So this might be TMI but I’m looking to see if anyone else has had the same experience. I am 32f so I don’t think I’m going through perimenopause or anything. But I have had a wicked pain in my right side of my abdomen for a few days and my husband and I were just intimate and it was soooo painful. I was in tears afterwards. Like if I stayed in one spot it was bearable and I was still able to “go” (if you know what I mean). But afterwards i stood up and it hit me ever worse. Is this a side effect or am I really constipated??? Please help. I see my dr on the 26th but just trying to see if I can get some help before then. For context I am on my second week of 1.7 mg.

Title says it all, this post is a deep dive into the Sonic Adventure 2 OST, specifically all the songs pertaining to Knuckles. This is for a few reasons that I’ll get into in a moment, but from what I’ve seen Knuckles’ and Rouge’s soundtracks tend to get overlooked or written off by fans (More so Knuckles’) unfairly so in my opinion.
This post will serve, not only to analyze the music itself, but also Knuckles’ characterization, as you’ll see the two are basically intrinsically linked.
Just a quick disclaimer, I’m not a musician nor am I that musically inclined, this isn’t an expert’s opinion or analysis, just a listener’s thoughts.
A bit of background of me before we start, I grew up around hip hop when I was young so I can really appreciate Knuckles’ soundtrack probably more so than a lot of other people.
Ever since I was a kid, Knuckles has always been my favorite character, I always found his complicated friendship and rivalry with Sonic to me a much more interesting dichotomy than Sonic and Shadow (I know, fight me).
That and I’ve always just adored his character (Before they forgot how to write him) he can be hot headed and stubborn like Sonic, but he’s got a bit of a Yin and Yang thing going on, with his Chill nature conflicting with his Quick and Explosive temper, as well as his questioning of his purpose in life and duty to the Master Emerald.
Anyway, enough context on myself, let’s strap in and get to the meat of this veeeeeery long post (My bad guys).

BACKGROUND

So for starters, I think it’s best we talk about the style and influences that are quite evident in Knuckles’ Music, that being Hip Hop/Rap, but it goes a bit further than that.
For some historical context, Sonic Adventure 2 came out in 2001, I’m not sure how many hip hop fans hang around the subreddit but by 2001 the Golden Age of Hip Hop had been firmly left behind. Biggie and Pac had been dead for a while, and the stars of yesteryear began to fizzle out as the young blood cropped up onto the scene.
The early 2000s Hip Hop scene was mainly dominated by the East Coast and the Dirty South, lots of stars of this generation of rap included 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Outkast, Ludacris, The Game, Three 6 Mafia and Xzibit, but you also had older legends like Nas and Snoop Dogg who were still culturally relevant.
This modern sound of hip hop differed greatly in sound to the early 90s, everything was a lot more clean and refined, samples were still used but weren’t as common as before and the West Coast sound that characterized the early 90s had been long gone.
It’s important to bring this up, because comparing SA2’s Hip Hop tracks to the climate it was released in, they sound almost out of place. Listening to Get Rich or Die Trying, or Stillmatic and then listening to SA3’s tracks you’d be convinced they were separated by many years.
The Tracks in SA2 are definitely rooted in early 90s hip hop, it’s very clear that those early Gangsta Rap albums like Straight Outta Compton and Black Sunday greatly influenced this part of the soundtrack. And you don’t have to take my word for it, go and listen to the instrumentals of songs like Express Yourself or Insane in the Brain and tell me that they’d sound out of place playing in one of Knuckles’ Stages.
Early 90s Hip Hop makes heavy use of sampling, primarily of the work of Black Artists of the past two decades, because of SA2K’s early 90s hip hop influences, it too has a lot of roots in 70s/80s Black music. Elements of Soul, Funk and Jazz are commonly heard in Knuckles’ Stages, think James Brown or Isaac Hayes.
So what Groups or Artists seem to inspire SA2K’s sound? Well the obvious choice is NWA, though specifically Straight Outta Compton, Elif4zaggin has a much different sound. However I don’t believe that’s entirely the case.
Whether it’s pure coincidence or intentional, Too Short (stylized as Too $hort) was a decently popular artist from Oakland, which is up in the Bay Area of NorCal which is the main inspiration for most of SA2’s urban environments.
Anyway, Too Short was actually quite a pioneer in Hip Hop as he formed the Dangerous Crew, a Hip Hop Band who played actual instruments instead of using samples, it’s because of this that I believe Too Short and the Dangerous Crew to be the main inspiration of SA2K’s sound whether intentional or not, not only are the two defined by their funky beats, but also their use of live instruments. I recommend listening to songs like The Ghetto, Sample The Funk and Just Another Day to get an idea of how his music influences SA2K.

UNKNOWN FROM M.E. (REMIX)

