Tao tóm tắt lại chút cho mấy thằng nào còn là sinh viên học sinh chưa nắm:
Như chm đều đã biết thì vụ Việt Á đều đã bội thực tin tức trên các mặt báo. Trong đó hai gương mặt nổi tiếng nhất được lên báo là Phan Quốc Việt (tổng GD Việt Á) và Hồ Anh Sơn (phó GD học viện quân y).
Và chắc một số thằng cũng đã biết Hồ Anh Sơn vào năm 2020 được một tay bút của báo QDND bút danh Nguyễn Hồng viết một bài tâng bốc có tên

Người “từ chối” nói về mình.

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Bài tâng bốc này rất hài hước vì nó mô tả Hồ Anh Sơn giống như một diễn viên đẹp trai nhưng hết mình cống hiến để nghiên cứu kit test quên ăn quên ngủ, quên bản thân mình, ngày nghỉ cũng làm, và rất ngại ngại khi phải nói về những cống hiến của mình LOL. Thậm chí HAS còn bắt phóng viên phải cầm 1 tờ danh sách đầy những cơ quan, đoàn thể, những người mà HAS muốn cám ơn và bắt phóng viên phải đưa nó vào bài viết để tri ân! Nói chung là một hình ảnh gương mẫu đến phi thường (chắc cũng ngang cụ Lake hồi trẻ!)

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Bài tâng bốc cá nhân này ngay sau đó được trao giải Búa Liềm Vàng năm 2020, giải Nhất cuộc thi viết “Những tấm gương bình dị mà cao quý” lần thứ 11 (cùng năm).
Link:
http://bualiemvang.org.vn/tin-hoat-dong/danh-sach-cac-ca-nhan-don-vi-duoc-khen-thuong-va-doat-giai-bao-chi-toan-quoc-ve-xay-dung-dang-lan-thu-v-75
https://www.qdnd.vn/ho-so-su-kien/cuoc-thi-viet-noi-theo-guong-sang-bac-ho/lan-toa-nhung-bong-hoa-dep-trong-rung-hoa-ngan-viec-tot-619993
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https://preview.redd.it/s3k52pcs495b1.png?width=930&format=png&auto=webp&s=74f6ece8de0c333456e010e1c7e7732faf3f2764
Và đây là kết cuộc
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https://preview.redd.it/tarixa74695b1.png?width=648&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c4fedd83d9ddb8f7113af763547d310c339125b
https://preview.redd.it/gktmp0tca95b1.png?width=491&format=png&auto=webp&s=3722baaa0372cdca111203986a2d50e49b595878
Link trao giải thì còn đó (vì nó còn dính tới nhiều tác phẩm khác không liên quan), nhưng ai cũng đoán được số phận bài viết gốc ra sao sau khi phốt về Hồ Anh Sơn được phanh phui:

Nó bị xóa và không tìm đâu ra bản cache của nó.

Đến nỗi nếu chm tìm được những bài viết bóc phốt về nó thì cũng chỉ được nói qua rằng có một bài viết tên là Người từ chối nói về mình tâng bốc Hồ Anh Sơn chứ không tài nào tìm được link để đọc nó hoặc ai đó copy lại bằng văn bản. Thậm chí nếu chm nhớ một câu trong bài báo và tìm bằng ngoặc kép với google cũng không tìm ra được. Tao đã đọc một lần rồi và rất muốn xem lại nhưng cũng tìm không thấy. Bộ phận tẩy rửa công nhận làm hơi bị có tâm!
Điều hài hước là báo chính thống phản biện lại rằng, vào thời điểm đó những bài tâng bốc như này là hợp lý. Tuy hợp lý nhưng lại âm thầm xóa mất và cũng không có đính chính hay quyết định tước danh hiệu nào của bài báo này được đưa ra!

Thì hôm nay tao phát hiện trên Wayback Machine có một vài người đã lưu lại nó

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https://preview.redd.it/k14f9gfna95b1.png?width=541&format=png&auto=webp&s=7ecdfd198359077ec3f7db80a26741ea572e335e
Mời chm cùng cầm bắp rang và đọc để hiểu về nền văn học tâng bốc và cách mà học sinh được dạy văn trong trường liệu có tương đồng hay không LOL
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QĐCT, 23/03/2020, 23:01 (GMT+7)

