'We are selling a product that we hope gets discontinued'
The firms aiming to help eradicate invasive species by making commercial use of them.
2023-05-18 07:47
Grandmother praised for refusing to babysit daughter’s newborn unless she’s paid $20 an hour
A 29-year-old woman was in for a rude awakening when she asked the internet if her mother was in the wrong for refusing to babysit her newborn for free. “Am I the a**hole if my mom refused to help me take care of my baby while I go back to work?” u/erika_urrrika asked the popular Reddit forum. In her post, the new mother wrote that both she and her partner work full-time and cannot afford to have one parent stay home with their baby. The Redditor explained that their jobs don’t allow them to work from home, and they wanted to avoid spending money on childcare. In addition to being the breadwinner of the household, she is also saving money to pay off credit card debt and move to a bigger apartment. However, the grandmother refused to look after her grandchild for free, noting that she was “too old” and had “already raised her kids”. “Mind you, my mom is 64, has been a homemaker/stay-at-home-mom since 1992, and hasn’t been part of the workforce since then,” the daughter wrote. “She also added that if I really wanted this baby, then maybe I should have thought about staying home like she did to take care of it while my partner goes to work and provides for us like a ‘traditional’ family, and that if she any my dad were able to work it out, so can we.” When the Reddit user detailed her financial situation to her mother, she asked to be compensated $20 an hour for each hour she looks after her grandchild, including late fees for pickup. “So, am I the a**hole for wanting my mom, who again is at home all day long (trust me, she does not do anything besides watch TV and cook meals), to take care of my baby for free while me and my partner try to fix our finances?” she asked. In the comments, many Reddit users called the daughter “entitled” for expecting her mother to take care of her child for free. “Sorry to be blunt and rude but maybe don’t have a child if you can’t afford to take care of them,” replied one person. “And if your plan was always to go back to work you should have discussed that during the pregnancy with your mom.” “Your mother is under no obligation to babysit for you,” another user said. “Why are you having a child you don’t seem to know what to do with? And why have you not worked all this out before now?” A third person wrote: “Your mom is in no way obligated to care for YOUR BABY. It’s generous of her to be willing to do it for pay, and you have the gall to be mad she won’t do it for free? She is entitled to spend her life and free time however the hell she wants. It’s not her fault you’re in debt and decided to have a baby you can’t afford. The only thing she may have done wrong at some point along the line is raise you to be this horribly entitled.” “You chose to have a child, not your mother. Your mother isn’t a free babysitter,” another said. “She is right, she raised her children. Her babysitting on occasion would be kind and appreciated but you sound entitled thinking you are owed childcare.” One person simply commented, “You’re not the a**hole for wanting her too. But you’re the a**hole for expecting her to.” According to Sittercity, the average hourly rate of babysitters in the US in 2023 is $18.50 per hour, while the average hourly rate of nannies who “typically work on a full-time or set schedule basis” is $20 an hour. This isn’t the first time a babysitter has caused a stir on Reddit. Recently, a woman sparked a debate after revealing that she asked a family who cancelled on her babysitting services last minute to pay her half of the $840 she planned to charge them. The babysitter told Reddit’s AITA forum that she usually charges a “flat rate of $100 a night” while babysitting overnight. “Overall, the price for those three days was going to be $840,” she said. But when she received a text from the parents cancelling her babysitting services, she explained that she was “out three days pay”. In response to the last-minute cancellation, she asked the customer for $480, the “minimum [she’d] make at work in those three days”. She said the mother declined the request and said she was being “ridiculous”. While the babysitter noted that she and the family didn’t have a contract, “which in hindsight was stupid” and that “legally they don’t have to pay” her, she still felt that the right thing for the family to do was pay her. Read More Woman questions whether it was ‘selfish’ to refuse boyfriend’s request for $5,000 loan Babysitter asks family to pay half of $840 bill after they cancelled last minute People divided over whether you should switch tables in a restaurant if seated next to a crying baby Woman questions whether it was wrong to refuse boyfriend’s request for $5,000 loan Women urged to check blood pressure – here’s what you need to know Denise Welch remembers ‘losing sense of reality’ while facing post-natal depression
2023-05-18 02:48
What comes next for abortion pill in US?
