Curiosity Killed the Rat

Kade Huckstep & Matt Huckstep
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  • Science

Sibling duo attempt to explain and discuss some fun science; banter and hilarity ensue.

  1. 11/04/2024

    Pumpkins

    Did you know that - botanically speaking - Halloween Jack O’Lantern Pumpkins are more closely related to zucchini than they are to Kent / Jap pumpkins, butternut pumpkins, or giant pumpkins? This episode, Kade and Matt chat about some awesome PUMPKIN science! Like, speaking of giant pumpkins… how and why do they get so giant?!  What does it take, according to science, to grow amazing pumpkins? We chat about everything from companion planting, to the birds and the bees (that is, quite literally, pollination methods) of male and female flowers. We touch on history and culture, agricultural, and botanical science.  And then, sticking with the plant theme, we answer a listener question about the magic of plants and how they defy gravity to pump water from the ground up without a pumping heart!  As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: Cursed Turnip Jack O’Lantern: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-twisted-transatlantic-tale-of-american-jack-o-lanterns   Great video on Taxonomy and name daddy Carl Linnaeus:  https://youtu.be/F38BmgPcZ_I?si=2nS6wI4zDOZzpB-H   Male and Female Flowers: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/pollination-of-squash-and-pumpkins   Other Refs: https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article-abstract/81/3/233/2725697 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362020286_Recent_advances_in_genetics_and_breeding_of_pumpkin_Cucurbita_moschata_Duch https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39117354/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/200033556_The_Initial_Domestication_of_Cucurbita_pepo_in_the_Americas_10000_Years_Ago https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335470455_Functional_and_nutraceutical_properties_of_pumpkin_-_a_review https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pce.12502 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf063413d https://brill.com/view/journals/ijps/65/3-4/article-p202_202.xml?language=en

    1h 35m

  2. 10/08/2024

    Epilepsy (ft. Dr Lauren Bleakley)

    Epilepsy: you've heard of it, you likely know people who have it, but do you know the science behind it? This month, Kade and Matt are joined by Dr Lauren Bleakley to find out just that. Stick around to the end of the episode for our listener question looking at the surprising benefits of chocolate milk! As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: https://florey.edu.au/researcher/lauren-bleakley/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/epi.17447 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/33822003/ https://florey.edu.au/news/2024/05/ferns-story-proves-florey-research-is-life-changing/ https://florey.edu.au/news/2021/09/meet-the-florey-researchers-working-to-give-4-year-old-ebony-and-other-children-with-rare-genetic-epilepsies-a-better-life-through-world-first-research/ Listener Question: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16676705/ https://theconversation.com/is-chocolate-milk-a-good-recovery-drink-after-a-workout-a-dietitian-reviews-the-evidence-236685

    1h 4m

  3. 09/08/2024 ·  Bonus

    The Philosophy of Science (ft. Bodhi Houareau-Rose)

