u/Pale_Historian_2443

So... for the new flu shot, yesterday the CVS pharmacy staff said its available and that they will only use the MRNA vaccine this year.

Though it's a bit early, i want to schedule my shot for the first half of September. Are there any anecdotal reports of side effects or comparisons in efficacy re the previous form of flu shot?

I was surprised the new vax was available already. Not to be too distrustful, but have others here heard that it is ready?

Last night I returned and noticed my porchlight was on... I assumed I must have inadvertantly hit the switch as I left earlier. Opening the front door, I immediately was overcome with extreme dizzziness, my head was swimming... no smell, but I could have passed out. I went right over to the downstairs nighbor (the only other tenant) who was cooking fish. He said he didnt smell gas. Logically gas is most likely? When I returned to my apartment (I had left the front door ajar) all the mysterious fumes were gone. There was no smell on either floor of my apartment. Are there other possibilities besides gas? The porchlight may be a "red herring" but even so I am really struck about how immediate and overwhwelming this invisible gas had been. The front door is street level at the bottom of my stairs, by the way. There is a printing shop opposite, which keeps its doors open all working day.

I am able to make good yogurt using full milk but I wonder what tweaks might help solidify my 2 percent milk batches. Does it need a longer heating (in the large aluminum pot I use) before putting into the yogurt maker glass cups? Does it require more than 24 hours in the yogurtmaker? Thanks

Laptop prices have been going up in the USA. I see a previous discussion from 6 months ago comparing prices in various countries. Is the USA still cheapest, esp for lower end models in 2026?

Greetings of Peace.

Some Muslims worry about images of humans on their walls, paintings or photos, while ignoring how fascinated we are by online images in our phones from day to night. This is not simply a question about immodest or sexual images. To act in the world we need to navigate these images without our attention getting stuck. Not easy. There is also advertising cleverly designed to get our attention, and now their is AI to add a layer of unreality, desire and confusion.

The Quran teaches us in different ways, some is clear and some requires interpretation for understanding. There is a quite interesting scholarly book called Aisha's Cushion, which discusses the range of Islamic rulings and scholarship regarding proper use of images, though it stops short of the modern world. Recommended for those who seek to know our rich heritage!

Like Muslims, Christians have had iconoclastic periods in which images are erased or marginalized. In our time, the Taliban has taken that approach. Similarly, theater has been outlawed in different historical periods, for example by the Puritans, but other strong traditions of using theater as a really deep learning experience. Actors can really go deep into self knowledge and expression. Of course these days we are faced with entertainment on all sides, both of good quality and also lots of trash.

As Muslims, isnt the most practical approach to treat the arts as languages, different ways of expressing humanity and truth in a non-ideological, experiential way? Isnt it better to know the difference between intelligent music and addictive, crowd pleasing music? Shouldnt one look for the positive in all this, instead of condemning it with words but accepting in practice?