Honestly I find this track to be an improvement over the original, it definitely leans a lot more into the R&B aspect over the rest of the soundtrack but it’s still distinctly hip hop with the record scratches, drums and Hunnid-P rapping over it.
Speaking of, let’s address the Elephant in the room briefly. I know Hunnid-P or Hunnid-Pacent isn’t everybody’s favorite person on this sub, either on the track or behind the scenes, and while his antics aren’t relevant to this post, I don’t necessarily agree that he’s as bad as people say he is on the mic. Is he the world’s greatest emcee? Absolutely not, but he does his job pretty well, he has good flow and a pretty good voice. I think people clown on his lyrics too much, I’m not saying he’s an Inspectah Deck level lyricist but I think the guy has dropped a few bombs and this OST has some gems, but we’ll get into this in a bit.
Getting back to the song, the content of the lyrics is basically Knuckles’ inner voice, this is basically the entire soundtrack, though Unknown From M.E. is more of a general character overview of Knuckles, its standard stuff now but at the time it was a pretty deep dive into the character of Knuckles’ in a decently subtle way.
Most of the song centers around Knuckles’ self imposed isolation on Angel Island, his duty to his people and the world to protect the Master Emerald, but also him yearning for something more and the inner conflict that stems from that.
This song actually has some underrated lines, some standout lyrics include:
“Clench my fists tight, become more redder - I don't wanna hurt her, my passion observed”
The last line is in obvious reference to Rouge and an interesting insight into Knuckles himself. He clearly doesn’t like violence and isn’t interested in hurting anybody, but his duty as a guardian and his quick temper often means he can get a bit too carried away as the line implies, good stuff.
“Been lonely all my life, does it matter? - Here for the mission, whoever want, it bring it”
Here we can clearly see Knuckles trying to reason with himself here, specifically after meeting Sonic and experiencing a life that isn’t just his duty. Here we see the Guardian side of him, he’s always been alone and it’s never been problem before, why should it be now? At least that’s what he tries to tell himself.
“Don't approve of him but gotta trust him - This alliance has a purpose - This partnership is only temporary”
I’ll get more into this when we get to Death Chamber, but these lines are obviously alluding to Sonic and the plot of the game. It’s clear that Knuckles still doesn’t completely like Sonic, however the key here is that he trusts him, he’s gotten to a point now where he knows Sonic is well meaning and their goals align. However, just like real people, he’s accepted the arrangement but he doesn’t have to like it, he still believes Sonic is brash, arrogant and takes far too many risks, it will take more than a few adventures for Knuckles to fully change his opinion on Sonic.
Hunnid-P and Marlon Saunders do a great job of bouncing off each other on this song, their voices and cadences clash with each other nicely almost like how Knuckles’ inner turmoil is split in two.
The beat is tantalizingly funky, for starters that bass line is smooth as butter and the song has a nice tempo, you get the occasional organ flourish and guitar riff that crescendo and just help to enhance the song even further. Overall a really solid track in my opinion, the content of the lyrics is interesting and the delivery is great, all over an extremely funky instrumental.

KICK THE ROCK - WILD CANYON

Probably my favorite song out of all Knuckles’ Stages, this one is definitely the most Jazzy and parallels nicely with Rouge, but has a distinctly Knuckles Twist.
That Sax and Organ combo just cause an absolute eargasm and those drums form such a nice tempo that makes this track such easy listening. Honestly there’s not a whole lot going on with this track and that is not a bad thing at all. Its simplicity is probably its biggest strength and is quite noticeable compared to something like Unknown From M.E.
Some Lyrics I found particularly interesting are:
“I'm feelin her in mysterious ways - That's why I stay on point like every single day - I gotta protect this place, I do it for my race”
Yeah yeah I know everybody finds this line and the play doh line inappropriate and funny, I understand the latter but honestly I could never get the outcry over this one
“I’m feelin her in mysterious ways” honestly, in my opinion, it’s not what you think. I’ve never really seen it as a sexual line “I’m feelin you” is basically another way of saying I get you, it’s basically Knuckles saying he gets Rouge, but he doesn’t know why and that kinda bothers him.
The context matters here and the lines after do give my interpretation some weight. It’s basically Knuckles saying to himself “I get this girl and I kinda fucks with her, but I gotta job to do” Knuckles is intrigued by Rouge, he’s never met anybody like her and he obviously has some feeling towards her, though because of his lack of interaction with others he struggles to understand these feelings and instead of addressing them, he tries to ignore them and remain true to his job as Guardian
“Who could'a did this, that snitch named Rouge! - When I catch her, I'ma get her with these tools”
More obvious than the last one, but it still shows that Knuckles, despite his various different feelings toward Rouge, knows he has a job to do and tries to center himself to stay committed
Honestly it’s hard to choose between this or Unknown From M.E. as my favorite Knuckles track but either way its up there and definitely something I can bop to on the regular

A GHOST’S PUMPKIN SOUP - PUMPKIN HILL

The one everybody knows and honestly I get it, it’s got that smooth piano/guitar I can’t really tell what it is but it definitely slaps. It has that distinct G-Funk whistle which pops up occasionally across SA2K that simulates that stereotypically ghostly sound nicely
It’s definitely in contention with Deeper for the most lowkey Knuckles track and that’s saying something.
Not much content lyrically, but I managed to find a few interesting lines:
“I ain’t gonna let it get to me, I’m just gon creep - Down in Pumpkin Hill I gots to find my lost piece”
Something we don’t actually see a lot from Knuckles, fear! Most of this song is about Knuckles’ fearlessness being tested, if you view this as Knuckles’ internal monologue (Which if you don’t at this point then I’ve been doing something wrong 😂) its less about the song telling us how tough Knuckles is, but Knuckles reassuring himself that he can do this.
He’s obviously trepidatious over being in Pumpkin Hill and he has to take a moment to center himself and reassure himself that “I’m Knuckles, I’m not afraid of anything” again this goes back to how Knuckles uses his job as Guardian and his duty to motivate himself and push forward through situations, regardless of his own fear.
“I’m hearing someone saying “You a chicken, don’t be scared!” - It had to be the wind, cause nobody wasn’t there”
Considering the haunted theming of this level, this very clearly (on the surface) seems to be Knuckles encountering a ghost taunting him, but I might present another angle.
This is just Knuckles’ inner thoughts again, though this time its doubt, he doesn’t believe he can find the pieces of the Master Emerald and he doesn’t think he can make it through Pumpkin Hill, yet he pushes through anyway. This one’s kinda far fetched but it’s a nice idea
I don’t adore this track as much as a lot of other people (ironically) but I can still Jive with it.

