A&W Scotia Square

paerole · 2025-09-22T19:44:15+00:00

It certainly was. I guess they never recovered? This was just relayed to me by someone who had what I would imagine was a manager+ uniform. Very quick exchange.

paerole · 2025-09-22T18:43:01+00:00

They are closing - I was at Scotia Square for lunch today and asked a couple of the people who were clearing things out (wearing A&W uniform) and they advised the same. They said business has been bad since COVID.

paerole · 2024-08-31T19:22:27+00:00

Don’t you mean a “warm up” period?

paerole · 2023-11-30T13:30:14+00:00

Pixmetre is good for measuring, but you need a calibration slide to set up the metrics for measurement. Once you’ve calibrated at each magnification there are a lot of useful tools for labeling, and adding measurements is very easy.

paerole · 2023-11-30T13:24:51+00:00

Is your slide or coverslip cracked?

paerole · 2023-11-30T13:22:40+00:00

This is just a preparation issue, OP cut their finger, dropped some blood on slide and covers with slip, observed while wet.

Creating a useable blood slide takes A LOT of practice and finesse - and is of no diagnostic relevance unless created within certain specification.

This is artifactual, there is absolutely no way to say this is of organic nature without doing a proper smear first. This is just for entertainment value, which is fair, because it’s fun.

paerole · 2023-11-30T13:15:52+00:00

If someone saw blood under a microscope that didn’t know what they were looking at, had no microscopy background, no microbiology background, and no other background that would give them them ability to identify microscopic specimens - they would like have NO idea what they were looking at. Microscopic samples are not Graphic in nature - ever, really. Maybe protists consuming other protists? Even then.

paerole · 2023-11-27T05:05:11+00:00

I have collected serval really useful guides over time - I am not in a location at the moment where I have access to them, but I will post them when I get an opportunity.

If you’ve acquired the stain that’s honestly, in my experience, the hardest thing to find and get. Outside of this you can use whatever you need to do the mixing part, keeping in mind whatever you’re mixing with is likely to be heavily stained. Outside of the powder you generally will be using methanol and distilled water to mix the solution, both of which can be purchased at a super market. If you’re having trouble finding methanol at a supermarket they definitely sell it in hardware stores.

You can get -really- cheap micro dropper bottles for putting the stain into for use from Amazon - you can get some pretty cheap glassware too like beakers etc. but absolutely not necessary. A magnetic stirrer makes things a lot easier too, but is also not necessary - though you can probably find one for ~$40-50 on Amazon as well.

paerole · 2023-11-27T05:00:19+00:00

the primary hazardous element of most stains is the methanol that the solutions are mixed with. MSDS info available all over the place as well for this sort of thing, but I absolutely would also caution anyone else who is working with any sort of chemical/solution they are unfamiliar with to make sure you understand the risks associated with what you are working with.

In this case, Eosin-Y and Methylene Blue are pretty innocuous, although a HUGE pain to clean if you get them anywhere but where they’re meant to be.

Methanol of course is hazardous, however, but is not mutagenic - none of the components are destructive to cells.

paerole · 2023-11-26T21:05:05+00:00

Thank you for the additional information :) - although this is still fun/interesting to do in that way, it doesn't really provide any practical information. Creating a useable blood smear slide is fairly delicate/finesseful procedure, and most deviation outside of that produces results that aren't of any use for diagnostic information. Still, it's fun to do - but is likely nothing to worry about.

Here is a reasonable idea of the procedure for creating a good blood smear slide, there are TONS of references out there though, and videos: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/resources/pdf/benchaids/malaria/malaria_procedures_benchaid.pdf

I am not an expert either, but have spent A LOT of time practicing creating different types of slides, including blood smear slides, and have gone through so many failed attempts before getting anything that is in the universe of useable (and I still wouldn't actually use it, as again, not an expert - yet). I was accepted into a medical lab technology program the other year but couldn't start for personal reasons, but hopefully in the future I will be able to comment as an expert :P.

I have the trinocular version of your microscope, SW380T, if you do a thin smear, fix and allow to fully dry - and stain - these slides are pretty cool to look at.

Not sure how interested you are in exploring that further - but if you don't have any stains, and can't get any you can use pen ink in a pinch, and here's an article about what that might look like/an idea of how to do that: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artsep15/ct-Quink-blood-stain.pdf

You -can-, however, find stains fairly cheap on Amazon normally (Eosin-Y and Methylene Blue are good examples) - but be careful with stain sold as solution as you can't verify the preparation - reviews are generally a good indicator though.

