#what are fish oil's side effects

[sac-bestsupplements]

Is Algal Oil Safe? Revealing the Toxic Side Effects of Algae Omega-3 DHA & EPA in Just 3 Minutes!

Discover the best Algae Oil supplements + FAQ & Tricks: https://super-achiever.com/best-algae-oil-supplements

#algaeoil #bestsupplement #algae

Hello, Achiever Fam! 🌊 Today, we dive into the lesser-known waters of Algae Oil.

While it's celebrated for its Omega-3s, DHA, and EPA, it's important to also explore its potential downsides. In “Is Algae Oil Safe? Revealing the Toxic Side Effects of Algae Omega-3 DHA & EPA,” we'll uncover what lurks beneath its healthful surface. Let’s navigate these murky depths! Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful content! 🛎️🔍 Algae Oil: A Deep Dive into Safety: - Generally well-tolerated, but it's crucial to consider the supplement's formulation. 🌿💊 Checking Supplement Ingredients: - Look for active components and potential allergens in the ingredients panel. 🏷️🔬

Be wary of additives like chemical preservatives, synthetic coloring, and added sugars. 🚫🧪 Omega-3s and Blood Thinners: - High doses of omega-3s might interact with blood thinners, but typical supplement levels are generally safe. 💉🌿 Liver Health and Omega-3s: - Can reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis, but excessive amounts might increase fatty liver risk. 🧫🍃 Potential Side Effects: - Oral consumption is likely safe, with mild effects like fishy burps and stomach discomfort. 🐟🚫 - Excessive consumption (over 3 grams of DHA and EPA per day) could slow blood clotting and increase bleeding risk. ⚠️🩸 FDA Recommendations: - Limit DHA and EPA intake to no more than 3 grams per day, with dietary supplements not exceeding 2 grams. 📏🌿

In conclusion, while Algae Oil is a safe vegan Omega-3 option, moderation is key. Have you experienced any side effects with algae oil? Share your experiences in the comments below, and remember to subscribe for more content from the Super Achievers Club. See you in the next video! 📹👋🌊

[hastyprovocateur]

Drunk in Love (College!Abby × Reader)

Summary- Abby had no plans of staying back at the club until you caught her fancy, finding something oddly familiar about you.

Word count-1.2k

Cw- sexual content, mature themes

• It had been ages since Abby traipsed down to a joint of this flavor. Maybe once upon a time in freshman year, she somehow caught herself with a lot into the whole night-clubbing gig. Never stayed long. Tonight was going to be alike, what with Manny hauling her ass out to this den.

• The ear-numbing music, pool of bodies writhing like fish in a net and liquor spilling like acid rain… wasn’t her deal. An all-in-all futile evening until she found her gaze resting on you like hands to a radiator. The dangerously short sequinned minidress wasn’t wasted on her. It clung to your body like second skin, low-cut spilling soft breasts.

Why was it so hard to look away?

• Siren? Enchantress? How does she move like that? Abby watched the iridescent fringes on your hem swirling around you, barely making any secret of your underbutt as you romped to the music. The strobing lights caught your beaming drunken face, hair fanning out oil spill like you were all just a part of some mindfuck special effect.

• "Careful, they might pop out” Manny nudged Abby’s shoulder. She scrunched her face at him, smoothing her ponytail and turning back to her lonely drink on the bar counter. Neon visions of you persisted, dancing behind her eyelids. It went down her throat like the heavy liquor she threw back.

• “I'm gonna bail” Abby shook her head, struggling to keep her voice level above the blaring music. “Come on” he urged her, another girl already whispering in his other ear “Loosen up.” "We got class at 9 tomorrow," she threw another glance at the dance floor, no sight of you. Manny broke out in a knowing chuckle as you tapped her shoulder, having snuck up from the back.

• Abby did a double take, looking from the tinsel strands in your hair, down to your pretty heels in the dark. “Thankyou” you blew a kiss at Manny, drowning the dregs of Abby's drink and taking her by the arm “But I’ll take it from here.” She felt her bicep spasm under her shirt sleeve at your touch. I’ll call, she gestured back to Manny as he flipped her off with a shit-eating grin, already heading out with the chick on his arm.

• “Me?” Abby wanted to doubly ensure. Aware that she might sully the experience. She didn't know the first thing about dancing drunk or even... drunk dancing with a girl as gorgeous as you. But something told her not to squander the opportunity. Everything smelt bitter and sultry. Like an animal’s lair. She watched your staggered saunter, hand wrapped around her wrist as the crowd stifled you both closer.

• Coming upon a reasonable clearing, you turn and put her arms around you, propping yours on her broad shoulders. Abby burned intensely, her back already damp as you leaned close to her ear “Drunk?”. “Yeah” she replied, aroused by the way your nails scraped the back of her neck. “I’m four shots down” You laugh deliciously, breath heavy with spirits.

• The feral atmosphere bled into her bones, headier than before as people pushed and prodded against her. She slid her hands across, resting in the steep dip of your spine, glaring at the men passing wayward looks, who tried jostling too close. She felt you pull her chin down to face you, “Eyes on me” You breathe against her neck before slowly dragging her sizeable hands up your sides and then back down.

• Abby closed her eyes, feeling your body collide into hers, falling into every curve and rise like they were made in pairs. She saw doubles, the glow of your smile, the swell of your breasts as they pressed up against her. All so familiar yet different. Senses swilled like dregs, and the music began thudding in her chest. You parted your legs, dropping down her front and crouching at her feet with your hands on her hips, sliding up her shirt… hooking onto her jeans. You rest your chin on her thigh, tilting your head coyly.

• Abby was no womanizer. Her sexcapades included kissing the class representative in the boiler room and promising to take it to the grave to save face. Tonight was a quick crash landing onto everything she knew. There was no face to save. She drank up every sway of your hips, bounce of your chest, and flip of your hair. The delicious curl of your lips drew her in deeper. She cradled the back of your head as she pulled you back up, flipping you around with a swift jerk.

• A shot of surprise as she pinned your hips back against hers, brows furrowing as she watched you smoothly grind back into her. You edged into her needily, bent forward with back arched beautifully. She caught the corner of your eye from where you glanced back at her, lust-ridden as she subtly humped you.

• Abby braced herself as you straightened back against her, feeling you writhe beneath her touch as she angled your face up to kiss your lips, pushing her over the edge. She felt her tongue unravel over yours, wet and hot as you tasted her right back. Her hands snaked below, artlessly pawing at the fringes of your dress before she felt yours guide her fingers up the hem.

• She groaned into your mouth as she felt the strap of your thongs digging into plump flesh, peeling them off your hips till they dangled in a twist around your thighs Curses left her lips as she cupped your slick pussy, fingers slipping in with little to no resistance. "Still wanna bail?” you ask breathlessly, as your hips buck, knees limp as you gaze up at her. “Fuck that” Abby groaned wickedly.

Following morning

• The fluorescent lights of the 9 am class were already giving her a well-deserved ache in the temples. She spent the early morning fucking around half-clothed in a women's bathroom stall. The girl from the club. It had consumed her entirely, once the liquor drained out of her, all she had were questions. Who are you? Why did you approach me? What did it mean? Could be nothing but she still had her thongs in her back pocket, nail scratches still scouring her back. The professor's monotone let slip something about pairing up and it entirely missed Abby by the time he was done sorting

• "Sir, I don't have a partner" she called out belatedly, hand lazily raised above her head. "Well..." he looked around in defeat as the entrance slammed. "Class representative!" the professor lightly clapped his hands "You're right on time" he gestured to you. A drained, mousy entity standing in the doorway "Please partner up with Abigail for the essay analysis."

• You nodded meekly, trudging up to where Abby was sitting. "Studying late again?" Abby poked, surveying your visible eye bags and pale lips. "Fuck you" you sounded entirely hoarse, snapping the reading open to the page on the board. Abby noticed the telltale bruise on your wrist and frowned. The handprint comically familiar.

• A quick flash of holding you against the bathroom wall poured back to her conscious. Wrist pressed to tile as you got yourself off on her thigh. She backed up, looking you up and down, and there it was. A single strand of tinsel in the class representative's hair. At this point, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Are you actually insane?" You turn owlishly to look at her. "No..." she leaned in, awfully smug "But I think you are after what you did to me last night."

[fireheartedpup]

Okay. So. Ashwaganda.

I lost the post about the supplement from a troll company that was marketing it as hormone replacement therapy. The doses were high enough to send you into serotonin syndrome, and it doesn't replace estrogen. It encourages your body to make the hormones it's already making.

This was in 2023, and the website quickly vanished after backlash.

The thing is, ashwaganda is a mood stabilizer. I'm wondering if it's possible to feel better before the serotonin syndrome. Is the dosage high enough that you feel funny immediately, or does it seem like life is so good that this miracle pill couldn't possibly be bad for you?

Once it starts, it sounds like torture. I'm just wondering about the lead up. The poster who was quoted on that post said that ashwaganda taken in that dosage could cause it in "as little as a month," so what does the lead up feel like?

I don't take medication, so I haven't worried too much about interactions. That said, it's good to know that it can conflict with medications for blood pressure, thyroid, sleep, immunosuppression, and diabetes.

This is mostly because it has similar effects--so again, too much can tip you over from "this helps" to "this is a threat to my safety."

There are other natural things that raise serotonin levels, like ginkgo, and I thought they were mentioned in one of links I included but I can find the paragraph I'm thinking of.

...this could be due to the fact that ginseng can also raise serotonin levels, and I might have misremembered it.

Probiotics, vitamin D, and fish oil can also raise serotonin, as can tryptophan and exercise. Rhodiola is another adaptogen that can help with things like ADHD, and St. John's Wort is also on that list.

There's a lot. I actually left out green tea and turmeric. Oh, and 5-htp. That one I'm careful with. It makes me feel drugged.

Coffee and artificial sweeteners can decrease serotonin, so I'm not terribly bothered. If it's not consumed in high doses or alongside something it shouldn't be combined with, it should be okay.

I'm also not consistent with anything, and in the case of the supplements where it's better to take breaks instead of simply continuing to take them every single day for a long period of time, this works for me.

