The post Do Cats Dream? Let’s Ask Pancake by Dr. Lauren Demos (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. One study defines dreaming as a “universal mental state characterized by hallucinatory imagery congruent with a confabulated‚ temporally ordered‚ storylike experience.”1 Rolls off the tongue‚ no? In layman’s terms‚ a dream is the emotions‚ thoughts and images obtained during sleep. Or in reality‚ it’s the part of sleep you remember‚ or don’t. The act of sleeping for both humans‚ and animals like cats‚ shares two phases: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM periods. During these phases in both species‚ similar physiological and neurological activities occur‚ suggesting that cats do dream during sleep. (Similar to humans‚ REM sleep is the phase in which feline dreaming is believed more likely to occur‚ whereas during non-REM sleep‚ the body is more focussed on repair and rebuilding.) Do Cats Dream? Pancake’s Evidence Like last week’s topic‚ the science is sparse on whether cats dream‚ and certainly what they dream about. During an interview on this very topic‚ one professor of veterinary neurology has been quoted as saying that cats certainly dream.2 I‚ too‚ agree. Cats definitely dream. Where’s my scientific data‚ you ask? Enter stage left: Pancake. Pancake is a champion sleeper. Maybe the champion. Cats spend on average around 15+ hours a day sleeping. That equates to around 70% of a cat’s life. The rest‚ obviously‚ is spent eating! I’m fairly certain Pancake has also found a Time-Turner (thanks to the British Ministry of Magic) and actually manages to sleep around 26 hours a day‚ as she travels back in time to gain an extra hour or two for sleeping‚ and an additional one for eating‚ or at least staring longingly at the food bowl… Pancake sleeps at LEAST 26 hours a day… Signs of Cat Dreaming On many occasions‚ I’ve found Pancake asleep‚ and I see signs that lead me to suspect she’s dreaming. Ear twitching‚ paw shaking‚ whiskers twitching—it’s all there. As a veterinarian‚ on more than one occasion‚ I’ve had clients call‚ concerned‚ that something is wrong with their cat. Upon observation‚ it’s apparent that some of these cats are probably dreaming. Signs your cat might be dreaming during sleep: Ear twitching Head movement Slight vocalizations Whisker twitching Rapid eye movements Paws twitching Things that can look like dreaming: Seizures (these cats will be awake‚ not sleeping) Prey chirruping (again a behavior performed when awake) Neurological tremors If you’ve not seen your cat dreaming before‚ or your cat suddenly starts displaying unusual tremors‚ shakes‚ or vocalizations‚ speak to your vet to discuss what could be causing these signs. Better yet‚ get a video—they are priceless for interpreting conditions and things that occur at home. Fun Facts About Dreaming 1. Kittens are believed to dream more often than adult cats. This is due to the fact that kittens experience more REM sleep than adults 2. Humans dream about cats in about 5% of dreams. 3. Dreaming about cats is said to potentially represent a desire for independence‚ femininity‚ or experiencing unpredictability. Ultimately‚ we don’t know for certain that cats dream. But a lot of evidence suggests that they do‚ and certainly no data exists to suggest that they don’t. Most cat owners will likely agree that their cats dream—about what‚ has yet to be determined. For Pancake‚ I would not be surprised to learn that she’s dreaming about a never-ending spread of her favorites: cheese‚ roast chicken‚ and dry cat food. Or perhaps she is paradoxically dreaming of her favorite pastime itself: sleep! The post Do Cats Dream? Let’s Ask Pancake by Dr. Lauren Demos (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Miliary Dermatitis in Cats: Causes‚ Signs &; Treatments (Vet Answer) by Dr. Rachel Ellison appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Miliary dermatitis‚ also called feline miliary dermatitis‚ may sound like an unusual name for a medical condition‚ but it is a common malady that affects our feline friends. Surprisingly‚ it is not a specific diagnosis or disease but rather a descriptive term used to characterize a distinct skin reaction pattern seen in cats. In this article‚ we’ll discuss what miliary dermatitis looks like‚ the various causes that could bring this lesion about‚ and the respective treatments that could be an option for your cat should they exhibit this condition. What Is Miliary Dermatitis? Other names for miliary dermatitis could include scabby cat disease‚ papulo crusting dermatitis‚ or miliary eczema. To break down the terminology of the full medical term‚ feline miliary dermatitis means: “Feline” is another name for a cat. “Miliary” is from the Latin word “milium” which translates to “millet.” This references millet seeds‚ which resemble the small‚ tiny bumps that describe what the skin reaction pattern can look like. “Dermatitis” means inflammation of the skin. Together‚ these terms describe not a diagnosis‚ but rather‚ a secondary skin reaction pattern that can be observed in