#nanogram level

[kimberlabtron]

Portable Explosives Drug Detector LEPD-A10 uses IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometry) technology to detect trace level of explosives. With higher sensitivity it detects explosive present in nanogram level in a test sample. Various explosives like Black Powder, Ammonium Nitrate (AN), TNT, PETN, RDX, nitro-glycerine, Octo, Tetra, Dinitrotoluene (DNT), C4, Semtex, TATP, etc. can be detected. Features like audio and visual alert system, password lock option, touch screen display, results displayed in few seconds etc. makes it highly efficient. It has wide applications in investigation department, research labs and industries.

[theresattrpgforthat]

do you have any games with a sci-fi fantasy setting that are adventuring/exploration focused, similar to numenera or wildsea? the flexibility to play more or less mature games, lots of character creation options, and a solid combat system would be a bonus

THEME: Exploration

God I wish I could recommend As the Sun Forever Sets yet but it’s still in development. It’s a game inspired by The War of the Worlds, and is a Forged in the Dark hex crawl. The creator is partnering with Evil Hat so you’ll want to keep an eye out for when they start crowdfunding it.

If you’re interested in games like The Wildsea, I’d also recommend checking out the Wildsea Discord, where there are plenty of games in the works using the Wild Words engine. I don't think much there has reached playtest levels yet, but there's a lot of game-things that look very interesting.

Anyways, let’s see what else is out there.

Dreams and Machines (Players Guide) (Game-Master's Guide), by Modiphius.

Dreams and Machines is a brand new RPG setting where people come together to rebuild their world following a catastrophic war. You will venture into a world of mystery and adventure, a world where slumbering mechs dot the landscape and people build their lives anew in the wreckage of paradise. Take on the role of one of the new tribes of humanity, an Archivist, Dreamer, Everan, River, or Spear, and forge a path for yourself and your people.

The war against the machines was 200 years ago, but many threats from that era abound, along with others, like raiding parties of Thralls from the deep ruins, that have arisen in the intervening years. The machines are dormant, but they sometimes awake, causing death and destruction until they are stopped. Hideous, mutated, creatures infest the landscape, vicious byproducts of the war. Ghostly nanograms lurk in the ruins promising knowledge or luring the unwary to their deaths. Yet against all this, humanity is rebuilding. People live full, happy lives despite the threats that assail them. Cooperation and mutual aid are everywhere, humans coming together to build something new amid the ruins of the past.

If you are a fan of Horizon Zero Dawn, this game was made for you. While it’s not taking place within the official licensed setting, the inspiration is visible all over this game. The game uses the 2d20 mechanic found among many of Modiphhius’ well-known titles, tailored for the large range of movement and large-scale conflict expected in a game like HZD. Characters are composed of an origin, archetype, temperament and bond, and refer to attributes and skills when determining whether or not the succeed. Some rolls have a difficulty determined by truths attached to locations, scenes, or equipment. Others are contests, and the outcomes are determined by the results from each opponent. These pieces point towards a complex ttrpg that has plenty of potential both for exploration and combat.

If you don’t want to get the Players Handbook and the GM’s Handbook without a bit of a first taste, you can check out the free Quickstart!

Between Clouds, by Andi Licht.

Between Clouds is a colorful, biopunk, tabletop RPG about a family of misfits navigating the open skies atop their beloved flying beast. Life among the clouds revolves around the Kirin, oversized animals that possess volatile genetics and the gift of flight. Across the skies, floating vessels and cities are held aloft by the animated remains of hunted Kirin, whose beating hearts defy gravity itself. Commoners are wary of becoming abducted or eaten by these creatures, while propaganda and folklore only stoke their fears. With an uninhabitable surface below, humanity must learn to coexist with the flora and fauna of their airborne realm or perish.

In Between Clouds players assume the role of Symbiotes, rare outcasts who have formed unbreakable bonds with a Kirin. It is not an easy choice to join forces with such a reviled creature. Those who crave power and a comfortable life seek to hunt the Kirin, and the Symbiotes with them if necessary. Few are ever approached by the flying beasts, and fewer still head the call. Those who do lead nomadic lives. They travel across Empyrea atop their airborne companions, making allies and enemies along the way, all while striving to help those in need and protect the wild Kirin that they encounter.

This game looks so pretty. The world looks very unique, with larger-than-life creatures called Kirin and a number of isolated biomes accessible only through riding on their backs. While the system uses the Year Zero engine, the creator also claims inspiration from Belonging Outside Belonging and Forged in the Dark games, so I’m expecting a complicated world with a lot of narrative prompts to drive the story forward.

Electric Bastionland, by Chris McDowell.

Bastion - The Electric Hub of Mankind. The only city that matters.

In Deep Country, the land stretches forever. The long shadow of our embarrassing past. Villages rot away, trees don’t bother to flower anymore, and the potato is eaten cold from the ground. Things were better before. Better before Bastion.  In the Underground are impossible tunnels beneath time and space. Devious machines release their creations into the corridors. All while the twisting network grows and touches everything. Connects everything. You can get anywhere, but there’s always a challenge. 

You have a failed career and a colossal debt. Treasure is your only option. A spark of hope in Electric Bastionland.

Electric Bastionland is a roleplaying game written by Chris McDowall, author of the critically-acclaimed Into The Odd. It uses and expands upon the systems developed in Into The Odd, resulting in a rules-set that’s easy to run as a Referee and even easier to play. It’s not a sourcebook or an expansion - it’s a standalone journey into an unknowable world. 

If you like OSR games this might be a game for you. Bastion is such a unique city that begs you to explore it. Your characters start as people who have failed in another career before, which is an interesting premise to give you at the beginning of the game. Treasure hunting was nobody’s first option, so your entire crew already has something in common. This feels like a game where survival is difficult, and everyone is trying to get themselves out of a rough place to a slightly less rough place. If you want a fantastic setting that might beat you up a little bit, I recommend Electric Bastionland.

Odyssey Aquatica, by Old Dog Games.

The year is 1960 and you are an Oceanographic Adventurer, a brave or foolhardy soul who goes to the most remote seas and the deepest ocean trenches to conduct groundbreaking research, help those in peril, document the wonders you discover — and bask in the glory. You will chart your character’s life work, from their first expeditions to their last, and record memoirs of the years lived in-between. 

ODYSSEY AQUATICA adapts the fast and flexible PARAGON system to a world of 20th century oceanographic adventure inspired by The Life Aquatic, Subnautica, and the life and times of Jacques Cousteau.

I’ve talked before about how AGON is a great tool for exploration games by providing you with a new way to journey, and plenty of the supplements for this system confirm my theory. Odyssey Aquatica keeps the exploration at sea, but brings it into the modern day, adding memoir rules that expand the game’s timeline to cover your characters’ careers. It’s also beautifully laid out, with a stunning boat sheet to help you keep all of your tools and equipment organized. If you like PARAGON games, you’ll like Odyssey Aquatica.

Bug World, by Alfie.

maybe the apocalypse could have been averted, but it wasn’t, and here we are, in a brand new world. this isn’t your cold, nuclear winter, sparse and dead kind of post-apocalypse. the end sent the world on a new course, brimming with life - just not quite as much human life as before. ok, barely any. in the super oxygen-rich atmosphere of the earth today, insect life has thrived.

it only took a few decades for bugs to reach incredible sizes, and now, about a century-and-a-half after the disaster, gargantuan insects are a normal sight. from a ladybug the size of a dog, to millipedes that might as well be trains, to horned beetles with skeletons big enough to use as shelter. bugs are huge and they are everywhere. the remaining humans have domesticated some, trained others, made wary peace with some intelligent groups, and carved themselves out sections of the world to live.