The thing that made me take a second look at adaptogens in general is that my period is almost a week late.

Remember how it adjusts your hormones? Yeah, a lot of people have this reaction--and it can make your period lighter. I'm mostly finding anecdotes from reddit, but there is a study about it helping with perimenopause.

My periods have never been super consistent. I have a rough idea of when they're going to come, but the cycle isn't exact. So this doesn't bother me a ton, but it's enough for some people to want to switch to an alternative method of controlling things like anxiety.

I'm already questioning whether my hormones are out of whack or not, so that's part of it.

I just think it's interesting. "Natural alternatives" are marketed as safer, without side effects. My experience has been that no matter what you do, you're throwing spaghetti at a wall to see what sticks--and you still need to look up everything you take to see if it's going to interact with anything else.

It would be nice if going to a doctor fixed this problem. Unfortunately, I've read too many stories about patients having to look things up for themselves, even after going to doctor after doctor.

It's like the pegboard with red string.

Anyway. My takeaway is still that what will fix your problems is appropriate treatment for your body. Unfortunately, this is different for everyone, and pretty much requires you to make a lifelong study of what to take and what the side effects are--no matter if you're taking supplements or drugs.

I'm still on the adaptogen train because I don't have to beg a doctor for help or make an appointment or beg a doctor to listen to me when it turns out that I need a change in my treatment plan or get registered as "really, she needs this" in order to get the thing that will help me.

I'm just. You know. Wondering. About what this is going to mean for my period going forward.

(And I'm going to have to research every single other thing I'm taking to see what the crossovers are.)

IMPORTANT: Ashwaganda can cause spontaneous abortion. Do not listen to anyone who says that adaptogens are safe to take during pregnancy. CHECK FIRST.

[transformers-nerd-13]

Alrighty, you asked for it, so you got it! Here's my analysis of Transformers G1; More than Meets the Eye: Part Two. I did an analysis of Part one yesterday so go read that if you are so inclined (you can find it on my page; I'm still learning Tumblr so I'm not sure how to link posts lol). Fair warning this is pretty long. Without further ado, let's get into it!

We open with a recap of what happened in the previous episode to remind the viewer of what happened last time. It's pretty rapid fire so I assume some of it had to be cut or it had to be pretty short for episode time. 

We're then introduced to Huffer (unfortunate name sir) who has his arm stuck in some debris. He calls for help and Brawn comes to his aid. Brawn uses a...well, it looks like a welder or a blowtorch but functions more like a laser so I'm not sure what to call this--to free Huffer. As soon as Huffer is free, both Huffer and Brawn fly off because at this point, all the Autobots could fly, ditching the other Autobots. Thanks for your help guys. 

We cut over to Prime who's still trying to free Spike and Sparkplug. Optimus tells Trailbreaker--who's currently helping the oil rig workers escape--to use his force field to suppress the flames. Not sure how effective this would really be, I mean if you trap the flames in a closed space, it'd eventually burn up all the oxygen and burn out, but this is an oil fire so it also has to run out of fuel--maybe I'm overthinking this; this is an 80's cartoon, they didn't care about physics. Wheeljack offers Trailbreaker a hand in suppressing the flames and the two take off. Trailbreaker uses his forcefield, but Wheelack proves that force field immediately redundant by using his built in fire extinguishers on the fire. Why didn't Prime just ask Wheeljack to use his fire extinguishers in the first place?? Why does Wheeljack never have these extinguishers again?? They would've really helped when the Dinobots or Autobot Spike started wrecking the Ark/Teletraan One. Just sayin.

Optimus gets Spike and Sparkplug free and Jazz uses his built-in grappling hook sort of like a fishing line to reel Optimus in, getting them to safety on a somehow steady piece of debris. 

Sparkplug doesn't exactly thank Optimus? He says "I don't know who you are, but you saved our lives." Seeming completely unbothered that he's talking to a giant robot. He should've at least properly thanked Optimus. Manners Sparkplug. Optimus tells them that they're Autobots from the planet Cybertron and that the ones who attacked the oil rig were called Decepticons. Robots in disguise my side function! Spike asks if there's anything he and Sparkplug can do to help the bots. Optimus tells them that the Autobots are the only ones who can stop the Decepticons, but Sparkplug points out that he and Spike know more about earth than the bots do.

Cut to later where the Autobots have apparently taken the two humans back to the ruins of the Ark where Spike is sitting on a nearby rock formation and writing in his diary or notebook about the Autobots. He says that he doesn't know if they're from the past or the future, but they're highly advanced robots who can think and have "real" feelings.

Spike. They literally told you they're from another planet. They are an alien species. You're talking about them like they're a human creation. 

We pan over to see Soundwave spying on Spike not very discreetly from behind a rock. That's gotta be a fragging tall rock. When did Soundwave get here and why is he here?? How did Teletraan not pick him up on the scanners???

Spike puts his notebook in his backpack and starts back toward the Ark, walking towards Soundwave, who transforms into his cassette player mode.

Spike spots his cassette player mode and picks it up, and even though it clearly has the Decepticon symbol on it he picks it up and takes it with him because he’s apparently blind. Spike enters the Ark, his backpack has apparently vanished into the void, and he puts Soundwave near Teletraan. This totally won't bite him in the ass later.

Spike asks Trailbreaker about Cybertron, but asks him why the Autobots transform--it's not a question about Cybertron, it's a question about CybertronIANS. He could've asked about Cybertronians and the question about why they transform wouldn't seem so out of place. Trailbreaker answers that they transform for disguise, and that it beats walking.

Sir, since you've gotten to earth, every single Cybertronian has had all the stealth of an elephant in a room with a floor covered in bubble wrap. Disguise my boron compressor.

Spike asks how they transform. We cut over to Ratchet's medbay where Ratchet is currently fixing Huffer's arm (I guess it got damaged from the debris??), Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper are also there in their alt modes for some reason. Mirage and Hound are also there for some reason. Trailbreaker and Spike have materialized in the medbay and Trailbreaker tells Mirage and Hound that Spike wants to know how they transform. Hound transforms, and that's apparently a good enough answer for Spike. T-cogs hadn't been invented yet, so I guess a demonstration of a transformation was the best answer they had at the time. 

Hound makes a hologram of a man in his driver's seat, and Spike asks "What other tricks can you do?" I don't really like the phrasing of that question; I'm not really sure why, but it just rubs me the wrong way. It would've been better if Spike had asked "What else can you do?" Idk that might just be a personal preference. 

Mirage shows off his invisibility powers before Hound offers Spike a ride and Spike accepts. 

Cut over to Soundwave who transforms into his bot mode (seriously Teletraan how are you not seeing this-) and ejects Ravage so that Ravage can enter Teletraan in his (G1 Ravage was a he because literally everyone was a he in Season 1 of G1) cassette mode to gather information on Earth's resources before Soundwave turns back into his cassette player mode and starts recording again for some reason. There's nobody else in the room, Soundwave. What are you recording?? Also why does Teletraan have a cassette port?? And why does Teletraan already have recorded information of Earth's resources?? When did it have time?? Who gave it that command?? Or did it just do that on its own?? So many questions lol. 

Cut over to Hound and Spike who are taking a drive through the desert where the Ark crashed (side note, are there any deserts with volcanoes??). Hound says that Earth must be a nice place to live. Spike replies that it's okay, but he wants to know more about Cybertron. Spike doesn't realize is that Hound is just as curious about Earth as he is about Cybertron, and while it may have been boring for the kids watching to have them exchange information about their respective home worlds, it would've been a nice bonding moment between the two. Hound tells Spike that before the war, Cybertron was quiet and peaceful. Spike asks if he misses it, and Hound replies "Sometimes" and they move on from this really quickly. Maybe because it’s painful for Hound to talk about. Of course Hound misses it; it was his home. But he can't afford to stay in a state of grief over the loss of his home because there's a war going on; he needs to push through and help the Autobots win the war so that they have a chance of seeing their home world again, even if it'll never be the same as it was. It hurts to think about what his home once was. Or maybe I'm reading too far into this again.

Spike and Hound make it back to the Ark, and Spike finally notices something fishy about that cassette player he brought back since it's recording data from Teletraan. Soundwave decides that the jig is up and transforms into his bot mode, trying to grab Spike, missing horribly as the human ducks to avoid him. Spike hits an alarm that he could somehow reach and Soundwave and Ravage (who ejected from Teletraan at Soundwave's command) make a run for it. Optimus (who appeared from the void) sees them running out of the Ark and says "A Decepticon! Get him!"

One, do you not know who Soundwave is?? Two, “Get him”. That was your whole plan. Get him (If anyone gets the reference put it in the comments). Good plan Optimus.

The Autobots however do not go after Soundwave and he gets away. Bumblebee and Brawn manage to catch Ravage but that lasts for all of two seconds before Ravage gets out of their grasp. Sideswipe and Jazz fire on Ravage but since they have the aim of Stormtroopers, they miss horribly. 

I am now half convinced that the only reason the war has gone on so long is because nobody on either side can aim for shit.

Ravage disappears into the shadows and suddenly nobody can see him anymore. Gears and Hound have suddenly replaced Sideswipe and Jazz. Optimus tells Gears to use his infrared (I guess Cybertronians show up in infrared light??) which just looks like a red flashlight (mhm yep that's definitely infrared) that allows them to spot Ravage. Jazz and Prowl fire a net and capture Ravage (pictured above with Gears’ “infrared” light).

Cut over to the cons where Soundwave is somehow playing back the information Ravage gathered from Teletraan about Sherman (Sherma maybe? If so then Senator Sherma’s—MTMTE—name is a very obscure reference.) Dam without actually having Ravage (no idea how that worked), presenting the dam as a potential power source to gather more Energon. Megatron commends Soundwave for a job well done, while Starscream says that the dam doesn't possess enough electrical power to make the Energon cubes. Megatron tells Starscream that "Your knowledge is only overshadowed by your stupidity" (one of my favorite lines), and that they're going to create a tidal wave big enough to send enough power surging through the dam to make all the Energon cubes they need. At least they're using clean energy I guess?

