Disturbing last photo and news before disappearing

 Klaudia Jarnecka was born on March 14, 2001 in Ługi Górzyckie, Poland. Lubuskie. It is a settlement with about 200 inhabitants. Ługi Górzycki is located right next to the Polish-German border. Larger towns nearby are Słubice and Kostrzyn nad Odrą. In 2019, Klaudia and her mother Beata decided to move to the west. The women moved to Berlin, probably for financial reasons. There they lived together and found a job. They have always understood each other very well and enjoyed spending time together, so this solution turned out to be a good decision.

However, in October 2021, Klaudia decided to return to Poland. At that time, she lived with her uncle in her hometown. The reason was supposed that he wanted to take a driving course. In Germany, it is more expensive (the cost was about EUR 2,200, or almost PLN 10,000). Klaudia also said that it would be more comfortable to do such a course in Poland (at least for language reasons). Interestingly, Jarnecka never started this course.

Shortly before she disappeared, she met Damian and Sebastian. The 20-year-old spent a lot of time with them. It was in their company that she was also seen on October 20, the day before she disappeared. In the evening (or according to other sources around 3:00 am on October 21), the three went to a bar in nearby Słońsk. Sebastian returned home in the morning, and Klaudia went to Damian.

Also the next day (October 21), Jarnecka was in the company of two young men. First, around 10:00 she got into Damian's car. They traveled together around the surrounding towns. in Kostrzyn nad Odrą. Around 14:00 Sebastian joined them. After two hours, the man decided to go home. So the 20-year-old was alone with Damian again. At 17:53 Klaudia called Sebastian on Messenger. However, he didn't pick up. So the woman tried to reach a friend who was also unavailable.

Eventually, she called her mother, with whom she spoke for a few minutes. Mrs. Beata did not sense then that anything was wrong. The only thing that puzzled her was that instead of her daughter, all she could see were her legs and the dashboard of the car. Almost always, when they connected using the phone camera, they were talking face to face. There have been many different theories surrounding this issue, but it may also be a detail that did not matter at all. Klaudia's question about whether her mother's partner is nearby was also puzzling. Was she trying to say something he shouldn't have heard? We'll probably never know that.

Just after the conversation, Klaudia was supposed to tell Damian that "someone needs help" and suddenly ran out of the car. At least that is the version of the man who was the only witness to the whole event. The 20-year-old began to quickly head towards the pumping station. She also took a photo of the meadow, which she sent to her mother on messenger. Then she wrote to her that "she won't make it anymore." When Mrs. Beata wrote back "and for what? for the sunset?", her daughter only added, "the sun was standing". The last message she sent to her mother was the curse word "f*ck".

Then she called Sebastian again, but this time she managed to reach him. The entire conversation lasted just over a minute. Klaudia was supposed to keep repeating that she had to help someone. But the man didn't know exactly who he meant. It was the last call made from the woman's phone. Soon it was turned off or discharged. Relatives who wanted to find out what was happening to Jarnecka could no longer reach her by phone.

Damian, meanwhile, was waiting for the return of his friend, but she did not return. So he decided to go to the pumping station. There he met several workers who claimed that they had not seen the 20-year-old anywhere. Damian, who was the last person to see Klaudia, couldn't find her either. It seemed that Jarnecka had disappeared without a trace.

The next day, on October 22, Beata Jarnecka decided to report her daughter's disappearance. The reaction of the police was the same as in many other cases. The officer told the concerned woman that Klaudia was an adult. He suggested that perhaps he was partying somewhere and would probably find himself soon. On October 24, however, nothing changed. The police accepted a missing person's report. Searches were started, but they did not bring any breakthrough. No evidence or clues have been found to explain this mysterious disappearance.

After more than two weeks, however, clothes belonging to the missing woman were found. Not only was it strange that they hadn't been discovered sooner. The clothes were also in very good condition, as if someone had dropped them off recently. The person who made this find admitted that he had passed by the place where these items were found many times before. This confirmed the theory of tossing a piece of clothing. Even stranger was the fact that a black blouse was also found, which, according to relatives, did not belong to Klaudia. The size of the clothes was also much larger than what the 20-year-old was wearing.

In April 2022, i.e. about half a year after Jarnecka disappeared, information appeared in the media about finding a body near Słońsk. However, no details have been revealed. There were speculations that it could be Klaudia. The message that she is wanted has disappeared from the official website of the police. About two months later, in June 2022, the spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Gorzów Wielkopolski confirmed that the body of Klaudia Jarnecka had been found in the swamps near Słońsk.

Apart from the laconic message about finding the corpse, we don't really know anything else officially. The police and the prosecutor's office did not disclose whether third parties were involved in Klaudia's death. We also do not know the cause of death or the results of toxicology tests. The lack of information makes online detectives delve even more into this case and put forward further hypotheses.

One of the most important clues seems to be the disturbing words of a woman named Aneta. She reported to the missing mother after Sebastian contacted her. Shortly after Klaudia went missing, the man encouraged Aneta to appear in the hotel room. He was supposed to bind her there. It was probably about BDSM practices. Another man, perhaps Damian, was also to accompany them. The woman was disturbed by this proposition. She also mentioned to Sebastian that she was afraid of ending up like Klaudia. The man was to admit that his proposal was only a joke.

It also seems suspicious that Damian did not voluntarily report to the police when it turned out that Klaudia was not found. He also did not inform that the 20-year-old left a purse in his car, which contained, among other things, her documents. Jarnecka, running out of the car, took only her phone with her.

There was also information that the missing person's relationship with her loved ones was not as good as it might seem. Klaudia would often quarrel with her uncle, with whom she lived. She also stopped maintaining relationships with many friends. Many also accuse Jarnecka's mother of not being sufficiently involved in the case and not accepting the help offered to her, which could lead to learning about her daughter's fate.

Among the entries on the Facebook group dedicated to the case, you can also find statements from friends of the missing woman that the 20-year-old had problems with drugs. She may also have been taking them shortly before she disappeared, which would explain the strange behavior. In fact, the effect of psychoactive substances seems to be a reasonable hypothesis. Another alternative is mental illness or a psychotic episode.

These are only speculations and unfortunately, we do not know the details of Klaudia's disappearance and death. Everyone hopes that the investigators will be able to discover the truth and that the explanation of the mystery will soon be revealed to the public. If third parties were involved, let's hope that they will be punished accordingly.

Finally, it is worth adding that Klaudia's case is in some respects similar to the equally strange disappearance of Sebastian Sierpiński. Undoubtedly, they are connected by circumstances (they both suddenly jumped out of the car), time (they went missing 2 months apart, in the second half of 2021), and even place (their hometowns are only about 23 km apart). Of course, this is probably just a grim coincidence, but many people often compare the two. The main difference is that we still don't know if Sebastian is still alive. In the case of Klaudia, unfortunately, we are sure about this.

He jumped out of the car and disappeared into the cornfield

 Sebastian Sierpiński was born in 1995 in Dębno. It is a small town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is inhabited by about 13,000 inhabitants. However, the Sierpinski family decided to emigrate to Norway. They lived there for years. However, Sebastian decided to return to Poland before disappearing, and more specifically to his hometown. His parents stayed in Scandinavia.

In July 2021, Sierpiński was employed as a supplier on a farm in Wirówek. It is a settlement located about 70 km from Dębno. It seems like quite a distance, but Sebastian didn't mind. August 14 was another working day for the man. Finally, evening came. It was the time when Sebastian and his boss, Krystian, were touring the farm. The men checked that everything was fine. So they could go back to their homes.

At some point, however, the 26-year-old began to behave strangely. He looked around and checked the view in the side mirrors. It looked as if he had the feeling that someone was following him. He also looked at his superior driver. Krystian remembered the passenger's terrified gaze. The driver of the vehicle slowed down because he was concerned about this odd behavior. Sierpiński took advantage of this situation.

Sebastian opened the door and ran out of the car. He began to run deep into the cornfield, which was right next to the road the two men were passing. This peculiar incident took place around 9:00 p.m., so it was already dark. The 26-year-old's boss got out of the car and reportedly called his employee for half an hour. However, there was no response, so he eventually returned home alone.

Importantly, the 26-year-old left documents and a wallet in the boss's car. According to some sources, a telephone was also found in the vehicle. According to others, Sebastian took the mobile with him. Anyway, it was inactive. Probably discharged after a day of use. He also had the keys to his apartment with him.

Sierpinski's parents talked to their son on the phone almost every day. In mid-August, contact broke off. At first, the relatives of the 26-year-old did not care about this situation. They thought maybe their son was busy. He was also an adult, after all, and did not have to report on past events every day. After a few days without any news, however, the parents began to worry. The last time they spoke to their son was Friday morning. Tuesday came and Sebastian still showed no sign of life.

So the parents decided to contact their son's employer that day. He told them about a strange situation that took place on the evening of August 14. This shocked the 26-year-old's relatives even more. So they asked Mr. Krystian to report the disappearance to the police. The man did just that. Meanwhile, the Sierpińskis began to prepare for their return to Poland.

