1. What retirement decisions do I need to think about?

2. What should I know about Medicare?

3. Can I afford to self-insure for long-term care?

4. Do I have enough money to have some fun?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time when the disease affecting hundreds of thousands of American women each year gets renewed attention.

American women have a one in eight chance (12.9%) of developing breast cancer during their lifetimes, while American men have a one in 800 chance (0.13%), according to the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute.  

Each year about 264,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 42,000 women die of the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. (About 2,400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and some 500 men die from it annually, CDC data shows.)

KATIE COURIC'S BREAST CANCER: WHAT OTHER WOMEN CAN LEARN FROM HER DIAGNOSIS 

Since breast cancer is more commonly found in women aged 40 and up, medical professionals and organizations recommend routine breast cancer screenings for middle-aged and senior women. This includes mammograms — a breast cancer screening method that's led to age-based debate among experts.

There are also important breast cancer risk factors to note, say experts. 

"Having one first-degree relative with breast cancer doubles a woman’s risk," Dr. Kathleen Kiernan Harnden, director of breast oncology at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Annandale, Virginia, told Fox News Digital.

Other high-risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, a known genetic mutation or a previous breast biopsy, according to Harnden.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR'S INCLUSIVE LINGERIE BRAND CATERS TO DIAGNOSED WOMEN 

Given this, Harnden said there are three questions all women should ask themselves before they request a mammogram consultation or appointment: 

1. Do I have an increased risk of breast cancer? 

2. How can I reduce my risk for breast cancer? 

3. Will my mammogram be three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D)?

Harnden recommends 3D mammography over 2D because multiple images are taken from different angles, which may make breast tissue analysis clearer.

Here's a deeper dive into these topics.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease that occurs in breast tissue when cells in the breast "change and grow out of control," according to MedlinePlus, an online health information service produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

The cells that cause breast cancer usually form a tumor — an abnormal mass of tissue.

Cancer cells and cancerous tumors (malignant) are dangerous because they can disrupt organ functions and kill healthy cells if left to spread, which can cause serious harm or death if left untreated, according to a report from MedicalNewsToday, a medical news website owned by Healthline Media.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer, says the National Cancer Institute.

Breast cancer diagnoses are extremely rare in teens. Teen girls between ages 15 and 19 have an incidence rate of 0.2 per 100,000, the CDC indicates.

Girls younger than 15 don’t have a calculated breast cancer incidence rate because the CDC suppresses data when there are fewer than 16 cases, which the agency notes on its "United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations" webpage.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: FOX NEWS’ KAYLEIGH MCENANY, GERRI WILLIS, JACKIE DEANGELIS GET REAL ABOUT DIAGNOSES 

Breast cancer incidence rates steadily increase with age, but it remains low for women under age 40, CDC data shows.

While not all experts agree on whether women under age 40 should receive mammograms, young women in their 20s and 30s have been diagnosed with breast cancer, according to incidence data published by the CDC, which dates back to 2019.

The incidence rate of breast cancer for middle-aged women steadily increases every four years.

Women between the ages of 20 and 24 have a breast cancer incidence rate of 1.8 per 100,000. 

The incidence rate jumps to 10.5 per 1000,000 women, 30.1 per 100,000 women and 64.8 per 100,000 women, for women ages 25 to 29, 30 to 34 and 35 to 39, respectively.

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Breast cancer incidence rates spike from ages 40 to 74, the CDC’s data shows.

The incidence rate for middle-aged women steadily increases every four years. For example, women ages 40 to 44 have a breast cancer incidence rate of 131.7 per 100,000 women while women ages 55 to 59 have a breast cancer incidence rate of 273.3 per 100,000 women.

Breast cancer diagnoses are even more common in senior women. The CDC’s data show women from age 60 to 64 have a breast cancer incidence rate of 339.8 per 100,000 women while women from age 65 to 69 have a breast cancer incidence rate of 425.2 per 100,000 women and women from age 70 to 74 have a breast cancer incidence rate of 475.8 per 100,000 women — the highest of any age group.

