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I have noticed the blinking links on some posts like #1425397
These always seem to be videos.
Is that correct?
That would be great for someone like me trying to avoid videos.
Taiwan is interesting
AI Summary:
Overview of Religion in TaiwanOverview of Religion in Taiwan
Taiwan is characterized by a diverse religious landscape, featuring a mix of traditional Chinese beliefs, indigenous religions, and various organized religions including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and more.
Major ReligionsMajor Religions
| Religion | Description | Proportion of Population |
| Buddhism | Mainly Mahayana Buddhism, with temples and adherents throughout the country. | Approximately 35% |
| Taoism | A traditional Chinese religion emphasizing harmony, with deep cultural roots. | Approximately 30% |
| Christianity | Includes both Protestant and Catholic communities, growing in recent decades. | Approximately 5% |
| Folk Religion | Encompasses a blend of ancestor worship, deity worship, and local traditions. | Approximately 20-30% |
Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions
Indigenous communities in Taiwan also practice their own traditional beliefs, which are often animistic and strongly tied to nature. These practices can include rituals honoring ancestors and nature spirits.
Cultural InfluenceCultural Influence
Religious practices in Taiwan are often intertwined with cultural events and festivals, such as the Lantern Festival and the celebration of Dragon Boat Festival. Temples are also significant community centers where social and cultural activities occur.
Religious FreedomReligious Freedom
Taiwan is known for its religious tolerance. The government recognizes various religions and allows freedom of worship, contributing to the vibrant religious diversity found on the island.
The blend of ancient traditions and modern interpretations makes Taiwan's religious landscape a unique aspect of its culture.
I ran these terms through an AI:
A1C and Fasting Insulin Test OverviewA1C and Fasting Insulin Test Overview
A1C and fasting insulin tests are essential diagnostic tools used to evaluate blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.
What is the A1C Test?What is the A1C Test?
- Definition: The A1C test measures the average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months.
- Purpose: It is used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and prediabetes.
- Normal Range: Typically, an A1C level below 5.7% is considered normal. Levels between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate prediabetes, and an A1C of 6.5% or higher suggests diabetes.
What is the Fasting Insulin Test?What is the Fasting Insulin Test?
- Definition: This test measures the level of insulin in the blood after fasting for 8 to 12 hours.
- Purpose: It helps assess how well the body is using insulin and can provide insight into insulin resistance.
- Normal Range: Generally, a fasting insulin level below 25 mIU/L is considered normal, but this can vary based on lab standards.
Key Differences and Combined UseKey Differences and Combined Use
| Test | A1C Test | Fasting Insulin Test |
| What It Measures | Average blood glucose level | Insulin level after fasting |
| Time Frame | Past 2-3 months | Immediate (from fasting state) |
| Use | Diagnose/manage diabetes | Assess insulin resistance |
| Normal Value | < 5.7% | < 25 mIU/L |
Combining both tests can provide a comprehensive view of metabolic health, helping to identify diabetes, prediabetes, and insulin resistance.
Importance of TestingImportance of Testing
Regular testing of both A1C and fasting insulin can help in early detection and management of diabetes and related conditions. If you have concerns about your blood sugar or insulin levels, consulting a healthcare provider is advisable for personalized advice and testing recommendations.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ExplainedC-Reactive Protein (CRP) Explained
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Understanding CRP can provide valuable insights into various health conditions.
What is CRP?What is CRP?
- Definition: CRP is a protein that increases in the blood with inflammation.
- Purpose: It serves as a marker for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, helping to assess inflammation in the body.
Testing for CRPTesting for CRP
- Types of Tests:
- CRP Test: Measures the level of CRP in the blood to detect general inflammation.
- High-Sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) Test: More sensitive test used to assess the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Normal Range:
- Standard CRP: Levels below 3 mg/L are typically considered normal.
- High-Sensitivity CRP: Levels under 1 mg/L indicate low cardiovascular risk; levels between 1-3 mg/L suggest moderate risk, and above 3 mg/L implies high risk.
