So I came into the medical program in January. Had only experienced BM marijuana, and was really excited to get into the medical program as a smoker of 10+ yrs. Finally we will know what strains were smoking, dates packaged, THC % etc AWESOME.
Well until it's not. You buy an eighth and it's garbage. This was ultra surprising to me as i was expecting incredible quality at high prices like this. Realized very quickly that u can get burned by buying on discount. Ok so maybe old bud is the issue. Well not always, I've boughten batches packed within the last month or two that haven't had much effect. So then I realized there's not too much bud over 25% THC maybe that's where the good stuff starts. This was a little more true as it pushed me to try some great strains and realize what brands are able to produce high quality eighths. Still never found any bud comparable to the old stuff I got off the streets!
So I've randomly kindve found good bud when It comes up. I'd say out of the dozens I've tried the only ones worth my time smoking have been:
Animal face - rythm/goodgreen Georgia runtz - float by good blend Grape essense - float Gummies - strane
Legit i haven't had any other bud give me a buzz. I know I have a tolerance but beyond that I have very high standards. So with these high standards I decided to go in depth and mention all the Things I look for to find quality bud:
Smell - It cannot smell like grass/hay it needs to have some sort of darkness to the smell or it'll be trash
Break down - this is a huge early taletell factor for me. How many times I've bought product that turns into dust when you try and grind. I'm a paper smoker and the right consistency when breaking down is key. Looking for a moonsand like texture. Small particules but still moderately sticky that they all stay together. Iykyk
The burn - the most important aspect of the bud. How does it burn. This is where 90% of bud disappoints me. A properly rolled joint is the true test for any bud. Taste should be strong enough to know what you're smoking, not of grass or dirt or ashes. There should be a tickle in the back of the throat. A ton of bud misses the mark in this. It's a particular tickle one of THC and not of shit quality. You will know when your coughing because it's garbage or because of the THC content. Feels like a concentrate hit. The joint should not run if you aren't chiefing on it. It if runs, the bud is overly dry or you rolled really poorly. It should burn at a steady pace. So many times I roll up, only to start smoking and have a 1 inch cherry! If this happens your hits will be very hot and not very concentrated and you will have a horrible smoking experience.
The after effect - how do I feel after. Am I noticably high? I tend to base the strength of bud on the body buzz. Maybe not the best indicator but my mind I feel is so tolerated to being medicated that I don't really notice a mental change unless it's a concentrate hit. For me herb gives a whole body buzz. A warmth. This should last for atleast 30 mins or it isn't great bud. Sometimes I'm happy until I'm done smoking to realize the effects have worn off so fast.
So we have gone through all the factors that make UP a quality bud, what about the proper research beforehand?
Research. We all do it or we wouldn't be here on Reddit. Flowerleed is king for finding the best price/availability when you find the flower you're looking for.... But how do find what flower is the best?
I've came to the conclusion that these three filters are the best for discerning the best weed.

1. Brand - I think this is #1. What brand are you buying? Be aware of the subbrands. There is a subreddit here with the list. Cresco - good green - &shine. Know who owns which brands and what brands are known for doing best. Some may be best for concentrates but horrible for flower.
   
2. Strain - this was one I hugely overlooked and I blame the black market or the past for this personally. I never bought into "sativa or indica" because I always knew there was almost no way to tell, especially for the basic drug dealer. So when he tells me to I got that alien star mints fire extreme, I don't give a care because I know it's some made-up BS. Well it's different now. We know the exact genetics everytime. This can allow u to ultimately find what you're looking for, even though you won't know until u experiment. This is a good point to note that keeping a log of what strains you have tried, and giving them a rating can be very helpful as it's easy to confuse or mix up previous strains you've tried. Search reddit for the exact strain your looking into and see others opinion on it and the effects they experienced.
   
3. Freshness - my third but huge factor. When was it packaged? A question you should ALWAYS ask before purchasing. They will always share the pack date and trust me anything beyond 3 months will kill the bud. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from my one experience with prime wellness. Got their blueberry OG and it was 5 months out and dry as a bone. Turned into dust with little effect. Whereas I'm pretty sure I've bought strane garlic butter at 19% and it was so fresh it had way greater effects and smell/taste then prime. Another point into freshness I'd like to mention is how new did this strain release? This is something I'm finding now, that once you scour and learn the full market it will be apparent when new drops occur. Really annoyed that rise and other dispos don't allow you to filter by newest for their product. Reddit new posts are your best source for this. Check daily, see what people are posting about. I will only go out of my way for a bud when I see 2+ raving reviews about the exact strain from a recent time period. That way I know it's a new drop, it's good, and it will be gone before I know it.
   

So in conclusion, none of the 3 factors above are greater then the others but if you are missing just ONE, you will not have fantastic bud in your hands. Can't be a prime wellness African Thai but be packed 8 months ago. Cant be fresh and your favorite strain but made by organic remedies... Can't be your favorite brand and fresh but it's a low % strain designed with higher CBD inclusion. If found almost like a gambler that when two of these conditions are met it's very easy to hope the third will be when you know deep down it won't be. I cannot stand buyers regret and this market has driven me crazy with it.
I'd love to hear any other contributions to this, or criticism. This is what I have found over the past 3 months and I've seen similar frustrations out there. Hoping to save some money for people who are on the fence about a purchase.

Read chapter 15 here: https://www.reddit.com/saw/comments/11rvp3u/legacy_from_the_book_of_saw_chapter_15_dr_steward/
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*** CHAPTER 16 **\*
William Schenk enters a shabby apartment complex carrying a red, portable cooler. He passes the commonly empty front desk and proceeds upstairs. When he reaches his floor, he sees a call girl exiting his neighbor's apartment. He flashes a charming smile and keeps moving. His neighbor, ashamed, says, "Hey Bill…," But Bill doesn't stop. He offers a wave and continues down the hall.
Aside from a small TV and newspaper articles, his flat is almost barren. He places the cooler on the kitchen counter and heads into his bedroom. Opening the closet door, he procures a small, aqua green, square-shaped box and a thin strand of rope, approximately four feet in length.
He sets the box on the living room table, then grabs the portable cooler. On the table in front of him, he switches on an old radio, quickly tuning the device to a new station.
The reporter begins to speak about the mass grave that's been discovered, while Bill stuffs the box full of newspaper. He then opens the cooler and places the contents into box. The final step is to wrap the box with the rope, making the perfect knot and bow.
In the kitchen, he takes a black marker from a ceramic cup and writes a note on a small white tag. He slips the rope through a pre-punctured hole on the label and ties it off. Satisfied, The Organ Donor admires his work, then places the gift inside the freezer.
*** CHAPTER 17 **\*
Paint dripped on the precinct floor as Lincoln made his way to the restroom. He locked the door, unbuttoned his shirt, set it on the counter, and unhooked the latch on his brace. The Detective slowly removed the homemade cilice, exposing a throng of metal spikes that had left dozens of painful indentations in his skin. Lincoln stared at his scarred torso, stoic to the pain he had caused himself as repentance. As he watched the blood spill from several small wounds, he remembered cradling Roy's head, and in his mind, Lincoln felt he deserved this.
He allowed his sores a moment to breathe while he struggled to remove the paint from his shirt and jacket. Five minutes passed, and he was granted only a moderate improvement. He reapplied the painful undergarment, breathed sharply, and buttoned his shirt.
On the way to his office, he is approached by an officer, "Detective Riley," she says, "Renee Walsh would like to speak with you."
"Where is she?"
"Agent Webb is interviewing her now. Right, this way."
Following his colleague to the Booking Room, Lincoln feels the cilice pressing against his skin. He reaches into his shirt, pulls the strap to tighten the brace, and readjusts his clothes.
Agent Webb has concluded her interview, and she passes him in the hallway, "She's all yours."
Entering the room, Lincoln puts on a neutral face, "I'm sorry for the delay. Are you alright?"
Renee stands up from her chair and approaches the Detective, "Lincoln, It's been a long time."
"Look, this is just a precaution. You'll be safe here."
"That woman…" she says, referring to Agent Webb, "She's treating me like I'm a part of this."
Lincoln looks over his shoulder, then back to Renee, "I can't reveal much, but there is a connection between the murders and Jigsaw's accomplices."
Renee moves to the table and sits down, "I thought this was over. It's been over two years…."
"Have you been in contact with any of the other survivors?"
She sighs, "Not really, just Jeff…."
"You were close?"
Renee thinks about her response before answering, "He didn't do those things he was accused of… I-I trust him."
"What about the rest of the group?"
"The others? They never really liked me, and you don't often find someone who appreciates what John did."
Lincoln glances at her eye patch, "Why do you?"
She stares at her shoes and explains, "I always felt invisible, but he noticed me. I know it's stupid, but I needed this."
Her words resonated with Lincoln. He slid his hands against his chest and down to his hips. He could feel the Nitrous canister inside his pocket, left over from his session with Dr. Steward. A sudden craving was triggered, "We're going to keep you here as long as we have to."
Renee's face was tinged with sadness, "Lincoln, I can't." She says, distressed.
"What's wrong?"
She bits her lip, "It's not me I'm worried about… It's my Dad and Brother."
"There's no indication that they're in any danger."
"It's not that," She says, "My dad is sick. He needs me."
Lincoln's eyes wander, contemplative, "I'll tell you what, I'll send someone over there to make sure everything is alright, okay?"
"Thank you, Lincoln."
He moves towards the door, and she says, "Hey, maybe when this is all over, you can come by the Survivors Group and say 'Hello'? I think everyone would be happy to see you again."
Stopping at the door, Lincoln pauses and considers the suggestion. He slowly turns his head back to her and then exits the room.
Lincoln's desire to use was growing, but as he was about to exit the building, he was stopped by Chief Savino.
"Where are you going?" Savino asked.
Thinking on his feet, Lincoln replied, "I need to make a personal call."
"Can it wait?" Savino asked, "Have you finished the MP report?"
Lincoln can see Borden and Marlow through the Briefing Room window. Frustrated, he responds, "Just about. I'll bring it to you shortly."
He proceeded to the Briefing Room, where he sat at his desk and sifted through the Missing Person cases from the last ten years. While he researched the disappearances, the others read through a culled list of Jigsaw survivors and their last known whereabouts.
"Listen to this," Borden says, browsing a newspaper article, "Years after surviving Jigsaw's "final" test, "S.U.R.V.I.V.E" Author, Bobby Dagen, was found dead in his suburban home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,'" He glances at Lincoln for a reaction, "Did you hear about this? … "While a suicide note was not present at the scene, it's speculated that he felt guilt for the death of his wife, Joyce… Dagen was outed as a fraud shortly after the death of John Kramer."
Borden sets the article down and comments, "Wrote a book called 'Survive' and then kills himself. No irony in that, huh?"
"How 'bout this," Marlow adds, "Mother and Son Killed in Car Accident Near Home Residence…." He traces the words with his finger, "It says Tara Abbot and her son Brent were killed in a collision after Tara lost control of the vehicle."
Listening to his colleagues recite the news articles, Lincoln couldn't help but imagine the victims' deaths. He keeps his emotions at bay and continues to glean information from the Missing Person files.
"Here's another one," Marlow says, "Jigsaw survivor, Mallick Scott, was pronounced dead today. After struggling with substance abuse, Scott was kidnapped and tortured by the infamous John Kramer... Neighbors reported a pungent odor next door, and the arriving officers discovered Mallick had overdosed on heroin and drowned in his pool…." Marlow looks at his colleagues solemnly, "He was found with a rubber band wrapped around his arm."
Borden squints his eyes and shakes his head, "This can't be a coincidence," he theorizes.
"What? You think they were murdered?" Marlow replies skeptically, "Who could do that?"
"Do you know Mark Hoffman? Do you know how many people he killed the night Jill Tuck died?" He took out three FBI Agents, including Peter Strahm, and a slew of cops."
"That was before I started," Marlow admits.
Lincoln turns to his associates and reveals, "Six of these Missing Person cases were also Jigsaw survivors; Joan Douglas and Morgan Tillman both disappeared four years ago, realtor Brit Stevenson from the Fatal Five trap, vanished three years ago. The list goes on."
A lite knock at the door indicates Logan's arrival. He enters the room with Agent Webb, holding pictures in his hand, "Detective," he says.
"Come in…"
He hands Lincoln an Autopsy Report, and Agent Webb stands beside him, "We've identified the tattooed woman. Her name was Pamela Jenkins. She was William Easton's sister."
"Another survivor." Unnerved, Lincoln asks, "What about the others?"
"Jeff Ridenhour never showed up," Borden said.
Marlow conjures a curious expression, "The Dentist?"
"Neurologist. He was lobotomizing patients…."
"Allegedly..." Lincoln adds.
Webb's face showed concern, "He hasn't called?"
"No, but Gavin Beck is under protection… Stupid, asshole," Borden said, "He wouldn't leave his house, so I got a patrol unit watching over him."
"I spoke with Neil Perri hours ago." Marlow notes, "He sounded drunk…."
"What did he say?" Lincoln asked.
"He wouldn't tell me where he was but said he'd be here… There's more. Simone Howard called out of work the last two days. Her manager received a text stating she was sick. I tried to reach her by phone, but no response."
Lincoln leans back, ruminating, "And Sarah Harper?"
"Nothing," Borden reveals, "but Chief Savino issued an All Points Bulletin on all of the survivors. We're putting her face on TV."
Stepping forward, Agent Webb asked, "Where's the tape from Gordon's apartment?"
"This way," Lincoln leads her to the VCR in the back of the room, "Did you find something?"
"Pamela Jenkins was investigating Jigsaw Copycats. We lost communication with her about a week ago."
Borden joins them at the TV, and Agent Webb rewinds the tape. Using the computer next to the VCR, she locates a folder from the cloud containing several videos. "Her last transmission was from this broadcast."
She presses play on the first recording, and they watch as a camera is positioned on the dashboard of a car.
Pamela captures the heavy clouds that filled the night sky. Raindrops exploded onto her windshield as she traveled up a gravel road towards a mysterious home. A black car was parked outside the house, but the license plate was out of view. She exited her vehicle and shielded her camera from the wind and rain.
"I've seen this before…." Lincoln said, "It was on the news the night Gordon died."
Agent Webb adjusts the footage, filtering it through different settings until everything is visible. The VCR has finished rewinding, and she links the tape with the content from the cellphone.
The front door is already open when Pamela tries knocking. She looks inside, "Hello? Is anybody here?"
The light switch doesn't seem to work, but Pamela proceeds cautiously into the residence and enters a nearby room. On the floor, she finds crayon drawings and children's toys.
"What are you hoping to find?" Lincoln asks.
"Hello?" Pamela repeats.
The body of a small puppet lays face down on the floor next to two small chairs. Upon turning it over, Pamela discovers the head has been smashed. Picking up one of the broken pieces, she realizes it's the Billy puppet Jigsaw would use in his traps. The doll starts to laugh, but it's labored and distorted. Next to the puppet, she finds a hammer and nails.
Pamela grabs the tool, "What the…?"
The front door slams shut, and Pamela yelps, frightened, but no one is there. Trembling, she holds the hammer in front of herself like a sword. The loud wind crashes against the frame of the building, and her nerves settle. She moves through the darkness and finds a door that leads into the next room. However, wooden boards have been nailed to the wall to prevent entry.
Setting her camera down but still recording herself, she uses the hammer to yank the nails out of the wood, one by one and then uses her strength to pry them from the wall. When the last board is removed, she grabs her camera and opens the door.
Two hands quickly pierce the darkness and rush towards her. A shirtless, emaciated man mumbles and grabs at Pamela, tearing her shirt. She drops her phone and attempts to fight him off, smacking him several times with the hammer. Blood spews from his head, and he collapses to the floor.
Pamela grabbed her phone and checked on the lifeless man; his mouth hung open, and she could see his tongue had been cut out. His body is filthy, and his fingers are covered in blood from scratching at the walls.
"Fuck! …Shit!" She says. The footage stops suddenly.
Agent Webb suggests, "We think she tried to call the police." She clicks on the following video.
The footage returns, and they can hear Pamela panting. She walks into the next room, where the man was held captive.
The light flickers as the battery dies on her phone, and they can hear her slapping the camera. Pamela is startled by the sudden appearance of a corpse with a rusty pipe impaled through its neck. The cadaver is a reddish-brown, having been deceased for some time.
"Oh my god," she says, positioning her camera closer to the body.
A bright light in the hallway turns on, and she tilts her camera towards the luminescence. She could now hear the alarming moans of someone in jeopardy through the walls.
Agent Webb inhales and grinds her teeth. Watching both monitors, they prepare for the next scene.
Pamela moves fearfully into the hallway. Her heart is racing, and a surveillance camera captures her every move. Several floorboards have detached from the foundation, and there are scratch marks on the walls as if someone was dragged. Her teeth chatter, and she proceeds nervously towards the muffled groans, the floorboards creaking with her every step.
A masked figure appears behind her, their presence announced by the audible floorboards, but before she can turn around, the hooded man smacks her in the head. The video ends, but the surveillance camera records her grisly fate.
Webb notices something on the wall and rewinds the tape for several seconds. She positions the computer next to the television, restarts the cellphone footage, and pauses the content when she sees the same marking.
"Do you see that?"
With both screens side-by-side, they can now see the symbol of Ankh.
Lincoln leans forward, "What does it mean?"
"The "Ankh" is the Egyptian symbol for Eternal Life," she says, "In the last message we received from Pamela, she said she was investigating the Gideon Meat Packing Plant. I think she followed that car to this location."
"It can't be too far from the plant," Borden theorizes.
"Did you notice the toys and chairs? I think this is a Children's DayCare… I'm going to pull up the city records…."
"Marlow can help you with that," Lincoln says, "Simone Howard doesn't live too far from here. Frank and I will go get her."
***
TO BE CONTINUED...