BUG WORLD is a Powered by the Apocalypse TTRPG where players navigate this post-apocalyptic jungle world, with all its scavenger towns, junk economies, and incredibly huge bugs. playbooks include more classic TTRPG options alongside bug wranglers and jockeys, rock collector archaeologists, and mob bosses.

Currently a work in progress, this game is all about exploration and survival. It uses a PbtA ruleset with moves like deal damage and survive harm for combat, and playbooks that specialize in it, like the Brutalizer and the Exoskeleton. As a post-apocalypse game I think it has plenty of opportunity for death and danger, and like plenty of PbtA games, the setting is baked into the character options more than anything else. I like the premise of this game and I think it holds a lot of promise, even if your play group has to build a lot of the setting themselves.

Nibiru, by Araukana Media.

Nibiru is a science fiction tabletop roleplaying game, set in a massive space station in a neighboring solar system. Players take on the role of Vagabonds; people who woke up in the space station with no memories of their past.

Nibiru tackles themes of memory, nature and artificiality through simple mechanics, evocative art and immersive worldbuilding.

This feels like such a unique game to me. Nibiru has a character creation system that you engage with during the entirety of your campaign experience, as your characters are uncovering more of their backstory as they play. You will fill in pieces of your memory as your character tries to do new things, and each new experience has the potential to cement a part of your character’s personality. The world itself is also begging to be explored: the Skyless World is a monstrous space station with an unknown purpose. Each choice your characters make will draw them deeper into the world, and have ripple effects on the world around them.

If you want a unique method of character generation, and a truly breathtaking reading experience, I recommend Nbiru.

Games I have Recommended in the Past

Apocalypse Roadtrip, by Mynar Lenahan.

Songs for the Dusk, by Kavita Poduri

ICON, by Massif Press.

Ultraviolet Grasslands, by Wizardtheiffighter.

[darkmaga-returns]

The Overlooked Importance of Vitamin D

For years, mainstream health authorities have downplayed the role of Vitamin D in overall health. But as I’ve come to understand, maintaining optimal Vitamin D levels is crucial for bolstering immunity and preventing disease. This isn’t a fringe idea; it’s supported by robust scientific evidence. Adequate Vitamin D levels—around 60 nanograms per milliliter—can significantly reduce the risk of illnesses, including infections, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.

Unlike the meager 400 IU daily recommendation set decades ago, many individuals need much higher doses to achieve these levels. For instance, I take 10,000 IU daily, and others may need even more, depending on their unique biology and environment. Testing your Vitamin D levels is key to tailoring your intake. Don’t let outdated guidelines or dismissive attitudes from healthcare providers deter you. Vitamin D is an accessible and effective way to enhance your health.

[er-cryptid]

Note Cards (September 2023)

1/3 Down Radial Shaft [Diagram]

Amphipathic Compounds

Anthropology

Australian Stock Horse

Blastomycosis Treatment

Categories of HIV Drugs

Characteristics of Helices

Dynamics of Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions

EAEC

Equation for Restitution Coefficient

Essential Amino Acids Mnemonic

History of Olduwan Tools

Keratosis

L. monocytogenes

Levator Scapulae OIA

Mob

Nanogram Levels of Endotoxin

Opisthosoma

Pedipalps

Satellite Cells vs Schwann Cells

Skull of Qafzeh 9

Spirilla Diagram

Structure of Nucleosomes

T3

-ule

[dorminchu]

Insult to Injury: The Director's Cut — Chapter 08 [Revised]

VIII: SENSE OF DOUBT

At twenty seven, Safin required organ transplants to mitigate the risk of cancer and other long-term effects. Once stabilized, he was transferred out of Severo-Kurilsk’s hospital into Kazan, for further treatments. A subsistence of weaning morphine injections, physical therapy. Relocation to a private clinic in Algeria.

Under the bright, bare ceiling, he continued to subsist. He could move around unassisted, as long as he wasn’t barefoot. He could load a pistol and aim without shaking too badly. These lesions across his face, down his abdomen, arms, would soften with time. He could not raise his voice above a guttural rasp. His first concern, after convalescence, was to go after the ones who took over his father’s company, and eliminated his family.

"You have a visitor," the nurse said.

There must have been a mistake. Safin had no one left to mourn him. He told the nurse to let this visitor in, and pushed himself to stand. Walking slowly over to the desk, he opened a set of drawers, pushing old documents aside, withdrawing the Makarov PM at the bottom.

The man who stepped into the room was well-built, dressed in a leather jacket and cargo pants. His right eye sat inert and glassy in his skull. Perhaps working for the SVR under an alias. Klebb was fond of using illegal agents rather than Russians for operations abroad. More likely, one of Zorin’s men sent to finish him off.

“Before your father's retirement,” the man said, “he worked with an Algerian sponsor, Cipher. Gostan knew his way around toxins, and this Cipher had enough funds to keep things running out of Russian jurisdiction. When Gostan’s wife turned informant to the Russian government, it was Cipher who invited the family to dinner to take their minds off the collapse of the USSR.”

“Foodborne botulism,” Safin said, glancing over at the desk. "That was Zorin's statement."

The man followed his gaze. “You read the reports.”

“At sea level, the spores can survive boiling water. If the bacterium survives long enough to produce toxins, you get botulinum.” A ragged inhale, exhale. His mouth dried up. “Pathoanatomical analysis confirmed the cause as a toxin of vegetative origin. It only takes three-hundred fifty nanograms, about a quarter of a grain of sand.” Safin looked at the man. “Where is this Cipher?”

"A contact of his expressed interest in meeting you."

Safin turned, pointed the Makarov PK squarely at the man's breast. "I don't have friends. Or family. On whose behalf were you sent?"

"Rene Mathis," the man said, hardly flinching. "He's worked with the Cipher and his associates before. He'll be able to tell you more." Safin's hand trembled. He gripped the gun tighter. "You've every right to be angry," the man said. "But vengeance alone isn't going to help you."

Safin cocked the gun. "What are you offering in return for this information?"

"Your father wouldn't have wished to see you rot away in hospital. I'm here to get you where you need to be." The man walked up to him and grabbed his trembling wrist. "You're still recuperating."

“That is a luxury I cannot afford,” Safin said. “There’s work to be done.”

⁂

At thirty six, Safin clung onto consciousness, playing limp on the floor of the hotel room. Dragging himself upright, he touched his ear. "Primo," he rasped, "we've been compromised."

Static his only answer. As if the situation would change, he demanded:

"Primo."

Harsh static in his ears. Safin ripped out the earpiece and wire. Panic closing in, on the brink of violence, he tempered himself. Now was not the time to lose composure. He had to get out of here. It was him or Madeleine now, and given the choice he'd already made up his mind.

The door opened before he could reach it. A hand half the size of his face covered him, lifting off of his feet and shoving him into the same laundry basket. No need to sedate him. Safin couldn't see, buried by laundry. The sound of wheels on carpet giving way to the harsh clatter-and-scrape of bare flooring. The elevator doors closing. The lift shuddered downward. All he could hear past the blood in his ears was his own ragged breathing and the hum of the elevator. Eventually the lift doors opened. Wheeling down a hall, there was an echoing clatter of the wheels on the floor.

The cart stopped moving. The same broad arm plunged into the hamper, dragging Safin out. A non-descript storage room, occupied by Klebb. As Safin was wrenched to his feet, he caught sight of a crumpled body in the corner. The maid met his eyes with a glassy stare. No matter what her saviour had told her, she was expendable. Only in those last moments did she realize the truth.

