C-Cab's recent activity
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Comment on Weighing in on "Man or Bear" - from a woman that left society to the Alaskan wilderness in ~life.women
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Comment on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery | Title announcement in ~movies
C-Cab Link ParentMaybe I am misunderstanding you, but didn't Glass Onion have two intentional murders in it? Or are you saying that the case isn't solely revolving around the murder?Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but didn't Glass Onion have two intentional murders in it? Or are you saying that the case isn't solely revolving around the murder?
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Comment on UNM researchers find microplastics in canine and human testicular tissue in ~science
C-Cab Link ParentFrom what I understand, it's not cheap removing plastics from the water, but it definitely seems like leaving them in is going to cause much larger problems down the line. I think the best thing...From what I understand, it's not cheap removing plastics from the water, but it definitely seems like leaving them in is going to cause much larger problems down the line. I think the best thing to do, as I mentioned in my comment, is to reduce our use of them while figuring out ways to convert them into something less harmful, such as through your suggestion of bacteria. I don't think this will do a lot to help the current generation of people - as far as I'm aware we're stuck with the plastics we get. But, we could reduce the burden on the future this way.
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Comment on UNM researchers find microplastics in canine and human testicular tissue in ~science
C-Cab Link ParentWe do have certain barriers throughout the body whose goal is to isolate organs important to fitness, such as our brain and reproductive systems. You can think of it like a progressive sieve - we...We do have certain barriers throughout the body whose goal is to isolate organs important to fitness, such as our brain and reproductive systems. You can think of it like a progressive sieve - we start with very large filtering in the gut and intestines and it slowly gets broken down there, so it's not completely unfounded to think that certain tissues may not have any microplastics. But, it seems like the microplastics are small enough to pass through these filters. They've even seen plastics in the brains of mice, so there is a definite causative link there.
On the plus side, maybe we'll induce some rapid evolution for organisms that can weather a certain amount of plastics.
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Comment on UNM researchers find microplastics in canine and human testicular tissue in ~science
C-Cab LinkSome comments I wanted to pull from the article for discussion: It's a sample of 47 dogs and 23 humans, but it's pretty wild to see plastics present in every case due to chance alone. We've been...Some comments I wanted to pull from the article for discussion:
“Our study revealed the presence of microplastics in all human and canine testes,” Yu said.
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“At the beginning, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system,” Yu said. “When I first received the results for dogs I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans.”
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The team was able to count the sperm in the canine samples (but not in the human ones, which had been chemically preserved) and found that higher levels of PVC in the tissue correlated with a lower sperm count, Yu said. There was no correlation with tissue concentration of PE, however.
“The plastic makes a difference – what type of plastic might be correlated with potential function,” he said. “PVC can release a lot of chemicals that interfere with spermatogenesis and it contains chemicals that cause endocrine disruption.”It's a sample of 47 dogs and 23 humans, but it's pretty wild to see plastics present in every case due to chance alone. We've been talking about plastic pollution and endocrine disrupters for a long time, but it seems like we've only made very small steps. In addition to people opting out of reproduction, we're potentially running into a double-whammy of fertility issues.
Our current way of life for much of the world relies on plastics. While I think we might be better suited looking into alternative materials that integrate better with our biology and environment, it's not a solution that could be implemented in a rapid time-scale. I'm not a material scientist, and there's no doubt that we use specific plastics for certain physical properties, but maybe we should consider prioritizing the use of these less impactful plastics first while we invest research into these alternative materials.
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UNM researchers find microplastics in canine and human testicular tissue
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Comment on If you had up to US$250 to get one person into a hobby you're interested in, what would you do to get them started? in ~hobbies
C-Cab Link ParentI always recommend Carcassonne over Settlers of Catan. I think people conflate they two because they have some superficial similarities, but Carcassonne feels much easier to understand to me while...I always recommend Carcassonne over Settlers of Catan. I think people conflate they two because they have some superficial similarities, but Carcassonne feels much easier to understand to me while retaining a lot of depth of strategy, and doesn't get nearly as bad run away effects.
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Comment on Menthol inhalation may boost cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s in ~science
C-Cab Link ParentThat's definitely context dependent learning which is very well documented.That's definitely context dependent learning which is very well documented.
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Comment on Menthol inhalation may boost cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s in ~science
C-Cab Link ParentNicotine does promote the release of epinephrine which no doubt sharpens your thinking a bit, as well as mimicking acetylcholine which is involved with arousal and learning/memory. So the drug...Nicotine does promote the release of epinephrine which no doubt sharpens your thinking a bit, as well as mimicking acetylcholine which is involved with arousal and learning/memory. So the drug itself likely is producing some of those effects, especially along with taking a break. I know lots of people report a rush from cigarettes, especially before their tolerance builds up.
