#its one of the milder strains

[renegadxd]

gotta love getting those positive covid tests :,)))

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

Can we please get a yandere alucard part 4 🥹🥹 Prettyyy Pleassee 🥹🥹🙏🙏

& Anonymous D asked: Is there a chance you will continue the yandere Alucard x reader storyline part 4? I’m sorry. I’m just so invested in the story. Your writing is good. - D

A/N: It’s been a while so I had to go back and reread/refresh myself. Here they are Part One, Part Two, and Part Three for you to read if you also need to catch up. Or you can use the tag: ‘yandere alucard’ on my blog to see all of the Yandere! Alucard-themed writings I’ve done. 

And a HUGE THANK YOU to @allthegoodbobdylanlyricsaretaken, my lovely beta-reader for this installment. Not only were they kind enough to offer to read this over for any grammar/writing mistakes, but they were so patient with me! I had writer's block pretty bad in the middle of this, and they were sweet enough to give me encouraging reminders. To them- I am so incredibly grateful! Normally, I finish something and just throw it up, so I want you all to know they are why this piece comes off as much more polished. 

I also wanted to thank @rl800 for commenting on Part 3, about how they hope Y/N’s father eventually gives Alucard some sort of blessing for a relationship with his daughter. I was initially planning on killing him off early, but because I like rl800’s suggestion better, I’ve changed my idea for this part to include Y/N’s father as a contributing character. Oh, and as always...

TW!: This is a fictional work about a fictional character. Manipulation and abuse in real relationships are never okay, and it’s never your fault. If you need help, please click on any of these: [x] [x].

Word Count: 3.2k 

If you’d like ambiance for this part, check out this link: [x]. 

*    *    *    *    *    * 

You were rather disheartened to learn that what your Father had was phthisis. 

The white plague. 

Of course, in the back of your mind, you supposed you had considered such reality a possibility, but you could not bring yourself to admit as much. You suppressed those sobering thoughts with various dissensions. 

If it was the plague, how come it wasn’t sweeping through the entire town? Why hadn’t you yet fallen ill? If it were truly a plague, then perhaps it was a milder strain?  

You had warded off accepting the unspeakable for so long that, even now that it was true, a good degree of your mind still refused to believe it. Surely, Alucard was mistaken in some way, despite his seemingly infinite wisdom. It simply could not be true. Then again, your heartache alone could not change the circumstances. 

You were grateful to be shown to your room quite soon after learning the true nature of your Father’s condition. The devastating revelation was the straw that broke the camel’s back— its brutality kicked you in the teeth— unveiling the weeks of fatigue that had been slowly gnawing at your battered bones. Besides the reprieve for yourself, you were extremely thankful to now have aid in caring for your Father, your cordial hosts’ compassion for your father’s condition released the short leash you had once ensnared yourself with, the one keeping you tethered to his bedside. Now you were free to sleep in your private bedroom, hell, on your private floor.

Seated on silky luxurious sheets, feeling the soft night shift’s fabric against your skin, you were forced to reconcile with the present reality: you were only a guest in this opulent room because your Father was ill, and at this point, there was nothing left you could do for him. In all honesty, it sounded as if there was little Alucard could do either. So much of the situation felt hopeless, despite your newfound companion’s assurances to the contrary. 

Alucard announced, quite casually, that should you need anything else, or if he could be of any more assistance to you, his bed chambers were just a few paces down the hall from your own. 

This sense of freedom was foreign to you, and it felt rather suffocating to be seated upon such a luxurious throw, all by your lonesome. Yes, you knew your Father was sick, and quite possibly contagious, but you had yet to catch anything at this point. What would be the harm if you spend an hour or two with him? For all you knew, you could have become immune to this illness. 

Earlier in the evening, you had asked Alucard if he truly expected you not to visit your Father. He firmly, but sympathetically shot the question down. 

‘It is still too great a risk to take,’ he had told you. ‘Your body needs time to be free from stress if you are to hopefully remain without illness yourself.’ 

The frailty of your muscles and the bags under your eyes made it obvious to you and Alucard that you were teetering on the edge of complete burnout. Should you continue to push through at the rate you were going, you’d no doubt join the ranks of your late family members. 

Nevertheless, the silken sheets and large feather-stuffed mattress atop a tester canopied bed did not stop the faint chill of loneliness from ghosting across your skin. You wondered briefly if your Father’s room looked like yours. Or perhaps, it was designed to be more medicinal than comfortable. Was he up thinking of you, just as you were thinking of him? 

It was late by the time your mind had ceased its seemingly endless racing, well into the early hours of the morning. Laid out flat on the bed, robed in a plain night shift with your hair uncovered, you felt an odd equilibrium of settled and aroused. 

You felt small in the extensive room. For example, there was a tiled area intended for bathing off the left of where you lay, separated from the wooden floor by an exquisitely hand-crafted partition. It was stocked with fresh towels, a matching wash-stand set, and pitchers of clean, warned water. Next to the washstand’s porcelain basin was a variety of bar soaps, each one a more exciting shade and scent than the next, and on the lower shelf was a series of glass bottles— shampoos, cleansing oils, and perfumes. Everything was in perfect order, arranged in such an inviting manner. 

The thought that Alucard took the effort to prepare such a collection just for you was almost disquieting. You had hoped he hadn’t gone to too much trouble securing such lovely items before your arrival, especially since it was rather short notice. Then again, perhaps these were just some things he happened to already own within the castle. The place was huge, after all. 

Honestly, you didn't know what would be more daunting, the thought of Alucard giving up his items for your sake, or the idea that Aluard hurriedly procured these new items with your freshly negotiated stay in mind. Both options felt significantly intimate; either act felt like a kindness you were unworthy of. 

As you formed a loose plan to kindly reject Alucard's lavish gifts and attentions, the man of the hour himself came to knock upon your door. 

*    *    *    *    *    * 

Alucard was beaming. No, he was more than beaming, he was practically flying. Well, not literally. Although, that would be no extraordinary feat for The Alucard, son of Dracula and Lisa Tepes. In his years as sole inhibitor and keeper of both Castlevania and the Belmont Hold, his wisdom and abilities flourished greatly, free from the looming threat of time that burdened the rest of humanity. His prowess had come to be unmatched, his dual heritage leaving little he could not accomplish. Alucard possessed the ability to conquer all things if he so wished; all things, except for one.

At the time this bold young woman had trespassed his home, it had been nearly a hundred or so years since the deaths of his last human companions. And while Alucard was not predisposed to loneliness, he was prone to fits of melancholy. 

Even though the castle was alive, it was quiet. It did not provide comfort or companionship the way a human would. Hell— at times Alucard found himself imagining what a close allyship with another vampire would look like among these vast hallowed halls. He certainly had no shortage of vampires and other supernaturally inclined beings desperately vying for the Great Lord Alucard’s attention. 

It was always futile, Alucard had come to learn. Vampires were paranoid and power-hungry by nature and rarely lived long enough to outgrow their newfound bloodlust. Young, power-hungry vampires who sought to usurp Alucard always came to meet the same swift, almost boringly inevitable demise. They did not present any real challenge to him, not anymore. 

It did pain a part of him. His human side, he supposed. Perhaps, it was the influence of his Mother’s memory, the way a sudden ache for companionship— a friend, a lover, an acquaintance, anything— would seize his heart at times. Mother wouldn’t have wanted him to be alone. She wished for him to be kind to humans, even if they could never understand him. She had always emphasized kindness when encouraging Alucard’s journey of self-discovery. Lisa Tepes knew her son would never become the kind of man her husband was, but she wanted Alucard to understand that it was okay. She did not wish for him to be defined by his relation to Dracula but by his relationship with humanity. 

It wasn’t that Alucard hadn’t tried— he had. For years, he had kept himself surrounded by humans, even after Trevor and Sypha, Greta, and the original descendants of Danesti had passed. But as humanity grew more evolved, and began to long for traditions and independence beyond all that his gothic castle could offer, he found himself alone for years in which there was little else to do other than take to his underground coffin and sleep to pass the time. 

His solitude had been weighing on him especially hard for the past several decades or so. But with his isolated routine so ingrained, Alucard could not see a viable way to invite a human into his life. He was aware that out there, perhaps even beyond what was once known as the independent region of Wallachia, several branches of the Belmont line continued to thrive. Of course, Alucard was certain he would be all but a myth to them at this point, something one of their descendants would speak of as they shared ancient stories around the campfire. 

In truth, he did not wish to seek them out. He did not wish to have to seek anyone out. 

Alucard wished that someone— someone worthy— would come to him. He had only found himself desiring such a circumstance for a little under a month when this strange woman, this (Y/N) made her way past his front door. 

‘Perhaps,’ Alucard mused, as he strode down the hallway between his and (Y/N)'s room, ‘There is a God after all.’ 

Balancing the tea tray in one hand, Alucard lifted his other to knock softly upon (Y/N)’s door. If she was already sleeping, he did not wish to wake her. 

Alucard felt a wave of relief wash over him as her melodious voice answered from the other side of the door. 

“Alucard? Is that you?” 

Amused with her question, Alucard opened the door with a carefree smile. “Yes. I’ve brought you some herbal tea. I assumed you would have difficulty adjusting to sleep in such a new environment.” 

His words were perfect: just the right mix of compassion and concern, yet not overbearing or anxious. If he just kept this up, if she could just see how well her life could be here, with him, how simple things would be, everything would work out beautifully. And speaking of beautiful…

Dressed in a simple white night shift, Alucard was taken aback at how elegant and feminine (Y/N) looked while robed in such a plain garment. Her hair, finally uncovered before him, had been unbraided, and let down to naturally frame her face. Her locks were full and lush, no doubt a sign of good fertility in addition to her overall health. This indication of her reproductive health ignited visions in the back of Alucard’s mind of all the different children they would have running around the castle halls. 

Swallowing down the fantasy for now, Alucard retained his external composure. ‘Remember,’ he chided himself, ‘For humans, it must be their idea for it to work.’ 

(Y/N) took the tray from his hands and set it down on the small table, opposite the washing room. It was centered between two wooden chairs, made to accommodate intimate meals between two people. 