“She was a useful proxy,” Klebb's voice came from the other side of the room. “But she’s served her purpose.”

Safin had consoled himself with the idea that Blofeld had no reason to get rid of him. Now there seemed no point in denying it. What had taken him weeks to parse out through observation took her only a handful of conversations as he tipped his hand. Remorse had corroded his intentions too far to be forgiven. As long as Blofeld lived to pick apart her head, Madeleine would be as good as his enemy. All she’d had to was respond, initiate, and he hadn’t thought twice.

Hinx dragged him to his feet, arms behind him.

“You've led him to us,” Safin said, wrenching uselessly against Hinx’s grip. "All that's left to do is eradicate him." Klebb said nothing. She crossed over to a table opposite him and Hinx. “I tell you this for SPECTRE’s sake,” Safin said. “Blofeld's operation is running on borrowed time.”

Klebb’s mouth thinned. “If it were up to me, you would have never left Severo-Kuslik.” She reached into the bag and produced a syringe. “But it is not.”

Safin’s jaw set. There wasn’t much he could do, realistically. No point in asking, are you going to kill me. He could buy a few more seconds by reminding her of his loyalties—there wasn’t much point in grovelling. When Blofeld made a decision, it was final. His father’s island would be left in the hands of those who could never appreciate its true potential. Bond wouldn't keep his end of the bargain. But his frustation finally got the better of his patience. "Killing me won't salvage anything!" he snapped. "Your enemy must be dealt with." Hinx grabbed his head and held him still.

“All in good time,” said Klebb. "You have your own debt to repay."

The needle pierced his neck. A sharp, white-hot pain lanced through him but he did not lose consciousness. Hinx shoved his body back into the basket.

⁂

On floor twenty four, 007 and Madeleine were making their way towards the elevators. Between the pair of jilted lovers, Swann seemed to be handling the situation better. The tension in her shoulders easy to miss under that bulky black coat. She was a little harried. Scrutinizing him, not in an unkind way. It was methodical. Even a harsh, cold man could be tipped over into sentiment.

“Ordinarily, I’d say that we ought to stop running into each other like this,” said 007, stepping into the elevator after her, “and that it might give your friends the wrong idea. But I suppose we're past that point. They’ve been swarming the halls ever since that alarm tripped.”

Madeleine said nothing. Her hair still damp at the edges. She kept her eyes averse of his, fixed on a point over his shoulder. As the elevator descended, she gripped the rail tightly.

“I know these events can be rather hectic,” 007 said, “but I can keep you safe if you tell me who’s put you up to this.”

Still, nothing.

“Paloma,” he said, watching her face for a reaction. “She's a friend of mine. You haven't seen her around?"

“We talked briefly before the donor gala, and once when I went back up to my room. That's the last I saw of her.” She held his gaze without fear or hesitation. She'd make a pretty good informant if she lived long enough. Her blue eyes hardened as she added, “This isn’t going to work on me.”

“Well, you can either trust me, or take your chances with whoever is waiting for us downstairs,” Bond said. 

A muscle jumped in her delicate face. “And you are the new guard?”

“Of a sort,” 007 said, as the counter dropped down to single-digits. “I was hoping to get an idea of whoever you’re working for before I have to turn you over to MI6.”

“I'm afraid I won’t be able to help you,” she said. “They don’t tell me much.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” 007 said, closing the distance in a few, deliberate steps. She shrunk back against the guard rail but there was nowhere for her to go. “You've ingratiated yourself with a contract killer. You're already surrounded by men with criminal ties. Perhaps you've gotten this far by playing naive, but there's a limit to how far that will take you. For the sake of your life, if not your lover—”

“You've misunderstood,” said Swann. “I'm just a rubber stamp. If you were after information, you should’ve kidnapped him. All I'll buy you is a few minutes.”

She was bluffing, and remarkably confident. Whether or not Paloma was in on this as well remained to be seen. All of these younger agents seemed to be under the impression that a nice resume and connections could make up for a glaring lack of common sense. Leiter was going to be very unhappy if the events of tonight led them to yet another dead-end. But not as much as M.

The elevator stopped on floor five. The doors opened. On the other side stood a broad man, dressed as an attendant. 007 caught his eyes and offered an easy, mechanical smile that was not requitted. Swann was staring at the man with great concentration. Through the side of his mouth, 007 said, "I'll handle the negotiations. Just look aggrieved and they'll buy it."

Swann glared at him. He found it difficult, as he aged, to extend sympathy. At Safin's age he had desire for self-preservation bordering on nihilism. Drifting in and out of consciousness as Le Chiffre bled to death. The reversal of their roles was not exactly what Bond was thinking of. An affair was one thing, 007 had assessed that tension as soon as they stepped into the elevator. But the possibility of a double-cross made the situation far more delicate than he'd first assumed. He had no idea of Swann's history with Safin other than a recent, turbulent intimacy. She could be spurned, or simply putting on an air to spare him. Bond's strength was in seduction and extraction, and the occasional show of force when the situation demanded. What was a callous and unfeeling response to her was just part of the job for him.

Swann's eyes were lucid, indignance fallen away into fear. 007 turned his body as if to shield her and his hand hovered over the gun at his hip. The man began to advance towards them and 007 said, "This will only be a moment."

On the ground floor, the elevator doors opened. Hinx grasped Madeleine by the arm and steered her towards Primo, waiting by the reception. Swann said nothing as they cleared the ground floor, out of the Raddison Blu and across the sidewalk. She was shivering as he opened the door of the car by the curb and pushed her inside. 

On the other side of the car was Safin. He glanced over as the door opened, but said nothing to her. Hinx circled around the other side and Primo pulled out with the other chauffers. “It would appear,” said Safin quietly, boring a hole into the side of Madeleine's head, "that someone has set us up."

Primo glanced at them. "What was that?"

Madeleine took an unsteady breath. “Klebb took me aside and asked to monitor Safin discreetly.”

In all his time working for SPECTRE or any syndicate, Safin did not allow himself to be misdirected by personal sentiment. Primo was no different. Safin didn't appear to be upset by this revelation. He nodded to himself and said, “What was her price?”

“My loyalty for your life.”

Just like that, fifteen years of service were under scrutiny. The perfect foil, created inadvertently.

“What will happen to her?” Swann asked. "The woman?"

“That’s not your concern,” said Primo.

She took a serrated breath. Her hands on her lap, white-knuckled, but her voice was steady. “You think I don’t know how this works?” Her eyes locked on his working one in the rear-view mirror. “Somewhere down the line, every one of us is expendable.” A look in the blue eyes like she'd been gutted. “My father is my only insurance.”

Primo paused. It wasn’t his business, but a woman like this was going to keep prodding at him until he said whatever she wanted to hear. “You have nothing to worry about.”

The silence held, strained. Her anger felt perfunctory and desperate. She was beseeching Primo with her eyes for something he was unable to reciprocate. She’d armed herself with vulnerability as an offensive. It might have worked on Safin, but Primo’s feelings hadn’t changed since their paths crossed in Guinea.

It was as if he were the only one who could see it. This emotional caveat had diverted Safin from his original cause, to his own detriment. He’d been making Swann an exception from the day their paths recrossed. He never told Primo anything about his past jobs, and Primo didn't think much of Safin's insistence in Zurich. Convincing himself of the lesser evil, while a hassle in of itself, was less taxing than listening to Swann despair about how lucky she was to be alive.

