2008.03.15 06:16 Marijuana: news, laws, advocacy, and discussion
/Marijuana is an educational and informative subreddit focused on Marijuana, hemp, and the various cannabinoids. We are dedicated to policy reform, news, advocacy, opinion, health, and discussion.
2023.05.30 09:45 Pretend_Sweet_CCHow can I get my earplugs approved for exams?
First of all: I’m not diagnosed with autism. However my friends and family suggested I should get diagnosed. As of today I still am not tested and therefore just someone with „quirks“. I don’t want to step on a nerve here and wanted this to be clear. I’m here for advice bc I know some autistic people use earplugs or earphones and I don’t know who else to ask. Since school I always had problems with noise sensitivity. Especially in situations like exams or when I had to talk. The smallest noise was able to throw me off. Now in university I discovered the miracle of earplugs!! I’m in love with them but never dared to ask my professors if I could wear them in an exam situation (I do wear them in my lectures and every day life however). A few weeks ago I got an email where it was stated what is allowed to have in exams. Earplugs were mentioned if discussed beforehand. So I gathered my courage and went to my prof (this happened just 20min ago). I told him how I feel and that I would like to wear my plugs (I use loop earplugs, they do look like earphones so I wanted to make clear that these are just earplugs). He told me that he doesn’t think I need them and that the room will be quite enough to concentrate. After trying to explain my case further he brushed me off and said „maybe we can talk about the foam ones but we have to see“. I HATE the sensation of foam. It dampens everything and just feels funny and weird. However since I don’t have a doctors note saying „yes hello earplugs pls“ I cannot really say anything against this. Does any of you have an idea how I can still approve my earplugs? Maybe talk to the secretary or sth? Thank you for any replies.
2023.05.30 09:40 nunufuckitTrusting the plan vs trusting your plan + the plan?
So I have a goal in mind but sometimes that attainment of that goal seems too out of reach. Sometimes I feel like I have it and as long as I allow only my desires to enter the mind and dispel everything else, I can attain it quite easily. By healing the separation I understand that the result is a force strong enough to move mountains. But what if, at the same time, I’m just delaying His plan. Should I let go of my goal completely and fully put all my faith in Him. Basically I’m going for a major career change that requires a lot. Mentally, physically and spiritually. I need to be prepared. But does getting prepared mean I don’t have faith? If all I must do is ask and it is given, and the how does not matter, it seems like I wouldn’t need to lift a finger because God always provides. There is no lack here. And if I dispel all illusion of lack and just keep weeding these illusions out, then I can have what I want in an instant. So do I even need to stress about getting good at my art? Or do I simply just need to guide my thoughts and feelings to my desire?
2023.05.30 09:40 understandinguniLooking for advice on how to advice my cousin
Trying to not be specific and not using any pronouns in case they accidentally find this... My cousin is currently in 11th grade, they're 16, and very academically inclined. They have been throughout their life very hard working and studious, and I respect them so much for it. And their hard work is always measured by their report card and exam results, i.e. they are praised by the family when they top and get A+, but they are not praised or even said 'proud of you' to when they are putting in the effort or working hard. This past year I've started noticing, or you can say assuming, that they've started measuring their efforts only by the outcome. They've developed a 'only a 100 is acceptable, anything below that is failure' mindset. They're not going around telling this to their peers or being arrogant or anything, but anytime you talk to them after an exam it's always 'I'm crying because I messed up a half mark answer' and it's almost as if the rest 99 1/2 doesn't amount for anything... They had their 10th grade exams a few months ago and it was such a stressful time for everyone (even more so for them), and it was scary because they'd hyperventilate and get panic attacks the night before MOCK tests. I'm in an entirely different country with a major time zone difference and it took a massive toll on me as well because they only feel comfortable talking to me, and there were instances where I was trying to calm them over the phone in the middle of the night, telling them that it's okay to go to their parents and that they will not be angry or think you're disturbing them. I'm 3 years elder to them and I know the impact my words have on them and I try to be mindful of everything I say, along with the way I say it. For instance, after so many of their tests I'm trying to explain it to them that exams are not your life and that they don't even test your knowledge of the subject and only test your knowledge of certain questions etc... but then they talk to every other family member (because they feel the need to tell everyone about the 1/2 mark lost) (I'm sorry I sound like I'm criticizing them, but I don't mean to, I'm just tired) and everyone tells them a version of 'you can do better next time'. It's like taking one step forward and 5 steps backward. I have been an average student all my life, even failed 6th grade at a point, and exams were my weakest pursuit. It's not that I tried hard and didn't succeed, it's simply that I only tried hard enough to get by. I was so occupied with just staying alive that I did not care enough to put in the effort. It built a mindset that it's ok to fail and all that matters is to keep believing in yourself and not dismissing even the smallest of accomplishments. I'm in a much better place now and I have learnt to enjoy studying and putting effort into my studies while also knowing that marks are important but only for scholarships and don't determine my self-worth. I don't know how to make them understand this. I feel like I'm angry at them because of their privilege... They have both their parents by their side, they have two sides of their extended family, they have access to everything and all their wishes are fulfilled, they get to have yearly vacations, and they have me, I.e., they have an adult in their life trying to keep them grounded and putting emphasis on their mental health. I didn't have any of this, and it hurts me so much that they can't acknowledge any of these things because they're on thinking about that half mark. They call me every second day, if not every day, and talk for hours. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't enjoy talking to them, it's just exhausting because they can't bring themselves to value my time and I am left trying to take baby steps with the way they think. They're looking into stuff like colleges and building a nice CV these days and I'm just so frustrated. I was in a boarding school with no access to any resources and I managed everything from volunteering, to being a student council member, to being on every single extracurricular that crosses your mind, to doing really well in my academics, all for University. I'm not saying I did something mind blowing or praise worthy because every kid does it if not more. But I don't understand why they can't do it, or at least try to. They are never taking the initiative and always saying that they don't have the resources or the opportunities, not once are they thinking of creating them themselves. They talk to me in what feels condescending when they say how easy it was for me to do all these things, it's like everything I did was nothing at all. I told them about taking initiative and they proceeded to emails 10 top universities in the world (not going to name them but it isn't exactly difficult to guss) stating their interest in subject xyz and that they'd be a good fit for their internships, and now they are asking me why some of them haven't replied back, or if they have, why have they rejected them... I don't even want to say anything at this point but I also know that I'm the only source of reliability for them, even if they don't care enough to understand that relying to much starts feeling like a burden. I don't want to bring this up with my parent or their parents because I know they'll feel like I'm attacking them or breaking their trust, and from my own experiences I know that once that sense of safety is gone it doesn't really come back. I've suggested therapy but my family is living in God knows which era and sweeps it under the rug everytime I mention anything along the lines of it. I know if my cousin brings it up, they'll agree to it but even my cousin doesn't acknowledge that therapy will help them, the only thing they care enough about is that god dann half mark....I don't know how long I can support or how much longer I'll want to support them. And I'm just looking for any advice. Any advice on how to respond to their 'why don't universities want me for their internships even when I expressed my interest in the subject' question and advice on how to indirectly establish boundaries with them will be very very appreciated because I think if I try to respond the only thing I'll say is 1) I have no idea why they are not preferring you over literal University students and PHD candidates who have probably put years into the specific research topics. 2) Contrary to what you might believe I happen to exist outside of your existence and have thoughts and tasks and work of my own and am not here to solve your life. I know, must be surprising to find out that I'm not an all knowing ever giving NPC and have a storyline of my own! I sound so critical of them but I do care for them, but it just feels like such a blow everytime I talk to them because I'm jealous of why they get the freedom to ask for help when I never did, and why they get to overlook this privilege... it sounds so childish and thoughtless of me but I can't help but feel this way... And I'm really sorry for the word count, I didn't think it was going to end up being an essay... I'm grateful for any and all advice. Thank you so much and really sorry for this lengthy rant...
