Link for all the chapters available for free here: Engines of Arachnea on Royal Road
Deep in the groaning halls of sinew and bone he awaited his audience with the god. At a wave of his hand the ribs which held up the ceiling contracted, tendons shifting within the pink walls of the chamber as the jagged, calcareous spurs that composed the doorway sank back into the spongy masses of tissue, revealing a passage curving down and out of sight.
Menash stood before the yawning portal and considered eternity. This was no an idle thought: here in the Dawning Chamber, the concept was very real. His father, Yulan, had stood in this exact spot times beyond count. When he was struck down in his prime by the Night Weaver and her Leaper offspring, torn limb from limb as he fought to defend Chthonis from a raiding party, Menash’s uncle, Aqavarr, had carried his broken remains over that grinning threshold to join the hosts of the dead, never to return.
A hot and heavy exhalation rattled up out of the depths, wafting in the acrid scent of the bonding pools and the wet slithering sound of the rebirthing canals. Menash felt a crackle of static in the corners of his mind before the signal sharpened and he heard It whisper distinctly:
“Enter…”
The familiar dread crept its way up the small of his back, and he gave a little shiver. No matter how many times he had communed with the Vitalus, he’d never been able to shake the feeling of his utter insignificance. But he persevered, walking bravely down the slurping passage, past the rows of broad antechambers lining either side of the hallway. Each one held a slumbering shape immersed in a cryogenic bath, towering hulks of muscle encased in ribbed and riveted plates of chitin. No two were alike in size or physiology, but all seemed to emanate the same primeval aura of dread that tickled Menash’s fight-or-flight-instinct, skewing it very much towards the latter response. These were the Hollowores, soulless avatars of the Vitalus, each one a tool capable of eradicating an entire species. As Menash approached, one of the living weapons stirred to life. A pronged, anvil-shaped head emerged from the bath, umbilical feeder tubes detaching from its armored flanks as the rest of its bulk followed, its mauve exoskeleton as sleek and shiny as amethyst. The Hollowore extended legs as thick as grown pine trees and lifted itself above him, its pairs of crushing pincers dripping amniotic fluids as it herded him towards the central room.
Bundles of white gossamer filaments spread all across the floor, encircling steaming pools of pus and acid. He saw arms and legs, sensory organs and entire exoskeletons being knitted before his very eyes, the amino acid chains being stitched on a layer at a time, the weeping pus evidence of microphages fighting off possible infections as the Vitalus did Its work.
These were the next generation of exomorphs, yet to be assigned to their hosts. It was here that Vitalus constantly improved the only thing that could ensure the continued survival of Menash’s subspecies. Exomorphs were bonded to Gallivants at birth, the organisms supplying their hosts with the means to breathe an atmosphere they was never meant to endure, and the strength to fight in a world that was red in tooth and claw. They were as swift as the summer wind and could multiply their host’s muscular power by up to twelve times their natural output.
But for all their God-given might, Gallivants were still mortal. They could and often did perish in the endless struggle for existence that the Vitalus called the Great Game. But even in death they could still commit their essence to posterity, passing down their defining traits through the malleable genetic code of the gilt helix. It was the Vitalus’ greatest boon; through the gilt helix a single individual could become a progenitor of an entire generation, becoming at one stroke the father of whole nations and peoples.
One day he too would prove worthy of the honor that Yulan had earned with his life. But he was not alone in that ambition. Menash was annoyed to find the crimson-clad Vezda and the cowardly Racek waiting for him inside, standing next to a large ball of filaments that hung from a tonsil-like growth hanging from the walls.
This node pulsed, emitting a small storm of bioelectric activity, networks of fungi conveying commands in the form of oscillating voltages to their communities of symbiotic bacteria, the latter containing greigite mineral crystals aligned in the shape of electromagnetic coils. Other networks hidden in the walls modulated and amplified the signals, and the three Gallivants steeled themselves for the onrushing flood of information as the Vitalus tapped into their minds.
He was a candle before the raging heart of the thunderstorm. For an instant Menash touched a fraction of Its intelligence, the divisions of time and space rolling back as they joined the ocean of shared consciousness, becoming one with the living systems of Arachnea. From the tiniest aeroplankton floating above the waves of the golden coastlines, to the herds of ultrapods munching their way through swathes of trees in the savannahs. Menash felt himself pushing up out of the soil, longing and lusting and reaching for the sunlight with a trillion green fingers uncurling, alive with the furious movement of life.
But what was that flicker of orange to the east? That searing heat, that prickling pain spreading like a cancer down his side?
The Vitalus scooped them up and hurled them headlong into hell itself. A roaring wildfire was sweeping into the heart of the eastern rainforests. Menash tasted ash and ruin, felt pieces of himself wither and burn, his branches tongues of fire, wood cracking from the intense blaze, sap boiling instantaneously upon contact and rupturing, splitting him right down the grain. He fled in terror, running, slithering, digging, swimming, flying away in crazed panic from the walls of red death closing in on him. As his skin flaked off in clumps of charcoal he looked back and saw it towering over the treetops, the epicenter of this howling vortex of destruction: the grey behemoth. Its burnished metal hide gleamed like copper, reflecting the fury of the conflagration burning well into the night.
Menash pulled his mind away before it was lost forever in the storm of electric potentials. He saw Racek and Vezda swaying on their feet, breathing hard and fast.
“Heart of the World,” he managed to gasp, “What is your bidding?”
The Hollowore maneuvered itself until it was facing him directly. Tiny beady eyes fixed him in their blank gaze. The node emitted a blue pulse and the creature shuddered as it received the signal. It opened a maw powerful enough to chew boulders into gravel and rumbled:
“This one is the alpha which survived first contact with anomalous variable. It will tell Us what occurred, and from whence this threat emerged.”
“It came from the karst mountain range, where the yellowjacket Amit live,” Menash replied, “It was destroying the largest mound in that area, massacring its inhabitants. It brought the mountain down on them—we’ve never seen anything like it. Zildiz was the first on the scene. She warned us not to approach, and that it was dangerous, but some of us,” here he cast an angry look at Vezda, “Some of us went ahead and tried to scavenge from the bodies of the dying. Then the behemoth ignited the air and burned scores of us to cinders.”
“Irrational. Why did you do this?”
“W-we thought that you had spawned the grey behemoth,” Menash stammered, embarrassed to say the least, “That it was the newest addition to the Great Game, another species of ultrafauna that would help perfect Arachnea.”
“Not so. It was made by an evil far older than the All-In-One,” replied the Vitalus, “It is called a Divine Engine. In cycles past, this evil sought to undo this world and all that inhabit it. In that, it almost succeeded.”
Menash felt his blood run cold at those words.
“Is it the only one of its kind?” Racek piped up. Menash and Vezda both bristled at his interruption; subordinates were only supposed to speak when spoken to.
“There were several deployed here in Our infancy. We had thought them all destroyed in the War of Creation.”
“Your Munificence,” Racek went on, heedless of the venomous looks he was getting from the other two, “Most of us survived because Zildiz persuaded us to dive into the river. She saved all our lives! But as I washed up on the riverbank, I saw the behemoth casting a seedpod into the skies. I did not see where it landed, but it was travelling in a high arc due east. Is this the behemoth’s method of reproducing? If so, then how many offspring can it generate from this one seed?”
The Vitalus met his questions with a minute of silence. Menash had never known It to take so long to respond to a query, and felt another stab of unease in his gut. Unless he was imagining things, the Vitalus seemed genuinely disturbed by the scenario that Racek has raised, enough to convince Menash that the danger was far from hypothetical.
“That is a distant possibility,” It said somewhat cryptically, “Regardless, We cannot allow the Engine’s continued existence.”
“Then it must be destroyed,” Vezda said, her barbed tail eagerly perking up.
“We are not certain that it can be,” the Vitalus said, and Menash heard Racek audibly gulp at the admission.
“But Your Omniscience, you alone are the arbiter of growth and decay,” Vezda said in disbelief, “Surely you can unmake this monster as well?”
“Perhaps. The Divine Engines were built to withstand the extremes of temperature, gravity, atmospheric pressure, acidity and irradiation found on semi-inhabitable exoplanets. Worlds of bareness and desolation, glassed by thermonuclear bombardment or infested with alien microorganisms. In the wars of Our youth, the Betrayers used tungsten-alloy warheads fired from space platforms to crack their bulkheads. Not even Our vessels, the Hollowores, could damage them in any significant way. We will need time to gather the raw materials and fabricate the weapons needed to end this threat.”
“What must we do?” Menash asked.
“If this variable is not dealt with, it could upset the delicate balance We have sacrificed so much to achieve. Already the wildfire it has caused will release close to 400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and destroy 2.3 million acres of forest before Our countermeasures can stop it. Time is our limiting factor. If the Engine cannot be destroyed now, it must be restrained.”
“It hasn’t moved an inch since we last saw it,” Vezda said brightly, “Maybe it has already died?”
“Yes, and maybe your mother was a horka toad,” Racek said snidely. Vezda scowled and took a step towards him, then stopped as she remembered that she trod on hallowed ground.
“Not so. It has merely gone dormant. Having expended its fuel, it is now running on the bare minimum of its reserves. My children, you must ensure that it does not wake again. Establish a quarantine zone around the Engine and let none approach, on pain of death. The Leaper kindreds will secure the ground while the Gallivants patrol the skies.”
Vezda and Menash exchanged troubled looks. Nobody wanted Leapers establishing a foothold in what was essentially a buffer zone between their subspecies. Once allowed to settle in a habitat, it would not take long for them to adapt and become masters of their new territory. Ousting them would become a battle of attrition, and given the lower birthrates of Gallivants, it was not one they could long afford.
“Respectfully, we do not require assistance from our brother kindred,” Menash ventured, “We are more than capable of safeguarding the area ourselves.”
The node throbbed again, the bioelectric flashes taking on an angry purple hue. With a sound like the grinding of a millstone the Hollowore clashed its claws together impatiently. All three of the mortals took a hasty step back.
“The alpha will obey, or another will be found that can,” the Vitalus growled at them, “All subspecies will observe a general truce during this period. This is a temporary addition to the Great Game. Those that serve Us well shall be rewarded. We shall also enlist the aid of your terrestrial cousins, as well as the Cataphract clans to replenish the soil, and lone Saints who shall rove beyond the quarantine zone.”
Menash’s unease deepened. The Vitalus was bringing together four different kindreds, some of which killed each other on sight, in a move that reeked of desperation. The kindreds had worked together before, of course, on complex projects such as altering rainfall patterns and husbanding struggling species, but never so many at once. This was bound to end in bloodshed.
“Those that break the truce shall be chemically neutered, and their gilt helix purged from the existing gene pool,” the Vitalus continued, “You will maintain this quarantine until We have dealt with the Engine.”
“It is understood!” Menash and Vezda said at once.
“But what about Zildiz?” Racek blurted out, again risking his entire lineage by speaking out of turn, “She might still be alive out there!”
“He’s right,” Menash found himself agreeing despite his dislike for Racek, “She’s our alpha, after all. It would be a shame to lose her helix. Do we have your leave to send out a party to recover her?”
The Vitalus pondered the request for a moment, then crushed his hopes when it said:
“Regrettable, the loss of the female. Valuable stock for the breeding program. But it has not responded to Our signals—it is unlikely to have survived. The female Vezda shall take up its duties as alpha.”
“But Your Benevolence—” both men cried out in unison.
“It is decided. She has risked the Great Game, and must abide by its outcome. To speak more on this would risk Our displeasure,” the god warned.
“We can’t spare the manpower anyway,” Vezda pointed out, trying not to look too pleased at Its decision. She darted a quick look at Menash, long enough for him to see the selfish desire festering in her heart. He turned away from her in disgust, baring his blades by the slightest of margins to let her know what he thought of her, then asked the Vitalus:
“But what of the Engine’s seedpod? Should we search for it?”
“Negative!” the Vitalus boomed, its node reinforcing the word with a spike of activity that sent needles of pain spearing into their heads, “We shall complete this task. It is dangerous and can be entrusted to no other.”
The Hollowore angled its massive head towards the cavernous ceiling, armored flaps on its back sliding aside as it unfurled sets of rigid sixty-meter wings. A wide sphincter on the roof gaped open and Menash saw the evening sky awash with the stars in their milky multitudes. The Hollowore took a deep breath through the spiracles lining its thorax and abdomen, pumping air through a pair of hollow tube-like protuberances under either of its wings. Menash and the others quickly scampered to a safe distance. Seconds later there was a scream of chemical combustion and the Hollowore rose into the evening skies, leaving behind a long trail of superheated gases, the backwash almost knocking Menash off his feet. They watched as the Hollowore gained altitude, making straight for the columns of billowing smoke on the horizon, a sweeping shadow blotting out the light of the heavens.
The Vitalus’ mental presence receded with it. When it did not return, they took it to mean that they were dismissed and likewise took flight and headed for Chthonis. They were hardly out of the Dawning Chamber when Vezda seized the scrawny Racek by his wings and anchored her feet right up against his back.
“Funny little man, are you? Crack jokes at my expense again, and I’ll see to it that you’ll never fly again!” she snarled, yanking hard. Racek yelled as his wings threatened to pop out of their sockets.
“Stop!” Menash said, ramming his shoulder into her and knocking the smaller male out of her grip. Vezda rounded on him, blades out and her tail aquiver with rage.
“As for you! No one should speak to the Vitalus like that!” she shrieked, “Much less gainsay It! Are you trying to get us all killed? It is the source and continuance of life itself—”
“But the Vitalus doesn’t always consider the individual scale of things,” Menash reasoned, controlling his rising anger as he tried to defuse the situation, “Its scope of thought is beyond ours. Therefore it is up to us to look after each other. None of us can win the Great Game alone. We need people like Zildiz for the species to prosper.”
“Your logic is flawed,” Vezda spat, “Empathy is a sham devised by the selfish action of the gene, which seeks only to preserve itself. At least I am honest enough to look after my own interests. Your obsession with that whore is misplaced. Heed my words, Menash. What happened today marks a change in the Great Game. Only the ruthless will reap the rewards of this era. Think on that, and act accordingly.”
The female darted off in another direction, leaving the two behind.
“Thanks,” Racek said, rubbing at his sore shoulders, “My, my. She’s really taking her promotion very seriously, isn’t she?”
“This doesn’t make us friends,” Menash said shortly, “We share a common interest, that’s all.”
The two flew together in silence for a time, the dark canopy unrolling below their feet. Racek had always been a bitter rival for Zildiz’s affections. In the mating seasons he and Menash had flown the damsel-dance against each other countless times, racing and dogfighting at top speed through the dense bamboo thickets in an effort to impress her.
But each time she had always chosen Menash. Naturally. He was the stronger, the braver, the son of the Scourge who had slain hundreds on his lightning raids into Leaper territory. Their pairings had been brief and passionate, yet she had always laughed at the end and gone on her merry way, a rose petal borne on a scented breeze, the dalliance as meaningless to her as other concerns like eating or breathing.
But not to him. Right now, all that mattered was her. And Racek was the only one in the whole wide world who knew exactly how he felt. Did that mean he could be trusted? Menash considered the enormity of what he was about to do, and wavered. Then he saw her face in the darkness of his home, the face she wore when they were all alone together, and he took a deep breath before breaking the silence, saying:
“I’ll be in charge of the quarantine. I can arrange for you to disappear for a few days. I can have one of the younglings mimic your magnetosynaptic signal, make it seem like you’re with the rest of us.”
“You’d do that? For me?” Racek said in astonishment.
“Hah. Not for you,” Menash laughed softly. He looked Racek straight in the eyes and continued: “What’ll it be, then?”
If he so much as hesitates, I’ll have to kill him here and now, Menash told himself.
“Why, yes. Yes, of course!” the little brown male said vigorously.
“Good,” Menash sighed with relief, “She’ll be very grateful to whoever brings her home. I’d do it myself, but as an alpha I can’t risk being seen as disobedient.”
“Then why give me this chance? After all that’s passed between us?”
“I should have thought that was obvious,” Menash replied. Racek digested that for a bit, then out of nowhere said:
“If I find her—when I find her—I’ll tell her exactly who it was that sent me.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Bah! Just so we’re even, that’s all,” Racek grinned, his mouthparts slanting askew.
“Thanks, I guess. I’d…I’d appreciate that. You do understand what we’re risking here, right?”
“Sure. We’ll be total genetic write-offs if we’re caught. But it’s not like I wanted to see tiny ugly Raceks running around the house anyway. What about you, though? Why are you putting your neck on the chopping block?”
“You know why,” Menash said quietly, his thoughts still lingering on her face.
“Yes,” Racek agreed with a wistful air, “Yes, I suppose I do.”
And the pair spoke no more until they reached Chthonis.
Link for all the chapters available for free here: Engines of Arachnea on Royal Road

