or Damon ever say "umm hey, can I have your consent to go ahead and do scary vampire things to you?" No. They did not. That would be ludicrous. Edward is not supposed to be 100% cute and cuddly. The differences between him and Bella personally and the vampire and human species at large need to be made clear, and that is one consistent way that Stephenie Meyer has been sure to do that.<br />
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Savvy readers will pick up on the fact that Edward is quite upfront and honest about all of this with Bella, even letting her know that if she would prefer private time at night, she is welcome to signal that to him by keeping her window closed and that if she does so, he will respect her wishes and leave her alone. He’s always very careful to make sure that Bella has a say in what’s going on. He doesn’t force himself on her and he doesn’t manipulate her (except when he foolishly tries to convince her of an emotional lie for her own safety in one of the books in the series—an action he comes to regret deeply and apologize for profusely, working through the issue with Bella in the next few books).</div>
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I think the Twilight Saga is a fun, entertaining, beautifully written modern story. It has such a rich tapestry of characters and plot points and historical fiction woven into historical fact. If you don’t read it, that's obviously up to you, but you may be missing out. And if you're refusing to read it because of all of the conjecture you're aware of around the story itself, you may be quite pleasantly surprised once you do.<br />
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The Twilight Saga is much more than just a teenage love story, though there would certainly be nothing wrong with it if it were just that—a teenage love story. After all, Romeo and Juliet was a teenage love story. Tristan and Isolde was a teenage love story. Cinderella and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are all teenage love stories. The teenage love story is not something new within the zeitgeist, thought up by trashy romance novelists wishing to rake in the dough. It is a tried and true trope which works for a reason--that reason being that we were all teenagers at one time or another. We all came of age. We were all faced with a choice at some point during that time where we had to decide between who we are and who others wanted us to be. That is a uniquely human story, and it resonates for a reason.<br />
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I give the Twilight Saga [books] as a whole a 5/5 on plot, character development, setting and narrative, and a 4/5 for some relatively minor editing mistakes which may or may not lie with the publishing company, rather than Stephenie Meyer herself. I also highly suggest reading the anniversary edition of “Twilight,” [the first book in the Twilight Saga]. It has some extended, never-before-read interactions between Edward and Bella, and it contains a beautiful gender-bending re-telling of the story, from the perspective of a young man called Beau Swan and an immortal vampire named Edythe Cullen. There is also a fantastic little vignette in the Twilight series, called “The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner,” which happens to be about a particularly intriguing background character from Eclipse (book three of the Twilight Saga). It is a charming and heartbreaking story that I was absolutely fascinated to read! I won't spoil it for you, but I do suggest checking it out.<br />
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And once you have read the book series, I'd also suggest opening your YouTube app and searching Twilight Storytellers. Comment below, once you have, and let me know what you think. As always, we're going to keep any and all discussions on the matter both topically relevant and civil. Thanks for reading!<br />
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Below are a few of my favorite Twilight Storytellers films. They may contain spoilers, so you might want to read the books before watching.<br />
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Benjamin's story:<br />
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Carlisle and Esme's story:</div>
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Alice's Story:<br />
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Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-31884044650033523942019-07-10T14:28:00.001-07:002020-01-21T22:26:41.631-08:00The Art And Science Of Being An Uncompromising Bitch/Six Easy Steps To A Bitchier You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The Art And Science Of Being An Uncompromising Bitch</i></span></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>Step 1:</i></b></h3>
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Forget about what people think</h4>
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Notice that I said “forget,” rather than neglect to perceive…sometimes considering someone else’s point of view is essential. Fortunately when it comes to being true to yourself, what others think is rarely any of our own personal business.</div>
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<b><i>Step 2:</i></b></h3>
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<br />Acknowledge that there WILL be people out there who dislike—even hate you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></h4>
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This is beyond your control. While evaluating your own behavior to ensure that it is appropriate and that it jibes with who you are at your core and the values you hold, it is not your job to mitigate other people’s feelings, thoughts or reactions, which are almost always based on their own self esteem, life experiences or lack thereof. This is beyond your control. If you’re a decent human being with compassion, empathy, and authenticity, anyone with a decent sense of self and a moral compass will see you for who and what you are.</div>
