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Nostalgic Fusion: Popular Confessions with Paper Foxes
Posted byGho5tWriter September 18, 2019 September 19, 2019 Posted inArizona Artist Album Reviews, Arizona Indie Artists, Articles, Ghost Writer RadioTags:Bob Hoag, CJ Jacobson, Dance of the Dead, Devil on my Shoulder, flying blanket recording, Ghost Songs, Ghost Writer, Indica Feels, Jahlani Ujania, Joy Division, Love and Schizophrenia, Ministry, Mr. UU, New Order, New Wave, Nostalgic Fusion, paper foxes, Patro Gaston, Popular Confessions, Post Punk, Strawberry Lashes, Tell Me How You Feel, the cure, Uche Ujania
My father-in-law is a cool dude. He is Canadian, he was a Marine in Vietnam, he was a disc jockey in Detroit, he interviewed Zappa; the dude knows more about music than anybody I have ever talked to. And he raised my wife. In his garage, there is a vintage poster of the Beatles, a Zappa picture, and a weird poster showing the Periodic Table of Elements but with musicians and composers instead of elements. It was my wife's chemistry project from high school. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
I have always been fascinated by the concept of art, philosophy, music, poetry, the Humanities if you will, of each generation being an answer or response to that which came before. This is a very broad generalization, but especially in the teaching of literature it became a model to organize information. The Enlightenment is in answer to the Renaissance. The Transcendentalists are the American response to the passive spectator quality of the Romantics. Surrealism pushed the boundaries of modern realism. You get the idea. A similar approach can be taken with music, but it much harder to define with such broad strokes.
It is really fun, for a music fan, to try to map out the history of music. Like a family tree of influence and creative spark. Or an organized Periodic table that makes sense of how each generation built on and changed and challenged what came before. However, much like a list of the "Top 100 Best Guitar Players" in Rolling Stone Magazine, as soon as it is published, people have something to say about how wrong it is. Music is intensely personal to people, and the way that we bring in and combine influences is something all artists do.
As a music writer, and a music lover, I must admit that I have a very odd relationship with time. Nothing feels old, and it takes Facebook to remind me of life's little horrors: "On this day thirty years ago….." and all of a sudden context happens, and my inner Peter Pan shadow strains those stitches, and inches further away. I am continually surprised when younger folks that I work with don't know bands that I would consider absolute common knowledge. It's almost like they think Post Malone discovered Ozzy. Then, one day… I had a startling realization. When I was in high school, as the 80s gave way to the 90s, I was closer to the Beatles than kids are now to Nirvana.
Nirvana is more classic rock to our kids NOW than the Beatles were for us. That is crazy.
I am asked one question more than any other when it comes to local music. "Who do they sound like?" And if there is one thing that seems to be very true in music right now, it that everything is about fusion. And fusion, breaks down the easy stereotypes of genre by blending multiple styles and influences. In many ways, this makes it harder than ever to not try to describe local bands by framing them as some derivative of what came before.
This is why I bring this up. In the late 70s, a band called Joy Division defined Post-Punk, and even though their time was short, they had a ripple effect through music that is absolutely undeniable. With the death of Ian Curtis, Joy Divison ceased, and became New Order. The first New Order album is haunted by Curtis, and feels very much like Joy Division, but the band quickly reformulates their sound, bringing in the 80s with dance pop rhythms over the bands somber introspective and socially critical lyrics. New Order maintains that formula for decades. Eventually, another band rises to the fore that seems to channel everything we loved about Joy Division: Interpol. Two superb movies detail this period of time: 24 Hour Party People and Control and show the effect Joy Division had on almost everything coming out of Post Punk UK.
RELEASE PARTY !!!!!
Paper Foxes are to New Order as Interpol is to Joy Division.
That will answer that famous question that everybody asks. But does it do the band justice? If a person asked what my writing was like, and people say… he's a modern day Edgar Allan Poe. Love it. If they say he's Stephen King, paired with Alfred Hitchcock but splashed with The Twilight Zone. Sure, that is cool too. And it helps people get a sense of what I offer, but it does very little to accurately map the intricate set of influences, skills, subsets, knowledges, and life experiences that eventually combine and weave together to create a unique style.
As Paper Foxes are set to release their first full length album on the world, I found it interesting to use their 4 year career as a way of dissecting this concept of nostalgic fusion.
Paper Foxes is the brain child of front man CJ Jacobson. In fact, of the first Paper Foxes lineup, only CJ remains. The other two are better known now as members of Fairy Bones. And although CJ tells me that he has moved on from that early sound, and even wishes he could get Spotify to remove the tracks – I reminded him of Ministry's first album With Sympathy. The one that is quintessentially different than everything else Uncle Al did. But I am still glad it is there, and we can experience it. You are welcome btw.
Paper Foxes released Love & Schizophrenia, a four song EP in 2015. Very much a guitar infused, garage rock sounding endeavor, I actually really like this EP. It is fun in every way rock music is supposed to be; dreaming big with a guitar and driving power chords. No, it is not the greatest recording to every drop out of Phoenix, but there are far worse. What I very much like about this recording though is how it showcases CJ's vocal as fearless and willing to take risks. It also showcases his sense of vocal confidence, early on. The stand out single on the EP is Chopsticks & Merlot, and one that still finds its way onto setlists from time to time. Very soon after the records release however, CJ rebuilds the band by adding Patro Gaston on keys, and Jahlani and Uche Ujania on drums and bass specifically. Uche, also known as Mr. UU, also sings back up and lead vocals, which has given Paper Foxes a very unique sound and range in terms of vocal style. Marty was also in the band as the lead guitar.
Fresh with a new sound and line-up, Paper Foxes released a second EP, Strawberry Lashes in 2016. It leaps forward stylistically from the previous year's endeavor. Patro's sonic keys that lay down a foundation are evident in Nightmares, as is Mr. UU's powerful vocal that provides a sharp contrast to CJ's higher tenor. Indica Feels however is the song that leaps out as the earliest example of where the band intended to take us. Patro's synthesizer is much more pronounced as is the near operatic quality of CJ's strong voice. Also evident on this EP is the heavy use of guitar distortion and manipulation of the pedal board. Stylistically, this is a sound that has been moved over to Patro's realm and the guitars are much cleaner on the new record. This evolution is also due to the final band line up, as Marty left the band for creative differences, and Oliver Lemke, of Soft Deadlines, was brought on to lead guitar.
Paper Foxes release their third EP Devil on my Shoulder in 2017. The most striking out take of this four song set is the addition of Mr. UU on lead vocals. Similar to the way Martin Gore harmonized with David Gahan of Depeche Mode on most songs, but took lead on a couple songs a record, Mr. UU sings lead on Breathing Underwater and Not Over Yet here.
But what really starts to set in after two years and fourteen songs is this idea of Nostalgic Fusion. Remember, New Order? Paper Foxes defines themselves as "dance-able guitar riffs, primitive disco-esque bass lines, digital keys, and vocal deliveries that would make David Byrne proud. The band pulls from a well of new wave, dark wave, 70s disco, and indie pop. Fans of Interpol, Joy Division and Bloc Party will have a field day with Paper Foxes." CJ told me there is this term called "retro future" that is being thrown around, and he admits their most heavy influences are the post-punk revival bands (IE Interpol, Bloc Party, The Strokes, The Rapture) but when trying to market Pop Confessions, the single, folks in the industry immediately called out the use of Post-Punk by saying the band did not fit that classification because they did not sound like Joy Division.
2018 saw the band release two singles. Pop Confessions and Tell Me How You Feel. Paper Foxes now had 14 recorded songs, and was headed in to record their first full length album with Bob Hoag of Flying Blanket Recording.
The interesting thing about Post Punk as a movement in music is that it was so hard to define. It is most easily characterized as a "conceptual assault on rock conventions in favor of experimentation with production techniques and non-rock styles. It also relied heavily on creating a fusion of the arts, where postmodernist artwork, surrealism, and literature where being infused into lyrics" Nicholas Lezard Rip it Up and Start Again. This is very prominent with The Cure's Killing an Arab, which is firmly rooted in Albert Camus' The Stranger.
Perhaps, the reason that so many new bands are hard to label in terms of genre is because they are Post Punk, in the strictest form of the definition. They are bucking traditional labels, bringing together a wide range of influences and sounds, and fusing them into something new. It tickles our memory and makes us think golden thoughts of music almost forgotten… but it is seething with something undefinable, exciting and new.
This Nostalgic Fusion, is exactly what you are in store for with Popular Confessions!
Paper Foxes – Popular Confessions
Strawberry Lashes : Four singles from Paper Foxes early work make the cut to the first record, and this is the first of them. What is exciting about the reworked songs, is that it gives a decisive image of what Bob Hoag was able to bring to them. With this particular track however, the most striking change from the earlier 2016 single is the addition of Oliver on guitar. There is a much cleaner guitar lic that goes through the verses, and supplies a nice pop hook to the song. The backup vocals have also been turned down considerably, to say nothing of the full robust sound that has become a staple and an expectation from Flying Blanket recording. I listened to the original single and this one in 20 second increments, and the juxtaposition was striking. This recording is a full on sonic assault with complex layers of sound, that makes the original single sound tinny, and under-produced, in comparison.
Dance of the Dead : The first single released from Popular Confessions, this song showcases everything that I love about Paper Foxes. As I was messaging back and forth with the band, one of the things that jumps to mind here is what Mr. UU said about dancing. "We consider ourselves dance-rock which is pretty broad. I think what defines Paper Foxes is our dance-able music. All of our songs have a beat with a pulse and I make sure of it. I personally think a lot of bands have a problem with being too slow or too fast and complex. Not a lot of people like being in the middle and that's where we fit in. I like to keep the audience dancing for the entire song."
And now, hopefully, my long winded explanation of Joy Division, New Order and Post Punk come full circle. Have you ever danced to Interpol? Joy Division? Bauhaus? Ever see an old school goth dance party? It is like flailing squids and schizophrenic shadows playing with each other without looking like they are having too much fun.
Post Punk is largely defined as a five year era, 1979 – 1984. After that the art house rebellion… had become new wave. Bauhaus faded into Love & Rockets and Peter Murphy. Joy Division became New Order. Southern Death Cult became The Cult. And Killing an Arab…. was suddenly Love Cats. In other words…. goths learned to dance.
Breathing Underwater : The second track pulled from 2016's Strawberry Lashes EP, this treatment is again, tighter, and more full. Mr. UU gives a stronger vocal, and as before the tinniness of the earlier production is completely replaced with a sonic wall of sound laid down on the keys from Patro.
Pop Confessions : The third track pulled forward for this album provides the pseudo title track. Once you get to hear this album, this particular track showcases Bob Hoag over at Flying Blanket. The vocal is more polished, and overdubbed with an echo. Also different from the other's this song is actually lengthened a bit, expanded and that expanse is filled with that rich sound, smashing snares and a continual foundation of funk bass. Just look at the video! The boys are wearing pinks and whites in the bright Arizona sun, playing tennis, and singing about the Rapture. Put that in your Post Punk pipe and smoke it!
"Honestly, I don't really know what makes us new or modern. We seem to be living in an era where "retro future" is popular and that phrase gets thrown around a lot. I guess if the argument of being Post Punk is sounding like Joy Division, then you have to say New Order isn't post punk either. However I think the idea of angular guitars and overly theatrical vocals is basically the root of post punk. Maybe it's new wave. Whatever the fuck it is, it's music, and I wrote it, and sometimes people like it!" – CJ Jacobson.
How is that for a pop confession?
Not the Right Time : When I think of what CJ has built with Paper Foxes, I see a master of beats in Mr. UU, a rock guitar player with Oliver, and a man on the keys in Padro that rivals the sonic wonderwall of bands like Pink Floyd and The Cure. And then you have CJ's poignant, often dark lyrics, but mixed together in this bright sunny dance-able exterior. Hmmmm…. almost like New Order getting us to dance on all over the body of a dead wife with Love Vigilantes. It is a fusion that brings to mind bands from the past that we remember fondly, but it blends it and bends it, almost like through a prism, and that refracted light is something altogether unique and new. This song, with it's driving beat and dare-you-to-not dance vibe is exemplary of that fusion.
Devil on my Shoulder : I love this song. I love it so much I used it as inspiration for the first story in my new book, Ghost Songs. It is a book of short stories inspired by local music. And this song, for obvious reasons immediately took me to Goethe and Dr. Faustus. A happy, sunshine song…. about temptation and devilish sins. Again… look at the music video. It looks like Miami Vice…. but it is seething in darkness. Classic Paper Foxes. As with the other singles brought forward for this record, this version is absolutely fantastic. Pristine. Clean. Artsy, blendings against expectation…. that you can dance to. Perfect!
Get Off The Wall : Here the band brings on the funk. And it is something out of Solid Gold, it is tribal disco, it is George Clinton by way of the Euro invasion. Mr. UU sings lead, and CJ comes in to offer the chorus, and again the harmony these two voices create is truly a unique experience. It is, my friends, Nostalgic Fusion. And it creates an infinitely listenable album that is genuinely hard to not move to. And, in my humble opinion… this video needs to loot like Retro Future Shaft dancing in a graveyard. For the win.
Last Open Platform : This song, right there with Devil on my Shoulder, Dance with the Dead, and Pop Confessions, brings in the darkness. Heaven is empty, hell is full. Its a tough tough call between living large and living at all. But it sounds like Duran Duran. It chimes of Talking Heads. It purrs with a sense of OMD.
For me, in the final analysis, I would love to debate the music folks who told Paper Foxes that they were not Post Punk. I would argue, that person really had no idea what the movement was trying to do. Every artist I know today, myself included, is up against that wall of "Jesus, everything has been done… but I still have something in me that needs to get out. I still want to challenge the system that dictates the way that I can say it." I see bands all the time pulling from the crooners, from the hey day of the 50s, from swing, from jazz, from punk rock and classic rock…. and they are fusing into something that resonates at a new frequency. They are inspiring artists like me, to fuse their songs into stories of my own.
This is Nostalgic Fusion. This is Paper Foxes.
Get Yourself to this Release Party on October 5th at the Rebel Lounge, and get ready to Dance Your Asses Off… oh, and….
Keep the Greasy Side Down my Friends!
2303 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
Published by Gho5tWriter
Arizona Enthusiast. Writer. Rider. Dreamer.	View more posts
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CAB Updates
July 2018 (PDF)
The Regional Community Action Board (CAB) was formed in 2000 in the realization that if the Center was going to serve the needs of border communities, then border communities needed to give guidance to the AZPRC. Initial Board members were individuals and agencies involved in various projects with AZPRC staff and faculty. Since that time, CAB members have invited new partners in order to better address the AZPRC's mission. Over the past three years, the CAB has taken a more central role in guiding AZPRC activities.
Mission of the Community Action Board (CAB)
To champion for optimal health and wellbeing in our diverse communities of the US/Mexico border region.
The CAB has an important advisory role within the AZPRC. CAB members provide guidance, not only to the core research project, but to all other CRCPHP activities including evaluation, training, communication, and project translation/outreach. Based on its mission, the CAB also has a role in promoting health along the US-Mexico Border region on a policy level. Membership is open to all organizations and individuals who express interest in health issues along the border including but not limited to: respresentatives from four border counties, Tohono O'odham Nation, Pasqua Yaqui Nation, Cocopah Nation, the Arizona Department of Health Services and local health departments, US representatives from the US Border Health Commission, and members from local Special Action Groups, which are community coalitions.
Roles and Responsibilities of the CAB
Research: Participate in community based participatory research through involvement in all phases of the research model including prioritization of current and future research topic, research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.
Program Development: Assist with the identification and securing of resources to fund the research priorities, to include team development of grant applications and partnering to share in-kind resources.
Program Implementation and Evaluation: Advise the AZPRC on program implementation, to include assessment of progress, evaluation of outcomes, identification of challenges, and development of corrective actions.
Program Dissemination: Assist the AZPRC with efforts to share results with the broader PRC and public health community through meeting presentations, publications and electronic format.
PRC Support: The AZPRC is committed to identifying resources for travel to CAB meetings and representation at National Community Committee.
For more Information about the Community Action Board and Membership Benefits:
Download the CAB orientation packet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Harris, Murray, Franken Lead Colleagues in Urging AG Sessions to Protect Transgender Workers from Discrimination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Al Franken (D-MN) led a group of 33 Senators today calling on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to rescind an October 4 memo that stated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. The memo puts transgender individuals further at risk of discrimination in the workplace, and reverses efforts by the Department of Justice under the Obama Administration to affirm Title VII legal protections for the transgender community.
"This most recent action by the Department to roll back protections for transgender persons is anathema to the Civil Rights Act's purpose," the Senators wrote. "When President Johnson signed the Act into law on July 2, 1964, he wisely observed, "those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure only if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning. Your Department has repeatedly undermined those very words."
The Senators continued, "The Civil Rights Division, charged with enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, states its purpose is "to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society," Transgender individuals are among the most vulnerable Americans. Your Department would best serve its mission by clarifying that employees should be hired or fired based on their ability to do the job—not because of their gender identity."
In addition to Harris, Murray, and Franken, the following U.S. Senators signed the letter: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Full text of the letter can be found below.
The Honorable Jeff Sessions
Attorney General of the United States
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Dear Attorney General Sessions:
We write to express our grave concern over your reversal of the U.S. Department of Justice's ("the Department" or "DOJ") position that transgender employment discrimination claims are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Your statement that "Title VII does not prohibit discrimination based on gender identity per se" critically undermines transgender individuals' established legal protection from workplace discrimination.
According to recent surveys, the transgender community experiences unemployment at rates three times as high as the general population. Ninety percent of transgender employees report experiencing workplace harassment, or taking active steps to avoid it. Additionally, 27 percent of transgender employees were fired, refused a job, or passed over for a promotion due to their gender identity. Your reversal of the Department's prior sound legal position places those workers at risk for further discrimination.
This most recent action by the Department to roll back protections for transgender persons is anathema to the Civil Rights Act's purpose. When President Johnson signed the Act into law on July 2, 1964, he wisely observed, "those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure only if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning." Your Department has repeatedly undermined those very words. This memo denying legal protections on the basis of gender identity comes on the heels of the Department's amicus brief in Zarda v. Altitude Express arguing that Title VII does not cover sexual orientation. Actions that roll back the rights of LGBTQ Americans are not consistent with the values of equality and dignity or with Congress's goals in passing the Civil Rights Act.
Further, your actions contravene past policy of the Department, conflict with decisions from the circuit courts and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), and send a dangerous message to employers about their obligations under federal law.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 precludes employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. As noted by your predecessor, "Following the Supreme Court's decision in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989), courts have interpreted Title VII's prohibition of discrimination because of 'sex' as barring discrimination based on a perceived failure to conform to socially constructed characteristics of males and females." Numerous circuit courts of appeal have held that laws prohibiting discrimination because of sex, including Title VII, prohibit discrimination against an individual for being transgender. Additionally, the EEOC has clarified that Title VII's prohibition against sex discrimination encompasses claims of discrimination on the basis of gender identity. By reversing the Department's enforcement of Title VII on behalf of transgender people, you are sending a signal that DOJ will now condone and defend those who discriminate on the basis of an individual's gender identity or history of gender transition.
The Civil Rights Division, charged with enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, states its purpose is "to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society." Transgender individuals are among the most vulnerable Americans. Your Department would best serve its mission by clarifying that employees should be hired or fired based on their ability to do the job—not because of their gender identity.
Accordingly, we urge the Department to reverse its position and acknowledge that the plain meaning of Title VII—as demonstrated by decisions following the precedent of the Supreme Court, the EEOC, your predecessor, and the law's text—prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Furthermore, we request that you disclose a list of all cases that have been investigated by the Department in the past year for complaints of gender identity discrimination. Please include the status of each case and whether you intend to resolve or simply close those open investigations as a result of your October 4th memo.
We strongly urge you to change course and to ensure that transgender individuals are protected from such discrimination through a proper interpretation of the Civil Rights Act.