Cut to the next day at sunrise when the Decepticons arrive at the dam. Soundwave ejects Rumble who goes to the bottom of the river and uses his pile-drivers to create the tidal wave (I don't think this would actually work but I could be entirely wrong) while the other cons take off and head for the power plant (aka the dam).

The employees inside the dam notice that the gauges are going crazy and say something must be wrong while one guy smacks the gauges to try and fix them (solid plan sir that'll definitely work). One of the other employees tells them that the river's rising and tells the others to man their emergency stations. 

Cut over to the Ark where Teletraan tells Jazz and Spike in complete gibberish writing about the tidal wave at the dam and that the power output is ten times what it is normally. Jazz says that it could be the cons (it couldn't possibly be a natural disaster, it must be the Decepticons!) 

Cut over to the cons who have arrived at the dam and Megatron starts making demands, telling the employees who have not manned their emergency stations to do exactly as he says.

Quick cut over to the Autobots who are now on their way to the dam, Optimus telling the others: "Autobots, accelerate!" and they all keep going at the exact same speed they were going at before.

Back with the Decepticons in the dam, the employees say that the dam is gonna blow and that they've gotta get outta there. The Decepticons don't care though and start making their Energon cubes anyway. The Autobots arrive on the scene and Prowl briefly gets Optimus' voice before regaining his own voice again and asks if he really thinks the cons are behind this. Before Optimus can answer, he's cut off by Megatron firing a warning shot at them, telling them that they're too late. The bots take to the air while Hound and Spike find the heart of the tidal wave. Hound goes into the river to investigate and finds Rumble. 

Cut over to Ironhide and Bumblebee who are diverting the water of the river so that it doesn't cause too much flooding (yeah, that's how that works. Also how the heck does Bumblebee fit in the back of Ironhide's Alt Mode???) which they succeed in. 

The other Autobots arrive at the power plant where they all shoot at the plant and finally manage to hit something--that something being Starscream, as well as a tiny Starscream with no wings who never gets addressed--before entering the plant. The bots and cons duke it out while Sparkplug gets the employees out of the power plant. Mirage saves Cliffjumper from Thundercracker and Skywarp and Cliffjumper compliments Mirage’s combat skills.

Megatron and Optimus go one on one with each other and it looks like Megatron has the upper hand until Starscream uses a slingshot and whatever he fires from the slingshot hits the computers in the dam and explodes. The explosion causes Megatron to lose his upper hand. He and Optimus begin duking it out once again while the other cons make their getaway with the Energon cubes. 

Meanwhile, Spike is getting worried about Hound, who is still fighting Rumble underwater. Rumble traps Hound under some rocks and makes his way back up to the surface. For some reason Spike asks Rumble where Hound is, and Rumble just shoves Spike away as he walks off.

Rude.

Spike picks a fight with Rumble and loses in under five seconds. Spike calls for help which distracts Optimus from the fight, allowing Megatron the opportunity to knock Optimus off the dam they were fighting on seconds before and into the river below. Megatron mocks him and makes his escape with the other Decepticons as Optimus is sent down river. Jazz appears from the void and once again uses his grappling hook to get Optimus to shore for the second time this episode.

Cut over to Spike who seems to have been knocked unconscious by Rumble before he left with the other cons off screen and is now waking up. He calls out for Hound, but there's no reply, so he dives into the river to find him. He finds Hound remarkably quickly and manages to gain temporary super strength as he un-buries Hound enough so that Hound can get them both back up to the surface.

Apparently the short time Spike was underwater was long enough for him to almost drown (I guess he didn't take a deep enough breath before going under??) and Hound helps Spike recover from this but....it...it just looks wrong. So we're going to move swiftly onward. 

Cut to the other Autobots. Mirage suggests that they repair the Ark and go back to Cybertron and forget about the Decepticons. Optimus tells him that they can't do that; if Megatron succeeds here on Earth (presumably succeeding in gathering energy), he'll be impossible to beat on Cybertron. Huffer says that the bots aren't fighters like the cons are (haven't y'all been fighting a war for millions of years?? I'd assume you'd at least pick up some fighting skills in that amount of time). Optimus tells Huffer that "We must have courage. We can't ignore the danger; we must conquer it." A very good line. 

Cut to a quick montage of the cons getting more Energon cubes from various sources. Soundwave reports to Megatron that the new space cruiser is almost complete, but they still need 3,000 astroliters of energy (however much that is). They need one more source of energy to get this amount and the cons choose the Ruby Crystals of Burma as their energy source since they're apparently the richest source of energy on the face of the earth. 

Starscream tests their Energon using a giant blaster hooked up to some of Energon cubes and firing on a mountain to ensure that the cubes actually work. Megatron calls him a fool for wasting the energy, but Starscream tells him that he didn't know for sure that they worked because they never tested them. In Starscream's defense, it was a good idea to make sure they actually worked to make sure that their hard work and plundering of resources wasn't for nothing, but it probably should've been done earlier and now they need even more energy to replace the amount that Starscream used by firing that blaster, which, needless to say, annoys Megatron since he's now set them back and they don't have the time to replace it. Except they do because Soundwave informs them of the existence of rocket fuel which they could plunder to make more energon cubes. 

Cut over to a lake not too far away from the cons where Trailbreaker is listening in on the cons plans using his satellite dish and Spike and Sparkplug are calmly drinking tea. They hear the con's plan and go to radio Prime.

Cut back to the cons where Starscream (unprompted) is telling Megatron not to test him and that his desire for power is as great as Megatron's. Megatron tells him that "Power flows to the one who knows how; desire is not enough." How what?? How to use it??? Probably what they meant. Starscream tells him that time makes all things possible, and that he can wait. A strike force of cons (aka every con who we've seen thus far) is assembled and they take off for the crystal mines. This interaction would've been better if it'd been before Soundwave telling them about the rocket fuel because it would give Starscream just cause to be annoyed because Megatron is yelling at him for performing a necessary experiment to ensure that what they'd been doing was actually working. Soundwave could've interjected after Starscream had said that he could wait, telling them about the rocket fuel and thus diffusing the situation. 

Cut to Trailbreaker, Spike and Sparkplug who've decided to drive back to the Ark and report back to Prime in person instead of radioing him off screen for some reason--maybe Trailbreaker's radio wasn't working? Thundercracker and Skywarp attack them on their way back (for some reason--how did they find them??) and since Trailbreaker isn't built for speed, they radio the Ark for backup.

So Trailbreaker's radio was working?? Why didn't you just radio Prime earlier???

Their backup arrives literally five seconds later in the form of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker who either drove at the speed of ZOOM to get there that fast or they weren't too far from the Ark, but if it was the latter, they really didn't need the backup because they would've arrived not long after, so I'm going to assume it was the former. Sunstreaker gets hit but it's only enough to damage his new paint job. He shoots Thundercracker in response (the autobots have good aim this episode) and apparently this is enough to send Thundercracker back for repairs. Skywarp accompanies him back to Decepticon HQ, but it never gets brought up again so we're going to ignore it. Trailbreaker thanks the twins for their help. Sunstreaker complains about his damaged paint job but Sideswipe tells him that nobody will notice if Sunstreaker only makes left turns.

I don't think that's how that works, but okay. 

Cut to the Decepticons who are currently in the crystal mines making Energon cubes. Somehow Skywarp and Thundercracker have already made it here and both are completely fine. Soundwave says that there's enough crystals in the mine to power the whole planet of Cybertron. So you guys don't need the rocket fuel after all??

Cut to the Autobots who've made it to just outside of the mines. Wheeljack suggests using a bomb of his to bury the Decepticons forever. They know the cons are in the mines, they just don't know where. Bumblebee and Sparkplug (who apparently used to work in these mines??) volunteer to go into the mine, find the cons, and plant the bomb. Wheeljack warns them that once they push the button to detonate the explosive, they have exactly one minute to get out of there. Prime tells the two that if there's any problems to get out of there. Sparkplug assures Prime that there won't be any problems.

Foreshadowing.

Bee and Sparkplug make it into the mines without much issue and place the bomb, but when they try to get out, they're caught by Thundercracker and Skywarp who start beating them up. 

Back outside, Jazz comments that the two should be out of there by now and Prime is getting worried. Ironhide volunteers to go check it out but Optimus says he'll go. Backup is offered but he refuses, telling the other bots that if he's not back in five minutes to come get him.

Optimus sends his drone Roller who sounds like R2D2 and will only appear in a handful of other episodes to go investigate just before the bomb detonates.

The bomb goes off and everyone inside of the mine is buried and Optimus is sent barrel-rolling dramatically in slow motion down the cliff side, leaving us with a cliffhanger. 

And that was the second episode of the Transformers. It crams a lot into one episode, but somehow when you watch it, it doesn't feel too rushed. I do wish they'd taken some more time for the humans and the Autobots to learn about and understand each other, but I understand that there was a time limit on the episode and these interactions may have been considered boring by the kids watching at home. Overall it's a very fun watch though.

I hope this was enjoyable! I'll probably be putting out my analysis of Part 3 within the next few days. Hope to see you there!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Chris D'Angelo at HuffPost:

When it comes to the public’s ability to pry documents loose from federal agencies, Donald Trump’s supporters accept nothing less than full disclosure and have spent the past few years bombarding federal agencies with requests for records. But it seems overwhelmingly likely that posture will soon change ― right around noon on Jan. 20.

Take Trump-era Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who is now a key member of the president-elect’s transition team and is widely expected to land another powerful administration post next year. In a May 2023 episode of the America First Policy Institute’s podcast, “The Tank,” Bernhardt bemoaned that left-wing organizations he’d “never heard of” had “inundated” federal agencies with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests during Trump’s first term, “to the point that it created a lot of activity in terms of slowing down the agenda.” “Frankly, I think they were very effective,” he said. “They’re highly funded by non-disclosed entities, and that’s fine. I was even surprised to find that much of their activity is tax-deductible.” “I’m not suggesting it’s illegal, but what I am suggesting is that it is incredibly one-sided,” he added. “That one-sided effort meant that their voice was often the only voice in the echo chamber surrounding policies related to the administration.” Bernhardt’s condemnation of perceived political adversaries using the 1967 law as intended to shine light on the inner functions of government is ironic. As a longtime lobbyist for oil, gas, mining and agricultural interests, Bernhardt entered the Trump administration with so many potential conflicts of interest that he had to carry around a card listing his former clients. Under his watch, the Department of the Interior repeatedly meddled with FOIA, going as far as to withhold information about Bernhardt ahead of his confirmation hearing to take over as secretary after the departure of scandal-plagued Ryan Zinke. And over the last couple of years, right-wing organizations, including the America First Policy Institute — many of them tax-exempt nonprofits and led by former Trump administration officials — have swamped the Interior Department and other federal agencies with thousands of records requests, many of them targeted at specific employees. (Bernhardt is chair of AFPI’s Center for American Freedom.)

