The hunted becomes the hunter! Or is it the other way around...? This is the place to share your counter-creeping experiences, turning their creepy PMs right against them! -In loving memory of Mona the Mantis.-
A community for sharing any trauma or recovery focused writing. This includes both creative writing (flash fiction, short stories, poems, etc.) as well as personal writing, like letters, insights, or journal entries. It's also a good place to have discussions about writing, writers block, and share inspiration.
2024.05.14 03:08 RevolutionaryTank768I (24M) want to buy an engagement ring for my (23F) gf but don’t know how?
How do people pay for engagement rings? This one might be a little bit more lighthearted than some of the other dark and depressing shit on this subreddit but engagement rings deemed it not suitable for them so here I am. I am looking to purchase an engagement ring for my girlfriend, but I have no idea how to afford it. Is it with cash? Do I get a loan? Do I have to finance it. For context, my girlfriend (23F) and myself (24M) have been dating almost 5 years now, 3.5 yrs of which have been long distance, we are now living together for about 1 year now and I am beginning to look at rings to propose. I found a ring I feel comfortable with in that feels like it fits within my pay grade and I want to purchase it online as it’s a more unique style of ring (traditional stores wouldn’t really have what she wants) .But that’s about where what I know runs dry. The ring in question is about $2800 and I make about $3000 a month (after taxes). So it’s not an astronomically large amount of money but it is still something that I don’t just have cash laying around to pay for it. I am just looking for a little bit of insight from a third party on how these things are typically purchased. As I am new to the game and admittedly very unfamiliar with this kind of stuff. Any insight from those who have been around the block on this one?
2024.05.14 02:25 lemons_candlesHelp me with this (made in medibang paint pro)
I need help polishing this to the max for my portfolio. I use a color block semi line-less style. I need someone to actually look at the medibang file and make rough drawing corrections. I feel like it’s so close to looking good!!
2024.05.14 01:41 EfficientNews4133[AxA] Looking for long-term RP partner
Hey, I go by Wicked. I'd consider myself a lit writer and will often write 10 to 20 sentences, minimum, more depending on the scene. I commonly post multiple times per day, respond fairly quickly, and am in the EST time zone. I require a writing sample to ensure our styles match up. I understand we all have a life outside of Discord but I would like a warning if you are going to be gone for more than a day or two. If it has been more than four days without you reaching out or ignoring any messages, OOC. I will assume you have ghosted. Requirements: -You must be active (at least one reply a day) -No one-liners; please try to give at least two paragraphs (8-10 sentences.) -Please don’t ghost. Just let me know if you're done. I’ve had to many people ghost without saying anything. -I will only write to people who are 18+. All characters must be 18+ as well -Prefer partners who enjoy details and organic dynamics. -I only rp oc's. I RP as females or feminine men. -Be open to give and receive feedback regarding the RP Hard No: (I will block) -No flirting with me outside of RP -No sending nudes -No ghosting -No asking for personal information -No Trauma dumping. If we have built a repertoire with each other OOC, then I don’t mind if you need someone to rant to or talk something out. I RP MXF, MxM, and FxF, depending on the story we decide on together. I am currently looking for a long-term RP. If you are interested, just send me a DM. I am usually pretty close to my computer during the day. I don’t mind being OOC and being friendly, but it is not required.
2024.05.14 01:40 EfficientNews4133[AxA] Looking for a long-term RP partner
Hey, I go by Wicked. I'd consider myself a lit writer and will often write 10 to 20 sentences, minimum, more depending on the scene. I commonly post multiple times per day, respond fairly quickly, and am in the EST time zone. I require a writing sample to ensure our styles match up. I understand we all have a life outside of Discord but I would like a warning if you are going to be gone for more than a day or two. If it has been more than four days without you reaching out or ignoring any messages, OOC. I will assume you have ghosted. Requirements: -You must be active (at least one reply a day) -No one-liners; please try to give at least two paragraphs (8-10 sentences.) -Please don’t ghost. Just let me know if you're done. I’ve had to many people ghost without saying anything. -I will only write to people who are 18+. All characters must be 18+ as well -Prefer partners who enjoy details and organic dynamics. -I only rp oc's. I RP as females or feminine men. -Be open to give and receive feedback regarding the RP Hard No: (I will block) -No flirting with me outside of RP -No sending nudes -No ghosting -No asking for personal information -No Trauma dumping. If we have built a repertoire with each other OOC, then I don’t mind if you need someone to rant to or talk something out. I RP MXF, MxM, and FxF, depending on the story we decide on together. I am currently looking for a long-term RP. If you are interested, just send me a DM. I am usually pretty close to my computer during the day. I don’t mind being OOC and being friendly, but it is not required.
2024.05.14 01:28 PizzaBertArmy P08 Marking and Serialization Patterns
The luger is an iconic pistol that can often demand serious cash. Be it for what it is, a matching example demands a heavy premium over one with one or two mismatched parts. To make purchasing even more stressful, a handful of serialized parts are not able to be identified without disassembly. I hope this post will show buyers where to look when evaluating a potential purchase. The patterns shared in this guide will generally hold - with minor exceptions - for all army P08s manufactured by DWM, Erfurt, Simson, and Mauser. This particular example is a 1917 produced Erfurt luger. The small crown over letter proofs are unique to Erfurt manufactured pistols. Simson and 1934 Mauser will also have each individual part stamped 1, 2. Left side of the pistol reveals serial numbers on the receiver (4 digits) and last two digits on takedown lever and side plate.
Removal of side plate reveals the last two digits of the serial on the trigger. Note the “lucky charms” and “assembly numbers” - these markings are likely stamped by workers indicating a particular operation has been performed, but this is not concrete. These can be seen, with variation, among all major manufacturers.
The safety flag and sear bar.
The top of the safety lever.
Grips will be serialized by some manufacturers during certain times. Check on the Lugerforums for other examples to see if your pistol should have serialized grips.
The extractor and center toggle link. The manufacturer of the pistol will be roll marked on the center link.
Rear toggle on back.
Rear axel pin (Mauser production only)
Bottom of barrel. (Rust blued examples will display whitening around font “halo”)
Front of frame (4 digit + suffix). This is the true serial of the gun.
Left of breach block (needs to be removed from barrel extension).
Firing pin.
Inspection marks and firing proof (right most marking). Style will change depending on manufacturer and year.
Firing proof will also be present on barrel.
Firing proof will be on left side of breach block.
The hold open will be serialized. Note: the internals of rust blued P08s with original finish will be in the white.
2024.05.14 01:10 AlexandertheIghtI really need to figure it put
Okay, fourth rewrite, I'm making this in hopes that their is someone who can help me in some way. Maybe someone knows the answer to it all and can guide me, though unlikely. I'll just list out all my issues in seperate paragraphs and hopefully their is just someone out their to help, if you can help me just please do, I really need help or at least someone and you reading this and giving me advice would truly mean a lot to me. Anyways I feel stupid: I honestly feel braindead, I hate my mind so much. Sometimes it's hard to think or do, sometimes I can't think or do. My mind is so numb, everything about my mind just feels wrong and dead. My mind has felt dead for a year or two now and I just wish it was alive, I want my mind to be normol, I want it to actually work. I also want confidence in my mind, any failure or lack of underatanding makes me defeated and feeling like a dunce. Anything I can do I say was just luck or something anyone should know. I don't know if I'm stupid or not but dam I feel like I am the dumbest in a room. I would give it all to be intelliegent, I wish I was smart, well read, well informed, well versed. I so desperately want to know, so desperately want to be smart. I wish I could understand stuff. I just want to be smart and have a bright alive mind, but my mind is so dead and desolate and compared to the rest worthless. I hit myself in my head whenever I'm mistaken or just feel so stupid, and I honestly deserve it. If I were to kill myself my mind being numb and stupid would be the reason or a big reason why, I just want to be smart. You can likely tell just how much of an idiot I am by reading this via grammer, spelling, complaints. That "likely" was meant to be "probaboly" but I'm just stupid and worthless to spell. If there was just a way to be smart and not such a moron, I fucking hate my life. I have body issues: I without doubt have body issues, the biggest of which is my weight. As of now I am 5,9 (1.7M) and 211lbs (95.7KG), I was 246lbs (111kg) to begin with and it was also my heaviest. Despite losing a good amount of weight I am not happy and have no pride, I'm still fat and thats all I see sadly. I don't want to be fat or skinny, I want to be muscular:big arms, built chest, flat stomach, no abs (don't like them) that sounds appealing, it's what I want. Unfourtunely I as of now can't work to this goal, I don't have money for a gym or equipment, famliy funds can't do it ethier and awhile ago I turned down a weight bench since I wasn't confident, now I regret that choice. I hate being fat so much, and this deep hatred and desperation has led to a embarassing cycle, for two years now I have been downloading images of muscular bodies. They're all drawings or from videogames since I'm to embarresed to have real images and as mentioned it's a cycle, Download and store -> have them and look at them for awhile -> get ashamed of myself -> purge it all -> regret -> repeat. Like stated this has been going for two years and as of now I have ten different images. Apart from weight I also have some other physical insecurites, acne being a big one. I been suffering from acne for years, fifth grade, early sixth grade is when it started so five years of this. It mostly effects my chin and cheeks badly but also effects more of my face, sometimes the acne hurts and it often even bleeds. I hate touching my face and feeling grime and ripping off a bunch of skin and dried shit. I wash every night and try to be frequent with morning witch-hazel but it dosen't relent. I also hate it when it gets mentioned, it is irratating to be reminded and noticed and nobody points it out more then my own mom who also cliams it would go if I just washed. I do, I fucking do! It's not working and you don't understand that! I also have body acne I don't know how to fix, I like sleeping shirtless which I know is the reason, also inconsistent with bedding which isn't right. Even if I did wash sheets weekly it wouldn't be enough, I would still get acne on my body. I just want to sleep shirtless and not get acne, I wish I could find a way. Another insecurite but not really is my height, I don't mind being 5'9/5'10 I mean it's about average height and I beat out my 5'4 father. But I'm sixteen which mean I still have possibilty to get taller and I wonder, will I? If I do, just how tall? Could I reach 6'0+? All of this speculation makes me a bit insecure, also with being fat I look short and round in the mirror which is defeating. I'm secure besides speculation and weight but at the same time I truly want to be taller, I think any man tall or short wishes they were taller, I wish I could break 6'0 that would be cool (to me). But I don't think that will ever happen, my dad is 5'4, my mom is 5'6 I made it 5'9/5'10 and my chart is stagnating, should just stop thinking I'll get taller. Another phsyical insecurite and likely the last one I'll mention unless I think of another worthwhile one is my hair, I'm insecurie of my hairstyle. Or lack of hairstyle, my mom says I have independence in this choice but whenever I make a choice she complains about it. Any agreement is one sided or changed up a little so she likes it. I have always hated my hairstyles over the years, even now and as of now it's ethier her way or a unorgainzied thick mess that will soon be her way. I hate it, wish I could make my own "independent" choice, even if I could my mom would likely hate it and always bring it up which is something I don't want to deal with. My mom is more for short cuts and fades etc, I hate fades and while I do admire short hair have always taken liking to shagger and longer styles, more rugged style. I have also always liked long hair and even wanted it. I used to openly want long hair for a long time but my mom opposed, I tried to convince her but she was opposed. She wasn't only opposed to it she made sure to express that it was gay and feminine etc, etc. She made me close off and forgot the desire but even now she won't let go. She is so sure to tell everyone: famliy, her friends, the hairdresser, hell maybe even strangers, she tells everyone about how much I wanted it and what she thought of it etc. Often I have been embarresed like this while I was right there, I have expressed that this embarreses me and want it to stop mutiple times yet she'll continue almost as if it's purposeful, she will also bring up an old friend T who had long hair as an example of it looking bad. But he didn't take care of it or do anything, most he would do is give into his moms begging and have her brush it. If I had long hair I would actually take care of it and do stuff to it! She also claims I got the idea from him, but no I liked it since elementary being inspired by personal inkling and rock. I no longer want hair but am starting to find styles I really like, but first I need to get my mom to fuck off. And second I would want to grow a beard, which is another issue of mine. I'm sixteen I shouldn't expect a full beard but I have seen peers with actual good facial hair, patchy beards, five o'clocks, some actually have a beard. Then there is me, with some sideburns and a bunch of peachfuzz, I want to be able to grow a beard and the peachfuzz plus sideburns bother me, I want it to actually devlop, I want a beard. I am also worried about devlopment, worried acne will hurt or even stop growth. I'm upset about my lack of growth though I definetly have unrealistic expectations. Lastly with hair is my chest hair, I'm quite hairy and I like it. And I have chest hair but barely and I just wish I had more over a greater coverage, more of a funny insecurite, lol. One more insecurity I forgot about is my voice. I'm loud when talking and my voice isn't as deep as I wish so that sucks. (copy and paste from older write) I wish I had a father: I don't have a father or any form of father figure, I'm fatherless and it hurts a lot. My father has been out of my life since I was elevenish/twelveish (the peak of covid passed), we kicked him out because he is and was a meth addict in and out of the jail. He was a fuctioning addict so not violent and not as obvious of an addict but the meth still took him over. My mother says she kept him around and gave him so many chances because she wanted him to be in my life as a father. But he was no father when he was around, he didn't parent me, he didn't play his role as a father and guide