DIVE INTO THE MELLOW - AQUATIC MINE

First of all, this track does a great job at just sounding watery, the filtered organ and the echoey bass just make it sound like cave ambience turned into music
Most of this track’s lyrics center around Knuckles’ yearning to be something more than just the Guardian of the Master Emerald and to be his own individual, these are:
“Makes you wanna sit back, enjoy the life - And do things you like doing, get to shine”
Knuckles, if it wasn’t for all the enemies and hazards, obviously enjoys being in Aquatic Mine, so much so that it brings his thoughts of a better life to the front of his mind.
This shows what Knuckles really wants, to be unburdened from the Master Emerald and to just be free to kick it wherever, in a way he’s jealous of the freedom Sonic has and wishes he wasn’t tied down to Angel Island.
“I stay Knuckled up, I’m in a deep cut”
Knuckles, despite his ideals of peace and relaxation is always ready to do what he believes is right, again this whole OST is basically Knuckles reconciling his wants and his duties.
Again Knuckles isn’t really equipped to deal with these feelings and instead of addressing them, he pushes them down and buries them under his duty and tries to keep himself busy, though once he gets to Aquatic Mine where he’s forced to slow down and explore methodically, he’s suddenly unable to distract himself from his true feelings.
“In a maze, and I don't know what to do Guaranteed though, imma find the Emeralds”
Again an obvious allusion to the labyrinthine Aquatic Mine on the surface, though I believe this too has a deeper meaning.
Knuckles is lost and confused emotionally, he’s confronted by these different feelings that conflict with everything he’s ever known. His thoughts on freedom and his feelings for Rouge which he doesn’t quite understand both conflict with his role as Guardian and he can’t reconcile them.
“I don’t know what to do” in a rare moment of vulnerability, Knuckles admits that he has no idea how to manage these feelings and he’s grappling with the monumental task of managing his panicked thoughts.
Then, just as you think Knuckles is gonna start making a breakthrough, what does he do? “Guaranteed though, imma find the Emeralds” That’s right, instead of finally addressing his swirling thoughts, he pushes them down and once again distracts himself with his duty.
Honestly, like Pumpkin Hill, I know it’s a reach but it tracks with what we know Knuckles’ character has been up to this point and it gives him insane depth and really humanizes him.
A funky beat, a nice flow from Hunnid P and some really humanizing characterization of Knuckles, Dive Into The Mellow is definitely a hidden gem of the OST.

DEEPER - DEATH CHAMBER

Sooooooo chill, honestly this song is so calm and smooth, it’s so underrated on this soundtrack it really is another hidden gem like Dive Into the Mellow.
First off I absolutely adore the bass this track has, it sounds like it’s been bit compressed for a Gameboy and honestly I’m all here for it, gives it a nice techno Eggmany twist. The funky guitar and sax just enhances the mood, the song sounds almost echoey like you’re actually standing in a Death Chamber.
Lyrically this song is unique in that it’s basically just a long conversation between Sonic and Knuckles instead of Knuckles’ inner thoughts/monologue.
It’s an interesting dynamic where Sonic is actually the reasonable one, willing to put aside his and Knuckles’ differences aside for the greater good. Knuckles however is initially a bit more standoffish, but Sonic talks him into it by appealing to his guardian nature and calling him out on his stubbornness, basically forcing Knuckles to admit that Sonic is right and that they’ll be much better off working together.
Honestly not much to say, it’s pretty much all spelled out in the song, but interesting nonetheless. An understated and uniquely funky beat make this track stand out among the others nicely, definitely a great listen.

SPACE TRIP STEPS - METEOR HERD

Finally, the last song. In my opinion, Space Trip Steps is probably the weakest track musically. That doesn’t make it bad, far from it, I just can’t groove with it as easily as the others
This song takes a lot more inspirations from G-Funk than the other tracks which does give it quite a unique sound amongst the soundtrack, it wouldn’t sound out of place on The Chronic or Regulate… G Funk Era. The wavy synths and sharp base with the fast tempo give it an almost garage feel too, definitely not a sound for everyone but I think it does a good job at sounding very ethereal and space like
As for lyrics, this seems to be a turning point for Knuckles as a loner:
“Took a shuttle to space and left from our homes At least we're with friends and I'm not all alone”
Knuckles is in a completely foreign environment and feels completely out of his depth, however he feels comforted by the fact that he’s surrounded by the people he’s finally started to call his Friends, the first time he’s admitted such.
He’s forced now to acknowledge that he can’t do everything by himself, and that asking for help from his friends doesn’t make him any less of a man, he finally accepts that he can trust outsiders, but he still has a ways to go.
“Bad thing was that the Emeralds spilled - Gotta search space, man, time to get ill”
Still, Knuckles is bound and almost blinded by his duty, forcing himself to abandon his friends to search for the Master Emerald pieces that were scattered in space.
It’s clear now that Knuckles isn’t too happy to leave his friends, but as we’ve come to know him, he does the typical Knuckles thing of pushing his feelings to the side in the face of doing what he believes is right. This just tells us Knuckles still has a lot to work on before he can really come to terms with who he is.
Again, a pretty unconventional track so it can be an awkward listen and definitely not my favorite on the list, but it does something unique which I can definitely give it props for, Hunnid P even has a completely different flow, dragging out his words like he’s getting further away, hammering home that space theme.

CONCLUSION

And that’s it, if you made it this far through my long winded ramblings, then I’m extremely impressed 😂 I tried to trim the fat as best I could but I ended up getting a bit too attached to most of what I wrote
Honestly I feel like these songs have been unfairly painted as the silly shitty Knuckles rap songs with bad lyrics that are only good because of their instrumentals, and I just can’t agree with that.
I feel like in a lot of ways these songs do a much better job of characterizing Knuckles than SA1 or SA2, I really wish we got see more of his inner turmoil and him butting heads with Sonic in the game itself.
I think it’s a sad thought that for a long time, Knuckles has been a shadow of his former self (Har har) and has just been relegated to the token meathead that’s about as one dimensional as a square. Frontiers is definitely a step in the right direction and I’m excited to see what the new writing team can cook up with for his character.
But what are your thoughts though? Do you agree? Disagree? Did I manage to change your mind or have you always felt this way? Maybe you have a different take or something else to add? I’d love to hear it.
ML