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<i>Step 3:</i></h3>
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Move past step 3.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></h4>
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All of that WILL happen, but so will so much else. You will find a natural respect for yourself emerging which means more than any outside regard ever could or should.</div>
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<i>Step 4:</i></h3>
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<br />Never compromise your values or your integrity.</h4>
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When you’re really starting to follow these steps, the true bitch emerges, but don’t let that feeling of power catch you slippin’. You know that moment when you’re really feeling yourself and you know everyone is watching you walk like a supermodel, with the wind in your hair? Well, that’s the moment when you know you’re about to secretly find a wad of toilet paper stuck to your shoe. That’s that moment when you’re about to trip down the stairs and fall face-first into the concrete. What I’m saying is…</div>
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<i>Step 5:</i></h3>
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<b><br /></b><b>Don’t take yourself too seriously.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></h4>
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The moment you do, you cease to be the right kind of bitch. It's scientifically proven. Plus, the major upside to not taking yourself too seriously is that you can’t take the shit other people try to put on you anywhere near even minutely seriously.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<b><i>Step 6:</i></b></h3>
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Be kind.</h4>
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I know—you’re sitting there reading this going ‘what does kind have to do with being a bitch?’ But stay with me. Kind has everything to do with being a bitch. Kindness is key. You see, a real bitch is kind when kindness is needed—she’s kind when kindness is in short supply. After all, bitches have a namesake to live up to, because what is a bitch but a mother? And what are mothers but loving and kind? We bitches take our namesake from man’s best friend. Dogs are fierce; loyal—especially mothers. They protecc AND attac, but most of all, they don’t lie about who or what they are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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So that’s it! Six easy steps to a bitchier you! Use them wisely.</div>
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-24677077741708044542019-07-04T15:25:00.002-07:002019-10-29T11:49:21.127-07:00Parades: The Weird Shit We Do In The Name Of Tradition<style type="text/css">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5MQb9I4nIqgmFLR1MT-4IeqUzwGySgBMHRiq7BF0mRiqCdZeDmMZpsU7QvGnLE4GvbeuOuTFEAHJxTDfU6xQ2oBbyQuPO_FnqCsSik2wwnnq8qSHeeAQoewHa0Ku6bWSFIC42Bu7K6SH/s1600/weird+parade+shit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5MQb9I4nIqgmFLR1MT-4IeqUzwGySgBMHRiq7BF0mRiqCdZeDmMZpsU7QvGnLE4GvbeuOuTFEAHJxTDfU6xQ2oBbyQuPO_FnqCsSik2wwnnq8qSHeeAQoewHa0Ku6bWSFIC42Bu7K6SH/s320/weird+parade+shit.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>If you don't think this is weird, I don't want to know you</i></div>
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It's July. That means parades. So, let's talk about parades for a second...</div>
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Parades are a product of...you guessed it...white people. How do I know this? Because they're dumb. And unnecessary. And more than a little backward.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Thanks to a good 60% of my ancestors, these fucking things exist. Thanks, guys.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM3MjsvfLJO5E6sGXzuo5nmyDnRahlo1wo9FWGynE7Y8tKyddOEwGT1Ya-05bgXKtdAwhZXj9YLoHXycD4KuRKC9ylAH36EHArwGD0yzOI-Esp9hNVsnAqhrwbuLKqhhTzeKeBbbElRMk/s1600/white+shoe+parade.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM3MjsvfLJO5E6sGXzuo5nmyDnRahlo1wo9FWGynE7Y8tKyddOEwGT1Ya-05bgXKtdAwhZXj9YLoHXycD4KuRKC9ylAH36EHArwGD0yzOI-Esp9hNVsnAqhrwbuLKqhhTzeKeBbbElRMk/s320/white+shoe+parade.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Picture this:</div>
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It's 1600 something. Folks are getting all ready to leave for the new world, where they're excited to be able to DO the discriminating this time, rather than being the object of it. Yay! This is clearly cause for celebration!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEHFxLrb5XH-CuvF04No8-NwuPcRIXZ_Uws_G5fquS1c5MBlJavBbc8Sw5m0nBbdi60PfyciAHR6rzLKO7U6aAvwk3SYrhi2cnRyizxSUbng0PnakDMtSbwF9YXGYTUlHhHbVnZPvlkG3/s1600/wypipo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEHFxLrb5XH-CuvF04No8-NwuPcRIXZ_Uws_G5fquS1c5MBlJavBbc8Sw5m0nBbdi60PfyciAHR6rzLKO7U6aAvwk3SYrhi2cnRyizxSUbng0PnakDMtSbwF9YXGYTUlHhHbVnZPvlkG3/s320/wypipo.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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So there are all of these oppressed white people, waiting to get on the mayflower and shit (not to be confused with John Mayer's heretofore yet unpurchased mega yacht, "The Mayerflower," which I am absolutely positive will definitely be a thing). And as they all pack onto this rickety ass wooden shitshow of a boat, there are the town cryers and census takers (you know--as you do), and they're all standing there with their quills and parchment in their hands, recording who's going to the new world. So, as folks are boarding, they're asking them questions. They're all "so, what are you planning on doing once you get there?" And they're like "aside from probably murdering the natives and displacing those who don't die, I don't know...maybe like celebrating our unique culture and shit?