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The Dangers of Being Body Beautiful
As a contemporary gay man, there are rarely any occasions to be jealous of the heterosexual male. Being of the queer persuasion typically allows for less fuss over who we are supposed to be in society and more celebration of who we truly are as individuals. As the counter-culture to mainstream society, we are usually not subjected the norms that tend to burden the hetero population into believing that they should be something that they are not.
But as the image of the ideal gay man continues to be branded in modern media, there may just be a reason for gay men to envy their heterosexual peers. Straight guys don't have an unrealistic expectation of looking like an underwear model, gay men do.
Whether you are a gay man killing yourself to be a centerfold or you are bitching about how all gay men shouldn't have to be, its irrefutable that there is an unrealistic expectation of what gay guys should look like. And as our muscles get bigger and our hairlines get fuller, our self-image continues to shrink and shrink.
The obsession with the perfect body has created an unhealthy displacement of values that can have long lasting negative effects on impressionable gay youth. In urban gyms across America, young gays with bloated muscles, bulging veins and waterless waists walk around as if they are gods among mere mortals. The scrawny boys nearly break their bones on the bench press and the overweight men sweat in anger while these model specimens prance around in barely anything and rub it in. This is a sad scene to watch, especially since the most muscled of these young gays are most likely the unhealthiest of all.
According to a new study in the Journal of Pediatrics, gay and bisexual men are more than five times more likely to use anabolic-androgenic steroids. The study also reported that steroid use is related to body image issues over the need for athletic performance enhancement. There is a clear disparity among homo and hetero males in the way they seek affirmation of their physical selves, even if it was to the detriment of their own physical and psychological health.
The worst kept secret among the fitness elite is that it is nearly impossible to look like a superhero without the use of pharmaceutical help. Whether it is extreme as underground steroids or as legal as prescribed hormones, the truth is that men do not naturally look like they have rocks under their skin. Even the abuse of over-the-counter supplements such as pre-workout supplements like Jack3d and estrogen blockers can pose serious threats to your health as you begin to sculpt and tone.
It doesn't matter whether you have had them prescribed or not, the abuse of testosterone therapies and hormone boosters can have severe health side effects all for the sake of the perfect abs and bigger lifts.
And the abuse doesn't stop there. Many of the body beautiful that I know personally opt for illegal forms of inebriation in lieu of high calorie cocktails. Party drugs such as GHB, ketamine and molly are popular among these muscle bunnies because they can dance the night away without worrying about any extra bloating the next day.
But pointing out the glaring hypocrisy of drug use to these chemical hard bodies only encourages their superiority complex. Many juicers believe that those who question steroid use simply don't understand how to control it properly and are foolish about the reality of our bodies. Most serious users consider themselves dime store doctors. They may not have gone to medical school (or even passed biology), but they often claim to know more about the body than you ever will.
Just last week, my friend Jerry (not his real name) told me the story of how his friend returned from a trip they had taken together feeling slightly under the weather. He was seemingly healthy, extremely handsome and the epitome of jacked. He had come down with the flu, but with his fit appearance and young age, there was no need to be scared. However, only days later, the young man had passed away. According to Jerry, his friend's heart had been weakened by steroid use and was not strong enough to withstand the virus. This was the second death of this nature among Jerry's friends. Although these men may have looked impenetrable from the outside, the use and abuse of anabolic agents had weakened the strength that really matters; the strength of their organs.
Our distorted idea of sexy is actually an image that encourages unhealthy behaviors for the sake of vanity. Too many young men who are functioning with perfectly healthy bodies are willingly compromising their liver, kidneys and heart among other body parts for the gratification of the swimsuit elite. So how do we breakthrough the perception of physical health to show the reality of harming our bodies for the sake of beauty?
The tendency for our gay male youth to self-objectify in order to achieve love and acceptance among their peers is a massive set back for the gay rights movement. We cannot allow young gay men to see the position of an underwear model or porn star equal to or above a position that values intellect and effects positive change for our community and our nation.
It is crucial that we learn the difference between being healthy and looking like a poster child for protein shakes. There is nothing wrong with striving to improve your external image, but not if its at the detriment to your internal organs. In order for gay men to flourish, we must teach our youth to value health, intellect and individualism over our ability to stop traffic in a tank top.
This article has gotten so much attention. Which is kind of interesting. Instinct magazine is not the most serious publication generally. Most of the articles are about which celebrities were photographed without shirts, or what fire station, or athletes made a naked calendar. But they do also post some interesting articles about LGBT issues, rights & politics etc. Things that we need to know, because they effect us & people like us. I love how Instinct reels us in with shirtless celebs & then tries to educate us on more important issues. I feel like we should pay attention to those more serious articles.
It puzzles me that this particular article has stirred up so much debate. It's clearly a hot button topic for a lot people, but why? I mean, why does this kind of article, that essentially addresses vanity & insecurity in Western gay culture, get so much more attention than articles about the atrocities against gay teens in Russia, who are being lured to fake dates, only to be beaten, humiliated & outed, or about the gay men in Nigeria, who were dragged out of their home & forced to have sex in the street while their neighbors filmed them & posted the clips, or the draconian laws being passed in Uganda that makes some homosexual acts punishable by life imprisonment, or the passing of a bill in Kansas that states that businesses can refuse services to gay couples because of religious beliefs?
Do people choose to look away from these terrible stories? Is it because these things are too much to handle? Is it easier to ignore other people's struggles & just focus on our looks?
I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to look good & feel good about yourself. Do whatever it takes to make yourself happy, as long as you are healthy about it. Knock yourself out, but I do think that, in general, we all need to look a little further than the mirror to truly feel good about ourselves. We have to pay attention to others who are less fortunate & we have to stand up & speak up against inequality & discrimination, at home & globally.
We can't just turn a blind eye when LGBT people are being victimized. Take it personally. It is personal. Say something. Spread the word. Work towards complete & total equality. Show that you care.
It's not someone else's job to change things. It's our job.
Work out, don't work out, whatever works for you, but know that you are already beautiful & worthy. Share that message with someone else that needs to hear it.
Wanting to look great is not just a gay thing. All persons want it, but not everyone will admit they would like to have a body that looks more like what Hollywood and the rest of the media promote. They may try to convince themselves that looks are not important, but deep down inside, they don't really believe that. Their behavior is a giveaway. Maybe not everyone really 'needs' to have a great body, but physical attractiveness can bring about affection or love. Everyone does yearn for love, even secretly. To receive affection is a human need and nobody is exempt. The implication that hot people get more lovin' is everywhere to be felt. Falling into the 'looks' trap is way too easy nowadays.
Many men within the gay community support and embody this culture of obsessing over the body. With an addiction to a gym-ready body, of ripped abs and muscled arms – as well as a tendency for either hairlessness or manicured hair, as one suggests an uncontrolled masculinity (hair runs free) whereas the other is a controlled masculinity (we control the hair) – and a glowing tan, they inadvertently feed narcissism in themselves and in other gay men. Sometimes gym memberships are disguised by some as pursuits for 'lifestyle' and 'well being'. Me, being more of a cynic than a personal trainer, would say that these claims cloud more of a pursuit of vanity in our image-addicted culture. These experiences have made me see a cult of narcissism in many gay men – friends, foes, fuck-buddies, and even in myself. What I would say is that the gym has caused more gay men to go to the gym because of some level of self-loathing than pure fitness. Magazines, advertising, and pornography do not prioritise the intelligence of the gay male – they appeal to our most carnal desires. Bitch, before you blast Britney and begin the bike machine, make sure you look in those gym mirrors closely and ask, without Abercrombie, "washboard abs" fancy car and pink pride-shirt .... "who am I?"
"Whether it is extreme as underground steroids or as legal as prescribed hormones, the truth is that men do not naturally look like they have rocks under their skin.".... This is where this article lost all its credibility. The implication that the only way to get 'fit' is either by taking steroids or else, hormones is simply ridiculous. It's also an insult to the vast majority of people who try to be healthy, and disciplined about what they eat, and who stay fit without taking any harmful substances. By so generalising, this article gives those who might benefit from exercise an excuse to give up before they have even started: 'See I knew it they are all a bunch of drug-takers and I want nothing to do with that!'. Ideally, with a good fitness programme, looking good and being healthy go hand in hand. Everyone sensible person knows that this is not necessarily the case. Yes the gay community has its issues with attaching too much importance to looks but this article with its ridiculous premise and generalisations does nothing to address these.
There are plenty of ways to naturally, and safely, remain hormonally and nutritionally-sound, and in shape physically, without using anabolic steroids, dangerous drugs or unhealthy supplements.
