When I saw these incredible photos Angelo Merendino took of his wife‚ Jennifer‚ as she battled breast cancer‚ I felt that I shouldn't be seeing this snapshot of their intimate‚ private lives.The photos humanize the face of cancer and capture the difficulty‚ fear‚ and pain that they experienced during the difficult time.But as Angelo commented: "These photographs do not define us‚ but they are us."This article originally appeared on 11.5.13

In 2013‚ I found out I was pregnant with triplets. Image via iStock.My husband and I were in shock but thrilled at the news after dealing with infertility for years. And it didn't take long for the comments to begin. When people found out‚ the usual remarks followed: "Triplets?! What are you going to do? Three kids at once?! Glad it's not me!"After mastering my response (and an evil look reserved for the rudest comments)‚ I figured that was the worst of it. But little did I know I would be facing far worse comments after two of my triplets passed away.On June 23‚ 2013‚ I gave birth to my triplets‚ more than four months premature.My daughter‚ Abigail‚ passed away that same day; my son‚ Parker‚ died just shy of 2 months old. Before then‚ I didn't know much about child loss; it was uncharted territory. Like most people‚ I wouldn't know how to respond or what to say if a friend's child passed away. Image via iStock.But two years later‚ I have found that some things are better left unsaid. These comments come from a good place‚ and I know people mean well‚ but they sure do sting.Here are my top five things not to say to a grieving parent — and the thing I love to hear instead.1. "Everything happens for a reason."It's a cringeworthy comment for those of us who have lost a child. Sometimes‚ there is no rhyme or reason for why things happen in life. A parent should not outlive their child. I don't know why my body couldn't handle my pregnancy or why I went into labor at 22 weeks.This phrase goes along with another I often hear: "God only gives us what we can handle." I remember talking with my childhood rabbi the night before my son passed away‚ and I asked her‚ "Why me?" Her response is something I now live by every single day. She said‚ "God doesn't give us only what we can handle. He helps us handle what we've been given."2. "They are in a better place."Instead of comforting‚ this is a phrase that makes me feel down in the dumps. I longed to be a parent for so many years. And children are meant to be in the loving arms of their parents.I think I speak for every grieving mother and father when I say‚ we would give anything to hold our babies again.3. "At least you have one survivor. Count your blessings."I like to think of myself as a positive person. But even two years later‚ my heart still aches for Parker and Abby. And on the most difficult‚ dark days of grief‚ it's hard to "count my blessings."Yes‚ I am blessed. I have a gorgeous miracle child who is the light of my life. But Peyton should be playing with her brother and sister in our home‚ not just waving to their pictures and blowing kisses to heaven.4. "You are still young. You can have more children."It doesn't matter whether or not our biological clock is ticking. Many people have no idea what couples go through to have a child: Some can't have children of their own; others may face years of infertility or miscarriages. And for people like me‚ trying for more children may be something too scary to even think about. I came close to death after delivering my children — that's enough to scar me for life.5. "I don't know how you do it. I couldn't imagine losing two children."Some days I don't know how I do it either. But we learn how to live with it. We learn a "new normal‚" and in those tough moments‚ we celebrate that we survived the day. This comment is a difficult reminder of our grief and the children who were sent to heaven.So‚ what should you say to a grieving parent?There are no words to take the pain away‚ of course‚ but simply letting that person know you are there for them is more than enough.For me‚ the best thing someone can do is to talk about my angels. Say Parker and Abby by name‚ and don't be afraid to ask questions about them.While they were only here for a short time‚ they left a huge imprint on this world. I love talking about my angels‚ and simply hearing someone else mention them by name is enough to wipe away the grief and warm my heart for days.This article was written by Stacey Skrysak and originally appeared on 7.15.16

Rescuing a pet is an amazing and heroic undertaking. 7.6 million pets go into shelters each year‚ according to the ASPCA. And of those pets‚ about 2.7 million pets are rescued by humans who give them forever homes.Moscow-based comic artist Bird Born experienced firsthand the power of welcoming a pet into your family when he adopted a dog.Then his journey to understand his newest animal friend inspired an adorable and incredibly moving comic‚ too. Follow this artist's journey to help his new friend feel welcome in his home:Rescuing animals is a big commitment‚ and of course it doesn't come without challenges.When adopting any animal‚ there's fear and uncertainty about their past life. Were they abused? Were they malnourished? How will they respond to humans?Despite this‚ Born persevered with his new dog. "It took a lot of love and care to prove this animal that she was loved and needed‚" he writes in his comic.Today‚ he can rest easy knowing one less dog is in need. And that's proof enough that adopting a dog can make the world a better place.This article originally appeared on 08.23.16.

If you've ever taken a sewing class then you've probably had the pleasure of some older woman telling you to stick the loose end of the thread in your mouth as an easy way to thread it through the eye of a needle. Even with the soggy thread mending together the fibers at the end‚ you hands still shake and your eyes go crossed while you try to get it through the tiny hole. But it turns out that there's a much easier way to thread a needle and it doesn't involve licking it. In fact there's more than one way to thread a needle that will save you a headache from trying to see where the thread is going. There's one particular technique that has people thinking there may be witchcraft involved‚ but it's just science.In the method blowing everyone's minds‚ you simply lay the thread across your palm and rub the eye of the needle back and forth until a loop pops through the eye of the needle.Then there's there's the toothbrush method. Yeah‚ that sounds weird and it probably wouldn't be advisable to use your daily toothbrush for this. This method appears to be super easy and you can visibly see how this works. To get this to work‚ get a clean toothbrush and lay it flat on its back with the bristles up‚ lay the strand of thread on top and then push the eye of the needle down over the thread. The tiny bristles simply push the thread through the eye. @metdaan.official The easiest way to thread a needle! 💯 #thread #needle #hack #fyp #learnontiktok Apparently‚ you can also use a paper airplane to get the thread into the needle. It seems a little more time consuming than the other methods but also gets the job done. But there's also the tried and true method of simply using a needle threader which can be found near the thread and needles in craft and fabric stores.

From a potential fan to a bitter rival. The post The rock band that Michael Stipe called “boneheads” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Important learning curves. The post The two Pink Floyd songs Richard Wright called an “embarrassment” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

"It's all in the song." The post The Beatles song John Lennon called “a piece of journalism” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

"It's like a child's riff." The post How John Bonham helped craft Jimmy Page’s favourite Led Zeppelin riff first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

From the world's stage to rock and roll weirdness. The post Why did Mickey Dolenz turn down Frank Zappa? first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Working in the opposite direction. The post The band Lindsey Buckingham called the “opposite” of Fleetwood Mac first appeared on Far Out Magazine.