unicorn

Hopefully, you're just being facetious. The purpose of artwork is to enjoy it and appreciate it, not to make waffles. Where i agree with you is paying ridiculous sums just because the artist is famous. One can just as well enjoy reproductions and/or works by less well-known but essentially equally talented artists.

I definitely agree that we place too much value on originals. The only reasons I can think of for buying an original are either (1) you think you can sell it later for more, or (2) you're a high-volume museum, such as the Louvre, where tens of thousands will pay good money each day to see the original (and also provide more tourist dollars towards your city's and/or country's economy). If you simply appreciate the artwork, reproductions can be made, the difference which can only be detected by experts. If I really like an artwork, be it a painting, sculpture, or whatever, I'll get a reproduction. I can appreciate it over and over for a tiny fraction of the cost. Even better, I'll buy an artwork I like from an unknown artist, then I pay less for something that I not only appreciate, but that's unique. One of my most prized possessions is a sexy merman statue (not this one) near my pool, which always gets great comments at my parties... (My sculpture is larger, and, unlike this one, is one-of-a-kind)

I agree. It's silly to take these anti-HIV meds without also using condoms.

On the subject of handsome locals, this handsome local news reporter got my gonads warm: https://www.wpri.com/author/ethan-logue/ https://www.mypanhandle.com/author/ethan-logue/

Earlier today I attended a lecture on headaches delivered by a strikingly handsome professor from a nearby university. His lecture was strangely monotone, and delivered in such a dry manner that I suspected he's neurodivergent (on the spectrum). (I talked with others who attended the lecture, and they agreed that his lecture was flat). I looked him up online, and was surprised to see an arrest record for someone with his name, and approximately the same age, about 10 years ago. Do you think this is the same man? https://www.pri-med.com/globals/faculty/g/galicaandrewm https://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/man-accused-of-stealing-900-of-liquor-from-sun-prairie-woodmans/article_95de6fb8-6850-11e5-9049-0ff6033707fd.html https://www.umassmed.edu/neurology/neurology-specialties/Neurological-Rehabilitation-Recovery/neuro-rehab-and-recovery-faculty/ His Facebook profile is also pretty sparse--he seems to have a couple dozen young female friends and that's it...

Not that I necessarily disbelieve your "Dr. No" hypothesis, but there's obviously a world of difference between legally buying an art treasure at "near knock-down prices" and stealing a (readily identifiable) art treasure. A legally-purchased art treasure obviously has great value, and is a rational investment (especially when purchased at a relatively low price), which can be admired by all, and even passed onto ones loved ones or to charities (such as a museum) upon one's death--or sold if one prefers. What can one do with a stolen painting other than put in into a hidden location to admire in private?

Well, although Dr. No was before my time, I've seen the movie--and all other Bond movies. Yes, I suppose some super-rich villain could buy the painting to put in his evil lair, where only his trusted henchmen could see the painting. Does that really happen in real life? Are there real Dr. No or Goldfingers around?

I understand the theft of jewels (which can be melted), but I've never understood why someone would steal a painting. You'd never be able to sell the painting, nor even able to show the painting to almost anyone else. Am I missing something? Isn't stealing a painting taking a big risk with no potential reward?

You can say that again. If it's true those jewels were left unprotected (with 18th Century glass on the windows, no less), not only should people be fired, but I'd wonder if the negligence doesn't rise to the criminal level... This will go down in history as one of the most asinine museum thefts of all time, from what is perhaps the most famous (and cash rich) museum on the planet.

They didn't disclose the cause of death. I suspect it may have been an uncontrolled bleed, given the rapid deterioration (an infection could probably have made it to the hospital in time). If the gravida (woman giving birth) was even more foolhardy and didn't get prenatal care, eclampsia could be another common cause of rapid death. I remember hearing in the hospital where I did my residency training that a gravida without prenatal care died in the elevator on the way up to the delivery ward. She had a massive seizure which left her brain basically exploding in the skull. 🫣

It's been barely over a century since 10% of childbirths ended up with the mother dying. Because it's so rare these days, some seem quite unaware how dangerous it used to be to give birth naturally. 😪 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/food-influencer-stacey-hatfield-dies_n_68f7a0cfe4b0dbac45910c1b?fbclid=IwY2xjawNmUxVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKbEFZUGtaWWlqTG05ZEdrAR6t37pgMqAvhOOwuhySw3LQLyG_Steo4TUGcAeFygKZcKNXml_nGW63cuD8kA_aem_enI77E6npsgggIdqjMvWug "An Australian food influencer has died after giving birth to her first son at home. Stacey Hatfield’s husband, Nathan Warnecke, announced in a touching tribute on Instagram Monday that she died on Sept. 29. “Its with heavy heart that i share with you the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, soul mate and best friend, Stacey Warnecke (Hatfield),” Warnecke wrote on Hatfield’s “Natural Spoonfuls” Instagram page..."