I thought I’d share my experience today regarding my Paragard IUD removal after having it in since 2017. I decided I wanted to remove it after reading into potential side effects and potential complications with removal (arms breaking, etc). I decided to go to Planned Parenthood because my thought process was, “I want someone very experienced and know what they’re doing so I’ll go here, as they must have plenty of experience removing IUD’s.” I told the provider my concerns regarding potential complications of removal and she said 95% of the time, it goes very smoothly. I guess I was the unlucky 5%. She informed me that she would only lightly pull on the strings and if there is any resistance, she would stop, in order to prevent any breakage or damage. Well, about 2 seconds into the removal process, she said “Well…the strings came out…” So now I’m panicking, as the device is still inside! She then informed me she’ll need to perform a guided ultrasound IUD removal and numb my cervix (paracervical block). I just started tearing up, as I was nervous that the IUD wouldn’t be able to be retrieved with just forceps and that I’d have further complications with removal. Well, she numbed my cervix with three different injections and I honestly didn’t feel a thing (I have a high pain tolerance), even though she said I would feel sharp pains for the last two injections. Luckily, upon confirmation via ultrasound, the IUD was in its “normal” place and position. The provider used long forceps to grasp the device from my uterus. I felt a very deep cramping sensation upon her pulling out the IUD, but, once she grasped the device, it came out within a matter of seconds. And best of all, it all came out in one piece! I was so relieved, I just started crying and thanking both the ultrasound tech and the provider for being so reassuring and kind to me throughout the whole process. Although I expected to walk out of the clinic relieved and content, I honestly felt emotional, anxious, and just…sad, almost. Which, I guess is valid, given the circumstances. A few hours have passed and I’m feeling good now. I also am only experiencing light spotting, which is expected. I just wanted to share my experience, as this wasn’t an ideal situation, but definitely not the worst! I’m so relieved I’ll never have to worry about this ever again!

Hello everyone,
I just received a few fillings today on my left side and I had a few small pieces that were super rough come free after biting down. One of the concerning ones was my 2nd molar (top) had a sharp piece that was hanging over the side and scratching my gum, but I chewed something and it came loose. the piece looked yellowish-clear. I'm hoping these are just small little bits that weren't smoothed out or anything, but should it be cause for alarm? I don't feel any discomfort.
It's important to note that I'm autistic and have severe sensory issues when it comes to my mouth, so my tongue has been rubbing over them ever since I've gotten home. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
EDIT: I'm also worried about flossing since some of the fillings were done in-between teeth. Is it okay to floss there? Should I expect some roughness or pieces to chip when I floss?

Platform(s): PC, I'm all but certain. I could be wrong as it could be offered on MAC and other platforms
Genre: RPG, I'm all but certain
Estimated year of release: Last 5 years, I'm all but certain. I could be wrong. Can't possibly be older than 10 years
Graphics/art style:
The still shot that I have burned in my mind is extremely similar to that of Claire in Resident Evil 2, especially. That's why I posted that image. However, that is not the game, but the aesthetics of the graphics, design, art style, lighting, and overall vibe were rather similar in what little I can remember.
The still of the main character in my head had a side part on the left side of her head (right side, if you're looking at them), had her longer, brunette hair pulled back in a [bound?] ponytail, wore a deep green zip-down hoodie with a [grey?] undershirt, and is taking a drag from a cigarette in her right hand. I think she's on a front lawn with a house behind her, like the setting and lighting of the first Halloween movie in that movie's night scenes outside.
Notable characters: See above. It's the best source I have of this game.
I've searched everywhere on google, but nothing relevant with my search criteria attempts comes up
https://preview.redd.it/uf5emg991h0d1.jpg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b7020b46bee833453bc890f7c488b7e39117bf85

168 cm tall Dad bod[but working on it] Attentive Caring Kind Loving Sensitive Can be funny at times Puts in effort Communicates Will send you pics- food, memes, YouTube videos I find interesting. Will give attention Will reciprocate your love and help you be better. Not a life coach. Just a loving guy Student of medicine previously. Still figuring out on what to do. Spiritual. Patient. Not that good looking maybe a 5 Brown with black hair. Has driven a tank once hahaha. I know. it's amazing. Loves all animals except spiders. Virgo Talkative
Looking for someone who'll be serious about connecting. Reciprocate feelings. Give. Open up. Be caring. Empathetic. Understanding. Will let me marry them hahaha. Will let me love and care for them. Will talk to me and be honest and loyal. Will work out things with me.
Pls msg me on Instagram freshbreadb.
I am moving on to a new phase in my life. I need someone open minded. Open as in serious about having a relationship and not a situationship or a having a option. To me it doesn't matter where one is from as long as you are recognizing of the qualities within a person. Such as loyalty, respect, responsibility and the ability to appreciate and understand- Pain, fear, love and care and truly want it for themselves, to learn and establish a bond through effort.
If you are selfish let's be selfish about loving eachother and not about whether someone's from somewhere. Rather what makes me different is I truly want someone who understands and wants the same and is willing to compromise in other aspects like looks or nationality or height. But rather value the person's personality and prespectives and his "soul" and put in genuine effort to elevate and grow.
I want to be able to be your island of support, care and understanding. I have been in stressful situations so I know ways to deal with it. Sometimes all we need is someone where no judgement will be passed and some comfort is given. How I do that is by sharing my own experiences that can be judged. If you are vulnerable so am I.
I am an emotional person and a faithful person. I give you 200% where I can. Humanly possible. I always advice you on the qualities and wants and interests you have, in a way to better them. To care for them as genuinely as possible. My interest is aligned with your growth and my joy comes from you doing better. Becoming more independent of you're own fears and traumas or situations you go through.
So I can create that space and will check up on you. Send you flowers to cheer you up. Long distance really tests a want in a person and that alone can be a solid foundation for developing trust and acknowledgement. Worthiness in a relationship or atleast show that the person is willing. I will be coming to Phillipines to study by next year. So we can finally meet and or you can always have this place as your own and visit here too.
Please no ghosters. No time pass. Don't want people who want there feelings to be stroked and then leave. Things can get very pretty and die out quick and it's very hurtful when that happens. If you are seeking shallow stuff I am not it. For some reason I keep getting banned on reddit period so hit me up on Instagram freshbreadb. If you don't have one, make one. I'll send you memes and interesting stuff.

I was told that scoliosis can’t be corrected as an adult, but only managed to help pain. If the rib hump is caused by it does this mean it can’t be fixed either? I do also have winged scapula on the side with the hump.