This story needs to be told. Those who have suffered must understand why. It’s not as simple as some have made it to be, which is why it needs to come from the person most responsible… me.
It began when I was least expecting it. But then don’t things always seem to happen that way?
***
“I’m tellin' ya, doc, people just don’t understand,” Frederick said while rocking back and forth in the chair.
“What exactly don’t they understand?” I said, trying to look more relaxed than I felt.
“There’s just something that takes over. You can’t stop it.”
“Impulse control?”
“What’s that mean?” Frederick said, struggling against his straight jacket, trying to get comfortable.
“It means that when you want to do something, you try your hardest not to. It means you try to control or suppress the urge to do things you know are bad.”
Frederick’s mouth lolled open. He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“Why would I want to do that?”
I suppressed the urge to sigh.
“Because that’s what people do,” I said. “They think about doing bad things, but then they control themselves and don’t do them because those things are wrong and could hurt other people.”
“Hurting people is wrong?” he said.
“Yes, Frederick, hurting people is wrong.”
He shook his head as if he were trying to shake away a fly that was annoying him.
“Why?”
“Why is hurting people wrong?”
“No, why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re saying I’m bad,” he said trying to rise from his chair. “You’re saying I didn’t need to hurt those people. That I’m a bad person.”
I got up from my chair and started backing toward the heavy metal door.
“I’m not bad!” he yelled at me. “You’re bad!”
I knocked on the door and the orderly opened it as Frederick got to his feet.
I slipped through the door as it slammed shut from the impact of his body slamming into it.
“Bad, bad, bad,” he screamed.
“Badbadbadbadbadbadbadbad!”
Spit flew from his mouth landing on the small observation window with metal grates embedded in it.
“You ok, doc,” the orderly said, startling me.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
I turned and walked down the white hallway, hoping the orderly wouldn’t notice the quickness in my step. I ignored the sound of Frederick beating on the door. I ignored all the sounds I heard. I just wanted to get away.
It was a long walk to my office, through many security gates. At each one, the nurse buzzed me through and gave me an acknowledging look that used to be a smile.
I suppose this place gets to everyone eventually.
I finally reached my office, closed and locked the door behind me, and collapsed into my chair. I breathed out a sigh of relief at reaching relative safety. I turned and looked out my window to the beautiful flowers blooming on the trees in the courtyard. I looked up at the tree stretching toward the sky.
I remember when they planted those.
I turned back to my center, my means of solace, the only thing that mattered in this cruel, unfair world. I picked up the picture of my lovely wife and smiled. She was the one who kept me sane all these years. She kept me seeing the best in people. Or at least trying. Sometimes there was no good to see—especially in my patients.
It takes a special kind of doctor to care for the mental needs of those who have done heinous things that are so bad they don’t even bother sending them to prison. They send them to me.
I’m like the dumpster for the dregs of society. Just drop them in the asylum and forget about them.
I kissed my wife and set her back on the bare desk, then turned on my computer and added notes from today’s session. There was never a recommendation for release. Once patients came here the only way they left was in a body bag. There was no curing them, only trying to make them docile until they left.
Oh, there were experiments. That was a large part of how we were funded. Companies would pay for certain tests to be done. Some might call it torture, but we called it research.
I finished typing my notes and leaned back in my seat. The diplomas and degrees stared down from their perches on the bare walls, mocking me. Demanding why I hadn’t gotten a better job.
As usual, I didn’t have an answer.
My office suddenly felt stuffy. I closed down my computer and left. Driving down the packed freeway, all I could think about was collapsing on the couch beside my lovely Elizabeth. Not telling her about my day until she dragged it out of me, then listening to her encourage me to help those who have been left in my care, because I’m the only hope they have.
Traffic was bumper to bumper and not helping my overall opinion of humanity much. Especially when a car that was swerving from lane to lane, nearly sideswiped me. It kept going on in front of me, nearly hitting several other cars.
The driver and passenger seemed to be having a disagreement about how to drive the car and it looked like it was about to come to blows.
Fortunately, they were soon out of sight, and someone else’s problem.
For the next few miles, I kept watching the side of the road waiting to see the offending car sitting in a ditch. However, they surprised me. They must’ve turned off to go terrorize some neighborhood streets with their reckless driving.
I hummed to myself, not wanting to have whatever dreck was on the radio forced on me.
When I was nearly to my exit, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the number as work. I contemplated answering it for a moment, then thought better of it. There had never been a time when work called with good news. And I was in no mood for bad news.
I hummed a little louder, trying to drown out the sound of the ring before it finally stopped.
The closer I got to home the less I thought about work and the more I thought about Elizabeth. Until I turned off at my exit, I had nearly forgotten work altogether. Maybe I would take tomorrow off and go do something with my wife. We hadn’t been out for a while. The weather had been lovely and I know she would adore a walk down by the lake.
My thoughts were interrupted when I turned down our driveway and saw a car in front of the house. It wasn’t quite in the driveway, it was sitting at an angle halfway in the front yard.
I parked my car and slowly got out. Something struck me about this car, but I hadn’t figured out what. I approached the driver’s side to have words with the person still sitting at the wheel.
“Excuse me,” I said staying a few steps back from the driver’s door.
He didn’t answer me.
“Excuse me,” I said a little louder.
Still no answer.
I tapped on the window and he ignored me.
I opened the door.
“Okay, look… “ I said.
But it was I who would do the looking. The man fell out of the car, thudding on the grass. The inside of the car was covered in blood. I looked down and the man’s throat had been cut.
“Oh my God!” I said jumping back.
I watched to see if the man was breathing, but the way his neck was bent at an unnatural angle against my yard told me everything I needed to know.
I glanced through the car but didn’t see the passenger.
It was then my eyes drifted to my front door.
It was open.
I stepped through the shrubs and up onto the porch, walking in a daze. The surrealness of the moment had yet to sink in. I was going inside to check on my wife and make sure everything was ok.
It didn’t strike me as anything more than that.
‘Oh, she just left the door open, that’s all.’
My mind kept trying to tell me that. I wanted desperately to believe it. Even though she had never been that careless during the entire time we’d been married. I had pushed aside all reason and common sense in favor of pure denial.
Everything was going to be ok. With Elizabeth, everything was always ok. She could literally light up a room with her positivity. She was the best person I ever knew. I have no idea how I got so lucky as to know her, let alone be her husband.
I floated in through my front door on my cloud of denial and looked for my wife.
It didn’t take me long to find her.
There was one wall of the living room she was constantly redecorating. She always said it looked bare and empty no matter what she did with it.
She was hanging from that wall, naked, her beautiful body desecrated by slices and rips. Her throat had been slit and blood still poured from it.
I ran to her.
Tried to take her down.
Screamed her name.
And then it was my turn to scream.
I looked down and saw a knife blade sticking out from my abdomen. It was part of the cutlery set I had gotten for Elizabeth three Christmases ago.
I screamed as I slowly turned to face my attacker.
“What’s up, doc?” Frederick said wearing a maniacal grin.
The shock had punched a hole in my reasoning. I saw him standing there, but I couldn’t accept it any more than I could accept my beautiful wife strung up like a macabre painting hanging on our living room wall.
My eyes tried to focus on his face. To make me recognize him as a threat.
“How’s that impulse control workin’ for ya, doc?”
He ripped the knife out of my back.
The pain, along with his arrogance woke me from my shock-induced stupor.
“Now do you understand?” he said, as he shoved the knife into my belly.
I did understand. I understood at that moment that I was already as dead as my wife. I knew that this piece of human garbage had taken something beautiful from this world. I knew I had to do something about it before there was nothing I could do. Before my body succumbed to injuries and I was unable.
I grabbed him by the throat. He tried to laugh, but my grip was fueled by desperation.
He tried to free himself but couldn’t. He began stabbing me over and over. I refused to release him. I carried him by his neck over to the kitchen counter and began bashing his head off the marble.
I was rewarded with spots of his blood. I knew at least I had made him bleed and that made me smile. His eyes grew wide as my grin grew maniacal. I smashed him repeatedly, crushing him against the sink, breaking the faucet, and causing water to spray into the air.
His eyelids fluttered as he lost his grip on the knife.
He was nearly gone. I would take him with me and that would be my parting gift to the world, removing something so evil.
Suddenly, my body wouldn’t obey commands. My grip loosened. I tried to tighten it, but I had lost all control. I looked down and I was standing in a pool of my own blood.
His eyes fluttered open and he coughed.
‘Nonononononono!’ I thought. ‘He can’t live. He can’t win. I had him.’
He stood as I sank to the floor.
“Looks like maybe you do understand, doc,” he said from what seemed like miles away. “Too bad you won’t be around to discuss it. We could have a session and evaluate how it makes you feel.”
His foot came down on my spine. I felt a crack. He started kicking me in the side repeatedly. Splashing water and blood on me as I felt my ribs crack.
I fought with everything I had.
My body didn’t even twitch.
‘Nooooo!,’ I screamed. ‘It can’t end like this.’
I heard a sizzling sound and then there was darkness.
***
I could feel movement.
Wasn’t I dead?
Was this what happened after?
It was still dark.
‘Hello?’ I tried to say.
Nothing. Just the sensation of movement.
Am I in a body bag? Am I on my way to the morgue or the grave? Please don’t let me be buried alive.
But I’m not alive, am I?
I don’t feel any pain. That’s a good thing, but not a good sign. The last thing I remember was lots of pain.
Suddenly there’s light and my movement stops.
I look up from the floor of a house I don’t recognize.
‘Where the hell am I?’
I’m on the floor next to a wall, looking up at an electrical outlet. Nothing around me seems familiar. I try to stand but it feels weird. It isn’t difficult, and there’s still no pain, it just carries an odd sensation with it. Like my body is just relearning things. Just like when I was a toddler. I teeter back and forth as I rise, but eventually, I’m upright.
My first few steps are tentative, but after that, I gain confidence with each stride.
Aside from the strange surroundings, there’s a sensation, like ants crawling all over me.
I pass a bathroom and glance inside. The reflection in the mirror draws me back. I slowly approach it, seeing something unique and terrifying.
It looks like someone drew an outline of a human form using a lightning bolt. The electricity shimmers and crackles as it races around the empty form of the being.
I wonder if it will hurt me.
Not sure if I want to test the limits of my newfound lack of pain, I hesitantly reach for this creature. It reaches for me at the same time. I’m mesmerized by this mutual curiosity.
My hand is about to touch the electric pulse shaped like its hand. I tremble with anticipation and fear as we touch.
Surprisingly, I don’t feel any pain. I don’t feel anything except a hard surface.
I move my hand back and forth. The creature does the same. I make quicker movements, and so does it.
Finally, out of frustration, I reach back and strike at the creature.
My hand strikes the hard surface and it splinters. There are now multiple creatures staring back at me.
I step back and come to the horrible realization.
I am the creature.
***
One month later…
“And police have been unable to find any credible leads in the string of brutal killings that began shortly after the patient escaped from the mental hospital last month,” the handsome anchorman stated from behind his desk. “They are asking people to call in if they know the whereabouts of Frederick Winston, now known as, ‘The Mangler’.”
“In other news, the Larsan Electric Company has issued a statement that the recent power surges are no cause for alarm. These surges seem to be random in people's homes and certain businesses. An LEC spokesman stated that there appears to be no pattern to the surges and that so far no one has reported them causing any harm. LEC is tracking down the problem and should have it under control soon.”
The anchorman shifted in his seat and turned to another camera.
“And on a lighter note, with Halloween months away, it seems that reports of ghosts are on the rise,” he said, wearing a half grin. “Several area residents have reported what they call a ghostlike figure, outlined in light, visiting them. Reports vary as to the duration and location of the visits, but they do seem to have a few things in common. The visits are usually short. In fact, most people say that if they blink the figure is gone. No one has reported the ghost doing any harm. And it seems like anyone within close proximity feels a tingling sensation and their hair standing on end.”
“Maybe I should be visited instead of my next hairdresser’s appointment,” the attractive woman anchor said with a laugh.
“Schedule me a visit too,” the male anchor said smiling. “And that’s our news for the evening, good night.”
Jimmy switched the channel.
“Gimme a break,” he said to the TV. “Ghosts? Who’s playing what? This’s some marketing scheme to sell Halloween crap. Like that stunt they pulled a few years back with the clowns hanging around the schools to promote that stupid movie.”
He switched off the TV and rolled over in his bed.
It wasn’t long before his breathing slowed. But before sleep could take him, he noticed a glow in the hallway. He didn’t remember leaving any lights on when he came to bed. Living alone had its advantages. If he heard someone in his apartment, he knew they weren’t supposed to be there. He slowly reached over to the bedstand and pulled out his Glock 9mm handgun, then held it close and listened.
He watched as the glow moved. It seemed like someone was looking around. But for what? He didn’t really have anything aside from his TV, phone, and video games. If anyone wanted those, they would be in a world of hurt. He had been lucky to get this apartment. If he was honest with himself, it cost more than he could afford, but when he had the chance he took it. It was too bad the opening came because the person who lived there before him was one of The Mangler’s victims. That’s probably why he was able to rent the place so quickly and get the price down to where he could almost afford it.
Maybe the glow was one of the street people who were stupid enough to see if there was an empty apartment to claim. That wasn’t gonna fly either. Jimmy had jumped on this apartment to get away from the dingy rat hole he used live in on the other side of town. And there was no way he’d let some bum come in here and take what was his.
The glow crept closer. He could feel the hairs on his arms raise. There was a sound too. It wasn’t loud, almost felt more than heard. A soft crackle, like electricity when it sparked.
The sensory input was almost too much for Jimmy to take. He pointed the gun in the direction of the glow and saw the barrel was shaking. His resolve, that he could deal with anyone as long as he had his gun, was beginning to fade.
The glow became so bright that it finally took form.
Jimmy’s eyes widened. It was the form of a person, just like the news had said.
It seemed to look around the room, then settle its gaze on the bed. Jimmy began to sweat as it approached and stared into his eyes.
It was the oddest thing, staring into what should be eyes, but nothing was there. The flashes of mini lightning bolts formed shapes that looked almost human, but it was just an outline, there was nothing inside what should be the body.
He shoved the shaking gun out from under the blanket and pointed it at the glowing figure.
The figure noted the presence of the gun, then continued to advance.
“S… stop,” Jimmy said. “I’m w… warning you.”
The figure ignored the warning.
Jimmy squeezed the trigger, setting off a deafening shot that went right through the face of the figure.
It acted as though nothing had happened, continuing to advance. The ringing in Jimmy’s ears made all sound seem muffled.
The figure stopped two inches from Jimmy’s face.
“Mangler… “ it said, sounding less like a voice and more like a transmission over an old staticky radio.
“I… I’m not the Mangler,” he said. “The person who used to live here was killed by him.”
It seemed to ponder this for a moment.
“Find Mangler… “ it said.
“I d… don’t know where to find him.”
It moved an inch closer. As the flashes of electricity arced, licked hungrily at Jimmy’s face.
“Find… him… “
“Ok, ok, I’ll find him,” Jimmy said, feeling the heat from the electricity.
The figure seemed to consider that for a moment then backed away. It moved toward the bedroom wall. Then, like someone had turned on a vacuum, it was sucked into an electrical outlet and disappeared.
Jimmy laid back in bed, breathing hard. His eyes darted left and right all around the room. But the only evidence of the figure that remained was the bullet hole in his bedroom wall.
***
The trips through the electrical conduits had become easier. There were still times when I came out someplace I didn’t intend to, but I was usually able to recover quickly and get to where I wanted to go.
But where did I want to go? At first, I wandered around, lost in this new form I found myself trapped inside. It was only after I had overheard a news report about the serial killer they called The Mangler that I gained my purpose.
Of course, Frederick was going to keep killing. Of course, they weren’t going to be able to catch him. He’d been inside away from his victims before and he didn’t like it. Not being able to torture and kill innocents was like a normal person not being able to breathe. Not that I know much about normal or breathing anymore.
I suppose on some level I should thank him. I thought about it for a long time and the only thing that makes any kind of sense is when we were fighting, somehow the water and blood I was laying in got splashed into the electrical socket. Instead of killing me, it bonded with me, making me able to become the electrical current. To ride it like a wave to wherever I wanted.
I became faster than any person ever was. And yet, I wasn’t a person anymore. I have no idea how I retained my consciousness, let alone my memory. But somehow…
I justify it by the old adage, ‘I think therefore I am.’
My life has become an endless hunt for the person who destroyed me, the person I must destroy. I don’t even know what I’ll do when I find him. But I will find him. I will stop him. This time, I won’t fail. I’ll end him like I should’ve before.
I owe it to the people he’s tortured and killed since my failure. Most of all, I owe it to my wife. I know she wouldn’t approve of my bloodlust. She would say there must be some other option. But if she would be able to see her dead body hanging naked from our living room wall, I think she just might change her mind.
My thoughts are interrupted as I arrive at my next destination, another victim’s house. I’m not sure what I’ll find that the police haven’t, but I have to try. Maybe I can pick up his scent somehow. A plan almost assuredly doomed to failure since I lost all sense of smell in the transformation.
I’m surprised though that I can still see and hear. I suppose waves of light and sound somehow intersect with my electrical body and it senses them. I don’t question it. I’ve learned to just go with it.
On the plus side, I don’t have to worry about eating, drinking, or using the bathroom. I guess there’s an upside to everything. Elizabeth would be so proud of me.
I arrive at the room where the victim was murdered. Looking around there’s still blood everywhere, along with evidence markers where they took pictures.
The sheer amount of blood tells me he took his time. He desecrated this girl in her own room. Her parents must’ve been out because there’s no way they didn’t hear the struggle. There were books on the floor, a chair overturned, and blood everywhere. The room was a disaster. It looked like she fought him. I wish she would’ve succeeded where I had failed.
But then, I wish I hadn’t failed, and this girl was still alive.
There’s nothing I can do now except find him and end him.
Finding him was proving more difficult than I thought. I had unlimited access to anywhere with electricity, but I couldn’t use a computer or a GPS. I was limited to transportation only through electricity. Granted that still made me the fastest being alive. I say being because I don’t think I qualify as human anymore. But I was limited to traveling to a place and then trying to find out where I was and if he was there.
If he knew I was searching for him all he would have to do is live the rest of his days in a cabin in the woods with no electricity. I’d never be able to reach him.
I believe two things worked in my favor with that theory.
First, I don’t think he’s that smart, and second, I don’t think he knows I’m looking for him. I believe that surviving our fight only further empowered him to kill. When someone feels invincible, they’re bound to make a mistake.
An officer walked into the room and I ducked back into an outlet. I was able to hang on where I was and watch from inside the outlet without being transported somewhere else.
The officer looked startled and stared at the empty air that I had just vacated. She looked like she was unsure if she trusted what her eyes had seen in the instant before I vanished.
She slowly stepped over to the corner and bent down to peer into the outlet. For a moment I wondered if she could see me, and what exactly she would see. But then her radio squawked calling her to another scene. When I heard the voice on the radio say the address and that they might have the killer cornered, I didn’t waste any time.
It was maybe fifteen seconds until I was across town at the address I’d heard. There was a lot of screaming and crying going on. I came out of the outlet and saw blood on the floor beside a body that wasn’t moving.
There was a girl being beaten by a man with his back to me. He turned to take another swing and I knew my search was over.
“My psychiatrist used to tell me I needed to work on my impulse control,” he said calmly as he slapped her. “I think I’m doing pretty good. I’ve been here ten whole minutes and you’re still alive.”
I shot across the room and knocked him to the floor. He jumped back up and looked around for what had hit him.
“What the hell?”
I saw the fear in his eyes when he saw me. I know Elizabeth would’ve been ashamed, of me, but I was enjoying his anxiety. After all he had done to me and so many others, I drank it in like an elixir.
He started edging toward the door. I was there in a heartbeat. His eyes darted back and forth between where I used to be and where I now stood. The panic in his eyes doubled.
I wanted to make him suffer, but I didn’t want to make the same mistake I’d made before and let him escape with his life.
I lashed out with a bolt that used to be my arm. The energy slashed through his shirt and fried a hole in his shoulder.
He screamed in pain and horror as he looked at the smoking hole in his skin. He tried to run but in an instant, I was there in front of him firing another bolt and searing the skin across his waist to his jeans.
His screams of pain and rage were only matched by the feral desperation in his eyes.
Not knowing what do to, he went with the familiar. Attack the innocent. He grabbed the girl who had been crawling away from the scene.
He grabbed her again and held her in front of him like a human shield.
What a waste of skin.
I fired a bolt into a ceiling light beside me which ricocheted and hit him full force in the leg, nearly severing it.
He went down like a ton of bricks, trying to hold on to his hostage, but she was fighting to get away from him. She broke free and he crumpled to the floor.
“What do you want?” he screamed at me.
With everything that is within me, I wanted to tell him who I was, what he had taken from me, and what I was about to take from him.
But I didn’t want to give the satisfaction. I wanted to give him only uncertainty and fear to cling to.
I could feel the seconds ticking away. I knew I had to make the most of this opportunity or he would get away again. And after this, I might never find him.
I unleashed every ounce of energy at him. I couldn’t even see him, he was only a smoking pillar of frying skin.
Just then, the police burst through the door.
“FREE… “ the first officer started then the shock of what he was seeing stole the rest of the word from his mouth.
He stood there, mouth agape when the female officer stepped in behind him. She looked at me and her wide eyes narrowed as she put two and two together and recognized me from the last crime scene.
I had no reason to fear. I didn’t know if I could even be harmed in my current state. But when you see that blue uniform burst through a door with a gun aimed at you, all rational thought takes a vacation.
I dove for the outlet and was gone. I didn’t even care where I was going. I knew I had done what I wanted to. The monster was destroyed.
Something felt different. Was it pride at finishing my crusade? Was it shame knowing Elizabeth wouldn’t have wanted me to do it?
I don’t know but there was something else. It was like there was added weight to my existence. I guess you can have a conscious in whatever you’d call this existence.
I appeared in the place that made the most sense, ironically. It was my old home. The one where everything I loved died, including me. It was where I took on this unintended new existence.
Is that why I felt this extra weight? Was it some cathartic aftereffect of my search for revenge that was finally over?
I looked around the charred debris of what used to be my home. In my mind's eye, I didn’t see the burned-out shell of what was left. I saw it as it was when we first moved in. When Elizabeth and I started decorating. When the interior was finally finished and I turned to her and said, “For now.” Knowing she would decide to change everything at some time in the future when she was bored, just like all women seem to do.
I remember getting a paintbrush across the mouth for that comment. I smiled remembering kissing her with my freshly painted mouth and ending up in the bedroom.
As I turned toward where I’d entered the house, my smile quickly faded. For some reason, I was still connected to the outlet. That had never happened before.
Another curiosity arose when I noticed the color of my electrical body was now tinged purple. It had always been blue before.
The tail of what had yet to come out of the outlet was red. As I pulled and it came the rest of the way out, it merged with me and turned purple.
“What the hell?” I heard someone say.
I whipped around but no one was there.
“Where am I?” the voice said.
“Who are you?” I said to the air.
There was a long silence.
“Doc?” the voice said.
As far as I knew it wasn’t possible for my spine to turn to ice, since I no longer had a spine, but the feeling seemed the same.
“Frederick?” I said.
“What happened?” he said. “This crazy electric thing attacked me and now… wait a minute. How am I talking to you? You died months ago.”
My shock gave way to utter despair. My enemy was now part of me.