Declines in breast cancer incidence rates start to happen after age 75, according to the CDC.

What is a mammogram? 

Mammograms are an X-ray procedure that helps doctors detect early signs of breast cancer, according to the CDC.

The machines used to conduct mammograms have plastic plates that flatten breasts, so X-ray images can be taken and analyzed by radiologists for abnormalities.

Mammogram results are typically reported in a few weeks, according to the CDC.

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Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer, the health agency reports, but some women have higher-density breasts if they’re younger in age, pregnant or breastfeeding, taking hormone replacement therapy or have a lower body weight.

"Dense tissue can hide cancers," the CDC wrote in a "What Does It Mean to Have Dense Breasts?" report.

"Fibrous and glandular tissue looks white on a mammogram. So does a possible tumor," the CDC continued. "Because it’s hard to tell the difference between a tumor and dense breast tissue on a mammogram, a small tumor may be missed."

Dr. Mona Jhaveri, cancer researcher and founder of Music Beats Cancer, a creative nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital that dense breast tissue occurs in half of all women ages 40 and up.

"It's well known that detecting cancer lesions in women with dense breast tissue can be difficult," Jhaveri said. "Mammography is the standard of care for breast cancer screening, [but] it certainly has its risks and limitations."

Delaying a breast cancer diagnosis has a higher risk than radiation exposure.

Potential risks associated with mammography screening include overdiagnosis, false positives, anxiety and radiation injury, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in disease prevention — says women who place a higher value on the potential benefit of mammography over potential harm can choose to begin breast cancer screening once every two years between ages 40 and 49 years. 

WOMAN BATTLING STAGE 4 BREAST CANCER AFTER DELAYED SCREENINGS AMID PANDEMIC

The CDC says similar breast screening guidelines have been issued to women ages 40 to 49 with "average risk" by the American Cancer Society, American College of Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Radiology, American College of Physicians and American Academy of Family Physicians.

Three out of the six aforementioned cancer organizations recommend annual mammograms for concerned women who are between the ages of 40 and 49, if they so choose.

Women who are age 50 and older are generally advised to get mammograms done annually or bi-annually.

All cancer organizations advise women to speak with a health care provider to weigh the potential benefits and risks of getting a mammogram.

Age and family history of cancer are two factors that are taken into consideration during mammogram consultations, the CDC reports.

What should you know about mammogram radiation?

Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a Dallas-based OB-GYN who is chief medical officer at Verywell Health, a health information website, said most breast cancer cases are diagnosed after age 50, which is why mammograms are usually done for women who are closer to that age marker.

"The dose of radiation from a mammogram is pretty low and very rarely poses a risk, making them a safe diagnostic tool, and typically someone only needs a mammogram once a year. Therefore there is no risk of too much radiation exposure," Shepherd told Fox News Digital.

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She noted that there’s a "small link to an increased risk of breast cancer over time due to [mammogram] frequency and also size of the breasts," but "overall this increase in risk is very small." 

Delaying a breast cancer diagnosis has a higher risk than radiation exposure, Shepherd said.

"When caught early, breast cancer is highly treatable, and mammograms can be highly beneficial in these cases," Shepherd continued. "If [breast cancer is] allowed to advance, a patient may have to receive more complex treatment such as surgery or chemo, which is way more invasive than radiation exposure from a mammogram."

Breast cancer screening alternatives

Other breast cancer screening methods exist for women who aren’t eligible or don’t want to undergo a mammogram.

The CDC lists breast ultrasounds, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinical breast examinations and self-checks as possible screenings for breast cancer.

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Ultrasounds generate pictures (AKA sonograms) using sound waves while MRIs are computerized body scans that generate pictures using magnets.

Clinical breast exams are conducted by a doctor or nurse. During exams, medical professionals check for abnormal lumps or other physically detectable changes in breast tissue by hand.

Women can check their breasts for common breast cancer symptoms, including lumps, pain and changes in size.

