Monthly Archives: May 2022

As major fan conventions like Phoenix Fan Fusion and San Diego Comic Con make triumphant returns this year, newcomers and returning guests alike might be out of practice when it comes to interacting with such large swaths of people after three years.

Since the pandemic, a lot more people have gone into fandom and nerd things, said Imani Jackson, a 23-year-old from Phoenix who goes by the stage name Cosplay Choco.

I think that there is certain etiquette when it comes to cosplaying that I feel like normal people do not know, like asking permission before you touch a costume, before you take a picture.

She, along with fellow metro Phoenix-based cosplayers Marina Sharpe, who is known as @marinahopesharpeon social media, andAleksander Gomez, who goes by the name Valentino Morales as@alocalcosplayer, shared tips for how to be safe at large-scale events and be respectful as a fan.

Arizona cosplayers rejoice:Why they're so happy Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022 is on

Being respectful towardcosplayers is key.

Cosplay is not consent is a popular phrase in the community, meaning that attending an event or wearing a certain outfit does not mean people can act however they want toward cosplayers.

Costumes are not an invitation to, like, flirt, with somebody. I don't understand why that's a thing, Imani said. Just because somebody is Harley Quinn and you're Joker does not mean that we are together.

Following a cosplayer, touching them and taking pictures from afar are examples of what not to do, Imani said.

"Another thing is offering to fix something, take something out of someone's hair or wig," Imani said. "You might think, like, that's really nice if you did that, but someone who is their friend should probably do that for them. A stranger should not pick (at) somebody else's costume unless specifically that cosplayer is like, 'Hey, can you fix this for me?'"

Fan Fusion 2022: Complete guide to guests, weapon policy, costs and more

When it comes to taking pictures, ask a cosplayer for permission to photograph them and respect their wish if they decline.

If I'm having a picture taken of me in cosplay, I want to be able to pose, to be in character, you know? Sharpe said. If someone is taking a break, if they're eating food, typically it's not regarded as the most respectful thing to go up to a cosplayer while they're eating.

Gomez said some cosplayers experience microaggressions while receiving compliments. One example, he said, is if someone says "'I love your Black version of this character."

"It's almost slightly derogatory in a way, and many POC creators are going to take slight offense to that as you're cosplaying that character not just as a Black person, but you're just cosplaying the character," he said.

When complimenting people's costumes, make sure to not qualify it.

Exclusive: These 23 new restaurants and bars are now open in metro Phoenix

Unfortunately, cosplayers often experience unwanted attention when they are in costume.

It sucks because it is just kind of a reality that you kind of have to be aware of your surroundings and people around you, Sharpe said. Creeps in general are going to be in any community, period.

Gomez said: There's going to be multiple predators at these conventions solely with the interest of seeing one of their favorite characters and essentially taking advantage of that cosplayer so that way they can get their own fantasy.

When asked about whether being in costume might makesome people feel free to act inappropriately, Sharpe saidshe believes this sometimes happens.

I think particularly with a cosplay that covers up your entire face, for instance, it's kind of like when you're on the Internet and suddenly some people feel empowered to say awful things, she said. I think some people just (are) wanting to be in character and taking it, you know, kind of too far.

Imani, Sharpe and Gomez shared these cosplay safety tips:

And as a courtesy toothers, Gomez issued a plea for people to wear deodorant while cosplaying.

"Personal hygiene is so important at these conventions," he said. "Please!"

Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinsonat kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobinand Instagram @ReporterKiMi.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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The golden rule of cosplay: Do's and don'ts of comic con etiquette - The Arizona Republic

Canada has fallen behind other industrialized nations in multiple measures of capital healthcare investment, and the most glaring gap is found in the state of its medical imaging equipment35% of which is 10 or more years old.

The news comes from a report issued by an independent research organization, the Conference Board of Canada, by way of the Canadian Association of Radiologists. The CAR is publicizing the report [1] to help convey the seriousness of the report authors findings.

Medical imaging lives at the center of healthcare in Canada, touching patients lives during multiple phases of their care journey, says CAR president Gilles Soulez, MD, in a press release. Demand is growing, but our equipment and processes are not keeping up with what is required to diagnose and treat patients.

The CAR notes the European Coordination Committee of Radiological, Electromedical and Healthcare IT Industrys Golden Rule, which holds that no more than 10% of imaging equipment should still be in service as of its 10th anniversary.

Chad Leaver, the Conference Boards director of health, names lengthening wait times for imaging services as a concerning indicator of the countrys health-status trajectory relative to that of peer nations.