After receiving the report, the police began searching for the man. They were attended not only by the relevant services but also by numerous volunteers who heard about the case. At first, the area where he was last seen was checked. Searching the cornfield, nearby forests and meadows, and even nearby water reservoirs did not help much. Interestingly, specially trained dogs did not follow the trail in the vicinity of the alleged disappearance.

One of the potential leads was the events of June 2021, just two months before the disappearance. Sebastian then started flirting with a woman who was in a relationship with another man. A jealous partner warned Sierpiński to leave his girlfriend alone. However, the 26-year-old did not take these words to heart. This led to a brawl between the rivals.

As a result of this clash, Sebastian suffered facial injuries. The most painful, however, was reportedly male pride. Sierpiński decided not to report the matter to the police. Surprisingly, the whole situation did not make the 26-year-old lose interest in the busy girl. Because of this, her boyfriend allegedly threatened him. Investigators became interested in this thread after the mysterious disappearance.

They managed to reach the man who had beaten the missing man. They considered him the prime suspect. This man confirmed that such an event actually took place. However, he admitted that he last saw Sebastian on the day of the beating. At the time of his disappearance, he was supposed to be staying with his partner at their home. Investigators eventually ruled out his connection to the case.

Exactly one month after the disappearance of the man, i.e. on September 14, an interesting discovery was made. A straw hat was found. It resembled the hat Sebastian often wore. The hat was discovered behind the farm where Sierpiński worked. This raised many doubts as to the veracity of the chief's words. This place was far away from the cornfield. It is known, however, that during the strange car ride, the 26-year-old had a hat on his head. It was also puzzling that the headgear was in suspiciously good condition. So it could have been an unfunny joke or an attempt to confuse the investigators.

To this day, unfortunately, Sebastian has not been found. Even a cash prize of PLN 20,000 for the person who provides relevant information to solve this mysterious case did not help. Finally, let's try to answer the question of what could have happened to the missing person.

A likely option is a psychotic episode or mental illness. The strange behavior of the man just before his disappearance could also be due to, for example, a panic attack. Another explanation could finally be brain damage following the June beating.

Personally, this case reminds me strongly of the case of Lars Mittank. He, too, was beaten shortly before his disappearance, then behaved strangely, and finally irrationally escaped from the airport. Many believe that the reason was just neurological damage or mental disorders.

Many Internet users assume, however, that the man's boss had something to do with the disappearance. On the one hand, the story he told seems totally absurd. I think it would be hard to come up with something like that. On the other hand, the lack of reaction of the boss to the such peculiar behavior of his employee is very suspicious. He did not notify his family or the police, although he should have.

Hopefully one day we'll find out the truth. Less than two years have passed since Sebastian's disappearance. So there is a chance that the man will be found alive. At least that's what his relatives believe.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that Sebastian's case resembles the equally peculiar disappearance of Klaudia Jarnecka in several respects. Undoubtedly, they are connected by circumstances (they both suddenly jumped out of the car), time (they went missing 2 months apart, in the second half of 2021), and even place (their hometowns are only about 23 km apart). Of course, this is probably just a grim coincidence, but many people often compare the two.

The plot of "The Last of Us" becomes reality. A deadly fungus is spreading across the US

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an alert about a potentially deadly fungus that is circulating in US hospitals and nursing homes. This fungus, called Candida auris, is resistant to most antifungal medications and can cause serious infections in people with weakened immune systems. According to the CDC, more than 1,000 cases of Candida auris have been reported in 12 states since 2019, nearly half of which have resulted in death.

This scenario may sound familiar to fans of The Last of Us. The game takes place in the year 2033, twenty years after a fungal pandemic caused by Cordyceps, a type of parasitic fungus that infects insects and manipulates their behavior to spread spores.

And it so happened that the plot of the series began to take root in life. There, the story begins with a fungal infection that has hit the world, which is quite strange - usually all plots around zombies revolve around a virus. And now the CDC is writing about some fungus that kills one in three people. At the same time, it is still unknown what happens to the first and second. It's possible that the fungus doesn't kill them, it just slightly alters something in the brain.

Candida auris is not a new fungus; it was first identified in Japan in 2009 and has since been found in over 40 countries. However, its emergence and spread in the United States is of concern as it poses a serious threat to public health and medical institutions.

Candida auris can persist on surfaces and equipment for long periods of time, making it difficult to eradicate. It can also cause outbreaks among patients and staff, especially in settings where infection control measures are inadequate or not followed. The CDC has classified Candida auris as an urgent threat and has urged healthcare professionals to be alert for signs and symptoms of infection, such as fever, chills, fatigue, pain, redness, or swelling at sites of trauma or catheter insertion.

The CDC has also recommended that health care facilities implement strict protocols for screening, testing, isolating, and treating patients with suspected or confirmed Candida auris infection. While Candida auris may seem like a new phenomenon, it is actually part of a broader trend of new fungal pathogens becoming increasingly resistant to existing drugs.

Fungi are ubiquitous organisms that live on plants, animals and humans. They can cause a variety of diseases ranging from mild skin infections to life-threatening systemic infections. Fungi can also produce toxins that can harm humans and animals. One of the main reasons why fungi are becoming increasingly drug-resistant is due to the widespread use and misuse of antifungal drugs in agriculture, medicine and industry.

Antifungal drugs are used to prevent or treat fungal infections in crops, livestock, pets and humans. However, the overuse or misuse of these agents may result in the selection and spread of resistant fungal strains that can evade or overcome the effects of the drugs.

Another reason mushrooms are becoming more resistant to drugs is climate change. Climate change can change the environmental conditions that affect the growth and survival of fungi. For example, increases in temperature, humidity levels, and carbon dioxide levels can favor the growth of some fungi over others. Climate change can also increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms, which can disrupt ecosystems and create opportunities for fungal invasion and transmission.

The US president saw a UFO. Unusual Confessions of Jimmy Carter

 Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, is known for many unpopular decisions. Many people, however, remember him, especially from the fact that he did not hide that he had seen a UFO with his own eyes. A memorable sighting occurred in 1969 while he was serving as governor of Georgia.

The sighting happened while Carter was waiting outside a Lions Club meeting in Leary, Georgia, with about 10 other people. Suddenly, a bright white light appeared in the sky, which he initially mistook for a burning airplane. The object seemed to change shape and move erratically across the sky. This fact alone precluded it from being a weather balloon or any conventional air vehicle.

The former US president estimated that the UFO was about 300 to 1,000 feet away and was levitating about 1,000 feet above the ground. The observation lasted several minutes before the object disappeared from view. Carter wasn't the only person to see the vehicle. Several other people at the Lions Club meeting also reported seeing a strange light in the sky, and local newspapers received many reports about it.

Carter described the object as "luminous" and light blue in color. The politician estimated that he was about the size of the moon. After the sighting, Carter reported his story to the International UFO Bureau, a private organization that collects sighting reports. He also asked the US Air Force to investigate the sighting, but the explanation for what lit up the sky that night has never been known or revealed.

Carter's UFO sighting became widely known during his 1976 presidential campaign. The man even mentioned her in his book "The Hornet's Nest". Although he remained open to the possibility of extraterrestrial life, he admitted that he had no idea what the object he saw that night was. Rather, he suggested that it was something of earthly origin.

Phenomenon in Canada - "breathing" forest

 In the Canadian province of Quebec, a bizarre phenomenon was observed in one of the forests. The undergrowth rises and falls there as if the forest was breathing.

The phenomenon looks unusual and associations with breathing are absolutely right. According to experts, the wind is responsible for the rising of the ground, which is blown under the layer of earth and plant debris.

An unusual "breathable" forest has been observed in the province of Quebec, near Sacre-Coeur. In Canada, the wind was blowing so hard that the fleece was rising and falling. The roots of the trees moved with them, which looked amazing.

This means that these trees are not very well anchored and can fall crushing everything in their path to the ground. Therefore, although this phenomenon looks unusual, you need to be reasonable and not get too close.

Phone calls from the afterlife, do the dead contact the living?

 Phantom phone calls, also known as "dead calls" or "afterlife calls", is a phenomenon where a person receives a call from someone who has recently died. These calls are often brief, and the voice on the other end of the line is usually described as distant, distorted, or difficult to recognize.

Phantom phone calls have been reported by people all over the world. While some believe these conversations are evidence of an afterlife or communication with the spirit world. Others attribute them to psychological factors, technical glitches or distasteful jokes.

Stories of this type are in bunches and if you believe the creators of the liveabout.com portal, in most cases, the conversations are very short and often come down to one sentence spoken by a deceased friend or relative. Voice messages are not the only means of communication. In 2014, Romanian Gina Mihai claimed to have received a photo message from her long-dead grandmother. A 34-year-old woman saw a strange selfie of her late grandmother on her phone screen.

There are many theories about what causes phantom phone calls. Some believe they are the result of residual energy or memories imprinted in the physical world, while others suggest they are a form of psychokinesis where the caller's thoughts are able to manipulate the telephone line. Skeptics, on the other hand, look for mental illnesses bordering on psychosis.