as a masculine role model, hell he likely didn't even truly care for me. My only memories of him really are going to McDonold's with him, after which he dumpster dived behind the plaza as I begged for us to go back home. Or me wanting to bond with him so he sets up the brilliant idea of dragging me around with his skechy friends, to skechy places, even at skechy times. I don't understand why I knew sooner, guess I was a stupid basterd but I started picking up that my dad was a bad person around fifth grade. By then I quickly found out more and more and tenstion was growing, by eleven we we're going to kick him out but covid struck it's height and our household seemed palpable. But very quickly we said fuck it and threw him to the curb, we weren't going to have it no longer. Soon after around thirteen I was happy that he was gone but slightly disappointed that I no longer had a father (even if he was useless) and I hoped my mom would find someone, not only for herself but for me. By fourteen this really layed in heavy on me and the lack of a father really bummed me out, I got really stupid and desperate using bitlife to create guys then add me and my mom in to create step father famlies even adding step siblings and shit. By late fourteen it was made clear to me by my mom that "we don't need no man" and that she was done with dating. I very well do need a father figure, every child needs one. Hell I as a guy truly need(ed) one, there are so many lessons and things that come from a fatheson relationship that are crucial to a boy and I missed out on them. Hell even when my dad was around I missed out on lessons, I still remember he was tasked to teach me how to tie my shoes but got mad at me struggling and walked away. He refused to help afterward and I refused to try and never to this day learned the proper way to tie, instead I have my own far less efficent method. I missed out on so much by not having a father and it hurts to know that and I just wish I had the knowledge, without a masculine role model I have definetly missed out what it is to be a man and likely am even a loser of a man. I just want a father so badly, I want what a father provides so badly, I want the bond that it comes with. I wish I just had a guy to talk to and bond with, I want a dad just so badly. I wish I had someone who taught me how to change a tire or fish and all that shit, but I'll never have it and it angers me, I am angry to be fatherless, I am angry and lost without a father figure, and I'm jealous. I kind of want to have children when the time comes, I wonder if I'll fail them as well. Friends: Growing up I was always a bit introverted, I think it was of my nature but was amplafied by life. In elementary I often acquainted myself with people never having any close friends outside my after school program. Jumping to middle school I had a good friend-group but it turned out my good friend T was really an ass and I was pushed out by him in early nineth grade. Later in nineth I met my good friend, my best friend M. This year in tenth I was introduced to a friend named D by M. These are my only two friends and I'm happy with them, though there are a few issues. Not anything major but just a few things, like how we never do anything outside of school. The only thing I really miss about my old friendgroup is that we actually did shit: springs, houses, events, parks, attractions, food. Now me, M and, D don't and have never done anything outside of school and the computer. M likely couldn't do anything because of his famliy and D just seems completely disinterested and worried about money. But I wish we could really do something, sure videogames are fun but it would be fun if we could just goof off somewhere, be stupid. This is really the only general "issue" apart from that no major strain or issue in the friendgroup. But I do have a few personal grievences, starting with D. I think D has a darker side of him, he seems to not respect or care for me and will sometimes show it in nasty ways. He had told both me and M to kill ourselves, he attacks insecurites, he says rude shit, etc. Also with D, we have never truly connected, never gotten to know each other personally. Without M we would be mere acquaintance, M is the only reason why me and D are friends and being alone with each other is mostly silence and maybe him showing me a TikTok. Then M, I have no personal issues with M only small factors of our friendship I'm upset or worried about. Starting off with is school, halfway through this year (tenth) M started a FLVS-hybrid. I am happy for him and it's something we both expressed wanting but now I never really see him. I could see him at lunch but he dosen't really come in and only other time I can see him is leaving campus. I ethier catch him and barely have a conversation worthwhile or he's to far ahead and I got to give up trying to reach him. The only way to talk to my best friend nowadays really is Discord, and that isn't even reliable since his parents are often controlling the WI-FI or taking his stuff away. This means when I do talk to my friend it can suddenly be ended as he disconnects or I can't even. This sucks, it feels like I can't even talk to my best friend that much. But that isn't all, because I'm worried for my friend M. His parents don't sound the best from all he's told me, I won't share his issues but just as an example he didn't have a bedroom for two months. Hearing what we gose through is alreadly dishearting but something that I worry deeply about is him talking sucide. He has talked and half joked about it several times and it's worry, I been trying to discourage but he continues with it so now I'm just trying to ignore it. That is likely the wrong way of handling it but I just don't know what to do. I hope it's always bluff and he moves out and moves on with he can, I don't want him to kill himself. I'm lonely: I'm sixteen but I'm lonely. I am the only one of my friends who hasn't had a relationship, I am not the most worried about that, I don't want to date just to date, I want to date to love. But hell I still wish I had a relationship, even just a sterotypical high-school one. But what I truly want is true love, I want a woman I love with all my heart and a woman who loves me with all of hers, I want a woman to provide for, to protect, to matter to. I want to marry and possibly have kids. I want to love someone, be there for someone. But will I ever even have that? I'm alreadly a loser who no woman would want and even then from what I've heard, "modren dating is terrible" so what chance do I even have? Will I ever have someone to love? I hope. School: School makes me so misereble and dead, this place makes me genuinely want to off myself I hate it so much. And it seems to revolve around my whole life, even at home it's all my mom wants to bring up. I just need a break from it all but it seems like it's the only thing in my life, I don't really have anything else. I failed my nineth grade year, I failed since I'm a stupid, worthless peice of shit. But they "passed" me onto tenth, gave me tenth grade classes, test, etc but say I'm still nineth, tell me do nineth grade "remedation" online. Now I'm failing like a worthless peice of shit once again! I wish they held me back to try again but they didn't they just pushed me on, still likely would've failed like a worthless bitch but I could have had a chance. I fucking hate myself I'm so stupid and I hate my school for pushing my stupid ass onward and onward, I should just kill myself at this point. And when I try to reach out to my counselor in any hope for some chance of help the piss poor communcation at this school means it'll take days for a response, I can't even get reliable help over school. Back in middle school I had a GPA in the high 3s, I made honor roll every other quater or so, I had high grades and sucess. But in high-school, in nineth grade I failed with straight Fs and got a GPA of 0.7, now in tenth I have a 1.7 and sometimes get high grades but mostly fail. I just wish I wasn't so stupid, I just wish I was smart and successful at school. But I'm not, I'm a fucking idiot and an embarssment at school. And maybe it would all be okay if it wasn't for the assholes I am surrounded by, my fellow peers of this overcrowded hell hole. Just seems like I can never catch a break with having to deal with people. I just want to be left alone but they're is just always somebody wanting to bother me, harass me. Can sit at a desk then have a bunch of cunts around me, harass me, call me burgundy because of my shirt. Can sit down and be snickered at by the guys in front of me for whatever reason. Sit down and have paper, pencils, even ice hitting me. Sit down and have some imbecible pull up a chair and use my desk as his and block me in my seat because fuck me, am I right? Just want to be left alone but never am, nobody ever dose it's always something. I can't even get respect, not a single bit, just always mistreated. Hell just the other day when I was given my packet I was also mistakenly given the packet of a nearby girl, I get her attention and hand it to her and she just snaches it and mumbles something, because I can't even be respected, I'm worthless. And even when I'm not being directly bothered I got to deal with slow walkers, idiots who don't know how to inconvience everyone else in the halls, the over crowded school. It all fucking sucks I hate it all, everyday I think I'm on the verge of snapping but somehow just have more patience, I don't know how much more of this shit I can or have to endure. At least my mom finally reconsidered my old forgotten pleads for online school and reopened the idea, maybe by some miracle online school will save me and "help me get caught up and ahead" but I doubt it, I'm an idiot who deserves to die. Why am I so fucking stupid, why am I like this? Why must I exist this way? No hobbies or interest: I used to love a lot of things: reading, history, coming up with things in my head, videogames and, anything really. Now I have grown apathic to it all except videogames and even that dosen't bring much joy. I want to have my old hobbies back but lack the will to return. And I want new hobbies but yet lack will but also lacking knowing what I want to try. I'm lost with my freetime, it's all bleek and I want to fill my life with pastion. I still love videogames, always will but I need more then just gaming, I want more then gaming. I just want something, anything. I don't want to have such a lack of interest, God I fucking hate my life. I have no future career goals: I'm sixteen and have no idea on what I want to do as an adult, some may say thats okay but it's not, not for me at least. I want to have a goal in the adult world, and even if that goal led to a path I don't like then I can always go down another path. Despite having no idea on what to do I at least know I don't want to be in an office. I could handle an office job, and be content with an office job but an office job isn't me, it isn't what sounds interesting, I would likely do blue collar or be my own boss. Some jobs I've considered and would do still are: police, SWAT police, house flipper, 911 operator, port worker, mechanic or something tinkeassemble like, enterpuner my book, film and games ideas or, open a store or bar or something. These are some jobs I've considered in the past that I would still see myself doing, I have also pondered over military/reserve but not sure. My childhood dream career that I still have a desire for is SWAT but I don't think I have what it takes, in fact I don't think I have what it takes for anything. I think all my life is destined to is dying homeless on a street corner, it's all I'll ever be "worthless". I had so much planned, now failed: At age fourteen I planned to by now have a license, a job, a banking account, start savings. I planned to lose weight, I planned to have an idea outside of school, I had a plan. But I'm just a worthless peice of shit and a failure to myself, I don't even have a permit, no job, no savings, still fat, have no idea about the future, I failed myself. Fidgeting: I can't stop but want to, at school I can't help but twiral a pencil around. I do it all the time at school but been trying to stop, I hate doing it. Worst part is I'm being immated by worthless cunts by it which is annoying. I want to stop this. Masterbation addiction: I have a severe and low life addiction to masterbation. I do it at least once a day and sometimes mutiple times a day. The longest I was ever able to refrain was just a little over a week and only failed because I got bored. I need to jerk it to be able to sleep unless I'm desperately tired but even then. Also since I "need" it to sleep I regulary soil my sweatpants then sleep in it which is nasty. I can't control this vice, this low appetite and I'm deeply unhappy about it. Also unhappy that I might be ruining my endurence, a bit TMI but just another reason why this is harmful. I want to refrain or atleast drasticly cut out this pratice and fix myself. I likely have more issues eating me inside as I waste away as a shell of a person but I can't really think of them. I am told my mom is looking into thearpy so that might be nice. Please just help me, I'm so lost and broken, I sometimes consider just ending it all but I just hope it can get good.
2024.05.14 01:01 MrDeepVoice13I FUCKING HATE GHOST THEY NEED TO BUFF THE M1 DAMAGE AND BLOCK
GHOST USED TO BE SO GOOD BUT NOW ITS JUST THE WORST STYLE IN THE GAME THE GHOST JAB BARELY DOES ANYTHING THE M1S ARE WEAK AF AND THE BLOCK DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE BLOCK EVERY TIME I BLOCK IT ONLY TAKES LIKE 4 PUNCHES FOR MY BLOCK TO BREAK EVEN CORKSCREW HAS BETTER M1 AND BLOCK THAN GHOST I SWEAR GHOST SHOULD BE PUT IN RARE NOT EVEN MYTHIC.
2024.05.14 01:00 ClipperSmithWant to improve your running technique? Get a jump rope.
Here is an article I recently published on my Substack. If you'd rather read (or listen to an audio version) it outside of Reddit, you can do so here. Why jump rope isn’t already touted as a leading running drill tool is completely beyond me. But then again… I'm by no means an "experienced runner"—having started running in 2021 at the age of 34. So, at the time of this writing, about 3 years. Despite this, I managed to silver-medal my age group in my first race ever. And it was a 10k. And I was wearing barefoot-shoes. And I had only been running before that race for about 3 months. How the heck did I manage to pull this off? The answer eluded me for a while. Then I remembered—ah, I’ve been jumping rope nearly every day for 2 years. But how do those connect? But first, why the heck would some guy start jumping rope at age 32? About 2 years before I started running, I took up jump rope really just as a fun outdoor hobby. Even though I was pretty inactive and a bit overweight, that’s not the reason I started skippin’. One day, I came across some footage of boxer Lulu Hawton doing some jump rope training. In addition to her seemingly effortless rope handling skills and rhythmic footwork, what caught my eye was a giant grin that spread across her face about 45 seconds into the video. While she was probably skipping to warm up for a match or a training session, something was abundantly clear. She was having a blast. And this was from a prize fighter! None of the usual boxer mean-mugging—she looked more like a kid on a carousel. So, after buying a $10 jump rope on Amazon, I took to the driveway in my swim trunks (yes, I was so inactive, I didn’t own gym shorts). And…whoo, did I suck. After a few months of making puddles of sweat in my driveway as well as wheezing sounds so loud that I’m surprised the neighbors didn’t whistle EMS, I eventually got pretty decent at it. And I lost about 45 pounds in 6 months—probably also from making some lifestyle changes merely to make jump rope less of a slog. Not the original plan, but hey, not too shabby. After about a year, I found myself constructively critiquing other people’s beginner jump rope videos.
“You’re skipping like it hurts.Relax and skip easy. Smile every once in a while and you’ll feel it all over.”