I have a whole practice full of patients whom you would define as body beautiful, and who do not use any of the things listed in this article. Instead they have a commitment to personal health, great eating habits, and exercise. I would call these people healthy, high-functioning, and well-balanced.
I do agree with this article that many gay men have an unrealistic expectation of what is sexy. But I also see this same expectation in plenty of straight men, and straight women for that matter. This is further propagated by the endless images of perfection present in all forms of media.
I prefer not to judge OR generalize. Unfortunately obsession with looks is often just one of many possible expressions of insecurity. As a doctor I would rather see someone be addicted to exercise than addicted to recreational drugs or unhealthy foods.
However, there are plenty of body-beautiful people who are not this way because of obsession, addiction, or unrealistic expectations. They might simply have a personal commitment to fitness and health. I believe these are people that might be worth looking up to in many respects.
How deliciously ironic, in a sentence about valuing intellect over biceps, to find this glaring error in usage at the end of the penultimate paragraph: "a position that values intellect and affects (sic) positive change for our community..." Surely I'm not the only person left on the planet who cares? Bench press away, gym bunnies, and leave effecting change to those whose brains aren't eaten away by steroids.
Great article.
Steroid use and bodybuilding supplements are related to cancer, leukemia, kidneys failure, liver damage, circulatory or heart disease. What's more, supplement manufacturers can make claims without solid scientific evidence behind them. In fact, the evidence of effectiveness for most supplements is nonexistent. It is all about marketing and unregulated chemical and artificial hormones.
Plus, recreational drugs for clubbing such as meth, Ecstacy and cocaine could lead to irreparable damage to serotonin neurotransmitters for gay men. Since serotonin levels affect learning, sleep and emotional processes, such damage can leave users severely impaired. Without proper functioning of the neurotransmitters, conditions such as severe depression, anxiety and memory loss are much more likely to occur in your 40s.
In a study using monkeys, exposure to Ecstasy for four days caused brain damage to serotonin nerve terminals that could still be seen up to seven years later, providing evidence that people who take Ecstasy may be risking permanent brain damage. Researches believe the brain damage occurs because the drug, like methamphetamine, causes a degeneration of neurons containing the neurotransmitter dopamine. Damage to these neurons causes the motor disturbances seen in Parkinson's disease, beginning with a lack of coordination and uncontrollable tremors, which can progress to a form of paralysis.
If you are a clubber/raver, go to the gym 3-5 times a week, take steroids, supplements, pills and drugs during the weekend .....please stop now.
I am an MD, and I will tell you that it is completely IMPOSSIBLE for an autopsy to occur, discover an enlarged heart, and say "see, an enlarged heart from STEROID ABUSE".
There are many reasons people get enlarged hearts, and the person performing the autopsy will NEVER conclude why a heart is enlarged.
Even if the person is a steroid user, statistics show that enlarged hearts are most often a genetic deformity. If not that, weight training can cause an enlarged heart... then steroid use.
It is completely irresponsible and total fear mongering to make a bold claim like that. This article should be pulled because there is no other way to call this but a total outright lie.
I am an MD, I perform autopsies, and I have had cases of bodybuilders/personal trainers who had died of another cause (not directly related to their anabolic steroid supplementation). However, during the autopsy, there is not just cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) but also generalized organomegaly (all your internal organs are enlarged).
We use charts which give us a range of weight of the organ for men and women adjusted to age and height/body weight. When in body builder's autopsy, organomegaly is documented, and we have proof that the decedent used anabolic steroids, and also their tissues under the microscope show related changes (hyperplasia or atrophy), we can conclude that the observed cardiomegaly is consistent with exogenous anabolic steroid usage.
In medical school they should have taught you how to be critical based on your science background. Before your fear mongering takes the best of you next time, do a PubMed search.
This is a very interesting article, and brings attention to the insecurity about gay male appearance and grooming. I agree that many young gay men are infatuated with the male physique, and will do almost anything to improve and achieve it, at almost any cost. I noticed that in the late 1980's, gay men became especially interested in muscle building and toning themselves up. Men that were not all that classically attractive, decided to over compensate on their physique, thereby, making their own egos suddenly feel better. Some large percentage of gay men are so insecure that they became also very superficial, and concerned only with their outward appearance, just like some woman. They are so insecure about themselves, that they believe that if their face and body is beautiful and attractive, they will be admired and find love (or a lover), or at minimum, sex. If they can not successfully become beautiful at the gym, they will go to a surgeon to do what they desire and have them self permanently physically altered. We are a culture of beauty, whether real or fake. However, not all gay men are that insecure, thank G-d. Any way, I feel that this particular culture of gay men has grown over the years, and now is acceptable and part of the gay reality. On the flip side though, there have been many famous people coming out into a more accepting world, which may help the gay culture of today realize that they don't need to be insecure anymore. They can be whomever they are, and it is ok. I hope that this new reality effects gay men so they do not feel they have to over compensate anymore, and that what they are is just fine as they are and perfection is way over rated.
This is a very interesting article, and brings attention to the insecurity about gay male appearance and grooming. I agree that many young gay men are infatuated with the male physique, and will do almost anything to improve and achieve it, at almost any cost. I noticed that in the late 1980's, gay men became especially interested in muscle building and toning themselves up. Men that were not all that classically attractive, decided to over compensate on their physique, thereby, making their own egos suddenly feel better. Some large percentage of gay men are so insecure that they became also very superficial, and concerned only with their outward appearance, just like some woman. They are so insecure about themselves, that they believe that if their face and body is beautiful and attractive, they will be admired and find love (or a lover), or at minimum, sex. If they can not successfully become beautiful at the gym, they will go to a surgeon to do what they desire and have themself permanently physically altered. We are a culture of beauty, whether real or fake. However, not all gay men are that insecure, thank G-d. Any way, I feel that this particular culture of gay men has grown over the years, and now is acceptable and part of the gay reality. On the flip side though, there have been many famous people coming out into a more accepting world, which may help the gay culture of today realize that they don't need to be insecure anymore. They can be whomever they are, and it is ok. I hope that this new reality effects gay men so they do not feel they have to over compensate anymore, and that what they are is ok.
The images in advertising aimed at gay men & in gay media are all but exclusively representing "male beauty" as these chiseled, worked out, built, younger men. These guys do look amazing. The work & commitment that must go into their bodies, regardless of what supplements, or steroids/drugs they are taking is commendable, but I do think these images perpetuate the idea that we are ONLY worthy, or attractive, or even acceptable if we look like these "gym bunnies". We have become like the teenage girls who starve themselves to look like models & actresses, or spend huge amounts of money on hair & makeup & even plastic surgery just to be accepted, or to feel worthy as women. It's as if we don't matter unless we can achieve that kind of physical perfection.
In this era of the headless torsos on Grindr it is relatively easy for any gay man to find quick meaningless sex with a body. The fact that there is a head attached is almost circumstantial. (Does it have to talk?) Aren't we a little deeper than that though? Isn't it better to make a connection with someone that you're sleeping with?
In a lot of places it's good to be gay right now. Great strides are being made for equality & we are more & more understood & accepted by more & more people (even though the backlash in some areas & countries is often quite disturbing). I feel like we need to work on accepting ourselves, as we are. Fitness is good. We all feel better if we eat better & get exercise, but maybe we don't have to look like carbon copies of each other with giant pecs & bulging veiny arms & legs (not that there's anything wrong with that).
We should be pursuing happiness above physical perfection. We should value ourselves for who we are & the relationships & achievements in our lives, not for our 6 packs.
We are all beautiful & loveable, we just need to see it in ourselves.
Just be you. Everyone else is taken.
I find it odd that the author of this article would have a photo of himself with chiseled abs and the perfect chest, in the shower. Is it just me or does anyone else find it strange and counter productive to the content of this article? I however agree with some things in the article, I am gay and I work in the gym industry there are lots of "dime store doctors" who think that they know everything about steroids and their effects on the human body. I also find on the reverse side that the layman say things like "According to Jerry, his friend's heart had been weakened by steroid use and was not strong enough to withstand the virus." Maybe there was an autopsy to prove this but I doubt it. People say things like this all the time with absolutely know proof, it could be true it could not be true. If it were true there would be gay men in West Hollywood dropping dead right in the middle of Gold's Gym everyday, football players, wrestlers, baseball players, bodybuilders would all be succumbing to minor viruses and infections everyday but they are not. Anyway, I digress from the topic.....the pic is weird right?
I find it odd that the author of this article would have a photo of himself with chiseled abs and the perfect chest, in the shower. Is it just me or does anyone else find it strange and counter productive to the content of this article?
I thought the same thing: the image of himself naked in the shower conveys a message in complete contradiction to the message conveyed in the op-ed.