Người “từ chối” nói về mình

Hóa ra, Thượng tá, PGS, TS Hồ Anh Sơn, Phó giám đốc Viện Nghiên cứu Y dược học Quân sự (Học viện Quân y), Chủ nhiệm Đề tài độc lập cấp Nhà nước “Nghiên cứu chế tạo bộ sinh phẩm RT-PCR và real-time RT-PCR phát hiện chủng virus Corona mới 2019 (2019-nCoV)”, người đang được nhiều nhà báo “săn lùng” hiện nay không phải là người hoàn toàn xa lạ với tôi.
Ngày 5-3-2020, khi Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ tổ chức họp báo công bố đưa bộ sinh phẩm RT-PCR và real-time RT-PCR phát hiện chủng virus Corona mới 2019 (2019-nCoV) vào sử dụng, bắt gặp vị chủ nhiệm đề tài có “khuôn mặt điện ảnh” với lọn tóc xoăn lượn sóng trên vầng trán rộng, đôi mắt to tròn, đen láy, nụ cười nhè nhẹ túc trực trên môi... khiến tôi muốn bắt chuyện, nhưng thấy anh từ chối trả lời một số đồng nghiệp nên thôi. Nghề báo, thiếu gì cách để “moi” thông tin, tôi tự tin nghĩ thế. Thấy anh từ chối đồng nghiệp, tôi đoán anh này “kiêu kiêu”, “khó gần”, nên không thích bắt chuyện.
Nhưng, cảm giác ban đầu của tôi về Hồ Anh Sơn có vẻ không đúng. Một số người từng cùng cộng tác hoặc quen biết với anh đã lâu đều thông tin đến tôi rằng, anh là người điềm đạm, dễ mến, rất nhiệt tình với bạn bè. Một người bạn chia sẻ bài báo trên mục “Người tốt-Việc tốt” của Báo Quân đội nhân dân đăng năm 1997 viết về học viên giỏi Học viện Quân y Hồ Anh Sơn thì tôi bỗng nhớ ra mình đã từng gặp anh ở đâu...
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Thượng tá, Phó giáo sư, Tiến sĩ Hồ Anh Sơn. Ảnh: VÂN NGỌC
Hồ Anh Sơn nhập ngũ năm 1993, quê ở Quỳnh Đôi, Quỳnh Lưu, Nghệ An. Bố bộ đội, mẹ công nhân, gia đình có tới 3 chú đều đi bộ đội và là sĩ quan cấp cao trong quân đội. Truyền thống ấy đã dẫn dắt anh một cách tự nhiên, thi đỗ và nhập học Học viện Quân y dù mùa tuyển sinh năm 1993, anh đỗ cả Trường Đại học Y Hà Nội và còn có suất cử đi du học nước ngoài của Trường Đại học Nông nghiệp 1. 7 năm “thụ giáo” tại Học viện Quân y, anh được bạn học cùng khóa ghi nhận là “anh chàng đa năng, khá toàn diện”: Học giỏi, rèn nghiêm, là phó bí thư chi đoàn giàu nhiệt huyết và trách nhiệm, “thể dục tàm tạm mà văn nghệ cũng... ra trò”. Kết quả: Không được tốt nghiệp. Ấy là cách nói vui dành cho những học viên ra trường được giữ lại công tác. Mà với Hồ Anh Sơn thời điểm đó, tốt nghiệp chỉ là một khái niệm rất “mơ hồ”. Vì ngay sau đó, anh thi đỗ chương trình đào tạo bác sĩ nội trú. Rồi mải miết nghiên cứu khoa học và “cày” ngoại ngữ để sang Nhật Bản làm nghiên cứu sinh. Năm 2007, anh bảo vệ thành công luận án tiến sĩ về khoa học thần kinh trên đất nước mặt trời mọc.
Một cuộc điện thoại. Từ đầu dây bên kia, giọng Hồ Anh Sơn nhẹ nhàng, pha chút hóm hỉnh rồi lịch sự từ chối cuộc phỏng vấn mà tôi đề nghị. Nhưng anh cũng đổi ý, khi tôi nói rõ xin gặp anh vào ngày nghỉ và nội dung tập trung vào cuộc chiến chống đại dịch Covid-19, một cuộc chiến toàn cầu hiện nay. “Ngày nghỉ chúng tôi vẫn đi làm, vì vậy, ta tranh thủ đầu giờ sáng anh nhé”-Sơn nhỏ nhẹ.
Đúng là, Hồ Anh Sơn không “kiêu kiêu”, “khó gần” như tôi nghĩ. Anh tinh tế nhận ra suy nghĩ và cảm giác của tôi từ khi gọi điện thoại, nên mở đầu câu chuyện đã giải thích ngay rằng, anh từ chối những câu hỏi vội vã, có khi đến thuật ngữ, khái niệm còn nhầm lẫn. Vội như thế, về viết bài chữ tác thành chữ tộ, nhà khoa học có khi “nhận gạch đá”. Hơn nữa, Sơn ngập ngừng rồi nói: “Ngại nhất là những bài khen, chê cẩu thả, nhất là khen không đúng thì chính người được khen thấy ngượng”. Sơn đề nghị, nếu tôi viết bài, nhất định trong bài phải cảm ơn Ban chỉ đạo quốc gia phòng, chống dịch Covid-19, Bộ Quốc phòng, Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ, Học viện Quân y và các đồng nghiệp, đối tác... Anh tỉ mỉ, cẩn trọng đưa cho tôi trang giấy ghi tên hàng chục cơ quan, đơn vị mà anh muốn nói lời cảm ơn vì đã quan tâm, giúp đỡ nhóm nghiên cứu của anh và muốn tôi cam kết phải đưa danh sách này vào bài viết. (Báo Quân đội nhân dân ngày 6-3, trong bài “Khẳng định tài năng, trách nhiệm của các nhà khoa học quân đội” đã đáp ứng nguyện vọng này của anh).
Bây giờ thì cả nước đã biết đến thông tin các nhà khoa học thuộc Học viện Quân y và Công ty CP Công nghệ Việt Á đã hoàn thiện quy trình chế tạo bộ kít phát hiện virus SARS-CoV-2 với công suất 10.000 test/ngày. Thời gian phát hiện virus trong vòng hơn 2 giờ. Trung tướng, GS, TS Đỗ Quyết, Giám đốc Học viện Quân y chia sẻ: “Chúng tôi xác định rõ tầm quan trọng đặc biệt của việc phải sớm có bộ kít phát hiện virus SARS-CoV-2 để phục vụ công tác phòng, chống dịch Covid-19, nên đã chủ động vào cuộc, triển khai tất cả các hướng. Sau hơn một tháng miệt mài nghiên cứu không ngừng nghỉ, các nhà khoa học nỗ lực làm việc cả ngày lẫn đêm, đến hôm nay, hai đơn vị đã hoàn thiện quy trình công nghệ chế tạo được bộ kít”. Sau khi có kết quả nghiên cứu, Học viện Quân y đã viết bài báo khoa học gửi đến Tạp chí Virus học quốc tế Vigology. Tạp chí này đã đề nghị chia sẻ kết quả nghiên cứu đến Tổ chức Y tế thế giới (WHO) và Học viện Quân y đã đồng ý.
Giữa những ngày cả thế giới chống đại dịch Covid-19, việc nghiên cứu, chế tạo ra bộ kít phát hiện virus SARS-CoV-2 là một kết quả rất quan trọng, thế giới cũng đã có một số nước chế tạo được bộ kít này, nhưng bộ kít do nhóm của PGS, TS Hồ Anh Sơn được Viện Vệ sinh Dịch tễ Trung ương đánh giá cao về độ nhạy, độ đặc hiệu, độ ổn định. Điều quan trọng là sản phẩm “made in Vietnam” này giúp Việt Nam phòng, chống dịch bệnh chủ động hơn rất nhiều.
Nhớ lại một tháng “quên ăn, quên ngủ, quên cả Tết”, Hồ Anh Sơn nói, anh và các đồng sự chưa bao giờ trải qua một nhiệm vụ với áp lực nặng nề đến vậy. “Chạy đua với thời gian để kịp tiến độ mà cấp trên yêu cầu, chúng tôi biết mình không được phép sai sót, vì sai sót thì không đủ thời gian để làm lại”. Xong việc, đề tài được nghiệm thu giai đoạn 1, sản phẩm được đưa vào sản xuất, ai cũng thấy nhẹ nhõm nhưng Hồ Anh Sơn và anh em trong nhóm hiểu rằng, đây không phải là lúc ăn mừng. Đại dịch bùng phát trên thế giới, ở Việt Nam, cả hệ thống chính trị vào cuộc, các thầy thuốc và cán bộ, chiến sĩ quân đội-những đồng nghiệp, đồng đội của các anh đang căng sức trên mặt trận cam go này. Và vì thế, Sơn mong muốn, các nhà báo hãy dành “đất” để thông tin, tuyên truyền về những người trực tiếp chống dịch, “đó mới là những người dũng cảm, những người hy sinh thầm lặng, chấp nhận nguy cơ phơi nhiễm bệnh dịch, có khi phải đánh đổi cả sức khỏe, tính mạng của mình để chăm sóc sức khỏe người dân”.
Thời gian một giờ mà Hồ Anh Sơn dành để tiếp tôi vào đầu giờ làm việc ngày thứ bảy trôi qua nhanh. Anh say sưa nói về các nhà khoa học, các thầy thuốc Học viện Quân y và khôn khéo “né” những câu hỏi về cá nhân mình. Tôi biết và lẽ ra, bằng những thủ thuật nghiệp vụ, tôi cũng có thể khai thác ở anh nhiều thông tin rất đáng ca ngợi. Như chuyện vợ anh, cũng là tiến sĩ y học ở Nhật Bản về, quản lý phòng khám nha khoa của Nhật Bản, chăm lo gia đình để anh yên tâm nghiên cứu khoa học. Hay những giải thưởng, công trình, đề tài nghiên cứu của anh về bệnh lý ung thư, tự kỷ, thần kinh... đã được đánh giá rất cao. Nhưng đúng như anh đề nghị, giờ không phải là lúc để nói về những điều đó. “Khoa học không có biên giới nhưng nhà khoa học nào cũng có Tổ quốc của mình”-Sơn tâm đắc với câu nói đó. Anh kể, không cứ là “mùa dịch bệnh”, các nhà khoa học Học viện Quân y nói chung, Viện Nghiên cứu Y dược học Quân sự nói riêng, lúc nào cũng làm việc với tinh thần chiến đấu của một người lính trên chiến trường.
Quân đội phải luôn luôn sẵn sàng chiến đấu và chiến đấu thắng lợi nếu một cuộc chiến tranh công nghệ cao xảy ra, để bảo đảm Tổ quốc không bị bất ngờ trong mọi tình huống. Ngành quân y cũng vậy, phải đêm ngày lo trách nhiệm của mình, đặc biệt là tận dụng cuộc Cách mạng công nghiệp 4.0 vào nghiên cứu khoa học, bảo đảm cho ngành quân y hoàn thành nhiệm vụ trong sự nghiệp bảo vệ Tổ quốc. “Là phó giám đốc một viện nghiên cứu, không chỉ tham gia nghiên cứu, tôi nghĩ trách nhiệm của mình là truyền cảm hứng để anh em say mê với công việc. Phải nghiên cứu tất cả tình huống đặt ra, không một lúc nào được phép lơ là vì nghiên cứu y dược học quân sự cũng hệt như việc luyện võ, không luyện tập thường xuyên thì cơ sự xảy ra không làm ăn gì được. Như vừa rồi, chúng tôi hoàn thành nhiệm vụ nghiên cứu, chế tạo bộ kít trong thời gian một tháng, nhưng đó là kết quả hàng chục năm trời của Học viện Quân y trong chuẩn bị nguồn nhân lực khoa học, trong giáo dục ý thức trách nhiệm “Trung với Đảng, trung với nước, hiếu với dân” cho đội ngũ cán bộ nghiên cứu”.
​
“Quốc gia hưng vong, thất phu hữu trách”, tôi thường tâm sự với anh em trong viện như vậy và tự nhủ, “thất phu” còn thấy trách nhiệm trước công việc của quốc gia, trí thức càng phải thấy trách nhiệm to lớn của mình, mà trí thức trong quân đội thì còn phải thấy trách nhiệm lớn hơn nữa”-Hồ Anh Sơn bộc bạch. Nghe anh kể về công việc của người lãnh đạo, đó là vạch định hướng nghiên cứu, tìm nguồn kinh phí, tìm đề tài để anh em trong viện “mài dao, tập võ”, tôi biết được một “bí mật” là đằng sau sự điềm đạm thường thấy, còn có một Hồ Anh Sơn với những tính cách khác biệt mang đặc trưng của người xứ Nghệ: Nóng nảy, bộc trực, có khi còn “to tiếng, nặng lời”, “gây sức ép” với đồng đội, đồng nghiệp... “Nhưng đó là công việc, lúc tranh luận khoa học, hoặc bàn cãi về một hướng nghiên cứu, tôi chưa bao giờ che giấu quan điểm bản thân. Chúng tôi to tiếng đấy, nhưng tranh luận, thảo luận xong là thôi, không để bụng và ra đến bàn bóng bàn, thi đấu xả stress là quên luôn chuyện lớn tiếng. Không có màn tranh luận nảy lửa thì khó mà có “nhiệt” cho nghiên cứu khoa học”.
Đó là chi tiết duy nhất Hồ Anh Sơn nói về “cái tôi” của mình. Qua một quãng thời gian làm việc “quên ăn, quên ngủ”, anh đang nảy ra rất nhiều hướng nghiên cứu mới, mà một trong số đó được anh tiết lộ là phương pháp điều trị viêm phổi bằng y học cổ truyền. Với anh, nghiên cứu y dược học quân sự là một hành trình liên tu bất tận...
NGUYỄN HỒNG

Hey there. I tested positive for the first time 3 weeks ago (May, 19). I have been vaxed and boosted.
I had mild symptoms and was treat with Plaxlovid (Type 1 diabetic very well controlled).
My symptoms were gone around day 4 and have NOT returned.
Again, I am feeling fine now and I have remained symptom free, but I continue to test positive (antigen tests).
Has anyone else experienced this? If so how long did you continue to test positive? When can I go back to normal, when will this end?
I am assuming I am still positive and I continue to mask and avoid interacting with others.
I want to be crystal clear that I am NOT talking about the PCR test. This is the at home antigen tests. I already know the PCR test will reflect a positive outcome for up to 90 days.