"You should report any changes that you notice to your doctor or health care provider," the CDC wrote in a "What Is Breast Cancer Screening?" guide. 

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"Having a clinical breast exam or doing a breast self-exam has not been found to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer," the CDC also said.

In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, we are always rushing to find an answer. But that leads me to think: What makes a great question? After wrapping up three seasons of my podcast, people have asked me: How do you know how to ask the right questions and keep the flow going?

Well, it’s hard for me to truly break that down as I try to let the creative side of my brain take over and just go with the flow. When you begin, you may have a more technical breakdown of questions, but in all honesty that can become problematic, as you never know where the conversation is going to go, which is a good thing. A lot of times, the sense of urgency that is coupled with seeking solutions can cause us to overlook the power of asking the right questions. A lot of this is accomplished through listening and taking a moment.

Keep memorizing to discover how you can break the process down, ask the right questions in meetings and maybe even lead to hosting an award-winning podcast.

Polar Questions

One of the most common types of questions we ask in conversations is polar. These questions are typically closed, meaning they invite a one-word answer. Questions like “What is your name?” or “Would you like tea or coffee?” are polar questions. Although they only invite a one-word response, polar questions can be useful for breaking the ice with someone new. You can also build off of polar questions with more questions, leading you into a great conversation.

Just like with all the question types that we will discuss, there is an ideal setting for when to ask polar questions. Because they are typically easy to answer, beginning your meetings with a polar question can be a great way to get your team warmed up and ready for some in-depth discussions. They are also great to ask when you need a quick answer.

Clarifying Questions

Asking clarifying questions can help us to better understand what someone said. It is common for people to rush through conversations and misinterpret the meaning of what is being said. In those cases, asking clarifying questions can help you uncover the true intent behind someone’s words. As humans, we tend to overlook the power of asking clarifying questions. Instead, we will fill in the blanks and make assumptions about what the other person means. However, this leaves room for misunderstandings and confusion, which can mislead you on the path to achieving your goals. That’s why clarifying questions are so important.

To introduce these, you can start by asking things like, “Can you tell me more?” or “What do you mean by that?” Doing this can help enrich your conversations and fast-track you on the route to your goals.

Adjoining Questions

Adjoining questions are another great way to expand the depth of your conversations. These questions can be used to bring attention to related subjects or potential problems that are being ignored in the conversation. It is natural for us to focus only on immediate tasks so that we can provide solutions quickly. However, expanding your conversations by asking exploratory questions can help you and your team derive solutions that will be useful throughout a broadened range of contexts.

The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?

To practice coming up with great adjoining questions, begin by asking yourself how a particular concept or solution can be applied in a different context. For example, asking a question such as, “How would this concept impact our market in the U.K.?” can open up a broadened discussion on the behavioral differences between consumers in the U.S. and the U.K. that you may not have otherwise considered.

Elevating Questions

Elevating questions help us zoom out of the immediate context so we can see the bigger picture. When we are too immersed in the issue at hand, it becomes more difficult to identify the root causes of the case and the context behind it. That’s why asking questions that encourage us to take a step back and approach the problem with a new lens can be helpful. With a simple introduction, you can enhance a standard performance review into a broader conversation on helpful ways your team can enhance performance altogether.

Knowing how to ask the right elevating questions during a discussion can help make you a vital asset to your team. Next time you are in a meeting with your co-workers, try to raise issues by asking elevating questions such as, “How does this tie into larger trends that we should be concerned about?” or “When you take a step back, does this problem reveal any larger issues?” If you ask these questions at the right times, you will be amazed at the informative and useful conversations that can present themselves.

Funneling Questions

If you would like to dive deeper into a topic, asking funneling questions is a great place to start. These can help you better understand the process behind an answer or solution. Familiarizing yourself with the method that led to a particular solution can help you pinpoint any assumptions that were made along the way. Funneling questions are useful because they open up the context of the conversation to a deeper analysis.