“You needn’t do so much for me, you know? You’ve done plenty already.” 

“It is no trouble. I’ve found myself enjoying having someone more than just myself to feed.” Before his bravado could falter, Alucard took a seat at the table, gesturing for (Y/N) to join him. 

“Is it lonely?” (Y/N) asked. The sincere curiosity in her tone caught Alucard off-guard. “I’ve never lived anywhere on my own. I can’t begin to imagine being all by myself, especially in a place of this size.” 

Aiming to keep the conversation light, Alucard opted for a more humorous response. 

“Nonsense. The ghosts and ghouls in the dungeons keep me plenty occupied.” 

“In that case,” (Y/N) smiled, eagerly reciprocating Alucard’s playful parley. “Remind me to stay far away from the dungeon.” 

“Certainly,” Alucard answered, retrieving a cup of steaming tea. “I would hate for you to become the latest poltergeist haunting these grounds. Just imagine what your Father would say.” 

At the mention of her Father, (Y/N)’s smile faltered. Silently, she seated herself before picking up her cup. Taking a tentative sip, her brow furrowed at the odd taste. 

“It’s mandrake tea,” Alucard explained, continuing to swallow his down nonchalantly. 

“And do you normally drink, uh mandrake tea?” (Y/N) asked, politely feigning another sip. 

“It will keep you healthy. Ward off any infection or cold,” Alucard misled. 

Misled, not lied— mandrake root did have healing properties. Truthfully speaking, its main uses were as an anesthetic and a fertility aid. But until (Y/N) was as committed as he to their collective future, it was best she did not know such things. 

“Oh,” (Y/N) blinked in surprise. “I thought it was just used in witchcraft. And that it was dangerous to harvest.” 

Alucard chuckled, shaking his head. “The myth of the mandrake screaming is nothing more than an old wives’ tale, which the Church has exploited in their favor. They claimed Joan of Arc was carrying a mandrake root when she was seized by the Burgundians in the city of Compiègne.” 

(Y/N) shook her head, not quite understanding. “I’ll admit, I’ve never heard of this ‘Joan of Arc’. Nor the city of Compiegne, it must be quite far from here.” 

Alucard smiled, knowingly. “Very far, yes.” 

“Oh.” (Y/N) nodded, this conversation clearly out of her depth. “Well, those people, ah the Church,” (Y/N) corrected herself, “Why would they say that? What did they have to gain?” 

“They sought to cast a shadow over her reputation, and to besmirch any scholars proclaiming the mandrake’s healing properties.” 

“How—” (Y/N) started, “How do you know all this?” 

Alucard shrugged. “The original keeper of this castle collected centuries of suppositories of knowledge, many of which contained science previously vilified by the church. I’ve been fortunate enough to read nearly all which is stored here.” 

(Y/N) forced herself to swallow down another mouthful. “‘Original keeper’?’” she repeated. “I thought that was you.” 

“No,” Alucard said, somewhat decisively. His sharp tone indicated the matter was not up for discussion. “I was not the one who brought this castle into existence. I merely inherited it.” 

(Y/N) nodded again, her posture more notably hunched than before. She forced herself to take a good long sip before swallowing harshly. 

Thrown by all this newly shared information, (Y/N) licked her lips before pressing them together in a tight line. “I know earlier you said that it would be unwise for me to go see him, in the event I’d catch something…” 

“Yes.” 

“And while I certainly don’t like this being this situation, you are the expert here, as well as our host so I’ll respect it…” 

“But?” 

“I need you to promise me one thing. Just one thing, and I swear I will stop pestering you about visiting him.” 

Alucard nodded, encouragingly. 

“You will tell me when he’s dying.” 

Alucard felt the air in the room grow cold. 

(Y/N) said ‘when’ he was dying, as if she had come to that hopeless conclusion already. Did she truly have so little faith in him, that she couldn’t envision her Father recovering? Had he not been firm enough in assuring her of his medical knowledge? Was he doing too little to comfort her? Too little to distract her? Or… perhaps too much? 

Had Alucard’s honeyed words and kind intentions accomplished the opposite of what he intended? Had his constant reassurance acted as a warning for grief that had yet to come? 

This was not good— not good at all. 

Internally, Alucard’s mind was racing through potential future scenarios. 

If her Father died now, she’d have no reason to stay. She’d pack up and leave, and forevermore associate his name, his memory, Alucard’s very existence with heartache. No. 

No, she had to stay! Which meant her Father had to live! But, how?

Alucard was powerful; still, he had no dominion over Death. 

In every outcome, (Y/N)’s Father remained a crucial aspect of his plan. She revered him, she loved him— and most importantly—  she trusted him explicitly. 

‘Perhaps,’ Alucard’s mind supplied, ‘Therein lies the answer to our question. Instead of working so hard to gain (Y/N)’s approval, I could gain a blessing from her Father. If he were to see us as someone worthy of his daughter’s hand, he would no doubt share that final sentiment with her, before his passing.’ 

It was genius, foolproof really. 

If it was made clear to (Y/N)’s Father, that Alucard was the best option for her, and the one most capable of ensuring her safety and happiness… 

If the last thing her Father ever did was command them to be together, no daughter, especially not one as respectful and obedient as (Y/N) could refuse. 

Alucard needn't be so alarmed after all. 

Nodding solemnly, Alucard’s golden eyes bore unflinchingly into hers. 

“I promise.” 

Once the tea had been finished, Alucard bid (Y/N) goodnight, encouraging her to at least try and get a few hours of sleep before the coming sunrise. 

Quietly, he gathered all the teacups back onto the serving tray and exited the room, softly shutting the door behind him. 

For a moment, Alucard stood still. He waited until he heard the unmistakable ruffle of sheets, and the slowed heartbeat of a human finally at rest. 

Shortly after (Y/N) had agreed to bring her Father here, Alucard considered placing a sponge soaked in somnifera under her pillow. Now, Alucard was glad to have decided against it. Her body was beyond tired enough to fall asleep on its own, and it wouldn’t do him any good to set off any suspicions with unusual scents in the room. 

Besides, his plan had a new direction now— a superior direction. She was not the one he needed to charm, oh no. From where he stood, Alucard could also hear the person he needed to charm, coughing fitfully upstairs. 

And it was time, Alucard decided, to pay him an honest visit. 

*    *    *    *    *    * 

Notes: 

Mandrake, which gave Rachel children in the bible- used to be believed to treat infertility, but also loads of other stuff, but the fertile thing is what Alucard is utilizing it for here. It was also possibly in the wine given to Jesus on the cross. It had a strong sedative effect. The myth that could not harvest the roots without being killed up until 1597 (so this would be news prob to the reader, old news to Alu) It was also thought to be a love charm- medieval church cast it out as a demonic talisman, punished Joan of arc for ‘carrying’ one.

The mix called The Spongia Somnifera is From Arabian scientist Ibn Sina (c. 980 to 1037 CE), or Avicenna. In his authoritative Canon of Medicine, he identified certain plants with pharmacological action, such as mandrake, opium, and henbane. He described the Spongia Somnifera: “Opium, juice of hyoscyamine, unripened berry of the blackberry, hog beans, lettuce seed, juice of hemlock, poppy, mandragora. Put these all together in a vessel and plunge therein a new sea sponge, and put that in the sun during the dog days until all the liquid is consumed. And when there is need, dip it a little in water and apply it to the nostrils of the patient, and he will quickly go to sleep.”

TB was also called phthisis, or “wasting,” by Hippocrates. 

Some other interesting sources: Old-Timey Medicine; TB Throughout History; Mandragora: Anesthesia of the Ancients; Mandrake: The Scream of Death; and Gerad’s Herbal Chapter 65: Mandrake

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A/N 2.0: AGAIN PLEASE GIVE A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO MY WONDERFUL BETA @allthegoodbobdylanlyricsaretaken , WHO VOLUNTEERED TO HELP ME WITH THIS INSTALLMENT. 

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Tag List: @peterpankat ;

Let me know, if you’d like to be added to the tag list by either commenting on this post, mentioning so in a reblog, or sending me an ask requesting to be added. 

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And as always… Please Like and REBLOG! 

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[bunnymedley]

what about sharkgirls cum?

so i saw this one last night and then spent a lot of time at work today daydreaming about it

sucking off animalgirls: sharkgirl edition

so obviously a sharkgirl's semen tastes really salty - so salty in fact that it's rare for it to be consumed on its own. most of the time, sharkgirl cum will be diluted through mixing it with something sweet or plain, like a dollop of beegirl seed or a splash of cowgirl cum. it's rich in nutrients so still very good for you, just a bit much on its own

beyond its notable saltiness, sharkgirl semen also has a slightly minty aftertaste, contributing to its popular pairing with dairy cowgirl semen. together they taste almost like mint ice cream with a salty kick

as an aside, the strong salty flavour makes sharkgirl precum, with its milder flavour compared to a full, potent load, a popular seasoning. when a shargirl couple goes out to eat, it wouldn't be uncommon to see the femme giggling as she kneads her butch's balls to coax out some salty precum to drizzle on her food, unperturbed by her butch's visible straining to hold herself back from blowing rope, or from bending her femme over the table and pumping puppies into her

[covid-safer-hotties]

NYC COVID cases up 250% in 2 months — and this variant's harder to duck

Published July 4, 2024

Also posted on our archive

New York is experiencing a bump in COVID cases that might put a damper on people’s summer plans.

Cases have been rising nationally and locally for about two months, driven by so-called “FLiRT” variants — versions of the virus that have evolved to evade immunity.

Mandatory COVID mitigation measures have largely been waived, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased its recommendations for how long people should isolate themselves after getting sick. But there are still precautions people can take to avoid getting COVID or spreading it to others.

Here’s what to know about the latest COVID wave.

How big is the current COVID wave?

New York City data shows an average of 687 cases of COVID reported per day during the week ending on June 22, 250% higher than the amount reported two months prior. That same week, there was an average of 53 COVID-related hospitalizations each day — primarily involving older adults — and one death, according to city data.

A decline in testing means COVID case counts don’t necessarily show the full picture, according to public health experts. Based on state wastewater testing data, New York City appears to be experiencing a bump in COVID similar to the increase seen last summer. Current levels of the virus, however, are far lower than what was detected during a surge last winter.