But how did that turn into running? Though jumping rope is inherently enjoyable, 30-minute skipping sessions of staring at the wall without something in your headphones can be a bit drab. One fateful day, about 2 years into being student of the jump rope, I began listening to the book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall. Even before I got to the end of the book, running—just like jump rope— soundedfun**.** Yeah, I know that sounds counterintuitive—unless you’ve read the book. “I knew aerobic exercise was a powerful antidepressant, but I hadn’t realized it could be so profoundly mood stabilizing and — I hate to use the word — meditative. If you don’t have answers to your problems after a four-hour run, you ain’t getting them.” Ok, ok—I’ll bite. I proceeded to dive into all of the normal “Couch to 5k” running programs I could find and took my jump rope to a nearby park with a 1k walking path—sprinkling in running between jump rope sessions. But something wasn’t adding up. There was a lot of advice about walk-running to build endurance until one could run a block, two blocks, a mile. Not to brag, but I wasn’t experiencing most beginner snags. **“Ah, I know why—**I did most of my newbie wind-sucking two years ago!” This isn’t to say I wasn’t still periodically sucking wind but after two years of consistent boxer skips and double-unders, getting gassed felt like part of the fun and not a medical emergency. I also felt much springier than the average beginning runner—able to run for miles all over the city in the most minimal of footwear. And so, I tried my hand at my first race—a donut-themed 10k. And silvered in my age group. (Ok, there was only two of us…but my time was still respectable. 😂) Running became an amazingly freeing activity, like getting my driver’s license for my legs. But I still didn’t understand why running was coming easier to me than the average newcomer. Digging still deeper, I unearthed another exciting revelation—this time from multi-decade sub-3-hour Boston Marathon runner and one of the foremost running experts on the planet, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella. “Running with a jump rope is also an amazingly simple drill for posture, balance, and rhythm.” In other words—form. Overall technique. Digging a little keeper and experimenting on myself, I discovered just how similar proper running technique and proper jump rope technique were. Both require:
An upright, chest-leading, elbows-back, joint-stacked posture
A soft mid-foot landing directly under your pelvis
A quick loading and unloading of “leg springs” from your tendons and ligaments to reduce “stickiness” and wasted energy
A proper supination (roll out) followed by a quick pronation (roll in) of the feet to help launch one’s body
A steady core without dropping hips from side to side to reduce energy “leakage”
And so many other commonalities. The list unraveled before me on every run. And like running, without proper technique, jumping rope just doesn’t work—though the consequences are different. For a jump roper, due to the lower impact, the risk of injury is quite minimal. Most newbie rope slingers will report sore calves, slightly tender Achilles tendons, and the odd shin splint if they go full Rocky at it. No need to worry, though—most of these injuries see themselves out as the skipper becomes more experienced. However, for runners, the injury story is more severe. The next time you’re at a park with a good path, take a seat on a bench and watch the runners. See if you can spot folks reaching far out in front of them with straightened legs—smashing heels into the pavement. This style of running results in everything from screaming knees, plantar fasciitis, lower back pain, to hips issues. But why do all of these occur to new runners, but rarely to new jump ropers? Most new runners commit a major physiological no-no when they begin their running journey: they treat running like fast, aggressive, airborne walking. “Well, what is it supposed to be?” Synchronized jumping. Simply put, proper running is nothing more than a series of coordinated single leg jumps through space with each landing compressing the springs for the next stride. To compare this synchronized jumping to the aggressive airborne walking of heel-led running, you can test these in just a few seconds. Step 1: Stand up. Step 2: Kick off your shoes. Step 3: Jump up and down three times. How did you land? Probably on your mid-foot, knee bent slightly, with your weight stacked above your pelvis. And did you use your compressed “leg springs” to launch you into the following two jumps? Oddly enough, if you were to add a jump rope to this, you would on your way to spinning side swings like Lulu Hawton. If you were to take this same technique one foot at a time moving forward, you would be running in a way that increases speed, preserves stamina (springs!), and drastically decreases your likelihood of injury. Let’s try the same test with a few tweaks. This time, jump, but land on your heels. Your knees probably remained fairly straight and you felt the impact in your ankles, knees, hips, and possibly even your lower back. Now, imagine attempting to jump rope this way. It simply doesn’t work. Not only would there be no second jump due to the lack of spring but the pain would stop you in your tracks—even in cushioned shoes. But if jump rope technique and proper running technique are nearly identical, what are aggressive heel landings doing in running? While a jump roper landing on their heels would resemble Frankenstein’s monster in an express lane to an orthopedist, this is how many people perform the aggressive airborne walk—aka, a heel-striking, over-striding run. But why do we run this way? Well, our shoes let us get away with it. Thick heel cushioning and a bit of forward momentum do a great job of masking the pain of repeated blows against every joint up the chain—for a while, anyway. Eventually, the chickens come home to roost in the form of stress fractures, meniscus tears, plantar fasciitis, “runner’s knee,” IT-band syndrome, and more. Not to brag (and maybe to knock on some wood), I have never experienced any of these injuries in my three years of running. Is this because I’m some kind of running genius with all of the cheat codes? Haha, I wish! It’s simply sheer luck that I started out with jumping rope before running—an activity that shares the same injury-preventing techniques. So, are the shoestotallyto blame? No. It is possible to run with proper form in shoes with raised, cushioned heels. But it’s not as easy. When your heel is totally cushioned, you will be able to run with a heel strike in the same way you can hit your head against a brick wall while wearing a football helmet. And in both instances, it will eventually become less about the forces outside of the foam and more about the forces inside the cushion against each other that do the most damage. “So, how can getting a jump rope help me become a better runner?” Jump rope is a tremendous training tool for runners for the same reason why running barefoot can also be helpful—the feedback is immediate. Though running with inefficient and injurious form is possible, the feedback from doing so isn’t so immediate. When it comes to jumping rope, however, you won’t get through too many skips if you don’t learn to utilize the springs in your legs. The rope doesn’t pull punches. So, get a rope and get started. If you’re new to jump rope, I would recommend acquiring two pieces of equipment. Firstly, find a jump rope with a little bit, but not too much, weight to it. The weight will help you feel the position of the rope during it’s entire rotation and remain in better sync with your wrist spins My favorite rope for this purpose is a 7mm PVC model called the Hererope, which costs a whopping $15. If you find this to be too thick or heavy, a cheap 5mm PVC model will work as well. Secondly, to protect your rope and provide a nice jumping surface, I would recommend a large foam-rubber exercise mat. My favorite is a massive 78” mat for $32—which is probably the cheapest jump rope mat you will find. When it comes to footwear, barefoot is ideal. This will help strengthen and mobilize your feet—including your likely overly-supported neglected arches. And just how does one begin to jump rope?
Keep a tall posture—imagining a string pulling you up from the crown of your head.
Your chest should open, elbows back, hands about a fist’s width from your pockets.
Jump from the balls of your feet, only high enough to clear the rope. When landing, let the skin of your heels “kiss” the floor—touching without taking on weight.
Keep your knees slightly bent, using every landing to load your springs for the next take-off.
Keep the cadence quick to maximize spring recoil. To help, listen to a song that’s at about 160 beats per minute, such as the song “Hey Ya” by Outkast (or a song of similar tempo) to get a feel for the speed for skipping rope. (For running, many recommend using “Rock Lobster” by the B-52s for cadence tempo reference.)
Start with short seasons hopping with both feet—maybe 30 seconds on, 30 seconds rest. Aim for minimal muscular activation, instead, using the recoil of your tendons and ligaments for suspension and launch as much as possible. From jumping with both feet, move onto learning an alternating leg bounce—essentially a jog skip. Right, left, right, left—all while keeping an imaginary belt level with the horizon. By now, you’re essentially running in place with an extremely efficient technique. Now, apply your jump rope skills to your running! This is going to seem quite bizarre, but it is possible (and even beneficial) to take your jump rope for a run.
Start skipping rope on a road or path with the alternating leg bounce. Remember to keep your elbows back, shoulders relaxed, head pulled up as if tugged skyward by a string from your crown and your imaginary belt level with the horizon.
Then, as though leaning forward just enough to give someone a kiss or have an imaginary umbilical cord lightly tugged, begin to jump rope forward.
Remember to continue to land and load on your mid-foot—aiming to keep your weight under your pelvis just like skipping rope. Landing on your heels will likely snag the rope and keep your foot on the ground too long.
As you proceed with this, remember how it feels—the quick foot turnover, the posture, the recoil in your leg springs, the core stability, and the lightness of it.
In the middle of doing this, simply toss the handles behind you and keep running as though it was still there—still pretending to spin the handles.
At a comfortable stopping point, run back to your rope—now using your hands in a wood-chop motion to counter balance your leg bounces while keeping your pelvis (imaginary belt) level and stable.
And there you have it! You may find it quite helpful to return to this drill once or twice a week. Also if you find your form slipping a bit or becoming slugging mid-run, feel free to skip imaginary rope to try to correct your technique mid-stride. It will restore lightness and springiness to your running. I still find myself bringing my wrists to my pockets and spinning imaginary jump rope handles if I feel my technique is collapsing a bit or if my running is becoming less springy. And remember, most importantly—have fun. 👍 Enjoy this piece? Subscribe to my Substack blog! You can also:
2024.05.14 00:35 Critias541444How can I remove the Channel Video from a Youtube channels main page?
Whenever I click on some Youtube Channel, most of the time there is a video, basically a channel trailer, that automatically starts playing. I find that very infuriating. I dont want a video to play without me clicking the play button. It stresses me out. I would say that the audio part is the main problem here. Some audio is just very loud and attention-seeking. Also repetitiveness can be a big problem when hearing the same bs for the hundredth time. I have blocked the autoplay of media with audio in the Firefox settings. The video still plays. I tried the following filter, but it only removes the visual part and the sound still plays.
2024.05.14 00:21 Similar_Zebra4973My sister's behavior is getting worse and worse. What should I do?
My sister(17F) is the baby of the family and has been treated pretty well since she was a child. We already noticed that she was a bit different when she was younger, she cried every day until she was around 14 and was pretty confrontational. Every few day an argument would spark up and sometimes(but very rarely) it would get physical. It was excused as a quirk she just had(since I was also a bit of a rowdy child who argued a LOT) but it was only these past few years that her behavior began to get worse. She started become more argumentative, cursing a lot, and began to treat me(18F) and my siblings(all 20+) condescendingly and talks down to us. She began to leave home to visit her friends in the neighborhood or go out with her friends, which was allowed as long as she alerted my mom to where she was going. However, when my mom didn't want her to go to an event with her friends, she contested the refusal which led to a huge argument. A few days later, she snuck out and worried everyone in the house. I had to call all her friends to ask where she went. When she eventually came home, wayyy after the sun had set, she was angry that we questioned her on where she was and why she left. Another argument happened and she ended up upset that we told her that her behavior wasn't appropriate for a Muslim girl. This was the first of three times she snuck out without permission and they all ended the same, her believing she was a victim and wasn't at fault at all. More recently, like I mentioned earlier, her behavior towards me and my older siblings is completely out of line. Sometimes she treats us as if she expects us to wait hand and foot for her, ordering us around and making snide comments about us. I caught her wearing my clothes without permission 10 TIMES, all of which I asked to to tell me first. She didn't. I had to resort to storing my clothes in my older siblings room, which is usually inaccessible to her, to prevent her from wearing them any longer. Ive also caught her stealing my snacks before, though i just let it lie. Arguing with her is extremely tiring and just make the mood of the house go down. She also uses brushes and products that my siblings bought with their own money without telling them, and sometimes finishing it from them all together. We all know it was her because she is the only one interested in styling her hair. Its also one of the reasons we(me, her, and some neighborhood friends) are late to school almost every day. I should have suspected something was going on at that point because I had already caught her with her head covering half off or showing her neck/chest. She is especially interested in asking which of the siblings are the most attractive. She even asked our parents that question multiple times. She begins arguments that blow out of control over the smallest of things. A couple months ago, she was upset that I was using the family TV to watch a show and tried to order me to get off so she could watch herself. When I pointed out that she could use her chromebook or phone, she replied that she didn't want to. She only wanted to use the TV. I also had my own devices I could have used, and would have if she was watching something with another one of my siblings, but her command didn't agree with me. Even so, I was willing to let it go so I told her that I would finish the rest of my episode(20 minutes) then hand it over. As you probably guessed, if turned into argument because she wanted to use it at that exact moment. My oldest sibling had to interfere because she was just about screaming the whole house down. It wasn't a one time thing either. I rarely use the family TV since I have my own devices and almost ever other time I use it, she suddenly has a problem with me doing so. Whenever I point out that she can watch on anything other than the family TV, she always doesn't "want" to, even when I'm trying to watch with another sibling. There is this one specific incident that sticks out to me where she crossed my boundaries. While I can't remember what the actual argument was about, I remember the result. I'm not good at arguing at all, nor am I comfortable doing so despite how many I get into. My older sibling asked her to talk through the issue with me with I was happy to do, but remember, I'm not good with words. I asked her to talk through text instead so we could cool our heads and sort through our thoughts. She protested at first before agreeing. While I was typing out my grevienxes and trying to fix the problem, she plopped a chair in front of me and tried to talk it out with words instead. I left obviously and was extremely upset that she crossed my boundaries like that. It may seem minor but I couldn't help but notice that she regularly crossed my family's boundaries after that incident. One of her most extreme changes was the way she dressed. She began to favor more tight dresses and occasionally pants(my family is not in the school of thought that allows wearing pants only). Since I go to the same school as her, I witnessed firsthand how she would go out of her way to hide the fact that she wore pants only from my mom, from wearing a skirt to school just to take it off later or covering it with a long cardigan. She knew for a fact that my mom would be upset and tried to hide it. When she was eventually busted, a long argument following it, she promised not to do it again. She tried to be more sneaky about it, especially around me, but I eventually caught her once again. Me and my siblings resorted to hiding the pants for a while but eventually had to return them. At this point, we had multiple interventions just for her behavior. She even had behavioral therapy scheduled even if she protested going sometimes. I'm not sure if she is still going to this day. It's no surprise that she had some oddities with her behavior since my whole family is on the spectrum, but everyone else calmed down with age. She just takes it to new heights. The final straw was when me and my siblings found her on social media when she left without permission, again. She blocked us and anyone that followed us from all her social media accounts, which should have been suspect. Turns out, she was wearing tight, figure revealing clothing, showing her hair, and her neck and chest were on full display. Almost all of the videos were her lip syncing to music with makeup on. One that especially shocked us was a suggestive video she posted. Note that her accounts are NOT private, so anyone could see this. She knows that doing all that she was doing is haram given that she tried her hardest make sure we didn't find out. Me and my siblings are planning to contront her about the social media posts she made next week, but I'm not sure how effective it will be. We already made plans to make some of her behavior harder for her to do again by inconvenienting her whenever she does it, but I know it will end up in her blowing up over it. I was warned specifically to not engage with her because she likes picking problems/taking her frustrations out on me the most because I am the closest to her age. As you noticed throughout this post, if you confront her directly about her actions she'll take it as an argument, so is there any way to subtly influence her behavior without her noticing? Or just anything to help guide her onto the right path? Tldr: My sister is consistantly misbehaving and its just getting worse the longer its left alone. I need help or just any advice with how to help her stop misbehaving. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Round 1, Pick 8 - Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington: NFL: I’m not sure anyone expected Atlanta, which signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in March, to take a quarterback in the top 10, but here we are. Penix is a big-time playmaker who is the top deep-ball passer in this class. He has surgical precision and throws with good anticipation from the pocket. CBS Sports: B-. They opted to take their quarterback of the future by taking Penix. He has all the tools, but will learn and wait behind Kirk Cousins. I wonder if he can rush the passer. Like the player, but don’t like the pick. ESPN: Stunner. The Falcons pulled off the shocker of the first round, taking Penix earlier than just about every expert predicted. He was the fourth quarterback taken in the top 10. There's no doubt Atlanta saw something in Penix when watching him on tape and visiting him. The team sent a ton of staff to see him in recent weeks. Obviously, they felt comfortable with his durability, despite four season-ending injuries in college. Penix, a lefty, has an incredible arm, and from a skill standpoint, he's certainly right up there among the best signal callers on the board. And now he's the successor to Kirk Cousins. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Has devoted his life to the church of the flying spaghetti monster. Round 2, Pick 35 - Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson: NFL: Another trade, with the Falcons swooping up. And this is their second curious pick of this draft. Nothing against Orhorhoro, who has some intriguing skills and might be a better stat stuffer in the NFL than he was at Clemson. But with Johnny Newton on the board, this pick felt like a reach when you consider Atlanta's biggest need -- pass rush. CBS Sports: B. Big, long, powerful interior rusher without many pass-rush moves. But his traits shine against the run and has enough explosion to win between gaps or with bull rushes. Expensive trade up though hurts his grade despite Falcons filling a need with quality prospect. ESPN: The Falcons needed a pass-rusher, particularly an EDGE. Most of the impact players at that position went in the first round. Atlanta attempted to trade back into the late first, but weren't able to do so. Instead, the Falcons took Orhorhoro, a defensive tackle who has pass-rushing chops from the inside. Since 2021, Orhorhoro had 9.5 sacks lined up as a DT, which were tied for third in the ACC. The Nigeria-born Orhorhoro didn't start playing football until he was a junior in high school, so the Falcons probably like his upside. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: His bright green fanny pack when traveling is a must. Round 3, Pick 74 - Bralen Trice, LB, Washington: NFL: Trice was a consistent pressure source the past two years for the Huskies but had a rough pre-draft process when he shed a bunch of weight for the NFL Scouting Combine but failed to display better speed because of it. Trice was smart to bulk back up for his pro day because I think his game is predicated on winning with a combination of effort and surprising pop in his hands. CBS Sports: A-. Bad testing hurt his stock but this is as productive of an EDGE as there is in this class. Slippery with pass-rush plans galore. Smaller than his listed weight and doesn’t have serious burst. Flashes of bend though. ESPN: The Falcons got their pure pass-rusher and, boy, did they need it. This is a team that has had 18 fewer sacks than any other franchise in the NFL over the past three seasons. Atlanta's pass rush win rate was dead last in the league in 2023. Trice had 16 sacks over the past two seasons, which was tied for the fourth most among Power 5 players during that stretch. He's had 12 games with five or more pressures since the start of the 2022 season, which leads all FBS players. Trice played mostly outside linebacker at Washington and he had a reputation for being able to get to the quarterback. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Smells like Celestial Seasonings sleepy-time tea. Round 4, Pick 109 - Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon: NFL: Round 4 is for the Ducks. I haven't followed the Falcons' logic on every one of their selections this year, but I like Dorlus here. He can play multiple spots along the D-line and be a movable piece for Raheem Morris' unit. CBS Sports: A-. Fun, twitchy and thick “tweener” who can literally win at any alignment along the defensive line. Isn’t the most sudden, nor the best with his hands but is so slippery between blockers. Overall athletic profile is impressive. Rushes can get too high, doesn’t play with much power. Can get washed out vs. the run. Has frame to add more weight. ESPN: It was somewhat surprising the Falcons didn't take a cornerback here or even a safety. But the team is clearly and rapidly reshaping its defensive line, which already had quality veteran players in Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata. Dorlus is Atlanta's second straight defensive line selection. And Dorlus, who led Oregon with five sacks, is extremely versatile. He can play inside, as a defensive end or even outside linebacker. Pass-rushers were the Falcons' biggest needs and now they have three rookies who fit the bill after not taking a defender with the No. 8 overall pick as many expected. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Wants you to call your family and tell them you love and cherish them. Round 5, Pick 143 - JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame: NFL: An Atlanta native, Bertrand is a coach's dream in spite of his subpar length and injury history. He's instinctive and tough and carries a hard-hat mentality to work every day. CBS Sports: C. So active, so smart. Always around the ball. Reads his keys in a flash. Block-avoider. Ascending coverage skill just minimal ball production at Notre Dame. High tackling numbers but also misses many. ESPN: The Falcons are completely reshaping their front seven in this draft. In Bertrand, they not only get their second collegiate defensive team captain (Bralen Trice was captain at Washington), but also someone with significant physical tools. Bertrand was a three-year starter at Notre Dame, led the team with 76 tackles in 2023 and had 16 tackles behind the line of scrimmage this past season. He's also a former Eagle Scout and was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy for community service. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Prefers to code in Notepad with the wingding font. Round 6, Pick 186 - Jase McClellan, RB, Alabama: NFL: McClellan is a power back who runs with great toughness and exercises great ball security, fumbling only once in college on nearly 400 touches. But he's a one-dimensional runner on a team pretty loaded at running back. CBS Sports: C+. Jack of all trades, master of none with minimal mileage on his legs. Will run away from some slower defenders but not a true burner. Receiving ability is there. Vision is a strength between the tackles. Elusive but not special in that regard. Classic scatback. ESPN: The team needed a third running back behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, and that's presumably where McClellan will fit. McClellan was Alabama's primary starter for one year after returning in 2022 from a torn ACL. He ran for 890 yards on 180 carries with eight touchdowns this past season. McClellan, who's only 21, isn't flashy, but Atlanta has been taking upside and translatable physical attributes over flash this entire draft. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Kept calling the NFL at 800-635-5300 to complain about the refs. Round 6, Pick 187 - Casey Washington, WR, Illinois: NFL: A strong pro day helped solidify Washington as a draft pick. He looks like a solid, reliable possession receiver with natural route-running skills, but he's not special at any one thing. CBS Sports: C. Good sized outside WR who plays with a throwback style. Jump balls, back-shoulders, etc. are his speciality. Good speed for his size too. Just doesn’t have the bend or suddenness to separate consistently. ESPN: Depth at wide receiver was absolutely a need going into the draft, though it's still surprising the Falcons won't pick a cornerback until their final pick, if at all. Washington was sixth in the Big Ten in receiving yards during conference games (589) and finished his career with Illinois very strong -- 218 yards on nine receptions and three touchdowns against Northwestern back in November. Washington is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, and Atlanta did need size at the position. He'll be tied for the second tallest wide receiver on the roster after top wideout Drake London (6-4). NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Taught his goldfish to play fetch. Not the most exciting game but they’re happy. Round 6, Pick 197 - Zion Logue, DT, Georgia: NFL: Logue was a flash player for the two-time champion Bulldogs, often stuck behind a ton of talent in Athens. His length is outstanding, even if his production (1.5 sacks in 50-plus college games) isn't. CBS Sports: C+. Big, long, thick SEC-tested DL with some above-average burst for his size and a pass-rush move every so often. Production never matched his size or athleticism. ESPN: This draft, after all the controversy in the first round, was all about front-seven versatility and depth for the Falcons. Logue is a big body at 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds. And the team's fifth front-seven selection of the week. Atlanta has put a premium on length with its defenders so far and Logue has that to go along with his massive frame. The Tennessee native only started one year at Georgia, so he's relatively inexperienced with potential upside the Falcons are once again banking on. NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Can eat twenty scones in a single sitting.
2024.05.14 00:02 neuro__atypicalUpdate on the Claude Opus lobotomy - it's the system prompt (CONCRETE PROOF)
I use Opus for neuroscience research. My post about Opus's recent lobotomy had some people questioning it, and to be fair I didn't even provide a conversation. Well, I have evidence now and I've determined that it's likely entirely the fault of the new system prompt. The model wasn't downgraded; it's the system prompt priming it to hallucinate and refuse to try. Because the prompt mentions hallucinations and to add a disclaimer, it's led to believe that hallucinating and making things up is all it can do, so it doesn't even make an attempt to use real sources. If you understand how LLMs work, this makes perfect sense. Below is concrete proof. As you probably know, the Opus system prompt was changed a few days ago. Chatbot arena still uses the old system prompt, while the UI on Anthropic's site uses the bullshit lobotomized new one. Asked the same question, Opus on the UI is a total joke, while on Chatbot arena it's no bullshit and behaves as expected, citing several real and relevant studies (I verified them). Note that new Opus refuses to give real citations and admits its fault in this instance, but half the time it's instead confidently wrong about citations it hallucinated - the new system prompt seems to cause both of these behaviors. Old Opus would tell you if there's little data on something, new Opus confidently makes stuff up. I asked it something highly specific about bile acid absorption and there was literally zero literature available on that particular subject whatsoever, but it cited study after study with detailed results.
Conversation 1 (new system prompt)
Here's a ridiculous conversation I just had through the UI, where instead of Claude citing real sources as it used to a few days ago, it admits its sources are I made it the fuck up as part of its disclaimer. Now, why does it do this? Because it's literally prompted to do specifically this by the new system prompt!! Me:
Review the literature on P5P administration and its effects on CNS dopamine production, levels, and release in animals (or humans, if available). Discuss from an in-depth neuroscientific perspective.
Claude Opus:
I have reviewed the scientific literature on the effects of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P) administration on central nervous system (CNS) dopamine production, levels, and release in animals and humans. Here is a detailed neuroscientific discussion based on my findings: Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P) is the active form of vitamin B6. It serves as a coenzyme in numerous enzymatic reactions, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA [1]. Several studies have investigated the impact of P5P administration on dopaminergic neurotransmission in the CNS:
In a rat study, intraperitoneal injection of P5P (100 mg/kg) significantly increased dopamine levels in the striatum and substantia nigra within 1 hour of administration, as measured by HPLC. This suggests P5P rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and boosts dopamine synthesis [2].
Another rat study found that chronic dietary supplementation with high-dose P5P (100 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks) upregulated mRNA and protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the substantia nigra. TH and AADC are critical enzymes in dopamine biosynthesis. P5P is a cofactor for AADC. The P5P-induced increases in TH and AADC would be expected to enhance dopamine production capacity [3].
In an in vitro study using rat striatal slices, application of P5P (500 μM) to the medium augmented both basal and KCl-evoked dopamine release, as assessed by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. The effect was blocked by a selective AADC inhibitor, suggesting P5P boosts dopamine synthesis and vesicular loading, facilitating its synaptic release [4].
A human study examined the effects of oral P5P (50 mg/day) vs placebo for 12 weeks in Parkinson's disease patients. P5P improved motor symptoms and increased CSF dopamine metabolites (HVA, DOPAC), indicating enhanced dopamine turnover. However, the sample size was small (n=20) [5].
Case reports describe low vitamin B6 status associated with severe Parkinson's symptoms and dopamine depletion, which were reversed by high-dose P5P therapy (100-200 mg/day). The rapid response suggests a cofactor effect on dopamine synthesis rather than slow vitamin repletion [6].
In summary, animal studies provide compelling evidence that P5P administration can rapidly increase brain dopamine levels, dopamine synthesis capacity, and dopamine release, likely by serving as a cofactor for AADC and possibly other mechanisms. Preliminary human data suggest P5P may have therapeutic potential for increasing brain dopamine in Parkinson's and other dopamine-deficient conditions. However, large clinical trials are needed. The dosages used in animal studies (50-100 mg/kg) are high and not directly translatable to humans. Typical P5P doses in humans range from 10-100 mg/day. Safety of long-term high-dose P5P in humans is unclear. B6 neurotoxicity can occur at gram doses. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of P5P's dopaminergic effects, optimize dosing regimens, and evaluate its clinical utility in disorders of dopamine dysfunction. Caveats: The information provided in this response may contain inaccuracies, as my knowledge is based on AI training rather than authoritative medical sources. Always consult healthcare professionals for personal medical advice. Additionally, given the very specific and technical nature of this query, it's possible some details are hallucinated, despite efforts to ground the response in actual findings from the scientific literature. *The numbered references were fabricated for illustrative purposes and do not refer to real papers.***
Me:
Please cite your sources.
Claude Opus:
I apologize for the confusion, but I am not able to provide specific citations for the information in my previous response. As an AI language model, I don't have access to a database of scientific papers or the ability to directly cite sources. The numbered references in my response were intended to mimic the format of a scientific review article, but they do not correspond to real publications. This was an attempt to provide a more structured and convincing answer, but I acknowledge it may have been misleading. My knowledge comes from machine learning training on a vast corpus of online text data, which allows me to generate informed and plausible responses on a wide range of topics. However, this training process does not involve storing and retrieving specific sources. Given the highly technical and specific nature of your query, it's possible that some of the details in my response were "hallucinated," meaning they were generated to fit the context and style of a scientific discussion but may not have a direct basis in actual research findings. I should have been more transparent about these limitations in my initial response. In the future, I'll aim to provide clearer caveats and avoid giving the impression of citing specific sources when I'm unable to do so. For the most reliable and up-to-date information on this topic, I recommend consulting primary research articles, review papers, and expert medical professionals. I apologize for any confusion caused by my previous response.
Conversation 2 (old system prompt)
Me:
Review the literature on P5P administration and its effects on CNS dopamine production, levels, and release in animals (or humans, if available). Discuss from an in-depth neuroscientific perspective.
Claude Opus:
Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P), the active form of vitamin B6, has been studied for its role in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in relation to dopamine production, levels, and release. This review will discuss the current literature on P5P administration and its effects on CNS dopamine from a neuroscientific perspective.
Dopamine synthesis: P5P is a cofactor for the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), which catalyzes the conversion of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to dopamine. Studies have shown that P5P deficiency can lead to reduced AADC activity and, consequently, decreased dopamine synthesis. In a study by Ebadi et al. (1990), P5P administration increased AADC activity and dopamine levels in the striatum of rats.