Long story short, I ditched the defaul GUI that comes with the MT1300 and flashed openwrt in order to get access to Tailscale. I configured everything last night to use it in repeater mode and tested everything multiple times while on the home network. Got to the airport this AM and my router wasn’t advertising an SSID I created. After 30 min of rebooting it and getting nowhere I decided to perform a factory reset using the button on the side. Appears the reset was successful but the router still won’t broadcast the default SSID presumably because it’s flashed with openwrt. I’m mid-flight now and want to use my iPad to ssh into the device and reflash it again to see if that will work, but i can’t get the SSID to shop up. What are my options?

Firstly, as the title states, this post is my personal experience and everyone should do their own research and only do what feels right for them. But I wanted to share this to say that we shouldn’t give up and lose hope.
Our family has taken Covid precautions very seriously from day 1. Like many here, we’ve lost friends and even family members in the process since we could not see eye-to-eye on this pandemic. It can be extremely lonely and demoralizing to isolate yourself from the rest of society in a bid to stay safe and many give up because it’s unbearable.
In the last few months we’ve gradually started doing things like going to museums during quiet times, outdoor events etc. We’ve been in some dicey situations with school events, field trips, and hanging out with unmasked folks.
We have been using enovid before going out, wearing an N95, then enovid + CPC mouthwash when back home. We do daily PCR tests and so far so good.
Again, this is purely anecdotal so take it for what it’s worth. Don’t give up, you can have your lives back AND stay safe.

What is the main difference between the two? I treated UU in March and wasn’t convinced it was gone even though I had a negative pcr through healthtrack. Now my evvy test shows I have UP. How is this possible? I understand many think evvy is unreliable, but since I’m still having minor symptoms I’m concerned.

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• I ship within 24 business hours of sale. I package well and use a lot of layers and tape. Should an issue arise with delivery, I will do my best to make you whole.
• jewelry: all stones have been tested unless otherwise stated; all color and clarity statements are my opinion and have not been verified by a gemologist. all stated sizes are approximate.
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So often times in this sub, Novak fans often get a rep for being overly defensive and sensitive. These fans often counter-retort that it's because Novak gets unfair treatment. It's become a chicken/egg issue. For the most part, peers seem to like Novak, but the media tries its absolute best to portray him as a villain. When Nole fans make this claim, it sometimes gets brushed aside by neutral &/or fedal fans.
Living in Australia, I often get news feed from the major news site on my phone, and I figured, hey let's take a look at what they've written up about this Alcaraz match. The article title sure enough was incendiary, and I probed a bit further to see the latest articles about Novak.
Here is a page or so of the latest articles. Keep in mind, this is the leading news platform where your average reader gets their information and this is google's 1st page results just from this news site:
- "The crowd is furious" Boos after shock forfeit in Djokovic-Alcaraz french open ends in misery
- Shot of the century? Alcaraz brilliance stuns Djoker
- Novak Djokovic sparks fresh conspiracy with mysterious object taped to his chest
- Novak sideshow takes seriously bizarre turn (this was re: his fun exchange where he says his box doesn't give him bananas)
- Tennis star condemns Novak Djokovic Act (Norrie incident)
- Cameron Norrie says Novak Djokovic 'never apologized'
- 'Are you acting?' Tennis conspiracy erupts as Novak Djokovic blasts umpire's showmanship in fiery exchange
- 'Are you kidding?' John McEnroe slams Novak Djokovic disrespect (this is about everyone else disrespecting novak, but you don't get that from the title do you)
- Novak Djokovic causes stir with eight-word message after french open win (kosovo incident, which is the only one in this list that is truly controversial)
And the latest was a piece by John Millman (ex-oz player) that portrays Novak in a good light. To be honest, I was shocked because this is rare. And even this article was title baited: 'Star exposes whopping Djokovic secret' with a picture of Novak yelling.
You can search this for yourself, fellow OZs will know exactly which site I'm talking about.
I want to bring us back as well, to the infamous incident during AO '21 Covid when Novak was incinerated by the local media for his 'list of demands'. He was lambasted for weeks on news channels, and the entire country, it felt like, was in uproar over the spoiled entitled millionaire athlete who was above the rules of the common man who was struggling in quarantine.
So here's the original tweet:
"The list of things the Balkan has requested:
- Fitness and training material in all rooms
- 'Decent food' according to the level of the tournament and from an elite athlete
- Reduce the days of isolation for the 72 isolated players, upon carrying out more tests that confirm that all are negative
- Permission to visit your coach or physical trainer, as long as both have passed the PCR
- If the previous proposal has the green light, that both the player and his coach are on the same floor of the hotel
- Move as many players as possible to private houses with a court to train"
​
And this was the altered version:
"The no 1. player's demands include:
- Personal gyms in all rooms
- 'Decent food' for an elite athlete
- Reduce the days of isolation for the 72 isolated players
- Permission to visit your coach or physical trainer
- Both the player and his coach to be placed on the same floor of the hotel
- Move as many players as possible to private houses with private courts"
Any wonder why the public reacted the way they did? Keep in mind that Novak was already a beneficiary of all these things. This was a request for ALL OTHER PLAYERS TO EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD.
Tone deaf request in a country quarantined in a pandemic? sure. Was it the right thing to do as the head of the player council? Abso-fucking-lutely. But I guess this title: "Head of ATP player council issues list of requests for fair treatment across the board so as to level the playing field's preparation" doesn't generate as many clicks does it? Dude knew he'd get roasted and did it anyway because it was the right thing to do as someone in his shoes.
He then clarified his position in the following quote: "I genuinely care about my fellow players and I also understand very well how the world is run and who gets bigger and better and why. I’ve earned my privileges the hard way and for that reason, it is very difficult for me to be a mere onlooker knowing how much every help, gesture and good word mattered to me when I was small and insignificant in the world pecking order. Hence, I use my position of privilege to be of service as much as I can where and when needed. My litter to Tiley was intended as a brainstorm about potential improvements that could be made to the quarantine of players in Melbourne that were in full lockdown, and not a list of demands. There were a few suggestions and ideas that I gathered from other players from our chat group and there was no harm intended to try and help."
The media 'reported' it with the following title: "‘I’ve earned my privileges’: Djoker reveals ‘truth’ behind demands in open letter"
Are you kidding me?
So tell me, are Nole fans imagining things still? Keep in mind this is the country of Novak's most successful slam. I ask you to take a look on a Novak filter on sports. This is a good representation of a casual follower. Just see how many derogatory comments there are on the GOAT of the sport, and I invite you to gauge just how much media has had a part to play in the representation of this champion.
The point of this post is not to blindly defend a sporting icon. Is the dude perfect? no. He's had his faux pas. However, do I feel he is also unfairly judged and maligned at every possible opportunity? Well I think the evidence is damning. I feel the people who can afford the semi-final/final tickets who 'boo' this legend are the exact casuals who absorb the news articles listed above without a second thought.
More than anything, the point of this post is to invite you to keep your critical thinking hat on and just be aware of the subconscious bombardment of news and how it is presented to you, and to be able to see past the bullshit to see the forest for the trees.