Increased wait times have a substantial cost to the Canadian economy, Leaver says. Preparing Canada for the future has become more important now than ever, he adds, because timely access to medical imaging will be key to the success of provincial/territorial strategies to address surgical and cancer care backlogs that Canadians and care providers are facing because of the pandemic.

To this Soulez adds that, even before the pandemic, Canadians were waiting an average of 50 to 82 days for CT scans and 89 days for MR imagingsome 20 to 52 days longer than the 30-day wait time recommended by published guidelines.

More from Soulez:

[T]his backlog increased significantly during the pandemic and, according to a survey of CAR members, most centers cannot catch up with this additional workload. Without additional investment in equipment and human resources and modernization of prioritizing and referring imaging, we are looking at a very bleak future.

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Neighbor to the North facing a 'very bleak future' if medical imaging not modernized soon - Radiology Business

Last weeks horrific school shooting in Texas has our countrys attention.

Twenty-one people 19 happy, innocent children and two caring teachers were shot and killed and an additional 17 were wounded in this school of 600 students. All of them and their families are suffering. Millions and millions of additional students and parents across our country have been terrified by that news.

Since 1970, 2,032 school shootings have occurred in the U.S., with 948 of them occurring since the staggering tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. This averages more than 94 in less than 10 years.

Just Thursday night there was an anonymous shooting threat regarding New Albany High School.

I was already incensed about occurrences in my rural, historically safe and secure, neighborhood. To be certain, these happenings are absolutely nothing in comparison to the Texas shooting. They are though, indicative of negative changes. In just the past month I had a bulky piece of outdoor furniture taken within a six-hour period while I was at home. Two neighbors just down the road had break-ins into their backyards/mini barns. One involved removing a gate. Most recently, four cars/officers from the sheriffs department found it necessary to visit a small nearby business at 2:30 a.m.

While this is of a completely different caliber, I had taken up a wooden sidewalk and moved all pieces to the end of the driveway to await removal. All screws needed to be hammered down or out and all wood bundled so I was sitting on a bench at the end of the driveway working away with my hammer. People in the area will tell you that I work in the yard a lot and often look oh my, as was the case when a car passed and the driver screamed a nasty adjective and a disgusting noun at me. Only 15 or so feet away was a mid-20s man, his face distorted with anger and venom.

Despite the varied nature of these instances, there are many commonalities. I do not believe it is okay that my world no longer feels as safe or kind and caring as it once did. It is certainly not okay that young people cannot view one where they are loved and cared for and is safe, caring, and filled with opportunities. Too many people today, of all ages, act as though boundaries and rules dont apply to them. They do what they want, when they want just because they want to, regardless of consequences to others. It is unacceptable!

I continue to believe there are far more caring people in the world than there are selfish, unfeeling, uncaring ones. Yet the noise created by the blatant actions in the world almost seems to belie that reality. Its up to each one of us, whether teachers, legislators, parents or non-parents, to show in our lives the type of actions and attitudes that our world need in order of our young people and all citizens to feel safe and valued.

It does not mean a different rule for every difference: belief, lifestyle, gender, ethnicity, social and financial status, etc. It means being FAIR. If means treating others the way you would want to be treated (theres a Golden Rule for that). It means setting expectations for how we as individuals act at home, at school, in the neighborhood, everywhere and we must share, in both words and actions, these expectations with our children. Otherwise, how will they learn? Its also necessary that when expectations are not met, by children or adults, that consequences occur. Otherwise we quickly learn rules and expectations are not meant for me and we lives of chaos.

By our actions we must demonstrate that we value others, whether they are like us or not. Its learning how to peacefully resolve differences. Good old boy attitudes in our communities, neighborhoods, in politics, or anywhere or even at home result only in selfish rewards.

We begin to learn values and attitudes at birth. Teaching therefore begins with the parents and those others who are raising our children. Teaching must follow children as they go to daycare, school and anywhere they go where adults influence them. We cannot wait even one more day to begin ensuring that we act the way we want our kids to act, that we treat them with respect, that we expect the same in return. We cannot survive in a world where every person is out for him/herself. And who would want to?

Youth Count focuses on positive youth development. Visit the Youth Count Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/YouthCount for tips and encouragement on demonstrating positive attitudes and behaviors. For more information about the 40 Development Assets, building developmental relationships or for handouts appropriate for home, work, school or church, email me at barbara@youthcount.com.