    This month, Kade and Matt are joined once again by Bodhi for a very special episode: The Philosophy of Science. This will be part 1 of 3 in a special series where we delve into some of the more abstract ideas about science itself. What is science? How effective is peer review? What is burden of proof? And much, much, much more. Make sure to check out the reference list below for further resources on anything we discuss during the episode.  As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: Podcasts as a medium for public discourse between rabbit-hole theorists and academics Rogan, J. [PowerfulJRE]. (2024, July 2). Joe Rogan Experience #2171 – Eric Weinstein & Terrence Howard [video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/nrOaFxNex7U?si=QvqPI3c7IaDH5f_1&t=12724 Dissipation Driven Adaptation Green, H. [SciShow]. (2020, June 16). How Cells Hack Entropy to Live [Video]. YouTube. How Cells Hack Entropy to Live (youtube.com). England, J. L. (2013). Statistical physics of self-replication. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 139(12), 121923 1 – 121923 7. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4818538. England, J. L. (2020). Every Life is on Fire: How Thermodynamics Explains the Origins of Living Things. Basic Books. Every Life Is on Fire: How Thermodynamics Explains the Origins of Living Things - Jeremy England - Google Books Cushman, A. S. (2023). Entropy, Ecology and Evolution: Toward a Unified Philosophy of Biology. Entropy (Basel, Switzerland), 25(3), 405. https://doi.org/10.3390/e25030405. King, E., Holzer, J., North, J. A., Cannon, W. R. (2023). An approach to learn regulation to maximize growth and entropy production rates in metabolism. Frontiers in Systems Biology, 3, 1-14. httpds://doi.org/10.3389/fsysb.2023.981866. Entropy = messy? Martin, J. S., Smith, N. A., Francis, C. D. (2013). Removing the entropy from the definition of entropy: clarifying the relationship between evolution, entropy, and the second law of thermodynamics. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 6(1), 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1936-6434-6-30. Leaves superconduct photons during photosynthesis Engel, G. S., Calhoun, T. R., Read, E. L., Ahn, T., Mančal, T., Cheng, Y., Blankenship, R. E., Fleming, G. R. (2007). Evidence for wavelike energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems. Nature 446, 782-786. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05678 Microtubules display superradiance PBS Space Time [PBS Space Time]. (2024, July 26). Was Penrose Right? NEW EVIDENCE For Quantum Effects In The Brain [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/xa2Kpkksf3k?si=xAhLJSieFgoR-5lJ&t=740 Hossenfelder, S. [Sabine Hossenfelder]. (2024, May 12). Brain Really Uses Quantum Effects, New Study Finds [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/R6G1D2UQ3gg?si=al7buCxmLEXnp43I&t=200 Babcock, N. S., Montes-Cabrera, G., Oberhofer, K. E., Chergui, M., Celardo, G. L., Kurian, P. (2024). Ultraviolet Superradiance from Mega-Networks of Tryptophan in Biological Architectures. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 128(17), 4035-4046. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07936. Microtubules form an integrated electromagnetic quantum information network Kuhn, R. L., and Bandyopadhyay, A. [Closer to Truth]. (2023, November 24). Anirban Bandyopadhyay – Quantum Physics of Consciousness [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/HbX7wlMspJM?si=QLVU6eFesAsrjf-b&t=303 Ghosh, S., Singh, P., Manna, J., Saxena, K., Sahoo, P., Krishnanda, S. D., Ray, K., Hill, J. P., and Bandyopadhyay, A. (2022). The century-old picture of a nerve spike is wrong: filaments fire, before membrane. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 15(1), 115–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2022.2071101 Exercise and Caloric Consumption: Negative Health Effects of Excess Energy Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshet [Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshel]. (2024, July 16). We Need to Rethink Exercise – The Workout Paradox [YouTube]. We Need to Rethink Exercise - The Workout Paradox (YouTube.com) Pontzer, H., Durazo-Arvizu, R., Dugas, L. R., Plange-Rhule, J., Bovet, P., Forrester, T. E., Lambert, E. V., Cooper, R. S., Schoeller, D., A., Luke, A. (2016). Constrained Total Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Adaptation to Physical Activity in Adult Humans. Current Biology, 26(3), 410-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.046 Pontzer, H., Wood, B. M., Raichlen, D. A. (2018). Hunter-gatherers as models in public health. Obesity Reviews, 19(S1), 24-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12785 Pontzer, H. (2018). Energy Constraint as a Novel Mechanism Linking Exercise and Health. Physiology, 33(6). https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00027.2018

    2h 41m

  4. 08/01/2024 ·  Bonus

    CKtR Flashback: Crying

    This month Kade & Matt take a break from recording to give listeners a blast from the past with their episode all about crying. Why do our eyes leak when we feel emotions, chop onions, or get poked in the eye? Do these scenarios lead to the creation of different types of tears? How are tears created? WHY? This episode, Kate and Matt delve into all these questions and so many more, as we chat all about crying. We also tackle a listener question about sweating – why do our palms sweat when we get nervous? References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4035568/ https://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/36619 https://psych-neuro.com/2014/03/14/the-biochemecial-purpose-of-crying/ https://scienceblogs.com/observations/2011/01/08/why-do-women-cry-obviously-its https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/crying.htm https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01240/full https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29888936/ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-87337-001 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dev.22058 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejp.1623 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/145/6/e20192719 https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-66680-001 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/29/4/579.short https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02134/full https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4062644/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1069397111404519 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01240/full

    1h 1m

  5. 07/01/2024

    Acetylcholine

    Acetylcholine: the greatest neurotransmitter you've never heard of. This month, Kade and Matt deep dive into what makes this chemical fascinating enough to make Kade spend the last 5 years of their life researching it. What does it do? How was it discovered? What makes it special? Listen to the end of the episode to hear Matt take on the role of asking the listener question, further picking Kade's brain about the many quirks of this neurotransmitter. As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/prp2.907 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006322320301311?casa_token=XEtugnkWjPoAAAAA:PEamLvvU-dxk9LrKn1uPs_LCj4T1gHdQpFd0CNZ_LXsaadFRiB1f6s0UBtLoBLKjS2GuRfAdp5ei https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/bph.15513 https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/bph.16081