I want to point out a very real perspective in all of this. experienced artists and creative people, like the ones that created FF7, are not that attached to their creations as the fans are. that is why they are willing to change many things in the story, designs and settings.
The og FF7 was amazing but that was in part because the presentation left a lot to the imagination of the player, the player's mind filled in many gaps in the story and design. the whole game feels like you are playing with toys in a diorama which is great and lovely and works in favor of the game and story but the moment you translate that setting into a realistic one, like in the remake, many moments will end up feeling goofy.
Some vocal fans might not realize or remember how many goofy moments happened in the original game, Heidegger for example slaps soldiers when Rufus disrespects him at Junon. and who would have thought that the creators's version of Biggs, Jesse and Wedge in the remake were so corny right? but those characters were also kind of goofy in the og game but the new versions are quite unremarkable.
Also the story in FF7 advent children was very over the top so I don't get the fans that hate those bombastic moments in the remake, FF in general became very over the top when doing High fidelity projects.
On a side note, design wise, the character designs are gorgeous and they did an outstanding job in modernizing those designs, they did wonders with the clothing, fabrics and the materials while maintaining the og silhouette of the characters very much intact which I thought was masterfully done.
The problem that I see with the disparity and mixed opinions from the fans is that the reimagining of a media product like ff7 is difficult to satisfy for both the creators of the game and the fans alike, the creators have their own vision and want to fulfill their creative ambitions while the fans want "the same thing but better" and they are going to be disapointed when they are playing a reimagining, a re-make of the game.
Having said this I also agree with the hating vocal fans, I would have prefered a straightforward HD version of the OG game but my optimistic self thinks it will happen after the whole reimagining is done.
But I don't think the remake is a selfish/self-serving project solely for the makers of the game, for starters this is a businees for them and I genuinly believe this platinum treatment of the FF7 brand was done for the fans that had made the brand so succesful. I think they are trying to fullfil creative ambitions that makes the team excited to create a modern product that satisfies them and the fans alike, while getting new ones on board.
I came to play the remake with the idea that I'm getting a different experience from the original game, and that mentality has helped me appreciate the game for what it is. The remake is quite fun and I'm having a blast, the system is totally different from the og game but the gameplay of the remake is dynamic and exciting. And the overworld in rebirth is so well done, it definitely required so much work from the developers of the game to design the landscape of a very blank overworld that existed in the og game. In the og game the overworld is just a simplification of the map, for a realistic look in the new games it is a NECESITY to fill ALL that empty space with plenty of detail.
While the gameplay in the remake is super satisfying, tight and exciting, it is not the same for the characters and the story in general, there is a lot of dialogue that feel so unecesary and out of place. The developers are moving mountains in making all that inmense cast of characters interact with each other, like seriously they went above and beyond with trying to come up with ways to make all of these characters interact with each other, that is no easy task. but some of those interactions felt not genuine at all, many reactions and responses are cringe, lame or not human, there were moments I was like, no person speak like this.
Gameplay wise they are even trying their best to make you control different characters throughout the game so you don't stick with the same ones for the whole game, they are constantly switching up the combination so you try out different ones.
A lot of thought and care are being put in the remakes and that should be acknowledged by the fans that were disappointed, but they did dropped the ball with the dialogues and some story changes, straight up trash.
There are valid things to hate and to be disappointed by but I'm just here to point out the things that impressed me and delighted me.
not really a tldr: there is a lot to love and a lot to hate (and cringe) in the remakes, but despite all of this I'm loving these games so much. I'm having a blast playing them. hope they make a straightorward HD version of the og game in the future.

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/gfbzcTb
PLEASE DONT USE YOUR PANTS SIZE! DO NOT USE OTHER COMPANIES BELT SIZING!
Back again with the remainder of my belts. I only have 6 stainless buckles left so these are the last for sale until more come in. The black still uses tan webbing, but only a tiny part of that is showing. There's an example of what it would look like in the pics.
V2 has Velcro going almost end to end and a tapered tail, while V1 has 1 inch of bare webbing near the loop and a squares off tail. Comparisons can be seen in pics. Black belts still uses the tan webbing, but now the Velcro loop goes almost end to end so only small parts show up.
Up for grabs is 6x 1.5" Coyote/Black Tegris EDC/inner belts. $40 each shipped to your door. Buying multiple will knock $4 off since shipping is included. PayPal F&F or Venmo only. I am now nearly out of materials, so if you fuck up your sizing, I might not be able to make a replacement for a long time. SO DONT MESS UP YOUR SIZING!
Do you hate how flimsy EDC belts are? Have you ever bought a belt marketed as "super rigid!" only to find it super floppy? Do you hate the $3 inner belt that shipped with your $200 battle belt? Are those cheap plastic loop buckles a pain while in the restroom? Well, boy do I have the thing for you!
This belt is made with a 6 layer Tegris reinforcement that goes the entire width of the belt, and anchored to heavy duty belt webbing. This means that your guns don't sag when carrying or during draws. An outside layer of loop Velcro means that you can throw your battle belt on in no time at all. The stonewashed G-Hook is made from 304 stainless and makes taking a whizz and adjustment super easy.
These are sewn by me in Texas with materials that are all sourced from US manufacturers AND Berry compliant. Everything from the buckle down to the thread is American made. And all just for $40 a pop!
I honestly believe this is the most rigid EDC belt out there. Like, no joke guys, this belt is stupid stiff. Like Mexican blue pill stiff.
HOW TO KNOW YOUR SIZING!
DO NOT USE YOUR PANTS SIZE! Pants sizes have too many variables, so use the actual measurement of your waist in inches. When measuring, include your holsters for your pistol and mags. If you're in between sizes but on the higher end, move up a size. For example, someone who is a 35" or 36" would get the 34"-38" belt.
If you don't have a measuring tape, wear your normal belt outside the loops and make a note of where the belt meets. Then measure it with your ruler to know your approximate size.
I am now nearly out of materials, so if you fuck up your sizing, I might not be able to make a replacement for a long time. SO DONT MESS UP YOUR SIZING!
Sizes (in inches) are:
COYOTE
32"-36"
34"-38"
BLACK
28"-32"
30"-34"
32"-36"
36"-40"
The buckle and loop might be a bit stiff so here's a handy guide on the best way to put them on. It'll break in after getting the buckle on a few times.
https://imgur.com/a/zpJ11pj
If you want a custom size or any other special request, feel free to PM me.