Valeant Pharmaceutical Intl Inc. (TSX:VRX)(NYSE:VRX) recently sold $2.1 billion worth of its non-core assets to raise money to pay back its massive mountain of debt. The stock started to rally following the news but has since dropped back to the $17 range, flirting with 52-week lows. Valeant will need to continue to divest its assets, and this will force the company to give up a big chunk of its long-term growth. What will Valeant be left with after it's done its fire sale?
Valeant will become a no-growth name in the near future as the company continues selling its assets with the hopes of repairing its balance sheet. Valeant's debt load got as high as US$30 billion during its peak, so $2.1 billion isn't nearly enough to get the stock moving to higher levels.
Going forward, we can expect Valeant to continue divesting its assets at the same rate it was acquiring them two years prior under ex-CEO Michael Pearson. The management team expects to raise US$5 billion from its divestitures over the next 18 months.
It's not a mystery that Valeant is in a bad spot right now. Valeant's potential buyers have all the bargaining power because everyone knows that the company needs to raise a large amount of money before its long-term debt becomes due. Time is the enemy of Valeant, and I believe the company may be forced to sell most of its non-core assets at a loss. Buying high and selling low is not a good strategy for unlocking value, so Valeant could see even more downside from here.
Valeant's growth outlook will be downgraded thanks to a lot of divestitures, so how else will the company raise money? How about raising drug prices — again?
The company recently announced 95 new price increases across 50 of its products. It's clear Valeant needs to do everything it can to raise money from its core businesses, but I don't believe the benefits from its drug-price hikes will last long. President Trump claimed that drug companies were "… getting away with murder," and that he will be looking to push for lower drug prices across America.
I believe President Trump will be quick to act with a new policy of requiring pharmaceutical companies to lower their drug prices. This will see Valeant revert its recent round of drug-price hikes and could potentially see more drug-price reductions across many of its other products. It's unclear as to the magnitude of these drug-price reductions, but it's pretty much guaranteed that the new policy will limit Valeant's upside for many years down the road.
The company will most likely be on damage control for the next two years. The stock may seem cheap right now, but I don't see it moving higher until the massive debt is reduced to manageable levels.
Fool contributor Joey Frenette has no position in any stocks mentioned. Tom Gardner owns shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool owns shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals.