This story needs to be told. Those who have suffered must understand why. It’s not as simple as some have made it to be, which is why it needs to come from the person most responsible… me.
It began when I was least expecting it. But then don’t things always seem to happen that way?
***
“I’m tellin' ya, doc, people just don’t understand,” Frederick said while rocking back and forth in the chair.
“What exactly don’t they understand?” I said, trying to look more relaxed than I felt.
“There’s just something that takes over. You can’t stop it.”
“Impulse control?”
“What’s that mean?” Frederick said, struggling against his straight jacket, trying to get comfortable.
“It means that when you want to do something, you try your hardest not to. It means you try to control or suppress the urge to do things you know are bad.”
Frederick’s mouth lolled open. He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“Why would I want to do that?”
I suppressed the urge to sigh.
“Because that’s what people do,” I said. “They think about doing bad things, but then they control themselves and don’t do them because those things are wrong and could hurt other people.”
“Hurting people is wrong?” he said.
“Yes, Frederick, hurting people is wrong.”
He shook his head as if he were trying to shake away a fly that was annoying him.
“Why?”
“Why is hurting people wrong?”
“No, why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re saying I’m bad,” he said trying to rise from his chair. “You’re saying I didn’t need to hurt those people. That I’m a bad person.”
I got up from my chair and started backing toward the heavy metal door.
“I’m not bad!” he yelled at me. “You’re bad!”
I knocked on the door and the orderly opened it as Frederick got to his feet.
I slipped through the door as it slammed shut from the impact of his body slamming into it.
“Bad, bad, bad,” he screamed.
“Badbadbadbadbadbadbadbad!”
Spit flew from his mouth landing on the small observation window with metal grates embedded in it.
“You ok, doc,” the orderly said, startling me.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
I turned and walked down the white hallway, hoping the orderly wouldn’t notice the quickness in my step. I ignored the sound of Frederick beating on the door. I ignored all the sounds I heard. I just wanted to get away.
It was a long walk to my office, through many security gates. At each one, the nurse buzzed me through and gave me an acknowledging look that used to be a smile.
I suppose this place gets to everyone eventually.
I finally reached my office, closed and locked the door behind me, and collapsed into my chair. I breathed out a sigh of relief at reaching relative safety. I turned and looked out my window to the beautiful flowers blooming on the trees in the courtyard. I looked up at the tree stretching toward the sky.
I remember when they planted those.
I turned back to my center, my means of solace, the only thing that mattered in this cruel, unfair world. I picked up the picture of my lovely wife and smiled. She was the one who kept me sane all these years. She kept me seeing the best in people. Or at least trying. Sometimes there was no good to see—especially in my patients.
It takes a special kind of doctor to care for the mental needs of those who have done heinous things that are so bad they don’t even bother sending them to prison. They send them to me.
I’m like the dumpster for the dregs of society. Just drop them in the asylum and forget about them.
I kissed my wife and set her back on the bare desk, then turned on my computer and added notes from today’s session. There was never a recommendation for release. Once patients came here the only way they left was in a body bag. There was no curing them, only trying to make them docile until they left.
Oh, there were experiments. That was a large part of how we were funded. Companies would pay for certain tests to be done. Some might call it torture, but we called it research.
I finished typing my notes and leaned back in my seat. The diplomas and degrees stared down from their perches on the bare walls, mocking me. Demanding why I hadn’t gotten a better job.
As usual, I didn’t have an answer.
My office suddenly felt stuffy. I closed down my computer and left. Driving down the packed freeway, all I could think about was collapsing on the couch beside my lovely Elizabeth. Not telling her about my day until she dragged it out of me, then listening to her encourage me to help those who have been left in my care, because I’m the only hope they have.
Traffic was bumper to bumper and not helping my overall opinion of humanity much. Especially when a car that was swerving from lane to lane, nearly sideswiped me. It kept going on in front of me, nearly hitting several other cars.
The driver and passenger seemed to be having a disagreement about how to drive the car and it looked like it was about to come to blows.
Fortunately, they were soon out of sight, and someone else’s problem.
For the next few miles, I kept watching the side of the road waiting to see the offending car sitting in a ditch. However, they surprised me. They must’ve turned off to go terrorize some neighborhood streets with their reckless driving.
I hummed to myself, not wanting to have whatever dreck was on the radio forced on me.
When I was nearly to my exit, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the number as work. I contemplated answering it for a moment, then thought better of it. There had never been a time when work called with good news. And I was in no mood for bad news.
I hummed a little louder, trying to drown out the sound of the ring before it finally stopped.
The closer I got to home the less I thought about work and the more I thought about Elizabeth. Until I turned off at my exit, I had nearly forgotten work altogether. Maybe I would take tomorrow off and go do something with my wife. We hadn’t been out for a while. The weather had been lovely and I know she would adore a walk down by the lake.
My thoughts were interrupted when I turned down our driveway and saw a car in front of the house. It wasn’t quite in the driveway, it was sitting at an angle halfway in the front yard.
I parked my car and slowly got out. Something struck me about this car, but I hadn’t figured out what. I approached the driver’s side to have words with the person still sitting at the wheel.
“Excuse me,” I said staying a few steps back from the driver’s door.
He didn’t answer me.
“Excuse me,” I said a little louder.
Still no answer.
I tapped on the window and he ignored me.
I opened the door.
“Okay, look… “ I said.
But it was I who would do the looking. The man fell out of the car, thudding on the grass. The inside of the car was covered in blood. I looked down and the man’s throat had been cut.
“Oh my God!” I said jumping back.
I watched to see if the man was breathing, but the way his neck was bent at an unnatural angle against my yard told me everything I needed to know.
I glanced through the car but didn’t see the passenger.
It was then my eyes drifted to my front door.
It was open.
I stepped through the shrubs and up onto the porch, walking in a daze. The surrealness of the moment had yet to sink in. I was going inside to check on my wife and make sure everything was ok.
It didn’t strike me as anything more than that.
‘Oh, she just left the door open, that’s all.’
My mind kept trying to tell me that. I wanted desperately to believe it. Even though she had never been that careless during the entire time we’d been married. I had pushed aside all reason and common sense in favor of pure denial.
Everything was going to be ok. With Elizabeth, everything was always ok. She could literally light up a room with her positivity. She was the best person I ever knew. I have no idea how I got so lucky as to know her, let alone be her husband.
I floated in through my front door on my cloud of denial and looked for my wife.
It didn’t take me long to find her.
There was one wall of the living room she was constantly redecorating. She always said it looked bare and empty no matter what she did with it.
She was hanging from that wall, naked, her beautiful body desecrated by slices and rips. Her throat had been slit and blood still poured from it.
I ran to her.
Tried to take her down.
Screamed her name.
And then it was my turn to scream.
I looked down and saw a knife blade sticking out from my abdomen. It was part of the cutlery set I had gotten for Elizabeth three Christmases ago.
I screamed as I slowly turned to face my attacker.
“What’s up, doc?” Frederick said wearing a maniacal grin.
The shock had punched a hole in my reasoning. I saw him standing there, but I couldn’t accept it any more than I could accept my beautiful wife strung up like a macabre painting hanging on our living room wall.
My eyes tried to focus on his face. To make me recognize him as a threat.
“How’s that impulse control workin’ for ya, doc?”
He ripped the knife out of my back.
The pain, along with his arrogance woke me from my shock-induced stupor.
“Now do you understand?” he said, as he shoved the knife into my belly.
I did understand. I understood at that moment that I was already as dead as my wife. I knew that this piece of human garbage had taken something beautiful from this world. I knew I had to do something about it before there was nothing I could do. Before my body succumbed to injuries and I was unable.
I grabbed him by the throat. He tried to laugh, but my grip was fueled by desperation.
He tried to free himself but couldn’t. He began stabbing me over and over. I refused to release him. I carried him by his neck over to the kitchen counter and began bashing his head off the marble.
I was rewarded with spots of his blood. I knew at least I had made him bleed and that made me smile. His eyes grew wide as my grin grew maniacal. I smashed him repeatedly, crushing him against the sink, breaking the faucet, and causing water to spray into the air.
His eyelids fluttered as he lost his grip on the knife.
He was nearly gone. I would take him with me and that would be my parting gift to the world, removing something so evil.
Suddenly, my body wouldn’t obey commands. My grip loosened. I tried to tighten it, but I had lost all control. I looked down and I was standing in a pool of my own blood.
His eyes fluttered open and he coughed.
‘Nonononononono!’ I thought. ‘He can’t live. He can’t win. I had him.’
He stood as I sank to the floor.
“Looks like maybe you do understand, doc,” he said from what seemed like miles away. “Too bad you won’t be around to discuss it. We could have a session and evaluate how it makes you feel.”
His foot came down on my spine. I felt a crack. He started kicking me in the side repeatedly. Splashing water and blood on me as I felt my ribs crack.
I fought with everything I had.
My body didn’t even twitch.
‘Nooooo!,’ I screamed. ‘It can’t end like this.’
I heard a sizzling sound and then there was darkness.
***
I could feel movement.
Wasn’t I dead?
Was this what happened after?
It was still dark.
‘Hello?’ I tried to say.
Nothing. Just the sensation of movement.
Am I in a body bag? Am I on my way to the morgue or the grave? Please don’t let me be buried alive.
But I’m not alive, am I?
I don’t feel any pain. That’s a good thing, but not a good sign. The last thing I remember was lots of pain.
Suddenly there’s light and my movement stops.
I look up from the floor of a house I don’t recognize.
‘Where the hell am I?’
I’m on the floor next to a wall, looking up at an electrical outlet. Nothing around me seems familiar. I try to stand but it feels weird. It isn’t difficult, and there’s still no pain, it just carries an odd sensation with it. Like my body is just relearning things. Just like when I was a toddler. I teeter back and forth as I rise, but eventually, I’m upright.
My first few steps are tentative, but after that, I gain confidence with each stride.
Aside from the strange surroundings, there’s a sensation, like ants crawling all over me.
I pass a bathroom and glance inside. The reflection in the mirror draws me back. I slowly approach it, seeing something unique and terrifying.
It looks like someone drew an outline of a human form using a lightning bolt. The electricity shimmers and crackles as it races around the empty form of the being.
I wonder if it will hurt me.
Not sure if I want to test the limits of my newfound lack of pain, I hesitantly reach for this creature. It reaches for me at the same time. I’m mesmerized by this mutual curiosity.
My hand is about to touch the electric pulse shaped like its hand. I tremble with anticipation and fear as we touch.
Surprisingly, I don’t feel any pain. I don’t feel anything except a hard surface.
I move my hand back and forth. The creature does the same. I make quicker movements, and so does it.
Finally, out of frustration, I reach back and strike at the creature.
My hand strikes the hard surface and it splinters. There are now multiple creatures staring back at me.
I step back and come to the horrible realization.
I am the creature.
***
One month later…
“And police have been unable to find any credible leads in the string of brutal killings that began shortly after the patient escaped from the mental hospital last month,” the handsome anchorman stated from behind his desk. “They are asking people to call in if they know the whereabouts of Frederick Winston, now known as, ‘The Mangler’.”
“In other news, the Larsan Electric Company has issued a statement that the recent power surges are no cause for alarm. These surges seem to be random in people's homes and certain businesses. An LEC spokesman stated that there appears to be no pattern to the surges and that so far no one has reported them causing any harm. LEC is tracking down the problem and should have it under control soon.”
The anchorman shifted in his seat and turned to another camera.
“And on a lighter note, with Halloween months away, it seems that reports of ghosts are on the rise,” he said, wearing a half grin. “Several area residents have reported what they call a ghostlike figure, outlined in light, visiting them. Reports vary as to the duration and location of the visits, but they do seem to have a few things in common. The visits are usually short. In fact, most people say that if they blink the figure is gone. No one has reported the ghost doing any harm. And it seems like anyone within close proximity feels a tingling sensation and their hair standing on end.”
“Maybe I should be visited instead of my next hairdresser’s appointment,” the attractive woman anchor said with a laugh.
“Schedule me a visit too,” the male anchor said smiling. “And that’s our news for the evening, good night.”
Jimmy switched the channel.
“Gimme a break,” he said to the TV. “Ghosts? Who’s playing what? This’s some marketing scheme to sell Halloween crap. Like that stunt they pulled a few years back with the clowns hanging around the schools to promote that stupid movie.”
He switched off the TV and rolled over in his bed.
It wasn’t long before his breathing slowed. But before sleep could take him, he noticed a glow in the hallway. He didn’t remember leaving any lights on when he came to bed. Living alone had its advantages. If he heard someone in his apartment, he knew they weren’t supposed to be there. He slowly reached over to the bedstand and pulled out his Glock 9mm handgun, then held it close and listened.
He watched as the glow moved. It seemed like someone was looking around. But for what? He didn’t really have anything aside from his TV, phone, and video games. If anyone wanted those, they would be in a world of hurt. He had been lucky to get this apartment. If he was honest with himself, it cost more than he could afford, but when he had the chance he took it. It was too bad the opening came because the person who lived there before him was one of The Mangler’s victims. That’s probably why he was able to rent the place so quickly and get the price down to where he could almost afford it.
Maybe the glow was one of the street people who were stupid enough to see if there was an empty apartment to claim. That wasn’t gonna fly either. Jimmy had jumped on this apartment to get away from the dingy rat hole he used live in on the other side of town. And there was no way he’d let some bum come in here and take what was his.
The glow crept closer. He could feel the hairs on his arms raise. There was a sound too. It wasn’t loud, almost felt more than heard. A soft crackle, like electricity when it sparked.
The sensory input was almost too much for Jimmy to take. He pointed the gun in the direction of the glow and saw the barrel was shaking. His resolve, that he could deal with anyone as long as he had his gun, was beginning to fade.
The glow became so bright that it finally took form.
Jimmy’s eyes widened. It was the form of a person, just like the news had said.
It seemed to look around the room, then settle its gaze on the bed. Jimmy began to sweat as it approached and stared into his eyes.
It was the oddest thing, staring into what should be eyes, but nothing was there. The flashes of mini lightning bolts formed shapes that looked almost human, but it was just an outline, there was nothing inside what should be the body.
He shoved the shaking gun out from under the blanket and pointed it at the glowing figure.
The figure noted the presence of the gun, then continued to advance.
“S… stop,” Jimmy said. “I’m w… warning you.”
The figure ignored the warning.
Jimmy squeezed the trigger, setting off a deafening shot that went right through the face of the figure.
It acted as though nothing had happened, continuing to advance. The ringing in Jimmy’s ears made all sound seem muffled.
The figure stopped two inches from Jimmy’s face.
“Mangler… “ it said, sounding less like a voice and more like a transmission over an old staticky radio.
“I… I’m not the Mangler,” he said. “The person who used to live here was killed by him.”
It seemed to ponder this for a moment.
“Find Mangler… “ it said.
“I d… don’t know where to find him.”
It moved an inch closer. As the flashes of electricity arced, licked hungrily at Jimmy’s face.
“Find… him… “
“Ok, ok, I’ll find him,” Jimmy said, feeling the heat from the electricity.
The figure seemed to consider that for a moment then backed away. It moved toward the bedroom wall. Then, like someone had turned on a vacuum, it was sucked into an electrical outlet and disappeared.
Jimmy laid back in bed, breathing hard. His eyes darted left and right all around the room. But the only evidence of the figure that remained was the bullet hole in his bedroom wall.
***
The trips through the electrical conduits had become easier. There were still times when I came out someplace I didn’t intend to, but I was usually able to recover quickly and get to where I wanted to go.
But where did I want to go? At first, I wandered around, lost in this new form I found myself trapped inside. It was only after I had overheard a news report about the serial killer they called The Mangler that I gained my purpose.
Of course, Frederick was going to keep killing. Of course, they weren’t going to be able to catch him. He’d been inside away from his victims before and he didn’t like it. Not being able to torture and kill innocents was like a normal person not being able to breathe. Not that I know much about normal or breathing anymore.
I suppose on some level I should thank him. I thought about it for a long time and the only thing that makes any kind of sense is when we were fighting, somehow the water and blood I was laying in got splashed into the electrical socket. Instead of killing me, it bonded with me, making me able to become the electrical current. To ride it like a wave to wherever I wanted.
I became faster than any person ever was. And yet, I wasn’t a person anymore. I have no idea how I retained my consciousness, let alone my memory. But somehow…
I justify it by the old adage, ‘I think therefore I am.’
My life has become an endless hunt for the person who destroyed me, the person I must destroy. I don’t even know what I’ll do when I find him. But I will find him. I will stop him. This time, I won’t fail. I’ll end him like I should’ve before.
I owe it to the people he’s tortured and killed since my failure. Most of all, I owe it to my wife. I know she wouldn’t approve of my bloodlust. She would say there must be some other option. But if she would be able to see her dead body hanging naked from our living room wall, I think she just might change her mind.
My thoughts are interrupted as I arrive at my next destination, another victim’s house. I’m not sure what I’ll find that the police haven’t, but I have to try. Maybe I can pick up his scent somehow. A plan almost assuredly doomed to failure since I lost all sense of smell in the transformation.
I’m surprised though that I can still see and hear. I suppose waves of light and sound somehow intersect with my electrical body and it senses them. I don’t question it. I’ve learned to just go with it.
On the plus side, I don’t have to worry about eating, drinking, or using the bathroom. I guess there’s an upside to everything. Elizabeth would be so proud of me.
I arrive at the room where the victim was murdered. Looking around there’s still blood everywhere, along with evidence markers where they took pictures.
The sheer amount of blood tells me he took his time. He desecrated this girl in her own room. Her parents must’ve been out because there’s no way they didn’t hear the struggle. There were books on the floor, a chair overturned, and blood everywhere. The room was a disaster. It looked like she fought him. I wish she would’ve succeeded where I had failed.
But then, I wish I hadn’t failed, and this girl was still alive.
There’s nothing I can do now except find him and end him.
Finding him was proving more difficult than I thought. I had unlimited access to anywhere with electricity, but I couldn’t use a computer or a GPS. I was limited to transportation only through electricity. Granted that still made me the fastest being alive. I say being because I don’t think I qualify as human anymore. But I was limited to traveling to a place and then trying to find out where I was and if he was there.
If he knew I was searching for him all he would have to do is live the rest of his days in a cabin in the woods with no electricity. I’d never be able to reach him.
I believe two things worked in my favor with that theory.
First, I don’t think he’s that smart, and second, I don’t think he knows I’m looking for him. I believe that surviving our fight only further empowered him to kill. When someone feels invincible, they’re bound to make a mistake.
An officer walked into the room and I ducked back into an outlet. I was able to hang on where I was and watch from inside the outlet without being transported somewhere else.
The officer looked startled and stared at the empty air that I had just vacated. She looked like she was unsure if she trusted what her eyes had seen in the instant before I vanished.
She slowly stepped over to the corner and bent down to peer into the outlet. For a moment I wondered if she could see me, and what exactly she would see. But then her radio squawked calling her to another scene. When I heard the voice on the radio say the address and that they might have the killer cornered, I didn’t waste any time.
It was maybe fifteen seconds until I was across town at the address I’d heard. There was a lot of screaming and crying going on. I came out of the outlet and saw blood on the floor beside a body that wasn’t moving.
There was a girl being beaten by a man with his back to me. He turned to take another swing and I knew my search was over.
“My psychiatrist used to tell me I needed to work on my impulse control,” he said calmly as he slapped her. “I think I’m doing pretty good. I’ve been here ten whole minutes and you’re still alive.”
I shot across the room and knocked him to the floor. He jumped back up and looked around for what had hit him.
“What the hell?”
I saw the fear in his eyes when he saw me. I know Elizabeth would’ve been ashamed, of me, but I was enjoying his anxiety. After all he had done to me and so many others, I drank it in like an elixir.
He started edging toward the door. I was there in a heartbeat. His eyes darted back and forth between where I used to be and where I now stood. The panic in his eyes doubled.
I wanted to make him suffer, but I didn’t want to make the same mistake I’d made before and let him escape with his life.
I lashed out with a bolt that used to be my arm. The energy slashed through his shirt and fried a hole in his shoulder.
He screamed in pain and horror as he looked at the smoking hole in his skin. He tried to run but in an instant, I was there in front of him firing another bolt and searing the skin across his waist to his jeans.
His screams of pain and rage were only matched by the feral desperation in his eyes.
Not knowing what do to, he went with the familiar. Attack the innocent. He grabbed the girl who had been crawling away from the scene.
He grabbed her again and held her in front of him like a human shield.
What a waste of skin.
I fired a bolt into a ceiling light beside me which ricocheted and hit him full force in the leg, nearly severing it.
He went down like a ton of bricks, trying to hold on to his hostage, but she was fighting to get away from him. She broke free and he crumpled to the floor.
“What do you want?” he screamed at me.
With everything that is within me, I wanted to tell him who I was, what he had taken from me, and what I was about to take from him.
But I didn’t want to give the satisfaction. I wanted to give him only uncertainty and fear to cling to.
I could feel the seconds ticking away. I knew I had to make the most of this opportunity or he would get away again. And after this, I might never find him.
I unleashed every ounce of energy at him. I couldn’t even see him, he was only a smoking pillar of frying skin.
Just then, the police burst through the door.
“FREE… “ the first officer started then the shock of what he was seeing stole the rest of the word from his mouth.
He stood there, mouth agape when the female officer stepped in behind him. She looked at me and her wide eyes narrowed as she put two and two together and recognized me from the last crime scene.
I had no reason to fear. I didn’t know if I could even be harmed in my current state. But when you see that blue uniform burst through a door with a gun aimed at you, all rational thought takes a vacation.
I dove for the outlet and was gone. I didn’t even care where I was going. I knew I had done what I wanted to. The monster was destroyed.
Something felt different. Was it pride at finishing my crusade? Was it shame knowing Elizabeth wouldn’t have wanted me to do it?
I don’t know but there was something else. It was like there was added weight to my existence. I guess you can have a conscious in whatever you’d call this existence.
I appeared in the place that made the most sense, ironically. It was my old home. The one where everything I loved died, including me. It was where I took on this unintended new existence.
Is that why I felt this extra weight? Was it some cathartic aftereffect of my search for revenge that was finally over?
I looked around the charred debris of what used to be my home. In my mind's eye, I didn’t see the burned-out shell of what was left. I saw it as it was when we first moved in. When Elizabeth and I started decorating. When the interior was finally finished and I turned to her and said, “For now.” Knowing she would decide to change everything at some time in the future when she was bored, just like all women seem to do.
I remember getting a paintbrush across the mouth for that comment. I smiled remembering kissing her with my freshly painted mouth and ending up in the bedroom.
As I turned toward where I’d entered the house, my smile quickly faded. For some reason, I was still connected to the outlet. That had never happened before.
Another curiosity arose when I noticed the color of my electrical body was now tinged purple. It had always been blue before.
The tail of what had yet to come out of the outlet was red. As I pulled and it came the rest of the way out, it merged with me and turned purple.
“What the hell?” I heard someone say.
I whipped around but no one was there.
“Where am I?” the voice said.
“Who are you?” I said to the air.
There was a long silence.
“Doc?” the voice said.
As far as I knew it wasn’t possible for my spine to turn to ice, since I no longer had a spine, but the feeling seemed the same.
“Frederick?” I said.
“What happened?” he said. “This crazy electric thing attacked me and now… wait a minute. How am I talking to you? You died months ago.”
My shock gave way to utter despair. My enemy was now part of me.

