Featured Essays Dune Adapting Dune to the Screen: Three Different Interpretations of Herbert’s Vision Which of these adaptations is the most faithful to the book—and does that make it the best? By Kara Kennedy | Published on February 26‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed Against all odds‚ Frank Herbert’s 1965 science fiction novel Dune has been adapted to the screen three times‚ though with varying degrees of faithfulness. David Lynch’s penchant for the grotesque shines through in his 1984 film Dune. John Harrison takes a Shakespearean approach in his 2000 television miniseries Frank Herbert’s Dune. Most recently‚ Denis Villeneuve showcases the visual beauty of the desert in his 2021 film Dune: Part One. Although many things have changed in the political‚ social‚ and cultural landscape since the 1960s‚ Herbert’s book remains the same. So‚ directors‚ producers‚ and other cast and crew have had to make numerous decisions about how to adapt this story to their time period and audience. What they choose to keep‚ remove‚ or change impacts how true their adaptation is to the original novel. Even though all of these directors said publicly that they wanted to stay faithful to the source material‚ ultimately each had to make a choice about how strongly to hold to this conviction. Here are a few of the features in each adaptation that either succeed in staying faithful or miss the mark. Dune (1984) In David Lynch’s film Dune (1984)‚ Paul Atreides dismisses his teacher Thufir Hawat’s concern that he has his back to the door‚ while other teachers Gurney Halleck and Dr. Yueh also stand behind Paul. (Credit: Universal Pictures) The script for Dune (1984) includes many lines taken directly from the book‚ especially in the first half of the film. In an early scene where Paul Atreides’ trusted teachers Thufir Hawat‚ Gurney Halleck‚ and Dr. Yueh enter a room with Paul sitting at a desk‚ the conversation is almost identical: PAUL: I know‚ Thufir. I’m sitting with my back to the door. I heard you‚ Dr. Yueh‚ and Gurney coming down the hall.THUFIR: Those sounds could be imitated.PAUL: I’d know the difference. There are many other examples of lines recognizable from the book in Lynch’s Dune. Herbert himself noted that he could hear his dialogue all the way through the movie and thought fans would enjoy tracking down the lines after watching it. Interestingly‚ one iconic line that isn’t in the book is “the spice must flow‚” though this phrase from the film still accurately captures the strong desire for spice that drives the various factions in the Imperium. Lynch’s Dune remains the only adaptation that attempts to stay faithful to the book’s inner monologues by including voice-overs. Throughout the film‚ the camera will hold steady on an actor’s face as they pause silently and a voice-over reveals what they are thinking in that moment. For example‚ after the conversation between Thufir and Paul mentioned above‚ the camera lingers on Thufir’s face as his voice-over says‚ “Yes‚ perhaps he would at that.” This line reflects Thufir’s inner thought from the book and clues the audience in to the idea that Paul has special perceptive abilities and little reason to worry about his personal safety. Later‚ after Jessica shows a hint of concern for Paul before he is left alone with the Reverend Mother Mohiam‚ Paul’s voice-over asks‚ “What does she fear?” Not only does this build suspense for the following scene with the gom jabbar test‚ it helps the audience understand Paul’s thought patterns. The voice-overs align with the book by letting viewers get inside the characters’ heads and experience events alongside them. However‚ Lynch also took liberties with the source material that move his film further from the themes and concepts important to Herbert’s story. The weirding modules are one of the biggest changes. In the book‚ the Atreides’ advantage in combat lies with their strong training by fighters such as Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck. Paul has an additional advantage because he was trained in the supreme control of mind and body by his mother‚ a member of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. But in the film‚ weirding modules are introduced as the Atreides’ secret advantage. They take the name of the Bene Gesserit’s ‘weirding way’ and appear to work by harnessing the power of sound‚ but these point-and-shoot weapons require no skill to use. In his book A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune. An Oral History (2023)‚ Max Evry suggests that they reflect Lynch’s interest in Transcendental Meditation and the power that one word or mantra can access. This may be true‚ but ironically the modules undercut the mental and physical strength and skill of both the Fremen warriors and the Bene Gesserit from the book. They unnecessarily add technological gadgets to a story that originally uplifted humans’ abilities over technology. Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000) In John Harrison’s television miniseries Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000)‚ Jessica and the Fremen perform ritualistic motions of respect including bowing their heads and making gestures with their hands when Reverend Mother Ramallo arrives in the sietch. (Credit: Syfy) Harrison’s miniseries Frank Herbert’s Dune takes special pains to explore the political and religious themes from the book and depict the Fremen as a multi-faceted desert people. The miniseries focuses on the political intrigue between the various factions of House Atreides‚ House Harkonnen‚ the Imperial household‚ and the Guild and Bene Gesserit. In a Shakespearean-influenced style‚ characters frequently reveal their political motives and schemes‚ including at the banquet on Arrakis. The Emperor and Princess Irulan also take on bigger roles‚ though largely in keeping with their descriptions from the book. Religious influence plays a significant role in the story‚ as Paul and Jessica use myths and propaganda to their advantage in order to secure their place among the Fremen. Yet the Fremen are shown to be a strong and culturally vibrant desert people with their own traditions and rituals‚ even though they remain susceptible to Paul’s charisma. Harrison went so far as to hire a choreographer to design the hand gestures and body movements of the Fremen to bring their culture to life on screen. For example‚ Stilgar shows his respect for his crysknife by bringing it up to his forehead in a ritualistic motion before lowering it. Other Fremen bow their heads and make particular hand motions in the presence of Reverend Mother Ramallo and later Paul‚ which indicate their deference to religious figures. Such features provide depth to the Fremen culture‚ while staying firmly grounded in some of their characteristics from the book. One notable deviation in the miniseries is when Paul appears to summon forth a waterfall in the Fremen sietch after proclaiming his right to reclaim his dukedom and cleanse the planet of their enemies. This scene‚ similar to the one at the end of Lynch’s film when Paul makes it rain‚ risks making Paul look like a god who can control the elements. Its purpose was likely to reinforce the religious nature of Paul’s leadership and the Fremen’s view of him as a messiah figure who can perform miracles. Water is certainly an important symbol‚ but it does not appear in this way in the original story. Dune: Part One (2021) In Denis Villeneuve’s film Dune: Part One (2021)‚ Paul and Jessica use the Fremen’s special sandwalk to avoid rhythmic motion on the sand that attracts giant sandworms. (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures) Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One brings to life the hostile but stunning desert environment in the book through the use of on-location filming in the Middle East (specifically near Abu Dhabi and Wadi Rum in southern Jordan). This gives it the advantage of being able to show off the austere beauty of the desert and its rocks and sand dunes‚ as is appropriate for a story set on a desert planet. The wide vistas of rolling dunes and intense sunlight highlight the moisture-starved environment described in the book. Spice appears as a glittering substance in the air and on the ground‚ much prized and fought over by multiple groups. The film also stays true to a smaller detail relating to the desert setting: how to walk in a non-rhythmic way to avoid attracting the attention of a giant sandworm. A choreographer created a special desert sandwalk that Jessica and Paul use when forced out on into the desert after the Harkonnen attack. In the film‚ as they venture out into the open sand in their stillsuits‚ Paul tells Jessica they must walk like the Fremen do—a practice he learned about in his filmbooks. He shows her how to do the sandwalk‚ taking a wide step with his right leg‚ a wide step with his left leg‚ and then a small step forward before making a sweeping circular motion with his left leg dragging through the sand. The depiction of this movement keeps the film true to the book’s descriptions of how people have learned to survive in the deserts of Arrakis. On the other hand‚ perhaps in an attempt to avoid the excesses of the depiction of the Baron Harkonnen in Lynch’s film‚ Dune: Part One changes this character into a bald monster with few lines. Such a drastic shift neutralizes the Baron’s crafty‚ Machiavellian nature from the book and leans into a more stereotypical views of villains as barely human and animalistic. It makes it impossible to view the Harkonnen and Atreides as mirror images of one another‚ each manipulating those around them to obtain power and wealth. The loss of this interesting‚ articulate character from the book reduces the story’s political depth and the audience’s ability to enjoy watching his plots unfold and ultimately unravel. Comparing