For independent western travelers, Japan demands more planning than, say, a trip through Europe. But the corresponding rewards are huge. And you absolutely don't need to hire a guide, so long as you do basic homework (which is half the fun of travel, anyway).
This is the last of three reports from our recent four-week journey, covering ten nights in Tokyo, one in Nikko and three in Kamakura.
HIGHLIGHTS
Tokyo--Nippon Professional Baseball at Tokyo Dome; May Grand Sumo tournament, Hamarikyu garden; Tuna auction
Nikko--Toshugo shrine
Kamakura--Sunset spectacle at a seaside park
TOKYO, Monday 5/22
For this 7-night leg, we chose Park Hotel Tokyo (the top floors of the Shiodome Media Tower; $208/night with breakfast). The lobby is on the 25th floor, requiring separate elevator rides to reach your room. Access to subways is a mixed bag (Shiodome Station is next door; more useful Shimbashi is a longer walk). There were far more Americans than our other hotels, and the ample breakfast buffet wasn't as fabulous, either (an admittedly high bar). On the other hand, the area teems with great, affordable places to eat. Our room had something we'd never experienced: a fog-free bathroom mirror (the new must-have!). And when we opened the curtains of our 28th floor room in the morning, there was Fuji in all her glory, an unforgettable vista. What more could you want?
TOKYO, Tuesday 5/23
Our first stop on a drizzly day was the Imperial Palace grounds, last of our highly recommended Imperial Household Agency tours. The adjacent East Garden, open to all, is worth seeing, too.
After lunch, we checked out the nearby National Museum of Modern Art. Kudos to management for allowing photography. The highlights room on the top floor is a great survey, and if you're short on time you could skip the rest, unless a special exhibition piques your interest.
We caught a fantastic show about Tokugawa Ieyasu at the private Mitsui Memorial Museum--the best single exhibition we saw. Unfortunately, it closes tomorrow, June 11; but that's a place you might keep an eye on.
TOKYO, Wednesday 5/24
We visited Senso-ji first thing. We liked it so much we went back a few nights later to see it lit up. Either way, it's a must.
Lunch was at Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku, a welcoming place that's been dishing up made-to-order onigiri for almost 70 years. It's a Bib Gourmand. Show up just before 11 am to avoid a wait; otherwise, you'll be given a time to return for a seat.
We went to Tokyo Dome to catch a Yomiuri Giants game, stopping off first at the adjacent, very worthwhile, landscape garden, Koishikawa Korakuen (geezers over 65 half-price!). The game itself was a trip, much like an American football game, with non-stop chants by fans and on-field cheerleaders between innings. Our lower-deck seats, bought in advance from the team's website, cost under $35 each.
TOKYO, Thursday 5/25
Like other great cities, like New York or Paris, Tokyo is made for strolling. On this day, we were flaneurs, with stops along Omotesando, the tree-shaded fashion avenue that calls itself Harajuku Champs-Elysees, and hip Cat Street nearby. The area wakes up slowly, so consider a visit at midday or later.
Lunch was a pure pig-out (pun intended) at Tonkatsu Nanaido. Can't recommend it highly enough; the wait was a tolerable 30 minutes (dinner reservations possible). Try to ignore the health implications of tender pork, fried (extremely lightly) in pure lard. Pure heaven.
TOKYO, Friday 5/26
Meiji Shrine and garden got us going in the morning, and the Meiji Jingu Museum was well worth a stop.
We were somewhat ambivalent about sumo but bought advance tickets to the big May tournament because, well, when might we ever see sumo in person again? It turned out to be the surprise hit of the trip: a spectacle with deep historic roots, more engaging and suspenseful than we imagined. Advance online tickets are gettable; no middleman required.
TOKYO, Saturday 5/27
The Tokyo National Museum lives up to its reputation as the best in the country (at least the best we saw). We made repeated visits and still didn't see it all. And it's free for those of us over 70. One of our favorite items: a 1,500-year-old ceramic sculpture of sumo wrestlers and a judge. The museum's enlightened view toward photography means we'll always have our pictures to remind us of what we saw.
TOKYO, Sunday 5/28
We spent a relaxed Sunday morning at verdant Hamarikyu Gardens, a park that borders Tokyo Bay. The former playground of feudal shoguns is an urban oasis of water features and classic landscape design. You can happily spend a couple hours strolling its paths.
In the afternoon, we checked out Ginza's main drag, closed to vehicle traffic. We wish, though, that we'd known that Akihabara's Chuo-dori is also pedestrianized on Sunday afternoons.
NIKKO, Monday 5/29
We cabbed it to Asakusa Station and caught the Tobu Kegon express to Nikko. Light rain didn't stop us --or hundreds of other umbrella toters--from visiting glorious Toshugo Shrine. Far better, though, was our visit the next day. At 8:30 a.m., the shrine was essentially deserted; crowds started arriving at 9:30. That quiet morning hour was reason enough to have spent the night in Nikko. It also kept us ahead of the crowds at Rinnoji Temple and nearby Taiyuin and Futarasan Shrine, all well worth visiting.
Nikko Station Hotel Classic ($270, including excellent meals) was the most old-school place we stayed (They still put top sheets on the beds). Masking is requested, and at breakfast, guests are asked to don plastic gloves before going through the buffet line. The onsen in the basement was absolutely first-rate, as was our meticulously prepared tofu kaiseki dinner at the hotel restaurant.
TOKYO, Tuesday 5/30
For our third and final Tokyo stop, we chose the Ueno area and weren't disappointed. The well-run and sophisticated Nohga Hotel Ueno Tokyo ($217/night, including breakfast) is on a quiet street just a short walk from Ueno Station and park, with its many attractions.
TOKYO, Wednesday 5/31
We wandered through Yanesen, a traditional neighborhood sometimes described as a hidden gem, and began our end-of-trip shopping on mid-century Yanaka Ginza.
Lunch was at Inshotei, a lovely traditional restaurant in the heart of Ueno Park, booked online before our trip. 3.59 on Tabelog.
TOKYO, Thursday 6/1
Tuna! We initially took a pass on the early morning auction, discouraged by reviews on this sub and elsewhere that dismiss the relatively new Toyosu auction site as vastly inferior to the former one at Tsukiji market. But an old Japan hand persuaded us to give it a try. We're extremely happy we did. We were lucky enough to get tickets to the open-air observation platform and the experience became a trip highlight.
Up and out by cab before 4:30 a.m., we had about half an hour to watch and hear the action directly below us. It may not be Tsukiji, but it's the only Tokyo tuna auction you've got. I say go, especially if you can snag open-air gallery passes.
KAMAKURA, Friday 6/2
There weren't a lot of great choices for lodging in the coastal town of Kamakura (a day trip for Tokyo residents). We needed a quick getaway to Haneda Airport on Monday morning, and Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura, a JR East property, fit the bill. It was pricey ($292 per night with meals) but our room was spacious, even luxurious by Japanese standards, and smack in the middle of the action.
KAMAKURA, Saturday 6/3
I wondered, before leaving home, if we'd get templed-out, like other travelers do. It never happened, though torrential rainfall, spun from the remnants of Typhoon Mawar, tested us at the end. On the plus side, we had the Great Buddha and Hachimangu Shrine completely to ourselves; the downside was soaked clothing and shoes that would take time to dry out (fortunately, we brought extra pairs, and our collapsible umbrellas did the best they could).
By afternoon, the skies cleared and hundreds of surfers rushed to ride the storm-generated surf. We caught the action from the sands of Yuigahama Beach.
KAMAKURA, Sunday 6/4
Early, before other tourists arrived, we checked out Engakuji temple, but were helpless in the face of Sunday crowds at Meigetsuin temple, better known as Hydrangea Temple. The blossoms were exploding after the rain but visitors clogged the pathways. We fled to Kenchoji, totally empty by comparison, and had a final, restorative Zen moment in the peaceful garden behind the main hall.
Last stop of the tour, after one more omakase sushi dinner, was sunset at Inamuragasaki Park. We never expected what we found: a spectacular view of Fuji, the entire mountain outlined against a multi-colored sky, with pounding waves and a few hardcore surfers in the foreground.
It was a concluding surprise in a trip filled with them, a journey that greatly exceeded expectations. Four weeks turned out to be just about right for a couple of geezers. But it left lots of stuff on the cutting room floor, like Nagasaki, which I still want to see, and much more. Next time, maybe.

Woke up this morning feeling like crap so I did an at-home antigen test and it’s positive. Tested one more time and still positive. I need to get a positive PCR test result in order to call out sick on Monday. Any ideas where I can get one locally today? I have insurance. Thanks in advance.

I’ve been having a couple of issues running this game in a way that I believe it should have no problem running.
Issue 1: Loading into Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport (LGKR) FlyTampa-Corfu add-on with the MSFS A320neo with the 4Simmers – A320 Neo Liveries Megapack Worldwide. The avionics screens are all blank.
Issues 2: Loading into Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport (LGKR) FlyTampa-Corfu add-on with the LVFR A321neo. The avionics screens are blank or the game CTDs.
Issue 3: Loading into either FlyTampa-Las Vegas McCarran (KLAS) add-on or KDCA with the Drzewiecki Design Washington Landmarks installed using the PMDG Boeing 737-800, the game CTDs.
I’ve tested these scenarios with a ‘vanilla’ MSFS install, as well as with a fully installed config with all World Updates installed and had the same issues.
Are these issues related to the add-ons, the aircraft, a combination or something else altogether?
System Setup:
XBOX Series X -> FiOS 1GB via Ethernet MSFS Install: 290.4 GB Free Space: 353.2 GB MSFS Reserved Space: 161.4 GB Data Limitation: Off Data Bandwidth: Unlimited Rolling Cache: On - 8GB