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V36-O1Z8un3RowLEorJ0dyIfpmEiYlmuznR4MTHKlsdtApu_GVwxE06_gFKCZuwS3vpY8ULpbjjK_zZAED9K_9caNqrqRKgnWiaiWTAiV7FvQYqbZms3meg5kgVzFTPr0-Pa5qzvZlCv/s1600/aaron+paul+drinking+water.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="245" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V36-O1Z8un3RowLEorJ0dyIfpmEiYlmuznR4MTHKlsdtApu_GVwxE06_gFKCZuwS3vpY8ULpbjjK_zZAED9K_9caNqrqRKgnWiaiWTAiV7FvQYqbZms3meg5kgVzFTPr0-Pa5qzvZlCv/s320/aaron+paul+drinking+water.gif" width="239" /></a></div>
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Honestly, we really haven't thought that far ahead." And the census takers and town cryers are all "cool, cool. So how are you planning on doing all that?" And this gets them thinking. They're like dude, I don't know. How ARE we planning on doing all that?" That's when some genius pipes up, "I know! We will march through the streets, lighting things on fire and throwing away food. That'll surely invoke a sense of vigorous patriotism. Obvs."</div>
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The town cryers are all: "so, basically you're staging a demonstration...like a war, really, but with candy? And kids engaging in mortal combat for tootsie rolls, which there will never be enough of?"</div>
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And the pilgrims are all "basically."</div>
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And it is at that point when everybody stops trying to get those lousy religious whackadoos to stick around. After hearing all of that, the Europeans are like "yep, that'll do it. Sayonara, bitches! Have fun with that whole "new world" situation. Sounds like a blast! Be sure to send us postcards and make sure to post on Insta, so we can all congregate merrily, down at the pub, tuning in each week to the next chapter of your New World adventure. I'm not gonna lie--there'll probably be a teensy bit of schadenfreude on our end, because while we're nice and comfy over at the pub, with roofs over our heads and fireplaces to keep us warm, you're over there trying to live off the land and being slaughtered by the natives for pulling that whole "blanket prank" y'all were talking about doing when you got there. Yo, that might not translate too well, but make sure to live stream it when you do."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOChYoNgVlq4b04IlUD5GQs912ZFb4d2XrA1zS7vtkVnLcowIBLycN0cV6EgV2FCFNouToeKDeShxC91zjGmaVn3lH_-ufuVU70WP6cjv91qxuUyHpiyQFfPnT1JP6hyl-y-wm1GveO9o/s1600/disgust+benedict+cumberbatch+gif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="498" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOChYoNgVlq4b04IlUD5GQs912ZFb4d2XrA1zS7vtkVnLcowIBLycN0cV6EgV2FCFNouToeKDeShxC91zjGmaVn3lH_-ufuVU70WP6cjv91qxuUyHpiyQFfPnT1JP6hyl-y-wm1GveO9o/s400/disgust+benedict+cumberbatch+gif.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the pilgrims be like "cool, yeah. We will. Hashtag 'men going their own way.' Hashtag 'oh no they didn't hashtag oh, yes they did.'"<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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And the town cryers and census takers pat their comrades on the back and shake their heads in bemusement as they board their wooden ship with no bathrooms and ready themselves for a year-long poop cruise. And, once the Mayflower hits the open sea, the pilgrims all start to look around and notice these little sheets of paper taped to each other's backs. Now, I'm no historian, so I can't say for sure what each and every single sign said or, for that matter, who wrote it, but I imagine that at least some of those signs intoned warm wishes, such as "you're all going to die" and "fuck off over the horizon, assholes."<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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So, that's my historical outline of the humble beginnings of the American parade.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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But what are parades like in modern life?</div>
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Let me tell you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Parades are a place where all the neighborhood cops who are not currently engaged in rounding up black people go. I'm serious. There are more cops at parades than you're likely to see at your local craft doughnut and artisinal racism shop.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwJWmIoJJoGrkPzLTMKRsRsBG_oVgSOuQBDAei35KNvvvmfHOFyX7Z03FaoVIPhjmGDUkWURrvQGOcfeuZsdT_Y6J1gKzIaLA4QWGJJo0YWW5fUu9ZQvAcXJ_BFrIvBWceoMjeX6m-75u/s1600/donut+shop+coffee.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwJWmIoJJoGrkPzLTMKRsRsBG_oVgSOuQBDAei35KNvvvmfHOFyX7Z03FaoVIPhjmGDUkWURrvQGOcfeuZsdT_Y6J1gKzIaLA4QWGJJo0YWW5fUu9ZQvAcXJ_BFrIvBWceoMjeX6m-75u/s320/donut+shop+coffee.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Parades are a place for inappropriate levels of patriotism (see white pride for further reading).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Parades are a place where it's okay to say: America: "love it or leave it," while ejecting copious amounts of burnt diesel from the dual exhausts on your F-350 truck.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Parades are a place where parents are allowed to express themselves without fear of judgment. For example, at parades, it's totally okay to physically assault other individuals for their choice lawn chair spot.