Some find these calls comforting as they feel they are receiving messages from loved ones who have already passed away. Others find them disturbing or scary because they feel they are being contacted by something they don't understand. The phenomenon of ghostly telephone calls remains a fascinating and mysterious aspect of the paranormal world that continues to generate curiosity and debate.

How to take care of the spine and reduce pain?

 Nowadays, more and more people suffer from back problems. This is largely due to a sedentary lifestyle, low physical activity, stress, and overloading the body. The spine is one of the most important elements of our body, and its dysfunction can significantly reduce the comfort of life and reduce efficiency. It is responsible for maintaining proper posture and allows movement. At the same time, it is also one of the most vulnerable to injuries and damage to body parts. That is why it is so important that we take good care of it. A healthy spine is not only the absence of pain but also greater efficiency. If you suffer from back pain and do not know how to take care of your spine.

Wondering how to take care of your spine? There are many different ways to do this. The first is to take care of the correct body posture. Try to keep a straight posture, avoid slouching and sit in an uncomfortable position. This is especially important when we sit in front of the computer for a long time. It is recommended to change positions frequently and take, for example, five-minute breaks every hour in which you can do some gentle stretching. It is worth stretching not only the muscles of the back but the whole body. The quality of sleep is also of great importance in reducing back pain. Sleep is a time of regeneration and rest. If you suffer from back pain, it may mean that you need a special mattress to help reduce it.

A healthy spine means, above all, greater efficiency and no pain. It is also better support for the body, and as a result, it is easier to maintain the correct posture. Greater mobility and less risk of injury are also very important. A healthy spine also improves well-being and allows you to fully enjoy life.

Back pain is unfortunately a common occurrence. The most effective is prevention, i.e. regular physical activity and healthy sleep, which is ensured by luxury mattresses. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or on a bed that is too soft. On the other hand, sleeping on your back or side with a pillow under your knees can help maintain the natural curve of your spine and prevent back pain. If you experience sudden, severe back pain, this is the best time to regenerate. A visit to a physiotherapist and gentle exercises relieving the spine may also be helpful.

If you suffer from back pain, it is necessary not only to stretch but also to strengthen. The paraspinal muscles should be strong and flexible. Tense muscles will cause back pain and force incorrect body posture, which further aggravates the problem. The reason for this may also be various diseases of the spine. When planning to strengthen, it is worth taking care of the deep muscles, whose function is to stabilize the figure. Regular physical activity is extremely important in the case of the spine. Exercises that strengthen the muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvis help maintain the correct body posture and reduce the risk of spinal injuries. Therefore, it is worth doing exercises such as squats, push-ups or planks regularly.

NXIVM. One of the most dangerous American sects of recent decades. The leadership process is underway in the US.

 NXIVM was founded in 1998 by Keith Raniere. Officially, it was a self-development and training organization, and to a large extent also a kind of pyramid scheme based on the principles of "multi-level marketing". On the surface, a company like many, makes millions from people's desire to gain more confidence. In reality, however, NXIVM was more than that - an extremely dangerous cult that preyed on women.

Keith Raniere was a lousy polytechnic student, barely graduating from a third-rate private college. Nevertheless, he portrayed himself as a guru in matters of successful life and self-development. This was largely due to the support of NXIVM co-founder, and former psychiatric nurse Nancy Salzman.

“Having Nancy Salzman on board was a huge victory for Raniere. It wasn't just her abilities; she also had lots of valuable connections,” comments Canadian reporter Sarah Berman in Don't Call It A Cult.

The organization, founded in 1998, quickly began to operate on a dizzying scale. She conducted group training and mentoring programs, which, according to the New York Times, were attended by about 18,000 people over the years. Among the members of NXIVM were many show business people, actors, and celebrities. Raniere also taught the children of influential American millionaires.

Over the years, it has been pointed out that NXIVM has sectarian overtones, and its founder draws on methods readily used, for example, by Scientologists. The fact that Reniere believed he was the only one who knew the secret of the perfect life was disturbing. Especially since this secret had to be paid very dearly.

People who came into contact with the organization but managed to leave it, as well as relatives of Reniere's clients who were under his influence, have been alarming the media for years. The fact that NXIVM acted like a sect was also spoken and written by activists from organizations such as the Institute for Cult Education.

It was even known quite well that Raniere had a group of faithful acolytes, almost followers, who considered him the greatest, most intelligent, most ethical man in the world. For the messiah.

Despite this, NXIVM ran a large-scale, extremely lucrative business without hindrance, not only in the United States but also internationally. Sarah Berman, the author of the book Don't Call It a Cult, describes in detail the initiatives that Raniere undertook, for example, in Mexico or Canada.

The legal cult functioned for two decades. No U.S. government agency or law enforcement agency has attempted to expose NXIVM's practices. The bomb exploded only in 2017, and not at all thanks to the vigilance of the authorities.

Three former members of NXIVM and the mother of a fourth woman related to the organization revealed the cult's hidden underbelly in The New York Times.

Behind the facade of a training organization, Raniere created a sect of sexual exploitation in which women were treated as slaves, blackmailed, imprisoned, humiliated, and exploited. They were even branded on their bodies with surgical cautery. The process was also filmed.

It was only the material of the New York daily that made the prosecutor's office launch an investigation into Raniere. On March 26, 2018, the founder of NXIVM was detained in Mexico. The public prosecutor announced that the businessman "spent his whole life making money on pyramid schemes and taking funds from wealthy women" who succumbed to his charisma.

The scope of the proceedings was quickly expanded. Already in July 2018, it was reported that Raniere and five women who helped him run NXIVM will face trial for, among others, identity theft, extortion, exploitation of slave labor, human smuggling, money laundering, financial crimes, and misrepresentation.

All the defendants except Ranier himself pleaded guilty. The leader of the sect, however, decided to go to trial. It was revealed before the court that for decades he had indulged in sexual and psychological violence, as well as grooming minors. Finally, on October 27, 2020, the man was sentenced in the first instance to 120 years in prison and a fine of $ 1.75 million.

Six shocking things we learned from the trial of the leader of NXIVM. Keith Raniere helped create a ritual whose victims were women. This is due to the recordings that appeared in the trial of a dangerous American guru. "Slaves during initiation should lie completely naked on the table," the New York Times reported. Who is this Ranier? And what is NXIVM?

In the photo of the anti-hero of the sex scandal in the New York daily, we see a fifty-eight-year-old man with an intelligent face, wearing fashionable spectacles that befit an academic intellectual rather than a degenerate erotomaniac, a ferocious predator. In a courtroom drawing taken during his trial in Brooklyn Federal Court, Keith Raniere sits calmly in the defendant's dock with his hands clasped, as if he has no fear of sentencing. But maybe it's just an impression. Even the best line of a litigious artist, for which Americans are famous, will not reflect the psychology of such a calculated character.

Raniere, prosecutors say, considered himself "the smartest, most ethical person in the world," comparing himself to Einstein and Gandhi. In fact, he was brainwashing and blackmailing women in his secret society. He is accused of creating a sex cult, recruiting women to turn them into his sex slaves. His harem was said to have included Hollywood actresses and wealthy heiresses. He also entwined the son of the former president of Mexico. Some will testify against Raniere.

NXIVM (read as "nexium") is officially an American marketing company since 1998, based near Albany - the capital of New York State. Her program included seminars on personal and professional development. Keith Raniere offered a number of techniques aimed at self-improvement. By 2003, about 3,700 people had attended the classes, including reportedly businesswoman Sheila Johnson, Ana Cristina Fox, daughter of former Mexican President Vicente Fox, and actresses Linda Evans, Grace Park, and Nicki Clyne. Nxivm would work with over 16,000 people and operations centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America.

The case of Sara Bronfman, daughter of Edgar Miles Bronfman, an American-Canadian businessman of Jewish descent, philanthropist, and longtime president of the World Jewish Congress, is very interesting. At the age of 25, Sara was introduced to the Raniere pyramid by a family friend. According to his account, Sara "was desperately looking for some purpose in her life. And she found it in NXIVM." She moved to New York State to work as a personal trainer. She organized special VIP programs for companies that provided special training and coaching to outstanding employees. She worked her way up the organization until September 2018 brought a case against her in the Brooklyn Supreme Court. She was accused of emotionally entangling, among others, actress Isabella Martinez, and then simply cheating her financially.

But the money didn't just flow one way. Political themes are also intriguing. In early 2007, a number of donations were made from NXIVM attendees to Hillary Clinton's first presidential campaign. The total was $29,900. The World Ethical Foundations Consortium, an organization co-founded by Raniere and the Bronfman sisters, was to sponsor the Dalai Lama's visit to Albany. The spiritual leader of the Tibetans spoke at Albany's Palace Theater in May 2009. However, he denied taking money for it. "Neither His Holiness the Dalai Lama nor the Dalai Lama Foundation have ever received a million dollars for an appearance in Albany," the statement said.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Raniere took the title "Vanguard" from his favorite childhood arcade game, where destroying enemies increased your own power. And apparently, he was increasing his "power". Every August, members of NXIVM - called the "Nixians" - spent $2,000 or more to celebrate Mr. Raniere's birthday for a week in Silver Bay, New York. A former cult member testified that part of the holiday was a "tribute ceremony" for Keith Raniere. The celebration, dubbed "Vanguard Week", reportedly attracted adherents from the US and Canada. "It was a bit like summer camp for adults," said one of them. The event, centered around Mr. Raniere's birthday on August 26, reflected the nature of an organization totally devoted to its leader and meeting his various demands. How could he achieve it. What was his charisma?