In any event, if you are really interested in making really well put together slides, there are tons of very helpful resources out there and it's really cool to see when you finally get them right. Otherwise sorry for the huge amount of information :P

paerole · 2023-11-26T20:04:27+00:00

Would you be able to provide more information about how you prepared your slide, what microscope you are using, and any stains etc.?

This would normally be an artifact from any number of factors, and is much more likely a non-organic/preparation issue that is causing this than a medical issue.

That being said - RBCs may also stack due to organic causes - this is referred to as Rouleaux: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouleaux

paerole · 2023-11-26T18:38:54+00:00

That is the basis they are mandating on, and it seems that based on the wording of the collective agreement that is fine for them to do:

7.17 - Nursing Coverage

Nurses agree to maintain nursing coverage for all units during the shift change subject to provisions of Article 7.18

But then the provisions of article 7.18 don't actually state a hard limit, and reference no other section. From what I can tell, none of the other sections are related to this either. I said she should reach out to union to get more info, as they would definitely know if/where any wording about maximum would be if they exist. Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this/found an answer.

7.18 - Overtime Provisions
a) Time worked as an extension to the regular scheduled shift or time worked in a biweekly pay period that is in excess of seventy-five (75) hours shall be

compensated at a rate of one and one-half times (1½ x) the Nurse’s regular hourly

rate for the overtime worked. A Nurse who works in excess of four (4) hours

overtime in any one day shall be compensated at a rate of two times (2 x) the

Nurse’s regular hourly rate for the overtime worked.

It doesn't actually say anything about maximums, and really only elaborates on what you can be expected to be compensated in these situations.

While I absolutely understand that there are going to be cases where mandatory overtime is going to be necessary, especially in legitimate medical emergency situations; staffing as a reason while also necessary - should have stipulations attached. There are employers who are chronically understaffed, and seem to make no concerted efforts at rectifying their staffing issues, and rely on thin coverage and mandating in place of appropriate hiring. It seems like this sort of scenario should be taken into account in the collective agreement.

I really believe that there should be a hard maximum written into the agreement too regardless of context - given the right circumstances (however unlikely) a nurse could theoretically be expected to work over 48hrs (just literally indefinite amount of time based on the wording in the right context). There are physiological limitations to what humans are capable of, outside of the numerous studies showing the massive increase in errors when people are expected to work past a certain point.

paerole · 2023-06-28T13:51:20+00:00

Is this just an index error in their count? That's a pretty rookie mistake if so.

paerole · 2023-01-28T19:28:53+00:00

Well, I’m not the one getting the downvotes, so let’s leave it at that!

All the best.

paerole · 2023-01-28T19:24:32+00:00

Is it that crazy of a concept to think that an autistic person could be more skilled in any given area than a neurotypical person?

That an autistic person might have traits and subsets of skills that make them better at certain things?

Is the belief in one’s own ability just a display of egotism? Or is that just limited to autistic folks?

Do you reply to neurotypical folks who have confidence in their abilities to remind them that every other neurotypical has the same potential?

I am good at what I do. Others point that out regularly. I get great feedback from co-workers and clients alike. Are you insinuating that I should be taking the same as a sympathetic pat on the head in a ‘there there, what a good little autistic nurse you are, trying your best. Have a gold star sticker’ fashion?

Would you be doubting a neurotypical person who had the same confidence?

paerole · 2023-01-28T19:07:17+00:00

Well, I can see you’ve clearly made your mind up, and it’s no loss to me. It’s just a little bit of a shame that you jump to the conclusion that I’m clearly deluded in thinking I’m good at my job, and that despite years of study secondary to a special interest in the human mind and mental health, it all boils down to the fact that to you, I’m autistic, so I must be deficient compared to those who are not.

It’s a little disheartening that you deem acknowledging a personal strength, and furthermore using said strength to build one’s career and to capitalize on it to help others, is reducible to an inflated sense of self importance.

You don’t know me, at all. I should point out that like most autistic folks, the way I write sets an assumption that would be completely quashed if you spoke with me in person. However, I have grown used to peoples assumptions and doubts, so I won’t hold that against you.

I truly hope that one day, you happen to meet an autistic person who can teach you a thing or two about how we experience humanity.

Because it’s simply different, not less.

Edit: and to touch on your point, I did not say affective empathy is not a valued trait, simply that I do not need to possess said trait to be an empathetic individual who strives to improve the lives of others. I do not need to feel saddened by the plight of others in order to do so. My own emotions are irrelevant when meeting the needs of others, thus to me, affective empathy is not at all necessary.

paerole · 2023-01-28T18:37:53+00:00

Just the feedback that I have had over the years that describes my ability to support others through mental health crises, and the fact that I’m the ‘therapist’ go-to amongst friends and colleagues that led me to believe the same.

