Anakalia

This seemed the most appropriate place to reawaken the topic of SELLING PHOTOGRAPHS (digital photos) My daughter is looking for ways to add income to the household with her photography. She does a variety of themes but I think she likes natural landscapes the most, but could be a tie with photos of pets and other animals, birds, insects. She does some posed people, some candid people, a few requested personal photos. She is also developing an interest in photos of interesting architecture. She sent me a blog piece reviewing the following 9 websites that will help you sell your photos: 1. Alamy 2. 500px 3. SmugMug 4. Shutterstock 5. iStock Photos 6. Getty Images 7. Stocksy United 8. Adobe Stock 9. Envato Elements As I begin researching these I want to see if I can find anyone who has used these sites and could share their experience(s). There are only 3 I recognize: Shutterstock, Getty Images, and Adobe Stock. While I've thought about selling digital photos for some time - we have a few different cameras (not counting those on phones or tablets) - and there are several family members who love taking photos. Just so many other things take priority for me. Any and all information, suggestions, ideas, other websites, etc. will be most welcome! 📸😊

This dental stuff is scary! In the 80s & 90s (mostly 90s) my six kids saw a dentist as recommended then, paid for by the state insurance, and there was a lot of work done: fillings, crowns, root canals, were all part of it. NO ONE ever said anything about getting regular x-rays to check on infections developing! And of course, they aren't going to tell you that a root canal will shut down your immune system, or in any way compromise it. Now - the 3 with the worst mouths, and the most dental work, including multiple root canals, crowns & fillings - now they also have the worst health! State insurance (it's what they have) doesn't cover holistic dentists and probably not any biometric dentists (if any are close enough to get to). [The closest I've read about is in Idaho, I think. We're in WI with extremely limited budgets] 2 have tried going to the local tech school when they have open sessions with dental assistants in training (supervised by local dentists) - at least they get cleanings done, but finding anyone to do the work they are told is needed is a joke. The only TWO places that will take the state insurance have horrible reputations (none of their dentists even volunteer at this school) so we are avoiding those. Which means not seeing any dentist in years! But the idea of dental work compromising our immune system actually makes sense! Mine's been compromised from chemo ages ago - we've known that - but we haven't linked anything in particular to each of their immune systems being compromised, though they each have multiple indications it has been - until I read this!!! Off I go.... heading down another "health" rabbit hole! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hey - any thoughts, comments, etc. on "Chris Beats Cancer" or "The Truth About Cancer - The Global Quest" or similar types of docu-series health info online? (this is still related to medicine-science, etc.)

Sorry it's been so long for me to come back with any updates. My mom & sister still have power. But so many others are without power and have been without all week since Beryl came thru. Of the friends and family I have scattered all around that area, there are a lot still without power. Everybody I've talked to lost power at some point - restoring power varied from 12 hours or so to a day, 2 days, 3 days, etc. it's scattered, some places got their power back but neighbors are still waiting. In general it's a mess and the heat & humidity are just making it worse. Most of those I know aren't able to afford generators of even the most basic kind. Some of the friends with power are able to share their homes with others still waiting for power to be restored. But my heart aches for those without such options. Many are comparing this to bigger hurricanes of the past; but it seems the real trouble exists because forecasts were predicting Beryl to come inland much more west than it did - Beryl took a surprise last-minute turn to the north and east that Houston & surrounding areas were not prepared for. As the week went on I was able to reach more people and hear more tell of how hard this storm hit them. A few will need to repair damages from fallen trees; one had a boat (not theirs) crashed into their house which also flooded about 2 feet (they had already left & came back to this 2 days later) so no doubt others will have similar damages to repair too. Where my mom lives is a large apartment community for those 55 & older or disabled. The sisters that live there are all sharing whatever they have so no one needs to get out for groceries or medicines and such. Some of the elders are coming by daily with various supplies too. Roads in their area still have a lot of debris but are drivable at slower speeds with much caution. Still many businesses closed. I will find out later today if they were able to have their weekend meeting (it's usually on Saturday) & if it was zoom only or a hybrid. Sis says they plan on zooming as do the other sisters in their building, but wasn't sure yet. My heart breaks for the all those suffering. They are in my prayers daily. It can be hard to be fully prepared for a direct hit from a hurricane. This was one of my reasons for wanting to move away. There were others but even today, as much as I LOVE living near the coast, be it Gulf coast or Pacific coast, I don't like the weather conditions of the Gulf coast. I do miss the beaches and the feeling of the waves come & go (If I could only find a way to copy that here in my current landlocked environment...)

