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    Best Friend, Confused, and Dad: MAMMA, EVER SINCE
 I SAlV I'M ITALIAN,
 EVERYONE KEEP4
 TEA IN ME AND
 AGKING IF I'M IN THE
 MAFIA

 NEXT TIME
 TELL THEM

 THEN THEY
 WILL FEAK
 YOU.
2srooky:

giancarlovolpe:

Based on a true story.

this reminds me of a story that’s kind of an ongoing joke in my family. 
I’m half German, and my father’s side of the family is full blooded German. My father owns a business that deals with a lot of international calls, and during my early tween years he got a lot of business calls at all hours of the day and night from all over the world. 
Now, when i first met my best friends, I had them sleeping over at my house, and we were watching TV. Every few minutes the phone would ring, and our caller ID would project at the top of the television screen. 
I was bullied a lot as a kid, so my dad told me to tell people if they asked what my father did, that he was in the German Mafia.
So, naturally when my friends asked who was calling, I made the joke it was business cause my dad was in the German Mafia, and the joke stuck. 
And it spread, too. Middle school was filled with jokes about my family and the mafia, but they were just jokes. That I was in the mafia, my dad was a mafia boss, etc. etc.
Those jokes continued into high school, where, in my junior year I was in a big depressive spell. I wore my hair tied back from my face a lot, and in my history class, these jokes were cracked a little more often as we began our European Studies. One day, my History teacher, the most amazing teacher I had in high school, walked between me and my best friend, as our desks were right next to each other, while we had been making one of these jokes. 
He paused, and reached out, tapping my right temple twice while a huge, cheeky grin spread on his face and he just went. 
“Good to see you finished your induction.” and walked away.
I was confused, my best friend and I were staring at each other for a solid ten minutes before we got back to work. 
When I went home that night, I looked up a bunch of stuff about the German Mafia. The German Mafia would often do a tattoo of 3 dots on someone once they had finished their “trials” and were accepted. This was most often done in cases of murder, and other crimes. Where the tattoos were placed meant different things. Hands were the norm, but sometimes a tattoo would be placed on the face. 
These tattoos are now mostly outdated, and are usually just prison tattoos done for years/crimes committed in prison, but some branches of Russian, Cuban, and German mafias still use the three dot tattoos. 
I was flabbergasted for two reasons. One, that my teacher knew all of this about the German mafia, and, Two, that he pointed out the three freckles on my temple that make a perfect triangle. 
For the rest of my Junior and Senior year, the mafia jokes dwindled less and less, because people actually believed I was in the mafia. 
I never told them I wasn’t, either.

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                Best Friend, Confused, and Dad: MAMMA, EVER SINCE
 I SAlV I'M ITALIAN,
 EVERYONE KEEP4
 TEA IN ME AND
 AGKING IF I'M IN THE
 MAFIA

 NEXT TIME
 TELL THEM

 THEN THEY
 WILL FEAK
 YOU.
2srooky:

giancarlovolpe:

Based on a true story.

this reminds me of a story that’s kind of an ongoing joke in my family. 
I’m half German, and my father’s side of the family is full blooded German. My father owns a business that deals with a lot of international calls, and during my early tween years he got a lot of business calls at all hours of the day and night from all over the world. 
Now, when i first met my best friends, I had them sleeping over at my house, and we were watching TV. Every few minutes the phone would ring, and our caller ID would project at the top of the television screen. 
I was bullied a lot as a kid, so my dad told me to tell people if they asked what my father did, that he was in the German Mafia.
So, naturally when my friends asked who was calling, I made the joke it was business cause my dad was in the German Mafia, and the joke stuck. 
And it spread, too. Middle school was filled with jokes about my family and the mafia, but they were just jokes. That I was in the mafia, my dad was a mafia boss, etc. etc.
Those jokes continued into high school, where, in my junior year I was in a big depressive spell. I wore my hair tied back from my face a lot, and in my history class, these jokes were cracked a little more often as we began our European Studies. One day, my History teacher, the most amazing teacher I had in high school, walked between me and my best friend, as our desks were right next to each other, while we had been making one of these jokes. 
He paused, and reached out, tapping my right temple twice while a huge, cheeky grin spread on his face and he just went. 
“Good to see you finished your induction.” and walked away.
I was confused, my best friend and I were staring at each other for a solid ten minutes before we got back to work. 
When I went home that night, I looked up a bunch of stuff about the German Mafia. The German Mafia would often do a tattoo of 3 dots on someone once they had finished their “trials” and were accepted. This was most often done in cases of murder, and other crimes. Where the tattoos were placed meant different things. Hands were the norm, but sometimes a tattoo would be placed on the face. 
These tattoos are now mostly outdated, and are usually just prison tattoos done for years/crimes committed in prison, but some branches of Russian, Cuban, and German mafias still use the three dot tattoos. 
I was flabbergasted for two reasons. One, that my teacher knew all of this about the German mafia, and, Two, that he pointed out the three freckles on my temple that make a perfect triangle. 
For the rest of my Junior and Senior year, the mafia jokes dwindled less and less, because people actually believed I was in the mafia. 
I never told them I wasn’t, either.

                
            

            
            
2srooky:

giancarlovolpe:

Based on a true story.

this reminds me of a story that’s kind of an ongoing joke in my family. 
I’m half German,...