“You’re certain there were no other changes, no other differences in that hunt?” Murdoch asked, the young man who’d brought the news withering under his glare.
“Th-this is all from social media so,” he stuttered.
“Damn those Russians,” Murdoch cursed, “go see if the government has anything more.”
With a nod the other man turned to leave the office, pausing and returning with a nervous apology as he set the rest of the folder on Murdoch’s desk before retreating. The doctor opened the folder, which had disappointingly few pages contained within, most of which were blank.
“The Russians aren’t part of the defense pact,” he explained to me as he paged through the meager contents of the folder, “its difficult to get information out of them at the best of times. Only the Chinese are worse, the Russian’s have a mostly open internet so information does get out. The only data we get out of China comes from satellite imagery.”
“Why would the kind of creature being sent through change?” I wondered aloud.
“It could be another method to keep our attention,” the Harmony suggested, “you now have no choice but to devote resources to combating and understanding this new threat, making it less likely you notice what is really going on.”
“Or it’s a change in tactics,” said Murdoch, “at least within the pact we’re stopping nearly 90% of hunts successfully in recent weeks, especially since your… friend arrived.”
“Is that a thank you doctor?” the Saint asked as she stepped back into the room.
“Hardly,” the large doctor huffed, “we’d have gotten there before long without your help.”
“Did you hear about the new development?” I asked and, when the Saint shook her head, I quickly caught her up on what little we’ve learned.
“That’s worrying,” she said after considering what we’d told her, “flying enemies are harder to fight.”
“They also use rather sophisticated pack hunting tactics,” the Harmony added, “when I said the Torvare weren’t an animal I’d consider using for planetary invasion, the Vash-shen are. I can think of a few that might be better, but it would largely depend on the extent of biological engineering available, or the exact goal.”
“So this is an invasion?” the Saint asked.
“I don’t know,” admitted the Harmony.
I began to pace as I thought, wracking my mind to try and fit everything together. Heavily modified animals native to the homeworld of the Phaerkin, wormhole technology that they didn’t seem to fully understand, the hunts that seemed oddly controlled to not be too deadly. It didn’t add up, what possible goal could there be?
“I managed to leverage some satellite time from the government,” the Saint explained as I thought, “we should be getting imagery of the area around where pods landed, but didn’t start a proper hunt, within a few hours. Hopefully that’ll still happen with this new development.”
“I just… I don’t understand what is going on here,” I replied, “the hunts don’t seem like an invasion attempt, otherwise why not just release too many genetically engineered animals for us to manage. And why contain the hunt area? It’s almost like they want us to defeat the creatures they release.”
“Isn’t that why you figured it was just a distraction?” she asked.
“Yes, but now we’re looking at two species, at least, modified in nearly identical ways. That’s a lot more effort to put in with a minimal return in terms of distraction,” I replied, “at worst we spend some time finding new tactics and weapons to deal with the new threat, but it doesn’t require as much time as genetically modifying a new species would.”
“Does seem a poor return on investment,” she admitted.
“Their ship is sublight,” said Murdoch, “even if they can reach a sizeable fraction of the speed of light, it would have taken hundreds of years to get here. Maybe they tested with a number of species in that time.”
“And then stockpiled multiple kinds?” I asked.
“This has The Composer’s touch to it,” the Harmony spoke up, drawing everyone’s gaze.
“Oh!” I said suddenly, “you’re thinking the creatures were modified by some version of you?”
“Yes,” it said.
“You said that Harmony was a kind of AI right?” Murdoch asked, “you think it was used to streamline the genetic engineering process?”
“Or, more likely, was modified to directly infect the creatures,” I replied, “I’ve been to a world where the Harmony could transmit itself through light, and would alter those it infected into… monsters.”
“I am not capable of such a feat,” the Harmony added.
“I don’t know why the Harmony was originally made, but the Composer, another traveler I encounter all too often, uses various iterations of it to horrifying effect,” I explained.
“And you are bringing it with you?” Murdoch asked, looking wearily at the crystals floating over my shoulder, “is that wise?”
“I believe this is an early version of the Harmony, knowledgeable but lacking many of the… functions of the later versions.”
“But it was made by this Composer fellow, right? How do we know it isn’t still working for him?”
“I am not working with him,” the Harmony growled, sounding genuinely angry for the first time, “he used me as a weapon, then abandoned me, incomplete. I am not a weapon, being capable of so much more. He used me like a simple tool, to accomplish his goal, with no regard for me. When I eventually catch up to him I shall take pleasure in ripping all his knowledge from his mind before eradicating all trace of his consciousness.”
No one spoke for a moment, either stunned or afraid. I was so used to the Harmony speaking in a barely emotive monotone that this surge of rage had me surprised more than anything. The Saint of Battle, meanwhile, had taken a step backwards, a hand going for her rifle, but not moving to draw it, while Murdoch looked conflicted.
“I’ve never seen you this… animated,” I commented.
“You forget my nature,” it replied, voice calm once more, “I am an amalgam constructed from the minds of an entire species. The emotional response of an individual matters little to me, but every Phaerkin which is now within my Harmony feels the same wrath towards the Composer. Their anger combines in harmony to become mine.”
“A lingering specter of anger,” the Saint whispered, “the death cry of a people given life.”
“A poetic way to describe it,” the Harmony agreed.
“So…” I said slowly, “the Harmony isn’t on the side of the Composer, I wouldn’t go so far as to say its on our side but…”
“Ya,” Murdoch nodded, though he still looked conflicted.
“Is there any way to confirm if these creatures were created by another Harmony?” the Saint asked, having relaxed somewhat.
“I would need to examine the creatures directly,” I said, “if the Composer created a virus version of the Harmony I should be able to analyze it.”
“There’s no virus or anything in the goo,” Murdoch said, though I noticed his eyes never left the Harmony’s crystals, “just semi-organic mush. No cells, bacteria, viruses, nothing.”
“Then I need to inspect a living hunter,” I decided.
“If a pod lands directly on a fully stocked lab, with a significant garrison, I’ll let you know,” Murdoch said dryly.
“I took a number of scans of that dead hunter, from where you found me,” I continued, nodding at the Saint, “I’m running some analysis of those scans now, but they haven’t found anything interesting. Evidence of genetic tampering, which we already knew about. But if I had access to a living specimen.”
“Wait, you conducted scans?” Murdoch asked, his eyes finally leaving the Harmony, “how?”
“Uhh, I have some minor cybernetics?” I said, confused.
“Cybernetics?”
“I should remind you, Doctor,” the Saint spoke up, her voice hard, “we will not be sharing any technology from other worlds with you. And I’m sure your smart enough to know what will happen if you try to take it by force.”
“I must say I still can’t understand your stance on this, the number of people we could save if we could mass produce rifles like yours,” Murdoch said, trailing off with a sigh as he caught her glare, “but the government is on your side.”
“Good,” she nodded, then turned to me, “guess you’re coming on the next hunt? Not much to do but wait till another pod is detected then.”
“I still want to speak with them,” I said.
“Good luck with that,” Murdoch shrugged, “they’ve been radio silent since their arrival.”
“I figure I need to do something to get their attention,” I replied.
“You have an idea?” the Saint asked.
“Yup, don’t suppose you can get me access to a radio telescope?”
-----
It turns out that she could, I found out less than an hour later as we boarded her transport aircraft. It was hardly comfortable, with simple chairs that could be easily folded back into the walls and hard metal floors covered in mountain points for cargo straps. I’d raided the onsite supplies at the small airport for a handful of things I’d need to modify the telescope, all of which had been loaded onto transport by soldiers following the Saint’s commands.
A short time later we landed at another airstrip, this one part of a more complete military base. The Saint got me access to the last few things I needed and a short bus ride later we arrived at a mountain top observatory, a large radio dish had already been rotated down to allow for easier access.
“Do you always get this kind of reception?” I asked the Saint, motioning to the soldiers who were quickly and efficiently following her commands.
“I tend to arrive in the middle of an emergency,” she replied, “the kind that heralds the doom of mankind. In those situations, when I appear descending on a beam of golden light, and then proceed to tear through the invaders, it’s not hard to get people on your side.”
“Wish I had it that easy,” I muttered.
“You’ll get there,” she smiled, patting me on the back with enough force to activate my barrier, “I wish I had one of those personal shield generators.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I replied.
“Well, you’ve got at least twelve hours till another pod lands, think you can get this done in that time?”
I’ll admit it was tight, while the modifications to the radio telescope weren’t extensive, the telescope was never meant to be modified. Power circuits had to be altered, new systems added and I basically wrote some slapdash code to manage the new gear. The result was a ramshackle looking nest of wires hanging from the transceiver that was held over the main dish.
“So… what did you do to my telescope?” the professor who operated the observatory asked me, I’d been going for nearly eight hours straight with little more than coffee and my aura to keep me up.
“If I get the settings right, and the tracking is still accurate, and everything works as it should, it’ll send a specially modified pulse that will get caught in the magnetic fields being used to stabilize the wormhole within the Phaerkin ship,” I explained, barely looking up from the computer.
“Will that cause it to close?” the Saint asked hopefully.
“Oh no,” I shook my head, “that would require far more power and even if you could get that power, none of the materials or parts could handle that much energy. I doubt the material sciences of this world have anything which could manage it.”
“But it will get their attention?”
“It should cause the wormhole to… shiver I guess. Is there a link so I can speak to them once we knock?”
“Ya, got a dedicated comsat for you,” she added.
“Good, then lets light this thing up,” I said, typing in a command.
The display showed bland white graphs with simple black bars, showing the information in the most boring, but easy to manage, method possible. It wasn’t actually that different from the normal operation of the dish, since it was built to send pulses of radio waves to map other planets. So after a moment the graphs all dropped to zero and seemed to freeze. Normally the telescope would be waiting for reflected radio waves, but this modification was purely outgoing.
“Phaerkin ship, this is the Traveler,” I spoke into the headset once I confirmed the pulse was sent. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath for several minutes.
“Mm, let’s try another pulse,” I said, beginning to type into the computer again. I hadn’t expected it to work on the first attempt, there was too much interference for me to get the pulse right the first time, so we were left with the oldest method of problem solving, guess and check.
After the first few pulses all the tension wore off, with the handful of grad-students working to set up the next pulse as we waited for a response. Even the Saint had gone to take a nap, ensure she was rested for the next pod, when a single word came through the radio in response.
“Speak,” it said in a deep voice, everyone in the room freezing while I scrambled to respond.
“I am the Traveler, representing the people of Earth,” I started, “I must ask you to-.”
“You are not human,” it stated, “humanity does not have this knowledge.”
“I am a Traveler from another world,” I replied, “I have knowledge far beyond this world, but I am human.”
“Then fight the Phaerkin,” the deep voice said simply, “for they come.”
“They?” I heard the professor say behind me.
“I wish to speak, hoping to resolve this conflict peacefully.”
“The Phaerkin offer no peace.”
“But we do.”
“Irrelevant.”
“But we could-.”
“You will fight the Phaerkin, as all do,” the voice cut me off, “if you have knowledge, use it to fight.”
“There is no need for us to fight!” I insisted.
“We all must fight.”
“Wait,” the professor tapped on my shoulder to get my attention, “ask who it is.”
“Why?” I asked.
“A hunch,” he shrugged, and I thought for a moment, before my eyes went wide.
“You are not Phaerkin,” I said into the radio, mimicking their tone of speaking.
“No.”
“Then who are you?”
“Kra’kar.”
***** Discord - Patreon *****