Adaptations In terms of how the adaptations compare with each other‚ all three have a few things in common in their approach to translating Herbert’s story to the screen. First‚ all of them feature a female narrator providing a prologue to the story‚ whether Princess Irulan in Dune (1984) and Frank Herbert’s Dune‚ or Chani in Dune: Part One. For the first two adaptations‚ this aligns with Irulan introducing Paul through the excerpt from her writing that begins the book. Yet all of the adaptations then change the start of the main storyline where Reverend Mother Mohiam and Jessica look in on Paul the night before the test of the gom jabbar. After a second short prologue titled “A Secret Report Within The Guild‚” Dune (1984) begins with the Emperor meeting the Guild and planning to kill Paul. The miniseries opens with a sequence of Paul’s visions and Paul waking up in his room with a hologram of Dr. Yueh lecturing about the political structures of the Imperium‚ though this scene is then immediately followed by the gom jabbar test. In Dune: Part One‚ after Chani’s prologue featuring scenes of spice in the air‚ spice harvesting operations‚ and the Fremen and Harkonnen conflict‚ Paul awakes on Caladan after having had visions of Chani and proceeds to have breakfast with his mother.   The adaptations often take quite different approaches to characters‚ sets‚ and costumes‚ giving them a unique look and feel that may be only loosely tied to the book. However‚ they all decided to go with an adult actor for Paul. In the book‚ Paul is 15 years old at the start and described as small for his age. Of the three lead actors‚ Timothée Chalamet is really the only one youthful-looking enough to pull this off—Kyle MacLachlan and Alec Newman look older than a young teenager. All the adaptations also include some effort to capture the blue color in the eyes of the Fremen through different special effects through the years‚ from rotoscoping to UV contact lenses to CGI-enabled blue tinting. In addition‚ the later adaptations pay homage to their predecessor‚ Lynch’s Dune‚ even though they largely try to avoid replicating its specific look and feel. In the miniseries‚ Paul speaks the line “the sleeper has awakened” while discussing his terrible purpose with his mother. This is identical to the line that Paul utters after taking the Water of Life in Lynch’s version. Both the miniseries and Dune: Part One include a large Guild ship with a long‚ tubular structure reminiscent of the ship in Dune (1984). Herbert’s book doesn’t include details about these ships‚ other than the fact that they are very big but that sandworms could be larger‚ so the consistency of the ships’ appearances on screen indicates that the later adaptations are riffing off of the Lynch version’s ship design. Villeneuve’s film also contains several other similarities to Lynch’s film. There is a Soviet influence in the Harkonnen ships and architecture and marks on the Mentats’ lips. The Baron Harkonnen bathes in a dark‚ industrial-looking substance (also recalling a scene from the film Apocalypse Now). There is also a hint of Lynch’s strange preoccupation with animals‚ which popped up in Dune (1984) numerous times through the Harkonnens’ mutilated cow‚ cat/rat antidote set-up‚ and squood device. In Dune: Part One‚ a weird spider-like creature appears eating out of a bowl on the floor in the Harkonnen chambers and is dismissed in disgust by Reverend Mother Mohiam. With no explanation or backstory‚ it appears to be another way of demonstrating the Harkonnens’ animalistic nature and monstrosity‚ similar to how the creatures function in Lynch’s film. Conclusion Herbert’s long‚ multi-layered book has posed many challenges to those who have attempted to adapt it to the screen. Herbert himself couldn’t write a workable screenplay and concluded that he was probably too close to the material to see it as a film. But three directors and their teams have navigated some of the complexities of Herbert’s story successfully enough to bring a screen adaptation to life. Each expressed a desire to be faithful to the source material but also had to try to align their vision with the realities of their time period and the constraints of cinematic production. Some aspects of the resulting films are more faithful than others‚ leaving plenty of room for discussion and debate about how the adaptations stand up against the original‚ unchanging novel. So‚ let’s discuss: Which adaptation do you think was most faithful to the spirit of the book? Are there features you found that aligned closely to Herbert’s vision‚ or perhaps other features that exist only in the cinematic versions that have remained in your mind? And do you think the new film‚ Dune: Part Two‚ will stay more or less faithful to the novel than Part One?[end-mark] The post Adapting <;i>;Dune<;/i>; to the Screen: Three Different Interpretations of Herbert’s Vision appeared first on Reactor.