    1h 33m

  6. 06/01/2024

    The Science of Narrative (ft. Riley)

    This episode on curiosity killed the rat, join Kade, Matt and Riley for a deep dive into the science of Narrative. How are human brains wired to understand the world via narrative, and how is this used both for and against us? We break down the concept of “narrative” into the components of setting, characters, and plot, and chat about some of the research being done in all of these areas. We also have a look at some real-life examples of the ways narrative is being harnessed to influence our beliefs and behaviour, from marketing to propaganda. Kade then answers a listener question about the metal in our blood: can it rust? As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: Book I read: The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr YouTube video I mention revealing this research is funded by the department of defence: https://youtu.be/zGrf0LGn6Y4?si=baBvBsstRUV2z30L Video trying to spin narrative to blame Palestinian for Holocaust: https://youtu.be/f9HmkRYlVZw?si=qpUScFJhhXFI8lP1 The effect of perceived cost on taste (of wine) studies: https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/1017 https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.0706929105 Social Influence Research (hotel towel example): https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/dont-throw-in-the-towel-use-social-influence-research Social influence neuro: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222561008_Neural_mechanisms_of_social_influence Anthropomorphism and Dehumanization: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4020342/ Dehumanisation neuroimaging: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6696401_Dehumanizing_the_Lowest_of_the_Low_Neuroimaging_Responses_to_Extreme_Out-Groups Self-perception and behaviour: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6453731_The_spyglass_self_A_model_of_vicarious_self-perception Narrative transportation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287364520_Effects_of_narrative_transportation_on_persuasion_A_meta-analysis Framing and support for addiction policies: https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/publication/can-redirecting-values-increase-support-for-addiction-policies-and-related-issues/ “War of the ghosts” story: https://online-learning-college.com/knowledge-hub/gcses/gcse-psychology-help/bartletts-war-of-the-ghosts/ Paper on neuromarketing / consumer neuroscience: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2377-13-13 Emotion and decision making: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24905597/ Coke and pepsi study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15473974/ Relating to Media Bias: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2023.128219 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17506352231178148 https://www.jstor.org/stable/41858380 https://fair.org/home/the-illusion-of-balance/?fbclid=IwAR02QPzY5_l3cg7NwKcZTKyr4ISHxt1PrWJiiWoumHT1nqlb1nAFlcU88rc Propaganda rebranded as “Public Relations”: https://theconversation.com/the-manipulation-of-the-american-mind-edward-bernays-and-the-birth-of-public-relations-44393

    2h 4m

  7. 04/30/2024

    Antarctica 2: Electric Igloo (ft. Dr Jarrod McKenna)

    Welcome to season 5 of Curiosity Killed the Rat! To kick off the year, Kade and Matt welcome special guest Dr Jarrod McKenna onto the show once again to talk about his recent amazing experience visiting Antarctica: a place so cool it deserved another whole episode. What's it like to visit one of the most isolated places in the world as a tourist? How is climate change affecting this beautiful continent? What can we do as regular people to help? Stick around to the end of the episode to hear all this, and the listener question: alcohol and the menstrual cycle. How does one affect the other? As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com. We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. Jarrod's website: https://drjarrodmckenna.com/ Citizen science links: https://citizenscience.org.au/ https://seadragonsearch.org/ https://happywhale.com/home https://happywhale.com/whaleid