You get dry hair because your hair is unable to retain its natural moisture. Ageing is one of the primary causes of dry hair. Especially in today's day and age, where people live a stressful and hectic life, it accelerates the ageing process and causes these lifestyle-related health issues. More and more women today are suffering from dry hair problems. It is because their scalp gets dry, and the outer layer of hair is unable to maintain its sheen resulting in dry and frizzy hair and ultimately leading to breakage. Therefore, choosing the right shampoo for dry hair is vital to care for such issues.

Causes for Hair Damage

1) Climate:
Extremely hot weather can cause dry hair and breakage. Wear a scarf or hat to protect yourself from the sun. The sun and excessive sweating can damage the hair.
2) Water:
Chlorine water can also lead to damaged and dry hair. Wear a cap while swimming. Avoid hard water as much as possible. It is always good to check the water used in your area.
3) Wrong Beauty Products:
Not all products suit everyone. Harsh products with high chemical concentrations like sulphate can also lead to dry hair and hair fall. Using the best shampoo for dry and frizzy hair is essential.
4) Styling Tools:
Using curling and straightening equipment regularly damages hair. Though you may want to look the best for the upcoming presentation or the next big party in the family, it is always good to be mindful of what you use to shape your hair.
5) Chemicals:
Exposure to harsh chemicals in many hair colours can lead to dry and frizzy hair. Staying hip with current fashion trends is excellent, but so is protecting your hair from damage and dryness.

Tips for Choosing the Best Shampoo for Dry and Frizzy Hair

1) Check for Moisturizing Properties:
The way to choose the best shampoo for dry hair is to see the moisturizing and hydrating properties of the product. Shampoos that contain nourishing and natural ingredients like jojoba oil, argan oil, shea butter, keratin and coconut milk make your hair silky and smooth. In addition, these ingredients have protein, which is essential for hair growth and repair. You can use Shea Intense Repair shampoo from The Body Shop to moisturize your dry hair.
2) Test for Allergy Causing Chemicals:
Knowing what one is allergic to before buying the shampoo product is also highly recommended. And if you are unaware, it is always advisable to ask for a skin test of the product before buying it. Also, use a good fragrance shampoo, and ensure that the shampoo does not contain any chemicals. As sometimes chemicals can cause skin irritation and allergies.
3) Use a Shampoo which Forms Lather:
The shampoo for dry hair must also have an excellent lathering effect. Rather than using a shampoo that takes a long to lather and has to be applied multiple times, it is better to use a shampoo that does the job in half the time. This way, you will be able to retain the moisture in your hair.
4) Keep Track of the Ingredients:
Always opt for a good quality shampoo that has less or nil chemicals. Hence, focusing on the ingredients rather than the price is essential. The high alcohol content in your shampoo can also dry out your hair. Also, using sodium chloride can dry out your hair and is not the best shampoo for dry hair. Excessive exposure to sodium chloride can cause eye irritation, dry hair and scalp, and lead to hair loss. Many products in the market don't use chemicals, like the Ginger haircare range from The Body Shop. However, it always helps to be vigilant and mindful for healthier-looking hair.
5) Get To Know Your Scalp Better:
Not all shampoos are suitable for all scalps. Always consult a dermatologist, especially if you are prone to irritation. Along with knowing your scalp, it is good to know your hair type. When you have hair that tends to become frizzy soon, use body shop shampoo for dry hair.
6) Avoid Shampoos with Sulphate:
Sulphate-free shampoo is perfect for maintaining healthy hair and preventing hair damage. However, shampoo with sulphate may strip your hair of its moisture content and leave it dry and frizzy. It might also cause skin irritation.
7) Follow Up with a Hair Conditioner:
It is always advisable to follow up with conditioning if you have dry hair. Good dry hair shampoo and an excellent dry hair conditioner like The Body Shop Banana Truly Nourishing conditioner will have smoothening properties and keep the moisture intact.

Summary

In day-to-day life, out of all the beauty rituals, hair care is one aspect which gets easily forgotten. It is essential to keep track of what products one uses and not blindly follow trends. Hence, using the best shampoo for dry and frizzy hair, made of natural products, is imperative as it can reduce hair dryness and other hair-related issues.

Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3JyLb3b
Youtube: https://youtu.be/7eHN4ppMwAM
Plot Summary:
Cal, Jill, and Lothario begin in the Firebreathing Kittens guild hall. As Cal wraps up an HR seminar, he communicates to Lothario and Jill that their HR appointed shadowing session will commence as soon as they select a flier from the job postings board. Lothario is caught off guard as he tries to practice looking tough by flipping a silver piece in the air and (unsuccessfully) catching it while Jill sneakily vacuums up all the loose coins. Disappointed at his loss of money, Lothario checks out the job board to see if he can be made whole financially. There was one posting regarding a new uptick in a mysterious illness at a nearby hospital. Cal inquires to the pay rate of the job and is told it is at least 5000 gp. The team heads out through the back door and heads to the hospital.
The team passes many shops on route to the hospital. Lothario does a bit of window shopping and purchases croissants for the team. Jill, in her traditionally sneaky manner, simply pretends to eat the croissant without actually doing so. Once at the hospital, they see an excessively long line stretching outside. After asking one of the patients some questions, they discover the waiting time to see a doctor is about a week, she is a farmer from the fields of Mishui (Iutop Field), and she has a sickness affecting the whole area. Jill tries to blend in as a maid and sneak in, but is caught before she was able to get through the front doors and receives the ire of the entire line. She attempts to bluff her way through by talking to the guard and convincing him she works there. The person behind the door quickly identifies her falsehood and refuses entry to both her and Lothario. Cal makes a quick trip back to the shops to pick up the plague mask and drops a hint that we should use the job flier and, once the advice is followed, the party is allowed in; although flanked by guards since they raised suspicions initially.
Upon entering the hospital, they find the office of Hecate Fernada, the author of the job flier. They walk to the waiting room and announce the purpose of visit. They are shown to Dr. Fernada and he explains details regarding what they are seeing from the patients. He mentions how overrun they have become due to a new illness that started a few weeks ago. They can barely meet the need and could use any help offered. Lothario asks if they can be hired as doctors, inquire about their low pay, and then finally get to the large matter at hand of finding the source of the new illness. Jill proposes reducing patient waiting time through the act of murder. After Cal calms the doctor, he isolates the location of the outbreak to Iutop Field. Jill decides to stick it to the man by swiping a tongue depressor and is subsequently tossed out of the building. Lothario and Cal follow her outside. The team learns form one of the patients in line that the fields started failing prior to the sickness being manifest.
The party travels via train to Mishui. While onboard, Jill buys rudimentary mouse trap supplies while Cal and Lothario have a 1-on-1 session on the proper way to engage in conversation with someone without violating professional courtesy as emphasized by FBK's HR department. Upon arrival to Mishui, the team walks to the surrounding village known to be the source of the illness. They encounter Rick, a healthy farmer, and his two sick children. Rick explains that the children were playing in the wheat fields and started coughing afterwards. He also mentions most of the plant life seems to be failing. The party exits and tries to investigate the wheat fields. Jill rolls around in the wheat and does her best to try to get sick but fails to do so. Lothario notices a fine white powder upon the wheat and manages to contract the illness. He notices a nutty flavor to the powder. Cal flies overhead and notices a person 4 fields over. They call to them and find the person is none other than Diedre Halal. Jill expresses great disappointment at this discovery. She is scattering powder on the field. Lothario brandishes a rapier and asks her to stop. Diedre draws to laser pistols and stuns Lothario. Diedre asks FBK to stay out of the way as she is trying to help. Diedre explains the powder she is applying is actually a fungicide. The crop failures are actually a result of the space station, the Atlas, and it drawing power from the planet to fuel itself. The epidemic will grow unless they are stopped. She further explains that she has tried to bring them down from the inside. The party discusses next steps as they are conflicted with trusting Diedre. They eventually get on the same page and ask Diedre how they can help. They decide to fly in Diedre's shuttle to fly up to the space station with the hopes to disable or destroy the station.
Once aboard the station, Jill and Lothario disguise themselves in order to snoop around. They manage to find their way to the engineering bay. Lothario manages to convince everyone that there is delicious banana pudding in the canteen. Once everyone leaves, Jill is able to slip in and adjust the valves in order to overload the power reactor. Jill stubbornly tries to stay in the room to prevent them from undoing the damage and intends to sacrifice herself. Cal knocks her out and has Lothario take her to a ship in order to escape. They take a golden ship and fly away with Diedre and her pilot friend, Jerry, while Cal guards the door to the reactor. The reactor explodes but Cal is unaffected to to his indomitability. The Atlas crashes into the ocean just outside of Niqmui. The day is saved once again thanks to The Firebreathing Kittens!