A court in New Orleans is hearing a case that may pull a commonly used abortion pill from the market.
2023-05-18 00:55
Ex-vegan claims quitting diet ‘saved her life’
An former vegan whose hair started to fall out in chunks has claimed that eating meat “saved her life”. Kai-Lee Worsley, who is originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, became vegan aftermoving to Santa Ana, California, in 2018. After moving in with a group of vegans, she learnt about factory farming, which is controversial due to the cramped and stressful conditions endured by livestock. She was then convinced to try veganism herself. “What convinced me is the way animals were treated. I didn’t know how animals were treated in factory farms. I didn’t know factory farms existed,” she said. Kai-Lee stopped eating all products derived from animals and started eating protein-rich vegetables, such as beans and legumes. She also used supplements to counter the lack of proteins found in meat. But six months into her new diet, she started to feel unwell. Her hair started to fall out, her fingernails became brittle and she found it difficult to stand up. “I was extremely tired all the time. I couldn’t form coherent thoughts,” she said. “I would just lie in bed multiple times a week and I would spend all day in bed if I could. “My nails were breaking all the time. My hair was falling out. I have thin hair anyway but my hair was just coming out in chunks.” Kai-Lee stuck to the diet until June 2019 when her symptoms became too intense to ignore. Less than a year after becoming vegan, Kai-Lee started eating meat again and has credited it with “literally [saving] my life”. ”Now I eat basically the same thing as when I was a vegan except I have steak three times a week. I’ve swapped meat substitutes for meat. It has literally saved my life,” she said. Despite feeling the benefits of eating meat, Kai-Lee morally struggled to abandon her vegan diet. Kai-Lee said: “I really thought veganism was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I even saw myself as an activist. “After I ate meat, I saw myself as a fraud. I even had a V tattoo in my ear, which stood for vegan. I was at that point when I was so indoctrinated that it was really hard to go back. “I didn’t tell anyone at the beginning. I was worried what they would think about me.” She concluded: “I think when you’re so indoctrinated in something it’s really hard to back away, but I’m glad that I was able to do it in time.” Read More Janey Godley shares heartbreaking cancer update Gaining weight before 30 raises cancer risk decades later Teacher, 25, rushed to hospital with stomach ache diagnosed with terminal cancer Pensioner, 85, shares the simple switch that’s helped him to do 650,000 press-ups How to check if you have skin cancer: Symptoms and signs to look out 6 mouth cancer symptoms everyone should know
2023-05-17 17:50
Chef whose blood flows backwards says excruciating pain ‘cuts like a knife’
A single mum whose blood sometimes flows “backwards” has been left in excruciating pain and living “penny to penny” after a CT scan revealed she is likely to have pelvic congestion syndrome – but the next available appointment is not until 2024. Lolita Vaciete, 33, called the NHS in tears and begged them to expedite her treatment but was told she would have to wait a year before she could see a blood specialist about her condition, which is not life-threatening but makes everyday tasks like taking her eight-year-old son Jakob to school a logistical nightmare and means she runs the risk of passing out while on her period. While waiting for her appointment, Lolita, who has worked as a gourmet chef for 15 years, has been prescribed “strong painkillers” to help cope with the agony which she describes as like being “cut with a knife”. She was forced to take sick leave in March as she cannot stand up for more than a few hours at a time, and says the decision to postpone her treatment has “ruined her life” and that if her income continues to dwindle, she will be plunged into debt. Faced with no other option, Lolita is looking to raise money to afford private medical treatment as she fears Jakob is also suffering because of her condition. Pelvic congestion syndrome is a long-term condition where veins in the lower abdomen stop working properly, allowing blood to back up, causing the veins to become congested. Lolita, who lives in Milton Keynes, said: “Taking care of my son is what keeps me going and helps me find the strength to continue doing stuff, even though I can’t physically. “I feel like I’ve been locked in a box and told to just stay and wait. “I don’t understand how it can take 14 months for a blood specialist and gynaecologist to see me.” Lolita did not think it was “serious” when she started feeling pain around her abdomen in June last year. But over the next few months she rapidly lost weight and the pain intensified. “In the past year, I lost two stone without even trying,” she said. “Every time I moved, it felt