cats. Feline miliary dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction pattern on the skin that can be present due to many different causes which will be discussed shortly. The best way to describe it physically would be a pimply rash‚ often with crusts and variable degrees of redness and hair loss. Depending on the cause‚ it can occur in specific areas or throughout the body but is most commonly found on the lower back or sides of the abdomen‚ at the base of the tail‚ or on the head‚ neck‚ or ears. Image Credit: RATT_ANARACH‚ Shutterstock What Are the Signs of Miliary Dermatitis? Small‚ pimple-like bumps called papules‚ usually around 1–2 mm in size Papules may ooze or have a crust Crusting on or around the lesion Usually present in a cluster or as a large group Itching often present Affected cat may exhibit licking‚ gnawing‚ or scratching Redness of the lesion and the skin around it Hair loss (alopecia) may be present Sometimes‚ papule lesions are felt rather than seen (unless closely inspecting skin)‚ or they may be more visible in areas with less hair present What Are the Causes of Miliary Dermatitis? Because miliary dermatitis is a secondary skin reaction in response to a primary medical condition‚ when miliary dermatitis is seen‚ it is always in response to a primary cause. This reaction pattern most often manifests in the case of a reaction to an allergy‚ infestation by parasites‚ or an infection. But with that being said‚ there is a long laundry list of possible causes for feline miliary dermatitis. Some of these include: Flea bite hypersensitivity (flea allergy)—this is the most common cause of miliary dermatitis cases Reaction to other external parasites may include ear mites‚ skin mites‚ lice‚ ticks‚ mosquitoes‚ etc. Adverse food reaction Environmental allergies (such as pollen‚ molds‚ dust mites‚ etc.) Bacterial infection of the skin Fungal disease Intestinal parasite hypersensitivity Autoimmune skin condition such as pemphigus foliaceus Adverse reaction to a drug Cat affected by FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) Image Credit: Zhuravlev Andrey‚ Shutterstock How Do I Care for a Cat With Miliary Dermatitis? If your cat appears to exhibit miliary dermatitis‚ it’s a clue that there is an underlying medical condition going on that is affecting your cat. Having them seen by their veterinarian will help get to the primary cause‚ which will then enable you to treat the problem (which subsequently will resolve the lesions). A veterinary visit will start with a thorough history and a complete physical exam. Next‚ some common actions or tests that may be needed to get to the cause of the lesion could include insect control trial‚ cytology and skin scrapings for analysis under the microscope‚ fungal culture‚ a food trial or elimination diet‚ fecal analysis‚ bloodwork‚ as well as a skin biopsy or even allergy testing. Lab work may be implemented in a stepwise fashion‚ ruling one or two causes out at a time before moving on to the next‚ if need be. It’s important to know that patience and vigilance will pay off as you seek the needed answers to help your feline friend. The specific treatment will be tailored to treating the primary cause of the miliary dermatitis. Removing the allergen or problem causing the signs will allow healing of the lesions and eventually cure the miliary dermatitis. Once the cause has been determined‚ following the recommended long-term treatment protocols your cat’s veterinarian recommends is important to help the recovery process happen as quickly as possible and prevent relapses. For example‚ if your cat has or is suspected to have flea allergy dermatitis‚ comprehensive flea control and preventatives will need to be implemented. This may include topical and/or oral medical control‚ as well as treating other animal members of the household and the environment at home. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics while fungal infections are treated with antifungals. For a cat with a food allergy (or to rule one out)‚ a strict food trial will be discussed in detail by your veterinarian. Corticosteroids or other medications to help reduce severe itching may be needed in some cases to help your cat be more comfortable as they heal with the primary treatment taking effect. Additionally‚ depending on the specific cause‚ other medications that may be utilized could include antihistamines‚ cyclosporine (Atopica)‚ topical sprays‚ medicated shampoos‚ and fatty acid supplements‚ among others. Image Credit: Lubo Ivanko‚ Shutterstock Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is Miliary Dermatitis Contagious? Because this is a skin condition that results from a primary cause‚ the miliary dermatitis itself is not contagious‚ but the cause for the skin condition in the first place could be. For example‚ causes like food or environmental allergies are not contagious‚ but parasites such as a fungal infection could be. Fleas‚ another common underlying cause of miliary dermatitis‚ can very easily travel and readily spread from one animal to