Glorifying Self Harm: Alphabet Activist Group Celebrates Teens 'Cutting' Themselves

American musician Kevin Jonas, best known as the lead guitarist of the Jonas Brothers, has recently revealed that he was diagnosed with and received surgery for a form of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma (BCC).In a video posted to Instagram, Jonas showed the cancerous patch of skin on his forehead. "So today I am getting a basal cell carcinoma removed from my head. Yes, that is an actual little skin cancer guy that just started to grow. And now, I have to get surgery to remove it,” said Jonas.       IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.In a short clip taken after the surgery, Jonas put out a call to viewers, saying, “Make sure to get those moles checked people.”What is basal cell carcinoma?BCC is a type of skin cancer that develops in the basal cells, a type of cell found in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Under normal circumstances, basal cells divide to make new skin cells, which push older skin cells to the surface to die and be sloughed off.Basal cells are found at the lowest part of the epidermis.Image credit: Designua/Shutterstock.com; modified by IFLScienceHowever, in BCC, mutations in the DNA of basal cells cause them to rapidly and uncontrollably divide when they would otherwise die, eventually leading to the formation of tumorous lesions in the epidermis. These can invade deeper into the skin and tissues below if left untreated.How common is basal cell carcinoma?According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, BCC is the most common form of skin cancer, with an estimated 3.6 million cases diagnosed in the US each year.What are the risk factors for basal cell carcinoma?Anyone can get BCC, but the main risk factor for developing it is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light; that’s because UV can damage the DNA in our cells. As a result, exposing the skin to the Sun without protection, working an outdoorsy job, or using a tanning bed can increase the risk of developing BCC, so avoiding the latter and making sure to slap on sunscreen can be one way to reduce it.Having a lighter skin tone, burning easily, having naturally blonde or red hair, or light eyes (such as blue or green) can also increase the risk of developing BCC. Lighter skin tones have less melanin, a compound in the skin that can protect against sun damage. However, it’s important to note that people with darker skin tones can still get sun damage and thus be at risk of BCC. What are the signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma?Though Jonas called it a mole, and BCCs can be mistaken for one when they come in the form of a black or brown bump, they can actually have a variety of different appearances. BCC can look like a round growth that’s the same color as the skin, a scaly raised patch, a sore that keeps coming back, a small pink growth with a dent in the middle, or a flat, shiny scar-like area.In many cases, BCCs are painless, but sometimes the affected area can have numbness or pins-and-needles, be extremely sensitive, or itchy.The signs above are by no means an exhaustive list; the most important thing is to check regularly for any new and unusual changes on the skin. Whilst BCC often develops on the head or neck, areas that get a lot of sun exposure, it can occur on any part of the skin, so it’s key to check everywhere.How is basal cell carcinoma treated?The most common approach to treating BCC is surgery, in which the lesion is cut away alongside some of the healthy skin surrounding it to try and ensure all of the cancer is removed. The removed tissue will then be examined under a microscope and if it’s found that some cancer cells are in the healthy-looking skin, further treatment is required – this often involves a more complex procedure called MOHS surgery.BCC can grow deep when left untreated and on rare occasions, spread to other parts of the body. In this case, treatment can involve further surgery, radiation therapy, and anti-cancer medications.However, when treated early, BCC can often be successfully removed, although it’s recommended to keep an eye out as it can return.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Adding to a growing list of body parts in which microplastics have been found, researchers have now, for the first time, identified the problematic particles in human penises.Microplastics are fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in length and can come from a variety of sources, such as plastic manufacturing or the degradation of plastic items. Having seemingly infiltrated their way into every nook and cranny, some are concerned as to the implications for our health. The first step in this is establishing where they’re present in the body, and scientists from the University of Miami, University of Colorado, and research institution Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon set to finding out if they could be found in penises.To do this, the team took penile tissue samples from six individuals – with one of the samples acting as a control – undergoing surgery to treat erectile dysfunction. They then analyzed the samples for microplastics using a technique called Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) microspectroscopy, which can tell scientists which microplastics are present, how big they are, and how much of them there is.The analysis revealed that microplastics could be found in 80 percent of the samples, ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers – although another microscopy technique identified some that were just 2 micrometers (thousandths of a millimeter, if you need an idea of just how small that is).These microplastics (MPs) were of seven different types, though the most prevalent was polyethylene terephthalate at 47.8 percent. More commonly known as PET, this plastic is often used in clothing and food and drinks packaging.The second most common plastic in the sample, at 34.7 percent, was polypropylene, which has a wide range of applications from firmer food packaging to plastic laboratory items.“Our study presents a groundbreaking investigation into the presence of MPs in penile tissue,” the authors write. “By shedding light on the presence of MPs in human tissues, our research adds a crucial dimension to the ongoing discourse about the effects of environmental pollutants on human health.”Though this study marks the first time microplastics have been found in penile tissue, it’s not the first time that they’ve been found in the general area. Earlier this year, scientists detected “significant concentrations” of microplastics in human (and dog) testes, whilst a later study found them in every single one of the 36 semen samples the researchers tested.In all cases, though pointing out that more research is required, scientists have pointed to the possible implications for reproductive health – in this study, positing whether microplastics might have an effect on erectile dysfunction.Speaking to Sky News, lead author Dr Ranjith Ramasamy concluded: "Since we know [microplastic] lingers in the penis, we need to now focus on research that could explain mechanism.”The study is published in the International Journal of Impotence Research.