Read the original post "Should You Start A Homestead Blog?" on A Modern Homestead. Have you wondered if a blog might be right for your homestead‚ farm‚ or ranch? This article will help you decide whether or not it's a good idea for you and your family! Chances are‚ you probably know someone who has started a blog. Or maybe you've just thought about starting one yourself. I wanted... Read More The post "Should You Start A Homestead Blog?" appeared first on A Modern Homestead.

The Day After Hamas

Tripping on psychedelics may give your sex life a boost‚ according to a new analysis of two recent studies. Involving both recreational users and those undergoing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for depression‚ the research indicates that a single dose of psilocybin‚ LSD‚ or other mind-altering compounds‚ can provide benefits in the bedroom that last for up to six months.The study authors looked at the results of two separate investigations‚ one of which involved 261 participants who used psychedelics on their own or as part of a ceremony. Those taking part in this study used substances including ayahuasca‚ DMT‚ magic mushrooms‚ and various other substances typically categorized as psychedelic.A second survey involved 59 patients with major depressive disorder who were enrolled on a clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of psilocybin - the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms - and escitalopram‚ a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is commonly used to treat depression. In both studies‚ participants answered questionnaires regarding sexual function before their psychedelic experiences‚ as well as four weeks and six months later.Comparing the responses given at these different time points‚ the researchers found that recreational users reported improvements across every domain of sexual function following their psychedelic trips. “Participants… showed significant improvements in their communication with their partners‚ increased frequency of experiencing pleasure during sex‚ as well as increased satisfaction with their partners and their own physical appearance following the psychedelic experience‚” write the authors. “They also appeared to be more open to trying new things in their sex life and were more likely to perceive sex as a spiritual or sacred experience post-use‚” they continue. “These changes were significant both four weeks and six months after the experience.”Moving on to the participants involved in the depression study‚ the researchers explain that 30 were treated with psilocybin while the remaining 29 received escitalopram. Once again‚ those who had a psychedelic experience reported lasting improvements in every sexual domain‚ while those who got the SSRI displayed a slight increase in their satisfaction with their appearance but no other positive changes. “Furthermore‚ patients treated with psilocybin were more likely to report increased sexual interest‚ activity‚ arousal‚ and satisfaction at the six-week endpoint than patients treated with escitalopram‚ who on average‚ reported a worsening in the same domains‚” write the researchers.Significantly‚ only 13 percent of psilocybin recipients complained of sexual dysfunction following their psychedelic experience‚ compared to 59 percent in the escitalopram group. This is a particularly important finding as sexual dysfunction is a common side-effect of SSRIs‚ and this data therefore suggests that psilocybin may offer a favorable alternative for those suffering from depression."Our findings suggest potential implications for conditions that negatively affect sexual health‚ including clinical depression and anxiety‚” explained study author Tomasso Barba in a statement. "This is particularly significant given that sexual dysfunction‚ often induced by antidepressants‚ frequently results in people stopping these medications and subsequently relapsing.”The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

It’s been a few days of good news for lunar exploration. First‚ Intuitive Machine's Odysseus became the first US lander in over 50 years‚ and the first private one‚ to land on the Moon – even if it did land a little wonky‚ as is the trend. Now‚ the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) reports that its own SLIM lander has managed to survive the extremely cold and unforgiving lunar night.Both SLIM and Odysseus landed on their sides‚ a reminder of how difficult it still is to land on the Moon‚ even if everything else goes well. The situation caused SLIM some major problems. When it landed on the lunar surface on January 19‚ its awkward position prevented its solar panels from powering up and left the lander running on batteries. JAXA hoped that as the Moon moved around the Earth‚ the Sun’s rays would hit the lander just right‚ kickstarting the mission into gear – which luckily it did.However‚ this meant the mission had even fewer days of sunlight to work with than originally expected before the lunar night‚ which is not merciful‚ set in. During the day‚ temperatures on the Moon can reach 121°C (250°F) but at night they drop down to -133°C (-208°F). Coupled with the fact it lasts 14 days‚ the lunar night has seen the death of many robotic missions‚ including the recent Indian lander Vikram and its rover.There was no guarantee that SLIM would wake up once lunar day rolled back around but JAXA has announced that it sent a message to the lunar and got a reply back. “Last night‚ a command was sent to #SLIM and a response received‚ confirming that the spacecraft has made it through the lunar night and maintained communication capabilities!" JAXA said in a series of tweets.                   IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.But the sturdy lander has the opposite problem now. It’s lunar midday there‚ and it could easily overheat if it starts working."Communication with #SLIM was terminated after a short time‚ as it was still lunar midday and the temperature of the communication equipment was very high. Preparations are being made to resume operations when instrument temperatures have sufficiently cooled‚” JAXA wrote. SLIM has more than exceeded the expectations for the mission. The goal was a precision pinpoint soft landing within 100 meters (330 feet) of a specific target area. SLIM appears to have landed just 55 meters (180 feet) from its target‚ a precision never achieved before on another world. As a comparison‚ the expected landing site for Apollo 11 was an ellipse 20 kilometers by 5 kilometers (12 by 3.1 miles).