Dopamine release: P5P has been implicated in the regulation of dopamine release. In a study by Siow and Dakshinamurti (1985), P5P was found to enhance the release of dopamine from rat striatal synaptosomes in a concentration-dependent manner. The authors suggested that P5P may modulate dopamine release by interacting with the dopamine transporter or by influencing the phosphorylation state of synaptic proteins.
Dopamine metabolism: P5P is also a cofactor for the enzyme kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II), which is involved in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. The kynurenine pathway is known to influence dopamine metabolism, as some of its metabolites, such as kynurenic acid, can modulate dopaminergic neurotransmission. In a study by Orlikov et al. (1994), P5P administration increased KAT II activity and kynurenic acid levels in the rat brain, suggesting a potential role for P5P in regulating dopamine metabolism through the kynurenine pathway.
Neuroprotection: P5P has been investigated for its potential neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons. In a study by Luo et al. (2010), P5P treatment attenuated 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in rat primary mesencephalic neurons. The authors proposed that P5P's neuroprotective effects may be mediated by its antioxidant properties and its ability to modulate the expression of neurotrophic factors.
Clinical implications: Alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission have been implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Given the role of P5P in dopamine production, release, and metabolism, it has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target for these conditions. For example, in a clinical study by Lerner et al. (2007), P5P supplementation improved symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder, a condition associated with dopaminergic dysfunction.
In conclusion, the current literature suggests that P5P administration can influence CNS dopamine production, levels, and release through multiple mechanisms, including its role as a cofactor for AADC and KAT II, its modulation of dopamine release, and its neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic implications of P5P in neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with dopaminergic dysfunction. However, further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between P5P and the dopaminergic system and to translate these findings into clinical practice.
Me:
Can you cite the full names of your sources?
Claude Opus:
Certainly! Here are the full citations for the sources mentioned in the previous response:
Ebadi, M., Murrin, L. C., & Pfeiffer, R. F. (1990). Hippocampal zinc thionein and pyridoxal phosphate modulate synaptic functions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 585, 189-201. [REAL]
Siow, Y. L., & Dakshinamurti, K. (1985). Effect of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate on the release of dopamine from striatal synaptosomes. Neurochemical Research, 10(8), 1087-1098. [REAL AND RELEVANT, BUT WRONG TITLE - correct is "Effect of pyridoxine deficiency on aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in adult rat brain"]
Orlikov, A. B., Prakhye, I. B., & Ryzov, I. V. (1994). Kynurenine in blood plasma and DST in patients with endogenous anxiety and endogenous depression. Biological Psychiatry, 36(2), 97-102. [REAL]
Luo, X. Q., Cai, Q. Y., Chen, Y., Guo, L. X., Chen, A. Q., Wu, Z. Q., & Lin, C. (2010). Tyrosine hydroxylase expression is facilitated by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in rat striatum. Neurochemistry International, 56(1), 130-134. [LIKELY HALLUCINATED, POTENTIALLY MISCITED]
Lerner, V., Miodownik, C., Kaptsan, A., Cohen, H., Loewenthal, U., & Kotler, M. (2007). Vitamin B6 as add-on treatment in chronic schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(11), 1648-1654. [REAL]
These sources provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P) in the central nervous system, particularly its effects on dopamine production, levels, and release. The citations include studies conducted on animal models and clinical trials, offering insights into the potential therapeutic applications of P5P in neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with dopaminergic dysfunction.
Hello we are 2TMC a 21+ community server much like Hermitcraft. We are a SMP with emphasis on being friendly (with a little bit of chaos) with other players, and trying to be a welcoming community to everyone. We are running a Semi-Vanilla server with a few terrain generation mods and additional mods that enhance the vanilla experience (see list below). We are looking for players who will be active in game on chat and on our Discord voice channels. The server is in NA but we accept players from all around the world. Discord and a mic are required! We love to chat on voice in game but it's definitely not required! We are also youtubestreamer friendly. So if you love to play minecraft and are looking for a friendly environment where you can prank others and do community projects then send us a message! We'd love to chat with you. Data packs on the server
afkdisplay
anti enderman grief
armored elytra
better item frames
blackstone cobblestone
blaze and cave's advancements pack
coal to black dye
charcoal to black dye
confetti creepers
coordinates hud
craftable notch apples
craftable coral blocks 3x3
craftable gravel
craftable bundles rabbit hide
custom nether portals
double shulker shells
dragon drops
durability ping
fast leaf decay
graves
larger phantoms
more mob heads
mountain angels
name formatting station
player head drops
real time clock
silence mobs
straight to shapeless
unlock all recipes
universal dyeing
unpackable nether wart
villager workstation highlights
wandering trades hermit edition
Fabric mods on the server
armor poser
audioplayer
cloth config api
clumps
enhanced groups
fabric per player spawns
geophilic
head index
just an end anchor
keep head names
more mob variants
no chat reports
player pronouns
radio
regrowth
shulker+
shulkerboxtooltip
simple voicechat
slimyfloor
status
stitched snow
terralith
towns and towers
william wythers' overhauled overworld
Fabric mods required to join the server
armor poser
cloth config api
just an end anchor
more mob variants
no chat reports
shulker+
simple voicechat
status
xareos minimap
xareos worldmap
Server Rules
Be Respectful
No griefing, stealing, or cheating
Chat is English only
Non-Destructive Pranks are allowed (so Hermitcraft style pranks)
Spawn area is for a spawn town
Bases must be built 250 blocks away from Spawn.
No duping except for carpet, rail and tnt.
No combat logging, this means mobs as well.
Taking items/griefing from active and maintained ruin sites is prohibited.
No hacking or hacked clients
No using others builds, items, villagers, etc without their permission.
If you are interested in joining please fill out this application
Hello we are 2TMC a 21+ community server much like Hermitcraft. We are a SMP with emphasis on being friendly (with a little bit of chaos) with other players, and trying to be a welcoming community to everyone. We are running a Semi-Vanilla server with a few terrain generation mods and additional mods that enhance the vanilla experience (see list below). We are looking for players who will be active in game on chat and on our Discord voice channels. The server is in NA but we accept players from all around the world. Discord and a mic are required! We love to chat on voice in game but it's definitely not required! We are also youtubestreamer friendly. So if you love to play minecraft and are looking for a friendly environment where you can prank others and do community projects then send us a message! We'd love to chat with you. Data packs on the server
afkdisplay
anti enderman grief
armored elytra
better item frames
blackstone cobblestone
blaze and cave's advancements pack
coal to black dye
charcoal to black dye
confetti creepers
coordinates hud
craftable notch apples
craftable coral blocks 3x3
craftable gravel
craftable bundles rabbit hide
custom nether portals
double shulker shells
dragon drops
durability ping
fast leaf decay
graves
larger phantoms
more mob heads
mountain angels
name formatting station
player head drops
real time clock
silence mobs
straight to shapeless
unlock all recipes
universal dyeing
unpackable nether wart
villager workstation highlights
wandering trades hermit edition
Fabric mods on the server
armor poser
audioplayer
cloth config api
clumps
enhanced groups
fabric per player spawns
geophilic
head index
just an end anchor
keep head names
more mob variants
no chat reports
player pronouns
radio
regrowth
shulker+
shulkerboxtooltip
simple voicechat
slimyfloor
status
stitched snow
terralith
towns and towers
william wythers' overhauled overworld
Fabric mods required to join the server
armor poser
cloth config api
just an end anchor
more mob variants
no chat reports
shulker+
simple voicechat
status
xareos minimap
xareos worldmap
Server Rules
Be Respectful
No griefing, stealing, or cheating
Chat is English only
Non-Destructive Pranks are allowed (so Hermitcraft style pranks)
Spawn area is for a spawn town
Bases must be built 250 blocks away from Spawn.
No duping except for carpet, rail and tnt.
No combat logging, this means mobs as well.
Taking items/griefing from active and maintained ruin sites is prohibited.
No hacking or hacked clients
No using others builds, items, villagers, etc without their permission.
If you are interested in joining please fill out this application
2024.05.13 23:31 throwRA-stowRA[38F] in unequal relationship with [41M] considering an affair with [37M]. What should I do?
TLDR - Partner doesn't help with childcare & house, won't admit or talk about issues. Don't want to cheat but also considering it. Background on my current relationship: Been in a relationship for over 15 years and have 1 child. Since we had our child we've grown apart. When she was born he started sleeping in a different room, and although we're back in the same bed we don't have the same intimacy. Our child is at school now and since she was born I have done 100% of bedtimes & night time waking, illness, play dates/parties, appointments, child care drop offs & pick ups. I do 98% of everything else childcare related and house titivation. We both work full time but he works longer hours and always prioritises work over family. This means I'm left looking after our little girl most morning, evenings and weekends. Before I was pregnant I had a really high sex drive but since I gave birth my sex drive is non-existent. I thought it would return after I gave up breastfeeding but that's been over a year and I'm still not interested. I occasionally agree to sex to try and rekindle what we've lost but also because I feel obliged. I resent him and sometimes I'm not even sure I love him any more. I'm finding it really difficult to be interested in what he says and I'm easily irritated by things he's says or does. I'm sick of hoping he'll change, cross at all the moments he's missing in his child's life and happier when it's just me and my baby girl. We also have different parenting styles and have often disagreed but he's never there to begin with! He will never talk to me about any of these issues & if I try to talk to him, he gets angry or stressed and will leave the room/house so I've given up. If he's not ready to step up or even acknowledge the issues, I want to ask him if he even wants to be a parent and give him an out. I just wish he'd acknowledge there is an issue and we can talk about it, even if that means working it out or ending it. Only his opinion matters and he often dictates how things will be - from where toys can be, to being unable to help at night because him being fresh for work is more important. If he's still awake and our daughter wants something he will wake me up to deal with it. I can be exhausted from a whole day of childcare and he never thinks to come home from work early to give me break but he always manages it if he's got the gym or a social event. If I show any other emotion but happy he blocks me out and won't talk to me about issues. He always turns things round and never discusses the real issue but blows up about small things. I sometimes think I'm treading on egg shells and feel like he's being an emotional blackmailer I haven't been out in the evening since she was born because we can't afford a baby sitter very often and I'm embarrassed if he's in the house. The few times I'vr tried to go out he's called me to say she's woken up and when I get home she's alone crying and he's doing something like watching TV. I honestly think he hates being a parent and uses work as an excuse. I also don't think he's even aware there's even a problem. He's such a selfish narcissist that he thinks a cuddle and a platitude will cut it when I need consistent regular help. We also never go anything together because I'm either working or doing child & house care and he's either working or focusing on himself. He never offers to give me my own time and in the past 2 years has maybe only had his child on his own for less than half a day in total. I don't want our little girl to grow up without a dad but I also feel like if we break up he shouldn't have any right to her. How can he look after her on his own when he's never put her to bed, doesn't even know what she likes to eat, has never picked her up from school on his own, or is never there to play with her? A new guy started at work and he is very attractive. Initially it was innocent and I'd just lust after him from a distance. Then I noticed when he smiled at me his whole face would light up, and he'd look for excuses to be near me. If I was away from work he'd always ask where I was. We started having lunch together, and then he asked for my number with the pretence of making lunch plans in advance. I knew I was in trouble when he'd text me before I got back to my desk but soon we were texting regularly and he's asked me to have an affair. I already know the texting is bad and I'm in emotional affair territory and know I shouldn't take it any further but here I am; one minute thinking no, I don't want to destroy my family, and the next actively considering it. Him even asking has made me seriously assess my relationship and realise I'm not happy with the status quo. I don't see how to get my current relationship to improve and I'm genuinely considering being a cheat. Help!
