Hi everyone. I’m an English Language Teaching undergrad from Turkey and recently I have gotten in an argument with my writing skills professor about a sentence of mine that I used in a compare and contrast essay. The sentence is as follows:
"Granted, the supermarkets are extremely streamlined places of business, and the co-ops may not be as expertly planned, but at least the chaos is carried on in a friendly way."
My professor insists that I should have used something along the lines of “but” because supermarkets being streamlined and co-ops being poorly planned in comparison are two contrasting ideas whereas I believe my language is unproblematic for the fact that I am linking together two similar and related ideas, these ideas being “supermarkets are streamlined” and “supermarkets are better planned out/co-ops are worse at it”, and the real shift in tone comes after these clauses, connected with a “but”, expressing how the co-op stores make up for the lack of structure. I believe in these two clauses, which are contrasting definitely, the contrast is made by the verb “may not be”, and I believe my wording and meaning is clear.
Since I was fully confident in my usage of the conjunction, I did not yield and argued against my professor as politely as possible, saying that “I disagree” and I’ve explained my reasoning, the same as above. She got upset over this, saying that I have attitude issues (believe me when I say I never raised my voice or acted sarcastically or said anything disrespectful like “you’re wrong”, I simply said “I disagree” and nothing more) because I am not accepting a fact, and requested to talk to me in her office next week. So now, in order to stand up for myself even further, I need third party opinions, whether in my support or against (in which case I shall admit fault). I have already reached out to some experts in this field, but I want to hear from you as well while I wait for their replies.
Thank you!
TLDR; My professor and I disagree on the usage of “and” in this sentence:
"Granted, the supermarkets are extremely streamlined places of business, and the co-ops may not be as expertly planned, but at least the chaos is carried on in a friendly way."
I say it’s correct, she says it’s wrong, and I want to stand up for myself as I believe it is correct. Thanks!

Hi friends, We recently started writing about Danish idioms on our newsletter the Simple Danish Newsletter - I also started posting them here on Reddit, but I have not been great at keeping up, and so now I am 12 weeks behind here on Reddit, and rather than space out 12 different posts, I thought I would do one big post and hopefully get back on track with the postings 😅 So here’s a bunch of Danish idioms for you!
At have det som blommen i et æg
Litterally; to feel like the yolk in an egg. I like this idiom a lot because of how visual it is. It means that you feel good, you feel comfortable, protected, and in the right place.
For example:
A: Se de søde killinger der sover.
B: Åårh, de har sikkert som blommen i et æg.
En heldig kartoffel
Literally, a lucky potato. If someone is especially lucky, in Danish ,you can call them a lucky potato. As far as I can read, the expression comes from an old sailors game, where you would pass a potato around in a circle, and a person in the middle would try to catch it. If the person in the middle could not catch the potato, it was said to be a lucky potato.
For example: A: Jeg har fri på fredag, så jeg kan nyde det gode vejr.
B: Din heldige kartoffel.
A: Har du hørt at Jonas har vundet i lotto? B: Sikke en heldig kartoffel!
En varm kartoffel
Something can also be a hot potato. It is the same expression as in english, where an issue can be a hot potato. Something so hot that it is painful to touch, and so something you would want to avoid. This expression is less used in Denmark, and mostly by newspapers or the older generations.
Lokummet brænder
Litterally: The toilet is on fire.
Either you are in big trouble or you are about to be in big trouble when your toilet is on fire.
Lokum in Danish used to refer to the old shed behind the house, where hole-in-the-ground-with-seat type toilets with no running water were found. Nowadays the word can also refer, with some disgust, to normal toilets.
For example:

• Danskerne er gode til at få psykologisk hjælp når lokummet brænder.
  
• Når lokummet brænder, ved jeg at jeg altid kan regne med dig.
  

Så er den ged barberet
Litterally translating to; then the goat is shaved. Means that something is done or solved. You can use it if you got an annoying task out of the way, either by avoiding the task entirely (and then ironically using så er den ged barberet to humorously say that it was easy), or by actually finishing it.
Example 1: Jeg skal lige færdiggøre den sidste del af præsentationen, og så er den ged barberet.
Example 2: FCK scorede et hurtigt mål mod Brøndby, og så var den ged barberet.
Hvor kragerne vender
Where the crows turn around is used to to mean the same as in the middle of nowhere, although I like the illustrativeness of the Danish phrase much more than in the middle of nowhere. It means somewhere so far away, that even the crows don’t dare go there. You can for example say; Rasmus er vokset op på landet. Der hvor kragerne vender. Or if someone asks you what you did this weekend, you can say: jeg var ude at gå en tur, helt derude hvor kragerne vender. Or if people ask you where you are from: jeg er fra en lille by ude hvor kragerne vender.
Den der kommer først til mølle, får først malet
Litterally; The one who arrives first at the mill will get milled first. This is pretty much the the Danish equivalent of first come, first serve, mixed with a bit of the early bird gets the worm. However in everyday life, you pretty much only hear the first part; først til mølle or you might see something like; “efter først til mølle princip” which was recently added to the Danish dictionary. You might see the phrase if you are looking at items being given away for free or being sold online. I can definitely see how the isolated phrase can confuse new learners though: “Selling sneakers. First to the mill.”
So now you know 😊
at spille kong gulerod
At spille kong gulerod, to play king-carrot. You can use this expression if someone is acting arrogant, cocky, or superior in a pretentious way. You can for example say du skal ikke komme her og spille kong gulerod if someone is being pompous around you. The phrase apparently comes from an old french, satirical opera from 1872, where vegetables from the garden take control over France. Or so I’ve heard. Don’t cite me on that.
At købe katten i sækken
Literally meaning to buy the cat in the sack. To buy the cat in the sack, means you got cheated in a trade, or that you were not diligent enough when checking what you were buying and got something not worth a lot. You can change the person or the idiom in the idiom as in jeg har købt katten i sækken meaning you already made the bad deal, or you can say hun køber katten i sækken in the 3rd person future tense if someone is going to make a bad decision. You can use it as a warning to someone Pas på du ikke køber katten i sækken if you think there’s a risk they will not make a good choice later.
At gå som katten om den varme grød
Litterally; to walk like the cat around the hot porridge. We use this idiom when someone hesitates to speak directly about a sensitive subject, when they skirt around the issue. I imagine a cat, interested in eating a nice bowl of hot porridge, but the cat is hesitant because it is afraid of burning its tongue.
Example: I forbindelse med spørgsmålet om klimaforandringer, gik politikerne som katten om den varme grød.
at skyde papegøjen
To shoot the parrot, or to have shot the parrot, means to be very lucky. It can also mean to have gotten hold of a very valuable object or person. It is in a sensee the opposite of having bought the cat in the sack. Here’s a few examples:
Rasmus har skudt papegøjen med hende Antonina. Hun er godt nok sød. Jeg har skudt papegøjen her I weekenden på loppemarkedet.
Det med småt
“that with small/little” or more legibly: the fine print.
Har du læst det med småt? Did you read the fine print? You will often see this when websites are trying to be transparent or quirky about their terms and conditions. So you might encounter a link or a website titled “det med småt” if you are trying to buy something.
That was all for now 😅 I apologize in advance for formatting problems, as I am writing this on mobile as apparently this is the only way Reddit will allow me to post multiple images.

This would go for a more MBDTF/WTT Luxury type sound as it would be the huge comeback album that we all wanted.
Tracklist:

1. Slide ft. James Blake
2. Fuck Sum ft. Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Quavo (No Alvin, longer Ye verse)
3. Fried
4. Unlock
5. Gun To My Head ft. Kid Cudi
6. Vultures
7. Burn
8. Problematic
9. Keys To My Life
10. Love Love Love ft. Jay Z
11. Matthew ft. North West, Charlie Wilson
12. Back To Me ft. Freddie Gibbs, Pusha T (Piano, actual Ye verse)

The narrative of the album:
The album starts off near the end of the Yitler era. On “Slide”, Ye is opposing the media and the industry, “The industry don’t like me? Tell them pussy n***** likewise”. On “Fuck Sum” and “Fried”, we get HornYe really focusing on the horniness. On “Unlock”, Ye goes to war against the industry, resulting in him being cancelled completely with little chance of redemption. On “Gun To My Head”, the gun is metaphor for the industry and the cancellation, basically meaning that Ye has to consider changing his ways. The next song “Vultures” would be a completely different song that has the same name. This is the only one that doesn’t actually exist but on this song he would instead of calling himself and Ty the Vultures he would admit that he is in a bad place mentally and consider the fact that the people around him are using him and they are the Vultures. On “Problematic”, he goes away to self reflect and try to get better mentally. For example “I gotta fly to Japan, just to be secluded”. This part of the album takes place shortly after he and Bianca start dating. The song “Keys To My Life” is basically him proposing to Bianca. On the song “Love Love Love”, he realizes that there is more to love than fucking and being horny and the song is completely dedicated to Bianca with no sexual references. The song “Matthew” shows that he has regained his love for Christ and is doing better spiritually. Finally the song “Back To Me”. This would be changed to be a far more emotional song with the OG piano, a real ye verse, and a new Pusha T verse.