The latest Chapter for the on going story, New World Order is now available for everyone's viewing. It can also be found at https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13535599/21/New-World-Order
​
‘Did you really have to threaten to open fire on one of your fellow countrymen?’ I hear Jensen ask via an overhead speaker.
“Jensen,” I start, wincing slightly as I readjust my position in the makeshift bed, I had been forced into despite my many protests, “I don’t make threats. If I say I’m going to do something, I’ll make it happen.”
‘That doesn’t help,’ Jensen replies, ‘It also doesn’t help that you delivered that statement to an Enlisted Officer.’
“He’s lucky that’s all I did,” I reply, “Mark was a self-entitled bully back when we were at school. And his attitude certainly hasn’t improved based on our brief encounter the other day.”
‘They’ve lodged an official complaint,’ Jensen states, ‘Apparently they want know why a Nazi flagged ship entered the harbour, threatened the Coast Guard and then simply sailed off.’
“They don’t want to know anything about the attempted air raid, or the battle just off the coast that repelled that air raid?” I ask.
‘There is no mention anywhere in their complaint of seeing any aircraft above the harbour,’ Jensen replies, ‘Although they are also wanting to know about the mystery figure they spotted skating around one of the islands in the harbour.’
“Out of interest,” I ask, “Has anyone from the Chinese Government made a statement about this?”
‘Not officially,’ Jensen answers, ‘Although there have been some back-channel discussions. From what they have disclosed to us, they did witness the air raid and the defensive actions your fleet took. As to their inaction. They were unable to verify our warning to them in time to be able to raise the warning with their boats.’
“That entire engagement lasted almost two hours,” I say shaking my head in disbelief, “If they want answers, I’ll answer them if they can tell me why their only response was to send a single Coast Guard cutter out to investigate.”
‘As I said,’ Jensen begins, ‘They make no mention of seeing any of this in their complaint.’
“Then they are either covering it up, are incompetent or both,” I state, “The lack of action from the Chinese ships that were in the harbour can probably be explained as not wanting to start an International Incident. But I’m not buying the story that no one else saw what was going on that morning.”
‘It certainly does seem that someone is trying to cover this up,’ Jensen agrees, ‘However, without a full investigation into what happened, it’s your word against theirs. And being as you withdrew from the area almost as soon as the battle was over you can see why it doesn’t look good.’
“They’ll have a hard time explaining away all the evidence from the battlefield,” I say, “The boys at the lab are going to be busy for a while documenting everything.”
‘What evidence?’ Jensen asks.
“Well aside from numerous parts from the aircraft that attacked Darwin,” I begin, “The reason I withdrew as fast as I could was, we were able to recover one of the enemy boats.”
‘Have you learned anything about how they work?’ Jensen asks.
“I haven’t been aboard,” I admit, “I’ve been confined to bedrest for the last week.”
‘Its not like you to follow doctors’ orders,’ Jensen comments, ‘You normally ignore most medical advice.’
“What doctor?” I ask, “I still have to be given the all clear from the medical team once we get back to Midway.”
‘Sounds serious,’ Jensen replies, ‘What happened?’
“A concussion of some sort and what I believe to be at least two broken ribs,” I answer, “The ship came under direct attack and Eugen was forced to make some rapid course changes, which sent me bouncing through a hatchway on my way to the deck.”
‘So how long until you reach Midway?’ Jensen inquires.
“Probably two weeks at best guess,” I reply, “Between the slow speed we need to maintain due to having a heavily damaged ship under tow and the rough weather down here it’s making for a slow return voyage.”
‘Well keep in briefed,’ Jensen comments before I hear the audible click as the phone connection ends.
**
As the skies slowly began to illuminate marking the start of another day, I found myself out on deck during one of the rare moments I had been allowed to leave my quarters.
In the distance the outline of the main laboratory building came into view as Eugen skilfully navigating her ship around the atoll towards the area reserved for offshore mooring of large ships that visited Midway.
As the ship rounded the western most edge of the atoll, the details of the upgrades the team had been working on became apparent. The barge which had been used to transport the huge generator from Darwin had been beached not far from the main power station.
Another larger building had also started to take shape not far from the main laboratories although its purpose was lost on me given the last reports, I had read indicated that we were only using around sixty percent of the facilities storage and research spaces and under forty percent of the living areas.
“It would seem that the team has been busy in our absence,” I comment aloud.
As I say this the rising sun clears the top of the main building, bathing the waters around the atoll in light. Taking in the sight I spy Bogue’s ship moored in the distance. My gaze is soon captured however as in the growing light across the waves a pair of large, heavily armed gun boats lay at anchor.
As Eugen slows her ship and in the near distance I hear the rattle of numerous anchor chains, I take in the details of the closest ship. From the stern flag post a white flag with a red pattern hangs limp in the still morning.
As I scan across the length of the ship, I take note of the numerous sets of gun turrets spread along the length of the main deck from just below the bridge structure running back to just ahead of the number four main battery.
My attention however is soon drawn away to the second of the gun boats, this ship despite from the distance appearing to be slightly smaller in size projected more fear despite fact that like the other ships anchored around the atoll was simply floating at anchor in the low morning swells.
I put the additional sense of projected fear down to the fact that the entire ship appeared to be painted in a flat black paint from the waterline all the way to the very top of the super structure. The only hint of another colour was the flag hanging from the stern post.
**
“Do you have any lingering effects from the hit to your head?” the doctor asks.
“No,” I reply with a shake of my head, “The headaches cleared up about three days after. The burly vision and ringing in my ears cleared up around the same time.”
“Well,” the doctor says turning off the torch he had been using a moment before, “I’d say you have a minor concussion. But if you aren’t suffering any of the after effects now, you should be fine to return to your regular duties. As for your ribs.” He continues turning to a scan pinned to a light board on the wall. “They are healing well. But you definitely broke two. There’s not much else we can do to speed up your recovery there. Just take it easy.”
“That’s easier said than done,” I retort sarcastically.
“Yes,” the doctor agrees, “You do have a habit of being right where the action is.”
“Speaking of action,” I say changing the subject, “What have I missed here?”
“A lot,” the doctor admits, “However the Professor said he’ll brief you once we were finished here.”
**
Five minutes later, after the doctor signed off on my medical reports, I enter the main research room to find the Professor sitting in front of his usual multi monitor setup rapidly scrolling through an endless stream of what appeared to be computer code from a distance. “Pull up a chair Nathan,” he says, “We’ve got a lot to discuss.”
“It would seem so,” I answer remaining standing a short distance away next to a table littered with pages of reports. “Can we begin with an update from the Global Explorer. Surely Jim has reported in by now?”
“He sent a pair of video data folders yesterday,” Professor Strickland answers, “Two separate files he says are from two different locations. He labelled them with the co-ordinates.”
“Anything interesting in the videos?” I ask.
“Plenty if you’re interest lies in the contour of the ocean floor,” Strickland answers with a slight chuckle, “But aside from that. Nothing of importance. I still don’t know why you sent him to either of those locations.”
“Because I needed to confirm a theory,” I reply, “Both of those sites he checked out are where the wrecks of the Akagi and Kaga were found.”
“And that proves a theory?” Strickland asks.
“It certainly lends a lot of support to my theory,” I reply, “Whoever is behind the attacks out at sea has been testing us. Well testing our military at the very least. So far, they’ve employed tactics from our history against us, and are using weapons from our past against us as well.”
“To what end though?” Strickland asks, “None of that makes any sense.”
“I agree,” I say, “But look carefully at what we know. Pearl Harbour was attacked in very similar fashion to how the Japanese did at the start of the Pacific War. And what do we find floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean but a ship that matches perfectly to one of the very ships that was involved in the original battle. A ship that by rights should be on the bottom of the Pacific a couple of hundred nautical miles away from this atoll.”
“But we still don’t know the who or the what,” Strickland insists, “We also don’t know how far this goes?”
“I think we can safely say it goes as far as every ocean on the planet,” I reply, “I’m certainly no expert when it comes to warfare. But whoever is behind this is playing for keeps. They’ve already openly attacked at American Naval Base, a British Fleet out at sea and conducted two Air Raids on major ports in Australia. Plus, there’s enough evidence to believe they ambushed an American Fleet as well.”
“So, your theory is that we are at war with an unknown enemy?” Strickland presses.
“Yes,” I answer, “So far though. I believe they have only been testing our abilities. Otherwise, this would be on every news network around the globe. Right now, the only reason we know anything is through sheer luck.”
“It would seem that you are not alone in thinking that,” Strickland admits, “One of our newest arrivals is of the same opinion.”
“Yes,” I begin, “I meant to ask earlier about the two ships anchored off the atoll. Care to fill me in on that?”
“Do you remember the briefing before you left,” Strickland says, “Where we covered our theory on what those cubes we keep finding are.”
“I remember,” I reply, “The theory is that they contain data of some sort. Only the scanners could not complete the scans due to overheating.”
“The new generator solved that problem,” Strickland announces proudly, “With the extra power, we were able to stabilize the power supply and run additional cooling. We’ve also been able to read quite a few of those cubes now. We found a few of them to be blank however.”
“Blank?” I ask.
“Yes,” Strickland confirms, “Blank. Nothing on them at all. So, one of the junior programmers wondered what would happen if we tried to load data into a cube.”
“What sort of data?” I ask in a worried tone.
“It started off simple,” Strickland admits, “The team transferred about a dozen different ship designs into a couple of cubes. Then transferred data about various types of weapon systems, radars, tactical data from reports that we obtained from Jensen.”
“Does Jensen know about that?” I ask.
“He said it was okay,” Strickland answers, “He said most of the reports were public knowledge already and those that weren’t, were not subject to any privacy laws.”
“Okay, so now we have a bunch of cubes that contain technical and tactical data,” I say, “How does any of that equal two ships anchored off shore?”
“We subjected some of them to a large electrical charge,” Strickland answers simply.
“You didn’t,” I say feeling the colour drain from my face at the prospect.
“We sure did,” Strickland admits, “In fact your timing is perfect. Our first arrival from those experiments has just arrived.”
Turning towards the door, I notice a tall woman with long brown hair step through the open door to the lab. As she makes her way towards us a feeling of familiarity hits me. Everything about her appearance feels oddly like someone I had met before. From the prominent fox-like ears, numerous tails lazily waving behind her, even the style in how she wore her hair.
Then it hit me. Aside from the lighter shade of colour in her hair and the more modest choice of clothing, she nearly was identical in appearance to Akagi. Someone who for the last several weeks had barely been out of my presence as she had insisted on making certain I had remained in the makeshift medical bay to recover from the injuries I had sustained during the battle.
“Please forgive my lateness, Professor,” she says in a voice that despite its calm nature, hints that should the occasion require, could dominate the room. “I lost track of the time studying the history papers you gave me.”
“No need for apologies,” Strickland replies, “I was just briefing the Captain on the latest progress the research team had been making.”
Turning to me, “Allow me to introduce our senior Captain, Nathan Harrison. He oversees our research ships and is one of the teams leading theoretical researchers.” Strickland announces, “Nathan, this is Amagi. Her presence here is the result of one of the experiments I mentioned a moment ago.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” I say with a smile.
“The Professor has spoken of you often,” Amagi says, “He mentioned that you lead from the front and take a very hands-on approach to the projects you oversee.”
“I certainly try to keep myself busy,” I reply, “Being able to have full control of the ship certainly makes the research side of my job easier given I have a greater control over the variables.”
Amagi nods silently in agreement.
“Would I be correct in assuming that the larger of the two cruisers anchored off shore is yours?” I enquire.
“You assume correctly,” Amagi replies, “Are you familiar with Japanese Naval History, Captain?”
“I have a very limited knowledge when it comes to naval history or even tactics for that matter,” I admit, “However I’m certainly learning a lot recently given the events of the past several months.”
“From how the Professor explained my arrival here and the arrival of the other members of the fleet,” Amagi explains, “It would seem that the cubes used in my creation have taken the form from my original design.”
“Your original design?” I ask.
“My ship was original designed to be a battle cruiser, before an attempted conversion to an aircraft carrier was halted due to my hull being badly damaged,” Amagi replies.
Before I can reply, the phone on the table beside the Professor buzzes. Picking it up, the Professor listens in silence before speaking, “We’ll be over in the minute.”
“Problem?” I ask seeing the worried look on the Professors face.
“Maybe,’ he replies, “The radio guys are picking up a radio call from the Global Explorer. They say it sounds like a distress call.”
**
Crossing the room to where one of the team’s radio operators was listening closely through a headset. As we approached, he held up a hand to prevent any of us from speaking. After a brief pause, he removed the headset and turned to face us. “I have cleaned up the recording as much as possible. But there is a lot of static.”
“Play it,” Strickland says.
‘Glo..l Explorer .. Midway. Encount.. hostile ….. Attack.. Sink… Host… head… fo. Mi..ay. Se..nt..n hour. No..h w.st. R.n’
Sharing a look with the Professor as I mentally replayed the message in my head filling it the blanks with the most logical word. As I realized the full message my eyes widened in shock. Going to the nearest computer and sliding the operator out of the way, I rapidly log into the facility’s secure server.
As the opening page loads on the monitor, I take note of the spinning icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Double clicking on the icon, my worst fears are confirmed. “The Global Explorer is dumping its logs onto the server,” I report.
“What does that mean?” I hear Amagi ask in confusion.
“It’s the last action taken before abandoning ship,” I reply, “It’s either manually activated by one of the senior crew before they leave the bridge, or automatically triggered if the ships internal sensors detect multiple compartments flooding.”
“Any chance that it’s a false alarm?” the Professor asks.
“None,” I reply, scrolling through the data logs, barely giving them time to finish loading before moving to the next. “I don’t know what happened out there. But the engine room temperature spiked to over a thousand degrees before dropping down to eleven. Both the forward cargo compartment and rear loading deck compartment sensors are indicating flooding. And the trim sensors are showing a forty-degree list to starboard.”
Looking away from the computer and taking a deep breath to compose my thoughts, “That and the radio message,” I say, “It was definitely Jim. He clearly said hostile and attack and that whoever they were, are headed this way.”
**
Standing in the conference room fifteen minutes later, the realization that with the apparent loss of the Global Explorer and the loss of the Intrepid and the very real possibility of a hostile enemy closing in on Midway, the team stationed here had lost both main pre-planned escape options we had prepared for in situations that required the rapid evacuation of the atoll.
Behind me I hear various people entering the conference room and taking a seat. As the scrapping of chairs being moved dies down, I turn to face those gathered. Before I can speak, a couple of late arrivals step in through the open door.
The final member of this group is a young woman with short, light peach coloured hair. Who on seeing me, turned away from the group and ran straight for me. On reaching me she wrapped both arms around me drawing me into a tight embrace.
“I see you’ve met Roon,” I hear the Professor call from the doorway as he enters the room.
“So it would seem,” I struggle to reply, “I take it she is the second result of your experiments,” I add.
“Yes,” Strickland replies joining me at the front of the room, “It would seem that she’s a hugger.”
“Would it be possible to have my body back please?” I ask.
Slowly releasing me, Roon steps back, before silently re-joining the others seated in the room.
“I think she likes you,” The Professor comments.
“What makes you say that?” I ask gently feeling my ribs which feel like they are on fire.
“The fact she followed your request,” Strickland answers, “You’re the first who’s been able to get through to her.”
“That’s great,” I mutter sarcastically, “We just need to work on her introductions then. I swear she just re-broke my ribs.”
“If its any consolation,” Strickland begins, “Her combat prowess is second to none based on what little we’ve learned to date.”
Shaking me head in quiet disbelief at the Professor’s continued unyielding push for results rather than showing any concern for how those results were obtained. I scanned the room to find that everyone was looking in my direction.
Everyone save for Akagi. Who was staring through narrowed eyes towards Roon sitting a few rows away.
Clearing my throat, “As some of you may already know. We have received a warning of a possible hostile enemy that is heading straight for us,” I explain, “To those of you who are in senior positions. I need you to wind up any work your departments are working on. And execute our evacuation protocols.”
“Where are we going?” someone from the back of the room calls out.
“The team will evacuate towards Hawaii,” I reply, “There they will either report in to the Navy Yard. Or if advised carry on to the main land.”
As I finish this brief explanation. Over half of those gathered, stand up and walk out to begin the evacuation. As the door closes behind the last of them Professor Strickland speaks up, “Do you really intend to run?”
Looking across at the Professor I reply, “I intend for you and the others to run. In case the rest of us fail to stop the enemy from reaching Midway.”