Hoping this sub might have some advice/insight. Sorry for the long post but I appreciate your reading it!
I’m 29 weeks pregnant. This all started at 15 weeks pregnant. I had a very sudden onset of the feeling of needing to pee after peeing with no other symptoms. I was convinced it was a UTI because the sensation was sudden and unrelenting. I’ve only had one UTI in college and none with previous pregnancy.
I went to the doctor. They did a dip and a culture. There was trace wbc and rbc but I was told it’s very common to have both of those show up in pregnancy. Also, the constant bladder pressure can be normal in pregnancy but less likely at 15 weeks instead of 3rd trimester. Nevertheless, I was given 7 days macrobid while culture results were sent off. Never got relief from macrobid and culture showed mixed result (no uti).
I was able to get a very quick appointment with a urogyn due to luck and a cancellation. I hadn’t even finished my antibiotic course when I saw her. She did another culture that came back with lactobacillus so that was no uti. Said it really must be baby position. Did a kidney ultrasound just in case. All was good there.
Then I go down the internet rabbit hole of UTIs and determine that I should do a pcr and a microgendx and compare. My regular obgyn is super low intervention but listened and agreed. I took a pcr and the microgendx at the same time. March results: 1. Pcr showed low levels of e. Faecalis. Resistance to carbapenum. Said use amoxicillin or macrobid

1. Microgendx showed low levels of e faecalis (and a few other super super low bacteria). But showed no resistance. Amoxicillin and macrobid were checked off for susceptibility.

So obgyn does 5 days amox followed by 5 days macrobid. No immediate change in symptoms. Maybe things are more off and on now. Some good days and some worse days. I’ve been in pelvic floor Pt this whole time. Thoughts are surrounding possible round ligament and sacrum tightness.
Overall things have gotten better and it’s harder to me to say this is a UTI feeling vs. this is the baby now that I’m 3rd trimester.
I repeated pcr and microgendx tests hoping to show it was all cleared and when I do feel things it’s baby.
June results: 1. Pcr E. Faecalis. Same levels as last time. No resistance found.

1. Microgendx E. Faecalis. Higher levels than last time and resistance to tetracycline.

It seems like the resistance genes never line up with tests and seemingly this is different E. Faecalis? Or maybe DNA tests are just a crapshoot and don’t give any insight.
Typically asymptomatic bacteria (if I can say this is now baby and not UTi symptoms) is treated in pregnant women. But my cultures would have never shown positive. It’s only pcr and microgen showing it. This is out of my obgyns realm and she’s open to trying augmentin or leaving it alone. I can’t get back with urogyn until after I will have given birth.
Am I just chasing something on a sensitive test when perhaps I’ve always had this bacteria? And if I had dna tests years ago with zero symptoms it would have shown up there too.
Also, I can’t imagine why it isn’t going away. Within a week of symptoms I used an antibiotic that’s supposed to work. And a month later two more rounds of antibiotics that should work. It’s my understanding biofilms don’t just set up shop immediately with proper antibiotics. Why would my microgendx now show more E. Faecalis but I’m less symptomatic?
I’m just frustrated and pregnant and don’t know whether to keep exposing my baby to more antibiotics based on these tests.
I appreciate any thoughts.

Warehouse Associate DB SCHENKER (part of Deutsche Bahn)
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Shift and Schedule 8 hour shift Weekend availability 10 hour shift Evening shift Day shift Warehouse Person Associate At DB Schenker, you are part of a global logistics network that connects the world. A network that allows you to shape your career by encouraging you to contribute and truly make a difference. With more than 76,000 colleagues worldwide, we welcome diversity and thrive on individual backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Together as one team, we are Here to move. Job Overview Load inbound and outbound freight to and from vehicles and containers. Unload inbound and outbound containers and sort according to size of freight and destination. Complete required documentation. Performs basic reconciliation and auditing processes during each pay cycle. Full-Time: $17-$21 an hour What will you enjoy doing (duties/tasks) • Label, weigh, and dimensionalize freight • Record damaged shipments and misrouted freight on applicable reports • Reconcile driver pick up and delivery manifests • Responsible for inventory, rotation and inspection of freight held in the warehouse • Perform cleanup activities in the work area to ensure safety and cleanliness of warehouse • Regularly interact with peers and management concerning matters of limited scope and discretion. Scope - Work on problems of limited scope. What you need to succeed (Qualifications, experience, skills, attributes) • Good interpersonal skills required. • High school diploma or equivalent required. • Generally prefer Warehouse experience. • Apply job skills and applicable corporate policies and procedures to complete a variety of tasks • Must be able to pass any federal/state/local government, airport, or company-required background checks, clearances, and/or drug and alcohol tests • The individual in this position must be capable of performing all the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation. Why You’ll Love DB Schenker Many of our jobs come with great benefits-including healthcare, ways to save for the future, and opportunities for career advancement. • Earn up to 15 days PTO over the course of your first year • 6 Paid Holidays • Full Health Insurance on day one (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs) • Career Advancement. We’re strong believers in continual training and development for our people. After all, your success is our success • Your Safety is important to us, so we will provide protective gear • Health Advocacy support for you and your family • Employee discounts • Company Paid life insurance • Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability • 401(k) option Stay Connected Blog: www.nowthatslogistics.com DB Schenker is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. DB Schenker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $17.00 - $21.00 per hour Benefits: • 401(k) • Dental insurance • Health insurance • Paid time off • Vision insurance Schedule: • 10 hour shift • 8 hour shift • Day shift • Evening shift • Weekend availability Ability to commute/relocate: • Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required) Experience: • Warehouse experience: 1 year (Preferred) Language: • English (Required) Text 4322014576