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            




    America, Android, and Doctor: StanceGrounded
 SJPeace
 The horrors of Socialized Medicine: A
 first hand experience by Kevin Bozeat
 We need Universal Healthcare!
 RETWEET THIS
 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it.
 But for the rest of the night, I kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it.
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
 3:16 PM Feb 25, 2019 Twitter for Android
 1.9K Retweets
 3.6K Likes

 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it
 But for the rest of the night, l kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 down
 By 3am I had severe stomach cramps, my body kept
 trying to vomit even though there was nothing left. I was
 dizzy and light-headed. My symptoms showed no signs
 of abating
 At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew
 had to go to the hospital
 I wanted to avoid it. I had no idea how different
 Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able
 to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost
 me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't
 qualify for Taiwanese NHI)

 My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to
 the ER at NTU Hospital. I was immediately checked-in by
 an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given
 IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did
 an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or
 appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a
 particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
 (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV I
 began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and
 my stomach began to calm down. I was discharged with
 a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication.
 Each day since lve gotten progressively better and am
 now pretty much back to normal
 The bill for the ER visit?
 US$80.00
 Eighty. American. Dollars
 Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance.
 At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan.
 And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that.
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money.
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
corvussy:
thatpettyblackgirl:


the US has no excuse


some great examples of us hospitals setting pretty exorbitant prices for health care:

The infamous $629 bandaid
Woman charged $40 for holding her baby after a c-section
Two South Korean tourists took their baby to the ER where he was only given some formula and took a nap before being discharged but were given a $18,836 bill
Canadian man gets heart surgery in Florida and is billed over 600k USD
Some more pictures of people’s hospital bills

A public hospital’s ER is out-of-network with all private insurances, resulting in many patients being stuck with unreasonable bills and eventually resulting in a class action lawsuit over their billing practices


Annual healthcare spending in the US is estimated at 3.5 trillion, and billing prices are pretty much unfair and inconsistent, even for insured patients with legal loopholes and hospital discretion in setting prices
Billing announcements, and million dollar hospital bills on the rise
Top 35 Most Expensive Health Conditions in the US
Just… facility fees


Hospitals are more likely to tell you how much parking costs than how much a basic ECG test costs (meaning they probably inflate prices arbitrarily for patients… possibly on an individual basis)
Hospitals are magically able to “discount” hospital bills to less than a thousand dollars for patients that receive national attention in media (x, x)

People in the US are less likely to seek medical care because of high prices, even though 42% of doctors believe their patients are receiving too much health care (falsely)

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                America, Android, and Doctor: StanceGrounded
 SJPeace
 The horrors of Socialized Medicine: A
 first hand experience by Kevin Bozeat
 We need Universal Healthcare!
 RETWEET THIS
 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it.
 But for the rest of the night, I kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it.
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
 3:16 PM Feb 25, 2019 Twitter for Android
 1.9K Retweets
 3.6K Likes

 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it
 But for the rest of the night, l kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 down
 By 3am I had severe stomach cramps, my body kept
 trying to vomit even though there was nothing left. I was
 dizzy and light-headed. My symptoms showed no signs
 of abating
 At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew
 had to go to the hospital
 I wanted to avoid it. I had no idea how different
 Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able
 to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost
 me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't
 qualify for Taiwanese NHI)

 My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to
 the ER at NTU Hospital. I was immediately checked-in by
 an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given
 IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did
 an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or
 appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a
 particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
 (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV I
 began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and
 my stomach began to calm down. I was discharged with
 a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication.
 Each day since lve gotten progressively better and am
 now pretty much back to normal
 The bill for the ER visit?
 US$80.00
 Eighty. American. Dollars
 Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance.
 At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan.
 And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that.
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money.
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
corvussy:
thatpettyblackgirl:


the US has no excuse


some great examples of us hospitals setting pretty exorbitant prices for health care:

The infamous $629 bandaid
Woman charged $40 for holding her baby after a c-section
Two South Korean tourists took their baby to the ER where he was only given some formula and took a nap before being discharged but were given a $18,836 bill
Canadian man gets heart surgery in Florida and is billed over 600k USD
Some more pictures of people’s hospital bills

A public hospital’s ER is out-of-network with all private insurances, resulting in many patients being stuck with unreasonable bills and eventually resulting in a class action lawsuit over their billing practices


Annual healthcare spending in the US is estimated at 3.5 trillion, and billing prices are pretty much unfair and inconsistent, even for insured patients with legal loopholes and hospital discretion in setting prices
Billing announcements, and million dollar hospital bills on the rise
Top 35 Most Expensive Health Conditions in the US
Just… facility fees


Hospitals are more likely to tell you how much parking costs than how much a basic ECG test costs (meaning they probably inflate prices arbitrarily for patients… possibly on an individual basis)
Hospitals are magically able to “discount” hospital bills to less than a thousand dollars for patients that receive national attention in media (x, x)

People in the US are less likely to seek medical care because of high prices, even though 42% of doctors believe their patients are receiving too much health care (falsely)

                
            

            
            
corvussy:
thatpettyblackgirl:


the US has no excuse


some great examples of us hospitals setting pretty exorbitant prices for health care:...

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            




    America, Android, and Doctor: StanceGrounded
 SJPeace
 The horrors of Socialized Medicine: A
 first hand experience by Kevin Bozeat
 We need Universal Healthcare!
 RETWEET THIS
 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it.
 But for the rest of the night, I kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it.
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
 3:16 PM Feb 25, 2019 Twitter for Android
 1.9K Retweets
 3.6K Likes

 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it
 But for the rest of the night, l kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 down
 By 3am I had severe stomach cramps, my body kept
 trying to vomit even though there was nothing left. I was
 dizzy and light-headed. My symptoms showed no signs
 of abating
 At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew
 had to go to the hospital
 I wanted to avoid it. I had no idea how different
 Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able
 to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost
 me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't
 qualify for Taiwanese NHI)

 My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to
 the ER at NTU Hospital. I was immediately checked-in by
 an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given
 IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did
 an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or
 appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a
 particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
 (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV I
 began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and
 my stomach began to calm down. I was discharged with
 a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication.
 Each day since lve gotten progressively better and am
 now pretty much back to normal
 The bill for the ER visit?
 US$80.00
 Eighty. American. Dollars
 Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance.
 At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan.
 And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that.
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money.
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
thatpettyblackgirl:

the US has no excuse


    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                America, Android, and Doctor: StanceGrounded
 SJPeace
 The horrors of Socialized Medicine: A
 first hand experience by Kevin Bozeat
 We need Universal Healthcare!
 RETWEET THIS
 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it.
 But for the rest of the night, I kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it.
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
 3:16 PM Feb 25, 2019 Twitter for Android
 1.9K Retweets
 3.6K Likes

