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Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing

What is fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?

A fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) test is a procedure used to assess how well you swallow. During the procedure, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT or otolaryngologist) passes a thin, flexible instrument, called a laryngoscope, through your nose. Then the SLP or ENT doctor views parts of your throat (oropharynx and larynx) as you swallow.

When you swallow food or liquid, it passes through your mouth and down through parts of your throat called the pharynx and larynx. From here, the food or liquid passes through a long tube (esophagus) before entering your stomach. This movement requires a series of actions from the muscles in these areas. It also requires coordination with the muscles of breathing, since breathing pauses during a swallow.

When you breathe, air passes through your pharynx and larynx, too. It then travels down through a long tube called the trachea before it reaches your lungs. There is a small piece of tissue called the epiglottis that acts like a flap and covers your trachea when you swallow food or drink. This is so food and fluids do not go into your trachea and lungs.

A FEES test can help assess if you are having any problems with any part of this process. A FEES test uses a flexible tube called a laryngoscope, sometimes called an endoscope. This instrument has a tiny camera and light attached to it. Before the FEES test, you may have something sprayed in your nose or throat to help numb the area so you don't feel the tube being gently inserted. Your SLP or ENT doctor will pass the laryngoscope through your nose and into your pharynx. It sits above your epiglottis for most of the viewing and then is can be moved down after each swallow so the vocal folds may be seen. The laryngoscope allows your SLP or ENT doctor to see parts of your larynx, oropharynx, and trachea on a video screen.

The FEES test has two basic parts. During the first phase, the structure of the oropharynx and larynx is usually observed. The SLP or ENT doctor will watch how well you swallow saliva before any food. The second part of the FEES test is when food is introduced. Here your swallowing will be assessed with different textures and sizes of food and liquid. Your SLP or ENT doctor may use food color to dye the food and liquid so it's easier to view on screen. You may need to change positions or try different types of foods as your SLP or ENT doctor evaluates your throat and swallowing function.

Why might I need a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?

You may need this test if you have trouble swallowing (dysphagia). With dysphagia, something goes wrong with the muscular coordination needed for normal swallowing. Dysphagia can lead to food or fluid going into the airways or lungs (aspiration). This can lead to pneumonia and other problems. Because of this, it’s important to promptly identify and treat your dysphagia if you have it.

A FEES test can help your SLP or ENT doctor identify what parts of your throat and mouth might not be working well. The FEES test can also show if there are certain foods or liquids you need to avoid, or if certain positions can help you swallow more safely. The FEES test can also show if you are aspirating.

You might need a FEES test if you have any symptoms of dysphagia, like a sense of food sticking in your mouth or pain with swallowing. You also might need a FEES test if you have a medical condition that puts you at high risk of dysphagia, even if you don’t have symptoms. Some people with dysphagia don’t have any symptoms. For example, if you have had a stroke, someone will need to check to see if you have dysphagia. This might require getting a FEES test. Other conditions that might cause dysphagia include:

  • Head and neck cancer

  • Head injury

  • Conditions that lead to decreased saliva such as Sjögren syndrome

  • Parkinson or other nervous system conditions

  • Muscular dystrophies

  • Obstruction in the esophagus such as from cancer

In many cases, an SLP will first assess your swallowing with some simple tests. You may need to swallow and move your mouth in certain ways. The SLP checks if certain kinds of substances seem to give you difficulty. Based on the results of this swallowing exam, your SLP or ENT doctor may want to schedule a FEES test to get more information about the cause of your possible dysphagia.

A similar test is the modified barium swallow test (MBS). This uses X-rays to view your swallowing. One of the advantages of the FEES test over the MBS is that the FEES test doesn't use radiation. And unlike the MBS, a FEES test may be done in an office or clinic instead of a hospital. You may also have a videofluoroscopic swallowing study or an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to assess your throat and how you swallow.

What are the risks of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?

All procedures have some risks. The risks of FEES include:

  • Nosebleed

  • Discomfort

  • Gagging or vomiting

  • Brief closure of your airway (laryngospasm)

  • Aspiration (usually only a small amount)

The SLP will work to minimize these risks. Your own risks may vary according to your age, your general health, and the reason for your procedure. Talk with the SLP to find out what risks may apply to you.

How do I get ready for a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?

Until your FEES test, your SLP or ENT doctor may want to put you on a special diet to help prevent aspiration. Only eat and drink what is on the approved list. The SLP or ENT doctor will instruct you if there is anything else you need to do to prepare.

Tell the medical team about all medicines you take. This includes any medicine that thins the blood. You may need to stop taking some medicines before the procedure. Also tell the medical team if you have had any surgery to your neck, throat, or nose.

What happens during a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?

If you are a patient in the hospital, the FEES test may be done in your hospital room. Or, you may go to an ENT doctor’s office or clinic to have the test. Your SLP may do the procedure alone, or with the help of an ENT doctor or nurse.

Your ENT doctor and/or SLP can give you an idea of what to expect during your test. The procedure often takes around 20 minutes. Each person’s experience may vary. In general this is what you can expect:

  • During the test, you’ll be seated and awake. An anesthetic will be sprayed in your nose and throat. This is so you don’t feel the -laryngoscope, sometimes called an endoscope.

  • Your ENT doctor or SLP quickly inserts the endoscope through your nose and down into your throat (pharynx). You might feel mild discomfort during the procedure. Some people also experience a sense of tightness or a gagging sensation. The anesthetic can minimize this.

  • The ENT doctor or SLP uses the video screen to see how well you are swallowing and if you are aspirating. Your ENT doctor or SLP will look at a number of factors. These include how well secretions are swallowed, how well breathing and swallowing occur together, and how well the airway closes off. He or she will also be able to see if there are any abnormal structural problems.

  • The laryngoscope may puff small amounts of air into your throat, testing your sensations.

  • You may also take small amounts of food or liquid. These will be dyed so they can be seen on the screen.

  • At the end of the procedure, the laryngoscope will be pulled out from your pharynx and nose.

What happens after a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?

In many cases, you will be told the results of your test right away. You might even watch a video of the test. If you had the test done in an ENT doctor’s office or clinic, you will likely be able to drive yourself home after your exam. You will probably be able to resume your normal activities right away.

If your FEES test shows that you have problems swallowing, the ENT doctor and SLP will work together to develop a treatment plan for you. This may include modifying the types of foods you eat. For example, you may need to avoid liquids of a certain thickness. You may need to make changes in your positioning while you eat. And you may need to learn certain methods for swallowing better.

It’s important to work closely with your medical team. Carefully following their instructions can help you reduce your risk of complications, such as pneumonia from aspiration.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:

  • The name of the test or procedure

  • The reason you are having the test or procedure

  • What results to expect and what they mean

  • The risks and benefits of the test or procedure

  • What the possible side effects or complications are

  • When and where you are to have the test or procedure

  • Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are

  • What would  happen if you did not have the test or procedure

  • Any alternative tests or procedures to think about

  • When and how you will get the results

  • Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems

  • How much you will have to pay for the test or procedure

Online Medical Reviewer: Ashutosh Kacker MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Daphne Pierce-Smith RN MSN CCRC
Date Last Reviewed: 3/1/2019
© 2000-2021 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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Advantages of physical exercise are awesome when considering cerebrum building and ideal reasoning strategies today. A straightforward answer for advancing your mind may lie in a trained and savvy way to deal with including physical exercise that won’t just make your entire body more beneficial yet improve and keep up psychological capacities.

Exercise Effects on the Brain

Blood stream is expanded to each organ in your body during physical exercise. Dr. Daniel Amen of the Amen Clinics (1) takes note of how physical exercise will obviously make the entire body more advantageous yet additionally really animate neurogenesis and the capacity of the body to make new neurons. Despite the fact that activity can loosen up one from a day’s unpleasant exercises, simultaneously practicing likewise can inspire cortical sharpness. Great high-impact exercise can even spike your sensory system into a condition of excitement.

Presently practice impacts on the mind from physical and high-impact action can be obviously an advantage as it could place you in a state ideal for mental movement however an expression of alert here as you surely wouldn’t have any desire to arrive at this state without further ado before some required profound rest. It is encouraged to practice in any event a few hours before sleep time, no closer. You need to maintain a strategic distance from practice before sleep time however on the off chance that you need to practice before rest, at that point perusing a book before resigning might be the right advance yet don’t pick a sensitive book as a homicide puzzle in the event that you need to rest sufficiently after exercise. Many suggest a guided unwinding reflection as an alternative as well.