Hi,
Even if I consider myself a rather experienced user, I finally reach to this community after struggling for more than 2 days.
So here was my disk setup before I start messing everything, I then will explain my difficulties.

• 1 NVME SSD with a Windows 10 (that I still use sometimes) and Garuda Linux (which I do not use anymore) dual-boot
• 2 HHDs dedicated to Windows
• 1 256Gb SATA SSD with my Nobara (Fedora-based distro) install, of Corsair brand

The partition layout of this disk is as following: - 1Gb ext4 boot partion - 188Gb btrfs partition (with "/" and "home" subvolumes) - 32Gb swap partition
This Nobara SSD was becoming a bit small for me so I bought a Samsung SSD 870 QVO (SATA) of 1To as replacement.
I then tried to move my install to this new disk: First I booted on a gparted live ISO copied all partitions 1 by 1 but since the partitions UUIDs where kept the same, when I tried to boot with both the old and new disks, I found out the swap partition used was the one from the old disk.
So I tried to boot without the old disk connected, but wasn't able to reach Grub.
I then changed my strategy and did a fresh Nobara install then tried to copy my old partition onto the new one using btrfs tooling, but still couldn't achieve to boot and get the grub menu. I tried to change partions UUIDs, edit the /etc/fstab to reflect these changes, tried to use a boot repair live ISO but nothing worked. With the boot repair ISO I got an error "Please enable a repository containing the [grub-efi] in the software sources of Fedora Linux" that I could not manage to fix.
And to make matters worse, I managed in the process to corrupt the source partition, I don't know how, so it's not recognized as a btrfs partition anymore. "Luckily" if have a copy of this partition in my new install (that is still not booting) but resized so it takes advantage of the larger disk space, the only difference is that the /etc/fstab file has been modified.
Here is the current layout of my 2 disks: old one: - 1Gb ext4 boot flagged partion (no esp flag) - 188Gb unrecognized filesystem partition - 32Gb swap partition
new one: - 600Mb FAT32 with "boot, esp" flags partition - 1Gb "boot" named ext4 partition - 895Gb btrfs partition - 32Gb swap partition.
Now I want at least to restore my small disk so I can at least boot again then if possible the better option is to be able to boot on this new disk with my old data.
Can you help me please ?
PS: Sorry for my English, it's not my native language

Disclaimer:This is a part 2 to my story. Here is part 1:https://www.reddit.com/Crushes/comments/1cr3c21/my_mom_found_my_love_lette.
I met my crush when I was in high-school. I was 13 and she was 14. When I set eyes on her, I knew that she was the one for me. Her reflective skin was like gold waiting to be rubbed and loved. Her luminous eyes were like marbles designed for gazers. Her hair was like a sari, but as soft as silk, waiting to infatuate onlookers who fall in its honey-sweet trap. An example of the above is me.
I decided to test my valour via generating and sending a love letter to her. Unfortunately, at the time, she just said 'Thanks', which had left me devastated. Moreso, I had to duplicate my letter while pooping out biryani I ate on Sunday, in the highschool toilet, since my mother had stolen my original letter. I thought I did the needful to destroy it. Unfortunately, it was all in vain, which caused my letter to be found by my father.
My father was about to beat me with his belt, which was the worst thing that could happen to a 16 year old Indian teenager. However, fortunately, somebody in uaeteenagers gave me advice, which I used. I dissembled my stories and weaved a lie that states that my friend dared me to give my crush a love letter, and that I was not in love with her, which persuaded my father that I was not in need of a thrasing.
I was relieved, and to make my amygdala, my insula, my insular cortex, and my periaqueductal gray even more elated, she had put a love letter in my bag that apologised for her lacklustre response towards me. She has requested a date that will be taking place tomorrow, and since my parents will be out, of the house, I saw eye to eye with her metaphorically, to ensure that we could literally see eye to eye with each other tomorrow.
I am currently, very elated by this, and am thrilled by a new experience that I will be experiencing. Until now, the only acquaintance with dates I had seen so far were in Hollywood pictures, which cater to a westenr audience, and therefore, until now, have led me to believe that us Indians cannot get dates due to our conservative nature. However, I was proven wrong, and will extract the moral of the impossible being possible from this memorable episode.

Disclaimer:This is part 2 to my story. Here is part 1:https://www.reddit.com/UAETeenagers/comments/1cr3fiq/my_mom_found_my_love_lette
I met my crush when I was in high-school. I was 13 and she was 14. When I set eyes on her, I knew that she was the one for me. Her reflective skin was like gold waiting to be rubbed and loved. Her luminous eyes were like marbles designed for gazers. Her hair was like a sari, but as soft as silk, waiting to infatuate onlookers who fall in its honey-sweet trap. An example of the above is me.
I decided to test my valour via generating and sending a love letter to her. Unfortunately, at the time, she just said 'Thanks', which had left me devastated. Moreso, I had to duplicate my letter while pooping out biryani I ate on Sunday, in the highschool toilet, since my mother had stolen my original letter. I thought I did the needful to destroy it. Unfortunately, it was all in vain, which caused my letter to be found by my father.
My father was about to beat me with his slippers, which was the worst thing that could happen to a 16 year old Indian teenager. However, somebody in this subReddit gave me advice, which I used. I dissembled my stories and weaved a lie that states that my friend dared me to give my crush a love letter, and that I was not in love with her, which persuaded my father that I was not in need of a thrasing.
I was relieved, and to make my amygdala, my insula, my insular cortex, and my periaqueductal gray even more elated, she had put a love letter in my bag that apologised for her lacklustre response towards me. She has requested a date that will be taking place tomorrow, and since my parents will be out, of the house, I saw eye to eye with her metaphorically, to ensure that we could literally see eye to eye with each other tomorrow.
I am currently, very elated by this, and am thrilled by a new experience that I will be experiencing. Until now, the only acquaintance with dates I had seen so far were in Hollywood pictures, which cater to a westenr audience, and therefore, until now, have led me to believe that us Indians cannot get dates due to our conservative nature. However, I was proven wrong, and will extract the moral of the impossible being possible from this memorable episode.

So I got the membership for baressays.com - what is the most efficient way to use it?
Example - I clicked Professional Responsibility and just want to see the 65+ essays.
Should I just click "essay" and learn off that? Do you concern yourself with the Calbar model?
Just want to find a flow. Would appreciate any feedback or experience!

As we get into the new season, I just thought it would be fun to track and discuss the themes and motifs this show has kept up throughout the seasons so far so we can see how they play out in Season 4:)
NOTE: I have not read many spoilers. I don't mind if they come into the discussion, but please mark with a tag for anyone who doesn't want to see them!
Honestly, when I really laid all these out, it made me appreciate the writing so much more, even in moments I didn't really care for the first time around.
Plus analyzing stuff like this is fun for super cool people. Join me!
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• What it Means to Save Someone

This is probably the main theme of the series and the thing that becomes the biggest downfall for all our protagonists. "Saving Someone" has now become something that puts the viewer on edge.
How many times has a character exclaimed "I'm trying to save you," when actually all they're doing is trying to serve their own selfish agenda and alleviate their own guilt or affirm their image of themselves?
I could seriously write a whole essay about this and how it ties to the idea of What it Means to Be a Hero. But feel free to discuss it more in the comments.

• Subverting "Truth, Justice, and the American Way

The Boys is constantly exploring how Vought and The Boys bend the truth to serve their own agenda and are constantly asserting that the definition of truth typically belongs to whoever has the power (Power being another big motif).
Justice vs. Vengeance is also a big one that keeps coming up. Starlight is arguably the only character who is earnestly pursuing true justice on this show and tbh, it cramps everyone's style. MM and Hughie also great characters to follow for this because they are both genuinely trying to do the right thing and are often seduced by Butcher's much more attractive Vengeance call.