A man in Denver‚ Colorado has died after being bitten by his pet Gila monster‚ according to Lakewood City officials.Thirty-four-year-old Christopher Ward owned two Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) named Winston and Potato despite the venomous lizards being illegal in the state of Colorado‚ according to a police report seen by AP. On February 12‚ Winston bit Ward and latched onto his hand. Ward soon began exhibiting symptoms including vomiting‚ before he passed out and stopped breathing. Ward's girlfriend dialed 911 and he was rushed to hospital‚ where he was placed on life support. On February 16‚ he was declared dead.Gila monsters‚ which can grow to up to around 56 centimeters (22 inches) in length‚ are one of very few venomous lizards on Earth. When threatened‚ they can bite in order to immobilize their prey. Venom is delivered not through hollow fangs‚ as in venomous snakes‚ but through grooved teeth.        To deliver more venom‚ the lizards can clamp their jaws down on potential attackers for over 10 minutes."Two types of helodermatid bites produce distinct clinical pictures‚" one case report explains. "The chewing bite potentially causes more envenomation than the slashing bite. The venom contains a number of protein and nonprotein components including serotonin‚ a bradykinin-releasing substance‚ protease‚ hyaluronidase‚ helodermin‚ and gilatoxin. The clinical presentation of a helodermatid bite can include pain‚ edema‚ hypotension‚ nausea‚ vomiting‚ weakness‚ and diaphoresis."No antivenom has been developed to the bites‚ though generally they are not fatal to humans. The animals‚ illegal to own as pets in Colorado but allowed in other US states‚ have reportedly now been taken into care by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources‚ with plans to rehome them in an animal park in South Dakota. First‚ however‚ they will head to the University of Northern Colorado‚ where researchers will extract venom in order to further investigate Ward's death. The Jefferson County coroner's office has not yet confirmed the cause of death‚ and is awaiting further toxicology reports.[H/T: CNN]

Indonesia’s current capital is in deep trouble. Drained of its vital groundwater reservoirs‚ Jakarta has become one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world. If left to nature‚ up to 25 percent of its land could be lost to the sea by 2050. The metropolis is also wracked with other common problems faced by emerging urban centers‚ such as heavy traffic‚ poor sanitation‚ dangerous air pollution‚ and shortages of drinking water.To relieve this logistical nightmare‚ Indonesia has drummed up a plan: relocate the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan – a city that doesn’t exist yet. This master plan involves the translocation of the capital’s administrative infrastructure‚ plus around 1.9 million people‚ from Indonesia’s main island Java to the sparsely populated island of Borneo.The idea of reshifting the capital was put into Indonesian law in 2022‚ when the proposed site of Nusantara was a jungle. Satellite images shared by NASA Earth Observatory show how the area was a vast green expanse of tropical rainforest in April 2022. By February 2024‚ however‚ images from the same vantage point show how the settlement is slowly starting to take form. The new satellite images reveal how soil has been exposed to make way for a network of roads and infrastructure development amidst the wild backdrop.Roads and hints of infrastructure emerge at Nusantara on February 19‚ 2024‚ in this satellite image by Landsat-9Image credit: USGS/NASAThe Nusantara website states that the first phase of the capital relocation project – set to conclude in 2024 – will see the country move its state palace and parliament building to the site this year. As per the plan‚ the President of Indonesia will celebrate the 79th anniversary of the country's independence at the site in August 2024. All being well‚ construction of the whole city will be done and dusted by 2045. Judging by the recent satellite imagery‚ there is still a very long way to go before Nusantara becomes the proud capital it dreams to be. Critics have started to hit out at the Indonesian government‚ arguing there’s a lack of transparency on the progress of the project. As ever‚ money is a problem. Many people are worried there’s a lack of funding behind the project and not enough foreign investors are being pulled by its promise. Likewise‚ some commentators have expressed doubt over whether there will be access to affordable housing in Nusantara. There are also big concerns about its environmental impact. The government claims Nusantara will be run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 