Infectious disease experts say COVID is starting to follow a predictable pattern, with a surge in the fall when temperatures start to drop and people gather indoors, and a smaller bump in the summer.

In the summer, “there are family gatherings, there are weddings,” noted Dr. Jessica Justman, an epidemiologist and professor at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. And while people are more likely to spend time outdoors, where the virus is less likely to spread, “we also spend time indoors when we have a heat wave like we had last week.”

What do we know about the FLiRT variants?

Many people have developed some level of immunity against the virus, either through vaccination or past infection. While “FLiRT” variants can slip past that immunity, having some immunity still tends to make symptoms milder, said Andrew Pekosz, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who researches respiratory viruses.

“Overall, disease severity is dropping,” he added.

Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the medicine department and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, agreed that the current strains of COVID that are circulating do not appear to be causing serious illness in most cases.

“It's the typical COVID presentations,” Glatt said of patients he’s seen. “They have a cough. They may have some upper respiratory symptoms like a cold, runny nose.”

Glatt said he has seen more severe cases where people are experiencing shortness of breath, and is still concerned about older patients and those who are otherwise at high risk for severe disease. But he said it’s now rare for COVID patients to need to be placed in intensive care units.

What should I do if I get sick?

Until recently, the CDC recommended that people who tested positive for COVID isolate themselves for several days. But in March, responding to declining cases and disease severity overall, it revised that guidance to instead focus on a given individual’s symptoms.

The latest guidance — which applies to a variety of respiratory illnesses — calls for sick people to stay away from others until their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours and they haven’t had fevers for at least 24 hours.

In the five days after isolating, the CDC suggests practicing good hygiene, wearing a mask and not standing too close to other people.

The CDC notes that a COVID test can give a “rough approximation” of whether someone is still infectious, but advises that people should follow the same guidance regardless of whether they're sick from COVID or another respiratory illness.

Glatt said people in recovery should use common sense, including avoiding visiting older relatives or people who are at high risk for severe COVID.

“When you're starting to feel better, I would certainly let the other people around you know, ‘I recently had COVID,’” he added.

Where can I get tested for COVID?

New York City's once ubiquitous dedicated COVID testing sites have largely disappeared. But tests are still available at NYC Health and Hospitals locations, urgent care centers and other medical providers.

Many New Yorkers are now more accustomed to reaching for home testing kits, but they are also more likely now to have to go to the pharmacy and pay for them out of pocket. Insurers may cover home testing kits but are no longer required to since the federal COVID public health emergency expired in spring of 2023. The federal program distributing free COVID tests has also ended.

The city previously distributed free kits as well, but that program ended in March after about 150 million free rapid tests were handed out, according to city health department spokesperson Patrick Gallahue.

Those who do take home tests should remember that it can take a couple of days after exposure to test positive. It’s possible to report home-testing results online here.

When should I get my next COVID shot?

Although the CDC says adults over 65 can get an updated COVID vaccine every four months, Glatt said once a year is likely appropriate for most people.

Pekosz said the vaccines that are currently available are not very well-suited to the strains of COVID that are circulating, and people who are looking to get a shot should likely wait until updated vaccines come out in a couple of months.

“This coming fall's COVID vaccine will be a better match, although again, it probably won't be perfect,” since the virus continues to evolve, he said.

[thoughtlessarse]

It has been over 50 years since the first cases of mpox, the disease formerly known as monkeypox, were discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mpox is related to smallpox, and causes symptoms similar to but milder than its once-feared relative, which was eradicated in 1980. For decades, mpox outbreaks were self-limiting, resulting in a few hundred, perhaps a few thousand cases in regions that are endemic for the disease in West and Central Africa. However, in 2022, a global outbreak led to close to 100,000 cases worldwide, transmitted primarily among men who have sex with men, and through sexual contact. This was a departure for the virus, which until then was known to be largely transmitted from small mammals to humans in forested locales, with limited human-to-human spread by close physical contact. A disease ignored by much of the world until then shot up the charts in the attention of public health officials everywhere, gaining notoriety among politicians and the general public, particularly the LGBTQ community. A vaccine for smallpox made by a small company in Denmark, Bavarian Nordic, was deployed rapidly in the United States and in other rich countries affected by the outbreak. Within a few months, shifts in behavior by gay men, and perhaps a little help from the vaccine, brought the outbreak under control, though cases erupt from time to time still in the United States and elsewhere. But in September 2023, less than six months after the World Health Organization called the acute phase of that outbreak over, a new outbreak was starting in DRC. And it continued throughout the rest of the year into 2024, with now close to 20,000 cases reported and close to 1,000 deaths—all likely to be grossly underreported due to the weak health infrastructure in DRC and surrounding countries. The global outbreak in 2022–23, by contrast, caused only about 200 deaths, with the clade—or strain of virus—responsible for this new outbreak historically being thought of as more lethal than the 2022 variant. As of mid-August, two cases of this new strain have been reported globally, one in Sweden and another in Thailand. The relative rapidity with which the international community responded to the 2022–23 outbreak stands in stark contrast to what has happened now with a severe outbreak roiling through Africa. It’s hard not to think that this has everything to do with who has been hit hardest; white people in high-income countries in 2022, black people in low-income countries in 2024. But in addition to the continuing colonial and racist forces at work in global health, it’s also important to realize that whether it’s Covid, H5N1, or mpox, there isn’t a lot of appetite for confronting public health problems until they are impossible to ignore—whether at home or abroad.

continue reading

[gayhenrycreel]

covid tests are not reliable

i had covid back in may. i took multiple tests and every single one said negative. i had symptoms consistent with covid and trust me, this was not a normal cold.

i usually get over a cold in around 3 days. that disease had me in bed for nearly 2 weeks. i felt like i couldn't get enough air and everything ached. i couldnt focus and ever since i can hardly smell anything. i love cooking and i can only smell chilli by holding it around 1 cm from my nose. anything further away smells like nothing.

recently i got sick again. i think it was probably covid, though it was milder. the reason i suspect it was covid is because my nose was blocked for a whole month after i had seemingly recovered.

both times the tests said i didn't have covid, despite me being extremely sick and losing the ability to smell. ive been struggling to focus more too.

tests dont seem to pick up new strains. if you are sick, assume its covid and treat it as such.

[brightlotusmoon]

Although never confirmed, word on the street is that the parent G13 was genetically created by top-secret government officials from the CIA in America. It is said that this strain was created as a combination of several other potent strains during the 1970s and one of the agents let it loose for mass production. Dope, right?

The story goes that an unknown assistant at the University of Mississippi liberated the plant during a government research project. Allegedly, G13 was a part of a project researching Indica and Sativa weed strains and Neville Schoenmakers, a founder of the first Seed Bank in the Netherlands got his hands on G13. Although there is no proof, G13 was given to a man who was friends with the researcher from Mississippi.

G13 was a part of a batch of Afghani Indica with labels ranging from 1 to 23 and the letter G. Yet again, no one knows what the G stands for, but people think it stands for government. Why was this strain so important? Well, not only because it was highly superior to other strains, but because it could flower both indoors and fast, it had massive resin production, great potency, and extremely hybrid vigor.

It is believed that it was created initially for medicinal purposes. But unlike its parent, G13 Haze is a bit milder since it was crossed with the Sativa-based Haze to neutralize the sedative effects G13 had on the people consuming it. G13 Haze was also created to reduce the potency of G13 without losing its quality effects.

With a high, uplifting sensation that will alert your mind and a heavy body high that will make you feel like you’re walking on clouds...

[ohgoddamnit]

So I know the sourdough trend is long gone, but, now looking back.. I find it very odd that essentially everyone did a flour and water starter when, to me, that’s a super tedious way to do it. If you’re looking for that very strong tang and yeasty flavor then yeah do that, but if you don’t mind a milder flavor and basically just want some wild yeast?

Fruit yeast waters. You take some fruit* cover it in water and leave it alone, covered. Shake and burp the container once a day and by day four you should have active yeast and fermentation. There will be a hiss, basically, when you open the container.

Strain it, add equal parts flour, let it bubble up, and you have starter.

Idk. I’m not meaning to deride the traditional method because it has its place but I find it odd that not a single person I’ve seen has used it and it’s extremely easy and much faster than the other method.

*berries, apples, pears, grapes, etc. nothing like kiwi or pineapple; anything too acidic and with an enzyme (don’t remember the name) will destroy the gluten.

I did a side by side of blueberry and strawberries (use trash fruit that’s bruised or kinda old) and both worked but the strawberry one is definitely more active, presumably due to the higher amount of sugar.

[mikazukinika]

[WIP] I. Sleepless Night

Summary: “Do you know about the Kármán Line?” Kaveh asked, apropos of nothing and almost certainly drunk. “It’s the line dividing the atmosphere and outer space. Just like this drink you bought me,” he said, punctuating his next words by tapping a fingernail against each of the colors in his layered drink. “Clearly divided.” Scene Rating: T (alcohol) Scene Length: 2.6k words, about 10 minutes

a WIP that may or may not be related to my kavetham "javâne" au. this scene was inspired by the chinese vogue film, le vrai où (also about 10 minutes), and some tiny bits of turkish culture. feedback very welcome via asks, tags, or comments!

Sumeru’s sun was a nourishing force in the spring, when the academic year drew to a close. It gave itself away to the people far below, illuminating their blissful faces as if its reserves were endless -- as if it adored them. And while frolicking fairies unfolded the sweet, affectionate rays of golden hour over the city, Alhaitham found himself once again on the familiar path to Lambad’s Tavern. 

One last night, he assured himself. Then this affair of theirs would finally be laid to rest.

Noor was still running the shop when Alhaitham arrived, flagging him down over a sea of rowdy customers. He waded through drunk students and proud parents to meet her at the counter. This far from the center of the room, where the customers’ chatter and the plates’ clatter were congregated, Alhaitham could almost hear her without straining himself to listen. She smiled big, black cardamom eyes at him like always, dark lashes curling, and pointed a knowing finger to the far end of the bar. Somewhat isolated from the busy evening sat the star of tonight’s show, the Light of Kshahrewar.