Well, the word "si" (without the accent as in Spanish) also means yes in French. It's actually used quite frequently, and is most commonly used as emphasis "Mais si!" (but of course!). The saddest fact about these jewel heists is that the metal will probably just be melted down for the value of the metal, and the gems sold for their value as individual gems, although, of course, their value was many times that as works of art. Stolen paintings don't have any value, since they could never be sold or displayed (although I suppose a selfish SOB could keep it just so that he himself could look at it). Taken apart, however jewels can be untraceable once the metal has been melted.

I was at a medical conference today, and there is a new HIV prevention injection which lasts 6 months between injections. Unlike the previous injection, which is given in the muscle every 2 months, this one is injected under the skin. The big catch of this medication (Yeztugo/lenacapavir) seems to be that a majority (64%) of patients get a sizable lump under their skin, which averages 3 cm in diameter and lasted, on average, about a year! Although less common (31%), pain could last over 52 weeks! Half of the subjects received a placebo injection and were given Truvada or Descovy (FTC/TAF or FTC/TDF) pills, and half received the lenacapavir and dummy pills. The most frequent adverse reactions associated with LEN SUBQ injection use in PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 were ISRs. The most common ISRs (all Grades) in at least 2% of participants who received LEN in either PURPOSE 1 or PURPOSE 2 are presented in Table 1. Table 1. ISRs (All Grades) Reported in 2%a of Participants Receiving LEN in PURPOSE 1 or PURPOSE 2 Injection Site Reactions PURPOSE 1 PURPOSE 2 LEN (N=2140) FTC/TAF or FTC/TDFb (N=3205) LEN (N=2183) FTC/TDFb (N=1088) Nodule 64% 17% 63% 39% Pain 31% 24% 56% 53% Induration 4% <1% 16% 10% Swelling 4% 5% 7% 10% Pruritis 2% 1% 3% 3% Erythema 1% 1% 17% 19% Bruising <1% <1% 3% 4% Warmth <1% <1% 2% 2% a Frequencies are based on all injection site reactions attributed to study drug (or to the procedure) by the investigators. Nodules Injection site nodule was reported in 64% of participants who received LEN and resolved more slowly than other ISRs. The median duration of nodule associated with the first injections of LEN was 350 days (IQR: 182–470). The median of the maximum observed nodule diameter from each participant was 3 cm (IQR: 2–3.5). Qualitative descriptions of the visibility of injection site nodules were not routinely reported, but, where reported, the majority of injection site nodules were palpable but not visible. Other ISRs The other ISRs reported in more than 2% of participants who received LEN were pain (31%), swelling (4%), induration (4%), and pruritus (2%). The median duration of induration, of 8 which resolved more slowly than most ISRs, was 173 days (IQR: 22–267). (ISR stands for injection site reactions)

I should also add that if your "HIV test" was an antibody test only, then you very definitely need to be rechecked in 2 months, as one wouldn't expect a seroconversion so soon, and that test result could easily change. If the test also included an antigen test (i.e. viral RNA), then it's quite unlikely to be a false negative.

If you can't remember to take your pills every day, oral PrEP is not for you. There are injectable alternatives which can be dosed months apart.

Anyone care to summarize the video?

He's basically a con-man who's managed to find fellow con-men to do his bidding with him. Essentially he's turned the federal government into a mafia-like criminal enterprise. Since he knows 2/3 of the US Senate will never convict him of anything, even blatant crimes, he knows he's untouchable. His cabinet consists of similar psychopathic lunatics. I don't know if his unspeakable sexual crimes will ever come to light. You listen to all of the lies spewed out by his press secretary and cabinet members, and would think they'd be embarrassed--but the nature of sociopaths is that they have no shame. No crime is too despicable. I just hope that this country and can survive another 3+ years of his presidency. In 2.5 centuries, we've never seen anything like it.

No, he doesn't. He's always been a con-man. That's how he operates.

No need to suspect. 😄 One of his many failed ventures...

😄

Trump's belief that he's in the running for a Nobel Prize only provides more evidence for his delusional state.