The Boostaro enhancement supplement is a natural dietary supplement that can improve blood flow and enhance blood circulation. It contains vitamin C, L-Citrulline amino acid, and L-Lysine amino acid, which are all-natural components that can keep the arteries clear and improve blood circulation.
It's no secret that men's Boostaro Reviews 2023 reproductive health is often overlooked. And while it's true that women's health gets more attention, that doesn't mean that men's health is any less important. In fact, taking care of your reproductive health is crucial to your overall well-being.
There are a number of things that can affect your reproductive health, including your lifestyle choices, your environment, and your genetic makeup. That's why it's so important to be proactive about taking care of yourself.
If you're not taking care of your male reproductive health, there can be a number of consequences.
For one, you may experience performance problems. If you're not getting enough blood flow to the reproductive organs, it can be difficult to get or maintain a good performance. Additionally, you may also experience other severe problems and decreased energy levels if you're not taking care of your health.
Furthermore, ignoring your reproductive health can lead to more serious problems down the road. For example, if you don't receive treatment, it can lead to infertility. In some cases, untreated male health problems can even lead to death.
It's important to remember that your reproductive health is just as important as your overall health. If you're not taking care of yourself, it can have a significant impact on your life in a negative way.
Today, the health industry is just as concerned about health enhancement. Therefore, dietary supplements have become very common. Each of these dietary supplements makes multiple promises. However, not all can be Boostaro Reviews 2023 relied upon. In this article, we will talk about one such dietary supplement, named Boostaro , which has immense health benefits to provide.
Let's start our review with a short product overview from the table below.

What Is The Boostaro Supplement?

The Boostaro enhancement supplement is a natural dietary supplement that can improve blood flow and enhance blood circulation. It contains vitamin C, L-Citrulline amino acid, and L-Lysine amino acid, which are all-natural components that can keep the arteries clear and improve blood circulation. It plays a vital role in maintaining healthy reproductive organs and ensuring greater energy levels.
The Boostaro male supplement is a safe and effective way to improve performance and vitality in a natural way.
The research team behind Boostaro has put in years of knowledge and research to formulate the product. It is completely non-addictive and works very well for older men.

How Does The Boostaro Supplement Work Towards Enhancement?

Boostaro claims to be effective, but the main question is, how does Boostaro work?
The product has been formulated to help improve performance. The supplement works by boosting blood flow to the reproductive organs, which helps to enhance strength and vitality.
Furthermore, Boostaro boosts nitric oxide levels in the blood, which helps to improve blood circulation and reduce stress. The supplement also contains amino acids and essential vitamins that help to support overall health and well-being.
Additionally, the Boostaro Boostaro Reviews 2023 supplement contains magnesium and pine bark extract, which work together to reduce fatigue. Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for energy production and helps to convert glucose into energy. It also helps to regulate muscle contraction and relaxation. Pine bark extract is a natural source of antioxidants and has been shown to improve blood circulation. This combination of ingredients helps to reduce fatigue and improve overall energy levels.
The product contains antioxidant properties, which can enhance mood and detoxify the body so that the nourishment from food and supplements can be properly utilized.

What Are The Ingredients That Do Boostaro Work?

Although Boostaro contains an exhaustive list of various potent ingredients that claim to boost blood flow and spike up energy levels, below we shall take a look at some of its core ingredients in detail:
Pine Bark Extract
The pine bark extract in this product is known to increase blood flow throughout your body. This helps to promote healthy circulation, which can be beneficial for those who are looking to lose weight or maintain their current weight. The increased blood flow also helps to reduce fatigue and stress. Moreover, this ingredient has been shown to increase metabolism and enhance fat burning. It does so by increasing the rate at which we burn calories. All in all, one of the biggest benefits of using pine bark extract is that it provides you with a natural way to increase your energy levels without causing any negative side Boostaro Reviews 2023 effects. You will find that you feel more alert and awake throughout the day. Your mind feels clearer and sharper. You may even notice that you sleep better at night.
Vitamin C
One of the most important nutrients that you need to consume regularly is vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a vital role in maintaining strong bones and teeth as well as promoting overall health. However, many people don’t realize just how much vitamin C they really need each day.
It improves energy levels by improving the oxygenation of muscles. When oxygen reaches muscle tissue, it triggers chemical reactions that produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is the molecule that gives our cells energy.
When there is insufficient oxygen available, our cells cannot create enough ATP. As a result, our energy levels drop. By supplementing with vitamin C, we can ensure that our cells receive sufficient oxygen.
It also works to improve blood flow. One of the reasons why we experience low energy levels after exercise is because our blood supply to working muscles becomes restricted. As a result, the oxygen and glucose required for cellular respiration decrease. With adequate amounts of vitamin C, however, our blood vessels dilate, allowing more oxygen and glucose to Boostaro Reviews 2023 reach our muscles.
Lysine
Another amino acid that you should consider adding to your diet is Lysine. Lysine is an essential amino acid that is needed to build proteins. Protein is necessary for building lean muscle mass.
However, protein synthesis requires adequate amounts of certain vitamins and minerals. One of these is L-lysine. L-lysine is an essential amino acid that is required for the growth of new tissues. As such, it is very important for athletes who want to gain muscle mass.
A study published online in the journal Nutrients found that when participants consumed a high-protein meal containing 1 gram of L-lysine per kilogram of body weight, their resting metabolic rates increased by about 10 percent. This means that they burned more calories while sitting around doing nothing.
This research suggests that consuming L-lysine supplements before bedtime might be beneficial for Boostaro Reviews 2023 those looking to boost their energy levels.
Magnesium
In addition to being an essential nutrient, magnesium helps regulate blood pressure. It also helps maintain healthy nerves and muscles. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to fatigue and insomnia.
If you are feeling tired and fatigued, try increasing your intake of magnesium.
Magnesium works in two ways to increase energy levels. First, it increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the brain and other organs. Second, it increases the flow of blood through the arteries. The more blood flowing through the arteries, the more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the working parts of the body.
As mentioned earlier, magnesium is one of the most common deficiencies among Americans. If you suffer from low energy levels, make sure to include magnesium-rich foods in your daily diet while using supplements like Boostaro that contain adequate dosages of magnesium in every serving.
Citrulline
Citrullinemia is a condition where there is too much ammonia in the blood. Ammonia is produced as a waste product of metabolism. When there is too much ammonia present in the blood, it can cause symptoms similar to those of liver disease. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, weakness, and confusion.
One way to treat this condition is to consume citrulline. Citrulline is an amino acid that is converted into arginine in the body. Arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide (NO), which is responsible for relaxing blood vessels.
Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, allowing them to expand so that more blood flows through them. Boostaro Reviews 2023 As a result, blood flow increases throughout the body.
Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 is another supplement that may boost energy levels. Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a role in bone health. However, recent research suggests that vitamin K2 may play a role in regulating blood sugar.
It also works to improve blood flow and energy levels. This is because vitamin K2 helps prevent the formation of clots in the blood. Clots reduce the flow of blood through blood vessels, resulting in reduced energy levels.
In addition, vitamin K2 has been linked to increased insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity refers to how well the cells respond to insulin. It’s important to note that high insulin sensitivity does not mean that someone will develop diabetes. Rather, it means that they will experience less damage when exposed to high amounts of insulin.
Therefore, improving insulin sensitivity may lead to better overall health.

What Health Benefits Can The Dietary Supplement Provide?

The health benefits provided by Boostaro are very impressive. The dietary supplement particularly focuses on boosting testosterone levels and an improved blood flow. However, it does have some additional benefits. Let's learn about some of these benefits-
Enhances Blood Flow
Boostaro is an all-natural supplement that is designed to improve blood flow and circulation throughout the body. The key ingredients in Boostaro are L-arginine, L-lysine, and pine needle extract. All of these ingredients have been clinically proven to improve blood flow and circulation.
L-arginine is an amino acid that helps to relax the blood vessels, pine needle extract helps to increase blood flow, and L-lysine is another amino acid that helps to improve blood circulation. Together, these ingredients work synergistically to improve blood flow and circulation around the body. This can be beneficial for men who are looking to improve their reproductive health, as proper blood flow and circulation are essential for optimal reproductive function.
Improves Heart Health
Boostaro is a natural supplement containing pine bark extract. This extract has been shown to enhance blood circulation and improve heart health. The pine needle extract in Boostaro works by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow. This improved blood circulation can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The pine bark extract also helps to reduce inflammation, which is another factor that can contribute to heart disease. Boostaro is a safe and easy way to improve your heart health.
The pine bark extract is all-natural and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. If you are looking for a way to improve your cardiovascular health along with reproductive health, Boostaro is a great option.
Boosts Testosterone Levels
The Boostaro male health supplement is designed to increase nitric oxide levels in the body, which in turn can boost testosterone levels. Nitric oxide is a gas that is produced in the body and has a variety of important functions, including regulating blood pressure and improving blood flow. When nitric oxide levels are increased, it can have a positive effect on testosterone levels, as well as other hormones in the body.
The Boostaro supplement contains ingredients that have been shown to increase nitric oxide production, including L-arginine and L-citrulline. In addition to increasing nitric oxide levels, the Boostaro supplement also includes other ingredients that can help to improve overall health and well-being.
Raises Energy Levels
Boostaro is a male health supplement that not only boosts reproductive health but also improves the energy levels of the body. Made with a blend of natural ingredients, Boostaro is safe to take and is an effective way to improve overall health.
The clinically-studied ingredients in Boostaro have been shown to increase testosterone levels. This, in turn, leads to increased energy levels and improved reproductive health. In addition to this, Boostaro also supports overall health with vitamin C, pine bark extract, L-Citrulline, and L-Lysine.
Aids In Weight Loss
Boostaro is a natural supplement that contains nattokinase and CoQ10. These two substances have Boostaro Reviews 2023 been shown to be effective in weight loss and rejuvenating healthy blood vessels. Nattokinase is an enzyme derived from natto, a fermented soybean product.
Nattokinase has been shown to break down fibrin, a protein involved in blood clotting. This action can help to prevent strokes and heart attacks by reducing the risk of clots forming in the arteries.CoQ10 is a substance that occurs naturally in the body and is involved in energy production.
CoQ10 levels have been shown to decline with age, so supplements may be beneficial for older people. CoQ10 has also been shown to improve heart health by reducing oxidative stress and improving blood flow to the heart. Boostaro provides a convenient way to get these important nutrients into your diet.
Reduces Inflammation
The Boostaro health enhancement supplement contains amino acids that are helpful in reducing inflammation. These amino acids are found in the body naturally and help to reduce swelling and pain. They also help to repair tissue damage and promote healing. The amino acids in Boostaro help to reduce the risk of developing chronic inflammation and can also help to improve overall health.
To enjoy the benefits of Boostaro, click here to order your supply now!

Is There Any Science Behind Boostaro's Ingredients?

To test the efficacy of one of the Boostaro ingredients, one study found that adults who took 2 grams of citrulline three times a day for six months reported improved energy levels.
Other studies have shown that citrulline supplementation may benefit individuals suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. In fact, some researchers believe that citrulline could be used as a treatment for CFS.
In one study, participants were given either 100 micrograms or 200 micrograms of vitamin K2 per day for 12 weeks. After taking the higher dose of vitamin K2, participants showed increased insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity refers to how well the cells respond to insulin. This means that they will use less insulin to process glucose.
The results of this study suggest that vitamin K2 may be beneficial for people who struggle with diabetes.
A study published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine found that people who consumed a drink containing 500 milligrams of magnesium, a core ingredient in Boostaro, had significantly lower heart rates and systolic blood pressure than those who drank water alone.
Another study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that men who supplemented their diets with 400 milligrams of magnesium daily for four weeks experienced significant improvements in strength and power.
Yet another study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that pine bark extract, a major ingredient in Boostaro, was able to significantly decrease appetite. In other words, it helped people feel less hungry while eating.
In addition to helping us feel more energetic and reducing cravings, pine bark extract may also help us lose weight. A study conducted on mice showed that the compound could actually block the production of fat cells.
There is also adequate research on Vitamin C, one of the core ingredients in Boostaro. A study published by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition found that vitamin C supplementation improved endurance performance. Participants were given either 200 mg of vitamin C or a placebo every two hours during an intense cycling session. Those who took vitamin C experienced higher levels of lactic acid than those who did not take the supplement.
The researchers concluded that vitamin C supplementation enhanced aerobic capacity during Boostaro Reviews 2023 prolonged exercise.

How Does Nitric Oxide Levels Affect Male Health?

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas that is produced by the body and has several important roles, one of which is regulating blood flow. When NO levels are low in the body, blood vessels constrict, and blood flow is reduced. This can have an adverse effect on male reproductive health, as blood flow is necessary for performance. In addition, other hormones and nutrients that are essential for reproductive health are transported through the bloodstream, so reduced blood flow can lead to deficiencies. NO levels can be increased through lifestyle changes such as exercise and eating a healthy diet or supplemented through nitric oxide supplements like Boostaro.

What Makes Boostaro So Effective?

There are so many supplements in the market that claim to provide the same health benefits as Boostaro does. So what makes Boostaro different and much more effective than others? Well, there are certain characteristic features of Boostaro that set it apart-
Stimulant-Free
The Boostaro supplement is produced naturally and made with natural ingredients that are safe and stimulant-free. The formula contains a blend of herbs and nutrients that help to support energy levels without the use of caffeine or other stimulants. This makes it an ideal choice for those who are sensitive to such ingredients or who want to avoid them altogether.
Non-GMO
The Boostaro male health supplement is a non-GMO product. This means that it has not been exposed to any genetically modified organisms during its manufacturing process. GMO ingredients have been linked to many health problems, so this is a major selling point for the Boostaro male supplement. Additionally, the fact that the product is non-GMO means that it is unlikely to cause any allergic reactions in users, as some people are sensitive to GMOs.
Vegan-Friendly
Boostaro is a healthy male virility supplement that is a vegan-friendly product designed to meet the needs of those who follow a vegan lifestyle. The supplement is made from natural ingredients that are free from animal products, and this means that it is suitable for vegans to use. The enhancement supplement contains a range of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids essential for good health. It also includes herbs traditionally used to improve performance.
Scientifically-Tested Ingredients
The Boostaro supplement contains scientifically-tested ingredients. Scientific evidence has shown that these components can enhance blood circulation and increase energy levels. The ingredients in Boostaro are designed to improve circulation by expanding blood vessels and improving blood flow. This can help enhance mood and improve stamina.
Additionally, the ingredients in Boostaro can help to oxygenate the blood and reduce inflammation.

Does Boostaro Have Any Side Effects?

Boostaro is a dietary supplement that is claimed to be majorly safe with only mild side effects. The most common side effect reported is headaches, followed by nausea. However, there have been no reports of any serious side effects from taking Boostaro. Overall, Boostaro appears to be a very safe supplement with few side effects.

What Is The Recommended Dosage Of Boostaro?

The recommended dosage of Boostaro is two capsules daily, taken after a meal with warm water. This ensures that the body can properly absorb the nutrients in the supplement and maximize its efficacy. The product needs to be consumed regularly. Additionally, taking Boostaro with a meal helps to reduce any potential gastrointestinal side effects that may occur.

How Much Does Boostaro Cost?

The official Boostaro website offers buyers 3 different packages of the Boostaro supplement to choose from-
● The basic package- 1 bottle or a 30-day supply of Boostaro, priced at $69 ● The good value package- three bottles or a 90-day supply will cost $177. Here one bottle is priced at $59. ● The best value package- six bottles or a 180-day supply will cost $294. Here one bottle costs $49.
Beware, while trying to purchase Boostaro, many other websites are selling look-alikes, so the best option would be to buy the product from the main website.

Does Boostaro Have A Money-Back Guarantee?

Yes, the main website provides a 180-day money-back guarantee. This means that, as a new customer, you can try the dietary supplement for a period of six months and see how the product works for you. Suppose it cannot deliver Boostaro Reviews 2023 any promised benefits. In that case, you can file a return, and the manufacturers will initiate a full refund if you return the product within 6 months of purchase.

What Do The Customers Have To Say About Boostaro?- Real Boostaro Reviews

The official Boostaro website and Google have multiple Boostaro reviews. Below we will take a look at some of them.
Alvin Brown's Boostaro review says, "I’ve gotta say it really did freaking work. I decided to buy this because I have performance anxiety, and a couple of times before, I couldn’t get it up or keep it up because I was worried that I was gonna suck. So I ordered this, and it worked, and I had a bunch of confidence. I made her finish multiple times, and she loved it. You can take one dose, and that works too, but if you are really worried, you can take two, but no more than that. Just don’t. It takes maybe like 3 hours to really activate. You could say where you get hard really fast for basically nothing, and there you go. I could go on and on, but it does work, and yea, it lasts like 2 days to 2.5 days."
Another young Boostaro customer says, "I've only been taking them for 1 month, and I can honestly say that I can see it thicker and longer, and I also do have that calm but energized effect. My girlfriend seems to love it. I ordered a new bottle I'll be taking and measuring, but so far, it's a good product thanks! Great for sports as well,"
Chris's Boostaro review claims, "I was skeptical and didn’t think I would get the effect described in the customer reviews. But I did! I have more energy and stamina in the sack. I noticed the effects 2 days after taking it. I’m a firm believer and hope they continue manufacturing. I’m very satisfied !"
A final Boostaro review claims, "This is the best pill ever!!! I love it! I bought this product to mainly increase my size. Overall I am very impressed! Thanks, Boostaro!!! I’ll be ordering more soon!."

Final Verdict

In conclusion, Boostaro is a very effective reproductive health supplement, and if you are suffering and finding it hard to improve your health, we would suggest you try the product. It has a reasonable price and a genuine money-back guarantee, so even if the supplement fails to satisfy your needs, you can just return the product. Lastly, it also has a 4.8-star rating and is trusted by thousands of men, and it might as well work wonders for you.
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Just checking in. I have been doing 4-day rolling water fasts with one day between each fast -- with appropriate vitamin and electrolyte consumption. I had originally estimated that I would lose 19.6 pounds per month by following this regimen, but I was surprised to be down 28 pounds as of day 30 (with 24 days of actual fasting during the 30-day period). I guess I dropped a lot of water weight, which is good because I don't think carrying around so much water was good for me either. I sometimes had swollen feet, which can indicate cardiac insufficiency.
Years ago I pursued intermittent fasting, but I tended to only drop about 5 pounds per month or less (after the initial months in which I dropped as much as 10 pounds in a month). It took me around 1.5 years to get to my scientifically determined ideal weight, and I considered it pretty stressful. When I went through some life stress, I felt like I couldn't keep up intermittent fasting anymore. This new approach is also stressful at times, but I think it is less stressful, and man do I get results.
My particular approach involves drinking vegetable bouillion for the potassium and sodium salts, along with garlic powder and a bit of hot sauce for flavor. Then I also drink crystal light and have magnesium and potassium pills as well as another sugar-free electrolyte drink with potassium and magnesium and B vitamins. And some other vitamin pills for vitamin D and B12 + a multivitamin. Now that I wrote out all of that it seems like a bit of overkill, but I want to stay healthy. Oh, I also sometimes have some sugar-free gum that contains a bit of xylitol. Hopefully I am not coming up with some combination or amount of supplementation that will end with me being featured as a case study on Chubbyemu's channel.
Once I meet my goal, I plan to use a similar regimen of occasional rolling fasts to maintain my weight in a healthy range. I will likely shorten the rolling fasts to 2 days fasting, 1 day eating. I decided on a 4-day rolling fast this time because I wanted to hit my goal weight in time for an upcoming trip.
What I like most about fasting for several days on a rolling basis is that it does not expose you to temptation like a regimen of just limiting calories or limiting yourself to a certain eating window every day. It is extremely motivating because you know you will get results fast. I previously thought that fasting for days at a time would be mental torture, but I found that it really was not, and it is easy to withstand such stress when you know it gets results.