I admire Tyler Curry for coming out as HIV+ and giving a voice for positive men in the gay male community who are outcast, but my general feeling about this op-ed is there's an undercurrent of narcissism. And possibly an undercurrent of deep insecurity, as well.
It was definitely not a good choice on the author's part. Completely undermines his argument. He's basically saying "look how amazingly hot I am, my body is so perfect people take pictures of me in the shower, oh but guys don't feel bad about not being as hot as me, what matters is on the inside" .
This is the most ridiculous piece of writing I have ever seen. The author completely negates his entire argument by placing himself naked ( obviously jacked). What a complete moron. You're simply adding to the stereotype, or mayhap just adding to your narcissistic book of Shadows. Dallas is tired of reading your shit.
It was definitely not a good choice on the author's part. Completely undermines his argument. He's basically saying "look how amazingly hot I am, my body is so perfect people take pictures of me in the shower, oh but guys don't feel bad about not being as hot as me, what matters is on the inside" .
As a gay man for the last 46 years soon to turn 70, I envy the magnificent bodies but I also know the pitfalls. I have stayed in good shape since my days as a young Sergeant in the Military. When I came out at age 24, gay men were not focused on 8% body fat muscle boys with 10" shlongs. If you were cute, someone wanted to bed down with you. Today's gay narcissism (among some) has gone over the edge and has reached unhealthy levels. I have been committed to fitness since age 20, but I accepted long ago I'd never have the cover mag model body. Even without supplements, many "super bods" work out endless hours; and I do mean endless. And then there are the men who have been blessed with perfect genes. I knew one like that while serving in the US MIL. He was gorgeous; drop dead gorgeous with a perfect body. He NEVER worked out. But, at the time I was in gay denial and he would not have been into what I eventually learned about myself. For me, a man with a well kept body, good mind, awesome butt (yeah, I know) and reasonable endowment is perfection.
Hopefully and realistically, not all end up that way. I have believed for many years the drug culture within our gay society is dangerous and in some places totally out of control. Drugs, including poppers, weaken the immune system. My belief is (unproven, I realize) that much of the HIV transmission is the direct result of drug use and abuse. Logically, and HIV Neg man can be infected by a POZ man if they fuck bare. (I prefer bare sex, in spite of the taboos.) So, I hope those beautiful men somehow will be spared that horrendous disease. Yet, if one is seeking the next best high, they likely will be unaware of what actually is happening during their sexcapade.
I personally find those pics motivating. I have been taking more care of my personal appearance ever since I accepted and appreciated my gay identity. Of course, I try to keep a balanced view of my situation. I have never been very fond of sports and exercise, so I can't expect to look like an underwear model, but the simple fact of taking care of my beard, my haircut, and losing some weight has made me the object of lots of flattering expressions from my colleagues, friends and family, both male and female, and that feels great!!! I'm very happy, really.
Physical beauty is so important to all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, that obsession for an ideal body is rather likely. The media does this to people. Also, bullying is still a huge problem and it makes males want to 'hulk up' overnight, to 'show them'. Sacrificing one's perfectly healthy organs is the least of the gym bunnies' concerns if their quest is motivated by the wrong reasons.
Although, Tyler, I respect you as an individual and think you have made some great strides for the HIV community with your projects, I cannot take you seriously as a writer. The study that you reference is for ADOLESCENT BOYS and yet you use it as an example for gay MEN as having a higher likelihood of using AAS. Even though the information could be used in relation to gay men, it is a misrepresentation of the statistics. I agree that there is a majority of gay men that have a misconstrued idea of what an ideal gay man should look like, how can one take this article seriously from someone that looks like the person in the picture above and misconstrues statistical information meant for another segment of the population?
Its hard, even in my 30's, to be what's put in front of me. I used adderall for the treatment of my ADD and quickly discovered how it kept me trim and in the gym. I struggled to eat as it would completely kill my appetite. Meanwhile, my hair was falling out, I had to use thick moisturizers because my skin was beyond dry, when abused adderall causes social issues... That list goes on and on. Luckily, I was strong willed enough to get past it. Looking back though, yes, the image I was going for was all the guys in the magazines, porn videos, TV. .. it was a horrible existence.
Instinct is the number one culprit of telling us repeatedly what the gay man should look like by featuring pics as the one above countless times daily in their faceboo newsfeed. I did not think that was a bad thing till I read this. Will be interesting to see how insticnt responds to the findings posted in this article.
You sound like the type, Joseph, who believes "nobody is perfect except me". You see, Joseph, the good thing about us "ugly ones" is that when someone loves us, we know they are not in love with a transient figure from a club ad in a gay magazine. When the perfect lotus flower wilts, and all flowers wilt, the love between me and my husband will be stronger than ever. Does he really love me? With all the certainty in the World, this "ugly one" can say 'yes'.
We should be paying you good looking ones a compliment? Are you on drugs? Maybe compliment your parents on their choice to blend genes, but really, go screw yourself. I'll take a really smart guy who has had his heart broken hard at leat once before I'd ever pick pretty. Give me a man with a degree from Chicago or MIT or Williams or Yale with a solid understanding of what someone who really loves you can offer and I'll sell my house and pull up stakes today. When you're 75 years old what are you going to have left to turn your partner on? If you're lucky, and he's worked hard enough to develop what underlying capacity he was born with, you'll have a great, vast, shimmering mind to wade into, and that can be forever.
Personally I don't find muscled men attractive. LOOKING at them is OK but that's it. I like guys who are thin or average. Also I don't see as much gay guys trying to pump up as there were in the 1990s. Gay gyms have closed (two here in MA are long gone) and most of the guys I see at bars are average or thin. There will always be gay guys who try to pump up but I think the rage for that has gone down drastically over the last few years.
This article is very sensible, but if you look around at the page that it is on, you will see (even in the picture at the top of the article,) what gays are being taught is the "gay ideal." In advertising, story illustrations, and every gay walk of life, we are confronted with images that dictate what "gay success" is all about. Thank God that we are finally beginning to move away from making porn stars our "heroes." There are a very few examples today of what a successful gay man really should be in the real world. The problem is that there are not enough of these figures to combat the stereotypes. Maybe when more men begin to come out and live their lives openly in society, we will see an increase in appreciation for other aspects of successful gay men, than the size of their muscles.


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NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee health officials are once again alerting patients who received tainted steroid shots after finding that some have infections at the injection site that could lead to fungal meningitis.
Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner said Thursday that since Thanksgiving, officials have identified 22 new cases of these localized infections and one case of meningitis without a localized infection. Two patients with the injection-site infections also showed early signs of meningitis.
Dreyzehner said the infections are under the skin, so patients do not see them. Symptoms include increased pain at the injection site, numbness and possible loss of bowel and bladder control.
They can be hard to detect because the signs often are similar to the original symptoms that the patients sought steroid injections to treat - generally back pain and related problems.
"If we are not vigilant for these localized infections , we indeed could have a second wave of meningitis for some people," Dreyzehner said.
The localized infections include abscesses and arachnoiditis, an inflammation that can be extremely painful but not life-threatening by itself.
Dr. David Reagan, Tennessee's chief medical officer, said localized infections were found in many of the state's meningitis patients and health officials believe they are "likely part of the usual mechanism for causing meningitis in this outbreak."
What officials did not realize was how long those localized infections could linger.
"In some patients the localized infection stays localized for many weeks or even a few months before causing enough symptoms that lead to its detection," Reagan said.
Reagan and Dreyzehner said Tennessee has learned from the experience of Michigan, which began looking for localized infections early and has reported 120 of them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websit e. That is by far the largest number of any of the 19 states affected by the outbreak.
Tennessee has identified 75 of these infections. In all, 107 Tennessee patients have developed either meningitis or local infections or both. Nationally, at least 560 people have been sickened and 36 have died. Thirteen of those deaths were in Tennessee.
Dreyzehner said health officials still do not know when people who received the contaminated steroid injections will be out of danger.
"That's why this is such a tragic and difficult situation," he said. "Imagine having to live with this."
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks mostly fell on Monday on fears that a divided parliament in Italy would get in the way of the country's reforms and hamper the euro zone's stability.
Election projections showed the center-right coalition led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was leading in the race for the Italian Senate, contradicting initial exit polls and raising the specter of deadlock in parliament.
Earlier polls pointing to a center-left victory lifted stocks in Milan and other European markets on investors' belief that they would continue the path to pay down Italian debt, said Art Hogan, managing director of Lazard Capital Markets in New York.
"What we don't want to hear is a renewed fear about a euro- zone fracture," he said.