Some of the most useful funneling questions involve asking things like, “How did you complete this step of the process?” or “Why did you choose not to include notes on that step?” However, the more detailed the better. Once you have these ideas in place, things will start to become more natural. The nice thing about this is you can practice this anywhere and organically start up conversations throughout the day. Some of the best projects I’ve produced have come out of a friendly conversation. Just asking if a horror writer had a script in the family genre — we ended up going into pre-production two weeks later on that movie.

I always say that keeping these ideas in mind and staying free is the best way to be. Interviews and meetings can take on interesting twists and turns. Be flexible and open to discussions that come up — and maybe start that podcast you’ve been talking about.

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Texas Medical Board suspended a Richardson anesthesiologist's license after it was determined he could pose "a continuing threat to public welfare."

Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr. has been under federal investigation in connection with tainted IV bags that may have caused the death of a colleague and caused complications in patients during routine surgeries. 

The I-Team sent several questions to our regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical associations to get answers about the safety and integrity of IV bags and the medicines which go in them prior to the bags moving into patients' rooms.

THE FDA SAYS IV BAGS ARE NOT "TAMPER-PROOF"

If you have a headache, you might reach for an over-the-counter pain killer.

Before you take it, you'll likely open a box, pull off a plastic seal wrap, remove a child-proof cap, punch out a foil seal, and probably remove a cotton ball before getting to the pills.

If any of these safety features were removed or tampered with, you could visually tell.

However, if you're lying in the hospital, in your most vulnerable state, knocked out on a table, the I-Team has learned the equivalent of all these precautions does not exists for the doctors giving patients medicine through an IV.

The case involving Dr. Raynado Ortiz may have patients asking:

HOW CAN SOMEONE TAMPER WITH AN IV BAG BEFORE IT GETS TO A PATIENT'S ROOM?

The Federal Drug Administration would not go on camera, but in a statement, it told the I-Team that IV bags do not normally contain a tamper proof feature.

In a letter to the I-Team, a spokesperson said:

"Empty IV bags are devices intended for the transfer and admixture of medications and are used to administer solutions intravenously via a spike port. These devices do not normally contain a tamper proof feature. The agency has cleared accessories to these devices that are intended to provide a tamper evident seal for IV bags. IV bags are only used in prescription use settings (i.e. hospitals, certain other inpatient and outpatient facilities."

The FDA also stated individual bags do not normally contain a tamper evidence feature:

"The bags do not normally contain a tamper evidence feature. Available accessories provide visual evidence that medication has been added to the bag (e.g., a seal or cap that is placed onto a medication port)," a spokesperson stated in an email to the I-Team.

Tamper proof means the bags, or product, cannot be compromised.

Tamper evident means, if the bags, or products, have been compromised, someone could tell.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy also told the I-Team individual IV bags are not considered tamper proof or tamper evident.

In an email exchange with the I-Team, a spokesperson stated:

"No, individual IV bags are not considered "tamper proof." These individual IV bags are shipped in a sealed, cardboard case from the manufacturer. A hospital or medical facility may receive a sealed case from their distributor. There is a procedure that is typically followed by the hospital or medical facility to match the case to what was ordered and a brief inspection of the case for signs that it has been opened, a spokesperson stated in an email to the I-Team.

For example: A case of 1 Liter (1000 mL) bags of normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) may have 12 individual IV bags per case. The manufacturer typically has placed a protective, plastic overwrap over each individual IV bag within the case. When the sealed case is opened up by the hospital or medical facility, they may remove the individual IV bag but will leave on the protective, plastic overwrap. This protective, plastic overwrap is what should remain in place until it is ready for use."

The I-Team asked:

CAN YOU TELL IF A BAG, EITHER FILLED WITH SALINE OR UNFILLED, HAS BEEN POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED PRIOR TO USAGE?

The NABP spokesperson said:

"This would be very difficult and the scenarios where this could potentially be detected would widely vary depending on the circumstances."

IV BAG TAMPERING COULD GO "UNDETECTED"

The NABP and the American Society of Anesthesiologists both said a bag typically has a thin, protective plastic film surrounding it.