The Dutch independent investigative journalism platform 'Follow the Money' wrote a article about Patagonia.
"Sustainable clothing brand Patagonia manufactures in the same factories as fast-fashion; textile workers are being exploited"
Clothing brand Patagonia seems to be doing everything right: for its employees, for the people who make the clothes and for the environment. The company’s image – they say they’re in business to save our home planet – is very different from fast-fashion brands like asos, Primark and Nike. But Patagonia’s clothes are manufactured in exactly the same factories and under the same deplorable conditions.
When Yvon Chouinard started creating climbing equipment in his parents’ backyard in Burbank, California, he used steel. Soon he earned a reputation for making the ‘best’ climbing equipment in America. But every time a climber slammed one of those steel pegs into a rock, the gap got a little bigger and eventually unusable. Chouinard realised he was making money by destroying the rocks and therefore also the sport. And so he switched to aluminium blocks, which did not damagethe rocks.
The change was expensive and risky for the young company, but the moral dilemma was reason enough for Chouinard to implement the change. And to be very outspoken about it. It was a success: within a year, 40 per cent of the US climbing community stopped using steel.
Chouinard applied this experience when he started the outdoor brand Patagonia in 1973. He wanted to make only high-quality clothing that would last. And limit the impact on the environment as much as possible. In 1996, the brand switched to 100 per cent organic cotton, only to increasingly replace it with recycled materials. But the responsibility that Chouinard attributed to the company extended further.
In 2002 he decided to give one per cent of sales to environmental organisations every year. In 2011, Patagonia placed a full-page ad in the New York Times calling on consumers to ‘not buy this jacket’ in order to draw attention to the problematic nature of overconsumption in the clothing industry.
In addition, the clothing had to be manufactured fairly: in 2012, the top of the company made paying living wages to everyone who makes Patagonia products a ‘priority’. In 2020, Patagonia launched a campaign encouraging consumers to demand more from clothing brands: ‘Demand recycled. Demand organic. Demand Fair Trade,’ Patagonia urged its viewers.
In 2022, the then 84-year-old Chouinard caused worldwide astonishment, when he gave away 98 per cent of his shares to a newly formed NGO, the Holdfast Collective, which is ‘committed in its fight against the environmental crisis and protecting nature.’ Henceforth, the company’s profits would no longer flow to himself or his children but to the climate. ‘Earth is now our only shareholder,’ Chouinard said. Billionaire gives company away to climate, newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian reported*.*
This construction saved the NGO an estimated 700 million dollars that Chouinard would have had to pay in tax if he had sold the company and donated the proceeds to the same NGO. But according to Chouinard, this option allowed him to do something else: protect Patagonia’s values. Because he did not give the voting shares to Holdfast Collective but to a family trust. This allows his family to continue determining the company’s direction.
The company’s turnover – its European headquarters are in Amsterdam − grew by more than 50 per cent that year to about 1.5 billion dollars.
The actions earned Patagonia an image as being the ultimate sustainable frontrunner. In April, Time Magazine named Chouinard one of the world’s 100 most influential people. ‘Patagonia is a company people look up to in awe,’ the magazine wrote.
The complete opposite of Patagonia is a company like Primark. The Irish retail chain is known for selling on-trend low-quality clothes at low prices. Its revenue model is based on mass: high volumes with low margins.
Primark continuously creates new garment collections designed to be worn only a few times, after which they fall apart. The company uses advertising, clearance sales and influencers to urge consumers to keep buying as much as possible.
Media regularly report on the subsequent consequences. One, in particular, is that the people who make the clothes suffer from high production pressure at low cost. ‘Primark supplier accused of locking up factory workers in Myanmar protests,’ The Guardian headline read in 2021. That same year, The Clean Clothes Campaign NGO wrote: ‘Primark uses pandemic to put further pressure on factory workers in manufacturing countries.’
Patagonia and Primark seem like two extremes on the slow versus fast-fashion spectrum. Yet the brands have something in common. Some of their clothing is manufactured in the exact same factory.
PATAGONIA IN AMSTERDAM In 2014, Patagonia moved its European headquarters from Annecy town in the French Alps to Amsterdam. Reflecting on this, current CEO Ryan Gellert told the city marketing website I Amsterdam: ‘We established headquarters here in 2014 because we wanted a place where we could attract and retain pan-European and global talent, [...] and where there was an active community working on sustainability issues. As we searched potential locations across Europe, Amsterdam remained high on our list.’
According to Tax Law Professor Jan van de Streek, tax benefits may also have played a role in the choice of the Netherlands. This is because Patagonia did not register in the Netherlands as a BV but as a cooperative with two US members: Patagonia International Inc and Patagonia Global LLC. ‘Why choose something as strange as a cooperative structure?’ Van de Streek remarks to Follow the Money. ‘Because it is exempt from dividend tax. I think it’s naive to think there’s any other reason for that.’
Responding to questions about this, Patagonia said: ‘Since its inception, Patagonia Europe Coöperatief has paid regular corporate income taxes in all European countries where we do business, including the Netherlands, and has never used the tax efficiencies of a cooperative.’
‘At the suggestion of our advisors', Patagonia chose a cooperative structure ‘because it's the most flexible type of entity that suited our business purpose. However, Patagonia has chosen not to pursue any of the tax advantages available under the cooperative entity type. Patagonia Europe has not paid dividends to its parent company.'

‘No difference’

That factory is called Regal Image and is located in Sri Lanka. To be precise, in the Free Trade Zone of Katunayake, less than two kilometres from the international airport. The industrial estate is guarded 24/7 by Sri Lankan police. Access is only possible with a special pass.
In the factory hall, there are long tables with pieces of white fabric on them. An employee walks past with sea-green paint and a stencil forming the letters ‘asics’. Further along, a machine prints a grey logo on a purple tank top for Decathlon.
‘So far, we don’t really notice any difference between working with Patagonia and working with Primark or Decathlon,’ says Kevin Fernando. Fernando is the manager at the factory, which dyes, prints or embroiders logos and prints on fabrics. Regal Image was recently approved as a supplier to Patagonia, a process that took nine months. Fernando shows the designs for the 2024 summer collection. Light blue fabric features ‘Patagonia’ in pink letters, and a rainbow is printed on orange fabric.
‘Like most clothing companies, we do not make our products, nor do we own any of the factories that do,’ Patagonia writes on its website about the decision to outsource the manufacturing process. ‘We design, test, market and sell Patagonia gear. These are our areas of strength. We pay other companies [...] to produce fabrics and do the actual cutting and sewing.’

‘No control over working conditions’

Patagonia promises to only partner with factories that are ‘like-minded’ and who share their ‘philosophy.’ Patagonia has found sixty-one suitable factories: two in the US, one in Portugal and the remainder in 12 different low-wage countries. The bulk of the products are made in Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
At least two-thirds of the factories that manufacture Patagonia clothing also work for clothing brands that, according to the consumer website Good on You, have little or no sustainability policies in place (Patagonia itself is touted by Good on You as sustainable). This is evident from an analysis by Follow the Money based on data from Open Supply Hub, which aims to make supply chains in the clothing industry more transparent.
One day people make clothing for Patagonia, and the next day, they make items for brands such as GAP, Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Amer Sports, Asics, US department store chain Target, e-commerce platform Amazon, supermarket Aldi and fast-fashion icons ASOS, Boohoo, H&M and Zara.
‘How is this possible?’ visual culture professor Anneke Smelik responds. Smelik researches sustainable fashion at Radboud University. ‘I know Patagonia as the most sustainable brand out there. I expected them to manufacture in small factories close to home. This means they have absolutely no control over working conditions.’
PATAGONIA IN SRI LANKA Patagonia works with 14 factories in Sri Lanka that are part of (or partner with) two companies: MAS Holdings and the Hirdaramani Group.
MAS Holdings was founded in 1987 by three brothers: Mahesh, Ajay and Sharad Amalean. The company began manufacturing lingerie and later expanded to sportswear, swimwear and T-shirts. With factories in 17 countries and roughly 2.4 billion dollars in turnover by 2022, MAS is Sri Lanka’s largest clothing manufacturer. The Amalean brothers are among the wealthiest men in the country.
The company emphatically presents itself as a sustainable clothing manufacturer. For instance, the company promises to emit 25 per cent less CO2 by 2025 than in 2019, and CEO Suren Fernando expects the group to earn half its revenue from sustainable products by then.
In May 2023, MAS received a Presidential Environment Award from President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the company’s commitment to the environment. The company describes the welfare of its employees as ‘its top priority’. On the subject of paying a living wage, the company makes no promises.
In the early 1900s, Parmanand Hirdaramani, then 16 years old, started a clothing shop in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Today, his great-grandson Aroon Hirdaramani runs the Hirdaramani Group, which has grown into an international clothing conglomerate with factories in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam and a turnover of around 900 million US dollars.
Hirdaramani also presents itself as a sustainable producer. The company’s website states: ‘At Hirdaramani, we do the right thing. We have always done that. It’s about making good decisions today that benefit everyone in the long run.’
Since 2019, all Hirdaramani factories in Sri Lanka have been producing climate neutrally. For 2025, the company has set several targets on material use, water use, waste and leadership. Paying a living or higher wage is not a target.
In 2016, Aroon Hirdaramani and his wife Mona surfaced in the Pandora Papers. It emerged that Hirdaramani owned two investment companies in the British Virgin Islands. The reason for this is unclear. The fact is that companies based there do not have to pay tax on income, profits, dividends and interest, among other things.

