The NFL is known for charging an arm and a leg for game tickets, and now the Baltimore Ravens seem to be coming after their fans’ DNA history as well. Last Sunday, at the Ravens’ home opener versus the Cleveland Browns, there was supposed to be a mass collection of 55,000 cheek swabs at M&T Bank Stadium, but it was thwarted by the Maryland Department of Health.
Genetic testing company Orig3n had originally planned on giving away testing kits to fans for a promotional event known as “DNA Day.” “Purple and black are in your genes,” ads for the promotion read. “Now find out what else is.” Fans were to be been given cheek swabs upon entering the stadium that were to be placed in a receptacle. After undergoing lab tests, fans would be notified of their results via email.
According to Orig3n the tests would provide valuable insights into the fans’ genetic traits that determine their athletic potential, including language ability, vitamin D absorption, muscle force, and sugar-induced aging. But just because they’re fans of a sport doesn’t automatically mean they also want to play sports — or that they’re interested in a cheek swab before a game.
The promotion also raised questions about consumer privacy. Test-takers at the stadium — many of whom might have just endured hours of beer-swilling in the parking lot — may not be aware that Orig3n would hold the right to sell their genetic information to a third party as long as any identifying information was removed. “I’m worried that people don’t fully understand that the ways these companies operate is like Google, which offers you a free search engine, but the way it makes its money is selling your data to advertisers,” Kayte Spector-Bagdady, chief of the research ethics division at the University of Michigan Medical School, told BuzzFeed News.
The promotion was finally shut down by Maryland’s Department of Health after a request from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. They questioned whether Orig3n’s lab requires a permit saying it’s in compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, a set of standards for laboratory testing of humans.
But don’t worry, Ravens fans, you may get your DNA Day yet. According to Orig3n spokesperson Kevin Byrne, his company is “confident it can receive the proper approvals” and they plan to still have a fan giveaway later this season.
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
Friends recording on a camcorder.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
This is an AI-generated image using the language "A beautiful woman with long eyelashes and red lips surrounded by swirls of colorful makeup." AI/Canva/Elyssa Goodman 
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.