another. What Is Flea Allergy Dermatitis and How Is It Related to Miliary Dermatitis? As mentioned‚ this is the most common cause of miliary dermatitis in cats. Even if you don’t ever actually see a flea or flea dirt on your cat‚ this can still be the cause. Our feline friends can be very attentive and meticulous groomers‚ which can provide the evidence we are looking for. In some cats‚ all that is needed to cause a flare-up is one flea bite due to the irritating substances in the flea’s saliva. Cats with flea allergy dermatitis are often very itchy and can have lesions‚ such as military dermatitis‚ in specific areas‚ such as the top back region just above their tail. Even without direct evidence‚ a trial treatment may be implemented to ensure and rule out that the most common cause for miliary dermatitis is not coming into play. Flea control may also be helpful for other pets in the household‚ and the environment should be treated to help stop the cycle from propagating. Your veterinarian will be able to discuss their recommendations for this in more detail‚ as well as the safety precautions that come with ensuring the correct flea treatment is used on the correct size and species type. What’s My Cat’s Long-Term Prognosis? Good news: This is a treatable condition and tends to have a great prognosis if the inciting factor is removed! So‚ if your cat’s cause of the miliary dermatitis is treated/removed‚ the miliary dermatitis should also resolve. Image Credit: fotovictoria‚ Shutterstock Conclusion Feline miliary dermatitis is an inflammatory skin reaction pattern that could be due to many things. When seen‚ it often signifies an allergy‚ most commonly due to flea bites‚ but there are many other possible causes. With proper treatment of the underlying cause‚ these lesions will resolve and be but a distant memory in your and your cat’s memory! Sources https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/miliary-dermatitis https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=17256&;id=4952871 https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/feline-miliary-dermatitis https://www.greatpetcare.com/cat-health/miliary-dermatitis-in-cats/ https://vetfocus.royalcanin.com/en/scientific/miliary-dermatitis-in-cats   Featured Image Credit: MeowDr‚ Shutterstock The post Miliary Dermatitis in Cats: Causes‚ Signs &; Treatments (Vet Answer) by Dr. Rachel Ellison appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The Philip K. Dick Award is given each year for “distinguished science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States during the previous calendar year.” Last year’s winner was The Extractionist by Kimberly Unger‚ with a special citation for Tade Thompson’s The Legacy of Molly Southbourne. The nominees for the 2024 award have just been announced; congrats to all the writers! 2024 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees: Danged Black Thing by Eugen Bacon (Apex Book Company) The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Tin House) Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey (Orbit) Wild Spaces by S. L. Coney (Tordotcom) Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila (Rosarium Publishing) These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs (Orbit) The judges for this year’s award are Kali Wallace (chair)‚ Nicky Drayden‚ Gordon Eklund‚ Christopher V. Rowe‚ and Lisa Yaszek. The Philip K. Dick Award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust‚ with the annual award ceremony sponsored by the Northwest Science Fiction Society. The winner is announced each year at Norwescon‚ which takes place in the Seattle area‚ and this year’s ceremony will be held on Friday‚ March 29th. More details will be available at the Norwescon site.

From August 2017 – January 2020‚ Keith R.A. DeCandido took a weekly look at every live-action movie based on a superhero comic that had been made to date in the Superhero Movie Rewatch. He’s periodically revisited the feature to look back at new releases‚ as well as a few he missed the first time through. The Blue Beetle was originally created in 1939 by Will Eisner &; Charles Nicholas during the first big wave of superhero comics‚ led mainly by Superman and Batman‚ but which also included the Sub-Mariner‚ Wonder Woman‚ Captain America‚ the Human Torch‚ Captain Marvel‚ the Angel‚ and tons and tons more—including the Beetle‚ who was published by Fox Comics. A policeman named Dan Garret‚ he took Vitamin 2X to give him “super-energy” and he fought crime. He was the first of three people to be called Blue Beetle‚ the third of whom got his own movie. The Garret version of the Beetle not only starred in a comic book‚ but also in a comic strip and a radio serial. Fox Comics went out of business in the 1950s‚ when superhero comics had waned in popularity after the end of World War II. They sold the plates to Charlton Comics‚ who reprinted them‚ and then in 1964 Joe Gill‚ Bill Fraccio‚ &; Tony Tallarico rebooted the character‚ turning Dan Garrett (sic) into a college professor who found a mystical Egyptian