NXIVM training was a trade secret, subject to confidentiality agreements. In 2003, the organization sued the Ross Institute for copyright infringement for publishing excerpts from a company handbook in three critical articles posted on a website. Critical texts referred to this training as "expensive brainwashing". The guide was provided by Stephanie Franco, who signed a non-disclosure agreement for the flowchart book. NXIVM filed lawsuits in both New York and New Jersey, but both were later dismissed.

Raniere insists that "the main focus of his endeavor was to make people experience more joy in their lives." However, this "coaching" was just a cover. It was actually a recruitment platform for a secret society called "DOS" or "The Vow" where women were tagged with tattoos and forced into sexual slavery. One of the victims was a fifteen-year-old girl.

"DOS" is an acronym for the ominous Latin phrase Dominus Obsequious Sororium, meaning Lord of the Servile Sisters (in a more explicit version: Trainer of Faithful Bitches). FBI Special Agent Michael Lever stated under oath that Keith Raniere had enslaved 15 to 20 women he named to have sexual relations with them. However, this number could be much higher. These "chosen ones" were not allowed to have sex with anyone other than Ranier, and they had to keep secret the nature of their relationship with their lord and master. Yet it was impossible to keep everything a secret.

Early last year, NXIVM founder Keith Raniere was arrested by the FBI in Mexico with his associate, German-born American actress Allison Mack, who starred in the youth series Smallville. Raniere's trial began on May 7.

It came to light that NXIVM had a pyramid scheme, engaged in human trafficking, and practiced a sex cult. In a 2010 article published in the Times Union, former coaches, and personal trainers, characterized their former students as "conquests". The victims were sexually abused by Raniere. Kristin Keeffe, his longtime partner, and mother of his child left the group in 2014 and described him as a dangerous individual. "The worst news about NXIVM is true," admitted Keeffe.

The first about the dark side of the sect was reported by the New York Times in October 2017. The newspaper described the details of the torment of women at the Dominus Obsequious Sororium. "Slaves" were marked with the initials of Raniere and Mack, and punished corporally by their "masters" and "masters." And as a safeguard against escape, a blackmail deposit, collections of nude photos, pornographic films, or other compromising materials and information are served.

Sarah Edmondson, a Canadian actress who has been participating in "training" since 2005, told about tattooing victims. She admitted that she left NXIVM after Allison Mack introduced her to DOS at home in Albany. Edmondson described that the naked participants in the ritual were blindfolded. They were held down by Mack and three other women and tattooed by Dr. Danielle Roberts using a cautery pen, a laser-tipped instrument. The tattoo was done on the hip, under the underwear line, so that women could still wear bathing suits without any problems and not expose themselves to prying eyes. The victims did not know they were marked with the initials of Mack and Raniere. They were told something about the symbol of the four elements. It was to be earth, water, air, and feather as the carrier of fire.

"This is the horizon, and this is the designation of air. Here are the mountains and the earth. It's about our power and unity. The earth is a woman and all that crap," Edmondson said. After the ceremony, she complained that the tattoo was too big, but the complaint was dismissed and she was instead asked to help tattoo another girl. The pain of childbirth, the smell of a burnt body, which is hard to bear without masks, forty-five minutes of ordeal while reading "sacred" texts about commitment and honor aloud, and after the initiation, a group photo, a "souvenir" group photo showing symbolic tattoos. The women had to look happy and content. The entire ceremony was recorded on video. Went to the archive. During the trial, Raniere's lawyer stated that the women had voluntarily participated in all this.

A former sex cult victim named Daniela testified that she was groomed to have a relationship with Ranier until she turned 18 so that he could take her virginity. When she was 16, Daniela and her relatives moved from Mexico to the US after learning about NXIVM. The family of six moved into a two-room apartment in Albany, New York, and began a personal training program. "I've never kissed or made love to anyone before," Daniela testified in court. She didn't see Keith as a potential lover, but she noticed that he was flirting with her in subtle ways. During the celebration of Vangarda Week, their relationship "began to evolve into sex." Raniere has started talking openly about his intention to consummate his relationship with Daniela when she turns 18. However, he noted that she would first have to lose weight to adapt to his preferences. "He said he couldn't share his sexual energy with someone who was overweight," Daniela testified. When she became an adult, Keith called her and announced that "it's time". Later, he took the teenager to his office to have her virginity removed.

Daniela testified that she was then forced to perform oral sex with him on a regular basis, often more than once a day. One of Daniel's sisters had a child with Ranier, and another, fifteen, was a victim in a child pornography case against NXIVM's guru. He repeatedly forced both of them to have group sex with him. "We cried all the time," Daniela stated. During the trial, it was revealed that she herself had been locked in a bedroom for two years only because she had gained weight and had asked to see another man. "She was supposed to lose weight, but instead she got fat," the cult leader said.

Ultimately, Daniela decided to return to Mexico, even if it meant never seeing her family again, just to get out of solitary confinement. No wonder, because in addition to sexual enslavement, she had to undergo a starvation diet - 500 to 800 calories a day, just because her torturer liked "women-hangers". The NXIVM scandal, however, is not an invention of journalists hungry for cheap sensations. The scandal exposes the dark side of organizations that proclaim noble slogans.

The Blackburn Cult, or How Housewives Started a Cult and Human Sacrifice

 Founded by two ordinary American women, the Blackburn cult has become one of the most secretive and sinister cults of the 20th century. Numerous scandals and mysterious deaths are associated with it. Until now, this sect raises many questions among researchers, which, it seems, will never be answered.

This strange story began in 1922 when two most ordinary women from the same Los Angeles family - May Otis Blackburn and her daughter Ruth Wieland Rizzio - said they had seen angels and were able to communicate with them. According to them, it was the archangels Gabriel and Michael who contacted the American women to write the "Book of Revelations" based on communication with them.

The angel book was supposed to contain answers to all the questions of the Universe, explain the structure of the Universe and talk about some "lost dimensions" where the greatest treasures of the world are stored. Completion of the book, according to the women, should open the Seventh Seal and give rise to the End Times. It wasn't clear why the higher-ups needed two California housewives as co-authors, but what was even weirder was the fact that like-minded people began to gather around May and Ruth. The women preached that when the end of the world came, only prepared people would be able to save themselves, and these "chosen ones" began to come to the home of the two newly minted prophetesses. Oddly enough, the cult had no specific name, and everyone called it what they wanted: "The Divine Order of the King's Arms of the Great Eleven," "The Cult of the Great Eleven," "The Great Club of Eleven." But outside of the cult, it was mostly just called "The Blackburn Cult," after its main founder.

To a modern educated man, the ideology of the cult will seem very strange, because it was a strange mix of postulates of various religions and philosophical currents. There were recipes from early Christianity, elements of Kabbalah, fragments of the ancient cult of the goddess Hecate, and much paganism drawn from various parts of the planet. May Blackburn quickly became accustomed to being the central figure of the new faith and began calling herself the Queen and High Priestess. In addition, she liked to call herself "God's Heel" and emphasize her uniqueness. May assured her followers that after the Book of Revelations was written and the Apocalypse came, there would be no other power on earth than 11 queens and kings. One of them, of course, was Blackburn herself. It all sounded incredibly stupid, but people started flocking around Blackburn anyway, often very wealthy, so the sect had more than enough money to carry out the most extravagant activities. The cult's followers often traveled to the Mojave Desert to a place popularly known as Devil's Hole.

The Devil's Hole is a geological formation in the form of a huge well, at the bottom of which there is a lake. What exactly attracted sectarians to this place is still unknown. However, by then everyone knew full well that the rituals of the Blackburn cult were not so harmless and innocent. Few eyewitnesses and disillusioned sectarians spoke of rampant sexual orgies and animal sacrifices. Open-air ceremonies ceased when the cult became too numerous and it became necessary to create its own spiritual center. For this purpose, a piece of land was purchased in the Santa Susana area of Ventura County, California. There, with the money of the sect, a luxurious temple with a throne room, decorated with gold, was built. The appearance of the sanctuary has contributed to the spread of even more ghastly rumors. It was said that some people never came back after entering the temple. Whether this is true or not is not known for sure, but history knows of several cases of disappearances related to the Blackburn cult. The first missing person was May's son-in-law, Samuel Rizzio. It is said that he once struck his wife, a powerful priestess, and then disappeared like a stone into water.