She laughed softly to herself, looked downward. “At least, before, I could delude myself into thinking it was only ego. That he saw me as something to be protected, or won—but I don’t think I ever realised just how—”

“Why don't you ask him,” Primo said curtly.

Safin said, "Drive. We'll discuss this later."

⁂

An hour later, they were in the safehouse. The curtains drawn, but the overhead light was on. Safin felt no nausea or disorientation, or assorted aftereffects. If it wasn't a lethal injection, what else could it be?

The soft scratching of a pen against paper drew him from thought. Movement in his peripherals. She hadn't removed the black coat. Her head turned in his direction and she seemed to flinch at his approach. "I didn't realise what would happen. You must understand that."

"I'm not angry," he said. "Not with you."

Her mouth drew to a line. There was no point for her to argue on. The exhaustion in her eyes and her shoulders remained palpable. Blofeld had taken measures to secure her loyalty, but not her trust.

Unable to retreat into his own façade of indifference. Perhaps in all of her previous affairs, she’d hide herself in plain sight. Never allowing her true nature at the forefront. The power and the thrill of wielding such power usually lent itself to a fleeting thrill and longer-lasting disappointment. She had deluded herself into assuming he would be no different. There was something within her, a trace of that vulnerability worth preserving. The same principle to restore a garden from nothing.

“There is a meeting in Rome tomorrow. On your father's behalf, you will be expected to attend.”

"On SPECTRE's," she said.

"Your cooperation is better than the alternative."

Madeleine scoffed. “What difference would it make if I were willing?”

⁂

The cabin of White's private plane carried a sombre tension. Madeleine had been placed on a separate flight with Marco Sciarra and his wife. It was the first time since Vienna that White had been in the same room as Safin. Aside from the pilot and Primo, they had the cabin to themselves.

“I think it’s a bad idea,” White was saying. “This Heracles Project. Say it goes into mass production under MI6's watch. All the enemy has to do is collect our medical records, take the DNA—and that’s it. We’re history. One of the largest companies the world has never known, and its legacy will be known as the advent of some mistake. A power vacuum the likes of which—oh, hell, I shouldn’t go on.” White glanced over at Safin as though in apology. “What do you think?”

“It’s not important what I think.”

“That’s what cushy men like Denbigh say to get the papers signed,” White said with a scoff. “It’s the last thing I expect from a man on the ground.”

White hadn’t been on-the-ground since the mid-eighties. “Most people are already content to live as they are told and die quietly. Give them an invisible God flowing through their veins, and they'll understand it is better to concede than resist.”

White chuckled, but there was a hint of unease in his tone. “You’d have gotten on well with Gostan.”

“In the right hands, such a weapon would prevent collateral.”

“Yes, yes, always the right hands—and what are the chances it will be misused?” Safin held his tongue while White took his silence as a concession. “Ah, that's the trouble. You're so focused on the potential of this weapon that you cannot give any failsafes, or alternatives to its misuse. I’m surprised you and Denbigh don’t see eye-to-eye on the matter.” An intentional barb. Safin ignored it. Silence gripped the cabin. “How is Madeleine?”

“Unharmed.”

White scoffed, but there wasn’t any humour. “You’ve compromised yourself, pulling her into my dealings. She had no right to know about Blofeld.”

“Blofeld introduced himself into her life before I ever could,” Safin said. “Is that not how he operates with SPECTRE's offspring?”

A muscle jumped in White's thin jaw. “Truthfully, I've never been very fond of her taste in men. I'm not even sure she was fond of them, half the time. Perhaps she was trying to assuage my concerns, whatever she assumed them to be. But none of them ever used her as a bartering chip.”

“It was only a matter of time before her connections were brought to SPECTRE's attention.” The outcome was decided when he opened his mouth in Zurich. Before then, in the car while Klebb looked him in the eyes. Even now, Safin was faced with the same level of detachment which Swann had cultivated and White had mastered over a lifetime. A professional did not resort to petty envy.

“She's cleverer than I,” White said. "But she is a daughter of SPECTRE." The lines in his face stood out sharply. "Just as you are a son of SPECTRE."

"I gave you my word," Safin said. "She won't be harmed."

⁂

Under the arched room of the Cadenza, the same strained tension followed from the private jet. As Blofeld discussed the proceedings, Safin fixed his attention on him casually. When the discussion of the incident with 007 at the Raddison Blu came up, he remained calm on the surface, even as White expressed his interest.

"Are you aware, White, that your daughter has been targeted by the CIA?"

White went very still. In the warm light he had paled. He was looking at Blofeld. "I was not."

The grey eyes held briefly on the face of Safin, two seats adjacent. "You will be thankful to know that she has come away from the matter unharmed. No need to worry. She's proven to be a very resourceful asset."

White's reaction was subtle but immediate. He looked at Safin. He was trying to keep himself in check but coming to an understanding that something else had transpired. Safin held the eyes of Blofeld once addressed and did not stray. He could feel White's eyes digging at him. He did not allow his own tension to show in body language. There was no point in arguing. Blofeld was not a man that could be convinced so much as humoured. This was just about keeping White in check, not bartering for Swann's life.

“Swann has her purpose,” Safin said. “But a temp is all she need be.”

"Well, I see no reason to leave her out of our dealings," said Blofeld. "She has proven that she possesses both the intellect and resourcefulness to be trusted. She will be reinstated at the Hoeffler Klinik in Austria. A promotion, for the job well done in Oslo. There, she will be kept in good condition until we have need of her."

The chair beside Safin's shifted, wood scraping against marble. "She is useful as long as she is malleable," Safin continued, "007 is too great of a wildcard. We've already dealt with the aftermath. It gave MI6 the advantage. In the long-term, she's no different than Lynd." White's hand closed around his arm. Safin reached up and brushed his hand away. “My loyalty is to the syndicate,” he said flatly. 

No reason to expend any emotion. White was frustrated with the uneven turn of events. The outlier was an easy target.

"Mr White," said Blofeld coolly, "is there something you and Mr Safin wish to discuss?"

White scoffed. Wrenching his hand away from Safin, he said, “This isn’t about him, no more than it is about me, or any one of us gathered here tonight. You and I both know that, Franz.” The room was very still. “Since QUANTUM was lost, I have watched you drive yourself mad to make James Bond’s life a living hell. I’ve watched us sink lower. It caught up to Le Chiffre. If James was a genuine threat to our syndicate, you would not have hesitated to get rid of him. We had the advantage two years ago, when Olivia Mansfield still headed MI6, yet you allowed Silva to enact his revenge plot. Now we’re playing catch-up while our enemies bolster their defenses. This goddamned Heracles Project is a pipe-dream. There are too many drawbacks, and we’ve no alternatives! All of this has cost us. Le Chiffre, Greene, Yusef, and—”

“—you're speaking of necessary losses.”

“Appointed by YOU, Franz!” White exploded. He continued in a level voice, “For too long, I've stood by and watch you dismantle what has taken us decades to build, and rebuild, all for the sake of a childhood grudge. You’ve taken more than I can give.”

Blofeld’s face became stony. “You wish to resign?”

White stood up. “With what little dignity I have left, yes.”

Blofeld sighed. “Frederich, I’d advise you to reconsider.” His eyes flickered to the balcony. “Not in front of your daughter.”

White froze where he stood. A look between resignation and cold contempt crossed his features. “Ernst….”

Another one of Blofeld’s favourite games. Pitting two operatives against one another. Their fates were decided by him alone. Safin was looking ahead.