Fire alarm puller, whacky conspiracy theorist, anti-Semite, and far-left Congressman Jamaal Bowman is facing a tough primary challenge, and in an attempt to turn his political fortunes around, he journeyed over to CBS and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, where the eponymous host helped sanitize his history of spouting Hamas propaganda while also attacking Republicans for their opposition to Critical Race Theory. Colbert asked Bowman, who is also a former principal, “One of the biggest fights going on, sort of, culture fights going on in the United States right now is in some school districts, generally controlled by Republican legislatures, have outlawed the teaching of what they call or consider Critical Race Theory, but rarely is, lessons on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. As somebody who used a head of school, what's your response to that? What are the values—what is the value of keeping that in schools?”     For Bowman, proper education is learning less about George Washington and more about cop killers. Still, despite the softball nature of Colbert’s question, Bowman couldn’t manage to answer it. Instead, he waxed poetic about diversity, “First of all, Republicans are bullies, man. They’re trying to bully the entire country into one singular way of thinking and our strength is our diversity as a nation. The fact that we come from different countries, have different backgrounds, different experiences, we need to learn more about each other because that's how you bring the country together and people together.” He also spread disinformation about Republicans, “We have to do everything in our power to push back against banning of books, you know, taking over school districts, fighting back against DEI. We’re not going to be our most aspirational selves as a nation unless we embrace diversity, so that's what we have to do.” Speaking of disinformation, Colbert followed up, “Spoiler, the polling is a little rough right now. You’re down by 17 points in some polls. Your opponent has criticized your opposition to U.S. support for Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Okay, that’s a point of tension all across America right now. Especially in the Democratic Party in the primaries right now. Can you clarify where you stand and do you understand why some people have gotten upset about what you said?”     Bowman is down in the polls, so he is desperately trying to get people to forget that he called reports of rape by Hamas “propaganda” and attended a fundraiser with someone who “was happy to see” the attacks on October 7 and Colbert is helping him do it, allowing Bowman to claim: Yes, October 7th was incredibly traumatic. It was a war crime, it was a terrorist attack. We condemned it right away because they killed innocent civilians. It was horrible. However, the response has been collective punishment and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and that's why we called very early on for a ceasefire and for us a permanent cease-fire, it means stop the fighting, release the hostages, get humanitarian aid in there because famine is setting in and children are starving to death, and please, please, please, let's find a pathway to peace. Colbert would spend the rest of the segment projecting his belief that the war in Gaza is one giant tragedy onto Bowman, allowing him to portray himself as someone who simply wants to find a ceasefire and a two-state solution instead of what he really is, which is an anti-Semitic Hamas propagandist. Here is a transcript for the June 19-taped show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 6/20/2024 12:20 AM ET  STEPHEN COLBERT: Okay I want to talk to the former principal here. One of the biggest fights going on, sort of, culture fights going on in the United States right now is in some school districts, generally controlled by Republican legislatures, have outlawed the teaching of what they call or consider Critical Race Theory, but rarely is, lessons on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. As somebody who used to head a school, what's your response to that? What are the values—what is the value of keeping that in schools? JAMAAL BOWMAN: First of all, Republicans are bullies, man. They’re trying to bully the entire country into one singular way of thinking and our strength is our diversity as a nation. The fact that we come from different countries, have different backgrounds, different experiences, we need to learn more about each other because that's how you bring the country together and people together and so we have to do everything in our power to push back against banning of books, you know, taking over school districts, fighting back against DEI. We’re not going to be our most aspirational selves as a nation unless we embrace diversity, so that's what we have to do. COLBERT: Okay, your primary is this Tuesday? BOWMAN: Yes. COLBERT: Is this Tuesday. Spoiler, the polling is a little rough right now. You’re down by 17 points in some polls. Your opponent has criticized your opposition to U.S. support for Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Okay, that’s a point of tension all across America right now. BOWMAN: Yes. COLBERT: Especially in the Democratic Party in the primaries right now. Can you clarify where you stand and do you understand why some people have gotten upset about what you said? BOWMAN: Yes, October 7th was incredibly traumatic. It was a war crime, it was a terrorist attack. We condemned it right away because they killed innocent civilians. It was horrible. However, the response has been collective punishment and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and that's why we called very early on for a ceasefire and for us a permanent cease-fire, it means stop the fighting, release the hostages, get humanitarian aid in there because famine is setting in and children are starving to death, and please, please, please, let's find a pathway to peace. Because this is -- and this is not just about, you know, Gaza and Israel in the Middle East, my entire life it seems like we've been engaged in some kind of war and conflict. We continue to spend trillions of dollars killing people and we can't even find enough money to provide food and clean water to children all of the world and so my hope is peace, my hope is a two-state solution, but we have to put the guns down to come to the table to negotiate for peace. COLBERT: And what do you think -- what do you think -- the world sees what's happening in Gaza right now and their heart breaks for the tragedy for the Palestinian people and the innocent people who have died and their heart breaks for the horror that was inflicted on the Israeli people on October 7th. What do you think the United States’s role is in exercising what power and influence we have two make the peace come about or to achieve the two-state solution?  We've been trying it for so many years, we've been involved for so many years. Ultimately, what do you think our job is and how can we best use our position in the world? BOWMAN: Yeah, we have a foreign policy that pretty much follows the idea of peace through strength and what that means is we need to have a very strong military so that we can scare other countries into doing what we say. I wish we would use our wealth and our resources and our means to lead with diplomacy. That's what I wish.  We already have the mightiest military, can we use our resources to fight climate change? Can we use our resources to make sure every child has clean water? Can we use our resources, in this particular case, to actually build the Palestinian state through policy, but also through resources? Don't just talk about it, take the steps to ensure this to ensure a two-state solution so that the Israelis are safe and they have self-determination Palestinians are safe and have self-determination.