Exercise impacts on the cerebrum have been purported for quite a while however studies and mind research as of late have affirmed this and prompted point by point discoveries. Jean Pierre Changeux from the Pasteur Institute in Paris (4) alongside a scientist from the Developmental Biology Institute of Marseilles, Christopher Henderson found that the development of axons is animated when muscles are moved. This basic relationship is a significant connection for us to show how insight is influenced by physical exercise since knowledge s straightforwardly identified with the quantity of axons we have.

Vigorous exercise has been appeared to improve the speed of recall.Work by William Greenough, an educator at the University of Illinois Beckman Institute has demonstrated how blood and oxygen to the cerebrum is expanded as here is really an expansion in vessels around the neurons in the brain.(2)

Exercise that helps mind movement has been characterized as such to keep blood streaming to organs. Incognito Bailey (3) has depicted this vigorous exercise to be at an “agreeable pace” or when your heartbeat is 220 short your age and afterward you take the outcome and duplicate by 0.65 or 0.80 in the event that you are a competitor. Obviously, this is just a guide for solid people and individuals with any medical problems would need to talk with their doctor varying. Some broad rules he noted can be recommended here, the activity should last at this pace at any rate 12 minutes while practicing ought to incorporate the lower body. Note that he prescribed the activity time to be relentless.

Practicing can be generally gainful at specific occasions of your day. Before when mental sharpness is wanted and furthermore when the most distressing season of your day is over can both be ideal occasions to work out. Get high-impact practice as lively strolling or even a wellness class for thirty to 45 minutes every day, five days per week. A great many people switch schedules for nowadays, all great.

It is noticed that activity is generally valuable for your cerebrum handling when it is a deep rooted action and you are protecting mental capacity. Indeed, you can begin strolling routinely at any age, in any event, setting off to the rec center, joining a water vigorous exercise class even in the wake of resigning and still get benefits. Notwithstanding, start as ahead of schedule as could reasonably be expected. On the off chance that you spend a stationary lifetime, at that point start, exercise won’t be as compelling.

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Five areas in the Montessori Environment | Healthy Beginnings Montessori House

As we are heading into the new year I thought it would be helpful to start a series of posts about Montessori and what children encounter in the environment.  I know sometimes from a parents perspective the beauty of what occurs can be shrouded in mystery.

What are the five areas of the Montessori Classroom?

Today, I will briefly touch on the five areas of the Montessori classroom and later post in-depth on each one. All areas of work in the Montessori classroom are purposeful and deliberately presented in a way that strengthens learning in one or more of these areas.

Practical Life

This work sets the foundation for all other works.  In this work, Montessori teaches real-life skills, such as care of self, care of the environment, grace and courtesy, as well as coordination and concentration.  Tasks which as adults we take for granted are important for children to master.  Such works like, table scrubbing, dishwashing, laundry folding, mopping, sweeping, polishing etc… help ground the children in being present in the world that is filled with distractions.  Children’s concentration is disciplined through these works so that larger concepts will later take root in the medium of the well-rounded Montessori child’s mind.

Vegetable Scrubbing - Healthy Beginnings Montessori House

There are very crucial sensitive periods for learning a language.  The Montessori environment is rich in opportunities to meet these needs beginning in the Nido, (or infant program). Language is an important and omnipresent part of the environment, from the spoken word to the actual lessons.  Some of the areas in language that Montessori child will master include, oral language works, vocabulary, pre-writing, and pre-reading, and then writing and reading.  It’s a truly beautiful process that unfolds when the child’s vocabulary expands, followed by their concept of the world and him or herself.  Their personality is further developed and revealed with the help of the language process.

The Move-able Alphabet - Montessori Works - Healthy Beginnings Montessori House

This area of focus uses the senses be it, visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, auditory or stereognostic. These are technical terms to describe our senses of sight, touch, smell, taste, and even movement.  Through the development of the senses, the child becomes an active explorer of his or her environment.

Knob-less Cylinders - Healthy Beginnings Montessori House

Cultural Enrichment

In this area, the Montessori child begins to understand their environment in the larger concept of the world.  With areas, in geography, social studies, sciences like biology, botany, and physics.  In this area, the “environment should bring the world at large and thus the adult work within reach of the child at whatever stage of development it is at a given moment.” – (The Secret of Childhood) by Maria Montessori

Montessori Map Making - Healthy Beginnings Montessori House

In mathematics, the Montessori environment provides tangible works to help children understand first the concrete concepts of math and then the abstract concepts. Each work, like all works, builds upon itself in lessons given in certain ordered scope and sequence.

photo 2 - Copy

I hope this overview of the five areas was helpful. Stay tuned for a more in-depth explanation of these areas soon.

-Jessica Snyder

Information gathered from the works of Tami Kinna

Visit our school’s website:

The Right Fit

Dear Future Parents,

Today, I want to talk about how to choose the right fit for your child. I’d like to talk to you not from an administrators point of view or from a Healthy Beginning’s employees perspective, but from a parent, like you might be.  What do we want as parents when looking at a prospective preschool? I know what I was looking for when I was looking for a school, for my soon the three year old in 2016.  I wanted safety, education and again safety.  I began to tour schools from Dallas to Plano, not just Montessori mind you.  Every time I went into a school, I made a list of pros and cons and began to develop a list of which was the best in my mind.  This one was the best in education, this one had lower student to teacher ratios, this one had organic food choices and so on and so on.  I wanted to pick the best! That’s what we all want as parents, the best for our children.  It was hard to chose. Some were a definite NO, while others had strengths in some areas.  When I walked in to Healthy Beginnings Montessori House and took a tour with Tami the Director and Owner, everything changed.  I didn’t have go through the grueling torcher of questioning myself, “Is this school better than this one?”.  I went from, choosing the best, out of a list of possibilities, to knowing this is where I wanted my child to be. See coming from an education background, I though I knew all there was to teaching children.  Until I found the place that truly followed child. It sounds so simple, but it meant and changed everything for me.  Tami explained, how as an authentic Montessori School they followed the child and intrinsically the child knew best.

Of course now being a part of the team, I am biased, but I will never forget the tangible knowing that came to me when I walked into this school, and that’s all I hope to impart to any parent. So when choosing a school, don’t choose the best out of a list of schools. Choose the school where when you walk in you just know, This is where I want my child to be.

Jessica Snyder

photo_1 - Copy

Happy Valentines Day From Healthy Beginnings!

Happy Valentines Day to all.

Today at Healthy Beginnings we celebrated each other and the love we share for our students and teachers.  The Primary class held a cookie exchange, as well as Valentines card exchange.  The children worked hard this week decorating their boxes and making cookies.  We love to see the merriment in the child’s face as they celebrate this joyous holiday.  Here are some pictures from today’s event.

“Of all things love is the most potent.” Maria Montessori.

Celebration of Life

Good Tidings from Healthy Beginnings Montessori House,

Yesterday we celebrated our 8th year being open! Wow, how much we and the children have grown.  We thought this an excellent opportunity to shed some light on a beautiful Montessori tradition that we do here at our school.  Starting in in our primary classes, when a child has a birthday, we complete what is known as a celebration of life ceremony.  This is a very special way to honor the life of that child.  As shown in the picture below, the sun is laid out on an authentic canvas.  The child is guided in placing all the months and seasons accordingly.  This is also a brief introduction into the calendar and the earths journey around the sun. Now the magic happens.  We ask all the child’s friends from class to sit around the rug and watch as the child carrying the mother earth walks around the sun.  The child then walks around the sun for each year of their life, as the children all serenade them in their sweet voices singing:

“Here we go round the sun,

Here we go round the sun,

Her we go round the sun,

Until the year is done.”

After each journey around the sun the child is asked to pause and we help the child reflect on all their accomplishments in each year of life.  Its really breathtaking to see the child beam with pride considering all the have accomplished.

Hope this gives some insight into some of the beauty of the celebration of life.

Maria COL_5

Remembering to focus on Unity

Hello Healthy Beginning Parents,

I recently received and email from one of our student’s grandmothers. She shared a warm moment of her grandson singing, “light a candle for you, light a candle for me, light and candle for peace…” (This a song the primary children were taught for international peace day). His beautiful three-year old sweet voice singing of peace reminded her to share a message of unity. It is so easy to feel discouraged in times like these, when tragedy occurs. It is easy to place blame and feel resentful and more disconnected from each other. Take some time to watch this video and let the voices of this generation of children remind you that there is still much light and love and peace to be shared.

Jessica Snyder


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Will the Skull Trooper Skin in Fortnite Ever Return? (Updated!)

skull trooper skin fortnite

Epic Games

With the news that Fortnite’s rare Red Knight skin coming back to the item shop, many players are left wondering what skins will remain vaulted and what skins will see a return.