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#ifndef TALK_SESSION_MEDIA_CHANNELMANAGER_H_
#define TALK_SESSION_MEDIA_CHANNELMANAGER_H_

#include <string>
#include <vector>

#include "talk/base/criticalsection.h"
#include "talk/base/sigslotrepeater.h"
#include "talk/base/thread.h"
#include "talk/media/base/capturemanager.h"
#include "talk/media/base/mediaengine.h"
#include "talk/p2p/base/session.h"
#include "talk/session/media/voicechannel.h"

namespace cricket {

class Soundclip;
class VideoProcessor;
class VoiceChannel;
class VoiceProcessor;

// ChannelManager allows the MediaEngine to run on a separate thread, and takes
// care of marshalling calls between threads. It also creates and keeps track of
// voice and video channels; by doing so, it can temporarily pause all the
// channels when a new audio or video device is chosen. The voice and video
// channels are stored in separate vectors, to easily allow operations on just
// voice or just video channels.
// ChannelManager also allows the application to discover what devices it has
// using device manager.
class ChannelManager : public talk_base::MessageHandler,
                       public sigslot::has_slots<> {
 public:
#if !defined(DISABLE_MEDIA_ENGINE_FACTORY)
  // Creates the channel manager, and specifies the worker thread to use.
  explicit ChannelManager(talk_base::Thread* worker);
#endif

  // For testing purposes. Allows the media engine and data media
  // engine and dev manager to be mocks.  The ChannelManager takes
  // ownership of these objects.
  ChannelManager(MediaEngineInterface* me,
                 DataEngineInterface* dme,
                 DeviceManagerInterface* dm,
                 CaptureManager* cm,
                 talk_base::Thread* worker);
  // Same as above, but gives an easier default DataEngine.
  ChannelManager(MediaEngineInterface* me,
                 DeviceManagerInterface* dm,
                 talk_base::Thread* worker);
  ~ChannelManager();

  // Accessors for the worker thread, allowing it to be set after construction,
  // but before Init. set_worker_thread will return false if called after Init.
  talk_base::Thread* worker_thread() const { return worker_thread_; }
  bool set_worker_thread(talk_base::Thread* thread) {
    if (initialized_) return false;
    worker_thread_ = thread;
    return true;
  }

  // Gets capabilities. Can be called prior to starting the media engine.
  int GetCapabilities();

  // Retrieves the list of supported audio & video codec types.
  // Can be called before starting the media engine.
  void GetSupportedAudioCodecs(std::vector<AudioCodec>* codecs) const;
  void GetSupportedAudioRtpHeaderExtensions(RtpHeaderExtensions* ext) const;
  void GetSupportedVideoCodecs(std::vector<VideoCodec>* codecs) const;
  void GetSupportedVideoRtpHeaderExtensions(RtpHeaderExtensions* ext) const;
  void GetSupportedDataCodecs(std::vector<DataCodec>* codecs) const;

  // Indicates whether the media engine is started.
  bool initialized() const { return initialized_; }
  // Starts up the media engine.
  bool Init();
  // Shuts down the media engine.
  void Terminate();

  // The operations below all occur on the worker thread.

  // Creates a voice channel, to be associated with the specified session.
  VoiceChannel* CreateVoiceChannel(
      BaseSession* session, const std::string& content_name, bool rtcp);
  // Destroys a voice channel created with the Create API.
  void DestroyVoiceChannel(VoiceChannel* voice_channel);
  // Creates a video channel, synced with the specified voice channel, and
  // associated with the specified session.
  VideoChannel* CreateVideoChannel(
      BaseSession* session, const std::string& content_name, bool rtcp,
      VoiceChannel* voice_channel);
  // Destroys a video channel created with the Create API.
  void DestroyVideoChannel(VideoChannel* video_channel);
  DataChannel* CreateDataChannel(
      BaseSession* session, const std::string& content_name,
      bool rtcp, DataChannelType data_channel_type);
  // Destroys a data channel created with the Create API.
  void DestroyDataChannel(DataChannel* data_channel);

  // Creates a soundclip.
  Soundclip* CreateSoundclip();
  // Destroys a soundclip created with the Create API.
  void DestroySoundclip(Soundclip* soundclip);

  // Indicates whether any channels exist.
  bool has_channels() const {
    return (!voice_channels_.empty() || !video_channels_.empty() ||
            !soundclips_.empty());
  }

  // Configures the audio and video devices. A null pointer can be passed to
  // GetAudioOptions() for any parameter of no interest.
  bool GetAudioOptions(std::string* wave_in_device,
                       std::string* wave_out_device, int* opts);
  bool SetAudioOptions(const std::string& wave_in_device,
                       const std::string& wave_out_device, int opts);
  bool GetOutputVolume(int* level);
  bool SetOutputVolume(int level);
  bool IsSameCapturer(const std::string& capturer_name,
                      VideoCapturer* capturer);
  // TODO(noahric): Nearly everything called "device" in this API is actually a
  // device name, so this should really be GetCaptureDeviceName, and the
  // next method should be GetCaptureDevice.
  bool GetCaptureDevice(std::string* cam_device);
  // Gets the current capture Device.
  bool GetVideoCaptureDevice(Device* device);
  // Create capturer based on what has been set in SetCaptureDevice().
  VideoCapturer* CreateVideoCapturer();
  bool SetCaptureDevice(const std::string& cam_device);
  bool SetDefaultVideoEncoderConfig(const VideoEncoderConfig& config);
  // RTX will be enabled/disabled in engines that support it. The supporting
  // engines will start offering an RTX codec. Must be called before Init().
  bool SetVideoRtxEnabled(bool enable);