 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it
 But for the rest of the night, l kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 down
 By 3am I had severe stomach cramps, my body kept
 trying to vomit even though there was nothing left. I was
 dizzy and light-headed. My symptoms showed no signs
 of abating
 At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew
 had to go to the hospital
 I wanted to avoid it. I had no idea how different
 Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able
 to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost
 me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't
 qualify for Taiwanese NHI)

 My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to
 the ER at NTU Hospital. I was immediately checked-in by
 an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given
 IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did
 an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or
 appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a
 particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
 (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV I
 began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and
 my stomach began to calm down. I was discharged with
 a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication.
 Each day since lve gotten progressively better and am
 now pretty much back to normal
 The bill for the ER visit?
 US$80.00
 Eighty. American. Dollars
 Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance.
 At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan.
 And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that.
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money.
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
thatpettyblackgirl:

the US has no excuse


                
            

            
            
thatpettyblackgirl:

the US has no excuse



            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            




    America, Android, and Bad: StanceGrounded
 SJPeace
 The horrors of Socialized Medicine: A
 first hand experience by Kevin Bozeat
 We need Universal Healthcare!
 RETWEET THIS
 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it.
 But for the rest of the night, I kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it.
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
 3:16 PM Feb 25, 2019 Twitter for Android
 1.9K Retweets
 3.6K Likes

 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it
 But for the rest of the night, l kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 down
 By 3am I had severe stomach cramps, my body kept
 trying to vomit even though there was nothing left. I was
 dizzy and light-headed. My symptoms showed no signs
 of abating
 At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew
 had to go to the hospital
 I wanted to avoid it. I had no idea how different
 Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able
 to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost
 me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't
 qualify for Taiwanese NHI)

 My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to
 the ER at NTU Hospital. I was immediately checked-in by
 an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given
 IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did
 an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or
 appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a
 particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
 (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV I
 began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and
 my stomach began to calm down. I was discharged with
 a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication.
 Each day since lve gotten progressively better and am
 now pretty much back to normal
 The bill for the ER visit?
 US$80.00
 Eighty. American. Dollars
 Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance.
 At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan.
 And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that.
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money.
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
smallest-feeblest-boggart:

thatpettyblackgirl:

the US has no excuse



I had a similar experience in Hong Kong. I was in bad shape; they fixed me up good and quickly. I was shocked when my entire emergency visit didn’t cost me anything. In the U.S, an unexpected hospital visit can easily cost you MORE than a month’s rent. people literally lose their homes trying to pay medical bills that even a small fraction of our military budget could easily cover.the thing is, we have weapon industry lobbyists. we don’t have lobbyists or big money advocating for the average citizen. right now, money is more important than people and that needs to change

Same goes for Germany.Accessible Healthcare for everyone.The patient is more important than the money
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                America, Android, and Bad: StanceGrounded
 SJPeace
 The horrors of Socialized Medicine: A
 first hand experience by Kevin Bozeat
 We need Universal Healthcare!
 RETWEET THIS
 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it.
 But for the rest of the night, I kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it.
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
 3:16 PM Feb 25, 2019 Twitter for Android
 1.9K Retweets
 3.6K Likes

 The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand
 experience
 A few days ago my stomach began to hurt. Thinking it
 would pass, I went home to try and rest for the night. A
 bit later I vomited. I thought that was the end of it
 But for the rest of the night, l kept vomiting almost every
 30-40 minutes. Even after my stomach was completely
 empty, I kept vomiting. Soon it was nothing but stomach
 fluid and bile. I tried to drink water to stay hydrated, but I
 kept throwing it up, no matter how hard I tried to keep it
 down
 By 3am I had severe stomach cramps, my body kept
 trying to vomit even though there was nothing left. I was
 dizzy and light-headed. My symptoms showed no signs
 of abating
 At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew
 had to go to the hospital
 I wanted to avoid it. I had no idea how different
 Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able
 to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost
 me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't
 qualify for Taiwanese NHI)

 My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to
 the ER at NTU Hospital. I was immediately checked-in by
 an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given
 IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did
 an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or
 appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a
 particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
 (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV I
 began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and
 my stomach began to calm down. I was discharged with
 a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication.
 Each day since lve gotten progressively better and am
 now pretty much back to normal
 The bill for the ER visit?
 US$80.00
 Eighty. American. Dollars
 Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance.
 At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan.
 And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that.
 This could have easily cost me hundreds or even
 thousands in the US without insurance. But here in
 Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care
 comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital
 for relatively small amount of money.
 Given this experience, I no longer have a reason to fear
 or hesitate getting care in Taiwan should I ever need it
 America, it's time to stop making excuses.
smallest-feeblest-boggart:

thatpettyblackgirl:

the US has no excuse



I had a similar experience in Hong Kong. I was in bad shape; they fixed me up good and quickly. I was shocked when my entire emergency visit didn’t cost me anything. In the U.S, an unexpected hospital visit can easily cost you MORE than a month’s rent. people literally lose their homes trying to pay medical bills that even a small fraction of our military budget could easily cover.the thing is, we have weapon industry lobbyists. we don’t have lobbyists or big money advocating for the average citizen. right now, money is more important than people and that needs to change

Same goes for Germany.Accessible Healthcare for everyone.The patient is more important than the money
                
            

            
            
smallest-feeblest-boggart:

thatpettyblackgirl:

the US has no excuse



I had a similar experience in Hong Kong. I was in bad shape; they f...