One skin that many fans have always wondered about and has been growing in popularity is the Skull Trooper skin.

If you’re a Twitch fan, then you’ve probably seen TSM_Myth rocking the Skull Trooper skin regularly, showcasing its unique design.

The Skull Trooper skin is from Halloween 2017, before Fortnite was a household name. The Halloween event ran for pretty much the entire duration of Season 2 and was one of the first skins to be introduced into the game.

It was a simpler time back then, when everyone had the Ghoul and Skull Trooper skin shooting pumpkin rockets.

There was no telling Fortnite would become so popular so many players likely didn’t want to invest any money for the skins. Fortnite eventually caught fire and a lot of the early skins were locked away form players.

The return of the Red Knight leads many players wondering one thing: when is the Skull Trooper returning?

At this point there is no official confirmation whether this skin will return or not. If we do eventually see it come back it would probably be around Halloween since it is a Halloween-themed skin after all.

It’s possible a similar skin could come back around for Halloween but have it look slightly different as a nod to those who supported the game from the beginning.

It remains to be seen whether the emergence of old skins from the vault will become a trend. If it does then we can probably count on the Skull Trooper coming back one day.

If you go onto Fortnite’s Twitter page or any big Fortnite player’s Twitter then you’ll see a lot of players claiming to be selling accounts with Skull Troopers on them. If the skin does return then we’ll likely be seeing less of these tweets and less opportunities for players to be scammed.

Would you like the see a return of the Skull Trooper or do you want it to remain rare? Let us know in the comment section below.

Season 4 of Fortnite wraps up in mid-July and there has already been a number of clues as to what to expect with the next season. With last week’s rocket launch, we have seen a huge rift created in the sky and now random portals are popping up all over the map.

The first sighting of the portals was at Lonely Lodge but they have since spread to places like Tomato Town and Retail Row. The tomato head on top of the Tomato Town restaurant has recently fallen victim to a portal. We’ll surely receive more clues and information about Season 5 once the current season winds down.

Fortnite: Battle Royale is out now on Xbox One, PS4, iOS, Nintendo Switch and PC via the Epic Games Launcher. For more Fortnite: Battle Royale coverage, content and guides stay with us here at Heavy. Make sure you check out the rest of our gaming coverage too.

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When purchasing used video games whether it is a used NES game or a used PlayStation 3 game it may show signs of wear and tear. When parents begin talking to their children at a young age about bullying, and how it is not tolerated, the child will be less likely to be a bully, and may feel comfortable opening up if they are bullied.

For instance, freelance works such as writing web content articles, reviews for books, video games or movies and earn money from it. Teens can also try proofreading, editing, copywriting and even computer programming online. With the new school year underway as parents we want to prepare our kids to get back into "learning and growing mode" and to start the new school year on the right foot.
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In some cases, the manual may not have survived years of use, especially if the game is a popular one like Fatal Frame II (Xbox), Tales of Symphonia (Nintendo Gamecube) or Tales of Phantasia (Game Boy Advance), but in most cases this is not a problem, as walkthroughs and Game FAQs are available through numerous online sites.

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Despite all the talk, Covid vaccination does not infect people with shingles

Posts are showing up all over social media tying Covid-19 vaccinations to shingles and other painful skin disorders.

The source of one such post was Alex Berenson, an author and vaccine critic whose posts are sometimes cited for misinformation.

Berenson posted — first on Twitter, which then found its way to Facebook — a photo of a man covered in a severe rash. The man, according to the post, blamed the skin outbreak on a Covid vaccination he had weeks earlier. The post also included unsubstantiated information purported to be from the man’s doctors, indicating a likely diagnosis of a type of rash usually triggered by medications or infections, such as herpes simplex. It led Berenson to draw the conclusion that “for #Covid vaccines, shingles and even more dangerous and painful skin conditions may be the new thrombocytopenia.” That is a reference to a low blood platelet condition reported among some people who experienced blood clots after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its news feed. (Read more about PolitiFact’s partnership with Facebook.)

Without more information, it’s impossible to know whether the picture was as described, or what might have led to the man’s condition. We reached out to Berenson by email, but he did not respond. However, in a related Twitter thread, Berenson went on to discuss a study conducted in Israel that looked at six shingles cases occurring post-vaccination in a group of about 500 people with immune disorders.

The small Israeli study drew wide attention on social media and other outlets, and currently is the most-read article in the British Medical Journal’s Rheumatology. Some outlets, including the New York Post, ran stories on its findings, often with misleading headlines.

That got us wondering: How strong is the science behind this connection?

First, a little background

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, occurs in people who had chickenpox, a virus that causes itchy blisters. (Shingles can be prevented by the two-dose Shingrix vaccine.)

After a person recovers from chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus that causes it can lie dormant in the body, and then reactivate years or decades later in the form of shingles. Both are part of the herpes virus family, which includes herpes simplex Types 1 and 2.

Type 1 commonly causes “cold” sores around the mouth and lips and is spread by kissing or sharing things like toothbrushes. Type 2 can cause genital herpes, which is spread via sexual contact.

Among the things that can reactivate these dormant herpes viruses are stress, drugs that suppress the immune system or simply aging.

Now, back to those social media posts

Neither the picture of the man with a rash or the findings of the small study in Israel prove cause and effect. In other words, just because a rash follows a vaccine by days or weeks does not mean the vaccine caused the rash.

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said it’s natural for people to link events that occur within a short span of time, but he stressed it doesn’t prove causality.

“Just because B follows A doesn’t mean A causes B,” he said.

In considering whether there are links between a treatment and a side effect, researchers often follow two large groups of similar people, one group getting a particular medication or vaccine, the other not. If the vaccinated or medicated individuals experience a side effect at a greater rate than those not treated, there may be a connection.

Safety is also monitored by tracking data on reported side effects.

In the United States, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System includes unverified reports from patients, doctors and others about possible illnesses or symptoms that occur following immunizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention watches those reports.

“So far, the data indicates that shingles and herpes are not occurring at an increased rate in the vaccinated population,” said Schaffner, who encourages people who get a rash of any kind — or shingles — following vaccination to report it through that system.

But what about that Israeli study?

Even its authors said it was not designed to find a cause and effect.

Instead, the study followed 491 people — all of whom were being treated for underlying autoimmune inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, making them more susceptible to shingles in general.

Out of those, six women ages 36 to 61 developed shingles in the days and weeks after they received the Pfizer vaccination, for a prevalence rate of 1.2%.

The researchers noted in their article that vaccine-related reactivation of shingles has been seen with other vaccines, such as those for influenza, hepatitis A and rabies. But there were no reports of herpes-related rashes in the clinical trials for Covid-19 vaccines.

In the study, most of the cases were mild, five occurred after the first dose, and all five of those women went on to have their second dose with no additional adverse effects. The researchers said their observations cannot prove causality but should prompt “further vigilance and safety monitoring of Covid-19 vaccination side effects.”

Some media outlets, including the New York Post, ran headlines such as “Herpes Infection Possibly Linked to Covid-19, Study Says.”

That’s simply “clickbait,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

No one is getting infected with herpes from vaccinations, he said. “What the anti-vax community is doing is giving the impression that vaccinations are giving people herpes, which is simply not true.”

Adalja objects to the headline and effort to scare people, but he also said it is plausible, if yet unproven, that vaccination could reactivate an existing herpes zoster virus.

Other types of rashes and injection-site redness have certainly been reported by people who have received a Covid-19 vaccine.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, for example, reported on a group of 12 patients who had rashes that appeared four to 11 days after getting their first dose of the Moderna vaccine. Ice and antihistamines were used to treat most of the patients, half of whom experienced a rash again after the second shot.

And there have been reports on social media and in the press of people reporting similar rashes following vaccination. Still, experts say those rashes may simply be a sign that the immune system is working.

Such rashes are “pretty innocuous and easily treated,” said Adalja.

Our ruling

An online post claims the Covid-19 vaccines cause shingles or other dangerous skin conditions.

Although it contains a sliver of truth, it ignores important information. For instance, the evidence to date indicates this is an area to continue monitoring, but no direct link has been established between Covid vaccination and shingles or other serious skin conditions.

The study cited was not intended to prove cause and effect, and it was looking at patients who already had suppressed immune systems that made them more likely to get shingles whether they had a vaccination or not.

We rate this statement Mostly False.