  // Starts/stops the local microphone and enables polling of the input level.
  bool SetLocalMonitor(bool enable);
  bool monitoring() const { return monitoring_; }
  // Sets the local renderer where to renderer the local camera.
  bool SetLocalRenderer(VideoRenderer* renderer);
  // Sets the externally provided video capturer. The ssrc is the ssrc of the
  // (video) stream for which the video capturer should be set.
  bool SetVideoCapturer(VideoCapturer* capturer);
  bool capturing() const { return capturing_; }

  // Configures the logging output of the mediaengine(s).
  void SetVoiceLogging(int level, const char* filter);
  void SetVideoLogging(int level, const char* filter);

  // The channel manager handles the Tx side for Video processing,
  // as well as Tx and Rx side for Voice processing.
  // (The Rx Video processing will go throug the simplerenderingmanager,
  //  to be implemented).
  bool RegisterVideoProcessor(VideoCapturer* capturer,
                              VideoProcessor* processor);
  bool UnregisterVideoProcessor(VideoCapturer* capturer,
                                VideoProcessor* processor);
  bool RegisterVoiceProcessor(uint32 ssrc,
                              VoiceProcessor* processor,
                              MediaProcessorDirection direction);
  bool UnregisterVoiceProcessor(uint32 ssrc,
                                VoiceProcessor* processor,
                                MediaProcessorDirection direction);
  // The following are done in the new "CaptureManager" style that
  // all local video capturers, processors, and managers should move to.
  // TODO(pthatcher): Make methods nicer by having start return a handle that
  // can be used for stop and restart, rather than needing to pass around
  // formats a a pseudo-handle.
  bool StartVideoCapture(VideoCapturer* video_capturer,
                         const VideoFormat& video_format);
  // When muting, produce black frames then pause the camera.
  // When unmuting, start the camera. Camera starts unmuted.
  bool MuteToBlackThenPause(VideoCapturer* video_capturer, bool muted);
  bool StopVideoCapture(VideoCapturer* video_capturer,
                        const VideoFormat& video_format);
  bool RestartVideoCapture(VideoCapturer* video_capturer,
                           const VideoFormat& previous_format,
                           const VideoFormat& desired_format,
                           CaptureManager::RestartOptions options);

  bool AddVideoRenderer(VideoCapturer* capturer, VideoRenderer* renderer);
  bool RemoveVideoRenderer(VideoCapturer* capturer, VideoRenderer* renderer);
  bool IsScreencastRunning() const;

  // The operations below occur on the main thread.

  bool GetAudioInputDevices(std::vector<std::string>* names);
  bool GetAudioOutputDevices(std::vector<std::string>* names);
  bool GetVideoCaptureDevices(std::vector<std::string>* names);
  void SetVideoCaptureDeviceMaxFormat(const std::string& usb_id,
                                      const VideoFormat& max_format);

  sigslot::repeater0<> SignalDevicesChange;
  sigslot::signal2<VideoCapturer*, CaptureState> SignalVideoCaptureStateChange;

  // Returns the current selected device. Note: Subtly different from
  // GetCaptureDevice(). See member video_device_ for more details.
  // This API is mainly a hook used by unittests.
  const std::string& video_device_name() const { return video_device_name_; }

  // TODO(hellner): Remove this function once the engine capturer has been
  // removed.
  VideoFormat GetStartCaptureFormat();
 protected:
  // Adds non-transient parameters which can only be changed through the
  // options store.
  bool SetAudioOptions(const std::string& wave_in_device,
                       const std::string& wave_out_device, int opts,
                       int delay_offset);
  int audio_delay_offset() const { return audio_delay_offset_; }

 private:
  typedef std::vector<VoiceChannel*> VoiceChannels;
  typedef std::vector<VideoChannel*> VideoChannels;
  typedef std::vector<DataChannel*> DataChannels;
  typedef std::vector<Soundclip*> Soundclips;

  void Construct(MediaEngineInterface* me,
                 DataEngineInterface* dme,
                 DeviceManagerInterface* dm,
                 CaptureManager* cm,
                 talk_base::Thread* worker_thread);
  void Terminate_w();
  VoiceChannel* CreateVoiceChannel_w(
      BaseSession* session, const std::string& content_name, bool rtcp);
  void DestroyVoiceChannel_w(VoiceChannel* voice_channel);
  VideoChannel* CreateVideoChannel_w(
      BaseSession* session, const std::string& content_name, bool rtcp,
      VoiceChannel* voice_channel);
  void DestroyVideoChannel_w(VideoChannel* video_channel);
  DataChannel* CreateDataChannel_w(
      BaseSession* session, const std::string& content_name,
      bool rtcp, DataChannelType data_channel_type);
  void DestroyDataChannel_w(DataChannel* data_channel);
  Soundclip* CreateSoundclip_w();
  void DestroySoundclip_w(Soundclip* soundclip);
  bool SetAudioOptions_w(int opts, int delay_offset, const Device* in_dev,
                         const Device* out_dev);
  bool SetCaptureDevice_w(const Device* cam_device);
  void OnVideoCaptureStateChange(VideoCapturer* capturer,
                                 CaptureState result);
  bool RegisterVideoProcessor_w(VideoCapturer* capturer,
                                VideoProcessor* processor);
  bool UnregisterVideoProcessor_w(VideoCapturer* capturer,
                                  VideoProcessor* processor);
  bool IsScreencastRunning_w() const;
  virtual void OnMessage(talk_base::Message *message);

  talk_base::scoped_ptr<MediaEngineInterface> media_engine_;
  talk_base::scoped_ptr<DataEngineInterface> data_media_engine_;
  talk_base::scoped_ptr<DeviceManagerInterface> device_manager_;
  talk_base::scoped_ptr<CaptureManager> capture_manager_;
  bool initialized_;
  talk_base::Thread* main_thread_;
  talk_base::Thread* worker_thread_;

  VoiceChannels voice_channels_;
  VideoChannels video_channels_;
  DataChannels data_channels_;
  Soundclips soundclips_;

  std::string audio_in_device_;
  std::string audio_out_device_;
  int audio_options_;
  int audio_delay_offset_;
  int audio_output_volume_;
  std::string camera_device_;
  VideoEncoderConfig default_video_encoder_config_;
  VideoRenderer* local_renderer_;
  bool enable_rtx_;

  bool capturing_;
  bool monitoring_;

  // String containing currently set device. Note that this string is subtly
  // different from camera_device_. E.g. camera_device_ will list unplugged
  // but selected devices while this sting will be empty or contain current
  // selected device.
  // TODO(hellner): refactor the code such that there is no need to keep two
  // strings for video devices that have subtle differences in behavior.
  std::string video_device_name_;
};

}  // namespace cricket

#endif  // TALK_SESSION_MEDIA_CHANNELMANAGER_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


EXCLUSIVE: Nathan Lane has signed with ICM, ending a long run at CAA. Lane had been at the agency most of the last decade, but his agent, Tony Lipp, exited recently to steer Anonymous Content's talent department along with Doug Wald and Sandra Chang. Lane was just booked to star in Relativity Media's Snow White film, and that gig was commissioned by CAA. He's a good get for ICM. Lane's a busy actor, and one of Broadway's top talents.


[S1200] Hammond Times, The, 26 Feb 1960, p. B-3, col. 2, Birth year estimated from age, 74 years, at time of death, about 1886.
[S1254] Beatrice Mower, Indiana Collection, Genealogy: Kasper, Vertical File, 1966-1972 Lake County Public Library, Family group sheet no. 12, labeled page number 21. Birth date only. Family group sheet no. 12-8, labeled page number 27, birth day and month only.
[S1254] Beatrice Mower, Indiana Collection, Genealogy: Kasper, Vertical File, 1966-1972 Lake County Public Library, Family group sheet no. 12-8, labeled page number 27. Marriage date only.
[S1200] Hammond Times, The, 26 Feb 1960, p. B-3, col. 2, Husband not specifically mentioned.
[S1254] Beatrice Mower, Indiana Collection, Genealogy: Kasper, Vertical File, 1966-1972 Lake County Public Library, Family group sheet no. 12-8, labeled page number 27. Second marriage occured after burial of first husband.
[S1200] Hammond Times, The, 26 Feb 1960, p. B-3, col. 2, Death date, address, city state.
[S1254] Beatrice Mower, Indiana Collection, Genealogy: Kasper, Vertical File, 1966-1972 Lake County Public Library, Family group sheet no. 12, labeled page number 21, death date and city; Family group sheet no. 12-8, labeled page number 27, death date and city.
[S1200] Hammond Times, The, 26 Feb 1960, p. B-3, col. 2.
[S1255] Hammond Times, The, 30 Aug 1937, Calumet City Final Edition, p. 9, col. 7.