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            




    Being Alone, Butt, and Community: gee i wonder if sam likes catra
 @heyadorah
 she ra progressive of power live podcast
 tweets thread: noelle stevenson interview
 11:17 AM 22 Feb 2019
 C)10
 e)
 4 Retweets 15 Likes
 15
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 54m
 dnd classes, according to noelle -
 adora: fighter
 glimmer sorcerer
 bow: bard and ranger
 she ra: paladin
 catra: "a rogue, obviously"
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 46m
 the show stands on its own even though it's a legacy production. noelle didn't
 want to be held back by fear of changing too much. she was prepared for
 negative backlash, but hopes that if legacy fans give the new show a try, they'll
 recognize the core spirit of the show
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 44m
 noelle sometimes gets e-mails from young kids who love her work (because they
 don't have twitter), as well as their parents, and it's super important and cute and
 good
 7

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 41m
 "it's important to have a lightness... and freedom to [what we make] so we're not
 just dumping sadness and suffering on our audiences."
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 38m
 noelle doesn't know what discord or tik tok are
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 31m
 "[netossa and spinerella] are a couple... slightly older. they have their own life
 outside what these teenagers are doing, and the teenagers don't understand it
 because they're doing their own thing. they have a lovely house somewhere... but
 the teens are not as perceptive."
 9
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 29m
 "[netossa and spinerella] have a stability to them [while] our younger characters
 are often so messy and melodramatic and their feelings run wild, but these two..
 their presence is reliable."
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 27m
 in the original netossa doesn't have powers, she just has nets that she throws on
 people
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 24m
 "[adoral is a little bit of a glutton for punishment in some ways... that's HER. she's
 kinda ready to get her butt kicked, yknow? she's like, i'm the only one who's
 gonna get hurt right now.
 8

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 23m
 "adora had her world view challenged in 1.11 in a way that she never had. the
 idea that adora always thought she was doing the right thing for catra, and
 realizing that catra actually had resentment, i think that rattled her hard, to her
 core
 5
 9
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 21m
 "and so, adora's emotional state and mental-well being is tied to how powerful
 she is as she-ra. as soon as she starts letting her insecurities take over, she ra gets
 less powerful, especially when she's alone
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 20m
 "she is so distracted that she's kinda taken out by this fight with catra."
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 20m
 "[adora's] looking to be punished in some way."
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 18m
 "adora's fatal flaw [is] taking agency... to try to protect [catra specifically, but also
 everyone]. she is self-sacrifical!... but it shows a lack of faith."
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 18m
 "[adora] really wants to take every single bullet."
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 17m
 the writers planned the 'stronger together idea for cultural relevancy
 2

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 16m
 "production began in earnest in 2016. this was not an accident. it's an escapist
 fantasy... .but it still comes out... we're putting our own feelings into almost every
 single character in so many ways. it's not an allegory... it's our feelings and
 struggles being expressed."
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 13m
 noelle has always had a big interest in villains, and related to them very much.
 BUT she realized, making this show "that was the fantasy, the idea of the
 complicated but sympathetic" isn't close to "real world villains who lack empathy
 when they hurt people and take away rights"
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 12m
 "even hordak is a fantasy, like, what if these were the villains that we faced, these
 complicated shades-of-grey... that's the escapist version. the pain of a real-world
 person is... how could you THINK that? how could you DO that? and there's not
 really an answer
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 9m
 "we are gonna have massive status quo shifts, like... you guys have no idea"
 2
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 9m
 "we are NOWHERE near done"
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 6m
 "i am a gay woman, engaged to a woman. i was really passionate about... in the
 show's DNA, [providing a home to the lgbt+ community."

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 6m
 "the rainbow iconography is no accident.
 2
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 4m
 "it's even more than the ships, the pairings... here is a WORLD, where queer
 themes are so interwoven into the fabric of the show that they exist on every
 level, even if they're not made explicit. obviously there are still barriers, but these
 themes... can't be removed."
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 3m
 when noelle pitched the rainbow thing at the end of the battle, an exec was like,
 "what's the point?" and noelle said, deadpan, "it's the gay agenda"
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 3m
 "this isn't a secret.. or something i'm ashamed of. it's a big part of what the show
 is. it's bigger than ships. it's about showing a world where this is just a part of
 normal life."
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 1m
 "there are so many things, even in the next episode drop, that are gonna change
 the whole stakes of the show."
hey-adora:noelle stevenson did an awesome interview with the progressive of power podcast! i took notes on twitter, thought tumblr would like them too 3
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                Being Alone, Butt, and Community: gee i wonder if sam likes catra
 @heyadorah
 she ra progressive of power live podcast
 tweets thread: noelle stevenson interview
 11:17 AM 22 Feb 2019
 C)10
 e)
 4 Retweets 15 Likes
 15
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 54m
 dnd classes, according to noelle -
 adora: fighter
 glimmer sorcerer
 bow: bard and ranger
 she ra: paladin
 catra: "a rogue, obviously"
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 46m
 the show stands on its own even though it's a legacy production. noelle didn't
 want to be held back by fear of changing too much. she was prepared for
 negative backlash, but hopes that if legacy fans give the new show a try, they'll
 recognize the core spirit of the show
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 44m
 noelle sometimes gets e-mails from young kids who love her work (because they
 don't have twitter), as well as their parents, and it's super important and cute and
 good
 7

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 41m
 "it's important to have a lightness... and freedom to [what we make] so we're not
 just dumping sadness and suffering on our audiences."
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 38m
 noelle doesn't know what discord or tik tok are
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 31m
 "[netossa and spinerella] are a couple... slightly older. they have their own life
 outside what these teenagers are doing, and the teenagers don't understand it
 because they're doing their own thing. they have a lovely house somewhere... but
 the teens are not as perceptive."
 9
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 29m
 "[netossa and spinerella] have a stability to them [while] our younger characters
 are often so messy and melodramatic and their feelings run wild, but these two..
 their presence is reliable."
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 27m
 in the original netossa doesn't have powers, she just has nets that she throws on
 people
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 24m
 "[adoral is a little bit of a glutton for punishment in some ways... that's HER. she's
 kinda ready to get her butt kicked, yknow? she's like, i'm the only one who's
 gonna get hurt right now.
 8