    1h 30m

  8. 12/31/2023

    MDMA & Psilocybin

    In one final episode for 2023 / season 4 of Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kade and Matt bring you an extended special reflecting on one of the biggest Australian milestones of 2023: the re-classification and approval of MDMA and Psilocybin to assist therapy. Kade leads us through the science accompanying the historical journey of these drugs; from their discovery and synthesis, through their recreational use (both legal and illegal), to their status today as promising therapeutic compounds. Stick around for a listener question of great seriousness and importance: If a tree in the forest falls and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: Kade’s Article The Therapeutic Odyssey of Psilocybin and MDMA: A Return to Roots https://rsv.org.au/psilocybin-and-mdma/ Seeking the magic mushroom — Originally published in 1957 Life Magazine https://www.trippingly.net/lsd/2018/5/14/seeking-the-magic-mushroom Hofmann, A. (1959). Psychotomimetic drugs. Acta physiologica et pharmacologica Neerlandica, 8, 240-258. Shulgin, A. T. (1964). 3-Methoxy-4 5-methylenedioxy Amphetamine, a New Psychotomimetic Agent. Nature, 201(4924), 1120-1121. Stolaroff, M. J. (1997). The secret chief revealed: Conversations with a pioneer of the underground psychedelic therapy movement. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Sessa, B., Higbed, L., & Nutt, D. (2019). A review of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 138. Nutt, D. J., King, L. A., & Nichols, D. E. (2013). Effects of Schedule I drug laws on neuroscience research and treatment innovation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(8), 577-585. Grob, C. S., Danforth, A. L., Chopra, G. S., Hagerty, M., McKay, C. R., Halberstadt, A. L., & Greer, G. R. (2011). Pilot study of psilocybin treatment for anxiety in patients with advanced-stage cancer. Archives of general psychiatry, 68(1), 71-78. Mithoefer, M. C., Wagner, M. T., Mithoefer, A. T., Jerome, L., & Doblin, R. (2011). The safety and efficacy of±3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of psychopharmacology, 25(4), 439-452. Li, N. X., Hu, Y. R., Chen, W. N., & Zhang, B. (2022). Dose effect of psilocybin on primary and secondary depression: a preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 296, 26-34. Carhart-Harris, R., Giribaldi, B., Watts, R., Baker-Jones, M., Murphy-Beiner, A., Murphy, R., ... & Nutt, D. J. (2021). Trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(15), 1402-1411. Bogenschutz, M. P., Ross, S., Bhatt, S., Baron, T., Forcehimes, A. A., Laska, E., ... & Worth, L. (2022). Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry, 79(10), 953-962. Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Griffiths, R. R. (2017). Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 43(1), 55-60. Peck, S. K., Shao, S., Gruen, T., Yang, K., Babakanian, A., Trim, J., ... & Kaye, W. H. (2023). Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study. Nature Medicine, 29(8), 1947-1953. Danforth, A. L., Grob, C. S., Struble, C., Feduccia, A. A., Walker, N., Jerome, L., ... & Emerson, A. (2018). Reduction in social anxiety after MDMA-assisted psychotherapy with autistic adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Psychopharmacology, 235(11), 3137-3148. Wolfson, P. E., Andries, J., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., Wang, J. B., Williams, E., ... & Doblin, R. (2020). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety and other psychological distress related to life-threatening illnesses: a randomized pilot study. Scientific reports, 10(1), 20442. Mitchell, J. M., Bogenschutz, M., Lilienstein, A., Harrison, C., Kleiman, S., Parker-Guilbert, K., ... & Doblin, R. (2023). MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Focus, 21(3), 315-328. Nicholas, C. R., Wang, J. B., Coker, A., Mitchell, J. M., Klaire, S. S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., ... & Doblin, R. (2022). The effects of MDMA-assisted therapy on alcohol and substance use in a phase 3 trial for treatment of severe PTSD. Drug and alcohol dependence, 233, 109356. Sessa, B., Higbed, L., O’Brien, S., Durant, C., Sakal, C., Titheradge, D., ... & Nutt, D. J. (2021). First study of safety and tolerability of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in patients with alcohol use disorder. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 35(4), 375-383. Hoshi, R., Bisla, J., & Curran, H. V. (2004). The acute and sub-acute effects of ‘ecstasy’(MDMA) on processing of facial expressions: preliminary findings. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 76(3), 297-304. Rootman, J. M., Kiraga, M., Kryskow, P., Harvey, K., Stamets, P., Santos-Brault, E., ... & Walsh, Z. (2022). Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 11091. Cavanna, F., Muller, S., de la Fuente, L. A., Zamberlan, F., Palmucci, M., Janeckova, L., ... & Tagliazucchi, E. (2022). Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Translational Psychiatry, 12(1), 307. Passie, Torsten, and Andrew Dennis, 'The Early History of MDMA', The History of MDMA MAPS FDA MDMA application: https://mapsbcorp.com/news/mdma-for-ptsd-fda-submission/ MDMA neurotoxicity: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.301.5639.1479b https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1074501 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.301.5639.1454b https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC194116/ Woke pharmaceuticals: https://wokeph.com/ Tik Tok Video: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNCVW7gn/

    2h 19m
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About

Sibling duo attempt to explain and discuss some fun science; banter and hilarity ensue.

Information

  • Creator
    Kade Huckstep & Matt Huckstep
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Curiosity Killed the Rat