When it comes to digital transformation and related customer-experience making processes, cybersecurity cannot be taken lightly or reduced to an afterthought.
Ever-advancing digital technologies are making every aspect of life easier. The integration of IoT, Artificial Intelligence, collection and utilization of data, mobility, etc have brought a great level of convenience that was tough to picture about a decade ago. However, all these have also increased the risk of security breaches across all platforms.
Tech enthusiasts often consider innovation as an opposing force to cybersecurity, while that is not so. It is a common misconception, as companies believe they will have to encounter major security breaches if they lean too heavily on innovative technologies.
Digital transformation is a phenomenon that all firms must undergo if they aspire to be ahead of the game and provide utmost customer experience. In order to reap the maximum benefits from a digital transformation implementation, tech firms need to understand the vitality of adopting proper cybersecurity measures.
Evidently, the more a digital firm widens its services and clientele, the more they are prone to cyberattacks, given their rising popularity. Take IoT, for instance. It undoubtedly increases business efficiency but simultaneously adds many unsecured devices to the network. Moreover, cloud platforms are also at the risk of cyberattacks as they turn to third-party providers for an array of services.
To further delve into the importance of cybersecurity, it is necessary to shed light on major data breaches that have happened recently, due to the negligence of companies and poor security measures.
We all remember how data security became a sore spot for Facebook after it put users in a volatile position by unknowingly leaking their personal data to hackers. In fact, Facebook has earned quite a bad reputation for itself in terms of cybersecurity by violating the members' privacy on numerous occasions, going as far as getting more than 87 million records breached. Nobody wants to be in the sticky situation Mark Zuckerberg found himself in.
Another instance is the whole Aadhaar debacle, which will unfavorably go down in history. The service violated private information like names, addresses, personal photos, phone numbers, and email addresses stored by Unique Identification Authority of India. In addition, it also gave access to software through which anyone could attain the ID card for any Aadhaar number. This enormous security breach exposed up to 1.1 billion records of citizens registered throughout India. Cyberattacks like these have contributed to users distrusting firms and cancelling their subscription in favor of safer alternatives.
nobody enjoys being constantly worried about their online data or using complex and elaborate password-protected services.
In addition to understanding the negative aspects of taking something as great as cybersecurity lightly, realizing its importance also carries some noteworthy benefits.
Improving the security features of a firm can significantly contribute to organizational growth. It gives firms the liberty to authorize their offices or all employees full access to the organization's network and assets through mobile devices and the internet, regardless of their location. Such kind of mobility and increased employee productivity are only possible if the firm identifies suitable security measures, implements them and upgrades them regularly, especially tech services that deal with identity management.
Moreover, a secure environment and services also benefit the customers, which develops trust and dependency. This, in turn, is beneficial for companies as it increases traffic and popularity, giving them access to more clientele.
Undoubtedly, nobody enjoys being constantly worried about their online data or using complex and elaborate password-protected services. A good security system enables advanced measures for authentication, based on multiple factors. This creates a seamless experience which turns out to be user-friendly and easily accessible for customers.
When it comes to digital transformation and related customer-experience making processes, cybersecurity cannot be taken lightly or reduced to an afterthought. The consequences hold monumental impact, and the damage can often be irreparable. The goal should be to direct a certain percentage of your transformation budget towards cybersecurity initiatives. Organizations should focus on advanced security measures and technologies that enable them to thrive and prosper, while empowering the clients through safe and secure services.


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text:
You are here: Home Page > Arts & Humanities > Religion > Religious Studies > Religion & Atheism > Practicing Atheism
6 1/8 x 9 1/4 inches
This title is available as an ebook. To purchase, visit your preferred ebook provider.
This book is available as part of Oxford Scholarship Online - view abstracts and keywords at book and chapter level.
Bookseller Code (06)
https://global.oup.com/academic/covers/pop-up/9780197536940
Practicing Atheism
Culture, Media, and Ritual in the Contemporary Atheist Network
Hannah K. Scheidt
Provides a dynamic "on the ground" portrait of contemporary atheism
Examines previously ignored aspects of atheist culture, such as moderated debate and fan art
Reimagines the relationship between atheism and religion
The number of people claiming no religious affiliation has skyrocketed in recent years, and that growth shows no signs of slowing down. But while the religiously unaffiliated demonstrate a variety of attitudes toward religious belief-including, in many cases, a complete lack of interest-a prominent subset of nonbelievers has claimed the mantle of "atheism." For them, atheism has become a marker of identity and a source of community. However, atheists themselves often disagree about core ideas, values, affinities, and attitudes. Contemporary atheist culture is marked by debates over deconversion, the relationship between science and religion, and the role of authority. What exactly does it mean to be an "atheist" beyond a simple lack of belief in a higher power?
Hannah K. Scheidt's Practicing Atheism: Culture, Media, and Ritual in the Contemporary Atheist Network examines the variety of cultural products, both corporate-driven and grassroots, that carry messages about atheism and its relationships to religion. Through primary source materials such as Internet communities, popular television programming, and cultural representations of the movement such as those found in atheist fan art, the book paints a portrait of a culture in unique tension with religion, and provides a unique perspective on whether or not organized atheism constitutes a belief system in itself.
Deconversion Narratives: True and Enlightened Selves
Scientific Myth: Science, Religion, and Atheism in Popular Television
Autonomy or Authority?: Ideology, Charisma, and Patriarchy
Ritualized Debate: Order, Redemption and Power in a Contemporary Media Practice
Atheist Indoctrination?: Practicing Atheism in Parenthood
Culture War as Culture Ritual
Hannah K. Scheidt received her PhD in religion studies from Northwestern University. Her work focuses on contemporary (non)religious thought, media, and theories of religion. She has contributed to the anthologies Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement and American Examples: A New Conversation About Religion.
"In this way, Practicing Atheism has much to teach us about what it means to be religious" -- Charles McCrary, American Religion
"Scheidt approaches atheism in a very different way, interpreting it as a complex cultural phenomenon. Her intent is to help readers understand atheism by viewing it from a variety of perspectives. She draws material from narratives found in different forms of media to provide this analysis of cultural atheism." -- J. Jaeger, CHOICE
"Far from being simply the absence of religion, atheism finds itself having to craft and redefine itself in contexts and conditions not of its own making. Hannah Scheidt presents a careful and fascinating account of these efforts and their prospects in the evolving geography of contemporary public and private life, from social media to evolving locations of social connection." -- Stewart M. Hoover, author, Religion in the Media
"Practicing Atheism takes the topic of non-belief out of the seminar room, dealing only with disembodied ideas, into the real world of flesh-and-blood people, of huge integrity, living with, wrestling with, finding fulfilment with their inability or unwillingness to accept the existence of a deity, of any kind. It is a total revelation and simply compelling reading. I finished the book wiser, and very much humbler. Highly recommended." -- Michael Ruse, author of Atheism: What Everyone Needs to Know®
"Moving deftly between analyses of personal deconversion narratives and narratives of popular television, memes, comics, celebrity debates, and a review of parental commentary on raising children as critical thinkers and caring world citizens, Hannah Scheidt has melded the insights and methods of cultural studies and religious studies to render a fresh and authoritative work on U.S. atheism. She has broken ground for future studies of atheism as a fascinating and widely misunderstood cultural phenomenon." -- Lynn Schofield Clark, author of From Angels to Aliens: Teenagers, the Media, and the Supernatural and The Parent App
The Nonreligious
Phil Zuckerman, Luke W. Galen, and Frank L. Pasquale
Origins of Yiddish Dialects
Alexander Beider
Film is Like a Battleground
Marsha Gordon
The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Violence
Mark Juergensmeyer, Margo Kitts, and Michael Jerryson
God, Suffering, and the Value of Free Will
Laura W. Ekstrom
Foundational Texts of Mormonism
Mark Ashurst-McGee, Robin Jensen, and Sharalyn D. Howcroft
Images at Work
Eighteen Takes on God
Leslie Stevenson
Children of Lucifer
Ruben van Luijk
Studying The Lord of the Rings
Anna Dawson
John of the Cross
Sam Hole
Catholic Europe, 1592-1648
Tadhg O hAnnrachain
Liking Ike
David Haven Blake
Early Modern Atheism from Spinoza to d'Holbach
Gianluca Mori
Arts & Humanities > Religion > Religious Studies > Religion & Atheism
Arts & Humanities > Religion > History of Religion
Arts & Humanities > Media Studies
Arts & Humanities > Religion > Religious Studies > Alternative Belief Systems