Reports vary (depending on source) but looks like Beryl came inland in Texas, near Matagorda (closer to Houston & Galveston than to Corpus Christi) and moved northeast with the eye of the storm going near the western edges of Houston. I have a lot a family there. I've been watching Beryl since it became a named storm system. Many areas with family (and jw friends too) got winds from 60mph to (some say) as much as 110 mph and nonstop heavy rains for anywhere from 12 to over 24 hours. As the storm moved near various individuals power went out. As of 10PM Monday (central time) only a few remained without power - still that could account for many overall depending on specific location. Those in Houston got power back faster than those in smaller cities outside of Houston (like Lake Jackson, Rosenberg, Sugar Land, Katy, Woodlands and so on). One of my brothers had his employer (he works IT support from home) offer to pay all costs for him to move all his equipment and stay anywhere (even Austin or Dallas) that had power so he could still do his job. A nephew of mine works as manager of a major chain of pet stores & his boss is in California and was telling him he had to get to the store and open for business as usual --- from California (where they know nothing about hurricanes) --- he told him he'd get there when local authorities said it was safe to be in that area. LOL My mom & my sister and several other sisters (who all live in the same gated, 3-story apartment complex) in her building gathered to deal with the storm together. My sister is the youngest at 62 and mom is the oldest at 89, one of the other sisters has a cast on one leg, another had surgery a few days ago; but they stayed the night and all today together until power was restored (about 8pm). From their windows they could see many trees down, many roads & parking lots that flooded, and at times watched (carefully) as the winds blew things past their window! Their congregation has the MWM on Monday - it was canceled (can't even zoom it if there's no power). Tuesday will be a day to begin cleaning things up. A few friends had roof damage & broken windows from the winds or fallen trees. I'm sure we'll hear more once the sun is up tomorrow. Some reports are certain it came in as a Cat2 Hurricane; news channels (that are still on the air) were saying it was only a Tropical Storm. Not sure where it will officially be listed at yet, but it definitely packed a punch!

This really makes me laugh! I would so do this! 🤣 But seriously, I love sewing the most - just wish I had more space, and more time to do it! I sew clothing, things for the home, bags, and whatever else may be needed, or at least give it a try! I can knit & crochet, but only do so when necessary. I like needlepoint work - cross stitch, embroidery, crewel... and a few other types. In the past I did some painting, as art on canvas (not so much walls & furniture & such) and really enjoyed it, but just don't have the space or resources to do that now. Someone mentioned poetry... while not so much in the arts & crafts in many people's opinions I find writing to be a very creative process. I love writing too! Poetry, short stories, longer writings (working on a book) and one could make a case for writing going a bit more 'artsy or crafty' with the addition of illustrations or some sort of graphic work putting some of those words into visual renditions. I need to make time to explore this forum further! It would be awesome to meet more creative types!

I should like to add #5. Mast Cell Activation (Syndrome, Disorder). It's a rare disorder...even the NIH's Rare And Genetic Diseases organization has very little info about it on their website. Describing it here would take awhile. MCAS causes (among other things) allergic symptoms in response to many triggers, including foods, and can be very challenging to treat, even to diagnose. In my family it is considered a common co-morbid condition along with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) which I and most of my children have. For me, allergic reactions to so many things now has it so that I am unable to enter any public buildings, and even many non-public buildings, like homes of friends & relatives - unless they have worked hard to keep it free of my known triggers. That only works until something new triggers an attack & we don't know that until it happens. So even when I'm going to familiar places (very few of them) (sadly) I must go with epi-pens (plural), antihistamines (plural), & steroids (again, plural) so help can be provided to keep me breathing or stabilize my heartrate before emergency care can get to me or me to them. It's easier to not go anywhere, and safer too. Zoom has been such a wonderful option for me! I shall miss the zoom assemblies & conventions.

I'm concerned about in-person meetings in larger venues. One of my many health issues is something called "Multiple Chemical Sensitivities" - it's allergy related (of which I have many beyond the chemical ones). Since the pandemic mandates began I've been unable to go into other buildings (other than my home or the homes or places I know only use non-chemical means to disinfect) without suffering a reaction. Some reactions are fast, some are slow, some are anaphylactic, some are less involved. I do not know until I'm inside if there will be a reaction, but the odds are 99% there will be, it's more the type of reaction that's more unknown. The larger the building, the greater the possible reactions. There's so much I could say on this but I don't want to weigh others down with all of it. I just wanted others to realize there are still many who cannot attend these in-person gatherings of any kind. Having the zoom option has been such an amazing blessing! I can only pray that even with the full return to in-person events, I hope the zoom option remains. I am very happy for all of you who can attend in-person events now!

For toothaches and any sort of tooth/jaw pain or infection - I apply a high-quality tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil, in a carrier oil, to the skin outside (cheek or jawline) where it hurts. I repeat this whenever the pain comes back. (about 1 drop per 1 millimeter - or 5 drops per 1 teaspoon) Not saying it will work for everyone. Not saying anyone must try this. But have to mention it just in case it could help someone avoid, or minimize, such a painful condition! Tea Tree aka Melaleuca Essential Oil is one of those oils that can really irritate mucous membranes, so it's rarely used in the mouth, unless greatly diluted in something else.