2023.05.30 09:39 mrmanifestorPlease stop being misled.. This is a MUST READ
This was initially supposed to be just a rant. I have given all of this in my subliminal guide as well, and didn't want to put all of this in the post because its a lot, but ig people only believe when I explain in detail. Your subconscious mind is extremely powerful and unlimited in its own sense, but it's still a part of your brain. It has its own roles and its own ways of doing things and it has its own limits. This is not a restrictive or a limiting belief, it is logical and you will soon understand what I mean. Subliminals work by creating new beliefs in your mind, you can only change your own beliefs and improve your own body with subs. They don't do any magic. It’s important to be realistic when setting goals - don’t set yourself up for failure by trying to achieve something that is not in your control. Belief is important, but it's not always enough. No goal can be achieved without putting in effort just by belief alone, especially when it comes to something other than changing your mind or body, you have to put your assumption into action to achieve it. Your result ultimately depends on whether you take conscious action or not. When we start putting less effort, thinking that we will somehow magically achieve our goals, it only leads to failure and disappointment. Subs for most if not all of the following topics - don’t work by just believing/affirming if you don’t put any conscious effort, atleast not in a way you would think.
Breaking the laws of nature - Let's say a kid watches a cartoon clip where a superhero moves a bus with telekinesis, now the kid believes that he can do it too, he goes in front of the parked bus and tries the same thing that the cartoon superhero did, with complete faith and belief that he can do it too, but nothing happens. Kids are taught that humans cannot fly. Is that restrictive or is it logical? Teachers can also be like - let's teach these kids all the wrong things (like 1+2 = 4) and tell them to believe that everything is possible, to believe that they can score full marks in the test, will the kids be able to score marks in the test? Just because flat earthers believe earth to be flat doesn’t make the Earth flat. The sun won’t rise in the West just because someone believed it to. Wrong will not become right by believing, only your perception changes. Science and logic works!
Attract someone/make someone like you OR change someone else’s beliefs OR make them do anything - “Attract someone” subs have affirmations to make you good looking, and be more confident, believing that you can attract a person can only help you be more confident in yourself and this can indirectly help you to attract them. Otherwise, how will your subconscious mind control someone else's mind?? We all know that our subconscious mind doesn’t know stuff that we consciously don’t know. So how would it possibly control someone else’s mind without even being a part of it?? Now don't tell me "I/Someone manifested a SP". Anyone can get a girlfriend/boyfriend and say they attracted them, it doesn't prove anything. Also, don’t tell me “I got a job” because again, anyone can get a job without using subs, so there’s no proof that it happened because of the sub. If it's actually possible to change others' beliefs by just believing that you can, then why is the world still a cruel place? Why hasn't anyone been able to change the world by manifesting for world peace and putting an end to terror, violence, and poverty? So you can change others’ beliefs only when it comes to attracting an SP/getting a job (which can be easily done without using subs and doesn’t prove anything) but not to achieve anything else in life?
But The Law of Assumption states that no one has free will in your reality. Is that false? Let's talk about EIYPO - Everyone Is You Pushed Out - One of the most radical and controversial of Neville Goddard's concepts, ‘Everyone Is You Pushed Out’ simply means that every person you interact with is simply a projection of your internal state. More specifically, everyone you know is acting out a role you've assigned them based on your assumptions and beliefs. It says you are the creator of your own reality and that nothing exists outside yourself and that everything in this world and whatever is happening in your life is a projection of your consciousness. It says you and only you have the ability to control your reality and everyone else plays the roles you assign them, so you can shape any person to be what you want - If you change what you assume about someone, they have to change as you are the ultimate creator of your universe. EIYPO is probably the stupidest thing I've ever heard as if everyone can create their own reality as well as change others’ reality, meaning you can change someone else’s life, that would mean that the person whose life got changed doesn't have free will and if they don't have free will, that would mean nobody does and if nobody has free will, it's a paradox, since no one would even be able to even direct their own mind, let alone change their or someone else’s reality, but since it says you can change someone else’s reality, it would mean that you do have free will in your reality but not in someone else’s reality, that would mean there is a multiverse, but the concept of multiverse is literally science fiction... Quantum Physics and all the scientists in the world agree that ‘Multiverse’ doesn’t exist and it is just a hypothetical thing”. Since the Multiverse doesn't exist, EIYPO is just a lie.
Learning a new language without putting any effort into learning it: If you think it's possible - just do a simple task - Language is created by humans and I now create the word 'basjkkahsk' and I have a meaning in my mind. It’s obvious that for your mind, a word in a new language is essentially 'basjkkahsk'. Do whatever you want to do and tell me the meaning of that word. YES! Nobody can tell the meaning.
Getting marks in an exam without studying for it or without knowing anything: Subs won’t get you full marks on their own, they make you believe that you will get full marks, basically they boost your confidence, they can make you more interested and focused on studies and motivate you to study and hence might indirectly contribute to an increase in your marks. So if you listen to an exam sub and don't study for the exam thinking that the sub will do its job, you will obviously get low marks in the exam. If it was possible to get marks in an exam just by listening to a sub and without studying, can anyone answer even a single question in a Quantum mechanics paper without knowing quantum mechanics? Let's take knowledge out of the equation - you are an economics student. The answer is ‘No’ - you will obviously fail because when it comes to knowledge and information, your subconscious mind only knows stuff that you consciously know.
Change your exam marks after you finish writing the examination: In an objective (Multiple choice) examination, your answers obviously won’t change after you finish your examination. This would mean that the person would have to use the sub to get good marks before the exam and that they can't change their marks after finishing the exam regardless of what they do. Now some people will tell you your marks won't change but your grades can change, for this I will say - The Grade system is not used in a lot of places in the world. There are also a lot of competitive exams where marks is the only thing that matters, so it's like saying “these subs work in some places or countries but not in others and it works in some exams but not in others”. People don’t stop there, they say you could receive a message from your school, that would make you redo it or something like that. This is absolutely ridiculous for so many reasons.. One simple reason would be this - Let’s say it's an exam for entry to colleges and stuff, then there’s no way there would be a re-exam.