text:
Upcoming Xbox One games
Xbox Games Pass
Best Switch games
PlayStation game reviews
Sonic Heroes - PS2
Chris Hall, Editor · 7 February 2004 ·
Review An assessment or critique of a service, product, or creative endeavour such as art, literature or a performance.
A classic formula. But if you wanted that you could pick up a £5 Megadrive and only play Sonic right? Wrong
4.5 stars - Pocket-lint recommended
Price when reviewed TBC
Quick verdict
It's sold a million whatever critics have to say about it, as it was excellent whatever the format. Rent to check out the fuss at least.
Read full verdict
It's Sonic!!
You may tire of jumping around
(Pocket-lint) - Yes, the time has come, and Sonic appears on the PS2 with all his buddies, and I didn't know there were so many of them. Gaming geeks everywhere will be musing about the days when Sega would rather die than launch games on rival platforms - but those days are gone, and rightly so. Sonic was one of Sega's best inventions, and it is great to have the little critter back on the screen. Sonic Heroes is also on the Gamecube and Xbox, so there is something for everyone.
So what does Sonic do in this latest game? You guessed it - he runs and jumps around various levels beating the bad robot guys and collecting rings. A classic formula. But if you wanted that you could pick up a £5 Megadrive and only play Sonic right? Wrong. Sonic has evolved to keep up with the host of competitors for the crown of crazy platform guy. In Sonic Heroes, as the name suggests, you get to play with all his friends as well. I was familiar with Tails from previous carnations, but there are 12 playable characters in four teams - Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose or Team Chaotix. Team Sonic, which I suspect will be most people's first choice, also has Knuckles, the strong guy.
So, you have team-based Sonic action. Yes, you control a team of three characters, each with their own strength or weakness. Sonic is fast but no good in a fight; Tails can fly; Knuckles is hard as nails, but really slow. Depending on who is leading changes the team dynamics. Basically, if you pick Sonic, you are in speed formation and run fast, if you pick Tails, your team can fly, and so on. As you progress through the level, you'll encounter different obstacles that require a different skill, so you can change formation and off you go. You can push through on mostly speed mode, but you will encounter cliffs that need the extra height from Tails' flight powers. It's simple really.
You can also play against friends in a split-screen competition and there are various extras on the disc including the chance to play back the videos and so on. Like many games, more level options open up as you complete stages of the game. The gameplay is great and completely what you expect from Sonic - fast, furious, colourful. It is a great all-round game that will appeal to kids big and little. There is very little to criticise about it. When you fall off the edge of the scenery you might be pinged a long way back in the level, but that is a minor gripe. I also managed to fall through the scenery in 2-player mode, into an eternal blackness until I eventually died - perhaps a small programming error, but I have not been able to repeat the mistake.
Top PS4 games 2021: Best PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro games every gamer must own
Overall, it's a great little game, and endlessly entertaining - exactly what you'd expect.
Writing by Chris Hall.
Sections Sega PlayStation Games


Cramer says people will be surprised by the demand for copper.
Threshold Pharmaceuticals ( THLD: "If you make this the speculative part of your portfolio, I'll say buy, buy, buy."
Leucadia National ( LUK: "You can't really explain what Leucadia is. It's too hard to understand."
Kodiak Oil & Gas ( KOG: "They have tons of oil and that makes them a winner."
MedcoHealth Solutions ( MHS: "Some people are concerned about the merger. I say buy, buy, buy."
Freeport-McMoRan ( FCX - Get Report): "I think people are shorting this stock, but I think copper demand will surprise people."
Nice Systems ( NICE - Get Report): "I like security and I like Nice."
Perfect World ( PWRD: "This is a Chinese stock, so I can't endorse it."
Tempur-Pedic ( TPX: "This one is a good one. It's a winner."


text:
Smoking Samsung sales
by Mckenna Bailey
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November 20, 2013 at 6:45pm PM EST
Unless you're living off the grid, you're going to have people on your list who want the season's hottest electronics. Everyone has to have the best new gadget to play with. To help you decide which device to get for who, we've rounded up Samsung's Black Friday deals for you.
Related story These Sneakers from Oprah's Favorite Shoe Brand Are on Sale for Under $100 — But Only This Week
These Black Friday sales
are electric
Samsung doesn't need gimmicks or contests to bring shoppers to its stores on Black Friday. It sticks to straightforward price slashing to do the advertising for the company. And we must say, its sales are very impressive. The deals last from Thanksgiving Day until Cyber Monday, with some prices valid as early as Nov. 24. Even before these early sales, you can pre-order items on Nov. 20, assuring you'll get your Black Friday buys a week in advance. That takes away all the stress of shopping, which is priceless to us.
The massive 38-page Samsung spread has deals on tablets, smartphones, HDTVs, cameras, laptops and much more. The most impressive sale is the 51-inch Plasma 4500 Series TV for nearly half off the regular retail price. What would normally set you back $850 is only $430 during the Black Friday sale. The slightly smaller 40-inch LED TV has the same huge savings costing $380 (down from $700).
Camera enthusiasts will be delighted with the deals as well. The most popular camera, the NX 2000 20.3MP Smart Camera with a 20-50mm lens and a 5-200mm lens, is down from $900 to only $650. That's a steal for this high-quality, portable personal camera. If you want a little less power, but a more user-friendly camera, check out the WB800F 16.3MP Smart Camera with Wi-Fi capabilities. Samsung has taken $20 off this customer favorite just for this Black Friday sale. First-time users would love the ST150 16.2MP camera that's on sale for only $80. It doesn't matter what your skill level is, if it's a camera you want, Samsung has it.
You can enjoy these deals and so much more when you sign up at Samsung.com. The pre-order deals and special sales that still haven't been released yet will go to subscribers first, so if you're looking for great electronics this year, head over there now to sign up. It's never too late.
More Black Friday electronic sales
Best Buy's Black Friday sales are here
Amazon's Pre–Black Friday deals
Target's Black Friday deals
gadget guru
gift picks
tv fanatic


Retirement fund trustees have the unenviable task of navigating through a myriad of complex issues in managing their funds' investments.
Aside from market behaviour, they also have to deal with the added complexity of understanding the position of their selected asset managers relative to other managers and be able to explain to members why their selected managers were, or were not, exposed to a specific market segment or stock.
Eric Mtshweni, Director & Investment Consulting Head of Ensimini Financial Services, says over the past two months specifically we have seen even more so how many experienced asset managers have struggled to make sense of "the new normal" during the uncertain times we are experiencing. It is therefore unsurprising that many retirement fund trustees have commented that they are ill-at-ease with the mammoth responsibility of setting, implementing and monitoring an appropriate investment policy for their funds.
"It is at volatile times like these that the robustness of investment policy statements as well as the conviction of retirement fund trustees on the suitability of the strategy they implemented to achieve their risk and return objective, are severely tested," says Mtshweni.
He says retirement funds have been on the receiving end of volatile markets for the past two years and this volatility has caused much anxiety for retirement fund trustees and members, especially those contemplating retirement in the near future.
In order to best charter through this atypical territory' Pretorius and his investment team believe it is critical for trustees to unpack some of the key issues they believe will impact global and domestic market behaviour in 2018.
It is generally acknowledged that most of the growth in 2018 will come from China, United States and the European Union (EU), on the back of ongoing expansionary fiscal policy, the improvement in employment statistics in these economies and the resultant increase in consumer spending.
It is still uncertain, how US President Trumps' Tax Amendment Bill will affect the rest of the world. Particularly, the incentive of reduced corporate taxes for repatriation of profits by US companies in foreign countries.
Mtshweni says emerging markets have, to date, ignored these developments. However, in the event of aggressive monetary policy tightening, capital is likely to flow out of emerging markets, which will result in depreciation in emerging market currencies and induce inflation leading to an increase in interest rates by monetary authorities.
As the monetary policy normalises, the stock market is likely to benefit positively as an alternative asset.
Research by many investment houses seems to suggest that the equities are near or at fair value valuations. However, the risk of capital losses as the interest rate increases might be positive for the global stock market.
On the domestic front the outlook is encouraging. Markets entered 2018 buoyed on the back of the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the ANC in December.
This result was well received by domestic markets and the business community at large and it is likely to increase domestic business confidence and improve investment spending in support for economic growth. Local companies have an estimate R1.3 trillion in reserves that could be released as companies look at expanding on the back of improving market sentiment.
Domestic economic growth has been low compared to the pre financial crisis period in 2008. At the centre of this low growth was the structural bottle neck resulting from a lack of adequate skills, lack of investment, political uncertainty and a fiscal consolidation programme.
The Reserve Bank has forecast the economy to grow at about 1.4% and 1.6% for 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Despite the positive sentiment, the risk of another downgrade of our sovereign debt remains. The deciding issue for ratings agencies is the significant challenge government is facing with regards to its own fiscal consolidation (i.e. low revenue collection and higher government expenditure). Added to this are the dual challenges of low economic growth and pressure on inflation.
The inflation rate for December 2017 was 4.7% compared to 4,6% in November 2017. This is within the Reserve Bank target range of 3.0% - 6.0%. The Reserve Bank forecasts inflation to remain within the target band for both 2018 and 2019. The Reserve Bank has evaluated the risk to the inflation to be balanced and as a result decided to keep the interest rates unchanged to date.
The outlook for the bond market is dependent on the developments in the developed markets, particularly the US and UK with regards to monetary policy tightening. If this is performed aggressively, it is likely to have a negative impact on our domestic bond market.
"It is surprising that the South African bond market is not pricing in any risk relating to the tightening of the monetary policy in the developed market, albeit the fact that the US labour market is strengthening further," notes Mtshweni.
He says the explanation for this phenomenon might either be that the positive news of the election of Cyril Ramaphosa might be over-priced in our market, relative to the risk outlined above, or in the alternative, the market is playing a wait-and-see game. If it is the latter, the budget speech will provide extra clues on the direction of the market.
It is anticipated that the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) will be volatile for most of the year. The volatility will be sparked by both local and offshore economic and political developments.
The JSE All Share Index has lost approximately 6.0% since the beginning of 2018. We view these losses to be largely as a result of profit-taking by investors after the domestic equity market performed well in the calendar year 2017, with the All Share Index returning a handsome 17.5% for the 12 months to 31 December 2017.
Equities have a better chance of being the best performing asset class, provided that the monetary policy tightening in the US and UK does not surprise on the upside. If we see a faster than expected monetary policy normalisation, the market might be jittery and heighten irrational exuberance.
"For trustees trying to make sense of these global and domestic predictions we remain of the view that market timing as a strategy generally reduces investment returns as opposed to its intent of enhancing it. Experience has proved that a sound long-term strategic asset allocation strategy is key to ensuring consistent long-term investment performance. Whilst it is important to regularly review your investment strategy, we caution investors against investment strategies driven by sentiment, momentum or market noise.
There is always going to be noise and lots of it. Knowing which noise to listen to remains a very difficult task. The recent case of Capitec is an excellent example of how easily investors react to untested noise. For retirement fund trustees it has never been more critical to seek proper professional advice to help navigate the murky waters of investment decision making," concludes Mtshweni.