Leading that sleuthing effort is the Heritage Foundation, an influential right-wing organization that spearheaded Project 2025, the extreme-right policy blueprint that GOP operatives compiled to guide Trump in a second term. Mike Howell, a former Trump administration official and current executive director of Heritage’s Oversight Project, told ProPublica last month that the foundation has filed more than 50,000 FOIA requests since 2022. Many of those requests target specific career civil servants and seek communications that mention a variety of “culture war” topics, including climate change action and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Others target internal discussions about Trump.

[...] One employee in the FOIA office of a government agency told ProPublica that the right-wing effort has jammed up the FOIA queue to the point that it has severely affected the agency’s ability to keep up with requests. And ethics watchdogs expect that the fishing expedition is part of Project 2025’s authoritarian vision of dismantling federal agencies and replacing tens of thousands of career staff — so-called rogue bureaucrats — with Trump loyalists willing to advance right-wing policies.

[...] The Trump administration has a record of doing exactly what Howell takes issue with. During Trump’s first year in office, federal agencies set a new record for censoring and withholding government documents requested through FOIA, The Associated Press reported at the time. Trump’s Interior Department changed its FOIA policy to allow for political appointees to review public information requests prior to their release and at one point proposed new regulations to grant the agency the ability to reject “burdensome” records requests and impose monthly limits for individual requesters. In a 2020 report, the Interior Department’s internal watchdog concluded that political appointees blocked the public release of documents related to Bernhardt ahead of his confirmation hearing in March 2019.

[...] Trump and his allies are pledging, yet again, to dismantle the “deep state” bureaucracy that they claim is conspiring against them. That is likely to include dismantling federal offices they deem not essential to an agency’s core function, including those working on climate change and environmental justice. What they conveniently forget is that the people in government they view as the enemy are, by and large, simply carrying out the Biden administration’s agenda.

Donald Trump’s first term was a censorious mess with FOIA requests. His 2nd term will be much worse.

[darklovecat]

Beauty tips?

Taking my vitamins and beauty supplements every day!

I believe that beauty and health go hand in hand so I got a complete blood work-up to figure out what vitamins and minerals my body was lacking, and I make sure I'm taking my them daily. On top of that, I take various supplements such as Collagen, Fish oil etc but I swear by my 10-gram daily collagen regimen. I take its powdered form right before going to bed and have noticed its benefits within a short time - My knees used to sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies when I bent down, but after a few days of collagen, the crepitus is gone. Plus, my hair is growing faster and my skin is looking plumper. It's done wonders for my joints, giving me a healthy glow, and making me look way more refreshed.

Having perfect posture at all times!

I think this is a very simple but overlooked beauty tip that truly elevates your appearance. It's like the secret weapon of beauty, it can transform not just the way you look, but also the way you feel. When you stand tall and hold yourself with grace and poise, you radiate confidence and elegance. Good posture also has numerous health benefits. It can help prevent back pain, improve your breathing, and even boost your mood and energy levels. Ever since I've started incorporating Pilates and Ballet into my routine to build strength and flexibility, my posture has improved greatly. The way you carry yourself says a lot about who you are and by standing tall and confident, you'll not only look beautiful but also feel empowered and ready to conquer the world.

Getting 6 hours of quality sleep every night!

You know what's a major beauty tip that most people sleep on? Sleep!! Forget about slapping on expensive creams and doing a gazillion steps in your skincare routine. You gotta start with the basics, hun. Get your sleep game on point, eat right, and manage your stress. Now, I know we all have different needs when it comes to sleep, so I won't give you a specific number. But trust me, beauty sleep is not a myth, it's legit! I turn on Night Mode on my devices at 6:30, pop my sleeping pills at 9:30, and hit the hay an hour later. Oh, and I'm not afraid to take a nap during the day if I need to. Don't underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. It's the secret to looking and feeling amazing.

Growing out my eyelashes!

I take pride in my long and voluminous lashes, they're one of my best features and one of my most complimented features. However, my natural lashes were not always this way, they became longer through regular lash serum usage. I do not really need wear mascara and after a lash lift, my lashes appear as if I'm wearing extensions. While Latisse has worked wonders for me, it's important to note that the product does come with potential side effects such as orbital fat loss and irritation. Thankfully, I did not experience any adverse effects. Another caveat is that the product only works as long as it is used consistently. Despite these considerations, I wholeheartedly recommend Latisse. To see the results for yourself, check out the Real Woman Gallery.

Cat.

[shyocean]

Offloading responsibility from destructive organizations to individual choices

the context for this is that I am listening to the firesides at the end of Arc 2 for the Wizard, the Witch, and the WIld, Worlds Beyond Number, my favorite piece of media in the world. (If you also got sniped by the small talk comment, hear me out.)

It's making me think about the way that corporate and governmental structures actively hide and displace responsibility for the massive number of death, exploitation, suffering they craft onto individuals. The way that we dehumanize and pathologize victims, while the perpetrators of crimes are the leaders of society. The way that we have a diagnosis for drapetomania, for leukemia, but no dx for the kind of mind who enslaves people or commits mass, slow murder through environmental poisoning.

So in the Fireside, they are talking about Suvi, the Citadel Wizard, seeing herself as the only who cares about human death. That when the others acted to free the Great Spirit the Citadel had imprisoned, and was torturing and exploiting, Ame made the choice to sacrifice the Citadel wizards imprisoning him to save his life. There were the soldiers, and townsfolk, who died when his furious wife came to rescue him.

And I think this is a perfect example of the way that we totally misunderstand who ultimately holds responsibility.

The Citadel Wizards, Morrow in particular, were responsible for everything that Orima did to free her husband. They were committing a horrific wrong that dragged nature out of balance. To blame Orima, or the spirits, is to blame an abuse victim for self defense.

All the towns lost, all the lives in those towns, the blight on Port Talon and its fisherfolk, (all the animals!) all the soldiers, the people in the tidal wave, all of those deaths, the economic destruction and displacement: all the direct consequences of the Citadel engaging in horrific torture, abuse, and environmental depredation.

But it's hard to see, because the weight of the organization meant that no one person made the decision. Becaue cause and effect are spread over time and place.

Ame actively decided that the Great Spirit should not die, and that if someone had to, it should be the torturers imprisoning him. Further, the impact on the world long-term if the Ocean Spirit was lost from it? Incalculable. not just his wife's wrath, but that spirit had taken care of the people of Port talon, the fish, the weather, everything, AMe saved so many people by saving him.

Fundamentally, the Citadel as a militarized corporation does not care about people. It doesn't care about life. It doesn't care about the environment, or well-being. Those things don't show up on balance sheets. It cares about control, gain, prestige, pride, power, war, the ability to impose its will on others and the world. And that's what Suvi cares about.

Ame and Ursulon saving The Ocean Spirit saved countless lives, across generations and in the present.

Suvi doesn't care about people. She care about power, and the 10 people whose name she knows that she considers her equal. She cares about a war because she cares about her side winning, because her side is the only side, and because she is fucking a soldier. She's a neoliberal, a centrist, a miltarise, and a trained killer.

But she gets to lie to herself and say she is the only one who cares about human. She lives in a world where all the costs are hidden. The justification machine is so good.

Here's the Point

This is the way that English-speaking world's corporations and governments function. It's how the British starved something like 100 million people over the course of a few hundred years.

It's how current corporations are permanently destroying our ecosystems, making the planet unlivable, forcing 5 year old to work in mines, sweeping the poor into prison slavery.

And we are pointing the finger at individual choices. And people flying on planes, wearing leather, and palm oil. Usually in ways that damage the poor, disabled, and marginalized disproportionately. I am tired of people conflating the culprits and originators of harm to those responding, or to those who simply fail to be able to stop it.

People aren't the problem. But things like the CItadel, the East India Company, our corporations, our governments--they are set up to systematically hide reponsibility, to strip of agency, to make us helpless to change and coerce our support for evil.

(Galani is clearly a sweet and good person. Steel is such a great mom.)

Our language, our culture, our institutions, our beliefs structures are all carefully built to prevent us from seeing, and upon seeing, to make us helpless to change things. So really, the first step is seeing and naming, right?

Also, Suvi and Steel are still meaningfully, substantially better for the planet and the spirits and the people than people like Morrow. Please vote Blue, for fucks sake.

Anyway, I love this show. It's actually the best. Same episode, BLeeM sniped me between the eyes to ask me to get better at small talk lol.

[funkylilworm]

My 3rd Mha Original character

Name:

Ren Fujita

Hero name:

キッド・アクアティック

“Kiddo akua tikku”

(English translation: Kid Aquatic )

Gender:

Genderflux

Sexuality:

Pansexual

Pronouns:

[Depends on what gender they feel like they are]

Height:

6’1 (they're tall but it's hard to tell sense they slouch a lot)

Age:

14 yrs old

Race:

Mixed , Afro-Japanese [Black and Japanese]

Birthday:

March 19th

Zodiac:

Aries

Siblings:

1 [has a step brother named Naoki Fujita]

Class:

Class 1-A

Voice claim:

Amethyst from Steven Universe

Quirk/s:

Ocean

The user can create, shape and manipulate the oceans and seas and everything in them, including all the aspects of the oceans, like the ability to speak to sea and/or ocean animals ,breathe underwater, and control water .