White's breathing changed. His days in the French Foreign Legion were well behind him. Even if he were still in peak condition it would not have made much difference. He grabbed the front of Safin’s suit with fingers that would not obey, to brace his own weight or apprehend the man responsible for his daughter's fate. His mouth foamed, a mixture of saliva and blood. Safin could not avert his eyes. He croaked out a word that was indecipherable, blood bubbling from his throat. Collapsing into himself, he began to seize.

Vogel disguised a flinch and shifted her feet away from the encroaching pool of blood and bodily waste.

Safin turned his attention towards the head of the table, where Blofeld sat, statuesque. His grey eyes glittered.

“Denbigh,” he said.

“Yes, sir?”

“Inform your scientist that this weapon will need a little fine-tuning.”

Denbigh sounded as though he was going to be sick. “It’s still a prototype, sir.”

“Yes, and I kept him talking for quite a while,” Blofeld said with a wave of his hand. “Given Obruchev's description, he ought to have died a few minutes ago.” He signaled to the man behind his chair. “Kestutis.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Largo’s release date should be coming up soon. Send him to Dr. Swann. He will replace Frederich before the end of the month.”

“Of course, sir.”

“All of this was possible thanks to the joint effort of our latest fill-in.”

All eyes turned to Safin, who was looking at Blofeld. Blofeld’s attention rose to the balcony above and Safin followed his gaze. “A means of assassination without guns or typical poisons. It is only a prototype, as Denbigh says. But in a few years, along with the Nine Eyes programme, we will have an unprecedented level of flexibility over our operations.”

Frederich Konig died for nothing. Safin was as little a threat to Blofeld's schemes as the temp who'd charmed her way into lowering his defenses. It was no fault of hers. He could be honest with her in a way he could not have before, not while her father lived. But before he explained his true purpose to Madeleine, there was something he must do.

⁂

At short-notice, Obruchev had agreed to meet SPECTRE's benefactor through Primo at a safehouse in London. He had been promised a better sum of money than Shatterhand could offer in return for intelligence about Gareth Mallory's dealings, off-shore. Silva had never mentioned anything about London or Heracles beyond his quest for revenge against Olivia Mansfield. It was possible, then, that Silva had not known or been complicit.

Before he stepped into the safehouse, Safin told Primo, "I'll handle this alone."

Primo bade him entry.

Valdo Obruchev, a balding man of smaller stature, looked up. “My client has informed me that you oversee the Heracles Project in London, is that correct?”

“Since 2011.” Obruchev glanced up at him over his glasses. “I am sorry. Have we met before?”

“My father was a client of Guntram Shatterhand’s.” Safin stepped closer. “I’m here to continue what he started.”

Obruchev looked at his face. A sudden flash of comprehension. “But you’re—”

“Just a can of herbicide.” Safin’s hand in his pocket curled around the butt of the gun. “Three days ago, one of your clients injected me with a strain of Heracles. It was used to eliminate Frederich Konig, alias Pale King.”

Obruchev struggled to find his voice. “Look, I only supervise the other scientists. Is it possible one of the strains was coded to this, uh—Konig.”

“It shouldn’t be an issue to verify.”

“Well, I don’t confer with Mr. Shatterhand personally. If you’d like, I can put you into contact the research team.”

His hand on the desk slipped out of sight. Safin reached over, caught Obruchev by the back of the head, slammed him into the desk. Wrenched him up, knocking his glasses askew. Obruchev yelped but made no effort to free himself. With the barrel under his chin.

“Put your hands where I can see them.” Obruchev scrambled to oblige. Blood began to stream from his nose. “How is Heracles meant to be utilised?”

“Once Heracles is introduced into the bloodstream, the target will exhibit symptoms characteristic of a chemical attack. If a person is inoculated and he is not the intended target, the weapon will do nothing.”

“Can it be transferred?”

“Yes, through physical contact. The nanomachines are crude, but efficient. They should become more difficult to detect as technology improves.” Perhaps Madeleine wasn't the target, after all. What reason would Blofeld have to eliminate his favourite temp? “As technology improves, we would utilize the weapon on a broader scale. Entire families could be eradicated with the right DNA, you see—but at this moment, that’s only an idea!” He winced. “The initial strategy was to target the intended victims under the guise of mandatory inoculation.”

“Such as West Africa.”

Obruchev began to nod before he caught himself pressing into the gun barrel, shrinking back into terror. “Ah—y-yes, that’s correct. The medical staff in Guinea were told they were getting a vaccine. We used their ignorance as a proxy, the perfect circumstance for testing Heracles without suspicion. But—what you’re suggesting is impossible. The bioweapon is under close surveillance, there’s no evidence of it being used outside of MI6’s jurisdiction. Look, I-I’ve told you as much as I can.”

Safin let him drop. He put himself between the desk and Safin. "

⁂

Three days since Rome, Madeleine was already back in Norway. It wasn't enough time to grieve her father. No amount of platitudes or promises from SPECTRE's ilk could soothe the panic that kept her up at night. The very paranoia that had kept her alive was slowing eating its way through her instinct for self-preservation. Alone in the early hours, she could almost fool herself that it was remorse, not survivor's guilt.

A sense of security from the last place she’d ever hope for. She’d been toying with the idea ever since coming to Oslo, but now she was forced to accept it as a lesser evil. In her previous life, she would’ve had the luxury of disdain. In pursuit of that dream of normalcy, she’d do anything to survive. Perhaps there was as much difference between putting her trust in Safin and coming into work as a rubber stamp for liars and killers.

Apart from his job, a few vulnerabilities, she knew as much about him now as she had last time they spoke. For her sake, he’d kept his distance. But sooner or later he'd let his guard down, and the only question was whether he deemed her worthy to live carrying his own secrets. A stranger with no ties to her wouldn’t be coming and going as he saw fit. Nor would she be opening her door to him. Her father never once talked about how he and her mother met. That part of their lives, she wasn’t meant to think of—it would make them human and fallible. As if they could be anything but. She wasn’t a child anymore.

She took no greater pleasure in the constant string of deaths and killings, nor looking the other way. Even with her father gone, that burden of inheritance wasn't lifted with him. In lieu of a target to point all of her misgivings, there was just emptiness. The inevitable, hopelessness of being trapped with another criminal who understood. No way of pushing him away. To be understood by such a man was another violation, as if it had mattered to him in the first place. As though she were really the first person he’d had to break-in for the sake of his clients, no need to flatter herself that he was genuine in his concern. He might be able to lie to himself, but not to Madeleine.

As she stepped into her apartment, the door was ajar. The lights were off, curtains drawn. Her heart skipped a beat or two. She closed the door behind her. The handgun was in the pocket of her trenchcoat, hanging up on the closet door. She reached casually into that pocket, scanning the permiter of the room for any disturbance. 

"There's no need for that." Safin was sitting on a chair, facing the front door. He looked as if he'd been sitting here since this morning. She would have noticed if he had. “Before my father died, he dealt in poisons. He owned a chemical facility on the Kuril Islands. Blofeld bought the island from the Russian government and has been renting it out to potential buyers. The attacks in West Africa, for example. ” He looked at her. “I wish to reclaim what’s been taken from me.”

“For your father’s sake?”

He scowled. “Beyond that. Think of the lives that were lost in Guinea. Your father's death. There will be more before our work is done.” Madeleine shrank into herself under the weight of his phrasing. Blofeld must have known. Her father would have known. Perhaps it was why Safin would elect to keep her out of harm's way. “That senseless collateral you witnessed, it was for the sake of testing this bioweapon. As long as you remained ignorant, you would be an outsider, free to live and look the other way."