“You’re late!” Kaveh grouched as soon as Alhaitham slid into the seat next to him. “Almost everyone has already left.”

Alhaitham ignored him at first, busying himself with signaling Noor for a drink before she could be pulled into the fray by the other customers. Of course, Kaveh took great offense to this terrible slight and immediately dug the heel of his foot into the other’s toes with the intent to wound. Alhaitham resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“Unlike some people, I wanted to finish my work at an appropriate time,” Alhaitham rebuked underhandedly. “I will be long asleep by the time the celebrations end and your friends remember they still had assignments to finish.”

Kaveh scoffed, his tone metamorphosing into something scathing. “You just wanted to avoid hanging around people you think aren’t as smart as you.”

“Hm. Very few people are as smart as me,” Alhaitham acknowledged, voice satirically honey-sweet and a matter of fact. “I doubt you would be able to gather them all in one place.”

“Ha!” A furious twitch was tugging at the edge of Kaveh’s perfect social smile, threatening to pull it apart. “I’d have a harder time finding a room that could fit your ego, you piece of shi-”

“Good to see you’re both getting along as well as always,” Noor interrupted with an admonishing grin. At the sight of her, the pair dropped their pointless argument, neither having been all that committed to it in the first place. Their temporary truce earned a laugh from their bartender, who steered the conversation toward milder waters. “I don’t know if you’ve already heard, but we managed to pull Zohaib in off the streets for a song or two for you guys tonight.”

Kaveh perked up at the news, visibly pleased. The information didn’t quite come as a surprise to him or Alhaitham, however. Zohaib could usually be found plucking the strings of his sitar somewhere along Treasures Street in the evenings, but he did play for venues on special occasions. Almost all of the shop owners in the area knew of him because he never accepted payment for his indoor performances. By the same token, they all had a hard time convincing him to come off the street. Alhaitham had never met the man, but he had seen Kaveh stop and chat with him multiple times.

“He’s probably retired,” Kaveh had explained once, golden lashes low against the intensity of the sunset’s dying breath. “I bet it was his hobby while he made a living with something else, for his family. Now he plays for the folks closing up their shops and the kids on their way home -- it’s as if all of Treasures Street were seated at Zohaib’s hearth.”

They were among those that bumped hips and shoulders on the way home, back then.

Before he could ruminate any further, Alhaitham was pulled out of the memory by a dull thunk on hardwood. Noor was setting a tall and slim drinking glass in front of him, next to a bottle of clear liquor that smelled distinctly of star anise. He recognized it instantly. This alcohol wasn’t something that could be swallowed down quickly -- nor was it something that could be enjoyed without good company -- a choice that effectively pinned Alhaitham here for the night. He almost told her to bring out something else, something a little less damning, but then Noor was pouring. A shining stream of raki adopted a new form little more than halfway up the glass, eliciting a silent sigh from its intended; he had long known this, but Noor had a heavier hand than her father. Given the way she was settling the bottle of alcohol into a home of ice and pushing a second glass toward Kaveh, she expected Alhaitham to not only have more than one drink but to also share.

Implying he and Kaveh were friends.

Resigning to his fate, Alhaitham accepted the originally transparent liquor once water was added to fill the remainder of the glass. The reaction triggered its transformation into a cloudy white. Lion’s Milk, as this drink was sometimes called, played a significant role in Sumeru’s history and culture that was known to every adult of drinking age. It was widely believed to lead its partaker to the well of wisdom, having initially flowed between Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and her confidants. In reality, it led to oneself and to the hearts of others. When shared with the closest of friends -- or at least those who wished to deepen their bonds -- it was less like drinking and more like uncovering one’s life.

Did Noor hope that by guiding the two of them to the sanctuary of the raki table, they would reconcile their differences? Alhaitham almost smiled at the thought. She must believe Kaveh would pick up the other glass.

He would not.

Instead, Kaveh simply pushed nearer to him a half platter of meze -- cold cut meats, pickled cabbage and tomato, and crumbling feta cheese -- clearly leftover from his earlier entertainment. Alhaitham picked his favorites silently, lending an ear as the other launched into a vivid tale of the night’s celebrations. Around the pair, the festivities continued to rise and fall, sometimes bringing with it a familiar face who would clap Kaveh on the back in congratulations and nod in stiff greeting to his odd companion. It wasn’t long before Zohaib made his entrance, earning the respect and awe of the crowded tavern with his talented fingers. As he performed, the man was seated on an aged, handwoven rug, his bare feet crossed and tucked underneath him and his sitar balanced in his lap. 

He was winding down with a nostalgic tune by the time most of the revelers filtered out, leaving behind both faithful regulars and those that sought trouble in long nights. Alhaitham believed himself to be part of the former, but looking at the way the low, warm light of the tavern glinted off of Kaveh’s golden hair, he was likely one of the latter.

“I know this song,” comes a murmur, drawing Alhaitham’s attention. “It’s Thoughts and Prayers, he’s played it every night that you and I-”

Alhaitham didn’t wait for the end of a sentence he knew would never come. Kaveh was always like that; starting things and leaving them unfinished. Projects, papers, people. And since it was always like that, Alhaitham pretended he hadn’t heard a thing.

Zohaib played on. Alhaitham briefly wondered who the old man was praying for, then put the thought to rest and glanced helplessly at the empty glass caught between his lawless hands. He knew his thoughts were gradually unwinding. The more loose the thread of his control became, the more Alhaitham remembered. Maybe the last time they shared drinks as real friends -- not like this, no, it was never like this -- was when that little senior from Harvatat had humbled them both into drowning their sorrows. Even back then, Alhaitham had been powerless against Kaveh’s every expression, when it mattered; if someone dared to hurt his pride, it was Alhaitham who came to his defense before any other. But that had come to an end long before tonight. He surmised this evening would simply be the last they actually spent in each other’s company. If Alhaitham’s assumptions were correct, their rotten connection would thin out from here on, until eventually the thread snapped and they passed each other on the street with hardly a greeting, just like strangers. There would be nothing binding them together come morning, after all.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Alhaitham spared Kaveh a sidelong glance, finding the other full of fond smiles for the live performance. The cocktail he was currently tracing a finger around was called Sleepless Night, according to Noor. She had presented it to them just as the sun began slipping beneath the tavern’s stained glass window panes. A bittersweet, amber-colored liquor -- more sugar than it was alcohol, she explained -- sat beneath a less dense gin that had been infused with padisarahs, dyeing it a remarkable shade of violet. They had watched her carefully pour the twilight-colored gin over a spoon to prevent the two alcohols from mixing, her technique allowing one layer to float atop the other. As the name suggested, the end product vaguely invoked the image of the sun chasing away a long night, though Alhaitham was of the opinion that a gradient of color would be a more suitable representation. Of course, Kaveh instantly fancied the novelty of it all, singing praises for cleverness in simple affairs just as those affiliated with the Kshahrewar Darshan were prone to do. 

But then Noor’s shift ended, and her father, Lambad, took her place. He was much louder and more boisterous than his daughter, thanking them for five years of patronage and lining up Sleepless Night after Sleepless Night for Kaveh like some kind of inside joke. It wasn’t until Alhaitham saw the man crafting the same cocktail for some of the other Akademiya students still lingering in the tavern that he understood a joke was exactly what he intended.

Zohaib’s performance was over for the night, leaving nothing to distract Kaveh from poking curiously (both figuratively and literally) at his mostly mute companion. The voices and laughter of the other patrons faded away into distant murmurs whenever he looked at Alhaitham. It was almost awkward; no matter how often Kaveh’s attention wandered -- drawn by a particularly loud cheer or the seductive menu options Lambad provided --  his gaze would inevitably return to Alhaitham’s profile, and no amount of careful consideration on the other’s part would tell him why. 

“Do you know about the Kármán Line?” Kaveh asked, apropos of nothing and almost certainly drunk.

He was leaning his cheek against the surface of the crystal single rocks glass dangling from his fingertips, causing the ice inside to shift and clink. Alhaitham didn’t doubt the chill felt soothing against his heated skin. With how long they’d been drinking together here, he suspected his own complexion was no better -- but that was fine. He soon caught himself staring at the alluring flush that had risen to Kaveh’s cheeks instead of answering.

The other was still looking at him, garnet eyes suddenly filling Alhaitham’s vision as if to enchant and consume. This close, they appeared to be refracting the warm-toned lights of the bar. “A Rtawahist girl explained it to me the other day,” he revealed, leaning closer into his personal space with a saucy smile. His shoulder was shoving hard enough into Alhaitham’s that they were both at risk of falling right off their bar stools. But then Kaveh abruptly pulled away, propping an elbow onto the gleaming hardwood of the bartop to admire his cocktail under the lights. “It’s the line dividing the atmosphere and outer space. Just like this drink you bought me,” he said, punctuating his next words by tapping a fingernail against each of the colors in his layered drink. “Clearly divided.”

The look that Kaveh offered him then was utterly unreadable. All the other could glean from its surface was a melancholy he could not understand, forcing emotion to swell at the base of his throat and crawl desperately upward. The words would die there, however, leaving rot to coat his entire mouth just as they always did. Alhaitham’s stilled tongue would continue to struggle against the loss of words left unsaid until the two-toned cocktail appeared under his nose. He blinked down at it for a moment, then followed the extended arm to the rosy cheeks of his senior, who was now sprawled lazily across the bartop.

The noise of the tavern fell away, reduced to nothing by the sound of ice against glass.

Kaveh grinned audaciously when their eyes met, unstoppable meteorite to voracious atmosphere. Alhaitham wondered if he had finally realized that was the one expression that would make him agree to anything. It was inevitable, then: the curl of his fingers around Kaveh’s wrist to keep them both steady. Unlike earlier, Alhaitham had no trouble discerning the other’s thoughts from his face.

Sugared padisarahs bloomed over his tongue and down his throat the moment Alhaitham drank from the glass, washing away the rot that had threatened to choke him. Kaveh soon followed his lead, gaze never once straying from his own. Mercifully, he didn’t shake off Alhaitham’s hold on his wrist. He didn’t say anything, either. Kaveh was unfair like that; he would not share raki with Alhaitham and uncover their lives, but he would touch their lips to the same glass and leave no choice other than to partake. It was almost a relief that tonight was the end.