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 23m
 "adora had her world view challenged in 1.11 in a way that she never had. the
 idea that adora always thought she was doing the right thing for catra, and
 realizing that catra actually had resentment, i think that rattled her hard, to her
 core
 5
 9
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 21m
 "and so, adora's emotional state and mental-well being is tied to how powerful
 she is as she-ra. as soon as she starts letting her insecurities take over, she ra gets
 less powerful, especially when she's alone
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 20m
 "she is so distracted that she's kinda taken out by this fight with catra."
 8
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 20m
 "[adora's] looking to be punished in some way."
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 18m
 "adora's fatal flaw [is] taking agency... to try to protect [catra specifically, but also
 everyone]. she is self-sacrifical!... but it shows a lack of faith."
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 18m
 "[adora] really wants to take every single bullet."
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 17m
 the writers planned the 'stronger together idea for cultural relevancy
 2

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 16m
 "production began in earnest in 2016. this was not an accident. it's an escapist
 fantasy... .but it still comes out... we're putting our own feelings into almost every
 single character in so many ways. it's not an allegory... it's our feelings and
 struggles being expressed."
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 13m
 noelle has always had a big interest in villains, and related to them very much.
 BUT she realized, making this show "that was the fantasy, the idea of the
 complicated but sympathetic" isn't close to "real world villains who lack empathy
 when they hurt people and take away rights"
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 12m
 "even hordak is a fantasy, like, what if these were the villains that we faced, these
 complicated shades-of-grey... that's the escapist version. the pain of a real-world
 person is... how could you THINK that? how could you DO that? and there's not
 really an answer
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 9m
 "we are gonna have massive status quo shifts, like... you guys have no idea"
 2
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 9m
 "we are NOWHERE near done"
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 6m
 "i am a gay woman, engaged to a woman. i was really passionate about... in the
 show's DNA, [providing a home to the lgbt+ community."

 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 6m
 "the rainbow iconography is no accident.
 2
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 4m
 "it's even more than the ships, the pairings... here is a WORLD, where queer
 themes are so interwoven into the fabric of the show that they exist on every
 level, even if they're not made explicit. obviously there are still barriers, but these
 themes... can't be removed."
 7
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 3m
 when noelle pitched the rainbow thing at the end of the battle, an exec was like,
 "what's the point?" and noelle said, deadpan, "it's the gay agenda"
 6
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 3m
 "this isn't a secret.. or something i'm ashamed of. it's a big part of what the show
 is. it's bigger than ships. it's about showing a world where this is just a part of
 normal life."
 5
 gee i wonder if sam likes catra @heyadorah 1m
 "there are so many things, even in the next episode drop, that are gonna change
 the whole stakes of the show."
hey-adora:noelle stevenson did an awesome interview with the progressive of power podcast! i took notes on twitter, thought tumblr would like them too 3
                
            

            
            
hey-adora:noelle stevenson did an awesome interview with the progressive of power podcast! i took notes on twitter, thought tumblr would lik...

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            




    Android, Drugs, and Saw: @ajplus
 Olympic champion Caster
 Semenya today began her legal
 challenge against the IAAF over a
 new policy that requires female
 athletes with naturally high
 testosterone to take hormone-
 lowering medications or compete
 against men. She says the rules are
 discriminatory and unfair
 12:04 PM Feb 18, 2019 Twitter Web Client

 Nerve Bender
 @okemzuruoke
 First they said that having a vagina is
 what makes you a woman. Then when
 they saw that you were black and
 more powerful, they decided that
 having a vagina wasn't enough; you
 need low testosterone too
 This is humiliating and cruel. They just
 never like to see black women win
 AJ+@ajplus
 Olympic champion Caster Semenya today began her
 legal challenge against the IAAF over a new policy that
 requires female athletes with naturally high
 12:48 AM Feb 19, 2019 Twitter for Android

 Nerve Bender
 @okemzuruoke
 It is also worthy to note that this new
 rule only applies to athletes
 competing in the 400m, 800nm
 and 1500m which makes Semenya a
 specific target because she is the
 ONLY athlete in the competitions
 whose "unfair advantage" is being
 questioned/under scrutiny
 3:19 AM Feb 19, 2019 Twitter for Android

 Nerve Bender
 @okemzuruoke
 Isn't it quite telling that the IAAF, an
 organisation that strongly kicks
 against the use of performance-
 enhancing drugs, wants athletes to
 use drugs that medically alter their
 production of hormones and thereby
 limit their natural performance?
 AJ+@ajplus
 Olympic champion Caster Semenya today began her
 legal challenge against the IAAF over a new policy that
 requires female athletes with naturally high
 2:30 AM Feb 19, 2019 Twitter for Android
erikkillmongerdontpullout:
thatpettyblackgirl:

This is so unfair



This connects back to what a lot of Black cis and trans women have been saying about constructions of gender resting in whiteness. The things people say that routinely exclude trans women have been used to deny womenhood to Black cis women as well.

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                Android, Drugs, and Saw: @ajplus
 Olympic champion Caster
 Semenya today began her legal
 challenge against the IAAF over a
 new policy that requires female
 athletes with naturally high
 testosterone to take hormone-
 lowering medications or compete
 against men. She says the rules are
 discriminatory and unfair
 12:04 PM Feb 18, 2019 Twitter Web Client

 Nerve Bender
 @okemzuruoke
 First they said that having a vagina is
 what makes you a woman. Then when
 they saw that you were black and
 more powerful, they decided that
 having a vagina wasn't enough; you
 need low testosterone too
 This is humiliating and cruel. They just
 never like to see black women win
 AJ+@ajplus
 Olympic champion Caster Semenya today began her
 legal challenge against the IAAF over a new policy that
 requires female athletes with naturally high
 12:48 AM Feb 19, 2019 Twitter for Android

 Nerve Bender
 @okemzuruoke
 It is also worthy to note that this new
 rule only applies to athletes
 competing in the 400m, 800nm
 and 1500m which makes Semenya a
 specific target because she is the
 ONLY athlete in the competitions
 whose "unfair advantage" is being
 questioned/under scrutiny
 3:19 AM Feb 19, 2019 Twitter for Android

 Nerve Bender
 @okemzuruoke
 Isn't it quite telling that the IAAF, an
 organisation that strongly kicks
 against the use of performance-
 enhancing drugs, wants athletes to
 use drugs that medically alter their
 production of hormones and thereby
 limit their natural performance?
 AJ+@ajplus
 Olympic champion Caster Semenya today began her
 legal challenge against the IAAF over a new policy that
 requires female athletes with naturally high
 2:30 AM Feb 19, 2019 Twitter for Android
erikkillmongerdontpullout:
thatpettyblackgirl:

This is so unfair



This connects back to what a lot of Black cis and trans women have been saying about constructions of gender resting in whiteness. The things people say that routinely exclude trans women have been used to deny womenhood to Black cis women as well.