Hi - first timer TTC. I am 3 days away from the day I’m supposed to start my period. I’ve been using the “6 days sooner” pregnancy tests and testing with the first urine of the day but getting negatives. I am also not getting the light brown spotting that I’ve read for many others the week before. I’m about 13 days post ovulation. I’ve seen many conflicting things about if you’re not testing positive between 8-10 post ovulation that it could have risks of losing the pregnancy or becoming not pregnant at all. Just looking for reassurance and similar experiences. I am very understanding that this is my first time TTC and am just looking to be more educated instead of relying on google for misinformation. Thank you!

Guinness World Records has been expanded by a space expert in order to showcase some incredible statistics found throughout the rest of the cosmos. In a new video this week, British scientist and BBC TV broadcaster Brian Cox says, "If there was a Guinness World Records 'Universe' book, the records would be remarkable." Cox quickly moves through an extensive list of exciting space-based records, starting with "the most enormous compact object," a supermassive black hole, a picture of which was taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope three years ago. The so-called M87 galaxy, which is six billion times more massive than the sun and is located 55 million light-years from Earth.In addition to numerous records, Cox unveils the universe's fastest object as well as its biggest structure and smallest object. The scientist identified Glass-z13 as the farthest distant verified galaxy when asked. "The light's journey from it to the telescope took around 13.4 billion years. We are examining the galaxy as it might have been 200 million or 300 million years after the Big Bang. Glass-z13 has a distance from Earth of little over 33 billion light-years due to the expansion of the universe. The James Webb Space Telescope, the largest telescope of its sort ever constructed, made the discovery of the far-off galaxy. The Webb telescope has been conducting research into deep space and sending stunning images back to Earth since its deployment earlier this year. As Cox points out, recordings of the universe are subject to perpetual change as astronomers and scientists make new discoveries all the time using more potent tools like the Webb telescope.
What reionized the Universe, and when?
When did the transparency of the universe begin? It's a strange but crucial question. The Universe was once opaque, but over time it changed to transparency and is still transparent now. It is literally the reason we can see far-off objects in the sky, and in a more existential sense, that instant of cosmic transparency had an impact on the behaviour of galaxies, the formation of stars, and other things. Answering the question is something that many astronomers want to do because it has significant ramifications for the objects we want to study and because we are here because of it. Astronomers from several countries may have discovered the solution to the puzzle: 12.7 billion years ago, roughly 1.1 billion years after the Big Bang. The fact that this is a few hundred million years later than previous calculations has some intriguing ramifications. Our entire Universe was in a hot, dense condition and all of its matter was ionised immediately after the Big Bang, like minutes after it: Any hydrogen or helium nuclei were free of any electron bonds. When an electron attempted to move, a photon, a particle of light, would strike it and cause it to fall. At the time, all of the light was incredibly high-energy and more than capable of maintaining the ionisation of the environment. As matter is so dense, if you were in this miasma, which in a sense you were since everything in the Universe was, it would appear absolutely opaque to you. An ionisation timeline Gas was cold and neutral in the early Universe (on the left), but as time goes on (on the right), radiation from stars and active black holes rips electrons off hydrogen atoms, illuminating the gas. An ionisation timeline Gas was cold and neutral in the early Universe (on the left), but as time goes on (on the right), radiation from stars and active black holes rips electrons off hydrogen atoms, illuminating the gas. The time interval is roughly one billion years from left to right. Thesan Collaboration, in picture Astonishingly, as the Universe cooled and expanded over the next 400,000 years, the average photon eventually ran out of energy to ionise hydrogen. For the first time, protons and electrons united and remained together to form neutral hydrogen. Recombination is the term used to describe the joining of an electron and a proton, hence this event is referred to as recombination even though it was the first time most atoms had united. Continuing the story Neutral hydrogen is highly good at absorbing visible light, the wavelengths of light humans can see, therefore the universe was still opaque even though the density of the Universe was reducing as it expanded. This period is known as the Dark Ages. That situation would last for a very, very long period until new objects formed that could emit ultraviolet light. When they were created, they ionised the hydrogen in space once more, but this time was different since the Universe had a lower density, allowing photons to go farther without being absorbed. Space became transparent all of a sudden and remained so. We can see a great distance even today because the majority of gas is ionised, or officially called a plasma. Reionization refers to this point in the universe's history. However, when did that occur? A pleasant approach to learn more exists. A blazar, or galaxy containing a supermassive black hole spewing energy, as depicted by an artist. Credit: Science Communication Lab and DESY A blazar, or galaxy containing a supermassive black hole spewing energy, as depicted by an artist. Credit: Science Communication Lab and DESY Image: Science Communication Lab at DESY Huge black holes evolved in the centres of galaxies as they initially emerged from the darkness. These black holes would collect matter as it fell into them, building up in a disc that would become extremely hot and emit high-energy ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. These galaxies are what astronomers refer to as quasars, and we can view them from a very, very long way. When these quasars' light reaches us, it battles the Universe's expansion, which causes their wavelengths to lengthen—a process known as redshifting. In other words, the redshift reveals the quasar's distance, which in turn reveals how long after the Big Bang we observe it. Due to the fact that light can only move at a certain speed, objects that are further away are redshifted more and appear to us in the past.Because of the quasar's immense strength, even if we observe it before reionization, it will have already ionised the hydrogen immediately around it, allowing light to escape. The light from the quasar will be absorbed if there is a cloud of hydrogen between us and the quasar that is sufficiently removed from it to remain neutral. The redshift of the wavelength gap we detect in the quasar's light indicates how far away the cloud is from us and, more significantly, how far back in time we saw it. Very far distant clouds are neutral and unionised. However, following reionization, we suddenly stop noticing them because they are unable to take in the quasar's light.. So in theory, all we need to do is isolate the light from a collection of distant quasars using really good spectra. Numerous wavelengths will exhibit significant absorption, which will disappear at a sufficiently low redshift. Reionization took place then. This is really difficult to do in real life. You need really brilliant quasars, and even then, they are faint because they are so far away. Additionally, you need very good spectra, which calls for a large telescope and prolonged exposures. Numerous additional factors must also be taken into consideration, such as how the universe was structured back then. However, the astronomy team actually did this. They used archived observations of 42 additional extremely bright quasars from two other observatories in addition to 25 very distant very bright quasars from the XQR-30 survey. They discover that the Universe first became transparent roughly 1.1 billion years after the Big Bang by closely examining the 67 quasar spectra. Illustration of the first stars in the universe illuminating the gas clouds where they originated. Photo: NAOJ Illustration of the first stars in the universe illuminating the gas clouds where they originated. Photo: NAOJ And that's really fascinating! What precisely ionised the universe is unknown. There was enough time for supermassive, extremely hot, luminous stars to form as well, and they could have also blasted out UV light, enough to contribute. It might have been these very quasars. Was it thus stars, quasars, or a combination of both? The timing may be able to focus this. Reionization was previously estimated to have occurred 200 million years earlier, but if the new estimate is accurate, there is plenty of room for many more of these first-generation stars to form and contribute. So, if you'll excuse the pun, it might have been both stars and quasars working together. Around this time, galaxies were developing, and if these stars were incredibly powerful, they could blow gas straight out of the galaxies, altering the evolution of those galaxies. In order to comprehend when these stars existed and what they might have done to their surrounding environments, we need to know when reionization took place. I'll remind you that you reside in a galaxy and on a planet revolving around a star whose lineages may be traced back to this period. Reionization—what it was, when it happened, and how it affected the universe—thus plays a role in our existence. It's clear why we want to know the answer. And it might be here at last. Naturally, more observations are preferable. We may also be able to determine the duration of reionization if we have more exact estimates of this number from models of cosmic structure. 1,000,000 years? 10, fifty, or one hundred? It's almost certain that larger telescopes with better cameras will be used to answer that question. We are among the first species to comprehend precisely how the universe came into being and what occurred to it after that. You can quote me on that, but the Universe took 13.8 billion years to get here, and I think it was worth the wait.