Last week, the benchmark S&P 500 closed below its 14-day moving average on Wednesday for the first time this year. At midday, the S&P 500 was trading just below that level, now near 1,515.
The index was, nonetheless, still near highs not seen in five years, as bets on a strong U.S. economy have given equities support. The S&P 500's slight fall last week was the first weekly drop after a seven-week string of gains.
Banks and other financial stocks led Monday's decline on concern about the sector's exposure to Italy's massive debt. The KBW Bank Index <.bkx> fell 0.7 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> slipped 18.58 points or 0.13 percent, to 13,981.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 <.spx> shed 2.30 points or 0.15 percent, to 1,513.30. But the Nasdaq Composite <.ixic> rose 3.03 points or 0.10 percent, to 3,164.85.
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The Nasdaq received support from Amgen Inc , up 4.2 percent at $90.47, after a rival issued a voluntary recall of its only drug, an anemia treatment that competes with Amgen's top-selling red blood cell booster, Epogen.
The FTSEurofirst-300 index of top European shares <.fteu3> unofficially closed up 0.1 percent and Italy's main FTSE MIB <.ftmib> ended up 0.7 percent after earlier gaining near 4 percent.
U.S. equities will face a test with the looming debate over the so-called sequestration, U.S. government budget cuts that will take effect starting on Friday if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement over spending and taxes. The White House issued warnings about the harm the cuts are likely to inflict on the economy if enacted.
With 83 percent of the S&P 500 companies having reported results so far, 69 percent beat profit expectations, compared with a 62 percent average since 1994 and 65 percent over the past four quarters, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Fourth-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies are estimated to have risen 6 percent, according to the data, above a 1.9 percent forecast at the start of the earnings season.
(Editing by Kenneth Barry and Jan Paschal)
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The Real 'Danger' Of Snowden And Manning: The US Can't Get Away With Its Powerful Hypocrisy Anymore
from the end-of-hypocrisy deptWe were among those who noted that the recent stories about the NSA spying on politicians in Brazil, France, Mexico, Germany and elsewhere seemed more like political theater than anything else. After all, spying on foreign politicians, even allies, is what countries do. So the supposed "outrage" seemed somewhat silly. It really felt like the kind of thing that politicians felt they had to do following the revelations, because everyone expected them to do so. Any actual outrage was likely tempered by the fact that their own intelligence agencies basically were trying to do the same damn thing to everyone else (and some of them have probably succeeded).
However, Henry Farrell and Martha Finnemore have an astoundingly good article for Foreign Affairs called The End of Hypocrisy which makes a point so obvious, so clear and so almost certainly right that almost everyone has ignored it until now. Much of the article is technically behind a paywall, but hopefully the link above gets you past it (Farrell seems to be handing out links that go through the paywall on Twitter like candy on Halloween, so if you still can't get in, just ask). The basic premise is this: the leaks from the likes of Ed Snowden and Chelsea Manning are hardly earth shattering in terms of what they reveal. As plenty of people have noted, most of what they've released has been widely suspected, if not known by many. While the specifics really do matter for those aiming to get a handle on what the US (and others) are doing, and to stop the really egregious behavior, the idea that any of these revelations really harmed active intelligence gathering appears to be little more than smoke and mirrors. As the article notes, even with all the rhetoric about "harm" caused by these leaks, officials have "often struggled to explain exactly why these leaks pose such an enormous threat."
What Farrell and Finnemore note, instead, is that the really powerful and devastating impact of these leaks is not directly on the intelligence community, but rather on the US's use of hypocrisy as a policy tool. Again, many will point out, it is no secret that the US can and often is horribly hypocritical in the policies it demands of others, compared to the policies it enforces on itself. Plenty of people (including, at times, us) have called out those hypocrisies. Instead, what the article notes, is that for quite some time, the US has actually been able to effectively use this hypocrisy as a policy tool to great effect.
In short: many of the US government's global policies really only hung together so long as everyone pretended the US wasn't hypocritical. And that's worked for decades.
The deeper threat that leakers such as Manning and Snowden pose is more subtle than a direct assault on U.S. national security: they undermine Washington's ability to act hypocritically and get away with it. Their danger lies not in the new information that they reveal but in the documented confirmation they provide of what the United States is actually doing and why. When these deeds turn out to clash with the government's public rhetoric, as they so often do, it becomes harder for U.S. allies to overlook Washington's covert behavior and easier for U.S. adversaries to justify their own.The real threat then to all of this activity is that that form of political hypocrisy is no longer possible, because (1) the public in other countries won't accept it any more leading to (2) politicians having to point out the hypocrisy and (inevitably) (3) other global powers taking advantage of that now public hypocrisy to further their own interests.
Few U.S. officials think of their ability to act hypocritically as a key strategic resource. Indeed, one of the reasons American hypocrisy is so effective is that it stems from sincerity: most U.S. politicians do not recognize just how two-faced their country is. Yet as the United States finds itself less able to deny the gaps between its actions and its words, it will face increasingly difficult choices -- and may ultimately be compelled to start practicing what it preaches.
As the article points out, the hypocrisy is often not overt, or even consciously done (though, clearly, in some cases, it is). But, quite frequently, it's done by those who feel they must do these things "in the best interests of the country," even as they'll scream and yell and condemn any other nation that does the same.
But, the reality is that so much of our foreign policy for the past century has been premised on this framework of getting away with being hypocritical, and leaks like Manning's and especially Snowden's threaten in a very real way to undermine that framework. And, when the entire premise of your foreign policy framework is built on this shell game of hypocrisy, that can be a really serious problem. Not for any of the reasons those fretting about Snowden's leaks tell you, of course, but if the US can't base its foreign policy decisions on its own hypocrisy, it might have to start acting honestly, and that's not how things have worked in decades.
The article details how this system of US hypocrisy, with every other country turning a blind eye, worked in part because the incentives worked perfectly. Other countries often were beneficiaries of such hypocrisy:
Given how much they benefit from the global public goods Washington provides, they have little interest in calling the hegemon on its bad behavior. Public criticism risks pushing the U.S. government toward self-interested positions that would undermine the larger world order. Moreover, the United States can punish those who point out the inconsistency in its actions by downgrading trade relations or through other forms of direct retaliation. Allies thus usually air their concerns in private. Adversaries may point fingers, but few can convincingly occupy the moral high ground. Complaints by China and Russia hardly inspire admiration for their purer policies.Furthermore, it points out, the fact that the US has been able to get away with this for so long has just perpetuated the issue. US politicians probably don't feel like they're being hypocritical, as discussed above, but part of it is pure complacency. They've gotten away with it so many times in so many ways for so many years, that it's become the way things are done. And these leaks may undermine all of that.
So, now what?
Farrell and Finnemore suggest there are two likely paths, both of which will make the country less hypocritical, but not necessarily in a good way. As they warn, the "easiest" course of action, would be to just drop the hypocritical language. That is, stop arguing about trying to spread freedom and democracy around the globe, and just flat out admit that the US government does what it does entirely based on what it believes is best for the country. Russia and China often do exactly that. Of course, while this may be the easier path (and, undoubtedly one that some politicians will pursue), it has serious problems, in part because it makes it significantly more difficult to actually accomplish those goals. It's basically ceding any moral high ground that the US has had. And while some people will laugh at the idea that the US ever really had a moral high ground, it's quite naive to ignore the power that "high ground" position has had at times to impact changes around the globe, even if the true reasons were self-interest. As they warn, this approach could lead to serious problems as "the bonds of trade and cooperation that Washington has spent decades building could unravel."
The much more difficult approach, but the one that likely has the most long-term positive impact is to get rid of the hypocrisy in the other way: that is, rather than dropping the language of freedom and openness, of democracy and liberty, to actually embrace those principles. That is, to make the moral high ground an actual thing, rather than a foundation built on lies.
A better alternative would be for Washington to pivot in the opposite direction, acting in ways more compatible with its rhetoric. This approach would also be costly and imperfect, for in international politics, ideals and interests will often clash. But the U.S. government can certainly afford to roll back some of its hypocritical behavior without compromising national security. A double standard on torture, a near indifference to casualties among non-American civilians, the gross expansion of the surveillance state -- none of these is crucial to the country's well-being, and in some cases, they undermine it. Although the current administration has curtailed some of the abuses of its predecessors, it still has a long way to go.If we were to actually move in that direction, many of us believe it would be a powerful and wonderful thing. Imagine a United States that actually lived up to the ideals we claim to live by? If that was the end result -- and again, the likelihood of this happening may be incredibly slim -- then the efforts of Manning and Snowden will be much more powerful and important than either of them likely imagined. Of course, if the US were to drop the hypocrisy and focus on its ideals, it might stop persecuting both of them for their actions as well.