Kaiser Health NewsThis article was reprinted from with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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When Our Thoughts Lie to Us

Not everything that passes through our minds are true. When our thoughts lie to us we don't have to sit by and except the lies. We can be secure in who we are in Christ. We belong and fit perfectly in His family.

Feelings of not belonging, not fitting in swirled around my head. I couldn’t get the thoughts out of my mind.

Have you been there? If you have then you know what I’m talking about.

Those thoughts that leave you sighing with a heavy heart. Thoughts which induce a hard to explain sadness. Thoughts that suck the joy right out of you.

They are a pain in the rear end aren’t they? Well at least figuratively.

Just Like a Dress

Trouble is what we think, what we say internally doesn’t stay inside and simply dissipate. If we don’t take authority over our thoughts they will continue to grow until they spill out of our mouths. Mine spilled out. I found myself repeatedly saying, “I just don’t fit anymore”, “Guess I’m no longer one of them”.

And you know sometimes we don’t fit in a particular situation or group, the bonding dynamics just simply aren’t there. And that’s okay. I have learned I am not everyone’s cup of tea and neither are they mine. We can still show love to each other, we simply are not a good fit.

It’s like loving a dress you have seen everything about it is adorable, the cut, the length, the color and the pattern all scream we belong together. Excitedly we take it off the hanger and head to the dressing rooms eager to don the garment. We just know this is the perfect dress. Hmm, a little tight on the hips, too big on the bust. It’s a tad shorter than we are comfortable wearing, but still we try to convince ourselves it will work.

NOPE NOT WORKING! Move on girlfriend.

Sometimes though the dress fits perfectly as if it was made to measure. We look in the mirror eyeing ourselves up and down, checking how it looks front and back and convince ourselves we don’t have the body for this particular dress. It’s not that the dress doesn’t fit; it does. We convince ourselves it doesn’t.

I was convincing myself by repeatedly verbalizing how much I didn’t fit or belong to the point I believed it was true. So I withdrew. Remained polite but distant. Friendly but not a friend.

More Than a Band-Aid

If I was going to move on in life my thought life needed not only to change, it needed healing.

There are awesome encouraging quotes that act as cheerleader, but none of them root out the cause of our negative thought life. I needed healing not a band-aid.

So I went to the one who heals. The one who knows me like no other and asked the question, “What’s up with this Lord? Why am I feeling this way?” I also asked for a scripture I could cling to. I didn’t hear an audible voice, rather it was quiet internal words, a reminder from Song of Songs 2:4 His banner over me is love. You know I went into singing the old chorus from that same verse; come on folks I grew up singing scripture, what else would you expect.

I know God loves me and I know He is love but my thoughts didn’t rest there. Instead they went to the word banner.

Interesting Facts

A banner is a flag either attached to a pole or secured between two poles usually displaying a logo and/or a simple message. Websites also use banners (though not attached to poles) to announce a product. In old testament times each tribe had its own banner announcing their tribe. So banners have been around for a long time.

In some churches when a couple is going to be married the banns are read announcing the up coming wedding. Banns and banner has the same origin meaning an official proclamation.

I Get It

The banner the Lord is flying over you and me is His official proclamation of love. His announcement to the world to love us not just till death do us part, but for all eternity. His banner is proclaiming we are a good fit and we belong to Him. We are His family under His leadership and protection. All this made possible through Jesus.

Whether we are accepted or rejected, actual or perceived we don’t have to live tortured by our thoughts. We can live secure in His love and secure in His acceptance.

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banqueting hall, and his banner over me is love. Song of Songs 2:3-4

Today let us choose to sit in the shade of His banner. To enjoy the taste of His love and replace the lies of the enemy with the truth of God’s word.

Live Radiant

Photo Credits:

Tea Pot; Jorge Garcia/Unsplash.  Girl in Red Dress; Luis Bravo/Unsplash.  Food; Marcus Wallis


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How do I assign cameras to different Subscription Plans?

If you've subscribed to multiple Plans, then you'll want to choose which cameras get which Plan so that each camera has the correct service level. For example, if one of your Plans is "Pro", then you would:

  1. Open your page.
  2. Choose Pro from the Plan dropdown associated with the camera(s) that should get this higher level of service.
  3. press the Save button.

See the orange highlights in this screenshot:

Alternatively, you can also specify the plan field in the CSV import of cameras.

Have more questions? Submit a request


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Running 4 lefse analysis at the same time in order to save space for graphic

Dear all,

I am comparing microbial community in response to a treatment using lefse cladogram.
I have 4 different experimental set up and I am planning to display the 4 lefse analysis together in order to compare result between experiment (see figure attached, "CURRENT GRAPH). So far I have run 4 lefse analyses separately but I am realising that it makes the reading of the graph difficult, cause I have 4 different legend/letters (see figure attached, "CURRENT GRAPH). Is it possible to run 4 lefse analysis separately (from 4 distincts experiments) from the same table input, and therefore get one unique taxa legend for all 4 cladograms. I would like to get the result bellow (see figure attached, “GRAPH EXPECTED”).

Thanks very much for your help.

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In this case you are assuming that a given taxa color (up/down difference abundance) is the same in all the 4 cladograms. I wonder if that would be rare to happen.
You could simply “merge” all the legend text (and the colored rectangles) in a graphics editor like inkscape, gimp, photoshop, etc. This is what I used to do. But you need to confirm what I said above.
Good luck

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Right, it is unlikely that difference of taxa between plots would be the same.
Good idea for inkscape


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Can I move into an L&Q home?

If you’ve bought a new home from us – which is vacant and ready to move into – we’re still booking in move-in dates. Our sales team will arrange getting your keys to you safely. Please visit the coronavirus section of our sales website for more information.

 We’re offering as many of our vacant rental properties as possible to local councils and health authorities to help free up hospital beds and help those in urgent need.

We’re sorry if this has affected your plans to move.

For emergency moves into one of our rental properties, we’re carrying out as many viewings and sign-ups as possible virtually. Where that’s not possible, we’re offering viewings in person, but making sure we stick to social distancing guidelines.

We’re now starting to consider how we might begin to offer a return to our normal service, including enabling mutual exchanges, and we’ll publish details when we have them.

We have some vacant homes listed on Rightmove and Zoopla for sale and for rent at market rates. These homes are still available and we’re carrying out virtual viewings and arranging to hand over keys safely. Right now, though, we’re giving priority on our rental homes to key workers and people who are between homes because of the coronavirus situation.

We hope to be able to help as many people as possible to continue to move, so please get in touch as we’ll review on a case-by-case basis.

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If you have a broken buckle, we may have a replacement that we can send you free of charge! In order to get a replacement buckle, please reach out to our customer service team with the following information:

  1. Width of the webbing that the buckle is attached to
  2. Top down photo of the buckle (unattached from each other) so we can match the style
  3. Do you need the male or female piece?
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  5. Full shipping address, including first and last name


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How to Purchase Ether

In order to transfer your U42 Tokens from the platform to your ERC-20 compatible wallet, you must have Ether (ETH) in your wallet to pay the fuel cost of the transaction. If you don’t know how to obtain Ether, here is a short guide.

First, what is Ether? Ether is the currency of the Ethereum platform. Like Bitcoin, it can be mined and traded around the web. The creators of Etherium intended Ether to be used as a “crypto-fuel” to pay for transactions on the Ethereum platform.

Ethereum Image

To Obtain Ether You Must:

Own an Ethereum Wallet* – Before buying Ether you must have an Ethereum wallet to hold Ether. You can either utilize a Hardware or Software wallet.

A: Hardware Wallets are the most secure way to store Ether. While we don’t endorse either of these products, Ledger and TREZOR are two popular choices.

B: Software Wallets are free of charge. However they are less secure than hardware wallets. Again, while this isn’t an endorsement, MyEtherWallet or MetaMask are popular destinations for beginners.

C: Other options, such as Paper Wallets, are available. Please do your own research before choosing the option that works best for you.

*please note that the U42 token is an ERC20 token and not all wallets support it.

The easiest way to purchase Ether is through an Exchange. For a list of exchanges that you can compare, check out this list from CoinCentral.

Once you purchase Ether, you will have to transfer it from the exchange to your personal wallet. To do this you must provide your wallet address. The address is a long string of numbers that begins with 0x. Always double check to make sure that, after a transaction, your Ether is stored in your personal wallet.

Now that you have Ether you will be able to fuel the cost of transferring your U42 Token to the same wallet. To do this, simply enter your wallet address on your You42 profile and request to transfer your U42 Tokens.

Stay current on the latest company updates, platform features, and original content.


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How can I turn on language support on my domain?