                
            

            
            
erikkillmongerdontpullout:
thatpettyblackgirl:

This is so unfair



This connects back to what a lot of Black cis and trans women have been...

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            



        

            
        
        

            




    Click, Empire, and Fall: Iceland
 Independence Day
 Komi Republic
 Text and graphics Theo Deutinger, Filip Cieloch and Lucia de Usera
 Faroe Islands shan
 Throughout history, the borders of Europe have constantly a. Basque Country
 changed. Unfortunately, shifting borders are usually the outcome LaRioja
 of conflict, as exemplified by the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Yet 6n
 armed conflict is avoidable, as shown by the emergence of the 7.Free County
 post-Soviet states and the peaceful divorce of Czechoslovakia in
 1993. Just a year ago, one might have thought that a more mature 10.Switzertand
 world was evolving - one in which the pursuit of sovereignty could 11.5ao
 be settled without gunfire- but in light of the war in Ukraine and 13. Liguria
 ISIL's desire for an Islamic caliphate, global sanity seems more 1. Tieino
 unachievable than ever,
 Jämtland
 O0ster
 Shetland
 Outer Hebrides Orkney
 Islands
 Udmurtia
 Sweden
 Estonia
 Tatarstan Bashkortostan
 The concept of nation-state sovereignty beganth euth tyrol
 Chuvashia
 Northumberland
 the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and is based on territoriality and 19
 of ManDenmark
 Friui-Venezia Giutia
 the absence of a role for external agents in domestic structures. 20.istria
 ber that had declined to about 70 at the end of the 19 century, Bonia Herzegovina
 eign states.
 Republika Srpska
 In 1648 the world consisted of some 80 sovereign states, a num-22. Croatian Rep of
 Ireland
 Mordovia
 when it began to grow again. Today's world comprises 20andnk
 Wales Mercia
 Together with the rise of the modern state, the accuracy
 of national boundaries increased as well, thanks to modern 28. Northern Epirus
 Kazakhstan
 Germany
 surveying techniques (triangulation) and the consequent pro- 3Shlesaig-Holssein
 duction of highly detailed maps. Precisely drawn borders have 31. Karachay-Cherkessia
 not led to greater stability, however, but to even more sensitivityAbiahazia
 among nations. A study of the number and size of nation states 34. South Ossetia
 concludes that one result of democratization and economic 35. Ingushetia
 integration is ever more countries. As Marshall McLuhan points 37
 out in The Gutenberg Galaxy, literacy is another determining 38. Adjara
 Netherlands
 Guernsey Isle of Wigh
 Jersey
 O P
 Brittany
 bourg
 factor, as most states that have formed over the past 150
 years Nagorno Karabakh
 Car
 ORostov
 Slovakia
 Ruthenia
 have appeared along language lines, and people who can read
 and write are aware of the cultural impact of word-based com-
 Austria
 Transnistria
 Russia
 The collapse of hegemonic empires has also served as
 Galicia
 Hungary
 Kr
 midwife at the birth of nation states. The end of the Roman
 Empire marked an increase in the number of European states,
 which had risen from 37 to 1 14 by 1300, a development compara-
 ble to the proliferation of sovereign states in East-Central Europe Portuga
 Occitania
 ia
 gauzia
 Croatia
 三
 ezgistar
 Romania
 since the fall of the Communist regime. The process of autonomy
 Monaco
 has slowed down but not halted; in Western Europe it is fed by
 subsidies from the European Union, a
 Marino
 Bul
 nd in Eastern Europe it is
 triggered by Russia's autocratic government. Both systems have
 an expiration date and should be prepared for a higher diversity
 o Valencia
 of sovereign states. It is to be hoped that, at the very least, the
 nations of Western Europe understand the concept of a peaceful
 divorce and the need to respect another's point of view.
 Andalusia
 Balearic Islands
 .Alberto Alesina and Enrico Spolaore, On the Number and Sine of
 Sardinia
 Notions, The Quartery Journal of Economies, Vol. 112, Na.4 (Now. 1007)
 2. Marshall McLuhan, The Gutenberg Golaxy The Making ef
 Typogrophic Mon, Univeesity of Toronto Press, 1962
 3. Chiu Yu Ko, Mark Koyama and Tuan-Hwee Sng, Unified China
 _
 Iraq
 and Divided Europe, June 2014
 ru
 Malta
land-of-maps:

Independence Day : what Europe would look if separatist movement got their wish [5335 × 3205]CLICK HERE FOR MORE MAPS!
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                Click, Empire, and Fall: Iceland
 Independence Day
 Komi Republic
 Text and graphics Theo Deutinger, Filip Cieloch and Lucia de Usera
 Faroe Islands shan
 Throughout history, the borders of Europe have constantly a. Basque Country
 changed. Unfortunately, shifting borders are usually the outcome LaRioja
 of conflict, as exemplified by the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Yet 6n
 armed conflict is avoidable, as shown by the emergence of the 7.Free County
 post-Soviet states and the peaceful divorce of Czechoslovakia in
 1993. Just a year ago, one might have thought that a more mature 10.Switzertand
 world was evolving - one in which the pursuit of sovereignty could 11.5ao
 be settled without gunfire- but in light of the war in Ukraine and 13. Liguria
 ISIL's desire for an Islamic caliphate, global sanity seems more 1. Tieino
 unachievable than ever,
 Jämtland
 O0ster
 Shetland
 Outer Hebrides Orkney
 Islands
 Udmurtia
 Sweden
 Estonia
 Tatarstan Bashkortostan
 The concept of nation-state sovereignty beganth euth tyrol
 Chuvashia
 Northumberland
 the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and is based on territoriality and 19
 of ManDenmark
 Friui-Venezia Giutia
 the absence of a role for external agents in domestic structures. 20.istria
 ber that had declined to about 70 at the end of the 19 century, Bonia Herzegovina
 eign states.
 Republika Srpska
 In 1648 the world consisted of some 80 sovereign states, a num-22. Croatian Rep of
 Ireland
 Mordovia
 when it began to grow again. Today's world comprises 20andnk
 Wales Mercia
 Together with the rise of the modern state, the accuracy
 of national boundaries increased as well, thanks to modern 28. Northern Epirus
 Kazakhstan
 Germany
 surveying techniques (triangulation) and the consequent pro- 3Shlesaig-Holssein
 duction of highly detailed maps. Precisely drawn borders have 31. Karachay-Cherkessia
 not led to greater stability, however, but to even more sensitivityAbiahazia
 among nations. A study of the number and size of nation states 34. South Ossetia
 concludes that one result of democratization and economic 35. Ingushetia
 integration is ever more countries. As Marshall McLuhan points 37
 out in The Gutenberg Galaxy, literacy is another determining 38. Adjara
 Netherlands
 Guernsey Isle of Wigh
 Jersey
 O P
 Brittany
 bourg
 factor, as most states that have formed over the past 150
 years Nagorno Karabakh
 Car
 ORostov
 Slovakia
 Ruthenia
 have appeared along language lines, and people who can read
 and write are aware of the cultural impact of word-based com-
 Austria
 Transnistria
 Russia
 The collapse of hegemonic empires has also served as
 Galicia
 Hungary
 Kr
 midwife at the birth of nation states. The end of the Roman
 Empire marked an increase in the number of European states,
 which had risen from 37 to 1 14 by 1300, a development compara-
 ble to the proliferation of sovereign states in East-Central Europe Portuga
 Occitania
 ia
 gauzia
 Croatia
 三
 ezgistar
 Romania
 since the fall of the Communist regime. The process of autonomy
 Monaco
 has slowed down but not halted; in Western Europe it is fed by
 subsidies from the European Union, a
 Marino
 Bul
 nd in Eastern Europe it is
 triggered by Russia's autocratic government. Both systems have
 an expiration date and should be prepared for a higher diversity
 o Valencia
 of sovereign states. It is to be hoped that, at the very least, the
 nations of Western Europe understand the concept of a peaceful
 divorce and the need to respect another's point of view.
 Andalusia
 Balearic Islands
 .Alberto Alesina and Enrico Spolaore, On the Number and Sine of
 Sardinia
 Notions, The Quartery Journal of Economies, Vol. 112, Na.4 (Now. 1007)
 2. Marshall McLuhan, The Gutenberg Golaxy The Making ef
 Typogrophic Mon, Univeesity of Toronto Press, 1962
 3. Chiu Yu Ko, Mark Koyama and Tuan-Hwee Sng, Unified China
 _
 Iraq
 and Divided Europe, June 2014
 ru
 Malta
land-of-maps:

Independence Day : what Europe would look if separatist movement got their wish [5335 × 3205]CLICK HERE FOR MORE MAPS!
                
            

            
            
land-of-maps:

Independence Day : what Europe would look if separatist movement got their wish [5335 × 3205]CLICK HERE FOR MORE MAPS!

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            




    Apparently, Family, and Head: wwwoslightlywarped.com
sixpenceee:

The Witch of Joshua Ward House
This Georgian and Federal style building was constructed by Joshua Ward, a wealthy merchant sea captain, in the late 1780s on the remaining foundations of former sheriff George Corwin’s house on Washington Street in Salem, Massachusetts.
Corwin was a bloody figure whose zeal added to the unfortunate events surrounding Salem in the late 1600s. Nicknamed ‘The Strangler’ after his preferred torture (which included tying his prone victims’ necks to their ankles until the blood ran from their noses), he is said to have been responsible for many of the ‘witches’’ deaths, including that of Giles Corey who was crushed to death by placing heavy stones on his chest in order to extract a confession.
Legend states that just before he died, Corey cursed the sheriff and all sheriffs that follow in his wake, for Corwin’s despicable acts. It should be noted here that every sheriff since Corey uttered his curse died while in office or had been “forced out of his post as the result of a heart or blood ailment.” Corwin himself died of a heart attack in 1696, only about four years after the end of the trials.
 By the time of his death, Corwin was so despised that his family had to bury him in the cellar of their house to avoid desecration of the corpse by the public. In the early 1980s Carlson Realty bought the House with the intention of turning it into their headquarters. After moving in, a realtor by the name of Dale Lewinski began the task of taking photographs of the staff members to add to a welcome display.
 Lewinski used a Polaroid camera to snap the head-and-shoulders, passport-style pictures. It was the photograph of a colleague by the name of Lorraine St. Peter that caused a stir. The Polaroid was developed and, instead of showing St. Peter, it appeared to depict a frightening image: a strange, black-haired, feminine figure. St. Peter was nowhere to be seen on the snap. The photograph has, apparently, not been cropped at all. St. Peter has been entirely replaced by the apparition. 