Tomorrow, Kaveh would wake to a promising life as a fresh graduate of the Akademiya, leaving Alhaitham behind in a system that did not appreciate him.

Kaveh must see something of this in his expression because he bursts into spirited laughter, prompting Alhaitham to release his wrist and wipe the hand that held it down the length of the other’s thigh -- as if disgusted by the extended contact. Unfortunately for him, the wrath and offense Alhaitham hoped to incur never came; Kaveh found the truth of his feelings in the redness of his ears.

“I’m happy,” he declared instead, loud enough to garner a few curious glances in their direction. “I’m very happy! To think even you would feel lonely at my graduation.”

“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re saying,” Alhaitham immediately argued. “Senior, you’ve had too much to drink. Shall I take you home?” he asked, tone honey-sweet and the perfect picture of a concerned underclassman.

Kaveh outright laughed in his face.

If he leaned any closer, Alhaitham would seriously plant a hand on that stupid face and push until the venerable Light of Kshahrewar fell clean off his bar stool and into an embarrassing heap on the floor, his much-anticipated graduation day be damned.

As if he saw that thought on Alhaitham’s face as well, Kaveh snatched his treacherous hand out of the air. His fingers played with and gradually tamed Alhaitham’s own, stunning him into compliance. “Sure, Alhaitham. Take me home,” Kaveh murmured, smiling at him from underneath golden lashes. “But when you graduate next year, it will be the other way around!”

It was not the first promise that Kaveh failed to keep.

[seijorhi]

Hi Rhi, happy Thursday :)) Time for a break and Artemis's Thursday Rants and Raves of the Collection of Seijorhi's Works <33

I've been re-entering my Haikyuu phase (I've never left it), so obviously I had to reread a few of your Karasuno fics, and your Sugawara fic, Safe, is just so incredible

I love when your yanderes are borderline delusional, but also not??

Because Sugawara convinces himself that the reader will end up a bloody pulp if he isn't there to help, but he's also aware enough of the fact that she absolutely despises him

And he's so patronising, I love it - typically I'm not one for infantilization, but when it's done like that, like you can't survive a day without me because you're so fragile and breakable, then I don't mind so much

It's almost humiliating, but I think that that's part of the appeal

On that same note, the mental (and physical) strain of being so policed, of being treated as if you're incapable, and the way it'll eventually wear you down and whittle away at your psyche - amazing

I love the fic and I love Sugawara and I love you Rhi

Have a wonderful week and get lots of rest :))

Also its my birthday this month and all the fics you have lined up feels like a little present from you - especially the event you're writing for, I'm so excited (this isn't me being entitled or weird, I promise) <33

Heyy birthday month twins!!! <33

Tbh, infantilisation is one of those things for me where there is a very, very fine line between what I like and what makes me wanna cringe/cry/instantly dry my pussy up. And I tend to be on the milder side of that. Like I am useless and barely making it through adulthood in one piece and wanna be taken care of, but I don’t wanna be babied.

However. HOWEVER, there is smt about bastard suga being so condescending that makes me wanna simultaneously rip my hair out but is also kinda 👁️ you know?? Anyway, that’s where this ficlet came from hahaha

Also I do think it’s kinda funny that I started hq thinking that suga was gonna be The One… and then came oikawa <33

I love you too, bby!! I hope the rest of your week goes well!!

[random-thought-depository]

Some notes for this project, specifically about those people's home planet.

Tentatively orbits the star Tau Ceti, though I might move it somewhere farther away if it strains credulity too much that a radio-emitting civilization there wouldn't be detected by real life radio astronomy or if somebody finds an unsuitable planet between e and f (82 Eridani, a broadly similar star, is a possible secondary candidate).

Tau Ceti is a dimmer, older, and less metal-rich star than Sol. For approximately Earth-equivalent illumination, this planet will have to orbit between planets e and f, at around .7-.8 AU from the star. This implies a year length between 7 and 10 months. It's Earth-like, so day/night cycle will be similar to Earth. Axis obliquity is somewhat less than Earth's, but still enough for very noticeable seasons (so maybe something like 15 degrees).

An older and less metal-rich star also likely means a less massive, less metal-rich and less dense planet. Earth's density is 5.5 g/cm^3, Mars's density is 3.9 g/cm^3, this planet will probably be more dense than Mars just because it's bigger and has more gravity and it might be somewhat more metal-rich, let's give this planet a density halfway between Earth and Mars; 4.7 g/cm^3 and about 70% of Earth's mass. If I've done my math right, it will have a diameter of 5900 km (.93 Earth diameters), a surface area of 441 million square kilometers (about 87% of Earth's surface area), and a surface gravity of .8 G (7.9 m/s^2). I might end up making it bigger and heavier gravity though, I dunno, these are just tentative figures. The planet has no moons (no natural ones, anyway, but nowadays there are many artificial space stations and satellites).

This planet has less land than Earth, both in absolute terms and relative to its surface area. I'm going to say its surface area is 75% ocean and 25% land (compared to Earth's 70% ocean and 30% land). That would mean it has a land surface of about 110 million square kilometers (Earth's land surface is about 150 million square kilometers).

This planet being smaller, less metal-rich (and hence less rich in radioactive heavy elements), and older than Earth, one would expect it to have a cooler interior and less geologic activity, which would imply relatively little surface volcanism and mountain-building and probably low atmospheric carbon dioxide. This suggests a cool world with lots of heavily eroded flat ancient terrain, probably mostly covered by ocean because most of the continental crust has been eroded down to below sea level. And it probably did look like that forty million years ago. However...

I'm tentatively going to suggest that, as this planet's interior cools, it's entered something a bit like a much milder and less violent version of Venus's stagnant lid/global melt cycle. There are long periods of low activity in which plate tectonics is slow or even "locks up" entirely, but during these eras the crust thickens and internal heat is unable to fully escape and builds up until it "breaks through" in a dramatic temporary spike in plate boundary activity, hotspot volcanism, new rifting, and wrinkling/deformation of the crust (this cools the interior until the planet becomes relatively quiescent again, restarting the cycle). The planet is presently in one of these spikes of increased geologic activity, and has been for at least the last 10-20 million years. This sounds bad, but it's actually mostly good; all this geologic activity creates new land and new fertile soil (and fertilizes the ocean too) and releases carbon dioxide, which warms the planet and fertilizes the plants. Biomass is probably way up compared to what it was a few tens of millions of years ago.

The oceans are actually shallower than Earth's, but the average height of the continental platforms relative to the abyssal plains is lower, so relative to the average height of the continental platforms sea levels are higher. Actual land is maybe 25% of the planet and much of it is relatively young and rugged, but these relatively small and young continents are surrounded by extensive shallow seas that cover ancient heavily eroded shallowly submerged plains (so kind of like Cretaceous Earth). The result is fractal coastlines with lots of peninsulas, bays, and offshore islands.

The spike in geologic activity also means a recent and ongoing spike in island arc formation and mid-ocean hotspot volcanism; oceanic crust is relatively thin, so the internal heat is mostly "breaking through" there. The shallower ocean means more volcanic mountains and highlands get tall enough to poke out above sea level, and when they do the resulting islands are bigger and take longer to erode away when plate tectonics moves them away from the hotspot. More-or-less every major ocean is island-dotted in the way our Pacific is, and with more and bigger islands than in our Polynesia. The increased island arc formation and shallower oceans also means lots of substantial offshore archipelagos.

The continental crust is highly fragmented, i.e. there are a bunch of continents and they're separated by pretty wide oceans in most places. However, they have a bunch of peninsulas and island chains extending out from them, and the continental configuration is such that from a statistically average spot on the planet's land surface it's possible to access most of the major lands on the planet without extensive ocean crossings, just crossing narrow straights or island-hopping along island chains.

The high carbon dioxide means a warm hothouse climate, kind of like Cretaceous Earth. This contributes to the ease of moving around the planet without long ocean crossings; if Earth had a climate like this planet (but still had humans), Alaska, eastern Siberia, Kamchatka, and the Aleutians would be a heavily developed and densely populated area and a historical cross-roads of trade, migration, and cultural exchange.

I'm not sure how the productivity of hothouse world open oceans would compare to those of our world, but I think the extensive shallow seas of this world might be quite rich with life. The warm climate should enable coral reefs (or equivalent bio-communities) to grow farther north and south than in our world, I think? And the shallow seas will be enriched by run-off from the continents and will have large areas where the sea bottom is close enough to the surface to receive some sunlight. I think this would be another factor encouraging precocious development of water-craft; coastal peoples will be tempted to sail deeper into these shallow seas by opportunities to fish and to hunt big ocean creatures. A lot of these shallow seas would also be kind of sheltered, lots of them will be basically big bays or even basically inland seas in the middle of continents with only narrow inlets/outlets to the ocean; imagine if the Caspian and Aral Seas connected to the Black Sea and to each other. This, incidentally, will be a big factor making the planet more habitable; lots of areas that would otherwise be arid continental interiors will have a big inland sea connected to the ocean there, moderating temperatures and generating rain. Imagine if Australia has a nice big inland sea in the middle of the Outback, connected to the ocean. Similarly, as on Earth, lots of those volcanic islands in the middle of the ocean will have coral reefs (or equivalent bio-communities) around them, so the oceans will be at least nicely dotted with oasis of bio-productivity.

I don't really have a very solid idea of what biome distribution would look like on a hothouse climate planet; best source of information I can find about it is this. Going off what I have read...

Assuming fragmented continental configuration, climate belts would be broadly similar to Earth. There'd be a humid belt at the equator, then arid belts around 10-30 N and 10-30 S, and then the temperate zones poleward of 30-40 N/S would be wetter and mostly warm.