Please file a Support ticket requesting that this feature is activated for your domain, but ensure that your request states that you are okay with the limitations, as listed here. If you connect drives from multiple domains, you will need to activate language support for each connected domain.

The Egnyte Connect's language dropdown will be hidden if language support is not turned on.

How can I change the displaying language of my Egnyte Connect?

Click on the gear Screen_Shot_2020-02-26_at_2.25.56_PM.pngicon (Settings) - Preferences - select a new language - Save Changes

What languages are supported in the Egnyte Desktop App?

Languages Language code Desktop App Version
Polish pl_PL 3.7.0+ (Windows), 3.7.1+ (Mac)
German de_DE 3.7.0+ (Windows), 3.7.1+ (Mac)
Russian ru_RU 3.7.0+ (Windows), 3.7.1+ (Mac)
Turkish tr_TR 3.7.0+ (Windows), 3.7.1+ (Mac)
Chinese (Simplified) zh_CN 3.7.0+ (Windows), 3.7.1+ (Mac)

How can I mass configure default displaying language for my Egnyte Desktop App users?


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Blog / Solons Alley: In the Neighborhood

Solons Alley homes are just off of S Street between 28th and 29th, and there is a lot to love about this neighborhood. Officially known as Newton Booth, area charms include long-standing Bungalow homes and established businesses alongside modern conveniences. From Solons Alley, walk across the street for coffee or tea at Temple Roasters. Revolution Wines is next door. Around the corner on 29th is Pushkin’s Bakery, and we vouch for the tastiness of the baked goods. Neighborhood activities include The Yoga Practice on 29th and Figure 8 Fitness studio on 28th. Or you can just walk or bike to wherever you wish to go in Midtown or Downtown or near the river.

The new Co-Op is going up across the street, so you may never need to leave the neighborhood. But if you do, the 29th Street Light Rail station is nearby.

The McClatchy Library is just a few blocks away on 22nd, and it is surrounded by some of the most spectacular homes in Sacramento. A stroll down the shady streets in this part of town will ease any care in the world. And it’s all a stone’s throw away.

copyright © 2021 Henry + Associates Architects

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November 9th, 2007

discworld divide by cucumber

Ubercon IX

I'm going to give recapping a whirl. i'm not exactly sure why I'm putting myself through this particular agony since I'm relatively sure no one gives a rat's ass and these rambles always end up taking more time than they should. Well, okay. I know _one_ reason why I'm going to be doing this and it's because I only just noticed that certain other con events have entered folklore without a contemporary record. One incident sort of touches on something that happened at Ubercon and went I went back through my LJ archives, I found that I had left it out of the recaps. No doubt, at the time I thought I was being discrete, which dosen't sound like me but it's all I can think of.

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dance centipedes vagina

At least she wasn't schticking 13 year olds

Substitute Teacher's Lessons Enrage Parents

HOUSTON -- Parents said they were terrified when they found out what a substitute teacher has been teaching their children, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Students at MacGregor Elementary School said the substitute makes them call her "Sister Jessica" and take notes of her lessons.

"She said she doesn't want to be called 'Miss' because it means mistress and 'Mister' means slave master," said one of the fifth-graders who did not want to be identified.

"My child does not know what a prostitute is and she shouldn't be learning that at school," said the student's mother.

The student said that the teacher said she was teaching them about health.

"She said sugar is cocaine, McDonald's should be called 'Crack Donald's' and Burger King should be called 'Murder King' because the hormones in the food will kill you," said the student.

The mother recalled when her child came home and asked if a hair permanent and makeup causes cancer. The fifth-grader said she learned that in school and that the teacher said she did not believe in God.

"I take my daughter to school to learn, but not to learn this stuff and what this teacher likes or dislikes," the mother said.

The mother said her daughter is scared to brush her teeth because the teacher told the class there is rat poison in toothpaste.

"The principal at MacGregor Elementary has talked to the substitute teacher and she has promised to stick to HISD curriculum," a Houston Independent School District official said in a written statement.

Parents said they want the substitute teacher out of the classrooms.

It's hard to be surprised when you run across something like this. The standards to be a teacher aren't all that rigorous in a lot of places and a substitute is just a glorified babysitter. It should be no surprise that some of them are just whacky spazzcases. The fact that this was at an elementary school is about the only thing that really makes it unusual. Most of the indoctrination programs don't actually kick in until you're a wee bit older.
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Ubercon IX: Day 2

I'm writing this in a notepad file because my internet connection is on the spazz. It does this all where everything slows down to a crawl and connectivity goes out the window. I have no clue what causes it but the problem usually goes away after a hour or two. It's just completely unpredictable. I've been sitting here trying to read a couple articles on Slate and it's taken uncounted number of refreshes just trying to get the pages to load. Since I'm not doing anything useful, I figured that I would go on to the day 2 recap of ubercon. I can always paste it in later when things clear up.

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1(904)362-3629 [email protected]

6 Chickpea Nutrition Facts You Should Know

To eat hummus is to love it. And since the snack is made of chickpeas, loving hummus means embracing the nutritional value of this versatile legume, which is technically a pulse, or a dried, edible seed like lentils, peas, and beans.In addition to hummus, chickpeas can be added to salads and other recipes, used to make chickpea flour, chickpea pasta, roasted for a snack, and more.”They are a low-cost source of plant-based protein, fiber, antioxidants, and a slew of vitamins and minerals,” says Lauren Manaker, author of Fueling Male Fertility. “Incorporating them into a healthy lifestyle can help support overall health.”We chatted with top health experts to get the scoop on all things chickpeas. Read on to learn the fun facts about this legume.(Related: 7 Health Benefits of Almonds)

Fact: Chickpeas are an ancient food

Also known as the garbanzo bean and the ceci bean, the chickpea grows in subtropical and temperate regions. One of the first-cultivated vegetables on this planet, chickpeas likely first grew in Mesopotamia as many as 7,500 years ago.A member of a family of flowering plants, the chickpea plantcalled Cicer arietinumcontains seedpods that hold up to three chickpeas. The chickpea has a firm texture and a mild, nutty flavor. There are two main varieties: the Desi and the Kabuli.Desi chickpeas have small, dark seeds with a rough coat. These come mostly from India, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Iran. Desi chickpeas are consumed heavily in India.The Kabuli, on the other hand, is a lighter-colored, larger seed with a smoother coat. These are grown primarily in Europe, Africa, Afghanistan, and Chile. Kabuli chickpeas are more common in North America and are often sold as canned chickpeas, dry chickpeas, or hummus. The information that follows highlights the Kabuli chickpea.(Related: Whats the Healthiest Cereal to Buy in Canada?)

Fact: Chickpeas are full of nutrients

Although you can, of course, prepare dry chickpeas, the canned variety makes consuming the nutrient-rich food incredibly easy. “Chickpeas can be categorized as both a vegetable and a protein, making it an incredibly versatile food choice,” says Manaker.Canned chickpeas may contain added salt. To avoid, simply look for “low-sodium” on the label. Hummus is minimally processed and as a baseline typically includes tahini, oil, and spices in addition to chickpeas.Per one cup cooked chickpeas, you get 269 calories, 15 grams protein, 4 grams fat, 45 grams carbohydrates, 13 grams fibre, and a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Fact: Chickpeas boast good-for-you fibre

Chickpeas are an excellent source of fibre, which can be beneficial for satiety, cholesterol, and gut health. “Chickpeas contain both soluble and insoluble fibre,” says Manaker. This means that the fiber helps digestive health not only by helping to bulk up stool, but also to get things moving and help prevent constipation.”The soluble fibre binds LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol in your digestive system and removes it from the body through waste before it’s absorbed,” says Beth Stark, a culinary dietitian in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “This helps combat the buildup of such cholesterol in your arteries and ultimately lowers risk for heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.”Foods rich in protein and fibresuch as chickpeashelp keep you full for longer, which can help with weight control.(Related: 10 Foods with More Fibre Than Broccoli)

Fact: Chickpeas offer healthy fats

Fibre isn’t the only nutrient in chickpeas that helps your ticker. “Chickpeas contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have been shown to support heart health,” says Manaker.Additionally, chickpeas are a source of plant-based alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid that “can help raise HDL cholesterol levels, known as ‘good cholesterol,’ ” says Stark. “This can help lower both triglycerides and blood pressure when included in an eating pattern that’s otherwise heart healthy.”Plus, chickpeas can be included in so many eating styles. “They are a food that can be enjoyed as part of various therapeutic or health-promoting diets such as heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, plant-based, vegetarian, vegan, and Mediterranean, to name a few,” says Manaker.