Either way, the article is incredibly powerful in reframing much of what is happening, and there's much more in there that's worth reading than I covered here. It appears that Farrell is planning to continue to explore this concept and how it relates to what's happening in the news every day, and I imagine it will be worth paying attention to.
Filed Under: bradley manning, chelsea manning, ed snowden, henry farrell, hypocrisy, martha finnemore, us government


text:
This beautiful image is by phoenixn @TDA
I stare at myself in the mirror.
Ugh. I look a wreck.
My jeans are crumpled and I couldn't find a clean shirt, so the one I'm wearing has a coffee stain on it. My hair is one massive birds nest - it's sticking up all over the place and I can't even seem to tame it with magic…and I lost my Sleakeazy's Hair Potion last week. There are dark bags under my eyes and my skin is pale and sickly looking.
I also have a giant pimple on my nose. It makes me look like a witch.
Yes, I realise I am a witch, but that's beside the point. Anyway, I was meaning one of those ugly, green skinned witches you read about in muggle children's story books. The kind that kidnap children and cook them in their fireplaces with butter.
Honestly. I don't know where muggles get these ideas from.
"CHARLIE!" the delightful woman I'm forced to call 'mum' hollers from downstairs. "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING UP THERE? YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!"
I'm already ten days late for school, thanks to her. She insisted on dragging me along to New Zealand for Great Aunt Matilda's 100th birthday. Not only is New Zealand the most boring place in the world, but I was forced to endure old Matilda showing me the most disgusting photo's of my parent's wedding.
Blurgh! Old people in love makes me want to vomit.
Actually, anybody in love makes me want to vomit. I hate it when you see an annoyingly cute couple, snogging each other all over the place. It's disgusting!
"CHARLIE!" Mum screams, making me wince. Merlin, that woman's got a pair of lungs on her. She should take up opera singing. Except then I'd have to dig myself a hole to live in, because I couldn't stand the shame. "GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW, OR I'LL HAVE TO DRAG YOU MYSELF!"
"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!" I scream back. "DON'T GET YOUR KNICKERS IN A TWIST!"
Yes, I know. That wasn't the most creative comeback. It's waaaay to early in the morning to think. Usually I'd still be in bed, snoring my head off.
Unfortunately, today is my first day at Hogwarts.
I can see your confused expressions from where I'm sitting. Trust me, I'm just as confused as you. And, before you ask, I am not eleven years old, like most kids who are about to go to Hogwarts for the first time.
I'm seventeen.
I've been home schooled for all my life. When I was super little, I went to this community preschool where some idiotic kid decided to grab a pair of scissors and chop of all my hair. Honestly, it wasn't that big of a deal - I hardy had any hair in the first place - but my crazy, overprotective parents had a psycho. It was so embarrassing.
Well, it was probably embarrassing. I was only like two though, so I can't really remember.
My poor excuse of a mother decided that all children were dangerous and that they were a bad influence on me, which is absolutely ridiculous - how can one two year old be a bad influence on another two year old? From then on, I was practically a prisoner in my own home.
When I was nine, a girl my age moved across the road from us. I tried to make friends with her, but my mum freaked out (typical) and made the other girls family move away. I can't even remember what her name was. It was something a bit stupid like Sage or something. I mean, really! Why would you name you child after a herb!
Where was I…?
Oh, right. So, when I turned eleven, mum announced she and dad would be home schooling me. I was very upset about this. I kicked and screamed and threw the toaster out the window (which I later regretted because I have a piece of toast with peanut butter and honey everyday for breakfast) and told mum I hated her. However, I soon came round to the idea of being a social outcast (yes, I'm weird. I prefer the company of books to other living beings.) Then, just a couple of weeks ago, mum gave me a surprise announcement for my seventeenth birthday.
I was going to Hogwarts.
That was sarcasm by the way.
I pretended to be all super excited, because it had always been my dream to go to a real school and have friends that weren't books or a certain fat cat called Bernard, but now…now I was quite happy being the anti-social weirdo. But did that matter to my lovely parents? Nooo. They thought they were giving me some huge treat, shipping me off to Hogwarts for my last year! And I didn't want to make a fuss, so...here I am.
I have no people skills, thanks to my parents.
If I'm out shopping and a cute boy so much as looks at me, I faint.
If a stranger tries to talk to me, I run away. (Hello? Stranger danger.)
And if someone annoys me, I hex them. (I can pull of an amazing Bat-Bogey Hex.)
Of course, I couldn't exactly tell my oblivious parents about my extreme social issues and how I so didn't want to go to Hogwarts. The only reason I'd even got in to the bloody school is because some girl in my year dropped out or something, and a spot opened up.
Thanks a lot, drop-out girl. You've just made the next year of my life a living-hell. No exaggeration.
"CHARLIE PARKER!" Mum screeches, sounding like one of the ugly, big-beaked birds that likes to hang around our backyard. "IF YOU ARE NOT DOWN HERE IN TEN SECONDS…"
"I'M COMING!" I shout.
That woman needs to learn a lesson about patience. Something she has none of. Hmm. That's obviously where I get that particular trait from.
Because all my school stuff has already been sent to the school, all I grab is a small backpack covered in cute buttons and patches which is stuffed with my emergency supplies (ie: chocolate, paperback books, chocolate, hairbrush, chocolate, wand and-oh! Did I mention chocolate? It's a wonder I'm not fat.) Then I shove my feet into a pair of cute Hello Kitty vans, which I could just not resist buying, and trudge down the steps, trying to make myself look as gloomy as possible. There's still the chance mum will decide she can't live without my cutting humour and general amazing-ness for a whole year, and won't make me leave.
Yeah, right.
Mum is standing at the bottom of the steps with her hands on her hips and a cross expression on her face. The sight of what she's wearing makes me glad I'm using the floo-network to get to Hogwarts. Sometimes I wish mum would make an effort to look a little more…normal. She's wearing flamboyant pink robes and a headdress decorated with swan feathers. Underneath the robes, she's wearing fluffy slippers.
What is it with old people and refusing to dress like muggles? One of the (only-and no, I'm not a muggle hater) good things about non-magic people is that they know how to dress without looking like they come from the eighteenth century.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, a moody scowl on my face, mum instantly begins fussing. "Oh Charlie, can't you look after yourself a little better?" she sighs, combing my knotty brown hair with her fingers, and tut-tutting at the sight of my coffee stained shirt. Coffee. Something I could use right now incidentally. "It's your first day of school!"
I shrug. "My alarm didn't go off."
Ha. Big fat lie number one. I totally disabled my alarm last night; hoping mum would sleep in and forget all about hurrying me off to school.
Mum sighs dramatically. "You're a beautiful girl Charlie. I wish you'd make a little more effort to make yourself presentable…"
"I do make an effort!"
Lie number two. I found these jeans lying on the floor and just shoved them on. It's not like anyone is going to notice me, anyway. I'll be the weird outcast who has no friends. By now, everyone in my year will have formed their little cliques.
Mum kisses me on the forehead. I wrinkle up my nose, trying not to look too disgusted.
"Time to go, darling," she says, and hands me our little pouch of floo powder, ushering me into the living room. I stare into the big, stone fireplace, which was built big enough for about three large men to stand in at the same time. My dad is this giant guy - he's six foot five and is all solid muscle. Everyone's terrified of him, but he's the biggest softie. He can't even kill a spider - if he sees one in the house, he'll scream, stand on a chair and call out for help.
Yep, my family is weird.
"Have fun, won't you darling," Mum says as I step slowly into the fire, feeling like I'm about to cry. Urgh. I am not going to cry. I, Charlie Parker, never cry. And I'm not going to start now.
"I will," I whisper, which is lie number three. No way in hell will I be having any fun. At least Bernard will be there for moral support.
Mum gives me one last sloppy smooch which I try to appreciate, as I won't be seeing her for ages.
Nope, still can't appreciate it. Parents kissing you…it's just too gross.
"We'll see you at Christmas," Mum says, and her eyes are all watery. Brilliant. Now she's really going to make me cry. "I love you."
I close my eyes so I don't start bawling my eyes out. "I love you too," I say, before pulling out a big handful of floo powder, dropping it into the green flames and shouting; "Headmistress McGonagall's Office!"
Then there's a huge whooshing sound in my ears, and I'm gone - flying through space and time and dimensions and…whatever. I don't really know how the floo network works, and I'm not a big fan of it. I learnt how to apparate last year, but there's some ridiculous rule that you can't apparate into Hogwarts. Pfft.
I feel the whirling begin to stop (thank god, I was about to puke) and suddenly crash onto a hard stone floor; face slamming into the ground.