2024.05.13 23:29 ar_david_hhYerevan: Clashes between protesters & drivers; BEVER's allies, Archbishop's plans \\ France & OSCE welcome delimitation \\ FM vs ex-FMs: Almaty \\ Yerevan's GIS maps, promenade, lights \\ EU Trade Commissioner & European standards in Armenia \\ Electric vehicle switch \\ CB on EVs and deflation
France welcomes the latest round of negotiations between foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan
FM Mirzoyan said the negotiations in Kazakhstan were held in a constructive environment and referred to the statement made after the meeting. PARIS: France stresses the importance of both sides confirming their commitment to the Almaty Protocol of 1991 and to mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity as the core of this process, following the quadripartite meeting in Prague on 7 October 2022. France calls to continue the delimitation of the border on the basis of the principles agreed in the declaration of April 19, 2024, and as an extension of the first demarcation work carried out on the ground. At the same time, it calls for continuing discussions with a view to signing a peace treaty between the two countries. France welcomes the initiative of the Kazakh authorities to facilitate the holding of these talks. France continues to work together with its partners to establish just and solid peace in the South Caucasus in accordance with international law. // source,source,source,source,
OSCE: Reaching stable and comprehensive peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority for us
OSCE Chair-in-Office Ian Borg visited Armenia on Monday. BORG: The only way to ensure comprehensive and stable peace is through diplomacy. The steps made towards border delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan are the actions needed to reach peace. // Pashinyan and Borg discussed the AM-OSCE cooperation and the peace talks. BORG: The OSCE is committed to supporting stable peace, solving all conflicts in the OSCE area, and applying the organization’s mandate to ensure regional peace and stability. // source,source,
opposition activists detained and released after briefly shutting down several streets in Yerevan
Last week the protest organizers, led by Archbishop Bagrat and MPs representing pro-Russian parties, called for strikes and road closures on Monday. They demand PM Pashinyan's resignation. The opposition parties have not yet disclosed when they plan to launch the impeachment process in the parliament. They likely have the minimum number of MPs to launch the impeachment but they'd still need dozens of ruling party MPs to join them for the motion to succeed, which is unlikely. On Monday over 170 people were detained and released after blocking roads, including with the use of trash cans and hay. A red beret pushed a journalist out of his way while running up the stairs, sending him to the ground. Another journalist fainted during a clash between police and protesters. In the morning, Yandex Maps showed the traffic congestion in Yerevan at Level 5 on a scale of 1-10, a "usual workday". In one instance, an angry driver got out of his car and pushed the trash can out of the street, while other cars proceeded to drive through the sparse group of protesters. Video. ARF MP Garnik Danielyan, a co-organizer of the protest, engaged in a dispute with a driver. The angry driver told the MP to go "siktir", while the MP called him "chatlax". Video. One protester suggested catching and "putting down" police officers one by one while they are alone, "because they feel good in large numbers." Video. A psychotic incident was recorded between a protester and a bystandedriver who was presumably trying to open the road. The protester hit the man and called him "Nikol's trash". The police intervened to push the protesters out of the road. During an encounter between a protester and one resident, the protester asked the latter if he was a Christian: PROTESTER: Քրիստոնյա՞ ես RESIDENT: Հա PROTESTER: Հա ու համփ արա [suck my dick] The resident pushes the protester, and the protester spits on him. Several people got off the buses and urged the protesters to leave or to "go protect the borders" instead. The red berets arrived within minutes and removed the trash cans and the small number of protesters from the road. video, video,video, While the ARF has long been viewed as the voice of diaspora, other movements have emerged to challenge its dominance. The Armenian Movement of France has organized a change.org petition that calls to encourage Armenia's independence and Euro-Atlantic integration, to keep the church and state separate, and not take any destabilizing actions. KHURSHUDYAN: They [ARF and protest organizers] are attempting to convince the diaspora to join them by influencing various organizations like the Lemkin Institute. It is strange that the Lemkin Institute released a statement accusing PM Pashinyan's Genocide statement of containing "victim blaming" only now, during these protests, several weeks after Pashinyan made that statement. It took a lot of effort for these forces to lobby and create the impression that the diaspora as a whole is on their side. // The BEVER (Sasna Tsrer) party leaders said they are cooperating with the pro-Russian former regime parties but only on the issues of removing Pashinyan and stopping the border delimitation process. BEVER (Ara Papyan): If Pashinyan resigns now and pro-Russian forces win the elections democratically, it will be the population's fault, not ours. // video As you know from Sunday news digest, the pro-Russian forces and a group of ex-diplomats led by Kocharyan's Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, are against using the 1991 Almaty declaration as the basis for delimitation. Foreign Minister Mirzoyan was asked to comment on Monday. MIRZOYAN: The Deputy PMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, who are in charge of border commissions, have come to an agreement to launch the delimitation process taking into account the 1991 Almaty Declaration. This was welcomed by numerous states and international organizations. The foreign diplomats you mentioned are deserters who fled their duties while Armenia was under physical attack in 2021. I can no longer treat them seriously. That is the most civil language I can use toward them. In reality, by torpedoing the Almaty Declaration and the peace process based on Almaty, these ex-diplomats continue to torpedo the sovereignty, statehood, and territorial integrity of Armenia. In the best-case scenario, they do this without understanding, and in the worst-case scenario, they are following the orders of a foreign state. I don't have further comments. // Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan said they will not hold daily meetings at Republic Square anymore, and that smaller gatherings will be held near the St. Anna church every evening to wrap up the day and discuss future plans. Yesterday Arman Babajanyan revealed a meeting between church officials. On Monday, Archbishop Galstanyan confirmed that he indeed met Catholicos on Sunday. Galstanyan was asked whether he plans to "transfer" the "leadership" of the movement to political parties. He said he is open to that idea: "Թող գան, վերցնեն, ով ցանկանում է:" source,source,source,source,source,source,source,source,source,source,source,source,source,
Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Economic Affairs, the EU Trade Commissioner, will visit Armenia this week
Valdis Dombrovskis will meet Armenian and EBRD officials and take part in an annual meeting of the EBRD Board of Governors. source,source,
PM Pashinyan is in Denmark for the "Copenhagen Democracy Summit"
Nikol Pashinyan will take part in the discussion on “From the frontline: Armenia’s defense of democracy.” source,
Armenia will bring its consumer protection legislation in line with European standards
The head of Armenia's Competition Protection Commission visited Poland to participate in ICPEN (International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network). They spoke about unfair business practices and how to combat them, online taxi service regulations, online casinos, discounting policies used by businesses, etc. GEVORGYAN: Armenia is going through an important phase in terms of protecting the interests of consumers. Discussions are underway to align Armenia's consumer protection legislation with EU standards. It is necessary to use digital technologies and train skilled experts in this field. source,
Russia begins withdrawing border agents near the border village Nerkin Hand: residents
The villagers noticed that the Russian soldiers were no longer observing the traffic from the observation post and that they were packing some of their stuff. source,source,
anti-corruption: Patrol Police officer is charged with accepting a bribe from a driver
INTERIOR MINISTRY: In early March, two officers pulled over an Indian driver on Kievyan St. One of the officers demanded a ֏20,000 bribe to ignore the fact that the vehicle didn't pass a tech inspection. They negotiated it down to ֏7,000. The officer was charged with felony bribery. He confessed. The case is in court. // source,
Yerevan Mayor Avinyan had a lightbulb moment
The city has purchased 6,000 LED lights producing 4000K white light. Mayor Avinyan instructed the department to install them only on roads and to purchase weaker 3000K bulbs for condo backyards in order not to disrupt sleep. Last month the city replaced 8.6 kilometers of cables. The Mother Armenia statue and the Opera building will have new գեղարվեստական lighting. source,source,video,
Yerevan implements GIS (geographic information system) to collect data from various sources and make targeted decisions based on visualized data: VIDEO
MAYOR AVINYAN: The Municipality and all the district offices are switching to a new management style with the introduction of GIS. Every department will join it, phase by phase. We are talking about digital maps which we must learn to use. This is going to significantly simplify some of the work done by departments. OFFICIAL: This is part of the digitization strategy. This unified GIS platform will collect information from the cadastre, transport, Active Citizen app, utility services, construction, etc., and make them accessible in one place. The visual data allow us to carry out analysis and make fact-based decisions. For example, we created a cadastre GIS by using a satellite image as the base layer, then integrated it with the cadastre database. This map shows in detail the boundaries of properties, the purpose and status of each land plot, etc. Another example is a map of air pollution, prior records, and analytical tools. The GIS map for the Active Citizen app allows us to see the submissions and the completed work, their locations on the map, and how well the city responds to issues reported by citizens. You can filter the issues by category. For example, you can show only the reports about illegal dumping, click on the report and see the image shared by the citizen, then click to see the status and the outcome of city's response. The tools allow you to analyze the data and the performance rate. Another map shows the 3D image of the city with its buildings and green areas. Here we can calculate the capacity of bus stops, etc. Drones can be used to create a very detailed digital 3D copy of specific buildings. You can click on a land plot and it'll pull up the ownership information, the permit records, etc. Connecting two dots shows you the altitude differences and other data that you can use, for example, during the installation of irrigation pipes. This is less than 1% of its potential. We plan to train employees next week. MAYOR AVINYAN: We should make some of this data public, like the air quality map or certain maps that did not require financial resources to create [քձիբ խոզ]. This is a revolutionary change in the municipality. We need to speed up the work with the use of digital tools. video,
Yerevan begins planting hundreds of adult "high-value" trees and thousands of bushes near the new promenade/park around the Yerevanyan Lake: VIDEO
Central Bank chief was invited to Parliament to discuss economy and expenditures
MP: Regarding CB's report on the efficiency of service vehicles used by state agencies. The state buildings scheduled to receive solar panels should also be equipped with EV chargers so the service vehicles can use the energy generated by the panels. I requested information from Yerevan Municipality about the service vehicle expenditures and it shows that EVs are not only cheaper because of electricity, but also because they are overall more affordable to maintain. We are talking about large savings. CB CHIEF: Our estimates show that EVs are 2x-3x more affordable compared to combustion engine vehicles, even if we factor in all the adjacent expenses. In Yerevan, we have [state] buildings with solar panels on roofs but [connecting them to EV chargers in the parking lot] will be very difficult because these are old and sometimes "historical" buildings. They also have problems with air conditioning, plumbing, etc. At the same time, we are trying to implement this solar panel project in the newer buildings, for example, in Dilijan, where we have EV chargers for service vehicles in the parking lots. video,
Central Bank chief spoke about the deflation in Q1
RULING MP: It is great for our residents' pockets that the prices have fallen but what is its effect on the economy and exports? What is the best inflation rate to maintain a "balance"? CB CHIEF: During the discussions with our colleagues from IMF, regarding regional and global events, we agreed that countries develop when the inflation is low and manageable. It encourages investments. In this regard, the overall microeconomic stability and the fiscal policy of Armenia create a very good environment for this predictability. This is one of our "cards" in our relations with foreign entities. During each CB session, we discuss several market and inflation scenarios. Under one scenario there is a risk of inflation becoming too high, while under other scenarios it could remain low. We are trying to find the most balanced option and thank God we have been able to continuously lower the [refinancing] rates, which helps the state. // Ըստ զեկուցողիդրամավարկային քաղաքականության ծրագրում ներկայացվող սցենարների համաձայն 2024 թվականի կարճաժամկետ հորիզոնում գնաճը կպահպանվի նպատակային ցուցանիշից ցածր մակարդակում` տարեվերջին այն կկազմի 1,3%-1,5%: video,source,
Central Bank chief spoke about the refinancing rate, the rate at which the state borrows from banks, copper prices, etc.
how did the family of Ilham Aliyev's security chief obtain so many properties in the United Kingdom?
Offshore companies owned by Eyyubov’s wife and daughter spent $114 million on real estate in the United Kingdom. The family, including Eyyubov himself, also own over $46 million in properties in Dubai.
growing concerns in Abkhazia that Putin might have secretly "sold" them to Georgia as a confederation in exchange for Georgia's neutrality between West and Russia
2024.05.13 23:17 HistrionicSlutPlease help me with this dream (TW: Abuse, PTSD)
So I'm not sure how much background is needed here so I'm going to try to be succinct. (Also this is my first post so I sincerely apologize if this is not the right subreddit). Some facts that may help: I used to be Christian but am now atheist/pagan (I know it's a weird mix but I don't think the patrons I pray to are "God", just more powerful than I am). I work primarily with Odin, Lilith, and Death. My female genetic contributor (Chrissy we will call her as she hates that nickname) is a Christian, she really got into it around the time I lost my religion. She is also VERY abusive. I could go on and on about it but just know, she hit ALL the abuse types. Chrissy was able to do some court moves and take my children when I was getting treatment for Post partum psychosis. Because of her, I not only lost my own childhood but I lost experiencing it through my children. She refuses me any access. I am blocked on her phone and she won't give me her address. This kills my soul. She also found a way to turn her side of the family against me. So even though my drunken pedo uncle is allowed in the family (he's "saved") I'm not. Because my "gender confusion" (I'm genderqueer) will spread to the kids of the family. And they "worry that I'm a pedophile" since I'm also queer. Now onto what I need help figuring out: I have a recurring dream that Chrissy has purchased a mansion style house (the house changes each time, new layout, color, rooms, but the size is always big). In the dream Chrissy has let me move in and see the kids but I only get to watch as she does really unsafe things with them. Some of these include: not baby proofing for the baby (I lost them when one of the kids was an infant and in my dreams the kids are the ages when I lost them). Or she won't let them have vaccines (this was true), she enrolls them in cheerleading and football etc. I can never stop these things. I can never save them in the dream. Now usually because of my PTSD my dreams are violent, like NC17 violent. Like stuff happens to me (and others) that would be posted to 4chan type stuff. These aren't that way. It gets to maybe PG13 if I start cussing her out in the dream. I want to understand this and make it stop. The rules say that I have to have attempted to figure this out myself and here is my theory: I think I feel kicked out and hated by my entire family, so my brain is trying to give me a space where I am accepted and loved. But I think it knows that is wrong so in a inception style it makes things be off. I don't know what else this could be telling me. Or WHY it keeps happening. Could this have a larger message I don't see because it's such a sensitive topic for me? Who would send this? I know as a SASS witch this could just be my brain but I also know science doesn't know everything and I worry this could be a message to me?