"I've strived to lead an uninteresting life. Evidently it was never good enough." She said it plainly, but her eyes peered through him, into another place and time. She was reaching into herself, sifting through regrets, back to the same emotion. “My father would not repent. Not while he was alive.”

“It was for your safety that I kept my distance.” In a silent conflict with himself, Safin got to his feet., walked over to her. "What you saw in Rome was one of Blofeld's tests. I had nothing to do with the outcome."

"I believe you." She’d made a habit of internalizing the lack of her longevity since she was a child. The hitman sent to her door. All of her family seemed to meet the same fate, sooner or later. "But I'd feel safer if you stayed."

All she had to do was sound pitiable enough and he'd mistrust his judgement. Without the barriers of formality there was only desire to assuage. She turned and gripped his wrist, and he seemed to tense up. His expression changed. Eyes darted to her face and held there, but he didn't move and she did not react as her father had. Intuitively, she cupped his face and said, “You’re the only one who can protect me.”

He shivered, her touch a live wire. Their mouths met. His hand swept down her back, drawing her against him. Blotting out her grief. The more secure path to revenge was in the unravelling. As long as he was needed, he would go to her. They wound up on the sofa, and he didn’t close his eyes to kiss. She unbuckled his belt, but when her hands reached the hem of his shirt, he brushed her aside.

“Does it bother you?”

He blinked slowly, as if he’d misheard. He inhaled, exhaled, and said, “No.” As he sat up he held eye-contact. It was not benevolent, but the thrill resonated behind her navel.

He took her hand and placed it under his shirt, coming to rest against his sternum. Mottled and cool, the steady rise and fall of his chest. As she dragged her fingers down his stomach the damage pervaded. It was as though he’d caught a blow, or else been splattered with something chemical.

A mark along his jaw stood out and she pressed her mouth to it. His skin tasted bitter, the way memorial roses smelled. As she pushed him supine, moving down his body, he stifled a noise in the back of his throat without deterring her. Closing her eyes, this could be any man. If not for the cool hand on the nape of her neck and his ragged breath, the lie might stick.

SPECTRE would be watching. Just like any other lover she took home, they would glean nothing new.

[softsoundingsea]

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

February 7, 2024 at 14:03 JST

Japan appears to be an exceptional case where the U.S. military has done almost nothing about cancer-causing organic fluorine compounds detected near U.S. military bases.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) repel water and oil and have been used in various products, such as firefighting foam.

The Okinawa prefectural government has detected levels of PFAS exceeding the temporary standards set by the Environment Ministry in tests conducted near U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, in the prefecture.

CONTAMINATED LAND

Masaru Miyagi, 59, who has farmed for many years in Okinawa, is angered by what he is seeing.

“The land and water on which I grew up has been polluted,” he said. “I have put up with the noise pollution from U.S. military bases as well as the crimes committed by personnel there, but I can no longer control my anger.”

Because Miyagi took pride in his organic farming produce, he is no longer growing anything now that the water has been found to be contaminated.

PFAS contamination first came to light in Okinawa in January 2016 when the Okinawa prefectural government announced the results of its study of rivers and water treatment plants around the U.S. Kadena Air Base.

One finding was that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), one of the PFAS compounds, was detected in the Chatan water treatment plant that provides water to about 440,000 locals. A maximum 80 nanograms per liter of water were found.

A river near Kadena Air Base had PFOS levels as high as 1,300 nanograms per liter.

Since 2016, the Okinawa prefectural government has made six separate requests at various U.S. military facilities to be allowed to investigate the cause of the contamination.

But the U.S. military has only allowed two on-site inspections because it admitted that accidents had occurred there. One involved 140,000 liters of firefighting foam leaking from the Futenma base in 2020.

Over the past eight years, the Okinawa prefectural government has spent a total of 3.2 billion yen ($21.6 million) to analyze and treat water contaminated with PFAS, of which the Okinawa Defense Bureau subsidized 1 billion yen.

The prefectural government believes at least 8 billion yen will be needed to deal with PFAS contamination over the next decade.

That means water bills in Okinawa will gradually increase by a total of 30 percent from October.

While part of the increase is due to rising consumer prices and to deal with aging water equipment, some of the money will also go toward combatting the PFAS problem.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has asked central government officials to shoulder the burden of managing the PFAS since the central government provides the facilities to the U.S. military from which the contaminant comes.

Masafumi Teruya is secretary-general of a citizens’ group seeking clean water around the Futenma base.

“It is unreasonable to have Okinawa residents pay to handle the PFAS,” he said.

[kimberlabtron]

Portable Trace Drug Detector uses IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometry) Technology to detect trace level of drugs. With higher sensitivity it detects explosive present in nanogram level in a test sample. Drugs like Cocaine hydrochloride, Heroin hydrochloride, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Methamphetamine, Ketamine hydrochloride (K powder), Morphine hydrochloride etc. can be detected using this drug detector. Features audio and visual alert system, internal space to add new explosive, clearing system, results displayed in few seconds etc. which makes it highly reliable. It has wide applications in investigation department, research labs and industries.for more visit labtron.uk

[lunaslashsea]

"Antibacterial" soaps don't work, are bad for humans & the environment

~ Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

~~~~

~ Skip the Antibacterial Soap; Use Plain Soap and Water, US Food & Drug Administration

"According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, currently there isn’t sufficient evidence to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.

“Following simple handwashing practices is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness at home, at school and elsewhere,” says Theresa M. Michele, M.D., of the FDA. “We can’t advise this enough. It’s simple, and it works.”

The FDA issued a final rule in 2016 under which 19 active ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, can no longer be marketed in nonprescription consumer antiseptic wash products. Those products include liquid, foam, and gel hand soaps; bar soaps; and body washes.

The FDA made this determination because manufacturers didn’t provide the data necessary to demonstrate that those active ingredients are both safe for daily use over a long period of time and any more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illnesses and the spread of certain infections."

~~~

~ "Triclosan: A Widespread Environmental Toxicant with Many Biological Effects" by Mei-Fei Yueh, Robert H Tukey; published on the National Institute of Health's National Library of Medicine

"Triclosan (TCS) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that has been added to personal care products, including hand soaps and cosmetics, and impregnated in numerous different materials ranging from athletic clothing to food packaging. The constant disposal of TCS into the sewage system is creating a major environmental and public health hazard. Owing to its chemical properties of bioaccumulation and resistance to degradation, TCS is widely detected in various environmental compartments in concentrations ranging from nanograms to micrograms per liter. Epidemiology studies indicate that significant levels of TCS are detected in body fluids in all human age groups. We document here the emerging evidence—from in vitro and in vivo animal studies and environmental toxicology studies—demonstrating that TCS exerts adverse effects on different biological systems through various modes of action. Considering the fact that humans are simultaneously exposed to TCS and many TCS-like chemicals, we speculate that TCS-induced adverse effects may be relevant to human health."

Antibacterial soap??? For your body???

[darkmaga-returns]

Forget about the cancer risks that supposedly come with having a glass of beer, a new study on the COVID-19 vaccines that governments mandated suggests that those who took the jab could have higher risks of developing cancer.

RT, citing a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of High School Science, reported that six vials from two separate mRNA vaccine lots produced by Pfizer contained residual DNA levels higher than 10 nanograms, which is the industry standard. The study found that doses from these vials exceeded the limit by six to 470 times, according to the report.

Maryanne Demasi, a science reporter, posted on her Substack that the study was conducted inside a laboratory controlled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Maryland and the researchers worked under the supervision of scientists from the agency.

“The FDA is expected to comment on the findings this week. However, the agency has yet to issue a public alert, recall the affected batches, or explain how vials exceeding safety standards were allowed to reach the market,” she posted.