I struggle to sit up, coughing up soot and rubbing at my eyes. I think the main reason I hate travelling by floo powder is because I always forget to close my eyes.
Stupid, stupid me.
"Good morning, Miss Parker."
I stand up and immediately to see a tall, bony woman sitting at a large desk, using a fancy quill to write a letter on parchment.
She doesn't reply, but fixes me with a stern look, so I take the opportunity to look around.
I'm standing in one of the most beautiful rooms I've ever seen. It's circular, which makes me think I'm at the top of a tower somewhere, and the curved walls are lined with moving portraits, smiling and winking at me as I look at them. One immediately catches my eye: a portrait of a man with a long beard and hair, half moon glasses and twinkling blue eyes - the legendary Albus Dumbledore, the best Headmaster Hogwarts has ever had.
If Albus Dumbledore is hanging on the wall…this must be the Headmaster's office. Which means the woman I just said 'hi' too is Headmistress McGonagall.
Great start, Charlie.
I told you I have no people skills.
I realise I've been gazing randomly into space when I see McGonagall staring at me with a slightly impatient look on her face. I feel myself blushing. "Sorry, Headmistress," I say quickly. "I sort of…zoned out for a while there."
McGonagall makes a 'hmphing' sort of noise. "I can see that, Miss Parker," she says in chipped tones. Boy. It would not be good to get on this woman's bad side. "Now, you're arrival here at Hogwarts has put us in the most awkward situation."
Jeez, thanks a lot.
"We don't usually allow seventh years to come here for their final year, unless they have attended Hogwarts for the full seven years. However, the Ministry has…decided that it would be best if we made an exception for you, Miss Parker."
I can tell by her tone that she doesn't approve of the Ministry's decision. I don't blame her. I don't approve of it either. Maybe I could get on this woman's bad side, then get expelled…
Nah. I'm way too much of a coward, and not afraid to say it.
"It also does not help that you are ten days late for the start of term and have missed the sorting."
I frown at her in confusion. "Sorting?" I ask. That sounds bad. What are they going to do - sort the bad nuts from the good nuts, like on that muggle movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? What happens to the bad nuts - do they get thrown into the metaphorical incinerator?
"Surely your parents have told you about the sorting," McGonagall says.
I shake my head. "Nope."
McGonagall sighs in exasperation. "Each year, our new students get sorted into four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
Ohhhh. That's what she meant. I've heard quite a bit about the houses, of course. I know that the famous Harry Potter was in Gryffindor, and that the evil dead dude, Lord Voldemort was a Slytherin. My parents never told me what they were in, because they felt the need to exclude me from normal society.
"Each house has their own common room and dormitories," McGonagall continues. "You eat with your house, take classes with your house and study with your house. The people in whichever house you are selected for become your family."
"So…which house am I in?" I ask curiously. Knowing my luck I'll get dumped into Slytherin.
McGonagall stands up and strides over to one of the many shelves the fill the room. She picks up a disgustingly old, frayed hat. I wrinkle up my nose in horror, wondering why the Headmistress has this mouldy old antique in her office, and what it has to do with my sorting. I don't have to turn it into a gerbil or something, do I? Transfiguration has never been my strong suit…I prefer subjects where you can get your hands dirty, like Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology.
"Put this on," says McGonagall, dropping the gross hat onto my head. Well, you just did that for me Headmistress…I resist the urge to rip the hat off my head and stomp on it.
I look at McGonagall. "Now what?"
I swear she smiles a little. "Now, you wait," she says.
So I do. And then suddenly…that bloody hat begins to speak!
"Hmm," said a small voice in my ear, and I jump about a mile. Bloody hell, I was not expecting that! "Strange…very strange. You love adventure, I see…have an imagination as well…but have never been around others. Odd, very odd…"
Is a hat calling me odd? Well, that's a bit offensive, don't you think? I mean…it's a hat, for god's sake!
"…kind by nature, but very awkward around strangers…oh my goodness, this is difficult…"
Awkward around strangers! I am not awkward around strangers!
Well...I am, but that's not the point.
"…there's only one place to put you," continues the hat. "GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat shouts the last word out loud and this time, I definitely see McGonagall smile as she pulls the now silent hat from my head.
"Well done, Miss Parker," she says. "You are now a member of Gryffindor - my own house, as a matter of fact."
Hmmm…I'm not sure that's a good thing, actually. But at least I'm not in Slytherin.
"So…what now?" I ask finally.
McGonagall goes back to her desk and hands me several pieces of paper. "Here is your timetable and map of the school. You will find the Gryffindor Common room here," she says, tapping a section of the map with a long, bony finger. "The password, which you will need upon entering, is Billywig. The other students are currently at class, which will give you time to settle in to your dormitory. However, you will be expected to attend all classes tomorrow."
I nod. "Okey dokey."
Oh god. Did I seriously just say that?
Yeah. I'm so not a people person.
McGonagall gives me a look. "You'll find all your belongings have already been brought into your dormitory," she says. "And Miss Parker?"
"Yes, Headmistress?"
"There's something else you need to know. The girl whose spot you're taking, Victoria Heron, well, she is…"
I wait for her to say what this drop-out girl is, but she doesn't finish.
She suddenly clears her throat. "Victoria Heron was a Gryffindor, too. You'll be taking her old spot in the dormitory."
I nod, not yet sensing anything weird about the mysterious drop-out girl, Victoria Heron. "Cool," I say. "Can I go now, Headmistress?"
McGonagall nods. "There's just one more thing," she says. She looks up at the ceiling, like she's praying to Merlin or something and calls; "Sir Nicholas!"
Who on earth is Sir Nicholas?
My question is answered almost immediately as a silvery ghost wearing a particularly large ruff materializes out of nowhere. I let out a shriek of horror and stumble backwards into the wall. Another sign of how little I have had to do with the wizarding world - I have never seen a ghost in my life.
"This is the ghost of Gryffindor, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington," says McGonagall, peering at me through her spectacles. "He will be showing you to your common room."
I look at Sir Nicholas, already feeling nervous.
"Pleasure to meet you," he says, bowing low. I just jerk my head awkwardly, as I can't honestly return the compliment.
"Off you go then, Miss Parker," says McGonagall briskly. "And Charlie?"
I look up at her, surprised that she had used my first name. "Yes, Headmistress?"
"Good luck."
Good luck? Why would I need good luck?
I guess I'm about to find out.
"So, what do you think of Hogwarts so far?" Sir Nicholas asks, drifting eerily along beside me.
I peek up at him nervously. "Um...I don't really know. I haven't exactly been here very long."
Sir Nicholas beams. "You'll come to love it eventually!" he says. "And I hope you'll help Gryffindor win the house cup?"
"Er...yes, of course."
"Excellent, excellent," Sir Nicholas mutters, as we climb what feels like the hundredth flight of stairs. I find myself wishing this castle wasn't so big! I just know I am going to get lost, the first chance I get.
"And this is where I leave you," says Sir Nicholas importantly. "This is the entrance to the Gryffindor common room."
There is a large portrait of a very fat lady blocking the entrance.
I bite my lip nervously and look up at the ghost of Gryffindor. "Thank you very much," I say politely. "You were very helpful, honestly!"
Sir Nicholas smiles. "Glad to be of assistance," he says, taking another bow. I can't help but notice that his head wobbles slightly on his neck. Hmm. Interesting. "If you ever need any guidance, feel free to find me!"
"I will do," I say, nodding. And with that, Sir Nicholas drifts through the wall opposite, and disappears. And I am left alone. I turn to the portrait blocking the entrance. "Erm…excuse me?" I say, feeling a bit ridiculous talking to a painting. Back home, we don't have any wizarding pictures on our walls. Mum brought this muggle camera and got really into muggle photography, coz she's weird like that.
The fat lady looks at me irritably. I wonder how long she's been hanging there. "Can I help you?"
"Well, you're kind of blocking my way," I tell her, hoping I don't sound too rude. "It would be really handy if you could, you know, move."
The lady gives me another appraising look. Then her eyes widen. "Oh!" she says. "You're the new girl, aren't you? Did you get sorted into Gryffindor?"
"No," I says irritably. "I'm just randomly standing at the entrance to the Gryffindor Common room, waiting to get in. Coz I roll like that."
Note to self: never try to sound gangster again. Especially when talking to magical paintings.
"Well, deary, you need the password to get in," says the fat lady. "Otherwise you're going to be standing there for a long time."
"It's Billywig," I say.