I want to take a moment to talk about the far left, like Stalin ( https://youtube.com/watch?v=8RsdncwrCGQ&si=FwhViAGVdgrHF7Sh ). In that video, he calls his listeners "comrads". In another video, https://youtube.com/watch?v=3nMDjKtTigQ , Stalin uses the words "fraternal parties and groups" and "friendship". My mom and dad met in Russia and my Dad calls my mom "comrad", "товарищ". An alternative translation is "friend".
I think it's important to know the difference between friends and acquaintances. Some people, they received a signed postcard from a politician or did a photo op [a photo opportunity] with a politician and think there is something there. Politicians are not really your friend, no matter how charming they may seem.
The same is true for your coworkers. A job is an exchange of your time for money. This is the case for you and for your coworkers. Sometimes coworkers will be like "we should totally grab a beer after work sometimes", but in reality the hangout you envisioned doesn't actually happen. I remember this one programmer (Tech Lead at https://youtube.com/@techlead ) talking on YouTube about how he got kicked out of Facebook for having a for-profit social media channel, and how he imagined that his coworkers would all resign in protest over his firing. LOL. Hahahaha. Just "No".
Everyone is acting out of self interest. The "good person benevolent sacrifice" thing is a myth. Sometimes they might do something that seems charitable, like give money to a homeless person, but really they're just making themselves feel good, happiness, and boosting their ego. I remember when I volunteered at a homeless shelter, there was a policy that formerly homeless people who received meals there were not allowed to volunteer there on the other side of the serving counter. Turns out the people who did the serving and volunteering on that side of the serving counter didn't like it when that happened. I remember another time a homeless guy asked me for money, and I felt bad for him, and then I sat at a counter, and then this gross smelly homeless guy sat right next to me at that same counter and ordered while I was trying to enjoy my food, and I was like "Uhh, waitress... I'd like you to get rid of this dude, please". But yeah, you don't actually care, what you actually care about is your feelings and how you feel. You're trying to make yourself feel happiness and an ego boost, and maybe cover your own ass in case you ever end up in that situation. And by "you" I mean "me". "If you repeat a lie often enough you are a Republican, but if you don't know you're lying yet, you're a Democrat." I created that quote, see previous posts.
This song "I am Africa" from The Book of Mormon musical comes to mind. Basically these rich White people are like "I am Africa" when really they just have a savior complex and are full of bullshit. Note that in real life, if you really know these savior complex people, they are actually total assholes and douchebags. Their beautiful lofty beliefs are actually bullshit, even if they don't realize (at a conscious level) that they're bullshit. This is true of a lot of beautiful left-wing beliefs.

I've been putting off the last serious problem, oil burning, since although it's annoying having to add 1Q every 500-1500 miles, I've never noticed loss of power or any other changes in the way my car behaves since I started driving it regularly 11 years ago. By the way, my last oil change was on 2024-11-09 at 141899. There's currently 143435 on the odometer and I've added 2.5Q of oil in all that time. The oil on the dipstick and in the crankcase are exactly the same color as the 5W-30 Valvoline high mileage synthetic I've been adding. 143435-141899 = 1536 or 1Q per 614 miles. Until that change, I was religious about sticking to the 3 month change schedule and I never even came close to exceeding 3k miles between changes.
What happens is, I'm 99% sure the following events cause oil to burn or otherwise get sucked into a place it doesn't belong:

• each the idle RPM ticks downward because the ECT reached the next breakpoint. E.g. when I cold start, it goes to 2K rpm then drops to ~1300. It then slowly drops by what appears to be solid multiples of 100 until it's fully warmed up
• when I put it in reverse, there's a brief but noticable cloud, then nothing
• when accelerating after idling for a while

The last point is the most dramatic. Last night I had the car running in the AutoZone lot for 15 minutes with no smoke or exhaust odors and when I pulled out I was followed by enormous blue clouds for probably half a mile.
Sometimes I notice a few drops of oil next to the right front tire (passenger side) immediately after parking, but it clearly doesn't keep dripping. I confirmed the drain plug replacement works by letting it sit on white concrete for 4 days and it was totally dry.
The reason I'm thinking it's the cover gasket is because I've been reading threads and watching videos and I'm seeing a pattern here. The mildness and infrequency of burning; the deposition of black sludge on the intake manifold and all around the cover seam. I even made a video, although it's kinda hard to see anything thanks to the extreme contrast ratio of filming outside at noon in direct sunlight.
https://youtu.be/KOSU4jrmpyk
Of course, I've already tried pulling the spark plug things (I don't know what they're called), but none of them were budging with the amount of force I was willing to use. Should I wait until the car is cool before checking for oil?
If you actually watch that 45 second video of mine, I'd also appreciate anything else you notice, except for the old compressor wire, which I simply left in the right forward lighting loom since it'd probably take 10 hours to get it out without chopping it up, which I would end up doing and probably cut one of the other wires...

Hi, I am currently doing my case study in my massage school about how massages can benefit scoliosis. I chose this topic because I really want to find some general clues/tips/facts that can help scoliosis people including myself. Couple question below, hope you guys can help me.

• Things you did that you found aggravated your condition? Like you will definitely feel pain next day.
• What does it feel like when you have your scoliosis flare up?
• Things you do to give you relieve most effectively, makes it better?
• Does massage help you?
• Favorite type of massage, stroke, technique, on where of your body?
• When receiving a massage, you prefer face up? down? or side-lying ?
• What muscle you feel stretched (lengthened) , what muscle shortened? Related to Concave and Convex side.

I know everyone has different curve, and every body is different, so if you want to talk a bit more about yourself, describe your condition, it will be awesome.
Thanks in advance, hope I can get many feedback.