Getting accepted into your desired university: For this to happen, you need to have a minimum rank, so again yours or someone else’s marks needs to change, but as we have discussed above, it's not possible. Subs made on this topic can only help you believe that you can get into your desired university and maybe that will motivate you to study, but no more than that.
Winning a lottery: Essentially for this to happen, 'your brain' needs to make sure that the random lottery winning number generated by the computer is the same as that of the user. So your brain literally has to change the way a computer works!! But as we know from our previous points, when it comes to knowledge regarding the external world, your subconscious mind only knows stuff that you consciously know. Otherwise, people would be winning lotteries left and right but we don’t see that, do we?
2023.05.30 09:39 PassiveAgressions27F, 147cm and 57Kkgs with high LFT. Recent results posted below.
I don’t drink or smoke nor do I do any sort of drugs. I gave birth last April. Prior and during my pregnancy, blood tests showed my LFT levels were normal. It was only AFTER that the levels had increased. Is there a reason for this? I will be seeing a specialist as soon as I’m able to get an appointment. Just wanting some opinions here for the time being. Is it hereditary? My mother had fatty liver. She passed away from breast cancer in 2012. My 24y.o sister also has high LFT. TIA
I know that in my test I'm trying to get the files from the input, but the emit happens in the drop event handler, which is on the label. What solution do I have to make the component testable? Setting the events on the input would break my layout and styles, making it harder to hide the input (it must be hidden because the dropzone must contain another elements (text and icon)) and style it according to specifications. Just to mention, that is not the full component, but I have removed the the unrelated code.
2023.05.30 09:38 athalwolf506Problem inserting formula to named table.
I am trying to insert a formula to a named table using VBA. The formula uses a vlookup and takes as reference the value on the first column of each row, but for some reason it is giving me an error. If I type directly de formula there is no issue but if I copy and paste the formula generated the Vlookup gives me an error saying that the syntax is not correct. The formula is similar to this: =IF(VLOOKUP([@Test],PR_Status_Table,4,FALSE)="N/A","N/A") The part that gives a syntax error is [@Test]. Adding the full name of the table does not make any difference. Upon executing the code it give a 1004 runtime error. To assign the formula I am usgin a loop witht his code inside: output_table.DataBodyRange(i, j).Formula =FArray(j - 1) Where FArray contains the strings for different formulas.
2023.05.30 09:37 ONLY-SAYS-N-WORDDebating sneaking out of my parent's house and going NC
Context: I (19M) haven't always gotten along with my parents (like most teenagers) but holy shit I'm at my final straw. My parents are rather conservative when it comes "extracurricular" activities and are sober on literally everything excluding caffeine. This caused quite a bit of tension growing up, especially when my dumbass got hooked on nicotine before I could even drive. I also picked up weed mostly impart to help my anxiety and insomnia at night. Throughout high school I was caught with vaping three times and smoking twice and because of that my mom became the Gestapo. Everything I did was thoroughly questioned, needed a valid reason, or straight up insulted. On top of that I was required to have a tracker on my phone that was thoroughly monitored (even in uni, they threatened to stop paying for it if I touched the tracker). Fast forward to today. Obviously once I moved out and got a job I picked up smoking again and maintained the nicotine (I'm aware how stupid I am). I come home today from flying my girlfriend across the country (same uni) to find my mom had gone through my car while I was gone. In the car I had a leftover vape, rolling papers, and a lighter, all of which she found. She immediately begins telling me that from here on out she won't trust me at all and that I'm nothing more than a selfish asshole "who acts like a drug addict". I brought up the fact that I'm a legal adult making my own free choice and she needs to respect that. This resulted in her yelling at me for wanting "to grow up too fast". When I told her me and my GF want to get an apartment together next year anyways, that made it worse. She immediately tells me "Don't you expect a fucking dime from us for rent" (obviously wasn't, I worked throughout college). She then asks me "does your girlfriend wear the pants in this relationship". That line right there has me SEETHING. I'm so fucking fed up with being treated like a 15 year old despite the fact I'm going to finish my degree two years early and be going to grad school at the age of 20 with a 3.5 cumulative. They still think I'm a disappointment even with all I've accomplished, all because I smoked at night to help my anxiety. I don't know why I'm even try with them anymore and this point I'm willing to pack my shit in the dead of night and move across the country to live with my gf so they never have to see me again. I'm fucking tired of it.
2023.05.30 09:37 Global_Tree_CareersCan I Get an Australia student visa With IELTS 5.5 Band?
Introduction
If you're looking for a student visa to study in Australia, then you'll need to know if your IELTS score is good enough. There are many factors that determine whether or not you'll be able to get an Australian student visa with your score. https://preview.redd.it/73pfo68bry2b1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89fbf06d608227a177b9bbf69ffdb567c32c1910 If you are a student who wants to study in Australia, then this article is for you. The question of whether or not an IELTS score of 5.5 is enough for an Australian student visa is something that many people ask and it's important to know the answer before applying. The good news is that if your academic qualifications are high enough, then there should be no problem getting your visa approved even with an average score on the test!
The Minimum IELTS Score for an Australian student visa
There are many different types of English proficiency tests, which can be confusing. The most common ones are:
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) - This is the most popular test and is used by many universities in Australia
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - This is also very popular but not always available in every country
Cambridge ESOL examinations (Cambridge English: Proficiency, Preliminary for Schools, and First for Schools). Some universities accept these tests instead of IELTS or TOEFL
Is the IELTS 5.5 band enough for an Australian study visa?
The minimum IELTS Band Requirement for Australia depends on the university. Some universities accept IELTS 5.5 band, some don't. Some universities accept IELTS 5.0 band, some don't. Some universities even accept IELTS 4.5 band as well! There are many factors involved when determining whether or not you will get an Australia student visa with an English language test score of 5.5 or higher: (Read more: IELTS - The First Step Of Foreign Education)
The type, of course, you are applying for (diploma vs bachelor's degree)
Your country of origin (some countries have more lenient requirements than others)
How to get a student visa to study in Australia with a 5.5 band score?
If you have an IELTS score of 5.5 and want to study in Australia, then there are some things that you should consider. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Is the university accepting international students?
Are there any restrictions on university fees? (Some universities charge higher tuition fees for international students.)
Do I need a student visa? If so, what kind of visa do I need?
Which universities should you apply to if you have a low IELTS score?
University of New South Wales
University of Melbourne
Australian National University (ANU)
It depends on where you want to study and what their requirements are.