scarab that gave him super-powers. In 1966‚ Steve Ditko revamped the character again‚ with Ted Kord—a genius inventor—taking over from Garrett‚ and using gadgets to fight crime. This was the version that was the basis of Nite Owl when Alan Moore rewrote the Charlton characters for Watchmen‚ with the mainline versions of the Charlton characters crossing over into the DC Universe following 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths event‚ thanks to DC buying the rights to Charlton’s characters. Once incorporated into DC‚ Kord was changed by writer Len Wein from a young inventor into a billionaire industrialist‚ DC’s answer to Tony Stark. He was probably most prominent in the various Keith Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis-written Justice League series that launched in 1987. Kord was killed in the lead-up to Infinite Crisis in 2005 and a new Beetle was created by Keith Giffen‚ John Rogers‚ &; Cully Hammer: Jaime Reyes. Reyes went back to the Egyptian-scarab-gives-you-super-powers take on the character‚ albeit with the scarab now being an alien device. DC’s 2011 “New 52” event retconned Reyes into being the only Beetle‚ but the 2016 “Rebirth” storyline put both Garrett and Kord back in as Reyes’ predecessors. Development of a Blue Beetle film starring Reyes began in 2018‚ originally positioned as one of several direct-to-HBO-Max DC films (which the later-cancelled Batgirl was also to be part of). However‚ the film—written by Mexican-born Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and directed by Puerto Rican Ángel Manuel Soto—so impressed the suits at Warner Bros. that they made it a theatrical release. (Given the weirdness involving what is now just called Max‚ the movie was probably better off staying away from the streaming service.) The movie not only makes use of the Garrett and Kord backstories‚ but also incorporates stuff from The OMAC Project created by Greg Rucka &; Jesús Salz in 2005. The One Man Army Corps is a project to create cybernetic super-soldiers instigated by President Lex Luthor in the comics. Here it’s repurposed as a Kord Industries project‚ masterminded by Ted Kord’s sister Victoria‚ who has taken over Kord Industries since Ted’s disappearance years ago. Xolo Maridueña‚ one of the breakout stars of Cobra Kai‚ was cast as Jaime Reyes‚ and he was apparently Soto’s first choice‚ mostly on the strength of his work as Miguel Diaz on the martial arts show. The cast also includes Damián Alcázar and Elpidia Carillo as Jaime’s parents‚ George Lopez as his crazy uncle‚ Adriana Barraza as his grandmother‚ and Belissa Escobedo as his sister. In addition‚ Susan Sarandon plays Victoria‚ Bruna Marquezine plays Ted Kord’s daughter Jenny‚ and Raoul Max Trujillo plays Victoria’s henchman Ignacio Carapax‚ a.k.a. OMAC‚ based on both OMAC and on Carapax the Indestructible Man‚ one of Dan Garrett’s foes from the comics. In addition‚ Harvey Guillén takes a break from What We Do in the Shadows to play Victoria’s chief scientist. The film did poorly in theatres‚ released as it was in the middle of the writers and actors strikes that prevented the cast from doing any publicity for it. The film has only the slightest connections to the DC Extended Universe‚ and James Gunn has said that he fully intends this iteration of the Beetle—with Maridueña playing him—to be part of his DC Universe going forward.   “Host overreacting” Blue Beetle Written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto Produced by John Rickard‚ Zev Foreman Original release date: August 18‚ 2023 Image: DC Studios / Warner Bros. Pictures In the Antarctic‚ an expedition by Kord Industries seems to have unearthed “the scarab‚” which Victoria Kord has been look for for ages to make OMAC—the One Man Army Corps—project a success. Jaime Reyes has graduated from college‚ and he’s met at the Palmera City Airport by his parents‚ Alberto and Rocio‚ his conspiracy-theorist uncle Rudy‚ his grandmother‚ and his younger sister Milagro. The family puts up a good front‚ but Milagro finally breaks the news: Alberto had to close down his shop‚ mostly because he had a heart attack‚ and because their income stream has lessened‚ they’re going to lose the house. Jaime’s plans for graduate school to become a lawyer are dashed by the need to help the family make money. Milagro gets him a job as a domestic at the Kord mansion. While there‚ Jaime overhears a phone conversation between Victoria and a general singing the praises of OMAC‚ and then a physical conversation between Victoria and her niece‚ Jenny. Jenny is livid that Victoria is getting Kord Industries into weapons. The argument turns nasty‚ and Victoria’s chief of security‚ Lieutenant Ignacio Carapax‚ gets involved. Jaime—who is keeping lookout for Milagro‚ who is using the fancy bathroom they’re not allowed to use—tries to help her and gets him and Milagro fired for their trouble. Jenny apologizes to Jaime and Milagro outside and tells Jaime to come by Kord Industries the next day and she’ll see about getting him a job there. The entire family drives