Conditions Associated with Elevated CRP LevelsConditions Associated with Elevated CRP Levels
| Condition | Description |
| Infections | CRP levels rise with bacterial or viral infections. |
| Inflammatory Diseases | Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease elevate CRP. |
| Chronic Diseases | Elevated CRP can indicate conditions such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease. |
| Cardiovascular Diseases | High hs-CRP levels may suggest increased risk for heart disease and strokes. |
Importance of CRP TestingImportance of CRP Testing
Monitoring CRP levels can be a vital tool for diagnosing inflammation and assessing the risk of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular conditions. If inflammation or chronic illness is suspected, a healthcare provider may recommend a CRP test for further evaluation.
DEXA Scan for Visceral FatDEXA Scan for Visceral Fat
A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is often used to measure body composition, including the amount of visceral fat, which is crucial for assessing health risks.
What is a DEXA Scan?What is a DEXA Scan?
- Definition: A DEXA scan uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone density and body fat distribution, providing precise data on fat, lean mass, and bone mineral density.
- Purpose: Apart from osteoporosis screening, it is beneficial for evaluating body composition, particularly visceral fat.
Understanding Visceral FatUnderstanding Visceral Fat
- Definition: Visceral fat is the fat stored around internal organs in the abdominal cavity, linked to various health risks.
- Health Implications: High levels of visceral fat are associated with increased risks for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
How DEXA Measures Visceral FatHow DEXA Measures Visceral Fat
- Process: During the scan, the patient lies on a table while the DEXA machine passes over them, taking detailed images.
- Results: The scan produces a report that includes the percentage of visceral fat and fat distribution, typically represented as a percentage of total body weight or as absolute fat volume.
Benefits of DEXA for Assessing Visceral FatBenefits of DEXA for Assessing Visceral Fat
| Benefit | Details |
| Accurate Measurement | Offers precise data on body fat distribution. |
| Non-Invasive | Involves minimal discomfort and no recovery time. |
| Bone Density Insight | Provides additional information regarding bone health. |
| Comprehensive Analysis | Evaluates lean mass and fat composition together. |
Interpretation of ResultsInterpretation of Results
- Normal Levels: Visceral fat levels vary, but maintaining a lower percentage is generally linked to better health outcomes.
- Action Required: Elevated visceral fat levels often indicate the need for lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise modifications.
ConclusionConclusion
A DEXA scan is an effective tool for measuring visceral fat, offering critical insights into an individual’s health risks related to fat distribution. If you're considering this test, discussing it with a healthcare provider can help determine its relevance based on personal health goals.
Understanding Visceral Fat LevelsUnderstanding Visceral Fat Levels
Visceral fat is the fat stored around internal organs, particularly in the abdomen. Monitoring visceral fat levels is crucial for assessing health risks associated with obesity and metabolic disorders.
Normal and Elevated Visceral Fat LevelsNormal and Elevated Visceral Fat Levels
Visceral fat levels are often measured in terms of either density (usually through imaging techniques like DEXA scans) or area (often using waist circumference as a proxy).
| Level | Measurement | Health Implications |
| Normal | Typically <10% of total body fat or <100 cm² on imaging | Low risk for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. |
| Elevated Moderate | 10-15% of total body fat or 100-130 cm² | Increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. |
| High | >15% of total body fat or >130 cm² | High risk for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and other health issues. |
Measuring Visceral FatMeasuring Visceral Fat
- Imaging Methods:
- DEXA Scan: Provides precise measurements of visceral fat in cm² or as a percentage of total fat.
- CT or MRI Scans: Also very accurate but are typically used for more specialized assessments.
- Waist Circumference:
- Measuring the waist can provide a rough estimate:
- For women, a waist measurement over 35 inches indicates increased risk.
- For men, over 40 inches is a warning sign.
- Measuring the waist can provide a rough estimate:
Health Risks Associated with High Visceral FatHealth Risks Associated with High Visceral Fat
- Type 2 Diabetes: High levels can lead to insulin resistance.
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Increased visceral fat is linked to heart disease and hypertension.
- Certain Cancers: Elevated levels may contribute to the risk of cancers, especially in the gastrointestinal region.
Reducing Visceral Fat LevelsReducing Visceral Fat Levels
- Diet: Emphasize whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains while reducing processed foods and sugars.
- Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, including aerobic exercises and strength training.
- Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support metabolic health.
- Stress Management: Reduction of stress through mindfulness or relaxation techniques can help mitigate fat accumulation.
Monitoring visceral fat levels is essential for overall health, particularly as it relates to cardiovascular and metabolic risks. Regular check-ups and lifestyle interventions can significantly impact visceral fat reduction.
They are probably data engineers who are granting the analysts read access to the message tables in the database.
You have to trust the people who are working on the data.
Pretty good article
Claude Code falls short if you don't have a great methodology. It needs feedback loops to work fine; otherwise, it derails. One possible feedback loop is a human reviewing code and testing manually. But there's a better/complementary approach if you want it to work autonomously. On both Elo and Bmg.js, I've started by making sure the testing methodology was effective and scientifically sound. Claude writes the tests, executes them, discovers where it's wrong, and corrects itself. Impressive."
In deuterium-tritium fusion, high-energy neutrons drive "multiplication" reactions to close the fuel cycle by producing the tritium needed to sustain operation. Making use of those neutrons to drive a multiplication reaction on mercury-198, our approach produces mercury-197 which then decays in a few days to the only stable isotope of gold.
So build power plants for the gold revenue and give away the power, right?
I agree getting paid in BTC is best.
But the people that are paying you really do know their customers, so that's also something to think about.
The open question, then, is not whether industrial software will dominate, but what that dominance does to the surrounding ecosystem. Previous industrial revolutions externalised their costs onto environments that seemed infinite until they weren't. Software ecosystems are no different: dependency chains, maintenance burdens, security surfaces that compound as output scales. Technical debt is the pollution of the digital world, invisible until it chokes the systems that depend on it. In an era of mass automation, we may find that the hardest problem is not production, but stewardship. Who maintains the software that no one owns?
TL;DR
The progression is predictable. Start with a flat directory of files. Hit filesystem limits. Implement sharding. Hit cross-platform issues. Build server-side enforcement. Build custom indexes. Eventually give up and use HTTP or an actual database. You’ve built a worse version of what databases already provide, spread across git hooks, CI pipelines, and bespoke tooling.
None of this means git is bad. Git excels at what it was designed for: distributed collaboration on source code, with branching, merging, and offline work. The problem is using it for something else entirely. Package registries need fast point queries for metadata. Git gives you a full-document sync protocol when you need a key-value lookup.
Explosives in the microphone bring back memories of exploding pagers and walkie talkies.
He pissed off Israel.
This caught my attention:
Imagine a world where your “checking account” is actually a high-yield instrument backed by over-collateralized loans against Bitcoin. You are spending stable currency, but the backing is hard money.
I guess the stable currency would be the bank's digital dollar mentioned earlier.
If a bank can issue a digital dollar that is over-collateralized by Bitcoin, that digital dollar is “harder” and safer than a digital dollar backed by fractional reserve fiat lending.
There ought to be a list with a counter of how many times the Cowboys have muted them.
Here's my list.
Well now, reckon these here are the folks you've gone and silenced.
@anon
@KenyaCoin
@BlokchainB
@zuspotirko
@ooo
@Natalia
@rujgev
@GhostofTruth
@cryotosensei
@nym
@bature
@Rsync25
@WeAreAllSatoshi
@cyberpunk02
@Kontext
@fm
@Fabs
@M_affirmed
@ch0k1
@iam_jerry
@Kathleen_Croteau
@bief57
@deSign_r
@Coinsreporter
@IamSINGLE
@voxmagdalenea
@Taft
@wopwopwopwop
@watchmancbiz
@suraz
@Malos10_
@Satosora
@BitcoinAbhi
@DawnoftheDead
@zana
@Carresan
@beyond_turbulence
@fed
@Melisa
@Satoshi__Nakamoto
@sangekrypto
@79c9095526
@Solomonsatoshi
@Leonard
@LowK3y19
@mega_dreamer
@d680ecaa8e
@Rothbardian_fanatic
@7e6e393a56
@Imyourfed
@035736735e
@Miranda
@NovaRift
@Vilael
@LAXITIVA
@Kayzone
@adlai
@Angie
@parahigh
@neverbrokemore
@winteryeti
@Macro
NO MORE