Some universities will accept a lower band, others will not. For example, the University of Sydney requires an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher for undergraduate courses, but Monash University does not require any minimum score at all (though they do recommend 7). If you want to apply for a course at one of these universities that has higher requirements than your current score allows for, then it may be worth looking into getting some extra practice before applying.
Conclusion
Australia is a great country to study in, and the best part is that you don't need IELTS 5.5 band score for an Australian student visa application process. If you have other proof of English proficiency, then you can apply for a student visa without having to take any tests.
2023.05.30 09:32 alexastyRedundant colon with dyssynergic defecation
I need some advice from fellow constipators. 38F, recently been diagnosed with redundant colon and dyssynergic defecation. Awaiting biofeedback session next week and I’m currently on elobixibat 5mg x2 every morning before breakfast I had a colonoscopy and anorectal manometry test on May 19th. I’m still having constipation so my question is, while waiting for biofeedback, is there anything I can do to improve my condition or at least get a bm once a week? -does anyone know elobixibat and what it does? -my doctor told me to eat a normal diet, its not working for me, can anyone suggest a diet? -any success story with biofeedback? -I was on duphalac, motegrity, ducolax, senna tea, mucilin and some kind of fiber laxative sachet (Thai brand) I use a mixture of everything until I get some kind of relief which isn’t ideal. What worked for you? Lastly, thank you u/goldstandardalmonds for helping me find a new doctor and pushing for tests. Thanks to u/Nightmare_Tonic for the constipation guide
2023.05.30 09:30 Affectionate-Hour-51In a death, who gets the dog? The family or the ex/current gf who is unfit to care for the dog?
A relative of mine passed away. He was in recovery from drugs and he has been clean for 6 months. He got a puppy in January, he brought her every week to dinner as I also have a dog that likes to play. He never mentioned his ex gf in his life, and according to neighbors she hasn't been around lately minus the last couple days. Whenever he needed a sitter, or thought he would be going away somewhere, he would ask me to care for his puppy. His ex (who is a user of drugs) was in the picture for I guess a few days, which we think is why he relapsed and overdosed. She claims they were together still as a couple. When my mom first called me, we went to the scene dealt with the police and coroner etc, I obviously said I'm taking the dog since there is no one else in the family. Everyone at the scene, people who knew him and his dog and the neighbors begged me not to let her take the dog. Also my close relative who passed away is a frequent poster on FB and has a lot of posts of him and the dog, none with her. I just know in my heart he would want the dog to come to me since I am a dog person and would take really good care of her. I know since the drug scene is bad in my city and she is a user who got all of her kids taken away (not judging her at all just I don't think she could care for the dog) that she won't be able to cover any of the costs of this dog let alone dog food. Last year when they were together my mom always had to drop off money for groceries etc (which makes sense since they were using together). I'm wondering if I am actually in the wrong for this? I have a vet appointment tomorrow where I will be getting all her shots, setting up her up to get spayed and she has an ear infection. I obviously care for this dog and changed her food from grocery store food to a high quality brand that my dog is on. She reached out indicating that she has rights to the dog and is going to take legal action. She does have a piece of paper with her name on it and his name on it indicating the dog is registered with tags which cost $49.00 through the city. Is this enough for her to have the right to the dog? TLDR: A relative passed away and his ex/allegedly current gf who is on drugs is claiming she will take legal action to take his dog.
2023.05.30 09:30 Dirxty_LiiCensDocument Stating The CIA Directed Research Efforts Towards Understanding and Administering The Use of Witchcraft in Covert Operations - MK ULTRA (Bottom Paragraph)
2023.05.30 09:30 AutoModerator[Get] Grow and Convert – Customers From Content Download
Download : https://imcourse.one/get-grow-and-convert-customers-from-content-download https://preview.redd.it/o413ie6qtp2b1.png?width=435&format=png&auto=webp&s=68cfdfde1786c38f4b1dfea4f0a39ad29b334865 It seems like every post they write gets tons of comments, attracts their exact customers, who happily try their product, shop at their store, or talk to their sales team. Some of these marketers even write recap posts outlining six or seven figures of revenue attributable to leads from the blog. But most blogs aren’t anywhere close to this. For most marketers, the blog is a “placeholder”: it exists because they think they should have one, but it only brings in a trickle of traffic, very little comments, and fewer customers. They end up spending most of their time in other channels, and often begin to resent the need to “publish regularly” (as we’ll show below, that’s not necessary). For these marketers, content marketing is an expense — but perhaps more toxic, it’s a mental burden. If you’re blogging for yourself (solopreneur, small agency owners, etc.), you begin to question whether it’s worth it and what you’re doing wrong. If you’re doing content marketing inside of a company (as a consultant or an employee), you’re well aware that it takes time and money to run the blog, hire writers and pay developers. You may be working hard at it, but the results aren’t coming and meanwhile the CMO and CEO are questioning the ROI of your efforts. If they pressed you, you’re not even confident you could defend the ROI. Or, if you’re getting traffic, it’s often not the right kind of traffic: you’re attracting the wrong audience or you’re not seeing any conversions coming from it. So what are successful bloggers and content-focused companies doing that others are not? What do the marketers inside those companies know that everyone else is struggling to find? The key is systems. Getting a steady stream of ideal, ready-to-purchase customers requires a system:
A system for writing content that attracts the right traffic
A system for turning that traffic into leads
A system for diverting some of that traffic directly to a store or pricing page
A system for growth
A system for turning email subscribers into customers
Our Journey
We didn’t always have systems for attracting the a steady stream of target customers to a blog. It took Benji years of trial and error, reading, and building relationships with experienced marketers to learn systems for what worked. Once he found that though, he first grew Vistage’s blog from 1,000 to 20,000 uniques a month in one year. He didn’t just get any old traffic either, the blog was able to attract CEOs from companies with $5M or more in revenue, and convert them to members of CEO peer groups (Vistage’s “product”) all over the country while lowering the cost per lead by 600%. Then, Benji did this again at ThinkApps, an app development company. When he started as Head of Marketing, ThinkApps had no blog. Plus it was in a technical niche — he had to write about building great web, mobile and wearable products, and attract product managers, CTOs, and CEOs from fast growth and enterprise companies. By implementing proven systems to attract the right audience (startup CEOs, product managers, and developers looking to build an app), he was able to grow their blog from 0 to 12,000 organic visitors in 6 months, and 0 to 35,000 unique visitors in 6 months.
Introducing the Customers from Content System
While we’ve been busy doing everything you’ve just read above, we’ve been testing dozens of content types, promotion techniques and conversion tactics, and we’ve distilled it down to a 6 part system for getting a steady stream of customers through content. We call it the Customers from Content System and we’ve developed a complete online video course to teach it to you.
What You’ll Learn in Customers from Content
Customers From Content is a 6 module video course, fully online, that you can access from anywhere anytime you like.