Moving can be a stressful time for everyone, including our feline friends. Imagine being whisked away from the comfort of your familiar surroundings to a new and unfamiliar place. As you plan your relocation, it’s essential to consider the needs of your beloved cat to ensure a smooth transition for both of you. That’s why we will give you the best tips for moving with your cat.
Moving with a cat requires careful planning and consideration to ensure their safety and well-being throughout the process. Here are some expert tips for moving with your cat:

Create a Safe Haven:

Before the moving day arrives, set up a safe and comfortable space for your cat in your current home. This area should include their bed, litter box, food, water, and familiar toys to help them feel secure amidst the chaos of packing.

Gradual Introductions:

If possible, introduce your cat to their carrier well in advance of the move. Leave it open with familiar bedding inside, along with treats and toys, to encourage positive associations. Gradually increase the amount of time your cat spends in the carrier to help reduce anxiety on moving day.

Familiar Scents:

When packing your belongings, be sure to leave out familiar items that carry your cat’s scent, such as bedding or blankets. These familiar scents can provide comfort to your cat in their new environment and help them adjust more quickly.

Stick to Routine:

Amidst the chaos of moving, try to maintain your cat’s regular feeding and playtime schedule as much as possible. Consistency can help reduce stress and anxiety for your cat during this transitional period.

Secure Transportation:

On moving day, ensure your cat is safely secured in their carrier before transporting them to your new home. Consider using a pheromone spray or calming collar to help keep them relaxed during the journey.

Comfort in the New Home:

Once you’ve arrived at your new home, create a designated space for your cat with familiar items from their old environment. Allow them to explore their new surroundings at their own pace, and provide plenty of reassurance and attention to help them feel safe and secure.

Patience and Understanding:

Moving can be a challenging experience for cats, and they may exhibit signs of stress or anxiety during the transition period. Be patient and understanding with your furry friend, and give them the time and space they need to adjust to their new home.
Important tips: Hiring movers or DIY?

Conclusion:

Moving with a cat can be challenging, but with careful planning and good tips for moving with your cat, you can help alleviate stress for both you and your furry friend. By creating a safe and comfortable environment, maintaining routines, and providing reassurance throughout the process, you can ensure a smooth transition to your new home. At Premium Q Moving and Storage, we understand the importance of your pet’s well-being during a move. Contact us today for expert moving services tailored to your needs, because at Premium Q Moving and Storage, We Move Lives, Not Things.
Contact Your Favorite Local Movers
Experience a seamless moving experience with Premium Q Moving and Storage as your favorite local movers. Get your personalized quote:

• For Tampa: at (813)-733-4481, visit www.premiumqmoving.com/tampa-moving or contact us at [tampa@premiumqmoving.com](mailto:Tampa@premiumqmoving.com). Follow us on instagram u/tampamoving.
• For Boston: at (781)-549-8789, visit www.premiumqmoving.com or contact us at [sales@premiumqmoving.com](mailto:sales@premiumqmoving.com). Follow us on instagram @premiumqmoving.

Unlock a seamless journey to your new home with our unparalleled moving services. From meticulous packing to expert transportation, trust us to elevate your move to new heights. Say hello to stress-free moving and goodbye to hassle with our top-tier solutions.

Listen/Watch Life Beyond Boxes Podcast Episodes Below

Catch the latest episode of the Life Beyond Boxes podcast now! Tune in for captivating conversations and eye-opening insights:

• Listen on Apple Podcasts: Life Beyond Boxes Podcast
• Listen on Amazon Music: Life Beyond Boxes Podcast
• Listen on Spotify: Life Beyond Boxes Podcast
• Listen on Boomplay: Life Beyond Boxes Podcast
• Watch on YouTube: Life Beyond Boxes Podcast

Don’t just exist – thrive! Listen to Life Beyond Boxes podcast now on your favorite podcast platform and embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
Subscribe now for a smoother, stress-free move and a brighter new chapter in your life. Let’s go beyond boxes together!

(LONG ASAB)
I was with my gf for like a yr and half till we parted ways a few days ago. I still remember everything leading up to it and everything she said while i was leaving her apartment on campus for the last time, like it was yesterday. When we started dating, I hung out with my many friends(many compared to now), and was quite social and fun. When we got together, i continued hanging out with these people, but it became increasingly difficult to spend time with them AND her in my free time. So, deep in love, I chose her.
Slowly, but surely, these people i used to hang out with slowly stopped texting me. First slowing it down to when they needed or wanted something from me, then just radio silence after that.
Fast forward about a year and a few months, and I decide to make some lifestyle changes after the few of my friends i actually kept around, who i’d known damn near all my life, dubbed me after not having the funds to go on a vacation with em. One of the friends i was gonna go with spam texted me, RIPPING INTO ME abt being a bullshit brokie. This ripped me to shreds. It completely tore down my confidence in myself, dismantled everything that i thought about myself, and completely had me in pieces after reflecting on it.
I was broken. The shame and guilt of not having it together was enough to shatter my ideals at the time. With that being said, I had to rebuild my life. I’d had enough of outsiders and wanted to focus on building my life with the woman who was still by my side, whom i was, and still am, deeply in love with. I saw all she wanted. But i couldnt help but deny how hurt i was. I couldnt help but try to find a way to make some progress in life so i would never feel that shame and guilt of being a bullshit brokie ever again.
I tore myself down even more, stuck on the fact that my life was a mess. I’d been stuck the fact dat i had no bros anymore. Stuck on the fact that despite me going to countless job interviews, i couldnt land anything, I’d told her,”I dont deserve u at all. Im literally poor and u deserve everything.” I told her, “I hate my myself.” I cursed myself to her, yelling a screaming. I said all of this, but shouldve been saying,”ill be better for us, ill be better for you. Ill give you everything you deserve.”
I was a mess. I had no love to give myself. Despite this, she always told me to never give up and grind! She told that she wouldnt be with meif i didnt deserve her, and all she wanted was to be with me. But, since i had no love for myself and denied this for so long, i couldnt see that i had no love to give her, despite my loving her to death. I was so fixated on wut other people told me, i truly did forget to show her that i love her. I was simply too busy hating myself. I saw what she wanted outta me. Time was of the essence, as things were crashin and burnin before my eyes, where my gf could also see. I quickly got it together as much as i can manage right now, getting a FT job on top of my PT job, and figuring out what career i wanna attack to go back to school and get my degree for. I rethought everything, from seeing how important it was for me to gain some weight, to the importance of my relationship with God and myself alike, to the importance of findin and walkin a career path, to the importance of developin my mind to be more disciplined.
It took around a month and a half to get hired at my current occupation, and in this time i did all of this thinking and made all of these decisions. However, this unknowingly had put a burden onto my gf. One time she told me, “Sometimes I feel like you arent here, even though you are.”
Even though, it was all for US, i see now that the way i was acting put an energy out there that i never intended for her to feel EVER. When i was even only looking for a job, it took up much of my time because i was applying to so many jobs everyday, always on my phone. By the time i was done, id already be saying hurtful things about myself, rolling up to smoke it away and just sit there barely talking to her. I even went to 5 job interviews within a 4 day period. Then i FINALLY get hired, and im even more distant and angry because now im adjusting to my new job.
She thought id been cheating on her. She thought i was lying about where i was and who i be with, despite her knowing i have nobody except my family and her. She thought id been having sex with somebody else and lying to her about it. She said she wanted to believe me but cant. I asked her why. She said cuz she thinks im lying to her face. She said its cuz she think i cheated on her. But i just wasnt. I was always truthful no matter what. She was literally my everything. She was my will to strive and be better personified. She was dedication, living and breathing and walking with me. I’d still do anything for that woman. She was the only person left who still had faith in me, but i ruined it by forgetting to show my love for her. When i look at it now, it wasnt right by myself, by her, or by God, to be breaking myself down with so much negative enegy then FEEDING HER WITH IT. Even though she sees that im on my feet now, and she sees that im capable, to her, im a liar and a cheater. To her, im digusting. To her, im not even a man.
But now she’ll never know the truth. The truth that i simply changed to start feeling better about myself and change our lives to that of which we dream of. The truth that i love her with all my heart and my loyalty for her runs deeper into my soul than the ocean. I feel so empty. So broken.
Now im picking up pieces of my shattered mind, heart, and soul, putting the pieces back together one at a time.
I just hope she sees me when ive risen from the dead
Regenerated better than ever
With ample love and affection to give her , indefinitely
To all of you(young males in particular): Dont ever forget to show your partner you love them, because wut YOU go thru, YALL go thru. Despite YOUR ISSUES, SHE HAS HER OWN!!! Be strong in the face of the person you love. Allow them to be on your side. Always be on their side. Plz save your heart and dont be like me: fumblin a 50/10 cuz ur sad nd depressed. Dont even bring dat shit to her, for her good and your own. She’ll resent u forever if you drag her energy down. Be lighthearted, affectionate, passionate, passive, and tempered. Work hard on yourself and your future, by bein disciplined and jus hard fr. Show her that u hard, but also that she resides in your soft spot
To her(if you see this): You know my name, you know who i am. You know who you are, despite me not speaking your name on this public forum.
I love you
You are still my everything
You have always been my everything
You will be my everything forever
I’ll stop at nothing for you to see what im truly made of
All i want is to be with you
For you are everything i could ever want in this world
May God bless you with everything you’ve ever asked of Him
To my old friends(some of which i cant even face yet, and others that did me wrong): God bless you all! I hold no grudges!