There have been many hypotheses as to where Samuel went, and even several attempts have been made to find his remains. But the search was unsuccessful, and without the body the police could do nothing. In addition to the disappearance of Ruth's husband, several other deaths have been recorded at various times, including: Frances Turner (a paralyzed woman who was placed in a makeshift oven for two days, resulting in her death), Harlene Sartoris, Katherine Boltz, and Addle McGuffin. But nothing was proven to anyone, and in some cases the cops couldn't even make a link between the disappearance or death and the cult visit. The worst was the story of a 16-year-old girl named Willa Rhoads. She was one of May Blackburn's closest assistants until 1925, when she disappeared. For four years, the police tried unsuccessfully to find the girl, until in 1929 they discovered her remains. The body was hidden in the house of the girl's adoptive parents under the floor, in an expertly made burial chamber.

Rhoads' corpse lay in a crude cedar coffin, completely airtight and filled with salt and spices. In addition to the wooden sarcophagus with the girl's body, the tomb contained seven mummified corpses of dogs. The horrific find sparked a major public outcry, and curses and threats began to appear at the cultists. During the investigation, the girl's adoptive parents unexpectedly confessed that Willa had died of an infection related to a tooth abscess and buried her without an examination as they did not want a fuss. May Blackburn was so sure of her invulnerability that she contradicted the couple's testimony and stated that the girl was not dead, but was in a deep sleep before the New World era that would follow the Apocalypse. According to the cult's high priestess, Willa must be resurrected to take her place on one of the 11 golden thrones as queen. As for the dogs, they symbolized the "Seven Notes of Gabriel's Heavenly Trumpet" and were meant to help the Rhoads get out of stagnation after the Last Judgment.

After this imaginary story, the police again thoroughly examined the girl's body, but found no evidence that she had been murdered. Members of the Blackburn cult escaped punishment again. Neither Willa nor May's parents were even arrested or charged. Almost immediately after the discovery of the girl's body, another scandal broke out, this time related to money. Oil tycoon Clifford R. Dabney, one of the main sponsors of the sect, claimed that May Blackburn deceived him. The businessman told police he gave May and her associates more than $50,000 in cash and several parcels of land in exchange for the honor of seeing a book written by angels with their own eyes. Of course, no book was shown to Mr. Dabney, which made him disillusioned with the new religion and soberly assess the considerable expenditure. It must be said that the land on which the sectarian temple was built also once belonged to the potentate and he demanded its return.

Immediately after Dabney's testimony, other scammed people started coming to the police, who gave May over $200,000. Today, that figure looks even more impressive, as it is approximately $3 million at the current exchange rate. All of this led to Blackburn being arrested in May 1931 and charged with large-scale fraud. But they still failed to put the founder of the cult behind bars. After several court hearings, the California Supreme Court dropped all charges against the woman because it found no evidence that she had extorted the money - she simply accepted it as a voluntary donation from believers. But the scandal surrounding the sect did not pass without a trace, and the adepts began to leave it one by one. No one believed in the angel book anymore, and soon May and her daughter Ruth were alone again.

In 1936, May Blackburn attempted to capitalize on her past fame by publishing The Origin of God, a book similar to the revelations of the mentally ill. The book sold very poorly and did not even return the money invested in it. The iconic high priestess and Queen of the World, May Blackburn, died in poverty in 1951. It is still unclear why this delusional cult has become so popular and where some of its followers have gone. There are many hypotheses, including several conspiracy theories related to this mysterious sect, and enthusiasts still do not lose hope of discovering the truth.

Elves: the magical companions of mankind

 Elves play a significant role in contemporary popular culture, especially in the realm of fantasy. In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien Tolkien, elves are depicted as elegant and wise creatures who possess incredible talents in archery and sword fighting. They are also known for their connection to nature and their ability to communicate with animals. But where did these myths come from?

Elves are part of the folklore and mythology of different cultures on our planet. In Norse mythology, elves were known as "alfar" or "alfr" (singular). The Norse Alfar were believed to be deities inhabiting one of the Nine Worlds. They also had physical representations on Earth that were described as tall, slender beings with pale skin, pointed ears, and long hair.

The Norse believed that the Alfar could be benevolent or hostile, depending on how humans treated them. They also acted as guardians of the natural world, and their presence brought happiness and prosperity to all those who respect nature.

In Celtic mythology, elves were known as "Sidhe", "Tuatha de Danann" or "Aos Sidhe". They were considered a supernatural race of beings living underground in a land inaccessible to humans. Elves in Celtic folklore were associated with beauty, grace and intelligence. They were also believed to possess magical powers such as healing, shapeshifting, and reality manipulation.

In Germanic mythology, elves were known as "Elben" or "Elfen". Their imagery here was very similar to the Norse Alfar in terms of physical appearance. Most messages, however, depict them as more malicious beings. Germanic elves were known for playing pranks and causing chaos. However, they were very helpful, if only someone won their sympathy.

In some stories, elves were depicted as skilled blacksmiths or locksmiths who assisted craftsmen in exchange for gifts or favors. According to Germanic mythology, elves have the ability to shapeshift and can take the form of animals or even humans.

These mysterious creatures even appear in Japanese mythology. The elves were known there as "Yosei". They were considered ethereal, fairy-tale beings with a delicate, unearthly beauty. Japanese elves were associated with the natural world and were believed to live in forests, rivers and mountains. Like elves in other cultures, Yosei had magical powers, including the ability to grant wishes, create illusions, and communicate with animals.

But that's not all. In many regions of the world, the belief in these mysterious beings has been preserved until our times. On the Malaysian island of Borneo and the nearby Malay Peninsula, there are still legends about ethereal beings called Orang Bunian. In the local dialect, it translates as people of sound or wheezing people. These characters are popular heroes of local fairy tales and are known especially for having pointed ears and amazing beauty.

Legends about this circulate even in distant Iceland. At the end of 2013, one of the judges from this country even stopped the construction of one road, justifying it with the nearby habitat of elves. A little earlier, at the end of 1996, the work of bulldozers that carried out work on the Kópavogur hill was banned there. The site designated for the graveyard was thought to be home to another group of elves. The inhabitants of the volcanic island, when asked why they believe in elves even though they have not seen them, usually explain that they feel their presence.

In Slavic mythology, elves are identified by some researchers with rusalkas and rusalkas. In Greek mythology, elves are identified with nymphs by some researchers. Most of the above creatures had unearthly beauty, magical skills and... tendencies to kidnap people. Regardless of whether we are talking about the Irish Wild Hunt or Slavic fairies, Greek nymphs and Scandinavian rusalkas rousing men to a deadly dance, encounters with Elves often ended in death or disappearance for people for many years.

  These days, elves are ubiquitous in literature, movies, and games, and their popularity continues to grow. Although they cannot be found in the real world, their legendary stories and cultural significance raise many questions about the source of these legends. Isn't it strange that almost identical beings have appeared in many different cultures and have almost always been associated with magic, beauty and an otherworldly nature. Whether they are known as Alfar, Sidhe, Elben, or Yosei, elves still capture the human imagination.

Women will be able to get pregnant without the help of men

 If earlier biologists spoke only hypothetically about the asexual reproduction of mammals, then in 2022 the results of an experiment on mice appeared, which showed the success of new technologies. Why can women reproduce on their own and men cannot? What methods of asexual reproduction exist today? Will girls born of only one mother be like two drops of water like her? Will there come an era when you only need to take a pill to get pregnant? And above all - are we in danger of a world without men like in the movie Sexmission?

Scientists call asexual reproduction parthenogenesis - a Greek word meaning literally "virgin creation" (from Greek Parthenos - virgin, genesis - creation). Parthenogenesis occurs in a wide variety of organisms, including plants, insects, fish, reptiles, and even birds.

Until recently, scientifically confirmed cases of parthenogenesis in mammals, including humans, have not been documented. Although, hypothetically, women are able to start reproducing their own kind without the involvement of men, because they have everything in their bodies to do so.

Females have two X sex chromosomes, one from their father and one from their mother. Men receive X from their mothers, and from their fathers a small addition of Y, in which there are almost no genes. But the most important thing is that men do not have reproductive structures to bear children.

With the development of genetic technologies, including genome editing, scientists began to develop methods of artificial parthenogenesis. In 2022, biotechnologists from Shanghai, China, succeeded in this field by publishing the results of their experiments on mice in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS. Female mice were able not only to become pregnant, but also to give birth to full-fledged offspring. Several females "conceived" by artificial parthenogenesis have also successfully become mothers, convincing the scientific community that asexual reproduction in mammals is possible.

The sperm's contribution to mammalian reproduction is necessary not only because it carries the missing half of the genome. It carries the factors that initiate the proper development of the embryo. Not only the genes should come from the sperm, some of them should be in a special state. These initiating factors are necessary for the cell to start dividing and developing, turning it into an embryo.

What did the scientists from Shanghai do? They modified the "female" genes, giving them the desired state in immature eggs (oocytes) whose maternal haploid (half) genome was completed to the diploid (full) chromosome set by injecting the other half of the maternal genome - it was like fertilization simulated.