Module 1 – Know Exactly Who to Target
Most content marketers don’t have a deep understanding of who they’re marketing to. This handcuffs them to producing crappy fluff content forever. After this module you’ll have the skills to avoid this trap and level up your content.
We walk you through detailed examples of mirage content vs. high quality content and breakdown the difference
You’ll immediately start understanding what makes good vs. bad content, and your creative wheels start turning
You’ll learn how to narrow down and identify the specific customers for which you should generate content.
You’ll learn our process for getting super deep on understanding the pain points of your best customers
You’ll learn the specific user research tactics we use to get customer information
Module 2 – Creating Content That Stands Out
Here you’ll learn our system for getting beyond “me too” fluff content (like listicles), and produce stellar, specific content that your ideal customers will bookmark, email to each other and share.
You’ll learn the 6 content frameworks we use for ourselves and our clients
You’ll know what each framework does and when to use it
We’ll dive deep into our “sales funnel” framework so you’ll know when to product bottom, middle, or top of funnel content and what each does
Watch us walk through specific examples and teardown of many content pieces in the lens of each framework
Learn how to connect Module 1 to Module 2 and apply your customer understanding to produce content better than competition
Module 3 – Content Promotion
This is where almost everyone struggles. Almost no one teaches this (well). You’ll learn our system for content promotion that we’ve used get over 20,000 visitors in a month to this site and to generate tens of thousands of visitors per month to multiple client’s blogs.
Learn how to research and identify promotion channels so you can use your time most efficiently
Watch Benji screencast through our community content promotion process, teaching you the nooks and crannies of finding and posting in online communities
Learn how to get influencers to share your content without being pushy or sending 100s of spammy emails (we never have)
Get our honest and detailed opinion of guest posting (we don’t do much of it) and how best in integrate it into your strategy
Learn how we use PR as a promotion strategy, starting at the content ideation step, to dramatically increase the chances of getting coverage
Module 4 – Blog Conversions
Devesh has run blog conversion tests for sites such as Backlinko and corporate blogs with over 100,000 monthly visitors. In this module, he teaches what he knows about converting blog visitors, shares a starting plan you can adopt, and lays out a framework for you to optimize.
Should you nurture over email or just ask for a lead? Devesh shares how to use our spreadsheet model to know, with numbers, which route you should take.
Get the real truth on how well different calls to action on blogs convert so you don’t have to inundate your blog with a million annoying CTAs (we never have)
We’ll walk through actual examples of conversion strategies from different blogs so you can learn from them
When should you AB test? Devesh will share his experience and teach you when to worry (and importantly, not worry) about this.
Module 5 – How to measure the ROI of content marketing
Immediately stand out from everyone else by knowing how to attribute leads to content and calculate a cost of acquisition from content marketing.
You’ll get access to our cost of acquisition spreadsheet calculator, only available to buyers of this course
We’ll walk through how it works, how to use it, and multiple examples and scenarios
This knowledge will immediately put you in the top tier of content marketing knowledge, and let you convey to bosses, clients, and yourself how content marketing ROI compares to other channels
Without this ability it will forever be a struggle to convince the powers at be that content marketing is returning a great ROI, but with it you’ll finally be able to
Module 6 – Building a Team of Writers
At some point, many marketers will want to scale their content production. This module will teach you how. We’ve tried (and failed) with multiple techniques, but after this module you won’t have to. You’ll learn exactly what’s worked for us.
Learn why a content marketing manager shouldn’t be a writer and what they should focus on instead
Learn the pros and cons of hiring in-house writers, vs. a writing agency, vs. a team of freelancers, and why we prefer the latter
Learn how and where to find freelance writers
Learn our process for vetting freelance writers so you get the best
Learn how to pay and incentivize freelance writers so they continue to do great work over time
What Makes Customers from Content Different
We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure Grow and Convert wasn’t “just another” marketing blog. We made sure it’s received as a premium, advanced content marketing resource. For example: you don’t see any list posts on our site. Almost every post is over 3000 words. Our course, Customers from Content is no different. Here’s what this training program is not: It’s not a giant list of content marketing tactics – Some online courses or in person training programs are a giant buffet. They list a bunch of tactics you could use for SEO, social media, content marketing, etc. and leave it up to you to pick and choose. Customers from Content is the opposite. In our view, you don’t need a training program to list out tactics — you have the entire internet for that. What created a step change for us was filtering the buffet table of options down to a content marketing system, so our marketing teams could do less scattered work, and focus their efforts on a process that reliably pulled in customers at a low cost of acquisition. And it was repeatable, so we could implement this for multiple clients and multiple companies. It doesn’t cover low level tactics – Many online courses are painfully low level: for example a social media strategy program that starts by teaching you how to setup a Facebook group or Instagram account. That’s for beginners. Customers from Content is not for beginners. It’s for content marketers who know the basics (how to setup a blog, etc.) and want to be get great at building qualified traffic via high quality articles that in the end drive leads and sales. So we don’t waste your time with tech implementation. We don’t talk about WordPress setup, we don’t talk setting up SEO plugins, we don’t talk about blog post formatting, we don’t talk about technical setup of communities on different platforms. You know this, or can read it in a thousand places for free. That information is also not evergreen. We could cover setting up a Facebook group, but what if another platform is more popular in 3 years (e.g. Slack groups)? Instead, we cover strategy and systems.
Not how to publish content, but what content to publish.
Not how to schedule social posts, but how to leverage social (or whether to leverage it at all).
Not how to set up a community, but how to make sure it has the best people, stays active and engaged, and produces value for members.
2023.05.30 09:24 Dirxty_LiiCensDocument Stating The CIA Directed Research Efforts Towards Understanding and Administering The Use of Witchcraft in Covert Operations - MK ULTRA
2023.05.30 09:24 marcobmartinez“i have bpd” “i have adhd” etc etc
am i wrong or did a lot of psychiatrists become lazy after 2020 and decide to diagnose anyone with whatever the fuck mental condition they wanted to compensate for the fact that they made no money during covid? it seems like extensive testing isn’t needed anymore — apparently people can now list just a few symptoms (all of which can be made up) and boom, they’re mentally ill (and now have unlimited access to schedule ii drugs)!!
2023.05.30 09:21 laurajc_Should I (26 F) tell my dad (64 M) how I feel after all these years?