him to the job interview‚ embarrassing him rather aggressively with their love and affection. Jenny‚ meanwhile‚ is appalled to discover that Victoria has found the scarab. So she steals it‚ placing it in a fast-food box. Victoria’s chief scientist—whom she keeps calling “Sanchez‚” and who keeps ignoring him when he tries to tell her that isn’t his name—discovers that the scarab is missing and calls for a lockdown. Jaime sees Jenny and tries to talk to her‚ but she’s a bit distracted. And then the lockdown happens and she hands him the fast-food box‚ telling him not to open it‚ look at it‚ or touch it. He takes it home (how he was able to leave a building in lockdown is left as an exercise for the viewer)‚ and at the encouragement of his family‚ he opens it‚ looks at it‚ and touches it. Well‚ Rudy touches it first‚ as do several others‚ but it’s not until Jaime touches it that it activates. First it attaches itself to his face‚ Alien face-hugger-like‚ then it crawls up his back and embeds itself in his spine (it does not go up his ass‚ Rudy’s insistence to the contrary)‚ and then forms an entire bug-like exoskeleton around him‚ destroying his clothes. It then flies out through the roof and does a bunch of tests of flight and speed and other fun things‚ including at one point cutting a bus in half. It finally sends him back home (making another hole in the roof) and then the suit disappears‚ leaving Jaime naked on the floor. Jaime goes to Kord Industries in Rudy’s truck‚ only to find Jenny being assaulted by Carapax’s security people. Jaime rescues her (though his uncle’s truck is worse for wear‚ to Rudy’s great‚ and very loud‚ chagrin) and brings her home. Jenny explains that the scarab chooses a host‚ and specifically chose Jaime. Jenny says there’s a key that will help unlock some of the scarab’s secrets‚ but it’s in the Kord Tower and they need to steal it. Rudy has a gadget that will mess with security‚ beaming old episodes of El Chapulín Colorado into the security feed. Jenny is able to steal the key—which is a smartwatch that belonged to her father Ted—but Jaime winds up facing off against Carapax‚ who has a prototype OMAC cybernetic implant that gives him armor similar to Jaime’s exoskeleton. The fight is brutal‚ with Carapax willing to do much more harm than Jaime is‚ and they only get away because Rudy throws his gadget at Carapax’s head. Jenny takes Jaime and Rudy to the mansion she grew up in. Jaime is worried that going to a family home isn’t the best place to hide from Jenny’s aunt‚ but Jenny insists that no one’s been there since she was eight. The smartwatch opens a secret passage‚ leading to a secret lair. To Rudy’s glee‚ he discovers that Ted Kord was the Blue Beetle‚ a superhero from before Jaime’s time. Rudy sees a ton of inventions‚ calling the lair like the Batcave‚ if Batman had ADHD. According to Ted’s files‚ as accessed by Rudy‚ the only way to lose the scarab is to die. Ted’s predecessor as Blue Beetle‚ Dan Garrett‚ was the last person to wear the scarab‚ and it didn’t come off him until he died. Jaime and Jenny also flirt a bit‚ but this is all interrupted by a Kord helicopter heading right toward Jaime’s neighborhood in Edge Key. Jaime summons the suit—which he now knows from their mental link is called Khaji-Da—and together they fly off to the house to find that Carapax’s commandoes have taken his family hostage. The Blue Beetle’s rescue attempt is successful‚ as the family is able to get away—with the exception of Alberto‚ who has a heart attack and dies. That distracts Jaime enough for Carapax to capture him. The rest of the Reyes family is safe‚ at least‚ though their house is trashed. Jenny brings them back to her childhood home‚ where Ted’s old Bugship is still working. They fly it to an island near Cuba that the Kord family bought from Batista back in the mid-twentieth century‚ which is where Victoria has set up her OMAC factory. She just needs the code from the scarab. The code is transferred to Carapax‚ improving his OMAC armor by leaps and bounds. Meanwhile‚ Jenny and the Reyes family are able to sabotage the base‚ including cutting the power at one point. Jaime is able to escape before Victoria can have him killed. Victoria orders her chief scientist to stop Jaime‚ calling him “Sanchez‚” once again. Instead‚ he lets Jaime out‚ declares very loudly that his name is Doctor José Francisco Morales Rivera de la Cruz. Then‚ alas‚ Carapax kills him. Jaime’s Nana proves to be very skilled with a very large gun (Rocio at one point comments that one of these days they need to tell Jaime and Milagro about Nana’s revolutionary past‚ to the kids’ horror)‚ and between Nana’s big gun and the Blue Beetle armor‚ they make short work of the Kord thugs. However‚ the way Jaime is able to defeat Carapax is to remind him of his youth in Guatemala‚ of the fact that Victoria was responsible for his village being bombed‚ which killed his mother‚ and for experimenting on him. Carapax grabs Victoria and overloads his armor. The Reyes family and Jenny barely escape in the Bugship. Jenny takes