Read this whole post before submitting! Posting your ideas here DOES NOT count as a submission.

Time flies, it's already time for rate selection again! Please be advised of the following:

1. The winner of the Payola poll a few weeks ago is Commercial Male Hip Hop! If any of your ideas fall under the umbrella of Main Rap Boys, then make sure to mention it on the submission form so your idea can be voted on.
2. We also have another meta rate approaching, so in total there will be six rates selected through the normal process.

How to Construct a Rate Idea

• Generally, your idea should consist of 40-60 songs that are bound together by common concepts. These can be shared audience (e.g. depressed British), sound (e.g. psychedelic rock), a specific time period (e.g. 1970s), general popularity (e.g. bubbling under mainstays), or anything else you can think of. The more overlap that your rate has between its songs in these aspects, the stronger the idea is. You can be as creative as you'd like with your combinations, but you need to be able to make the case as to why the songs belong together in a rate.
• The easiest way to find commonalities among songs is by putting 3 or 4 albums together in an idea. However, you can also construct rates with loose songs if you have a strong concept tying them together (this is called a "grab bag" rate.)
• You can also include a "bonus rate" in your idea which are generally leftover tracks that are related to the overarching concept but do not fit in the main rate for whatever reason (e.g. loose singles in between album eras.) Bonus rates are optional to complete at the time of rating and should not be included in an idea without strong justification for it.
• Be mindful of the length of your idea; do not include more songs for the sake of it. The average rate should be less than 3 hours long with the bonus rate included, and rates over 4 hours long are very unlikely to be picked unless they consist of very popular songs. To check how long your rate is, I recommend putting all of the songs in a playlist on your streaming service of choice.
• Albums released in 2024 (including unreleased albums) or MOST albums that have already been rated are ineligible for inclusion in your ideas. The albums from previous rates that ARE eligible are those from the first three years of rates (i.e. covered by the first three All Stars rates) that did NOT ever spawn a rate winning song. For clarity, HERE is a pastebin of all of the albums eligible for a rerate. HOWEVER, you cannot submit an idea with JUST rerated albums.
• Rate ideas can include songs that have been previously rated but should not focus on them, so as to not feel like an All Stars rate.

How to Submit Your Rate Idea

• All submissions will be handled through this Google form. Please do not direct message me your ideas.
• You are required to fill out the four following fields in order for your submission to be counted:
• Title: The name of your rate. It should summarize the overarching concept, but feel free to come up with something catchy and fun as well.
• Albums/songs included: A list of the albums or songs included in the rate. You can simply list the albums if applicable (e.g. Artist - Title vs. Artist - Title vs. Artist - Title), but if you are submitting a grab bag rate you must include a Pastebin/Pastee/etc link to the songs included.
• Description: Describe what ties the albums/songs together if you weren't able to fit it into the title, and list relevant information like number of songs and length of rate (e.g. 1 hour 56 minutes.) Keep this as brief as possible: if you go over ~100 words I will shorten it myself to the most relevant information.
• Host needed? If you would like to host the rate by yourself, select "No." If you are uninterested in hosting altogether, select "Yes." If you want a cohost, select "Cohost wanted." If you want a specific other person to host your rate, they should submit the idea themselves.
• You are limited to two ideas submitted per cycle. However, please do not submit low effort ideas just for the sake of filling up both of your spots.
• If you submit an identical idea as somebody else, I will arbitrarily decide which description is better and include that one in the voting, but I will encourage you to cohost the rate together if it is selected. If there is ANY difference between two ideas, they will be put up for voting separately.

How We Pick the Rates

• In the next stage, you'll see that we are measuring two metrics of popularity: "approval" and "favorites." Approval will be based on a simple thumbs up/thumbs down/neutral vote for each rate. Favorites will be based on polling each person's five favorite ideas per cycle.
• Generally, the six most popular rate ideas across both metrics will be picked. However, we will also consider how the selected rates play off of each other, in an effort to ensure a maximum level of diversity in genre and audience.
• Rate ideas from active rate participants who are enthusiastic about hosting are more likely to be picked. Likewise, rate ideas from negative presences in the community are less likely to be picked.

Please use the comment section below for the following purposes:

• Posting your ideas for feedback and/or promotion
• Asking for advice on what artists/albums/songs to include in your earthshattering rate idea
• Discussing what sorts of rates you'd like to see picked in general
• Finding someone who would like to cohost your rate with you

Also, be sure to check out the following rates which are currently accepting submissions:

• Main Pop Girls Gone Bad [Due May 17, Reveal May 24-26]
• 90s R&B Princesses [Due May 24, Reveal May 31-June 2]
• Rate Olympics [Due May 31, Reveal June 8-9]
• 2023 K-Pop [Due June 15, Reveal June 21-23]
• 20th Century Piano Men [Due June 22, Reveal June 28-30]

These submissions will close on Wednesday, May 22nd at 4PM Eastern time. HERE is the link to submit in case you missed it earlier.

I've been spotting almost continuously for about 6 weeks. First I thought I was going to have a period but it never became proper bleeding, then the spotting stopped for a few days and about 10 days later I got a period (proper bleeding but lighter). In the month that followed I've been spotting on and off, typically light brown. I know peri is crazy but I'm starting to wonder if other people have had this. I'm on 0.075 estradiol patch and daily 100 mg progesterone since last September, I had 3 periods last year and my last period before this crazy spotting was on January 2. I've never spotted like this, my peri has been mostly about skipping periods. Thanks!

I am 23 years old. Started hormones when I was 19. I do feel better when I look more masculine, but now that I am getting closer and closer to getting an appointment for top surgery, all I feel is fear and uncertainty. I don't know what to do. My pride tells me to go through with it and keep being trans so I don't have to explain myself again. But more and more, I feel an urge to become a mother. I have even said to a friend, long before I started questioning myself again, that if I had a child, I would prefer to be the mother, not the father. She thought it was really weird and thought it was internalised transphobia.
I really am confused. So much so, that I am not able to explain everything on the spot right now. I KNOW if I started telling my friends, they would think I have some sort of psychosis. They would definitely tell me to go through with it and that I will be relieved once it's over. The thing is, my main reason not to do the surgery is that I want to have a child one day. My chest still is something I prefer to hide. But I don't know anymore if it is dysphoria, or just the way people look at me as someone who looks both male and female. I hate saying I'm trans. I never liked the label.
I lost a lot of people the first time I came out. I don't want to lose anyone again. But that's not the only reason I am hesitating. I am scared and confused and unsure. I don’t know where to even start, and how to tell people, and how to find someone who won't try to convince me either way. I don't know how to find clarity on this.
I just recently had my (possibly last) T-shot. I am still under the influence and don't know yet if I can bounce back from the stuff it's done.
I want medically transitioned replies because I feel that you are people who will understand this struggle the best. Some concrete questions I have:

1. How can I find more clarity about whether I want to transition or not?
   
2. How do I tell people? How do I prepare for how they might react? Should I tell them at all?
   
3. What do I have to know before stopping testosterone therapy? What will change? What do I have to prepare for? I used to have extreme pain during my period and I don't want that again. Might actually be a factor in why I chose to transition. My last period was 2 years ago when I took a break from the therapy.
   
4. Most things I can change pretty easily, since I did not have any surgeries. Except for my voice, which is very deep now. Any advice or resources on that?
   

Thank you in advance. Please do not tell me I shouldn't transition further without giving proper advice. I do not need a lecture and really do not need to feel even worse about this than I already do.

I am 2 months post op - everything taken out.
Was on prostrap injections before. Took the last one in February so assuming now coming out my system as was 3 month one. Dr has giving me estriol patches since op.
A few things are happening.
1) I have always had clear skin. Now bumps and spots appearing on my face. 2) The day after sex I get sharp pains similar to where I had period pains before 3) my energy levels have suddenly dropped - was feeling great energy wise for first 5 weeks ish 4) my mood has dropped to the point where I would say it is not just low mood but depression but no reason for it mentally 5) I’m struggling to want to eat during the day when on my own so end up eating junk. 6) I suffering insomnia which I never had before 7) zero motivation to do anything I need to do
Before my operation I had spent nearly a year in bed with severe chronic fatigue and pain. Now I do not have that since my op.
However it means my body has atrophy according to my physio so have to recover physically from that as well as the operation so even walking and swimming are challenging and causing issues like knee going etc. I say this as means exercise challenging as that would me my go to ideally to help.
Most if not all he menopause supplements are rip off and not researched so efficacy questionable so not going down that route.
Anyone else going through this? Assuming the menopause kicking in?
What has helped you if so?
I’m guessing I need to see doctors but right now that feels like significant effort and they will likely prescribe SSRI I imagine which not keen on.