My dad and I’s relationship has been tumultuous to say the least over the years. The worst of it was when I was in high school. I was given punishments for minor or nonexisent things and almost none of my dad’s reasoning for these punishments/demands ever made sense. I heard the phrase “Because I said so” constantly. For context, I was a good student. I graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA all while doing multiple sports and trying to maintain a social life. I stayed away from drugs other than the very rare drinking. But none of this deterred my father from his narcissistic and controlling tendencies. If he was in a bad mood, the entire house had to suffer with him. His opinions and rules would completely change depending on his mood. My mom would always tell me she hated football season because my dad was a Chargers and Rams fan and they would constantly lose, which would send my dad into one of his rage spirals. On more than one occasion my father put his hands on me for reasons and I can’t even remember. His reasoning was never warranted. He constantly verbally berated my mother, sister and I. I vividly remember urging my mother to do something, but the blame would always be thrown back on me. “Don’t talk back.” “Just obey him and he’ll stop.” My mom would guilt trip me out of “talking back” to my dad because he would turn around and verbally berate her when I wouldn’t comply. Soon after I moved away to college, it was as if none of this had happened. I got away and realized how traumatizing this all was and how much it actually affected my mental health. Over the years, I built up the courage to drop small remarks over how I was treated to my mother. Half of the things I would bring up, she wouldn’t remember. The other half she simply wouldn’t have much to say about other than an “I’m sorry” and a distressed look on her face. The extent of my parents’ regret has mostly been their subtle gaslighting strategies including statements such as “Living at home wasn’t so bad, right?” “We had fun back then, didn’t we?” I’ve had a handful of more serious, in-depth conversations with my mom about my father but she has always urged me to not speak about it with him directly. She has always made my whole existence about protecting her when it should have been the other way around. But my dad is the root of the problem. And while I have dropped subtle hints about him needing therapy, I have never confronted him because my mother has urged me not to. But I am reaching a point where I don’t know if I can handle maintaining a relationship with him where all of this goes unsaid. We talk every other week or so on the phone, and I can only tolerate so much friendly small talk before I lose my mind. Does anyone have advice on how I should confront my father or if it is even wise for me to do so? Would it be best for me to take the silence as closure?
“Revolutionize Your Coaching or Consulting Business In The Next 30 Days Or Less With AI-Enabled Service Delivery & The Perfect Tech Stack, Even If You Can’t Spell ‘AI’”
What You Get:
Week 1 Lesson Topics
Intro to AI and the Perfect Tech Stack
What is AI, how does it work, and how can you make it work to radically accelerate your coaching or consulting business success?
The different types of AI and the available applications you could leverage for your immediate results.
Understand the role AI plays in coaching and consulting and how to use this to your advantage for maximum gain.
The different types of tech and applications used for coaches and consultants and how even the most tech-challenged individuals can win big.
How to set up the ideal tech-enabled coaching and consulting services sales platform so you can start generating sales without the frustration of time-consuming configuration.
How to tap into a continual flow of clients already looking for what you have to offer to give your business a sales boost.
Week 2 Lesson Topics
Best Practices, strategies and tactics for Using AI-Enabled and Tech-Enabled solutions in Coaching and Consulting
Identifying appropriate use cases for tech and AI in coaching and consulting so you know exactly what you’ll need and when you need it.
How to implement tech and AI solutions in your coaching or consulting practice while avoiding getting lost in the “technical weeds”
Leveraging AI to create effective marketing messaging, content, offers, copy, landing pages, emails, and calls to action – not only will this save you time but AI has proven to drive better results than professional “copywriters” and “marketers” can produce.
How to use AI to create proposals for new projects and follow-ups for prospects in a fraction of the time these major tasks require.
How to implement AI fulfillment and supplement with inexpensive, high-credibility real-time experts with impeccable credentials to be part of your consulting team for pennies on the dollar.
How to deploy your AI-enabled and tech-enabled solutions to service your customers, keep them happy, solve their challenges, and follow up to get even more paid coaching and consulting engagements.
The critical ethical considerations for using AI in coaching and consulting
Week 3 Lesson Topics
AI Tools and Techniques for Coaching and Consulting
An overview of the latest cutting-edge AI tools and techniques commonly used in coaching and consulting and how to determine which tools you should use for yourself…
How to use AI to improve efficiency and deliver better results for clients while lowering labor and related overhead allowing you to keep more dollars in your pocket!
Real case studies of AI tools and techniques in action…
Week 4 Lesson Topics
Real-World Applications of AI in Coaching and Consulting
Case studies of AI being successfully applied in coaching and consulting so you can see exactly how to copy or model what’s working right now.
The most important lessons we’ve learned and best practices from real-world applications of AI
Important insights that will help you integrate AI and tech-enabled services quicker, easier and more profitably than ever before.
30 Day Coaching + Consulting Sprint
Launch And Grow Your Coaching / Consulting Business In 30 Days Or Less…
Learn exactly how to use AI enabled marketing to get new consulting and coaching clients without sacrificing the quality of your customers.
The techie-free step-by-step breakdown of setting up your AI enabled consulting and coaching service platforms, tech stack, and tech-enabled back-office.
Your first client: Using AI LIVE to get paid and virtually assist your consulting services with any client.
Follow-up marketing and client services using tech and AI-enabled strategies.
Next Steps + The Road Ahead
Next Steps + The Road Ahead
We’ll recap and summarize the most important lessons and of key takeaways from the training so you have the clarity and confidence you need to take meaningful action to get results!
Next steps for implementing the AI-enabled and tech-enabled solutions in your coaching or consulting business
BONUSES:
7 LEVELS OF SCALE (LEVEL 7 MASTERCLASS)
This masterclass will take a deep dive into what every entrepreneur strives for after reaching a certain level of success: OPTIONALITY! Join Ryan Deiss as he shares how to pivot from an entrepreneurial operator into an entrepreneurial INVESTOR and he lays out the blueprint on how to achieve maximum impact and leave a legacy for those who follow in your footsteps!