@Luisabola I have read "The Obesity Code" - also "The Diabetes Code" and will likely purchase "The Cancer Code" sometime soon. I also have "The Complete Guide to Fasting" that he co-wrote. I forget with whom, but can check if you need to know. The Obesity Code & Diabetes Code are similar in many ways - but I find the experiences in both helpful and I love learning the science behind it all. In general both books lean toward the same eating/fasting plan(s) & finding what works for you. The "Guide" however, really gets more into the step by step process of determining which method of fasting will work best for you and when to know how & when to change it. My favorite part of all these books is that Dr Fung is simply providing very inexpensive blueprints for improving your health - and he has done all the work to show & prove how the science behind it all really works. No fads. No gimmicks. No special foods to buy (unless your personal eating plan already dictates such special foods). No added gadgets, kitchen tools, and so forth. Just plain & simple and essentially free! Plus with fasting, you may eat less overall so that saves you money with a lower food bill. And he really gets into listening to your body & what's it telling you about the stuff you are putting into it.

@surfergirl Gabe, how are you doing now? Have you done more research or do you still need more information? I had a really rare, but known about, side effect to one drug that caused my kidneys to malfunction within 2 months of starting the drug. The damage likely begin with the onset of taking it. But the noticeable effects took some time. Literally, in less than 24 hours (I'd been in the clinic & was weighed at that visit) I gained over 30 pounds (about 14 kg) and was in intense pain all over. I went back into the clinic, they first thought it was a heart issue - no! Not my heart! Many tests were done. I was there 7 hours before it was determined it was kidneys suffering a rare side effect. I would need a kidney biopsy to confirm - so I had to get to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN (about 100 miles, or 160 kg, away) and plan to stay overnight, just in case there was a negative reaction to that. They said I had "Minimal Change Disease" - treatment for that was either 2 or so years on steroids, or 1.5 or so years on chemo! Not treating it would bring on kidney failure in a matter of weeks, which would lead to needing dialysis or a transplant. - In my opinion there was nothing minimal about this kidney problem. After a few years I had to switch nephrologists (the one I'd been seeing left Mayo for another position elsewhere). The new one kept referring to my condition as Nephrotic Syndrome. Further investigation on my part, suggests that Minimal Change Disease falls under the umbrella of Nephrotic Syndrome - so it's only one of several kidney problems that could also be classified as Nephrotic Syndrome. I don't recall now, what any of the others are, but I'm sure even more have been identified in the 15 years since I did my research. This was some 20 years ago. Now, I no longer have any nephrotic condition. Though I do still monitor kidney function with annual labwork. My nephrologist released me from care about 5 years ago. I am free of any kidney disease! My regular primary care physician can order the lab tests to monitor kidney function and so far they have been completely normal. But I will say - before I got released from my nephrologist, I did make a lot of major changes in my diet & lifestyle. I continue to fine-tune those even today. If you're still looking for more info - there's kidney.org to consider & there is also a site with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US, specifically for such ailments: NIDDK, or National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/nephrotic-syndrome-adults?dkrd=hispt0357

Do you have information on the ingredients in it? (like soy, wheat, whey, etc.) What about the nutrients it provides? (like specific amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.) Knowing this will help to answer your question better. In general, protein powders used alone in a shake made with water will be lightest on your digestion. Taste & texture aren't always palatable, so people will add things to it: berries are a popular add-on; leafy greens is another popular add-on; both provide much variety. Perhaps in her suggestion she is thinking along the lines of easing your digestion while the ulcer heals. That can be done first by reducing or eliminating foods that are known to irritate you: spicy foods, high-fiber foods, and foods you are allergic to are common irritants. Digestion can be eased also by making foods more liquid, or softer, such as with soups and purees; thus breaking down the foods prior to eating them. The more liquid they are, the less the digestive processes have to work. The less work in digestion translates to less acids or other by-products that would irritate the ulcer and inhibit healing. I would suggest you discover the ingredients & nutrients in the suggested protein powder and then research how they would impact your body. Might also be wise to look at the cost of her suggestion and compare that to other products with the same ingredient/nutrient factors. (Edited to add this) Amway produces more than one type of protein powder. So perhaps you can get the information about all of them to make a more educated decision. In addition - there are many healthcare practitioners that support and/or promote specific products. In most cases these people have done their 'homework' and researched the products enough to feel comfortable suggesting them to their patients/clients. Ask questions of your provider to determine this for sure. As with anything in this system, there are those who are only doing it for the money they get in it and we each must do our own investigation to attempt to avoid being taken advantage of. And, if it matters, I am a former Amway 'agent' (as you put it), and a former Shaklee distributor as well, and currently working with Melaleuca - The Wellness Company. I've researched a lot of protein powders over the years, including many others not produced by any of the above companies.

Something else to note: ASL like American English has numerous dialects, or distinct signs used locally more than around the whole U.S. Very much like Texans have their way of speaking, New Englanders have their way, the Midwest, the Northwest, the South, East Coast, West Coast, and so on. What you're taught via most websites, apps, and even with the JW classes will be more general, but will likely have some signs that just aren't used locally without causing confusion, or worse, offense, so it's good to get acquainted with the local deaf community & culture as soon as you can.