Wherever I go on this sub, a lot of people seem to say that once AI gets to a much more advanced point, it could probably replaced software engineers and other tech employees. Isn't the opposite the case though? At the point where tech employees get replaced, almost every white collar job will be replaced including most doctors if robotics follows a similar pace. So wouldn't the only actual "jobs" that would be left are extremely physical/specialized jobs like plumbers/welders, jobs where human interaction is necessary (maybe politicans and social workers?), and finally the people who actually maintain and improve on the AI systems in place (tech employees). I feel like accountants, lawyers, investment bankers, etc. will all be replaced way before software engineers are. Obviously this is taking it to the extreme, obviously there will be a bunch of jobs and i dont realistically see this utopia coming especially since chatgpt is just a glorified chatbot and webscraper. But on a surface level, is this not logical?

This goes back to Mother’s Day when we argued about me feeling unappreciated. He offered to handle the morning feeding for a week to make it up.
We decided he would come help with the baby at 9:30 am, allowing me to nap. He texted me at 9:35 saying he needed 15 more minutes, and I said sure. He showed up at 10 am and took care of the baby. I went back to bed immediately, but it takes me nearly an hour to fall asleep as I’m a light sleeper.
At around 10:50, he told me he had to go poop and needed to leave at 11 am. I told him, with my eyes closed, that I hadn’t fallen asleep yet but was very close. Instead of putting the baby in her crib in the nursery, he left her in the bassinet next to my bed. Baby started crying and screaming, and I exploded, saying, “Babe, I’m so close to falling asleep.”
I told him he could have put the baby in the nursery while he pooped. He argued he didn’t know it takes me a long time to fall asleep, despite me telling him.
After he left, I texted him, explaining:
I was upset that after I told him I didn’t get the rest I needed, he still chose to put the baby next to me. I admitted that I shouldn’t have escalated my anger so quickly. I felt I was considerate enough to let him sleep longer in the morning before his turn. Despite knowing he had to leave at 11 and that it takes me a long time to fall asleep, he still disturbed my rest and came help late. This kind of disturbance was very uncomfortable and even painful for me.
He argued that if I were disciplined enough to sleep soon after baby went to bed, he wouldn’t have to help me. He said he was paying for my lack of discipline. He said that if he hadn’t offered to help, I wouldn’t have been mad at him to begin with.
I agreed that shouting was not the right way to express my discontent. I’m grateful for his intention to help, but I don’t think that means I should not be displeased for whatever help is offered, regardless of how it affects me.
He said that I think the world revolves around me and I shouldn’t even be mad at someone who is helping me out.
AITA?
P.S We sleep in different rooms because his snoring makes me sleep poorly and our baby also wakes up early, so we didn’t want to affect both of our sleep. We run a business together so our working hours are more flexible. He took on most of the work responsibility while I take care of the baby at home. I still work as much as I can on the company when I get the chance. We work late and we are both night owls.

This needs a little back story first. And this one is a bit long, sorry. My mil and I never really got along. She was an overbearing, passive aggressive Karen. That thought I wasn't good enough for her son. He was a bit older than me (13 yrs) and came from a better background. My family grew up rather on the poor side and his was solid upper middle class. My father-in-law was rather indifferent about most things and she wore the pants in the family, what she said goes, always.
That said here we go. Her and my father-in-law would go to Krispy Kreme at night to get a cup of coffee after supper. When my daughter was born, a few months after her birth they started taking her to Krispy Kreme with them to give me and my husband "a little time without the baby" her words, which was appreciated but we never asked them to do it. They're reasoning was they wanted to show off the baby, their first and only granddaughter.
I guess after having three grandsons from her daughter, it was a joy to have a female child in the family again and she wanted to show her off at every occasion she could think of. My husband and I never really minded I thought it was wonderful. I thought she was wonderful, she was going to be the perfect grandmother. She loved having her granddaughter around. She loved showing her granddaughter off even though she and I didn't get along she loved her granddaughter.
The problems started, after my only son was born. Now I know she had three other grandsons and I figured she'd treat them all the same. Boy was I wrong. Her daughter's Sons were treated like normal grandchildren wonderful presents at Christmas and birthdays she spent time with them she babysat them she was the same way with my daughter if not more so. But when it came to my son that was a completely different matter. She didn't want to hold, him she didn't want to feed him like she had my daughter. She didn't want to take him anywhere either. Remember she had been taking my daughter with her to Krispy Kreme every evening for 2 and 1/2 years before my son was born. But she didn't want to take my son anywhere, ever. I overlooked it at first. My son was still a baby my daughter a toddler handling both of them would have been a bit too much. So I figured when my son got older she would want to take him as well. She never did
When my son got old enough to ask, why granny didn't take him to Krispy Kreme in the evenings ever, I figured then we'd have a conversation. Well that day arrived and he asked the question that I knew he would and the only thing that I could tell the poor little guy was let me talk to Granny about it. So I talked to my mother-in-law about it and asked her why she never took my son to Krispy Kreme. And she explained that he was too much to handle. I asked her what she meant by that. She said I can't handle both of them. I told her that you don't have to handle both of them take my daughter one night and my son the next that way you won't be overwhelmed. She agreed to do this. My son was overjoyed he thought he was going to get to go to Krispy Kreme with Granny! So that night she took my daughter and I told her before they left that tomorrow night was my son's turn to get to go. She said "yeah yeah I know". So the next day after dinner she tells my daughter come on honey let's go to Krispy Kreme and I tell her wait just a moment you said you would take my son today. This is when she tells me again I can't handle him. And I again ask what do you mean by that. She says he's too rambunctious that she can't make him behave that my daughter is easier to handle.
Granted little boys can be a little harder to handle but he was no harder than his sister. This answer aggravated me to the point where I told her "you said that you would take him tonight, you promised him". And she again tells me "I can't handle him". So I tell her "if you can't take him tonight like you promised him, you can't take her anymore either. So instead of agreeing to take her grandson to Krispy Kreme she simply stops taking her granddaughter to spite me, or her grandson, I'm not sure which. She always treated my daughter much better than my son and this was just one example of the petty, small-minded, ignorant behavior she heaped on that child's head. My son was never cruel, loud,or entitled he never broke anything that belonged to someone else, he never had tantrums like most small children do, he was a well-behaved little boy and she already had three other grandsons and didn't need another one or that's the way I felt anyway, especially after all the other incidents but this one sticks in my head for the blatant disregard for either of her grandchildren. So I told her she was a horrible grandmother to my son . I never fought in front of the children with her. I never talked about her badly to them either. So am I the a******?
If you want to know more of what she did let me know.