Side effects: Can make them breathe underwater , can control water in general, and can understand and communicate with ocean life

Downside /aftermath symptoms:

Overusing their quirk can cause weakness and/or dehydration

_______________________________________

Weird body function (related to quirk):

▪︎Slouching recharges their body

Ren Fujita has to stand or sit by or straight up slouch around for 5 or 10 seconds to recharge their energy enough to get back in the game , go back into action

▪︎Drinking water (rehydrating) helps them too

_______________________________________

Appearance:

▪︎Physical- brown skin, plump nose, tall (but it's hard to tell sense they slouch a lot), heterochromia (one eye blue and the other green), scrawny, gills on their neck , blue and green fish like tail on the tail bone area of their back, and where their bottom half leg should be is a prosthetic

▪︎Clothing appearance [casual]-

▪︎Clothing appearance [school uniform]-

▪︎Clothing appearance [Hero costume]-

Mental Disability/ies:

Autism and BPD

Hobbies:

Sleeping, snacking , video gaming , smoking weed and pot, eating weed brownies ,playing D&D ,larping , painting , reading comics, surfing, swimming, volleyball and handicraft

Loves:

Sleeping, snacking , video gaming , smoking weed and pot, eating weed brownies ,playing D&D ,larping , painting , reading comics handicraft , comic books , weed , pot , weed brownies, eating, snacking , pranks , making friends, swimming, surfing ,the beach,pools ,and volleyball

Hates:

Dropping your phone in front of people (it draws more attention to it), Not knowing how to spell someone's name , The price of couches, Any sign of Christmas after December 31 or before Thanksgiving, When a car or motorcycle is loud on purpose, Thinking you were lucky that you didn't get bitten by any mosquitos, until the next day, when you discover you're covered in 'em, When you wake up in the middle of the night and see that it's exactly 3 a.m. (demon hour), When you're high AF and someone knocks on your front door, When anyone knocks on my door, Spilling olive oil on my clothes, Dust, waiting, long lines, stairs , pollution, aquariums, and people littering into the ocean (or in general)

Friends:

Jisu Shugamee (my Oc), Denki Kiminari, Toru Hagakure, and Mina Ashido

Crush:

Fumikage Tokoyami (and vise versa, he feels the same way about him, none of them just hasn't approached each other about it yet)

Quirk moves:

Tidal Rush: A powerful wave of water that Ren summons to knock back enemies.

Deep Sea Pressure: Creates a sphere of high-pressure water around the target to disorient them.

Personality:

Ren Fujita, also known as キット・アクアティック is a rich U.A Class 1-A student amongst the other other U.A students, Ren is known for being the laid-back, cool, fun-loving ,slothful, and kind-hearted stoner and fratboy.

Ren is a laid-back, go-with-the-flow, friendly, and fun-loving guy who is willing to be friends with everyone, even if they acknowledge them as a horrible human. While not the smartest , they can be friends to people regardless of personality, ranging from disgusting and rude to pushy and selfish. They care about their friends and their wellbeing, wanting everyone to get along and not understanding why people go by "winner takes all". They don't understand metaphors, taking them in a literal approach. They can at times be forgetful, whether it's what they were talking about or what they're supposed to be doing. Their most prominent trait is their ability to keep their cool even in life-threatening situations.

They call everyone “dude” , “dudette” , “bro” , “bruh”, “dudeman” , “man”, And “my guy” a lot and seems to use “like” in their sentences a lot .

Also despite how calm and laid-back Ren is, he's not only not a pushover (not a welcome mat) , but when pissed Ren is terrifyingly intimidating (especially if the situation was from provoking them) and if it's from provoking them, whether that be from messing with their loved ones, it's the silent kind of anger and will get overwhelmed and even anxious when under a lot of pressure!

But despite all of that Ren is known for being so unheeded, so gullible, and so ignorant to the point that they would tend to say and do out of pocket things without thinking twice (thinking there's nothing wrong with it and/or is in the right) and would often even find undermine their own trauma without taking it seriously or actually vent, because they genuinely lack awareness on how fucked up it all is !!

Background:

Ren Fujita had two parents named Nene Fujita (their mom) and Dajii Fujita (their dad) not only do none of them love each other but while Nene is more of the helicopter parent both Nene and Dajii are very emotionally neglectful toward their kids, Ren Fujita and Naoki Fujita (they're still in contact with their parents sense half of them still loves them)!!!

Family:

▪︎Nene Fujita [mom] (of japanese descent)

Quirk: Water manipulation

A Japanese human that's the mother of Naoki Fujita, Jomichii Fujita , and Ren Fujita and she's known for being a sophisticated, poised, selfish, independent, tough ,and elegant woman that's always cheating on her husband, Dajii, is emotionally distant from her children, and her and Dajii is always fighting and arguing (it's always her fault by the way because she emotionally physically and mentally abuses Dajii most of the time )

(Also buries Dajii alive in the future, mid Dajii redemption arc)

Also Nene and Dajii's marriage is arranged

▪︎Dajii Fujita [dad] (of black descent)

Quirk: Ocean (just like his son Ren Fujita)

An anthropomorphic piranha like merman (can turn into a merman when in water) very greedy ,materialistic, money driven , withdrawn ,emotionally unavailable, psychologically abusive, mentally abusive 1,is a workaholic , is a perfectionist, and emotionally abusive father that's an extremely rich Billionaire that owns a huge company called “Fujita Victory Tech.” A company that makes very advanced gadgets and weapons for pro heroes and villains (a company that would make Mei Hatsume have a run for her money) ,because Dajii is very tech savvy and good with robotics (Dajii is kind of a nerd)

▪︎ Naoki Fujita [Step brother/ older brother]

Naoki has a quirk similar to their mom and is currently a young freelance detective in training at a law private school. He's also known for being a perfectionist, germaphobic, a workaholic (just like his dad, Dajii), is very tech savvy and good with robotics (just like his dad), has an interest in murder mystery and has a good healthy sibling relationship with Ren

▪ Jomichii Fujita [Ren's twin sister]

Her quirk was also water manipulation, she was the golden child of her family, her mom and dad's favorite and she was known for being yet another U.A student that goes by the name by “Mighty Duck”, Jomichii was known for being cooky ,fun-loving, a loose canon, weird , energetic ,bubbly, silly , and had a knack for both baking and painting. But she died when Stain got to hurt and she died from her wounds in the hospital do to her diabetes .

Naoki ,Ren, and Dajii Fujita's traumatized from the incident and to the point that Dajii's personality got worse ever since that day .

▪︎Etchie [Ren's pet capybara, she's a female]

Ren's motivation for becoming a pro hero:

To help and save people that are in a tough situation themselves (to help people that are in a position similar to them) ,in need of help

(Also because Ren Fujita sees heroes as cool)!!

Ren Fujita headcanons:

▪︎Ren's favorite snacks is pocky sticks, senbei, choco pie, jagarico, Konpeitō, umaibõ, mochi, and Dorayaki . While their favorite foods are Ramen Noodles, Sushi, Okonomiyaki, Yakitori, sukiyaki, tofu, and Shabu-shabu

▪︎Ren legs turned into a mermaid tail when they were first born (it turned back to normal hours later)

▪︎The only time Ren feels any ounce of fear Is when their phobia is involved , when they're under too much pressure , when they themselves are in genuine danger, or their friends or family us in danger

▪︎ Ren has Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders, Belonephobia: Fear of pins and needles, Catagelophobia: Fear of being ridiculed, and Hypochondria: Fear of illness

▪︎Ren has a fear of illness because they used to have a twin sister named Jomichii that was killed by a villian a few years back (Ren may not know this yet but it was Stain who killed her) and if they were to ever find out they would've thrown their usual demeanor out the window and flip their lid

▪︎Ren is ambidextrous

▪︎It's rare for Ren to hate anyone but if they do than the person they don't like must of did something extremely terrible to them

▪︎The reason why Ren's twin ,Jomichii died from illness is because one day while heading back home alone Stain got to her and cut her up badly. She was diabetic so while in the hospital that wounds too to long to heal, the wounds got an infection, she got sick from the infections ,and she died (it happened 5 yrs ago)

▪Ren has been secretly trying to look into his twin sisters death for years (including now) and still has found nothing important of the sorts

▪︎Ren is a vegan and strictly has a vegan diet

▪︎Similar to Ed from Edd Ed and Eddy, Ren would get overstimulated pissy and sour if they accidentally get a pebble in their shoe (like their usual demeanor gets thrown out the window )

▪︎Ren Fujita and Jisu Shugamee are besties, and similar to Denki Kiminari and Minoru Mineta they're also the comedy relief duo, just less perverted

▪︎In S2 ep 27 - 33 ,Selkie inspires Ren to end up pursuing being a ocean and/or sea rescue type of pro hero

▪︎ Initially, Iida and Ren’s personalities are night and day. Iida’s strict, rule-following nature contrasts sharply with Ren’s laid-back approach to life. Ren often frustrates Iida by not adhering strictly to schedules or protocols. Over time, Iida realizes that despite Ren’s relaxed attitude, they’re dependable in battle and care deeply for their friends. They find a middle ground, with Iida becoming more tolerant of Ren’s quirks, while Ren respects Iida’s leadership skills, in fact, Iida might start seeing Ren not just as a classmate but as someone who understands a very specific kind of pain—one that shaped both of their lives. While Iida and Ren remain different in terms of personality, their bond would likely evolve into a strong sense of kinship based on mutual respect, shared loss, and personal growth.

▪︎Is friendly to everyone including enemies, despite being a superhero he's just very peaceful and forgiving

▪︎Ren's favorite music genres is reggae, jazz, R&B, baby metal, death metal, lofi, and k-pop

Mentor:

Gang Orca

Fighting Style:

▪︎Laid back and/or relaxed fighting-

With a few jabs, jest , teasing , and jokes ,Ren has a relaxed apathetic approach all while they're fighting at the same time (will still give it their all tho)

▪︎Street fighting and/or video game inspired fighting skills -

Most of their fighting skills are heavily inspired off fighting video games like street fighter, Mortal Kombat , and Batman video games (just not too much to the point the villian is on the grim reaper's door step)

S2 Intern (temporarily) :

Selkie

[halucinnate]

how to stay in control without losing everything 𖹭

Okay, real talk. We all know the struggle—trying to lose weight and keep everything perfect without your body betraying you in the process. No one talks about the side effects that can creep up, like hair loss or, um, bad smells. Here are some tips to help stay immune to those while keeping on track:

✨ Hair loss prevention ✨

Biotin & Zinc: These are your best friends. Supplements or foods like almonds and spinach can help keep your hair strong while you’re losing weight.