The tropics and subtropics would be the least different from Earth, somewhat hotter than equivalent regions on Earth but not by very much; the big difference between hothouse and icehouse climates is icehouse climates have a much bigger equator-to-pole temperature difference. I think it might be a toss-up whether the tropics and subtropics of a hothouse world would be more or less habitable than ours. On the one hand, really extreme heat would be more of a problem, and hot air can hold more water which might mean less rain, and the greater heat would supercharge storms. On the other hand, a hotter climate would mean more evaporation from the oceans, which might mean more rain, and hotter air being able to hold more water might mean more rain gets to continental interiors. On Earth, the ice ages were cold and dry.

A hotter climate might also mean a poleward expansion of the Hadley cells and thus a poleward expansion of the arid zone, so the latitudes that are temperate on Earth (30-50 N and 30-50 S) might be more arid in a hothouse world. Those Cretaceous climate maps do give the impression of a wide arid belt, especially in the southern hemisphere, though the northern temperate zone, which is a better analogy for this planet, looks relatively wet. I think this effect might be more pronounced on the west side of continents? On Earth, that's where you get summer-dry Mediterranean climates. So maybe a hothouse world would have something like a summer-dry Mediterranean belt on steroids? The west side of continents between 30-50 N and 30-50 S might be hot and summer-dry/winter-wet and have lots of dry forest, open woodland, grassland, scrub, desert, and semi-desert? Then again, Earth precedent might be misleading here, I'm really not sure about this.

I think the wetter parts of the 30-50 N and 30-50 S zone would have a climate kind of like southern China or the US southeast?

The far south and far north would be wet. The impression I get is in the Cretaceous the polar lands were forested and warm in summer but cold and snowy in winter; I think Yunnan and Appalachia might be the best modern analogy? If there are any permanent glaciers on a hothouse world, they'll probably be on high mountains in the far south and far north.

Applying this to the Tau Ceti planet, a world inhabited by humans (though not Homo sapiens)...

I'm going to go out on a limb and say their tropics and subtropics overall trend kind of nicer than ours, though it's a mixed bag. The continental configuration means much of the land has a wet maritime climate, and it helps that their biggest continent has a mountain, highland, and desert complex that generates an effect similar to the Asian monsoon and draws a lot of rain to its south. The abundant volcanic soil ameliorates one of the major downsides of Earth's tropics, the tendency of tropical jungles to have poor soil (this probably does a lot to make this planet more habitable in general). Humans are different enough from the native animals biologically that disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi, animal parasites, etc. adapted to parasitize off them mostly can't infect us, which means much less tropical disease. Still, I think the majority of the planet's population might live in the temperate regions, because they're cooler and wetter.

I'm going to say there's not very much land in the polar regions. But I think the far northern and far southern lands that do exist may be important cross-roads of trade, migration, and cultural exchange. The circumference of a planet at 60 N or 60 S is half of its equatorial circumference. So the far northern and far southern regions are likely to be places where otherwise widely separated continents almost touch and where ocean crossings are relatively easy.

You can see this effect even on Earth. When humans reached the Americas, they did so by crossing Beringia, near the north pole. The first visitors from the east were probably the Vikings, who also followed a far northern route, island-hopping from Europe to Iceland to Greenland to what's now Canada. But on Earth the usefulness of these northern routes was limited by cold. On the Tau Ceti planet, equivalent routes will pass through much friendlier territory and be much more useful.

Imagine this planet's equivalent of Anchorage, Alaska. It's a big thriving mega-city; not quite as impressive as the biggest cities of the temperate and tropical lands, but with almost ten million inhabitants it's comparable to New York. It's also one of the oldest cities on the planet; it was founded in the fifth millennium BCE, before the construction of the Great Pyramids on Earth, and it's been getting rich off trade ever since. It's in a densely populated and highly developed area that's been a crossroads of trade, migration, and cultural exchange for millennia. Since prehistoric times voyagers in water craft suitable for short ocean crossings of dozens of kilometers have travelled west along the long peninsula this city sits on and then "island-hopped" along the long chain of islands that bridges the thousand kilometer gap between two continents, or made the symmetrical opposite journey from the other continent. Tourists visit royal tombs almost as old as the Great Pyramid, then get their photo taken in front of the distinctive city hall, which was built in 2052 (CE) and houses an administration that claims continuity, admittedly very tenuously, with the monarchs those ancient tombs were built for. The southern aurorae, fascinating museums, and vibrant night life are said to be well worth the discomfort of visiting in winter, when the city endures months of continuous chilly night but its bustling port remains busy thanks to brilliant illumination provided by powerful electric lights.

As I said, the geography of this planet will encourage precocious development of boats and sea travel. And I think these people will have some biological factors that may encourage precocious technological development. They also had a more intense and hence faster self-domestication process, which means they're probably in a sense an older species than us, having developed their present anatomical form long before we did. On the flipside, easy birth control, strong particularist/localist solidarity, and possibly a stronger tendency toward long term thinking may have meant a tendency to get stuck in high equilibrium traps.

Put this together, and I think these people may have developed some capacity for deep ocean voyaging tens or even hundreds of thousands of years ago. I don't think they'd have colonized all the ocean islands that early, but they have some populations that have a kind of floresiensis-like history of having spent thousands of generations as island-dwellers. Some of these populations have started evolving in the same general direction floresiensis did; they haven't had time or evolutionary impetus to get as extreme as floresiensis did, but they are noticeably smaller than the mainlanders.

Also, the way I imagine this species behaving might lead to long-established island populations getting a bit weird. These people have totally the kind of society where a woman might have a couple of kids with her regular partner and one kid with the one guy in her village who has red hair cause she thinks that's exotic and cute and sexy. Zoom out from that a bit and you have harmless minor mutations being promoted by sexual selection, leading to increased physical diversity. Have that happen in a population scattered across fifty islands with not a lot of gene flow between them, and you might have a recipe for relatively rapid divergence into fifty quite physically distinct populations.

And I think the islands might have been hotbeds of early cultural and technological innovation. Before motorized transport, long distance transport over water was much easier than long distance transport over land. Island and coastal communities had access to food from the sea and thus they tended to be bigger than inlander communities, more likely to stay year-round in a single location, and better able to support specialists.

With relatively easy birth control, these people are less likely to be pushed to become intensive farmers by population pressure than we were. Instead, I think on their world intensive agriculture might have developed through a "beer came first" pathway in which the initial impetus was provision of special foods for feasting events which enhanced community solidarity and the prestige and power of a leader. And I think that likely happened first in island and coastal communities.

If islanders developed intensive agriculture first, they might have spread back to the continents as farmer-settlers and there ended up eventually outnumbering and absorbing a lot of the original continental populations (because the inlanders weren't farmers or farmed at lower intensity so their populations were less dense).

Islanders might also have been the first to develop kingdom-equivalents, i.e. military organizations and systems of socio-political control that scale up relatively easily, which is another advantage they might have had over continentals early in the history of civilization.

This planet also may have at least one continent that's somewhat isolated from the rest, like Jaredia's Tropica. This continent may have stayed uninhabited until people capable of far-ranging ocean voyages reached it - meaning it likely got settled by one branch or another of the islanders. Alternately, humans on this world might have started out on a single relatively isolated continent, with the rest of the world being settled by various branches of the islanders.

[paras0xdreamer]

Superior Quality Trampolines

Buying a trampoline can be a shrewd long haul speculation on the off chance that the customer is educated on what a top notch trampoline comprises of. A trampoline ought not be considered an impermanent thing for diversion. Rather it ought to be seen as a buy that will give numerous long stretches of holding encounters click here to learn more and inspiring recollections. It is consistently helpful for the customer to be educated on what a great trampoline comprises of so a shrewd buy can be made.

The most widely recognized shapes offered are round and rectangular. Round shapes are usually the spending plan well disposed choice because they are more successful for makers to create. Rectangular shapes require sturdier casing materials because of the unnecessary pressure put on the edge in unambiguous regions. The sturdy material required usually adds to rectangular shapes being more costly than round shapes. The sturdier development expected for rectangular shapes really does regularly permit them to outlive round shapes. Rectangular trampoline are for the most part used for athletic purposes because of their superior development and execution. Because of the plan of the trampoline the effect is circulated, putting less weight on the springs. Round shapes are frequently used for sporting purposes. The presentation of round trampolines varies from that of rectangular because with each bob all springs are pulled from different bearings, causing expanded weight on the springs.

One variable that most trampoline customers are new to in deciding its quality is spring length. It is critical to recollect that more extended springs give a milder skip permitting the jumper to bob higher. Shorter springs give a shallow shocking skip and furthermore require substitution more regularly. Because of how effectively shorter springs pull, they are substantially less versatile to grown-up jumpers. Normally for sizes going from 12 feet to 16 feet, 7 inch to 8.5 inch springs are a decent length to have. Assuming conceivable keep away from trampolines with springs shorter than 7 inches. These springs would be considered "short springs" by the trampoline industry. Shorter springs are regularly tracked down on current delivered trampolines and really mirror the quality. In the event that you currently own a trampoline which has shorter springs you can constantly overhaul your spring length, yet can do so while supplanting your mat (the hopping surface). A mat substitution is required while changing spring length because the mat size should be adjusted to make the right measure of strain for the mat and springs.

[drymushroommagic]

African Transkei Mushrooms: A Guide to the Potent Psilocybin Variety

African Transkei mushrooms, also called Transkei Cubensis, are a particular variety of Psilocybe cubensis that come from the Transkei region of South Africa. These mushrooms are well-known for their cultural significance, mild potency, and striking visual effects. The African Transkei strain is becoming a popular option for people looking for both visual and euphoric experiences as psychedelics acquire recognition for their therapeutic and contemplative qualities.

The origins, effects, and safe use of African Transkei mushrooms are examined in this article, along with tips for users who might be curious about their unique characteristics.

What Are African Transkei Mushrooms?

Psilocybin and psilocin are the primary active ingredients in African Transkei mushrooms, a type of hallucinogenic Psilocybe cubensis. These mushrooms have medium-sized caps and narrow stems. They can have a variety of colors, but after being picked or handled, they frequently take on a distinctive bluish hue. They are well-liked by recreational and spiritual users due to their effects, including brilliant colors, improved emotional perception, and visual upgrades.

Features of Transkei Mushrooms in Africa:

Origin: Indigenous to the Transkei region of South Africa.

Appearance: Look for Medium-sized crowns on thin stems that frequently turn bluish when injured.