I have two ml of filler. My first 1 1/2 ml was perfect, and when I went back in for the last 1/2 I asked my injector to only do my bottom lip because I loved how my top lip looked. She told me that after adding more to the bottom I’d probably wish I had added a little bit more to the top. I said okay and was left with an uneven top lip :( there’s an obvious bulge on the right side of my lip (left side in pictures). These pictures were a week after the appointment and it’s been two months since then. While it doesn’t look quite as bad anymore it’s still apparent. I really want to get it fixed. Does anyone have any recommendations for amazing injectors in the south east? Lower Alabama, northern Florida, lower Mississippi or New Orleans? Don’t mind driving a few hours. Also does anyone have an idea if it’d be better to dissolve and restart or ask the injector to add more to even it out?

Two questions:

1. On a 2012 MBP, what is the levelock that holds the keyboard ribbon cable in place called? This is the one I mean: https://i.sstatic.net/CMj9W.png
2. If that lever is snapped in half, could that be a possible reason why only some keys on the keyboard work, but not others?

Full story:
I took a long drive through multiple elevations, and a bottle of body wash exploded in my backpack. A whole lot of liquid soap made its way into my MacBook Pro. When I got home, after cursing for a while, I disassembled the MBP, washed the metal case, and cleaned everywhere with 91% iso alcohol and Q-tips.
I saw that soap got into the track pad, so I replaced that, and soap got into my charger also, so I replaced that too. Screen was fine, drives were fine, RAM was fine. Soap touched where the battery connects to the board and a few other places, but I believe I got it all cleaned out.
I let it dry a couple days, reassembled, and everything works (!) except for about a dozen keys on my keyboard, and the OS no longer detects a battery. The battery must be disconnected in order to even boot the laptop, but if I leave the charger plugged in (and plug in a USB keyboard), the laptop is completely functional.
I broke the levelock in question when trying to flip it up (the other half has disappeared), and so now only the left side of it folds down to hold the ribbon in place. Would that open the possibility of some key presses not registering? -or did moisture likely get in the keyboard? Just asking for opinions before I go buy another keyboard.

Okay i’ve decided what i want to do with future tattoos. i want to chronicle key parts/achievements of my life in the form of tattoos with artistic interpretation, so all of it flows together nicely. I am starting my with my first one soon, and it is very small and simple (<1 in.) but i’m at a loss of where on my body to put all these tattoos.
I don’t want them on my back because i want to be able to see them to tell the stories, and it can’t be on my calves (already have ones there). i also want them to be in a place that’s usually covered (for now).
any suggestions? I am not worried about pain levels. I’m thinking of maybe starting on my left shoulder?

Can I just rant for a minute! This Is My First Post! LOL!
I have been trying to be a SMBC for 2 years and have had 3 Fertility Clinics turn me away and 1 OB office turn me away, because I want to be a SMBC. I want to scream! I found a clinic that will take a SMBC and offer MINI IVF, but they quoted me $30,000-$40,000 for ONE CYCLE! I feel SOOO upset. But of course the clinic that quoted me $10,000-$15,000 wont take SMBC. What is this!!! I want to scream forever.
I had bought 7 vials of donor sperm from CCB back when their prices were $1,200 a vial and used them ALL for home insemination. Sadly, that didn't work. I called them back to buy more vials only to find out their vials are now $2,200 and they are raising their prices soon. WHAT!!!! I cant afford $2,200 a vial. To make matters worst my donor is limited stock, only 6 vials left! So it is a now or never situation. I have cried over loosing my perfect donor!
I was recommend to use ICI (International Cryogentics Sperm Bank) by my OB and so I called and the women who answer the phone are SOOO RUDE! There are three of them and each one does not want to answer my questions. I ask what the family limit is and one lady said “25” and another says “20”! WHAT! I asked to speak with the lab supervisor as she is the “women in charge” and she was nice to release some back up vials to me, since the donor I wanted only had a few IUI vials left and they normally don't release them to the public. But what a pain!
Then my OB who I did 5 IUI with, totally lied to me about success rate, saying that IUI have a 30-35% success rate! I later found out by a real fertility specialist that IUI only has a 10-15% success rate. My OB was rude and talked down to me and made me feel like I was dumb. I drove an hour and a half each way to my appointments. My OB didn't offer ultrasounds on Thursday or the weekends and so your cycle had to line up with his office hours and if your cycle didn't his words were “to bad so sad, I have an OB office not an RE office”. One cycle he mismanaged my medication and I overestimated to the point I was almost in the ER from CLOMID!!!! I had a left over cyst the following month and my OB convinced me to still do that cycle, I was later told by someone else that I should have skipped that cycle. All my IUI failed because of this MAN!!! He never waited for my follicles to grow and he would have me trigger at 10-14mm. WHAT!!! I didn't know at the time that my follicles were immature. He said over and over again that frozen sperm was just like fresh and would live 72 hours. I knew this one was a lie because BOTH of my banks told me 12-24 hours. When I called him out he said “I have been an OB for 13 years and I know what I am doin.” I called the bank in tears after my last failed attempt because my lovely new bank made you call and report if your cycle didn't work. I begged the women to tell me how many pregnancy had been reported by my OB office. She said “4” “In the 10 years we have worked with him” What only 4!!! In 10 years!!! Why was I not told this when i was first asked months ago? The women even went on to say “we have never had a bad complaint from this OB and we have seen HUNDREDS of clinics use samples there.” WHAT!!!
My vent needs to continue but I have stuff I have to do!!!
Stacie

I have a 4.4 mm stone in my left kidney and a 4.0 mm stone in my right kidney. I went to my urologist and explained that I’ve been having pain, spasms and pressure on my right side, under my ribs. I believe my kidney stone is bouncing around and getting stuck inside my kidney. The doctor acted like he didn’t believe me; that I can’t have pain inside my kidney. Has anyone had this issue? I’ve been upset ever since my doctor appointment.