The other half of the genome was taken from the so-called polar body, which is formed during meiosis (division of the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell with the number of chromosomes halved) during the formation of mouse eggs. This is what started the process of turning the cell into an embryo. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this successful experiment is that a phenomenon such as parthenogenesis can be controlled.

If it can be controlled in mice, the next step is to try this technology on monkeys. Then it will probably be tried on human cells in those countries where it is allowed to work with human stem cells at the earliest stages of embryo development. But if it worked in mice, it will 100% work in humans!

It is clear that women with the help of artificial parthenogenesis technology will only be able to give birth to girls. And these - to give birth to new girls, continuing only the female gender. It is very similar to the world presented in the Polish science fiction film Sexmission.

Will the girl born of the mother by the method of "immaculate conception" presented in the work of scientists from Shanghai be similar to her? Probably not, because for this purpose, half of the genome is taken from one oocyte (immature egg) and the other half is taken from the direction body of another oocyte. In such a cell with a complete set of chromosomes, there will be a slightly different combination of genes, but the similarity to the mother will be very high.

However, there is another mechanism by which it is possible to give birth to a girl from the mother, without the participation of the father. By disrupting meiosis during egg formation, which is known to occur in mammalian female fetuses during intrauterine development, unreduced eggs with a full chromosome set can be produced, followed by the initiation of ovulation with further epigenetic reprogramming of the ovum and initiation of fetal development. In this case, the developed baby will be an exact copy of the mother.

Modern methods of treating diseases of the genitourinary system

 A visit to the urologist is often associated with a lot of stress - it's a very delicate area that can cause a lot of anxiety. However, current methods of treating diseases of the genitourinary system are very safe and effective. Here are a few areas that allow you to efficiently improve your health.

Symptoms of diseases of the genitourinary system can sometimes be quite troublesome and embarrassing, which in many cases makes it difficult to diagnose problems. However, it is not worth waiting for a visit - early detection of individual ailments greatly helps in a smooth recovery. Regular diagnostic tests are essential, especially for men over 40. It is recommended to make a preventive visit at least once a year. Thanks to this, in the event of any problems, you can quickly choose the right therapy.

Among the most frequently performed tests are: Ultrasound, assessment of urinary tract function, or urography (checking the excretion of the contrast medium by the kidneys). With their help, you can detect ailments such as cancer, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, erectile dysfunction, various types of urinary tract infections, and much more. Determining the further course of action will often be possible immediately after the examination - it is worth paying attention to the currently used treatment methods.

Modern methods of treating diseases of the genitourinary system include procedures such as urethral plastic surgery, correction of penile curvature, laser enucleation of the prostate or removal of stones from the urinary tract. Currently, modern devices and laser treatments are used for this purpose. In addition, dedicated medical devices are available, such as artificial urethral sphincters made of silicone elastomer.

HoLEP prostate enucleation

It is a painless, minimally invasive, highly effective treatment used for prostate hyperplasia. The HoLEP method uses a holmium laser - the beam removes excessive tissue in order to reduce the volume of the gland. Symptoms of enlarged prostate disappear, which allows m. unblock urine flow. The excised tissue may be sent to a laboratory for further tests in case of cancer.

Removal of kidney stones - RIRS, URSL, PCNL methods

Kidney stones are among the most common diseases of the urinary system. It is estimated that problems in this field affect up to 10% of men. In these types of cases, the following three methods are mainly used:

• RIRS – endoscopic removal of stones inside the kidneys, performed with the use of a ureterorenoscopy. This method is used for deposits of 0.5–2.5 cm.
• URSL – another endoscopic method, but used to examine the ureter. The ureterorenoscopy is inserted through the urethra, which requires anesthesia of the patient.
• PCNL – if there are deposits larger than 2 cm in the urinary tract, the renal parenchyma should be punctured and an endoscope inserted to crush the stones. This method is characterized by a small impact on kidney function, which is associated with the possibility of a quick recovery.

Take care of your health - check yourself today

The most important thing is to conduct a medical interview, which will be provided by a urologist. Gdańsk is full of medical facilities that deal with this area - one of them is U Clinic in the city center.

UK bans officials from using TikTok on business phones

 It turned out that the UK, for national security reasons, will ban the popular short video service TikTok on smartphones and other government-owned devices. Bloomberg writes about this, citing a statement by British Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden.

“Britain will immediately block TikTok on government phones,” Dowden wrote on his Twitter account, adding that the move was necessary for security reasons.

According to reports, the decision to ban TikTok came after a review commissioned by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Based on the results of the inspection, the commission concluded that "there are risks associated with access to and use of sensitive government data by certain platforms." Additionally, owners of government devices will only be able to access third-party apps from a pre-approved list.

At the same time, the ban on using TikTok will not apply to the personal devices of government employees. The move is another sign that Western countries are concerned about potential national security threats posed by TikTok and its owner, Chinese company ByteDance. Last year, the U.S. Congress restricted the use of TikTok on government devices. The European Commission also banned its employees from using the application on company devices.

Biologists have noticed that global warming has led to an increase in the size of plant flowers

 Due to global warming, plants increase in flower size. This is reported by the University of Michigan.

Biologists have long noticed that as the climate warms, many plants begin to bloom earlier in the spring. This trend worries experts because it can disrupt the interactions between plants and animals - bees, birds, bats and others - that pollinate them. Much less attention has been paid to changes in other characteristics of flowers, such as size, which can also affect plant-pollinator interactions, which are becoming scarce due to climate change.

James Erickson of the University of Michigan and his colleagues conducted an experiment. They collected bindweed seeds from the edges of agricultural soybean and corn fields in Tennessee, North and South Carolina. The collection took place twice: in 2003 and 2012. During this nine-year period, the region experienced an increase in average temperatures, especially at night, as well as an increase in extreme rainfall alternating with more extreme droughts. To test changes in flower morphology, the researchers planted field-collected seeds from both years in the greenhouse of the University of Massachusetts Botanic Gardens. When the flowers opened, their properties were measured using a digital caliper. A total of 2,836 flowers from 456 plants were measured.

They found that the morning glory crowns became much wider over the nine years - 4.5 centimeters in diameter in 2003 compared to 4.8 centimeters in 2012, with the difference being more pronounced in the north of the country. In addition, over time, flowers became more "satisfactory" for pollinators. Ipomoea flowers grown from seeds harvested in 2012 produced, on average, more pollen grains and more nectar than flowers from seeds harvested in 2003. However, the researchers are unsure of this conclusion as the nectar and pollen analysis was performed on a smaller sample.

According to the researchers, the increase in the size of the flowers is related to the need to pay attention to insects in the face of global warming.

Time travel may be possible, but only in parallel timelines?

 Correcting past mistakes is one of the reasons we find the concept of time travel so exciting. As is often depicted in science fiction, nothing lasts forever with a time machine - you can always go back and change everything. But is time travel really possible in our universe or is it just science fiction?

Our modern understanding of time and causality comes from general relativity. The theory of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein combines space and time into a single entity - "space time" - and provides a surprisingly complex explanation of how they work at a level unmatched by any other established theory.

This theory has been around for over 100 years and has been experimentally tested to extremely high accuracy, so physicists believe it provides an accurate description of the causal structure of our universe. For decades, physicists have tried to use general relativity to find out if time travel is possible. It turned out that you can write equations describing time travel that are completely consistent with the theory of relativity. But physics is not math, and equations are meaningless if they don't correspond to something in reality.

There are two main questions that lead us to conclude that these equations may not be true. The first question is practical - apparently, exotic matter is needed to create a time machine, that is, matter with negative energy. All matter we see on a daily basis has positive energy - matter with negative energy is not something you find just around the corner. We know from quantum mechanics that theoretically such matter could be created, but in too small quantities and for too short a time.

However, there is no evidence that it is impossible to create exotic matter in sufficient quantities. Moreover, other equations can be discovered that allow time travel without the use of exotic matter. So this problem may simply be a limitation of our current technology or understanding of quantum mechanics.

The second main problem is less practical but more significant - time travel seems to defy logic, in the form of paradoxes. There are several types of such paradoxes, but the most problematic are sequence paradoxes. A popular science fiction technique, the sequence paradox, occurs whenever an event occurs that causes the past to change, but the change itself prevents that event from happening.

For example, consider the scenario where I enter my time machine, travel back in time five minutes, and destroy it as soon as I enter the past. Now that I've destroyed the time machine, can I use it five minutes later? But if I can't use the time machine, I can't go back in time and destroy it. Therefore, it is not destroyed, so I can go back in time and destroy it. In other words, the time machine will be destroyed if and only if it is not destroyed. Since it cannot be destroyed and not destroyed at the same time, this scenario is incoherent and paradoxical.

A common misconception in science fiction is that paradoxes can be "created". Time travelers are usually warned not to make significant changes to the past and avoid encounters with their past selves for this very reason. Examples of this can be found in many time travel movies, such as the Back to the Future trilogy. But in physics, a paradox is not an event that can actually happen - it is a purely theoretical concept that points to an inconsistency in the theory itself. In other words, sequence paradoxes not only imply that time travel is dangerous, but also that it is simply impossible.