over Kord Industries. The Reyes family returns from Alberto’s funeral to support from the entire neighborhood. Jaime flies Jenny to her family’s house in the Blue Beetle armor. With the tech in Ted’s old lair activated‚ a message comes in—from Ted‚ assuring Jenny and anyone else that he’s actually alive…   “Things don’t last—la familia‚ that’s forever” Image: DC Studios / Warner Bros. Pictures It’s really too bad this movie got hit with the perfect storm of two strikes‚ which kneecapped promotion of it‚ and the general downward trend in theatre attendance post-2020‚ because it’s an absolute delight. One thing I particularly love is that Jaime’s transformation happens in front of his entire family. There’s no ridiculous hiding of who he really is from his family to “protect” them or whatever rationalization has been used over the decades to justify heroes lying to their loved ones. No‚ the Reyes family is right there behind him all the way—whether it’s coming home from the airport‚ going to a job interview‚ or rescuing him from an evil industrialist. The meme that characters of color aren’t “relatable” has come up in relation to this film (see also Ms. Marvel)‚ and it’s so much horseshit. You’re trying to tell me that a college graduate who has to struggle to help support his family isn’t relatable? Overenthusiastic parents and a sweet grandmother who nonetheless brooks no bullshit isn’t relatable? A bratty younger sister and a crazy-ass uncle isn’t relatable? Please… Xolo Maridueña’s easygoing charm‚ earnestness‚ and ability to take a punch both metaphorically and literally that has served him so well on Cobra Kai‚ all make him a perfect Jaime. And there’s not a single wrong note in any of the casting of his family‚ as everyone just nails it. (I’m a little iffy about Nana’s alleged past as a revolutionary in Mexico‚ as she’d have to be about 125 years old for that to work‚ timeline-wise‚ but whatever.) Even George Lopez’s hey-look-at-me-I’m-funny OTT act works with Rudy—mainly because‚ as I said‚ lots of people have that one crazy-ass uncle… (I have two. They’re twins.) The movie also wears its influences on its sleeve‚ from its use of the entire lengthy history of the Beetle in ninety years’ worth of comics to several of the weapons Jaime has the Beetle armor create coming straight out of pop culture (a sword from Final Fantasy‚ a ray gun from The Fifth Element). I also must confess to loving the fact that the entire plot is catalyzed by Milagro’s desire to take a shit in a nice bathroom. Indeed‚ the poor treatment of Latin Americans in this country (and by this country‚ via Carapax’s backstory‚ which even includes recordings of President Ronald Reagan talking about the U.S.’s involvement in Guatemala) is never forgotten. Victoria’s utter disregard for the brown people in her employ is cartoonish in many ways‚ but it’s also depressingly familiar. (Unfortunately‚ the awful sexism that is the reason why Victoria is so bitter—the company was given to Ted by their father‚ not her‚ even though she was the one who built the place with her father—is never really examined in any depth.) I’m really glad that James Gunn is on the record as saying that this character will survive the transition from the DCEU to Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU‚ because we really need more of him.   That concludes the latest iteration of the Great Superhero Movie Rewatch. We’ll be back probably in the summer‚ where we’ll look at the late 2023 releases of The Marvels and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom‚ as well as whatever films are released in early 2024. Keith R.A. DeCandido has been writing about popular culture for this site since 2011‚ primarily but not exclusively writing about Star Trek and screen adaptations of superhero comics. He is also the author of more than 60 novels‚ more than 100 short stories‚ and around 50 comic books‚ both in a variety of licensed universes from Alien to Zorro‚ as well as in worlds of his own creation. Read his blog‚ follow him on Facebook‚ The Site Formerly Known As Twitter‚ Instagram‚ Threads‚ and Blue Sky‚ and follow him on YouTube and Patreon.

There’s been a ton of fan-made content from the indie-hit Lethal Company‚ one of them being this jaw-dropping animated cinematic trailer. I can’t imagine how long this took someone‚ but they’re clearly incredibly talented. You can go ahead and watch this nearly two-minute cinematic trailer that’ll blow your mind. Talented Lethal Company fan creates a stunning animated cinematic trailer Now this makes me want a real Lethal Company animation. Revealed on the game’s subreddit‚ and garnering over 20‚000 upvotes‚ the user “GibbsonTV_YT” really showcased some genuine talent with this professional-looking animated cinematic trailer. I animated a cinematic trailer for Lethal Company byu/GibbsonTV_YT inlethalcompany With a touch of realism but still sticking to a cartoonish look‚ this trailer demonstrates everything players love about this multiplayer horror hit. It starts off strong‚ with a slow opening showi...