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-sZHnUR7aYSKUOhzagjahjtvaDT1Faa4-GIsvdOw2j7PBG1FQjEnFAiI5oVAWrfBOLCgLz9YfXnZJ-ktdt6KvnWE_bbhtRjRV4h4ha2XIN8DfxzITxgW6C6ePeVB5SSBplbyL8XUK9uR/s1600/kids+fighting.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-sZHnUR7aYSKUOhzagjahjtvaDT1Faa4-GIsvdOw2j7PBG1FQjEnFAiI5oVAWrfBOLCgLz9YfXnZJ-ktdt6KvnWE_bbhtRjRV4h4ha2XIN8DfxzITxgW6C6ePeVB5SSBplbyL8XUK9uR/s1600/kids+fighting.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpbq-W4Pa_mW3NFqTW51eKq5ayAIv_byT3Sey9WR2GTC-12y3QEoSF-dCUzlZPepx0MH7jUnjRVtQ8YwAZZp6hHl5SLLtS4HDHJyEN_2h5iWFDolhrcmuZ8THfqePp0PhUkFc4BsOLL93/s1600/kid+going+ape+shit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="318" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpbq-W4Pa_mW3NFqTW51eKq5ayAIv_byT3Sey9WR2GTC-12y3QEoSF-dCUzlZPepx0MH7jUnjRVtQ8YwAZZp6hHl5SLLtS4HDHJyEN_2h5iWFDolhrcmuZ8THfqePp0PhUkFc4BsOLL93/s200/kid+going+ape+shit.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
Parades are fun for kids, as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Parades are a place where kids can gleefully engage in a level of mortal combat heretofore unimagined, for the right to the ownership of that prized tootsie roll or laffy taffy, only to be brutalized by an overzealous adult, carrying an overly full pillowcase of kid's candy. Is this person actually collecting candy FOR kids, or has the parade based fervor led them to become totally unhinged? Alas, we may never know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Parades are a place where corporate entities definitely ARE people, my friend. You can expect to see businesses rolling through the streets of your hometown, with overly done floats that advertise their latest products and/or services. Because freedom of speech. Amirite? Because nothing says patriotism like people tryna sell you shit you don't want or need.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzKNiY4uMezPHWLt4tokHuL4PX7vGBcJAdnUoXTWzw1BLmXAxDENiY5Mmz_2HpIQXREbHt4XD-6wt4AXJ9T0iOvrkvyra8RYN2EbOoaYADsUvM6GqEbcjLHi8zkeTIorxgsetmt-Hv7BV/s1600/eating+ass.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzKNiY4uMezPHWLt4tokHuL4PX7vGBcJAdnUoXTWzw1BLmXAxDENiY5Mmz_2HpIQXREbHt4XD-6wt4AXJ9T0iOvrkvyra8RYN2EbOoaYADsUvM6GqEbcjLHi8zkeTIorxgsetmt-Hv7BV/s320/eating+ass.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This seems inappropriate</i></div>
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Parades are also a place where politicians can be themselves. And by that, I mean that politicians and aspiring politicians can fulfill their life's dream of spraying their bald spots with shoe polish and being carried through the streets of your town, USA in mid-life crisis cars for the express purpose of having everyone gaze fondly at them as they wave, like they're Caesar of Rome or something. You guys, we literally had a president die doing this. It's tough work. Politicians are everyday heroes. TOUGH. WORK.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FDwwAaVmnf4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FDwwAaVmnf4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And as this all plays out, we get to listen to the local high school's un-ironic marching jazz band. Of course, because it's a jazz band, you can expect to see them improvising their own parade routes while they attempt to play a Charlie Parker cover that you absolutely WILL NOT RECOGNIZE!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvw9m40Bdkf1nt2dEoZIXEppLZhAEBqpNPWTOmXd-YkCxySaXKYU3M2onA-7j2L5zb6WOO1R1TKAVa3Ig7HRvwvcXrgwXxnGnQ_brnROFq_zaRvc9pIROK57RznMwMV2QKcP109kn5GoD/s1600/marching+band+fail.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="480" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvw9m40Bdkf1nt2dEoZIXEppLZhAEBqpNPWTOmXd-YkCxySaXKYU3M2onA-7j2L5zb6WOO1R1TKAVa3Ig7HRvwvcXrgwXxnGnQ_brnROFq_zaRvc9pIROK57RznMwMV2QKcP109kn5GoD/s320/marching+band+fail.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then, you get to sweat outside, while waiting for the parade to end. We Americans are patriotic fuckers, so this could take hours.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I woke up one Sunday morning, when I first moved into my new apartment, thinking I was in a war zone, convinced that The Purge was happening right outside my French doors...but no such luck. It was a parade.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d3W7DmgYMmMbXLSYjuNheaCe3gfIev2-rKPjgvdHbUFuvnwOZRNPkHV07PURjWVFEVtvP0iF8YOlTAWc6VzzXN4uwh-kxW8TyvsXQaBKojcbESzbnMwFvhbaOCjsbrGQUbpM3w7PokUA/s1600/scooby+doo+scurred.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d3W7DmgYMmMbXLSYjuNheaCe3gfIev2-rKPjgvdHbUFuvnwOZRNPkHV07PURjWVFEVtvP0iF8YOlTAWc6VzzXN4uwh-kxW8TyvsXQaBKojcbESzbnMwFvhbaOCjsbrGQUbpM3w7PokUA/s640/scooby+doo+scurred.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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Parades are great for veterans, dogs, and folks with PTSD too. It allows them to freely commit to being themselves, by which I mean, that they are free to dissolve into puddles of anxiety, as the patriotic Americans outside their house re-enact a war, complete with drums and explosives, fit to leave dogs, veterans and the mentally unstable alike tinkling in the wrong place. But, patriotism...</div>
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Parades tell us who to vote for, what to buy, and how to absolutely never act. Parades are a uniquely American tradition that jam up the streets and leave our trains so full that actual commuters cannot board them...Parades are as American as baseball, apple pie, and coming to a new world, in order to escape persecution AND remove the natives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Some might question how watching adults and children fight it out for that disgusting tootsie roll the local mayor's corvette just ran over, while simultaneously reducing dogs, veterans and the mentally ill to a quivering, collective mess is patriotic, but you know what we say to that?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Yeah--me neither.</div>