My childhood was full of joy and rewarding experiences, and I owe it all to my grandparents since they were the ones who took care of my brother and me most of the time. The post Survival skills I’ve learned from my grandparents appeared first on Survivopedia.

Can Slurpees fight crime? The police department in Takoma Park, Maryland, seems to think so, as cops will be handing out “tickets” in the form of free 7-Eleven Slurpee coupons. Whenever officers see a child making a good decision, they’ll issue one of these “tickets.” The program was created with the help of 7-Eleven to quell the sharp increase in juvenile crime and build rapport between the police force and the local youth. “Montgomery County, Maryland. Somehow, it’s right outside D.C., and this might explain why it has become ground zero for woke lunacy,” Dave Rubin comments. “It was basically a middle- to upper-middle-class community for many decades; they now have a big problem with crime.” While free slushies for good deeds are a nice idea, Rubin points out that it might not be the healthiest form of positive reinforcement. “If kids are doing something good, I guess they’re trying to incentivize good behavior, we’re going to hop them up full with sugar. That seems like a great idea. Let’s get them all hopped up on sugar, let’s get them closer to diabetes,” he mocks. “They can be fatter and everything else, but at least they won’t be breaking into 7-Eleven to steal the hot dogs that have been sitting there since 1972,” Rubin adds. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The star of Disney+ show "The Acolyte" released a song calling her critics propagandists and racists, while claiming she is oppressed and still feeling the affects of slavery.Amandla Stenberg, who has been acting since at least the age of 13, adamantly rejects the idea of partaking in discourse in the viral music video."Happy Juneteenth," she wrote on her Instagram page, attaching the video. "And to those who are flooding me with intolerable racism — since it took me 72 hours on my laptop to make this song and video, u got 72 hours to respond. and I expect choreo!!" she added.The song, which is likely titled "Discourse," starts with a reference to a recently recirculated video of Stenberg's 2018 interview with host Trevor Noah. A clip was widely shared that quoted Stenberg as saying her goal from a recent performance was "white people crying.""I was running from city to city to speak on a story, you know the one, police murdering a black boy," Stenberg said in the song. "My people cried in theaters finding release, white people cried they could see us as human beings."'I'm sick and f***ing tired of suppressing my rage. 400 years of taking their bulls*** to compartmentalize like my ancestors had to encaged.'After a chorus that said, "We so bored, don't f*** with your discourse," Stenberg then complained about the misappropriation of the word "woke.""They spinning woke, bastardize it and appropriate it. Last I recall, woke was something we created, speak truth to power, keep an eye out for you silly racists.""Now they use it to describe anything they threatened by ... it was all about people recognizing bigotry, the power of community, not fodder for your clickbait," she continued.Stenberg's Star Wars show has been heavily criticized for being one of the most woke and unwatchable products in the franchise's history. Not only did the show redefine the canon of the series, but it has become increasingly and openly activist programming.The show has been purposely geared toward more diverse and female characters, redefining lore with lesbian witches, nonsensical characters, and additional gay love interests for the lead character.In her progressive rap, Stenberg's last verse talked about suppressed feelings of oppression that she has due to slavery."I'm sick and f***ing tired of suppressing my rage. 400 years of taking their bulls*** to compartmentalize like my ancestors had to encaged.""If you don't confront the pain that you live with it'll manifest as addiction, disease, and hate. I've seen the infection repression can give ya, I'm not gonna be the next one sent to an early grave," she concluded.The former child actor has perfectly encapsulated the ideas of progressive ideology, feigning oppression for social brownie points while being in a position of supreme privilege.Fans on Stenberg's Instagram page were somewhat forgiving, applauding her for her lyrics and alleged bravery."Wow Amandla, I actually love this personality," a fan wrote.However, on different iterations on X, the viewers were not so kind, seemingly causing the actress to limit who can view her account.One viewer pointed out that her father is white."She's literally a millionaire. How oppressed," another viewer wrote.With "The Acolyte" receiving an impressively low 14% fan rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is it possible that Stenberg has missed the mark as to why audiences have reacted poorly to her?Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