This was one of the reasons that led theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking to formulate the defense of chronology hypothesis that time travel should be impossible. However, this hypothesis still remains unproven. Moreover, the universe would be much more interesting if, instead of eliminating time travel caused by paradoxes, we could simply eliminate the paradoxes themselves.

Perhaps if someone had tried to destroy the time machine five minutes in the past, it would have been impossible. The laws of physics would somehow conspire to maintain consistency. Even if one paradox cannot be resolved, time travel remains logically impossible. Is this the final nail in the time travel coffin?

The possibility of multiple stories, or parallel timelines, can resolve paradoxes. In fact, it can solve any paradox you present. The idea is very simple. When I exit the time machine, I go to another timeline. In this timeline, I can do whatever I want, including destroying the time machine, without changing anything in the original timeline where I come from.

Since I cannot destroy the time machine in the original timeline that I actually used to travel back in time, there is no paradox. Quantum mechanics certainly seems to imply that one story can "split" into many stories, one for each possible outcome of the measurement - e.g. Schrödinger's cat is alive or dead.

Physicists are currently working to find a specific theory of time travel that is fully compatible with general relativity. Of course, even if such a theory is found, it will not be enough to prove that time travel is possible, but at least it will mean that time travel is not ruled out due to sequence paradoxes.

Why do witches ride broomsticks?

 What comes to mind when you think of a witch? For most people, the first image that comes to mind is a witch flying across the night sky on a broomstick. But why in history were witches depicted flying on broomsticks?

While the image of a witch flying on a broomstick is the most common, the image of a witch standing over a bubbling cauldron preparing a potion is equally iconic. There is a great reason for this. The use of powerful hallucinogens was very popular at that time, which is closely related to the reason why witches were depicted flying on broomsticks.

At a time when witch hunts were gaining popularity in Europe, people ate large amounts of bread. At that time, bread was mainly made from rye, which was often infected with a disease called ergot, caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. As a result, many people have been ingesting ergot unknowingly, believing it to be part of the plant. Ergot has hallucinogenic properties, causing its users to experience LSD-like experiences.

Not surprisingly, many people liked the effect and began experimenting with it, as well as other plants that produced similar results. These include turmeric, mandrake, deadly nightshade and wild rosemary. Johannes Weyer, a Dutch physician, and occultist, in his 1563 work Praestigiis Daemonum called all these plants ingredients of the "flying ointment" of witches.

However, these hallucinogens also had unpleasant side effects. If swallowed, they caused rashes, nausea, vomiting, and even death. But some resourceful people quickly realized that besides ingestion, there are other ways to consume witches' brew that avoid these side effects. It was about the absorption of the drug through the skin. This is best done through the delicate mucous membrane under the armpits or, in the case of women, through the genitals.

These drugs were also studied by the 16th-century physician Andrés de Laguna. One day he took one of these potions from the home of a woman accused of witchcraft and tested it on another woman. According to de Laguna, the woman "fell into such a deep sleep that I thought I would never be able to wake her up." Fortunately, after 36 hours, it worked. The woman was incredibly nervous to be woken up.

This led Laguna to the following conclusion: "From all this, it can be concluded that everything these wretched witches do and say is caused by potions and ointments that have so corrupted their memory and imagination that they create their own misfortunes because they firmly believe when they wake up, into everything they dreamed of."

Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare DLC - game review

 Red Dead Redemption hits like a bolt from the blue and pulls you in like a swamp, leaving no illusions that it is the best virtual western ever. The review was based on the Xbox 360 version. Also applies to the PS3 version

Western lovers don't have it easy. Game developers steer clear of this genre, as if they were afraid that virtual expeditions to the Wild West must be doomed to failure from the start. And unfortunately, they are right. None of the titles released in recent years have dominated the bestseller lists, none of the stories about gunslingers have been so popular that they can compete with productions that ignite the senses of today's generation of players. But that's in the past. For less than two weeks, a game has been available on the market that has every chance of being a huge commercial success, because there is no doubt that it is the best western in history. her title? Red Dead Redemption!

Everything seems absolutely wonderful here: picturesque landscapes admired from the train window, the town of Armadillo located in the middle of nowhere, straight out of classic cowboy movies, and the expressive main character - a scarred tough guy with a not-so-great record who comes to the borderland to authorities to hunt down his former crime gangmate. Enthusiasm grows when we jump in the saddle for the first time and set off to the fort located near the city. It is in this old Civil War fortress that the criminal wanted by John Marston made his nest and it is here that the last scene of the mandatory introduction takes place, when the apparently naive daredevil is brought to the ground floor by a bullet spit out of the barrel of a rifle. The hero is abandoned at the gates of the fort and left to the mercy of vultures circling around, but he is saved from death by a mysterious stranger. This is how a great adventure begins, during which we search for jaws on the floor for a long time.

The studio from San Diego created this product in the style of Grand Theft Auto, according to a pattern that has been improved for many years. Saying that Red Dead Redemption is inspired by this one of the most famous series of games does not reflect the state of affairs - in fact, we are dealing with a cheeky clone of the "four", in which the heroes, world and vehicles have changed, but the very core of the gameplay has remained intact. As a result, we got a dozen times better and more developed GUN, which at one time tried to do the same as Rockstar Games' product today, but on a smaller scale.

The open nature of the struggle - the thing that distinguishes the next installments of the Grand Theft Auto series from the competition - is also one of the main advantages of Red Dead Redemption. After a failed visit to Fort Mercer and forced recuperation, Marston is let off the leash. And since you can do a lot of things in the game, we don't complain about the lack of impressions from the very beginning - you could even say that we are overwhelmed by the enormity of possibilities. In addition to a large number of main and side quests commissioned by NPCs, we also have missions from mysterious strangers we meet while wandering the prairie, as well as various random events. It may happen that a woman traveling alone will steal a carriage, a man heading to the city will be attacked by a pack of angry coyotes, and a tipsy brute after visiting a bar will start attacking a defenseless courtesan. It is only up to us whether, seeing such a situation, we will stop the horse ride and help accidental victims.

There are also other activities available in Red Dead Redemption, often in the form of simple mini-games. You can play the night watchman who patrols the ranch with his dog in search of any irregularities. You can play blackjack and poker, take part in a horseshoe-throwing tournament, or even put your hand on the table and try to quickly strike between your fingers with a knife - all in order to earn money. For real cowboys, tasks have been prepared to tame wild horses, for botany lovers there is a large amount of herbs to collect, and players who like hunting can go hunting and shoot various animals. And we do all this whenever we feel like it, because Red Dead Redemption does not impose anything and does not force anything.

The area available in the game is not small - a horse ride from one end of the map to the other takes nearly ten minutes. However, it should be borne in mind that the area is not as well developed as, for example, in Grand Theft Auto IV. Human settlements do not impress with their size and there are really few of them. If you do not use the fast transport option (the game offers the option of teleporting to selected locations after setting up a "camp"), driving through the prairies, deserts and canyons quickly becomes boring - and nice views do not help here.

In addition to the character in Red Dead Redemption, the fame of the hero is also measured - here the matter is simple, the more we help people, the more recognizable we are. All crimes are also recorded on the player's account - depending on the severity of the offense, the cash reward for Marston's head increases, and if it is high enough, bounty hunters go after John. In the event of a direct fall under the law enforcement officers, the latter will try to catch us. Escape is no different from trying to outsmart the police in Grand Theft Auto IV, except that it is much easier - first you have to get out of the zone, and then patiently wait for the chase to stop. Of course, you still have to reckon with the designated reward, but with a little effort, paying back the sum that lures adventurers should not be a major problem.

A decent plot, a specific western atmosphere, memorable characters, excellent cutscenes, great freedom of action and a variety of activities mean that after a few hours of fun, Red Dead Redemption is considered an outstanding work. And in fact, positive feelings accompany the game until the very end, especially since the authors were tempted by a surprising finale. However, there is also the other side of the coin. With each subsequent hour, the euphoria subsides, and various shortcomings begin to emerge. And although they are not able to change the fact that the product in question is a great game, they cannot be ignored.

Red Dead Redemption also suffers from technical shortcomings. I have already mentioned the strange behavior of horses and teams during races - we can push ourselves to the boor by the rivals ahead of us and not suffer any consequences. A poor advertisement for the famous Euphoria is also the behavior of the carriages after entering an obstacle, e.g. a cactus - the vehicle stops in a fraction of a second as if nothing had happened. I don't really have to mention minor errors related to the display of graphics, because practically every game has them. So don't be surprised if the camera misaligns during programmed actions, and the character gets stuck in the door or on the stairs - problems with the collision of objects are also present. As if that wasn't enough, the Xbox 360 can't cope with the animation at times, so the more demanding fragments (every major mess on the screen) can be disturbingly crunchy.