THE CEO CRASH COURSE
Join 17x CEO, investor, and best-selling author, Ryan Deiss, with serial entrepreneur, investor, and M&A Expert, Roland Frasier as layout the playbook to help CEO’s skyrocket growth, in less time, with less overhead, and less of your bandwidth. In this high-value training you’ll learn the 5 critical frameworks, 7 tools, & 1 overarching system top CEOs use to create an average 2,144% compound annual growth rate…”
2023.05.30 09:19 GabeedME2 Handles the Sole Survivor Shepard's Backstory Horribly
Although Mass Effect 2 glosses over some of Cerberus' most evil and bloodthirsty actions (like Chasca, Edolus, or the murder of Admiral Kahoku) no matter which Shepard you play, and only retains criticism for the more "morally gray" evil scientist actions like experiments on Rachni and Thorian creepers, the handling of Akuze with a Sole Survivor Shepard is borderline nonsensical. For those who need a reminder, Cerberus murders 50 Alliance marines on Akuze to do tests on thresher maws, and they experiment on Corporal Toombs thereafter. If he/she is a Sole Survivor psychological profile, Shepard is the "sole" survivor of this massacre and it is due to his/her survival that the Council considers Shepard for a Spectre position. This is very possibly the worst thing that has ever happened to Sole Survivor Shepard, and if Sole Survivor Shepard does the ME1 mission on Ontarom, he/she knows that Cerberus is behind the attacks. And yet ME2 never gives Sole Survivor Shepard the option to question Cerberus about these actions. Jacob brings up the Akuze encounter to Sole Survivor Shepard soon after leaving Lazarus Station, and gives zero indication that Cerberus was behind these attacks--it was just a "thresher maw attack" (see https://youtu.be/k5IHLBu1_Cs?t=1408). Maybe we can headcanon that Jacob doesn't know that Cerberus is behind the attack, but even then, Sole Survivor Shepard gets no dialogue option to say, "yeah, and it was you guys who orchestrated it!" nor an option to even ask about Cerberus' role in the attacks. In other words, there's no acknowledgement of the Akuze-Cerberus connection whatsoever when a member of Cerberus brings up Akuze to Sole Survivor Shepard. This would have been a great opportunity for Jacob or Miranda (or TIM) to come up with an excuse which undermines Corporal Toombs' story, and legitimizes the idea that Sole Survivor Shepard might be able to overlook Cerberus' past atrocities. But the fact that we get nothing suggests that Bioware doesn't even want to even engage with Cerberus' role in the massacre. It's almost like Bioware doesn't want us to remember Cerberus' culpability. Instead, Sole Survivor Shepard just works/cooperates with Cerberus like any other iteration of Shepard. Eventually, you get an email for Corporal Toombs who (naturally) is furious that you seem to be working for Cerberus--an acknowledgement of completion of the Ontarom mission, but not a very interesting one, since Shepard is mandated by the plot to work for Cerberus, and the player has no agency here. The rest of the vanilla game goes by with Akuze just sort of buried under the rug. Joker and Dr. Chakwas leave prestigious positions in the Alliance to join the terrorist organization without any thought or mention of Akuze. Apparently the thought never crosses their mind that Shepard might not want to work for the people who butchered his marines. And once Miranda is loyal, Sole Survivor Shepard can talk to her more about Cerberus, but Sole Survivor Shepard can only generically comment that "[Cerberus] experiments crossed a line," and question Miranda about other Cerberus atrocities, like the facility on Pragia and/or the thorian creeper and rachni experiments. Nothing about Akuze. Finally, in the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC, Tela Vasir can criticize the moral compass of a Sole Survivor Shepard by pointing out what observant players have been noticing all game--that Cerberus was behind the massacre of the Alliance marines on Akuze. We are given two dialogue options which both defend Cerberus' atrocities. This is some pretty bizarre writing by Bioware and it feels like patchwork plothole filling--in a DLC made after the base game, a character finally actually points out the Akuze-Cerberus connection and how morally compromised Shepard is for working with them, and it is mandated that Shepard is unconcerned by this. I suppose my conclusions are this: if you're playing ME2 with the notion that Shepard is briefly working for Cerberus, it feels very difficult if not impossible to roleplay a Sole Survivor legitimately. Even if you've somehow headcanoned Sole-Survivor Shepard as not really working for Cerberus at all but merely working for his/her own ends with Cerberus resources, Sole Survivor Shepard's acquiescence to cooperate with the organization who murdered his squad on Akuze is still rather contrived and under-written. I think that playing a Sole Survivor Shepard through ME2 is a massive roleplaying conundrum, though I'd be interested in any headcanons that players have concocted. In any case, though, I think War Hero or Ruthless are more viable from a roleplaying POV in this aspect.
Caution: It's important to remember that these evaluations are guides to potential health concerns and not definitive measures of a product's safety or efficacy. They are based on individual ingredients rather than any negative effects the final product may have. The way ingredients interact in a formulation can influence their potential impact, and the presence of a specific ingredient does not automatically equate to harm when used in a product. It's always crucial to do your own research, consider the product as a whole, and keep in mind that personal reactions can vary greatly. When making decisions about personal care products, it is recommended to consult with healthcare professionals. Brief: While this product, produced and distributed by Amazon as a house brand, stands out for its cost-effectiveness, it does contain certain ingredients that may be of concern to some parents. It features 2 synthetic color additives and 1 fragrance for aesthetic and olfactory appeal. The synthetic additive D&C Yellow No. 10, aimed at delivering a visually appealing color, can increase sun sensitivity amongst other side effects. Moreover, the additive 'Fragrance', incorporated for an appealing scent, could potentially induce respiratory and eczema issues in certain infants. Hence, parents who are apprehensive about these potential side effects should be cautious while considering this product for use. Ingredients: Water, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium laureth sulfate, PEG-150 distearate, fragrance, tetrasodium EDTA, polyquaternium-10, PEG-175 diisostearate, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, yellow 10, orange 4.
Typical ingredients description and side effects
Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate is a surfactant and emulsifier that's often used in cosmetics and personal care products, including baby shampoos. It helps to mix oil and water-based ingredients, and can help to cleanse the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt, allowing them to be rinsed away.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: While PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate is generally considered safe, some individuals might experience skin irritation or an allergic reaction, such as redness, itching, or a rash. However, these instances are relatively rare.
Eye Irritation: As with any soap product, there is a potential for eye irritation if the product gets into the eyes. This can lead to discomfort and temporary redness. It's always important to avoid the eye area when using shampoo.
Environmental Considerations: PEGs (polyethylene glycols), including PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, are petroleum-based compounds, and there are concerns about their biodegradability and impact on the environment.
EWG Skin Grade: 4
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a surfactant commonly used in personal care products, including baby lotions, due to its mild cleansing and foaming properties. It is generally well-tolerated and considered safe for use. However, in some rare cases, individuals may experience certain side effects.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: Although uncommon, some individuals may be sensitive or allergic to cocamidopropyl betaine. This can lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions such as redness, itching, rash, or hives. If your baby develops any of these symptoms after using a baby lotion containing cocamidopropyl betaine, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
Eye Irritation: Direct contact of cocamidopropyl betaine with the eyes may cause mild eye irritation. It is important to avoid contact with the eyes and rinse thoroughly with water if accidental exposure occurs.
EWG Skin Grade: 4
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a common ingredient used in many cleaning and hygiene products, including shampoos, body washes, and toothpastes. It's a surfactant, a type of compound that helps create lather and makes a product more effective at removing dirt and oils. In baby shampoos, SLES is often used because it's milder and less irritating to the skin and eyes than some other types of surfactants, like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Nonetheless, there has been ongoing debate about the safety of SLES, especially in products used on babies and young children.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: SLES can be irritating to the skin, especially if left on for extended periods of time or used in high concentrations. This can lead to redness, dryness, or itching. People with sensitive skin or skin conditions such as eczema may be more prone to these effects.
Eye Irritation: If a product containing SLES gets into the eyes, it can cause irritation, resulting in redness and discomfort.