• Mother and Father Relationships

This is another one that could turn into a whole essay and one that I'd probably have to go back and take more notes to explore. But I think it really ties into this idea of Power and Responsibility. Because isn't that the cornerstone of what it means to be a parent?
Children are seen by society as the ultimate innocents who must be protected at all costs, but they are so often abused and exploited by the people who are supposed to protect them - Even when it's unintentional. Parents so often see children as extensions of themselves rather than individuals. Simply tools to affirm their own existence or be mirrors of themselves (which ties into the whole selfish "I'm trying to save you" theme).
We see this explored with Ryan a lot, but this was beautifully culminated at the end of S3 when MM realizes he needs to be honest with his daughter about what he's been going through, not to justify his mistakes, but to show her respect and acknowledgement of a two-way relationship.

• Power in the Hands of Women and Power in the Hands of POC

Oh man. This is another one that's like... A whole ass paper.
Super powers are definitely a vehicle to explore societal power with woman and POC on this show and the daunting idea that even with superpowers or wealth, race and gender can still be used as kryptonite.
We see it touched on in the ongoing discussions of how to properly "play the game" and achieve real power.
We see the Power and Women explored pretty in depth in Season 2, but Ashley is a really awesome ongoing exploration of this theme through a gender lens as she rises to power at Vought.
A Train and Noir are an obvious example of this exploration through a racial lens, but it's definitely also been touched on through pretty much every character of color on this show. I think they really got into it in a really interesting way on Gen V as well, but I don't want to bog this down any harder.

• Gender Roles and Toxic Masculinity

Just making sure everyone is on the same page - Toxic Masculinity does NOT mean that masculinity is inherently toxic. It is meant to focus on the unhealthy presentations and expectations of performing the role of "being a man."
Toxic Masculinity really became the focus of Season 3. We see that most clearly in the character of Soldier Boy (though I do worry that due to Jensen Ackles natural charisma, it didn't quite achieve the impact the writers intended), but also in Hughie.
Although many people (including me) felt like it was a disappointing step back for Hughie, I'm actually leaning back the other way on the rewatch. I think that the feeling powerless (which is something we feel as ordinary citizens all the time) moment Hughie had when he realized all the work he did with Neuman was built on a lie probably threw a lot out of whack. It makes perfect sense that the comments about his vulnerability and softness might start hitting a little differently than they used to.
Frenchie and MM on the other hand, are great examples of characters of healthy masculinity in their willingness to share power, be vulnerable, and self reflect so that they are able to support the interests of their loved ones.

• What is REAL Power?

This is the final theme I'll mention because it's a big one and I think it's going to be important in the upcoming season. Where does real power come from? Money? Strength? Social influence? Knowledge? Relationships?
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Okay I'm tired of typing and it's likely that only four people will comment on this if I'm lucky.
I hope you enjoy discussing (feel free to add your own big themes if I missed any) and I hope that being aware of these themes make the upcoming season more fun to watch.

Welcome to /Psychotechnology!

Psychotechnology is an umbrella term describing the various traditions, practices, rituals, sciences, and tools that allow humans to improve their physical, psychological, and material well-being at both the individual and collective levels. This subreddit is dedicated to exploring these diverse approaches, fostering discussions, and sharing insights on how they contribute to our well-being.

What Counts as Psychotechnology?

Religion

Religions are organized systems of beliefs, rituals, and practices that often involve a commitment to a higher power or spiritual force. They provide moral frameworks, community support, and a sense of purpose. Examples include:

• Christianity: Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasizing love, forgiveness, and salvation.
• Islam: Founded on the revelations given to the Prophet Muhammad, focusing on submission to the will of Allah.
• Buddhism: A path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of reality, founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).
• Hinduism: A major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from Vedic religion, encompassing a variety of practices and beliefs in karma and dharma.
• Judaism: The monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, rooted in the Hebrew Bible and centered on the covenant between God and the Israelites.

Spiritual Traditions

Spiritual traditions encompass a wide range of beliefs and practices that focus on personal spiritual development outside the confines of organized religion. Examples include:

• Paganism: A group of contemporary religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.
• Occultism: A category of esoteric beliefs and practices that involve the use of magical rituals, symbols, actions, gestures, and language.
• Druidry: A modern spiritual or religious movement that generally promotes harmony, connection, and reverence for the natural world.
• Wicca: A modern pagan, witchcraft religion that emphasizes the worship of nature and the practice of magic.

Psychological Sciences

Psychological sciences involve the systematic study of the mind and behavior, often employing empirical methods and therapeutic techniques to improve mental health. Examples include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A type of psychotherapy that helps individuals change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
• Mindfulness: The practice of purposely focusing attention on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment.
• Group Therapy: A form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time.

Exploring the Similarities

Despite their differences, religions, spiritual traditions, and psychological sciences share common goals and practices aimed at enhancing well-being. Here are some examples of specific practices within each category that might achieve similar benefits:

Meditation and Prayer

• Buddhist Meditation: Buddhist practices like Vipassana or Zen meditation focus on mindfulness and developing insight into the nature of reality.
• Christian Prayer: Engaging in prayer, whether communal or private, fosters a sense of connection with the divine and provides comfort and guidance.
• Mindfulness Meditation: In psychological sciences, mindfulness meditation helps individuals cultivate present-moment awareness and reduce stress.

Rituals and Ceremonies

• Hindu Rituals: Daily rituals such as puja involve offerings to deities and serve to reinforce religious devotion and community bonds.
• Wiccan Sabbats: Celebrating seasonal festivals, Wiccans honor nature cycles and engage in rituals that foster a sense of community and spiritual connection.
• Behavioral Activation: In CBT, establishing regular routines and engaging in enjoyable activities can enhance mood and overall well-being.

Ethical Guidelines and Moral Development

• Islamic Ethics: Following the Five Pillars of Islam provides a moral framework that guides behavior and fosters community cohesion.
• Pagan Ethical Codes: Many Pagan traditions follow ethical guidelines such as the Wiccan Rede, which advises against harming others.
• Values Clarification: In psychological sciences, helping individuals clarify their values can guide behavior and decision-making, promoting a sense of purpose and integrity.

Community and Support Networks

• Jewish Community Life: Participating in synagogue activities and Jewish festivals creates a strong sense of community and mutual support.
• Druid Gatherings: Modern Druidry often involves gatherings in nature, fostering a sense of belonging and connection to the natural world.
• Group Therapy: Provides a supportive environment where individuals can share experiences, gain insights, and build connections with others facing similar challenges.

Personal Growth and Self-Improvement

• Christian Confession: The practice of confession and seeking forgiveness can lead to personal growth and emotional relief.
• Occult Practices: Practices such as shadow work in occult traditions encourage deep self-reflection and personal transformation.
• Cognitive Restructuring in CBT: This technique involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns, promoting mental resilience and personal development.

Why These Practices Matter

By examining these diverse practices through the lens of psychotechnology, we can appreciate the shared human endeavor to enhance well-being. Whether through religious devotion, spiritual exploration, or psychological techniques, these practices offer pathways to improved mental health, stronger communities, and a greater sense of purpose.

Key Benefits Across Practices

• Stress Reduction: Practices like meditation, prayer, and mindfulness help manage stress and promote relaxation.
• Emotional Support: Community activities in religious and spiritual traditions, as well as support groups in psychological practices, provide emotional and social support.
• Moral and Ethical Guidance: Ethical teachings in religions and spiritual traditions, and values clarification in psychology, help guide behavior and decision-making.
• Personal Insight: Reflective practices in all three domains foster self-awareness and personal growth.

By framing these diverse concepts as sharing a common goal—directly and indirectly enhancing one's personal psyche—this subreddit aims to provide a platform for exploring and discussing these varied approaches, both their merits and drawbacks. So please create discussion threads, share books/articles/videos/podcasts, and other resources! Feel free to ask for questions and advice, and share any personal stories you have!

Community Guidelines

To keep our community welcoming and productive, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Respectful Dialogue: Respect differing opinions and experiences. Personal attacks or disrespectful comments will not be tolerated.
• Stay On-Topic: Keep discussions relevant to psychotechnology and related practices.
• No Spam: Avoid posting irrelevant links, self-promotion, or advertisements without prior approval from the moderators.
• Confidentiality: Be mindful of sharing personal information and respect the privacy of others.

