Category: thoughts

Most of the equipment used in hairdressing and cosmetics industry are typically generating noise levels above the allowable limit (85 decibels) at workplace. Major sources of noise exposure in the surrounding magnificence beauty or cosmetic industry, comprises the use of hair dryers or hand held hair dryers; electric massagers, electric shavers, hair clippers, blow dryers, cosmetics and tattoo equipment, body massagers, electric nail flies and drills. Since, the noise arising due to the use of this equipment (especially hair dryers, blowers and drillers) generally falls around 90-95 decibels, therefore, professionals are at greater risk and need to follow precautionary measures to minimize the exposure to the damaging noises. Under the Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers have a responsibility to ensure that workers’ hearing is not damaged by a noisy workplace. The effects of such a noisy environment become visible within a period of 5-10 years, a common observation reported among hair stylists, in the typically noisy beauty salons. Several case studies have documented the presence of partial impairment or complete hearing loss among hair stylists and hairdressers. Clinical studies suggest that loss of hearing not only affects the ability to communicate, but also has a profound effect on mental status, social behavior and people’s lives. Such loss not only impacts on personal but also professional as well as career advancement.
Apart from sound induced hearing loss, ototoxicity also plays an important role in bringing about hearing loss among hairstylists. Ototoxicity is generally referred to internal damage to the ear, particularly the cochlea or
auditory nerve by certain chemicals such as the antibiotics, aminoglycoside and potassium or sodium bromate. For decades, potassium or sodium bromate (2-10%) and thioglycolates were routinely used as perm lotion and hair neutralizer. Principally, curly hair is chemically softened using an ammonium thioglycolate hair wave lotion or cream to change or reduce the disulfide (S-S) bonds of hair keratins to S-H bonds and thus reduce the natural curl and makes hair flexible. Secondly, 2-10% of potassium bromide solution KBrO3 oxidizes the S-H bonds and regains the original S-S bonds to the hair and thereby stabilizes the curling of the hair. The reported toxic effects of potassium bromate and sodium bromate include diarrhea, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, hemolytic anaemia, vomiting, and acute renal failure. The most common symptom of bromated intoxication is deafness, which seems to be almost permanent. Studies have shown that cochlea appears to be the primary site of injury for bromate-induced ototoxicity. However, other possible targets include nerve and central auditory system. Research studies performed using animal models suggest that bromate damages the claudius and inner sulcus cells, stria vascularis, reissner’s membrane, inner and outer hair cells in the cochlea. At physiological level, these chemicals lower the cochlear microphonics, endocochlear potential, and electrophysiologic auditory thresholds. Several clinical investigations and case studies report complains of dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss among hairstylists and hairdressers. It has been observed that in most of the cases, the professionals are continuously exposed (for more than 10 years) to the permanent hair styling solutions or neutralizers containing thioglycolate and potassium or sodium bromate. Besides this, infrequent reports of high-dose ingestion are also detected in many clinical populations, where symptoms onset is generally seen very rapidly that occur within 4–16 hrs.

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/religion

I’m going to be in trouble when we get actual robot helpers. This morning I had a discussion with my Alexa.. I can’t decide whether to have the male voice or the female voice.

I have decided on the female voice. It seems, that she understands me better.. I know it’s weird but it’s early morning and I’ve only had a 1/2 a cup of coffee so there it is… have a great day

Side note… it’s the following day and went back to the male voice. Female voice sounded too “sweet and kind”… they should introduce a sassy female voice with an english or australian accent.

I have been noticing lately that my body is telling me how to sit, how to stand, how to walk… because when I don’t do what it’s telling me to do, it hurts.

Describes the act of a person or animal frozen in terror… perhaps originally found in Richard Adam’s Watership Down …. also adopted by Stephen King in his book The Stand

wordreference.com

and that is what this feels like. unfortunately, not only can we not see what’s coming but our ability to talk creates an embattled environment where information changes minute by minute. we really have no idea what is going to actually happen and our leaders are just as frozen.

there are samples written throughout our history on this planet but no one knows where this is going to go… least of all those of us in the trenches. we rage against our inability to do ANYTHING to fix this, other than sit in our homes and wait for it to burn out. at the cost of losing lives, livelihoods, homes and the human interaction that on the surface is helped by technology but underneath cries out for human touch… hugs… which we need right now. none of us are immune to any of it.

a salute to the people on the frontlines… doctors, nurses, aides, the grocery store clerks, the truckers who continue to deliver us the staples we need, everyone who is risking infection by helping us avoid it.

please be at peace my people. don’t verbally or physically beat up on people who have no control over this situation. help one another in your household and make sure your neighbors, family and friends know they are not alone.

namaste

to those of you who are vector people you will be pleased to know that the new kickstarter campaign reached it’s 1st goal. has of this writing, it is well on it’s way to amazing! in only 36 hours!!!