Protein is key: Even if you’re cutting calories, make sure to get lean protein (egg whites, fish, or even protein shakes). Hair needs protein to grow, and trust me, losing weight doesn’t have to mean losing your hair.

hair masks: Use coconut oil or olive oil once a week (or your favorite hair mask!). It keeps your hair moisturized and less likely to break.

✨ Bad fart smells (we’ve all been there) ✨

Herbal teas: Peppermint or fennel tea can reduce bloating and help digestion, keeping you from feeling gassy.

Probiotics: These will help balance your gut, making things a lot less awkward if you know what I mean.

Avoid high-sulfur foods: If you’re noticing things getting smelly, maybe cut back on broccoli, cabbage, and dairy. They can trigger gas, especially when you’re eating less.

✨ Stay energized without caving ✨

Sleep > everything: Make sure you’re getting enough rest. It helps with energy, metabolism, and keeping cravings under control.

We’re all chasing that perfect control, but you don’t have to sacrifice everything along the way. Stay strong and take care of yourself. 💀

[maddsmallow]

finally!!! my month and a half late dutp mermay pic is DONE. i have a whole, like, story idea for this pic, which you can read here on my twitter! EDIT: fuck twitter, i deleted it, so the story idea is now under the cut if you're interested! i think signy and audwin from time princess' swan lake story can work really well with a mermaid twist on their characters. also i just want mermaid audwin and human signy to smooch a lot uwu

also. nothin' like drawing mermaids to kick your ass into figuring out how tf to draw water lmaooo

the story goes something like this: signy is the daughter of some rich guy and they've always been by the ocean (maybe the company has something to do with the ocean?), and i haven't quite figured out what he does, but either he or uncle arthur start getting into some shifty shit and maybe get into offshore oil drilling, or something that will hardcore pollute the water. she's expected to take over whatever the company is, but she doesn't give a shit and like, just wants to be a marine biologist. she has her own boat (bc rich people privileges) and often goes out into the water to just get away from it all and chill, and maybe she does some diving to look at the fish and coral n stuff. idk how any of this works irl lmao. but anyways, audwin has been watching her for a while, because humans are very interesting, before she finally spots him. after freaking out, she decides to keep him a secret because even as a marine biologist or whatever, she knows a find this big would be more dangerous to the merman himself than beneficial for any research. so she goes out to their meeting spot to hang out with him most days, and even though they cant communicate, she talks to him and he seems to understand. he brings her gifts and she brings him human stuff to look at. eventually she says something like, "i wish we could talk, i so badly wish to know more about you," and audwin's like. welp that's enough consent for me. so he uses his magic to turn her into a mermaid. and of course she FREAKS but then she's like!! oh fuck!! we can talk now! i can explore without needing air!! tell me and show me EVERYTHING. so they explore and they talk. audwin explains, a bit vaguely, about how he "doesn't belong with the rest of the mer people" even though they are a social species, so having to fend for himself for his whole life has left him a bit scrawny and, while he would have been riddled with scars from having to fight with other creatures on his own, has become very good at magic to defend himself. and now that they can understand each other and have an actual mutual conversation, audwin's like. oh heck. i like this girl a lot (assuming he didn't already consider her his mate because of the constant exchange of gifts).

just before she's about to be like okay this was fun but i gotta get back to my life on land, they spot a body floating in the water, and before audwin can pull her back signy goes to it and pulls the unconscious man to the shore and performs cpr and brings him back. he looks weirdly like audwin. she can't speak in any human language anymore (mermaids in this universe don't have the right vocal chord structure or whatever to speak human language), having taken the form of a mermaid, but he seems to understand what she's saying anyways? how could that be? she turns to audwin for an explanation and he's like, yeah so uh, the magic i used to give you a tail actually just swapped your human parts for another mer person's mermaid parts. so i guess this is the guy you swapped with and he's actually a mermaid, so he knows what you're saying. and signy is of course PISSED she's like this random other mermaid dude coulda died just for me to have a bit of fun?? that's fucked dude. and audwin's like, "why would i give a shit when i was cast out as a baby from the rest of mermaid society? YOU are my only friend." and then the other guy, who introduces himself as aldous (and i guess a side effect of audwin's magic is that he can fluently speak english or whatever now lmao), is like. yeah that's cool and all but, this is actually terrible fucking timing. some dude just came into my kingdom and is fucking everything up hardcore and i need to be there to fight him off. but even if audwin switched their tail/legs back, aldous would be too weak from, yknow, almost dying from drowning to actually fight whoever is fuckin shit up. so signy is like ME AND AUDWIN WILL DO IT and before audwin can even say anything, she grabs her cell phone from her shorts (let's just assume her clothes are on her boat and the boat is nearby lmao) and has aldous call her friend ben (the guard from the story!) and relay a message to him to meet her at the shore. he does and he sees the situation, and with aldous translating, signy tells ben to take care of this random dude she found on the beach. "dont ask questions its just REALLY IMPORTANT." and he's like. fuck okay sure. and just before signy and audwin go off to see what's going on with the mer kingdom, aldous gives audwin a pendant that will grant him access inside no matter what. every mer person has a pendant that has magic to allow them into their respective kingdom, but aldous had always had two of them, a gold and green one and a silver and purple one, and he feels that maybe the purple one belongs to audwin.

so aldous goes with ben to ben's place to rest and recoup, and signy and audwin go to the kingdom to see what their deal is. i dunno what's going on there, i haven't quite figured it out, but basically the king, aldous' (and audwin's) dad, is losing his marbles and made some kind of pact with a human who ends up being signy's dad or uncle, but then her dad/uncle was just going to betray the agreement and kill them all for access to an oil drilling spot? i dunno. but i have a scene in my head where they hide in what seems to be some kind of abandoned prison with one cell, and there ends up being one mer woman in there who ends up calling audwin's name when she sees him. audwin is shocked, and approaches carefully, and she cries while she explains she's so happy to see him alive and well. she tells him that his father separated him from his family just a bit after she'd birthed him and her brother because he was certain he was going to fulfill some kind of prophecy and overthrow him, and then he cast her into prison because she was so heartbroken that she was deemed "mad." the king brought up aldous as an only child with no memory of his twin brother or his mother, but always had an inkling that something was missing because of the second pendant he'd always had, which was given to him as a baby by their mother before she was taken away. audwin despairs at the fact that his mother and the life he should have had were ripped away from him by one man, and hugs his mother tight before swearing to take the king down.

some big climax happens and they take down the mer king and throw him in the cell that used to house the queen (cuz im not creative enough to come up with a non-prison sentence even tho fuck prisons and also acab irl), who then takes her rightful place back at the throne, and they also take down signy's dad/uncle or whatever, i dunno, i haven't figured this shit out yet lmaoo. but anyways, they sort it all out and they fall in love n all that shit. audwin speaks to his mother and tells her, he's never belonged to mer society and trying to integrate now would majorly suck, especially without signy at his side, who has to go back to land to give aldous his mer body back. he'd rather be by signy's side, separated by land and ocean, than not be near her at all. she's his one true friend. his mother understands, and bestows a new pendant to signy that, when worn, will allow her to understand the mer language even as a human, and allow her back into mer society should they ever return. they go back to the surface and they get ben and aldous back to the shore and audwin swiches signy and aldous' human and mer bodies back. it's a sad occassion. signy doesn't want to leave audwin behind in the water, and it's clear that aldous and ben have developed some kind of feelings for each other (do i have aldous and the guard fall in love in every dutp swan lake story i've ever thought up? YES). ben suddenly pipes up and is like, audwin switch with me!! and everyone else is like HUH?? ben explains that he doesn't really have anything in the human world to miss, he's not leaving behind much [insert some kind of tragic story for ben that i haven't thought up yet], and if they switch, they can both be with the people they want to spend their lives with. so they switch. audwin becomes a human and ben a merman, and then signy's like. welp, guess i don't need this anymore, and gives ben her pendant. they're all smiles and hugs, and then before they say goodbye and leave, audwin turns to aldous and says, "hey, say hi to mom for me." and aldous, who doesn't know they're brothers, is like WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GONE--

and anyways. aldous gets to meet his mother (who will know exactly what happened with signy and auwdin the second she sees ben with her pendant and it makes her smile) and stay with ben who adapts to mer society fairly easily, and audwin gets to stay with his best friend and love in the human world. signy's dad's company tanks which she is glad for, and maybe she and audwin use the money she has to open up some kind of ocean clean-up project or something. standard cheesy barbie-like plot haha. wham bam, signy x audwin mermay story

will i ever write it? nope. if anyone wants to yoink this idea, go ahead! just credit me (and also @ me so i can read it hehe) !!!

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i based the boat off of this pic of a greenline 39 yacht

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consider supporting me on ☕ ! ko -fi. com / maddsmallow (without spaces)

[vaaspilled]

Ramble #1

(not online diary related)

For the past couple of years I’ve experienced super intense joint pain and I didn’t think anything of it in the beginning, months passed and I began to slightly worry. I searched up my symptoms (which I should’ve know was a red flag) and it began linking “bone cancer” I know that isn’t the case so I just continued to ignored it. A year after I told my mother and she convinced me to go to the doctors, the doctor said that it was because of vitamin D deficiency, I started taking fish oil supplements but it still didn’t help me. I remembered a while ago when I started my asthma medication ( I use one Albuterol inhaler, one Qvar inhaler and I take one Montelukast 10mg table each day) I read that the montelukast tablets affect something bone related and just in case I searched it up and it states that.

“Yes, joint pain is a possible side effect of montelukast, but it's not clear how often it occurs or if it's actually caused by the drug. Joint pain has been reported after the drug was released, but it wasn't reported in studies of people taking montelukast.”