Possible Contamination with 1,4-Dioxane: During the manufacturing process of SLES, it can potentially be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane, a substance that has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. However, this is generally at extremely low levels, if present at all, and most manufacturers have processes in place to remove this contaminant.
Environmental Impact: There are some concerns about the environmental impact of SLES, particularly its potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.
EWG Skin Grade: 3
PEG-150 Distearate
PEG-150 Distearate is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) ester of stearic acid. It's commonly used in personal care products, including baby wipes, as an emulsifier, thickener, or cleansing agent. While PEG-150 Distearate is generally considered safe for use in personal care products, there are potential side effects.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: In rare cases, some individuals might experience minor skin irritation or an allergic reaction such as redness, itching, or a rash. This is more likely if the individual has sensitive skin.
Eye Irritation: As with many ingredients in shampoo and other personal care products, PEG-150 Distearate could cause eye irritation if the product gets into the eyes.
Potential Contamination: There's a low risk of PEG-150 Distearate being contaminated with potentially harmful substances during manufacturing, such as 1,4-dioxane or ethylene oxide, both of which have been associated with health risks. However, most manufacturers have rigorous processes in place to ensure that such contaminants, if present, are at safe levels.
EWG Skin Grade: 3
Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is used as a preservative in cosmetic products and also as a stabilizer in perfumes and soaps. Exposure to phenoxyethanol has been linked to reactions ranging from eczema to severe, life-threatening allergic reactions. Infant oral exposure to phenoxyethanol can acutely affect nervous system function.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: In some cases, phenoxyethanol can cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction, presenting as redness, itching, or a rash. Babies have sensitive skin and may be more susceptible to such reactions.
Allergic Reactions: Though less common, some people may experience an allergic reaction to phenoxyethanol, which could result in symptoms like hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Eczema: It is also a common allergic reaction to skin exposure of products containing one percent or more phenoxyethanol. Reactions only occur in the area of application and eczema subsides after avoidance of the product causing irritation.
Acute nervous system effects (infants): In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to purchase Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream. Phenoxyethanol, found in the cream, was depressing the central nervous system and causing vomiting and diarrhea in breast feeding infants. Symptoms of a depressed nervous system include a decrease in infant’s appetite, difficulty waking the infant, limpness of extremities and change in skin color. There is no known health risk to the mother.
EWG Skin Grade: 4
Peg 175 Diisostearate
PEG-175 Diisostearate is a type of polyethylene glycol (PEG) ester of isostearic acid, and it's commonly used as an emulsifier or surfactant in personal care products, including baby lotions. While PEG-175 Diisostearate is generally considered safe for use in personal care products, there are potential side effects.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: Some people may experience skin irritation when using products containing PEG-175 Diisostearate. This could present as redness, itching, or a rash. Babies have sensitive skin, so they may be more susceptible to such irritation.
Allergic Reactions: While not common, some people may have an allergic reaction to PEG-175 Diisostearate, which could result in symptoms such as hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
EWG Skin Grade: 3
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda or lye, is a strong alkaline compound that is sometimes used in the manufacturing process of personal care products, including baby lotions. It is used to adjust the pH of the formulation to ensure stability and efficacy. However, it is important to note that sodium hydroxide itself is not typically listed as an active ingredient in baby lotions, but rather used in very small amounts for pH adjustment purposes.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: Sodium hydroxide, if present in higher concentrations, can cause skin irritation in some individuals. This may manifest as redness, itching, burning sensation, or rash. It is important to discontinue use if your baby experiences any of these symptoms and consult a healthcare professional.
Eye Irritation: Direct contact of baby lotion containing sodium hydroxide with the eyes can cause mild to moderate eye irritation. It is crucial to avoid contact with the eyes and rinse thoroughly with water if accidental exposure occurs.
Chemical Burns: Sodium hydroxide is a caustic substance and can cause chemical burns if used undiluted or in high concentrations. However, in properly formulated baby lotions, the concentration of sodium hydroxide is typically low and safe for use.
EWG Skin Grade: 4
D&C Orange No. 4
D&C Orange No. 4 is a synthetic color additive that is often used in personal care products to give them a certain color. The "D&C" indicates that it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in drugs and cosmetics, but not in food. While D&C Orange No. 4 is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic products, there are potential side effects.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: Like many ingredients in personal care products, D&C Orange No. 4 could potentially cause skin irritation in some individuals. This might manifest as redness, itching, or a rash. Babies have sensitive skin and may be more susceptible to such reactions.
Allergic Reactions: Though less common, some individuals may experience an allergic reaction to D&C Orange No. 4, which could result in symptoms like hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Sensitivity to Sunlight: Some artificial colorants can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, which could increase the risk of sunburn.
EWG Skin Grade: 5
D&C Yellow No. 10
D&C Yellow No. 10 is a synthetic color additive that's used in certain drugs, cosmetics, and other personal care products. It's used to give products a specific color. The "D&C" denotes that the color additive is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in drugs and cosmetics, but not in food.
Potential Side Effects:
Skin Irritation: Some people may experience skin irritation when using products containing D&C Yellow No. 10. This could present as redness, itching, or a rash. Babies have sensitive skin, so they may be more susceptible to such irritation.
Allergic Reactions: Though not common, some people may have an allergic reaction to D&C Yellow No. 10, which could result in symptoms such as hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Sensitivity to Sunlight: Some synthetic colorants may make skin more sensitive to sunlight, which could increase the risk of sunburn.
EWG Skin Grade: 7
Fragrance
"Fragrance" in the ingredient list of baby lotions (and other personal care products) is often a catch-all term for a mix of various scent-producing chemicals. Fragrances can make products smell pleasant, but they can also cause some potential side effects, especially in people with sensitive skin or allergies. In babies, who generally have more sensitive skin than adults, these side effects might include.
Potential Side Effects:
Allergic Reactions: Although it's not common, some babies might have an allergic reaction to certain fragrances, which could lead to symptoms such as hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing. These reactions might not occur the first time the baby is exposed to the fragrance, but could develop after repeated use.
Sensitization: Regular exposure to certain fragrances can lead to the development of a sensitivity over time, where the body starts reacting to a substance that it was previously okay with. This can lead to allergic contact dermatitis, a type of eczema.
Respiratory Issues: Inhaling some fragrances can trigger respiratory symptoms, particularly in babies with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory conditions.
EWG Skin Grade: 8
The grading system used by EWG in the Skin Deep database is as follows: 1 to 2: Low hazard 3 to 6: Moderate hazard 7 to 10: High hazard
2023.05.30 09:08 RidsBabsWhat is the wooden spoon used for?
Playing survival mode right now. I’m not very experienced at the game but I do know my way around certain parts of it. Every time I come across the drug den (at 50 26/27) on the campfire table next to the pot there’s a wooden spoon you can take. I haven’t found a use for it so was curious if it does have a use.