ASA President-elect Dr. Michael Champeau said that wrapper should remain in place until use; however, he says, "It would be possible to tamper with that and have it be largely undetected. ….It would be possible to create a very small hole there."

In the investigation involving Baylor, Scott and White Surgicare, investigators state the bags "…showed small puncture holes in the clear plastic packaging bags that encase the IV bags."

The bags usually arrive to medical facilities pre-filled with saline. Additional meds are added through a port.

WHAT SAFETY FEATURES ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF MEDICINES PUT INSIDE IV BAGS?  

"It's a unique system," explained Dr. Marv Shepherd, a lecturer and consultant for the University of Texas College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Shepherd said medicines are sealed and digitally tracked and traced as they travel to pharmacies; however, once they get there, they arrive in "larger bottles" where tampering would be hard to detect.

"It will have a plastic seal on the top, but, once that's broken, a lot of people will have access to it then, but hopefully, they are professionals, and they won't tamper with it," explained Shepherd.

Dr. Shepherd says a medical professional tampering with medicines or IV bags is "very rare!" He only recalls one other tampering case involving a "professional."

He does point to a very public case as the answer to the next question:

WHY DO OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES HAVE SAFETY FEATURES?

In 1982, seven people died after taking Tylenol bought on store shelves - that were laced with cyanide. The culprit was never caught but good did come.

This is why over-the-counter bottles typically are in sealed boxes, have triple plastic wraps and foil punch-out coverings under the child-proof lid.

WILL THIS HIGHLY PUBLICIZED NORTH TEXAS IV BAG CASE RESULT IN ANY REGULATORY CHANGES?

"I think it's highly probable the FDA will require tamper resistant packaging seals on IV bags," said Dr. Shepherd, "Very probable!"

Dr. Shepherd told the I-Team that regulations will likely happen as a direct result of the North Texas surgicare case. 

FDA-APPROVED "ACCESSORIES" WOULD PROVIDE TAMPER-PROOF AND TAMPER-EVIDENT FEATURES

The FDA regulates IV bags as Class II Medical Devices. This means they are subject to adverse event reporting and label requirements.

An FDA spokesperson told the I-Team:

"IV containers are regulated as Class II devices under the Code of Federal Regulations. They are subject to FDA premarket review under section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and to general controls under the statute and regulations, such as labeling requirements and reporting of adverse events. To learn more about device classification, please see our website."

In responding to the I-Team's questions, the spokesperson stated that the FDA has cleared accessories for IV bags with tamper proof and tamper evident features.

"FDA regulation requires that manufactures follow current good manufacturing practice (GMPs) for methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the manufacturing, packing, storage, and installation of medical devices. These requirements are in place, in part, to help ensure the integrity of the products released from the facility, and that the devices have proper instructions for shipping, storage, and handling. "

For now, these IV bag safety accessories are not mandated.

For the first time ever, U.S. national debt crossed above $31 trillion this month, at a time when the Federal Reserve is in retreat from buying government debt and foreign investors’ interest in it is waning.

With the largest players out of the picture, Treasurys are now in search of another reliable group of buyers for much of that debt. There’s little doubt that the securities will eventually end up in someone’s hands, according to strategist Matthew Hornbach at Morgan Stanley. The bigger question, he says, is what price those securities will then be bought and sold at via marginal players.

© Provided by Washington Examiner The Supreme Court is visible as a boy sits across the street in Washington on July 1, 2022.

In deciding West Virginia v. EPA last term, the Supreme Court invoked a rarely used concept called the “major questions doctrine.” This holds that when an administrative agency claims authority to issue a far-reaching or unprecedented new rule, it must be able to show that Congress specifically authorized what the agency is proposing. At this time, with this court, we are likely to see many more cases in which this agency-restricting doctrine is invoked.