while promoting it as a “smart‚ green‚ beautiful‚ and sustainable city”. However‚ many scientists believe it could increase deforestation in Borneo and increase Indonesia's carbon output. “Deforestation emissions from the new capital’s direct (30 kilometers [18.6 miles]) and indirect (200 kilometers [124.3 miles]) footprint could be approximately 50 MtCO2e [megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent] and 2326 MtCO2e‚ respectively‚ equivalent to 2.7–126 percent of Indonesia’s 2014 greenhouse gas emissions‚” said a 2020 paper on the topic of Nusantara. Borneo is a hive of biodiversity and home to numerous critically endangered species like the Bornean orangutan and Sumatran rhinoceros‚ as well as charismatic characters like the clouded leopard. Authorities insist that wildlife will be given the utmost protection‚ but environmentalists are still weary.In June 2023‚ Mongabay shared footage of an orangutan crossing the construction site of a planned toll road‚ clearly highlighting the potential disruption caused by dropping a new city into the middle of a jungle. “Fortunately‚ the new capital is sited on a coastal site more than 200 kilometers [124.3 miles] away from the Heart of Borneo ecoregion‚ which will spare Borneo the brunt of the immediate direct impacts. However‚ indirect spatial impacts can be very large‚ and along with environmental justice issues arising from further marginalization of disadvantaged groups‚ present a significant downside to the new capital’s development that must be preempted‚” the 2020 paper continues.

Standup comedian and actress Amy Schumer has shared that she has a rare hormonal condition known as Cushing’s syndrome. Schumer revealed her diagnosis in an interview with the News Not Noise newsletter and though she describes going through several tests and worries‚ the comedian explained‚ “I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I'm healthy [which] was the greatest news imaginable.”What is Cushing’s syndrome?Cushing’s syndrome is a rare condition that occurs when there’s too much cortisol in the body over a long period of time. You’ve probably heard of cortisol as the “stress hormone”; under normal circumstances‚ it’s produced by the adrenal glands sitting atop the kidneys and helps to regulate a whole host of different bodily functions‚ from blood pressure‚ to metabolism‚ to the stress response.The continuously high levels of cortisol leading to Cushing’s syndrome can have many different causes. Most commonly‚ it’s the result of extended use of steroid medications‚ which contain synthetic cortisol. However‚ on rare occasions it can be caused by a tumor in one of the adrenal glands‚ or on the pituitary gland in the brain – the latter is a particular type of the syndrome called Cushing’s disease. Though the tumors tend to be benign or non-cancerous‚ their presence is what causes the body to produce too much cortisol.How common is Cushing’s syndrome and who is more likely to be affected by it?One group of people at risk of Cushing’s syndrome are those taking steroid medicines‚ though it’s unclear how many of them will go on to develop the condition. However‚ Cushing’s syndrome that’s endogenous – caused by something inside the body – is rare‚ estimated to affect between 40 to 70 people out of every million each year.It’s more common in people aged between 30 to 50‚ though it can be found in children too. The condition is also more likely to affect people who are biologically female‚ with three times as many affected in this group compared to males.What are the symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome?How Cushing’s syndrome presents itself can vary from person to person‚ but there are some common symptoms. Visible signs might include: weight gain‚ particularly around the chest and tummy; a “hump” of fat between the shoulders or at the base of the neck; or a puffy‚ round face.People with the condition might also experience physical symptoms such as muscle weakness‚ thin skin‚ irregular periods‚ and fatigue. It can also have an impact on mood‚ with increased irritability‚ anxiety‚ or depression‚ as well as reduced libido.Left untreated‚ Cushing’s syndrome can lead to serious complications such as high blood pressure‚ type 2 diabetes‚ bone loss‚ and even heart attacks and stroke.Can Cushing’s syndrome be treated?If sufficiently treated‚ many people can recover from Cushing’s syndrome‚ with their cortisol levels returning to normal. How it is treated will depend on the cause‚ which healthcare professionals can determine through a series of tests‚ such as blood tests and imaging. For example‚ if the syndrome is caused by taking steroids‚ the dose can gradually be reduced to the minimum required