[quirksphere]

Understanding IGF-1 Blood Test Results: What You Need to Know

The IGF-1 blood test is a commonly performed diagnostic tool that measures the level of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in the blood. This hormone plays a crucial role in growth, development, and metabolism, and understanding its significance can provide important insights into various health conditions. If your doctor has recommended this test, you might be wondering what your IGF-1 test results mean, and how they could affect your health.

What is IGF-1?

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) is a protein that is primarily produced in the liver in response to the growth hormone (GH) that is secreted by the pituitary gland. The production of GH, in turn, is influenced by factors such as age, diet, exercise, and sleep. IGF-1 is often referred to as a “growth factor” because it plays a pivotal role in growth and cell development, especially during childhood and adolescence. In adults, it continues to contribute to tissue repair, bone health, and metabolic functions.

The level of IGF-1 in your blood typically correlates with the amount of growth hormone in your system. The IGF-1 test, therefore, can offer valuable information about your growth hormone activity and help diagnose a variety of health issues.

Why Do Doctors Order an IGF-1 Test?

An IGF-1 test is typically ordered to evaluate abnormal growth patterns or to monitor specific health conditions. Some of the common reasons for an IGF-1 test include:

Growth disorders in children: If a child has abnormal growth patterns, such as being shorter or taller than expected for their age, an IGF-1 test may be ordered to check for a deficiency or excess of growth hormone.

Pituitary gland problems: Since IGF-1 is produced in response to growth hormone, abnormal levels of IGF-1 can indicate a problem with the pituitary gland, which is responsible for secreting growth hormone.

Diagnosing acromegaly or gigantism: In cases where an individual has excessive growth (either abnormal enlargement of body parts or excessive height), an IGF-1 test can help confirm a diagnosis of acromegaly (excess growth hormone in adulthood) or gigantism (excess growth hormone in children).

Evaluating aging and muscle health: IGF-1 levels tend to decrease with age, which can contribute to reduced muscle mass and bone density. Measuring IGF-1 levels may help identify age-related issues.

Monitoring certain medical conditions: IGF-1 levels can also be assessed when monitoring conditions like diabetes, metabolic disorders, or even certain cancers, as IGF-1 can influence insulin sensitivity and cell growth.

How is the IGF-1 Blood Test Performed?

The IGF-1 test is a simple blood test, usually performed in a clinical setting. No special preparation is required, although fasting might be recommended in some cases to ensure accurate results. The blood sample is typically drawn from a vein in your arm, and the test itself takes just a few minutes to complete.

After the blood is collected, it is sent to a laboratory where the IGF-1 levels are measured. Once the results are in, your doctor will explain what the numbers mean based on your health and medical history.

Interpreting IGF-1 Blood Test Results

IGF-1 levels are typically measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Normal levels of IGF-1 vary depending on age, sex, and even the laboratory that performs the test, so it is essential to compare your results to the reference range provided by the lab.

Here is a general guideline of IGF-1 levels across different age groups:

Children: IGF-1 levels are usually higher in children, especially during puberty, due to the rapid growth and development that occur during this time.

Adults: Adult IGF-1 levels are typically stable but start to decrease with age.

Older Adults: In individuals over 60 years old, IGF-1 levels may decline significantly, which could be linked to symptoms such as muscle loss, fatigue, and reduced vitality.

Abnormal IGF-1 results may suggest the following:

High IGF-1 levels: High levels of IGF-1 could indicate an overproduction of growth hormone, which may be due to conditions such as acromegaly or gigantism. It could also suggest tumors in the pituitary gland that are secreting excess growth hormone.

Low IGF-1 levels: Low IGF-1 levels could indicate growth hormone deficiency, which might be due to a pituitary gland disorder or an issue with the liver’s ability to produce IGF-1. Low IGF-1 levels may result in stunted growth in children or a decline in muscle mass and bone density in adults.

Factors That Can Influence IGF-1 Levels

Several factors can influence IGF-1 levels, including:

Age: As mentioned, IGF-1 levels decline naturally with age.

Nutrition: A person’s diet can influence their IGF-1 levels. For example, protein-rich foods tend to stimulate the production of IGF-1.

Exercise: Physical activity, particularly strength training, can raise IGF-1 levels as part of muscle repair and growth.

Stress: High levels of stress or certain chronic illnesses can affect IGF-1 production.

Medications: Certain medications, such as corticosteroids or estrogen, can influence IGF-1 levels.

Conclusion

An IGF-1 blood test can provide valuable insights into your growth hormone activity and offer clues about various health conditions. Whether you are concerned about abnormal growth, monitoring a pituitary issue, or simply trying to understand how IGF-1 influences your overall health, the test is an important diagnostic tool. Always consult with your doctor to fully understand your test results and to determine the best course of action for your health.

[vaguely-problematic]

[what was the error?]

For an adult who is 60 kilograms (about 132 pounds), the EPA's reference dose for oral exposure to BDE-209 is 420,000 nanograms per day. But researchers accidentally had that figure as 42,000 nanograms per day.

So because the data showed that people using black plastic could be exposed to 34,700 nanograms of BDE-209 per day, researchers were alarmed. It looked like people were dangerously close to the threshold of safe exposure to the flame retardant.

However, with the corrected figure, this BDE-290 exposure isn’t closely approaching the reference dose [but BDE-209 should not be present at all]. ....

[why not/ what is BDE-209?]

In 2021, the EPA banned BDE-209 from being manufactured, processed, or distributed in the U.S.

And the agency phased out the class of chemicals it belongs to—polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—over a decade ago, calling PBDEs “persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to both humans and the environment.”

More recently, a study published in April found that participants with the highest levels of PBDEs in their blood had a 300% greater chance of dying from cancer.

tl;dr [so. yeah. black plastic still poses a health risk and you should prob throw that out. ]

[nullarysources]

Huge math error corrected in black plastic study; authors say it doesn't matter

Beth Mole for Ars Technica:

Editors of the environmental chemistry journal Chemosphere have posted an eye-catching correction to a study reporting toxic flame retardants from electronics wind up in some household products made of black plastic, including kitchen utensils. The study sparked a flurry of media reports a few weeks ago that urgently implored people to ditch their kitchen spatulas and spoons. Wirecutter even offered a buying guide for what to replace them with.

The correction, posted Sunday, will likely take some heat off the beleaguered utensils. The authors made a math error that put the estimated risk from kitchen utensils off by an order of magnitude.

Specifically, the authors estimated that if a kitchen utensil contained middling levels of a key toxic flame retardant (BDE-209), the utensil would transfer 34,700 nanograms of the contaminant a day based on regular use while cooking and serving hot food. The authors then compared that estimate to a reference level of BDE-209 considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA's safe level is 7,000 ng—per kilogram of body weight—per day, and the authors used 60 kg as the adult weight (about 132 pounds) for their estimate. So, the safe EPA limit would be 7,000 multiplied by 60, yielding 420,000 ng per day. That's 12 times more than the estimated exposure of 34,700 ng per day.

However, the authors missed a zero and reported the EPA's safe limit as 42,000 ng per day for a 60 kg adult. The error made it seem like the estimated exposure was nearly at the safe limit, even though it was actually less than a tenth of the limit.

crying

[fullnachoenthusiast]

Best Steroids for Cutting and Preserving Lean Muscle Mass:Best Supplements to Get Lean and Ripped: Beginners Guide to Getting

An Overview of the Anabolic Diet

A diet that claims to transform your body into a fat-burning powerhouse may sound like the ideal solution, but is it truly effective? The anabolic diet, developed by Dr. Mauro DiPasquale, promises to do just that.