The underlying policy of the major questions doctrine is as clear as the Constitution itself: Under the Constitution’s separation of powers, Congress must make the laws, not an administrative agency. Administrative agencies cannot use a generally stated authority from Congress, such as the EPA’s authority to address air pollution or climate change, to create rules that the agency cannot show were intended or even contemplated by Congress. If the conservative majority of the court stays with this position — and there is every indication that it will — the result will be a narrowing of the powers of administrative agencies.

The facts of the case provide some guidance for how far agencies can stray from the authority they receive from Congress. Over time, the EPA has been authorized to limit air pollution as well as the release of carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases that some scientists believe can create unwanted climate change. However, the EPA used this authority to issue regulations that would completely change the structure of the private power industry.

Peter J. Wallison is a senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute. His most latest book is Judicial Fortitude: The Last Chance to Rein in the Administrative State (Encounter, 2018).

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Tags: Opinion, Op-Eds, EPA, Supreme Court, Climate Change, Law

Original Author: Peter Wallison

Original Location: Supreme Court's embrace of 'major questions' could rein in administrative state

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One of the most interesting aspects of the Splatoon series is its penchant for surprisingly deep lore. The first two games featured numerous hints to the flooded world that existed before Inklings became a dominant species, while Splatoon 3 gets a lot more overt with the truth of the matter.

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In spite of the numerous questions that Splatoon 3's story finally answers, there are still just as many stones left unturned. In fact, despite the fairly solid resolution, the ending of the story actually presents a gaggle of entirely new conundrums for us to ponder.

Obviously, we'll be getting into severe spoilers for Splatoon 3's Hero Mode. Go play it first, it's quite a ride!

How Long Has O.R.C.A. Been Active?

When you first enter Alterna, you're greeted by its automated guidance system, O.R.C.A. According to the Alterna Log, O.R.C.A. was originally created by the scholars of Alterna to function as a digital record keeper, keeping track of both human history and their own discoveries.

What isn't clear is how long O.R.C.A. has been active. Was it still up and running when Alterna fell, and it's just been humming along quietly for thousands of years? Or did it go dormant with the fall of humanity, and was only recently reactivated by Mr. Grizz to run his operation?

Why Does O.R.C.A. Dispense Power Eggs And Ink Weapons?

As you trek through Alterna's various tests and challenges, O.R.C.A. regularly rewards you with Power Eggs and cycles out your ink weaponry. Why does O.R.C.A. have access to either of these, though? Power Eggs, at least presumably, come from Salmonids, which didn't exist until well after the fall of humanity, and the same goes for ink weaponry and Inklings.

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It's possible that Mr. Grizz retrofitted O.R.C.A. with this tech while he was creating his egg-gathering operation, but even then, why would it offer ink weapons in Alterna? It's one thing to rent out weapons from Grizzco proper, but as far as Mr. Grizz was concerned, Inklings should never have set foot in Alterna.

How Many People Actually Lived In Alterna?

According to the Alterna Log, the remnants of humanity lived in their dome for a few decades, at least long enough for a new generation to be born and reach adulthood. As you walk through Alterna yourself, though, it doesn't exactly look... habitable. There are only a handful of islands with anything even resembling housing facilities.

The dome barely seems big enough to sustain a small community, let alone humanity's remnants. Granted, the collapse of the rock structures around the dome might have caused some flooding, so it's entirely possible there's a whole city under the islands that we're just not seeing.

Is There A Connection Between Alterna And Kamabo Corporation?

If you've played Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion, then it's pretty hard to dismiss the similarities between Alterna's systems and those of the Kamabo Corporation. The layout of the tests, the reward and toll structure, the ink weapon systems; it's all too close to be a coincidence.

Commander Tartar mentioned that it and Kamabo were created by a brilliant human scientist who sought to pass humanity's wisdom onto the next dominant species of Earth. Given Alterna's population of brilliant scientists, it's possible, and in fact likely, that Kamabo's founder was an Alterna native.

How Did Mr. Grizz Start Grizzco?