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YOUTH COUNT COLUMN: Enough is enough our youth deserve better - Evening News and Tribune

I had an interesting conversation recently with someone who had mentioned they had never read the Bible and didnt really believe in it. I listened as this person went on to say, if only people would treat others as to how they themselves want to be treated, then this would be a better world. I smiled and asked, Did you know thats in the Bible? Some call it the golden rule. Its in Matthew 7:12 and in Luke 6:31. Jesus said it. This person had no idea that one of their life values actually came from Bible scripture. A surprised expression came across the persons face.The person continued to comment that if people would be kind and loving to others then they might receive some kindness and love back.I asked the person, Did you know that is a biblical principle? Sowing and reaping. What you sow into the lives of others, you also will reap.I said with a smile, You know, for someone who hasnt read the Bible, and doesnt really believe what it says, I would say you could preach on what you just said and have Bible verses to back you up.This story makes me think how very important it is to know Gods word. Reading the Bible every day not only helps us grow in our faith but is foundational to what we believe.Did you know reading three or four chapters a day, we can read through the entire Bible in one year! Heres how: Select a Bible reading plan Choose a Bible translation that you can easily read or listen to Have a notebook and pen, or tablet to take notes Decide on a time and place to spend time with the Lord stay with it Journal your journey with GodI personally use the method of journaling called S.O.A.P.S = Scripture - write the scripture verse that most stands out to youO = Observation - write what caught your attention about the verseA = Application - write how the word applies to you for todayP = Prayer - write a prayer to God about what youve read and ask for his help in living it outMy desire is to be a lifelong learner! An eager student and also a willing teacher. Pray, listen, and meditate on his word and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!The B.I.B.L.E. yes thats the book for me. I stand alone on the word of God, the B.I.B.L.E.Peggy Locke is co-founding pastor at Carson City Foursquare Church.

Link:

Faith & Insight: The BIBLE | Serving Carson City for over 150 years - Nevada Appeal

Yet another school shooting and another call from Democrats to take away the right to keep and bear arms. Democrats use gun violence and safety as their excuse for wanting to make citizens vulnerable to government.

But we must remember Democrats are the party of massive government control. The proliferation of weapons in this country is one of the things keeping us free free from government oppression. Recall that Lexington-Concord was about the British aiming to confiscate colonists weapons caches. It was one of the precipitations for the Revolutionary War.

But the shootings in major cities and unfortunately, schools is NOT a gun issue. It is a parental failing and concomitantly a social issue. We need to hold parents accountable for the predations of their offspring on the grounds they failed to raise their children properly.

Dumping their kids in day care and public schools is no substitute for inculcating proper values into your kids. When you bring a child into the world you assume a decades long obligation to adequately teach that child proper behavior.

But then its hard to do when adults themselves are going berserk because their fast food order isnt correct, or someone cuts in front of them in a queue, or a restaurant runs out of chicken or sauce. The gun violence we have is a direct result of failed parental examples.

And let us not fail to mention that bastion of violence, the entertainment industry. They steadfastly deny their on-screen violence affects anyone because everyone knows it is all make believe. Watching entertainment doesnt really impact people, they say. If that is sowhy the commercials?

Commercials are on screen and advertisers use these to impact the viewer! You cant have it both ways. If on-screen fails to impact viewers then companies are wasting a lot of stakeholder money on ads. But if on-screen ads do impact viewers, then so will the violence perpetually pervading television, movies, and video games.

As a society can we continue to permit the headlong collapse into anarchy, violence, and ultimately big government controls? How many children and adults need to be killed before we decide enough?

It has been said Nature abhors a vacuum. Gods values have been pushed out of the classroom and socialistic relativism is filling the void. As weve seen time after time, socialist agendas fail citizens.

Are we going to accept woke as a substitute for sanity? Are we going to allow alleged injustices to replace the merits of the Ten Commandments? The Golden Rule?

Corruption isnt always about money. Souls and spirits can become corrupt, too, and Uvalde is the latest example.

Ken Schaefer

Sharpsburg, GA 30277

Continue reading here:

Instead of fewer guns, how about better parents? - The Citizen.com

As winter sets in, you might be wondering: how do you know if your dog is warm enough? And how cold is too cold to take them for a walk?

Its a tricky one; much depends on their natural coat. We go through this question on a daily basis in my household in winter because one of my dogs is small and hasnt got much coat she is currently wearing a jumper and on my lap, under a blanket.

But the majority of breeds are probably OK in most Australian temperatures. In many ways, its easier to keep a cold dog with a thin coat warm than to keep a hot, thick-coated dog cool when the mercury climbs.

That said, there are some good general rules to follow to ensure your canine friends dont suffer when an Antarctic blast hits.