First Prev Next
Time seemed to pass much quicker when Ghrruk and I were swimming together, finding small insects or algae to eat, and sleeping in the same place by nightfall. It was strange at first, but I felt safer. As if teamwork made us stronger.
Our front legs started to grow a few weeks after the attack. I was surprised to see Ghrruk’s lost leg regrowing too. It was still a stump, but a little longer.
“Do you think it’ll regrow entirely?” I asked her.
“I hope so. I’m the only one with a missing leg.”
“There are a few others whose legs have been damaged by the predators, though.”
Ghrruk’s tail drooped a little. “I’d rather have a damaged leg than a stump. At least they have a chance that it’d heal…”
“Maybe yours will heal as well. I’ve been looking at it lately and I’m certain it’s growing back.”
“Or maybe our bodies are simply becoming larger. And so does the stump.”
She was quite negative when it came to her leg, even though she saw our future, and Thomas, in a very positive light. Speaking of which, Thomas did install a defense of sorts above our home to protect us from predators. It worked because we hadn’t been bothered since.
THUMP – THUMP – THUMP
Speaking of the human…
“Thomas!”
Ghrruk immediately swam up. She wasn’t as graceful as before her tail started to shrink. The main reason, though, was that she was kicking water with one leg, which made her veer slightly to the left. It was almost unnoticeable. Any other tadpole would think it was the usual way she swam.
She really likes him, I thought, following her from a distance. My trust issues weren’t completely gone. My trip inside the jar had left quite its mark.
Small red worms swirled down and all the other tadpoles frantically ascended to fill their bellies. I did as always, staying a little below the rest, catching whatever came through.
Funny how they trusted Thomas, yet slurped, expelled, and then slurped again on the worm, likely examining the worm to make sure it’s actual food.
“Oh. Oh! Look at you!” Thomas exclaimed. “Some of you have front legs! You’re becoming actual frogs. Amazing!”
Thomas’ face descended so close to the water his nose almost dipped in it. Most tadpoles scattered away in fright, before curiosity – and food! – got the better of them and compelled them return to peek at their savior. I was certain he was looking for me so.
“Ah! Ghost! There you are! Wait a minute.”
The moment he uttered my name I dived down.
Thomas stood up and left. Ghrruk came swimming back to me in swift leg bursts.
“Why do you think he left? He usually stays longer, telling us stories,” she said.
“I don’t know but I don’t have a good feeling about this. I think I’m going to hide behind a rock or something.”
As expected, when Thomas returned, he held a stick of sorts and was looking for something – me! But I had a few good hiding places. It had taken a lot of effort to dig up dirt and arrange things on the bottom.
He tried to catch me with that stick again and again, stirring the bottom of the pond in order to find me. Unlike previous attempt, he didn’t linger for too long, where he’d be waiting for me to take a few gulps of breath. Whatever he tried to achieve, it didn’t seem that important to him. Or maybe he grew tired a lot quicker than the first time he saw me and my peculiarity.
Days turned into weeks, and slowly but surely, we had all grown our forelegs. Our tails were also shrinking, forcing us to adapt a new swimming technique. And best of all, I could distinguish tiny knobs poking out of Ghrruk’s lump, sign that her toes were growing back.
“See,” I said, undulating the end of my tail rapidly, “your leg is growing back!”
“I’m not so sure...”
“It’s really there. I know you can’t see it, but I can. Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because it feels completely different than how it was before. When I walked out of the pond, I could feel every toe on my right leg. My left was just… weird.”
A few bubbles left my mouth.
“Wait, when you what?”
“Walked out of the pond.”
“When did you… how did you walk out of the pond?”
I was so surprised, even though I had seen other tadpoles, or rather, froglets, climb up and out. But that wasn’t reason enough to follow them. I never even thought about it, what with all those predators out there. And let’s not forget Thomas.
“A few days ago,” she said, her body wobbling excitedly. “You were busy digging the sediment to improve our hiding spots, as usual, and when I noticed a fellow froglet clambering out, I wanted to take the leap myself.”
A stream of bubbles left my mouth.
“You went out of our home? To do what? Get killed? Wasn’t losing one leg enough?”
Ghrruk’s kicked her hind legs, floating right in front of me.
“That leg wasn’t my fault,” she declared, her tiny front legs making an abrupt, agitated movement. “I did what everyone else did. You are the weird one, always wishing to hide deep inside our pond, spending countless hours digging in the depths. Don’t you feel the urge to leave? To explore? To have a glimpse what is beyond the water?”
“Maybe later. Now, I want to avoid Thomas. And the predators.”
She slowly drifted backwards, creating some distance between us both.
“Then, we will have to go our separate ways. Thomas is our savior and the outside is safe. Hasn’t he told us that this place is like our pond? Encompassed in such way that we can’t leave but also that others can’t come in? Why won’t you trust him?”
“I guess it’s in my nature not to trust humans.”
Ghrruk blew a few bubbles out. Her mouth gaped open and close, as if she was gasping for air. I knew I had infuriated her.
“Well, I trust him. I have also needs. My body desires to leave this place and find… whatever I need to find.” She twirled in place. “Ghost. See you around.”
Ghrruk sprung her hind legs hard against the water, darting away for the surface. I trailed her until she climbed out of the pond.
Why does she have to do this now?
I carefully popped my head above the water, observing Ghrruk clambering out. Without even glancing behind her, she clumsily snuck between the blades of grass and she was gone.
“Ghrruk? Ghrruk!” I called.
No answer came. Other froglets were following her lead. I decided to dive down to the comfort of my hiding place near the plants, which had grown considerably since the attack. There, I pondered about Ghrruk, about Thomas, about the meaning of my life, and what I ought to do, leaving only for food or air.
During that period, Thomas came and went, unlike Ghrruk, who I didn’t see again. She was gone.
Sometimes, when I ascended, I broke the water to check whether Ghrruk was somewhere around the edge of the pond. All I could see were other froglets, sitting immobile in the shadow, waiting patiently for no apparent reason.
Each day, more froglets left the pond. Of course, they ended up returning. But the murky waters had never felt so lonely. Loneliness. A sense that had never occurred to me. Not before Ghrruk. Thinking about her made me anxious, constantly wondering where she went, and how often she returned to the pond. I was certain she did return, except she never came back to my place, so there was always that possibility... I could only hope she didn’t get eaten.
Then, one day, when my tail had shrunk a bit more and most of my brethren’s color changed from black with tiny specks of brown to a lighter color with larger specks, sometimes even a hue of green, my entire body tingled. A curious sensation, an impulse akin to Ghrruk’s.
This call of nature drove me to the sand bank that Thomas had built on the edge of the pond to let the froglets leave easier. Initially, I thought it was a trick to catch me. But then I realized that it was a lot of effort just for me, and thought he was simply trying to help us, as he has always done.
Ghrruk was right, a voice whispered inside.
My tiny head and eyes popped above the water. No sign of Thomas. I kicked my legs, a new form of swimming that was much faster than the tail undulation, until I set foot on the sand bank. I was about to leave our home. My tiny heart was racing.
Grains of sand stuck to my body. It was a small hindrance, but nothing that would impede my will to find out what was beyond. With a few awkward steps, advancing leg by leg, I arrived at the edge of the grass.
Maybe I will meet Ghrruk today? Mayb – aaah!
“Gotcha, Ghost!”
Thomas!? Why didn’t I hear him come?
My entire body was stuck between his two fingers, so small I was.
“Exactly as I thought! Your eyes. They’re red! They don’t look evil or anything. They’re just… red. That’s so weird.”
If I could’ve screamed, I would have. I attempted to squeeze myself out, but the force of his fingers was far beyond my ability to do anything. My legs were the only thing squirming in place.
“You know what? I think you deserve a new name. A better one.”
Another name? It can’t be much worse than “Ghost”.
“To be honest, I never really liked your name. I know, I’m the one who gave it to you, but it felt a little hollow. Too… translucent, if you know what I mean.”
Thomas chuckled, which scared me even more.
“Hmmm… ‘Red’ is too plain so let’s call you Carmine.”
That’s worse!
“Yes, Carmine sounds good. Do you know what it means?”
I don’t care, I just want to return to the tranquility of my pond and never leave it ever again!
“Carmine’s a Latin name that means ‘Song’. At least, that’s what my teacher told me. It’s also the name of a red color. Slightly deeper than crimson red, though I’m not gonna name you Crimson, right? Besides, Carmine is fitting for you.”
His hand suddenly moved towards his mouth. I was panicking, certain he’d gulp me down and that’d be the end of me. I was completely helpless, unable to get out of his strong grasp, rapidly advancing towards the two red bulges, widening into a circle until –
Smack.
My snout grazed his moist mouth and he inexplicably moved his hand back to where it was, with me still stuck between two fingers in the middle of the void.
“You’re adorable, Carmine. I hope you’ll sing a lot of beautiful songs once you get your frog voice.”
Another shadow loomed over me. Another human.
Thomas’ father? Oh no…
If being scared of what Thomas just did wasn’t enough, the human who detests me had arrived. From our very first encounter, I always felt uncomfortable whenever he was near. Likely because his first advice upon seeing me was to flush me down the drain – whatever that may be.
“Again with that disgusting thing. Throw it away, will you?” he growled.
“Why do you hate this frog so much? It’s such a cute thing. Look at it!”
“Yeah. It looks like piece of mold.”
“What? Because it’s white?”
“If I found that in the kitchen I wouldn’t touch it with my bare hands. Why won’t you just discard it? You’ve got hundreds of healthy frogs. Why are you so obsessed with this one in particular?”
“Maybe because Carmine’s a peculiar frog.”
“Carmine?” His whole body leaned back as he frowned. “Didn’t you name it Spooky or something like that?”
Thomas sighed and his eyes rolled. “No, dad, he was called Ghost, but now that his eye color is more pronounced, I think that Carmine’s a better name.”
“So you won’t –”
“No. Stop asking. He’s my favorite frog of all.”
The father’s head approached. His eyes filled the entire space in front of me.
“That’s why you’re squeezing him to death? Look at how frantically he tries to escape!”
“Oh, sorry, Carmine. I’ve been holding you for so long, it must hurt. Here!”
Thomas crouched and returned me back exactly where I was. Instead of continuing to the grass, I tumbled over. With one swift kick of my legs, I repositioned myself correctly and clambered through that sticky sand, which was now irritating my body – likely due to the lack of moisture – until I reached the water. I surged down to my hiding place and stayed there until Thomas was gone.
Around nighttime, part of me wished to try again, yet I didn’t. I was too scared to be picked up once more.
There’s no way I’m going back there.
But deep inside, I knew that I’d have to leave the pond. I knew I’d have to do the same as the others; explore the great outside and explore the rest of the world. For now, all I wished was to have Ghrruk in my vicinity so we could communicate, eat, and sleep together. If only I could have peace of mind in anticipation of what was to come next.
Good night Ghrruk. I miss you.
First Prev Next

Does anyone have experience with a lingual thyroid? My 4 year old has just been diagnosed with a lingual thyroid by an ENT. We went in with symptoms of fatigue, mouth breathing, snoring, and frequent gagging.
The ENT saw (I saw too) a mass at the base of her tongue and said that it’s very rare but he suspects lingual thyroid (it didn’t descend in the gestational period to the typical place lower in the neck area).
An ultrasound confirmed thyroid is at base of her tongue and labs show high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
The sonography said they her thyroid is not enlarged, just not in the right place. However the ENT said that treatment will likely be hormone replacement medication to shrink it and reduce symptoms.
We have an appt with pediatric endocrinologist next week to get more info.
I would love to know if other people have experience with this and what treatment was used, and differential diagnosis to consider before we begin treatment.
Of course we will do what we need to treat her but I’d love to understand the situation better and look at all options before we begin medication or another intervention.
Thanks!