Fact: Chickpeas contain many minerals

The legume is an excellent source of folate, zinc, copper, iron, and manganese. “Eating chickpeas during pregnancy can help a (woman) meet her folate needs, which in turn can reduce the risk of the baby developing birth defects like spina bifida,” says Manaker.Zinc is a mineral that’s important for development of some of the cells in charge of defending your body against toxins or foreign substances that threaten your immunity. Copper and iron work together to help your body form red blood cells, and manganese is helpful for blood sugar control.(Related: Top 10 Plant-Based Food Trends for 2021)

Fact: The ways to enjoy chickpeas are endless

Now that we’ve gone over the many health benefits of chickpeas, how about some nutritious, delicious ideas to prepare them?”With their hearty texture and slightly nutty flavor, chickpeas can be added to almost any meal with ease,” says Stark. “A favorite is using them in a plant-based Mediterranean-inspired grain bowl with roasted tomatoes and cauliflower, torn kale, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a dollop of hummus.”You can also toss them into a smoothie or chopped salad.In fact,roasted chickpeas are a great addition to salads in lieu of croutons. “I also love to use crispy roasted chickpeas as a garnish for homemade pureed soups like creamy tomato or butternut squash,” says Stark. Ready for dessert?Blend chickpeas into a vegan cookie dough.Next: How Can I Make Sure My Kid Has a Healthy Relationship With Food?

The post 6 Chickpea Nutrition Facts You Should Know appeared first on Best Health Magazine Canada.

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Mars Cannon is back with 30 new levels. Aim and shoot projectiles to eliminate all the dangerous aliens one planet Mars.

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Rick And Morty: 10 Interesting Facts About Birdperson You Need To Know

With Rick and Morty returning to the air after a prolonged mid-season break, fans are finally back on track to learning more about their favorite characters if not, at least, just a wide variety of high concept adventures and meta commentary. However, if there was a side character that fans really wanted more info on, it would be Rick Sanchez’ understated best friend, Birdperson.

RELATED: 10 Quotes From Rick And Morty That Are Too Relatable

Despite hints every now and then, Rick’s past is shrouded in mystery, and a lot of his most detailed bits have come from his relationship with Birdperson. A comrade on the battlefield and a true party animal at home, Birdperson is a character that fans new and old should get to know. Here are a few fun facts to get people started.

10 Parody Of Buck Roger’s The Hawk

It’s no secret that Dan Harmon loves his pop culture references. Whether he’s celebrating the genres that he loves or tearing them apart, he’s making Rick and Morty a real show of all shows. Birdperson in his entirety is one of the series’ most blatant pop culture references.

His design and character is directly inspired by The Hawk from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The Hawk is also an honorable half-man, half-bird character that has aided Buck Rogers in a menagerie of adventures, much like how Birdperson has assisted Rick in a variety of his.

9 Making A Comeback

One of the most devastating things for a comedy show to do is kill off a character. While Birdperson may not have been as prominent as Rick, Morty, or even Jerry, he still held a strong place in the series’ lore. This made his death all the more hard and surprising for fans during the Season 2 finale.

RELATED: Dead Cels: 15 Tragic Cartoon Deaths That Left You Completely Devastated

Even more surprising, he would later be teased as the newly resurrected “Phoenixperson” who now works with the Galactic Federation and particularly Tammy. He’s sure to return in the future, and the creators have even teased ever now and then of his eventual comeback and clash with Rick.

8 Parody Of Marvel Characters

Resurrection doesn’t mean just re-skinning an old character with an edgy costume. To an extent, there’s a little more heart with Birdperson’s resurrected form, “Phoenixperson,” as it has taken slight inspiration from Marvel comics.

RELATED: Dark Phoenix: 10 Simple Changes That Could Have Made It Great

Parts of his costume are modeled after the air born soldier, The Falcon, and his own resurrection is modeled after X-Men’s Dark Phoenix, the resurrected form of Jean Grey.

7 He Only Showed Emotions For Tammy

A huge part of Birdperson’s gimmick is that he has a very alien yet stable demeanor as an emotionless, logical warrior. Much like his Buck Rogers inspiration or Star Trek‘s Spock, Birdperson is reserved and monotoned person who shows very little facial affectation.

This changes in the Season 2 finale, where Tammy’s betrayal and attack cause him to look worried and confused during his final moments. While the relationship wasn’t prominent in the story, this scene spoke levels to how much it meant to Birdperson himself.

6 Voiced By Dan Harmon

Perhaps finding kinship with the emotionless and overly-logical sidekick, Dan Harmon took it upon himself to voice Birdperson. In contrast to his silly-voiced partner, Justin Roiland, Dan Harmon has rarely voiced anyone in the series, taking only to one-off characters such as Anatomy Park’s Alejandro or Ice-T.

RELATED: Rick And Morty: 5 Of The Funniest Jokes (& 5 That Took It Too Far)

Birdperson is perhaps his most active role behind the mic, and fans will hopefully get to hear his sultry tones as the character in the future.

5 Was In A Band With Rick

Birdperson was once Rick’s partner in crime and a leading revolutionary in the greater battle against the Galactic Federation. However, that deep and tumultuous history doesn’t hold a candle to the fact that he was once part of an epic band alongside Rick and Squanchy. During the trio’s early days, they were apparently part of a rock band named “The Flesh Curtains,” in which, Birdperson was the lead vocals.

If the series is going to delve in anything in Rick’s past, it has to be his old band. Birdperson singing has to become a thing outside of the musical gag in “Never Ricking Morty.”

4 Was Saved By Rick Long Ago

Being revolutionaries in war against a galaxy wide government is going to have some casualties. Birdperson has hinted that, long ago, Rick had actually saved his life, and this helped Birdperson humanize Rick’s otherwise offensive demeanor.

Rick has had his fair share of alien blood on his hands and has turned a blind-eye to the deaths of thousands of other characters. The fact that he was willing to save anyone at all, outside of the Smith family, is kind of a big deal for his history.

3 May Be A Bad Birdperson

While Birdperson’s exploits against the Galactic Federation may have been for freedom, that doesn’t inherently mean that he was always the noble hero.

Evident in his drunken talk during “The Wedding Squanchers,” Rick, Squanchy, and, surprisingly, Birdperson have all committed a vast array of “atrocities” during their battles. Exactly what this means is left in mystery; but knowing what Rick does in his day to day life, Birdperson doesn’t exactly have clean talons.

2 Loves The Oscars

In addition to being a revolutionary and rock star, Birdperson is a cinephile or, at least, someone who just really enjoys movie parties. Rick once slyly mentioned that Birdperson hosts an Oscar-viewing party every year.

However, Birdperson doesn’t realize that broadcast signals from Earth take several years to reach his own television. Given his disastrous wedding, fans unfortunately may never get to know how he would’ve reacted to seeing Braveheart win Best Picture.

1 Third-Person Gimmick Doesn’t Last

Quirky speech patterns are part of any iconic cartoon character, especially aliens. When Birdperson first premiered, he spoke in the third-person with his monotone voice.

However, while his voice may have remained the same, the third-person dialogue wouldn’t, and he’d revert to a standard speech type in later episodes. This could be due to his prolonged relationship with Tammy; or in a more likely case, the writers forgot or just got tired of the gimmick.

NEXT: Rick & Morty: 10 Sci-Fi Inventions So Powerful They Could Destroy the World

Birdperson is one of the more enigmatic characters on Rick and Morty, but what is known about his history is incredibly fascinating.

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Hey Gorgeous

Aloe & Olive Conditioner

R 185
Revitalising pH balancer for thick healthy hair
  • A pure powerhouse that protects your luscious locks with a force field of nature’ most fortifying compounds
  • This vegan, gluten-free, organic conditioner is a nourishing revitalising treat for tired over-processed tresses
  • Cleanses the scalp & hair down to cellular level & is the perfect choice for bringing all hair types into beautiful balance
  • Paraben free, Sulphate free, Cruelty-free
  • Vegetable origin, enriched with Aloe Vera

Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice. Organic Coconut and Olive Oils. Seaweed Collagen. Organic Green Tea Leaf. Chamomile. Argan Oil. Xyliance (An organic emulsifier made of 100% plant origin in which the sugar (xylose) is derived from wheat straw), Sodium Hyalronate, Hyaluronic Acid. Peppermint, Sage and Lime Essential oils

Size: 250ml.
How To Use It:
Apply a light layer to scalp and more to the ends. Leave on for a few minutes. Rinse off thoroughly. Style as usual.

Please note:

All of our natural & organic products are lovingly made by hand. This means that occasionally you may notice slight colour variances when comparing to our product pictures.