Of course, there is a link between damage to the olfactory neurons and neurodegeneration, so that smoke itself might just counteract all of the menthol!
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Comment on The spectacular failure of the Star Wars hotel in ~movies
C-Cab Link ParentJust to reiterate this point - I think the first video I watched of hers was "Escape from Tomorrow is a dumb exercise in misery" because I had just watched the film and was curious about people's...Just to reiterate this point - I think the first video I watched of hers was "Escape from Tomorrow is a dumb exercise in misery" because I had just watched the film and was curious about people's takes on it. I loved her way of communicating ideas and the humor clicked with me in such a way I immediately devoured the majority of her videos on youtube. I find her hilarious and insightful, and am waffling on whether or not I should subscribe to her patreon.
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Comment on Longlegs | Official trailer in ~movies
C-Cab LinkI'm excited for this for multiple reasons, but I'm particularly intrigued by Nicolas Cage's upcoming performance. I thought he did a fantastic job blending into his role for Dream Scenario, so I'm...I'm excited for this for multiple reasons, but I'm particularly intrigued by Nicolas Cage's upcoming performance. I thought he did a fantastic job blending into his role for Dream Scenario, so I'm hopeful that he'll pull off something fun to watch.
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Comment on Menthol inhalation may boost cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s in ~science
C-Cab (edited )LinkThis is super fascinating to me. I've done a lot of olfaction research but using insects as a model organism, so I wasn't up to date on this paper that was published last year. It makes sense to...This is super fascinating to me. I've done a lot of olfaction research but using insects as a model organism, so I wasn't up to date on this paper that was published last year. It makes sense to me that the olfactory pathway could be used as a means to prime the brain's immune response ahead of any stressors, but I did not make the connection how this would impact cognitive function.
I'm a little skeptical on how well it may translate to humans though. Compared to most other mammals our neural real estate dedicated to smell is quite small. In fact, the mouse's olfactory bulb is massive relative to the rest of the brain when we stack it up against ours. This could mean that there is a lot more influence coming from the olfactory neurons and thus a larger effect in mice than what we might predict in humans. I'm excited to see more work on this though - and now I'm going to secretly hope that when I have mint tea I am helping out my brain.
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Comment on Menthol inhalation may boost cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s in ~science
C-Cab LinkQuick note: this is from a study published in 2023. Original, open-access article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37187754/Quick note: this is from a study published in 2023.
Key Facts:
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Researchers discovered that inhaling menthol improves cognitive abilities in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, potentially preventing the cognitive decline typical of the disease.
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The study found that menthol aroma led to a reduction in the level of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1b), a protein that mediates the inflammatory response. This reduction in IL-1b levels was associated with improved cognitive abilities in both healthy mice and those with Alzheimer’s.
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The research suggests the potential for odors and immune modulators as therapeutic agents in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions of the central nervous system, opening a new avenue for developing therapies based on stimulating and training the olfactory system.
Original, open-access article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37187754/
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Menthol inhalation may boost cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
C-Cab (edited )Link ParentI agree with you that Le Guin is trying to ground the ideals of an anarchist society. In my experience, many utopian/dystopian stories rely on a class of people that have an almost hedonistic...I agree with you that Le Guin is trying to ground the ideals of an anarchist society. In my experience, many utopian/dystopian stories rely on a class of people that have an almost hedonistic level of pleasure and leisure that is at the cost of our fellow person; an underclass lower on the totem pole that makes the upper class' way of life possible. Put simply: the status quo of our world writ large.
However, I feel the main thrust of her argument is that while no society is perfect, hierarchies will inevitably result in unjust suffering due to their very nature, and so they cannot by any means approach an utopia. She explores how a society rooted in anarchist principles could lay the framework for a free and equal society, and most importantly, be subject to change. As far as we know, A-Io had not changed in the hundred and some odd years since the Odonians had migrated to Anarres, at least in terms of social progress. I mean hell, the Ionian women are literally sex objects - shaved heads and tits out, with rape being a common occurrence, no big deal.
I want to delve a bit deeper with your final question. The impetus of the story is because of Urras; the formation of the anarchist society was a direct result of the hierarchy of the Ionian upper class refusing to restructure their social order. However, I think the anarchist society was solidified by the harsh condition of Anarres - cooperation was key to surviving on this arid moon.
I am curious on the opposite side of things: given a different setting, would the Odonian philosophy survive if the resources were abundant and the struggle to survive was less drastic at the individual level? Shevek reflects on the abundancy of resources on Urras, and how ground-breaking it may be for their society that struggles to get by. Would they still form this society and succeed for as long as they did if they weren't struggling to survive and instead had a surplus?