Welcome Travelers to OctopathCotC's Welcome Hub and Weekly Questions & Help Thread!

This hub aims to help you find the best megathread for your needs. See below for an explanation of each megathread:

• Welcome Hub and Weekly Questions and Help Thread - a place where you can post any questions you may have about the game including teambuilding advice, deciding who to pull for and more! All simple one-off questions should be posted here in the comments section. (You are here!)
• Mastery Survey Index - the place to go for help with a specific boss or sharing your victory over one! Please find the thread that relates to the boss – these threads contain information about each boss as well as different community parties and strategies used to clear them!
• Weekly Gacha and RNG Megathread - a place for generic/unexceptional RNG related posts such as Gacha results, Sacred Seal luck, Caits and any other random thoughts!
• Weekly Achievement Megathread - a place to share any other generic achievements or successes!
• Weekly Ruby-Count Accountability Thread - a place to discuss goals and progress in regards to Ruby-counts!

Before you ask:

• Please take a look at our subreddit wiki! We’ve compiled info that covers most of the FAQs you might have about the game.
• Check the short FAQs section below to see if you're question can be answered there!
• Use your browser's search function (CTRL+F on PC) to see if anyone else has asked your question in the current thread.
• Read the in-game tutorials! Most concepts are explained fairly well in-game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)	Answers
What should I use my awakening stone for? (Awakening 1 vs LV10 Ultimate)	In general A1 > Ultimate for every character EXCEPT Lynette.
How do I get better Ad Cait spawns?	See the wiki page on Caits
Why didn't my Ad Caits Reset?	This is a known bug, make sure you have the game closed at the daily reset (09:00 UTC)
Which Elite Enemy am I missing in (x) Bonfire of Battle?	Bonfires of Battle Elite Enemy Locations + MeowDB's World Map
How do I reach (x) Treasure Chest / Elite Enemy?	See MeowDB's World Map
Where do I get (x) material for the Nameless Town?	List of all Nameless Town materials and how to obtain them
Where do I get (x) weapon upgrade material / where do I find (x) enemy?	List of material drop/enemy locations
Does CotC have missables?	Guide to obtain the missables in Chapter VIII of Master of All
How do I clear the Avid reader feats? I already read the memoirs!	These achievements are not related to the Memoirs; you have to go to the library in the Tower of Remembrance and read them on the shelves there.

Helpful Links:

• Subreddit Wiki - More in-depth answers to most basic gameplay questions.
  
• November 2022 - March 2023 EN Roadmap
  
• Notion Character Database - a Notion database with all characters released in GL/JP with sorting and filtering options.
  
• Shizukatz’s Character Index - details every character released in GL/JP.
  
• MeowDB's World Map
  
• Octopath CotC Discord
  

As always, remember Rule 1:

• Be polite to other members when you answeask questions!

​
The coronavirus pandemic has caused widespread panic and confusion across the globe. With new information emerging daily, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest developments. Here's a look at what we know so far about the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
What is the coronavirus?
The coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses in humans. These viruses are typically spread through the air, and can cause symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
The coronavirus pandemic is caused by a new strain of the virus, known as SARS-CoV-2. This virus was first identified in China in December 2019, and has since spread to over 100 countries around the world.
As of March 2020, there have been over 118,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, and over 4,200 deaths. The majority of cases have been reported in China, but the virus is rapidly spreading to other countries, including the United States, Italy, and Iran.
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
The most common symptoms of the coronavirus are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and can sometimes lead to pneumonia, a serious lung infection.
In some cases, the virus can also cause more severe symptoms, such as severe respiratory illness, kidney failure, and even death.
How does the coronavirus spread?
The coronavirus is thought to spread through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or blood, from an infected person.
It can also spread through contact with objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. This can happen if an infected person coughs or sneezes on an object, or if they touch a contaminated surface and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes.
The virus is also thought to spread through contact with live animals, such as camels, horses, and pigs. It's unclear how exactly the virus spreads from animals to humans, but it's thought that it may happen through contact with
2. Where did the worldcoronaviras come from?
The worldcoronaviras pandemic has been described as a "perfect storm" of factors that created the perfect environment for the virus to spread. These include:

1. The global interconnectedness of our world.
   
2. The ease with which people can travel from one part of the world to another.
   
3. The presence of large numbers of people in close proximity to each other in cities.
   
4. The fact that the virus is highly contagious and can cause severe illness in some people.
   
5. The lack of knowledge about the virus and how it spreads.
   
6. The lack of a vaccine or effective treatment.
   
7. The fact that the virus is new and there is no immunity to it.
   

All of these factors combined to create the perfect conditions for the virus to spread rapidly around the world.
The first cases of the worldcoronaviras pandemic were reported in China in December 2019. The virus then spread to other parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Africa. As of June 2020, there have been over 9 million confirmed cases of the virus and over 468,000 people have died.
The worldcoronaviras pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global economy. Many businesses have been forced to close and millions of people have lost their jobs. The tourism industry has been particularly hard hit, with many countries imposing travel restrictions.
The pandemic has also had a major impact on our daily lives. Many of us have been forced to stay at home and limit our contact with others. This has had a major impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
The worldcoronaviras pandemic is a global crisis that is still unfolding. It is important that we continue to follow the advice of medical experts and take all the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others.
3. How does the worldcoronaviras spread?
The world is still reeling from the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. The virus, which originated in China, has spread to over two dozen countries and has killed over two thousand people. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a global health emergency.
The coronavirus is believed to have originated in a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The market sold live animals, including bats, which are known to be carriers of the virus. It is believed that the virus was passed from an animal to a human, and from there it began to spread.
The virus is believed to spread through contact with infected respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or blood. It can also be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs, door handles, or countertops. The virus can also be spread through contact with infected animals, such as camels, horses, and pigs.
The symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. The virus is believed to be fatal in some cases, and there is no known cure. Treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms and supporting the respiratory system.
The best way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is to practice good hygiene. This includes washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with sick people, and avoiding touching your face. It is also important to clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched, such as door knobs, countertops, and doorknobs.
4. What are the symptoms of the worldcoronaviras?
The symptoms of the worldcoronaviras are similar to those of other respiratory viruses, such as the common cold. They include coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. In more severe cases, the virus can cause pneumonia, which can be fatal. Symptoms usually appear within two weeks of exposure to the virus.
5. How is the worldcoronaviras treated?
The world is currently facing a major health crisis in the form of the novel coronavirus, which has resulted in a global pandemic. There is currently no specific cure or treatment for the virus, which means that the best way to protect yourself and others is to prevent its spread. However, there are some general measures that can be taken to help treat the symptoms and improve the chances of recovery.
If you have been infected with the coronavirus, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This will help to ensure that you receive the best possible care and treatment. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be hospitalized and placed in isolation. If you are not severely ill, you may be able to recover at home.
There is currently no specific medication that can cure the coronavirus. However, there are some antiviral drugs that may help to shorten the duration of the illness. These include drugs such as remdesivir and lopinaviritonavir. There is also some evidence to suggest that the antibiotic azithromycin may be effective in treating the virus.
In most cases, the best way to treat the coronavirus is to focus on relieving the symptoms. This can be done by taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you have a fever, it is also important to keep your body temperature down. This can be done by taking a cool bath or using a fever-reducing patch.
If you are struggling to breathe, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is because the coronavirus can cause severe respiratory illness, which can be life-threatening. In some cases, patients may need to be placed on a ventilator in order to help them breathe.
The best way to protect yourself from the coronavirus is to practice good hygiene and social distancing. This means washing your hands regularly, avoiding close contact with others, and avoiding crowded places. It is also important to wear a face mask if you are around others who may be infected.
6. How can you prevent the spread of the worldcoronaviras?
The world is currently in the grips of a pandemic with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) causing widespread illness and death. As the virus continues to spread, it's important to take steps to prevent its further spread. Here are six ways you can help prevent the spread of the virus:

1. Get vaccinated

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus is to get vaccinated. There are currently two vaccines available in the United States, and more are in development. Getting vaccinated will help protect you and those around you from the virus.

1. Wash your hands often

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus. Be sure to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

1. Avoid close contact

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. This includes maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others. It's also important to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.

1. Cover your mouth and nose

Covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough can help prevent the spread of the virus. Be sure to use a tissue or your sleeve, and not your hands.

1. Clean and disinfect

Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched, such as door handles, countertops, and light switches. This will help to kill any viruses that may be present on these surfaces.

1. Stay home if you're sick

If you're sick, it's important to stay home and away from others. This will help to prevent the spread of the virus. Be sure to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any symptoms of the virus.
7. What is the prognosis for people with the worldcoronaviras?
The prognosis for people with the worldcoronaviras is still unknown. However, the virus is thought to cause severe respiratory illness in people of all ages. Symptoms of the worldcoronaviras include fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, the virus can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal. There is no specific treatment for the worldcoronaviras, and there is no vaccine available to prevent its spread.
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https://preview.redd.it/eq7p9akyt7pa1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e4f3c283f990a692d2ee625074866685cf3301a
“1… 2… 3… 4!”
With a simple, yet energetic count-in, The Beatles were on their way to leaving an indelible mark on popular culture, and it all started here. Released 60 years ago today, Please Please Me marked the first album in The Beatles’ discography. A brisk, lively pop-rock confection lasting just over half-an-hour, over a half century later it remains a stunning document of the unbridled joy of the early Beatles.

Background

The Beatles got their start as a skiffle band in the late 1950s in Liverpool. By 1961, after many personnel changes, their lineup consisted of John Lennon on rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar and Pete Best on drums. The group had cut their teeth playing grueling sets in Hamburg nightclubs, often times playing over 8 hours a day and taking uppers to get through the shows. Their repertoire largely consisted of cover songs, though a fledgling songwriting partnership between Lennon and McCartney contributed a few numbers here and there to the proceedings. In the fall of 1961, a rock and roll cover of “My Bonnie” with the Beatles playing backup to Tony Sheridan was released in Germany. Shortly thereafter, the Beatles met Brian Epstein, who would become their manager. He cleaned up their image and sought out a recording contract for them. A New Years Day 1962 audition for Decca Records would prove fruitless (Decca executives felt that "guitar groups are on the way out" and that "the Beatles have no future in show business"). Undeterred, Brian continued searching, eventually inking the band a deal with EMI Records in May.

The Lead-up to Please Please Me

EMI placed the group on Parlophone Records, which was run by George Martin at the time. Martin was impressed by the group’s charisma and personalities, but was doubtful of their ability to write hit songs. An initial recording session on June 6th, 1962 proved futile. Martin was especially unimpressed with the drumming ability of Pete Best. Insistent on the use of a session drummer, The Beatles used this as an opportunity to drop Best in favor of fellow Liverpudlian Ringo Starr. The next session on September 4th 1962, proved much more successful. With Ringo on the drums, the first version of “Love Me Do” was recorded (this was the version used on the 45). A week later, the band re-recorded “Love Me Do” (this was the album version) with session drummer Andy White, as well as “P.S. I Love You”, which served as the B-side to the “Love Me Do” 45.
Despite Martin’s skepticism, “Love Me Do” was a hit, peaking at #17 on the British charts by November of 1962. Convinced of the Beatles’ hitmaking ability, Martin met with the group and proposed the recording of a full album. This was an alien concept to The Beatles, since the LP market was largely driven by adults rather than teens at the time. On November 26th, The Beatles finished up the songs “Please Please Me” and “Ask Me Why” to serve as another single. Upon release on January 11th, 1963, “Please Please Me” became the Beatles’ first #1 hit on the NME and Melody Maker charts (Retroactively, the Record Retailer chart became the basis of the UK Singles Chart. Here, the song peaked at #2).
Originally, Martin wanted to record a live album of The Beatles at their resident venue, the Cavern Club. However, Martin quickly realized the acoustics of the club were insufficient for the recording of an LP. Instead, Martin came up with the idea of recording 10 additional songs to complement the 4 songs already released. Upon asking for potential album names, Paul McCartney suggested Off the Beatle Track.

The Recording of the Album

February 11th, 1963 was to be what was later referred to as “the 585 most productive minutes in the history of recorded music”. Essentially, Martin wanted the album to reflect the group’s stage show. During a gap of their first national tour, the Beatles arrived that morning with John Lennon suffering from a bad cold and attempting to rectify it with a large amount of cough drops (been there, done that).
For the morning recording session, the group started off with recording “There’s a Place” and “Seventeen” (this would later become “I Saw Her Standing There”). Rehearsing through lunch, the afternoon session produced “A Taste of Honey”, “Do You Want to Know a Secret”, and “Misery”. The evening session was produced covers of “Anna (Go to Him), “Boys”, “Chains” and “Baby It’s You”. An early version of “Hold Me Tight” was also recorded during this session, but it was not used and the song was later rerecorded for The Beatles’ sophomore album, With the Beatles.
At 10 PM, shortly before the studios were set to close for the day, the group launched into a cover of “Twist and Shout”. This was saved for last as Martin feared the song would’ve destroyed Lennon’s voice for the day. The song was nailed in one take, which prompted Martin to say, “We've been recording all day but the longer we go on the better they get." The Beatles attended a full tape playback of the album that night, and left happy with the results.
A week later, on February 20th, George Martin overdubbed piano on “Misery” and celesta on “Baby It’s You”. The Beatles were not present. Settling on the name Please Please Me (Off the Beatle Track was later used for Martin’s orchestral album of Beatles songs), the cover art was taken of the group looking down over the stairwell inside EMI’s London headquarters. This shot was later recreated in 1969 for the Get Back album, but not used when it eventually was as Let it Be in 1970. The 1969 photograph was later used for the Beatles’ “Blue Album”.

The Songs

Kicking things off with a bang is “I Saw Her Standing There”. Paul’s count-in was actually taken from Take 9 and spliced onto Take 1 of the song itself. George Martin left the count-in to simulate the effect of a live album. This song was written primarily by Paul, with John contributing a few lyrics, most notably “Well you know, what I mean.” It should be noted that on Please Please Me, the songwriting credits read McCartney-Lennon rather than the more familiar Lennon-McCartney
Next up, is “Misery”. Foreshadowing some of the Beatles’ later work, “Misery” is a portrait of self-pity. The song was actually originally composed with Helen Shapiro in mind (with whom The Beatles performed with on a national UK tour). When it was deemed unsuitable for Shapiro, Kenny Lynch, who was on the same tour, released the song as a single, making this the first Beatles song covered by another artist. Lennon later claimed he had a bit more input on this tune, was McCartney claimed it was a 50-50 collaboration.
We then make our way to the first cover song on the album Arthur Alexander’s “Anna (Go to Him)”. A personal favorite of John Lennon, his cold-stricken vocals add a tinge of pain to this song, making it a personal highlight for me. The Arthur Alexander original would later play a role in the Season 5 episode of Married… with Children, “Oldies But Young 'Uns”.
The next cover song is “Chains”. Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, this song was originally recorded by girl group The Cookies, and immediately became a popular cover song among bands in Liverpool. The Beatles version features George Harrison on lead vocals, the first time many a Beatles fan heard Harrison singing lead on a commercially released song.
The final cover song on Side One of the LP is “Boys”. Originally released by The Shirelles, “Boys” had long been known as The Beatles’ “drummer song”, with Pete Best covering it on stage prior to Ringo entering the band. Ringo also performed the song as a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes prior to joining The Beatles. Despite some pronoun changes from the Shirlles’ original, the song retains a large amount of homoerotic undertones.
“Ask Me Why”, primarily written by Lennon in the style of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, is up next. Close listening can reveal the deteriorating state of Lennon’s voice during the marathon session. “Ask Me Why” was also included as the B-side to “Please Please Me”.
Rounding out the first side of the LP is “Please Please Me”. Originally conceived by John Lennon as a slow bluesy song in the style of Roy Orbison, it took much convincing and rerecording for Martin to release the song as a single. Martin originally felt the song was “dreary” and too slow. Martin wanted to release “How Do You Do It?” as a single for The Beatles. However, the group stood their ground as they only wanted to release original material as singles. “How Do You Do It?” later became a number one hit for Gerry & The Pacemakers. The arrangement for “Please Please Me” was radically altered into the version we know today, and 18 takes of it were recorded before George Martin released the song as a single to major success.
Opening up Side Two of the album is “Love Me Do”. McCartney wrote the bulk of the song, with Lennon writing the bridge. The version on the album was the take with session drummer Andy White playing drums and Ringo on tambourine. The original single version with Ringo on drums was later reissued on Past Masters in 1988. “Love Me Do” was released as a single in the US in 1964 and became a #1 hit.
“P.S. I Love You”, a McCartney composition, was actually produced by Ron Richards in George Martin’s absence (though Martin retained production credit). Like the aforementioned “Love Me Do”, this song features Ringo on maracas with Andy White on drums. Richards was insistent that “P.S. I Love You” had to be the B-side, due to it sharing a name with a 1934 song co-written by Johnny Mercer (who later wrote the lyrics to “Moon River” and “Days of Wine and Roses”).
“Baby It’s You”, another Shirelles cover (with music by the legendary Burt Bacharach), follows. This one features Lennon on lead vocals. The song had been part of the Beatles stage act since 1961, their version differing from the Shirelles’ by repeating the second verse rather than the first. Interestingly enough, a 1969 cover of the song by the band Smith became the highest charting version of the song in the United States (Smith’s version peaked at #5, compared to the Shirelles’ version peaking at #8).
“Do You Want to Know a Secret”, an original song with Harrison on lead vocals is next. Lennon claimed the song as entirely his own, while McCartney later claimed it was a 50-50 collaboration explicitly for George to sing. Lennon was inspired by “I’m Wishing” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which his mother Julia sang for him as a child. The song was released as a single in the United States in 1964, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and becoming the highest charting Beatles song with a Harrison vocal until “Something” topped the charts in 1969.
McCartney’s cover of the pop standard “A Taste of Honey” follows. This song was originally an instrumental track written for the 1960 Broadway version of the 1958 British play A Taste of Honey (which was later adapted to film in 1961). The first vocal version of the song appeared in 1961 by Billy Dee Williams (Yes, Lando from Star Wars. He appeared in the original Broadway production of the play). Lenny Welch’s 1962 rendition of the song proved to be a big hit, as well as the basis of the Beatles’ version. Lennon allegedly hated the song, going as far to sing “A Waste of Money” for the backing vocals in concert.
The final original song on the album is “There’s a Place”. While Lennon claimed to write the song himself in the Motown style, McCartney claimed the song to be a collaborative effort. He noted the song’s title phrase originated from “Somewhere” from the soundtrack album to West Side Story, as he owned a copy of the album. Regardless, the song has been praised for its introspective lyrics and depth not commonly found in contemporaneous pop songs.
The grand finale, and arguably the most famous of all the Beatles’ covers, is their raucous, electric take on the Isley Brothers’ rendition of “Twist and Shout”. As previously mentioned, Lennon used every last bit of his voice that day shredding through the song. He initially felt ashamed of the performance, feeling his performance was subpar. The song was released as a single in the United States in 1964, peaking at #2 behind the band’s own “Can’t Buy Me Love”. It was the only million selling Beatles single to be a cover song, and was famously used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in 1986.