Did anybody else feel like WWE's handling of Edge in 2010-2011 was just bizarre?
First Edge returned at the 2010 Royal Rumble after spending the second half of 2009 healing a torn Achilles tendon. Gets a huge reaction from the crowd and ultimately wins the match. From there, Edge is clearly being positioned as a face, a role he hasn't played in five years, and solidifies his turn by challenging ex partner Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 26. I'm sorry, but this feud did NOT have enough of a build to warrant a Mania world title match. Jericho and Edge were only partners for like a week before Edge got injured. And then we get the 'Spear' chants. That was just cringe. But hey, I get it, this is prime PG Era WWE, so Babyface promos have to be dumbed down to age appropriate levels. Jericho wins the match at Mania, only to lose the title to Jack Swagger a few days later (shudders) and the Jericho-Edge feud continues on without the WHC (which really it never should have had in the first place). Edge wins the feud with a Steel Cage Match at Extreme Rules 2010.
Then things start getting bizarre for Edge. He gets traded to RAW in the 2010 and immediately turns heel again by costing Randy Orton a number 1 contenders match because...reasons? And the promo with Christian a few days later where he justifies the reason didn't get the desired crowd effect either. If you go back and watch Edge mocking the fans for the 'Spear' chants you'll probably hear crickets. Anyway, just like that, Edge is right back in familiar territory. The Orton feud didn't benefit him that much since Orton was so white hot at the time. Then Edge is thrust into the Nexus storyline (keep in mind, this is when the group still had potential). Finally in October, Edge gets traded back to Smackdown after throwing a hissy fit and destroying the Anonymous RAW GM laptop.
So now Edge is once again a face, which pretty much makes the last 4-5 months a complete waste of time. This time it's a more sustained face run, and Edge gets another WHC feud, this time against Kane. The Kane-Edge feud of 2010 gets a lot of slack and rightfully so - tbh these guys have just NEVER clicked together for me - and I think that it just goes to show how bad the PG Era writing was by this point. Their match at Survivor Series ends in a DQ, leading to a fatal fourway at TLC that includes Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio. Edge finally wins the his first World Title as a face, which seemed like their original plans for Edge in 2010. He then ends his feud with Kane with a Last Man Standing Match on Smackdown.
Next Edge moves into a feud with Dolph Ziggler, who is a rising star in WWE (yes, I know that aged poorly). By this point, WWE are beginning to elevate several new talent to make up for their top-tier stars that have either left (Batista), retired (HBK), or been reduced to part time status (HHH and Undertaker). Dolph also has an onscreen relationship with Vickie Guerrero, Edge's ex storyline wife, which is supposed to add a new layer to this storyline. But really, this storyline just felt like Edge feuding with Vickie, especially after Vickie became interim Smackdown GM. Edge retains against Dolph at the Royal Rumble, but gets stripped of the title a few weeks later after a mixed tag team match. Dolph gets awarded the belt the next week, only to lose it back to Edge the same night. Don't worry Dolph, it only gets worse from here.
Then we move onto Edge feuding with the 2011 Royal Rumble winner Alberto Del Rio. WWE banked hard on Del Rio in 2011, and the fact that he was getting a World Title match at his first WrestleMania proved it. This feud gives us an Edge and Christian reunion, which I'm sure us Attitude Era fans can appreciate. Edge beats Del Rio at WrestleMania in what would be his last WWE match for nine years. The fact that this match opened Mania 27 though just shows how far the WHC had fallen in value at this point.
Finally, we get the promo. Edge comes to the ring on RAW and says that his neck problems have finally gotten the better of him. It was an emotional moment, even for me as I'm a huge Edge fan. Edge surrenders the World Title and announces his retirement from wrestling (at least for now).
So that was Edge's final year as a full time WWE wrestler. It was...weird. Between the brand switches and various heel-face turns, there just wasn't much consistency with Edge. Maybe it was the loss of so much star power. Maybe WWE weren't completely sold on Edge as a face after so many years as WWE's biggest heel. Whatever the reason, something just felt off about Edge during this period.
I apologize for the long post, I just thought a full description would illustrate my point better.
Thoughts?

So I got dp dr because my stress leve, anxiety level was high during 2 months periods and especially last few weeks. I got sleeping pills because I couldn't sleep properly and I have to do physical activity high everyday so my body needs to rest. However, I'm constantly checking if everything around me is okey, even when is okey then it's weird because of it. I also got Zoloft for reducing my Anxiety but I didn't start yet with that. I think main problem was that checking if everything is okey instead of just accepting and let it fade which is hard. Probably that kicks my anxiety now and sometimes gets me upset. Questioin is would Rivotril helped to not think about it, to not care because if I don't care about it I woudnt notice it at all.
Also I started doing therapy did 1 appointnemnt for now, next will be more regarding my problem, so I want ot never happend again. Problem is that i'm thinikng that I will stay in this state of mind forever and that also upsets me. Before this issue if I think what I'm going to do today I wouldn't care, now that upsets me as well. Literally overthinikng issue, cant focus on any other thing for more than 20 minutes. I understand that as soon as I reduce anxiety everything will be fine, but maybe thinking meds will help me with reducing anxiety at least until I found way how to treat with my therapist

So I got dp dr because my stress leve, anxiety level was high during 2 months periods and especially last few weeks. I got sleeping pills because I couldn't sleep properly and I have to do physical activity high everyday so my body needs to rest. However, I'm constantly checking if everything around me is okey, even when is okey then it's weird because of it. I also got Zoloft for reducing my Anxiety but I didn't start yet with that. I think main problem was that checking if everything is okey instead of just accepting and let it fade which is hard. Probably that kicks my anxiety now and sometimes gets me upset. Questioin is would Rivotril helped to not think about it, to not care because if I don't care about it I woudnt notice it at all.
Also I started doing therapy did 1 appointnemnt for now, next will be more regarding my problem, so I want ot never happend again. Problem is that i'm thinikng that I will stay in this state of mind forever and that also upsets me. Before this issue if I think what I'm going to do today I wouldn't care, now that upsets me as well. Literally overthinikng issue, cant focus on any other thing for more than 20 minutes. I understand that as soon as I reduce anxiety everything will be fine, but maybe thinking meds will help me with reducing anxiety at least until I found way how to treat with my therapist

So I got dp dr because my stress leve, anxiety level was high during 2 months periods and especially last few weeks. I got sleeping pills because I couldn't sleep properly and I have to do physical activity high everyday so my body needs to rest. However, I'm constantly checking if everything around me is okey, even when is okey then it's weird because of it. I also got Zoloft for reducing my Anxiety but I didn't start yet with that. I think main problem was that checking if everything is okey instead of just accepting and let it fade which is hard. Probably that kicks my anxiety now and sometimes gets me upset. Questioin is would Rivotril helped to not think about it, to not care because if I don't care about it I woudnt notice it at all.
Also I started doing therapy did 1 appointnemnt for now, next will be more regarding my problem, so I want ot never happend again. Problem is that i'm thinikng that I will stay in this state of mind forever and that also upsets me. Before this issue if I think what I'm going to do today I wouldn't care, now that upsets me as well. Literally overthinikng issue, cant focus on any other thing for more than 20 minutes. I understand that as soon as I reduce anxiety everything will be fine, but maybe thinking meds will help me with reducing anxiety at least until I found way how to treat with my therapist

I have been on LoLo for 6 to 7 months. I’m 25, in a committed relationship and we aren’t ready for kids, so we decided this route for the time being. I hadn’t been on the pill since I was 16 before now. I’m very good at taking the pill exactly at the same time every day, I stay consistent and have no issues with the timing.
I noticed around month 2 I would get my period first for around 2-3 days and not heavy, which is way better as before the pill I was getting it for 7+ days and bleeding through a super in 2 hours. But once I got my period, around a week later I spotted for 5-6 days. After the first month, I started getting my period every second month rather then every month, and lo and behold a week after getting my period, the spotting happens again and continues for 5-6 days. The cramping when I’m spotting / my period isn’t any better than what I would experience before the pill, if not worse. I’ll take advil, Midol and nothing seems to get rid of the cramping, when before it would typically help.
I don’t typically have any other side effects, I don’t feel overly irrational or emotional like some people experience, mentally I feel okay. Occasionally I may feel a little erratic, usually around my period which is pretty normal for me.
I spoke to my doctor about this issue with the bleeding/cramping around the 3rd month, because I spotted for 5-6 days and then missed my period and she said it’s likely that the dose just might be too low for me.
Has anyone else experienced any of this before? I’m planning on making an appointment soon but unfortunately I don’t have a family doctor or OBGYN, so I can only see a women’s health doctor that has been following me and she has a slim window for patients.
I just want to know anyone else’s experiences with this pill.

Hi - first timer TTC. I am 3 days away from the day I’m supposed to start my period. I’ve been using the “6 days sooner” pregnancy tests and testing with the first urine of the day but getting negatives. I am also not getting the light brown spotting that I’ve read for many others the week before. I’m about 13 days post ovulation. I’ve seen many conflicting things about if you’re not testing positive between 8-10 post ovulation that it could have risks of losing the pregnancy or becoming not pregnant at all. Just looking for reassurance and similar experiences. I am very understanding that this is my first time TTC and am just looking to be more educated instead of relying on google for misinformation. Thank you!