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. It is no exaggeration to say that one of Big Pharma’s biggest players‚ Pfizer‚ has had an excellent pandemic – over $100 billion in revenue in 2022 alone. The rate at which this growth has been declining since Covid apparently made a disappearing act and the number of people willing to be vaccinated against it decreased dramatically‚ speaks clearly to how important the jab it produced in record time has been to Pfizer. It logically follows that the giant would plausibly have done a lot of marketing “cackling” to protect this “golden goose.” And that is what a lawsuit brought by Texan authorities pretty much alleges – that Pfizer went as far as to use false and deceptive marketing to sell its vaccine and pushed for online censorship of criticism. The lawsuit was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‚ and now Pfizer is engaging in maneuvering to deal with the accusations – evidently hoping it has a better chance before a federal court than it does before the 99th Judicial District Court for Lubbock County. Just days before the end of 2023‚ Pfizer’s attorneys asserted that the Lubbock-based court had no jurisdiction in the case‚ and asked that it be moved to the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas. And while at it‚ they naturally want the whole lawsuit dismissed‚ citing things like shielded liability thanks to the PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act – but also invoking speech protections that are supposed to be guaranteed by the First Amendment. This last curious bit of legal gymnastics has to do with Pfizer acting on behalf of the federal government to produce the vaccine‚ adding that the corporation therefore seeks “immunity” – i.e.‚ lack of liability – from the accusations listed in the filing. “Pfizer is not liable because Pfizer did not make any statement nor take any action that had the capacity or tendency to deceive consumers‚” is specifically how the US multinational phrased it in the motion to move‚ and dismiss the case. Pfizer reacted fairly swiftly to the Texas AG lawsuit filed on the last day of November‚ which claims that false‚ misleading or deceptive claims had been made by the company concerning its Covid vaccine. The goal‚ according to AG Paxton? An attempt to “intimidate and censor critics of the vaccine” which “violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in marketing claims the company made about the efficacy‚ duration of protection and ability of its Covid-19 vaccine to prevent transmission.” On censorship‚ the lawsuit states: “One of the persons Pfizer sought to intimidate and silence was journalist Alex Berenson. Throughout early 2021‚ Berenson maintained a highly active Twitter page with hundreds of thousands of followers where he explained his findings and views concerning COVID-19‚ Pfizer’s vaccine‚ and other related issues. Many of Berenson’s claims were true at the time he made them and have been corroborated by subsequent data and analyses. Indeed‚ it recently has been revealed that Pfizer had reason to know of the veracity of Berenson’s claims when he made them and that the company nonetheless plotted to silence Berenson and eliminate his speech from public discourse.” The lawsuit states how Pfizer board member Scott Gottlieb flagged journalist and Covid vaccine critic Alex Berenson’s tweet to Twitter. The post Pfizer Attempts To Dismiss Texas Lawsuit That Accused It of Working To Censor Vaccine Criticism appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Fox Town Hall With DeSantis Derailed by Sunrise Movement Activists

This article first appeared in Issue 15 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS. Boxing and cheerleading collide in the case of the pom-pom crab (Lybia edmondsoni). Also known as the boxer crab‚ it has evolved to use the stinging power of anemones to its advantage by holding the venomous species Triactis producta in each claw.The defense mechanism increases feeding opportunities for the anemone as it’s waved through the water‚ but there’s a price. If the crab loses an anemone‚ it can rip the remaining one in half as a thrifty way of regaining a second pom-pom. Savage‚ but effective.  Subscribe to our newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month. As if being ripped in half wasn't enough‚ this practice has resulted in T. producta having low genetic diversity; it causes the anemones to asexually reproduce‚ meaning they're all clones of each other. On the upside‚ previous research has suggested that living as a boxing glove for crabs does provide the anemones with more access to food and oxygen than they'd be able to get on their own.Whilst their strength is mighty (albeit enhanced by their pom-poms)‚ the crabs themselves aren’t heavyweights when it comes to size‚ with a carapace reaching only 13 millimeters (0.5 inches). But what their body lacks in size‚ it more than makes up for in appearance; pom-pom crabs sport thin black rings around their legs‚ and a colorful pattern of polygons on their carapace.CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews‚ experts‚ deep dives‚ fun facts‚ news‚ book excerpts‚ and much more. Issue 18 is out now.