GIMME GIMME! Dr. Strangetweet and Others GLORIOUSLY Take Cori Bush's Juneteenth Post APART Point-By-Point

Following the best Qi2 charging stands available out there, Satechi unveils its new Wireless Car Charger, bringing twice the charging speed for iPhone users while they're driving. The company says this accessory is perfect for users on their daily commutes, road trips, and everything in between, as the new car charger delivers 15W of power for a fast, efficient charge. Satechi's new Qi2 Wireless Car Charger offers a strong magnetic attachment to keep your device securely in place, whether cruising on the highway or off-roading on rough terrain. The design has been upgraded from previous models, and a soft silicone charging puck protects users' phones from scratching and prevents the puck from cracking over time. It has a sleek Space Gray design that conveniently clips onto the user's car vents for simple setup and hands-free use, and Satechi says it won't weaken with frequent use, as it describes the product as "sturdy and durable." Image source: Satechi The accessory comes with a one-meter USB-C cable and a 20W CLA that can be used directly to charge peripherals or even someone else's iPhone if they need extra juice during travel. Satechi says this new Qi2 Wireless Car Charger is perfect for commuters, road trippers, rideshare and food delivery drivers, and others who need reliable, efficient charging on the go. Thanks to the iPhone supporting the new Qi2 standard, it means users can charge with up to 15W wirelessly, as opposed to the 7.5W limitation of standard Qi devices. With that, the Qi2 Wireless Car charger works with any Android phone with Qi2 standard and iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 models. You can already order your accessory on Satechi's website for $59.99. BGR will let you know as more third-party accessory makers release their Qi2 solutions. Don't Miss: Satechi Qi2 wireless charging stand review: Best 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 options The post Satechi unveils new iPhone Wireless Car Charger that’s twice as fast appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $30 Thermacell mosquito repeller, $189 AirPods Pro, free LED smart bulb, $349 Dyson, more Best Ring Video Doorbell deals in June 2024 Today’s deals: $150 off GEEKOM mini PC, $21 TOZO earbuds, $90 Ninja Air Fryer Pro, $360 Galaxy A35, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2024: Get $380+ free

After is discovery in 2023, Reddit readers have just picked up on the depiction of a character resembling Marge Simpson on the inner lid of a 3,500-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. The coffin, belonging to Tadi Ist, the daughter of a high priest in El-Ashmunein, features a yellow-skinned woman in a long green garment with blue hair shaped in a rectangular style, strikingly similar to the iconic character from the popular TV show "The Simpsons."  This fairly accurate comparison, was first shared on Reddit, sparking excitement and humor among users. Many commented on the uncanny resemblance and joked about the possibility that "Egypt predicted 'The Simpsons.'" While the depiction's resemblance to Marge Simpson is fascinating, experts believe it more likely represents Tadi Ist herself, portrayed as she journeys to the afterlife.  Read moreSection: ArtifactsOther ArtifactsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesAfricaRead Later