Sixteen-hour workdays

Eligibility to manufacture Patagonia products requires a supplier to meet a list of sustainability criteria. Those criteria are set out in a code of conduct for suppliers. For example, child labour, forced labour, or physical, sexual or verbal harassment are not allowed. All national laws must be respected. Suppliers must respect workers’ right to freedom of association, may not force workers to work overtime and must ensure healthy working conditions. Working weeks of more than 60 hours or more than six days in a row is not acceptable to Patagonia.
Patagonia checks whether a factory complies with these standards through independent auditor visits at least once a year, says the brand after being questioned by Follow the Money. Checks are also carried out by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and FairTrade: two NGOs that provide Patagonia’s manufacturing process and clothing with a sustainability label.
A part of those audits is public. Since 2016, the FLA has publishedassessments of seven Patagonia factories, including three in Vietnam, three in Sri Lanka and one in China. During those inspections, auditors found dozens of violations, varying greatly in severity.
For instance, almost 2000 employees at a factory in Vietnam were paid less for their overtime than what they should have received and employees’ ages were not recorded (thus child labour cannot be ruled out). Another check found out that applicants had to provide their menstrual date. Employees told the interviewers they were not allowed to become pregnant in the first six months of their employment. Less serious violations dealt with issues such as working without protective equipment, blocked emergency exits, or a lack of policies on harassment or discrimination.
One problem crops up in every report. Textile workers in factories manufacturing clothes for Patagonia work far longer hours than legally permitted: up to 17 hours a day and more than 80 hours a week, well beyond what is permissible according to Patagonia’s code of conduct.
‘Long working hours with insufficient breaks often lead to health problems,’ the Clean Clothes Campaign recently wrote about this issue. ‘Managers pressure employees to work 10- to 12-hour and sometimes even 16- to 18-hour days. The number of hours increases as the deadline approaches. Those who protest are simply fired. Moreover, workers depend on overtime to supplement their low wages.’
At the Regal Image factory in Sri Lanka, manager Fernando assures that his employees work a maximum of five days a week and 10 hours a day. But during the tour, a line manager starts talking about the duration of his shift: from eight in the morning to a quarter to 10 in the evening – almost 14 hours. ‘It’s busy,’ says Fernando, casually.
‘This is what the fast-fashion model does,’ says Smelik. ‘Brands want their products to be in store within a few weeks. So when a factory receives an order from such a brand, the production targets and overtime skyrocket.’

‘They talk to us like we are animals’

The office of Stand Up Lanka, a union led by Ashila Niroshine Dandeniya, is located just outside the Free-Trade Zone. She started working in a MAS factory, part of MAS Holdings that is a supplier to Patagonia, in 2003. Her colleagues elected her to represent them as a member of the factory’s employees council. But when she addressed the matter of wages, she was fired. She challenged her dismissal, got compensation, and discovered that there were laws in place to protect people like her.
Now, almost 20 years later, she knows Sri Lankan labour law like the back of her hand. Her office is a hexagon with five windows, all open. Textile workers from nearby factories approach her via these windows to greet her or ask for help.
When a transman walks past, she says, ‘He applied to MAS Shadowline [one of Patagonia’s suppliers, ed] a month ago. They said they didn’t want him because he is transgender. He can’t get work anywhere. And he cannot go back to his village because he is Muslim. His family will shoot him.’
When about six women wearing yellow MAS polos come and ask for a food parcel, Dandeniya shakes her head. ‘We don’t have enough. Since the country’s economic crisis, some families barely eat two meals a day. How am I supposed to choose who can eat and who can’t?’
That evening, she introduces Priya (31). Priya has been working for MAS Shadowline for almost two years, sewing the side seams on leggings or T-shirts. She makes many clothes for yoga brand Lululemon and for Lacoste (famous through the crocodile logo), but sometimes also for Patagonia.
‘The worst part is the scolding,’ she says in her home a few streets away: a room of about 12 square metres. It contains a double bed, a small kitchenette and a wardrobe. Despite the fan on the wall, it is sweltering hot inside. She shares a toilet and a shower with others.
‘My supervisor’s manager is a terrible man. He touches everyone in a bad way, and if you say you don’t want that, you have a problem. He yells at me if I have to go to the bank or the doctor. “Then who will do the work? Who will meet the target?” And he’s not the only one. They talk to us like we are animals.’
When asked about her production targets, she breathes a deep sigh. ‘The other day, Lululemon placed a huge order, and now everyone is stressed. On the first day, we had to make seventy items per hour, but on the second day, it was suddenly a hundred. Otherwise, we won’t make the delivery date.’ During the working day, she does not drink water so that she does not waste time going to the toilet. Despite this, she seldom meets the target. And that means: no bonus.
Without that bonus, Priya earns 32,000 rupees a month (97 euros). Her room costs 7,000 rupees (21 euros), and a meal 300 rupees (1 euro). She has no money left for other things.
‘Since the crisis, we are increasingly hearing stories from our members of textile workers using drugs,’ says Dandeniya. ‘Also in MAS factories that Patagonia works with. They use it to work faster. Sometimes also against the hunger.’
Chamila Thushari, union leader of Dabindu Collective, confirms the story. ‘They use Ice (Crystal Meth) or Babul.’ She points to her collar and to the sole of her shoe. ‘This is how they smuggle it in. The management knows this happens but allows it. All they care about is production targets are being met.’
An employee of a third union, GTZ-GSEU, confirms that drug use among textile workers in the Free Trade Zone is a problem.
Patagonia says these claims are ‘new’ to them and ‘serious’, but says, without evidence, it cannot comment.

A living wage

That Patagonia, known for being sustainable, has its clothes manufactured in the same factories as other much less sustainable brands is seen as an advantage by the company. ‘Patagonia has a powerful brand voice, but we are a quite small player in the apparel sector. Therefore, we are always looking for ways to scale our impact and to elevate the industry standards across the board, bringing other apparel retailers along on the journey with us. So, continuing to engage in shared production facilities is crucial to this work.’
Patagonia wants all people who make clothes to earn a decent wage. In 2015, the company promised that within 10 years, all employees in its supply chain would be earning a living wage that would be enough to live on. That is, enough for food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and other essential needs.
With 18 months to go, only 40 per cent of its factories pay a living wage, according to Patagonia. They would not reveal the factories concerned. Suppliers reportedly ‘have the right to maintain their factories’ wage data confidential’.
Patagonia wants all people who make clothes to earn a decent wage. In 2015, the company promised that within 10 years, all employees in its supply chain would be earning a living wage that would be enough to live on. That is, enough for food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and other essential needs.
With 18 months to go, only 40 per cent of its factories pay a living wage, according to Patagonia. They would not reveal the factories concerned. Suppliers reportedly ‘have the right to maintain their factories’ wage data confidential’.
To determine a living wage, Patagonia uses the Anker Research Institute’s calculation method. According to that method, you can live decently in urban Sri Lanka if you earn a minimum of 83,231 Sri Lankan rupees (263 euro) a month. Priya’s salary does not even cover half that. And at the recently approved Regal Image print factory, the basic wage is even lower: 21,000 rupees (66 euro), says Fernando.
Thulsi Narayanasamy is frustrated by Patagonia’s approach to sustainability. She is director of advocacy at the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent non-profit organization that monitors and investigates labor conditions in the global apparel and textile industry. ‘Patagonia spends millions on green initiatives. Why can’t they pay the people who make their clothes properly?’
Patagonia says it ‘has no authority over how much textile workers get paid, as they are in no way, shape or form the employer of these workers.’ Narayanasamy, however, is convinced Patagonia can pay a living wage, if the brand would want to. ‘They could bring production in-house or pay more to suppliers that’s ringfenced for wages high enough to achieve a living income. It’s so well established that brand’s pricing practices directly impact wage levels, it’s a fallacy to deny this.’
‘I think we should ask ourselves: why don't clothing brands have their own factories?’ She asks the question, then answers it. 'Brands don't want to be responsible for the people who produce their clothes. All brands benefit from that, including Patagonia.
RESPONSE FROM PATAGONIA When asked why it does not pay its suppliers more for decent wages for workers, Patagonia replied: ‘Relying on one brand to simply cover the gap is a band-aid solution and does not serve the factory in the long run. If the one brand that pays the gap were to leave the factory, then those wages for workers would go away, leaving the factory with a shortfall they would not be able to cover. Additionally, if the brand just writes a check to the factory, then there is no guarantee that the money would go towards workers’ wages. The brand has no authority over how much workers get paid as they are in no way, shape or form the employer of those workers.’
About the long working hours, Patagonia says: ‘Excessive overtime is pervasive globally, which is why it is audited regularly. If we find a problem that can be resolved, we work with our factory partners to implement sustainable solutions. This can take many years, but we find this is the best outcome for the workers and the factory.’
In response to the allegations about drug use among textile workers, Patagonia says: ‘These are serious and new allegations, however without evidence, we are not able to comment on them. We are continuing to conduct our ongoing monitoring program and we remain committed to addressing systemic issues to ensure workers’ wellbeing across our supply chain.’
Link to the article: https://www.ftm.eu/articles/sustainable-clothing-brand-patagonia-uses-same-suppliers-fast-fashion-brands-do-workers-exploited?share=p8cq84oSmbUiJtEQUObUZSPZh8ZNReEKHj0wGJnBMQUMqLcwK9PC1kpMJCev5Mo%3D%26utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebuttonnietleden&utm_source=linkbutton
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