in order to treat the condition it was prescribed for.When Cushing’s syndrome has been caused by the presence of a tumor‚ the most common approach to treatment is with surgery. After removal of a tumor in the pituitary gland‚ it can actually prevent the body from making enough cortisol‚ so patients are prescribed cortisol medication‚ which is usually taken for around six to 18 months. Where surgery doesn’t work‚ radiotherapy can also be an option.For tumors in the adrenal gland‚ the whole gland is usually surgically removed alongside the tumor. In some rare cases‚ tumors can be present on both glands‚ requiring both to be removed; when this is the case‚ it requires staying on lifelong medication in order to replace the missing cortisol and other hormones.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. 

Something magical appears to have been gifted to us out of the writers’ strike that gripped Hollywood for five months and delayed fall and winter show premieres - we are seeing much less liberal propaganda as these delayed shows finally roll out. Perhaps the writers have been too busy playing catch up to be working in cahoots with leftist groups such as Planned Parenthood‚ among others‚ and inserting liberal lectures as they normally do. In the case of Amazon Prime’s hit drama Expats‚ there was actually a very pro-life moment in the season finale that definitely wouldn’t have aired if Planned Parenthood’s television advisors had any say in it. Based on the 2016 novel The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee‚ Expats takes place in Hong Kong and stars heavy hitters Nicole Kidman as Margaret Woo‚ Sarayu Blue as Margaret’s best friend Hilary Starr and Ji-young Yoo as Mercy - three women dealing with the fallout of Margaret’s missing little boy Gus (Connor James) who was taken from a crowded market one fateful evening under Mercy’s watch. After Mercy has an affair with Hilary’s alcoholic husband David (Jack Huston) in the midst of her grief‚ she finds herself pregnant. She’s unsure at first whether she wants to choose life for her baby and is wracked with guilt that she’s carrying a child after losing Margaret’s. Not wanting to face her pregnancy‚ Mercy puts off making any decisions or going to a doctor until David gives her a check to see a reputable ob/gyn in episode 6‚ “Home.” Mercy finally makes an appointment and finds herself in awe when she comes face to face with her baby on the sonogram screen: Dr. Leung: Mercy Kim. Twenty-five. Can you tell me the date of your last period? It's blank on the form. Mercy: Um... It's not something I usually keep track of. I'm more like moon to moon. Dr. Leung: I see. Well‚ I guess the baby will have to tell us. Nurse: Please lie back. Dr. Leung: We're going to open your robe. Mercy: Maybe you should buy me dinner first. Okay. Dr. Leung: Great. Relax. Have you been taking good care of yourself? Folic acid? Prenatals? Mercy: Does the OJ in a screwdriver count? Dr. Leung: No. We take some measurements to see how many weeks you're at. Oh‚ you're quite far along. Have you not seen a doctor? Mercy: It's been on my to-do list. Dr. Leung: Well‚ you must start taking supplements. Here's your baby. Mercy: That's my baby? Dr. Leung: I'd say you're about 23 weeks along. Mercy: I can't feel it‚ but it's totally moving. That's so weird. Dr. Leung: Everything looks normal. Luckily‚ you're young. I faced a crisis pregnancy myself when I was a teenager. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my baby on a sonogram. There really aren’t any words to describe the emotions that came over me and the shock I felt seeing this little person growing inside of me. I had never considered an abortion‚ but that moment is one reason I strongly feel women should be given a sonogram before choosing abortion. How tragic it must be for women who never got to see their child moving or see the baby's heart beating strongly‚ only to find out after it’s too late‚ such as in a future pregnancy when they see a sonogram for the first time. Isn’t it more pro-woman and pro-choice to have a woman be fully informed before making such a life and death decision? Hopefully one day‚ the atrocity of abortion won’t be permitted at all. But until that time‚ give women the full truth. Thankfully‚ Mercy chooses life for her baby and makes peace with both Margaret and Hilary by the end of the episode. Aside from Margaret’s disdain for Christianity‚ the show was free of any leftist tropes and therefore was intriguing and entertaining to watch‚ as Hollywood productions should be. Let’s hope it’s a long time before leftist political propaganda fully returns to entertainment. With a presidential election nearing however‚ we won’t get our hopes up too high.

