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Things Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Sufferers Can Relate To
Chronic pain is a lifestyle, not just a list of symptoms. It’s hard to see the bright side of pain conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis, but it’s also not healthy to get bogged down in the negatives. There’s more to chronic pain than just pain, and it can help to look at it in a…
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Animals Mistaken For Mythical Creatures
Monsters and mythical creatures have always captured the human imagination. They are humanity’s answer to things we can’t explain, and proof that storytelling is our oldest art form. Before we had access to a great wealth of information about the world, there were a lot of things we had no name for. Palaeontology, the study…
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Top 3 Symbiotic Relationships in Nature
“Survival of the fittest” is an oft-quoted, oft-misunderstood saying that implies it’s every animal for themselves in the wild. But the truth is, many animals of different species co-exist peacefully, even having mutually beneficial relationships. When two different kinds of animals work together in symbiotic relationships, it’s known as mutualism. Unlike parasites, both parties get something…
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The Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger
Humans have long been the reason for many species of animals going extinct. In prehistoric times this was understandable. How was anyone to know there were only a few of those animals left? But today I’m going to talk about an animal that went extinct right before our eyes, when we had every means of…
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Book Review: Gideon the Ninth
You’ve never read a book like this before, I can guarantee. Described as a science-fantasy, Gideon the Ninth transcends genre in its whirlwind narrative and utterly enthralling setting. Synopsis: “The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit. Brought up…
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How to Survive Winter With Chronic Pain
I would love winter if I didn’t have chronic pain. It’s so lovely to cuddle up under a massive blanket with a mug of hot chocolate. Being warm and cozy is one of my favourite things, and it just doesn’t feel the same any other time of year. Unfortunately, winter is the time when my…
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June Crafting Roundup: What I’ve Been Making This Month
This month has been a big one for crafting! After a long dry spell, I picked up my crochet hook and bought some new materials to get back into that beautiful creative state of mind. Recently I’ve taken an interest in polymer clay. I started out by crafting a pair of mushroom earrings for myself.…
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Creature Feature: Spotted Hyenas
I know what the common perception of hyenas is: cruel, cowardly scavengers who leech off of other predators’ hunts. When we think of these animals, we most often think of the trio from The Lion King. Disney actually got in a bit of trouble over its depiction of spotted hyenas. The animators went to the…
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I’m Chronically Ill, Not an Inspiration
When you’re part of a minority, people expect you to speak on behalf of everyone in that minority. If you speak publicly about your experiences, they expect you to be a good activist, someone to point to and say: “See? If they can do it, so can you!” But that’s not fair. My experiences with…
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Creature Feature: Elephants, the Gentle Giants of the Land
Elephants are truly gorgeous creatures. While I usually write about the weird and unnerving animals on this blog, I want to also appreciate these gentle giants. Elephants are known for their size and strength, and are symbols of wisdom and peace. They are the largest land mammals on earth and have caused their fair share…