Our PET recycled packaging may differ to what is displayed here, depending on our suppliers, but sizes will always remain constant.

Finally, we’re improving on our formulas! Our website is up to date with the latest ingredient lists, but please note that our labels are a work in progress. If you’re uncertain, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

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Between Us and Catastrophe: People on the Front Lines of COVID-19

April 20, 2020 | by Kyle Cassidy

Elijah, Zack and Deloy work for the Philadelphia Streets Department. Photographed March 27, 2020. Their day starts at 5 a.m., every day, pandemic or not. When most everything stops, it is suddenly clear who is keeping us alive.

When the virus hit, my first thought was to create an oral history of doctors and nurses on the front lines to preserve their experiences, revelations, and day-to-day stories as we moved together through this. At some point we will look back at this as an important time, significant for myriad of reasons, and we’ll want to know what it was like at the tip of the spear as well as what it was like in quarantine rationing pasta and watching Netflix. We, as humans, have a seemingly unquenchable thirst for stories about heroes. Hollywood spends a great deal of time and effort recreating destruction, but we don’t seem to have the same propensity to tell stories about people who build and people who hold back chaos. This is a story about heroes.

As I started photographing doctors and nurses in early April of 2020 the city began to shut down in parts as though someone were in the basement of a large building flipping circuit breakers. But some things stayed on. Water kept coming from the faucets, the trash kept getting picked up, food kept appearing on shelves, and the mail kept arriving at the door.

When most everything stops it becomes a lot easier to see what few people are actually keeping us all alive. As I began to meet more essential workers–delivery people, cashiers, plumbers, postal workers–I became more cautious about using the word “heroes” because it can suggest a shifting of responsibility. It’s easy in our minds to offer up the word hero in exchange for the ethical malaise we’d otherwise feel about sending someone else into the uncertain air of the grocery store to pick up our Wheat Chex cereal.

While nurses and doctors signed up for this, a lot of people now on the front lines didn’t get to make that decision and were never asked the questions that we ask doctors and nurses and soldiers and sailors: are you willing to risk your life and the lives of people you love for this job? Some people in the thick of this are economic hostages who are at risk because they cannot skip a rent payment or don’t have health insurance. And as jobs fold and people lose their employer-provided healthcare, their immediate options to pay the bills are a plethora of essential jobs that carry risk and offers no paid sick leave and everything gets worse. Our country is being hit by a medical emergency, to be sure, but that is sitting on top of an existing social emergency that has stratified risk.

So do thank the doctors and nurses you see and clap for them in the evenings. But be sure to tip your delivery person, thank your letter carrier, thank every FedEx driver who walks past your front stoop, and put your mind to thinking about how to make everyone’s lives better and more equitable, because this is a story about both heroes and inequality.

My grandparents came through the crucible of WWII forever altered, and many people through 9/11, never able to find again the world as it was in August, 2001. I imagine we all too will be changed. The life of 2019 won’t be a place we go back to. It will only be a place that was. In years to come people not yet born will find our faded collections of hand-sewn masks in trunks and ask what we did and what it was like during this time. I’d like to be able to tell them. I’d like to be able to say “Here are the stories of the people who kept us alive.”

I photographed most people early in the morning on their way to work and from a distance of at least 10 feet. If you know someone else I should photograph, please contact me.

I am grateful to the people who helped make this possible not only the doctors and nurses, but influential people who believed in this project from the beginning and were eager to help me share the stories of those on the front lines: Mayor Jim Kenney, Linda Huss, Kelly Cofrancisco, Deana Gamble, and the Philadelphia Streets Department.

All photographs by Kyle Cassidy. View his portrait series here:

Margaret is a nurse in the Greater Philadelphia area. Photographed March 26, 2020.

“I personally think our hospital has responded really well to everything. I think it is lucky that we’ve had a little bit of time to prepare because we’re close to New York. The pressure was on for us to get prepared really quickly because we know there’s a wave coming but we did have some lag time there and our hospital leadership and administration has been really on top of things. I’m thankful that at least for now I really feel supported and communicated with and protected, which I don’t think is the case elsewhere. That’s a silver lining because I don’t have the extra burden of fighting for myself and my co-workers because I know that they’re out there looking for equipment for me and getting information to me.”

Linda is a nurse in the Greater Philadelphia area. Photographed March 30, 2020.

“We’re always a team at the hospital. You never get everything you’re supposed to get done in a day, so we’re always helping each other. You never have your ‘own patients.’ They’re all your patients. If a nurse is busy and their patient needs medication you just do it. You’re not like ‘I just have my four patients.’

But now we’re literally dressing each other because it’s hard to get all that equipment on and off. We’re all in this nightmare and everyone is really just pulling together. I’m not surprised because we’ve always been that way. But it definitely makes it a lot easier. Everyone is just getting through it together.

The other day a patient of mine was dying and I kind of lost it at the end of my shift and two of the other nurses took me in another room and hugged me and said ‘It’s OK. We’ll wash our hands later.”

Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier represents the 3rd District. Photographed March 26, 2020.

“City Council is operating in this weird reality where we’re trying to support our constituents and meet their needs virtually, which is difficult because we know that lots of folks are not able to easily communicate virtually and don’t have regular access to technology. So, we’re in this space where we’re interacting with the folks that we can who are more connected, and we’re also trying to find ways to interact with folks who aren’t as connected.”

Mohammed is a doctor at a Philadelphia area hospital working on drive-thru Covid-19 testing. Photographed on March 20, 2020.

Garrett is a physician in the Greater Philadelphia area. Photographed March 27, 2020.

“At the beginning, we felt like spectators on the sidelines of what was happening. We were watching and listening to the stories coming from New York and around the world. As the stay-at-home order came into effect, and the general public’s concern about the virus was amplified, our emergency department saw our numbers dwindle, like the tide going out before a tsunami, and we knew it was only a matter of time before the wave came rushing in. With each case that came in you worried about the patient, but also the risk of infection to EMS personnel, the registration staff, the nurse, the tech, the respiratory therapist, and the environmental services team tasked with cleaning and sanitizing each room before and after the patient was there. The constant refrain in the back of my mind was, ‘Am I going to bring this home to my wife and young son?’”

Sara is a nurse in the Greater Philadelphia area. Photographed March 29, 2020.

“At work there’s a greater sense of camaraderie that wasn’t there before. We’re all working together towards a common purpose. I think that I’m also personally reaching out to people in ways that I didn’t before just to say ‘Hey. I’m thinking about you.’ And I’m spending more time with my kids. I’m having conversations with my 14 year old who normally hides in his room and doesn’t want to talk. He’s kind of bored now so he comes up and will have conversations with me, which is pretty remarkable. I think that there are a lot of silver linings. You just really have to look for them.”

Nicole, Naomi, and Hazelnut are making masks in West Philadelphia. Photographed March 30, 2020.

“The first batch I wasn’t totally confident about donating to the Facebook group Sew Masks Philly. There had been so much conversation in the group in the first week. I was just working with stuff that I had around my house, and I wasn’t quite sure if they were hospital-ready, so I just gave them to people in the community–people in the grocery store who still have to interface with everybody, the postal workers, our delivery people, et cetera. After that I used approved patterns and donated them through the Facebook group. We started with about 60 different patterns and narrowed it to three approved ones and what materials to use. There was a lot of discussion about how useful the masks are? How much does it filter? Can it be washed? And the big thing for hospitals is if they be autoclaved Can it go through the hospital cleaning process? So, the pattern and the fabric, which is 100% cotton, and there are types that have a slot for a filter, which could be polypropylene or even a paper towel that would add an additional layer. There was much discussion about the ties. Do they use an elastic tie around the ear? How does that feel? If someone’s wearing it a long time is that comfortable?

While I’m in quarantine I could be sitting here cleaning my attic, but I’m happy to have a talent that can be utilized and help support health care workers until I get called back to work.”

Travis delivers food for Caviar. Photographed March 30, 2020.

“I have noticed that folks in the restaurants are feeling a lot more tense. Some of them because of germs and others who feel overwhelmed because they’re getting so many orders, but they can’t have as many staff as they normally would because they’re trying to maintain social distance. So, there’s that tension or the exact opposite, which is, not getting enough orders. How sustainable it is for them to get three orders in a day?

I’m working fewer hours and making what I need to make. And because of the nature of riding a bike around the city I sometimes see friends on the sidewalk and I can say ‘Hi’ from a distance. For me, that’s a meaningful connection with a person. My partner is having a harder time with the idea of staying inside all the time. She’s used to being much more active, and that’s getting to her.”