The anabolic diet is a low-carbohydrate nutrition plan that alternates between low-carb and high-carb days to optimize fat burning and muscle preservation.

______________________________________________________________

​​>>>>>>>>> Click Here To Buy (Best Steroids for Cutting  ) Official Website <<<<<<<<<

 Click Here To Buy: 

_____________________________________________________________

Created by Dr. DiPasquale, a physician and competitive powerlifter, the anabolic diet was designed for individuals looking to maximize muscle gain while minimizing fat storage. The diet’s name reflects DiPasquale’s belief that the cycling of carbohydrates can mimic the muscle-building effects of anabolic steroids, without the need for synthetic substances.

What are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids, scientifically known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. These compounds can be used to either supplement or enhance the body’s natural production of testosterone.

Testosterone (T) is a hormone that plays a significant role in male development. Typically, men have testosterone levels ranging from 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) in their bloodstream.

Testosterone is primarily associated with the physical changes that occur during male puberty, such as the deepening of the voice, the growth of body hair, and the increase in sperm production within the testicles.

Though testosterone is often linked with males, women also produce this hormone, though in smaller quantities. In women, testosterone helps maintain bone health and supports sexual function.

When testosterone levels rise above the normal range, often through the use of anabolic steroids, the body can experience an increase in protein synthesis, leading to various benefits such as:

Enhanced muscle development

Improved hair growth

Boosted sexual function

Strengthened bone density

This is why anabolic steroids are commonly associated with athletes, particularly bodybuilders. The belief is that the more steroids an individual takes, the greater their potential for muscle growth and strength. As a result, these substances are often categorized as performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

How Does the Anabolic Diet Work?

The anabolic diet operates on the principle of carb cycling, where you alternate between periods of low and high carbohydrate intake. This approach, according to Dr. DiPasquale, allows the body to burn fat as its primary energy source while preserving lean muscle mass.

In most diets, the body relies on a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for fuel. However, for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone looking to maintain muscle while losing weight, this can be problematic. Reducing caloric intake can lead to the breakdown of muscle tissue, which is undesirable.

The anabolic diet is not focused on restricting calories. Instead, it aims to adjust the body's metabolism so that it burns fat more efficiently while still consuming a sufficient amount of calories to maintain muscle mass. By strategically alternating between low-carb and high-carb days, the diet promises to promote fat loss while allowing you to sustain muscle growth and strength.

This unique approach has made the anabolic diet popular among individuals who want to burn fat without sacrificing hard-earned muscle.

HGH-X2 Legal Steroid Benefits

HGH-X2 is a popular legal steroid that supports muscle recovery and promotes fat loss. This supplement can help you achieve lean muscle gains while enhancing the body’s natural human growth hormone (HGH) production. It is particularly effective when included in a cutting stack, as it stimulates the body to burn fat more efficiently while maintaining muscle mass.

Legal steroid alternatives like HGH-X2 offer a safe and natural way to enhance your fitness goals. They can kickstart the cutting process by aiding in the reduction of stubborn body fat, all while supporting muscle preservation.

Anabolic Steroid Side Effects

Using anabolic steroids outside of a doctor's supervision can lead to severe health consequences. If misused, these drugs can cause significant side effects that negatively affect various aspects of your health. Some of the potential risks include:

Elevated blood pressure

Blood clots

Heart problems, including heart attack

Stroke

Liver damage

Stunted growth (in adolescents)

Hair loss (male-pattern baldness)

Increased aggression

Mania

Delusions

Severe depression

Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Steroids

Q1: How long does it take to see results after using legal steroids?

A1: Legal steroids are natural substitutes for anabolic steroids, and they typically begin showing noticeable results within 3 days of consistent use, combined with regular exercise and a balanced diet. For optimal muscle growth and fat loss, it may take about one week for the best legal steroids to produce significant improvements in your training results.

Q2: Are there any side effects of using legal steroids regularly?

A2: The top legal steroids are made with organic compounds that are free from harmful side effects when used correctly. However, it’s crucial to follow the recommended dosage as indicated on the product label. Additionally, it’s advisable to monitor your health by getting regular blood tests every two weeks to ensure that your body is responding well to the legal steroid alternatives.

Q3: How should I start using legal steroids?

A3: Each legal steroid comes with specific dosage recommendations. Here are some examples:

D-BAL MAX: Contains 90 capsules per bottle. Take 3 capsules daily. You can combine it with Testoprim or a CrazyBulk bulking stack for the best results in muscle gain.

HGH-X2: Each bottle contains 30 capsules. The recommended dosage is 2 capsules per day. Depending on whether you're focusing on bulking or cutting, you can adjust the dosage to fit your specific needs.

CrazyBulk Bulking Stack: For the correct dosage, visit the official website for detailed instructions on combining the best legal steroids for bulking and muscle growth.

Testoprime: A testosterone-boosting supplement that comes with 30 pills per bottle. The recommended dosage is 2 pills per day.

Anvarol: A supplement designed for the cutting phase. Take 3 pills daily for optimal results in fat loss and muscle preservation.

Q4: Is it safe to combine legal steroids with other anabolic steroids?

A4: Legal steroids are organic alternatives to anabolic steroids and are generally safe when used as directed. However, combining legal steroids with illegal anabolic steroids can be risky. Illegal steroids often come with dangerous side effects, and mixing them with legal alternatives could potentially lead to adverse health outcomes. It’s best to consult with a professional before combining these substances.

Q5: Do I need to do PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) after using legal steroids?

A5: No, PCT is not necessary after using legal steroids. Unlike illegal anabolic steroids, legal steroid alternatives do not suppress your body’s natural hormone production. Instead, they support the body’s natural hormone levels to encourage muscle growth and recovery, making PCT unnecessary.

Final Thoughts

While steroid use is common, it’s essential to approach it with caution. Many people misuse steroids in hopes of achieving rapid muscle gains, but this can come at the cost of long-term health. Illegal steroids, in particular, can have damaging effects on internal organs. Therefore, it’s crucial to make informed decisions when considering steroid alternatives.

Legal steroids like HGH-X2 provide a safer option for enhancing muscle growth and fat loss without the harsh side effects of anabolic steroids. However, it’s still important to follow proper dosage guidelines and consult with a healthcare professional to ensure you’re using these supplements safely and effectively.

[darkmaga-returns]

A French Government-funded study preprint submitted Tuesday and authored by Dr. Didier Raoult has confirmed that Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 injection contains 5,160 nanograms (ng) of contamination DNA per dose, exceeding the FDA and EMA’s regulatory safety limit of 10 ng per dose by 516 times.

Follow Jon Fleetwood: Instagram @realjonfleetwood / Twitter @JonMFleetwood / Facebook @realjonfleetwood

This alarming figure supports this website’s previous reports, as multiple studies analyzing different batches now suggest the jab’s DNA contamination may be more widespread than previously acknowledged.

In the new study, the contamination was first measured at 216 ng per dose, but after treatment with Triton-X-100—a chemical used to release trapped DNA—the levels surged by 24 times, revealing the staggering amount of residual DNA in the final product.

“Vaccine plasmid DNA quantification using the Qubit fluorometer on a vaccine vial showed it was 216 ng/dose on average and approximately 24 times greater, reaching 5,160 ng/dose on average, after treatment with Triton-X-100,” Dr. Raoult explained.

The study also identifies sequences linked to the vaccine’s manufacturing process, including an SV40 initiation factor.

This component, used to aid replication in laboratory settings, underscores failures in the purification process.