DAY: MAY 14, 2024

• 5-14-2024CAN EATING OR DRINKING CAFFEINE BEFORE BED IMPACT YOUR HEALTH? Having a lot of food in your stomach before bed can redirect blood flow to your gut to digest the food, meaning there is less blood flow going to your brain. You need that blood flow to your brain to make sure you go into the different sleep stages. If you have caffeine in your system or are sensitive to it, the time to fall asleep can double. Caffeine has a half-life of up to 4.5 hours, so a safe bet is to avoid caffeine after noon.
• 5-14-2024RESEARCHERS DETECT HIDDEN INGREDIENTS AND QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS IN SUPPLEMENTS some supplement companies may mislead customers with unproven health claims and undeclared ingredients. The researchers focused on supplements that have been associated with the purported treatment or prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. During the pandemic, the use of dietary supplements skyrocketed throughout the world. “There was a big spike in purchase and use of these types
• 5-14-2024TEXT MESSAGES WITH FINANCIAL INCENTIVES CAN HELP MEN WHO ARE LIVING WITH OBESITY LOSE WEIGHT, UK STUDY FINDS text messages with financial incentives can help men who are living with obesity lose weight and could be a valuable alternative to traditional weight management programs. Men who were offered cash for hitting weight loss targets lost more weight than those not given a financial incentive,
• 5-14-2024EXERCISE BENEFITS THE BRAIN, BUT IMPROVING ITS BLOOD VESSELS MAY TAKE LONGER People with less consistent brain blood flow patterns may be at greater risk of dementia and cerebrovascular disease. To explore whether regular aerobic exercise can help, researchers at Iowa State University have conducted a pilot study, the results of which were recently published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. “The big take-away is that exercise is good for the arteries and brain, but its effects are complex and takes time to accumulate benefits
• 5-14-2024SOCIAL ONLINE TRAINING CAN HELP AGAINST LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION a ten-week, partner-based mental online training program boosted resilience, empathy and compassion, and deepened social connections. At the same time, these short daily, app-based practices done with another person, so-called Dyads, decreased loneliness, depression, anxiety and a negative outlook
• 5-14-2024TECH ALONE CAN’T REPLACE HUMAN COACHES IN OBESITY TREATMENT, STUDY FINDS technology alone can’t replace the human touch to produce meaningful weight loss in obesity treatment. The study, titled “An Adaptive Behavioral Intervention for Weight Loss Management: A Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial,” . “Giving people technology alone for the initial phase of obesity treatment produces unacceptably worse weight loss than giving them treatment that combines technology with a human coach
• 5-14-2024ULTRASOUND CAN HELP PATIENTS WITH A TYPE OF RHEUMATIC DISEASE LEAD LONGER AND HEALTHIER LIVES ultrasound can help patients with a type of rheumatic disease to live longer and healthier lives. These patients have so far had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which contributes to premature death. Patients with a type of rheumatic disease called radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, a disease that causes changes in the bones in the pelvis and spine, have poorer health quality of life than control subjects.
• 5-14-2024SCIENTISTS FIND REPEATED, SMALL HITS TO HEAD IN FOOTBALL PLAYERS CAN DAMAGE BLOOD VESSELS IN THE BRAIN The work involved specialized helmets that were used to monitor head impacts in 60 university football players. Credit: Dalhousie University Repeated blows to the heads of football players can damage the small blood vessels of the brain, according to research by Dalhousie University scientists from the Brain Repair Center who believe this damage may contribute to brain dysfunction in some athletes years after play has ended. The neuroscientists found that the brain’s blood vessels can get damaged by a succession of small hits
• 5-14-2024‘MICROPREEMIE’ BABY WHO WEIGHED JUST OVER 1 POUND AT BIRTH GOES HOME FROM ILLINOIS HOSPITAL Nyla was born at just 22 weeks weighing 1 pound and 1 ounce, making her what’s known as a “micropreemie.” She left Silver Cross Hospital on Monday weighing a healthy 10 pounds, and was taken home by her first-time parents
• 5-14-2024RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE IF PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF ADHD REDUCES CRIMINALITY pharmacological treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reduced violence- and public-order related crimes. However, it did not reduce other types of crimes, among patients with ADHD in early to late adolescence considered to be in the gray zone (or on the margin) for such treatment.
• 5-14-2024A NEW DRUG SHOWS POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN THE RECOVERY OF PATIENTS AFTER A HEART ATTACK beneficial effects of the novel drug Sacubitril/Valsartan in the management of myocardial infarction (MI). The research offers new insights into the drug’s ability to reduce inflammation, cardiac fibrosis, and prevent dangerous heart arrhythmias post-MI. Cardiovascular diseases, especially MI,
• 5-14-2024STUDY EXPLORES ROLE OF EPIGENETICS, ENVIRONMENT IN DIFFERING ALZHEIMER’S RISK BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE COMMUNITIES environmentally caused alterations to specific areas of the genome—known as imprint control regions—during early development may contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and that Black people may be more affected than white people. The work adds to our understanding of the ways in which environmental factors can contribute to genetic alterations and disease susceptibility.
• 5-14-2024NEW AI TOOL IMPROVES RISK ASSESSMENT FOR HEART FAILURE CARE researchers have developed a powerful new risk assessment tool for predicting outcomes in heart failure patients. The researchers have made the tool publicly available for free to clinicians. The new tool improves on existing risk assessment tools for heart failure by harnessing the power of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to determine patient-specific risks of developing unfavorable outcomes with heart failure.
• 5-14-2024FAR FROM TOXIC, LACTATE RIVALS GLUCOSE AS BODY’S MAJOR FUEL AFTER A CARBOHYDRATE MEAL A volunteer is monitored after being given a large dose of glucose to determine how well people switch from fat to carbohydrate metabolism as they age. In the tests at UC Berkeley, subjects had their blood monitored for labeled lactate and glucose, underwent periodic blood sampling, and had their breath monitored for oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• 5-14-2024STUDY EXPLORES WHAT MOTIVATES PRESCHOOLERS TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE Adults find it particularly easy to prepare for the future when they imagine how they will feel. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have investigated whether this is also the case with preschoolers. The researchers conducted the study at the intersection of philosophy and psychology. They described their findings in the journal Emotion. Rehearsing for a school play, getting a present for a friend’s birthday and packing a book for a long car journey:
• 5-14-2024NEWLY IDENTIFIED PET BIOMARKER PREDICTS SUCCESS OF IMMUNE CHECKPOINT BLOCKADE THERAPY The protein galectin-1 (Gal-1) has been identified as a new PET imaging biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, allowing physicians to predict the tumor responses before beginning treatment. Information garnered from Gal-1 PET imaging could also be used to facilitate patient stratification and optimize immunotherapy, enabling targeted interventions and improving patient outcomes. This research was published in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Immunotherapies, such as ICB
• 5-14-2024RESEARCH LINKS SLEEP APNEA SEVERITY DURING REM STAGE TO VERBAL MEMORY DECLINE
• 5-14-2024SEVERE OBESITY IN CHILDHOOD CAN HALVE LIFE EXPECTANCY, GLOBAL MODELING STUDY FINDS
• 5-14-2024COEXISTENCE OF PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS, ATOPIC DERMATITIS MAY OFFER TREATMENT INSIGHTS
• 5-14-2024MEN WITH LOW TESTOSTERONE LEVELS MAY BE AT INCREASED RISK OF DYING PREMATURELY
• 5-14-2024CONGENITAL ANOMALIES FOUND TO BE TEN TIMES MORE FREQUENT IN CHILDREN WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
• 5-14-2024RESEARCHERS REVEAL HOW LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE BINDING PROTEIN RESISTS HEPATIC OXIDATIVE STRESS
• 5-14-2024STEM CELLS PROVIDE NEW INSIGHT INTO GENETIC PATHWAY OF CHILDHOOD CANCER
• 5-14-2024SAN FRANCISCO SET TO BAN ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS’ IN FIREFIGHTER GEAR
• 5-14-2024AN NRL PLAYER DIED AT TRAINING DUE TO EXERTIONAL HEAT STROKE. WHAT IS IT AND WHAT SHOULD COACHES AND ATHLETES KNOW?
• 5-14-2024FIVE CHARTS ON THE GLOBAL SUCCESS OF VACCINES
• 5-14-2024KIDS LIVING NEAR COLORADO AIRPORTS HAVE SLIGHTLY ELEVATED LEVELS OF LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD, NEW STUDY FINDS
• 5-14-2024STUDY SHOWS VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19 CAN PENETRATE BLOOD-RETINAL-BARRIER AND COULD DAMAGE VISION
• 5-14-2024HOW BIG FOOD COMPANIES CAN DO MORE TO CREATE HEALTHIER FOOD ENVIRONMENTS
• 5-14-2024PROMISING NEW STUDY COULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN SYMPTOMS OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
• 5-14-2024PELVIC HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE A COMMON EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN—WHY MANY DON’T GET THE HELP THEY NEED
• 5-14-2024NEW RESEARCH PRESENTS ‘MINI-BRAINS’ THAT COULD ADVANCE ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT
• 5-14-2024STUDY SHOWS HOW EXCESSIVE DRINKING AFFECTS OTHERS
• 5-14-2024NEW TRANSIT STATION IN JAPAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES CUMULATIVE HEALTH EXPENDITURES
• 5-14-2024BINGE DRINKING IS A GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS—HOW RESEARCH ON ALCOHOL USE DISORDER HAS SHIFTED
• 5-14-2024WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM INTERVIEWING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HARM THEMSELVES
• 5-14-2024STUDY REVEALS RACIAL DISPARITIES IN DIAGNOSIS AND DRUG USE FOR DEMENTIA SYMPTOMS
• 5-14-2024PEOPLE WITHOUT AN INNER VOICE HAVE POORER VERBAL MEMORY, FINDS STUDY
• 5-14-2024CONCUSSION EXPERTS WARN TERM USED TO DESCRIBE HEAD IMPACTS—’SUBCONCUSSION’—IS MISLEADING AND DANGEROUS
• 5-14-2024STUDY UNCOVERS PROTEIN INTERACTIONS AS A POTENTIAL PATH FOR ALS CURE
• 5-14-2024HOW BITTER FOOD CONSTITUENTS INFLUENCE GASTRIC ACID PRODUCTION
• 5-14-2024ADIPOSITY IN CHILDHOOD AFFECTS THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER BY CHANGING BREAST TISSUE COMPOSITION, STUDY SUGGESTS
• 5-14-2024COLD PLUNGING MIGHT HELP HEART HEALTH, RESEARCH SUGGESTS
• 5-14-2024STUDY EXPLORES POTENTIAL TARGET TO TREAT LIVER DISEASE
• 5-14-2024THROUGH TRADITION AND TRADE, TRIBE IN RURAL KANSAS WORKS TO RECLAIM ITS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
• 5-14-2024UK SAYS PROPOSED PANDEMIC TREATY ‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’
• 5-14-2024BODY-WIDE MOLECULAR MAP EXPLAINS WHY EXERCISE IS SO GOOD FOR YOU
• 5-14-2024FIRST STUDY TO GLOBALLY MAP HEAT-WAVE-RELATED MORTALITY FINDS 153,000+ DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH HEAT WAVES
• 5-14-2024EARLY DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES, REDUCE AMPUTATION RISK
• 5-14-2024ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL DETECTS SEX-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN BRAIN STRUCTURE
• 5-14-2024OVER 20,000 PEOPLE JOIN UK SEARCH FOR NEW DEMENTIA TREATMENTS
• 5-14-2024A MINIMAL COGNITIVE ARCHITECTURE REPRODUCES CONTROL OF HUMAN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES
• 5-14-2024SCIENTISTS DEMYSTIFY WHY SUBSEQUENT BOUTS OF DENGUE ARE WORSE THAN A FIRST-TIME INFECTION
• 5-14-2024BRAIN–COMPUTER INTERFACE EXPERIMENTS FIRST TO DECODE WORDS ‘SPOKEN’ ENTIRELY IN THE BRAIN IN REAL TIME
• 5-14-2024MACHINE LEARNING SHEDS LIGHT ON GENE TRANSCRIPTION
• 5-14-2024WILL AI REPLACE DOCTORS WHO READ X-RAYS, OR JUST MAKE THEM BETTER THAN EVER?
• 5-14-2024SURVEY FINDS 8,000 WOMEN A MONTH GOT ABORTION PILLS DESPITE THEIR STATES’ BANS OR RESTRICTIONS
• 5-14-2024SCIENTISTS DISCOVER SURPRISING DETAILS ABOUT XYLAZINE IN COMBINATION WITH FENTANYL
• 5-14-2024NEW RESEARCH CHALLENGES WIDESPREAD BELIEFS ABOUT WHY WE’RE ATTRACTED TO CERTAIN VOICES
• 5-14-2024ADDING CARDIOVASCULAR BIOMARKERS TO ESTABLISHED RISK FACTORS INCREASES RISK PREDICTION
• 5-14-2024DREAMING IS LINKED TO IMPROVED MEMORY CONSOLIDATION AND EMOTION REGULATION
• 5-14-2024STUDY IDENTIFIES GENETIC LINK BETWEEN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE
• 5-14-2024PHYSICIANS WITH DISABILITIES MAY EXPERIENCE DEPERSONALIZATION
• 5-14-2024ANALYSIS SUGGESTS PEOPLE WITH MORE COPIES OF RIBOSOMAL DNA HAVE HIGHER RISKS OF DEVELOPING DISEASE
• 5-14-2024STUDY IDENTIFIES FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE RETINOPATHY
• 5-14-2024STUDY REVEALS MIXED PUBLIC OPINION ON POLYGENIC EMBRYO SCREENING FOR IVF
• 5-14-2024‘MUSIC MAP’ REVEALS SOME BRAIN CELLS AGE FASTER AND ARE MORE PREVALENT IN ALZHEIMER’S
• 5-14-2024STUDY FINDS SOME CHILDREN WERE PRESCRIBED NONRECOMMENDED MEDS FOR COVID-19
• 5-14-2024COULD BEING ONLINE ACTUALLY BE GOOD FOR YOU? NEW STUDY REVEALS A SURPRISING FINDING
• 5-14-2024NEW RESEARCH IDENTIFIES A LARGER POOL OF GENES INVOLVED IN AGE-RELATED BLOOD CELL MUTATIONS THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT
• 5-14-2024NEW DRUG MAKES EXERCISE, EVERYDAY TASKS EASIER FOR PEOPLE WITH COMMON HEART CONDITION
• 5-14-2024BREAST CANCER RISK VARIANTS IDENTIFIED FOR WOMEN OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY
• 5-14-2024NEW RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON WHY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN MEXICO CHOOSE TO VAPE
• 5-14-2024NEW STUDY SHOWS RECOVERY POTENTIAL IN PATIENTS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
• 5-14-2024AI AIDS ANALYSIS OF LIFETIME ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
• 5-14-2024NEW RESEARCH REVEALS URGENT NEED FOR INTEGRATED CARE IN PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY
• 5-14-2024HERPES CURE WITH GENE EDITING MAKES PROGRESS IN LABORATORY STUDIES
• 5-14-2024PATIENTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE ARE LIKELIER TO DIE AFTER COVID, FINDS STUDY
• 5-14-2024RESEARCHERS PARTNER WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ON NEW HEART SURGERY PLANNING TOOL
• 5-14-2024AXONS IN FEMALE MAMMAL BRAINS MAY BE MORE PRONE TO CONCUSSIONS
• 5-14-2024STUDY SUPPORTS LOWER BMI THRESHOLD FOR OBESITY IN THOSE OVER AGE 40
• 5-14-2024FDA DISCUSSING BAN OF FORMALDEHYDE IN HAIR STRAIGHTENERS
• 5-14-2024NEW TOOL ALLOWS FOR GENE SUPPRESSION IN MOUSE HEART MUSCLE CELLS USING CRISPRI
• 5-14-2024NEW GENE THERAPY MODEL OFFERS HOPE FOR X-LINKED SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA TREATMENT
• 5-14-2024GIVING LESSONS TO YOUR TEENAGE SELF COULD BOOST YOUR WELL-BEING, SAY RESEARCHERS
• 5-14-2024STUDY FINDS AGE-ASSOCIATED GENE EXPRESSION CHANGES IN MOUSE SWEAT GLANDS
• 5-14-2024INJECTABLE HIV MEDICATION IS SUPERIOR TO ORAL MEDICATION FOR PATIENTS WHO FREQUENTLY MISS DOSES, STUDY FINDS
• 5-14-2024NEW CRYOPRESERVATION PROCEDURE ESTABLISHED TO PRESERVE FERTILITY BEFORE CANCER TREATMENT
• 5-14-2024BRUXISM IS A RECURRING CONDITION AMONG PEOPLE WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, FINDS STUDY