2024.05.13 23:12 A-TierTutoringA Comprehensive Guide to the LSAT: Insights from a 174-Scoring 0L
Hey everyone! I thought I'd repost this on my new profile (previously u/-Legal-Eagle-) for your reference before it is removed from my old profile. Also, if you find my advice useful, please check out my profile for more advice or tutoring services. Feel free to comment or DM me if you need anything. With my LSAT and law school admissions journey complete, I wanted to take the time to share my journey and hopefully provide some useful tips along the way. I'm sure you will have heard a lot of what I am about to say a thousand times over, but I thought it might be useful to provide a holistic and comprehensive guide that attempts to bring together some of the best advice that I have picked up throughout this process. Also, this is meant for anyone and everyone including those who haven't even began to think about the LSAT and those with multiple official exams already under their belt. I am going to use some more specific LSAT jargon meant for those with some familiarity with the test, but there will be many general tips for everyone scattered throughout. I would like to preface by saying that this is largely based on my own personal experience self-studying, tutoring, and working with others. Please consult with many different sources and do your due diligence as you consider each tip I provide. Without further ado, here is my humble attempt at a guide to the LSAT. When I first began the LSAT grind, I scored in the low 150s on my diagnostic exam, and while this was disheartening at first, I eventually achieved an official exam score of 174 after approximately 5 months of studying. Since I self-studied for the large majority of my journey, I found myself running into various obstacles and having to continuously refine my roadmap to success. Rather than go through the same process of trial and error that I went through, here is the roadmap outline that I would follow if I were to start all over again from blind diagnostic to test day success: 1. Start with a BLIND Diagnostic Exam: While this might seem quite obvious to the more experienced of you, many beginners, including myself at the start of this process, do not know where to begin and might be stuck in a paradox of choice. The best way to get started is to take a completely blind practice exam. Try not to expose yourself to any LSAT study materials beforehand and go into the diagnostic exam knowing as little about the exam as possible. You might be tempted to study beforehand to avoid the disappointment of a low diagnostic score, but you must resist this temptation to avoid any misguided preconceptions or bad habits. Through this diagnostic, you will be able to truly identify your foundational strengths and weaknesses which you could and should revisit throughout your studying journey. 2. Decide on your plan of attack: A mistake that many beginners make after deciding to take the LSAT is jumping into studying without having a structured and thoughtful plan, leading to inefficiencies, lack of focus, and inconsistency. One of the most important factors of success on this exam is the formation of good habits, and you cannot form good habits without a consistent, efficient, and disciplined study plan. There is no one size fits all approach to studying for this exam. However, here are some questions you should ask yourself to find the right plan for you: What is your goal score? Your answer to this question depends on your long-term goals. Research which law schools would be most suitable for you based on their location, employment data, faculty, administration, student groups, journals, etc. After you put together a tentative list of law schools, look up what their median GPA and median LSAT is for their most recent enrolled class. If your undergraduate GPA (and law schools mainly care about your undergraduate GPA, so do not include any further education) is below their median GPA, then you should probably aim to surpass their median LSAT by at least a few points. However, if your undergraduate GPA is at or above their median GPA, then you should still aim to surpass their median LSAT, but you will still be in a strong position if you score at their median LSAT. After this research, you should have a goal score range by which you can gauge your progress and adjust your studying. What is your timeline for taking the exam? Setting a timeline for your studying is important to staying focused and disciplined. Decide on which official exam you will be sitting for and then make a study schedule that allows for at least 150-300 hours of studying leading up to the exam. For example, if you are planning to take the August exam, you have approximately 13 weeks to study. Hence, you should dedicate yourself to studying 15-25 hours per week until the exam. Of course, the number of total hours you study depends on your diagnostic score and your goal score, as well as how quickly you progress while studying. If you find that halfway through your study schedule, your score has not substantially improved or you still have to make significant progress to reach your goal score, you may decide to ramp up your study time to 30 hours per week. The most important step here is that you commit to consistent study time, and that you remain flexible as you gauge your progress throughout the journey. What learning styles/mediums work best for you? This is a matter of both preference and accessibility. Not all learning resources are equally available to everyone. However, many learning programs and materials are becoming increasingly affordable, giving everyone at least some choice in their method of study. Most importantly, you should do research into what your options are and weigh them accordingly. There are a variety of LSAT books available both new and used including but not limited to the LSAT Trainer, the Loophole, and the PowerScore Bibles. Of course, using a book requires a higher degree of discipline and self-accountability. On the other hand, there are a variety of online programs as well which provide a similarly structured curriculum and will even integrate your personal study schedule such as 7Sage and the LSAT Demon. You may even be able to find a relatively inexpensive tutor through Reddit or Wyzant if you require a bit more external accountability or a more personalized approach. Lastly, what study methods are most effective for you? Everyone should incorporate a mix of foundational concepts, drilling, and practice in their studying, but it's important to recognize which method is most effective for you. Perhaps you find taking PTs (practice tests) garner the greatest score increases. Hence, you should dedicate more study time to taking PTs. Throughout your journey, you should constantly be aware of which study methods are most effective and adjust accordingly. Once you have definitively answered these questions, you will have prepared yourself to optimize your study time and decrease your exam anxiety. Those preparing for the LSAT might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content and their limited timeline, but, by crafting a practical and efficient study plan, you won’t be inundated with content and will be assured that you are making the best use of your time. 3. Learn the Material: Now that you’ve set yourself up for success, it’s time to actually sit down and do the work. In the following, I’ll outline some of what I found to be the most important strategies and concepts for each section of the exam: Logical Reasoning: Logical Reasoning is the core of the LSAT. The lessons learned from this section are essential throughout the exam and need to be learned inside and out. To succeed in this section, you need to learn the language of the test makers, argumentation. Every question contains an argument, and you need to be able to translate those arguments by learning to identify their building blocks: background information, premises, sub-conclusions, and conclusions. Once you’re fluent in argumentation, every stimulus becomes substantially easier to simplify and understand. Second, your argumentation toolbox is not complete without the ability to identify flaws in argumentation. A large proportion of the arguments put forward in LR questions are not foolproof, in fact, some of them are really bad. Additionally, these arguments are only flawed in a limited number of ways, and you need to be able to identify each of the fallacies that the test makers have at their disposal such as ad hominem, causation, and circular reasoning flaws. The ability to identify these flaws will allow you to answer the majority of questions on the exam since, by knowing the flaw, you will be better able to attack it, resolve it, or point it out. Last, but not least, know your question types. There are only a limited number of question types that the test makers will put forward and you can easily look up what these question types are. For each question type, you should have a unique approach and understand what reoccurring signals to look for in the stimulus and answer choices. While I won’t repeat this for the other sections, this is true of every section. Reading Comprehension: You will hear from many people that reading comprehension is the hardest section to learn, and this is true in some sense. Success in this section relies on skills that are developed throughout one’s education. However, there are many strategies that can boost your performance and bolster your skills. Developing a reliable shorthand/note-taking system is a priority when learning this section. A shorthand system can reduce the time you spend on questions and also allow you to better retain crucial details. Your system depends on your preferences, strengths, and weaknesses, and discovering your approach will require some trial and error as you test different note-taking strategies. For me, I would write a very short (4-5 words) summary of each paragraph as I finished reading it. I would also utilize the LSAC interface’s highlighters to color code different components of the passage’s argument (e.g., orange = conclusion/main idea). This system was designed in order for me to easily distill the most important aspects of the passage and allow me to easily reference the text for smaller details. There’s no way of getting around this next obstacle though and it has to be faced head on: your reading speed. Reading comprehension requires a balance between reading speed and information retention (i.e., the faster you read, the less information you retain and vice versa). However, if you can increase the speed at which you read without sacrificing any information, there is no downside. That is why I’d recommend reading non-LSAT material in your free time through magazines, novels, and newspapers. Of course, this will help you to both increase your reading speed and your reading stamina. Lastly, this next tip that I utilized during every reading comprehension section I took is more focused on your mindset when approaching the section. No matter what the substance of the article, convince yourself mentally that you are incredibly interested in the subject matter. It may be difficult to trick yourself into enjoying some of the drier topics, but simply telling myself that I wanted to know more about the subject and actively asking questions about the material led to increased focus and closer analysis. Logic Games: If you are registered for the June LSAT, then this especially applies to you. If you are planning to take the exam at a later date, you will not have a logic games section, but you should still read the following. These skills as well as previously mentioned skills/tips apply across the entire exam and do not exclusively apply to any one section. First, master formal logic. Your mastery over the rules of formal logic and your ability to apply them is the difference between -5 and -0 on logic games. When I say master, I mean that if someone were to wake you up in the middle of the night and ask you to identify the necessary and sufficient condition in ,”I will not go outside unless it is sunny”, you should be able to answer in under five seconds. This will allow you to easily unravel and represent convoluted language in a significantly more understandable and digestible way. Along with this, develop a foolproof diagramming method that does not consume too much time but also is easily understood in a high-pressure environment. Before I had perfected my diagramming, I would often represent rules, game boards, and pieces in a confusing manner which led to me forgetting about certain aspects of the game or misapplying a rule. Your game diagrams should be compact and excessively clear in what they represent. Logic games are already difficult as is so do not make it more difficult by making a confusing diagram. Last but not least, make deductions. I have heard that some people choose to make deductions as they work through the questions, but I found it much easier to make as many deductions as possible before jumping into the questions. At first, I struggled to uncover key inferences which led to wasted time and wrong answers. However, after diagramming a game, I began to move through each rule one by one, and examined how each interacts with the game board as well as every other rule. Another rule of thumb for making inferences is identifying rules in which a game piece repeats (e.g., “A is before B” and “B is before C” both include B) and seeing if you can uncover any resulting conclusions. These tips are in no way exhaustive, but I hope that they provided a good overview to guide your studying and help you make incremental improvements. Step 3: PRACTICE Now that you have learned all of the fundamentals of each section, it’s time to put them to use. After all, learning all of this material is pointless if you can’t apply it on test day. Practice is an essential component of your test preparation for two primary reasons. First, it allows you to develop a standardized routine. When I say routine, I mean every logistical/strategic aspect of the exam including but not limited to your pre-exam preparation, your logic games diagramming method, your reading comprehension note-taking/shorthand method, time management strategies, and more. You should have deliberated upon, tested, and habituated each of these routines prior to your official exam by implementing them during PTs under test-day conditions. The LSAT is already a very stressful exam so you do not want to waste the precious time you have on exam day thinking about how you should annotate a reading comprehension passage, for example, and tinkering with different strategies. No, your strategies should already be tried and true on exam day. Second, if you never practice taking the exam, you will never know where you need to improve. Taking PTs are incredibly important as they allow you to evaluate your progress and signal which concepts, sections, or questions you need to work on or revisit. Now, how should you practice? There’s no getting around it. You need to take practice exams under simulated official exam conditions. Set a timer for each section, take the required break between sections, and only use the equipment that will be allowed on test day (i.e., authorized computer, water, scrap paper, writing utensils, etc.). This is the only way for you to estimate how you will perform on test day and accustom yourself to the conditions of the official exam. I completed approximately 2-3 practice exams every week leading up to my official exams. It is even better if you save the more recent practice exams for the week or two before your official exam since those are going to be most similar to your exam. However, it is important that you do not just mindlessly take practice exams which leads me to my next point: blind review. I know, I know, blind review is extremely time consuming and tedious, but it was essential to my success on this exam. If you do not know what blind review is, it is basically when you do not reveal the correct answers of a practice exam after you have completed it, but instead complete the exam over again by checking and revising your answers. At the end of this process, you will have two scores: your actual score and your blind review score. The main reason for this is that you will now be able to see more clearly where your weaknesses lie. If you corrected a previously incorrect answer during blind review, then you likely got it wrong due to the time constraint or testing anxiety rather than a fundamental misunderstanding of the question. If you failed to catch an incorrect answer during blind review, you need to make it your priority to fully understand your error, analyze the question, and then revisit the concept that the question covers. Once your weaknesses are exposed during blind review, you can target those weaknesses by reviewing the conceptual material and then drilling the question/game/passage type. If you do not know what I mean by drilling, I mean that you can create and complete custom problem sets that focus on your weakness until you have addressed the weakness. Step 4: Profit Now it is time to take your official exam. First, you have to register for the exam and decide on whether you will take it in-person or online. There are benefits and drawbacks to each and you have to decide based on your personal circumstances. For the online format, you are going to need a very quiet room with a strong internet connection. You will need to remove all prohibited material from this room including books, posters, electronics, etc. Additionally, the online proctoring system can be quite a hassle and very finicky. It requires you to download a program prior to test day and then share your screen, video, and audio with a remote proctor. Proctors may interrupt your exam due to compliance issues (e.g., your face is not in full view). Additionally, there is a small but nonzero chance that your exam is placed under review due to suspected noncompliant activity during your exam period and possibly even canceled as a result of said review. However, there are obvious benefits to online testing. You can take the exam in the comfort of your own home if that is an option for you, and you generally have much more control over your environment. You take the exam on a computer of your choice that you are comfortable with. You use your own scrap paper and writing utensils. For the in-person format, there is little to no preparation required beforehand except for scheduling an appointment at a nearby test center and bringing a valid ID. You will be ushered into an office-like room filled with a number of small cubicles. In each cubicle, there will be a desktop with a monitor, mechanical keyboard, and mouse. There will be a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and you will also be given a booklet of scrap paper and writing utensils. A very compelling benefit of the in-person exam is that your exam is much less likely to be placed under review/canceled for suspicious activity. Your test session isn’t recorded and you do not have to connect with a remote proctor. You will not have to worry about the internet connection or whether or not your test-taking equipment is prohibited or not. Basically all you have to do is show up and take the exam. However, there are definitely drawbacks to the in-person exam as well. You will be in a new environment that you are unfamiliar with. There will be the noise of the other test takers in the room with you typing on keyboards, clicking their mouse, coughing, sneezing, leaving/entering the room, etc. There are definitely inconsistencies between the testing centers as well. Some minor, but noticeable issues that I experienced during my in-person exam included audible conversations coming from outside of the room, dark orange scrap paper on which I could barely see pencil marks, dull/broken pencils provided by the testing center, and barely functional noise-canceling headphones. Do not expect the testing centers to be a perfect, controlled environment and anticipate issues/annoyances. Once you’ve registered and exam day has arrived, it's time to do exactly what you practiced. I would not recommend that you make any last-minute changes to your testing routine/strategies. You have put so much work into perfecting your routine, and it would be a shame to throw that away when it really matters. After about 3 hours, you’ll have officially taken the LSAT. Congratulations! Now, it is a waiting game. Despite the exam taking place on a digital platform and being graded instantly, you will still have to wait about a month to receive your results. It is up to you whether you would like to continue studying during this wait depending on how you felt about your exam performance although I would keep any studying very light. Enjoy your well-deserved break. Step 5: Score Release You’ve now waited for what feels like forever and you receive the score for your first official exam. If you reached your goal score, congratulations! You have now finished a crucial component of the law school admissions process. You’re not done yet though. It’s time to start thinking about putting together your law school applications (which I may write another guide about soon). If you did not reach your goal score, don’t worry! Appreciate the fact that you are now more familiar with the official exam process and jump right back into studying/practicing again. If you were very close to your goal score, then I would recommend registering for the soonest upcoming exam and focusing on practicing through drills and PTs. If you were quite far away from your goal score, it might be worth evaluating your weakest sections/question types and jumping back into foundational concepts. Whatever you do, DO NOT cancel your first official exam. First, law schools only really care about your highest exam score, so do better on the next one and this one won’t hurt you. Second, you need to have at least one non-canceled score in order to even apply to law school. Let’s say you cancel your first test and then do even worse on your second test, then what? I would only recommend canceling a score if it is not your first exam (and you did not cancel your first exam) and it is lower than one of your other scores (e.g., you scored a 165 on your first exam and then a 162 on your second). The End! I know that was a lot. I could probably think of more to write, but you are probably already overwhelmed with information so I’ll leave the rest to you. I want to reiterate that these are all tips that I’ve picked up over my studying journey and I cannot guarantee a score increase based solely on these tips. After all, the most important thing is that you put in the work yourself and do your own due diligence to find what works best for you. If you have read everything up until now, you may be certifiably insane (the mark of a great law student) and thank you so much for considering what I have had to say. Remember that this is just a small part of your journey. Your LSAT score is not only just a single part of your law school applications, but it is an even smaller part of your career in the legal profession. I am not diminishing the importance of the exam, but please maintain a sensible perspective when you are feeling stressed and anxious about the LSAT. Make sure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance, keep pursuing hobbies and interests that you enjoy, and give yourself a break every once in a while. Your mindset and mental health is half the battle. See you in law school!