Welcome to /Psychotechnology!

So I’m english, and I’m curious on what people like french people learn in their language subject, for example in english i don’t actually learn english I just do things like PEAL paragraphs, books and essays, but in french I learn french words and everything, is it the same in france but reverse? what I learn in english they do in french, and what I learn in french they do in english?

As many of you may have read, there is a case of two missing adopted kids in North Carolina, where remains have been found. The news has reported that their adoptive “mother” is Avantae Deven.
I’m a curious person and started digging up information on Avantae Deven when I first read the story in my news feed and could not believe what I was reading. It seemed like whomever this woman is must have be using an alias; Avantae Deven is not a name like Kim Jones or Mackenzie Smith.
The more I dug, the weirder it seemed to get. I found a property deed to a place in Sedona, Arizona, and figured out that whomever this Avantae person is, she at one point in time had owned a home together with someone named Nicole Adams. So I dug into who Nicole Adams was, and learned that she was the widow of a spiritual leader named Robert Adams. It appeared to me that there would be no way to identify who Avantae really was, unless I could also identify the true identity of Robert Adams.
*******
I've done investigative work for many years, including skip tracing. I can conclusively state that there was absolutely no person actually named Robert Adams born in New York State on January 21, 1928. This is demonstrated by the New York Birth Index. I have combed the census records for 1930, 1940, and 1950, and cross-checked them against multiple databases, and am confident that nobody with the birth name of Robert Adams was born anywhere in the United States on January 21, 1928.
Moreover, there was absolutely no person with the true name of Robert Adams who died anywhere at all in the United States, let alone Sedona, Arizona, on March 2, 1997. This is demonstrated by the Social Security Death Index.
I began this research largely by performing exhaustive searches on the known addresses that are associated with Robert, his wife Leonie (who used to use the alias Nicole), and Avantae Deven (who turns out to be their daughter Michelle who began using the alias Avantae in the mid-1990’s or so). Most of the addresses are PO boxes. Those that are PO boxes are all *private* PO boxes, not PO boxes that one can rent from the United States Postal Service. To me, that spoke volumes. The family were clearly using aliases.
As I explain further below, I eventually determined that “Robert Adams” was Robert Spiegel, born 21 January 1932 in New York. “Nicole Adams” was actually Aileen Beverly Leonie Maxwell, born February 2, 1929, in Jamaica. “Avantae Deven” is actually their daughter, Michelle K. Spiegel, born on October 1, 1960, in California.
One of Robert’s many false stories about Robert’s life that my research has refuted is Robert’s claim that his mother was Jewish and his father was Catholic. That was a lie. Both of his parents were Jewish. It’s also interesting that he claimed that he was “raised Catholic.” There is absolutely nothing to suggest that. His mother always, in New York, lived in Jewish neighborhoods. Moreover, as will be discussed below, his parents had a Jewish wedding. It’s also downright absurd that he would tell people that he was “half Jewish.” If your mother’s Jewish, you are Jewish, pure and simple. Even if Robert’s father had truly been Catholic (which he wasn’t; his name was Samuel Spiegel and he immigrated to America in 1907, lived with his Jewish, Yiddish-speaking cousins, and spoke Yiddish himself), Robert would have been Jewish because the status of being a Jew comes from the mother. Robert’s mother’s name was Fannie (nee Fleisfeder) Spiegel. Fannie’s parents were Itzik Fleisfeder and Esther Libke (nee Rifkin) Fleisfeder. Esther’s parents were Mendel Rifkin and Sarah whose maiden name is lost to time and the disappearance of the shtetls. Robert’s claim to having had a Catholic father was utterly false, but is part and parcel of his ongoing compulsive daily lying about anything and everything.
Here is the story.
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Kolomyia, formerly known as Kolomea, is a city currently located in the Western Ukraine.
On January 21, 1892 (the same year that Kolomea tallis¹ workers went on strike for better pay and working conditions), Kolomea resident Rachel Katz, wife of Abraham Spiegel, gave birth to a son, who was given the name Schmuel.
On the date that Schmuel Spiegel entered the world, Kolomea was ruled by the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and almost half of the city’s residents were Jewish.
In June of 1907, fifteen-year-old Schmuel² boarded the Zeeland, which sailed from Antwerp, Belgium, arriving at New York Harbor on June 18, 1907. The ship’s manifest states that Schmuel’s father had paid for his transport, and that Schmuel intended to reside with his father, Abe, in Brooklyn. Schmuel was granted entrance, and took up residence with his cousin Charles Fetner, who resided at 353 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, in Apartment A with his wife Jennie and their baby daughter Ettie. The sparse record that exists suggests that although Schmuel’s father was, indeed, named Abraham, Abraham lived and died in Europe, without immigrating to America.
The 1910 census describes Samuel’s cousin Charles as a carpenter, who had been married to housewife Jennie for six years, and a father of three children-- Ettie age four, Nathan age two, and baby Jacob, who was not even a year old. Eighteen-year-old Samuel was identified by profession as a “Foreman Sailmaker” in an industry described as “pocket-books.”
Three and a half years after being granted admission, on a bitterly cold winter day, January 4, 1911, Schmuel (now employed as a pocket-book maker, and having Anglicized his name to Samuel) signed and submitted his declaration to become a United States citizen. He stated, in that declaration, that he was born on January 21, 1892.
By 1915, Samuel had left his cousin’s abode and was residing as a lodger in the home of a widow named Rose Hammer, who lived with her two adolescent sons, Meyer and Louis, at 531 E. 5^th Avenue; Samuel was now working as a “driver.”
Two years after the 1915 state census was taken, Samuel had moved back to Myrtle Avenue, but this time at building no. 849. On June 15, 2017, Samuel registered for the draft, and described himself as being a pocketbook maker, working for “A. Shoenfeld,” at 101 Crosby Street, New York. He was single. He stated, in his draft registration, that he was born on January 21, 1892.
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A woman named Fruma Fleisfeder was born in Beltz, Bessarabia, sometime between July 1, 1893, and 1901, to Itzik Fleisfeder and Esther Lieba Rifkin. Fruma (not living up to her pious given name) provided different dates and years of birth to different authorities on different occasions, making it impossible at this point in time to know her true position in the birth order of her family. Regardless, Fruma, who began using the name Fanny upon her entrance to the United States, did have three brothers and a sister who also came to America-- Louis Fleisfeder who was born April 10, 1890, Max Irving Fleisfeder who used October 10, 1892 as his birthdate, Hersch (later known as Harry), whose official birthdate was December 15, 1901, and Sylvia who was born in approximately 1906.
On December 1, 1919, Fruma arrived in New York Harbor on the ship La Touraine, declaring her intention, at entry, to become a United States Citizen. The ship’s manifest describes her as five feet five inches tall, with fair hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. The ship’s manifest states that she was, at that time, age 24. If that were correct, she would have been born in 1895.
Fruma (then going by Fanny) took up residence with her cousin Ethel (nee Ruchlin) and Ethel’s husband Samuel Steinberg, on 15^th Street, Brooklyn. Soon thereafter, Ethel gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Theresa. The 1920 census states that Fanny was Russian, didn’t speak English but, rather, spoke Hebrew, and worked as a milliner in a millinery store. The 1920 census also states that Fanny was age 25, which lines up with her being age 24 in the prior year’s ship manifest.
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Sam and Fanny married in Manhattan on January 24, 1925. Their marriage certificate (signed by each of them) identifies Sam as being age 32 (contradicting, by one year, his immigration records which would have placed him at age 33), and identifies Fanny as age 24, the same age that she had claimed to be six years prior, and also contradicting an immigration petition that she would file two decades in the future, which generally placed her birth year at the mid-point of 1893.
If Fanny’s immigration records (which included a petition with her signature on it) were correct, Fanny would also have been age 32 as of her marriage to Samuel, not age 24.
So did Fanny lie in her marriage certificate? Or did she lie in her immigration petition?
The marriage certificate identifies Sam as having been born in Kolomea, Austria, and his father being Abraham, and his mother being Rachel Katz. It identifies Fanny as having been born in Beltz, Russia, to a father named Isaac, and to a mother named Esther Rifkin.
The marriage certificate does not identify Fanny as having any profession, but identifies Sam as being a pocketbook maker.
Sam and Fannie were married at 125 E. 4^th Street, Manhattan, a six-story apartment building with retail units on the ground floor that is now an expensive co-op, with three-bedroom units selling for over $900,000. Present-day real estate advertisements alternatively state that the building was built in 1894, 1903, and 1905.
The first name of the rabbi who officiated was Harry. His surname starts with Reid, but the remaining letters of his signature are illegible. Rabbi Harry identified his residence as 232 Broome Street, which, at the time, was a four-story mixed use building that, among other things, housed Chevrah Ahavath Zedek Anshei Jaskinover.
Witnesses to the marriage were Mayer Budmon and Samuel Steinberg.
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Sam and Fanny’s existence was documented next in the 1925 New York State census by census. They were living at 205 S. 2^nd Street. Samuel was still working as a “pocketbook maker.” Fanny was identified as a “housewife.”
Fanny was identified as age 25. This was in accordance with her age as stated on her marriage certificate, but not in accordance with her immigration documents or the 1920 census.
Sam was identified as being age 28, which conflicted with all prior records.
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In 1930, the couple were again enumerated, this time in the Federal census. The enumerator, whose signature appears to be “Max Krahn” (or something like that) stated that he obtained the information on April 16, 1930.
Sam was identified as a “framer” of pocketbooks. He was identified as being 36 years of age, which conflicts by two years with the age that he provided to immigration authorities. Perhaps the enumerator was simply sloppy; Samuel was also incorrectly identified in the 1930 census as having been born in “Poland,” with parents who were both also born in “Poland,” notwithstanding other governmental records having identified him as being Austrian. The language he spoke? “Jewish,” according to the enumerator. Was that to mean Hebrew? Yiddish? Both?
Fannie was identified as age 30 (directly in conflict with the information she supplied in her immigration petition, which bears her signature) and as being “Russian,” with parents born in “Russia.” The 1930 census enumerator incorrectly wrote that her year of immigration was 1921. Fannie, too, was identified by the enumerator as speaking the “Jewish” language.
Although later records reflected that Sam and Fannie had a son named Irving who was born in 1926, Irving was not recorded in the 1930 census. Was he missed by the enumerator? Or was he a later-adopted son?
The couple also had a boarder, identified by the 1930 enumerator as one Esther “Larson,” age 40, born in Russia, and similarly a speaker of the “Jewish” language.
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The New York Birth Index identifies a baby boy, Robert Spiegel, as one of many babies having been born in the city on January 21, 1932.
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On May 21, 1936, Samuel committed suicide by hanging in the family residence, a tenement apartment located at 1168 Union Avenue, in the Bronx. Although, based upon the date of birth that Samuel used for official governmental purposes he was age 44, the death certificate stated that he was age 43.
Fannie engaged the Gordon Funeral Home to prepare him for burial.
Strangely, although Samuel’s headstone accurately identified him in Hebrew as Schmuel Spiegel, son of Avraham, it inexplicably incorrectly stated that he died at age 40.
Fannie of course knew her husband’s real age; both of them signed the marriage certificate that had Samuel’s correct age listed. Furthermore, Samuel had petitioned for citizenship in 1911, and stated that his date of birth was January 18, 1892.
Why would Fannie commission a headstone with a false age? Perhaps she, like her son, was a compulsive liar. Maybe that’s where Robert got it from.
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The 1940 census has Fannie (identified as age 38), Robert (identified as age 8), and Fannie’s son/Robert’s brother, Irving Spiegel, age 13, as living with Fannie’s 72-year-old mother, Esther Fleisfeder, at 1537 Fulton Avenue, in the Bronx. Fannie and Esther were identified as widows. Esther was identified as “U” (unable to work), while Fannie was identified as engaged in housework. No source of income for the family was identified.
No explanation is obvious regarding where Irving was living in the census taken a decade previously. Was he adopted?
There is no “Irving Spiegel” listed in the New York Birth Index for either 1926 or 1927. There is an “Irving Spiegal” listed, who was born April 29, 1926. But he is not Irving Spiegel.
I initially thought that perhaps Irving might be one of the unnamed Baby Boy Spiegels born in New York in 1926 or 1927, and that he left the hospital unnamed because his parents were waiting for his bris before naming him. However, Robert left the hospital with the name Robert. Why wait until the bris to name one child, but not the other?
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Slightly less than two years after she was enumerated in the 1940 census, Fannie’s mother Esther died, at home, at 1537 Fulton Avenue. The causes of death were “Coronary Thrombosis, Pulmonary Oedema Nephritis, Hypertension, Arteriosclerosis.” Esther left this world on February 6, 1942, the same day that the W. L. Steed was torpedoed, shelled and sunk less than a hundred nautical miles east of the mouth of Delaware River by a German submarine.
She was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Fairview, New Jersey, the same cemetery where her son-in-law Samuel was interred.