So like I don’t know whether to stop taking my medication or not…my pains have started to intensify and it leads to intense nausea.

Idk what to do :(

Edit: bro the side effects of Montelukast are freaking scary 😨

[espys-art-stuff]

This has been brushed under the table by Wall Street (who own Norfolk Southern) and the Ohio/Pennsylvania govts, but reporting on it because it's a disaster: As a result of rail corruption/mismanagement (and USgov thanos snapping the rail strikes), a Norfolk Southern chemical freight train was derailed and spilled its load on Feb 3 near East Palestine (a town on the very eastern side of Ohio), which then apparently exploded. [Apparently. Lots of claims going around, but I can't find a source.] They decided to burn the vinyl chloride to stop it from leeching into the environment further, because letting it leech into the air was better I guess. This is relevant for anyone living in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and potentially Western New York. The chemicals reported to be carried were Vinyl Chloride [carcinogen with a boiling point of 8F/-13C that releases dangerous gases into the atmosphere], Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Acrylate [carcinogen], and Isobutylene. The train was 50 cars long.

Immediate effects have shown up in East Ohio and West PA, including reports of "acrid smells", as well as smoke clouds and fish, birds, and foxes turning up dead. Contaminants are confirmed to have reached the Ohio River and have leeched into the water supply of vulnerable towns in West Virginia. Local water sources and well water should be avoided and treated with scrutiny, as far as Eastern/southern Ohio, Northern WV, and Western PA. It is unclear what other water supplies have been contaminated, but veering on the side of caution for now is better - tests are still being taken and the situation is developing.

As a result of the burn, Phosgene gas and Hydrogen Chloride are spreading into the atmosphere. Hydrogen Chloride, now pumped into the air as a result of the burn, bonds with water vapor and turns into Hydrochloric Acid. This may cause acid rain. The wind is blowing west to northeast and affects Eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania and potentially, should it reach far enough, parts of Western NY (though it's unclear how far this is going to spread). This will affect people and animals over the long term on a scale comparable to 9/11 and some of the worst oil spills, and was entirely preventable had rail companies not cut corners on the operation and safety of their trains and train routes. Additionally, two more trains with hazardous material have derailed in South Carolina and Texas, though no known burns have occurred from those yet.

[bestblogger333]

discover the secrets of a keto meal plan

Discover the Benefits of a Keto Meal Plan

Introduction The keto diet has gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. For many, a keto meal plan offers an effective way to lose weight and feel more energized. This diet focuses on low carbohydrate intake and high fat consumption, putting the body into a state of ketosis. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of a keto meal plan and how it can help you achieve your health goals.

What Is a Keto Diet and How Does It Work? The keto diet, or ketogenic diet, is a nutritional pattern that significantly reduces carbohydrate intake while increasing fat consumption. Under normal circumstances, the body primarily derives energy from carbohydrates, but on a keto diet, carbohydrate intake is limited to about 20-50 grams per day. This substantial reduction in carbs forces the body to use fat as its primary energy source, leading to a metabolic state known as ketosis. During ketosis, the liver produces ketones from stored fat, which then serve as an alternative energy source for the body and brain.

The idea behind this diet is to shift the body from burning glucose, derived from carbohydrates, to burning fat. This process can take several days, depending on your metabolism and activity level. During this transition period, your body may adapt to the new energy source, which can sometimes come with temporary side effects like fatigue or irritability, commonly referred to as the "keto flu."

An essential aspect of the keto diet is that it's not just about limiting carbohydrates, but also about consuming enough healthy fats and a moderate amount of protein. This ensures that the body remains effectively in ketosis and functions optimally. Typical foods that fit within a keto diet include avocados, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, meat, eggs, and oils like olive oil and coconut oil. By training your body to use fat as fuel, various health benefits can be achieved.

The Key Benefits of a Keto Diet for Weight Loss One of the most notable benefits of a keto diet is its effectiveness for weight loss. By limiting carbohydrates and increasing fat intake, the body switches to a fat-burning mode. This often leads to quicker weight loss, especially in the early stages of the diet. An additional benefit is that many people experience less hunger, making it easier to maintain a caloric deficit without feeling constantly deprived.

Moreover, the keto diet helps stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing spikes and fluctuations. This can lead to a reduction in fat storage, particularly around the abdominal area. Studies have shown that individuals following a keto diet often lose more body fat than those on a traditional low-fat diet.

Another interesting aspect is that the keto diet lowers insulin levels. Since insulin plays a significant role in fat storage, lower insulin levels can contribute to more efficient fat burning. Additionally, the increased fat and protein intake helps preserve muscle mass during weight loss, which is crucial for a healthy metabolism.

Finally, the keto diet offers a wide variety of foods rich in healthy fats and proteins, contributing to a feeling of fullness and reducing cravings. This can help lower overall calorie intake and promote weight loss without a sense of deprivation.

Improved Energy and Mental Clarity from Keto Many people following a keto meal plan report improved energy and mental clarity. When the body uses ketones as its primary energy source, energy fluctuations decrease, leading to a more consistent energy flow throughout the day. Additionally, ketones can fuel the brain more efficiently than glucose, resulting in improved focus and cognitive performance. This makes the keto diet particularly appealing for those seeking a mental boost.

Alongside a more stable energy level, many experience less "brain fog" and increased alertness. This is especially beneficial for individuals with demanding jobs or studies that require sharp focus and clear thinking. The reduction in sugar intake also plays a role in these improvements, as sugar crashes are often accompanied by fatigue and loss of concentration.

Moreover, certain ketones, such as beta-hydroxybutyrate, have anti-inflammatory properties, offering further benefits for brain function. These ketones help protect brain cells and may even reduce the risks of neurodegenerative diseases.

The feeling of increased mental clarity and energy makes it easier to perform daily tasks and can contribute to an overall sense of well-being. For many, this is a key motivation to stick with a keto meal plan.

Keto Meal Plan: Examples and Daily Schedules A typical keto meal plan revolves around meals rich in healthy fats, moderate amounts of protein, and very low carbohydrates. For breakfast, you might enjoy an omelet filled with cheese, mushrooms, and avocado. Another tasty option is Greek yogurt mixed with chia seeds and a handful of nuts.

For lunch, you can prepare a salad with spinach, grilled chicken, avocado, and a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice. An alternative could be a lettuce wrap filled with turkey, bacon, and a thin layer of mayonnaise.

Dinner might consist of a piece of grilled salmon with creamy cauliflower puree and roasted Brussels sprouts. Other delicious choices include chicken with pesto and zucchini noodles, or a juicy steak served with sautéed asparagus in butter.

Snacks are also important within a keto meal plan. Popular options include a handful of almonds, cucumber slices with hummus, or a few slices of cheese with olives. For a sweet treat, you can enjoy a serving of berries with sugar-free whipped cream.

Planning your meals is essential to remain in ketosis and ensure your body receives all the necessary nutrients. Try to vary your food choices to avoid monotony and to get different vitamins and minerals. By being creative and flexible in your food preparation, you can enjoy delicious and satisfying meals while adhering to your keto diet.

Important Considerations and Possible Side Effects of Keto While the keto diet offers many benefits, there are also some things to keep in mind. The first few days of a keto diet can come with some discomforts, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness, often referred to as the "keto flu." These symptoms are usually temporary and can be alleviated by staying well-hydrated and ensuring adequate intake of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Another concern is the potential increased strain on the kidneys with a high protein intake. While the keto diet emphasizes a moderate protein intake, it's essential not to overdo it. Individuals with pre-existing kidney issues should exercise caution and seek medical advice before starting a keto diet.

Constipation can also be a problem for some people due to possibly lower fiber intake. This can be countered by including plenty of fiber-rich, low-carb vegetables like broccoli and spinach in your diet and drinking enough water.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to be mindful of the quality of fats you consume. It’s advisable to prioritize healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and nuts over saturated and trans fats.

Lastly, some people may experience elevated cholesterol levels while following a keto diet. While this isn't necessarily harmful, it's wise to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly, especially if there is a family history of cardiovascular disease.

Clearly, a keto diet comes with several important considerations. By being well-informed and monitoring any side effects, you can maximize the benefits of a keto meal plan.

Maintaining a Keto Lifestyle Long-Term Maintaining a keto lifestyle long-term requires a combination of planning, flexibility, and adaptation. Regularly evaluating your progress can help you make necessary adjustments to your diet and activity levels, ensuring you continue to reap the benefits of keto. Flexibility also plays a crucial role; some people incorporate occasional carbohydrate-rich meals, known as carb-cycling, to make social situations easier and avoid monotony. This can help maintain the diet longer without feeling restricted.

To consistently remain in ketosis, it's important to plan meals ahead and consciously choose foods rich in healthy fats and low in carbohydrates. Sufficient variety in your meals not only prevents boredom but also ensures you get all the necessary nutrients. Additionally, it can be beneficial to try new keto recipes and develop your cooking skills.

Social support is another important element. Share your goals and challenges with friends or family, or join an online community of like-minded individuals. This can motivate you and help you stay focused during your keto journey.

Finally, it’s essential to listen to your body and seek professional medical advice if needed. By following these steps, you can sustainably and healthily integrate a keto lifestyle into your daily routine.

FREE KETO MEAL PLAN IN LINK BELOW https://www.claudiacaldwell.com/oto-uf61a?el=splittest-1214-bradflow-control#aff=affiliateking333

#food #healthy #healthylife

[angelmush]

hiii im going to be living w my aunt over the summer and therefore buying my own groceries. I am going to be busy w summer classes and working on the weekends but I do rlly want to try cooking at least once or twice a week. I can make an egg and pasta but that’s about it. What are some of your fave recipes that aren’t super complicated that I could start with if you have any? (I am open to a minor challenge but cooking can overwhelm me so I like a challenge but not too much of one lol). I am also vegetarian (not vegan) if that matters! If you don’t get to this that’s okay !!! I hope u are well 🩷🩷🩷

now it's been a little while for me since i've had to use this model due to moving back home w my family for a time but when buying groceries for one person i found it helpful to follow this sort of structure about once a week! when i do this it feels a lot easier to 'wing it' in the kitchen and mix and match my meal components. and to preface, this is what i find to be helpful and everyone is different and finds different things to work for them!!