'In a ruling that will help patients continue to buy several life-saving medicines as generic drugs, the Supreme Court on Monday held that the modification of a well known cancer-fighting drug is not a patent able new invention.
The judgment allows suppliers to continue making generic copies of Swiss firm Novartis' Glivec or Gleevec, which has been shown to fight chronic blood cancer effectively. While the Novartis drug costs more than Rs 1 lakh per month, with doctors often advising patients to take it lifelong, the generic equivalents cost less than one-tenth. The ruling would be a relief to some 300,000 patients in India currently taking the drug.
Observers say that the Court's judgment sets a precedent against the practice of "evergreening" — a strategy through which drug manufacturers introduce modifications of drugs to extend the five-year patents on them. They say that other "evergreening" patent applications could be rejected citing this judgment, helping to keep many life-saving drugs out of the patent regime and pushing down costs.
Glivec is the brand name of Imatinib. Novartis had applied for a patent for a modification of this drug, a "beta crystalline" salt form of Imatinib Mesylate or IM, which it said could be better absorbed by the body – by up to 30% more. After its patent application was rejected by the Patent office, Novartis moved the Intellectual Property Board, Chennai. The Board rejected the claim, but gave certain findings favourable to the company. Instead of filing an appeal before the Madras High Court, Novartis moved the Supreme Court.
The Bench said that the patent application contains a "clear and unambiguous averment" that all the therapeutic qualities of the modified form, for which the patent was applied, "are possessed" by the original version.
The court held that patents can be granted only for medicines that are truly new and innovative. For new forms and new uses of existing medicines, patent applicants should prove improved efficacy.
The court said that the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 established that the "mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance" is not an invention — for the purpose of patenting. The Bench also dismissed the argument that the modified form had better "solubility", saying the "efficacy" of this property over its predecessor chemical is not established.


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Q: Remove border outline on text field when using UITextBorderStyle.RoundedRect I am creating a text field with a semi-transparent background color (40% white) on which I am using UITextBorderStyle.RoundedRect for the rounded corners and text insets. This automatically sets a grey-ish border outline which I want to remove, but I can't find how.
I have tried the following:

*

*Set the layer.borderWidth to 0: No effect

*Set the layer.borderColor to clearColor: No effect

*Set the layer.borderColor to the same color as the background, but this seems to creates an additional border (40% white) which is drawn on top of the previous (grey-ish) one.

I'm sure there must be an easy way to do this, but I can't find it.

A: If you set UITextBorderStyle.RoundedRect for the text field then the text field will add an image to the background of the text field with a grey border. That's why layer properties are not working becuase the border you are seeing is not on layer its an image added to text field.
You can verify it by debugging with the View Hierarchy. There will be an image added to the text field. The image will be created with the background color of the text field with a grey border and capInsets to avoid border stretch.
So your best bet is to set the text field to UITextBorderStyle.none. Then create border by yourself.

A: I think the only way you can achieve this is by setting the border style to .none (and round the corners yourself). Then you can set the border style and colour the way you want it (or have no border at all).

A: If you want to just round the corners of textfield use
YourTextField.layer.cornerRadius = 8 //or any value you want to set

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Customers: please take note that we will select coins ranging from 1908-1929 to fulfill your order based on our current inventory selection.
We are honored to offer vintage Indian Gold Quarter Eagle coins produced by the US Mint from 1908 to 1929. These gorgeous coins are professionally cleaned; and a premium addition to the portfolios and collections of investors and collectors that are enthusiastic about Americana, vintage coins, and the Indian Head design.
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The reverse side of the coin features the American eagle in a three-quarter profile pose. It is encircled by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the top, 2 ½ DOLLARS on the bottom, and flanked by the words E PLURIBUS UNUM on the left and IN GOD WE TRUST on the right.
Silver.com is pleased to offer other Indian Head design products in gold and silver coins, medallion rounds, and bullion ingots. We invite you to browse our generous collection.
Your vintage coin will be personally selected for you by the staff at Silver.com according to our available inventory. The coin is guaranteed to bear a mint date between the years 1908 and 1929 and to be professionally cleaned.
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Yahoo – AFP, March 5, 2019
General Ahmed Gaid Salah, chief of staff of the Algerian Armed Forces, attends the
funeral of major-general Abdelmalek Guenaizia at the Sidi-Yahia cemetery in Algiers,
on February 6, 2019 (AFP Photo/Ryad KRAMDI)
Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's army chief on Tuesday pledged to guarantee the country's security following mass demonstrations against ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office.
General Ahmed Gaid Salah also criticised those who he said want to return to the "painful years" of the 1992-2002 civil war "during which the Algerian people experienced all forms of suffering and paid a heavy price."
The armed forces chief of staff said in a speech at a military academy outside Algiers that the country's success "in eradicating terrorism... has displeased some parties who are upset to see Algeria stable and safe."
The people will continue to enjoy "security and stability" of which the army "will remain the guarantor", the general, who is close to Bouteflika and considered one of Algeria's most powerful figures, said according to an official transcript.
The army chief, who is deputy defence minister, urged Algerians to be ready to "erect a rampart against anything that could expose Algeria to unpredictable threats".
Protests have seen tens of thousands of people take to the streets of the North African country since last month demanding the 82-year-old president resign.
Thousands of students marched in the capital and other cities on Tuesday in the latest display of public anger.
Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013 and is rarely seen in public, promised on Sunday that if he wins elections in April he will organise a "national conference" to set a date for further polls which he would not contest.
His pledge, made in a letter read out on state television, has been dismissed as an insult by Algerians weary of his two-decade-old rule.
Bouteflika has been in Switzerland since February 24 for what the presidency has described as "routine medical tests".
VIDEO: Young Algerians react, as thousands of Algerian students marched in protest at ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's determination to stand for re-election, brushing aside his pledge not to serve a full fifth term https://t.co/xmdVjkPYgx pic.twitter.com/bhBdHjF5U0
— AFP news agency (@AFP) 5 maart 2019
Posted by Cempaka at 11:49 AM
Labels: Algeria, Children, Election, Military, Occupy, Protests, Society


With Joe Flacco likely sidelined with a hip injury, it seems that it is going to be time for Lamar Jackson to see his first start as a NFL QB. There are a lot of people who are very interested to see what the Ravens offense could look like with their rookie QB under center. Indeed, there has been talk across the league since the day Jackson was drafted about when this time would arrive and for better or worse, it looks like that time is now. How that impacts the Ravens and their postseason aspirations is yet to be determined, but Jackson couldn't have been thrust into the starting role in a more critical situation. At 4-5 the Ravens are in desperate need of a victory, and with Divisional opponent Cincinnati visiting Baltimore, the stakes are even higher.
Fortunately for Jackson (let's just assume he starts from here on) and the Ravens, the Bengals are in an ugly spiral where they have had historically poor defensive performances after allowing 500+ yards of offense three weeks in a row. Granted, they have played three of the top offenses in the league, but even when adjusting for opponent the Bengals defense stinks. Cincinnati's defense is rated 26th in the league by DVOA and they have been especially bad against the rush allowing 141.2 rush yards per game and 5.0 YPC while posting the 30th ranked rushing defense DVOA.
You can discuss the upcoming match-up with the Bengals on our message board, and follow along Sunday in our game thread.
It is certainly going to be interesting to see how the Ravens game-plan for this critical match-up. They have at their disposal one of the most electric playmakers in the NFL at the QB position, so will Marty Mornhinweg and Greg Roman unleash him? We have seen what kind of impact Jackson can have on the game as a wildcat QB or lined up as a WR, but as the full-time starter, it is really difficult to gauge how the offense will look. In the preseason when Jackson took a fair number of reps, the offense looked fairly pedestrian with a few designed rushes mixed in here or there. One has to wonder if the coaching staff has had a plan in place for Jackson just in case the Ravens would find themselves in this position.
Another player who may benefit from having Jackson at QB is Alex Collins. We have seen him take advantage of the strain Jackson puts on defenses several times this season, and I have to think the zone read will be a big component of the offensive game-plan this coming week. The Bengals could be without a number of their defensive starters including LBs Vontaze Burfict, Preston Brown, Vincent Rey and Nick Vigil and the status of CBs Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard is up in the air. With so many defenders sidelined, the Ravens will be in a good position to utilize the running ability of Jackson and Collins. The Bengals are not completely bereft of talent on defense however as DT Geno Atkins and DE Carlos Dunlap are one of the more dangerous pass-rushing duos in the NFL, and the Ravens could potentially be without OTs Ronnie Stanley and James Hurst once again. Outside of games where the Ravens have been up 3 or more scores, Mornhinweg has been hesitant to commit to running the football, but perhaps the stars have aligned for the Ravens to finally embrace the ground game in week 11.
The Ravens defense, while still rated well by most metrics, has also been frustratingly inconsistent from week to week. They have posted a shutout, and held some very good offenses to yardage and scoring totals well below their averages, but they have also let some fairly mediocre teams score 30+ points against them. Perhaps even more telling is the inconsistency of the pass-rush. One week, they go out and set a Franchise record with 11 sacks against the Tennessee Titans, and then manage a paltry total of 2 sacks over the next 3 games, all of which were losses. Part of this may be injury related, as the absence of Willie Henry and Tim Williams has put more of a burden on the rest of the front 7, but players like Terrell Suggs and Matthew Judon have to step up.
I have to hope that a week of rest and the possible return of Williams should help, but there also needs to be a re-examination of what was working so well early in the season, and a real investigation into why have the Ravens not been able to replicate those results. It certainly hasn't been because of a lack of aggression as the Ravens are the 2nd highest blitzing team in the NFL, but why has that not led to more pressure, sacks, and turnovers? Hopefully, Wink Martindale will be able to figure out what is and is not working and push the right buttons as the fate of the Ravens season essentially hangs in the balance. For better or worse, defense is still the Ravens calling-card, and if they hope to go on any sort of run to make a push for the postseason, the defense is what is going to carry them there.
The Bengals are likely going to be without star WR A.J. Green, who in case you didn't remember scored three TDs against the Ravens in week 2. This is obviously a huge loss for the Bengals, and it will impact their entire offense if he can't play. Second year WR John Ross has shown flashes of playmaking ability, but has largely been a disappointment through 2 seasons, while Tyler Boyd has emerged as a reliable pass-catcher for Andy Dalton. The Ravens will have to make sure the speedy Ross doesn't beat them deep, but if Green can't go, Boyd will be the main target to worry about. RB Joe Mixon is also a dangerous pass-catcher, and he has some explosive ability in the open field. However, he has not proven to be a very physical runner in the NFL, and the Ravens stout DL should not have too many problems keeping him contained in this match-up.
All things considered, this is a must win game for the Ravens, and I think they will show up and play very well at home. Regardless of who starts at QB, there needs be a game-plan set in place that will take advantage of a flimsy Cincinnati defense. In the end, I think the Ravens defense will set the tone and carry the team to victory, 27 – 13.
Written by Gabe Ferguson. Posted 5 months ago in Baltimore Ravens.