"That it is," replies the fat lady, and swings open, revealing the Gryffindor Common Room. I step through the hole in the wall to find myself in a comfortable looking room with squashy armchairs and a large fireplace. The walls are decorated with many scarlet tapestries, each depicting something different: ferocious looking animals I have never seen in my life, witches and wizards on broomsticks and wizards wearing long robes and hats, their wands outstretched. I can imagine myself curled up in one of those armchairs with a good book, Bernard curled up in my lap.
Bernard! I almost forgot about my gorgeous fat cat! I wonder if he's waiting for me in my dormitory…
I see two sets of stairs leading up into the tower. I head up the one labelled 'Girls Dormitories' and keep going until I reach the room belonging to the seventh year girls. Then I take a deep breath, and push the door open.
I'm standing it yet another circular room with five beds around the walls. Each part of the room is personalised according to the girl that sleeps there. I immediately see my stuff piled on top of the bed directly opposite, including Bernard, who is meowing pathetically inside the cage which he only just fits into.
"Aw, poor baby!" I say, hurrying over and letting him out. "Did mean old McGonagall not let you out of your cage?"
Bernard starts purring loudly and kneading my knees like I'm a mound of bread dough. I stroke his warm fur and he rolls over on the bed, allowing me to rub his white belly. I immediately feel more relaxed and more at home, and am eternally grateful that you are allowed pets at Hogwarts.
I push Bernard away from me and stand up to look at my space. My face instantly falls in irritation. The girl who was here before me, Victoria Heron, didn't even bother to pack up her stuff before she left, the dumb blonde! Sitting in photo frames on the nightstand and plastered all over the walls above my bed are pictures of an extremely pretty blonde girl, posing for the camera. The blonde girl (who I'm guessing is Victoria) is everywhere. She's smiling sexily, (you can tell she knows she looks sexy, too) she's arm in arm with a group of friends, who are all staring at her in admiration, and she's fluttering her long eyelashes and giggling. But the pictures that catch my eye are the ones of Victoria, and the boy who is clearly her boyfriend, judging from the fact that she tends to be kissing him in most of the pictures.
Victoria's boyfriend is really handsome.
And I'm not just meaning hot, or sexy, I'm meaning really, super, amazingly good-looking, almost in an old-fashioned sort of way. He has dark brown hair that is very messy and dark eyes to match. In most of the pictures he's smiling, and his smile lights up his whole face…
And suddenly, I am jealous of the mysterious Victoria Heron, for what she has and what I never will. I look away from the photos, wondering if I should take them down, not that I have any of my own to replace them with. But if Victoria wanted these photos, surely she would have taken them when she left?
I look back at up at the many smiling Victoria's, and decide I can't stand her staring down a me. I climb back up onto my bed, and start to take them down. I've only removed about a quarter of the pictures when I hear the door opening. I immediately turn around, curious to see if the person coming into the room is one of my new roommates.
Sure enough, a dark haired girl is standing there, staring at me. She is also very pretty, but in a different way to Victoria. She has short, spiky hair, pale skin and is wearing a lot of eyeliner.
"Oh…hey," I say, immediately feeling awkward. "Erm…I'm your new roommate. My name is…"
But I suddenly trail off, because the look on this girl's face is scary. She opens her mouth to speak, and when she does, her voice comes out as a horrible growl.
"Get the hell away from Tori's stuff, you FUCKING BITCH!" she screams. Then, before I can react, she's run towards me and pinned me to the bed, fingers around my neck.
I knew I wasn't a people person, but I really didn't think I was that bad.
A/N: Hey everyone!
So, I was writing my other fan fic when this idea suddenly sprung into my mind, and I just couldn't get rid of it! So...here it is. I really hope you enjoy and please please please remember to review!
Smiles :)
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Surprise against Assassins is crucial in dealing with them. They can be sniped, choked, or stunned like living humans. Assassins favor crossbows for ranged weapons; bolt pouches are generally carried by individual assassins.
In a press release about Dishonored's second Add On (or Expansion) pack, we learn that Daud's band of assassins are called "The Whalers" after the masks they wear to hide their identities
The easiest way of killing the assassins is to Blink behind them, or avoiding them altogether.
Unlike guards, Assassins are often in more secluded areas like abandoned houses or rooftops, so watch your back when bypassing dumber enemies by climbing. If you know they are around, turn on Dark Vision to anticipate their positions and movements.
When dealing with them in open combat, they will teleport around to try to get the jump on you, so use powerful weapons like the Pistol to take them out quickly.
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In the wake of reports from the USADA that famous cyclist Lance Armstrong was guilty of using illegal performance enhancing drugs, sponsors have dropped him from their brands while his former masseuse Emma O'Reilly will hit Irish televisions on Thursday in an interview.
This week, the USADA filed a report that Armstrong had in fact been using performance enhancing drugs while competing, and ordered that his entire 14 year racing record be erased. As part of the erasure, Armstrong is forced to forego his seven Tour de France titles he won.
Aside from the apparent irreparable damage his athletic record has felt, Armstrong is also suffering as far as endorsement deals go. Sports giant Nike will no longer be sponsoring Armstrong, and said in a statement that there was "seemingly insurmountable evidence" against him.
Similarly, Anheuser-Busch said that Armstrong's contract, which expires at the end of this year, will not be renewed.
Armstrong made the decision himself to step down from his 15-year-old charity Livestrong in order "to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career." Nike and Anheuser-Busch did say that they will continue to support Livestrong's effort in cancer support and research.
Though he will no longer serve as chairman, Armstrong, a cancer survivor, will remain on the board for Livestrong.
The disgracing blows to Armstrong's career come just a week after the United States Anti-Doping Agency published a report that said the cyclist was part of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."
The USADA went on to say that there was "direct documentary evidence including financial payments, e-mails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong."
A number of people close to Armstrong offered damning testimony as well. One person who testified was Emma O'Reilly, Dublin native and Armstrong's former masseuse. O'Reilly will be appearing on RTE on Thursday in an interview with Craig Doyle.
O'Reilly remembers feeling like a "drug-runner" while working with Armstrong in the 1990s: "So we went down, six hours down that way, Johan [Bruyneel] gave me the tablets, very discretely, without letting anybody else know that I was getting them, and the following day we want back up to France and then the following morning I met Lance in the car park at McDonald's and just handed them over."
Now, though, O'Reilly says of her testifying that, "It was never about bringing Lance down. It was about cleaning up cycling."
O'Reilly contributed to the book 'L.A. Confidential,' written by Sunday Times journalist David Walsh, after ending her involvement with US Postal in 2000. The book presented evidence against Armstrong, who subsequently labelled her a "prostitute" and an "alcoholic," according to O'Reilly.
President of Livestrong, Doug Ulman, said on Wednesday that he hopes Armstrong's doping allegations won't detract from the hard work he has put in to Livestrong.
"Lance's devotion to serving others whose lives were irrevocably changed by cancer, as his was, is unsurpassable," Ulman said in a statement issued after Wednesday's announcement.
"We are incredibly proud of his record as an advocate and philanthropist and are deeply grateful that Lance and his family will continue to be actively involved with the Foundation's advocacy and service work."


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To reduce the time and cost required to process small routine monthly or quarterly payments on annual contracts, agencies are hereby authorized to process annual advance payments on such contracts, the annual amount of which is $1,800 or less. Other advance payments must be processed in accordance with Rule 3A-40.120, Florida Administrative Code. This memorandum supersedes the dollar threshold stated in Chapter 4, Section A, II, of the Bureau of Auditing Voucher Processing Handbook, dated October 7, 1997.
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Schrader at 488-7193, or SUNCOM 278-7193.


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Repair and improve existing python based automated GIS program
Бюджет $200 USD
Ignore the project price and time frame here. At best you can bid an hourly rate to assess the scope of work to first repair the existing program and then price the additional project.
We have a GIS program written in python that has ceased to function. It was working well for over a year. The original programmer is no longer available for work.
In laymen's terms we create or provide polygon shapefiles which represent residential housing neighborhoods. Each house is assigned a latitude-longitude point and we use these locations and neighborhood shapefiles for a great number of automated processes and calculations.
The original programmer also created some kind of script that evaluates lat-long points landing outside of the defined polygons and automatically "snaps them to" or assigns them to the closest defined polygon.
We need an evaluation of the programming to determine why it no longer functions, and then of course options for repair.
Moving forward we will need someone to help us add new shapefiles in multiple metropolitan areas over time. We would provide the shapefiles and you would bring that data into the GIS program and ensure full functionality.
We are a startup so work will begin with the repair and then adding then at least one new metro area. If this pilot program performs well we expect to grow in spurts.
Outside of this primary work we may also investigate using US Census blocks and/or block groups to create new shapefiles moving forward.