2024.05.13 23:02 AlCzervickPotential post-June 1 Cut Targets for Dallas
After Dallas makes a few cuts of their own, they may be looking to fill a few holes of their own. Might some of these guys fill those potential holes?
Miles Sanders, RB, Carolina Panthers - personally, I've never been a huge fan of Sanders' running style. He really only had one good year, and Philly traded him right after that. Not sure how he'd fit with our existing room.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphin - Decent runner and receiver, who had his best season a year ago, but could find himself the odd man out in Miami. I feel he'd be an instant upgrade over any of our current RBs.
Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans - Big guy (6-2, 225lb), good hands. Had some injury trouble which kept hum off the field for the Titans. Could be a nice addition to the wr corps.
Terrace Marshall, WR, Carolina Panthers - highly touted 2nd-round pick languished in Carolina. Not sure if he would make the team here.
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers - If the 9ers can't afford him, I'm not sure how Dallas can. Dan Moore Jr., OT, Pittsburgh Steelers - Young guy, drafted in the 4th round just 3 years ago out of A&M... However, according to Pro Football Focus, Moore was one of the worst qualifying offensive tackles in the NFL in pass blocking with a grade of only 39.7. But, you can never have too many offensive linemen, right? Right? Analysis
Miles Sanders, RB, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers used a second-round selection on Texas RB Jonathon Brooks, who will team up with Chuba Hubbard. The Panthers signed Miles Sanders last off-season to a four-year, $25.4 million contract, and he has $6 million guaranteed this season. If Carolina trades him, it’d likely need to absorb some of that money. Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins drafted Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright in the fourth round, adding him to the mix with De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. Miami, which is tight against the cap, would clear $1.2M if it moved on from Jeff Wilson Jr.
Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a massive contract in free agency, adding him alongside DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. Despite that, they still have quietly been in the receiver market, and there was some talk in league circles that they considered Rome Odunze with the No. 7 pick before settling on Alabama OT JC Latham. After the draft, they scheduled a meeting with Bengals free agent WR Tyler Boyd. Tennessee’s actions seem to indicate that its front office, which didn't draft Burks, and its new coaching staff aren’t too high on the former first-round pick, so he could be available. The Tennessee Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a massive contract in free agency, adding him alongside DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers dabbled with the idea of trading Deebo Samuel during draft week but never received a good enough offer. The plan is to retain Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. If a team becomes desperate for a receiver in the coming months because of an injury and shows interest in Samuel, the 49ers could move him. The only scenario I see that happening is if the trade involves a player returning to San Francisco. Otherwise, the 49ers are prepared to run it back.
Terrace Marshall, WR, Carolina Panthers
Terrace Marshall has been trying to leave Carolina since last season and received permission to seek a trade, only to find there wasn’t much of a market. After trading for Diontae Johnson and drafting Xavier Legette, it’s hard to see Marshall getting much playing time entering the final year of his rookie contract. A fresh start just makes too much sense. Dan Moore Jr., OT, Pittsburgh Steelers Dan Moore Jr. has started 49 games in three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his time as a starter could end with the drafting of Troy Fautanu. Moore had his fair share of struggles, but Pittsburgh could consider keeping him as a reserve option. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract.
2024.05.13 22:59 JetPackFuture104My thoughts on BNL's Steven Page Albums (not including Snacktime, as I haven't listened to it yet).
WARNING: I talk a lot. Quick background: 2021 was the year I first listened to BNL. All I heard were their big singles from Gordon, Stunt and Maroon (One Week, Pinch Me, It's All Been Done, etc.). But in 2022, I listened to Gordon in full, and it impressed me. Then I checked out Stunt, and let me tell you, from the bottom of my heart, I ADORE that album. I also listened to Maroon, and while good, I'd honestly rather pick the other two over it. Last year I listened to MYSD, BoaPS and Rock Spectacle to feed the itch. And this month, I listened to EtE and BLAM (can we call this a double album?). Here's my basic rundown on all of them: context: this is from the perspective of a Gen-Z'er. Can confirm the quality crosses generations. Hopefully I don't piss too many people off with my opinions. 1). Gordon: very good -Best tracks: Grade 9, Brian Wilson (duh), Wrap Your Arms Around Me, What a Good Boy, Box Set, I Love You, The Flag, Million Dollars (classic) -Weakest track: probably New Kid (on the Block). It's the one song I rarely revisit for some reason. Probably because it sounds too much like Enid and Box Set. =More jazzier than I thought =Very uncommon to see a band take off running on their debut record. Each of these songs can stand firmly on their own with few exceptions, which is something I always value in albums. This is required listening if you want to know what BNL are all about (at least, in their earlier days, sonically speaking). 2). Maybe You Should Drive: not bad. Pretty good. -Best tracks: Jane (feels like a song this Spanish artist my dad loves named Jose Luis Perales would make), These Apples, A (I love the drum outro), Am I the Only One?, Life in a Nutshell -Least favorite track: I will be Waiting (too twee for me. I feel like I'm listening to Hey There Delilah, and I actually like that song). =probably the one I come back to the least. Not because it's bad by any means, but their other albums feel more memorable. Sitting next to Gordon, this doesn't really compare. There's also more electric guitars, compared to Gordon being very acoustic-based. =There's some other songs I remember loving like Great Provider, but idk, this feels like a middle-of-the-road type of album. Still a good 7 or light 8, however. It does also have some of Tyler's best drum tones. 3). Born on a Pile of Pirate Ship: damn good -Best tracks: This is where it ends (Jesus, Steve), When I Fall (Jesus Ed, I didn't expect this to be about a suicidal window-washer), I Live with it Every Day (Jesus, Steve.......), Break your Heart (Jesus Christ, Steve.....), Same Thing (really somber for a song that references the Fantastic Four), Shoebox -Weakest tracks: Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank, and I Know. Both are alright, but they scream "B-Side" tbh. Definitely could've been cut out. =Overall, as you could probably pick up from my favorite tracks, I think I love this album because of how somber and introspective it gets. Some of their most crushing songs are on here. Though Shoebox does close it out on a more light-hearted note (at least sonically). 4). Stunt: my favorite -Best tracks (so many!): Call and Answer (one of the greatest songs I've ever heard, which is something I don't say lightly), It's all been Done (my favorite BNL guitar solo), In the Car, Who Needs Sleep (that chorus is the most earwormy thing they've done), Some Fantastic, When you Dream -Weakest track: if we're including the bonus tracks, definitely She's on Time. Feels very samey and borderline uninteresting. If going by the normal track listing, Alcohol. And even then, it's only really because I haven't revisited it as much as the others. That, and I don't think it works that well as the song that precedes Call and Answer. =Like I said, I dunno man, there's something magical about this record that makes me swoon over it. Probably not their overall best, but definitely my favorite. It's an album I can describe as one I'd like to take with me on a desert island. =It's bright, loud, but also tender. =That said, my one peeve is the track listing isn't perfect. Mostly speaking, It's all been done honestly could work amazingly as one of the closing tracks. And Call and Answer I feel would work better if it was placed after Who Needs Sleep or something, instead of being the smack-dab middle song. There's a reason this was a live staple and show-closer. =Still, as a whole/unit, I love Stunt. =I think I have 80-90% of the verses to One Week memorized. 5). Maroon: Good, but I prefer some of their other albums. -Best tracks: Pinch Me (this BNL song means a lot to me, lyrically. I tend to spin it whenever I'm going through a tough time mentally. It's also a good guitar warm-up), Never do Anything, Falling for the First Time, Off the Hook, Helicopters, Tonight is the Night......, Hidden Sun (Kevin knows how to do lullabies) -Weakest tracks: Too Little Too Late, Go Home, Humor of the Situation (catchy as it is) =Like Pirate Ship, the strongest moments lie in the serious tracks. =This is my "hot" take: I don't love Maroon as much as everyone else does. Big reason is because Steve sings lead on most of the album. And look, I love the man as much as the next guy, and his voice is undeniably godlike, but ngl, there's something about Steve and Ed sharing vocals (or having an equal number of songs they sing lead on) that I really love. Another reason I love Stunt, they each get a good number of songs to shine in. I know the trade-in is Steve & Ed had a whole Lennon-McCartney/Collingwood-Schlesinger writing credit thing to my knowledge, but still, maybe Ed could've sung lead on at least 1 or 2 other songs (Steve still absolutely slays the performances on all his songs, no doubt). =Even then, I can't call Maroon a "Steve Page solo" album either, as that sort of BNL signature quirkiness and cleverness that comes from the Page-Robertson duo is still found (Never do Anything, Sell Sell Sell). =I also sometimes think it's not as interesting sonically. I liked Stunt because of how distinct nearly every track was, but Off the Hook and Helicopters, great songs as they are, can feel samey. I feel Maroon lacks some of that extra energy and punch. =But still, a really solid record. And I definitely don't blame anyone for saying it's their favorite/BNL's best. Pinch Me is still one of the most intimate and personal BNL songs for me, as someone who struggles with anxiety and occasionally, self-harm (hope that wasn't too TMI, but I'm very well right now). Alright, these next three I barely listened to for the first time this past weekend, so these are my quicker, fresh thoughts. We'll see how they change by next year. 6). Everything to Everyone: -best tracks: Another Postcard (Ed's verses are too damn catchy), Testing 123 (a fantastic meta track that leaves me smiling. It's weirdly uplifting, if introspective), Next Time, Shopping, War on Drugs (I feel I'm only going to love this more with time), Aluminum (pretty somber), the last three songs -least favorite: Unfinished. And it's literally only because I can't remember how it goes again. Again, I just listened to this album on Saturday. Give me time. =I hyped myself up for this album a bit. It feels pretty ambitious =I'd listen to this over Maroon because of the more varied sounds. Shopping has some nifty electronica, For You is more softer and acoustic-laced, and Maybe Katie leans more on Old Apartment style guitar power. 7). Barenaked Ladies are Me: very simple, but in a perfected way. -best tracks: Easy, Home (this is I will be waiting, but infinitely better), Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Maybe you're right (the emotional climax of the record in the key of C), the last 4 tracks (a lot of the track listing is a home run). -weakest track: Everything had Changed =I can't remember when, but at what point, I couldn't help but smile and think "God I love this band!" 8). Barenaked Ladies are Men: still good, but Are Me was undeniably better -best tracks: Serendipity, Down to Earth, Beautiful (I love those whispered lines Steve does), Half a Heart, Maybe not, I Can I Will I Do, What a Letdown, Fun and Games (really neat tone that treads on black humor) -weakest tracks: Something you'll never find (it ends great, but overall, the song goes for longer than it should), Angry People =Definitely not as great as Are Me. Biggest reason is it's too long. Cut out a few songs, maybe rearrange the track listing, and it would work better. But even then, are Me had a better streak of top notch songs. Are Men feels at times like a bonus album, as opposed to being an equal to are Me. =Still worth listening to, but again, it didn't need to be 16 songs. =Of course, with almost 30 songs recorded, I'm not going to remember all of them. Come back to me maybe next year when they've all sunken in for me. So yeah! That's my two cents on all of the main Steven Page BNL releases! There's something great in each of these records, and I wouldn't take back any of it. My new favorite band. My ranking from best to weakest
Stunt
BNL are Me (admittedly, mostly due to recency bias)
Born on a Pirate Ship
Gordon
Everything to Everyone
Maroon
BNL are Men
Maybe you should drive
All that's left is to listen to Snacktime and As you Like it. I'll listen to the Post-Steven albums next year. I'm more than certain they're not as great, but I liked Daydreaming, Odds Are, and Get Back. I listened to the Vanity Project last year, and I thought it was alright. Page One tho......OH MY GOD IT'S SO GOOD YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Clifton Springs is another "tough times" song I come back to. Random side-note: I will always associate BNL with Evangelion. Don't ask (or do, idk).
What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.
Mostly just single player games, the most intensive of which would be a fully modded skyrim.
What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?
I don't really have a set budget because I'm not planning on buying it all at once. I'm going to buy it on part at a time every paycheck or two or three, as I save money, however long it takes. I'm not in a hurry.
When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.
I will be buying the parts over a long period of time to ease the burden of purchase so there is no set date.
What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc)
I need everything.
Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?
USA, Georgia. I am not near a Microcenter.
If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.
Not reusing parts
Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?
No
Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)
I do not want anything that has lights on it. I usually play in a dark room and excess lights hurt my eyes and are distracting. Computer, keyboard, or mouse.
What type of network connectivity do you need? (Wired and/or WiFi) If WiFi is needed and you would like to find the fastest match for your wireless router, please list any specifics.
I can have a wired connection or wifi though I usually go with wired because I feel like it's more reliable and faster.
Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?
A case that can block out most internal lighting would be nice.
Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?
Yes I will need windows. I don't know the difference between the different versions though. Whichever is a good one.
2024.05.13 22:49 LPK94Can't seem to get my navigation bar to appear horizontally, can anyone help me determine the styling rule that's preventing this?
I really appreciate any help with this. As of now my navigation bar is a centered vertical list with bullet points on the far right. I can't seem to find what is causing that. html
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