like someone was cutting me with a knife in the right side of my abdomen. “I was very weak and couldn’t stand up for long without feeling dizzy. “I was constantly going to the toilet, like every half an hour.” In November, Lolita visited Milton Keynes University Hospital after the pain became unbearable and returned for a CT scan a month later which revealed she was likely to be suffering from pelvic congestion syndrome. “The scan showed my blood vessels were dilated,” she said. “They should not be more than 5mm and one of my veins was already 8mm.” She was told a meeting would be scheduled the following month with a blood specialist and gynaecologist to review the scan and confirm her diagnosis, but that never happened. She said: “I received a letter saying somebody will call me in a month’s time to schedule the appointment. “But I didn’t hear anything back, so I called them and received another letter saying my appointment had been delayed.” This went on until last month when Lolita received a letter saying she would not be able to see a gynaecologist until April 2024 and a blood specialist until June 2024. I feel like I've been locked in a box and told to just stay and wait Lolita Vaciete “I called them in tears and said it was urgent, but they could only move the gynaecologist to February 2024,” she said. “I can’t believe that it takes so long to see a gynaecologist.” While Lolita’s condition is not life-threatening, her world has been turned upside down and there is a chance she will have to have her uterus removed. “Whenever I get my periods, I have to stay in bed because I can pass out from losing too much blood,” she said. “If you look at who I was a year ago and who I am now, it has had a huge impact. “Everything I do has to be simplified and my life has become five times slower.” Even simple tasks like taking Jakob to school, a 20-minute walk down the road, have become an ordeal. “I am a single mum and I don’t have any support around me,” she said. “When my blood starts flowing backwards my blood pressure changes quickly, so I can be washing up and then I suddenly need to sit down.” Lolita was working as a fine dining chef until March but was forced to take sick leave as her condition got worse. “I was working full time but I’ve had to stop because I can’t be in a hot environment or standing for long hours,” she said. “I’m on sick leave but I’m getting paid less and less money. “If it continues I think that I will end up getting into debt this summer. “I’m literally living penny to penny to pay my bills.” Lolita says her condition is extremely severe and is also impacting her son who is not accustomed to seeing her so weak and does not fully grasp the situation. “I’m asking because I’m desperate for me and for my son,” she said. “I have noticed that he has been feeling a little down recently and I think it’s because he is used to seeing his mum as a strong woman.” While waiting for treatment, Lolita has been prescribed strong painkillers to help ease the agony. “That’s how they want to fix me, ‘here, take a tablet and carry on’,” she said. But there is nothing she can do to improve her condition other than avoid certain foods like vegetables which thin the blood. “It just feels as though my life isn’t important enough,” she said. Lolita says her GP suggested the backlog may be due to the NHS strikes announced in November. With nowhere else to turn, Lolita has set up a GoFundMe page and has raised more than £500 of her £4,000 target to pay for treatment called vein embolisation. “I looked at going private but the costs are too big, I just can’t afford it,” she said. “I spoke to my friends and they suggested I start a GoFundMe page. “This money will help me get treatment this year, and I will be able to make beautiful memories with my son this year. “My heart is breaking when he doesn’t understand why I am not the same. “I am suffering alone and losing hope.” To find out more about Lolita’s fundraising, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-end-lolitas-pain. A spokesperson for Milton Keynes University Hospital said: “Ms Vaciete came in via our Same Day Emergency Care unit for urgent same-day assessment. Following triage by a clinician and a CT scan, Ms Vaciete was booked in for a non-urgent routine outpatient appointment. “This is currently scheduled for February 2024 as the next available appointment. “We are constantly reviewing our waiting lists and aim to bring appointments forward where possible, with patients being seen in order of clinical priority. If Ms Vaciete’s symptoms are getting worse, we would advise that she contact her GP.” Read More Gaining weight before 30 raises cancer risk decades later Teacher, 25, rushed to hospital with stomach ache diagnosed with terminal cancer Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-17 15:49
North Carolina abortion: Lawmakers override governor's veto on 12-week ban
Republicans overturn the governor's veto of their bill, prompting chants of "shame" from onlookers.