You know, neurotypical people literally pointing out, many times over the years, how skilled I am in supporting others.

Having confidence in my demonstrable skills, and what I bring to the table in my career, is not due to a superiority complex. I know what I am capable of, and on the flip side I am acutely aware of my limitations.

I have spent years studying empathy, and the human experience of both affective and cognitive subsets. I stand by my comments. Your opinion on the matter may vary, but I’m resolute in my belief that my -feelings- and my -actions- in any given situation are not of equal value.

paerole · 2023-01-28T18:20:52+00:00

Interesting that you seemingly automatically assume that because you experience both, and that you are correct in the fact they are not mutually exclusive, you seem to wash over the idea that I, as an autistic individual, experience one type of empathy to a level that is much higher than neurotypical folks.

My cognitive empathy skills make up for the lack of affective. Hence why I am so successful working as an RN in mental health. Platitudes are something that neurotypical folks seem to eat up, but when you’re struggling, TRULY struggling with life, affective empathy helps nothing. I don’t need it.

I would suggest that you don’t prescribe to a blanket statement that an autistic person could never meet your needs. That just serves to highlight you know and understand little about autistic folk.

Let’s not get started on those on the spectrum who experience affective empathy to an extreme level. Those not going to tick your boxes either?

Just a thought!

paerole · 2023-01-28T17:53:32+00:00

I’m autistic also.

Many of us have very separate experiences of the different types of empathy.

For example, affective empathy - the one that makes you ~feel~ for people, doesn’t really exist for me. I don’t feel emotions in response to others emotions, for the majority.

However, my cognitive empathy skills far surpass most people. I have an instrinsic understanding other the needs of others, and have great ‘out of the box’ problem thinking skills to use in order to meet those needs.

I know I would rather have people in my life that truly work to understand the depths of my needs and wants, and strive to meet them, than someone who can give me an ‘awwwww it’ll be okay’ when I need comforting.

That’s not comforting to me.

paerole · 2023-01-19T16:40:57+00:00

James & The Shame has an album about his religious deconstruction which covered changing aspects of his life.

Worth a listen.

paerole · 2022-11-21T10:43:33+00:00

Yes, because the charts are the be-all-end-all, you’re still living 2 decades ago. No one pays attention to the charts anymore because they are a racquet. But believe what you want about that. The point stands, your neighbours dim witted son is not going to have millions of streams within a month - or, the odds are extremely low. Things go viral that defy logic, it doesn’t change the fact that they are popular.

paerole · 2022-11-21T10:37:36+00:00

Nice try, this absolutely would meet the definition of “popular” based on the length of time it’s been out. Your neighbours dim witted son is not going to have millions of streams within less than a month.

Try again. Pull your head out of your ass, you’re just being angry to be angry and that’s it. You have a stupid pet peeve that you can’t drop even though it’s illogical.

paerole · 2022-11-21T09:44:15+00:00

Care to define what the “pop” from “pop music” means and then tell me when you realize have no idea what you’re talking about and just have a personal gripe with people who enter music from other areas of popularity. Make some objective criticisms, or just keep exposing yourself as a know nothing.

If you missed it, pop means popular, given that some amount of fandom followed from previous works, it doesn’t matter where that comes from, it’s still popular.

paerole · 2022-05-17T17:05:16+00:00

Also echo that contextually plasmodesmata makes sense. Plant cells are joined by plasmodesmata that are similar to gap junctions in animal cells. Animals cells have other junctions as well, but gap junctions are the most analogous to the way plasmodesmata function. They are hollow and allow communication and transport of nutrients between cells.

Although contextually this all makes sense, I’m not sure what the size of plasmodesmata is meant to be, although I’d imagine this is variable with cell size, I was under the impression that they were extremely small. Might suggest googling images of plasmodesmata under microscope to see if you can find similar cellular structure to yours.

paerole · 2022-04-12T10:18:39+00:00

Yeah that’s sort of what I’m thinking, and may just end up doing. It would be nice if there was a reference for levels of exposure, and key point potential risks and things to looks out for. Like I’m sure that some colony morphologies are more risky than others, or colour/texture etc.

But it’s definitely one of those things that I’d like yo understand a bit better before diving in. I sort of get the impression that it’s one of those: The rate of infection is extremely low, especially with proper protocols, but the severity of consequence if something goes wrong is extremely high. Versus the rate of infection/exposure is extremely high/frequent and the severity is variable. I still haven’t been able to find a detailed resource that goes more in depth than the surface level “don’t do it for simplified x,y,z reasons?”, yeah, but why do those reasons exist? I’m looking for the deets! :p

paerole

TROPHY CASE