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On November 12, 1943, Fannie, now residing at 1985 Bathgate Avenue, in the Bronx, petitioned for citizenship. She claimed, in that document bearing her signature, to be fifty years of age, meaning that if she was telling the truth, she would have been born in approximately 1893.
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On January 19, 1948, Robert (having assumed a false date of birth, that being January 18, 1931), enlisted in the New York National Guard. On paper, he had turned age 17 the day before his enlistment. In reality, he would be turning age 16 two days after his enlistment.
On December 9, 1949, Robert was discharged from the national guard, apparently for having been AWOL.
The discharge document identifies his address as being 1985 Bathgate Avenue, New York City.
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The 1950 census places Robert again at 1985 Bathgate Avenue, New York City. It correctly identifies him as age 18, and states that he worked as a shipping clerk for a newspaper company.
According to the 1950 census, Robert resided at the Bathgate Avenue address with his mother Fannie, who was purportedly still age 50 (seven years after she had previously claimed to immigration authorities to be age 50), and Robert’s brother Irving, age 24.
Irving was listed as unemployed and moreover, according to the census record, had not worked for the prior year. Fannie was employed full-time as a milliner in a hat factory.
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Military records reflect that Irving J. Spiegel, born in 1926 and a resident of 1985 Bathgate Avenue, who had completed two years of high school education, had flown bomber planes over Germany during the war. In his military documents, Irving described himself as single, with two dependents.
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On February 2, 1929, a baby girl given the name Aileen Beverly Leone Maxwell was born in Lucea, Hanover, Jamaica, to William Maxwell and Daisy (nee Tibbits) Maxwell. Her birth was registered by her parents.
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In 1954, Robert Spiegel and Aileen Maxwell were married in New York City. Their marriage license was given License No. 10284.
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The following year, the Kingston, Jamaica, Gleaner reported on June 6, 1955:
Miss Leonie Maxwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Maxwell, was married recently in New York City to Mr. Robert Spiegel of the U.S.A. Both the bride and groom are students at the New York Institute of Dietetics. The bride left the island nearly two years ago for New York. Her wedding gown was chantilly lace and nylon tulle. The bodice was fashioned with a wide, scalloped neckline and elbow-length sleeves. Her three tier skirt of chantilly lace was over pleated nylon tulle. Her fingertip-length veil was adorned with pearls.
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If the claim regarding the couple studying at the New York Institute of Dietetics was even true, their studies at this institution didn’t last long. In May of 1956, a number of advertisements bearing Robert’s photograph appeared in the Kingston, Jamaica Gleaner. The advertisements described Robert as a psychologist, author, lecturer, and “practitioner in auto suggestion,” and identified him as “Dr. J. Robert Spiegel.” Readers were invited to come meet Robert on May 21, 1956, at Record Plaza, where he would be autographing his “latest” “world-wide” 33 and 1/3 RPM record, “How to Stop Smoking in 7 days by Auto-Suggestion.”
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On May 1, 1959, three residents of 1985 Bathgate Avenue, Bronx, New York, came through customs, having returned from a trip to Jamaica. They identified themselves as “Robert D. Spiegel” born in New York (in addition to giving himself a false middle initial, Robert neglected to complete the I-94-A fully, specifically by leaving his birthdate blank), “Leonie A. Spiegel” born in Jamaica on February 2, 1929, and their minor daughter, and “Sharon S. Spiegel,” born in New York. Someone also neglected to fully complete Sharon’s I-94-A, specifically by leaving her birthdate blank.
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Leonie had taken Sharon to Jamaica two years earlier. There are no publicly available records pertaining to their outbound transport from the United States to Jamaica. There is, however, a record pertaining to their return to the United States. That publicly available record does not provide their address, but Sharon is identified as weighing 1 stone 5 pounds (a total of 19 pounds), and Leonie is identified as weighing six stone 5 pounds (89 pounds). Interestingly, Leonie used the name “Aileen Spiegel,” and the records assert that Aileen has no middle initial. Aileen was / is her true legal first name, but it is a lie to say that she has no middle initial.
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Almost two years later, on January 5, 1958, the Kingston, Jamaica Gleaner reported:
Staying at the Tamarind Hotel are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Spiegel and daughter Sharon of Miami, Florida. Mrs. Spiegel is the former Leonie Maxwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Maxwell of Lucea and has been in the United States for several years. A welcome party in their honour was given last Saturday night by Messers. Horrace, Ray, and Dennis Maxwell, brothers of Mrs. Spiegel. It was a very enjoyable affair.
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In 1963, roughly five years after their 1958 visit to Jamaica, Leonie petitioned for naturalization, in Louisiana. Although I am in possession of the index showing that she petitioned in 1963, I do not possess the petition itself. However, the fact that she petitioned for naturalization in Louisiana demonstrates that that at least she was residing in Louisiana at the time. Since she stated that she didn’t leave Robert’s side for over 40 years, presumably Robert, young Sharon, and also baby Michelle were living in Louisiana at that time.
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People who knew Robert personally relate that he stated that Leonie was a Cayman Island heiress. She wasn’t. Not only was she not born in the Cayman Islands, Leonie’s father’s estate was litigated (with the judge ruling against her) long before Robert started telling people that his wife was a Cayman Islands heiress.
Leonie’s father did leave an estate, but not to her. On November 9, 1967, the Gleaner reported that the Supreme Court had upheld the will of the late William Josiah Maxwell, the father of Horrace, Ray, Dennis, and Leonie, and the husband of Daisy Maxwell, who had contended that William’s signature was a forgery and that the person to whom his estate had been bequeathed had exercised undue influence. The court disagreed. The article reported:
The estate, which one of the executors described as “a sizeable one,” included 112 acres of land at Paradise and three houses at Lucea, Hanover.
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Robert apparently wasn’t banking on Leonie’s inheritance in any event. In May of 1966, advertisements appeared in the Houston Chronicle with Robert’s photo on them, selling a record that would purportedly assist people in stopping smoking in seven days. He identified himself as “Dr. J. Robert Spiegel.”
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On page 55 of the November 15, 1969, San Antonio, Texas Express and News, was an advertisement stating:
SCIENCE OF THE MIND
Dr. J. Robert Spiegel of Houston, director and founder of the Science of the Mind Foundation there, is conducting Sunday evening meetings at 7:30 p.m. in the Sheraton Inn, 1400 Austin Hwy.
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On page 4 of the July 10, 1970 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was a photograph of Robert, with a brief local news blurb:
GUEST – Dr. J Robert Spiegel of Houston, Science of Mind Foundation director, will speak at the 10:45 a.m. service tomorrow in First Church of Religious Science, 2001 6^th Ave. His subject is “What Religious Science Teaches.”
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On page 8 of the June 18, 1970 edition of the Houston Daily Cougar was this advertisement:
HOME OF UNIVERSAL LIFE
“Teaching Aquarian Meditation For The New Age
Meets Every Sunday, 11:00 A.M. At The World Trade Center Auditorium
Houston, Texas
DR. J. ROBERT SPIEGEL (BRAHMADANDA) DIRECTOR - FOUNDER
Aquarian Meditation Initiation for the first time offered through correspondence. For those sincere students wishing to bypass evolution and enter the 5th Kingdom. Initiation includes meditation technique, Mantra, how to "live” 24 hours a day, and much more. Write for application today:
P.O. Box 53328 Houston, Texas 052
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From the Galveston Daily News, May 02, 1971, Pg. 31:
AQUARIAN MEDITATION SOCIETY PRESENTS DR. J. ROBERT SPIEGEL AN AUTHOR, LECTURER, TEACHER OF YOGA & SELF DEVELOPMENT WILL SPEAK ON MAN, MIND & THE UNIVERSE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5th AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE RECREATION CENTER HARRIS COUNTY PARK, NASA RD. # 1 ALL WELCOME — DONATION $1.50
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The 1972 Spiritual Community Guide lists Robert twice, in the San Diego area. First, on page 117, using his alias “J. Robert Spiegel”:
THE TEMPLE OF METAPHYSICAL ABUNDANCE. J. Robert Spiegel, 1118 Torrey Pines Rd., 92037. Teaches yoga, nutrition, ESP, metaphysics, psychology, mind control
Second, on page 124, in which he, as one might have predicted, was masquerading as some sort of medical man or scholar:
"AQUARIAN MEDITATION SOCIETY, U. S. Grant Hotel, Attn: Dr. Robert Spiegel, 453-7588"
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Also in 1972, Volume 25 of San Diego Magazine published in November advertised gift certificates for the “Astrology Research Center.” “Give your loved one the gift of love. Only $50” said the advertisement. Where was this entity located? At 1118 Torrey Pines Road, the same address as Robert’s Temple of Metaphysical Abundance. The advertisement purported that person identified as “Lil Canaan” was the director. The telephone number was 459-6400.
In 2013, the San Diego Union Tribune published the obituary for Lillian Mulonas, who founded the La Jolla “Astrology Research Center.” At this point in time, unless Robert Adams’ only surviving daughter, Michelle/ Prentiss/ Avantae knows the answer and talks, we will not know what relationship, if any, existed between Robert’s Temple of Metaphysical Abundance and Lilian’s Astrology Research Center, both of which were located at 1118 Torrey Pines Road in 1972.
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From the July 12, 1973, San Diego Reader:
BRAHMADANDA FOUNDATION
“Teachings of the Cosmic Way” meets Sundays, 11:00 a.m., U.S. Grant Hotel, Crystal Room. Free admission, refreshments served. Call 453-7588 for more information.
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On page 51 of the June 29, 1974 edition of Phoenix’s Arizona Republic was the following advertisement:
Speaker from San Diego
Dr. J. Robert Spiegel from San Diego, a traveler and lecturer, will speak at 8 p.m., Friday in Universal Series Center, 4340 N. Seventh Ave., on the topic “Science of Being.”
He is the founder of the “Aquarian Meditation Society” in Jamaica and is founder and publisher of “Equinox,” a philosophical newspaper.
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The family (Adams or Spiegel, however one might want to refer to them) have resided in (that I know of) New York, Miami, Jamaica, Louisiana, La Jolla, Los Angeles, Houston, New Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Sedona, and a number of cities in North Carolina.
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In at least the 1990’s, before he left for Sedona, Robert Adams used the address PO Box 7210, Jordan Avenue, D-30, Canoga Park, CA. He used that address on correspondence he wrote, and on at least one published document. Who else used that address? The data aggregators show that this address was also used by a Michelle K. Spiegel, and a person going by the name Leonie Maxwell. Michelle and Leonie also used other addresses associated with Robert, those being 1815 Willis Avenue Panorama City, and 21551 Burbank Boulevard, Woodland Hills.
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The California Birth Index shows that Michelle K. Spiegel was born on October 1, 1960, in Los Angeles County, to a mother with the maiden name Maxwell.
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In later life, Michelle used the addresses above that are associated with Robert and Leonie, as well as an address of 12004 Vanowen Street #14, North Hollywood. This is the same address at which Denniston Keith Maxwell, one of Leonie’s younger brothers, resided at, after his immigration to the United States. Denniston was one of Michelle’s uncles.
In a recent Facebook posting, Michelle/Avantae stated: “Never knew anything personal about said uncles, etc. Never asked, never cared.” Really? She shared an address with an uncle? Her uncle lived within a few minutes’ drive from her parents, and Michelle/Avantae never knew anything about him?
As an aside, Michelle/Avantae alleged (or admitted) that she “never cared” about anything personal regarding her uncles. If that is true, what does that tell us about Michelle/Avantae’s fundamental character? Antisocial? Psychopathic? Narcissistic in the extreme?
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On August 2, 1996, Michelle, going by the name Avantae E. Deven, married Tyson Ruben Alvarez in Las Vegas. The two had addresses in common in Arizona, Nevada, and Montana.
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Robert “Adams” died on or about March 2, 1997, in Sedona, Arizona.
Shortly after that, in the spring of 1997, “Nicole Adams” and “Avantae Deven” (both aliases; the correct legal names are Aileen Beverly Leonie Spiegel and Michelle K. Spiegel) purchased a home together in Sedona, on Navahopi Road. Shortly after the purchase, “Nicole” quit-claimed her portion to “Avantae.”
On July 17, 2001, Tyson, still married to “Avantae,” quit-claimed any interest in the Navahopi property to “Avantae,” and had the county recorder send the deed to “Avantae” in care of the Infinity Institute, at that time located at 9101 W. Sahara Ave. Suite 105 C29 (in other words, a private post box), in Las Vegas.
Avantae divorced Tyson in 2006. She had, by then, moved to North Carolina. She “served” Tyson via publication summons, claiming that she was unable to find him, despite his information being on multiple data aggregators.
You can go to various Facebook groups, and other sources, to pull up the documents that people have uncovered showing who is associated with the "Infinity Institute," and in what fashion, and also the addresses that they have used over the years.
In any event, this is the information regarding Robert that I think that people need to be aware of.
Why turn to a known liar and con man for spiritual guidance?
1A tallis is a prayer shawl.
2The ship’s manifest states that he was age 14, which conflicts by one year with what Samuel identified as his date of birth. These errors are not uncommon; his fare could have been purchased when he was age 14 and the records not updated.