Kishia is a shopper for the delivery service Instacart. Photographed April 2, 2020.

“It’s very, very crowded in that store. They have a whole bunch of social distancing signs saying things like ‘Stand here,’ but a lot of people don’t abide by that, and a lot of people just get close to you. And I know they tell you not to wear masks, that they won’t really help you, or it might even put you in more danger. But at the same time, there are so many people around and I don’t know. I’d rather just wear a mask.”

The Mayor’s Covid-19 response press conference at City Hall. Photographed April 3, 2020.

Normally this room would be filled with news media, but the conferences are now all virtual, attended only by eight staffers all sitting a dozen feet apart. City Hall itself is nearly empty. The doors are locked and the metal detectors are turned off.

Deana Gamble, director of communications for the Mayor’s Office, was the reluctant face of the Covid-19 response team for this photo, preferring to direct attention to the other people doing so much work from elected and appointed officials to behind the scenes staff and the PHLGovTV team.

“When I think about the immense sacrifices of our healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines of this crisis, not to mention the countless people suddenly out of work, I feel very blessed to have a career that allows me to play a part in helping our city get through this challenging time. The need to communicate rapidly changing, and complex information to diverse audiences is demanding. But I’m so fortunate to have an incredible team of communications pros who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty.”

Please support the following healthcare worker funds

COVID19 Clinical Response Team Fund

Delivering Meals to Healthcare Workers’ Families

About the Author

Kyle Cassidy Kyle Cassidy is a Philadelphia photographer. His portraits of healthcare and essential workers can be seen at the Science History Institute at 3rd and Chestnut Streets and at

  1. Dave says:

    Great series of profiles. Idea for future photos in this vein: bus drivers and checkout staff at groceries and drugstores.
    Thank you

    1. B.Gerson says:

      Dave, you got it. I’m commenting below about my daughter working in a grocery store.

  2. B. Gerson says:

    My daughter works at Trader Joe’s in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She loves working there, but is very stressed now. It’s a combination of seriously upset customers, shortages of certain products and fear of getting infected. She recently reduced her work schedule to 4 days per week.

    She’s been taking orders from people who can’t get out for whatever reason and then drops off the groceries on her way home from work. They pay her electronically and she does not take money for delivery. She and her coworkers are doing an amazing job at low wages.

  3. Terrific work. Your visual magic is matched by the music of your prose. Cannot wait for the next installment.

  4. Heidi S. says:

    What heroes! Thanks for the positive article showing everyone can be a hero in all this.

  5. Deborah Horsting says:

    Very helpful to see the people behind the scenes that are keeping us alive while having to stay in place. Thank you Kyle.

  6. Thanks for the shout out to our fund, feeding front line workers. Wife and I up to 148 meals served!

  7. Davis says:

    Thank you for this fine tribute.

  8. nick says:

    excellent article. it details the important people in all this – NOT the CEO’s of giant companies, not the traders on wall street, but the front line people who make the infrastructure work.

  9. Mel and Beth Moyer says:

    Enlightening in that it emphasizes the people we all take for granted and depend upon as the real hero’s they are. Thanks. Mel

  10. Marge Morris says:

    Thank you, Kyle. As always, you find deserving subjects to feature visually in your moving photos. Seeing these heroes makes them more real in this socially, virtually-distanced world .

  11. Rose Glassberg says:

    Gail and Jay Chaskes sent this to me and I sent this to theAFT Retirees Chapter of Rowan University, several of whom have commented to me and to you. Above all, for me it’s your humanity that shines through — both in your photos and your language. Thank you.

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text:
Non-Profit Spotlight: The One Fund Boston

Non-Profit Spotlight: The One Fund Boston

In the light on the Boston Marathon bombings, the High Fives Foundation has reached out to The One Fund Boston with an open invitation for any victims of the tragedy that wish to become involved or pursue a dream in the adaptive winter action sports to apply to the Winter Empowerment Fund and ultimately enjoy all that these sports offer. The High Fives Foundation is without a doubt BOSTON STRONG!

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Menino has announced the formation of The One Fund Boston, the purpose of which is to raise money to help those families most affected by the tragic events that unfolded during the Boston Marathon.

I am humbled by the outpouring of support by the business community and individuals who are united in their desire to help; The One Fund Boston will act as a central fund to receive much needed financial support, Governor Patrick said. At moments like this, we are one state, one city, and one people. According to Mayor Menino, support from the business community was immediate. Within an hour, I had calls from business leaders and local philanthropists who, like me, were heartbroken by the impact this hideous tragedy has had on individuals, their families, and friends. And they want todo everything they can to help these people physically and psychologically in the future.

The cornerstone donation to The One Fund Boston is a $1 million commitment from John Hancock. John Hancock is honored to contribute to The One Fund Boston, aiding those who were affected by this terrible event, said Craig Bromley, President. The Boston Marathon is about courage and resilience and community. John Hancock, which has been headquartered in Boston for more than 150 years, will continue to stand by our city, the people of Boston, our community partners, the runners, and the Boston Athletic Association as we unite in recovery and in renewal of our commitment to the Boston Marathon.

Although not yet an official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization The One Fund has been making great strides in becoming a charitable organization…

Boston law firm Goodwin Procter has volunteered to organize The One Fund Boston and is applying for 501(c)(3) status. One Fund Boston, Inc. will apply for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. Although the Fund cannot guarantee that the IRS will make a determination that the organization qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity, if approval is received within the expected time frame, the determination will be retroactive to the date of the Funds formation.

We are one Boston. We are one community. As always, we will come together to help those most in need. And in the end, we will all be better for it,Mayor Menino said.

To contribute to The One Fund Boston, click on

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text:
Album Review: Tracyanne & Danny – Tracyanne & Danny

On the title track to Camera Obscura’s masterpiece My Maudlin Career, Tracyanne Campbell sang ‘this maudlin career must come to an end / I don’t want to be sad again’, a line heavy in irony for a singer whose music had always captured a bittersweet Scottish melancholy. Their next album Desire Lines seemed to take this line to heart with its more upbeat pop feel on songs like Break it To You Gently and Do It Again. However the lighter sound hid a devastating reality: band member Carey Lander was suffering from cancer and tragically died in 2015. Since then the band have been on an indefinite hiatus, dealing with their loss.

Therefore this new collaborative project between Campbell and Danny Coughlan of Crybaby is a chance for a fresh start, a way to sing again without the memory of what has gone before weighing too heavily. Taking the controls for the album is producer Edwyn Collins, a man who understands much about overcoming adversity. Maybe what you need to get back on your feet is just a little help from your friends.

Opener Home & Dry is a burst of lovely nostalgia, with Tracyanne singing about how relationships change over time, looking back to when life was simpler (before children and other adult realities). The sweet fifties shuffle of the music is a welcome evocation of the classic Camera Obscura sound, with Danny contributing backing vocals. Throughout the album the singers swap roles and also duet, even if Tracyanne gets first billing both are given an equal chance to shine.

Then we are treated to the album’s standout track ‘It Can’t Be Love Unless it Hurts’, a perfect swoon of vintage pop. It started with a kiss right between the eyes. Falling in love is a painful journey sometimes, especially in Glasgow but the song makes it all worth it. Deep in the Night is another stunner, with an added touch of jazz to brighten the song further.

The mix of darkness and light on the album continues with Alabama, a touching tribute to her lost friend. The music combines sweet pedal steel with joyful Mexican guitars, reflecting the travels detailed in the song. For all its happy shimmer the lyrics are quietly devastating, I had to choke back a sob at the line ‘when I’m an old lady I’ll still miss you like crazy’. This is a celebration of Carey and also an acceptance that when someone dies you have to carry their memory and loss inside you forever.

2006 wistfully looks back to the near past, recalling a diary entry about love that seems to come from another lifetime ago ‘I can’t believe this life was me’. Time changes and sometimes all you’re left with is questions. The Honeymooners seeks escape and silence in the Scottish highlands (where this album was recorded). I want to go back / I don’t want to go back admits a confusion about the future.

Danny takes the lead on the simple love song Anybody Else and the 80s indie disco inspired Cellophane Girl. Final song O’Keefe is a classic Orbison style ballad, dreaming of a new life in New Mexico where the artist of the title lived and worked. Art offers a momentary chance for escape into the sublime.

The future of Camera Obscura is uncertain but thankfully Tracyanne and Danny have already promised they will work together again soon. There’s something timeless about the quality of the music on Tracyanne and Danny which is hard not to fall in love with. Such a project proves that music has the power to heal, when you’re ready to let it.

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