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Comment on Those who journal, how do you do so authentically? (How to stop “self-editing” or “censoring” yourself and your thoughts?) in ~health.mental
C-Cab (edited )Link ParentThis is a great comment and I wanted to emphasize the importance of just getting the words out there. I used to struggle with wanting to write the perfect draft on the first go, but I wasted so...This is a great comment and I wanted to emphasize the importance of just getting the words out there. I used to struggle with wanting to write the perfect draft on the first go, but I wasted so much time doing that. Especially when the draft is going to be edited anyways. Write sloppily, and don't worry about editing. If an idea for an edit comes, make a note about it but don't spend too much time on it. Once you have the draft on paper you can clean it up if you need to, if it's something you want to put out there. But in my opinion, for a journal I don't care about the quality of the writing since the audience is future me.
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Comment on Those who journal, how do you do so authentically? (How to stop “self-editing” or “censoring” yourself and your thoughts?) in ~health.mental
C-Cab LinkWhen I journal I largely do a stream of consciousness form of writing. I might have certain things I want to write about, but my head is constantly buzzing throughout the day so I might have...When I journal I largely do a stream of consciousness form of writing. I might have certain things I want to write about, but my head is constantly buzzing throughout the day so I might have something I was chewing on that I start writing about. I also have ADHD so it's easy for me to get side-tracked while writing, but I think it's kind of fun.
I think in your case, it might be worth while reflecting on why you are self-censoring. Do you have thoughts you're ashamed of - or are you worried about other people reading your journal and judging you for it? Or do you feel like your writing/thoughts just aren't that good? And you should also consider what you are trying to get out of journaling. Is this to practice your writing? Help you process your own thoughts? Have a record of what happened?
If it's the latter, then you should just journal whatever comes to mind. Writing, like any skill, only gets better with practice. I've written some real bad drafts both for my professional and creative work. But the draft can't get better without the words on the page, and I can't get better heuristics for writing if I don't do it regularly.
If it's the former, then you're going to have to find some personal solution to feeling OK putting your thoughts out there. Maybe that'll involve have a very secret hidden journal that no one is aware of. Maybe you can start sharing shallow, surface level thoughts and slowly work in deeper things. That is all up to you.
There's no right or wrong way to journal - think of it as a tool you use to help with some aspect of your life (which could be as simple as just stress relief). I think after you answer some of those questions above you should pick something that happened in your day and just write what comes to your head. It doesn't matter if it's good or if it's not clear - this is just for you to read.
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Comment on Some observations about some of the conversations here in ~tildes
C-Cab (edited )Link ParentAt the risk of being a nit-picker, I don't think the distinction between society/human nature and the internet is really all that meaningful. Certainly there is an academic interest to why some...At the risk of being a nit-picker, I don't think the distinction between society/human nature and the internet is really all that meaningful. Certainly there is an academic interest to why some people may behave differently on the internet, but that's still an aspect of human nature.
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Comment on How to tell if a conspiracy theory is probably false in ~science
C-Cab Link ParentYeah I am a little surprised by Eji's response - I have encountered both directly and seeing other people's conversations plenty of bad faith actors when it comes to online discussions. Maybe they...Yeah I am a little surprised by Eji's response - I have encountered both directly and seeing other people's conversations plenty of bad faith actors when it comes to online discussions. Maybe they are referring exclusively to in-person interlocutors, which yeah, I largely agree. But that doesn't detract from how bad it can get on the internet.
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Comment on The land that doesn’t need Ozempic in ~food
C-Cab Link ParentI am having trouble trying to parse what you mean here: In particular, I'm not sure what you mean by "more traditional sense of what is an appropriate amount of weight". Would you mind elaborating?I am having trouble trying to parse what you mean here:
I meant to mention I think this has also shaped modern western culture's sense of zaftig. Older, more conservative cultures that were slower to adopt highly processed foods and dispense with communal family meals have a different and more traditional sense of what is an appropriate amount of weight to be attractive in a woman. Whereas other western cultures have varied positive views of a woman's weight that may include "thick or "curvy" or "husky" or "BBW."
In particular, I'm not sure what you mean by "more traditional sense of what is an appropriate amount of weight". Would you mind elaborating?
I don't think you should feel like you should keep your mouth shut. While I can see how it might be a little confusing, I read it as you intended. Unfortunately, a lot of nuance is lost on online and I think many of our hackles go up when we read something due to how we've been conditioned through both our in person and online interactions.
I also wanted to add I think you wrote a thoughtful response, and I share the sentiment that the pithiness rubs me the wrong way. I'm ambivalent on whether it's truly productive in changing minds, and I know that it's not anyone person's job to take on that role. I certainly have given my fair share of snarky responses, particularly when I was younger, and it can be a nice stress relief, but I've come around more and more to the idea that it just doesn't really help anything.