Hello everyone, like most of you, I'm big fan of the Homeworld series. Though unlike most of you, I wasn't introduced to it as a child, but rather as a young adult to the modern remakes. I'm not a native English speaker, so please forgive me if I say something that isn't idiomatic, but I'll try my best.
With the release of Homeworld 3, the initial response from fans doesn't look good. While I haven't played the game or watched much of it, I'm not here to complain about it.
Assuming that the game isn't as good as fans wished, then I've been thinking that .... old franchises are simply used as a platform for funding in order to try to get more fans, rather than actually releasing a game to satisfy pre-existing fans.
Take old game X, with fans starving for a sequel, and then create a new game promising many things. Fans pre-order and generate hype for you, and while they're doing that you're making sure your game is dumbed down to attract new, more fans, rather than risk placating to the existing fan base. You probably have enough games you've played in the past, only to watch their sequels crash and burn.
You could chalk it up to classic greed, and we could probably end it there, but I'd like to add that ... Perhaps, the economics of creating another faithful Homeworld or sequel to loved series "X" doesn't quite make financial sense.
I'd like to elaborate on that: Don't forget that the cost of an AAA game, despite inflation, has stayed more or less the same the past few decades, and nobody can deny that games offer great ROI in terms of how little they cost to how many hours of fun they can get you. But the reason why they stayed the same cost is because the playerbase grew over the years, developers that found ways to cater to new players stay afloat because they can sell a game for the same price over the years.
You can see how this relates to some failed remakes. Sequels may not strictly be all about creating a good sequel that original fans want, but more about having a playerbase to build on rather than risking the creation of game completely from scratch.
I am not a game developer, but I am a programmer, and one of the things I've read from one of my favourite engineer and entrepreneur, Joel Spolsky, is the Five Worlds article (You don't have to read all of itit): https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/05/06/five-worlds/
In there, Joel talks about the various types of companies you can work for and how their business model reflects your engineering standards and priorities, he talks about various types, but one of them is Gaming, and within, says the following:

Games are unique for two reasons. First, the economics of game development are hit-oriented. Some games are hits, many more games are failures, and if you want to make money on game software you recognize this and make sure that you have a portfolio of games so that the blockbuster hit makes up for the losses on the failures. This is more like movies than software.
The bigger issue with the development of games is that there’s only one version. Once your users have played through Duke Nukem 3D, they are not going to upgrade to Duke Nukem 3.1D just to get some bug fixes and new weapons. With some exceptions, once somebody has played the game to the end, it’s boring to play it again. So games have the same quality requirements as embedded software and an incredible financial imperative to get it right the first time. Shrinkwrap developers have the luxury of knowing that if 1.0 doesn’t meet people’s needs and doesn’t sell, maybe 2.0 will.

The key word here is hit oriented. All game developers like BBI, rely on hit games to generate actual revenue. They'll make a few shit games at a loss, but one of them will generate so much profit that it'll cover up the losses from other games.
TL;DR The idea that they can keep making faithful sequels to successful games isn't economically feasible because of small fanbase sizes, and a game price that doesn't reflect the current cost of living. Therefore, the only way to make financially successful sequels are to placate to a wider audience to try to get a hit game. Or fail and try making a different game so that one hits instead.

Five honest questions to set your brand apart from the others.

Of all the things a marketer can be in charge of, positioning a brand is easily one of the hardest.
And that’s because, to the layman, brand positioning can be ridiculously challenging.
It requires a deep dive into understanding what sets you apart, deciphering your audience’s preferences, and then weaving it all together into a unique identity that you can call your own.
In fact, it’s so convoluted that even some of the world’s biggest companies — with their access to millions of advertising dollars — have screwed up royally in.

Why Is Brand Positioning Hard To Get Right?

Well for one, once a mind is made up, it’s almost impossible to change it.
Unfortunately, most marketers don’t get this.
They break their backs to attempt and change their prospect’s mind, but usually end up with a confusing — and more critically, weak — end positioning.
Here’s the thing though: in reality, brand positioning isn’t all that perplexing.
But just like how you can’t expect to bench press 200 pounds the first time you head to the gym, you can’t get it unless you respect and follow the right steps, along with working smart.
So what are the correct steps?
You came to the right place. Here’s the no-frills guide to brand positioning, presented in five reflective questions:

1. “What Position Do You Own?”

This first step is simple but deceptively hard to get right.
And that’s because most brands are either a)reluctant to face the truth, or b)they are completely ignorant of their brand’s positioning in the market.
You first need to understand what position you own in the market.
And that’s by engaging what I call an outside-in approach. Let me explain.
Most marketers tend to look from the inside out. They inspect their new product, break down its different USPs, and then try to form-fit it into their consumers’ preferences.
But in doing so, they’re completely missing out on the genuine interests and thought processes of their prospects!
Instead, look from the outside in. Start with your consumer, and try to visualize what exactly he/she associates with your brand.
For example, when you think of cheap soft drinks, the chances are that Coca-Cola will be the first brand that pops into your mind.
Starry, on the other hand, will be much further down that list.
So if you’re the brand owner of Coca-Cola, congratulations: you’ve already attained a great market position!
If you’re Starry’s however, you now have a harsh but honest view on your actual market positioning.
What’s next?

2. “What Position Do You Want To Own?

Well, if you’re Starry, you’re now faced with a conundrum.
Are you really satisfied with such a market positioning?
Or do you want to craft a new and improved one for yourself?
For example, would you prefer to own a high positioning for “fruit-flavored soft drinks”?
It may be more niche, but it certainly garners more presence in your chosen fruit-loving target audience.
By setting a goal for what position you want your brand to own, you now have more clarity on the gap between your current position and the ideal one.
Tip: being a big fish in a small sea of brands is always better than the reverse.
Now that you’ve identified the gap, the next step is to figure out what stands in your way:

3. “Who Do You Need To Beat?”

Let’s continue with the curious case of Starry.
Assuming you want to attain a high position for ‘fruit-flavored soft drinks’, you then have to be aware of your competition.
In this case, there’s clearly one huge obstacle: Fanta.
Now naturally, Fanta is a hard one to beat — simply because they’ve been around for longer and generally have higher brand awareness.
At this junction, there are a few options.
Go head-on with your rival (highly unrecommended because remember, it’s hard to change minds), or look for gaps in your competition and tweak your positioning to fill those spaces.
In the case of Fanta, they may be wildly popular but the obvious weak point is that they’re also ridiculously unhealthy.
Well then, how about a healthier — but still delicious — fruit-flavored soft drink?
Which was what Starry did). By reintroducing new and improved corn syrup into their drinks, they repositioned themselves as a healthier alternative to conventional sodas.
And the results were fantastic. Not only did market share for Starry increase significantly, but reports also showed the drink tasted, equally or if not better, than other competitors in the market.
Sure, they’ve still not beaten Fanta, but they’re well on their way to do so.

4. “Do You Have Enough Money?”