Read more: How hot is too hot? Here's how to tell if your dog is suffering during the summer heat

My rule of thumb is to feel their extremities. If I can feel their ears or feet are a bit chilly to touch, that suggests their core temperature might be a bit low. Then I would provide a coat or put the heater on (if were staying in).

Much depends on whether your dog has a double coat or not many dogs do. You can see if your dog has an undercoat by parting their hair and seeing if there is a downy layer of pale hair between the glossy top coat and the skin.

Breeds that have a double coat include most kelpies, cattle dogs, German shepherds, and huskies. Some breeds, like Samoyeds, have really dense undercoats and can tolerate cold really well. A dog with a thick undercoat doesnt need anything more to stay warm on a cold day.

If your dog has a single coat, you might need to think a bit more carefully about the cold. Breeds in this category include maltese, cavaliers, greyhounds, whippets, and staffies.

In addition to coat, also consider the golden rule of surface area to volume ratio.

Smaller animals have more surface area for their weight than larger animals, which means they have more surface area to lose heat from compared to a dog that is bigger and heavier.

Small, lean dogs will generally struggle with the cold a bit more than other dogs for this reason. For example, Italian greyhounds are much more vulnerable than regular greyhounds.

If we feel cold then they probably do too. A thicker coat helps slow down heat loss, which is good if you live in a cold environment, but not so great if you live in a warm environment.

If your dog is shivering, hunched with tail tucked, trying to tuck their paws in close to their body or lift them off the cold ground, theyre uncomfortably cold.

If the dog is being still, they are at more risk of getting cold. For example, we wrap our smallest dog in a blanket when shes in the car but once shes running around, she seems to generate enough heat to stay comfortable.

At home, pay attention to where the dogs are sleeping. If they are curled up in a tight ball on the thickest bed they can find, or nuzzling under blankets, they are trying to keep themselves warm.

My small dog has learned to show me if she wants a jumper on by wagging her tail and sticking her head in it if I hold it out to her. So we might be able to teach our dogs to answer the question Do you want another layer on?

If dogs are not sleeping well at night or getting up a lot in the wee hours, its a good idea to check how cold they feel and try offering them some warmer sleeping options.

If youve got a dog in the yard, make sure they have access to shelter and a bed to get them off the cold ground, especially when there is a cold wind.

In Australia, a cold day is generally easier to manage for dogs than a hot day.

So yes, you could have an Italian greyhound as a pet in southern Tasmania, as long as you add layers when needed and maybe accept they are going to sleep in bed with you under the covers.

I like to let dogs choose, as much as possible, what they need to manage their core temperature.

For example, you might provide a bed with a cover, or extra bedding and blankets on a cold day, so they can use what they need and move away from it when they have warmed up enough.

Once I put a jacket on my dog, she is unable to take it off herself, so I am relying on being able to tell somehow that she doesnt want it on anymore.

Still, this is an improvement on her simply climbing into my jacket with me all the time, which she still does sometimes even when shes got her own extra layers on.

Sometimes you just want to cuddle up to a warm friend, though. Its hard to argue with that!

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Is my dog too cold? How cold is too cold for a walk? Here's how to tell - The Conversation

The Royal Family will be out and about as The Queen's Platinium Jubilee is celebrated over a four-day weekend in June. And many royalists will be wondering what they would do if they came face-to-face with one of the family.

Language and cultural experts from Busuu have put together a how-to guide on what you should and shouldnt do when addressing the royals. You'll need to be aware of the right form of address, and the type of body language it's advisable to use.

A spokesperson from Busuu said: There are a lot of rules surrounding the royals: the language that should be used to address them, the body language that we should uphold, and so much more. Using the correct title to address a royal is extremely important, especially as all members of the royal family will have their own title.

Whether you find yourself in the presence of a royal or in a highly formal setting, these tips will definitely help you fit right in.

When referring to the Queen, we should first address her as Your Majesty. After that you can refer to her as Maam. This is similar when addressing family members like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

You should begin by calling them Your Royal Highness, and afterwards you may call them Sir or Maam.

You should try to speak in a slightly more formal tone when talking to a member of the royal family and, in order to show that you are giving them your full attention, it is vital that you retain eye contact at all times.

Correct body language is important when addressing a royal. You should have good posture, avoid slouching or standing in closed-off positions, like with your arms crossed. Try to either hold your hands together at the front, or put them behind your back.