Release and Impact

The album was released on March 22, 1963. The album had reached the top of the UK charts by May of 1963 and remained there for 30 weeks until being replaced by the group’s second album, With the Beatles. Please Please Me was also the first non-soundtrack album to spend more than a year consecutively within the top 10 of the UK album charts (with 62 consecutive weeks in the Top 10). This was also a record for a debut album until April 2013 when Emeli Sande’s Our Version of Events achieved a 63rd consecutive week in the Top Ten. Please Please Me’s success was unprecedented for a pop album, as the UK charts at the time largely consisted of film soundtracks and easily listening albums. The success of the album has been attributed to the packaging, particularly it’s cover art and linear notes.
Capitol Records, the American subsidiary of EMI, passed on the opportunity to release the Beatles’ material, feeling the music would have limited appeal to American listeners. Instead, Vee-Jay records attempted to bring The Beatles to America. However, the first two American singles (“Please Please Me” and “From Me to You”), failed spectacularly. Vee-Jay lost interest in The Beatles, not releasing a truncated 12-track version of the album until Beatlemania hit in early 1964 as Introducing… The Beatles (more information on that release can be found here). Capitol included “I Saw Her Standing There” on their first Beatles album Meet The Beatles! (It also served as the B-side to the American version of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”) After Vee-Jay’s license to release Beatles material expired, Capitol released The Early Beatles in March 1965, which consisted of 11 out of the 14 tracks from Please Please Me (along with “I Saw Her Standing There”, it excised “Misery” and “There’s a Place”. The latter two songs were released for the first time by Capitol in 1980 on the Rarities album). The first official American release of Please Please Me occurred in 1987 with the standardization of The Beatles’ catalog on CD.
In the decades since it’s release, Please Please Me remains highly regarded as not only one of the best debut albums of all time, but one of the greatest albums of all time period. In 2012, it was voted 39th on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. NME, Rolling Stone and Uncut have all named it one of the best debut albums of all time. For the 50th anniversary of the album in 2013, modern artists celebrated the album by re-recording it in one day. Stereophonics recorded the cover of “I Saw Her Standing There”. The rerecorded album was broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

Discussion

1. What is your favorite original song on Please Please Me? Favorite cover?
   
2. How would you rank the album within the Beatles’ discography?
   
3. Much has been said about how joyous the album feels. Do you feel it captured the energy of The Beatles’ early performances well?
   
4. How does this album compare with other pop albums from the same time?
   

i wont mention some of them here but... i should have left him when he broke up with me and told me there were a lot of girls out there that were better than me. he was right. i should have just cut my losses and stopped right then and there.
i was codependent with him when i was in my early 20s. our household is emotionally stunted. i had nowhere to release my emotions. i had no support. i could not regulate my overwhelming emotions. to soothe myself, i just came back to him over and over and he received me. he did because i gave him sex and company. i was convenient. i came to him voluntarily. if i am not in contact with him, i become unhinged and i could not face my overwhelming emotions. it felt like i could not live without him. it was so hard so i chose to be hit with a double sided blade. i was stable when we're talking but he did not really asked how i was or if i boarded the bus already or if i had gotten home or if i was safe. none of that. he did not really send messages after i came to him. he said i was online and that was enough for him to know i was okay.
my codependency from him lasted for about 3 years. we were together 2 years before that. he used me for 3 years for sex, company, and emotional support. he always came to me every after his semester because he was sad and i gave him comfort. when it was time for him to graduate, suddenly i was not part of his success and i inserted myself in his supposed graduation. he did not even want me to watch him from far away. it hurt so much because i was proud of him for what he had accomplished. we talked sporadically after that. he was done with me. he has moved on already and he has affixed his attention on a new woman.
on july 2020, he had stopped talking to me. it was hard at first but i had a cat so i felt better. fishcake was with me. and also, kaz and i talked for about 1 month so i was kinda happy. i also got covid during that time. it was during the height of the pandemic so i was very busy and exhausted with work. i was on my way to moving on until he messaged me again on november 2020. he asked some personal things about me but his ploy was to actually sell me insurance. i refused and there was not much to talk about after that but he persevered until the insurance got out of the conversation and i asked for us to video call because i missed him. we talked for about 2 months after that but he dropped me again because he doesnt feel anything towards me and at that time, he was already warming up to his new babe. he was cold with me but with her, he had given her all warmth and affection. i didnt know that but at that time, i was so heartbroken again; i felt like i could not recover. fishcake was not with me during that heartbreak and him leaving caused me another mental instability even though i was fine with it during 2020.
for about a month we didnt talk but i found a sort of rebound, which somehow resembles my ex such that he's also an accountancy graduate, he had a medtech ex girlfriend, they had the same height and body type, and they were both moreno. he had the gal to ghost me but i didnt really care about him so it was fine. (pero siya tong follow nang follow sa akin ngayon HAHAHHAHA leave me alone bro)
i was so unstable so i decided to go to baguio and i invited my ex over to come with me on my hotel room haha i planned it all but i cancelled it because the covid situation was unpredictable and there was a risk of another lockdown happening. we got to talking again and i offered up my place for him to stay temporarily while he looked for an apartment. i did everything like check the distance of places from his work. when i received him on my apartment, he kissed me and we had sex. on our way to work, we held hands. he never really withheld affection from me and neither did i. but one time, i felt humiliated when he refused to hold my hand in front of the caretaker at the narrow boarding house at m.ocampo. he said something like there was no need for holding hands (in a rude way), he swatted my hand and the caretaker asked if we were in a relationship and he said im just his ex. later, when we got out from the building, he held my hand. i was hurt and then i was happy again.
after 4 months of him being outright rude to me, i had enough of his mistreatment and requested for him to block me on everything so i would stop. to cope with the loss, i got into alcohol drinking for about 2 weeks. i had no emotional support so i sought company through reddit and i found great people. they were the one to tell me that armon used me. i tried to defend him saying that i was the one to offer shelter, company, sex, and sometimes, food. but they said if he was a decent person and he no longer liked me in any way, he would refuse. he saw i loved him and i gave him everything so he took advantage of that. i never ever saw him as a user but other people did even though i tried to defend him.
i severed my connection with william because it was unfair for me to use him when i was that broken and depressed. i wanted to fix myself before proceeding into anything. we said our goodbyes and we have no other way of connection ever again and it's fine. im thankful for him for being there for me when i was at my lowest. same with patrick. they were great friends to me and they were there to talk to me and we had virtual inuman and all that hahaha
anyways, i improved myself even though i felt a hole in my heart. i feel complete. i am no longer codependent with armon. success! i persevered through it.
but he broke the peace and he came back to me because he was suffering from his own choices. i took him in again because he was so devastated and i dont like to see him so defeated and depressed like that. also, i still loved him in a way and he seemed so genuine. long story short, he broke my heart again in a worse way. worse in a sense that he participated in illegal stuff and i view him in a different lens now. i never knew he was capable of doing what he did but alas, he has shown his real colors and i did not like what i saw. it was immoral and disgusting. it does not align with my values. we sporadically communicated again but i realized he has made no effort to bring back my trust. there were some things that disturbed me but yeah. i am seeing him as what he has been all along all this time. my rose colored glasses has worn off now and i just see him a thoroughly troubled person.
kudos to him though for actively trying to fix himself. our recent break up was an eye opener to him as well. he got rid of his porn and masturbating addiction (last i heard he no longer do this but as of the moment i have no idea if he relapsed). watching porn has fucked up his mind and his view of women. hopefully he becomes less sexist in the days to come. he also went to a neuropsychiatrist (?) that was recommended by a dating app fling or whatever. he was found to be normal and without a mental illness but he has somethings about him that he has to improve. idk what else he is improving on but i hope the best for him.
as for me, i am starting to regret the years i have spent with him due to my codependency. i wish i sought a therapist but i couldnt'really afford that. i didnt have a shortcut and i learned the long, hard way. through this painful journey i have found my strength and voice. i have gained self-confidence and self-esteem. it was so hard but still, it was the path that i took in this lifetime. i hope the best for me as well.

I am 45 y.o. Female. Strong family history on both sides of my family of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke (dad passed at age 59), heart attack (maternal grandmother passed age 62), mom has a fib.
I am 5’2” 134lbs. Started out at 158 in April. I was lifting weights 5 days a week but not changing my diet. I did drop a few pounds. But I basically ate like I was bulking until mid January. In Mid January I started cutting carbs. In mid February I added in 20 min HIIT runs 3 days a week and started following Mediterranean diet. I used to eat a ton of red meat and fried foods and just recently in February cut those out. I don’t eat sweets and haven’t had any alcohol since December.
I had an annual checkup last week and some labs done. I was shocked when I got my results today.
Cholesterol - 245 Triglycerides- 81 HDL - 54 LDL - 174.8 HDL/Cholesterol Ratio - 22.0 Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio - 4.5 Non HDL Cholesterol - 191
Dr has not reviewed them yet so not sure what her plan will be.
With that said, is it possible that my new diet hasn’t “kicked in” yet to show up on labs? (I have no idea what my numbers were before this. I haven’t seen a Dr in over 10 years).
Also, does stress increase cholesterol? I’ve been under an enormous amount of stress since 2020 due to a devastating situation. Things are settled down now but I feel like I have some PSTD from it and deal with anxiety daily now.

This is going to be long, bare with me. When we think about deep metaphysical questions like free will, we run into contradictions/paradoxes and I think this is because we're viewing it from an individual perspective. It's always what it means about "you" but never about what gave rise to that in the first place. I'm going to branch 2 different explanations together about consciousness and free will. Here goes
"We are asking, "What is Existence? What does it take for all the things we experience, like chairs, tables, computers, tastes, sounds, and feelings, to exist?" There are a lot of disagreements between thinkers on this topic, but we can use physical objects as a starting point, because it seems clear to most people that these things definitely exist. Every physical object (like a cup, or a car, or a cloud) takes up space and exists over time. What is space? What is time? Space is the embodiment of geometrical possibility. It exists because different positions have geometrical relationships between them. These geometrical relationships are information describing where things are in space relative to one another. Time passes when things change. Things change constantly because physics requires them to; physics says "world, do this!" and the world has to obey. The world is made of atoms. Physics tells atoms how to move in space, how to change their positions, and these instructions always involve motion, always involve change. This is due to some very basic requirements, like the laws of thermodynamics, Newton's laws, relativity, and quantum mechanics. Without these requirements, the world would not exist in the way that it does. These requirements are information describing how things should change, just like space is made of information about how things geometrically relate.
Ok, we understand that for things to exist, information has to exist. What does it take for information to exist? Information is made of facts. What does it take for facts to exist? Facts are statements that are true. Things can only be true or false on the basis of logic, which provides rules for when things are true or false. What does it take for logic to exist? Some thinkers think that logic is the most basic thing in existence, and that it is so basic that it requires its own existence. This is a difficult idea to understand and explain. The idea is that maybe it is logically impossible for logic not to exist, or in other words, it would be impossible for trueness and falseness not to exist. One idea that I don't discuss in this video is that maybe one of these fundamental logical truths is that nothingness cannot exist; in other words, if "nothingness" could ever truly occur, a state where there is no existence whatsoever of any kind, then that state is not actually nothingness, due to the fact that it exists. Does that make sense? (I'm not sure it does.)
Anyway, the idea is that this basic logic, for example, the fact that trueness and falseness can exist, the fact that 1+1=2, the fact that geometrical logic exists: all of these logical rules form the foundation for the rest of existence. Your table can only exist on the basis of the information describing what is true of your table; if that information didn't exist, your table wouldn't exist. Your table, and the atoms that make it up, all of this is nothing more than information rooted in the fundamental logic at the heart of existence.
This still doesn't exactly answer "what does it take for logic to exist?" because how is it known that things are true or false? How does the information making up your table relate to the information making up your hands or the sun? How does it come to be represented by an image of the table in your head in your experience of sight? Unlike some other thinkers, I think the most fundamental thing in existence, even more fundamental than logic, is Consciousness. Consciousness, or mind, or awareness, or perception: this is the most basic aspect of existence, and without it, nothing would exist. There is a conscious awareness underlying and giving rise to everything in the Universe. It is the thing that holds all information as true or false, the thing that understands the basic logic and all its consequences. Wherever information exists, the conscious awareness of that information also exists no matter what. The information and the conscious awareness of that information are one and the same. If you move your table, you have changed information in the mind of this cosmic awareness relating to your table.
In our brains, information is gathered from the outside world by our senses and processed to generate a self-contained model of that information, a replica of the information gathered. Wherever information exists, conscious awareness of that information also exists, and this is how consciousness gets inside your head. Your brain makes an informational model, and Consciousness experiences that informational model. The "me" that you feel inside your head is the same "me" that exists in my head, because they both come from the same source, the fundamental Consciousness that underlies and gives rise to all of existence."
https://youtu.be/1fc3oDSWsNU Watch this if you want a more complex and in depth explanation.
Now the explanation about free will:
"As you move, everything moves with you, because it is all you. You just have the perspective of separation and thats fine, bc that's where your experience comes from. The same could be true for the cells in your body. Each and every cell in your body and every other part of your body is doing its own thing. It's having its own experience. Does it have free will ? Well, it is part of "you". Does what you do influence it ? Yea. Does what it does influence you ? Yea. So is there free will ? You're both connected. It's just a matter of perspective in terms of scale. This is "me", my organ, this is "me" , my body, this is me, everything. And so, even the word "influence" is kinda off. It's just a perspective of influence because we're a moving tapestry. It's not infuence, we're just moving together. It's just that we have the perspective of individuality which makes it very difficult to understand that it's just one thing moving together. This is where you end up with that problem. If everything I'm doing is influenced by everything that came before me, then I have no free will. Yea ok, only if there were a singular dimension in terms of reality being this one time line but eternity and infinite versions of "now" counteract this. What I mean is that when you look at someone else's life and where they are , you say that if you were that person you would have done everything they did and thats true. But if you were to take another iteration of that person's life, that same person. Do this exersize. The universe started, the universe ended , earth came, went, blew up whatever. Everything went to nothingness and then eternity went by, another universe popped up, so on and so forth. And so we have infinite iterations of this universe and other universes over eternity. So, same person that you would have done the same thing that they did, in another variation of that lifetime, you would have done everything that they did too. Which one is what you would do? They all are. Each and every moment you can do whatever you want, you can go in any direction you want, right now, and it's true that the direction you're most likely to go is going to be the ditection of the current that you've been following based on your perception of it. That's the influence, that doesnt dictate your action. You can go in any direction you want, and with awareness you become aware of more and more directions. As well as the conditioning and the habits that keep you going in the same directions. As you pivot, everything pivots with you. The same is true for everything else, you're pivoting with it. The perception of division is there but division itself is not. You have to consider that no matter what you do in your lifetime, right now, there's always going to be a perfect universe where thats the appropriate thing to do. You have access to each and every one of them in the here and now. They're all overlapping one another, all time exists "now". It's not that YOU don't have free will, it's that there is nowhere to go except the expression of will. That's it, when we start thinking about the whole, people say that this body alone has absolutely no free will and there's that individual view again but I have free will and everything as a whole, the "real me" has free will. This can't be the case, everything as a whole isn't going anywhere, it's already whole. There's nowhere to go so the idea of free will at that point is almost inaccurate bc it's just will. Every possible will is being expressed by us , this is the experience, this is all it is. It's really important to recognize that it's not you, your body that has no free will. There is no you/your body. There's just the perception of this body. There's no separation, you are the whole, you are will and everything will move with you as you express it. Yes that means you can be influenced by it but again that comes down to your level of responsibility and thats also the importance of responsibility. Nobody dictates how YOU respond. You can say they do, you can pass the buck, you can even for a time be influenced by others bc you're not aware of that responsibility that it's always on you. But it is nonetheless. That's the essence of responsibility, there is no one else to respond. Accept you. Which is will. That's what we are, we are will. The idea of free will and predeterminism is really based on this idea of yourself vs the whole and how they're influencing one another but it's not like that, it's a paradox."
Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments ❤