On Friday the 12th of June 2009, a man was spotted boarding a bus bound for Sligo from Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland. He was carrying a black shoulder bag and a generic luggage bag and just seemed like a normal tourist. He arrived in Sligo at approximately 6:30pm and took a taxi to the city hotel where he paid per night in cash for 3 nights. Upon checking in, he provided staff with the name 'Peter Bergmann' and an address that was something to the effect of "Ainstettersn 15, 4472, Vienna, Austria". Hotel staff stated he seemed of Germanic descent and spoke English with a thick German accent. He was a heavy smoker and was seen on CCTV leaving the hotel repeatedly to stand outside with a cigarette.
Throughout the course of his 3 night stay, he was captured leaving the hotel approximately 13 times, each time leaving with a purple plastic bag filled with unknown items and returning with no visible bag or items. Garda believe he was disposing of his personal belongings around Sligo but have never been able to locate any of the items he discarded. They stated that he had used the blind spots of cameras around the town to hide his movements and described his actions as "meticulous and methodical, as though he knew exactly how to dispose of anything that could identify him". A hotel worker stated that they had attempted to clean his room on one of the days but couldn't get a response after knocking. Upon entering, he appeared spooked and was described as "behaving like I'd caught him in the middle of doing something he shouldn't"
On Saturday the 13th, he was seen walking to Sligo post office where he purchased 8 stamps and airmail stickers at approximately 10:49am. The following day, Sunday 14th, he left the hotel at around 11-11:30am and asked a taxi driver for recommendations on a good beach that he could go swimming at. The driver suggested Rosses point and drove him there. It was reported that when the taxi arrived at the beach, Bergmann got out of the car, stood and stared for a short time before returning to the taxi, appearing content or satisfied.
He checked out of the hotel on Monday 15th at around 1pm and headed towards quayside shopping centre where he was seen standing awkwardly in the doorway for several minutes. Strangely, he was seen leaving the hotel with his black shoulder bag and purple plastic bag but an entirely different luggage bag. It is unclear where his original one went or where the new one came from. He was seen leaving quayside and walking towards the bus station at around 1:16pm. By the time he reached the bus station, he only had 2 of the 3 bags he was seen leaving the hotel with. At approximately 1:38pm, he ordered a ham and cheese toastie and a cappuccino from the bus station café. While he ate, he was recorded opening and closing a scrap of paper repeatedly before eventually ripping it up and disposing of it in a nearby bin. It was never recovered. At around 2:20pm he boarded a bus heading to Rosses point. It is believed that he was seen by 16-18 people on the beach that day over an 8 hour period. He was described as 'restless or anxious', pacing up and down the length of the beach repeatedly. It isn't known where his luggage or bags were at this point. He was last seen walking along the beach, alone, at 11:50pm.
His body was discovered the next morning at around 6:45am by a father and son who were out practicing for a triathlon. He was wearing purple Speedo trunks with his underwear over the top and a navy t-shirt tucked into them. Some of his clothes and belongings were found on the shore but it does not appear that his luggage or shoulder bag were ever recovered. The autopsy report concluded that he had died from cardiac arrest but that he had not drowned, despite being washed up. There were no signs of foul play either. Surprisingly, the autopsy also revealed that he had advanced stage prostate cancer, multiple bone tumours and ischaemic heart disease. There were absolutely no drugs in his system either, which would be expected of someone who was this sick. The medical examiner stated that due to these conditions, he would have been in significant and constant pain and would have required, at the very least, over the counter painkillers.
A five month investigation was launched but it was quickly revealed that both the name 'Peter Bergmann' and the address in Austria were fake. Nobody matching his appearance and name was missing anywhere in Europe, America or anywhere else and despite extensive investigation, the trail quickly went cold. He was eventually buried in an unmarked grave in Sligo. As of today, he has never been identified and nobody has ever come forward to state that they knew him. Even now, almost 15 years later, his case has left more questions than answers such as:
How did he enter Ireland?
There are absolutely no flight or ferry records with anyone using his alias and there was never any passports used with his image. It's as though he just appeared in the country.
Was cardiac arrest his intended death?
It's widely accepted that he was an old man who was terminally ill and wanted to go out on his own terms. However, did he intend to be found on the beach or was he hoping to drown and his body swept out to sea? His heart was damaged and showed signs of previous heart attacks. In addition, his health was very poor and the water in Sligo, at that time, was very cold. It's not at all impossible to believe that cold water shock induced cardiac arrest before he could wade out.
Why did he go to such extreme lengths to completely hide his identity?
Wanting to end things on your own terms isn't an uncommon notion but choosing to destroy every trace of your existence before doing so is and hasn't been explained. Why was he so adamant that nobody ever knew who he was or where he came from?
Sources:
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/08/14/peter-bergmann-renewed-appeal-over-man-found-dead-on-sligo-beach-14-years-ago/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bergmann_case
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/a-lonely-sligo-death-still-shrouded-in-mystery-1.4589709
https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/new-appeal-for-mystery-man-whose-body-was-found-on-sligo-beach-in-2009/41001932.html
https://youtu.be/bVOZ7YPOakI?si=wUBhrFkgw4_9JLNC

I know I'm symptom spotting but we've been TTC since January and every time my period comes its so disappointing. Basically 10DPO I had spotting and cramps, the cramps have continued since then to today 12DPO, plus today my boobs have been very sore this morning. My period is due in 2 days and usually with this kind of cramping it would only be 2-3 days before my period (this time its started 5 days before).
No bleeding besides the spotting two days ago, was super light. I'm just praying that AF won't come this time, I'm getting so anxious running to the bathroom a couple times each day worried I'm going to start. Was anyone else's early pregnancy symptoms similar? Is it worth doing an early test like clearblue? I know I should wait till my period is late but the wait feels so long!