Conclusions? Red Dead Redemption is a product that, despite more or less annoying shortcomings, lives up to expectations. The only direct rival - the otherwise quite likable GUN - is already six feet underground and has no right to get up, because it's just not in that league. The work of the studio from San Diego seems to be the best western in the history of electronic entertainment so far, and no one should have the slightest doubt about it (Forgive me Techland, I still remember your second Call of Juarez very warmly). Anyone who likes these climates, loves the freedom straight from Grand Theft Auto and wants to go wild as a tough gunslinger (also in several original multiplayer modes), will not regret a single zloty spent on this game.

Zombies here, zombies there. Rockstar in Red Dead Redemption reaches for hackneyed patents. Isn't it one zombie too far this time?

We launch completely independently of the basic version of Red Dead Redemption, again we play the role of John Marston, who, together with his son, wife and drunken uncle, leads a peaceful life on a farm. Calm until one night, this uncle unexpectedly grazes his teeth into the cowboy family's necks, turning them into zombies. So the player sets out into the world, trying to find out why the dead rose from their graves and turn most of the population of the Wild West into mindless corpses.

For those who have previously traveled the length and breadth of the US and Mexico, I have seemingly bad news: you will have to do it again. Seemingly bad, because the locations, although they have not fundamentally changed their appearance, are characterized by a gloomy atmosphere thanks to the use of appropriate graphic filters. Only when we help the inhabitants of the towns to repel the attacks of the infected, the sun begins to shine, and we gain access to a house where we have a chance to sleep without fear of being bitten, and in addition we find crates with ammunition supplies (in the expansion, shops are closed) or new weapons. The house also allows you to immediately move to another liberated location, which significantly shortens the time needed to reach it traditionally. I must mention here that the add-on also offers new outfits and challenges, some of which are at least interesting. For example, mythical beasts appeared in the game world - four horses of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, each of which has different properties.

The Warhorse is surrounded by flames that can ignite zombies. Others may, for example, not feel fatigue when rushing or pain during clashes. Of course, there are also random missions, such as helping someone on the road or escorting a stray soul to a safe place. A very important weapon is the torch, which we receive right after starting the game. It allows you to fight in hand-to-hand combat, setting opponents on fire, who chase the escaping hero for several seconds like living ... hmm, dead torches.

Not only do we have an open world full of new challenges, but we also meet old friends from the base game. Min. Seth Briars, a familiar grave robber who now plays cards with zombies and organizes dance parties for them, West Dickens with his corpse-attracting drugs or Bonnie MacFarlane. Rockstar has not made any concessions, so once again we are watching excellently realized cutscenes prepared on the game engine. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and played by the voice actors. These meetings are also related to the missions we are entrusted with, from the simplest type: collecting flowers needed to brew a potion in a dangerous area or clearing cemeteries of corpses poking out from the ground. NPCs also drive the plot, revealing a new piece of the puzzle from time to time.

There are several types of zombies. Some are fast, others are very fast, which makes it impossible to fight in the style of Resident Evil skirmishes, where we stand, shooting off the heads of groaning freaks. There is only a "hit & run" tactic, i.e. a few quick shots and a run, during which Marston reloads the magazine. Possibly two or three swings of the torch and quick running. Fighting from a horse only works at a greater distance, because the zombies pull the rider to the ground once or twice. Of course, they don't ride horses themselves. Unfortunately, it is the clashes and the monotony that creeps in after some time that are the biggest problem of Undead Nightmare. No more tactical use of covers, because there is simply no time for it. The howling zombies get to the hero in a few seconds, and if a larger horde of them approaches, the only thing left is a quick escape. Or chasing around and relatively precise, but also slowly shooting off the next delinquents. Sprinting with a torch between the corpses certainly causes an increased pumping of adrenaline, but after some time you get fed up with it.

The world of the game is huge, a lot of new challenges, we have a full single player campaign and a new multiplayer mode, reminiscent of the classic Horde. Only that this time the enemies are waves of corpses coming one after the other. Apart from the multiplayer option, Undead Nightmare provides at least a few, if not several hours of gameplay. It all depends on how much we want to delve into new possibilities. However, it must be admitted that this is a time that many of the currently released full single player games cannot boast of. And the Red Dead Redemption DLC only costs, not ironically, 800 Microsoft Points, which is ridiculously low considering its quality and length. I didn't think I'd ever write this, but I recommend this DLC with a clear conscience, especially to people who already miss the wonderful world created by the Rockstar team. We'll probably wait a little longer for the next game in the series, and until then there's nothing else to do but kill time with this type of gems.

WOMEN'S DAY IN POLAND AND IN THE WORLD HISTORY AND INTERESTING FACTS

 Women's Day, in the eyes of many, is a communist reward for women for their hard work. Some still remember posters where beautiful, young and smiling ladies drove tractors or operated a lathe in the factory. It created an image of an idyllic, communist paradise. The reality, of course, was completely different, but not today.

The history of the holiday celebrated on March 8 is not a happy one. At the beginning of the last century, when a woman was still not equal to a man, she could not vote, study or simply decide for herself in the world, one of them said enough!

It happened in New York in one of the factories where dozens of women worked hard for symbolic pennies. The day came when a few of them got a little more furious than usual and went on strike.

The owner of this factory was so surprised by this fact that he did not know what to do. In order to think things through calmly, he went to drink and discuss with other owners of nearby factories, and locked the enraged women in the factory hall.

Unfortunately, a fire broke out shortly after his departure, killing more than a hundred women. The indignation was so great that people from all over the city took to the streets. It was 1909 and the first step towards equality had just been taken.

The situation was picked up by the socialists of the time, who tried to rise to power on the wave of social unrest. They spread the word around the world that it was their idea with these strikes and that they would not allow women to continue to live in such conditions.

However, for the first time, Women's Day was declared not in America but in Denmark. Exactly one year after the social unrest in New York City, the Socialist International in Copenhagen launched Women's Day. This day was to promote the idea of equality between women and men and build social support for this idea. This holiday was then taken over by the communists for reasons that I will write about later.

Of course, as is often the case in history, Women's Day is associated with another, very old holiday.

The Romans celebrated a festival called Matronalia. It fell on March 1 and was associated with the end of winter and fertility. In that one day, women ruled the houses and streets of Rome. They met in groups in temples, where they gave each other gifts and souvenirs.

In the temples of Juno (who is identified with the Greek goddess Hera), they prayed for happiness in marriage and the favor of other gods. On that day, men also gave women flowers and small gifts. It was also one of the few days of the year when slaves were served food from the tables of the Romans.

According to the old and proven slogan "the people need circuses and bread", the communists invented various holidays that were supposed to give the people an impression of the meaning of their miserable lives. Barbara appeared for miners, teachers got their day, policemen and women, every year on March 8, had their holiday.

It was customary for them to receive chocolate and flowers at that time. Most of all, however, they had a little easier, because they were relieved of their duties, both at work and at home.

Husbands rushed to the kitchen, and the bosses smiled kindly. In the evenings, everyone met in a restaurant for a well-deserved Christmas dinner, which often ended with a heavy drink. This is how it looked in our country in the era of nightmarish socialism. How was it in other parts of the world?

Women's Day is celebrated as grandly as in Poland in almost all countries of the former Warsaw Pact. On March 8 they have fun in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and many other countries.

However, it is not a holiday celebrated only in the heart of the former Eastern Bloc. On this day, Italians, Cubans, Albanians, Vietnamese, Brazilians and Algerians have fun. To make it more interesting, Women's Day is celebrated very loudly in Zambia and Cameroon.

The traditions are almost the same everywhere, although they differ in details. In Italy, ladies do not receive carnations, as is the fashion here, but acacia branches. Similarly in Russia and Romania. In some countries, ladies go out for evening parties so that they can spend at least one night alone.

Women's Day looks a bit different in Great Britain. Here, women and men meet at exhibitions and lectures about the role of women in social, cultural and scientific life. Meetings with distinguished women are organized and discussions are held on what else can be improved so that the fate of women in the world does not differ from that assigned to men.

Officially, women's day in the islands falls on April 8, but all events related to it are usually organized on April 10. Besides, giving gifts to women is not fashionable here.

WOMEN'S DAY CURIOSITIES

• In Poland, the first women's day was celebrated on March 24, 1924.
• In 1911, Women's Day was celebrated in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland.
• In the USSR, March 8 became a public holiday and a day off from work in 1965.
• The first women's day was celebrated in Belgium in 1910.
• In Poland in the 1980s, Women's Day was a little-liked holiday, as it was considered a "compulsory" day of joy compared to May 1.
• In 1993, Women's Day ceased to be a public holiday in Poland.
• Today, most young people consider March 8 to be a very pleasant holiday and a reason to have fun.
• During the years of deep communism, it was popular to publish on March 8 photos of women who contributed to the country. This was to show that there is no area of life in which women do not participate.
• The once popular carnations are now being replaced by tulips and roses.
• Currently, according to research, more than 70 percent of men intend to buy flowers for their woman on March 8.
• In Vietnam, Women's Day is celebrated twice - on March 8 and October 20.
• In Romania and Portugal, women celebrate their holiday among themselves.
• Carnations and tulips are the symbol of Women's Day.