New research reveals that magic mushrooms have existed since before the dinosaurs became extinct‚ although exactly why fungi developed the ability to produce psychedelic compounds remains a mystery. Tracing the history of the genes that give rise to the mind-altering substance psilocybin‚ the study authors found that the mushroom genus Psilocybe first evolved the enzymes required to synthesize the compound almost 70 million years ago.Around 165 different species of Psilocybe mushroom have been identified worldwide‚ with the majority being psychoactive. However‚ despite the popularity of shrooms as recreational drugs and‚ more recently‚ therapeutic tools‚ it took until 2017 for the genes underlying the biosynthesis of psilocybin to be identified.As it turns out‚ the compound is synthesized by a quartet of enzymes that convert the amino acid tryptophan into psilocybin and whose genes are grouped together in what’s known as a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). Until now‚ though‚ researchers had only identified this BGC in five different Psilocybe species‚ making it difficult to trace the evolutionary history of these genes.To resolve this‚ the study authors compared the genomes of 71 different Psilocybe mushrooms‚ analyzing the distribution of 2‚983 genes in order to create a type of genetic family tree known as a phylogeny. Revealing where in the mushrooms’ evolutionary history different genes emerged‚ the resulting phylogeny indicates that the psilocybin BGC first appeared roughly 67 million years ago.This means that magic mushrooms were around for the last million years or so of the dinosaur age‚ which came to a dramatic end during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. Based on the researchers’ analyses‚ psilocybin first appeared in wood-rotting fungi species but was later transferred to mushrooms that grow in soil and animal dung.In spite of the profound effects of psilocybin on human consciousness‚ it’s clear from this study that magic mushrooms evolved long before even our earliest ancestors appeared on the scene. It’s therefore highly unlikely that the ecological function of psilocybin has anything to do with humans‚ so why did the compound evolve in the first place?Given the rarity with which non-human animals have been observed consuming shrooms‚ the study authors say psilocybin was probably never intended for large critters. Sadly‚ then‚ the prospect of T. Rex and friends living out their last days in a psychedelic haze is slim.On the other hand‚ “fungal-insect interactions are ancient and widespread and provide a more logical hypothesis for development of psilocybin as a chemical defense in mushrooms‚” write the researchers. “To date‚ this has been the most commonly asserted hypothesis for the ecological role of psilocybin‚ but empirical studies are still lacking.”Though plausible‚ this theory is somewhat undermined by the fact that insects regularly prey on Psilocybe mushrooms or lay eggs in them. This would suggest that either the bugs have developed a degree of immunity to psilocybin‚ or the compound was never meant to deter insects in the first place.Ultimately‚ the researchers are unable to explain why mushrooms became psychedelic‚ although‚ whatever the reason‚ these findings reveal that it’s been a long old trip.The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

By meshing together real heart tissue and sophisticated soft robotic technology‚ scientists have created a biorobotic heart that beats like a living organ. The model captures the complexity of a human heart in a way that has not been possible until now‚ and could be a game-changer when it comes to trying out new treatments and surgical procedures for heart disease.Before any medical intervention can be used in a real patient‚ it must be thoroughly tested to check for safety and efficacy. For procedures involving the heart‚ there are a couple of options available to researchers: simulators and animal models.The current simulators have a short shelf-life‚ only remaining usable for a matter of hours‚ and can’t completely mimic all the individual structures that make up a heart. Animal studies‚ while still very valuable in many areas of medical research‚ are expensive‚ time-consuming‚ and undeniably controversial. Efforts to reduce the need for live animals to be used in research have seen advances in lab-grown organoids‚ as well as replacement with computer models or cell lines where possible. Now‚ we can add a soft robotic beating heart to that list.The muscle around the left ventricle was replaced with a silicone-based‚ air-actuated pump.Image credit: Manisha Singh“The simulator has a huge benefit as a research tool for those who study different heart valve conditions and interventions‚” said senior author and biomedical engineer Ellen Roche of MIT in a statement. “It can serve as a surgical training platform for clinicians‚ medical students‚ and trainees‚ allow device engineers to study their new designs‚ and even help patients better understand their own disease and potential treatments.”Specifically‚ the team were focused on a condition called mitral regurgitation‚ which affects an estimated 24.2 million people globally. In this disorder‚ the mitral valve between the left atrium and ventricle of the heart does not close properly‚ meaning blood can flow the wrong way.For patients‚ this can cause a number of symptoms‚ from shortness of breath to swollen limbs‚ and even heart failure if left untreated. Surgery to correct the problem is possible but very tricky‚ due to the highly complex structure of the valve.To create a new way of studying a healthy and a diseased mitral valve‚ the team used a pig heart as a base‚ removing the thick muscle that surrounds the left ventricle and replacing it with a robotic silicone pump. When inflated‚ the pump squeezes and twists the heart just like a real muscle would‚ with impressive blood-pumping power.         By damaging the mitral valve to make it leaky‚ the team could then allow cardiac surgeons to go to town on the biorobotic heart‚ trying out three different surgical techniques to correct the problem: anchoring the valve tissues so they wouldn’t leak; implanting a device to help the valve close properly; or replacing the valve altogether with a prosthetic one.All three procedures worked. You can watch the motion of the valves in the biorobotic heart in the video below – you'd never know the pumping was powered by silicone‚ rather than muscle.       “It was really interesting for the surgeons to see every step‚” said Roche. “When you’re working with patients‚ you can’t visualize the process because there’s blood in the heart.” The artificial blood the system uses is colorless‚ so doesn’t obscure the view‚ but the robot heart can still be subjected to all the imaging methods that are used in hospitals. Having access to a system like this could prove invaluable for cardiac surgery training. The team have high hopes for their innovation‚ and are now working to extend the shelf life and shorten the production time. It may also be possible to replace the pig heart with a 3D-printed synthetic human heart. For the researchers‚ the goal is to get these devices approved and onto the market as quickly as possible – because‚ as Roche put it‚ “Expediting and improving these processes will ultimately benefit patients.”The study is published in the journal Device.