Sometimes in marketing, it really comes down to the finances.
And depending on your eventual positioning goal, you need to take a realistic look at whether your marketing budget can carry you there.
For example, if your ideal positioning is to be the top XXX brand in the world, then you do need to think about the costs you’re going to incur to advertise in these different markets across the globe.
So don’t forget to evaluate your financial situation carefully.
From there, connect it to your positioning goal. Is it doable? Or is it a little too ambitious at the moment, and baby steps are a more realistic way to go?

5. “Can You Last?”

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, people’s minds truly do not change easily.
And if you’re embarking on a positioning project, along with tussling with some strong competitors, be prepared to duke it out.
Most positionings don’t get cemented for many years, and if you’re aiming for a long-term solid positioning, then get ready to exercise some patience.
Even after that, you’re going to get new competitors popping up now and then, so you also need to be on full alert to defend your position.
But the rewards are substantial: you get a group of loyal customers who will always turn to your brand without a second thought.

Conclusion

A solid brand positioning is everything.
Not only does it pretty much guarantee that sales will always be coming in, but it also gives your brand the advantage to do other things with that presence: introduce new products, etc.
So it’s essential to get it right.
Follow the five aspects above, and you’ll have a cohesive but realistic way to tackle your brand positioning.
What are some challenges you face when positioning your brand? Don't forget to follow analyzeoptimize for more such insights.

I started learning electronics as a hobby and building DIY kits just before the serious version of chat-gpt hit the internet. And when chat gpt was released, I thought to myself that in a few months it will be so much easier for me as a beginner to search components on mouser using chat-gpt. Now, more than one year after, no one seems to have done this very obvious beneficial implementation.
I just wish that I could open a chat window and ask it to find for example "that typical eurorack power connector" or "a 100k ohms tht resistor, but the one that has a slightly smaller footprint than the usual tht resistor, I don't care about tolerance"... Yes yes, I know about the filters on mouser and while they are quite good, there is also an ocean of foreign terms and words I have to navigate as a beginner to effectively use the filters, and it doesn't help that English isn't my mother tongue.
I also had a look at farnell, where I also don't see any chat-bot integration, and the chat-gpt store also does not seem to have anything specific for assisting with sourcing electronics components.
Surely I can't be the only one who is dreaming about having my own virtual components sourcing engineer.

I have a question. I made a math program where you enter a number of examples, for example 5. Then you get examples for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Then it tells you the percentage of success. I have one problem though, when the program decides to generate an example for subtraction, it works fine, but it prints "missing operand", and when it generates an example for division, the program prints "% was unexpected at this time". I don't know where the mistake is. There is a code and thank you in advance for the answer. (btw i used translator, sorry for my english)

@echo off color e :start cls ::Input echo. set /p number_of_examples=Enter the number of examples: set /a control=%number_of_examples% if %control% == 0 (echo. & echo Invalid input (You entered zero or text) & timeout /t 3 > nul & goto :start) ::Scoring preparation set /a score_c=0 set /a questions_right=0 set /a questions_wrong=0 ::Generating examples ::Math sings :generating :sings set /a x1=%random%*5/32768 if %x1% == 0 (goto :sings) if %x1% == 5 (goto :sings) if %x1% == 1 (set sing=+ & goto :plus) if %x1% == 2 (set sing=- & goto :minus) if %x1% == 3 (set sing=* & goto :multiplication) if %x1% == 4 (set sing=/ & goto :division) :plus set /a num1=%random%*50/32768 set /a num2=%random%*50/32768 set /a result=%num1% + %num2% goto :guessing :minus set /a num1=%random%*100/32768 set /a num2=%random%*100/32768 if %num1% gtr %num2% goto :minus_1 if %num1% lss %num2% (set /a x1=%num1% set /a x2=%num2% set /a num1=%x2% set /a num2=%x1%) :minus_1 set /a result=%num1% - %num2% goto :guessing :multiplication set /a num1=%random%*10/32768 set /a num2=%random%*10/32768 set /a result=%num1% * %num2% goto :guessing :division set /a num1=%random%*100/32768 set /a num2=%random%*10/32768 if %num1% lss %num2% goto :division if %num2% equ 0 goto :division if %num1% %% %num2% neq 0 goto :division set /a result=%num1% / %num2% goto :guessing :guessing set /a what_question=%body_c%+1 :guessing_1 set /a n=%random%*5/32768 if %n% == 0 (goto :guessing_1) if %n% == 5 (goto :guessing_1) if %n% == 1 (set n1=%result% & set /a n2=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n3=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n4=%random%*100/32768) if %n% == 2 (set n2=%result% & set /a n1=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n3=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n4=%random%*100/32768) if %n% == 3 (set n3=%result% & set /a n1=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n2=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n4=%random%*100/32768) if %n% == 4 (set n4=%result% & set /a n1=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n2=%random%*100/32768 & set /a n3=%random%*100/32768) set /a x1=0 if %result% == %n1% (set /a x1=%x1%+1) if %result% == %n2% (set /a x1=%x1%+1) if %result% == %n3% (set /a x1=%x1%+1) if %result% == %n4% (set /a x1=%x1%+1) if %x1% gtr 1 (goto :guessing1) if %result% == %n1% ( if %n2% == %n3% goto :guessing1 if %n2% == %n4% goto :guessing1 if %n3% == %n4% goto :guessing1 ) if %vysledek% == %n2% ( if %n1% == %n3% goto :guessing1 if %n1% == %n4% goto :guessing1 if %n3% == %n4% goto :guessing1 ) if %vysledek% == %n3% ( if %n1% == %n2% goto :guessing1 if %n1% == %n4% goto :guessing1 if %n2% == %n4% goto :guessing1 ) if %vysledek% == %n4% ( if %n1% == %n2% goto :guessing1 if %n1% == %n3% goto :guessing1 if %n3% == %n2% goto :guessing1 ) echo. echo %what_question%) %num1% %sing% %num2% echo. echo A) %n1% echo B) %n2% echo C) %n3% echo D) %n4% echo. choice /c ABCD /m "Enter your answer [A,B,C,D]" /n if %errorlevel% == %n% (set /a body_c=%score_c%+1 & set /a questions_right=%questions_right%+1) if %errorlevel% neq %n% (set /a score_c=%score_c%+1 & set /a questions_wrong=%questions_wrong%+1) if %number_of_examples% == %what_question% (goto :evaluation) if %number_of_examples% neq %what_question% (goto :generating) :evaluation echo. set /a percentage_calculations=%questions_right%*100/%score_c% echo You got %questions_right% questions right out of %score_c% echo Your success rate is %precentage_calculations% %% echo. choice /c AN /m "Do you want run this program again? " if %errorlevel% == 1 (goto :start) if %errorlevel% == 2 (exit) 

Demographics: Male, African (moved here in 7th grade) , Georgia, very competitive high school )
Intended Major(s): CS
SAT: 1320(600 R 720M)
I have tried so hard to get a good score. I started studying around august with a 1010. i mainly focused on math since that was the easiest to improve on. But i just CANNOT increase my reading score. i have tried act too but it’s still in the same score range. this is the score i will submit for test required schools
GPA: 3.9 W school doesn’t do unweighted
Coursework: 7 APs (by senior yr) 2 Honors, AP Macro, Gov, Precalc, CSP, CSA, Calc BC, Lang
Extracurriculars:

1. Interned at construction firm for 2 months over the summer. Acquired real-world construction insights & prof. exp in a local business setting.
   
2. Children’s book: Authored CS book for kids. The book is basically about 2 people going into the world of cs. They learn different types of computer stuff
   
3. Founded podcast celebrating African American STEM icons. Promoted diversity, success stories, inspired youth towards science careers.
   
4. Developed Quran Verse Daily Chrome Extension . Delivers daily scripture for spiritual growth & reflection. Bridging faith & tech.
   
5. TikTok account: educational TikTok. educated over 30k people
   
6. Coded several discord bots
   
7. Robotics building team: Robotics team member; engineered competitive robots
   
8. Tutoring job: tutored math and English to kids. 120 hrs)
   
9. Volunteered 250 hrs at a daycare
   
10. Math honors society, beta club, cs club, key club, deca
    

No awards …
Essay: I’m probably gonna write it on how i love teaching kids since i have a lot of hours tutoring and at a daycare
Schools:
Georgia tech instate (will commit if i get accepted)
Northeastern
NYU
Please let me know any reaches i have a slight chance in, i already have safeties and targets.