Strength: A balanced psychedelic experience with moderate strength.

Special Effects: renowned for their strong visual effects and increased sensitivity to stimuli.

History and Cultural Context

The Transkei region of South Africa, a coastal location renowned for its rich biodiversity and cultural legacy, is where the African Transkei mushroom strain was initially found. The strain has been grown all over the world since it was gathered in the wild. In line with the increased interest in psychedelics for spiritual experiences, some people think that the Transkei Cubensis has cultural and spiritual importance in the area where it was discovered.

African Transkei mushrooms are now well-known worldwide because of their distinctive effects and their colorful, frequently nature-inspired sensations.

African Transkei Mushrooms’ Effects

African Transkei mushrooms are renowned for their unique effects, especially their euphoric and visual benefits. They are an excellent option for individuals looking for a reflective yet controllable experience because the effects are frequently milder than those of other muscular strains.

Key Effects Include:

Improved Visuals: Perfect for outdoor adventures, colors seem brighter and more vivid, and users report noticing patterns and motions in natural environments.

Increased Emotional Perception: People frequently experience a closer bond with their feelings, which can result in self-discovery or a sense of oneness with their surroundings.

Physical Sensations: A nice body high, marked by relaxation and a warm, euphoric feeling, is reported by some users.

Creativity and Introspection: Transkei mushrooms are well-known for promoting creative and reflective thinking, making them appropriate for artistic endeavors and introspection.

Considerations for Dosage and Duration:

Depending on dosage and personal tolerance, the African Transkei mushroom experience usually lasts four to six hours. While greater dosages (2.5 grams or more) can result in more robust visual and sensory experiences, a moderate dose of 1.5 to 2 grams is typically enough to elicit noticeable effects.

Note: If you're curious to try African Transkei mushrooms, click here to see our available options.

Guidelines for Safety and Usage

When utilizing African Transkei mushrooms, safety is crucial, just like with any other psychedelic. The following are essential factors for safe use:

1. Context and Goals

The experience can be improved, and adverse effects can be reduced in a cozy and secure setting. Utilizing Transkei mushrooms in an artistic or natural environment can enhance the visual experience since they enhance it. Establishing a purpose or objective for the experience, like creativity or self-discovery, can also assist in steering the journey in the right way.

2. Take a Low Dose First

It’s better to start with a lesser dose (around 1 gram) for people who are new to psychedelics so you can see how your body responds. Although the potency of African Transkei mushrooms may be mild, individual responses can differ significantly.

3. Avoid Mixing with Other Substances

Psychedelics can have unpredictable side effects and raise the risk of anxiety or disorientation when combined with other substances like alcohol, cannabis, or other narcotics.

4. Think About Getting a Sitter

If the experience becomes too much to handle, a sober “sitter” or trustworthy friend can offer comfort, support, and guidance through challenging times.

Possible Therapeutic Advantages

The chemical ingredient psilocybin has demonstrated therapeutic potential in the treatment of mental health issues despite the lack of scientific research on African Transkei mushrooms in particular. The effects of psilocybin on anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other disorders are being investigated. After their experiences, many users claim mental clarity, emotional breakthroughs, and a sense of release from stress and anxiety, even if the therapeutic use of African Transkei mushrooms is still primarily anecdotal.

Therapeutic Benefits of Psilocybin Mushrooms Include:

Reducing Anxiety and Depression Symptoms: Psilocybin is supposed to encourage new ways of thinking, which aids people in processing challenging emotions.

Improving Creativity and Problem Solving: Psilocybin’s altered perspective might inspire original ideas and solutions for problems in one’s personal or professional life.

Encouraging Spiritual and Personal Development: Many users share stories that help them better understand who they are and where they fit.

Legality and Access to African Transkei Mushrooms

By nation and area, African Transkei mushrooms have somewhat different legal statuses. While psilocybin mushrooms are strictly illegal in certain places, they are decriminalized or authorized for medicinal use in others. Becoming informed about local laws and regulations is crucial if you plan to try Transkei mushrooms.

Overview of Current Legal Status:

United States: Although some states and localities have decriminalized the use of psilocybin, it is still unlawful at the federal level.

Canada: In some circumstances, psilocybin may be allowed for medicinal use.

Europe: Laws differ by nation; in the Netherlands, psilocybin truffles are permitted.

Getting African Transkei mushrooms should always be done carefully and, if at all possible, legally due to their variable legality.

FAQ’s

1. What distinguishes African Transkei mushrooms from other types of hallucinogenic mushrooms?

Transkei mushrooms from Africa are renowned for their unique aesthetic characteristics and mild strength. They are more accessible for those seeking balanced effects since they provide an experience that improves visual perception and contemplative thoughts without the strong potency of other strains like Penis Envy.

2. What is the recommended dosage for African Transkei mushrooms?

1.5 to 2 grams is advised for a moderate experience. To determine their tolerance, beginners may begin with 1 gram, while more seasoned users may use 2.5 grams or more for a more potent effect. However, because sensitivity varies from person to person, always proceed with caution.

3. Does the use of African Transkei mushrooms carry any risks?

African Transkei mushrooms, like other psychedelics, might make you feel queasy, anxious, or confused, especially if you take a lot of them. These hazards can be reduced with the right environment, attitude, and sober sitter. Avoiding combining with other substances is also advised.

4. Are African Transkei mushrooms suitable for medicinal use?

Although there isn’t much scientific data, psilocybin mushrooms generally have shown potential in treating PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Although many users report therapeutic benefits, it is usually advisable to seek these effects in controlled settings and under physician supervision.

Conclusion

Transkei mushrooms from Africa provide a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing psychedelic experience. They are an approachable option for novice and experienced users wishing to investigate the effects of psilocybin in a calm, contemplative environment due to their modest potency. As always, the secret to having a good experience with African Transkei mushrooms is knowing the dosage, possible side effects, and safety precautions.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Quebec COVID-19 summer wave more lethal than last year's - Published Aug 29, 2024

Quebec’s summer COVID-19 wave has proved to be far deadlier than last year’s, defying expectations that the virus that causes it is somehow growing milder, suggest the latest Health Ministry figures.

As the KP.3.1.1. variant has become predominant in Quebec, as is the case elsewhere in North America, the province recorded 117 deaths linked to COVID-19 for the month of August (as of Aug. 24), compared with 88 such fatalities for the whole month last year. In July, there were 109 deaths compared with 46 for the same month in 2023.

Preliminary research has shown that although the KP.3.1.1 strain is not more virulent than previous variants, it is more contagious. In Quebec, this is reflected in the fact that the positivity rate among those tested for COVID-19 is now 23.7 per cent, the highest it’s been since the winter resurgence of December 2023.

In addition, Quebec declared a total of 1,322 hospitalizations with and for COVID-19 as of Aug. 27, compared with 985 hospitalizations on the corresponding date last year. The province was also battling outbreaks in 159 long-term care centres and hospitals as of Aug. 19 (the most recent date available), in contrast with fewer than a hundred on the same date last year.

“ I think those numbers are concerning,” said Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious diseases specialist at the McGill University Health Centre. “ First, SARS-COV2 (the virus that causes COVID) is still circulating. Secondly, there clearly remain many people at risk for severe disease.” More Quebecers in their 80s died from COVID-19, followed by those in their 90s, the numbers show. However, the multi-system disease has also killed people in younger age groups, including 34 in their 50s, nine in their 40s and one in their 30s, according to Quebec’s public health institute. (Those figures run from Aug. 27 last year to the same date this year.)

“The virus is not becoming more benign,” Vinh explained. “Some had proposed that the virus would become somehow attenuated as it propagated through human populations, which is a notion that is erroneously extrapolated by what is seen in certain settings, where a microbe can be passaged in cells, and over many passages/generations, a weaker version could be appear. That doesn’t work in humans because humans are not single-celled organisms in a test tube, and humans very much can get sick in the process of propagation/passaging as the mortality rates would suggest.”

Despite the higher COVID-19 summer mortality rates in Quebec this year, more people died from the disease in the months of July and August of 2022, when Omicron subvariants first swept the province. But the latest figures nonetheless do not augur well for the the fall season as more people head indoors and the school season resumes .

Just last week, the Laval health authority re-introduced masks for employees and patients in its health facilities. However, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry told The Gazette the government is not planning any new public-health measures.

“In the context of the back-to-school period, the (Health Ministry) continues to monitor the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 closely,” Francis Martel said in an email. “Although this no longer requires the emergency health measures that were in place at the time of the pandemic (such as isolation measures or travel restrictions, for example), individual actions to prevent the transmission of infections remain important.”

Meanwhile, Health Canada is reviewing submissions by Pfizer and Moderna for updated vaccines that target the KP.2 variant. Although not an exact match for KP.3.1.1, those shots should nonetheless provide protection against severe disease that may be caused by the latest variants. In July, Quebec’s immunization committee released its COVID-19 vaccine guidelines, recommending the shots for people who are at least 60; those living in long-term care homes; people who are living with chronic illnesses; those who are pregnant; and health-care workers.

[faeffg]

Exploring the Vibrant CBD and Marijuana Scene in Seattle

The Rise of CBD in Seattle

Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is one of the many compounds found in the cannabis plant. Unlike its psychoactive counterpart, THC, CBD does not produce a "high" but offers a range of therapeutic benefits. In recent years, the demand for CBD products has surged, and CBD Seattle has become a keyword synonymous with quality and variety.

The appeal of CBD lies in its potential health benefits. Many users turn to CBD to alleviate anxiety, reduce inflammation, and improve sleep quality. As research continues to unfold, more people are discovering the benefits of incorporating CBD into their daily routines. In Seattle, the local market is flooded with a plethora of options, from oils and tinctures to edibles and topical creams, catering to the diverse needs of consumers.

Seattle's Legal Marijuana Landscape

Washington State was one of the pioneers in legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012. Since then, Seattle marijuana has flourished, creating a vibrant and diverse industry. With strict regulations in place, the market ensures that consumers have access to safe and tested products. This legal framework has paved the way for a culture that celebrates cannabis as both a therapeutic and recreational substance.