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                Apparently, Family, and Head: wwwoslightlywarped.com
sixpenceee:

The Witch of Joshua Ward House
This Georgian and Federal style building was constructed by Joshua Ward, a wealthy merchant sea captain, in the late 1780s on the remaining foundations of former sheriff George Corwin’s house on Washington Street in Salem, Massachusetts.
Corwin was a bloody figure whose zeal added to the unfortunate events surrounding Salem in the late 1600s. Nicknamed ‘The Strangler’ after his preferred torture (which included tying his prone victims’ necks to their ankles until the blood ran from their noses), he is said to have been responsible for many of the ‘witches’’ deaths, including that of Giles Corey who was crushed to death by placing heavy stones on his chest in order to extract a confession.
Legend states that just before he died, Corey cursed the sheriff and all sheriffs that follow in his wake, for Corwin’s despicable acts. It should be noted here that every sheriff since Corey uttered his curse died while in office or had been “forced out of his post as the result of a heart or blood ailment.” Corwin himself died of a heart attack in 1696, only about four years after the end of the trials.
 By the time of his death, Corwin was so despised that his family had to bury him in the cellar of their house to avoid desecration of the corpse by the public. In the early 1980s Carlson Realty bought the House with the intention of turning it into their headquarters. After moving in, a realtor by the name of Dale Lewinski began the task of taking photographs of the staff members to add to a welcome display.
 Lewinski used a Polaroid camera to snap the head-and-shoulders, passport-style pictures. It was the photograph of a colleague by the name of Lorraine St. Peter that caused a stir. The Polaroid was developed and, instead of showing St. Peter, it appeared to depict a frightening image: a strange, black-haired, feminine figure. St. Peter was nowhere to be seen on the snap. The photograph has, apparently, not been cropped at all. St. Peter has been entirely replaced by the apparition. 

                
            

            
            
sixpenceee:

The Witch of Joshua Ward House
This Georgian and Federal style building was constructed by Joshua Ward, a wealthy merchant sea ...

            
            
        

    



        

            
        
        

            




    Apparently, Bodies , and Children: IG: CONNECTING CONSCIOUSNESS
 A man named Igor Charkovsky assisted in over
 20,000 underwater births. Eventually he begarn
 experimenting with women giving birth in the
 ocean. In 1979, when preparing with his team for
 an underwater birth in the Black Sea, in a few feet
 of water suddenly three dolphins approached the
 pregnant woman, pushed everyone out of the way
 and took over. They scanned the length of her body
 up and down with sonar, while relaxing the mother
 and swimming in circles around her. The mother
 gave birth to the child effortlessly, painlessly and
 without fear. This began multiple projects with
 Dolphin-assisted births that spread worldwide.
🐬 @connecting_consciousness 🐬 And 🐬 @connecting.consciousness 🐬 _ Igor Charkovsky, a Russian male mid-wife has assisted in over 20,000 underwater births, but in 1979 he began experiments with dolphins and children. _ His daughter, one of the first modern water-birthers, was in her late twenties when the following incident happened. Charkovsky and his team had taken a woman to the Black Sea for an underwater birth. _ In two feet of water, preparing for the birth, suddenly three dolphins approached, pushed everyone out of the way and took over. They scanned the length of her body (with sonar?), which somehow relaxed the mother and child and gave birth with no pain or fear. _ Apparently all the human midwives were pretty shocked. This opened up the new practice of ‘Dolphin mid-wivery’ which may sound strange, but fits in with the new breed of super-children that are currently coming in to existence. _ For some reason, dolphins are attracted to pregnant women and young children and as most people are aware, the dolphins can also help heal people with mental and psychological problems. But the children, who are being born with the aid of dolphins, at least with the cases documented in Russia, are extraordinary children. _ Most of the have IQ’s of over 150 (genius range again), plus extremely stable emotional bodies and strong physical bodies. They are superior in one way or another. _ Humans are meant to give birth in water. Some three decades of research and the experience of thousands of births has shown that underwater birth is better for the mother and for the baby. The mother is supported by the water which permits her relaxation and easy movement and during delivery of the baby from the womb to water, the buoyancy of the water supports the baby’s brain and protects it at its most vulnerable time. _ RESEARCH: Dolphin Assisted Births - Igor Charkovsky
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                Apparently, Bodies , and Children: IG: CONNECTING CONSCIOUSNESS
 A man named Igor Charkovsky assisted in over
 20,000 underwater births. Eventually he begarn
 experimenting with women giving birth in the
 ocean. In 1979, when preparing with his team for
 an underwater birth in the Black Sea, in a few feet
 of water suddenly three dolphins approached the
 pregnant woman, pushed everyone out of the way
 and took over. They scanned the length of her body
 up and down with sonar, while relaxing the mother
 and swimming in circles around her. The mother
 gave birth to the child effortlessly, painlessly and
 without fear. This began multiple projects with
 Dolphin-assisted births that spread worldwide.
🐬 @connecting_consciousness 🐬 And 🐬 @connecting.consciousness 🐬 _ Igor Charkovsky, a Russian male mid-wife has assisted in over 20,000 underwater births, but in 1979 he began experiments with dolphins and children. _ His daughter, one of the first modern water-birthers, was in her late twenties when the following incident happened. Charkovsky and his team had taken a woman to the Black Sea for an underwater birth. _ In two feet of water, preparing for the birth, suddenly three dolphins approached, pushed everyone out of the way and took over. They scanned the length of her body (with sonar?), which somehow relaxed the mother and child and gave birth with no pain or fear. _ Apparently all the human midwives were pretty shocked. This opened up the new practice of ‘Dolphin mid-wivery’ which may sound strange, but fits in with the new breed of super-children that are currently coming in to existence. _ For some reason, dolphins are attracted to pregnant women and young children and as most people are aware, the dolphins can also help heal people with mental and psychological problems. But the children, who are being born with the aid of dolphins, at least with the cases documented in Russia, are extraordinary children. _ Most of the have IQ’s of over 150 (genius range again), plus extremely stable emotional bodies and strong physical bodies. They are superior in one way or another. _ Humans are meant to give birth in water. Some three decades of research and the experience of thousands of births has shown that underwater birth is better for the mother and for the baby. The mother is supported by the water which permits her relaxation and easy movement and during delivery of the baby from the womb to water, the buoyancy of the water supports the baby’s brain and protects it at its most vulnerable time. _ RESEARCH: Dolphin Assisted Births - Igor Charkovsky
                
            

            
            
🐬 @connecting_consciousness 🐬 And 🐬 @connecting.consciousness 🐬 _ Igor Charkovsky, a Russian male mid-wife has assisted in over 20,000 under...