A Very Big Thankyou to Rachel Gardiner,family and friends!!! Wow Amazing Fundraising!!!
Your last pennies are in from your last fundraising events 'Sacriston Fun Day' and the Great North Run making your grand fundraising total to date a staggering £4656!!!
A Very Big Thankyou to (John Blakey -'Team Betsy') mum's friend Sandra and members of Houghton -Le -Spring Methodist Church for raising £145.00 proceeds from a coffee morning and other fundraising activities for Nephrotic Syndrome Research,most grateful to you all from NeST & Bristol Research team!!
Congratulations to Adam Stubbins & all his wonderful colleagues who completed their challenge cycling 832 miles from 'Stanton Bonna' to their head office in France (Consolis) and back again raising vital funds for Nephrotic Syndrome Research!!!!


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Home Tags August
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Sex, Dating & Relationships
What is post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) and what do I need to know about it?
Sexual dysfunction of any kind can be a tremendously isolating experience.
By Katie Baskerville on December 1, 2022
Credit: Getty Images / Priscila Zambotto
> Life > Sex, Dating & Relationships
As I try for the hundredth time to knock one out and inevitably fail miserably, I'm forced to remember that when taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), coming can feel like an Olympic sport. Feeling sticky and ashamed (and somewhat frustrated), I'm left with no other option than to pack away my toys and lubes, roll over and try to get some kip.
According to NHS(Opens in a new window) data, there are now nearly half a million more adults taking antidepressants than in 2021. So, know you're not alone. For many people prescribed antidepressants, they are a necessary and vital lifeline. They can be life-altering in the best way, but they can also produce side effects that are disheartening.
Sexual dysfunction and SSRIs can go hand in hand for folks like me. In fact, it's reported that nearly 100(Opens in a new window) percent of people who take them experience some form of sexual side effects. When I stopped taking them, my enthusiasm and wanking vigour returned quickly, but for others, it can be a vastly different story. One shrouded in unshakeable shame.
SEE ALSO: How do antidepressants affect your orgasms?
What is post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, or PSSD?
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, or PSSD, is something felt by people when they come off of antidepressants, (the exact number of those impacted is not known because so little research is done about it, partially due to "inconsistencies" from the medical community about how to diagnose it(Opens in a new window), but the research that does exist tells us it's prevalent).
While some people experience sexual side effects during taking SSRIs, PSSD is a condition which refers to a long-term condition impacting people who have stopped taking the medication.
Experts like professor of psychology David Healy of Bangor University, and author of the journal Antidepressants and Sexual Dysfunction: A History,(Opens in a new window) discuss the prevalence of the condition(Opens in a new window), stating that: "10 percent of people of sexually active years in developed countries are on antidepressants chronically. Nearly 20 percent of the population, therefore, may not be able to make love the way they want." He goes on to explain that in some deprived areas, the figure may be much higher. He also identifies that those who seek to comfort themselves with the thought of post-treatment normality, those prescribed SSRIs might be sorely disappointed, saying that; "...they may be even less able to function."
Per(Opens in a new window) Healy's paper: "The core features of the condition are genital numbing, loss or muting of orgasm and loss of libido. But many are just as concerned by additional features like emotional numbing or derealisation." PSSD was first reported in medical literature in 2006, despite people with the syndrome reporting(Opens in a new window) symptoms to regulators since 1999.
In almost all cases, people who suffer from PSSD have experienced some form of sexual dysfunction while taking antidepressant medication in addition to after they stop. "It's very important that people understand what it is, recognise it as soon as possible and understand the complexity of it," Alessio Rizzo, certified psychotherapist, tells Mashable. "SSRI sexual dysfunction is one of the leading reasons people stop taking antidepressant medication which can lead to worsening symptoms alongside withdrawal."
Who is most affected by PSSD?
The truth is, anyone can be affected by PSSD because anyone can be affected by sexual dysfunction.
"We know that it seems to affect every sex, and every age, every ethnicity, so it doesn't seem to be linked to any of the usual parameters that we consider," Rizzo says.
Rizzo explains that people who are more at risk of depression and anxiety, like those in the LGBTQ community, are not destined for mental illness, but may find themselves more likely to develop illnesses like depression and anxiety(Opens in a new window). "We must be careful not to pathologise dysfunction as an LGBTQ and sexual abuse survivor only problem," he adds, "because it can stop people who do not identify with these two experiences from seeking help."
SEE ALSO: Being bisexual can impact your mental health. Here's what you can do about it.
Around 30-50 percent of people experience mild forms of sexual dysfunction(Opens in a new window) before taking antidepressants, which means that they could find pre-existing symptoms exacerbated by medication. It could also mean that something else is causing the dysregulation of the sexual response cycle (the connection between desire and arousal, excitement, orgasm and resolution), like pain, sensitivity and past trauma. Collectively, these are known as predispositions.
This is why approaching a healing process in a holistic nature is important. While medications can help with mood stabilisation, talk therapies like CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can help to support healing by modifying thought pathways(Opens in a new window) (this is called neuroplasticity, and it describes altering chemically embedded behaviours in our brain). Therefore, people with pre-existing symptoms, or who are predisposed to sexual dysfunction, can get to the bottom of what's disrupting their pleasure response cycle and confront it in a safe environment.
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For many people, talking about sex is closely followed by feelings of shame. We also need to remember that there is a cultural stigma surrounding mental health and sex, making it even harder for some to talk about or admit to having a problem. A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine found that young people are especially likely to experience shame(Opens in a new window) when discussing any form of sexual experience — let alone one that involves problems.
As such, sexual dysfunction of any kind can be a tremendously isolating experience, leaving people grasping at straws and feeling a lot of internal turmoil. All this is made worse by the cycle of depression and anxiety slowly eating away at any form of self-esteem.
SEE ALSO: Men need to talk about sex differently. Here's how.
SSRIs increase serotonin levels in the brain, which has a knock-on effect on the anatomical structures of our reproductive system(Opens in a new window). Effects of this include being unable to maintain or produce an erection to vaginal dryness, ejaculation, and anorgasmia (absence of orgasm). This is, impart, because SSRIs inhibit nitric oxide production(Opens in a new window), which greatly affects the way the body relaxes, and actively prevents blood from reaching the genitals.
PSSD is a serious condition and it causes distress. There is currently no treatment for PSSD. The syndrome is not widely understood or agreed upon by researchers as to how it comes about. It is suggested that only future research(Opens in a new window) holds the answer and that it could lie in those who do not develop PSSD, but only time will tell if this is the case.
UPDATE: Dec. 2, 2022, 9:48 a.m. CET This post has been updated.
More in Mental Health, Sex
Katie Baskerville
Katie Baskerville is a Welsh freelance writer and journalist covering sex, health and LGBTQIA+ culture from her small studio in south Bristol, UK. You can find her on Instagram(Opens in a new window), TikTok(Opens in a new window) and Twitter(Opens in a new window).
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