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Anyone?</div>
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Guys...?</div>
<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-50083137695934392892019-06-24T22:04:00.001-07:002019-07-31T12:42:56.331-07:00<b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></b>
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<b>Power Struggles With Annie: A Short Story:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzvE-0tuNDTZt7EHgbRN4Oo21jC6i61BIP76a8lQR1o92IkzDofxTArAwVYGJqJXLxsBBQxdDdY8aOXjlG4ArqPvlwxM-MMNfX-4xZ4ShcYbBTziQakkigPbUAP6AoYomaFJW1jnn9gFE/s1600/RzmotkumTX2OjZ9NsIjUNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzvE-0tuNDTZt7EHgbRN4Oo21jC6i61BIP76a8lQR1o92IkzDofxTArAwVYGJqJXLxsBBQxdDdY8aOXjlG4ArqPvlwxM-MMNfX-4xZ4ShcYbBTziQakkigPbUAP6AoYomaFJW1jnn9gFE/s640/RzmotkumTX2OjZ9NsIjUNA.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Annie decided that she wanted to live inside of my pantry this morning, like a little pantry- dwelling bridge troll who, whenever the pantry door was opened, demands tribute (this is a thing she decides to do, whenever the whim strikes her, like letting off plaintive meows when I'm live on air, if I fail to bribe her with food before I begin my program, or rattling my office door off its hinges, because I kept her out in the living room, while I was taking a client).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, being that I was irritated with the constant claiming of the pantry, by her majesty, I decided I would teach her a lesson, by actually closing the pantry door, with her in it, while I prepared food.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Usually this works, and by the time the five minute food prep period is up, Annie is one pissed off kitty, who flies out of the pantry, giving me a look of purest loathing, while running by (I'm fairly certain that this look is intended to communicate the sentiment: "fuck you, lady!" Sometimes an equally furtive look commands a similar sentiment, which, I believe is something akin to “fuck you, lady, and everything you stand for, AND the horse you rode in on too!” This particular sentiment is also a favorite of Annie’s to communicate to me, upon the occasion that she becomes so upset “fuck you” alone simply will not do).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This time, however, Annie simply went from shelf to shelf, ripping various snack bags open and feasting on the snacks inside. When I opened the door to let her out, she gave me this look, which, again, being passably fluent in cat language, I'm reasonably sure was intended to communicate the sentiment "beat you at your own game, bitch." Well played, Annie. Well played.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Until next time.</span></div>
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<br />Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-70945589975511115632019-06-24T21:59:00.002-07:002019-06-24T21:59:52.034-07:00It Ain't Me, Babe<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">It Ain't Me, Babe: A Journaling Bitch Sesh</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I keep being presented with the same narrative over and over through life, where a number of people tend to see me in one of two different lights, rather than just keeping their eye on their own lane, handling their own business and taking responsibility for their awesomeness, their sadness, their successes, and for their mistakes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I'm not perfect and I'm not a villain, and I would rather not be seen as either. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> This is genuinely something that bothers me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> It's a tough few weeks this time of year anyway, and being presented with this dual narrative makes it slightly more stressful. The weather is changing, my health changes with it, one of my best sister friends' committed suicide and the anniversary is coming up soon, and this is the time of year we started finding out that my Dad was sick.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZNzhATX8E1oEGnenBWIJUM3p6j1h8STSOVrHOPXEuI1DD1CuqOCf_TlmWk-5HgGrZQ6QRQbGvNJ7EEjHKLsT5AvD_D8zyIgerNB1QGJ9PNLCDqlFoxHXiC9OruvXiYq7yvOjQawKqiml/s1600/of+course+not.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZNzhATX8E1oEGnenBWIJUM3p6j1h8STSOVrHOPXEuI1DD1CuqOCf_TlmWk-5HgGrZQ6QRQbGvNJ7EEjHKLsT5AvD_D8zyIgerNB1QGJ9PNLCDqlFoxHXiC9OruvXiYq7yvOjQawKqiml/s400/of+course+not.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Basically, I do have my own stuff to tend to (we all do, and that shouldn't come as a surprise to literally anyone), so I'm not over here plotting anyone's demise or planning the perfect solution to anyone's problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I offer advice and coaching for a living, but I would hope that this doesn't somehow scream "I have my stuff together, so feel free to move your locus of control from yourself to me and follow the pied piper and then either credit me with your success or blame me for your problems." That's not a healthy way to live life. I don't want that. I've had to fire clients and move on from friendships because of this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I see this cycle beginning again and I am not amused. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten into this profession. Maybe I shouldn't be a writer. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten into activism. I don't know. But this situation is untenable. There have to be other people (writer's, activists, content creators, etc.) out there who experience this on a much larger scale than I do. I can't even imagine how they feel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I realize that as we speak, several folks think I'm focused on them or the imaginary competition we apparently have that I was never made aware of or the imaginary relationship we have that I have never been a participant in (if any of you lovely readers think I'm being conceited or joking, being dramatic or sarcastic, I assure you I am not. I have legitimately had readers, listeners and acquaintances tell me how they thought we had a relationship we legitimately did not have. I've even had a fan ask me if he could pray to me and lay flowers at my feet. It's unreal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I don't know which is worse, people thinking that we're in a relationship and that I am their number one, or people thinking that I'm out to get them--that I'm carefully monitoring their behavior and their social media feeds, so that I can judge them (yeah, I don't do that. That's why you follow someone--so you don't have to be a weird creeper.), target them, use things against them or some other nefarious thing. Other peoples' problems are not my sole concern. They're just not, just like my problems shouldn't be other people's sole concern. That's not how I operate. Few people do operate that way, and those who do are disordered and unbalanced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I'm always here if someone is experiencing a genuine crisis (like once in a blue moon, not the same person over and over with frequency), or if there's business to be done, but I don't spend my time concerning myself with other people's business, and I refuse to accept the congratulations or blame for someone else's failures. I choose to utilize personal responsibility as one of my main lifestyle tools.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> It seriously astounds me the number of people who think I'm involved in their trouble or that because they have some sort of a competitive vibe with me, that I feel the same way, or simply that I should drop everything and put their problems first. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> That's just not how I work. I don't like to get knee deep in other people's shit. I don't even like to stick a toe into other people's business. I've got my own shit to shovel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I feel like this is a narrative I'm continually fighting. This could be 100% confirmation bias on my part, but I happen to wonder if it's part of the job for a counselor, coach or consultant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> If, god forbid, you fit either of these categories, consider this my firm and solemn oath that you, whomever you may be, can rest assured that your business doesn't concern me in the least--unless you're actively trying to undermine me, bully me or target me, or mine, yours or someone else's safety is in jeopardy. Unless that is the case, I'm unable to be involved. My general motto is live and let live. Everyone can swing their fists as much and as far as they like, as long as it doesn't infringe on mine or anyone else's human rights. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> If something good happened, consider me happy for you (of course I am), but not responsible. If something bad happened or you suffered a loss, I am truly empathetic and very sorry for that, but again, I am not responsible. I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable accepting that level of responsibility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Plus, I would assume there's some sort of a pay raise that goes along with having goddess-like powers </span><span style="font-family: ".applecoloremojiui"; font-size: 17pt;">😂</span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> so my genuine empathy and compassion is as far as it goes. I'm not able to or responsible for intervening whenever anyone has a need. I reserve the right to choose whom I dole out non-work-related favors to. I don't owe anyone anything, just like no one owes me anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> If you're not one of my best friends in the world, one of my animals or a close family member, then expecting intervention on your behalf by me while I have my own life to live, my own health to care for, my own home and bills to pay for, two full time jobs and a number of side gigs and community programs to take care of really doesn't feel right to me. Even folks who are that close to someone are going to have to find their own words to make asks of other people when they have set an expectation. Mr. Meseeks doesn't exist, and you've seen how badly wrong things could go if he did. </span><span style="font-family: ".applecoloremojiui"; font-size: 17pt;">😅</span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I AM NOT MR. MESEEKS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Even if I had none of the above responsibilities, essentially, I still wouldn't owe anyone a thing, and I realize that goes both ways (and that's absolutely okay). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I am not the cause of anyone's every problem or the answer to them. I am not a mentor or an idol or an enemy to anyone. That fact that anyone would ever think I am is complete and utter tomfoolery. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I don't involve myself with stuff that's none of my business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I am never on a mission to make anyone look or feel any type of way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Hopefully that clears things up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I don't rightly know why I'm so often being met with this narrative, or why some people immediately have to do the whole Madonna/whore thing with me, unless it's the pure and simple fact that I'm an author, a blogger, a podcaster, a coach, a community activist, and a somewhat public personality/content creator, but let me let you in on a little secret, with regard to the splitting behavior--the apparent need some have to make me a Madonna or a whore: an idol or a fallen idol. I'm neither. I'm not an idol. I don't have a perfect life. I'm also not a fuck up or someone who causes anyone else's problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I'm just a person trying to get by. If you're concerned about my nefarious intentions, I don't have any. If you're hoping I can change your life and make you feel a certain way about yourself, ima stop you there. That's not healthy or possible. Only you can do that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I don't have the time, energy or even a basic level of interest in targeting, bullying, harassing or developing said nefarious intentions. I never have; I never will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> That would still hold true, even if I had all the time in the world. I'm concerned with keeping my eye on my own prize, and I expect, as someone with healthy boundaries, that everyone else is doing the same. That's why I'm even as successful as I am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Everyone else is free to go for theirs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> As far as me being an mentor or a role model, that's not something I signed up for. I have no time for that. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Please don't idolize me or model yourselves after me. That's fuckin' scary. Uh-uh. I don't want to hear about that, I don’t want to That's not a thing I'm even slightly okay with on any level. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Find your own path. I feel like wearing a shirt with this on it. I'm not a rising star or a community rockstar or someone with egotistical ambitions. I don't have that sort of an ego. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> What I do have is a lot of fans and a lot of haters (God only knows why. I only speak the truth about human behavior on my podcast and in my writing, and through my business. I don't denigrate or disrespect or ask anyone to follow me or do things my way) and a desire to be left to go about my business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> I don't get this, I don't pretend to get it, I don't like it. I don't want it. I don't have some magical gift no one else could possibly have, neither do I have some magical formula for success. I have practical advice and the ability to read people, coupled with a work ethic and a refusal to deal in nonsense. Literally anyone can have that. Anyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> We are all equals and our paths are all equally important. None of us are responsible for each others' happiness or lack thereof--we're just not. So if you're looking for a role model or someone to hate or someone to idealize or obsess over, please--look elsewhere--like within yourself. It ain't me, babe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">What are some of the narratives and life issues that keep coming up in your lives? Comment below, and bitch away!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Don't forget to follow Dominique Does Life on the free Spreaker app for more content, and, as always, thank you so much for reading!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">XOXO,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Dom</span><br />
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Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6839668401744895399.post-19005572838096218142019-05-07T14:02:00.000-07:002019-05-07T14:02:00.048-07:00So You're Looking For Love<span id="goog_1013020923"></span><span id="goog_1013020924"></span><br />
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As I'm online writing with my social media windows and apps open, I'm seeing a lot of this sort of talk around New Years and let me tell you, I hear it fairly often with my clients. I hear things like:<br />
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"I want to find the guy/girl who's right for me this year"<br />
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Or<br />
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"I can't seem to find the right person for me"<br />
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Or<br />
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"The only guys/girls who are ever interested in me are jerks/losers/etc."<br />
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I want to challenge you to look past that egotism this year (no, that's not a dirty word, we all exhibit egotism). I want you to ask two questions of yourself this year if you're looking for love:<br />
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1: "Is this person right for me?"<br />
2: "Am I right for them?"<br />
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It's easy to look for someone who is right for you. It's not so easy to turn a critical eye inward and to decide whether you are also right for the person you're interested in or to set that simple intention, going forward when looking for love. Relationships are a game of balance. They are not all about you, nor are they all about the other person. So look for someone who's right for you, but I also want you to look for the person you are perfect for. When you notice red flag behavior, don't ignore it.<br />