It is difficult to read former Newsweek reporter David Graham's "Trump the  Survivor" which was published in The Atlantic magazine on Sunday without conjuring up images of Wile E. Coyote in perpetual pursuit of the Road Runner‚ who always manages to evade doom. In fact‚ the subtitle of Graham's story just reinforces the image of Trump as the Road Runner: "He always manages to find a way." You can almost feel Graham's Coyote level of frustration as his Road Runner Trump "always manages to find a way" over and over and over again to escape carefully planned doom. BEEP! BEEP! ...no consumer of the mainstream press can miss that he is a liar and a racist‚ nor that courts have found him to have committed fraud and sexual abuse. Outlets large and small have done impressive work ferreting out his history of sexual harassment‚ financial chicanery‚ and poor decision-making. At some moments‚ it seemed like not a word could be spoken in the Oval Office without The New York Times or The Washington Post producing a scathing report within days. Nor can any reader or viewer have missed the fear and dislike of Trump that much of the press evinces. Nevertheless‚ Trump persists. He’s also used the negative coverage to deprecate the media and lower its impact among his supporters. BEEP! BEEP! January 6 also resulted in Trump’s banishment from Twitter and Facebook. This was hailed in bien-pensant circles as well past due—an appropriate penalty for spreading misinformation and inciting violence‚ and one that would help shuffle Trump out of relevance. As with the journalism critiques‚ this sentiment may have been morally right‚ but the expectation that it would hurt Trump was unfounded. In fact‚ the bans may have helped him politically‚ becoming a rallying point for his supporters‚ who called them censorship. Moreover‚ his disappearance from mainstream platforms (and retreat to his own Truth Social) has made it easier to miss or tune out his eruptions‚ even as his rhetoric has become ever more authoritarian. (This effect also casts doubt on the idea that with less press coverage‚ Trump would fade.) BEEP! BEEP! With all of these Trump-stoppers having failed‚ some people have attached their hopes to the courts to stop Trump. Trump is facing legal challenges on many fronts. He owes nearly $500 million total from civil judgment for defamation‚ sexual abuse‚ and fraud in New York State. A trial on falsifying business records in Manhattan is expected to begin next month. He has been indicted on felony charges in federal court and in Georgia connected to his election-subversion efforts‚ and on separate federal felony charges over alleged hoarding of classified documents. Once again‚ these proceedings have been morally and legally appropriate‚ establishing that no one is beyond the reach of the law‚ even if he is a star. But the barrage of indictments has done nothing to hurt Trump politically. ...in a turn that is astonishing but somewhat predictable‚ the cases against Trump have actually improved his political position‚ at least with Republican voters. He saw his poll numbers rise after his first felony indictment‚ in Manhattan. BEEP! BEEP! A common thread that unites each of these failed tricks to sink Trump is how existing American institutions—the Republican Party‚ the press‚ congressional oversight‚ and the justice system—are ill-equipped to handle an authoritarian demagogue of Trump’s variety. That leaves the ballot as maybe the only thing that could stop Trump. Notice how the Left always thinks "existing institutions are ill-equipped" when they don't accomplish the Left's objectives. They can't imagine that overwhelmingly nasty media bias and weaponizing the justice system create a backlash. Trump must be an "authoritarian" when he aggressively fights back and denounces "fake news" and fake justice.  Wow! What a novel idea! Maybe the ultimate arbiter for choosing our leaders should be the (gasp!) ballot box.