Seattle boasts numerous dispensaries, each offering a unique selection of marijuana products. From high-THC strains to low-THC options for those seeking milder effects, consumers have the freedom to choose what suits their needs best. The legalization of marijuana has also led to an increase in educational resources, helping individuals make informed decisions about their consumption.

The Benefits of CBD Products

As the CBD market continues to expand, more individuals in Seattle are becoming aware of the potential benefits of using CBD products. Studies suggest that CBD may help with a variety of health issues, making it a popular choice for those looking for natural remedies. Some of the key benefits include:

Anxiety and Stress Relief: Many people turn to CBD for its calming effects. Research indicates that it may help reduce anxiety levels, making it an attractive option for those dealing with stress in today’s fast-paced world.

Pain Management: CBD is also recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties. Users often report relief from chronic pain conditions, including arthritis and migraines, making it a popular choice among athletes and active individuals.

Improved Sleep: Those struggling with insomnia or other sleep disorders may find relief with CBD. Its calming effects can help ease the mind, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

Support for Overall Wellness: Many Seattle residents are incorporating CBD into their wellness routines as a preventative measure. Whether in the form of supplements or topical applications, CBD is seen as a natural addition to a balanced lifestyle.

Where to Find Quality CBD and Marijuana Products

In the heart of Seattle, the cannabis landscape is rich with options for consumers seeking both CBD and marijuana products. Numerous dispensaries throughout the city provide a wide array of choices, ensuring that everyone can find something that fits their preferences. When searching for CBD Seattle products, consider visiting reputable dispensaries known for their quality and customer service.

It's essential to look for products that are third-party tested, ensuring that they are free from contaminants and accurately labeled. Many dispensaries in Seattle provide lab results, allowing customers to verify the potency and purity of their chosen products. Additionally, knowledgeable staff are often available to guide customers in selecting the best products for their needs.

The Cultural Impact of Cannabis in Seattle

The legalization of marijuana has had a profound impact on Seattle’s culture. Cannabis festivals and events celebrate the diversity of the community, fostering a sense of unity among enthusiasts. These events often feature local vendors, live music, and educational workshops, providing a platform for people to learn about cannabis culture and its benefits.

Moreover, Seattle is home to a growing number of cannabis-related businesses, from wellness companies focused on CBD to gourmet cannabis-infused cuisine. The culinary scene has embraced cannabis, with restaurants experimenting with unique dishes that incorporate marijuana and CBD. This trend not only showcases the versatility of cannabis but also elevates its status within the culinary world.

Challenges and Regulations in the Cannabis Industry

Despite the progress made in the cannabis industry, challenges remain. The federal status of marijuana continues to create a complex legal landscape. While Washington State has embraced legalization, the ongoing prohibition at the federal level poses hurdles for businesses and consumers alike. This duality can affect banking, taxation, and distribution, leading to ongoing discussions about reform.

Additionally, public perception of marijuana is evolving, but stigma persists. Many advocates in Seattle work tirelessly to educate the community about the benefits of cannabis, striving to break down misconceptions. As more people turn toSeattle marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use, efforts to promote understanding and acceptance continue to grow.

[nexzenextracts]

What Do Delta-8 Gummies Do? Uncover Their Effects

Delta-8 THC (Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol) is gaining traction in the world of cannabis and hemp-derived products. Known for its unique effects, Delta-8 offers a middle ground between CBD and the more potent Delta-9 THC. One of the most popular forms of consumption for Delta-8 is through gummies, a convenient and tasty way to enjoy its benefits. But what exactly do Delta-8 gummies do to you? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the science behind Delta-8 THC, its effects on the body and mind, and why it has become a popular choice for many seeking relaxation, relief, and a mild euphoric experience.

Understanding Delta-8 THC: What Makes It Different?

Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. While it is chemically similar to the more well-known Delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, Delta-8 differs in its molecular structure, leading to a milder psychoactive effect. This subtle difference is what makes Delta-8 stand out—it offers a smoother, less intense high than Delta-9, making it appealing to individuals who want the benefits of THC without feeling overwhelmed.

Delta-8 interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for regulating functions such as mood, appetite, pain, and sleep. By binding to the CB1 receptors in the brain and nervous system, Delta-8 THC produces effects similar to those of Delta-9 but with reduced intensity, resulting in a more balanced and controlled experience.

The Effects of Delta-8 Gummies on the Body and Mind

Delta-8 gummies are infused with Delta-8 THC, allowing users to consume the cannabinoid in a precise and convenient dose. But what happens when you eat Delta-8 gummies? Let’s break down the common effects.

1. Mild Euphoria and Relaxation

One of the most notable effects of Delta-8 gummies is the sense of mild euphoria and relaxation they provide. While Delta-9 THC can cause intense feelings of euphoria, which may be overwhelming for some, Delta-8 THC offers a more subtle experience. Users often describe it as a calm, uplifting high that doesn’t impair their ability to function.

This balanced euphoria makes Delta-8 gummies a popular choice for those looking to unwind after a stressful day without the risk of anxiety or paranoia, which can sometimes accompany higher doses of Delta-9 THC.

2. Enhanced Mood and Reduced Stress

Delta-8 THC is known for its potential mood-enhancing properties. For individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, or mood swings, Delta-8 gummies may help promote a sense of calm and well-being. By interacting with the CB1 receptors in the brain, Delta-8 can help regulate mood and stress responses, making it easier to manage the challenges of everyday life.

Many users report feeling more at ease and less overwhelmed by their worries after consuming Delta-8 gummies. While it’s not a cure for anxiety or depression, it can provide temporary relief from negative emotions and promote a more positive mindset.

3. Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

One of the reasons Delta-8 gummies have gained popularity is due to their potential for pain relief. Delta-8 THC has been shown to have analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a promising option for individuals dealing with chronic pain, inflammation, or muscle soreness.

When consumed, Delta-8 gummies can help reduce discomfort in conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or even post-workout soreness. The combination of its relaxing effects and pain-relieving properties allows users to feel more comfortable and enjoy a better quality of life without relying on traditional pharmaceuticals.

4. Improved Focus and Clarity

Unlike Delta-9 THC, which can sometimes cause confusion or foggy thinking, Delta-8 is often reported to improve focus and mental clarity in some users. While this effect can vary depending on the individual, certain strains and formulations of Delta-8 gummies may help enhance concentration and cognitive function.

This makes Delta-8 gummies an appealing option for individuals who want to remain productive while still experiencing the calming and mood-enhancing effects of THC. Whether you’re working on a creative project, studying, or simply want to stay focused during daily tasks, Delta-8 may provide a slight boost in mental sharpness.

5. Increased Appetite (The Munchies)

Much like its cousin Delta-9, Delta-8 THC can stimulate appetite. This effect, commonly known as "the munchies," occurs when Delta-8 interacts with the brain’s hypothalamus, the region responsible for regulating hunger. For individuals with a poor appetite due to medical conditions or treatments like chemotherapy, Delta-8 gummies may help encourage eating and provide a more enjoyable relationship with food.

While increased appetite might be an unwanted side effect for some, it can be beneficial for those looking to regain their hunger or maintain a healthy diet.

6. A Natural Sleep Aid

If you struggle with insomnia or have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, Delta-8 gummies may offer a natural solution. Many users report that Delta-8 helps them relax and fall asleep more easily. The calming effects of Delta-8 THC, combined with its ability to relieve pain and anxiety, create a conducive environment for restful sleep.

Delta-8 gummies are often consumed in the evening to help promote relaxation and support a full night of uninterrupted rest. For individuals who prefer a holistic approach to managing their sleep cycle, Delta-8 THC can be an effective, non-habit-forming alternative to traditional sleep aids.

Potential Side Effects of Delta-8 Gummies

While Delta-8 THC is generally well-tolerated by most individuals, it’s important to be aware of potential side effects. Some users may experience:

Dry mouth and dry eyes: Like other cannabinoids, Delta-8 may cause a temporary feeling of dry mouth or dry eyes. Staying hydrated can help mitigate these effects.

Drowsiness: While Delta-8 is known for its calming effects, higher doses may cause excessive drowsiness. This can be beneficial for sleep but may not be ideal for daytime use if you need to stay alert.

Mild anxiety or paranoia: Although Delta-8 is less likely to cause anxiety compared to Delta-9, some individuals may still experience mild anxiety or paranoia, especially with higher doses.

Impaired motor skills: As a psychoactive compound, Delta-8 THC can impair coordination and reaction time. It’s essential to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery after consuming Delta-8 gummies.

Always start with a lower dose and gradually increase until you find the amount that works best for you. This will help you minimize any potential side effects and maximize the benefits.

How Long Does It Take for Delta-8 Gummies to Take Effect?

The effects of Delta-8 gummies can vary depending on factors such as metabolism, tolerance, and the individual’s experience with cannabinoids. Typically, users begin to feel the effects of Delta-8 gummies within 30 to 90 minutes after consumption. Because gummies are ingested and processed through the digestive system, they take longer to kick in compared to inhaling Delta-8.

However, the effects of Delta-8 gummies also tend to last longer, often providing relief and relaxation for several hours. This makes them an excellent option for individuals seeking sustained effects throughout the day or night.

Is Delta-8 Legal?

Delta-8 THC occupies a legal gray area in many regions. While it is derived from hemp and contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, which makes it compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill in the United States, some states have moved to restrict or ban Delta-8 products. Before purchasing or consuming Delta-8 gummies, it’s important to check the laws in your area to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Final Thoughts: What Do Delta-8 Gummies Do for You?

Delta-8 gummies offer a unique blend of relaxation, mild euphoria, pain relief, and mental clarity, making them an appealing option for a wide range of users. Whether you’re looking to unwind, manage stress, relieve pain, or improve sleep, Delta-8 gummies provide a natural and enjoyable way to enhance your overall well-being.

As with any cannabis or hemp-derived product, it’s essential to start with a low dose and consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about how Delta-8 may interact with your health conditions or medications.

At NexZen Extracts, we prioritize quality and transparency, offering a premium selection of Delta-8 gummies that are third-party tested for purity and potency. Explore our range today to experience the benefits of Delta-8 firsthand.