Ladies sitting in skirts or dresses should keep their legs together and angle them to the left or right. If you look closely, this is how the Duchess of Cambridge tends to sit and it was also how Princess Diana used to sit. Although you can cross your ankles, one thing you must never do is cross your legs. This is one of the worst things you can do, as far as etiquette goes!

Men, on the other hand, can cross their legs, but should avoid sitting with their ankle on their knee with their leg bent.

Royals will have a lot of security around them but, regardless, you should avoid physical contact such as handshakes and hugs. You should only shake a royal's hand if they extend theirs first.

It is said that in the presence of royalty you should avoid wearing something exposing your arms. Formal dress is recommended. Jeans and trainers will be unacceptable.

When dining with royals, the correct etiquette for sitting at the dinner table involves keeping elbows, arms and hands off of the table. Having your elbows on the table when eating is said to suggest over-indulgence, which was known to come across as peasant-like.

When at the table, you should also wait for the hostess to unfold her napkin and place it in her lap before unfolding your own.

When dining formally, youll notice multiple utensils in front of you. The rule of thumb is to go from the outside in and start with the smallest utensils.

More here:

Golden rules of meeting royalty from talking posh to what not to wear - Cornwall Live

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 HCSB

Memorialized in vinyl back in 1973, Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown was a number one hit for the late Jim Croce. Brown will forever be remembered as the baddest man on the south side of Chicago. At least until he met Doris husband, who made him look like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone.

On this side of heaven, there will be people who like to memorialize your past mistakes and replay them like a number one hit, usually at public venues for maximum stimulation.

You are not defined by what you have done in your past, or by what your parents want or expect you to be, or even what your friends and family expect of you.

God made you divinely unique and different, set apart to please Him. And, if you have become a born-again believer those mistakes in your past are not even in the cheap record rack!

With that said, if you are going to be all that God knows you can be, to please Him, you must allow Him to cross examine your heart and allow Him to point out things which do not please Him.

Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139: 23-24 NLT

While the Bible says, We are for a little while lower than the angels, at times, we can be anything but angelic. For those trying to walk closely with Jesus the expectations of others can be quite challenging.

Sometimes people forget they are here on the south side of heaven with very human people, making the same mistakes. So how do we balance our relationships with others and at the same time place God first in our lives?

The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. So, first and foremost we should please God. But part of pleasing God is loving people. So how do we go about loving people? What does loving people look like?

I think it would be safe to say that being judged and scrutinized by others would not be loving. It would be difficult to consider it loving to be talking about others in a negative way. Those are obvious ways we demonstrate a lack of love for others. Sometimes when we do not stand up or speak out in defense of our brother can show a lack of love. Silence can break a heart and change a life!

Pleasing God would include his golden rule. The golden rule is actually a verse in Matthew 7:12, Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. In lieu of Gods mercy to us, we should extend grace and forgiveness to those who have hurt us. But at the same time, we should not allow ourselves to be bullied or manipulated out of fear of rejection!

Lets be honest, relationships can be challenging. Whether a family member or a friend, their expectations can exceed our capabilities. Sometimes the closeness of the person can provide the greatest margin to conquer. We must be patient to listen to what they are saying to us and search it for morsels of truth. Is it relevant? Is it a rehash of some long ago wrong, still unhealed? Is there bitterness which is poisoning their well?

We are not responsible for what others may think of us, but we are responsible for how we handle accusations and confrontations. The Word of the Lord says, So, encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

Recently, a friend told me about an encounter while shopping.

As I was shopping, this woman, a stranger, came over and complimented the way I looked. It was so very nice.

Women can sometimes be hard on other women. Think of the blessing it would be if more women were encouraging each other.

True Christ-centered relationships are loving, kind, and seek to encourage and build one another up, in the ways of the Lord. Sometimes we choose to endure hard relationships to draw people to Christ.

We endure things we typically would not endure to show them the love of Christ. These relationships should not become unhealthy, lacking boundaries or borders.

Keep in mind, we should love others, but sometimes that could mean loving them from a distance. This doesnt mean we cross them off our list; we can continue to pray for them.

Life is too short to try and live to please others. Dont be afraid of the fall out and know that God is working out all things for the good of those who love Him, those who have been called according to His purposes.

Yes, loving people on the south side of heaven can be challenging, but it is worth it! Imagine, the friends you will see when you enter the Gates of His City!

At this writing, we are just learning of the horrific school shooting in Texas. Pray for the families in Uvalde, Texas and for our nation.

Theresa Rowe is the founder of Shaped by Faith, TV and radio host, author and motivational wellness speaker. Website, http://www.shapedbyfaith.com.

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Loving people on the south side of heaven - messenger-inquirer