2023-05-17 09:45
Pfizer's maternal RSV vaccine effective at preventing severe infections in newborns, FDA says but flags potential risk of preterm birth
Pfizer's vaccine to protect newborns from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, by vaccinating their moms late in pregnancy cuts the risk that infants will need to see a doctor or be admitted to the hospital with a moderate to severe infection before 6 months of age, according to a new analysis by government regulators.
2023-05-17 02:54
Taco Bell seeks to cancel smaller rivals' 'Taco Tuesday' trademarks
By Blake Brittain (Reuters) -Yum Brands Inc' Taco Bell Corp on Tuesday asked the U.S. Trademark Office to cancel two
2023-05-17 02:46
Colorado driver tried to avoid DUI by switching seats with dog, police say
A Colorado officer watched the bizarre episode unfold at a traffic stop, according to police.
2023-05-17 02:24
25 Species That Have Made Amazing Comebacks
When it comes to rescuing endangered species, progress is an ongoing effort—but these plants and animals have made successful comebacks.
2023-05-17 00:21
Woman’s horrifying buccal fat removal ordeal: ‘I was in excruciating pain’
But Pammie was unaware of how much of a change it would make to her face and urges people not to go ahead with the procedure. Read More Janey Godley shares heartbreaking cancer update as husband reacts: ‘I thought he was being sick’ Bride sparks outrage after documenting everything she ate at her wedding Manspreading remains the most misunderstood of modern evils The vitamins, fruits and vegetables to prioritise as the seasons change A bride has split the internet in half over her wedding menu Gemma Collins urges women to talk openly about incontinence
2023-05-16 22:49
Gemma Collins urges women to talk openly about incontinence
Gemma Collins has called on women to discuss the issue of incontinence more openly to dispel stigma around it. The former Towie star, 42, aims to help women overcome shame or embarrassment around the “taboo” subject in a new campaign. Collins recalled an incident when she first experienced incontinence while playing with her nephew on a trampoline. She told BBC News: “I couldn’t believe it, I was on a trampoline, you know, although I’m 42, I still think I’m 21. “And I was on – and you know, like, with your mums and your aunties, you’ve always heard growing up, ‘Oh my God, I need a pad, I’ve got leaks’ and you’re like, ‘Eugh, I will never get to that stage in my life’. “Well, honeys,” Collins continued. “It’s happening. I got on my trampoline with my nephew Hayden and I was having a great time and literally, I was laughing, I was jumping, and the leak just started happening.” Collins joked that the experience made her feel “officially old”, then added: “No, it’s nothing to do with age, so many women get it. One in three are suffering from it.” According to the NHS, urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine and is believed to affect millions of people. The condition affects twice as many women as men due to pregnancy and childbirth, which can impact the bladder, urethra and other muscles supporting these organs. However, Collins said incontinence shouldn’t stop women from going out and living their lives. “Would I have stopped jumping on the trampoline? Hell, no,” she said. “It is really sad to know that women are stopping doing their activities. They might not want to go on holiday now because of their leaks. They might not want to get on a trampoline with their children or their families because of the leaks.” Collins added: “Nothing’s ever going to stop me from doing anything in my life. But why are women so embarrassed to talk about it still?” The TV personality has spoken candidly about her experiences with incontinence in the past. In 2017, she fell into a trap door in a stage while presenting the Radio One Teen Choice Awards in a moment that went viral online. But the following year, she revealed that the embarrassing moment was made worse by the fact she “wet herself” after the fall. “The worst thing about it was that I wet myself as it was such a shock,” she told OK! magazine. “James [Argent] came running down from the audience to make sure I was OK and all I could think was, ‘I hope he can’t tell I’ve wet myself’. “That hole changed my life, it catapulted me into a meme star,” she added. Read More Janey Godley shares heartbreaking cancer update Dwayne Johnson reveals he’s struggled with ‘three bouts of depression’ Manspreading remains the most misunderstood of modern evils Janey Godley shares heartbreaking cancer update Teacher, 25, rushed to hospital with stomach ache diagnosed with terminal cancer How to check if you have skin cancer: Symptoms and signs to look out
2023-05-16 20:51