According to the Alterna Log, the test subject bear that would come to be known as Mr. Grizz gained super-intelligence after spending thousands of years dreaming in cryo sleep before returning to Earth. This was how, upon rediscovering Alterna, he was able to repair it and develop the first samples of Fuzzy Ooze. However, to facilitate the Ooze's creation, and his own plan to spread it, he needed Golden Eggs, which is what Grizzco is for.

How did Mr. Grizz actually secure the capital and equipment for Grizzco, though? Presumably, he's got some cutouts handling things above-ground, but he had to have made contact with Inklings here and there to get his business off the ground. Even if he never revealed himself, how was he able to wire any money to buy things like real estate?

How Did Mr. Grizz Get Octarians?

On the subject of acquisitions, the Alterna test chambers are absolutely lousy with Octarians, converted to Mr. Grizz's cause thanks to the Fuzzy Ooze. Presumably, he assembled this little army to repel intruders, as well as to have a steady supply of test subjects for the Ooze. How did he get them in the first place, though?

DJ Octavio, for his numerous faults, is protective of his troops. That's why he's flying around in the Octobot King in the Crater, because he's out looking for them. How did Mr. Grizz manage to snag his Octarian subjects right from under Octavio's proverbial nose, and presumably without actually leaving Alterna?

Why Can Smallfry Eat Fuzzy Ooze?

Salmonids have proven that they are capable of incredible feats of both physicality and invention, despite their... unusual ways. That said, they are just as vulnerable to ink weaponry as Inklings, Octolings, and presumably any other sea creature. Why, then, is Smallfry able to ignore the detrimental effects of Fuzzy Ooze and devour Fuzzballs whole?

Cap'n Cuttlefish notes offhand that Salmonids are capable of some pretty wild feats when empowered by their own Power Eggs. This is certainly evident given the wide variety of Salmonid subspecies. Perhaps sufficient empowerment improves Smallfry's metabolism to the point that he can digest the Ooze faster than it can digest him?

What Happened To Cap'n Cuttlefish?

In the climax of Hero Mode, Mr. Grizz explains over the radio that he needs the collective knowledge of humanity contained in the liquid crystals. These crystals are apparently stored in Cap'n Cuttlefish's brain, for which Mr. Grizz dehydrates him to steal. In spite of his apparent lack of a brain, however, Cap'n Cuttlefish is still fully cognizant and ambulatory, if not a lot smaller and more wrinkly.

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Since we don't actually see what Mr. Grizz does to Cap'n Cuttlefish, it's difficult to guess what he actually took from him. It's possible that he didn't need all of his brain, just a few important bits. Inklings are biologically flexible creatures, after all, so perhaps Cap'n Cuttlefish's body was able to restore the important bits after being rehydrated.

Why Did Smallfry Turn Into Hugefry?

Previous Splatoon games have shown that singing the Calamari Inkantation can make miraculous things happen, usually in the ballpark of undoing brainwashing or empowering heroes. That said, there's a gulf of difference between "undoing brainwashing" and "transforming a little fish guy into a giant flying fish monster."

And yet, perhaps because Callie and Marie were singing alongside Deep Cut, the Inkation manages to spontaneously infuse Smallfry with the power of all of Earth's marine life, and transform him into the aptly named Hugefry. Is this something all Salmonids are capable of doing, or can only Smallfry do it because he's your little buddy?

Who's Running Grizzco?

During the credits roll of Splatoon 3, you can see Mr. Grizz floating around in space, presumably still alive but likely trapped in orbit. By this point, his plan has been completely scuttled, and even if it hadn't been, he's hardly in a position to secure any more resources from the planet. So... why is Grizzco still open?

Obviously, Grizzco can't close because then you couldn't play Salmon Run, but even putting that aside, Mr. Grizz still calls you during your shifts to issue orders and whatnot. We're just speculating here, but the likely answer to this one is that all of Mr. Grizz's calls have been pre-recorded from the start, and the egg-gathering process is mostly automated. All the collected eggs going forward are probably just going to end up in a big, unattended pile somewhere.

NEXT: Relatable Things Every Player Does In Splatoon 3