14 фрилансеров(-а) в среднем готовы выполнить эту работу за $214
Hi, I have read your description and I am interestd in your project. I have worked with GIS in 5 years and I can help you solve the problem. I'd like to have a change discuss more with you. We will deal the price later Больше
Looking forward to support you with this project. best regards, Joerg. PS: You can add me on skype, if you have any questions: [login to view URL]@skype.
Hi, I have all the skills required for this task and I am very good in both python and mapping applications. Let me know more. Thanks. On hourly basis I charge 20$
Hello! My hourly rate is 30$ . I can't tell you timeframe to fix as I need to take a look at the project. I think I'm good for this work as I'm really good in solving different sophisticated bugs.
Hello, Thanks for giving me an opportunity to place a bid. I, Chaman, am leading an expert of Mobile App Development, with more than 2+ years' experience in the same domain; I have already developed apps on the Больше


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Health Care-Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Health Care
Are you desperately wanting to use your God-given talents to relieve pain and suffering? Are you energized by helping others? If so, a career in nursing might be the right choice for you. Our four-year Nursing Program enables students to graduate with two degrees: a BS in Nursing from Cox College and a BS in Health Care from Evangel. The BSN program is approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing (MSBN) and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
The Evangel University Department of Natural and Applied Sciences is dedicated to the spiritual, academic and social growth of every student. The department's purpose is to provide an excellent scientific education that is thoroughly integrated with the University's emphasis on the development of strong Christian character. Within this framework, students must contend with new scientific, social, ethical and technological challenges. Students learn to communicate technical concepts clearly and effectively and exhibit analytical thinking and problem solving-skills. Evangel's Nursing Program is a cooperative effort with Cox College. This is an all-inclusive, fully-accredited, 4-year program. Evangel is widely recognized for its outstanding academic quality and emphasis on the integration of faith and learning. For example, each year our nursing students have opportunities to participate in overseas medical relief trips. If desired, they can also participate in a six-week clinical rotation at Mercy Hospital in Calcutta, India. Students complete nursing prerequisite courses during their first three semesters. Application is made for admission into the program during the third semester of college, and if accepted, the next five semesters consist mostly of clinical nursing courses. Program graduates are qualified to take the NCLEX exam. Passing this exam is necessary to obtain the Registered Nurse (RN) licensure. Evangel students have had a phenomenally high pass rate on this exam. All nursing theory and clinical nursing courses are taught by Cox faculty in Cox Regional Health Center facilities. Special note for transfer students: Transferring classes from another college to the dual degree (BS in Health Care from EU; BS in Nursing from Cox College) nursing program at Evangel University is allowed. Care must be taken since the nursing theory and clinical courses take 2.5 years, and the applicant must be in residence at EU for one semester before admission into the nursing program.
Program Plan (pdf)
|Want to see exactly what classes you will take? The Program Plan (sometimes called a degree sheet) includes all specific requirements - including University proficiencies, Frameworks courses and degree requirements.
Learning Outcomes (pdf)
|Learning outcomes describe the knowledge and skills you will have gained and be able to demonstrate by the end of this program. Download the pdf to view
Each of Evangel's academic programs is made up of a set of core curriculum, program requirements and electives. The courses listed below are just a small sample of courses that might be taken as a part of this specific program.
|Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II
|Introduction to human anatomy and physiology with an emphasis on the roles of homeostasis and pathology and their interactions.
|Study of microorganisms and their growth and control. Emphasis on prokaryotic cells, especially bacteria of medical, ecological, and industrial importance.
|Adult Medical Surgical Nursing
|The holistic nursing care of adults from multicultural backgrounds along the wellness-illness continuum, with an emphasis on integration of pathophysiology and psychosocial dynamics with complex illnesses and human response patterns in the acute care setting. Use of critical thinking, decision making and research will be incorporated into teaching, caring and collaborative role of the nurse.
|Care of Childbearing Families
|The development of competencies for the delivery of family-centered nursing care. The course will emphasize the nurse's role in the application of nursing process utilizing critical thinking and problem solving while managing care for families with diverse health care needs and working collaboratively with other health professionals to promote health. Consideration of standards of nursing care, scope of practice, and the application of research and evidence-based nursing practice as applied to the childbearing family are examined.
|Community and Public Health Nursing
|This course focuses on providing population-focused nursing care. Concepts of community health nursing practice are applied in a variety of structured and unstructured settings. Health promotion and disease prevention concepts are integrated into community-oriented practice using the community-as-partner model.
Evangel University's world-class faculty is made up of caring, Christian professionals who are distinguished in their fields and dedicated to the development of tomorrow's Christian leaders.
Natural and Applied Sciences faculty
Erica Harris: Assistant professor of Natural and Applied Sciences and lab manager
Erica Harris joined Evangel's faculty in the fall of 1998. Along with teaching biology and pre-med courses, Harris manages the labs in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and serves as faculty sponsor for medical mission trips with EU and HealthCare Ministries. Harris graduated from Evangel in 1995 with a B.S. in Biology and went […] read more
Evangel's academic programs are designed specifically to prepare you for a career in the real world. But it's more than just job preparation; it's preparing you to make a full impact in your profession through the unique combination of faith and learning. Here are some of the professions this degree would prepare you for:
- Registered Nurse (RN)
EU students can gain admission into the Cox College Nursing Program twice a year (January and August). In order to be eligible to apply for admission into the Nursing Program through Evangel University, the following conditions must be met by the pre-nursing student. 1. Complete at least 34 credits from the following list of prerequisite courses:
- Human Anatomy/Physiology I (4 cr)
- Human Anatomy/Physiology II (4 cr)
- Microbiology (4 cr)
- Human Nutrition (3 cr)
- Chemistry for Health Sciences (4 cr)
- Composition (3 cr)
- Effective Communication (3 cr)
- Two PSYC classes (6 cr)
- Sociology (3 cr)
- Government/FRWK 220 (3 cr)
- Philosophy (3 cr)
- Old Testament (3 cr)
- Intro. to Professional Nursing (3 cr)
- University Seminar (1 cr)
- Complete all of the classes listed under (1) above with a grade of "C" or higher and with a GPA for these classes of 3.0 or higher
- Meet math proficiency requirement (see Cox College catalog under admissions: math proficiency)
- Academic Registration, Financial Registration and Aid Procedures
Academic Registration, Financial Registration and Financial Aid ProceduresAcademic Registration Procedures
- When students register for classes at Evangel, they will indicate at that time the number of credits they will be taking at Cox College during the same semester.
- The student must meet with an Evangel advisor and a Cox advisor to determine which courses to take at each institution.
- Cox courses will be entered into the EU registration system using the Cox College course designations.
- Evangel students (prenursing and nursing) will pay all of their tuition and fees (for EU and Cox courses) to Evangel during financial registration.
- EU students will pay the Evangel rate for tuition for courses taken, whether at EU or Cox College.
- Evangel will then reimburse Cox College for their portion (if any) of the tuition/fees for courses taken by EU students at Cox
- Evangel students must pay the following fees directly to Cox, in addition to tuition and other fees charged by Evangel University
- Books, lab materials, and other supplies purchased through the Cox College bookstore
- Students pay for their Cox College textbooks
- They may seek reimbursement from their financial aid account at EU if there is a surplus.
- Vehicle Registration Fee ($10/yr)
- Application Fee ($45)
- Acceptance Fee ($100)
- Cox College will bill EU for Evangel student tuition and fees
- EU will pay Cox College the tuition and fee charges upon receipt of bills from Cox College
- Students in the EU/Cox cooperative nursing program need to meet with EU financial aid personnel as early before each semester as possible; don't wait until the last minute!
- EU/Cox students may apply for scholarships offered by either institution.
- Some EU tuition discounts only apply to courses taken at EU (see the Financial Aid office for specifics)
- NOTE: EU tuition discounts (e.g. MK, PK, employee) do not apply to courses taken by EU students at Cox; scholarships and other financial aid awards do.
- If you wish to have financial aid cover expenses at both schools or if you need to have student loans deferred (due to dual enrollment) you must contact the financial aid office at EU to complete the necessary paperwork to facilitate a contractual agreement with COX to meet these needs.
General Undergraduate Requirements
The following are general requirements for all students beginning an undergraduate program at Evangel. For more information visit Undergraduate Admissions Requirements.
|Graduation from high school, or having the equivalent of a high school diploma such as the General Education Development (GED) examination.
|Core Subjects
|A minimum of a 2.0 GPA in core college prep classes (English, math, social sciences and science with a lab) or high school final GPA if no college credits have been earned.
|Standardized Tests
|>Entering freshmen should take the ACT or SAT test. The codes for Evangel are as follows: SAT: 6198. ACT: 2296.
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