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Examples of red flag behaviors (be on guard for these behaviors in yourself and in others):<br />
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•You or the person you've just met immediately start talking about the ex or the one that got away<br />
•One or both of you weaves a thrilling tale about how life sucks and how you feel victimized by life and/or those in it<br />
•One or both of you start talking politics or religion early on (sure, that'd be okay if you met each other in a Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton forum, but odds are, you didn't)<br />
•One or both of you brag about, complain about or otherwise bring up money and/or financial status outside of "let's split the check." Talking about finances, bragging about your fabulous wealth or complaining about your chronic poverty is not okay. Someone who does bring these subjects up needs to understand that it's unfair to the other party and that their financial matters are not the other person's concern.<br />
•One or both of you confess your deepest sexual fantasies, your fear of clowns or your allergy to cats. Again, it's not the other person's business to know what your deepest desires are or to receive a treatise on exactly how and why Cookie the clown scared you, growing up.<br />
•One or both of you start talking about how people always use you<br />
•One of both of you mention your "crazy" ex/(es)<br />
•One or both of you bring up exes at all before the third or fourth date or hangout.<br />
*By the by, date vs hangout should be defined if you're looking for a relationship (or if you're not--in fact, the burden lies more heavily upon those of you who are not looking for a long term relationship to let the other party know that in a clear and upfront manner that leaves no room for misunderstanding) and it's okay to make that distinction yourself or bring up the topic by the third or fourth hangout or date. This does not mean that you're putting the other person on notice--or vice versa--that if you continue to see one another after this point, you have now entered into an unbreakable billion year contract and you'll be breaking out the tin can e-meters to judge their level of honesty in all forthcoming conversations. This simply means that you're open to discussing a potential for a future relationship as things progress. Love doesn't have a sell by date. It doesn't go bad after three dates or a week or a month. Take your time. You wouldn't buy a car (I compareloveto car buying, not because I believe it's a transactional process--it's not, but because a car will likely be with you for the next decade of your life unless you're fabulously wealthy) without doing some thorough shopping to find the right one that fits you and that you in turn fit well within, so don't make that mistake when it comes to love. Someone who genuinely likes you is not going to up and disappear after a certain date is reached and you haven't negotiated your marriage dowry yet. Relax and take your time.<br />
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Examples of balance:<br />
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•You both make similar amounts of money<br />
•You're in similar physical condition (with certain allowances)<br />
•You have similar political viewpoints<br />
•You have similar, but not perfectly similar opinions<br />
•You have similar ideas about family<br />
•You have similar relationship goals<br />
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*Granted, it's going to take a bit of work to get to know one another to decide whether the above examples of crucial character similarities in fact apply between the two of you, but it's well worth it if you're looking for a relationship. Don't settle or give anyone a chance if you're not feeling them. That goes both ways of course. Don't expect a chance from someone who isn't that into you. I promise it is not a blanket indictment on your character, nor is it a summary judgment and rejection of everything that you are. Sometimes two people simply don't click and that's okay. Would you want to spend the rest of your life with someone who wasn't that into you? Don't grudgingly allow someone a place in your life if you're not genuinely interested in offering them one. That's something that's absolutely not okay to say or do. It is however okay to tell someone, "no thanks, I'm not interested" without further explanation or fluffing. It's okay to follow your gut and your brain and your heart and to say enough's enough. I'm not feeling this.<br />
It's also okay to give someone a chance if you don't genuinely know how you feel about them yet. What's not okay is leading someone on when you do know, but keeping them around serves you in some other way. It's okay to continue to get to know someone without a written contract or blood oath that you'll definitely stay in their lives forever and vice versa. It's okay to have relationships that don't work out. It's okay to have feelings that aren't returned. What's not okay is forcing someone else to respond to those feelings in a way that pleases you if they are not returned. Love is a game of balance, so this year, I hope you'll not only ask the question "is s/he right for me," but "am I right for him/her?" I hope you'll factor that into your desire, intention and action steps as you move toward finding one another. You're going to find a lot of jerks on your journey. That's a given. But don't let that stop you from making room for the possibility of someone who is just right for you, who you are right for in return. Be safe, be happy, be well and Happy New Year!Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04515091002999076237noreply@blogger.com0