1-3 protein sources - i like to center my meals around this because i've found it helps me feel the most nourished and full, i always think of it as things that can be the 'star' of your dishes. i eat meat so i usually do salmon, chicken thighs, and alternate pork + beef. but for u that could b things like tofu, eggs, beans/lentils, mushrooms maybe, vegetarian 'meat' fakes lol, peanut butter if u like any peanutty noodle dishes

3-4 veggies - i love to snack on veggies so i usually get snap peas, cucumbers, + bell pepper just for snacking, and then something like brussel sprouts for roasting as a side dish w a dinner, these can also be frozen

2-3 types of fruit - i am a smoothie enjoyer bigtime so i get a combo of frozen and fresh, almost always mango, and then whatever is seasonal that i can see myself being excited to eat throughout the week

2-3 grains - pastas, premade pizza crusts, bread, rice, etc!! these rly round out ur meals!! and imo they make it simpler to make a meal on the fly. i am a huge fan of microwave rice LOL

2-3 multipurpose dips/spreads/sauces/condiments/pantry items - now here is ur golden ticket for being able to reliably make well rounded and varied meals!!! slowly building up your collection over time is the most cost effective way imo. it's helpful to stock up your pantry w things like baking supplies (flours, sugars, leaveners), spices, shelf stable canned goods (canned tomatoes, beans, vinegars, oils, soy sauces, fish sauce, cartons of things like oak milk), and 'fridge pantry' items (parmesan, herbs, lemons for juice and zest, miso, gochujang, ketchup, mayo, hot sauce, jam, pickles, etc). you can use these to season your food as you cook!

2-3 snacks/frozens - any microwave meals or chips or desserts you might want!!

using this structure makes it easier to look at what you have and be like, i have xyz and they would go together well.

EX. i have rice, tofu, and bok choy, now i can cook the rice and pan fry the tofu and bok choy with my pantry ingredients (soy sauce, miso, sesame oil, chili oil) and create a filling meal!

some of my favorites that could be made vegetarian -

ground pork seared on the bottom of a dutch oven in patties (you could sub tofu or use a fake meat replacement), broken up into smaller chunks, eaten with linguine, sliced snap peas or celery, + a garlicky peanut butter sriracha sauce

pizza w a store bought crust!! super easy, done in like 10 minutes! i like to make mine in a cast iron following this protocol

i really love to dress up ramen w sliced veggies and eggs

i like to make pasta dishes and then form a sauce w parmesan cheese, butter, pasta water, lots of lemon zest and juice and sometimes chicken stock, then adding in peas and fresh herbs at the end

idk if this was helpful at all, but i also have a recipe + recovery tag on my blog w more of these if that is helpful to you! im also on Instagram (@clementineoliveoil) and like to post what i cook there sometimes too!! i wish u all the most beautiful meals in your future!!

[consult-sherlockholmes]

tips on how to deal with chronic pain from both you and john? i know that gunshot scar must hurt at times.

You are correct, it hurts sometimes given the destroyed nerve endings and tissue damage. Well I am probably not the best person to ask about pain management because I either ignore it (which sometimes can turn out bad if the pain is a sign of something being wrong) or I consume strong painkillers that I didn't exactly get prescribed and have my other sources if you know what I mean. So not something anyone except me should do. John is probably a better source for answers concerning this, given he is also a doctor. However, I won't tag him here because the above might make him angry, so please do send him your ask yourself if you want his input. But maybe I can give some healthier general advice otherwise, like trying to distract yourself from the pain by focusing your mind, working or doing something that brings you joy (as chronic pain also tends to make people depressed so doing something to distract you and make you happy is important). I try to distract myself with my mind palace sometimes, especially while I was in hospital, although then I was on a constant drip of morphine which made things much easier to deal with. Depending on the source of the chronic pain light exercise or physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the area could improve the pain. I think physical therapy helped John with his shoulder.

Taking better care of yourself in general like a healthy diet, as certain unhealthy foods can increase inflammation and pain, so they should be avoided. Especially heavily processed foods, high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats should be avoided, as well as red meat and milk products. Food that is anti-inflammatory should be consumed, rich with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, like vegetables, fruit, olive and flaxseed oil and fish. So a vegan/pescetarian diet would be recommended. Being well-rested, as pain also tends to get worse when sleep-deprived and stressed, trying to improve your general mental state. Poor sleep also causes more inflammation, which means in turn more pain.

Of course all those things are easier said than done, a permanent change in lifestyle is difficult, especially if you are already suffering. And it is probably annoying to just hear people always say 'just work on yourself' which is not at all what I am trying to say here, because sometimes that just isn't possible, but maybe things can at least be improved with small actions. It's important to start with small steps and not overstress yourself, as that would be negative again. Am I doing all of those things myself? No, but as I said I am not a good example, so you should probably do the opposite of the things I do. I am just trying to give advice based on research about chronic pain and inflammation, which often go hand in hand.

And hopefully you have a good doctor that can help you with that, prescribe you good medication, maybe some light painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications, that can be taken long term and doesn't have too many side effects. But most long term use of medication has side effects in the long run, but constant pain also has negative effects, so best to ask a doctor. Sadly, the stronger painkillers like opioids are not at all made for long term treatment, or you will get dependent or addicted. That happens faster than you think. I know opioids seem alluring, just taking all pain completely away and maybe getting a high on top of it, but in the long term it will just lead to more severe problems. It's a curse in disguise of a blessing. And if you just go to doctors and right out demand they prescribe you opioids they might not take you seriously, and might think you are an addict trying to get your hands on drugs and react badly guess how I know. Maybe you should better go ask John I am not very helpful concerning this.

[magic-and-moonlit-wings]

Thoughts on ‘The Sea Beast’

SPOILERS AHOY!

I loved the character designs, for the humans and the creatures. I feel like the design team had a lot of fun.

It was neat how the castle architecture and decor had a palette of sea green, gold, and white, yet still felt very aquatic, rather than leaning on an “ocean theme = blue” palette.

The royal couple’s costumes kind of gave me ‘sea monster’ vibes even before they were confirmed to be antagonistic characters. I think it was all the little triangles on the trim. (According to a sewing website I’ve read, those are called Van Dyke points, but I’m not sure how widely used that term is.)

I think Blue is the same species as Red, just a different colour while a baby. The angler lure will lose its light and turn into a crest as Blue gets older. I want a plushie of Blue, and maybe one of the yellow ones as well.

I very, very much want to see a video of Voltaire’s song “The Beast Of Pirate’s Bay” using clips from this movie.

Captain Crow was super dumb for dumping the Hand Of God harpoon overboard as soon as Red was captured. Even if he was holding off on killing her until they got back to the capital, keeping the poison on hand might have been a good idea in case they needed to, oh, I don’t know, sedate the giant beast again?

Potential reasons I came up with for why humans and sea beasts would be in conflict:

Some combination of the following:

1. It started due to honest misunderstandings, akin to a shark’s “test bite” of a surfer.

Sea beasts are huge, and big things need lots of food. Know what has a lot of calories? Mammal meat. It is not unreasonable to think some types of sea beast might eat whales. Ships at sea would be mistaken for a whale surfacing to breathe, the sea beast would come up to eat it, and oops, it’s not a whale after all.

Even the story about how “them beasts would come right up to shore, pluck a lady from her veggie patch, and swallow her up” could be based on true events. If a sea beast preyed on pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), they could mistake humans on the beach for seals and go after them, expecting them to be slower and clumsier out of water.

2. Sea Beast territory blocks an otherwise-desirable trading route.

Plenty of wars and conflicts in human history have been about controlling trade routes. As a coastal territory, much of the kingdom’s trade is presumably by sea.

3. Sea Beast territory overlaps with otherwise-desirable fishing grounds.

As stated in Hypothesis 1, big animals need lots of food. Red’s whirlpool trick is presumably to cluster fish together so she can eat a bunch of them in one bite.

Coastal regions also tend to be heavily dependant on fishing for food.

4. The horns are harvested for ‘medicinal’ purposes.

It fits with the whaling metaphor (harvesting blubber and spermaceti for lamp oil, and baleen for corset boning), the big game hunting theme (rhino horns used as an aphrodisiac), and the theme of hunting supernatural creatures (unicorn horns, and narwhal tusks, could supposedly detect and cure poisons).

5. The Royal Family have discovered the Sea Beasts make useful scapegoats.

“Yes, we had to raise taxes, but it’s to fund the hunters and protect our people from the beasts!”

“Yes, everything is expensive, because it’s hard to get imports past the beasts and we can only produce so much locally.”

Depending on what people believe about the sea beasts’ intelligence and capabilities, it might even be possible to blame them for storms, droughts, floods, and tidal waves.

6. It’s a direct side-effect of the whaling industry.

Related to Hypothesis 3; sea beasts have sunk whaling ships, and compete for the same prey. Humans started trying to wipe them out so they’d stop getting in the way.

(I did not actually expect this to be canon, since whaling is generally frowned upon by a modern audience and this is a kids’ movie, so the scriptwriters wouldn’t want to get into that.

Also, do whales even exist in this world, or do sea beasts fill that ecological niche? We never see proof onscreen that whales coexist with sea beasts, but the ocean is vast and it’s hard to prove a negative.)

7. From the Sea Beasts’ perspective, humans are a fellow beast with whom they are competing for territory.

I mean, looking at things from a certain angle, this isn’t totally wrong.

The Explanation The Movie Gave:

Generations ago, the Royal Family told everyone that Sea Beasts were bad and needed to be hunted. They did this for ... reasons.

On my second watching, I puzzled out, “Maybe that’s part of the point, that the real motives were lost to history and sometimes you don’t get to find out why; some random kid like Maisie never got to find out the full truth, but she still found out the important part - that the manipulation existed, and that sea beasts aren’t actively malicious - and that’s why it’s important to question stuff people have ‘always known’, because details get lost over time and could’ve been wrong to begin with.”

But for a first watching, wow, talk about leaving an important plot thread hanging.